The House, the Sparrows and the Sword

Posted on June 21, 2026June 21, 2026 by John

Worship on the Fourth Sunday of Pentecost
Father’s Day
10:00 am      June 21, 2026
Minister: The Rev. Brad Childs          Music Director: Binu Kapadia
Vocalist: Fionna McCrostie
Welcoming Elder: Jane de Caen     Children’s time: Brad     Reader: Darlene Eerkes

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

Greeting
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
P: and also with you

Lighting of the Christ candle

Welcome and announcements

Preparation for worship

Call to worship:
L: Today we gather to worship God, our loving and faithful Father.
P: We come with gratitude for His guidance, provision, and grace.
L: We give thanks for fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, mentors, and all who have reflected God’s love in our lives.
P: We remember that every good gift comes from God, who loves us with an everlasting love.
L: Let us lift our hearts in praise to the One who calls us His children!

Opening praise: Here I am to worship

Prayers of approach and confession

God of grace, you created our minds to grow in wisdom.
You created our hearts to expand with love for you and your world.
You created our voices to sing your praises forever.
Fill us to overflowing with your Holy Spirit, so we may worship you in spirit and in love, faithfully seeking to follow Jesus, even when challenges confront us.
In this time of worship, assure us of your presence with us and reveal to us the path you open before us, for we live to serve as your people wherever you lead.

God who knows all people and all possibilities, you call us to follow you, yet we prefer familiar paths.
You offer us new understanding, yet change makes us uncomfortable.
You invite us into the fullness of life, yet we often resist when the invitation comes with challenge or disruption.
Forgive us, O God, and make of us loving disciples ready to follow Jesus’ example.

Response: We come to ask your forgiveness

Assurance of God’s grace

In Christ, we can work to transform relationships and envision a new future, guided by the Spirit of God. We can become a new creation! Trust that God loves you and forgives you. Do not be afraid to try a new way forward.

We listen for the voice of God

Song: Jesus loves me (373)

Children’s time

Can anyone tell me what today is? (Pause for response.) It’s a very special day because it’s Father’s Day!

The word Father can mean many things. A father can be a dad or someone who is like a dad. A father can be someone who starts something (like the fathers of our nation). Sometimes a father is a preacher or teacher.

Maybe you have a wonderful dad who does special things with you. Maybe he takes you camping or on special trips. Maybe he plays soccer or football with you, or he takes you shopping or to get an ice cream cone. Maybe he teaches you how to do things like ride a bike, how to fish, how to play a musical instrument, or how to fix something. Maybe your dad reads the Bible to you and teaches you about God.

(Ask) Tell about something your dad or father figure does with you.

Not everyone knows their father and not everyone gets to see their dad all the time. Luckily, we have a Father in Heaven who loves us all the time, no matter what.

In the Bible there’s a story about an older man who became like a father to a young man. The older man’s name is Paul, and the young man’s name is Timothy. The Bible doesn’t tell us anything about Timothy’s real dad, but we know that Paul, an older man, wrote letters to Timothy and taught him about God. He was like a father to Timothy. He even told Timothy what to do when he had a stomach ache! He also told him not to pay attention to people who said he was too young to do anything for God.

We can learn so much from our fathers and from those who stand in place as our fathers. The Bible says, “Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.” (Proverbs 4:1)

God is our heavenly Father. He will never leave us. He even said He would be a Father to those who don’t have a father. Isn’t that wonderful?

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Song: God of the sparrow, God of the whale (307: vss. 1,2 4, 6) 307

Scripture: James 2:14-26()

Response: Glory to the Father

Message: The House, the Sparrows and the Sword

This week we look at James’s presentation on the relationship between Faith and Works and how one follows the other like two legs in step.

In what I hope is a fictitious tale, a 20-something-year-old guy was coming out of the local Southern Baptist church, and the pastor was standing at the door as he always did to say “hello” to all the people coming in. But when this particular young man came in, the pastor rather rudely grabbed the man’s hand and pulled him over to the side.

The pastor half-jokingly said, “Hey, brother, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you here before. I think you need to join the Lord’s Army!” A little surprised the young man replied, “But, I’m already in the Army of the Lord, pastor” with a little awkward smile as if to acknowledge that he hadn’t been to church in a little while.

The course country pastor (not wanting to skip a beat) responded a little rudely still saying, “You know I do recognize you. But if you’re really in the Service of the Lord’s army, then how come I don’t see you except at Christmas and Easter and maybe once or twice a year other than that?” At which point the young man pulled the pastor in even closer yet and replied with a whisper, “Because pastor, I’m in the secret service.”

I like that story. But sadly, I think a lot of the time, a lot us, live lives, that too often, make it seem as if we’re in the secret service of the Lord. And that doesn’t mean we hide our faith. I rather doubt anyone in this room hides their faith. It just means that we probably aren’t as intentional and as conversational, and as open as we could and probably should be.

Earlier this week I found this story about two professing Christians who worked in the same office for 10 years and neither of them knew the other was a Christian. That is… until they discovered that they had both been attending the same large church (a massive place people can sort of just sneek into and blend unnoticed) for the last 5 years.

In the story one of the two men said to his wife, “Isn’t it funny that Bill and I have been in the same office for 10 years now, and neither of us knew the other was a Christian until just last week when I spotted him in the church hall?”

“Funny?!” says the wife, “John, I don’t think that’s funny at all, I think that’s sad.”

Spouses have a wonderfully honest way of lovingly kicking you while you’re, down don’t they? I think it might be in the marriage vows even.

“To love and to honour in sickness and in health and also to put you in your place sometimes when you need it.”

James writes, “14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no good deeds to show for it?

Several years ago, a man named Joseph was walking to work when he passed a StreetWise vendor. (StreetWise is a Chicago-based newspaper distributed by homeless people who collect a portion of the proceeds. It also has the highest readership of any publication in the United States. And that should say something about the state of things.

I distinctly remember buying one of these in 1998, while attending a youth conference at Moody Bible Institute when I was 17.

In any case, it was bitterly cold that day, and Joseph had already stopped by Starbucks for a hot cup of coffee to warm his chilly body, but as usual, it was too hot to drink for the first couple of minutes. Feeling generous and a little guilty for holding a $5 coffee (as I often do), Joseph found his wallet and fished out a dollar to give to a homeless woman at the corner in exchange for the StreetWise newspaper. He liked the idea of supporting her attempting to work.

The woman asked, “Do you really want read the paper? Or can I keep it to sell to someone else?” Joseph told her to keep the paper because he probably wouldn’t read it, and then passively asked, “How are you today?” (the way we all do sometimes instinctively do). “Oh,” she said (a little surprised that someone actually took the time to speak to her), “to tell you the truth, I am extremely cold… but otherwise I think I’m pretty good”. Joseph tightened his lips and nodded his head a bit (as if to say he understood) and replied, “Well, I hope the sun comes out and it warms up a bit.” And ended with a customary “Have a good day” with a faint wave goodbye.

And then Joseph continued on his way with that hot cup of coffee still warming his hands.

But about half a block later, the conversation finally caught up with him. He wrestled over what he should do, but he was late for work and so… he kept on walking.

Later Joseph wrote a book. Which is why I know this story. And in it Joseph wrote, “I have never forgotten that moment: That very second when I first regretted not giving her my cup of hot coffee. The regret for something so simple that I failed to do changed my life completely (and that’s great for me), but what if what I DID DO could have changed her life instead?” What might have changed in her life if Joseph had just said, “you know, in Luke’s gospel is says “those with food should share. Would you like this coffee? I haven’t taken a sip yet.”

Sadly, we could probably all say that we have missed countless small opportunities to reach out with a “cup of grace” to those in need.

James writes to us saying, “15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and be well fed,” but does nothing about their actual physical needs, what good is it?” Joseph lived that exact moment.

In Matthew chapter 5 Jesus tells us “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone. So, in the same way, let your light shine before people, that they may see your good deeds… and praise your Father in heaven.” The coworker that doesn’t see Christ in us; the friend at school doesn’t know who is Lord of your life is; the cup of coffee not given… the lost opportunity… the light hidden under the bowl… we all do it all the time! It’s not evil or intentional but it is… sort of like being in the secret service of the Lord. The same is true when we do something but refuse to say that it’s because we serve a loving Lord and want to be like Him.

Jesus tells us that our faith should be as clear to others as a big city scape mounted up on a hill for all to see. Is it? Or do people sometimes sort of figure out that we’re Christians when they bump into us at a church event? Is it as plain as day? Should we have to tell people? Or could we constantly show people?

Paul says it should as obvious as the clothes we wear. But is it?

It’s an old statistic but in 2011 just over two-billion; four-hundred-million people self-identified as Christians. But how obvious do you think they are about it? As my old childhood minister loved to say, “Being in a barn doesn’t make you a cow. And going to Church doesn’t make youa Christian.” You have to LIVE IT! Or as James says, “What good is a faith that never does anything?”

I wonder how many Christians display life changing deeds of faith that lead others “to praise your Father in heaven”? What if that was the goal of 2.4 billion Christians? What if we were all much more intentional about our actions?

Now I want to be clear because we are good quality reformed people hear. The Presbyterian Church is built on the idea of Sola Fide (solely faith or ‘in faith alone”)… the idea that we are restored into right relationship with God by grace through faith alone and that salvation has nothing to do with the good or the bad that we have done or ever will do.

In the words of one of my favourite theologians, Our Church teaches that “we contribute nothing to our salvation but the sin that makes it necessary”. We say that it is faith in the sheer grace of a loving God that saves us and not our deeds… no matter how good. But it can’t end there.

In 1947, a rumor spread that the Ford Motor Company would give one free car away in exchange for every single copper penny dated 1943. The news spread so fast that the board offices throughout the country were jammed with requests for more information, and in spite of a telephone strike, thousands of inquiries came in by telephone as well as by telegram and by mail. Washington reported a massive volume of queries being received at the offices of the mint.

It turned out all to be a joke.

The information records of the mint show that in 1943 exactly 1 billion 93 million 838 thousand 670 U.S. pennies were minted… but they were minted out of steel and zinc, and that exactly 0.0% copper was used in the production of those pennies. The copper pennies didn’t exist.

There has been a rumor widely spread across the human race for centuries that entrance into heaven can be obtained through good deeds. The fact is that there are no works made on earth which are acceptable for entrance into heaven. They all show the counterfeit of having come from the mold of the human heart. God has determined that he will accept only the work that bears the image of the Lord Jesus Christ dying for sinners and nothing of our own devices. There is nothing apart from this – there is no other copper. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done” says Titus 3:5. “Not of works lest no one should boast” says Ephesians 9. Good deeds do not secure our place in the heavenly realms – Grace does.

But people gifted with grace had better learn to share.

James writes, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Now those words should be read closely. Notice James does not say “faith is dead” and James does not say “faith without works isn’t real” or “faith without works doesn’t count for anything”.

The word he uses is pretty harsh though.

He says faith without works is nek-ros. It’s literally the word “corpse”. It’s still a person, it just doesn’t do anything. Faith is all we need. It’s still saving faith (that’s a gift from God and nothing can take that away). But if we never do anything with it, it doesn’t do anything for anyone else. It’s lifeless. That’s James’s point.

Now some would have us believe that James and Paul differed on this issue. That Paul taught Grace through faith and James taught salvation by works. In fact, way too much ink has been spilled about the supposed contradiction between the two on faith and works. And even Martin Luther (founder of the Lutheran Churches) famously fell into this trap.

I think the whole debate is nonsense. What James says is abundantly clear. James says that if faith doesn’t get lived out in the little moments of our lives, then what good is it to anyone but us?

I once heard it put like this: On an early morning, a man walked down the street. He was about 2 blocks from his house when he saw a large puff of smoke rise from the chimney of his home. And he knew exactly what had just happened. He knew it – just as if he had been standing in his own living room. Someone had just lit a fire in the fireplace. The man was in a position to get a good view of both scenes. His physical eye saw the smoke. His mind’s eye saw the scene inside the living room.

This is the exact difference between the Epistles of Paul and the Epistle of James. In Paul’s letters God tells how he looks upon the heart on the inside and justifies people by grace through faith in Christ. James tells how an outward observer can see the effect of that faith. With Paul, it is justification by faith alone (only God can truly see), and with James, it is the smoke that makes it clear to everyone else that a fire actually exists. The one is a divine view, the other is human. 76 What James wants clear is that Faith and Works live together.

Sadly, I couldn’t find the name of the person who first said these words so I’m going to have to say that the author is “unknown” but I recently read these words, “Faith and Works should travel side by side, step answering to step, like the legs of a person walking. First faith, and then works, and then faith again, and then works again, until you can scarcely distinguish which is one and which is the other.”

The year was 1976. Rev. Clarence Jordan, minister/farmer in Georgia, was convinced that poor people living in dilapidated housing could improve themselves with just a little bit of support. “They don’t need charity,” he said to Millard Fuller, who visited Jordan’s communal church on Key Farm. “What they need is a way to help themselves up” Jordan said.

Millard Fuller, a 30-year-old who was nearly a millionaire at that time, was very inspired by Rev. Jordan’s sermon: inspired enough, in fact, to begin what is today a worldwide organization to provide housing for the poor. Habitat for Humanity runs on what Fuller calls “the theology of the hammer” (Faith at Work in play). The group raises money and recruits volunteers to renovate and build homes, which are then sold at cost. Mortgages are even interest-free to certain qualified recipients. Every single day, Habitat for Humanity completes 12 new houses for families in need. Fuller’s got a faith that lives and breathes. And he was convinced by Grandpa Wesley to work for charity year after year, though he rarely attended church after the Second World War.

Now, I’m not telling you that to prove your faith real you need to go out and start a huge international charity or you’re a terrible failure.

Instead, I think this is true: The “theology of the hammer” and what I am going to call today, the “theology of a hot cup of coffee,” are one and the same. Our days are filled to the brim with tiny opportunities to make faith come alive. What opportunities might you have (even just 1 hour after you leave this room)? What if 2.4 billion of us intentionally went out looking for them?

Faith and works are not at odds as some might suggest – they are partners. Because no Christian should ever be able to say with a straight face – that they are in the secret service of the Lord.

May your faith grow stronger daily. And may your words and your works clearly reveal to the world, the fire of faith that made the smoke and flame that followed. May we all be works in action and faith in heart and may no person truly ever be able to tell the difference. Amen.

Song: Christ’s is the world (758)

We respond to serve God

Our time of giving

Prayers of the people

God of compassion and courage,
In our weakness you are strength.
In our sorrows you are comfort and peace.
We thank you for your embracing presence in our lives.
Embrace each situation we lay before you today with your steadfast love.
We thank you for moments of joy that break into our lives,
for love given and received,
for friends who furnish our life with meaning and happiness,
and for family who embrace us with love and understanding.
We pray for those who cannot feel joy today,
for any estranged from family or friends,
for those feeling stress as the costs of living rise,
and for those who face any kind of loss.
Embrace us all with your mercy, O God,
And give us grace to respond to the needs around us.

God of the world,
We pray for people in our communities, both friend and stranger: draw us towards and deeper into relationships that open doors of connection, respect and understanding among neighbours.
We give thanks for your abundant gifts, and for resources to support those facing difficulties in our communities, and in other parts of the world.
Challenge those who govern to listen to, and respond to, the needs of those they serve.
Challenge us to commit to international efforts to preserve the earth, work against the inhumanity of war, and work for peace with justice.
Guide leaders to set fair policies that protect vulnerable people and respect every person’s dignity.
Embrace us all with your mercy, O God,
And give us grace to respond to the needs around us.

Creator God,
During Indigenous History Month,
We give hanks for the opportunities we have to learn about the rich and diverse histories, languages
and cultures of First Nations, Innuit and Métis peoples.
We give thanks for Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers and leaders who
work for the wellbeing of Indigenous nations and communities
and pray for their health and strength in this essential work.

Eternal God,
We thank you for your people in every age
who have entered into your heavenly presence,
especially those dear to our own hearts.
Thank you for memories that inspire us,
for love and laughter shared and lessons learned.
Hear us now as we offer prayers in silence for the concerns on our hearts this day…

Silence for at least 10-15 seconds.

Song: I have decided to follow Jesus (570)

Sending out with God’s blessing

Go in faithfulness, ready to serve God, trusting that God counts your life as precious.
And may God bless you and keep you,
may God’s face shine upon you,
and may God grant you grace and peace
now and evermore.

Response: The blessing

Music postlude

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Numbers in brackets after a song/hymn indicate that it is from the 1997 Book of Praise of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Those and other songs are being used in accordance with the specifications of Dayspring’s licensing with One License (3095377) and CLC (A735555).

The Rev. Brad Childs retains the copyright (© 2026) on all original material in this service. As far as Brad Childs is aware, all of the material that has not been attributed to others is his own creation or is in the public domain. Unacknowledged use of copyrighted material is unintentional and will be corrected immediately upon notification being received.

Video recordings of the Sunday Worship messages can be found here on our YouTube Channel.

A few Good Workers

Posted on June 14, 2026June 14, 2026 by John

Worship on the Third Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday School presentations
10:00 am      June 14, 2026
Minister: The Rev. Brad Childs      Music Director: Binu Kapadia
Vocalist: Linda Farrah-Basford       Elder: Lynn Vaughan     Reader: Iris Routledge
Children’s time presenter: Brad/Darlene

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

Greeting
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
P: and also with you

Lighting of the Christ candle
Welcome and announcements
Preparation for worship

Call to worship
L: Do not fear those who can harm the body.
P: We fear the Lord who holds our souls.
L: We have died with Christ and now live for God.
P: New life is ours—free from sin’s power!
L: Let us worship the God of courage and resurrection!

