Sermons & Worship Audio

Lent as Re-creation LENT I March 1, 2009Aldred Neufeldt   Lectionary Readings: Genesis 9:8-17  Psalm 25:1-10 Mark 1:9-15 I Peter 3:18-22   Introduction Ringing in my ears and mind these days are the wonderful words and harmonies of the Mass in B minor composed by Johann Sebastian Bach (John, for short).  No doubt   other members of Pax Christi Chorale, which is performing the Mass in late April, join me in this.  As I’ve engaged with the music, I have become ever more impressed by Bach’s…

Rooted in Jesus Baptism and Communion February 1, 2009David Brubacher   Texts: John 15:1-11 Psalm 111     The “sermon” this morning includes all the things you have already seen, heard and song.  Baptism and Communion will follow as further parts of the “sermon.”  Living as I do in the middle of the vineyards of the Niagara Peninsula I offer a few reflections on John 15, Jesus the True Vine, as pertaining to Baptism and Communion.             Several years ago our neighbours built…

  God’s Transforming Voice II Epiphany – The Baptism of our Lord January 11, 2009David Brubacher   Texts: Mark 1:4-11 Genesis 1:1-5 Psalm 29             The plant’s name I don’t remember. I learned of it during an overnight camel trek in the Negev desert in southern Israel.  It was July. It was hot and dry. The plant, indeed all plants, seemed to be dead. Taking a pod from the plant, our guide placed it in water…

A Subversive Welcome Epiphany January 4, 2009David Brubacher   Texts: Matthew 2:1-12 Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14             Most of us love a good story. Good stories, when they are really good, get under our skin to touch us in the depth of our being and cause us to change our mind. The story of Epiphany as we have heard it in the scriptures read today is a story like that. It is a subversive story.              Stories,…

God’s Grace Embodied IV Advent December 21, 2008David Brubacher   Texts: II Samuel 7:1-11, 16 Luke 1:26-38, 46-55             Somewhere within most of us there is a young child that likes to have its own way. That child can become so focused on the matter at hand that it insists on having its way. We might even throw a tantrum. Rage grips us as we perceive the injustice that keeps us from our desired objective.…

Something Old, Something New II Advent December 7, 2008 David Brubacher   Texts: Isaiah 40:1-11 Mark 1:1-8           My father-in-law always wore his glasses to eat. “Food tastes better that way,” he reasoned. He was suggesting seeing enhances taste. Today the conversation between our scriptures and our Advent theme reflects something of one sense enhancing another. Our theme, Let Your Face Shine, explores the faces of God shining upon us so that we might be saved.…

Where is God? I Advent November 30, 2008 David Brubacher   Texts: Isaiah 64:1-9 Mark 13:24-37           When our children were young, the Where is Waldo? books were popular with children, and adults. In a busy landscape of people and social activity the idea was to see how many times you could locate Waldo. Turning the book at different angles helped.             Today is I Advent. Our Advent theme, Let your face shine, invites us to…

Justice or Benevolence in Paul’s New Creation? Sermon VI in the “New Paul” series November 16, 2008 Tim Schmucker   Texts: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, 8:1-24  Ephesians 6:10-20           I’ve got to be honest with you this morning. This sermon’s about money; how we use money, how we accumulate money, how we share it, and how we don’t. It’s about money, and I’m nervous. You see, no matter if I’m preaching on Paul or Jesus or the…

Wrestling with Principalities and Powers in a post-Christian World Sermon V in the “New Paul” series November 9, 2008 Aldred Neufeldt   Texts: Psalm 93  Ephesians 6:10-20           Introduction             My commission in our series on the Apostle Paul’s letters to early church communities is to consider what he said about Powers and Principalities. What could be more appropriate on this Sunday before November 11 – Peace Sunday, a day when we as Mennonite and Brethren…

Paul’s Understanding of Grace November 2, 2008 Jonathan Slater           There are some things in Paul’s letters that are hard to understand, and which have been interpreted and used in ways that have been harmful.  Which is not to say that we should not read him, but be forewarned so that you don’t get “carried away with the error of the lawless and lose your own stability.” (2 Peter 3:16-17)   This warning from the second…