Message - Karen Lackey Ryan - July 5, 2026
How easy it is to pray a fervent prayer when we are desperate for supernatural help, requiring a favorable response to some crisis. And isn’t it true that too often we only pray when we are in dire straits! Perhaps our original impulse to pray was during a thunder storm, with lightning crashing around us, or during an earthquake when the earth was literally moving from under us; or, most likely, when we or our loved ones are suddenly, or chronically, or terminally, ill. James assures us that "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16). But how do we pray daily, when the ordinary confounds us, when we want our lives to be different somehow, when we want God to give us what we want? Right now!
The Bible is full of advice about prayer. And any consideration of prayer must refer to how Jesus taught us to pray. We are encouraged to listen for God’s will, praise God, give thanks always, confess our sins, know that we are loved. But somehow our prayers can feel flat, artificial, and unsatisfying on many levels. How to have a rich prayer life and communicate effectively with God?
Whether we believe or not, when we are needy we may try bargaining with God; God if you answer my prayer I will give money, change my habits, go to church, or whatever good action we think would please whatever Mover and Shaker we are praying to. But prayer is not just wishful thinking, or affirmations. Prayer is regular, intimate, direct communication with God. We might ask, What do I say? How do I do it? How do I know God is listening? Why do I not get an answer? How can I get results?
Too often we pray because we want to get something from God. We want to get something for ourselves, or our loved ones. A common, secular prayer might go something like this: Lord, please let me win the Lotto. You know what a lot of good I could do with all that money!
We pray for miracles, which are unusual and remarkable events, overturning natural causes. Miracles do exist. But they don’t happen on command. We try to manipulate results, combining bargaining with magic. If I do this ritual, if I say these words, if I put my socks on in this sequence, if I carry this rock in my right-hand pocket, then I will be more likely to get the result I want. 
We must acknowledge God. We must be in right relationship with our God. Any research on prayer always mentions Elijah and the duel between Baal and the God of the Israelites. Elijah does everything possible to make it difficult for any fire to start, pouring water 3 times over the bull and the altar. 1 Kings 18: 36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know  that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again. 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
The problem is that we usually don’t get this kind of reaction, this dramatic demonstration of the awesome power of God that Elijah received in answer to his prayer. Disappointment sets in. We might say, “I pray and nothing happens, nothing changes, nothing improves.”
James 5 has some good advice: 13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
What do we want? Why do we pray? The most common reasons for prayer are to have healing of some kind, and a change in the chaotic behavior of someone we love. Several frequently cited “powerful prayers” are Psalms 91, 23, and 40, and 121. Psalm 91 is a prayer for protection, Psalm 23 is comforting, Psalm 121 reminds us that our help is from the Lord. Psalm 40:1-3a sounds familiar to anyone who has been in trouble: I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Truly, there is a Psalm for every emotion! There are even prayers related to wealth, such as Psalm 112: 1, 3: Praise the LORD. Blessed are those who fear the LORD, who find great delight in his commands. Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever. Or, as I like to say, It pays to pray!
Prayer guides usually outline several key categories to include in our prayers. There is what is referred to as the A.C.T.S. approach—Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Intercession, Supplication. Or, more simply, Thank, Be honest, Ask, Persist! Of course, these elements are derived from the words of Jesus, as he taught his disciples to pray. The Lord’s Prayer is so powerful because it includes all key aspects, and meets all of our needs, in a poetic and concise manner.
How many of us dare to use the prayer of Jesus on the cross? Luke 22: 42: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done, The Prayer of Jesus in love and total submission, facing death. For the longest time I considered Not my will, but thine to be the most scary prayer. The level of uncertainty, the lack of control, the need for faith…could I afford to say this prayer? It is easier when we realize that God’s will for us is Love. I must have the courage to pray with patience and submit to God’s love.
Prayer does not have to be elaborate. But, like any muscle, it grows with regular exercise and dedicated use. Some of the most effective prayers are only one word: Help! Thanks!
Probably we need reminding that in prayer we must decide to Listen. And this is the scary and resistant part. What is happening in the silence? What is my heart telling me? Or not telling me? This is the rawness of prayer. We face the Void. Is Anyone there? We first believe that God is listening to us, and in faith we can pour our hearts out to the silent space of the universe, to the Unseen Reality, to that force we call God.
Remember the cursed fig tree:  Matthew 21 21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Prayer does not change God. Prayer changes us. Let us simply say, I’m here, God. I’m listening. Let us join with Paul, as he says in Colossians 4:1: Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Always.                              
Thanks be to God. Amen
​