Opening praise: Love the Lord your God

Prayers of approach and confession

Holy Creator, you are holy and infinitely mysterious, the One who was before time began, who rises above all things and moves within the heart of everything that exists. By your Word, the universe burst into life; by your relentless, pursuing love, you redeem and restore all things.

Holy Christ, you stepped into our broken world so we could have real, abundant life, and in you we see the full, breathtaking extent of God’s love. Day after day, your grace holds us together, your mercy meets us in our weakness, and your presence gives us hope when everything else feels heavy.

Holy Spirit, you are always pouring out fresh wisdom, vision, and direction into our lives. You dwell with us in intimate friendship, our constant Companion, Comforter, and Guide, now and forever.

In the light of your grace and wonder, we come with confidence to confess our sins:

Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep for us to fix on our own. Forgive what our lips are afraid to name, the regrets our hearts can no longer bear, and the patterns we keep repeating even when we know better.

Set us free from the past we cannot change. Open us to a future in which you can change us. Heal the places in us that are still broken, awaken the parts of us that have grown numb, and give us the courage to let go of what no longer serves your kingdom.

Fill us again with your Spirit. Shape us more and more into your likeness, people who love like you, forgive like you, and reflect your goodness in a world that desperately needs it.

We ask all this in the strong name of Jesus, our Savior. Amen.

Response: We come to ask your forgiveness

Assurance of God’s grace

If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Through the grace and mercy of God revealed in Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven.

We listen for the voice of God

Song: Jesus loves me (373)

Presentation of Bibles and Faith books to grade 12 grads

Brad: Keys come in all different shapes and sizes.

I have a lot of keys on my key ring. There is a key to my house and to the lock on the gate to my back yard. I have a key to my car, to my office at work, and another to unlock the file cabinet where I keep my important papers. There is a key to my post office box, and a key to my safe deposit box at the bank.

Most of us use keys every day, but today we are going to talk about a key that we may never even think about. It is a key called FAITH. Now faith isn’t a key that is made of metal like these keys on my key ring, but it may be the most important key, because it is the key that unlocks the power of God.

One day Jesus was in a town called Capernaum. There was a centurion, a Roman army officer, who had a servant who was very sick and about to die. The centurion heard about Jesus and sent some men to ask Jesus to come and heal his servant. The men came to Jesus and begged with him to heal the centurion’s servant, so Jesus went with them.

Before Jesus even arrived at the house, the officer sent some men to say to him, “Don’t even go to the trouble to come to my house, because I am not worthy of such an honor. Just say the word and my servant will be healed.”

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. He turned to the crowd of people that was following him and said, “I haven’t seen faith like this in all of Israel!” The officer’s friends turned and went back to the centurion’s house. When they arrived, they found the servant completely healed.

Just like the faith of the centurion in this story, our faith can unlock the power of God in our lives.

Congratulations, graduates, on reaching this important milestone! As you step into a new chapter, we are pleased to present you, Annika, Sara and Pippen, with a new Bible. May it be a constant source of wisdom, comfort, strength, and guidance as you pursue your dreams and navigate life’s journey.

We are proud of you and pray God’s richest blessings over your future.

Let’s pray: Lord be with our graduates and for those who receive Your Word today, we ask that You fill their hearts with wisdom, courage, and faith. Guide their steps into the future, protect them in every season, and help them walk closely with You all the days of their lives. Lord be with all our graduates. May Your Word be a lamp to their feet and a light to their path. And now we pray the prayer Christ taught us to pray, saying,

Lord’s Prayer (535)

Song: In Christ there is no east or west (480)

Scripture readings: Psalm 100 & Matthew 9:35-10:8

Response: Glory to the Father

Message: A few Good Workers

A look at the shift between the “disciples” and “apostles” and our role since.

“The unoccupied fields of the world await those who are willing to be lonely for the sake of Christ.” The Church is not called to survive humanity, but rather to serve it.

Richard Whately, Archbishop of Dublin, once wrote: “If my faith be false, I ought to change it; whereas if it be true, I am bound to propagate it.” If the gospel is true, and brothers and sisters, it is, then we cannot keep it to ourselves.

We live in a world that seems to multiply crises all around us: political division, personal brokenness, violence, and deep despair. Yet for those who carry the good news of Jesus Christ, every crisis is an opportunity. The harvest is still plentiful.

In the Gospel of Matthew, we come to a powerful turning point. Up until this moment, it has been the ministry by Jesus, teaching in the synagogues, proclaiming the kingdom, healing every disease. But now it becomes the ministry of Jesus through His people. The learners become the sent ones.

Matthew arranges his Gospel like the five books of Moses, presenting Jesus as the new Moses who calls and commissions a new community. His gospel is split into five major parts and themes, just as the first five books (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) do. This is why Matthew makes such a big deal about all male boys being targeted by Herod, why he and the family escape to Egypt, why He quotes the Law more than the prophets in just this one book, and much more. What he wants to say is that Jesus is the new Moses, but also better because in Him all that Moses spoke of is found.

In this second major discourse, Jesus looks upon the crowds with deep compassion. He sees them “harassed and helpless”, “like sheep without a shepherd”… lost, burdened, directionless. His heart is moved with pity. Then He turns to His disciples and says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” In essence, Jesus is saying clearly, ‘there are so many hurting people in the world; how can we care for so many people?’

So what is the first response? Not frantic activity, but prayer: “Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.”

And notice what happens next: Jesus immediately calls His twelve disciples, gives them authority, and sends them out.

Have you ever wondered about the difference between the 12 disciples and the 12 apostles. It has some complications but is generally a fairly simple distinction. Here the students become apostles. See, “Disciple” means learner or student. “Apostle” means “sent one.” In this chapter, the learners are commissioned and sent. So the students become the teachers.

Now, this is important for us today. In the broader story of the New Testament, the title “apostle” sometimes carries a special, foundational meaning. The Twelve (and later Matthias, who was selected to replace Judas the betrayer so there would always be 12 (like the 12 tribes of Israel)) were eyewitnesses of the risen Christ. They walked with Jesus from the beginning, saw the resurrection, and became the authoritative witnesses whose testimony undergirds the Church.

Of course, Paul, too, claimed apostleship because of his encounter with the risen Lord. But he didn’t actually see the risen body the way the others did. For Paul, it wasn’t actually the physical body he saw. The Bible tells us that the Apostle Paul had a “Vision” of Jesus, which is why Paul often referred to his own “apostleship” as an “abnormal birth,” or “abortion” technically, because it was for him, like being reborn, but from a very terrible space unlike the original group Jesus chose, who didn’t kill other Christians as Paul likely did.

But the heart of the word remains: “to be one sent”. Every apostle was first a disciple and a learner. And every disciple is called to become, in some way, a sent one or Apostolos (Apostle).

And that, dear friends, brings us to us.

We are the new disciples. We are the new apostles. We are the learners who are being sent.

The same Jesus who looked with compassion on the crowds of Galilee looks with that same compassion upon our neighbourhoods, our city, our workplaces, and our families today. He sees people harassed and helpless—addicted, anxious, grieving, spiritually adrift. And He is still saying to His Church, to you and to me… “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”

Too often we stand back and say, “Somebody should do something,” only to discover that we are the somebodies. God answers the prayer for workers by calling ordinary people like fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots, and by calling ordinary people like us.

I think of Dr. Scott Katzman, chief of surgery at Waterbury Hospital. Driving to deliver an 8:00 a.m. lecture, he came upon a terrible multi-vehicle accident. Without hesitation he stopped, worked through the wreckage for ninety minutes triaging survivors, and only then continued on to give his lecture, two hours late. Over the years he has stopped at multiple crashes. He refuses to simply drive by when he has the skills to help. “I refuse to live my life that way,” he says.

Neither can we.

There is also the well-known story of the starfish. A young girl walks a beach covered with thousands of starfish washed ashore by a storm. One by one she picks them up and throws them back into the sea. A man challenges her: “You can’t save them all. You can’t make a difference!”

She picks up another starfish, hurls it into the ocean, and replies, “I made a difference for that one.”

The man joins her. Soon others do too. And together they save them all.

We may not reach every person in need, but we can reach the one in front of us. We can make a difference for that one. And when we join hands as sent ones, more are reached than we could ever manage alone.

God teaches us to step out in faith the same way a mother eagle teaches her young to fly. She makes the nest uncomfortable so they will leave it and commit themselves to the unknown air outside. And just so does our God to us. Comfortable Christianity is not the call. Jesus sends us out of the nest and into the harvest fields. It may feel risky. It may involve loneliness or opposition. But we do not go alone. We go with His authority and in His power.

The same instructions given to the twelve are instructive for us. Proclaim the kingdom. Heal the sick. Drive out what is evil. Give freely as you have freely received. We may not perform the exact same miraculous signs, but the mission remains: proclaim that the kingdom of heaven has come near, and demonstrate it through love, mercy, healing, and service in Jesus’ name.

The Lord of the harvest is still calling. Will you pray the prayer? “Lord of the harvest, send out workers, including me.” And then listen, because He may be sending you.

Some of you are already faithfully serving in the fields… in your workplace, your neighbourhood, your family, your school. Keep going. Don’t grow weary in doing good.

Others of you feel the nest becoming uncomfortable. God is stirring you right now. Maybe it’s sharing your faith with a coworker. Maybe it’s volunteering. Maybe it’s noticing the harassed and helpless around you and responding with compassion. Maybe it’s stepping into a new area of service.

You and I are the new disciples: lifelong learners sitting at the feet of Jesus. And we are the new sent ones, apostles in our own time and place: commissioned to carry the good news into the unoccupied fields that still await willing hearts.

Today I leave you with two simple, practical challenges:

Pray daily: “Lord of the harvest, send out workers, including me.”
Look for your starfish. Who is the one person God has placed in your path today? Throw that one back into life and hope by sharing the love of Christ.

The fields are ripe. The workers are still too few. But with God’s help, we, His disciples and sent ones, can make a difference, one life, one act of obedience, one faithful proclamation of the kingdom at a time.

May the compassion of Jesus fill our hearts. May the power of Jesus strengthen our hands. And may the mission of Jesus become our mission too.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Song: Called as partners in Christ’s service (587)

We respond to serve God

Our time of giving

Prayers of the people

God of the earth and all its peoples, in Jesus Christ, you proclaimed the good news that true life and peace are found in you.

Guide your church to proclaim this good news, not in ways that merely please people or don’t ruffle feathers, but in ways that bring Christ’s reconciling love to divided communities and lives out of joint with each other.

Shine your light into the world’s hidden corners, exposing violence, exploitation, and bigotry.

Reveal what dehumanizes the vulnerable and degrades your creation.

God of the earth and all its peoples,
Let your light shine!

God of healing and hope, thank you for your faithfulness to us in all situations

We pray for all those who are ill or in pain, for the anxious and discouraged, for those experiencing violence, for those facing death or the loss of someone dearly beloved, and for those struggling to make ends meet in these uncertain times.

We pray for Presbyterian World Service & Development and its partners as they work to bring healing and hope to places of strife and deprivation. May the mission we share in Jesus’ name shine the light of your love into desperate lives.

God of the earth and all its peoples,
Let your light shine!

God of the faithful future, bless this community of faith and guide us as we plan for the future in changing times.

Bless students and teachers as the school year ends and restore them for learning with summer enjoyment.

Grant us all times to rest and to enjoy this summer and replenish our hope and energy to serve in your world.

God of the earth and all its peoples,
Let your light shine!

We pray for your creation and for the places in this world that are scarred by degradation and pollution; let a spirit of care make us faithful stewards and caretakers of the world you love.

And we pray for those places around the world that are marked by war, violence and poverty; let a spirit of generosity and care make us advocates for justice and peace who speak the Good News of God’s reconciling love.

God of the earth and all its peoples,
Let your light shine!

We offer all our prayers, spoken and unspoken. Amen.

Song: I, the Lord of sea and sky 592

Sending out with God’s blessing

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

Response: The blessing

Music postlude

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Numbers in brackets after a song/hymn indicate that it is from the 1997 Book of Praise of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Those and other songs are being used in accordance with the specifications of Dayspring’s licensing with One License (3095377) and CLC (A735555).

Video recordings of the Sunday Worship messages can be found here on our YouTube Channel.

Credited as Righteousness

Posted on June 7, 2026June 7, 2026 by John

Worship on the General Assembly and Communion Sunday
10:00 am      June 07, 2026
Minister: The Rev. Brad Childs      Music Director: Binu Kapadia
Vocalist: Lynn Vaughan     Reader: Joel Sheridan     Elder: Shirley Simpson

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

Greeting
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
P: and also with you

Lighting of the Christ candle
Welcome and announcements
Preparation for worship

Call to worship:
L: Come, all who are called by God!
P: We come, trusting in the One who calls us forward.
L: Leave behind what holds you, and follow the God of promise.
P: We follow in faith, for God’s mercy makes us whole.
L: Let us worship the Lord!

Opening praise: Forever God is faithful

Prayers of approach and confession

Creator, Christ and Spirit, In you, all things work together for good and are redeemed. Your presence breaks into our lives in transformative ways and you touch us with wonder.

In response to your goodness and glory, we offer you thanks with our prayers, praise with our hearts, and honour with our lives, this day and every day, now and always.

In confidence of your grace and kindness, O God, and out of a desire to begin again with you and one another, we confess to you our sins:

God of mercy, whose loving kindness endures forever: we confess that often we have failed to receive and give love;
to care for others as we care for ourselves;
to pardon and to accept pardon.

We remember good intentions that were not put into actions;
harsh words said in anger;
selfish purposes that caused pain and
persistent pride that would not yield.

Hear us, O Lord, as in this silence, we make our confession to you…

As a very imperfect people we come to you, our God and ask your forgiveness, knowing that in you we are made free.

Response: We come to ask your forgiveness

Assurance of God’s grace

God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Know that you are forgiven and be at peace with God, with yourself and with one another.

We listen for the voice of God

Song: God, we praise you for the morning vss 1,2,4,5 (436)

Scripture: Romans 4:13-25 & Matthew 9:9-13,18-26

Response: Glory to the Father

Message: Credited as Righteousness

The Apostle Paul, in Romans chapter 4, takes us back to Abraham—the father of our faith—and says, “Look here. This is how grace really works.”

Paul writes: “What does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness’” (Romans 4:3). Those words come from Genesis 15, long before Abraham was circumcised, long before the Law was given at Sinai, and long before he had done the great deeds we remember him for.

Think about that timing. Abraham wasn’t declared righteous because he had a perfect track record. He was still a man with flaws and failures. Yet when he simply took God at His word—when he believed the promise that God would make him the father of many nations despite his old age and Sarah’s barrenness—God credited righteousness to his account.

Paul drives the point home with a powerful contrast. He says if a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. The employer owes him. That’s how the world works. You perform, you get paid. But Our God does not work that way. We are not rewarded for what we do, but because we are loved.

God justifies the ungodly. Not the cleaned-up, not the impressive, not the ones who’ve got their act together. The ungodly. The sinner. The person who knows they fall short.

If righteousness or a special place in heaven could be earned by keeping the law or piling up good deeds, then grace would be unnecessary. Salvation would be a paycheck. But Paul says that’s not the gospel. The gospel is better. It’s the announcement that God has done for us what we could never do for ourselves.

Abraham’s story proves it. He was justified by faith before he had religious credentials, before impressive obedience, before any outward sign. His righteousness was a gift, credited by God, received by simple trust.

So what does this mean for you and me?

It means you can stop performing for God. Stop trying to earn what can only be received. The pressure is off. The wage system is closed. In its place stands the open door of grace.

If you’re sitting here today feeling ungodly—aware of your failures, your doubts, your hidden struggles—hear the good news: God specializes in justifying people just like you. He doesn’t wait for you to become righteous before He loves you. He credits Christ’s perfect righteousness to your account the moment you believe.

For those who have believed, live in the freedom this brings. Serve not to earn God’s favor, but because you already have it. Love, forgive, and obey—not as a worker earning wages, but as a child who is already credited with perfect righteousness.

May we all, like Abraham, believe God. And may it be credited to us as righteousness—not by our works, but by His amazing grace. Amen.

Sharing by one of the refugee families Dayspring has helped settle in Canada,

Song: God forgave my sin (774)

We respond to serve God

Our time of giving

Prayers of the people

God of our past and our future,
we come with grateful hearts, trusting that you walk with us through all the seasons of our lives.
You create a future for us, calling each of us to use our individual abilities and opportunities to make a difference.
Thank you that we all have a place and a purpose in your world.
Guide all who are graduating this year to use their knowledge, learning and lives in service to you and your world. Let them hear your call and find their calling.
We pray today for those who face danger and despair in these times:
We remember before you those living with hunger, and all those caught up in unrest and violence beyond their control.

Keep a brief silence

We pray for all those working to relieve suffering in these lives and bring justice and peace:
We pray for your church in this place, in this region/town/city and around the world.
Guide it so that it is clear in its proclamation, gracious in its service, bold in its advocacy and humble in its discernment.
Especially, we pray for the General Assembly that begins its deliberations today.
Give its moderator, commissioners and all who serve the Assembly a strong sense of your guidance.
We pray for all those facing fear or frustration, wrestling with sorrow or discouragement in any area of their lives:
For those who live with illness or pain….
For those bearing chronic conditions or disability….
For those who know the grief and change of bereavement….

Keep a brief silence.

