Young UC

Is the story of the resurrection just a ancient "magic trick," or is it something much deeper? In this final instalment of our Lenten theme, "Going All In," we grapple with the weirdness, the skepticism, and the cultural overexposure of Easter to find the heartbeat of the story.

Moving beyond the debate of literal vs. metaphorical, we explore the idea that resurrection isn't a violation of the laws of nature, but the ultimate reveal of how the universe actually works. From the death of stars and the germination of seeds to personal transformations in the trans community and the "resurrection" of neighborliness during a pandemic, we see God making all things new. Join us as we learn what it means to be a people of New Life, trusting that death is never the end.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 28

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This sermon was preached in Winnipeg on April 5, 2026.

All In: Liturgical Theme All in for Resurrection © 2025 Barn Geese Worship. Used by permission.

Why do we call this Sunday both "Palm" and "Passion"? In this message, we reflect on how Holy Week embodies God going "all in" for creation. From the exuberant shouts of the Jerusalem crowds to the quiet intimacy of a final meal and the lifegiving terror of the cross, we see a God who refuses to play it safe.

Drawing on the poetry of R.S. Thomas and Rumi, we explore why the "best and most fruitful people" are those who don't dispense with the storms. We also celebrate the unique way our community practices this—sharing both our deepest joys and our heaviest griefs—as we answer Christ's call to "remain awake" to the fullness of what it means to be alive.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 21:1-11

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All In: Liturgical Theme All in for the Highs and the Lows © 2025 Barn Geese Worship. Used by permission.

Children's Story referenced - The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld

This sermon was preached in Winnipeg on March 29, 2026.

For centuries, scientists missed a massive network in the human body—the Interstitium—because they assumed what they saw under the microscope was just "noise." In this sermon, we explore how our own "knowledge" often blinds us to the wonder of God.

Reflecting on John 11:1-45, we look at Martha’s incredible "Yes" in the face of her brother Lazarus's death. Faith isn't about believing in the impossible; it’s the humble admission that we don't know everything. What happens when we let go of our assumptions about our brokenness, our scarcity, and even our ends? When we stop assuming the future is only one of decline, what new life can grow in the cracks?

Scripture Reading: John 11:1-45

Watch the full worship service: https://youtu.be/zrRCOlHNV58

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All In: Liturgical Theme All in for Letting Go © 2025 Barn Geese Worship. Used by permission.

This sermon was preached in Winnipeg on March 22, 2026.

What if "Salt of the Earth" isn't about flavoring, but about keeping a fire hot, sealing a covenant, or healing a wound? Drawing on archaeology and ancient history, this sermon explores the diverse roles salt played in the time of Jesus—from earthenware ovens to Roman salaries and sacred sacrifices.

We look at the Greek word moranthe, which suggests that "losing our saltiness" isn't about becoming tasteless, but about becoming "inert" or "foolish." Whether you are a healer, a helper, or a fire-starter, your specific "saltiness" is a unique gift to the world. Don't become flavorless dust; live into the distinct essence God has placed within you.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:13-20

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When Jesus delivered the Beatitudes, he wasn't listing checkmarks for personal holiness or promising a fluffy reward in the clouds after we die. He was issuing a thesis statement for a new world—the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

In this message, we explore how the Beatitudes stand in direct opposition to the "Kingdom of Empire" that creates winners and losers, wounds the vulnerable, and colonizes the spirit. The Church’s true purpose isn't just to read these words, but to inhabit them. If the world creates distance, we create proximity. If the world creates winners, we create family.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:1-12

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Why did Jesus begin his ministry standing in a cold line at the river Jordan instead of the halls of power or the Temple? This sermon reflects on Matthew 3:13-17, exploring why the "repentant" crowd was the perfect soil for Christ's movement.

We often "dig in" and defend our mistakes because we are terrified that being wrong makes us worthless. But the people at the Jordan knew a deeper truth: Repentance isn't the price we pay for grace; it is the evidence that we have already been touched by it. Discover the freedom of being a "Beloved Child" of God—a status you hold before you ever succeed, and even when you fail.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 3:13-17

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Why did God choose to dwell in flesh? Drawing inspiration from the Upanishads and the foundational text of John 1:1-18, this sermon explores the profound purpose of the Incarnation. We find that God's desire is not to overcome distance, but to overcome the illusion of our own isolation—to pull us from "I am" into "We are." The physical world is inseparable from the Divine.

We challenge the focus on "Right Belief" and explore the call to Right Relationship with all things. This includes embracing the "Harmony Way" concept that recognizes our kinship with all of creation—the rocks, the rivers, our neighbours, and our enemies. The light that shines in the darkness is the recognition that we are one family, one life in God.

Scripture Reading: John 1:1-18

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We all anticipate a distant future—a promised land, retirement, or the afterlife. But drawing on the woodcutter's wisdom and the returning exiles of Judah (Isaiah 35), this sermon reminds us that Christian faith is not "God will be with us," but Immanuel: "God IS with us."

We are called to stop looking over the horizon for the oasis and recognize the miraculous blooms already springing up in the desert around us. The Holy Highway of justice, peace, and hope is not a destination ahead, but the path blooming right under our feet, now.

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 35

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From a slime mould mapping a rail system to the chaos of the Cambrian Explosion, nature shows us that new life and great solutions emerge from a profusion of experiments. This sermon explores Isaiah 11's prophecy of the "shoot from the stump of Jesse" not as a single sprout, but as a myriad of possibilities emerging after a loss.

We are invited to be daring, to send out many threads, and to trust that the shoots guided by Christ's path—compassion, empathy, and love—will grow into the remade world God promises.

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 11

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Advent is a season of hopeful tension, embracing the idea that God's new world is both Already here (seen in moments of grace and peace, like Jerusalem's relief from Assyria) and Not Yet fully realized. Drawing on Isaiah 2:1-5 and Matthew 24:36-44, this sermon encourages us to live in what Parker Palmer calls the "Tragic Gap" between the real and the ideal.

We explore how glimpses of compassion, justice, and peace—like turning guns into trumpets—are signs of what could be, calling us to live as though Christ's peaceful reign has already begun.

Watch the full worship service

Learn more about us: www.youngunitedchurch.com