Most weeks, our worship leader offers a 15–20 minute sermon based on the Scripture texts for the day.
Our regular preacher is pretty versatile. She’ll tell stories, pull together different ideas, lead a meditation, give the congregation an “assignment” to talk about in twos or threes, show a slide show or video, or sometimes even sing to the congregation. The sermon functions to deepen our reflection on the Scripture themes of the day, and often leaves us with a challenge or a question.
Scripture texts are outlined in the Revised Common Lectionary.
Logos and Light
Preaching on Christmas Eve on John 1:1-14, Rev. Cari sewed together stories, theological reflection and a beautiful poem by Marie Howe. We hope, if you take the time to listen, you can glimpse what it is like to be loved completely. Merry Christmas from Crossroads United Church.
God is With Us
Rev. Cari preached for the fourth Sunday in Advent, on Matthew 1:18-25, Matthew’s version of the birth of Jesus. And though it’s Joseph’s turn, in this text, Mary still features prominently! Rev. Cari first unpacks the word “virgin” as quoted from Isaiah 7, then goes on to explore where the truth of the text lies….
Where God Shows Up
For the third Sunday in Advent, Rev. Cari juggled Isaiah 35:1-10 with Mary’s song (set in narrative at Luke 1:39-55). The common thread is the reality of the “wilderness” a space of barrenness that reeks of danger and death… a space that is recognizable to us in these late days. But, says Isaiah, sings Mary,…
Shed your Husks
On the second Sunday of Advent, we typically meet John the Baptist… and this year is no exception. Rev. Cari preached this week on Matthew 3:1-12, a text that introduces John and his baptism of repentance as a “prelude” to Jesus. She focussed on that message of “repentance” – metanoia in the Greek – which means…
Wake Up!
For the first Sunday in Advent Rev. Cari preached on Matthew 24:36-44, a text from the “little apocalypse” of Matthew’s Gospel. It’s full of vaguely threatening imagery, heralding the “day” or return of the Promised One, and we are asked to wake up, and stay awake. Why do we get this kind of material in…
Reign of Christ
This morning’s sermon focussed on power… but not the kind of power that we’re used to, the power to dominate and control. The text was Luke 23:33-43, the story of the crucifixion of Jesus, and this power – the power to serve and save – was on full display. Rev. Cari chose to begin the…
Godly Play: Jesus and the Children
This Sunday was Children’s Sabbath at Crossroads United Church. Rev. Anita prepared with the children, youth and young adults of the congregation to lead the worship service in its entirety, including serving communion to the congregation. But the “sermon” was a Godly Play story, presented by Rev. Cari. If you listen to this file, you…
The Widow’s Might
Today, for our Season of Stewardship Commitment Sunday, Rev. Cari preached on Luke 20:45 – 21:7. This was an interesting combination of words from Jesus: first, about the hypocrisy of the religious leaders of his day; second, about the vulnerability of the faithful to the corruption of the Temple system; and finally, about how it…
Zacchaeus
For the third Sunday in our Stewardship season, Major the Rev. Jim Short preached on Luke 19:1-10, which is the story of Zacchaeus. After referencing last week’s sermon (and the quote from Fr. Richard Rohr about merit) Jim leads us through the text, weaving his way with quotes from Sunday School era songs of his…
The Jesus Earthquake
Today Rev. Cari picked up from Luke’s Gospel right where she left off last Sunday. The text was another parable, that of the Pharisee & tax collector, at Luke 18:9-16. The thing about parables is that they tend to shake us up a bit… so Rev. Cari told a story on herself, to begin this…