Text: Luke 11:1-13 (Jesus teaches his friends how to pray) Prayer holds a central place in the life of people the world over. And yet, it remains a puzzle to many of us. As such, we may identify with Jesus’ friends when they say to Jesus, “Rabbi, teach us to pray.” Like them, we may … [Read more…]
Texts: Amos 8:11-13 (a famine of God’s Word) * Luke 10:38-42 (Jesus visits Mary and Martha) Have you ever lived through a famine like the one described by the prophet Amos — a famine not of physical hunger or thirst but of the Word of God? Have you ever “wandered from sea to sea seeking … [Read more…]
Text: Luke 10:25-37 (“the Good Samaritan”) Do some lives matter more than others? The premise of the Black Lives Matter movement is that Black people in North America are not valued as highly as other groups. They live with more insecurity and poverty than people of European descent; and the police and courts too often … [Read more…]
Text: Luke 10:1-20 (“The harvest is plentiful”) When I lived in Saskatchewan from July 2011 until December 2013, I was immersed in rural culture. The three churches I served were connected by 40 km of highway along the border with Montana. Driving between them each week kept me up-to-date with the progress of fields of … [Read more…]
Text: Luke 9:51-62 (the costs of discipleship) What does it cost to belong to the church? There is the money we put on the offering plate, money that could otherwise be used for household expenses, luxuries, or savings. Then there is time we spend — at Sunday worship services, at outreach programs like The Bread … [Read more…]
Text: 1 Kings 18:17-39 (Elijah calls down fire) Saskatchewan loves the Roughriders. This was one of the first things I learned when I moved there five years ago. It was five years ago this week that I moved from Toronto to Coronach to begin my career as an ordained minister. I loved many things about … [Read more…]
Text: 1 Kings 19:3-15 (Elijah in the desert) In today’s reading, Elijah flees to the desert looking for safety. The Queen of Israel is threatening to kill him in a religious dispute. Elijah imagines that he will find God in the desert. And he does. But Elijah doesn’t find God in the strong winds. He … [Read more…]
Text: Galatians 2:15-21 (“Christ lives in me”) Imagine a hike in Jasper Park. It is a late morning in springtime and you have been walking through forest glades and up mountain trails for an hour. As you pause to bask in sunshine and warmth, you notice a side-path going steeply up. When you get to … [Read more…]
Text: 1 Kings 17:8-24 (Elijah revives a widow’s son) At the Communion table, bread and wine remind us of our connection to God. In January, I reflected on a story in which Jesus turns water into wine. Today the focus is on bread. In today’s story from First Kings, ravens provide bread to the Prophet … [Read more…]
Text: Acts 2:1-21 (the Spirit comes on the Day of Pentecost) Forty years ago, when Mill Woods was a new neighbourhood and United Church people began meeting in Grace Martin School, what inspired them to create a new congregation? Did the Holy Spirit visit them the way it did the first disciples on Pentecost in … [Read more…]