Sermons & Worship Audio

The Soloist, the Recluse, and the Church May 17, 2009Aldred Neufeldt   Text: Psalm 98 John 15:9-17   The Soloist ‘The Soloist’ is the title of a new ‘movie that is getting some media ‘buzz’ these days.  Perhaps you’ve heard of it.  It’s based on the real life story of Nathaniel Ayers, a gifted musician who developed schizophrenia during his second year at the Juilliard School.  Ayers returns to Los Angeles, becomes homeless and ends up playing the violin and the cello on the…

Living God’s embrace of the weak in faith May 10, 2009Jonathan Slater   Text: Romans 14:1-15:7   We are in the midst of a preaching series, “Living God’s Embrace: Who can measure”.  Dave introduced the series three weeks ago, and then in subsequent weeks focused on living God’s embrace in the midst of racial and cultural diversity, and also in the midst of economic disparity and homelessness.  While there are elements of both racial-cultural diversity and economic diversity at play in today’s…

From Wandering to Journeying Easter IV: Living God’s Embrace: Who can measure? May 3, 2009David Brubacher   Text: Psalm 23 John 10:11-18 1 John 3:16-24   If I could do it over again I would accept the seconds. It was a hot summer afternoon and we were just completing a window repair job. In an expression of gratitude our client bought us ice-cream. I rarely declined seconds for ice-cream.              In the mid 1970’s, Richard Mininger and I founded Menno Home…

Creating Space for Others Easter III: Series on Other & Self April 26, 2009David Brubacher   Text: Psalm 1 John 17:6-19   The Stuckeys, retired Mennonite missionaries to Colombia spoke at a chapel services while I was a student at Canadian Mennonite Bible College. They told a story that reflects how our world view impacts creating space for others.  The Stuckeys were house parents at a residential school for children. From their home community they had a preconceived understanding of activities…

Living God’s Embrace Easter II April 19, 2009David Brubacher   Text: Genesis 12:1-3 Philippians 2:5-11   It happened a long time ago, but I can still feel the strong 11 year old emotions. I was walking by my little brother’s high chair with a bowl of hot soup. As I walked by my little brother reached into the soup.  My brother’s cry was distressing for me. But that was not the worst. My parent’s reprimand for being too close, with the…

Looking for Jesus? He is Alive! Easter Sunday April 12, 2009Tim Schmucker   Here we are, THE most significant days of the Christian year. Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Crucifixion and resurrection. Death and new life. Exactly nine years ago, with new-born Christopher in our arms, we made a tear-filled trip to Ohio. Dad’s cancer was back, back with a vengeance. We had been told a year before that this aggressive cancer would be fatal. And sooner, not later. Now,…

Sermon LENT V March 29, 2009 Jodie Boyer Hatlem   The 51st Psalm has been as central part of Christian Lenten Reflection for more than 1400 years.    Traditionally the Psalm is read during the first week of Lent.  Because of the Psalm’s central place in the keeping of Lent it has been suggested that the 51st Psalm has been recited in more Christian services than any other Psalm.  This Psalm is familiar to many of us.  We have heard the…

Lent’s Long Journey LENT III March 15, 2009David Brubacher   Text: I Corinthians 1:18-25  Psalm 19 Exodus 20:1-17   My grandmother had a stroke when she was thirty nine. All the years I knew her she spoke with a stutter and her walk was unsteady. It was not uncommon to see gramma out walking and see her roll on a heap. I can remember several tumbles down the steep and narrow cellar steps that ended close to the stone foundation…

Que será, Sarah? LENT II March 8, 2009Michele Rizoli   Text: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16  Psalm 22:23-31 Romans 4:13-25 Mark 8:31-38   What do the biblical character Sarah and Nadya Suleman have in common? Nadya (as you may know if you stand in line at supermarkets or drugstores) is a mother of 6 in California who this past January had 8 more children all at once using in-vitro fertilization. Sarah, as you may know from our Scripture story, is a mother…

Lent as Re-creation LENT I March 1, 2009Aldred Neufeldt   Lectionary Readings: Genesis 9:8-17  Psalm 25:1-10 Mark 1:9-15 I Peter 3:18-22   Introduction Ringing in my ears and mind these days are the wonderful words and harmonies of the Mass in B minor composed by Johann Sebastian Bach (John, for short).  No doubt   other members of Pax Christi Chorale, which is performing the Mass in late April, join me in this.  As I’ve engaged with the music, I have become ever more impressed by Bach’s…