Message - Tamara Schmidt - June 14, 2026
​ Radical Hospitality
June 14, 2026 — Third after Pentecost (Proper 6) Union Sunday: 101 Years of The United Church of Canada
When I was twenty-six years old, I was working as a camp director in Saskatchewan when I came across a little book on herbal medicine.
Of course I had heard of herbal tea, but I grew up believing that medicine came from a pharmacy. That healing meant a prescription, a plastic bottle, something manufactured, certified, and approved. That was medicine. Everything else was, at best, quaint and at worst, dangerous.
But I was curious. The woman who wrote the book also wrote a regular feature in the local paper. So I did something that felt a little bold at the time. I contacted her.
She became my first mentor in herbal medicine.
And what she introduced me to changed my life. Not just the plants themselves, though they are extraordinary, but the realization that 80% of the world already knew something I didn't. That there was an entire world of knowledge, ancient and tested and alive, that I had simply never been introduced to. Not because it wasn't real. But because no one in my circle had ever pointed to it and said: look.
I bring this little book with me today as a reminder of what can happen when a stranger arrives at your door, or when you have the courage to knock on theirs.

Abraham was sitting in the heat of the day when three strangers appeared.
He didn't know who they were. He didn't know what they carried. He had no reason to expect anything from them, and every reason to simply let them pass.
Instead, he ran.
Not walked. Ran. In the heat of the day, this old man ran to meet people he had never seen before, bowed to the ground, and said: please, stay. Let me bring you water. Let me feed you. Rest here, under this tree.
That is not a casual act. That is not polite hospitality. That is radical welcome. The kind that costs something. The kind that says: whatever you carry, there is room for it here.
And what did the strangers carry?
News that seemed impossible. Sarah, listening behind the tent door, heard them say she would bear a son. She was old. Her husband was old. The idea was absurd. So she laughed.
I love that she laughed.
She didn't perform belief she didn't have. She didn't nod politely and pretend. She laughed, honestly, at something that contradicted everything she knew about herself and her body and her life.
And the stranger saw her clearly anyway. Heard her laugh. Called her out, gently. And said: is anything too wonderful for God?
It turned out to be true.
The impossible thing the stranger carried turned out to be true.

We live in a world that is increasingly reluctant to be surprised.
Our phones learn what we like and show us more of it. Our social media feeds reflect our own opinions back to us, louder and more certain each time. We can go days, weeks, months, surrounded only by people who think the way we think, see the way we see, laugh at the same things and worry about the same things. 
Staying in our small world is comfortable. And it is shrinking us.
And perhaps this is what Abraham knew, sitting under those oak trees at Mamre: you cannot know what you are capable of until someone outside your circle shows up and says, look. There is more here than you knew.
And 101 years ago, three different communities, the Methodist Church, the Congregational Church, and the Presbyterian Church, looked at each other across their differences and said: we are more united than divided. That audacious idea is still unfolding. Right here. In this room.
The stranger at your door is still arriving.

The question is whether you will run to meet them.

Some of you will run to meet the stranger, set the extra place, say yes before you've thought it through. This sermon is for you too.
Some of us need a reminder that radical hospitality doesn’t mean abandoning yourself. It doesn't mean giving until there is nothing left, serving until you are hollowed out, welcoming everyone else while quietly disappearing.
Jesus looked at the crowds and felt compassion. He saw them harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. And before he did anything, before he sent anyone anywhere, he simply saw them. Clearly. With a full heart.

That's where it starts. Not with doing. With seeing.
And then he said to his disciples: freely you received, freely give.
Freely you received. That comes first. You cannot give what you have not been given. You cannot welcome when you have not been able to meet your own needs first. The hospitality that lasts, the kind that actually feeds people, flows from a place of fullness, not depletion.
So tend your own cup. Walk outside and let a squirrel, a sunrise, or love between birds surprise you. Let a stranger tell you something you didn't know. Let yourself laugh, the way Sarah laughed, at the impossible things that might just turn out to be true.
You are inside the circle of welcome too.

