Click this link to join the Zoom service on Sundays at 9:30 AM Moose Jaw time (which is CST year-round)

Scripture

Click any of the scripture references below to be taken directly to the passage. It will open in a new tab.

• Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19
• Genesis 18:1-15
• Romans 5:1-8
• Matthew 9:35-10:8

Sermon

Check back later in the week

Hymns

• Check back later in the week

Order of service including hymn lyrics

Check back later in the week

What does it mean to be called? I’m not talking about being called in for supper, important as that call is. Being called is being asked to take up a calling. Some people are called to be doctors, some to be teachers; these people feel that there is more to their career than a financial decision or even a personal preference. They are doing what they are meant to do.

The Bible talks about calling in many places; this Sunday, we looked at two of them. The first is Abram (subsequently called Abraham) being called by God. The second is Matthew being called by Jesus. The question I found rolling around in my mind was, “Who is called?” Was I ever called? What does calling look like if one isn’t a patriarch or a tax-collecting collaborator?

Let me know what you think as you are inclined and able.

“Have you been called? Have I?” St. Mark’s Presbyterian (to download, right-click and select “Save Link As . . .”)

Blessings,

Click this link to join the Zoom service on Sundays at 9:30 AM Moose Jaw time (which is CST year-round)

Scripture

Click any of the scripture references below to be taken directly to the passage. It will open in a new tab.

• Psalm 33:1-12
• Genesis 12:1-9
• Romans 4:13-25
• Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

Sermon

Have you been called? Have I?

Hymns

• I sing the almighty power of God
• Take my life, and let it be consecrated
• Jesus calls us, o’er the tumult
• Softly and tenderly

Order of service including hymn lyrics

Not everyone likes math. That’s okay, not everyone likes coffee or cookies or sunsets or . . . . I don’t mind it, but I wasn’t very good at math beyond about grade seven. I could handle simple algebra, and later in high school, I had an absurdly intuitive grasp of trigonometry (go figure (pun very much intended)). I could never wrap my head around the concepts as concepts, so trying to figure out the actual work was beyond me.

Today is Trinity Sunday, and Trinity Sunday and the Trinity are not about the math. They aren’t even about arithmetic. I have never been especially bothered by the difficulty posed by the equation (“equation”?) above. One plus one plus one equals one isn’t a problem for me. So, again, this year I have not solved or explained the Trinity. The sermon is less about what the Trinity might mean and more about what it is, namely, if I may be so bold, relationship. The Trinity isn’t a relationship; it is relationship. The dance of the Trinity is the Creator, Redeemer, and Spirit. I can’t make it more plain than that . . . and I am well aware of how inadequate that is.

As always, let me know what you think as you are able and inclined.

“It’s not the math” St. Mark’s Presbyterian (to download, right-click and select “Save Link As . . .”)

Blessings,

Click this link to join the Zoom service on Sundays at 9:30 AM Moose Jaw time (which is CST year-round)

Scripture

Click any of the scripture references below to be taken directly to the passage. It will open in a new tab.

• Psalm 8
• Genesis 1:1-2:4a
• Corinthians 13:11-13
• Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon

It’s not the math

Hymns

• For the beauty of the earth
• Thou Whose almighty Word
• Glory be to God the Father
• Holy, holy, holy

Order of service including hymn lyrics

The Day of Pentecost might not be the first day you think of in connection with gifts, and that’s okay because in the end, I didn’t really preach about gifts as much as inclusion.

I was reading a post from Diana Butler Bass’ excellent substack (https://dianabutlerbass.substack.com/ if you want to look her up) where she focused on the word “all” in the Pentecost readings. The more I reflected on what she wrote, the more I found myself gravitating to the same notion. I must confess I didn’t have everything straight and tidy in my head, so the message isn’t as straight and tidy as it might be. Nonetheless, I hope some part of it speaks to you.

As always, let me know what you think as you are inclined and able.

