Ralph Connor Memorial United Church

The Little White Church on Main Street, Canmore, Alberta

blessing

Sunday, February 13, 2022 – Luke 6: 17-26

Forty-plus years ago when I started preaching, I spoke in a lot of different communities, both in ongoing appointments and as a Sunday pinch-hit preacher, and as I recall, ten of the first twelve communities that I preached in were well under a thousand population.  In many of those situations, the United Church of Canada was one of no more than three Churches in town: commonly there would be United, and Roman Catholic, and Lutheran or Anglican or Orthodox or …

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Sermon: December 12, 2021 – Advent 3 – Luke 1: 26-45

The annunciation to Mary, followed by the visitation of Mary and Elizabeth. These are our back-to-back gospel readings from Luke for this third Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of JOY. Watch at https://youtu.be/BZBuymsiMec  Download PDF: Sermon_12December2021-Advent3C The second scene, of young Mary and her much older kinswoman Elizabeth, is a scene particularly bathed in joy, yet it is with some trepidation that I attempt to unpack what is going on here; for I am hindered both by cultural practices that …

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Every Child Matters

Sermon: September 27, 2020 – Orange Shirt Sunday

In honour of our Wednesday night Evensong contemplative services beginning their 20th year, we have been using the Examen, a daily contemplative spiritual practice, to guide us through these Sundays of September and early October.  Today we are at step 3 of the process, which is to “Review the Day – carefully looking back at the day just completed, being guided by the Holy Spirit.” watch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygs6sjCWAR4 download PDF at Sermon_27September2020 When we think of “looking back at the …

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Sea of Galilee

Sermon: February 2, 2020 – Matthew 5: 1-12 – the Beatitudes

We all like stories of people who rise from humble beginnings to do great things.  Gordie Howe using rolled up Eaton’s catalogues for shin pads and becoming one of the top three hockey players ever.  Shania Twain, Celine Dion and Oprah Winfrey, rising from poverty and challenging family circumstances to international stardom. Peace by Chocolate, founded by the Hadhad family, Syrian refugees sponsored by a community group in Antigonish, NS.  Jesus Christ, born of a teenage mom and raised in …

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