Sun. June 28, 2009 (Andre Pekovich)

Andre provided an overview of the pastoral letters to Timothy and Titus that will be the focus of our services in July and August. These letters were written to individuals, not to congregations like most New Testament letters. They are written in the tone similar to what a favourite wise uncle (one who’s done something quite unusual with his life) might write. Andre noted that these letters challenge conventional wisdom: they question our assumptions about egalitarianism, and they promote intolerance. The letters deal with false teachings, co-workers, slavery, widows, orphans and the rich. If you were Timothy and Paul was writing you a letter, what might it include? [AP] Listen to the sermon audio MP3 recording from Sunday, June 28th, 2009 using your browser's preferred media player.

Sun. June 21, 2009 (John Neufeld)

John provided two messages: one about his 10-year experience with cancer, the other on three images of church. John lives with non-Hodgkins lymphoma and has had several series of chemo treatments. Surprisingly, he has remained quite healthy throughout the treatment and he acknowledges that his minimal reaction to treatment is unusual. He continues to cycle and is active as a speaker, writer and consultant. In his message from Corinthians he suggested we seek a more profound, mysterious, and challenging world rather than one where we trivialize the gospel and reduce it to a few simple truths. John encouraged the use of poetic speech where a familiar text is permitted a fresh hearing, and where (poetic) language moves one toward new, dangerous, and imaginative possibilities. In 1 Corinthians 3 Paul affirms the foundation of Jesus Christ and then turns to images a field, a building (foundation) and a temple. Each image opens the possibility of imagination and reflection on faith and on the church and its diversity. (HN) Listen to the sermon audio MP3 recording from Sunday June 21st, 2009 using your browser's preferred media player.

Sun. June 14, 2009 (Don Teichroeb)

Don Teichroeb entitled his talk, "Modest beginnings". The bible reminds us that small beginnings can be blessed by God. The morning's gospel lectionary reading (Mark 4) gives the parable of the mustard seed, suggesting that the Kingdom of Heaven can grow from a very small beginning, inauspecious at first, but a beginning filled with potential. Don explained that the Kingdom is not the mustard seed itself, but rather the Kingdom will evolve as surely and as mysteriously as the growth of a seed. Humans generally only plant their seeds, possibly nurture the plants, and then harvest the new seeds; we do not give guidance to the growth itself. In fact, we may not even know how things grow. 1 Samuel 16 tells of the young boy David being chosen by God to be the future king of Israel, someone seemingly too small for any such task, but God (who looks on the heart rather than just appearances) assured Samuel that David did indeed have tremendous growth potential. Today's world is governed by forces of growth we do not understand fully--compound interest, growth of seeds. But ultimately, we are assured that everything is overseen by God. [JEK] Listen to the sermon audio MP3 recording from Sunday June 14th, 2009 using your browser's preferred media player.

Sun. June 7, 2009 (Veronica Dyck)

Veronica Dyck noted that Paul, in writing to the Romans, was strongly influenced by the Exodus story of slavery and eventual freedom. The God of the Israelites heard their cry for help and responded. Paul transforms this story to the story of the early church; warning about idolatry, emphasizing that sinners are justified by faith (not works), and noting that amid suffering and sin those adopted by Christ can be assured of being God’s children. The adoption metaphor reflects the tension of living in the “now” and “not yet.” This is demonstrated in our concern for the environment; God can redeem creation, creation will benefit from deliverance, and we can look forward to the day when all is redeemed. Change occurs when we open ourselves to the radical effects of love; love offers belonging and forgiveness. (HN) Listen to the sermon audio MP3 recording from Sunday June 7th, 2009 using your browser's preferred media player.