Sermons preached at Jubilee United Church in Toronto, Ontario.
Rev. Norm Seli spends some time wondering about Luke's version of Jesus' beatitudes (Luke 6:17-26). How come "Blessed are the poor" needs to be followed by "Woe to you who are rich"? -is it a threat? Is it doom and gloom? The picture will make sense, once you get into the sermon. Probably.
Rev. Norm Seli wonders about Isaiah's call to be a prophet and his prophecy of exile (Isaiah 6:1-13) as well as Jesus' calling the young fishers to follow him (Luke 5:1-11). If we're heading into really bad times is there any point in trying?? And is it possible to read scripture sarcastically?
In the midst of freezing rain, family and friends gathered to celebrate, grieve and remember the wonderful giving life of Doris Hearst.
Rev. Norm Seli threw away his notes today and in light of the Gospel of Jesus being run out of town (Luke 4:21-30) confessed he does not have a stable relationship with Jesus.
This was not contrived, but actually created extemporaneously (he made it all up) - and it reveals some blind spots, a great deal of privilege, but also some truth and hope.
Jason Meyers engages with the story of Ezrah reading the Torah at the Water Gate (Nehemiah 8:1ff) and more fully with Jesus reading the Torah in his home town (Luke 4:14-21) and wonders about faith, truth, robots and living in the 21st century.
Rev. Norm Seli wonders about the story of Simon the Magus (Magician/Healer) and his attempt to buy the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:9-24). How do we come to embrace the Holy Spirit in 2019? Is there a trick? Is there a price? Listen and see what you think....
To begin a New Year, Rev. Seli takes a long look at the beginning of John's Gospel (1:1ff) and Genesis (1:1ff) and wonders if "Creation out of Nothing" is as valid or important as "Order out of Chaos" in 2019... or any time, for that matter.
Picking up on the rest of the Christmas Story in Luke (2:22-40) and Matthew (2:1-23), Rev. Norm Seli wonders about Herod and the slaughter of the innocents and Simeon and Anna greeting the Christ child in the temple. Are these stories compatible or are they presented as choices as we try to live in world that is changed by Christmas... as we prepare to live in a new year. Herod or Simeon? You decide.
Jason Meyers invites us into an exploration and wondering about Mary the mother of Jesus and what it might mean to be a God-Bearer. An excellent to engage with the 4th week of Advent.
Rev. Norm Seli considers the Second Sunday of Advent and the stories of John the Baptist. He wonders if we might consider John the Baptist as a sous chef preparing the ingredients with which Jesus will create... sort of a "mise en place". He wonders what we might need to set in place for Christmas to come in 2018.
