Isaiah 60: 1-6 & Matthew 2: 1-12(2nd Christmas/Epiphany) Born In Me – Colleen Usaty In his book The Darkest Dark, astronaut Chris Hadfield writes about himself when he wasa child, a child who tries everything he can to stay awake at night because he is afraid ofwhat he imagines might be lurking in the dark. Later in the book, he goes to…
You are not alone. Come share the journey.
You are not alone. Come share the journey.
Sermons by Rev. Joe Gaspar (Page 2)
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…
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…
Mark 12: 28-34 Sunday School Activities 23rd Sunday after Pentecost) Don’t you love it when things are simple? Albert Einstein once said, “When the answer is simple then God is answering.” Love God, love your neighbour as yourself. It’s simple—in the same way that running a marathon is simply moving your legs quickly for twenty-six miles, in the same way that losing…
Job 38: 1-7, 34-41 Sunday School Activities Poor Job, by the time, this scripture rolls around he endures 37 chapters of death, famine, disease, and know-it-all friends who have more interest in preserving their ideas about God than helping Job. Now this in chapter 38, it’s as if God says; ‘Who do you think you are Job?’ What is this garbage you’ve…
Grace Ronan – Amazing Grace Sunday School Activities James 5: 13-20 (19th Sunday after Pentecost) On February 12, 2002 then U.S. Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld was asked this question by a reporter: “…is there any evidence to indicate that Iraq has attempted to or is willing to supply terrorists with weapons of mass destruction? Because there are reports that there is…
Mark 8: 27-37 Sunday School Activities 17th Sunday after Pentecost) I try to imagine the experience of the people around Jesus in the faith story this morning, walking along a road, a dirt road, dust kicked up with every step. They’re bantering back and forth, maybe talking about how great it is to be in Jesus’ company. Maybe being itinerant they’re wondering where their next meal will be. Then Jesus asks innocently enough, “who do people say that I…
Mark 7: 24-30 (15th Sunday after Pentecost) There is a story of a person that is pulled over by the police and asked for their license and registration. “What’s wrong, officer,” the driver asks. The officer says, “well I saw you waving your fist as you swerved around the lady driving in the left lane, and I observed your flushed and angry face as you shouted at the driver who cut you off.” “Is that a…
Blackbird – Jamie Hoffman Sunday School Activities We don’t like judgement and sin in the United Church. They are tainted words for us. We associate them with a toxic kind of religion that puts up barriers to love and inclusion, the tools of a Christianity rooted in moralism, literalism, and self-satisfied power used to bludgeon people on the margins of society—women, lgbtq2s…