RevJamesMurray's picture

RevJamesMurray

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When love comes to Town.

When Love Comes To Town.

Sermon for Fourth Sunday of Advent, Dec. 22 2013

Preached by Rev. James Murray at Dominion-Chalmers United Church.

 

The town gossips must have had a field day. Everything that could be wrong had gone terribly wrong.





Mendalla's picture

Mendalla

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Hope, Courage, and The Nativity

On Sunday, I am service leader at my UU fellowship, working with the minister on a service about Solstice and Christmas. I have long wanted to talk about Christmas and the traditional Nativity story in the context of my UU'ism so for my part of the service, I am offering the following reflection. The reflection in our service is an opportunity for the service leader to offer their own thoughts on the theme of the service.



DKS's picture

DKS

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The Gates of Hell

Several years ago, I attended specialized training in understanding Operational Stress Injuries or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder caused by war, offered by Veterans Affairs Canada. The training included a realistic convoy ambush of our trucks on the training range at 4th Canadian Division Training Centre, Meaford.

In the discussion which followed, I recall one veteran of Afghanistan and Bosnia telling us to expect a growing number of combat stress injuries in the future, as soldiers returned from many years of acknowledged and unacknowledged combat.



DKS's picture

DKS

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Not Criminally Responsible

Many years ago, I was chaplain in a mental health hospital. It was probably one of the most discouraging and most interesting pieces of ministry I have done through the years.

I had an office in the basement, which was shared with the visiting Roman Catholic priest. I never saw him, but I know he had been in because there were bits of paper moved on the desk.



Rev. Steven Davis's picture

Rev. Steven Davis

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Will People Know Us? - December 15 2013 sermon

(A link to a video of this sermon is included below.)
 
When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask Him, “Are You the one who is to come,or should we expect someone else?” Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”  (Matthew 11:2-6)


Mission and Service's picture

Mission and Service

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Minutes for Mission - December 15: Prairie Sanctuary

See video

 

A number of educational centres across Canada are accredited and supported by grants from the United Church. Hear the story of a special place in the midst of the Prairies.



Mission and Service's picture

Mission and Service

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Minutes for Mission - December 8: Magazines: So Ordinary, So Valuable

 

Sometimes we visit in person. Other times, we offer support in other ways. Consider this story about the effect magazines can have in a prison.



DKS's picture

DKS

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Churches of the future are sure to be different

Change is constant. What was, is not now and will never be again. That is doubly true for institutions like the church. 
 
Recently the Alban Institute, a leading church think tank and consultative group, had one of their writers reflect on emerging trends they are seeing in the changing environment. I think they are challenging to all people of faith. 
 
The first trend is that a congregation’s identity does not equal its building. 
 


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