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- Sermon: We have no reason to ever feel insecure
- Sermon: The futility of war and the peace of Christ
- Sermon: The God of Israel? The God of the USA? The Father of Jesus Christ is the God of the whole world and all creation.
- Sermon: Jesus’ advantage over Genghis Khan
- Sermon: Was Jesus a violent or a peaceful protester?
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Tag Archives: Year of Matthew
Sermon: Chocolate, Milton, and Lent Event
I have given up chocolate for Lent. I do this at least every few years and I always feel a little ridiculous about it. Jesus is walking towards his death, the most humiliating, painful and lonely death the Roman Empire could impose, and to show my solidarity with his journey I am giving up a completely voluntary sweet treat. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Ash Wednesday, Genesis 2:15-17 3:1-7, Lent, Lent 1, Lent Event, Matthew 4:1-11, UnitingWorld, Year of Matthew
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Sermon: Salt and Light
We often worry that as churches get smaller we can no longer answer God’s call to us, that we can no longer serve God as God desires. But Jesus is calling us to be salt, and a small amount of salt can change the flavour of an entire dish; Jesus is calling us to be light, and one lamp on a lampstand can give light to an entire house. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Isaiah 58:1-9a, Matthew 5:13-20, Sermon on the Mount, Third Isaiah, Year of Matthew
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Sermon: The Beatitudes
Maybe it would help to put them in contemporary terms: Blessed are the boat people, for they will find a safe and welcoming home; blessed are those on unemployment and disability pensions, for they will be treated with dignity and respect; blessed are the First Nations people, for they will regain their stolen land; blessed are the do-gooders and trouble-makers, for they will be called the children of God. Continue reading
Sermon: Peace Sunday
I suspect that the people of Israel heard this prophecy as true for the same reason that we are hearing it in church two thousand years after the birth of the one we Christians believe is the Messiah. Prophecies of the peaceable kingdom speak to our deepest longings. They describe what we believe, in the core of our hearts and our guts, God’s good creation should be. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Advent, Advent 2, Isaiah 11:1-10, John the Baptist, judgement, Matthew 3:1-12, Peace, Prophet Isaiah, Year of Matthew
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Sermon: Jesus’ female ancestors
I lived through a ‘think of the children’ scare campaign as a young gay woman; I do not appreciate politicians, political candidates, and neo-Nazis replaying it with trans people today. Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 2 Samuel 11:1 – 12:25, Advent, Advent 1, Bathsheba, Book of Ruth, Genesis 38, LGBTIQ, matthew 1:1-17, Queer People, Rahab, Ruth, scare campaigns, Tamar, transgender, Year of Matthew
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Reflection: As I have so often said, it’s all about love.
No matter how each gospel writer puts it, the core of Jesus’ message is the same. It is all, always, about love. Continue reading
Reflection: When the things of God and the Emperor conflict
As Christians, we too need to refuse to give our obedience and loyalty to ‘the emperor’ if the emperor is defacing the image of God by mistreating human beings. In such cases it is only by resisting the emperor that we can give to God the things that are God’s. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged civil disobedience, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, John Calvin, law, Martin Luther, Matthew 22:15-22, Reformation, Year of Matthew
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Reflection: What is that ‘wedding robe’ all about?
I hope that I have made it clear that while Matthew and Paul might disagree on the route of the journey, they are in full agreement about the destination. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Apostle Paul, feasting, good works, Joy, kingdom of heaven, Matthew 22:1-14, Philippians 4:1-9, Salvation, Year of Matthew
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Reflection: THIS is who we are
when we make mistakes, when the evil we do not want is what we do, we are still, always, no matter what, God’s children Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Apostle Paul, Brene Brown, identity, Letter to the Romans, love, Romans 8:1-11, Year of Matthew
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Reflection: Choosing the Gospel
Reflection for Western Heights 21st of June, 2020 Matthew 10:24-39 and Refugee Week I have to confess that the Gospel according to Matthew is my least favourite. (For those interested, my ranking of the canonical gospels is Luke, John, Mark, … Continue reading
Posted in Political Activism, Sermons
Tagged #LoveMakesAWay, Matthew 10:24-39, Refugee Week, Year of Matthew
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