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Sermon 2008 December 25th - Christmas Day

Christmas Day is here and we celebrate a new neighbour - Jesus has moved in to the neighbourhood. 
Come Let us adore him

Reading: John 1:1-14 

Sermon 2008 December 7th -  Second Sunday in Advent 

Why Christmas?

The new church year starts in Advent and this year we are reading (mostly) Mark's account of the story of Jesus' ministry.  If we had only the Gospel according to Mark then we would have no Christmas stories of the Jesus birth, no angels, no shepherds, etc.  In today's dilution of our sacred story into "season's greetings" can we ask the question Why Christmas?

Readings: Isaiah 64:1-9   Mark 13:24-37 

Sermon 2008 October 19th

"Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution Historical
And Theological Reflections 150 Years Later"

Charles Darwin first published his ideas about evolution on  1st July 1858 – 150 years ago, just a few months before our congregation was founded.  

Darwin’s theory of evolution is one of the most influential ideas to our understanding of how the world of nature works but it has caused much debate in the Christian community over the years. Some of those embers of controversy are still alight even in today’s age of micro-biology and genetic engineering.

Readings:   Genesis 1: 1- 13 ; 2:2-4a  Psalm 8  Luke 4:16-22a  

Sermon 2008 September 28th - 20th Sunday after Pentecost

"A Christian’s Duty To Vote"

The advice that you should never mention politics or religion, in polite conversation “is one of the most destructive ideas of Western civilization“ (quoting Joseph W. Kraft).  There is also a good Lutheran theological backing for that – in fact it is our Christian duty to be engaged in politics and to deliberate on your vote, and to get out there use it.

Readings:   Micah 6:1-8   James 2:1-18  Matthew 22:15-22 

Sermon 2008 Sep 21st - 19th Sunday after Pentecost

"Worldly models do not apply to God’s gifts"

Pastor Steve is a man of many hats. In this sermon he takes that idea a little too literally.  Hear from the those workers in the vineyards - can you hear yourself in them too?

Readings:   Matthew 20:1-16: 

Sermon 2008 Aug  24th 

"Journey to the Jordan and the Waters of Baptism "

This is the second of Char's sermons from her trip to the Holy Lands in the spring.

Readings:  Exodus 1:8-2:10  Romans 12:1-8  Matthew 3:13-17 

Sermon 2008 Aug  17th - Cemetery Decoration Sunday

"We are all connected through our faith in Jesus"

This sermon was delivered on the Sunday afternoon when we remember and mark the lives of the faithful, in particular those who have died in the past year.

Readings:   Matthew 15:21-28 

Sermon 2008 July 27th - 11th Sunday after Pentecost

"When Words Fail Us"

Sometimes we can not express what we need to.  But God knows what we need and what we mean.  God's will to to be always near us. How can the Romans 8 text that is often heard at funeral help us?  The answer to this is sung by the congregation at St. Peter's, singing Hymn 622 "Neither death nor life" written by Marty Haugen.  The closing line is a little hard to hear, but is "when we feel that our prayers are unanswered, when God seems to be absent, when we feel our words are insufficient" - listen to the sermon and hear the congregation respond. 

Readings:  Romans 8:26-39 

Sermon 2008 June 15  - 5th Sunday after Pentecost

"A Journey Up Mount Sinai For Reward or Challenge?"

Char & Rein Breitmaier journeyed to some holy places this past winter and spring and ended up on Mount Sinai.  Char shared this sermon about her experience and offers insight on starting a life journey - that is a 'rest of your life' journey.

Readings:  Exodus 3:1-12   1 Corinthians 12:4-10   John 4:19-26

Sermon 2008 June 1st  - 4th Sunday after Pentecost

"Complaining Ain't A New Condition - but God's grace still shines through"

Julie Ryan delivered this sermon. The human condition of complaining is as old as the stories in the Old Testament, if not older.  God heard the people complaint but God's grace was bigger than that. God's grace recently was present at a local fund raiser to support a family in our congregation. 

Readings:  Genesis 25:19-34 

Sermon 2008 June 1st  - 4th Sunday after Pentecost

"Family Sunday - Lego - God's Will and My Door Step Conversation with two Jehovah's Witnesses"

On family Sunday the children often come to the front to help Pastor Steve with a conversation style sermon.  This week we talked about Lego - yes the toy - and the congregation helped build a house.  We also talked about God's will and how we discern that.  In closing remarks, Pastor Steve addressed the adults in the congregation and told about his encounter with two Jehovah's Witnesses on the door steps to the parsonage.

I have recorded an addendum to the sermon that explains a little more about Jehovah's Witness belief regarding Jesus and corrects some of the statements in the closing conversation.  - Pastor Steve.