And we pray for all those who work to bring healing and comfort and agencies that offer support and care to those who suffer:
We pray for all who feel helpless or hopeless in this present time:
For those around us facing unemployment, struggling to make ends meet…
For those caught up in the pain of misunderstanding or broken relationships…
And for those working through situations of conflict at home or at work…

Keep a brief silence

We pray for all who offer guidance and support in the midst of such difficulties
and for those who have skills in reconciliation or mediation:
God of healing and hope,
Guide our congregation to engage each day with faithfulness.
Where we need correction, show us a new way;
where we need love and encouragement, inspire us. Amen.

Passing the peace

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Invitation

Come to the Lord’s Table.

This is not a table for the perfect or the proud. It is a table for sinners who know they need grace. Just as Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness, so we come not trusting in our own works or goodness, but in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Here God declares His ungodly people “not guilty.” Here the bread and the cup proclaim that Christ’s body was broken and His blood was shed for the forgiveness of our sins. All who are trusting in Jesus alone—whether you have walked with Him for many years or have come to Him today—are welcome.

Come, not because you must earn a place, but because Christ has already made a place for you. Come and receive the gift of grace by faith.

Song: Jesus calls us here to meet him (528)

The Communion Prayer

Gracious God, our Heavenly Father, We thank You that You justify the ungodly by faith and not by works. We praise You for the promise You made to Abraham and for the greater promise fulfilled in Your Son, Jesus Christ.

As we come to this Table, we remember that our righteousness is not our own. It has been credited to us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Send Your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts of bread and wine, that they may be for us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Feed us with His presence, unite us to Him and to one another, and strengthen us to live as people who have been declared righteous by grace.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Words of Institution

On the night He was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

These are the gifts of God for the people of God.

Sharing of the Bread and Wine

Song: One bread, one body (540)

Prayer after Communion

Lord, We thank You for this sacred meal. We rejoice that by faith we have received the benefits of Your broken body and shed blood. As Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness, so our faith in You has united us to Your perfect righteousness.

Strengthen us now to walk in the freedom and joy of grace. Help us to live no longer for ourselves but for Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.

Send us out as witnesses of Your amazing grace. In Your name we pray. Amen.

Song: Sent forth by your blessing (775)

Sending out with God’s blessing

Go in faith into whatever the week ahead may hold, sure that Christ walks with you. And may the God who made us, the Christ who mends us, and the Spirit who gives us life bring you joy and peace, now and always.

Response: The blessing

A moment with another refugee family that Dayspring has helped settle in Canada

Music postlude

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Video recordings of the Sunday Worship messages can be found here on our YouTube Channel.

A Holy Kiss

Posted on May 31, 2026May 31, 2026 by John

Worship on Trinity Sunday
10:00 am      May 31, 2026
Minister: The Rev. Brad Childs     Music Director: Binu Kapadia
Vocalist: Lynn Vaughan     Welcoming Elder: Heather Tansem
Children’s time: Brad      Reader: Darlene Eerkes

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

Greeting
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
P: and also with you

Lighting of the Christ candle

Welcome and announcements

Preparation for worship

Call to worship:
L: Let us be joyful before God!
P: We will sing praises to God’s holy name.
L: Let us lift up a song to the One who rides upon the clouds,
P: who protects orphans and widows and gives the desolate a home.
L: Sing to God, all nations of the earth.
P: We will sing praises to the Lord, our God!

Opening praise: Holy Spirit, you are welcome here

Prayers of approach and confession

Our Lord, you are three persons in one and one God in three. We praise you, God, the Father, because you are the Source of everything good. You made the whole world: the sky, the stars, the oceans, the trees, and every animal. You made people like us in your own special way and said, “This is good!” Thank you for giving us life and a beautiful world to live in.

We praise you, Jesus Christ, God’s Son. You were born as a real baby with skin and feelings just like us. You came to earth to show us how to love others, be kind, and forgive. You give us grace and mercy when we make mistakes. Thank you for being our friend and rescuer.

We praise you, Holy Spirit, for the happy energy you put inside us. You help us wake up each morning feeling thankful, like every day is a brand-new gift wrapped just for us. You give us power to be brave, to be loving, and to do the right thing.

Holy God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we praise you for being so mysterious and wonderful. We don’t understand everything about you, but we know you are full of love and kindness. Please show us how to live as your people every day. Help us tell others about your amazing love and grace. In Jesus’ name we pray.

God of mystery and mercy, you know every single thing about our lives. You see the happy parts and the hard parts. You know when we feel sad, angry, or scared. You see the times we do wrong things, even the little sins we try to hide. You notice the problems we face at school, at home, or with our friends. You also see all the good possibilities in front of us.

You watch how we live with the people around us. Sometimes we get along great, but sometimes we rub each other the wrong way. We argue, we get selfish, or we say mean words without thinking. We confess that we don’t always see things the way you see them. We mess up and hurt others. We forget to be thankful. We choose the easy wrong thing instead of the harder right thing.

Please open our eyes so we can see the truth about ourselves. Help us be honest about our mistakes. Touch our hearts with your gentle grace and make us new and clean inside. Forgive us, change us, and help us do better tomorrow. We want to follow you with happy hearts. Thank you for loving us even when we’re not perfect. Amen.

Response: I will trust in the Lord

Assurance of God’s grace
Now go and live like forgiven people: be kind, be brave, be quick to say sorry and quick to forgive others too. Because God has poured his amazing grace all over you, and it never runs out. Thanks be to God! Amen.

We listen for the voice of God.

Song: Open our eyes, Lord (445)

Children’s Time
The Summer is coming. Do any of you go camping? I love to go out camping. I love to be under the stars.

One of the things I always do it just look up at all the wonders God has made. The sun, the moon, and all those twinkly stars at night. They are SO big!

Now… look at your hands. Wiggle your fingers. You are much smaller than the stars, right? But guess what? The Bible says something amazing!

The author looks up at the sky and sees all the wonders God has made and asks God, “What am I that You cared to make me?” And then God answers in Psalm 8:5: “I made you just a little lower than the angels, and I put a crown on your heads!”

God made the whole giant world… but then He made you.

He didn’t make you like a little bug that doesn’t matter. He made you special.

The Bible says God put a crown on your head! (Hold up a pretend crown or draw one in the air)

Not a real shiny crown like a king or queen wears… but a special kind of crown that means: “You are important to God!”

Even though you’re small, God says: “You are My child. I love you. I gave you a job to take care of My world.”

Imagine you’re playing outside and you feel really small. The trees are tall. The sky is huge. You might think, “I’m just a little kid. I don’t matter much.”

But God leans down from heaven and says, “No way! I made you! I put a crown on you because I think you’re wonderful!”

What Should We Do?

Because God gave us this special crown, we should:

Be kind to other kids (they have crowns too!)
Say “Thank you, God!” when we see stars or flowers
Take care of animals and the earth
Remember: You are never just “nobody” — you are God’s special child!

This is a repeat after me prayer:

Dear God, Thank you for making the big stars.
Thank you for making me.
Thank you for putting a crown on my head.
Help me remember I’m special to You. I’m loved.
And now we pray the prayer your Son taught us to pray …

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Song: Holy, Holy, Holy (299)

Scripture: Psalm 8 & 2 Corinthians13:11-13

Response: Glory to the Father

Message: A holy kiss

Paul writes his final greeting and offers advice, telling the people that they are in his prayers. The Church, he says, should be one in unity and purpose, and they should share warm greetings and care for one another. In a hectic and busy world, it bears repeating. Greet one another with a Holy Kiss.(2 Corinthians 13:12)

A few years ago, I was visiting a small farming community just outside Regina. An older gentleman named Walter, a lifelong elder in the local Presbyterian church, had passed away. At the funeral, something struck me deeply. His family and friends didn’t just shake hands or nod politely. They embraced—long, heartfelt hugs that lingered. One of his old farming buddies, a man who probably hadn’t cried since the Dust Bowl days, held Walter’s widow for what seemed like minutes. No words were needed. That embrace said, “We’re in this together. You’re not alone. The love we shared with Walter binds us still.”

In a world that often feels cold and distant, where we scroll past each other’s lives on screens and keep our personal space tightly guarded, that kind of physical, sincere connection feels rare. But it’s exactly what Paul points us toward in our passage today. Not a casual greeting, but something holy. Something that reminds us we belong to one another in Christ.

The Apostle Paul wrote the letter we call 2 Corinthians around 55-56 AD. It’s one of the most personal and emotional letters in the New Testament. Paul had founded the church in Corinth: a bustling, diverse, and often chaotic port city full of wealth, immorality, and cultural clashes. Corinth was the Las Vegas but on Steroids of its time. In fact the philosopher Plato comically referred to sex workers as “Corinthian Girls”.

The congregation was a mix of Jews who followed Jesus as the Messiah and Gentiles who knew him as the Saviour of all: rich and poor, strong personalities and struggling believers.

But things had gotten messy in that congregation. False teachers had infiltrated the church, questioning Paul’s authority and motives. Divisions had sprung up. Some members were taking sides, harbouring grudges, and living more like the surrounding culture than like followers of the crucified and risen Jesus. Paul writes with a pastor’s heart (a word meaning Shephard or someone who helps lead you) in defence of his ministry, part tough love and part deep affection. He’s been through pain with them: tears, confrontation, and now, as he closes the letter, reconciliation.

Our pericope today (this small moment in time) is the conclusion, Paul’s farewell. It’s verses 11-13:

“Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All God’s people here send their greetings.”

This is Paul’s punchline after everything else. After defending his apostleship, pleading for generosity, and calling them to holiness, he lands on community. The overarching theme of 2 Corinthians is reconciliation; being restored to God and to one another through the grace of Christ. Paul knows that a fractured church cannot effectively witness to a fractured world. So he gives them (and us) practical steps for unity.

In the ancient Greco-Roman world, a kiss was a standard greeting among family, close friends, and equals. It wasn’t always romantic; it was cultural… like a handshake today, but more intimate. You might kiss a cheek, the hand, or even the lips in some contexts to show respect, affection, or belonging. It signalled: “You are part of my circle. I accept you.”

But like anything human, it could be twisted. Think of Judas’s betrayal kiss in the garden of Gethsemane, using a sign of intimacy to mask treachery. Or political kisses that were pure manipulation. The common practice was familiar, but it wasn’t always “holy.” It could be superficial, obligatory, or even deceptive. People greeted each other out of social expectation, while nursing bitterness in their hearts. Sound familiar? We still do polite handshakes or “How are you’s? while avoiding real connection. Canadian’s are particularly good among all the people on the earth, at being friendly while absolutely hating each other.

Paul takes this everyday cultural practice and transforms it with the gospel. He doesn’t say “Greet one another with a kiss.” He says, “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” The holiness makes all the difference. It’s not just cultural courtesy. It’s a sacramental act, a visible sign of invisible grace. It embodies the ideas Paul lays out right before it: rejoice, pursue restoration, encourage, agree, and live in peace.

In the Christian way, this greeting becomes a declaration: “Because of Jesus, the barriers are down. I choose forgiveness. I choose unity. I choose love.” It’s not about the exact physical action (cultures vary, and in our context, a warm handshake, a genuine hug, or even eye contact and a smile might be the equivalent). But it’s about the heart behind it. A holy greeting is sincere, not hypocritical. It’s inclusive, crossing lines of class, race, politics, or personality. It says that in Christ, we are family. We are all adopted into God’s household. If you are here, we are one.

Look at the promises attached. When we strive for restoration and peace, “the God of love and peace will be with you.” God doesn’t just command unity. He empowers it and shows up in it. And Paul adds greetings from “all God’s people here,” reminding the Corinthians they’re part of something bigger than their local squabbles. The whole church meeting in other places is praying for them.

This isn’t optional – window dressing for worship. In Presbyterian tradition, we emphasize the priesthood of all believers and the covenant community. A holy greeting in church isn’t just social time. It’s a mini-sacrament of reconciliation. It’s where we practice what we preach about grace. It is The Lord’s Supper, in action.

So what does this look like for us at Dayspring?

First, rejoice. Even when church life is hard, we rejoice in what Christ has done. Joy is contagious and disarming.

Second, strive for restoration. If there’s unresolved conflict, take the first step. Paul doesn’t say “Wait for them to apologize.” He says to pursue wholeness. The Bible, if nothing else, is full of very good advice – that’s why we call it the “good book”.

Third, encourage one another. In a critical world, be the voice that builds people and things up.

Fourth, be of one mind—not uniformity of opinion or politics or superficial things, but unity in Christ’s mission. Together, we should be fighting for a better world.

Fifth, live in peace—not by avoiding hard things, but by refusing to let division have the last word.

And then lastly… greet one another—really greet one another—with the holiness that comes from knowing we’re all sinners saved by the same grace.

In our congregation, that might mean lingering after the service to talk to someone you don’t usually sit with. It might mean checking on the person who’s been absent. It might mean swallowing pride and offering a handshake that says, “I matter to me”.

The holy kiss (or its modern equivalent, the hug, handshake, smile or first word) is a small act with massive implications. It proclaims to a divided world that in Christ, love wins. Reconciliation is possible. Peace is not a dream. It’s our calling.

As we close, hear Paul’s benediction to the church he was the minister of 2000 years ago. in full: “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

Greet one another with a Holy Kiss. Be especially warm to people. Small things change the world. Amen.

Song: You are Author (430)

We respond to serve God.

Our time of giving

Prayers of the people

Dear God, we come to you now like a big family talking to our loving Parent. We want to pray for everyone and everything, because you care about it all. Thank you for listening to us.

First, we pray for your big family, the Church, all around the world. Help all the people who believe in you, whether they are in big fancy buildings, tiny village churches, or meeting in secret places, to love you more and love each other better. Make us brave to show your kindness. Help pastors, teachers, and leaders in the church to tell your good news clearly, like friendly storytellers. Bring together all kinds of Christians so we can work as one team.

We pray for the leaders of our countries and towns. Give wisdom to the president, the prime minister, our mayor, and everyone who makes important decisions. Help them choose what is fair and good instead of what is selfish or mean. Show them how to help people who don’t have enough food, homes, or safety. End wars and bring peace to places where people are fighting.

God, we pray for the whole wide world you made. Protect the oceans, forests, and animals. Help us take care of the earth rather than hurt it. We pray for places where people are hurting because of earthquakes, floods, or fires, send helpers quickly and comfort those who are scared or sad. Bring food to kids who are hungry and clean water to families who need it.

We pray for our own city and neighbourhood right here. Bless our schools so teachers and kids can learn and grow in happy ways. Watch over the doctors, nurses, police officers, firefighters, and all the people who help us every day. Make our streets safe. Help neighbours be kind to each other and look out for one another, like a big friendly block party.

We pray for people who feel sick, sad, or lonely. Hold the hands of kids in hospitals and people who are really old or hurting. Comfort anyone whose heart is broken because someone they love died. Give hope to friends who feel worried about money, family fights, or hard things at home. Wrap your strong, gentle arms around them and remind them they are not alone.

We pray for our own families and friends. Help us be patient when we get annoyed. Teach us to share, to listen, and to say “I’m sorry” when we mess up. Bless the people we love most and the ones who are hard to love. Help us be good friends and good family members.

Finally, God, we pray for ourselves. Help each one of us know how much you love us. Give us joy when we feel grumpy and courage when we feel scared. Show us ways we can help others today, even in small things like smiling, helping carry something, or saying something nice.

We bring all these prayers to you, trusting that you hear every word and that your love is bigger than any problem. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Song: Glory be to God the Father (298)

Sending out with God’s blessing

And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and communion in the Holy Spirit fill you with joy and lead you onward, now and evermore.

Response: God to enfold you

Music postlude

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Video recordings of the Sunday Worship messages can be found here on our YouTube Channel.

The Incredible Hulk

Posted on May 24, 2026May 24, 2026 by John

Worship on the Day of Pentecost
May 24 2026 10 am
Minister: The Rev. Brad Childs     Music Director: Binu Kapadia
Vocalist: Linda Farrah-Basford     Welcoming Elder: Iris Routledge
Children’s time: Vivian Houg     Reader: Sam Malayang

We gather to worship God

Music Prlude

Greeting
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
P: and also with you

Lighting of the Christ candle
Welcome and announcements
Preparation for worship

Call to worship:
L: Breathe upon us, Holy Spirit,
P: and transform our thoughts and actions.
L: Stir in our hearts, Holy Spirit,
P: and fill us with your wisdom.
L: Breathe upon us, Holy Spirit,
P: and refresh our commitment to serve in repentance, love and renewal.
L: Stir in our hearts, Holy Spirit,
P: as we worship and witness to God’s love.

Opening praise: This I believe (The creed)

Prayers of approach and confession

God: Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit, Your energy moves in us and through us as we step into each new day. You are as close as our next breath, the very life within us. You refresh us like a cool breeze on a hot afternoon, giving us strength when we’re tired. You challenge us like a strong wind, waking us up and stirring us to pay attention.

Shift our focus to the wonder of who you are, your mystery, wisdom, grace, and the beauty of everything you’ve made. Turn our hearts toward the warmth of Christ’s love.

To you, Creator God, Christ our Redeemer, and Holy Spirit, we bring our prayers and our praise with love and trust.

Bring us together as one, united in worship and witness by your grace and power.

As we remember all that you are and all you’ve done, we also remember who we are and what we’ve done. So we come honestly before you to confess:

God of wind and fire, at Pentecost, your Spirit filled Jesus’ followers and gave them the power to speak your truth in ways that everyone could understand, no matter their language or background.

But we admit we’ve often ignored your guidance. We’ve stuck to our own opinions and words instead of letting your Spirit speak through us. We haven’t always lived the lesson of that first Pentecost, that your love is for every culture, every language, every person.

