You know, I have a problem with one of my neighbours.

It’s a problem which has been going on for some years now.  

Well my neighbour,

They have their sump pump runoff  

connected to a hose which squirts out water  

onto the street.

Now as I understand it,  

sump pumps are supposed to empty onto your yard,  

(above...

Ten years ago, I was fortunate to lead a tour group  

to the Holy Land.  

It was amazing to see some of the places where the events of  

Jesus likely occurred.  

The sites around the Sea of Galilee were most meaningful to me,  

as some of the landscape hasn’t changed much in 2000 years.

A place that particularly...

It’s hard to believe,  

but it’s been over 30 years since I was confirmed.  

My confirmation classes took place every Thursday evening for a year when I was in Grade 8,  

at St. John’s Lutheran church in downtown Montreal,  

the church where I was baptized and my family were members.  

My confirmation...

Many toxic plant have look-alikes that are harmless or even tasty (Wild Carrot vs. Poison Hemlock).…

—

Sometimes it is very challenging to distinguish the wheat from the weeds.

One helpful way, a Lutheran way, to look at this  

is to remember Luther’s claim,  

that we are at the same time saint and sinner. ( ...

Our sermon text today is from our Gospel of Matthew reading,  

and it’s sometime entitled “The Great Invitation”.

I’ll read it to you again in the Eugene Peterson translation.

Jesus says: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life....

In our reading from Leviticus this morning, the key to holy living is that we

must care for those living at the margins. This is not just an option, but a command from God,  

which applies to all people.

The command to seek food justice for the poor is as important as prohibitions on incest and human sacrifice,  

Seeking food security...

Our Gospel text from the very end of the Gospel of Luke,

tells of the last appearance of the risen Christ to his disciples.

It's the last time he'll really be seen by them

in a more or less material-physical sense

before he disappears and says goodbye to them.

He then “ascended into heaven,”

as we testify in the Creeds.

There are two...

During Lent this year, we will be using a Preaching Theme Series entitled “Unfinished, discovering God’s call in the not yet”.

Charlene Cox gives a good overview of the series:

“Honor the space between no longer and not yet,” so writes author and life coach, Nancy Levin.We can probably all think of a host of...

Jesus, Peter, James and John went up the mountain  

and had a glorious experience:  

Jesus was transfigured, he shone bright like a diamond,  

was announced as God’s son,  

and was seen to be talking with Moses and Elijah.  

And then the glorious event ended,  

the party was over,

And the four friends went...

You are the salt of the earth.

You are the Light of the World.

These words of Jesus to us are some of the best known words of Jesus.

They almost fail to jolt us and inspire us anymore.

How about this way of saying it: you are tasty and lit up!

Or as in Eugene Peterson’s translation of the Gospel text:

You’re here to be salt-seasoning...