In his last sermon as Intern at Eucharist, Rob Miller shares reflections on an old man being born again.
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Smashed Windows & Turned Tables
Saturday night, thirty anarchists dressed in black with their faces covered and stormed through a street in downtown Hamilton. They smashed business storefronts and parked cars to protest the changes in our city; specifically the gentrification of that street.
This was the same weekend we helped host a conference in which more than five hundred people, representing over thirty churches, talked about the changes facing our city; including gentrification and affordable housing.
And the gospel text for this week? Jesus destroying the temple.
What is a Christian response to a changing city? What should we make of smashed windows? And what does it have to do with the upside-down Kingdom of God?
To download the sermon, right click on the word download above, and click on "save link as..." - you can also download using a podcast app.
It’s Possible to Waste Your Life
Let’s get ourselves deeper into the story of Jesus walking towards the cross, and find out what looks like to live a life of meaning.
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Homecoming in the Unity of Christ
Eucharist member and intern, Rob Miller, preaches on the radical call to unity that was core to the Apostle Paul's message.
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“Why Do You Call on the Day of the Lord?”
When the prophet Amos spoke of “God coming close” it was warning. The people had hidden abuse, violence, and injustice in the shadows for too long, and God, like a blazing fire, was going to burn it all up.
That’s the day of the Lord. What does it have to do with sexual assault, and the #metoo movement?
To download the sermon, right click on the word download above, and click on "save link as..." - you can also download using a podcast app.
Some slides about "the day of the Lord" and "sportz" - hope they help.
Reversing the Instinct
2015.05.10 - Kevin Makins - The Church Calendar
Reversing the Instinct
John 15:9-17
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Let’s talk about friendship for a bit!
The text:
As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
"Who Are You?"
2014.12.14 - Kevin Makins - The Church Calendar
We return to John the Baptist this week and look at his answer to a very peculiar question: who are you?
Which is a question we all need to answer. Who am I? And what makes ME… me?!
What (or who) defines our identity?
The text, John 1:6-8, 19-28:
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said. 24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” 28 This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
Survival Skills for Desert Living
2014.12.07 - Jared Both - The Church Calendar
Survival Skills for Desert Living
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John the Baptist is a weird, ecentric dude!
Another ecentric dude, Jared Both, takes us through an introduction to John the Baptist, looking at who he was, and what he had to say.
The text, Mark 1:1-8
1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; 3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ ”
4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
When the Stars Fall (A Very Ferguson Advent)
2014.11.30 - Kevin Makins (with Jesse Korgemaa) - The Church Calendar
When the Stars Fall (A Very Ferguson Advent)
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So I am immediately regretting this whole “following the church calendar and lectionary thing”.
May I present to you THE FIRST TEXT OF ADVENT 2014:
MARK 13:24-37
24 “But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory.
27 Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. 28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.
30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.
34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35 Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, 36 or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”
___
So what in the world is this Jesus talking about? Is it the end of the world? The rapture? Nicolas Cage?
What do you mean the stars will fall and heavens are shaken? AND WHAT does this mean for us as disciples of Jesus?
And does this text have ANYTHING to do with Advent? Why did they pick this text (hundreds of years ago) to be read at the start of the road to CHRISTMAS?!
Please open your bible to Mark chapter 13, and let’s dive in.
The Church Calendar: God's Redeeming Time
2014.11.23 - Leshia Knopf - The Church Calendar
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We’re spending a year doing WHAT?
That’s right! For the next year we will be following the “lectionary readings” of the church calendar.
The church calendar is a tool used by the church for something like… 1700 years! Christians around the world and throughout time have been on a common rhythmn, telling the story of scripture to one another, year after year. It’s amazing, uniting, powerful… and yet foreign to so many of us!
What is the church calendar? How is it useful? How was it developed? And WHY do we feel God is calling us to follow it for a year?