Sermon Notes, Sts Peter and Paul

Biblical names:

New Testament –
Peter and Paul – likely to come up!

Peter: Simon, or Cephas – renamed Peter: before Peter was a name
Peter: rock. Foundation.
Given keys to the kingdom.
First pope of Rome; setting of the Holy See (symbol still stylized keys)

Paul: Saul (Hebrew) – renamed as conversion – shows movement – Paul (latin) – meaning small
writer of epistles – 14 of the 27 books of NT attributed (7 for sure; others debated)
Paul's epistles continue to be vital roots of the theology, worship and pastoral life
3 missionary journeys, starting Christian communities and spreading the Gospel

HIGH PRAISE!
Well known!
Good models!!

Modelship: follow example

YES: Because while they DID spread the Gospel, they were also VERY human.

Peter:
Often fumbled through so many things. He questioned, he doubted, he denied Christ three times at the crucifixion. He responded back at the “do you love me” with the best he had – but not the unconditional agape that Jesus asked.
Peter:
Strong of heart
Doing his best.

Paul:
Persecutor! To defender.
Emerging theological ideas as he grew and travelled; writing to communities trying to clarify what he himself had taught them
Paul:
Strong of heart
Doing his best.

Both trying to be as faithful as they can – at times crossing paths – at times not agreeing on
But always committed to preaching faithfully. To living the truth. To promoting the Gospel – the Good News of God in Christ.

It’s no wonder our second reading – which scholars attribute not to Paul but to someone a century or more later who wanted to follow Paul’s modeling – described the importance of Gospel this way:
“proclaim the message, press it home in season and out of season, use argument, reproof, and appeal, with all the patience that teaching requires.”

We are invited into that ministry.
Modeling with our lives, that we are living lives of faith.
Proclaiming the message: with strong hearts, and doing our best.

We don’t need to be the Peters and Pauls of this age to be the preachers and proclaimers of this age.
We don’t need to be perfect or idealised to share the good news… goodness knows Peter and Paul – for all the wonderful work they did – were NOT perfect.

Recalling their humanity can help liberate us to do our part, faithfully:
Remembering who it was that first shared the Gospel with us: Sunday school teachers, friends, family members, whomever.
Recalling who it IS that still shares the Gospel with us now: colleagues, people we volunteer with, neighbours, whomever.
And celebrating who we might share the Gospel with afresh: the world is waiting for good news.
And we are equipped to share it. God has provided us this grace and this opportunity.

May God bless us all, as we embrace with confidence, our commitment to share God’s Good News.

Sermon, Pentecost +2 (Year C)

Have you ever wanted a reset button?
Not necessarily a do-over situation – because if we forget all that we’ve come through, we lose the lesson.

But those moments where we’re overwhelmed or overburdened,
Reset!

It’s in these moments we can reflect on how God has been with us all along, but we haven’t always been with God.
We’ve been in the world – and of the world –
Reset brings us back to the journey of faith.

Humbling, takes courage and strength.
So worth it!

Kings –
Annals of history, after the Baal vs Yahweh strife in Israel.

Elijah: it’s enough.
Laid down, slept, did not expect to rise.
Instead: God provided him what he needed for the journey: bread, and water.
In addition to the nap.
Miraculous nourishment for the body to continue.
What we all need!
Physical reset.

And on he goes, alone to the cave…
God asks “What are you doing here?”
Ideal question – asks him about his purpose in travel, in intention, in faith.

What are you doing here?
Loaded question – we can all ask ourselves.
Existential: are we living the life God has planned for us?
If not, how do we listen to the directions we’re to be given?
God speaks:
Not always in the wind, nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire: and these can be literal events or metaphorical descriptions of what life’s challenges can feel like:
But in the stillness. The small voice of God – asking us again – what are we doing here?

And when we respond with humble hearts – like Elijah – we hear the potential again – to reset.
God invites us to return; because our return to God has renewed us for ministry.
Reset!

The psalm today again recognises the desire for that reset –
asking why soul is disquieted?
My soul thirsts for God!
We desire a reset: that our faith may guide us onward.

Galatians – there is no longer labels that divide
But commonality that unites
Paul’s letter tells the community they need to reset: individuals and collectively
To bring together the people of God
“You are one in Christ Jesus!”
Reset your mind – to see yourself as beloved child of God
Reset your heart – that you will recognise the love of Christ in everyone else
Reset your community – to be a place of loving service.

Gospel:
The calls for that reset are abundant!
The people have just witnessed a calming of the storm, when they now are faced abruptly by a man possessed.
LEGION –
Whether this is literal or allegorical – we don’t know – and it doesn’t matter, for we can learn the lesson–
There was a man, suffering, begging for a reset of his life.
All while fearing the worst – even from Jesus.

And the legion begged for a reset –
And the implications of the demonic possession of the swine – would cause shock in the hearing of people throughout the ages – there are several sermons just on those pigs!
Yet the reset: the call to pause the current course of action and reset towards something better.

