THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS April 30th Jonathan Slater Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Although Easter was two weeks ago, today’s scripture reading invites us back to Easter, to the acclamation that Christ is Risen. It is also a text that raises the question of what we mean when we say Christ is Risen: In what sense is Jesus of Nazareth risen? What does it mean for us to proclaim that Christ is risen indeed? I suspect…
FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT April 16th, 2006 – Easter Sunday Shadell Permanand Texts: Acts 10: 34-43 Psalm 118:1-2; 14-24 John 20: 1-18 Introduction “This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it” – and I am glad! I’m very glad we’ve finally reached Easter Sunday. It does my soul good! It feels as though I have been waiting and hoping for this Easter Sunday to arrive since Advent began.…
AFTER THE HOSANNAS: TEMPLE-CLEARING AND TRUTH-TELLING April 9th, 2006 – Palm Sunday Tim Schmucker Texts: Psalm 118:19-29 Mark 11:1-11 Jesus’ so-called triumphal entry, on the surface, is a great candidate for the “happily ever after” syndrome. You know the story line. There is suspense, then a grand culmination, and all ends well. Life is great. Happily ever after. The stuff of fairy tales. Girl meets boy, romance blossoms, marriage, children and home, grandchildren, in short –…
THE LUXURY OF LENT April 2nd J.D. Penner Texts: John 12:20-33 Psalm 51:1-12 I must admit that I was excited by the performance of the Canadian athletes at the most recent Olympic Winter Games. Our family got hooked, and watched many of the events. Not being athletic ourselves (unless you include the non-stop energy of a five and three year olds), we admired the ability of the athletes. Whether it was skiing down a hill at the speed…
REDEFINING FAIRNESS March 26th, 2006 Darren Pries-Klassen Text: Luke 15:11- 32: The Story of the Lost Son and his Brother (The Message: the New Testament in Contemporary English by Eugene Peterson) Then Jesus said, “There was once a man who had two sons. The younger said to his father, ‘Father, I want right now what’s coming to me.’ “So the father divided the property between them. It wasn’t long before the younger son packed his bags and…
Hidden faults, enslaved hearts, and other ordinary sins March 19th, 2006 Geoff Wichert Texts: Ex. 20:1-17, Ps 19:7-14, Rom 7:13-25 Opening Ps. 19:14 – Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. I Used to Know What Sin Was I used to know what sin was it was simple and personal; things I did wrong, usually “on purpose” it was yelling at…
WATER, SPIRIT AND BLOOD February 12, 2006 Doug Pritchard John 3:1-7 Romans 6:1-4 This is only half a sermon as our Incoming Chair John Lobach is in Winnipeg this weekend and will need to do his half another day. And there is only half a congregation it seems with Leo Thiessen’s pew empty. When I spoke to you at this time last year as incoming Board Chair, I used the image of the people of God in the desert at…
Menno Amongst Us – one perspective February 5, 2006 Jana Schmidt When I was 14 years old, I realized for the first time that I didn’t want to be Mennonite. Well, no – not exactly. I strongly believed in the values – I was a devout pacifist (without being able to precisely explain why). I was eagerly anticipating my own personal choice to be baptized. I worshipped on Sunday mornings within a wonderful community. I had a great respect…
FREE IN CHRIST: LIBERAL IN CONSIDERATION — CONSERVATIVE IN LIBERTY January 29th, 2006 Jeff Taylor Text: 1 Corinthians 8Note: 1 Corinthians 8 was read twice by Brad Lepp: once earlier in service with little inflection, then just before sermon with a sardonic, even slightly caustic tone. 1 Corinthians 8 (NIV) 1Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge.[a] Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2The man who thinks he knows something does not…
THE ANABAPTIST VISION: MENNONITE MANIFESTO OR IMMODERATE MYTH? January 22nd, 2006 Jonathan Seiling Texts: Psalm 118:1-6Mark 1:14-202 Corinthians 6:1-10Q: For those who are parents here: If you had to fill out a form about your children who are not yet baptized, (e.g. school), and it asked a question about the child’s religion or religious identity, what would you say, regardless of the age of your child? Who would write “NO RELIGION WHATSOEVER”?Who would write “Christian” or “Mennonite”? If you…