Sun. Oct. 26, 2008 (Jim Neudorf)

Jim was our guest speaker. Jim and Grace had been PGIMF members since 1986, until moving to Squamish where their family is now active in a new Alliance church. Since Sunday was an Heritage Sunday, Jim began his talk by recalling the small group of university students that met secretly in Zurich (seven years after Luther posted his 'theses') for bible study, prayer and discussions on the relationship of believers and the State. Those students concluded that only individuals can be Christian, not their governments. They also concluded that scripture should be the sole guide for Christians, not the accumulated writings of theologians and church fathers or the dictates of City Councils (even when comprised of Christians). This unwavering stance eventually led some of our spiritual ancestors to bizarre points of view, but it led others to define positions and beliefs which are still espoused today. One of the topics frequently debated throughout our movement's history is the whole notion of 'The Kingdom' and its nature on earth. Matthew 3.1-3 portrays John the Baptizer as encouraging people to repent, not in order to avoid hell, but because "the Kingdom of heaven is near." Jim then asked us to hear John's words as a kindly invitation to join the movement, not fear it, suggesting that we "change our way of thinking, for the kingdom of heaven is near." The Lord's Prayer likewise indicates that the Kingdom is supposed to be on earth, 'at hand'. Jim suggested that we think of the remaining chapters of Matthew as the writer's attempt to show how this Kingdom can indeed be at hand and what it can be like (as seen through Jesus' teachings, his relationships with others, and his life style). Matthew 25 then essentially summarizes this portion of the writer's book by recalling Jesus' story of God finally judging people by placing them in two categories according to the extent to which their actions demonstrated that they not only loved God with all their heart, mind and soul, but loved their neighbours as themselves. [JEK] Listen to the sermon audio MP3 recording from Sunday Oct. 26th, 2008 using your browser's preferred media player.

Sun. Oct. 19, 2008 (Laura Eriksson)

“I love to dance” said Laura Eriksson, noting that the Bible is an invitation to dance with the Holy Spirit as our partner. Learning to dance requires discipline and a willingness to be led; there are specific steps to be learned. Moses was not dancing when, after 40 days on the mountain he descended and found his people dancing around a golden calf. Laura said Moses life was like a dance; work, intimacy, prayer, awe, and silence. Moses, at age 80, was called by God. Moses had excuses but was reassured by God; God’s work is hard but you have to do it. Moses says, unless you go with us, we can’t go on. Moses does not end this dialogue with God with a “thank you,” but with a request: show me your glory. Moses wanted the “awe” of God. We all have glimpses of the empowering glory of God, we need the wonder of "awe." The dance of faith is a dynamic movement, it takes time and grace to learn to dance. We are called to kingdom work; along the way we might be tempted by the golden calf. Be open, stay awake, and enjoy the dance as we reflect the glory of God. (HN) Listen to the sermon audio MP3 recording from Sunday Oct. 19th, 2008 using your browser's preferred media player.

Sun. Oct. 5 (James Wittenberg)

James Wittenberg (Regent student and pastor-in-waiting for Sherbrooke Mennonite Church) brought us from the time of Paul’s ministry in Rome to the present. As the first Jewish Christians were evicted from Rome, the Gentiles remained behind, and when the Jews were permitted to return, they found things - indeed the church itself, different. Who was “in” and who was “out”? Who kept the faith of Christ - Jew or Gentile? Paul would have none of this. The Saviour of the world came for both - slave and free, Gentile and Jew. The beginning of his letter to the Romans emphasizes the difference that the decisive act of Jesus’ resurrection made to the early church, continuing through Romans 12 to emphasize the application of this lesson, culminating in the text for today, from Romans 15. Here Paul outlines the defining characteristic of the early Christian church - acceptance. As there is diversity in the church, we cannot all be alike, and are therefore called to accept those whose faith is weak, without judgment. Using examples from the dinner table, Paul notes what we eat or do not eat makes us no better Christians than any other, and encourages acceptance. The original Latin word is one full of welcome and promise, of enduring friendship, not the weak Canadian equivalent of an absence of harsh words. As when eating together one comes to know another’s preferences in food, so in our worship and life, do we come to know that to be counted among the Christians means to be in a caring community that takes care of its own during famine, pestilence; for widows and orphans, modelling acceptance. Relate that to our own patterns today - how often do we as families, never mind as Christians, have a meal together today? Where do our lives rub up one against another? We are to accept one another because God has accepted us, with good conscience (v. 6) without regard to what the practices of others may be. We are not called to judge others’ practice, such as eating meat or celebrating different days as special, - where we can differ and still be considered disciples of Christ. This does not mean we are to participate in sin in order to accommodate the practices of others - that is dealt with in 1 Corinthians. Romans exalts us to celebrate things done in good conscience, in praise to, and accountable to the Lord. [AP] Listen to the sermon audio MP3 recording from Sunday Oct. 5th, 2008 using your browser's preferred media player.