Sermons
The Riches of Faith
I have always found Paul’s letters difficult to preach on. Most of them were written to address very specific situations, which often have little to do with our current settings. He uses long sentences with lots of subordinate clauses. To put it mildly, he takes a little unpacking. And long explanations strike me... Read More
The Pilgrim Way
For us today, it is easy to travel. It is expensive, but for those with the money, it is possible to cross continents and oceans in only a few hours. But as former UN Secretary General Dag Hammerskjold once wrote, “the longest journey is the journey inward.” The most difficult journey is that in which we set aside... Read More
Citizens and Disciples
The stories of the biblical prophets have a number of insights about citizenship that are worth reflecting on as we observe our national holiday. Throughout the Older Testament, there is a tension between the rulers of the nation, and the prophets, who call the nation to account to a higher authority. The rulers... Read More
First Things First
When Jesus said “Seek first the kingdom of God” I think he was inviting us to get our priorities straight by setting our lives in the largest possible context. God’s kingdom is when God is the ruler: not the hunger for power or wealth or self-centred desires. God rules in our lives, when we do what God wants us... Read More
From Tiny to Tremendous
As parents, volunteers, neighbours, workers in God’s garden, we do the best we can. We scatter our hours, our words, our deeds of kindness and support and encouragement, trusting that they will fall into the good soil of God’s providence and lead to good growth. But we cannot control that. These parables do not... Read More
Holy, Holy, Holy
“Terry Fox taught us that life is a victory, but you don't always win,” writes former moderator Peter Short. When the ugly threat of cancer loomed over Terry’s life, the holy God loomed yet larger and put his fears in perspective. And it was then that Terry heard a call from the holy God saying, “whom shall I... Read More
Spirit of Truth
Sometimes people understand faith in a narrow way, as if to have faith in God means to reject science or other religions or what other people believe to be true. But faith in God cannot mean the rejection of any truth from any source. Because any God worthy of the name, any God who is the creative source of all... Read More
Seeking Security
Martin Luther, the great German reformer, was once asked what he would do if heknew without a doubt that the world would end the next day. “I would plant atree,” he said. To plant a tree when the world is convinced there is no tomorrow isthe greatest act of hope. In the midst of anxieties and worries about the... Read More
Waiting for God
Many people think of prayer as talking to God, but the image of waiting for God suggests that we ought rather to think of prayer primarily as listening, patiently, for God's leading to become clear. Many in our time are realizing that this posture of attentive waiting for the leading of the Spirit is absolutely... Read More
Easter and Earth Day
Earth Day is the recognition that just as individuals can lose their way in violence and addictions, so also societies can lose their way. We are addicted to unsustainable patterns of living and we need to learn anew how to live with respect in creation. The good news which the church brings to Earth Day is that... Read More