As you gather after the service today, I want to leave you with one question to carry into your conversations.
What is one thing someone told you that turned out to be true, even though you didn't believe it at first?
You might be surprised what the stranger beside you is carrying.
​

Message - Karen Lackey Ryan - June  7, 2026
Mercy?              KLackey
Scripture this morning states clearly, in both Psalm 51 and Hosea, that mercy is preferable to sacrifice. Why is this difference important, or remarkable?
Mercy is the free gift of kindness and forgiveness, despite our wrongdoing, that is, undeserved. Mercy is the generous acceptance of us even when we might expect to pay for the consequences of wrongdoing. Sacrifice is the act of giving up something of value—such as time, money, or possessions—for the sake of something else. Historically, sacrifice refers to a religious ritual where an animal, human, or object is offered to appease a god, seek favor, or atone for sins. Google. With sacrifice we give something up to obtain a desired result or benefit.
The need for mercy is rooted in our universal imperfection. We make mistakes, hurt others, and fall short of our own standards. Mercy—not getting the punishment we deserve, but receiving compassion and forgiveness instead—frees us from guilt and allows us to extend that same grace to others.
We associate mercy with kindness, generosity or going the extra mile. Perhaps we think of mercy in terms of soup kitchens, clinics for the poor or service to a neighbor. We may associate it with pity, sympathy and compassion – a desire to make something better for someone ... such as reaching out to those in unfortunate circumstances or victims of natural disasters. Often, we don’t make much distinction among the various expressions of mercy. In fact, we mainly think of mercy as a concrete response to a situation, rather than an attitude of the mind and heart.    Sister Ann Shield  https://faithmag.com/why-we-all-need-mercy
In human relations it is easy to make assumptions about people and events. Have you ever tried to help someone, thought you had the perfect solution to their problem, and then had your help and solution rejected? After my time working as a nurse, I realized that truly helping someone is a challenge and even a bit of a mystery. I was fortunate to have had a head nurse who advised us to ask the person how they defined their health problem; the word problem of course being an inadequate word. So often the problem that the team was addressing was not the same as that of the person needing or seeking help. We offer solutions before understanding the problem. We are frustrated by problems that confound our best efforts and understanding. We blame the person for not accepting our sensible efforts to make things better. We persist in using logic when logic is not part of the situation. We are often talking different languages, that is, talking from different realities, different frames of reference, different ways of seeing and being entirely.
We are excellent at making detailed plans and offering advice and treatments that are sometimes not even relevant, heard or accepted. How often do we plunge fully ahead with answers before fully hearing the concerns of friends and loved ones? It is so easy to jump in where angels fear to tread. Despite our best intentions we often make things worse, being hurtful rather than being the savior-rescuer as we may have hoped and expected. We think we see the “problem” so much more clearly than the person being affected. We move swiftly into problem-solving mode, and are surprised when our efforts and advice are not appreciated.  It is easy to forget that we are supposed to listen more than talk.
Of course it is necessary and good to offer assistance when and where possible. But being the helper is a truly seductive role. I help, I don’t need help. I help YOU who need my help! In our culture we are taught to be independent; in our Christian culture we are taught to help others. It can be humbling, and some would even say humiliating, to need help. So much of the sadness of aging is admitting our failing strengths and increasing need of assistance.
Matthew 7: 3-5 reminds us, 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Somehow, it is always easier to remove the speck in someone else’s eye than remove the plank in my own! In our reflexive efforts to help, we may unconsciously think, “you have a problem and I am the one to fix it.” I don’t want to admit my own need, so I try to fix yours instead. If you don’t cooperate then I am at risk of being frustrated, angry and resentful with you. This is not mercy. It feels more like manipulation and even coercion to the person who may simply want to be heard. The actual message received is that the helper is ok, but the person needing help is not ok.
The scripture says that God prefers mercy to sacrifice. Mercy is generous. It doesn’t demand a specific, desired response. The expectation is that behavior will change, attitude will improve, appreciation will ensue. Anything less is a disappointment. The very definition of mercy is that it is a free gift of compassion. How many times?  Matthew 18 gives us the answer: 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. This means forgiveness should be continuous and essentially limitless.
