November 8 , 2026

I want to add a second reading this morning, that actually is listed in the lectionary, and it is from the book of Joshua chapter 3. This book is basically a record of the conquest of the promised land. In verse 10 Joshua says, “By this, you will know that the living God is among you, and that God will thoroughly drive out the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites before you.”

It would seem that humanity, even God‘s chosen are bound to be in eternal conflict. This passage pretty much points out that the promised land wasn’t so much given, as it was taken from a number of the local tribes, only some of which were just listed. We as a species are greedy. Greedy for power, land, wealth, and domination. Consistently we draw God into these desires that have no other logical conclusion than the killing, oppression, and subjugation……..

November 1, 2026

The first letter we heard today is Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians. And he addresses this letter specifically to people who have lost loved ones to death. And he knows that they are grieving, and he knows that they are afraid of where they have gone and what’s going to happen to them. 

And I just want to say that it’s passages like this that have actually given rise to the ‘Left Behind’ book series and the theology that goes with that. And so I’m glad that I got to talk about scriptures like these to challenge this strange and I believe bad interpretation of these scriptures. This is going to happen because these modern interpretations are taken completely out of context. The modern interpretation has the focus of this passage being the end times. However, I don’t believe at all that this is what Paul is talking about. 

October 25, 2026

The task that each of the partners today have accepted is to share special or significant celebrations or worship services in their church year. These festivals and celebrations reveal our values as well as our theology or how we relate to the divine. The protestant branch of the Christian family, of which the United church is part sought to simplify the faith and in as much as possible, tie our practice to what we find in the Bible. As Martin Luther wrote, “Sola Scriptural” or “only in the Bible” and not just based on the dogma and doctrine of the imperial church.

The church, or more precisely those who sought to create the United Church of Canada, understood two important things. ………………………….

October 18,2026

Well, here we are one week after Thanksgiving. Perhaps some of us are still enjoying leftovers. Perhaps there is pumpkin pie in the refrigerator, or at least the memory of a good meal shared with family and friends. Thanksgiving invites us to pause, to give thanks for abundance in our lives, and to recognize the many blessings we so often take for granted. 

But today, as we observe the World Day of Prayer to End Poverty, I want us to imagine something a little different.

October 11, 2026

Other than having the word, thanks in the scripture reading this morning. The scripture lesson doesn’t appear to have much to do with Thanksgiving. The problem is not the scripture rather Thanksgiving today has moved away from its original intent. We are so focused on the big meal and family (which is nice) but we have lost site of the why of this celebration. And for that, I think Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians is important.

This letter, starting with the first 10 verses we heard today is a powerful example of a God who is active in the lives of those in the Church of Thessalonia and of Paul, Timothy and Salvinus.

October 4, 2026

We are on the edge of making a momentous choice. One full of hope. But one which requires saying goodbye to who we have been and all the attachments and all the yearly rituals that give us a sense of who we are as a community of Jesus followers in our area. More than faith, it is all these rituals and traditions that tell us who we are and what binds us together. How in the name of heaven are we expected to say goodbye to all that?

The Apostle Paul faced the same issue. The same incredibly hard choice. The law and not just a 10 Commandments, but the whole of the Mosaic laws had given his life structure, purpose, and ritual.