Forgive us for the times our words and actions in your name came from pride, self-interest, or a desire for power instead of from your Spirit and real love. Forgive us for the wrong things we’ve done… and for the good things we’ve failed to do.

Send your Spirit again. Renew our faith, energize our repentance, and transform us so we can live with purpose, doing justice, loving others, and serving with genuine hearts. Amen.

Response: I will trust in the Lord

Assurance of God’s grace

The mercy of our God is from everlasting to everlasting. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and set free to live in the renewing power of the Spirit. Thanks be to God for this most generous gift.

Musical offering: Dayspring Singers

We listen for the voice of God.

Song: Open our eyes, Lord (445 )

Children’s time: Pentecost: The Birth Day of the Church:
Props: birthday cake or cupcakes decorated with red candles
Pentecost is the birthday of the church. It is the day that the disciples really started to go out and spread the gospel message. Bring a birthday cake decorated with red candles. Tell the story of Pentecost and explain why it is the church’s birthday. Light the candles and make reference to the Spirit flames, then blew out the candles to remember the rushing wind. The cake/cupcakes could be eaten during Sunday School.
Prayer and The Lord’ Prayer (535)

Song: Come, let us sing (706)

Scripture reading: Ephesians 4:25; 5:2

Response: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet

Message: The Incredible Hulk

Everyone gets angry. Sometimes it’s justified, even “righteous”. Most of the time it’s not. When we let anger fester and don’t try to rectify things, we get stuck in it. But God has a different plan for us, a plan that makes us One body.

When I was a kid, I was fascinated by superheroes. My mom would safety pin beach towels around the necks of all the neighbourhood kids, so we’d have superhero capes and could run around having imaginary adventures. Of course, the boy from Smallville, Kansas, known as Superman, was a favourite. I loved the Silver Surfer, too. Today, I’m a pretty big fan of the Incredibles Jack-Jack. But probably my favourite superhero as a child was Dr. Robert Bruce Banner and his alter ego, The Incredible Hulk.

Banner is a genius scientist with 7 PhD’s: (a good hero in his own right for kids to look up to), and the Hulk he becomes (of course) is the giant green rage monster whose strength grows proportionally with his anger and is seemingly unlimited. In one of the older comics, for example, the Hulk easily swats away a 20-ton dragon as if he were shooing away a fly. But all of his strength comes from his anger and his instability. As a boy, I suppose the idea that anger and power are linked made perfect sense to me. In adult life, however, it seems anger doesn’t really work that way. Instead, it usually gets us into trouble.

Ephesians was written sometime in the early 60’s, possibly by Paul (though it lacks many of his usual features) and possibly from imprisonment. Possibly, the book (which several times over claims Paul as the author) is actually a collection of Paul’s shorter writings by his students, who compiled and sent this letter to the churches as a kind of introduction to the apostle’s thoughts. This would be a common and accepted practice of the day.

In any case, the surviving copy we have handed down to us is addressed especially to the Church in Ephesus. But there were probably multiple other (slightly different) versions of it produced for other communities.

Ephesus, the city, was sort of the West Edmonton Mall of its day or the Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. It was a major shopping center of the ancient world. It was a busy, cosmopolitan place. The congregation there was fairly wealthy, but it was very diverse ethnically, and Paul also mentions some tradespeople in the congregation. The people come from all over the world with different ideas and different traditions. Though Paul would eventually spend three years with the congregation in Ephesus and address a number of issues, in this letter, he has only one major theme in mind: Unity.

The author’s main point is that Christians (no matter where they come from) need to get along because we’re all part of the one body of Christ.

For the Christian, honesty and conversation are key.

Paul writes,

²⁵Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbour, for we are all members of one body. ²⁶“In your anger with one another do not sin.” “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,”

Do you get angry? Maybe not green rage monster angry – but angry?

These days, there is a disorder for absolutely everything you can think of. Accordingly, what I might refer to as a “Hot Head” might actually be someone who suffers from the aptly named Intermittent Explosive Disorder. Do you know someone with Intermittent Explosive Disorder? If that describes you, the good news is that there’s now a drug that can help you control your anger. Doctor Emil Coccaro, a researcher and professor of Psychiatry at the University of Chicago Hospitals, who studied anger for several decades, is championing a new drug called Depakote, introduced first by Abbott Laboratories in 1995. However, it was a very long road to classify the condition and assign a pharmaceutical solution. By his own admission, Coccaro’s research was incredibly slow. The problem… apparently, nobody gets angry.

Subsequently, Dr. Coccaro could never seem to find enough volunteers with tempers for the clinical studies. You see, apparently, very few people think of themselves as angry. And those who did – didn’t really think it was a problem. 501

What about you? What makes you angry? Does it have a negative effect on your life or relationships?

According to a police report, Melodi Dushane became outraged and jumped partway through the drive-through window at 6:30 p.m. on New Year’s Day 2010. The security camera footage (which became an overnight internet sensation after someone added fake closed captions) captured the altercation, which includes the woman punching and breaking the window itself, attempting to climb inside the restaurant, ripping the hair out from the head of the McDonalds employee, and punching her repeatedly in the face while shouting “I am going to end you!” over and over again.

In the video, Dushane also retrieves a bottle from the backseat and throws it through the window as the drive-thru staff call the police.

And the reason she-hulk went mad with rage: well… her 10-piece chicken nuggets weren’t ready yet.

Now, all of that gloriously unhealthy fat-drenched goodness aside, I can’t personally recall ever letting my anger get the best of me quite like that. But… I do recall 8-year-old me, throwing my Atari controller down and breaking it when I knew in the depths of my little heart that I pushed that red button in time, but my little 8-bit guy didn’t jump like he was supposed to, and my game was over. With a broken controller, however, I’d never play the game again.

I do recall stepping on a kid’s Lego and screaming that the kids needed to clean their room, even though ten minutes earlier I really couldn’t have cared less.

I do recall being so annoyed by a customer in line ahead of me that I set down a basket half full of groceries and left the store, only to have to return later and do it all over again.

And more than that… I also remember being mad at my wife and then leaving for a week of school (as previously scheduled), but an hour before I would normally get up and without saying goodbye. And also… not answering my phone for the first two days after that class.

The Silent Treatment… Not exactly my high point.

You know that saddest part about that shameful story, though? It’s that my wife probably didn’t even know what I was all bothered about, because I never actually talked to her about it.

Paul says, Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷and do not give the devil a foothold.

That quote feels like it was perfectly written for married couples. And maybe it is, but it’s also a lot bigger than that.

For the Christian community, in our relationships with each other and with others, anger is never meant to outlast a single day. Just think about that for a second. We’re not supposed to be angry with each other longer than a day.

And this is actually a theme in scripture. Psalm 4:4, for example, says, “Be angry, BUT do not sin, in the your bed at night, search your heart and be silently at peace.” In the words of that great prophet, Princess Elsa – “Let it go”.

Notice that neither our verse from Ephesians nor this verse from the Psalms says that we shouldn’t feel anger. In fact, the bible never says that. Just the opposite is true. We are not only allowed to feel angry, but we’re even supposed to feel angry sometimes.

Jesus felt angry. He chased people with a whip, knocked over tables, and told Peter to get back in line. In Deuteronomy 25, it says that God “hates” the scales that are tampered with to cheat the poor, and that he “burns” with “anger”.

It’s not that we can’t be angry; it’s that it can’t consume our lives. It shouldn’t spill over into the next day, then the next, and then the next.

And it’s not that we can’t be angry, it’s that it has to be directed in the right places.

Righteous indignation, a Holy Anger, is good.

This week, two teenagers (18-year-old Caleb Liam Vazquez and 17-year-old Cain Lee Clark) who espoused white supremacist views opened fire at the Islamic Center of San Diego (the city’s largest mosque), killing three random and innocent men.

Suppose you are angry today about that – good. Injustice and suffering should make us angry. That’s righteous indignation.

But that’s not really the kind of anger Paul is talking about.

If, however, you are angry with a friend of yours who’s always late or a spouse for doing the dishes the wrong way or at a coworker you think isn’t pulling their fair share, that’s a different story.

If you are angry and it is not a holy, righteous anger, then Paul is telling you to go to that person and be honest with them. And you need to do it today before the sun goes down tonight.

You need to do it before your anger starts to fester and get worse. As Ron McManus writes, “Bitterness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.”

Next, Paul continues in this section with an absolutely incredible and terrifying statement. He writes, ³⁰And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

When we hold on to anger and let it fester, when we let the sun go down, and we’re still upset with someone, it literally “grieves” the person of the Holy Spirit who resides in us. This word used here is Loo=peh-o, which also means “deeply distressed” and “saddened”. This is the same word that’s used to describe a mourner after John the Baptist is beheaded in prison. He is Lu-Peh-O. And that is how the Holy Spirit reacts when we let unrighteous anger sit with us overnight. It causes the Spirit pain.

Instead, we are to “³²Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave us.”

Now this is where things get a little complicated. Sometimes that’s easier said than done.

Forgiving someone for forgetting to put the laundry away or for that snarky email or for making your job harder or the person in that car that keeps changing lanes or the person who put raisins in the cookies where God intended the chocolate to be – well, that is one thing. Getting rid of your anger at someone who took credit for your work or lied about you or cheated on you or hurt someone you love, well, that is a whole different story, isn’t it?

But is it supposed to be?

How radical is this forgiveness we are supposed to emulate?

A South African woman stood in an emotionally charged courtroom listening to white police officers acknowledge the atrocities they had perpetrated in the name of apartheid. Officer Vanderbrook acknowledged his responsibility for the death of her son. Along with others, he had shot her 18-year-old son at point-blank range. He and the others partied while they burned his body, turning it over in the fire until it was ash. Eight years later, Vanderbrook and others arrived to seize her husband. Hours later, Vanderbrook came to fetch the woman. He took her to a woodpile where her husband lay bound. She was forced to watch as they poured gasoline over his body and ignited the flames that consumed it. The last words her husband said were, “Forgive them.” Vanderbrook stood awaiting judgment. South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission asked the woman what she wanted. Three things, she said. I want Vanderbrook to take me to the place where they buried my husband’s body. I would like to gather up the dust and give him a decent burial. Second. Mr. Vanderbrook took all my family away from me, and I still have a lot of love to give. Twice a month, I would like for him to come to the ghetto and spend a day with me so I can be his mother. Third, I would like Mr. Vanderbrook to know that he is forgiven by God and that I forgive him as well. I would like someone to lead me to where he is seated so I can embrace him, and he can know my forgiveness is real. The older woman was led across the courtroom. Vanderbrook fainted. And someone began singing Amazing Grace, and eventually the entire courtroom erupted in song as she hugged the man who murdered her son and husband..

Paul writes,

5 ¹Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children ²and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

I don’t really know how far each of us can take this. Some things seem so unforgivable. And the idea that we can forgive and forget is far too simple. But that’s what God does. That is the ideal we are meant to shoot for.

A woman named Lynn Sullivan wrote this little journal entry. “In the late 1920s, my grandparents married and moved into grandpa’s old family home. It was a clapboard house with a hole in the middle. In the late 1930s, they decided to tear down the old house and build a new one.

But much to my grandmother’s dismay, many of the old materials from the old house were recycled into the new one. My grandfather used old fastenings, handles, hinges, mouldings, and other pieces of lumber. When the house was done, everywhere my grandmother looked, she saw old doors that wouldn’t shut properly, crown mouldings that were split, walls littered with old nail holes, poorly painted-over panels, and unfinished window trimmings. All her life, she longed for a new house, but all she got was a recycled one.

When God brings us into the Kingdom, the old way of living must be dismantled and discarded completely. We are called not to an easy life but to a faithful one. Letting go of anger and forgiving others may in some cases seem impossible, but you can’t build a new kind of life out of old material. Unlike the Incredible Hulk, letting go of our anger is actually what makes us strong. Redirecting it at injustice and doing something about it is what actually makes people heroes. 81

My challenge for you this week

Admit that there is anger in your life. Commit to not letting it fester. Seek out and speak honestly and in love to those you feel have wronged you, the very day it happens. While it’s not always simple, refuse to let the sun go down before you do it. And when it seems impossible to reach the ideal, remember with God, All Things Are Possible. Amen.

Song: For all the love (440)

We respond to serve God.

Our time of giving

Prayers of the people

Wind of the Spirit, blow through us on this Pentecost day and make our faith new again.

Wake up our love for you and give us fresh energy to serve in Christ’s Church. Help us see the needs around us for caring and mission. Give us the courage to try new things we haven’t dared before. Help us heal the hurts the church has caused, and work for truth, healing, and good relations with Indigenous peoples. Give us strength for the work you call us to do, together and as individuals. Breathe through us in our prayers and our praise.

Spirit of Power and Promise, move in us and renew our faith.

Wind of the Spirit, blow through us and help us understand the hard challenges facing our communities and the world you created. Give us a new commitment and your guidance to work for truth, healing, reconciliation, and saying sorry for the church’s part in colonization and residential schools. Change us into faithful followers who show your love to others.

Spirit of Power and Promise, move in us and renew our faith.

Wind of the Spirit, blow through us and bring healing to everyone who is hurting, those who are sick, sad, discouraged, or grieving, and those struggling with money and daily life. Bring healing to the earth, to places in trouble, and to nature that is in danger.

Spirit of Power and Promise, move in us and renew our faith.

Wind of the Spirit, blow through us and fill us with the same kindness we see in Jesus Christ. Refresh us as your followers, ready to serve the world you love. Warm our hearts with trust in Jesus, and give us courage to live lives of loving service in his name. Amen.

Song: Joyful, joyful we adore you (410)

Sending out with God’s blessing

Go in the strength of the Spirit, to greet those we meet with understanding, loving service and care. And may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit and the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Response: God to enfold you

Music postlude

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Video recordings of the Sunday Worship messages can be found here on our YouTube Channel.

Who’s the Boss?

Posted on May 17, 2026May 17, 2026 by John

Worship on the Seventh Sunday of Easter
10:00 am      May 17, 2026
Minister::The Rev Brad Childs     Music Director: Binu Kapadia
Vocalist: Sam and Ann May Malayang     Elder: Renita MacCallum
Reader: Helen Ross Children’s time: Brad

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

Greeting
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
P: and also with you

Lighting of the Christ candle
Welcome and announcements
Preparation for worship

Call to worship:
L: Let us be joyful before God!
P: We will sing praises to God’s holy name
L: Let us lift up a song to the One who rides upon the clouds,
P: who protects orphans and widows and gives the desolate a home.
L: Sing to God, all nations of the earth.
P: We will sing praises to the Lord, our God!

Opening praise: I lift my eyes up

Prayers of approach and confession

God of life, we praise you for your love which fills creation from the beginning and which calls all life into being.

We worship you for Christ who reveals your loving purpose for all people.

We bless you for your Spirit who guides and inspires us and who draws us into the circle of your tender love.

In recalling all that you have done and who you are, we confess what we have done and who we are:

God of mercy, we confess the times when we forget you and are divided from one another, and how often our thoughts, words, and actions betray your goodness and our calling.

Forgive us, merciful God.

Mend what is broken, heal our wounded relationships and convert our hearts and minds, through Jesus Christ, our Lord remaking us anew each day. Amen.

Response: I will trust in the Lord

Assurance of God’s pardon

While it is true that we have all fallen short in our call to follow Jesus, it is a greater truth that we are forgiven through his grace. Remember the Good News! In Jesus Christ our sin is forgiven. Be at peace with God, with yourself and with one another. Amen.

We listen for the voice of God

Song: Open our eyes, Lord (445)

Children ’s time

Hey kids! Come on up. How many of you have ever said goodbye to someone you love? Maybe a parent going on a trip, or a friend moving away? It feels a little sad, right? But sometimes the person says something really special before they go – like ‘I love you’ or ‘I’ll be thinking of you.'”

In the Church Calendar year this is still Easter time. In the assigned readings Jesus has risen from the dead and spent time with his friends. Now it’s almost time for him to go back to heaven to be with God the Father. But before he goes, he does something beautiful. He looks up to heaven and prays for his disciples – the people who love him and follow him.

¹⁰All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. ¹¹I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of^[^b^] your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. (John 17:10-11)

The Children’s Bible puts it like this: “Holy Father, protect my friends… Keep them safe. Help them to be one – to love each other and stick together – just like you and I are one.”

The thing is Jesus wasn’t just talking about the people around him. He was talking about everyone who know and loves him. He was talking about You too. Jesus prayed and still prays for you.

This morning I want to encourage you to do for your friends what Jesus does for us… to pray for them. Each night this week, pick a friend and before bed, say a short prayer for them. Ask God to look over them, protect them and be with them. This is one more way this week, we can be ore like Jesus.

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Song: Christ is King (272)

Scripture readings: Isaiah 45:1-7 and Ephesians 1:15-23

Response: Glory to the Father

Message: Who’s the Boss?

Back in the 1980s, there was a popular sitcom called Who’s the Boss? starring Tony Danza. The entire show revolved around one hilarious, ongoing question: In this house, who’s really in charge?

Angela Bower was a high-powered, type-A advertising executive; the clear boss on paper. She had the big career, the beautiful house, the income, and the sharp mind. Tony Micelli, a retired baseball player turned live-in housekeeper, came in to help with the kids and the home. On the surface, Angela was supposed to be running everything. But anyone who watched the show knows the truth: Tony’s calm strength, wisdom, humour, and steady presence often shaped what actually happened in that home far more than Angela’s titles or paycheck ever did.

The show kept millions laughing for eight seasons because we all recognize the tension: Titles and positions don’t always reveal who’s truly calling the shots.