Twice in this Gospel we hear of that not happening:
Both times by those who fear or reject Jesus.
firstly in the death of the swine, as the demons did not survive after all –
secondly in the people who were so afraid of the power of God – and it’s implications on their lives and livelihoods –
that they rejected the reset and sent Jesus away.

But for those who received the reset: and understood its benefit:
Powerful.
Meant to be inspirational.
Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you!

We’re invited to do the same – without (hopefully) the same level of drama.
Pause. Reset. Re-connect with God. Listen anew to how God is active in our lives.


For in the reset, we remember:

God lifts us up when we feel helpless
God accompanies us when we feel alone
God provides for us in ways we cannot even imagine
God speaks, even when we aren’t sure we can hear it
God invites us into ministry – even when we think we’re starting from nothing.

All of this happens when we are willing to submit before God;
To put God before ourselves;
To humble ourselves to one another in acts of compassion and grace.
To allow God to give our paths a ‘reset’

May we all be so blessed this week.

 

Notes from window blessing, St. George and Aviator (Pentecost Sunday 2025)

The legend of St. George is of a brave knight who defeats a dragon.
In the legend, the dragon is an extortionist: greedily demanding more and more from villagers than they can give; and thus keeping the community as victims of poverty and oppression.
When George comes, he engages with the corrupt creature to allow the people to once again have the fullness of life that they – and all people – are gifted by God.
The window that we bless this morning shows this dragon under St. George’s feet, reminding all who see it of the power of community care over crushing greed.
How beautiful a tribute for us to honour a parish that exercised their ministry in supporting those in our midst who experience poverty and need. The parish of St. George’s faithfully serv ed its community, opening its doors and their hearts to all who would come, seeking ways to make meaningful connections with their neighbours, to overcome the challenges that our unfair society was imposing on them.
May this window inspire us all to seek ways to serve our neighbours that all may flourish and have the abundant life that Christ has promised.




In earlier days of aviation, it was imperative that people located landmarks so they could orient themselves and continue in the right direction; or to make course corrections to end up where they intended.
In the prairies, so often those landmarks were churches: tall, distinctive, clearly marking specific locations. It’s why in the Aviator window that we bless and dedicate today, we see a prairie church on the backdrop of a prairie sky: a landmark for the right way.
It reminds me of the passage from the Proverbs 22: Do not remove the ancient landmark that your fathers set up.
While we can hear this in the context of a building, the deeper meaning of this biblical teaching was to keep faith as the landmark of life. The life of faith, rooted in the scriptures and community, was passed on from one generation to the next as THE landmark to search for.
How fitting then, that in our Aviator window, the church is illuminated by the Spirit: the Holy Dove shining on the landmark of faith.
What a blessing for us, as the Cathedral, to have this gift of faith and focus – to share with all who come through our doors.

Let us pray:
Gracious God, you continue to reveal to us new ways that we may praise and serve you.
We ask you to bless these windows, so generously given, as we dedicate them to this sacred space; for this and future generations to benefit.
May they be for us a reminder of your eternal goodness, and of our privilege to see you in new ways and respond with loving kindness.
Amen.

 

Sermon Notes, Pentecost (Year C)

 SERMON NOTES

Babel:
Egos.
Us vs them.
Name the other as “them” – justify division and competition.

Pentecost:
Community.
Us with us.
Name the other as kin – seek ways to collaboration.

THIS is what the Spirit does.
Speaks in ways we can hear – listen – and understand.

Has always been here –
Since beginning of creation
Will always be here –
Jesus promised the advocate.

Pentecost: the act of inspiration
inSPIRation

The wind…
Gale force wind – can be life changing in their climate.
We know wind here – this is the crop-destroying,
…and it’s the sound; not the wind.
Signifying change
But they had no other way to describe it.

Tongues – AS OF fire.
Fire: life changing. Home-destroying.
And it’s tongues LIKE fire – not fire itself.
Signifying change
But they had no other way to describe it.

Because God was moving to inspire.
Fill with Spirit.
Remind of the power of BREATH – the breath of God – the Spirit of God – that breathed all life into being.
Empowering them to get up –
Move into the reality of changing lives.
Theirs, and those around them.
Advocate – guide, comforter, supporter.
The voice that speaks encouragement into our hearts that enables us to come together in ministry
Ministry happens when we remember the Spirit abides WITH us – and IN us.
Pulling us together – inviting to give what we have to give
With shared purpose of kingdom building, we discover ways to connect, communicate, and contribute.
As God intended,
And as God has equipped.

So: let the Spirit move.
Let her blow.
Let her surprise.
Let her nudge.
…and let yourself trust her enough to respond: for she’s NOT subtle. And she won’t give up.
She is with us: advocating. Forever.


