The world is full of big, important people doing big, important things. Yet, what about the unremarkable lives most of us live? Fr. Stephen explains how Christmas reveals the value God places on ordinary lives.

Scripture reference: Luke 2:1-20

Preached on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2019 by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne

• Most of us wonder if our lives have meaning
• Christmas tells the story of lives which don't seem meaningful at first
• Yet, God's messengers show us that they really are
• The ongoing message of Christmas is to show us our lives are meaningful

It's a Wonderful Life. A heart-warming story of an ordinary man who comes to understand the importance and meaning of his life's actions.

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Most of us at some time wish we got more credit for what we do. We see others getting praised, when we know we work just as hard as them. Sometimes, others get to shine as stars when we are left in supporting roles. Yet, the Bible often shows us that supporting characters are deeply important to the story of salvation. In this sermon, Fr. Stephen holds up St. Joseph as an example of the importance supporting characters play. His supportive role, behind the scenes, is what allows the main characters to shine and what allows the drama of salvation to play out as God intended.

Scripture reference: Matthew 1:18-25

Preached on the 4th Sunday of Advent, December 22, 2019 by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne

• Supporting characters can make or break a film production
• St. Joseph is a supporting character in Jesus' story
• Joseph has the humility to allow Jesus to shine
• Joseph has the obedience to do as God commands
• Christians who work without fame are just as important as those who have it
• Christian faithfulness comes from obedience, even if we have a hard time feeling emotionally engaged

The Phantom Menace. This is the first of the Star Wars prequels.

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Unanswered prayers and unrealized hopes are some of the most difficult challenges to our faith. Sometimes, they can leave us feeling that God has lost interest in us, or perhaps doesn't love us very much. In today's sermon, Fr. Stephen challenges us to ask whether our disappointments come from God's inaction, or whether they come from us not looking where God is acting. He is at work, but we need the eyes to see it.

Scripture Passages: Matthew 11:2-19; Isaiah 35

Preached on the 3rd Sunday of Advent, December 15, 2009 by Rev.Stephen Silverthorne

• We often fail to distinguish between needs and wants
• John the Baptist was a faithful prophet
• John the Baptist was disappointed that Jesus didn't act in the way he expected
• John was challenged to see God worked in different way than expected
• We are challenged in the same way
• When the world or our lives go wrong, we expect certain action from God
• We need humility to ask God to show where He is at work, not just where we want Him to be

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We all want peace. Yet, do we dare to hope for it when this has so often been disappointed? Peace isn't easy, and it is costly. Here, Rev. Lisa Pacarynuk reflects on the hope for peace, and the cost of making peace. Peace comes through repentance. This is more than feeling sorry. It is in turning our lives around to become peacemakers through God's grace

Scripture Reference: Matthew 3:1-12

Preached on the 2nd Sunday of Advent, December 8, 2019 by Rev. Lisa Pacarynuk

• We often despair that peace doesn't come
• Yet, peace isn't something we passively receive
• Peace is made through action
• John the Baptist calls us to repentance
• Repentance means changing direction, and making peace our personal responsibility
• In Advent, we hope for change because God's grace makes us agents of change
• Christ's coming means preparing ourselves and our world for His coming
• This involves us owning our need for change
• Christ's power destroys the old in order to change us for the better

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Homelessness and poverty are large societal problems. They can seem overwhelming to us. Yet, scripture tells us repeatedly that caring for the poor, the homeless and the children are central to God's mission. How can we practice bring justice and hope when we feel so helpless? Rev. Ken Maclaren, the director of Ottawa Inner City Ministries, speaks to us on the work he and his organization does for the poor of Ottawa. He also gives guidance on how we can join in this important work as everyday disciples of Jesus.

Scripture Passage: Micah 6:8

Preached on the First Sunday of Advent, December 1, 2019 by Rev. Ken Maclaren

• Scripture repeatedly tells us to do small things which advance justice
• We can do small things which lead up to a big difference in people's lives
• Justice begins with treating people as people
• Try seeing homeless people as people rather than problems
• Take time to listen to people's stories
• Pay attention to your own assumptions
• Jesus took time for people and listened to their stories
• We can have an impact if we do the same

Learn more about Ottawa Inner City Ministries

Watch a video highlighting the work OICM does

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Christians call Jesus King. Yet, we also say he died a very undignified and shameful death. What kind of king is Jesus, who lets himself be captured, humiliated and tortured to death on a cross? This sermon argues that the way Jesus died isn't a sign of his weakness. Instead, it's a sign that he is a king who is willing to suffer any kind of shame and pain in order to complete his mission of grace.

