Sun. May 22, 2011 (Morgan Tipton)

Morgan Tipton spoke about Stephen, the first Christian martyr. She noted that there are days when we do everything right (Stephen preached the gospel) and yet feel victimized. This feeling is likely based on thinking that we are the centre of the universe. “When things go well, I can see God in my neighbour,” she said. Things went well for Stephen when he preached the first Christian apologetic sermon and was stoned to death by the zealous Pharisees. Morgan acknowledged the Pharisees good intentions – to bring in God’s reign by intense study of the Torah. Saul, an observer at the stoning, subsequently developed a new relationship with God through his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. He then stepped aside from his Pharisaical ministry for 13 years and came back as the Paul we know in the New Testament. The story of Stephen reminds us that our faith will also be tested, perhaps not in such an extreme way, but when we challenge authorities, face hostile people, or how we treat people who anger us. (HN)

Listen to the sermon audio MP3 recording from Sunday, May 22nd, 2011 using your browser's preferred media player.

Sun. May 15, 2011 (Veronica Dyck)

Each of the three cycles of the liturgical year has the fourth Sunday of Easter focus on the Good Shepherd. Veronica Dyck noted that while we know about 'racks of lamb' in restaurants, we never observe the actual raising of sheep, particularly in the wilderness and mountains. In the day's text (John 10), Jesus referred to himself as being the gate. Traditionally, the shepherd provided pastures for his sheep (who could not find them independently), protected the sheep (who were defenseless), and named each sheep (being able to account for each throughout the day). Shepherds frequently shared sheep enclosures for the night with other flocks and shepherds, sometimes even in caves where the sheep could be safe. Sometimes the shepherd actually lay across the doorless gateway to an enclosure in order to waken if predators approached and tried to enter. In the morning, each shepherd would call his sheep and only his sheep would follow. Jesus therefore spoke to his rural sheep-raising audience by referring to himself both as "the gate", and as the good shepherd, saying that "my sheep know my voice" and "I know them by name." By contrast, Jesus said that men who did not enter the enclosure through the gate were surely thieves (as his listeners would have readily agreed). His reference to thieves possibly referred to the wealthy temple class which freely fleeced worshipers without nurturing or assisting them. The worst fate some prophets could predict for Judah was that they would become like a scattered flock without good leadership. Psalm 23 suggests that even when our lives take us through valleys we never wished to travel, Jesus, our Good Shepherd, will be with us. [JEK]

Listen to the sermon audio MP3 recording from Sunday, May 15th, 2011 using your browser's preferred media player.

Sun. May 8, 2011 (Karl Brown)

Last Sunday, Karl Brown asked us, "What if we're all wrong?" Our lectionary readings for the day retold the death and resurrection of Jesus (Acts 2), how we are therefore to live (1 Peter 1), and that if we do those things we will go to heaven (Luke 24). However, the Koran tells its readers to do certain righteous works and they too will go to heaven. But what if everybody is wrong? Thomas Paine, for example, published a criticism of religions generally. He believed there was a caring, loving God, but in his "The Age of Reason" argued that religion was not reflecting this God. He saw that contemporary religion in his day was evil, for none of us has a special connection with God or influence over God. He wanted worship without formalized religion, so he proposed "Deism". He did not recognize any miracles some have attributed to God, nor did he ever see God intervening in history or appearing in visions. All of those would break God's laws of physics, nature, etc. Instead, Paine wrote that God gave us our powers of reasons and we can learn to use it. As for Jesus, Paine concluded that God would never create a man just to kill him. By contrast, one modern (and very popular) preacher teaches that it is misguided to think that a few of us will go to heaven and all the others will suffer. Studies suggest that, in spite of what specific churches teach, most members believe that most people will go to heaven. In fact, institutionalized religion tends to focus on small current issues of the day (e.g., mode or timing of baptism, sexuality) and overlook ethical essentials. How do we know who is right? [JEK]

Listen to the sermon audio MP3 recording from Sunday, May 8th, 2011 using your browser's preferred media player.

Sun. May 1, 2011 (Joseph Dutko)

On May 1st, Joseph Dutko spoke about replacing anxiety and worry with awe and wonder. A man asks Jesus to "tell my brother to share the inheritance with me" and Jesus criticizes him for his selfishness. This is the context for Jesus comments about not worrying. Jesus warns about covetousness and selfishness; the best way to avoid these sins by faith. Joseph said we should fear God's displeasure and trust his care; God's cares for the sparrows is indicative of his concern for us... consider the lilies and the birds. We are not to be controlled by things, rather to seek the kingdom and these things will be given us. Did Albert Scweitzer, by leaving a successful life to provide medical care for the needy in Africa, find the kingdom? (HN) NOTE: no audio recording of this service was made.