how to arrive at christmas: the magi - rev. nick coates
Advent is when we take time to ask ‘how am I supposed to show up on Christmas?’ If we look to the story of the Magi, the answer we find is we show up open, ready to change, grow, and become.
what 'joy to the world' says to me about christmas - liz
This Advent we asked a few people to reflect on a carol and tell us what it says to them about the significance of Christmas. During the week of joy, Liz reflects on how “Joy to the World” isn't really a Christmas song, but really is a Christmas song.
how to arrive at christmas: mary and joseph - rev. nick coates
This Advent we use our Nativity Scene to journey towards Christmas and ask 'what do these characters teach us about how to show up at Christmas?' This week we look at Mary and Joseph's story and ask if we're ready to take on the same risk they did on Christmas morning.
what 'silent night' says to me about christmas - al
This Advent we asked a few people to reflect on a carol and tell us what it says to them about the significance of Christmas. During the week of peace, Al reflects on how “Silent Night” helps him find the awe and wonder of Christmas.
what 'away in a manger' says to me about christmas - barry
This Advent we asked a few people to reflect on a carol and tell us what it says to them about the significance of Christmas. During the week of hope, Barry reflects on how “Away in a Manger” speaks to him bout the possibility of miracles.
following the spirit to reconciliation - tony snow
Tony Snow is a minister from the Stoney Nakoda Nation. As we continue to explore what (re)conciliation with our indigenous neighbours means for us, Tony encouraged us to follow God's Spirit of truth and life, knowing it's only then that we can come together in respect, justice, and peace.
the things we wear, part 7: curiosity - rev. nick coates
Jesus is asked over 300 questions and get this: he only answers 3 directly. The rest of the time he engages or asks a question back. That tells us something: to be curious, is to be holy. To be human is to be curious. To help us be people of curiosity, this week we did an Ask Anything Sunday and explored questions about the afterlife, God, and how we do what we do.
the things we wear, part 6: letting go - rev. nick coates
Whenever we see the phrase 'eternal life,' it's not talking about life after death, it's talking life before death. It’s talking about a life that's abundant, deep, and full.
This week we explore how one of the things Jesus says we need to do to enter into that life is to 'look at our knuckles' and ask: what am I holding on to that I need to let go of?
the things we wear, part 5: heart - rev. nick coates
Faith isn't intellectual. It's not a matter of what we believe or think about certain things. Faith is a matter of the heart. But the question, as we ask this week, is what kind of faith do we have: do we have hearts that are open, soft, and willing, or do we have hearts that are closed, hard, and stuck?
the things we wear, part 4: indignation - rev. nick coates
If Jesus got angry and indignant then are we supposed to too?
As uncomfortable as it may sound, yes. But here's the catch: just like Jesus, we're supposed to get angry and indignant about certain things in certain ways.
Do we let out our anger in destructive and harmful ways or do we let it our in creative and healing ways?
sabbath balancing act - rev. debbie stockdale
Taking one day in seven off as a day of rest can seem like a tall order in our busy lives. Today's reflection explores how Sabbath rest relates to our own self care and to our relationship with the Holy.
the things we wear, part 3: hope - rev. nick coates
Hope is one of the things Jesus calls us to wear. but hope isn't simply blind optimism, it is a courageous act of faith that calls us to step out and trust in the Spirit of Possibility.
the things we wear: part 1 - rev. nick coates
We kick off our fall sermon series by talking about how what we wear matter, how clothes aren't the only thing we wear, and what Jesus has to do with all of that.
Why I Marched at Pride: Choosing Love Over Hate - Kessa Den Hoed
Kessa, one of our young adults, gave the sermon today and shared about her experiences of marching in this year's Pride parade and how we all need to celebrate life by choosing love over hate.
not in purity but in love - rev. chang-han kim
Challenging the Jewish purity system of first century Palestine, Jesus taught the inward transformation of faith; Jesus saw that any outer form of rituals and customs was the expression of the innermost mind. Jesus’ redrawn boundaries were not based on the system of purity but on the transformative power of love. In following Jesus, all people are included and welcomed regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation.
wake-boarding and dealing with spectacular failure - rev. nick coates
We all know what it's like to fail and we all know the devastating fear and shame it can bring. But what if failure doesn't need to be like that? Rev Nick offers us a way to understand failure in the Jesus Tradition and asks: what if failure isn’t something to be avoided, but something to be embraced?
The Pestering God - rev. grant dawson
Guest minister Rev. Grant Dawson shares on The Pestering God, who summons us on a journey.
what is needed? - rev. grant dawson
Guest minister Rev. Grant Dawson shares on what is needed.
what's buying a house got to do with spirituality? - rev. nick coates
What's buying a house got to do with our faith and spirituality? Turns out, quite a bit.
Rev. Nick walks us through 4 things he learned about the spiritual life by buying a house
and offers us some questions to rumble with throughout the week.