Pentecost Blessing from Jan Richardson:
On the day
when you are wearing
your certainty
like a cloak
and your sureness
goes before you
like a shield
or like a sword,
may the sound
of God’s name
spill from your lips
as you have never
heard it before.
May your knowing
be undone.
May mystery
confound your
understanding.
May the Divine
rain down
in strange syllables
yet with
an ancient familiarity,
a knowing borne
in the blood,
the ear,
the tongue,
bringing the clarity
that comes
not in stone
or in steel
but in fire,
in flame.
May there come
one searing word:
enough to bare you
to the bone,
enough to set
your heart ablaze,
enough to make you
whole again.

Sermon, Ascension (Year C)

This morning, we’re celebrating the Feast of the Ascension.
This is a celebration of Jesus’ return to the Father, from whence he came.
Going physically back to the source of that perfect love.

So, as we know, there’s a lot that’s happening. For mere humans cannot merely ascend.
We don’t float, we don’t rise in the clouds (without mechanical feats of engineering)
But Jesus does.

And he has his final chat with his disciples, giving these final instructions and lessons as the ascension is beginning.
This is like someone heading out the door, calling another “I love you!” over their shoulder as they depart.
There’s a LOT going on.

Because Jesus has just given them a lot of information: that they are his witnesses, that they are being commissioned and sent to carry the Good News to the ends of the earth, that the Holy Spirit is coming to them in a few days to give them what they need for their ministry…

And, in this account of the ascension, scholars suggest that this is happening the night of Easter – not the 40 days afterwards, which is what other accounts lean towards.
With Luke, the disciples are experiencing all of this on a rather condensed timeline!

So it’s no wonder that the apostles are a little awestruck, standing there.
Staring. Blankly, I imagine.
Staring at the sky. At the now empty sky.
No butterflies.
They are so overwhelmed that they just stand there for a moment, dumbfounded.

And there: God shakes things up.
Because God has a way of making things known in those moments of calm.
In the moments when we think we just want to do nothing, to think nothing, to keep things as they are….
Into that stasis God tosses in some big news.

But let’s not overlook that pause… the pause is good. The pause is sacred – the pause that invites us into reflection and increased awareness.
It’s a pause that our minds, souls, and bodies need: it’s why we know we shouldn’t make big decisions in a hurry.
We want to be able to respond, not just react, to the world around us.
We want to use good judgement; and so we need time to think, to pray, to sleep, to eat.
We take time to pause.
In these pauses we are encouraged to connect with others whose opinions and advice we respect, so we can discern the best course of action
– and discernment is different from decision –
a decision can be made by tossing a coin; heads or tails!
But discernment is the deep journey into the spiritual places to listen for the calling of God.

So we pause. We let the adrenaline fade a bit;
we reduce the external stimuli that distracts;
we quiet the noise that is stirring – from the world and within our own minds.
We pause: so that we may find that peace.
The peace for right now; and the peace that will serve as the foundation for the future.
The holy peace we considered last week.

It’s why Jesus invited the apostles to go back to the city and just rest for a little bit.

It’s not for a long time, but time enough to adjust to this latest massive change in their lives.
And to prepare themselves for the next major change in their lives.

For Jesus is clear: the future will not be the past.
Change is happening; their day to day realities are not going to be the same as they were before they followed Jesus.
They’re not going back to their fishing nets, or their tax collecting, or their other labours:
they are going forward, to live in the ministries to which they have been called; to spread the good news.

But first, they need to get back to the present.
Because in their present, they now have 2 new friends, robed in white, standing beside them.
In their present, God is about to stir things up.
The heavenly messengers in their snazzy dazzling clothes are about to give them new focus for their time of pause.

And it’s a question we can engage with ourselves.
For when they ask the apostles "why do you stand looking up toward heaven?" they are asking the apostles to think about their own actions: the immediate ones, and their longer term intentions.
In their gentle comments, these messengers remind the apostles that Jesus was doing what Jesus had told them he would do.

And that they were being nudged to recall that they were meant to be doing what Jesus had told them to do:
to learn from the teachings of the past, but not be bound by it;
to live in the present with eyes for the future and the amazing opportunities that were about to become reality for them.

What a great commentary for us all:
For we too have opportunity in our foreground.
We have the privilege of learning from what was, and pausing in the present to reflect on what may be.

And – with excitement:
we hear the Great promise of the gifts and power of God that is being given to all of us,
that we can carry forth the love and grace of God throughout the world.
We continue the ministry of the followers of God, called to witness to the overwhelmingly Good News of Christ in all the world: in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria – and in Saskatoon.
In exciting ways, in the same ways, in different ways.
The power of the Spirit means we are not limited in how we preach the Gospel.

For our experience with Christ is ongoing, for the real presence of God is everywhere and everytime. And we engage with that Christ in unique and exuberant ways.

Yet, no matter how perfect and inspiring our experience with God is, we are not meant to stay still and focus on what was.
The Ascension of Jesus and the promised coming of the Spirit serve to invite us into action, into living fully in the present moment, supported by the gifts of the past and focused on the possibilities of the future.
May our prayers this day be that God will wake us up to the exciting potential of serving one another in the name of the Risen and Ascended Christ! Amen!!