Perhaps important to acknowledge
is that we are in a time very similar to the very first Easter!

Easter 2020 is like Easter 33,

Where the disciples were huddled together in fear.

Things were deadly quiet. Things were weird and strange.

Hi children of God,

 

I am so glad you joined us this morning.  Happy Easter to you! 

 

What’s that word we look forward to saying on Easter?

Yes, you’ve got it. Alleluia!  Alleluia means, Praise the Lord.

 

Now I want you to say, Alleluia, as loud as you can.

 

Ready, set, GO! 

 
Okay. I...

Jesus lived his life, died and rose so that we all would receive God’s love,

and that Jesus would be in us, in our hearts.

Jesus did what he did, so that we would know him and thereby know God.

Because when we see Jesus, we see God!

Introduction: 

This morning, there are three parts to my reflection. The first is based on the scripture narratives of today, and the overarching narratives of our faith life. The second part is comprised of words of hope, prayer and lament for you. The third part is an audio clip from some of our children here at St. Matthews.  ...

Good morning, children of God! 

I hope you are all managing okay in the safety of your house. 

 

What have you been doing? Have you built some tents? Doing crafts? Writing messages on the sidewalks? Playing with lego?  I hope you are helping with chores. Some of your Sunday school teachers have been sewing masks. 

 

...

We are feeling like dried-up, disconnected bones, and we wonder:

will we ever get back to normal?

John 4:5-42

 

Sometimes scripture has words, phrases, images, questions that leap off the page.  Today I have such an experience when I read, and echo, the words of the disciples:

Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?

 

The disciples are really asking: why is there pain in the world?  Why is...

Dear St. Matthews family and our wider community,

 

This week the World Health Organization declared the Coronovirus to be a pandemic.  Covid - 19 has now come closer to home and we feel it is now our responsibility to take greater precautions as recommended by Health Canada .

 

Your Pastoral Team and Board of Directors wrestled...

But we need to move from a pessimistic nostalgia 

To a hopeful optimism, together, for the future,

Based on the resources of the past and present.

Both the Gospel and our sending hymn - Bless Now, O God, the Journey intrigue me. For my sermon, I’d like the two to have a conversation. 

Bless now, O God the journey that all your people make, the path through noise and silence, the way of give and take. The trail is found in desert and winds the mountain round, then leads beside...