Easter Sunday   

John 20:1-18

 

While it was still dark….

 

The Easter Gospel opens with these words.  

 

While it was still dark, in those brilliant early morning hours when most of the world still slept, Mary gets up and goes to the tomb.

 

While it was still dark…

Even as the sun had not yet...

Well, Thomas is given the choice: of unbelief or belief.

Jesus doesn’t force faith on Thomas,

There is no ultimatum, no threats, no shunning or guilt-trips.

There just is love shown and demonstrated…

the wounds of love are shown, 

The marks of God’s compassion are revealed 

and Thomas is spoken to in the way that he can best understand it, 

by an act of love.

It’s almost impossible not to come to a Good Friday service 

and feel sorry for your imperfections, 

and assume that the sermon will have as its title: 

“Jesus died for your sins.” 

And no doubt there will be a majority of preachers today preaching a sermon on precisely that theme.

In our year of living with COVID-19, 

many of us have felt like we’re under siege as well.

We’ve been fearful these past 12 months.

Fourth Sunday in Lent
Numbers 21:4-9, John 3:14-21

 

I’ve said this before,

God’s word invites us to enter into the story and to become a part.  Yes, there’s a God moment happening again today… unfolding in our midst. Do you want to be a part?  Of course you do. However, your enthusiasm might depend on...

Whoever now visits this coastline, and drives along the coastal highway, will notice an impressive row of exclusive clubhouses.

The coastline is still as dangerous as ever, 

but most of the shipwrecked people drown.

We need to repent and lament these texts that have been taken for over the centuries to abuse Black people.

Transfiguration Sunday
Mark 9:2-9

Six days later. 

 

The Gospel opens with these words. Whenever an event is marked by days since - it’s clear something big took place. 

 

We often mark life events in this way. One year ago we entered pandemic life. 

Five years ago, the doctors gave you a cancer free diagnosis. 9...

What authority can we muster to destroy racism and prejudice?

What authority can we claim to search out the white supremacy culture in our own hearts, in our own institutions?

What power can we summon to call out the evils of consumer capitalism that enrich the Wall Street gamblers 

and the top 0.01% 

while the have-nots and Black, Indigenous and People of Colour continue to be disproportionately affected by COVID?

Epiphany Sermon

Matthew 2:1-12

 

At my previous church in Toronto, there was a small glass tile cross, back lit by the sun behind the altar. There wasn’t anything fancy about the cross, as the church had more of a quaint cottage like feel. It wasn’t ornate stained glass but it let in the light.  As the faithful made their...