Colourful Dreamer

Today we gather with Christians all around the world who will light candles and remember loved ones who have died over the last year. We do this because   November 1st, (Friday), has for at least 12 centuries been All Saints Day. This is the day Christians have remembered all those who firstly died as martyrs for the faith, and then all those great people of faith (saints) who the rest of us look up to and are inspired by. From the twelfth or thirteenth centuries All Souls Day was held on November 2 to remember all people of faith. So today we remember all those who have gone before us, who have paved the way for us, and especially those we have loved and who loved us. We honour their memory, and we give thanks for the ways they have blessed us over our life times. As we do this we also take another step in letting them go trusting that they now rest in God, as they have always. Our gospel reading today reminds us that we are all held by God. When we take the time to remember th

 Gate Pa – 27 th October 2013 30 th Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings: Hebrew Scripture:     Joel 2:23-32                  Psalm:                          Psalm: 65                     Psalm Response: Glory to God – Creator, Word and Spirit           As God always was, is now, and will be forever. Amen Epistle:                        2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18            Gospel:                        Luke 18:1-8      What I want to say: We are God’s Chosen People All are God’s chosen people We have done and can do nothing to earn that we are all invited to “see” and to respond to that by loving God To love God we are to love neighbour rather than obey rules and laws. we do that by praying unceasingly for justice for all God’s people What I want to happen: People to pray for justice for all people in a way that God might change them into people of insight and compassion. The Sermon       1.       Introduction: ask - who are God’s chosen peo

Actually, turns out this is where you can here my sermons.

Last week we heard the story of the insistent widow and were invited to pray unceasingly for justice for God’s chosen ones. The big questions in all that are who is God’s chosen ones and what does justice look like for them? This week we are confronted with the Pharisee and the tax collector. One is pretty sure he is one of God’s chosen ones. And he thanks God that he is not like those others out there that are clearly not one of God’s chosen ones. It is such an easy thing to think isn’t it, that we are God’s chosen ones. After all, we like the Pharisees, listen to God’s voice, we do our best to obey and live good and holy lives, even if we might not use that language. Every now and then we hear other Christians sounding awfully like this nasty Pharisee, whether it is in relation to gay and lesbian people, or criminals, or a number of other groups. And deep down we give thanks that we are not like them and that we are much more inclusive and broad minded and…. snap! There we are

Readings: Hebrew Scripture:     Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7       Psalm:                          Psalm: 66:1-11 Epistle:                         2 Timothy 2:8-15          Gospel:                        Luke 17:11-19 What I want to say: God refuses to be pinned down by our rules what do we need to let go of What I want to happen: The Sermon       1.      Introduction: Bonnie – Kate and I have rules for her             not rules but expectations – based on how behaved and what said in passed             didn’t like to be so boxed in                 trouble is we do same thing to God some ways that is good thing             us to trust God’s faithfulness             some way need trust God will behave as has in past boxes God in when do that place ourselves in charge leave little room for God to be God define who God is and how God will act defining who other people are as well             and how they should act blinds us to God’s activi