She Pondered the Words in Her Heart—Luke 2: 1-20 If you love a bargain, scripture is an amazing two for one deal. When we read or hearscripture, we are always reading at least two stories; the actual words on the page andthe story behind the words that consider the motivations and historical situation of thewriter. Tonight, I want to focus solely on…
You are not alone. Come share the journey.
You are not alone. Come share the journey.
Sermons on Luke
Luke 1: 39-56 (Third Sunday in Advent) Sunday School Activities Voices United Choir: Born on Christmas Day In Mark’s gospel, Jesus is quoted as saying that in order to enter the kingdom of heaven we need to become like children. It is no accident then that some of the finest children’s books are deeply spiritual works. For years, I have thought of…
Luke 21: 25-36 (1st Sunday in Advent) Sunday School Activities I never thought I would hear a scripture like the one we heard today about signs of the end times, and think to myself, “yep that fits.” What we just heard Karen read is known as apocalyptic scripture. Its most prominent in the book of Daniel in the Hebrew Scriptures and the…
Luke 24: 36b-48 3rd Sunday after Easter (Earth Sunday) Sunday School Activities Today, in the gospel reading, we enter a room filled with Jesus’ disciples trying to understand strange rumours: the one they saw dead is alive! How can that be? And suddenly there he is, sitting with them eating fish. This Sunday is also Earth Sunday. And we can imagine or…
Voices United Choir – A Quiet Invitation Christmas Expectations Here we are, Christmas 2020. A Christmas – and a year – most of us could never have imagined. So many of the rich traditions that have made this holiday celebration so meaningful through the years will have to be abandoned or adapted this year. No flying or driving to go and see…
Remember Me – Solo -Jamie Hofman You Already Know – Solo – Kathleen Vanderlinen Sunday School Activities Devotion Advent 2 Family Advent Calendar Luke 1:26-38 – Advent 2 I was about 10 years old when I was asked to play Mary in my church Christmas pageant. I remember feeling quite grown‐up the first time I put on my costume — a light…
Keep Bumbling On Luke 24:13-24, 28-35 Preached at Parkminster UC, April 26, 2020 – online worship Rev. Heather Power A number of years ago, there was a wonderful TV movie released called “Into the Storm.” Through a series of flashbacks, Winston Churchill, played by actor Brendan Gleeson, examines his role in World War II and the difficult decisions he was called upon…
Christmas Possibilities—Luke 2: 1-20 (December 24, 2019—Christmas Eve Communion Service) I wonder sometimes if we aren’t all a little tired of this story. Perhaps that’s why Christmas has been re-invented as a key economic indicator, eagerly anticipated for it’s economic stimulus. Gift giving once a symbolic act of God’s gift to us has become disconnected from any spiritual meaning, co-opted by the…
Note: some illustrations adapted/inspired by The United Church of Canada’s Children’s Sunday resource materials. The Maasai people of Kenya retain much of their traditional ways and cultural heritage. For as long as anyone can remember, their warriors used to greet each other with what translates to “How are the children?” It is the most widely used greeting by the whole community. The…
I love baptism Sundays. There is so much hope in the air on days like today. Not much different from what the crowd in our faith story must have felt. Everything looked so promising. Here was this itinerant preacher/teacher from a small hick town riding into Jerusalem, into the heart of civic and religious power proclaiming a new vision for a people held under the thumb of Roman rule. Jesus was like an open window that magically appeared in the locked room of their existence.