—

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...

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.

(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...

Sermon: Amos 7:7-15 

“Showdown with Amos”

Amos is one of my favourite Old Testament Prophets.

He lived in the 8th century before Christ,  

Amos was from Tekoa, a town south of Bethlehem

a farmer,

he travelled from Judah to the Northern Kingdom of Israel,

to the main cities of Samaria and Bethel

he was active for a short...

Strength in Weakness: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10

The summer of 2002  

was supposed to be a fantastic time for me…

I had just finished my first year of my Master’s in Music  

and I had great plans…

I was playing background music most days at a fancy restaurant  

in Old Montreal,  

It was my first regular paying...

Today is the first Sunday in Lent.  

I’d like to begin by repeating my introduction from Ash Wednesday,  

as it sets the scene for the upcoming weeks:

The key word for the season is “Altered”  

A-L-T-E-R not  

A-L-T-A-R which is a table for performing sacrifices. (Point)

The definition for A-L-T-E-R is to...