Sun. July 27, 2014 (Derek Carr)

Derek Carr (Reader at our neighbouring church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and Professor Emeritus at UBC), spoke on "The Holy Hermits" by Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez (baptized June 6, 1599 – August 6, 1660), a leading painter from the Spanish Golden Age. Although most of his works were secular, "The Holy Hermits" stood for centuries as a powerful portrait of prayer and meditation in a rural setting which was far removed from the hustle of Spanish commerce and shipping to and from the New World. The painting shows St. Anthony visiting St. Paul in the desert. This St. Paul (229-342) was an Egyptian who fled to the desert to escape persecution. He reportedly lived alone for some 90 years. St. Anthony, often considered the father of the anchorites (hermits), was led to visit this Paul, partly to learn that others were expressing their faith as he had been doing, but without his knowledge--although physically alone, he was not alone in the ideal of meditating. The painting leads one to contemplate contemplation itself, extended meditation, the role of prayer, the tension that arises from wanting to be separate from the world and yet helpful to it. Derek later commented that Catholicism generally does not teach silence and meditation unless one joins specific groups devoted to those disciplines; in fact, there is virtually no silence in a Mass, in saying the rosary, or in following the Offices. [JEK]

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Sun. July 20, 2014 (Ruth Enns)

Ruth Enns spoke on Genesis 28.10, the first story about Jacob's life as a fugitive. He had just deceived his father, robbed his twin brother of his precious birthright (wealth, status, blessing), and was now on the run, fearing for his life.  This deceitful young man was nevertheless repeatedly blessed by Yahweh, sometimes through dreams, sometimes through accumulated wealth (even when using questionable means), sometimes through children (though his family was totally dysfunctional). God the faithful kept offering Jacob encouragement during his life, as was true that first night away from home.  His dream depicted angels going up and down "Jacob's ladder" while God spoke to his conscience.  This metaphor of communicating with the spiritual world has fascinated artists (including Frieda Epp, whose beautiful painting of this dream was a focal point for Henry's introduction to the morning's service). The composer, Arnold Schoenberg, struggled to compose an oratorio on this story, but felt it was so powerful that he needed to invent a new musical language (atonal, with no tonal center).  Writers have focused on how Jacob was transformed by this experience, some psychologists have drawn attention to the importance of our dreams.  Hymns (Nearer my God to Thee) and children's songs ("We are climbing Jacob's ladder") also celebrate this singular dream.  How do we find ourselves being connected to God, to that which is spiritual?  Do those experiences touch us briefly or profoundly? [JEK]

Listen to the sermon audio MP3 recording from Sunday, July 20th, 2014 using your browser's preferred media player.

Sun. July 13, 2014 (Dr. Shirley Showalter)

Dr. Shirley Showalter (no relation to your Coordinator of Ushers and Food Group Leader) spoke to us of memoirs, both her own and of ours (written and yet-to-be-written) from Psalm 19 in a message entitled I Love to Tell the Story: Where Authority and Authorship Converge.    Paying attention is crucial, Shirley said, when one encounters those special spiritual experiences we sometimes get.  Welcome to mystery, she said, for when mysticism enters our spiritual life, our reason and argument are inadequate to process them.  Atheist Barbara Ehrenreich, in describing her mystical experiences, resonated with Shirley’s own experiences since childhood in ‘hearing the heavens pour forth speech’ in music and beauty.  God invites us to experience creation thorough his authority, and with experiences he gives to us, gives us permission to enter into these worlds again and again.  These mystical experiences imprint themselves on our memory and carry through our lives to give us valuable and alternative points of view when we live the ordinariness of life.  When writing ones own memoir, the crucial factor is to listen to the mystical voice speaking in the story, just as the painter sketches first what he wishes to paint, and then frees his art from the sketch to give us an impression of life and movement far greater than the sketch.  The memoir also frames other people’s stories, and provides access for them to bring the mystical to life in their own lives, allowing God to pour forth speech into their lives.     [AP].

Listen to the sermon audio MP3 recording from Sunday, July 13th, 2014 using your browser's preferred media player.

Sun. July 6, 2014 (Jonathan Wilson)

Jonathan Wilson spoke on "Three Groanings" based on Romans 8:18-39. The groanings of creation range from earthquakes (Psalm 104:24-35) to the labour pains of a mother giving birth. The groanings of humankind are either cries of futility or reflect our longing for the fulfillment of our adoption as children of God, awaiting the redemption of our fragile bodies. The groanings of the Holy Spirit are wordless intercessory prayers on our behalf. The Christian church in Japan came together to respond to the triple disaster in Miyagi/Fukishima in 2011 (earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear contamination) by integrating their missions, drawing on the complementary good news of the social gospel and "soul winning" personal transformation. In faith, we look forward to the redemption of all creation through Jesus Christ. Echoing the prayers of the Japanese churches, may God give our bodies the stamina to take care of the Lord's earth and each other, and may the Holy Spirit help us to not fall back into old denomination divisions.

Listen to the sermon audio MP3 recording from Sunday, July 6th, 2014 using your browser's preferred media player.