Sermon Archive

Third Sunday of Pentecost
A sermon on Mark 4:26-34
by The Rev’d Linda Posthuma

Second Sunday of Pentecost
A sermon on Mark 3:20-35
by The Rev’d Geoff Chapman

Trinity Sunday
a sermon on John 3:1-17
The Rev’d Linda Posthuma

Difference without Division
a sermon on Acts 2:1-21
by The Rev’d Rhonda Waters

Remembering where we came from – and the call placed on our lives
A sermon for Jerusalem Sunday on the Feast of the Ascension

The Right Rev’d Shane Parker

Called to bear fruit that will last
a sermon on John 15:9-17
by The Rev’d Rhonda Waters

Called to an Outrageous Faith:
the Ethiopian eunuch leads the way
a sermon on Acts 8:26-40
The Rev’d Rhonda Waters

Turning towards an unknown future
a guided reflection with Psalm 23
with The Rev’d Rhonda Waters

An intimate Easter joy
a sermon on Luke 24:36b-48

Sarah Keeshan

What does the resurrection of Jesus make possible?
a sermon on Acts 4:32-35 and John 20:19-31
The Rev’d Rhonda Waters

Hope and Fear Together
a sermon on our second Easter Sunday in a pandemic
The Rev’d Rhonda Waters

Sin is Real but God’s Love is Stronger
a sermon for Good Friday
The Rev’d Rhonda Waters

Invited into Holy Week
a sermon for Palm Sunday
The Rev’d Rhonda Waters

In the Fertile Underground
a sermon on John 12:20-33
The Rev’d Rhonda Waters

a sermon on Numbers 21:4-9 and John 3:14-22

The Most Rev’d Linda Nicholls

The journey to the cross and beyond
a sermon on Mark 8:31-38
The Rev’d Rhonda Waters

The Gift of Wilderness Time
a sermon on Mark 1:9-15
The Rev’d Rhonda Waters

This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.
Turning from Epiphany to Lent
a sermon on Mark 9:2-9
The Rev’d Rhonda Waters

Tracing the Footsteps of Jesus
a sermon on Mark 1:29-39

The Rev’d Adam Brown

A Teaching that is Ever-New: Love One Another
a sermon on Mark 1:21-28

The Rev’d Adam Brown

Come and See
a sermon on John 1:43-51

The Rev’d Adam Brown

Beloved by God & Called to Action
a sermon for the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus after a really hard week
Mark 1:4-11
The Rev’d Rhonda Waters

Renewal of Baptismal Vows

Do you reaffirm your renunciation of evil and renew your commitment to Jesus Christ?  I do.

Do you believe in God, the Source of all being; the Mother and Father of us all?
I believe in God almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.     
He ascended into heaven, 
and is seated at the right hand of his Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Do you believe in God, the Holy Spirit?
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.

Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?  
I will, with God’s help.

Will you perservere in resisting evil and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?  
I will, with God’s help.

Will you proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ? 
I will, with God’s help.

Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbour as yourself? 
I will, with God’s help.

Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?  
I will, with God’s help.

Will you strive to safeguard the integrity of God’s creation, and respect, sustain and renew the life of the Earth?  
I will, with God’s help.

May God, who has called you to follow Christ, give you the strength to continue in the Way.
May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith, that you may be rooted and grounded in love.
May the Spirit inspire you to courageous hope that you might bear the fruits of the kingdom. 
Amen.

hope is the window that lets the light in
a sermon on Matthew 2:1-12

The Rev’d Adam Brown

The Inevitability of Christmas
A Sermon of Hope for a COVID Christmas
The Rev’d Rhonda Waters

Living Hope
God calls Mary to bear Living Hope
The Children’s Pageant

Our focus this Advent has been “Hope”.  We heard the stories of Hagar and Sarah and their struggles to hold onto the hope of God’s promises to them.  We heard the stories of Moses and Miriam and the defiant hope which sustained them in their efforts to lead their people to freedom.  We heard Isaiah’s call to the people of Judah to be patient in hope even during a time of exile.  And, finally, this week, we heard the story of Mary who accepted God’s invitation to bring Jesus to birth – a result of her living hope in the ongoing faithfulness of God. 

We told Mary’s story along with the whole nativity story in our Christmas pageant, ending with Mary’s great and glorious song of hope fulfilled.

Patient Hope
God speaks through the prophet Isaiah
The Rev’d Rhonda Waters

After listening to Rhonda’s introduction, you may want to read these passages from Isaiah.

And you may be interested in hearing the story about Valarie Kaur, read from Holy Troublemakers & Unconventional Saints by Daneen Akers.

Defiant Hope
the stories of Miriam and Moses
The Rev’d Rhonda Waters

Read Rabbi Rachel Barenblatt’s poem, Seven Miriam Stories

What defiant hope is God lighting in you?
Whose work are you being called to join?
At whose side are you being called to stand?

Hope, Lost and Found
preparing us for Advent 2020
and the stories of Hagar and Sarah
The Rev’d Rhonda Waters

After listening to Rhonda’s reflection, hear the story read by Eleanor and Sarah

Christ’s reign is revealed in Christ’s love
a sermon on the Parable of the Sheep and Goats – through the lens of the Beatitudes
The Rev’d Rhonda Waters

Putting our Talents to God’s Use
a sermon on Matthew 25:14-30

The Rev’d Adam Brown

Keeping our lamps full and our ears open
a sermon on Matthew 25:1-13, with an assist from Anne Shirley
The Rev’d Rhonda Waters

Stories of the Saints of our Lives
told by members of Church of the Ascension

Looking at the Promised Land with Unsettled Eyes
a sermon on Deuteronomy 34:1-12
The Rev’d Rhonda Waters

Praying with Icons
This week, the Rev’d Adam Brown led the congregation through a process of praying with the icon of the Ascension.

Thanks be to God
a sermon on Luke 17:11-19

The Rev’d Adam Brown

Tending to the Kingdom – better late than never
a sermon on Matthew 21:33-46
The Rev’d Rhonda Waters

By Whose Authority?
a sermon on Matthew 21:23-32

The Rev’d Adam Brown

The last will be first and the first will be last
Seeing as God Sees
a sermon on Matthew 20:1-16
The Rev’d Rhonda Waters

God’s Shalom and Caring for Creation
presentation by Jerremie Clyde, Little Loaves Farm

Join Jerremie again at Story at the Rectory on Sept 17 and Oct 1

God’s faithfulness…even in the face of death
a sermon on Exodus 12:1-14
The Rev’d Rhonda Waters