Rebuilding with Faith, Love & Community

You can listen to the audio here. First some back story… unlike much of our Scripture, this reading is dated carefully and precisely, in 520 BC/BCE, according to our calendar. Darius, the super-power of the day, recognized the right of the Jews to rebuild the Temple, but the Temple work languished. Haggai was utterly convinced…

The Essential Ingredient

If you prefer to listen to the sermon, click here. Is there anything more welcoming to come home to than the smell of bread baking? That rich aroma that tells you supper is almost ready and not to worry, everything is going to be all right. I love to bake and the ritual of mixing…

Crying Over Stuffed Animals

These stuffed animals, placed on the porch of the house my church owns, the house that became a home for a Syrian refugee family till a short time ago, moved me to tears in a way that was unexpected, as I arrived at the church last Friday to make the final preparations for the community…

Cluttered, Clearing, Connected

The possibility of peace between North and South Korea… the conviction of Bill Cosby… 10 people, mainly women, mowed down and killed by a driver… many more injured… a calm police officer… the death of a Edna DeMann’s brother… a fundraising dinner… a Conference Executive meeting… All of these played on my heart and mind…

Love Our Neighbour

In this world of strife and anger In this world of doubt and pain. Jesus joins us on the journey Daring us to live God’s reign. Love our neighbour, love one another. Love our God, this is the way. Love abundant, love expanding Love is more than words to say. We are givers, we are…

You Are Loved and You Matter

On my way in to the church on Thursday I listened to an interview with Mitch Albom, the man who wrote Tuesdays with Morrie. It’s the 20th anniversary of the book. For those of you who might not be familiar with it, Tuesdays with Morrie is the final lesson between a college professor, Morrie, and one…

Who Wants to Get Stoned?

  People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. A rolling stone gathers no moss. The only difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones is the way you use them. There is no end to quotes about stones. How many of you were scratching your head at the sign this week? Gary was a bit skeptical when I told…

Love is Love is Love

It’s been a tough week… locally and around the world… tragedy and terrorism… tears and turmoil. We bring all of that into this place O God… and we also bring hope… and trust… hope and trust that those things don’t have the final say… amen. There are a variety of things colliding this Sunday… it…