Message for March 10, 2013.  This will be edited and some pieces culled or shortened before Sunday.

Wholeness/ Holiness 2013 03 10 Luke 15:1-32

Eric grew increasingly irritated as his friend Jim would casually solve all kinds of puzzles.  One day Eric handed Jim a set of blocks.  "Here, Jim.  These blocks are supposed to be able to make a cube.  How quickly can you solve it?"

Next day, Jim asked Eric how to solve the puzzle.  Eric said, "First, you need the block I didn't include."

CBC Radio included a commentary on advertising campaigns and approaches used by different churches, and included a comment that, as much as most young people support the positions of the United Church of Canada on issues such as homosexuality and the environment, most also perceived the United Church as having no clear beliefs.  This provoked me to reflecting on what I thought could go in a belief statement by the United Church.

2013 03 03 Ps 63:1-8; Luke 13:1-9

Homelessness in Calgary

Here is my draft of my message for Sunday.

Growing in Holiness 2013 02 17 Lent 1  Rom 10:4-13

There is the old story about the head of a monastery.  One day, a very old copy of the guidelines for their order was found,  and he carefully reads it.  He suddenly starts wailing. They dropped the r.  The word was celebrate.

Today is the first Sunday of Lent, a time to open ourselves to coming closer to God, and allowing God to come closer to us.

Here is my final draft for tomorrow's message:

Transfiguration/Transformation 2013 02 10         Luke 9:28-43; Psalm 99; 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2

John's aunt invited him to go to an event with some transformers, and he went.  He was a bit surprised when they arrived at a church, and he was really disappointed when he learned the transformers were a team that helped congregations transform themselves.

Here is a preliminary draft of my message for Sunday, February 3.

Truth's Children  Luke 4:14-30 2013 02 03

My Message for Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve Message, 2012

A young man had a dream.  In his dream he was holding a candle and he was surrounded by darkness.  Jesus lit his candle and sent him into the darkness.  After a little while, his candle went out and he had to go back to Jesus to light his candle.  This happened several times.  He started to apologize to Jesus for not keeping his candle lit.  Jesus said, "Please see that each time you were able to go a little farther into the darkness before your candle went out."

My draft story and message for December 16.

Story:  Dare to Believe 

Is 12:1-6;  Luke 1:26-55 2012 12 16

2012 12 09 Peace from Our Hearts Luke 21:25-36

Story:

 Here are my current drafts of my story and message for December 2, 2012

Seeing Hope