Today, the Apostle Paul brings that same question into our lives, not about a sitcom family in Connecticut, but about our own hearts, our families, our church, and our world. Ephesians 1:15-23 pulls back the curtain of heaven and gives us a clear, powerful answer.

Christ is Exalted as Supreme Lord

God the Father raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, the ultimate position of authority (v. 20). Jesus is now “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church” (vv. 21-22).

In any kingdom, the one seated on the throne is the Boss. Jesus isn’t campaigning for the position. He already occupies it. All things are under His feet. He is not hoping to become Lord one day, He already is Lord of all.

Imagine the most powerful CEO in the world walking into a small company meeting and being told, “We’ll let you give us some advice if we feel like it.” That’s how absurd it is when we treat Jesus as a consultant, a co-pilot, or a part-time advisor. He isn’t our equal. We don’t get to take what He says, mix it with our own ideas, and create our own hybrid religion. He is the Head over everything.

This means every single area of your life is already under His authority: your career, your finances, your relationships, your sexuality, your politics, your entertainment choices, your thought life, and your future plans. The only real question is whether you will acknowledge it and live as if it were true.

If Christ holds this supreme, unchallenged position, then why do so many of us still live as if we’re the ones in charge?

We Resist His Lordship

Even though Jesus is seated far above everything in heaven and on earth, our fallen human nature wants to sit on the throne of our own lives. We bow to lesser “lords” like fear, ambition, culture, addiction, pride, public opinion, or our own desires. Instead of submitting to the King on the throne, we play our own version of “King of the Hill.”

We say:

“My truth” instead of God’s eternal Truth.

“Follow your heart” instead of “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).

“You do you” / “Be true to yourself” instead of “Be conformed to the image of Christ.”

“Live your best life now” instead of “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.”

Not every one of these ideas is 100% wrong in every situation, but when they become our highest authority, they lead us away from Christ. These days, people seem to need to be seen as good but don’t actually want to do any good. We like making decisions based on what feels right or what culture applauds, rather than what honours the Head of the Church. Social media is filled with people signalling their own virtue, doing nothing and seeking applause for it.

And the truth is, we do this with God, too.

It’s easy to treat Jesus as Saviour for heaven, but Boss nowhere on earth. I call this the “good ol’ boy” theology. It’s the I’m right with Jesus so I can do whatever I want and be forgiven, theology. But it doesn’t really work that way. That’s calling Jesus Saviour, but not Lord.

It’s like passengers on an airplane suddenly trying to grab the controls from the pilot who is already in the cockpit, flying the plane perfectly. The plane has a rightful captain. Ignoring him or fighting him doesn’t remove his authority; it only creates danger, chaos, and potential disaster.

A self-ruled life always leads to emptiness, broken relationships, secret shame, burnout, and eventually judgment. Eventually, scripture tells us, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). The only question is whether we bow willingly now in worship or later in shame.

Be honest with yourself right now, in which area of your life are you still saying, “This part belongs to me, Jesus. Am I the boss here”?

The good news in Ephesians 1 is that we don’t have to stay stuck in this rebellion. The same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in victory is available to every believer.

Surrendering to the Real Boss Brings Blessing and Power

Christ has been given as Head to the church, which is His body, “the fullness of him who fills all in all” (v. 22-23). When we submit to Him, we are not diminished, we are completed. We are connected to the One who fills everything with His presence, power, and purpose.

Many people fear that submitting to Jesus will make life smaller or less enjoyable. Nothing could be further from the truth. Submitting to the right Boss actually sets us free.

Think about a child who finally stops fighting their loving parent and learns to trust their wisdom. Or a wild horse that fights the rider until it yields; once it submits, it discovers the joy of running powerfully and freely under a skilled master. The same is true with Christ and us. His yoke is easy. His burden is light. True freedom and fullness are found under His lordship.

Begin every morning with a simple prayer: “Lord Jesus, You are seated far above all. I am not. Have Your way in every part of my life today.”

Deliberately align your decisions, big and small, with His Word.

If you want to know if Jesus is Lord over your life, find something you don’t really want to follow and follow anyway. Find something in Scripture you naturally resist and obey it anyway (giving generously, if you have two coats, give one to someone else, speaking truthfully, forgiving someone undeserving 77 times). That’s having a Lord.

Remain vitally joined to His church, where Christ is the Head. Don’t try to live the Christian life alone.

Be bold in your witness. Let your life, your words, and your choices show who your Boss really is.

Who’s the Boss of your life right now, really? Not what you sing in worship, but what your daily decisions, spending habits, relationships, and private thoughts reveal.

The resurrection power that raised Jesus and seated Him far above every ruler, authority, power, and dominion is the same power now at work in everyone who believes. Stop resisting the rightful Head. Crown Him Lord of all today.

If Jesus is not yet Boss of every area of your life, this is your moment to surrender. But know that you are not alone. Every one of us has areas where we’ve tried to stay in control. But today, look to the empty tomb and the throne in heaven. Jesus is the Boss. He has always been, and He will always be. Amen.

Song: Jesus, life of all the world (776)

We respond to serve God

Our time of giving

Prayers of the people

God of the generations in time and eternity, we turn to you in these quiet moments to offer you our thanks and our hopes for our lives. Today we give you thanks for all those people who have shown us your face and taught us to follow you through the loving example of their living faith. We are grateful for their wisdom and courage which continue to inspire us. Thank you for our life together in your church and the saints we have known here.

May the light of Christ shine through our lives, too, so that we offer light for the world you love as witnesses to your purposes.

Christ of Compassion in action, in you, we receive our call to live with purpose.

From you, we learn how to love those around us.

With you, we find strength to face each new day.

So today, we offer our prayers for those facing challenges, and seek your guidance to respond to their cries.

We pray for those brought to mind by news headlines this week for situations of violence, corruption and deprivation, danger and devastation…

We pray for families going through difficult times, for all who are sick or in sorrow, for all who are lonely or despairing …

We pray for those agonizing over important decisions and responsibilities,

for those in leadership roles and for those who care for the most vulnerable…

Creator, Christ and Spirit, move with us into the week ahead, remind us each day to live according to your will and purposes in all our relationships and to live lives of meaning so that we bear witness to the love we meet in Jesus. Amen.

Song: Crown him with many crowns (274)

Sending out with God’s blessing

Go forth in the power of the living God to love, to serve, to shine as lights in the world until we gather again in His name. And may the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be upon you and remain with you, both now and forevermore.

Response: God to enfold you

Music postlude

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Video recordings of the Sunday Worship messages can be found here on our YouTube Channel.

The Hope that You Have

Posted on May 10, 2026May 10, 2026 by John

Worship on the Christian Family Sunday and Mother’s Day
10:00 am      May 10, 2026
Minister: The Rev. Brad Childs     Music Director: Binu Kapadia
Vocalists: Peter and Cheryl Sheridan
Elder: Sam Malayang
Children’s time: Courtney Vaughan    Reader: Tracy Childs

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

Greeting
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
P: and also with you

Lighting of the Christ candle
Welcome and announcements
Preparation for worship

Call to worship:
L: Let us see you this day, Lord
P: Come to us as light
L: Let us hear you this day, Lord
P: Come to us as truth
L: Let us sense your presence, Lord
P: Come to us as love
L: Come, let us worship the Lord of light, truth and love. Amen

Opening praise: Come, now is the time to worship

Prayers of approach and confession

God of life,
we praise you this day for the gift of your creation
as new life rises around us in flower beds and farmers’ fields,
in the nests and burrows of your creatures.
We praise you for the gift of our lives, and for all those people—
from our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents
to our teachers and coaches and good friends—
who have encouraged us along the way.
In this time of worship,
encourage us in the present moments of our lives,
challenging as they may seem.
Refresh us with the new life you promise us in Christ Jesus
in whose name we praise you as the Spirit prays within us.
God of love,
we are grateful for the love you bless us with in our homes and families.
Yet you know family life is not always easy.
Our love for each other gets strained some days.
Forgive us if we have taken our family for granted.
Give us grace to repair relationships where strain is showing. Amen.

Response: I will trust in the Lord

Assurance of God’s pardon
Hear the good news! Who is in a position to condemn?
Only Christ—and Christ died for us; Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us.
Believe the good news of the gospel. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven
and set free to love more fully by God’s generous grace.

We listen for the voice of God

Song: Open our eyes, Lord (445)

Children’s time

Hello, children. Can anyone tell me what today is? (Pause for responses)
Today is a very special day, because it’s Mother’s Day!
We all have women in our lives who are mother figures – whether it’s our own mom, our bonus mom, grandmothers, aunts, and even our friends’ moms! Mother’s are everywhere, and they love us unconditionally … just like Jesus does.

Have you hugged your mother yet today? Well, if you haven’t already, make sure you do it before the day is over.

Did you know that the Bible has a lot to say about our mothers? Mothers who love God – those who try to teach their children about God – have a very special place in His heart. In fact, God made a promise to the children who love and honour their mother and father. The Bible says, “Honour your father and mother. Then, you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12)

Does your mother carry a purse?
Let me go grab MY mother’s purse for this little demonstration!?!
Most mothers carry a pretty big purse like this one. Have you ever looked inside your mother’s purse – with her permission, of course?
You might be surprised at what we might find inside. Let’s take a look and see the things my mom carries around with her that could maybe help teach us about God.
(Pull out each item and talk about how it relates to what a Christian mother might teach a child.)

A small flashlight: Jesus is the light of the world, and we can count on Him to help make the path easier to follow when the world seems dark and lonely.
Tissues: These are always handy for a runny nose, of course. Sometimes, when we are scared or worried, we might shed a few tears. God is always there to help us feel better and wipe away our sorrows.
Candy: A mother should always have something sweet on hand to encourage others when they are down in the dumps. She also can provide sweet words to help bring hope in troubled times.
Comb or brush: This could be a reminder that each of us represents the Lord. Every morning, when you comb or brush your hair and you step out to face the world, YOU are a disciple of Jesus. Put your best self forward and know that God is with you every step of your journey.
Bible: A mother should always keep the Word of God handy. It can be kept close enough to read a little bit every day, and it will serve as a reliable guide when helping others to stay on the right path.
A wallet: A mother must always be prepared in case of a financial emergency. But this wallet can also represent the value our faith brings to our lives. Knowing and loving God makes us richer, in all the BEST ways!

We have so much to be thankful for when it comes to our moms and those who love us like mothers. God uses mothers every day to lead us and love us completely … just like He does.

As we celebrate Mother’s Day, tell your Mom that you love her. But more importantly, let’s remember to show her that she’s loved. In the same way, let’s tell God that we love Him today. But more importantly, let’s remember to show Him that we love Him through worship and by loving one another.

Let us pray:
Thank you, God, for mothers. Thank you for their love, patience, kindness, and wisdom. We are thankful that they are always prepared to help their children and lead them along the right path … just like Jesus does.

And now, together, we’ll say the prayer that you taught us, saying “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name …”

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Song: King of Kings 266

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:13-22 & John 14:15-21

Response: Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord

Message: The Hope that You Have

We are a people called not live our faith openly and with truth, never giving up our zeal for doing what is right. In this world, doing right may not always mean being rewarded for it. At times, we are harmed by it. But we are called, nonetheless, to speak the good news in word and deed, and never to shy away.

A few years ago, I came to know a Christian family seeking refuge in Canada. Eventually many family members made it into the country, but the patriarch made sure everyone else got out first. They loved the country they came from but the government was and is still very hostile to non-Muslims. This family patriarch was a respected bank manager. He was also fairly open about his faith in Jesus. People knew he was trying to reach a place where he and his family could worship freely. And that was the problem.

One day he was arrested on what appeared to be very flimsy evidence for embezzlement. In prison he was then charged with Blasphemy. This is of course typical. According to Pew Research, out of the 50 Muslim majority countries in the world, 47 have clear blasphemy laws very much intended to kill or imprison Christians and the other 3 have different titled laws that do the same thing but claim all non-Muslims are by default “inciting religious enmity”. At the same time, there are 152 majority Christian nations and not a single one punishes Muslims for their faith. That should speak volumes. Yet, we do live in a very messy world. And in the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf States, most non-Muslims fear for their lives and have to make attempts to escape to the places with the most religious freedom. But that’s not easy to do.

During the trial the father of the now “Canadian kids” was released for a short time on bail, and during that time of release, one day he fell to his death down an open elevator from the top floor of a building in a neighbourhood, he’d never been previously known to visit. Additionally, the security cameras were mysteriously off at the time of the incident. Those close to the family believe he was murdered because he refused to stop following Jesus. Most of his family eventually reached safety and now live across Saskatchewan. By all accounts, they are doing more than fine. All but one of them. One died. Or more likely, one was murdered.

As John Calvin once wrote, “Against the persecution of a tyrant, the godly have no remedy but prayer.” Doing what is right does not always bring immediate reward. Sometimes it brings more trouble.

This is exactly the situation Peter was addressing. His readers were scattered as exiles across a hostile Roman Empire. They faced suspicion, slander, discrimination, and sometimes outright suffering simply because they belonged to Jesus. But Peter does not tell them to hide their faith, compromise their convictions, or fight back with anger and bitterness. Instead, he calls them, and us, to not be afraid of their threats and to continue on in faithfulness and in “eagerly doing good”.

Even though the cost of following Jesus in Canada is not our lives, standing up for Christ can still cost us comfort, reputation, opportunities, or relationships.

Peter says, “But in your hearts honour Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience…”

When Christ is Lord in our hearts, we can live with courageous hope and gentle boldness even when doing good brings suffering. And even if we live in a place that hates us, we can still be bold. Yet I must say, I wonder how the Bold in other countries think of us and how quiet we often are. Do you?

Peter begins with realism, not romance. Listen to verse 13: “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?”

In a perfect world, goodness would always be rewarded. But we don’t live in a perfect world. Peter knows that. So, he immediately adds, “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled” (v. 14).

And then, Peter goes even further in verse 17: “For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.”

So, here’s a question we need to ask ourselves as a church and as individual believers: Are we known in our community as people who are zealous for what is good? Or have we become timid, shrinking back to avoid discomfort or conflict?

Peter gives us three vital instructions. They form the heart of how we live as exiles with hope.

First: Honour Christ the Lord as holy in your hearts.

This is the foundation. Peter is saying: Give Jesus the highest place in your inner life. He is not just your Saviour or a helpful spiritual advisor. He is Lord. When Christ is enthroned in your heart, the fear of people is dethroned. Worry about consequences loses its power.

Is Christ truly Lord over our fears, our reputation, our career plans, our social media, and our family decisions? When anxiety starts to rise, do we run to Him first? When pressure comes to stay silent or soften our convictions, do we remember who sits on the throne of your heart?

When this is true of us, we are freed to live differently. But that doesn’t mean , just because we love Jesus, are bold enough to say it and bold enough to live it out, that things are going to go well. Peter knows very well, that some of us are being thrown down the elevator shaft. He just wants us to know that following Jesus is still worth it.

In the hills outside Los Angeles in 2004, Lisa Torti and her friends were in a serious car accident. One of them, Alexandra Van Horn, was trapped inside the wreckage. Fearing the car might explode, Torti pulled Van Horn out of the fiery car by her arms to safety. Van Horn had survived the crash but was paralyzed. But instead of gratitude, Alexadra Van Horn sued her best friend and rescuer, claiming that Torti’s actions worsened her spinal injuries.

The case went all the way to the California State Supreme Court, which ruled in a split decision that Good Samaritan protections for non-medical rescuers are limited. In other words, Torti could be held liable for the way she performed the rescue. What should have been a heroic act turned into years of legal battles and stress for the woman who risked her life to save a friend’s.

How do we live in a world where “no good deed goes unpunished?” Peter gives us the heart of the matter. It is not about being rewarded. It’s about doing what is right.

Second: Always be prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.

Peter says, we can’t stay silent about who we worship or why we do good. Notice Peter does not say, “Always be prepared to argue with everyone who disagrees with you.” He says be ready to give a gentle, respectful answer to anyone who asks about the hope inside you.

As I am very found of saying, “People make the best advertisements for the gospel.” When your life is marked by joy, integrity, and steady hope in hard times, people eventually notice. Evangelism is far less about cold-call preaching and more about being ready to respond when the door opens and not being afraid to be faithful.

An inner-city free clinic in Chicago announced sudden budget cuts and let go of nearly half the staff on the spot one morning. The waiting room filled with worried patients. Many employees walked out in frustration. But one man, Dan, stayed despite no longer being paid. But he kept showing up, calm and kind, handing out forms, answering questions, and trying to bring order to the chaos only now as a volunteer.

One afternoon a nurse named Sarah, who had barely spoken to him before, watched him for a long moment and then asked, “How are you not falling apart right now? Everyone else is panicking or angry.”

Dan paused, then said, “I don’t always feel okay. Some days I’m fighting fear just like everyone else. But every night my mother used to light a small candle and name one thing she trusted would still be true in the morning when she woke up. Then she would pray, blow the candle out and let the smoke carry her thanks to God for that one thing. I’ve started doing the same, one small truth at a time.

Sarah didn’t say much that day, but she sat down and started helping. The problems at the clinic didn’t disappear. But something quieter and stronger settled in the room, and in their hearts.

I think that is the kind of hope Peter is talking about. It is not vague positive thinking. It is the confident expectation that we are forgiven, that we have new life now, and that eternal glory is coming, because Jesus rose from the dead. The resurrection is the reason we believe the best is yet to come. Death is defeated. This broken world will be made new. We belong to a living Saviour.

Third: Do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a good conscience.

