Last Sunday was the Third Sunday of Advent and the pink candle was lit, the candle of Joy. On this third Sunday of Advent we light this candle symbolizing joy – acknowledging the reality that joy often bursts out of pain, hardship, and failure. Joy often comes to us unexpectedly, especially when we have given up on life, joy reminds ...

On Sunday we had our service with Marathon United Church, the message was given by Rev. Richard  Bott from Burlington, Ont. “It is the beginning of Advent, a time of waiting and preparation for the coming of the Christ Child.  It is a time to think about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus in this day and ...

Last Sunday our message was investing for God. The scripture was about a man giving his servants money and what they did with it. Two of the servants doubled their money by investing it, the third put his money away so he returned to his master exactly what he had received. The money represents the gifts we are given in ...

Sunday the message was based on the parable of the ten virgins. There were ten bridesmaids prepared for a Wedding feast and they waited with their lamps lit for the bridal procession. The groom’s party was late coming to get the bride, and unfortunately, five of the lamps went out.  The bridesmaids wanted to borrow oil for their lamps from ...

Last Sunday the message was about Moses and his journey with the Israelites to the Promised Land. Moses was 120 years old and still had a healthy body and good eyesight.  He died a peaceful death and did not actually go with his people into the Promised Land. The second message was the Golden Rule, “to love one another as ...

Last Sunday we heard about giving to Ceasar that which belongs to him, that was money because there was a picture of Ceasar on the coins. Give to God what belongs to God and that is yourself because you are made in the image of God the Creator.   Scriptures for Sunday, October 29th Deuteronomy  34: 1-12   Moses dies and ...

Last Sunday we talked about the parable of the Wedding banquet.  The King invited many important people to the Wedding feast and they did not come. He invited the commoners from the street, and they came dressed in their wedding clothes.  In today’s world, how many of us are offered the chance to know our Creator/God and refuse? We are ...

We are now having the three lay leaders take the Sunday Service at First United. We are also sharing a service with Marathon, once a month by internet.   This coming Sunday is the Twentieth after Pentecost and the Scriptures are: Exodus 32:1-14; Worshipping the golden calf; Isaiah  25: 1-9 God provides a feast on the mountain; Philippians 4:1-9; Rejoice ...

Read Genessis 21:8-21  Hagar and Ishmael sent away. Hagar was a slave in Abraham and Sarah’s household. Sarah could not have children so Hagar the slave became mother to Abraham’s child, Ishmael. Through a miracle Sarah became pregnant at the age of 88. and Abraham was 100 years old. Their child Isaac would inherit his father’s wealth. Sarah felt that ...

Baggage or luggage? After a great start in the Genesis garden, things went off the rails and did not go well for a while after that. When we get to Genesis 12, it’s a new start. God begins a new thing with Abram and Sarai, a promise of a new creation in creation. A “Great Nation” that will be a ...

“Today is Trinity Sunday. According to the lectionary, we celebrate the Triune God annually on the Sunday following Pentecost. We Christians believe in one God who exists as three distinct Persons: God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. This concept may be difficult to understand mathematically, but the belief in the Trinity is very important to the Christian faith. Around the ...

Story: The touch of a master “Wishing to encourage her young son’s progress on the piano, a mother took the boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her. Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose ...

The Time for God’s Children A woman in a coma was dying. She suddenly had a feeling that she was teken up to heaven and stood before the Judgement Seat. “Who are you?” a Voice said to her. “I’m the wife of the mayor.” she replied. “I did not ask you whose wife you are but who you are.” “I’m ...

Beautiful and Holy Place 1 Samuel 1:10-20 Excerpts from the message: The fifth commandment of the Ten Commandments states, “Honour your father and Mother.”  Confucianism, which has a great cultural influence on East Asia, presents the basic ethics of five human relationships call “Oh-Ryun” The first one is “Bu-Ja-Yu-Chin.” This is about the relationship between parents and children, meaning parents ...

Rice is Heaven Colossians 1:15-18 / Luke 24:28-32 May 7th, 2023 / Fifth Sunday of Easter / Asian Heritage Month * This sermon is attributed to Rev. Dr. Hyuk Cho, Ordained Minister of United Church of Canada and Professor of Vancouver Theological School. In Korea, the traditional morning greeting is “Have you had breakfast?” Later in the day, the greeting ...