A Prayer on Grieving
Into my grieving I weave the strength of the Father. Into my grieving I weave the compassion of the Son. Into my grieving I weave the comfort of the Spirit. Into my grieving I receive the presence of the Three in One. Into my anger I invite the patience of the Father....
Forgiveness is Second Nature for Christians
In his memorable sermon “The Gospel as Hyperbole,” Fred Craddock points out that Jesus most assuredly had a way with words and with exaggeration as a way to get his points across. When it comes to conveying the sheer size of the gospel and of faith, Jesus refused to...
A Pub Blessing
Prayer comes in many forms. When we look at traditional prayers that have been offered in the past we might shake our heads about the sensibilities. One such prayer is 'A Pub Blessing' attributed to St. Brigid. Here the prayer tends to illicit thoughts of drunkenness...
Bind and Loose
Text: Matthew 18: 15-20 Growing up I was a fan of the TV show Law & Order. I enjoyed the format of the show, spending the first half with the detectives who investigate crimes and then the second half with the lawyers who prosecute the criminals. As I...
St. Patrick’s Breastplate a Prayer for Protection
We sit in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, of severe monsoon flooding in SouthEast Asia and with Hurricane Irma having devastated many small Caribbean nations, with its course now set for Florida. We acknowledge that these are only some of the calamities which face...
Let Love be Genuine
Let love be genuine is how Paul opens this section of Romans. Hold fast to what is good. He completes this section by encouraging us to overcome evil with good. In a culture that is enthralled with violence who do we accomplish this? How do we demonstrate love...
Prayer in Times of Crisis
Today the world is experiencing a variety of different crises. In British Columbia wildfires have been burning for weeks. Hurricane Harvey has dropped a deluge of rain on Texas. Within these and many other situations people are in dire need of help. In situations such...
True Worship
Worship can take a variety of forms. In his letter to the church in Rome, Paul writes about worship that is pleasing to God. His dialogue expands to include a discussion about what makes a community of faith distinct from the culture surrounding it. This passage...
Prayer for Letting Go
Gracious God, I ask your help in letting go: Of ideals, old habits and patterns that no longer serve me well. That limit my beliefs and hinder my abilities. May I remember that letting go Is a healthy reminder to rely on you. In letting go I learn joy and practice...
One Love
What could one woman teach Jesus about love? The answer might surprise us. Perhaps we should also ask what could one woman teach us about love or racial identity or segregation or discrimination? The story of the Canaanite Woman is powerful. It demonstrates the depth...
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Cobourg is part of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. The congregation was established in 1833 and continues to serve the community.