Sermon 2008 May 18 - Trinity Sunday

"Move To The Centre And Celebrate All Three Natures Of The Trinity"

The trinity is one of more complicated parts of our understanding about God – Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Muslims that I’ve talked to about matters of faith often express their difficulty in understanding the Trinity. Their question might be phrased like this “If God is so powerful why does he need someone else to do his work?” The questions poke at what looks like a break in our Christian belief and statement that there is only one God – “But surely you are worshiping three God’s – Father – Son and Holy Spirit” might be the next question. These are fair questions about our faith and our beliefs. The math doesn’t appear to work - does it? Father – Son - Holy Spirit – that adds up to three – right?  Read the rest of this sermon. 

2008 May 11 - Day of Pentecost & Confirmation Day

"Graduate & Farewell - or - Graduate & Welcome"

Today is your confirmation day – the six of you. This a big day for you and you have brought your most loyal supporters with you. One question that we might talk about this morning is - What is this confirmation?

Reading:John 20:19-23"

2008 May 4 - Seventh Sunday in Easter

"Church unity – now there’s something to pray for." 

This sermon contains a very brief  summary of church history and some of the divisions that have happen over the years, and concludes with a call for church unity in the face of our issues and discussions around ordination of homosexual pastors and same sex blessings.

Reading : John 17: 1-11

2008 April 27 - Sixth Sunday in Easter

"Things I Learned In Seminary - What is a Chiasm? and So what?" 

A Chiasm (pronounced “kia – asim”) is a pattern found the Old & New Testament and it is named after the the Greek letter ‘chi’ – X   (pronounced “kia”).  This pattern has a centre - and that were we can find an enhanced meaning in our scripture. How does this relate to our 150th Anniversary project - "The Olive Branch for Children" in Tanzania?  Listen to sermon. 

Reading : John 14: 15-21

2008 April 20 - Fifth Sunday in Easter

"Three Things To Remember Today To Teach Arick"

Today we baptized Arick. There are three things we can focus on as teachers, sponsors and as supporters to encourage little Arick who was baptised today:

• It’s not about me.
• Love
• Forgiveness

Reading : 1 Peter 2:2-10

2008 April 13 - Forth Sunday in Easter

"God Calls us and Restores us as Honoured Guest"

Psalm 23 is often heard as comforting word at funerals.  But there is more we can read in this favourite psalm.

Reading : Psalm 23

2008 March 21 - Good Friday

"Three aspects in the human story of sin and Jesus action on the cross"

On Good Friday we focus on the reasons the Jesus died on the cross for our sins and there are three ways to look at that sin:
1. what we do in individual sin
2. what we do as part of systemic sin
3. also we are part of sin that is done to us.
Jesus takes all that sin to the cross.

Passion : John 18:1-19:42

2008 March 20 - Maundy Thursday

2008 March 16 - Passion (Palm) Sunday

"Jesus was marching towards Jerusalem. Yes it was political."

Our service opened with the traditional process of palms which included reading the Matthew 21:1-11 reading. Then the congregation read the Passion Narrative from the gospel of Matthew - one person spoke as Jesus - one person spoke as the narrator - and the congregation spoke all of the other parts (the crowd, Judas, Peter, the disciples, the high priests, Ponitius Pilot, etc.) .  Following this reading of both journeys was a short reflection that included a recent posting from Rev. Dale Finch's Internet blog from News from East Jerusalem.

Readings
Procession with Palms Matthew 21:1-11
Passion Narrative Matthew 26:14-27:66

2008 March 2 - 4th Sunday in Lent

"Jesus corrects our Vision"

Jesus is acting in our world with spit and mud.

Gospel : John 9

2008 February 24 - 3rd Sunday in Lent

"Jesus transforms us and sends us out"

Can you imagine Jesus standing at the baptismal font offering the living water - just like he offered water to the Samaritan women at the well.

Gospel : John 4:5-42

2008 February 17 - 2nd Sunday in Lent

"Make this the year to live your best life"

But are you listening to Oprah or Jesus?

Gospel : John 3:1-17

2008 February 3

"The Good News Café Drive Through" Skit

A skit written by Pastor Steve and performed by some of the confirmation class.  "So do you want some John 3:16 with that?"

Gospel : John 3:10-17

2008 February 10

Deborah McCraken of the Olive Branch for Children speaks to the congregation of St. Peters Lutheran church. Deborah was scheduled to speak with the congregation on 10th Feb. but we had major snow storm ... read more and listen to her presentation.

Gospel : Matthew 25:34-40

2008 January 13

"Yes Yes Yes"

George Bailey may have thought "it was a wonderful life", but "Yes" is a wonderful word.

Gospel : Matthew 3:13-17

2008 January 6

"After meeting Jesus we take an other way home"

Preached at Trinity Anglican Church, Mitchell and worshiping together were St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Brodhagen & Anglican Parish of the Holy Spirit.

"It is wonderful to be here with you today. Our two congregations are celebrating 150 year of worship, service and mission to this area. It was wonderful to see in the Mitchell paper our two churches naming each other and showing that we are worshiping together this morning.

Did any of you notice the graphic that was in the Mitchell Advocate right below the listing for our two churches? ..."

Gospel : Matthew 2:1-12