Thoughts about sacred music

The United Voices of Edmonton (Robertson-Wesley Choir, Knox-Metropolitan Choir and the Willan Chorale) are preparing to undertake a choral trip to England. Because of this trip, I’ve been thinking about the community we’re creating from 3 choirs, the grounding in an an age-old tradition of evensong, the beauty of the

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Reframing Hope

Genesis 1:1–5 · In the beginning2 Kings 2:13–35 · Elisha succeeds Elijah “Creating a future is different from defining a future. The difference is focused in the distinction between valuing gifts and possibility vs. Defining needs and solving problems.” Reflections shared by Rev. Lynn Maki at the Covenanting Service for

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Feels Right

Sirach 35:12–17 Divine justiceLuke 18:9-14 Pharisee and the tax collector Jesus tells a story about two people, both trying to be faithful. One goes home feeling right about what happened, but not the other. What makes the difference? What leaves us feeling right and what leaves us just not feeling

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Longings

The lyrics from the song “I am a Rock” by Simon and Garfunkel float endless through my mind these days as I gaze out the window of my office. “I am a rock, I am an island. And a rock feels no pain, and an island never cries.” I have

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What Are Your Ears Itching For?

October 17, 2010 Stewardship Sunday 2 Timothy 3:14 – 4:5 “People with itching ears will turn away”Luke 18:1-8 “The parable of the widow and the unjust judge” I will say it again: the body of Christ is nothing without you. You are all God’s stewards called to live a life

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Gratitude First

Deuteronomy 26:1–11 First fruits and tithesPsalm 100 Make a joyful noiseLuke 17:11–19 Jesus cleanses ten lepers Sometimes, expressing gratitude—simply giving thanks—is the last thing we think to do.That is tragic, because when we begin with gratitude, it transforms—blesses everything that follows, like a light that illuminates our way ahead in

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All Aboard

God’s Steward Ship has set sail for another year with many children and youth and various other adult volunteers on board. For the past month we have been exploring the scripture from 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members

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Active Hope

Habakkuk 1:1–4, 2:1–4 Complaint and replyPsalm 37:1-9 Trust in the LordLuke 17:5-10 Unlimited faith and the willing servant The prevalence of evil and apathy in the world seems to extinguish hope for our worldly existence. But hope is not so passive — rather it is an active choice to trust

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Hope for a Rich Fool

Amos 6:1a, 4-7 Ignoring the ruin of JosephPsalm 146 Put not your trust in princesLuke 16:19-31 The rich man and Lazarus A story of a rich man who refuses to help a poor man and then confronts the dilema of his own salvation. What a universal story! The answer is

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Outrageous Steward

Amos 8:4-7 Condemning injusticePsalm 113 Praise to the LordLuke 16:1-13 Cannot serve two masters This manager cheats his master to help his friends. It is outrageous behaviour that shatters our sense of decency and propriety. Why would Jesus tell a story like this? Maybe for exactly that purpose: to shatter

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