“Who doesn’t want gifts?” St. Mark’s Presbyterian (to download, right-click and select “Save Link As . . .”)

Blessings,

Click this link to join the Zoom service on Sundays at 9:30 AM Moose Jaw time (which is CST year-round)

Scripture

Click any of the scripture references below to be taken directly to the passage. It will open in a new tab.

• Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
• Acts 2:1-21
• 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
• John 20:19-23

Sermon

Who doesn’t want gifts?

Hymns

• All things bright and beautiful
• O Spirit of the living God
• Spirit of God, descend upon my heart
• God of grace and God of glory

Order of service including hymn lyrics

Today is the Sunday closest to Ascension Day. Today is also the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia.

I found myself wondering how I was going to bring these two important things together. As I was wondering, pondering even, the Holy Spirit told me to stop worrying about it; it would work out. I may not be the fastest learner, but one thing I have learned is to listen to the Spirit when she speaks to me. (Let’s get one thing out of the way, just in case, I do not hear the Spirit speaking with my ears, it is less audible but no less clear.)

The sermon title came to me as I was thinking about how I was told the sermon would work out. How many of the Christ’s disciples asked, “Why leave?” Did any of them feel . . . well betrayed by the Ascension? Did they feel abandoned? Of course, we, from our historical vantage point, realize that Jesus was not being metaphorical when he said the Holy Spirit would come and would actually be better than his sticking around. But did they know that? I don’t think so. I think they felt abandoned. This led me to the other day we note today. How many of our friends, acquaintances, family members, who are members of the 2SLGBTQI community, feel abandoned? Abandoned by family, friends, faith communities. I suspect it is many.

I would like to say my sermon ties all of this up, but it doesn’t. I have just as many questions as I had before, and so may you. What I did get out of thinking through today’s readings and the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia was that while the feeling of abandonment is legitimate and real, there are answers to it. The answer to Jesus ascending to become fully the Christ was the Holy Spirit. The answer to the 2SLGBTQI community is that we are there for them. Jesus told us we had two commandments: love God with all our heart and soul and mind, and our neighbours as ourselves. We know what we need to do; now we either begin to do it or continue to do it.

As always, and even more with this sermon, I am very interested in what you think. Please let me know as you are inclined and able.

“Why leave?” St. Mark’s Presbyterian (to download, right-click and select “Save Link As . . .”)

Blessings,

Worship begins at 9:30 AM

Click this link to join the Zoom service on Sundays at 9:30 AM Moose Jaw time (which is CST year-round)

Scripture

Click any of the scripture references below to be taken directly to the passage. It will open in a new tab.

• Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35
• Acts 1:6-14
• 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
• John 17:1-11

Sermon

Why leave?

Hymns

• Oh worship the king
• Jesus shall reign where’re the sun
• O God of love, true source of peace
• More love to thee

Order of service including hymn lyrics

Have you ever wondered what you need to do? I know I have. Sometimes it is rather trivial, maybe wondering if I should do the dishes or start supper. Sometimes it is anything but trivial, maybe wondering if I should pursue this or that career path. The question seems to be one that is likely to come up rather frequently as we go about our lives.

I realize today is Mothers’ Day but as you know, if you’ve been following me for a while, I stay with the Lectionary almost exclusively. I looked through the texts and I simply could not find anything I felt was for Mothers’ Day. What I did find was the answer to the question that is the sermon title, “What do we need to do?”

What I came to realize is that Jesus tells us exactly what to do in our Gospel lesson. Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15 NRSV) Simple enough I suppose but what are Jesus’ commandments? As it turns out, they are rather simple: love God with all your heart, and soul, and mind, and love your neighbour as yourself. Jesus says a lot of things in the Gospels but I put it to you that they all fit into those two.

As always, let me know what you thing as you are inclined and able.

“What do we need to do?” St. Mark’s Presbyterian (to download, right-click and select “Save Link As . . .”)

Blessings,