Category Archives: Sermons

From all that dwell below the skies, let the Creator’s praise arise!

This morning we will be gathering under the skies for a summer outdoor service at the corner of Princess and Clergy! Surrounded by the trees of the lawn, we shall reflect upon some of the trees of scripture – of the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:4b-9), of the cross (1 Peter 2:23-25) and of the Holy City (Revelation 22:1-5). Our Director of Music will be accompanying us with a harmonium, and we will be singing ‘Morning has broken’, ‘I come to the garden’, ‘Shall we gather at the river’ and other great hymns.

All welcome. Bring a lawn chair if you can. And be sure to stay for the congregational BBQ afterwards!

We will gather to lift up praise to God for the goodness of creation, for life in body and spirit, and for the promise of new beginnings known in Jesus Christ. This morning we will focus on two scriptural texts that speak about the imperative of reconciliation (Matthew 5:23-26 in which Christians are told to take the initiative in seeking forgiveness, and 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 in which we are reminded that reconciliation is God’s ministry, hence also ours). And on the twentieth anniversary of its adoption, we will read again the Confession of the Presbyterian Church in Canada – ‘It is with humility and in great sorrow that we come before God and our Aboriginal brothers and sisters with our confession …’ – with a commitment to resetting this relationship that is at the core of our life as Christians and Canadians.

A Drum Circle at the Edmonton Truth and Reconciliation Events March 2014

Resources available from the Presbyterian Church http://presbyterian.ca/healing/

‘It matters to me’ video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw3zhZMFtpw

A video of the Edmonton Truth and Reconciliation March 2014 event http://vimeo.com/91343733