Our defence of the hope must match the hope itself. Harsh, angry, self-righteous answers undermine the very gospel we defend. A good conscience matters. We cannot live like the world during the week and then try to defend the hope we have only on Sunday. And I am working on that.

Here Peter grounds everything in the gospel itself.

How can we live in hope even when suffering comes? Because of what Christ has done.

“Christ suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (v. 18). He died. But death could not hold Him. He rose victorious. Just as God saved Noah and his family safely through the waters of judgment, He saves us through the waters of baptism, not as a magical ritual, but as the outward sign of an inner appeal to God for a clean conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because Christ has already won, we can endure. Because no snide looks or mockery or elevator shafts can every change that.

We live in a world where good deeds are sometimes punished and faithfulness can be costly.

In such a world, Peter’s words are not naïve, they are powerful. No, it is not likely that in Canada someone will throw you down an elevator shaft for your faith, but they might belittle you. They might insult you. They might consider you to be “less than” at times.

Set Christ apart as Lord in your heart. Stay ready with a gentle, respectful answer. Our hope is not fragile optimism. It is resurrection hope. It thrives even in suffering. It refuses to be silenced. And when we live this way, our lives become a quiet but powerful testimony that makes people ask, “What is different about you?”

May God make us a church known for being zealous for good, gentle in spirit, and unshakably hopeful, because Jesus is Lord, He has risen, and our future is secure in Him no matter what else may happen. Amen.

Song: Spirit, come dispel our sadness (380)

We respond to serve God

Our time of giving

The Apostle Paul declared that in God, we live and move and have our being. We offer our gifts to God in thanksgiving for all we enjoy in life, praying that our generosity will become a blessing throughout all God’s precious creation.

Prayers of the people

God our Creator and Redeemer, you made us in love to share that love with neighbour and stranger as Jesus commanded. Take our gifts and make them tokens of your love that we can share throughout our community and in the world you love.

God of homes and families, this Sunday we give you thanks for our families, especially remembering mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers.

We are grateful for their love and attention, their hard work and the deep hope they have cherished for each one of us.

We honour before you each one who has mothered us and now lives with you in your eternal care.

And we ask your blessing on each one in our family who continues to care for us, cook for us and worry about us.

God with a loving heart,
Hear our prayer.

God of connections and compassion, today we thank you for our friends and relations, for the neighbours and fellow citizens who help to make our lives complete.

We thank you for glad times shared, helping hands offered, commitments honoured.

And we pray for those around us facing particular challenges this day.

Keep silence for 15 seconds.
God with a loving heart,
Hear our prayer.

God of courage and new possibility, today we pray for all those who feel life or love slipping through their fingers, for those who face the loss of good health, and for those who face the loss of good times.

We pray for communities facing upheaval through natural disaster and human misjudgement, and for countries facing economic turbulence and environmental collapse.

Keep silence for 15 seconds.
God with a loving heart,
Hear our prayer.

God of forgiveness and renewal, today we pray for those caught up in relationships in need of repair and for all who seek peace and seek to make peace.

We pray for families, churches, communities, and countries caught up in division.

Keep silence for 15 seconds.
Send your Spirit to bring peace to troubled lives.
God with a loving heart,
Hear our prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father,

On this day and every day, we come before You with hearts full of gratitude for the beautiful gift of mothers. Thank You for creating them with such tender hearts, endless strength, and unconditional love that reflects Your own.

Lord, bless every mother who has poured herself out in quiet, unseen ways — the late nights comforting crying babies, the gentle hands that wiped away tears, the sacrifices made without complaint, and the endless prayers whispered over her children. For the mothers who loved fiercely through exhaustion, who gave when she had nothing left, and who carried both joy and worry in the same heartbeat… hold them close today.

Wrap them in Your comforting embrace. Renew their weary spirits, restore their joy, and let them feel deeply how precious they are. Remind them that their love has shaped lives in ways that will echo through generations. Give them moments of sweet rest, laughter that fills their souls, and the assurance that they are seen, valued, and loved beyond measure — not just by their families, but by You.

May every mother know today how irreplaceable she is, and may she feel Your gentle presence walking beside her every step of the way.

In Jesus’ name, we pray with love and thanksgiving, Amen.

Song: When we are living (630)

Sending out with God’s blessing

Walk in the love of the Lord, as Jesus taught us, showing that love to all whom you meet. And may grace, mercy and peace from God, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, be with you, now and evermore. Amen.

Response: God to enfold you

Music postlude

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Video recordings of the Sunday Worship messages can be found here on our YouTube Channel.

Living Stones

Posted on May 3, 2026May 3, 2026 by John

Worship on the Fifth Sunday of Easter
10:00 am     May 03, 2026
Minister: The Rev. Brad Childs     Music Director: Binu Kapadia
Vocalist: Vivian Houg     Elder: Darlene Eerkes     Reder: Wesley Childs

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

Greeting
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
P: and also with you

Lighting of the Christ candle
Welcome and announcements
Preparation for worship

Call to worship:
L: God is our Rock and our Fortress.
P: In God, we find refuge and strength.
L: God’s house has many dwelling places
P: We will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
L: Christ himself has gone to prepare a place for us.
P: For us, Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.
L: So let us worship God in Spirit and in Truth.

Opening praise: Bless the Lord, oh my soul

Prayers of approach and confession

O God, In whom we trust.

Life is full of storms, and sometimes there is no other place to go for shelter, except to You. The very idea of you is Calm itself. When anxiety, grief, or fear overwhelm, or when loneliness or uncertainty settle in. When things are bleak, we can hold on to something (I would never want to be without). And so Hope still exists.

You set the path before us in Jesus and gave some pretty impeccable guidance that basically nobody ever seems to disagree with.

We admit you are wiser and call you Lord because we say we listen to you. Help us to do so.

Our God, we come now to worship you: the Source of life for all people,

the Son who taught mercy to the poor, the outcast, and the hurting,

and the Spirit who nudges us toward justice, compassion, and truth.

Trusting who you are and honest about who we are, we do what very few people in this world ever take the time to do. We confess our mistakes, admit we are flawed and ask for help to become better.

Lord, we confess that while we proclaim (as the Son himself) that Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life,” and yet, we too often choose our own comfort over his call, our own way instead of what we see in his heart for us, our own version of truth instead of The Truth, and a life quite frankly, at least at times, wasted chasing things that don’t matter or cannot be caught.

At times:

We ignore the hungry and the oppressed, not because we are callous but because we are overwhelmed. We tend to cling to wealth and status, but we have all been just a generation or two away from starvation.

At times:

We protect privilege instead of pursuing justice because, in the past, being protective about one’s “tribe” meant security. We admit, our God, that we, well-meaning or not, understandable or not, have made mistakes, and we want to be better.

At some point, every single one of us has spoken harshly, judged quickly, or remained silent when just one voice could have helped.

The real plank in the eye, however, is that Lord, we rarely stop to question whether we are at fault for anything. And so we distort your truth to excuse fear or self-interest, and we live shallow, distracted lives that forget your purposes. And yet we live in contradiction. We come to this place and admit our faults, and we do so because you have promised to love us despite them all, the while helping us to correct them.

Our Lord… Forgive us all of our errors. Restore our hearts, grant us courage to follow Jesus more faithfully, and shape our actions to reflect your mercy and love more fully. Amen.

Response: I will trust in the Lord

Assurance of God’s pardon
Jesus said, Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in the Father. And so Trust in the Son. And so, trust in the Son who told us to trust in the Spirit.

Know that, in Christ, you are forgiven. Let us all, accept God’s grace and forgiveness this day, and extend it to others for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

We listen for the voice of God.

Song: Those who wait on the Lord (882: vss 1,2,3,6)

Scripture: Proverbs 4:10-18; 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14

Response: Alleluia, Alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord

Message: “Living Stones”

The temple fell, and the people were scattered. As a result, Christian faith spread throughout the world. What one ruler meant for destruction became a way for the people to live out the Temple life all around the world. Let’s be living stones, a living temple and let us remember that it is often the simplest things that make the most impact.

Many scholars believe that 1 Peter was written after the fall of the Temple. The second temple had been the center of worship since the time of the Prophets. It was thought to be the place where God’s (Shekinah) glory actually resided and where God’s priests had been set apart as Holy. But in 70 AD, the soon-to-be Emperor Titus besieged and conquered the city of Jerusalem. The zealots (a group to which Peter belonged before he met Jesus) had previously defended the city against a troop buildup but lacked discipline. Eventually, infighting led to gaps in leadership.

Titus took advantage. First, he let up on security during the Passover season. Then, with the city packed to the gills, he sent four legions of soldiers to stop pilgrims from leaving the city following Passover, causing a massive shortage of water and other supplies. He surrounded them, smashed the third wall with a battering ram and hit the fortress of Antonia just north of the Temple Mount. Fighting ensued as the Roman military filled the city streets.

At this point, most of the Jewish Zealots fled to the Temple in retreat. While Titus originally wished to convert the temple into a pagan site, a Roman soldier set it ablaze instead. The fire spread uncontrollably to residential areas. Jews and Jewish Christians fled through underground tunnels. The zealots in the temple were burned to death. Had he not met Jesus, Peter probably would have been among them. Eventually, Titus flattened the Jewish place of worship almost completely. As far as Jerusalem was concerned, there were no chosen people left, no temple, no priests set apart to lead worship, and no one to offer sacrifices. This was September the 7^th, 70 AD.

The Christians fled and scattered throughout the known world in search of safety. And because of that, so did the faith.

Peter writes, “⁴As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— ⁵you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house^[^a^] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

And then, ^9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession-”

In short, Peter says, “The building is gone, we’re not. The Building (no matter how important) was made of stones. You are living stones. You are the temple made mobile… made alive.” 1 Peter 2:2-10

We’re chosen to be living stones, to build something bigger than a bunch of brick walls.

In 1710, Christopher Wren, who designed St. Paul’s Cathedral in London (one of the world’s most beautiful buildings), wrote about the reactions of construction workers who were asked what they were doing. Most workers who were bored and tired responded by saying, “I’m laying bricks” or “I’m carrying stones.” But Wren recalled one worker, who was mixing mortar, who seemed especially cheerful and enthusiastic about his work. When this man was asked what he was doing, he replied, “I’m building a magnificent cathedral.”

To this man, it wasn’t just Christopher Wren building the cathedral; it was everybody involved.

Sometimes when we think about the church, we think too small. I tend to focus on the details rather than the big picture. But truth be told, it’s all the little things we do that build the church. A smile from the people who volunteer in the kitchen today makes just as big an impact as the minister or the music director.

When Peter writes to the people, he writes to tell them that they are the church. That’s it, it’s not just a bunch of mortar and stone but a living, breathing thing, and that’s when you do it right – it grows.

And though the people had no official Priests, Peter writes to tell them they didn’t need someone else to make their sacrifices for them. He says, “You are the Temple, and you are the Priests. In fact, more than that, he says, ‘you are a Royal Priesthood’, offering ‘spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

From now on, he says, we are all “set apart”. We are together “a Holy Nation”, but not because of who our forefathers were or where we were born, but because of who God is and how we will live because of that.

The 1964 Philadelphia Phillies will always be known as the team that suffered one of the great collapses in sports history. They let a huge division lead slip away by losing ten games in a row at the very end of the season. Despite the collapse, the Phillies’ season had its share of memorable moments, including a perfect game and a ninth-inning home run by a Phillie to win the All-Star Game.

But the most remarkable moment of the entire season occurred after a game, not during it. Clay (Dal-Rimple) Dalrymple, a Phillie pitcher, was asked to assist a blind girl who had asked for a chance to walk onto the field. (Dal-Rimple) Dalrymple took the girl to home plate, where she reached down and felt the plate. Then slowly he walked the girl to first base (where she stooped down, smiled and examined every inch of it), and then to second base, and then to third base before ending up at home plate once again (with a nice long pleasing pause at each so the girl could confirm her dream).

The thing is, while (Dal-Rimple) Dalrymple was showing the girl around the bases, he missed something important. See, he had been so focused on fulfilling this little girl’s dream that he hadn’t noticed that the fans had stopped leaving. They’d stopped talking. People just sat in silence in the stadium to watch him and his companion round the bases. (Dal-Rimple) had been so focused on this one person that he hadn’t been paying any attention to the other things going on around him. The kindly baseball player just assumed that the silence in the stands meant the fans had all gone home. But when he and his new friend finally reached home plate, and this blind young girl had finally “run the bases”, the ballpark erupted with applause. (Dal-Rimple) Dalrymple, however, was shocked by the thunderous clapping. When he looked up, he saw tens of thousands of fans standing and applauding, smiling and cheering with appreciation, pride, respect, and love.

Later, (Dal-Rimple) Dalrymple told Sports Illustrated, “It was the biggest ovation I ever got.”

Sometimes we forget that our efforts to be Christlike, to be living stones, to be set apart… are observed by others, even though we may be unaware that they’re watching. And I have a little theory about this that I’d like to share with you. I believe that it’s not usually the big things we do that matter the most… usually, it’s the right things we do that matter the most.

I did a little research on the top 10 sports viewers over the last 12 months. Unfortunately, hockey didn’t appear on the popularity list. But it’s not far off. But for perspective, Hockey has about 250 million viewers worldwide. NASCAR has around 300 million. Neither made the list. But… here are the top ten:

Rugby 470 million
American Football 500 million
Baseball 550 million
Basketball 800 million
Table Tennis 850 million
Volleyball 900 million
Tennis 1 billion
Field Hockey 2 billion
Cricket 2.5 billion

10, Soccer 3.5 billion

It appears that these are some of the most attention-grabbing moments in the shared history of the world over the last year. 3.5 billion people watched.

But who was the MVP of the last Super Bowl (Ken Walker, 3rd of the Seahawks)?

MVP or the NBA finals? Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous Alexander.

Who won the last World Series? L.A. Dodgers.

Who won the 2025 FIFA World Cup MVP?

How about this: Who was the Nobel Prize winner for Physiology and Medicine last year, and for what? This person won for using CRISPR to demonstrate gene-editing Alzheimer’s out of a person’s DNA.

Who received the top researcher prize for Physics by developing breakthroughs in quantum computing that physicists believe might enable calculations to be made in more than just our dimension (possibly proving alternate realities)?

Who won the Pulitzer Prize in Investigative Journalism?

Who won the Fields Medal for groundbreaking work in mathematics, which might be used to solve world hunger?

But now ask yourself these questions instead:

Who are the people who truly shaped your life?

Who taught you something fundamental (like reading, thinking, how to study, how to respect others or behave or got you to believe in yourself? I bet you can name that person.
Who showed up consistently and made all the difference?
Who cared about you in ways that are specific and personal and changed your life or made you a better person?
Who shared tears, hugs, pain, death, a wedding or the birth of a child with you? I bet you know their names.

No 3 billion people watched those moments but I bet they were more impactful.

People aren’t shaped most by those who are important to the world, but by those who are important to us personally. The biggest influence on your life usually come from people who will never be famous.

History remembers the great figures: the prize winners, the champions, the innovators. But a person’s life is usually shaped far more by the quiet, consistent actions of ordinary people: someone who taught them, supported them, listened to them, or showed up when it mattered.

I’ll bet those names and faces came to mind immediately. You may even feel gratitude welling up as you remember them. Those are the “living stones” God has placed in your life, ordinary people through whom He builds something eternal.

Their small, faithful acts, meals shared, burdens carried, truth spoken in love, quiet prayers offered, are spiritual sacrifices that strengthen the church far more than any spotlight moment.

I believe that it’s not usually the big things we do that matter the most… usually, it’s the right things we do that matter the most.

Giving a lamb to the priest at the temple (three times a year was a big thing and had its place), but spiritual sacrifices (those little things we do for Christ and neighbours) change us and change others around us. Spiritual sacrifices build an even bigger Temple with more and more living stones. They built up a whole kingdom.

The problem is we don’t always live like a Royal Priesthood and a Holy Nation we’re called to be, partially because (just like Peter’s original audience), we tend to cling to the past and hold on to our old ways instead of celebrating what God is doing in the here and now.

There is this old story…
An old beggar lived near the king’s palace. One day, he saw a proclamation posted outside the palace gate. The king was giving a great dinner. Anyone dressed in royal garments was invited to the party.

The beggar went on his way. He looked at the rags he was wearing and sighed. Surely only kings and their families wore royal robes, he thought. Slowly, an idea crept into his mind. The audacity of it made him tremble.

Would he dare? He made his way back to the palace. He approached the guard at the gate. “Please, sire, I would like to speak to the king.”

“Wait here,” the guard replied. In a few minutes, he was back. “His majesty will see you,” he said. “Let the beggar in!” he shouted.

“You wish to see me?” asked the king.

“Yes, your majesty. I want so much to attend the banquet, but I have no royal robes to wear. Please, sir, if I may be so bold, may I borrow one of your old garments so that I, too, may come to the banquet?”

The beggar shook so hard that he could not see the faint smile that was on the king’s face.

“You have been wise in coming to me,” the king said. He called to his son, the young prince. “Take this man to your room, have him bathed and dress him in some of your new clothes.”

The prince did as he was told, and soon the beggar was standing before a mirror, clothed in garments that he had never dared even to hope for. “You are now eligible to attend the king’s banquet tomorrow night,” said the prince. “But even more important, you will never need any other clothes again. These garments will last you for the rest of your life with ease. These will never tear.”

The beggar dropped to his knees. “Oh, thank you,” he cried.

But as he started to leave, he looked back at his pile of dirty rags on the floor. He hesitated. What if the prince was wrong? What if the King changed his mind? What if he needed his old clothes again? Quickly, as the prince looked the other way, the beggar sneakily gathered up his old clothes and hid them away before leaving.

