Sermons preached at Jubilee United Church in Toronto, Ontario.
Rev. Norm Seli wonders about the nature of faith. From Hebrews 11 and "things unseen" to Isaiah 1:1-20 facing God's anger and being invited to "argue it out" with God, Rev. Seli has some definite ideas about the truth of faith and it's importance in 2019.
Rev. Norm Seli engages with Jesus' parable of the man who builds new barns (Luke 12:13-21) and wonders, "What is enough?" Aside from recognizing the wisdom of Jesus' parable, he also wonders about what God is doing the story?
Up and coming preacher, Jess Swance, a candidate for ministry in the United Church of Canada (from Jubilee United Church), engages with Amos 8:1-12 and Luke 10:38-42 and introduces us to Love.
Engaging with Luke 10:25-37 and drawing on the scholarship of Dr. Amy-Jill Levine, Rev. Anne Dionisio wonders about the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Rev. Anne Dionisio engages with the Prophet Elisha in Isaiah 11 and 2 Kings 5:1-15... wondering about women and oil, the voice a young woman, what it means to seek healing and to recognize God's presence.
Reflecting on the request of Jesus' followers, that he teach them to pray (Luke 11:1-13), Rev. Seli wonders what about the purpose of prayer and how one might do it "correctly".
Rev. Norm Seli engages with the story of Jesus telling a potential follower who wanted to go home and bury his father, to "Let the dead bury their own dead!" (Luke 9:51-62) and wonders what kind of pastor Jesus would have been... and what good news could possibly come from these harsh words.
Rev. Norm Seli considers the celebration of Jesus' ascension and the inheritance of a ministry (Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:1-11) - he wonders if we might be in over our heads. Considering the story of Paul and Silas in Philippi (Acts 16:16-34), maybe we've got this.... Maybe.
Cheryl Colford invites us to consider the voices, gifts and wisdom of woman that have been lost, overlooked or misunderstood in scripture and the church. Contrasting the rules of Leviticus (15:19-33) with the story of Jesus' encounter with the woman who have been bleeding for 12 years, (Mark 5:25-34) she invites us to share her conclusion (and inspiration) that Jesus was very much a feminist. Powerful words, sincerely and beautifully shared.
Rev. Norm Seli wonders about the vision of a new heaven and a new earth from John's Revelation (21:1-6); Peter's vision of a cloth from heaven (Acts 11:1-18); Jesus' commandment that we should love one another (John 13:31-35)... an eye test, Game of Thrones and everything else going on in the world. Not ambitious at all...
