Third Sunday after Epiphany

January 26, 2025

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10

Psalm 19

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

Luke 4:14-21

A highlight for me this week was meeting up with two childhood friends.  

Our meet ups are infrequent yet consistent.  

Time and space dictate the possibilities because

my childhood besties have move around the world - ...

—

I want to begin by saying what an honour and privilege it is  

to be invited by your minister Hoeun to preach and lead worship  

here at First United,  

while he is busy at St. Matthews.

Thank you.

Thank you also to Kathleen for the invitation to perform some pieces  

I’ve wanted to play for some time.

Pulpit exchanges are...

The song I played earlier,

You raise me up https: www.youtube.com watch?v=4skT6igCK7g

is a song composed by Norwegian artist Rolf Lovland with lyricist Brendan Graham in 2002.

“You Raise me up” was performed first at Lovland’s mother’s funeral.  

It’s a very popular song,  

having been covered by over five...

Seeing Mary as a fierce, active follower of God 

can summon us to focus

This evening less on “silent night, holy night”

And more on shattering vanilla hetero-normativity,

Demolishing white cis privilege, for example.

It might provoke us to move beyond

weepy nostalgia for past structures

Into disrupting systems of oppression, 

(Which keep the power amongst the powerful).

It means less listening and trusting in oligarchs and strongmen

and more listening and trusting in God.

Today we have the first of a two-part sermon on the hidden women in the Bible:

Women who are hiding in plain sight, right behind the main character of the story.

Today we focus on Elizabeth.

I find it interesting that we hear about Elizabeth only one single time  

in the three-year Lectionary, or reading cycle.  

One Sunday out of 156.

...

If you were looking for a modern-day John the Baptist, who would be an acceptable candidate?

I’d like to propose

Pussy Riot

Pussy Riot is a feminist punk rock  

and performance art collective from Russia,  

known for their outspoken activism and provocative performances  

that combine music, visual art, and political...

When have you hit a fork in the road?   A junction or crossroad, where you had to choose the path you would take?  

Decisions about relationships, finances, health, work, how we spend our time, who we spend our time with, ethical choices or faith.   Some forks in the road are small while others are large. Yes, these forks in the...

Instead, we need to remember Jesus’ way was that of servanthood, 

The suffering servant is lifted up on a cross, the tree of shame,

Where God comes nearest identifying with the distressed and the outcast.

“Yesterday"

Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away.

Now it looks as though they're here to stay.

Oh, I believe in yesterday.

You know the song. And the obvious question, who’s the band?   The challenges of the day make yesterday seem like a walk in the park. The song speaks of a challenge and a relational mess. Something...

(James 1)

This morning, we focus on the indigenous grandmother grandfather teaching of honesty,  

Along with a reflection based on James.

Each of the 7 teachings has an animal that is paired with the virtue, to better illustrate it, and make it more personal.  

Different First Nations pair the teaching or virtue  

with different...