The banquet was far greater than the beggar had ever imagined, but he could not enjoy himself as he should. He had made a small bundle of his old rags, and it kept falling off his lap. The food was passed quickly, and the beggar missed some of the greatest delicacies while trying to keep one hand on the rags at all times.

Time proved that the prince was right. The clothes did last forever. Still, the poor beggar grew fonder and fonder of his old rags. As time passed, people seemed to forget the royal robes he was wearing. They saw only the little bundle of filthy rags that he clung to wherever he went. He became a sort of local celebrity. Everyone knew him. But they knew him only as “the old man dressed as a prince but always holding dirty rags”

One day, as the old beggar lay dying, the king visited him. The beggar saw the sad look on the king’s face when he looked at the small bundle of rags by the bed. Suddenly, the beggar remembered the prince’s words, and he realized that his bundle of rags had cost him a lifetime of true royalty. And so the beggar and the king both, together, cried.

Our King cannot stand to see us holding on to our old rags. For as Peter puts it, we are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation” and “God’s special possession.”

No matter where, when or who you were born to be, all God’s children in Jesus Christ are chosen, and all who do right make up the Holy nation. If you follow The Way, the Truth and the Life, what might you accomplish? All who strive to sacrifice for others are the living embodiment of the Temple; we are living stones and it’s our everyday small acts of kindness that matter most. Amen.

Song: With the Lord as my guide (574)

We respond to serve God

Our time of giving

Prayers of the people

Generous God, we thank you for the renewal of life in Christ and for the greening of fields and gardens that remind us of your power to restore. Use the gifts we offer, time, money, skills, to bring hope and tangible renewal: feed neighbours facing food insecurity, support farmers and farmworkers, repair homes after storms, and fund programs that heal bodies and rebuild communities in the name of Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord.

Holy One, God with us, we give thanks for Jesus’ promises that reveal your face, mercy in the hurting, peace in the restless, and justice for the oppressed.

He knows us more deeply than we know ourselves and calls us into a life of compassionate action.

In Christ, you show us the Way through self-giving service. We pray for those who are lost or isolated, refugees and migrants, youth without mentors, people living with addiction, those struggling to find steady work, and anyone crushed by loneliness or shame.

In Christ, you show us the Truth revealed in costly love. In an age of misinformation and quick fixes, we pray for those misled by false promises, victims of scams, people radicalized online, and communities harmed by corrupt leaders. God of the Truth, expose deceit, protect the vulnerable from exploitation, and give us courage to speak and live truth, even when it costs us.

Our very grounding… in Christ, you show us the Life that defeats death. We hold before you people facing serious illness, caregivers burned out from long nights, those grieving loss, the separated and separating, folks living with chronic depression, the Bipolar, the unsettled, those who wish for life to end, and anyone denied full dignity for any reason.

Renew our purpose: teach us to follow Jesus’ footsteps by serving the hungry, welcoming the stranger, defending the marginalized, and stewarding your creation. Shape our words and actions so your kingdom of compassion, justice, and life is made visible in our neighbourhoods and the wider world. Amen.

Passing the peace

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Invitation

Beloved in Christ: The Lord invites to his table all who trust in Jesus Christ, know themselves to be less than perfect, seek to rectify the wrongs and wish to live at peace with one another. The body and blood of Christ have already been offered to any and every person designed to receive it (the children of God). Come, all of those who wish to be faithful!

Song: Let us break bread together (548)

The Nicene Creed

Let us join together in the words of our common faith.

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake, he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day, he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen

The Communion Prayer

Great and Loving God, Father of all, we praise you for creating the world and for loving every person you made. You give us life, the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the beauty of morning and night. Thank you for caring for children, for the old, for people experiencing poverty, and for everyone in between. You hold us when we are afraid, you forgive us when we fail, and you remind us that we belong to you. We join with all creation and with your people everywhere in saying: Holy, holy, holy is your name.

Jesus Christ, our Brother and Saviour, we thank you for coming to live among us, for showing us how to love by your words and your actions.

At your last supper, you took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and shared it with your friends. You said it was your body given for us. Then you took the cup and said it was your life poured out for many.

You taught us to love our enemies, to feed the hungry, to welcome the stranger, and to forgive as we have been forgiven. Remembering your life, death, and rising again, we ask you now to be present with us in this meal.

Make this bread and this cup for us the signs of your presence: feed our bodies, heal our hearts, and help us to live like you—kind, brave, and full of hope.

Holy Spirit, Breath of God, come upon these gifts and upon all who share them. Fill this table with your life. Make the bread into the body of Christ for us, and the cup into the new life poured out for all. Help us to see you at work in our neighbours, especially those who are hungry, lonely, or afraid.

Teach our hands to serve, our tongues to speak truth, and our feet to follow where Jesus leads. Unite us with Christians around the world and with those who have gone before us who have trusted you. Give us courage to love better, to forgive faster, and to keep believing that you can make things new.

God of grace, use what we receive at this table to change us.

Let it make us braver in doing good, kinder in our speech, and deeper in our love. Help us share what we have, protect creation, and work for peace and justice in our communities. When we leave this place, keep your life in us so we may be lights of your love wherever we go.

We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Friend, and we pray together with confidence, as he taught us, saying, “Amen.”

Institution

On the night he was handed over, Jesus took the bread, gave thanks to God, broke it, and gave it to his friends, saying:

Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.

After supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and said:

This cup is the new promise of God poured out for you — my life for the life of the world. Whenever you drink it, remember me.

So, as you eat this bread and drink this cup, remember Christ’s love for you, proclaim his death and celebrate his risen life, until he comes again. Amen.

Sharing of the Bread and Wine

Song: Eat this bread (527)

Prayer after Communion

Gracious God, thank you for meeting us at this table with forgiveness, hope, and your love. Send us out strengthened to serve others, share your grace, and live as signs of Christ’s peace. Amen.

Song: You are holy, you are whole (828)

Sending out with God’s blessing
We are God’s own people, who have received mercy.
So do not let your hearts be troubled. Jesus waits for you in each new day.
May the Spirit guide you in the Way;
May Christ reveal the Truth in you;
And may God the FATHER grant you Life abundant now and evermore.

Response: God to enfold you

Music postlude

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Video recordings of the Sunday Worship messages can be found here on our YouTube Channel.

Shepherd

Posted on April 26, 2026April 26, 2026 by John

Worship on the Fourth Sunday of Easter
10:00 am      April 26, 2026
Minister: The Rev. Brad Childs        Music Director: Binu Kapadia
Vocalist: Lynn Vaughan     Elder: Andrea Gartrell
Children’s Time: Brad     Reader: Don Millligan

We gather to worship God.

Music prelude

Greeting
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
P: and also with you

Lighting of the Christ candle
Welcome and announcements
Preparation for worship

Call to worship:
L: God, our Shepherd, offers us abundant life.
P: God, you are with us!
L: God, our Shepherd, leads us by still waters.
P: God, restore our souls!
L: God, our Shepherd, walks with us through every dark valley.
P: God, we will not be afraid! God, our Shepherd, we praise you for your goodness and mercy with us every day.

Opening praise: Holy is the Lord

Prayers of approach and confession

God of love,

We come together into your presence

trusting that your love has the power to defeat evil in the world.

We come together into your presence, trusting that Christ

shows us that your love defeats even the power of death.

We come together into your presence, trusting that your Holy Spirit

guides us through the darkest valleys.

We worship you with glad hearts,

praising you in the name of our Risen Lord,

praying with the breath of your Spirit in us.

Renew our strength and courage to face whatever each day holds,

so our lives will bring you honour and glory now and always. Amen.

Trusting your grace and mercy, we come together to your throne of grace to confess our sins.

God of love,

we confess that too often we let the events around us

shatter our trust in your love.

When terror strikes and innocents fall,

we wonder if love can defeat violence.

When truth gets lost among misleading claims,

we wonder if love can prevail over lies.

Forgive us, God, when we lose our trust in the power of your love

So soon after it raised Jesus from death’s grip.

Response: Glory, glory, hallelujah

Assurance of God’s pardon

The Apostle Paul asked: What will separate us from the love of Christ? Hardship? Distress? Peril or sword? No! he declared. Neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Let us rejoice that, no matter what is happening around us, God’s gracious and forgiving love will never let us go.

Musical Offering: Warren Garbutt and Jack Brown

We listen for the voice of God.

Song: Jesus, we are gathered (514)

Children’s time: Lost and found

Prayer with the Children

The Lord’s Prayer (535 )

*Song: The Lord’s my shepherd (11)

Scripture: Ezekiel 34:7-15; Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10

Response: Jesus is risen from the grave

Message: Shepherd
We have a shepherd who wants to lead us beside still waters and wants for us a life of abundance. Do we believe it?

Let’s suppose that I bought a horse from a man, and for that horse I had to pay, in cold, hard cash, a total of six dollars.

When I get home with the horse, everyone is excited. My kids think I’m a hero, and Tracy, who’s a bit of a penny pincher, thinks I’m a great bargainer. The horse is a definite hit with the family.

But after a while, problems arise. The horse is too big for the house. I’ve told the kids, “No galloping in the living room.” It’s getting expensive to feed this animal, too. Finally, my wife declares, “This horse has got to go.” I take the horse back to the man who originally sold it to me, and he’s gracious enough to buy the horse back for eight dollars. So, I have lost two bucks. Not a huge deal, obviously.

But soon I miss that old horse. A lot of times, at night, after the kids have gone to bed, I can be found staring up at the moon and playing my harmonica while singing cowboy songs. My wife, bless her heart, can’t stand to see me mope around, and so finally she gives in and says, “Oh, all right, go back and buy the horse again.” This time, I bought the horse from the same man for ten dollars.

You can guess what happens next. No sooner did we get the horse back to the house than we began to face all the same old problems again. The kids were horsing around, and the horse was doing a major number on the carpet.

I could see the handwriting on the wall. I was going to have to get rid of old Calico. So, I took the horse back to the same guy and sold it to him for twelve dollars.

I no longer have the horse, but I do have a question. After all my wheeling and dealing on the horse, did I make money or lose money? Not counting fees or gas back and forth to the farm, did I come out ahead? Did I go in the hole? Or did I break even? And if I did gain or lose, how much did I gain or lose?

The answer is I made four dollars. I spent six and ten, that’s sixteen; I received eight and twelve, so that’s twenty. Subtract sixteen from twenty, and you get four dollars profit. Wait, is that correct?

That story problem came from a second-grade math book. It should have been really easy, right? Second-grade math! But it wasn’t so easy, was it? In fact, it was downright confusing.

That’s the way life can be sometimes. Things that seem simple sometimes aren’t so simple. The world can be a very confusing place. But we have someone we can trust.

Psalm 33 says, “God’s word is true, and everything he does is right. He loves what is right and fair; the Lord’s love fills the earth.”

You gotta go to the One who designed you.

A few years ago, I bought this wonderful program: The Word Biblical Commentary series on CD-ROM. It was a steal: the whole set for only $800, instead of nearly $3,000 for the books, plus a bunch of extra resources thrown in. But I was newly married, working part-time as a youth director and a librarian’s assistant, and I was broke. Nine hundred dollars felt like a fortune.

I took that CD out of its package, followed the “three easy steps” that somehow took over an hour, typed in my 23-digit personalized code… and nothing. It didn’t work. So, like any intelligent young man, I repeated the same steps, got angry when I got the same result, and did it again. After about five hours of pure stupidity, I finally broke down and called the good people at Logos Software. I ended up speaking to one of the guys who actually helped write the program. In a few minutes, he gave me a couple of simple steps even I could follow, and voilà…

the program was up and running.

How many times in life do we try to work out our own problems our own way? We keep repeating the same mistakes, getting angrier and more frustrated, until finally we break down and go to the One who designed the program, the One who designed us, to begin with.

The world can be a very confusing mess, but Hebrews 13 tells us that our Lord is stable, trustworthy, and constant. He “is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

But more than that, our trustworthy God has created us for a purpose. Psalm 139 says: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made… Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

Our God has created us for a purpose, and part of that purpose is to live a wonderful life, to be joyful and passionate, to really be alive. When the world thinks “Christian,” they picture some boring, dull, stoic existence. That’s nonsense.

You’ve got to do something. Take a little responsibility.

A few years ago, a 33-year-old truck driver named Larry Walters made national news. Larry had a habit of spending his weekends in his Los Angeles backyard, drinking Pepsi and eating peanut butter sandwiches, staring at the houses around him. Not a really exciting life.

One day, sheer boredom prompted him to buy some balloons and a tank of helium. He figured he’d tie the balloons to his lawn chair, float up a few feet, and get an aerial view of the neighbourhood. Just in case, he brought his old BB gun to shoot out balloons and control his altitude.

He bought 45 big weather balloons, filled them, tied them to his lawn chair, grabbed another six-pack of Pepsi, some sandwiches, and his BB gun. With a small crowd of curious neighbours watching, he yelled, “Let’s go!” and they cut the ropes.

He didn’t go five or six feet. He shot straight up… 10,000 feet! Right into the landing pattern at L.A. International Airport. The BB gun was useless because he was hanging on for dear life with both hands. They had to close the airport and send a helicopter to rescue him.

When they finally got him down, the reporters asked, “Were you scared?” “No, not really,” he said. “Are you going to do it again?” “No.” “What in the world made you do that in the first place?”

Larry thought for a moment and said, “Well… you just can’t sit there, can ya?”

Abundant life isn’t about launching yourself into the sky on a lawn chair fueled by Pepsi and boredom. But Larry was right about one thing… you can’t just sit there.

Denis Prager, in his book “Happiness Is a Serious Problem”, writes that unhappy religious people provide more persuasive arguments for atheism and secularism than all the other arguments combined. Perpetual unhappiness reflects poorly on our God, our faith, and all creation. God didn’t create us to mope around. He didn’t open the door to grace and love and expect a bunch of stoic faces.

Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

That word “abundantly” is the Greek word “perissos” (περισσός). It means:

– Over and above, more than is necessary, superadded

– Exceeding abundantly, supremely

– Something further, far more than, much more than all

– Superior, extraordinary, surpassing, uncommon

– Pre-eminence, superiority, advantage, more excellent

That’s the life God has prepared for us… abundant life, superadded life, life with extra poured on top.

But how do we actually live that kind of life? Jesus doesn’t just drop the promise and walk away. Right in the same chapter, He tells us exactly who He is and how He leads us into it.

In John 10, Jesus says: “Very truly I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep… I am the gate for the sheep… I am the good shepherd.”

What is your faith to you?

What is it when someone else attacks your faith?

What does it mean when the beliefs you hold most dear are attacked?

By the way, I am not telling you what to believe. What I am saying is that sometimes a fake shepherd comes into your life and messes things up. Do I, or do you, always see it for what it is? I don’t think I do.

Jesus says to be careful about those who want to mess up your life, change your ideas, or break in.

The thief climbs over the wall to steal, kill, and destroy. But the Good Shepherd comes through the gate. He calls His own sheep by name. He leads them out. The sheep know His voice and follow Him. They won’t follow a stranger.

Jesus is not a distant ruler barking orders. He is the Shepherd who knows you by name. He goes ahead of you. He walks with you.

That’s exactly what King David celebrated in Psalm 23:

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

He leads me beside quiet waters,

He refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Notice what the Shepherd does: He provides. He leads. He restores. He guides. He protects. Even in the valley of the shadow of death, the darkest, scariest places life can take us, we don’t have to be afraid, because the Shepherd is right there with us. His rod drives off the wolves. His staff gently corrects and keeps us on the path.

The abundant life isn’t a life without valleys. It’s a life where, even in the valley, you have a Shepherd who makes sure you lack nothing that really matters. He superadds peace in the storm, joy in the sorrow, strength in the weakness, and hope when everything else is falling apart.

The thief wants to rob you of that. The world wants to convince you that following Jesus means a boring, restricted, colourless existence. But Jesus says the opposite: “I came that they may have life, real life, vibrant life, and have it ‘perissos’, overflowing, extraordinary, surpassing, superadded.”

You were fearfully and wonderfully made for this. The Designer who knit you together in your mother’s womb is the same Good Shepherd who stands at the gate and says, “Come on in. Follow my voice. I’ve got green pastures and quiet waters waiting. And even when the path gets dark, I’m walking right beside you.”

So here’s the question for all of us this week: Are you going to keep trying to fix things your own way, repeating the same frustrating loops, or will you go to the One who designed you? Will you listen for the voice of the Good Shepherd and follow Him into the abundant life He promised?

You don’t have to launch yourself 10,000 feet in a lawn chair. But you do have to move. You do have to take responsibility. You do have to reach out and grab hold of the life that’s already been purchased for you.

Go and find some way this week, maybe today, to grab that abundant life that God has promised you.

After all… You just can’t sit there, can ya?

Song: Saviour, like a shepherd lead us (485)

We respond to serve God.

Our time of giving

Prayers of the people

God with a tender heart, we thank you for the care you offer to us as our Shepherd. Bless the gifts we offer so they will spread your abundant love to those in need of caring. Bless our lives so that we may care for the world as we follow Jesus day by day.

Wise and generous God, shepherd of our lives, we are thankful this day for all you provide to sustain us.

You call our weary souls to rest when the world seems busy. You bless us with the promise of new life as pastures around us turn green, announcing another spring.

You gather us around tables of friendship to draw strength from one another. Thank you for the signs of your goodness and mercy, which we can treasure each day.

Loving and listening God, shepherd of the world,

We bring you our prayers for others, friends and enemies, neighbours and strangers alike.