Scripture Passage: Luke 23:33-46

Preached on Christ the King Sunday, November 24, 2019 by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne

• Most people fear humiliation as much as they fear death
• The Church shows us her king suffering both of these
• This doesn't reveal Jesus as weak
• It reveals a king who is willing to suffer for the sake of his mission of liberation
• The Church is called to accomplish the king's mission on earth
• This means sometimes accepting shame and marginalization
• Each Christian is called to accomplish Jesus' mission their own life
• This means sometimes accepting shame and marginalization too

They Shall Not Grow Old. A ground-breaking documentary on the British Infantry serving in the trenches of WWI

The Crown A dramatic series focusing on the reign of Queen Elizabeth II

Jesu, Lover of my Soul A moving hymn composed by Charles Wesley.

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Christians are used to hearing that God loves us. Yet, how often do we hear that God loves even the rocks, trees and animals? Today's sermon reflects on the value God places on all of creation, and what creation can tell us about ourselves and our God.

Scripture References: Genesis 1 & 2; Joel 2:21-27; Matthew 6:25-34

Preached on Rogation Sunday, November 17, 2019 by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne

• All creatures on earth are dependent on each other
• We should take steps to remind ourselves of this dependence
• Humans have special responsibility to the rest of creation
• Our role in creation should remind us of God's role in our lives
• We can learn from pets what our attitude to God should be

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Today's culture makes us believe that romantic success is the most important of human achievements. Yet, Jesus himself neither married nor had children. Jesus' teaching tells us that marriage is important, but ultimately a means to an end. It serves to prepare us for the life of resurrection which is to come. Yet, in Christ it is not the only way we are prepared. Instead, the church should offer us a place where both the single and married find opportunities to serve and to grow more fully into maturity

Scripture Reference: Luke 20:27-40

Preached on the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost, November 10, 2019 by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne

• Information on the Sadducees
• Information on Israel's marriage practices
• Jesus gives picture of resurrection life
• Marriage is meant to help us achieve that, but is not the only thing which can
• Jesus makes his disciples his family
• Church should be a place where singles find a true family
• Marriage provides opportunity to serve like Jesus did
• Singleness and marriage are twin paths with same goal
• So, shouldn't feel being one or the other is the most important goal in life

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Saints are an important part of Christian life and practice, but controversies about them can keep us from appreciating this importance. They present us with a picture of what life fully lived for God looks like. They are ones who lived out Jesus' words in the beatitudes and in his command to love enemies. They were able to do so because they kept their eyes fixed on God's kingdom and believed that His promises of blessing would come true.

Scripture Reference: Luke 6:20-36

Preached on All Saints' Sunday, November 3, 2019 by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne

• The beauty of the words can blind us to how rich the beatitudes are with meaning
• Beatitudes invite us to trust in God's promise of future blessings
• We experience freedom today by trusting God's tomorrow
• Loving enemies has power to change them
• Loving enemies has power to change us

The Sermon on the Mount by Dale Allison. A thorough treatment of the Sermon on the Mount, including the beatitudes.

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We all prefer to hear what we want to hear. Fewer people still strive to hear what they need to hear, even if it's not what they want. In this sermon, Fr. Stephen speaks about the importance of providing avenues for hearing what God wants to say, even if it isn't what you wanted. Being challenged in godliness is what makes us grow more Christlike, so stay in places where that challenge is made.

Scripture reference: 2 Timothy 3:10-4:5

Preached on the 19th Sunday after Pentecost, October 20th, 2019, by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne

• Bad leaders surround themselves with Yes-men
• Good leaders surround themselves with truth-tellers
• Paul challenges Christian leaders to be open to truthful critique
• Congregations should expect and encourage hard truths from leaders
• All Christians should let Scripture challenge us
• We can be truth-tellers and livers in the world
• Our integrity is the best witness to Jesus
• Living in godly way is threatening to the world
• Jesus will accompany us in this way
• He will carry us to finish when we grow weary

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