Many of us are familiar with the rich metaphor, used by Paul in his letter to the church in Corinth, to describe the communities of Christ-followers as “the body of Christ.” This text and metaphor grounds today’s reflections and questions. Who is a part of the body of Christ? How large is this body? What’s the purpose of this body of Christ? How does this body relate to the world, and to other bodies? Rev. Dr. Elisabeth Jones Invites us to consider all of these questions, to re-member the Body of Christ. 

Hear the Gospel reading from 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a in the livestream recording.

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Today and for the next few weeks of this Epiphany season – a season of spiritual enlightenment – we are given countless glimpses of the holy, guiding, providing, restoring character of Creator God. We’re seeking that holy wisdom as we reflect on what it means for us to “be the body of Christ.” Today we ask, “What is it God is asking us to do as the body of Christ, right here, right now?” Guiding us is a mysterious, at times comical, but always profound, incident told by John of Jesus’ response to a lack of wedding wine!

Hear the Gospel reading from John 2:1-11 in the livestream recording.

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At his baptism, Jesus joins us in the waters and reveals God’s renewing love. The Spirit descends, God’s voice declares him beloved, and we glimpse the grace that surrounds us. In her reflection, Candidate Minister Jessica Gauthier invites us to reflect on what it might mean to “swim in the waters of grace,” immersed in the Spirit and called into new life.

Hear the Gospel reading from Luke 3:11-22 in the livestream recording.

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God’s Wisdom, enfleshed in Jesus, touches all of Creation—boundless, mysterious, and beyond our full comprehension. In humility, we seek the Wisdom to follow the Light, knowing we cannot see the full picture but trusting in God’s unfathomable Love to guide and transform us. In her Epiphany Sunday reflection, Candidate Minister Jessica Gauthier invites us to reflect on the many-sided wisdom of God. 

Hear the story of the Magi and the Star from Matthew 2:1-12 and the reading from the New Testament, Ephesians 3:1-12, in the livestream recording.

Connect with Cedar Park United here:

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Welcome to the Cedar Park United podcast!  On December 29, when several churches from the West Island of Montreal gathered for an ecumenical worship service, a whimsical version of the Christmas story was shared by a cast of people from the various congregations. It was so delightful, we’ve chosen to make it today’s podcast so that all of our communities of faith can laugh, smile and be inspired by this story of a little mouse who can’t figure out what his gift for the baby Jesus could possibly be. 

This worship service was graciously hosted onsite and online by Merging Waters United Church. The story was adapted by Rev. Steve Gillam into “The Story of Michael Mouse” from the Wild Goose Publications’ story,  “Cloth for the Cradle”. The parts were voiced by the following people:

Michael Mouse: Steve Gillam (Lakeshore Trinity United)

Mrs. Ewe: Susan Barry, with Carling Barry and the kids (Merging Waters United) 

Mrs. Hen: Martha Randy (Cedar Park United)

Owl: Robert McLachlan (All Saints by the Lake Anglican Church)

Cow: Lisa Beyer de Wever (Merging Waters)

Cat: Terry Hidichuk (All Saints by the Lake Anglican Church)

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In this short Christmas Eve reflection, Rev. Dr. Elisabeth Jones invites us to ponder how Jesus’ birth can be good news for humans at the margins, and for the wilderness, and the Earth herself.

To hear the Scripture reading from Luke’s beautiful telling of the birth of Jesus, head to the livestream recording.

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Welcome to the Cedar Park United Podcast! Today, we invite you to settle in and participate in a midrashic retelling of  Luke’s story of Mary and her cousin Elizabeth. (Midrash is the way we come at a Biblical text, asking questions about the gaps in the text, and allowing one’s faithful imagination to fill those gaps with possibilities). The Gospeller Luke begins, and the women – Elizabeth, Mary, and two life-long friends of the women, Susanna and Ruth – take over, telling those important details often hidden by layers of patriarchy.

This “reader’s theatre” was written by Rev. Dr. Elisabeth Jones and read here by Shelley Snow (Elizabeth), Jessica Gauthier (Mary), Pat Jones (Ruth), Martha Randy (Susanna) and Chris Clement (the Gospeller Luke).

The outro at the end of this episode is from More Voices 120, Magnificat: Canticle of the Turning,  played by Dr. Wayne Johnson.

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Welcome to the Cedar Park United Podcast! 

Gaudete! Joy!! Today interrupts the deepening winter, and seasonal melancholy, with joy, whether we’re ready or not.

Hear the reading of the scriptures, from Zephaniah 3: 14-2 and Philippians 4:4-7 in the livestream recording.

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Welcome to the Cedar Park United Podcast! 

As Advent unfolds, we hear the call to peace: peace within ourselves, peace among us, and peace for all creation. In a world marked by conflict, division, and uncertainty, what does it mean to wait for the peace of Christ? How does this peace differ from what we often imagine? Today, as we gather at Christ’s table, may we be nourished by the promise of peace that restores, renews, and unites all things. Candidate Minister Jessica Gauthier invites us to reflect on all of these things.

Hear the reading of the scriptures, from Luke 1:67-80, The Song of Zechariah and Luke 3:1-6, the story of John the Baptist in the livestream recording.

Connect with Cedar Park United here:

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Welcome to the Cedar Park United Podcast! 

“Christus Paradox” is perhaps the most apt way of describing what the “reign” of Christ means. The reign of Christ is nothing like the rule of kings, political parties, empires. It consists of little things, like compassionate and kind acts, like peace as a response to war, and like love-in-action away from the spotlight. That is the “reign” that we focus on today. In her reflection, Rev. Dr. Elisabeth Jones reminds us that “today is the day when we do our best to hold all the paradoxes together.”

Hear the reading of the scriptures, from Revelation: 1:4b-7 and John 18:33-37 in the livestream recording.

Connect with Cedar Park United here:

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