We pray for people who are struggling with illness, loneliness, grief or sadness:

Hold silence for 15 seconds.

Walk with them through dark days and steep valleys.

We pray for people in countries and communities where it is not safe to live out their faith or express their views openly.

Hold silence for 15 seconds.

Walk with them through dark days and steep valleys.

We pray for victims of discrimination, acts of hatred,

domestic violence and physical punishment.

Hold silence for 15 seconds.

Walk with them through dark days and steep valleys.

We pray for journalists and advocates for justice

who live under threat for telling the truth.

Hold silence for 15 seconds.

Walk with them through dark days and steep valleys.

We pray for congregations that seek to renew and reorganize themselves

to meet the needs of the communities they serve.

Hold silence for 15 seconds.

Walk with them through dark days and steep valleys.

We pray for our families, friends and for ourselves,

as well as those in the news whose situations tug at our hearts.

Hold silence for 15 seconds.

Walk with us all through dark days and steep valleys. Amen.

Song: Praise him, praise him, Jesus, our blessed Redeemer (372)

Sending out with God’s blessing
Go in peace, sure that the Good Shepherd walks beside you.
May God lead you to places of rest and renewal.
May Christ give you courage on the journey;
May the Holy Spirit fill your hearts with joy and generosity;
And may the blessing of God, Creator, Christ and Spirit,
dwell in your hearts, overflow and be always abundant… this day and always.

Response: He is Lord

Music postlude

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Video recordings of the Sunday Worship messages can be found here on our YouTube Channel.

Born Again

Posted on April 19, 2026April 19, 2026 by John

Worship on the Third Sunday of Easter
10:00 am      April 19, 2026
Minister: The Rev. Brad Childs     Music Director: Binu Kapadia
Guest pianist: Dorothy Beyer     Vocalist: Fionna McCrostie
Elder: Gina Kottke     Children’s time: Lynn Vaughan
Reader: Noah Hehr

We gather to worship God

Music prelude

Greeting
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
P: and also with you

Lighting of the Christ candle
Welcome and announcements

Preparation for worship

Call to worship:
L: We have come from many places, following different roads.
P: We come hungering for greater understanding.
L: We have come to hear the wisdom of Scripture.
P: We come seeking companions in the faith.
L: We have come to discover the One revealed in the breaking of the bread.
P: We come to grow as disciples of Christ
L: Come, let us worship God, made known in Christ Jesus.

Opening praise: I give you my heart

Prayers of approach and confession
Loving, Everlasting God, you who kindle the smallest sparks of faith into blazing light, we come to you with hearts that long for your nearness. You are the light of the hearts that love you, the warmth that steady our timid steps, the life at the center of every soul that serves. You are the breath within us when we cannot find our voice, the steady hand when our grip slips, the gentle whisper that calls us home. You are the inspiration of those who seek you in midnight questions and in daylight errands. You are infinite and eternal, unchanging in your mercy, yet always new in the ways you meet us — full of compassion for our failings, rich in grace for our wandering, patient with our slow learning, truthful when we need correction.

When we turn from you, we stumble and grow small; when we turn toward you, we rise, lifted by your forgiveness and hope. The earth and every living thing sing of your handiwork; the sunrise, the time we share, the friend who stays… all testify to your goodness. Above all, your glory and truth shine most clearly in Jesus Christ, whose life, death and rising bind us to you. For this miracle of love, for the One who walked with strangers and called them family, we praise you now and forever: Creator, Christ, and Spirit.

Remembering Christ’s loving-kindness and mercy, let us confess the ways we have missed the mark.

Merciful God, you are the One of Glory and we need you. We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word and deed, in the private places and the public moments, by what we have done, by what we have left undone, by the kindness we withheld and the hard words we spoke. We have not loved you with our whole heart, body, mind and soul; too often we have held back the best of ourselves. We have failed to love our neighbours as ourselves, turning a cautious eye from those who needed our courage, our time, or our resources. Forgive us for pride that protects us, for fear that silences us, for indifference that numbs us. Be merciful as promised and show us glory! Amen.

Response: Glory, glory, hallelujah

Assurance of God’s pardon
In your mercy, forgive what we have been; heal what we are now; and shape who we shall become. Restore in us a generous spirit, a softened heart, and steady hands for service. Teach us new ways to embody your compassion so that in small acts of love, your kingdom becomes visible here. We ask this in the name of Jesus, who bore our wounds and shows us the way back. Amen.

We listen for the voice of God.

Song: Jesus, we are gathered (514 )

Children’s time

I have a couple of pictures to show you today. Here is the first picture.

What do you see? How many of you see a tree? Did anyone see anything besides a tree? Did anyone see a gorilla? If you didn’t see a gorilla, look here on the left side of the picture. (Point to the gorilla.) Can everyone see it? Does anyone see anything besides the tree and the gorilla? How about a lion? Do you see a lion? Look here on the right side of the picture. (Point to the lion.) Now, do you see it? So, if you look at this picture, you will see three different things – a tree, a gorilla, and a lion.

Here is the second picture.

What do you see? Does anyone see a rabbit? This is easy, isn’t it? Here is the nose, an eye, and here are the ears. Does anyone see anything other than a rabbit? Oh, I see a duck! Here is the head and here is the duck’s bill. It is interesting how the picture changes, depending on how you look at it!

Sometimes, like in these pictures, we don’t always see everything that is there. It was easy to see the tree, but we might not see the gorilla or the lion until we look at the picture for a few more minutes. The same thing is true of the rabbit and the duck. We might not see one or the other right away. Our Bible lesson today is about two men who had some difficulty in recognizing Jesus when he joined them as they were walking to a village called Emmaus.

We will learn more about this in Sunday School today. Sometimes, we don’t see the whole picture at first, just like when we looked at the illusions. We might have to look more closely. Just like the men who didn’t know that it was Jesus right there with them on the road. You and I might not always see that Jesus is walking beside us, but … He IS there, always – loving and protecting and caring for us every day.

Prayer
Let us pray: This is a repeat-after-me prayer.
Dear God,
open our eyes
so we might recognize
that Jesus is right here with us
as we walk through life.
We trust in him
as he guides us
along our daily path.

Now together, we’ll say the prayer that Jesus taught us.

The Lord’s Prayer (535)

Song: Come to us, beloved Stranger (262)

Scripture readings: 1 Peter 1:17-23 and Luke 24:13-35

Response: Jesus is risen from the grave

Message: Born Again

Looking at the passage in Peter’s letter, we find guidance on how to live in this world, knowing Heaven is our home.
What are imperishable people born again by the Word?
How then shall we live?

Years ago, when my kids were little, I planted a tiny garden out back. You know the kind, the hopeful spring project where you buy packets of seeds, till the soil, and dream of fresh fried green tomatoes and chocolate zucchini cake to appear sometime around July. I really wanted to plant a taco pizza tree, but… it… well it turns out that was just a dream of mine and it never really materialized.

I planted primarily flowers, but also a few other things, and I took more care than usual with the carrots and strawberries.

I suppose we’ve all seen the beautiful little packets, bright orange and red pictures on the front. They only cost a couple dollars at most. It’s not a big investment to start out.

I did the novice gardener things, and I watered them faithfully. And then… nothing. Or at least, not what I expected. Some of the seeds came up, sure. But most of them were spindly little things that never amounted to much. A few got eaten by rabbits.

At the time, one of the big problems for us were these things called Chafer Beetles that look like really fat and long grub worms that nest just a inch under the grass. They are pretty gross. But Raccoons love them. So the raccoons would show up at night and roll the sod back up into what looked like giant Swiss cake rolls looking for them and by morning the whole lawn would be this odd mess where you had to roll the grass back out and put it in place. In short, the adversaries destroyed the seeds and the life growing from them. That happens in one way or another to everything. The things of this life pass. But according to the scriptures, there is still life.

Now, I know that phrase “born again” has gotten tossed around a lot over the years and not always in ways that are accurate or Good News to others.

In Hebrew, it’s ἀναγεννάω anagennaō (Anna-Geh-Nawh-O), and the thing is, it only appears in this one place. So it’s a little bit mysterious but maybe not completely.

Those raccoons dug up everything. And sure, raccoons can be coaxed away from the yard with the promise of a half an apple fritter (take that!), but they’d be back.

Birds ate some of the seeds, some the rabbits got, and some the trash pandas destroyed. And the rest just… withered when the summer heat hit.

The marketing is great. The truth is different.

“Perishable seeds”. That’s what the packets should say. “Nice for a season if any of them make it halfway through life. Also, nothing lasts!” On the back it should say, “You get what you pay for!”

Two things:

Farmers have it hard and they might all be crazy.
I would have been a terrible disaster if I had gone into advertising. I’d put an honest “This probably wont grow!” on the front page.

Okay, maybe that shouldn’t be on the package… but I feel as if you get my drift.

Peter knew something about perishable things. He’s writing to believers who are scattered like seed themselves, exiles, foreigners in a hostile world. They’re trying to figure out how to live faithfully when everything around them feels temporary. And right in the middle of his letter, in verse 23, he drops this bombshell of hope:

“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23)

Let’s back up just a bit so we don’t miss the road that gets us here. Peter has been reminding them, and us, who they really are. You call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, he says. So live out your time here as foreigners… in reverent fear. You weren’t bought with silver or gold, the stuff that rusts and fades, but with the precious blood of Christ, like a perfect lamb without blemish. He was present before the world was even made, but revealed for your sake. Through him, you know the Father-God, who raised him from the dead and believe. Your faith and hope are in Him.

And then, having purified yourselves by obeying the truth, you have sincere love for each other. So love one another deeply, from the heart.

And then comes verse 23, the heartbeat of the whole section: You have been born again. Not of perishable seed. But of imperishable seed. Through the living and enduring word of God.

This is not just nice religious talk. This is the core of what it means to be a Christian. We have been born again.

Also, don’t be afraid of that phrase. It is absolutely biblical.

I know that phrase “born again” has gotten tossed around a lot over the years.

Sometimes it sounds like a bumper sticker slogan or something a person feels they have to say at the right moment to get their Christian card stamped or be considered “one of the good ones”. But that misses the point. And we don’t throw out the baby with the dirty bathwater.

There is something important here.

This is not a strict Justification (being declared acceptable before God), it’s also about Sanctification (bearing good fruit in thanksgiving for being justified). In other words, Peter isn’t just talking about a one-time emotional experience or a checklist item. He’s talking about a complete, God-initiated transformation. A new birth. A new identity. A new life that comes from something that cannot die.

Think about the contrast he’s drawing. Perishable seed. That’s the old way. It’s the way of the world before faith. It’s silver and gold that tarnish. Jobs that end. Glory that fades, accomplishments that dissolve and are forgotten. It’s human effort that eventually runs out. It’s family traditions that feel meaningful for a generation or two, only to be lost. It’s the “I love you” in words and the opposite in deeds. It’s the best we can do on our own… which, let’s be honest, isn’t enough. Perishable seed produces perishable fruit. It withers. It dies. Those pesky troublemakers come in and destroy it all. We all know that story too well.

But this new birth? It’s different. It’s of imperishable seed. It comes through the living and enduring word of God.

That little phrase “living and enduring” is important. The Word of God isn’t some dusty old book on a shelf. It isn’t even the Bible. It’s a person. It’s Jesus. It’s alive. It’s active. It’s the same voice that spoke creation into being. It’s the same Word that called Lazarus out of the tomb. And it endures. It doesn’t wither like those carrot seeds in my garden, or get eaten by the bugs, or destroyed by the animals. It doesn’t rust like silver. It doesn’t fade like the latest self-help trend. Heaven and earth will pass away (Jesus said), but my words will never pass away (Matthew 24:35, Mark 13:31, and Luke 21:33).

So how does this new birth happen? Through the Word. Not through our perfect behaviour. It is not through our impressive family tree. Not through our good intentions or our denominational pedigree. Through the Word. The Good News of Jesus Christ, crucified, risen, coming again, is planted in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. That Word takes root. It grows. It changes everything.

I’ll be honest with you, I also need to hear this news again and again. Because, left to myself, I still sometimes try to live by perishable seed. I catch myself thinking, “If I just do a little more, serve a little harder, pray a little more intently, find a more clever way to say that, be smart enough, fix that one thing, be a little better… then maybe I’ll finally feel like I’ve earned my place.” But I always end up feeling so unworthy. Yet, Peter says “no”. That’s not how new birth works. You don’t earn a birth. You receive it. You’re born into it. It happens to you. And I know that in my head but I don’t always feel that in my heart. DO YOU? We all should! We all Should!!! We all should.

And notice what this new birth produces. Look back at verse 22: sincere love for each other. Deep love from the heart. When you know you’ve been born again by the imperishable word, you stop competing so much with your brothers and sisters. You stop keeping score. You love deeply because you’ve been loved deeply; not because of what you’ve done, but because of what Christ has done.

That’s why Peter tells us that we are “foreigners” living here in reverent fear. Because we are intended to be citizens of heaven (our ultimate home), though living for a time on earth.

We are not always at home in this world’s value systems. We belong to another kingdom. Our ultimate citizenship is in heaven, and we are only here in this place for a short time. We call ourselves Canadian, American, Cameroonian, Iranian, Filipino, Chinese or whatever. No matter what, ask anyone who has lost someone – it hurts. It hurts a lot.

Being a citizen of any country on earth is one thing, but being a citizen of heaven is something completely different.

That truth cuts, but it’s also very clear. And that changes how we live; not out of fear of punishment or hell or anything selfish, but out of awe at the God who gave us new life.

This is incredibly good news for anyone who feels worn out. For anyone who’s tried the perishable route and come up empty. For anyone who wonders if they’ve messed up too badly or waited too long. The word of God is still living and still enduring. Still powerful enough to bring new birth today.

I think about the people who first heard this letter. Scattered believers facing incredible hardships. Some of them had lost homes, jobs, and families because of their faith. They felt like exiles. Peter says to them, “You haven’t been left with nothing.” You’ve been given everything. A new birth. An imperishable hope. A living word that will never fail you.

For me, it’s a little like seeing a family who lost their home in a tornado but joyfully discovered after it was over that the whole family made it through alive. When they come out from the storm shelters and the house is gone, and yet they see each other, and hug each other and love each other in that moment, they aren’t worried about great-grandma’s China or family photos anymore; they are just overjoyed to still have what truly matters.

That same Word is here for us this morning. It’s in the life beyond this. It’s in the scriptures we just heard. It’s in the promises we sing. It’s in the bread and cup we share. It’s in the quiet voice of the Spirit speaking to your heart right now: “You are mine. You’ve been born again. Live like it.”

So what does that look like on a Tuesday morning in Edmonton? It looks like choosing deep love when it would be easier to stay distant. It looks like living as a foreigner, not fitting in with every cultural trend, but holding onto what lasts. It looks like opening this (small “w” “word) every day and letting the living “Word” do His work in you. It looks like telling someone else about the hope you have, not because you’ve got it all together, but because the same imperishable seed that gave you new life can give it to them too.

And when the hard days come, and they will, when you feel like that spindly little plant in the garden, remember: you were not planted with perishable seed. That’s why even in death, the author of Ecclesiastes 12:7 writes, “And the dust always returns to the earth, but the spirit returns to the God who gave it.” And it’s why Paul wrote, “even if this earthly tent is taken down, we will go home to be with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:1-8).

For now, remember this is not our home. Live accordingly.

The Word that calls you is the Word that will sustain you. The God who began this good work in you will carry it on to completion.

You have been born again. Not of perishable seed. But of imperishable. Through the living and enduring word of God. Let’s live like people who know that’s true.

Thanks be to our God and Amen.

Song: Lord Jesus, you shall be my song (665)

We respond to serve God

Our time of giving

Prayers of the people

God, our Maker and Companion, you have walked the Emmaus Road with your people through every age, in seasons of fear and seasons of joy, in confusion and in clarity. Thank you for never leaving us to travel alone. Thank you for the friends who walk beside us, and for unexpected signs of your presence that renew our faith. Walk with us and with those for whom we pray today; let your grace sustain our hope and steady our feet. God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for children and young people who sit with worry about the future. Hold them when anxiety steals their rest; give them mentors who believe in them; plant in their hearts the assurance that their lives matter to you and to us. Help them find the courage to dream and the wisdom to take faithful steps. God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for those whose age, illness, or disability builds walls between them and full participation in community life. Grant them dignity, meaningful work, true companionship and access that honours their worth. Open our eyes to see their gifts and our hands to remove the barriers they face. God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for communities battered by forces beyond their choosing, economic hardship, environmental distress, disaster, and political conflict. Comfort the grieving, protect the vulnerable, and give endurance to those who serve. Grant leaders wisdom, courage and humility so that healing and justice may take root. God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for our congregation, for our shared life and our calling into the future. We are anxious about change and unsure which path to take. Steady our hearts; deepen our trust in you; give us imagination to try new things and the humility to listen to one another. Let our fellowship be a place where honest questions are met with grace, and where risk is taken for the sake of the Gospel. God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We lift before you the private worries and names carried silently in our hearts (pause). You know each burden; hold them, heal them, and bring peace that surpasses our understanding. God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God our Maker, hear now the prayers we speak and those we hold in silence. Make us instruments of your mercy, to feed the hungry, speak for the voiceless, comfort the broken, and proclaim with our lives the love we have received. Teach us to trust the work you begin in us and to follow where Jesus leads. Amen.

Song: Who’s going to tell the story (761)

Sending out with God’s blessing
Now go out into the world: face the road ahead with courage, for the Risen Christ walks with you. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust, so that your life may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Strengthen one another, love without measure, and live as a people renewed by grace. Amen.

Response: He is Lord

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