St. George's United Church episodes:

• October 09, 2016Sermon: "Grace and Gratitude," October 9, 2016

  Friends, this is the power that gratitude can have. It’s not something so

  glib as “be positive.” It’s not something so simple as “be satisfied with

  what you’ve got.” Or “changing our personal vibrations,” in the words of

  our dear friend Oprah. No, it’s so much more. It’s that within all of our

  lives. However joyous they may be. Or however dark they may become. Within

  each of these, within our world, there is light, if we have the eyes to

  see.

  ...more

  

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• September 29, 2016Sermon: "Bound Together," September 25, 2016

  Like the rich man, we can spend our whole lives putting up a gate between

  us and suffering. Without even knowing it. Even in church. We do our best

  to separate ourselves from the suffering of others—especially the weak, the

  oppressed, and the lost. But Jesus says when we do this, we are like the

  rich man hiding himself from Lazarus. We are actually hiding ourselves from

  God.

  ...more

  

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• September 29, 2016Sermon: "Bound Together," September 25, 2016

  Like the rich man, we can spend our whole lives putting up a gate between

  us and suffering. Without even knowing it. Even in church. We do our best

  to separate ourselves from the suffering of others—especially the weak, the

  oppressed, and the lost. But Jesus says when we do this, we are like the

  rich man hiding himself from Lazarus. We are actually hiding ourselves from

  God.

  ...more

  

  ---

• September 11, 2016Sermon: "Lost and Found," September 11, 2016

  in considering this morning’s scripture, I started to wonder if we’ve not

  only misunderstood how the Christian tradition thinks about non-Christians.

  We may have also misunderstood something fundamental about Christianity

  itself. What if Christianity isn’t a way for us to get to God… and

  everybody else be damned. But what if it’s a way for God to get at us?

  ...more

  

  ---

• September 11, 2016Sermon: "Lost and Found," September 11, 2016

  in considering this morning’s scripture, I started to wonder if we’ve not

  only misunderstood how the Christian tradition thinks about non-Christians.

  We may have also misunderstood something fundamental about Christianity

  itself. What if Christianity isn’t a way for us to get to God… and

  everybody else be damned. But what if it’s a way for God to get at us?

  ...more

  

  ---

• August 29, 2016Sermon: "New Table Manners," August 28, 2016

  Like the Pharisees in our passage, we can have all the right opinions on

  all the right issues. We can serve people, we can give our time, and our

  money. We can be all about justice. We can do all of these things. And not

  have a single friend, or relationship with someone who is different than

  us.

  ...more

  

  ---

• August 29, 2016Sermon: "New Table Manners," August 28, 2016

  Like the Pharisees in our passage, we can have all the right opinions on

  all the right issues. We can serve people, we can give our time, and our

  money. We can be all about justice. We can do all of these things. And not

  have a single friend, or relationship with someone who is different than

  us.

  ...more

  

  ---

• August 22, 2016Sermon: "More than Just Words," August 21, 2016

  Even in the world we live in, words don’t have to be “just words.” The

  Bible, the Christian tradition, the way of Jesus Christ, puts huge stock in

  the power of words. “In the beginning” says the book of Genesis. God spoke…

  and it was.” The cosmos created by an act of loving speech. And Jesus is

  named as “the Word made flesh.” That same spark that brought the universe

  in to being was fully present in the life of Jesus. God’s loving speech to

  us. One who was able to create a whole new world for us with his words, his

  teachings, and his touch, his death and his new life. And that, by the

  Spirit, this same spark is able to heal and set free. Able to re-create our

  own lives and our own world. Here and now.

  ...more

  

  ---

• August 22, 2016Sermon: "More than Just Words," August 21, 2016

  Even in the world we live in, words don’t have to be “just words.” The

  Bible, the Christian tradition, the way of Jesus Christ, puts huge stock in

  the power of words. “In the beginning” says the book of Genesis. God spoke…

  and it was.” The cosmos created by an act of loving speech. And Jesus is

  named as “the Word made flesh.” That same spark that brought the universe

  in to being was fully present in the life of Jesus. God’s loving speech to

  us. One who was able to create a whole new world for us with his words, his

  teachings, and his touch, his death and his new life. And that, by the

  Spirit, this same spark is able to heal and set free. Able to re-create our

  own lives and our own world. Here and now.

  ...more

  

  ---

• August 07, 2016Sermon: "A Diagnosis... and a Prescription," August 7, 2016

  In our text for this morning, Jesus, the great physician of our souls,

  offers us a diagnosis. That our hearts are not set where they are supposed

  to be. They are set towards earthly goods that do not last, and will never

  satisfy, yes. But Jesus he also offers a treatment. When Jesus says to sell

  what we have, and give alms, to sell what we have and give it away. He’s

  giving a prescription for fullness of life. Jesus prescribes giving, he

  prescribes a deep generosity, as the treatment for what ails our hearts and

  our souls.

  ...more

  

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