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...

What kind of God do we have?  

What do we know about God?

What is your image of God?  

Is he a stern santa on a cloud?

The Beatitudes are that section from our Gospel reading that begins:  

Blessed are the poor in spirit…

I believe that

The Beatitudes are at the heart of what it means to be a Christian.

The Beatitudes are...

—

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity  

is an ecumenical international Christian week,  

normally celebrated in the Northern Hemisphere  

between January 18th and 25th.  

For this observance, some churches might organize daily events,

or concentrate on one joint service with neighbouring churches.

The beginning of...

Today we hear about the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, his first public event as man, prophet and teacher.

His ministry started with his baptism by his cousin, John,

Who symbolically dunked him underwater at the river Jordan.

As a baptized child of God, Jesus would go about his mission helping people and talking about God.

As we remember...

The good news of the extraordinary birth has to do with the fact that Jesus will be brutally executed? 

That’s not so cute, and isn't something to ooh and aah about!

The birth is special because of the baby’s death.

And yes, Christmas without keeping Good Friday and Easter in mind is absurd.