Sun. Nov. 29, 2009 (Joseph Dutko)

Joseph Dutko focused on passages from Ecclesiastes, specifically verse 6:9 “it is better to be satisfied with what is before your eyes than to give reign to desire.” The pleasures of life versus what our eyes see and desire. The writer – a teacher or preacher known as Qoholeth - asks a lot of questions that centre on his questions about the meaning of life. He was writing at a time of political and economic change. The book starts with “vanity” and ends with more futility and meaninglessness; can something of real value be found in this life? The writer tells us to be content with what we have. We’re rarely content and we seek what we don’t have, Joseph said, referring to Harold Kushner’s book When All You’ve Ever Wanted isn’t Enough. The writer’s advice is to not to seek pleasure but to live moment by moment and enjoy the pleasures that brings. Joseph suggested three things:
1) less is more, embrace simplicity and lower the level of what we want.
2) live in the moment; focus on the times that gratify us – enjoy leisurely meals, sit in the sun.
3) be content; we’re too busy… knowledge is good, to be content is better. (HN)
Listen to the sermon audio MP3 recording from Sunday, Nov. 29th, 2009 using your browser's preferred media player.

Sun. Nov. 22, 2009 (J. Evan Kreider)

“Who do you say that I am?” and Pilate’s question: Are you the King of the Jews? was the focus of Evan Kreider’s sermon last Sunday. In our list of adjectives, describing Jesus as king is not common; we don‘t pray to King Jesus. Evan noted that Christ the king was a popular theme in the middle ages, a concept reflected in some older hymns. Officially Jesus died because he told Pilate he was king of the Jews. Pilate should have realized that Jesus provided no threat to the Roman empire. The inscription “INRI” on many crosses denotes “Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews.” “Kingdom” is a word denoting tremendous power, Jesus proclaimed a kingdom that has no soldiers, no real estate and no currency.Yet Christ the king demands absolute obedience. (HN) Listen to the sermon audio MP3 recording from Sunday, Nov. 22nd, 2009 using your browser's preferred media player.

Sun. Nov. 15, 2009 (Jack Suderman)

Jack Suderman, Executive Secretary of the Mennonite Church Canada, spoke on Ephesians 3. Our commitment to peace and church are profoundly interwoven. As Mennonites envision transforming MCC world-wide, some have called for MCC undertaking mega-projects, such as building hydro dams to supply hydro power to an entire nation. Just as "Kleenex" is known for all facial tissues, some Mennonites wonder whether MCC could become known for peacemaking. Others of us feel more comfortable working on smaller, individual projects. Jack argued, however, that God has outlined a mega-project for the church. Part of God's plan that has been made known to us is that we are to gather "all things" (Eph. 1.10, all-encompassing) in heaven and on earth. This gathering agenda knows no bounds--ecology, finances, industry--a truly mega-concept, cutting edge beyond our imagination. The church is to become the fullness of everything (1.22-23) so that through the church the wisdom of God can be made known to all rulers (3.10). This is a project beyond belief. But all of this needs to be fleshed out with real people, real communities of faith, in which the Spirit has given each person special gifts. There are about 13,000 Mennonite communities of faith which can be involved in this project. If we aim to build a dam, our vision is too small. We need 13,000 communities involved in 13,000 projects for peace. In a sense, through MCC, we have done far more than any of us can imagine, yet there is so much more to do. [JEK] Listen to the sermon audio MP3 recording from Sunday, Nov. 15th, 2009 using your browser's preferred media player.

Sun. Nov. 8, 2009 (Connie Siedler)

Connie Siedler spoke to us on November 8th on Ruth 3: 1-5 and 4:13-17 from the lectionary texts for the week, which addressed the benefits loyalty to God. She encouraged us with stories not to race through the wisdom book or we’ll miss the value of the journey. Ruth’s losses are tremendous - of husband and sons, not to mention future, so the first part of the book is a lament. Though she does not see God’s hand working for her good, she maintains her loyalty, both to God and to Naomi. Naomi in turn honours Ruth and promises to God with her own loyalty. The unspoken question throughout the text is “Is God really good? Can he be trusted?” Connie found echoes in modern literature, where hating God for allowing suffering won’t make anything better. She also quoted Eugene Peterson in Psalms “If God’s people participate in extraordinary blessings, they also share in terrible sufferings. This makes the saving grace of Jesus Christ so much more important.” The last parts of the book, reconciliation and integrity, bring honour and purity to God’s name. The celebration at the birth of Obed, ancestor to Jesus, at the end of the book emphasizes how God restores everyone who is faithful. [AP] Listen to the sermon audio MP3 recording from Sunday, Nov. 8th, 2009 using your browser's preferred media player.

Sun. Nov. 1, 2009 (Janice Kreider)

Janice highlighted some texts from Revelation 1, 21 and 22 and John 1 along with an Apocryphal text to leave the group inquiring into the nature of being human in a world God created from the beginning, and will fulfill in the end (the Alpha and the Omega). The certainty found in the wisdom of Solomon text about trusting in God to provide for all needs led the group to comment on the certainty of the beginning and the ending, but of the tremendous uncertainty of the middle, where all of us live our lives. Evan Kreider led us in a series of appropriate texts in our singing from the hymnal. [AP]