So what is the problem with sacrifice? I suggest that sacrifice is an aspect of mercy. To me mercy is the umbrella under which sacrifice is one feature of extending ourselves in love. The extent of sacrifice is on a continuum. We make daily sacrifices to be courteous. We gracefully put others first in the interest of maintaining good relations with others. We give up our time and money willingly, and with love, to provide for ourselves and our loved ones. There are others who give all for their ideals or in fighting for the right. Sacrifice always seems to have death lurking in the shadows. We give up something, even our lives, for the sake of love or money!
In defining mercy and sacrifice in this way I consider mercy to be generous beyond belief. I don’t believe that God requires martyrdom, although of course, it happens. However, if we use sacrifice to gain an advantage over someone, then the spirit of love is compromised. I notice that many people give all and more to their loved ones, their children, their spouses, their causes. Then the complaints begin. Look at what I am doing/have done to help! The assisted person shows no appreciation for all the sacrifice of time, money and effort. The person is an ungrateful wretch! All my effort on their behalf and nothing changes!!!!
There is something called “negative debt.” This is the awareness that once we have accepted help from someone, then they have something over us, we are not free. There is a bill to be paid. The famous phrase "neither a borrower nor a lender be" actually comes from William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet (Act 1, Scene 3), spoken by the character Polonius.    Google. And, Proverbs 22:7: "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender." (NIV)
Our guiding and oft repeated scripture is to “Love others as we love ourselves.” Too often we focus on Love others, and not enough on “as ourselves.” I am not advocating being selfish. I am suggesting that we are too often nasty to ourselves; critical, self-flagellating, accusing ourselves of never measuring up. For some reason we think this is more holy, to give beyond what we can give, than to take good care of ourselves. Sometimes, way too late in life we learn that it is ok to love and care for ourselves.
The best illustration of what I mean is one that we hear when we are flying. At the beginning of the flight the steward explains how the oxygen mask works in the case of an emergency. Our first instinct when we are travelling with our children is to put the oxygen mask on the child first. This turns out to be a mistake. If we put the oxygen mask on the child first and then we pass out, then we are no longer any help to anyone, least of all our child. Put the oxygen mask on yourself first! Then you have the strength to help others. This is called sensible and healthy self-respect.
When we are trying to be loving, but secretly counting every pennies’ worth  of effort then this is not mercy. If we choose to help beyond what we can afford or support, emotionally and financially, then we are hurting ourselves and practicing martyrdom. We always want our cake and eat it too. We believe in loving, but it is hard to not keep accounts, brag or complain about how handily we are extending ourselves. While we are counting, we might remember that we are in debt to our Creator. The blood of Christ has replaced the blood sacrifices of old.
This is the difference between mercy and sacrifice. Mercy gives without expecting any return. So, when God says that he prefers mercy to sacrifice, think twice when you feel overextended, exhausted, self-righteous, or resentful of the person you are helping. When we say we are “trying to help” that raises a question: Are we helping? Are we extending mercy, or are we counting the cost? Are we helping, exercising power, or creating debt? Let us be good stewards of our God-given gifts. Let us listen and learn how the person defines the challenge with which they need help. Let us return again and again to God who is the only deep well of mercy that never dries up.
Thanks be to God.  Amen
​

Message - Karen Lackey Ryan - May 17, 2026
My favorite definition of Success is “Getting up just one more time than you fall.” In today’s readings, Jesus ascends, he rises up, he leaves Earth to sit at the Right Hand of God. However, for some Jesus is a failed prophet. He died a horrible death. He didn’t resist and overcome the Romans; he didn’t make a big show of pomp and circumstance, making everyone’s life suddenly easier by ushering in a heaven of truth and justice. He took a big fall. But he rose up. This is the paradox that twists so many minds, that by the death of Jesus we claim the victory, that life and death have meaning; that a seeming loss of everything can give what matters most of all.
No one likes to lose, or even be criticized. Such pain to the ego is to be avoided at all costs. There are almost limitless ways of protecting the ego, our imagined fragile self-esteem that avoids dealing with threatening hard facts and realities. We may feel threatened but we have not been tested unto blood. Hebrews 12:4. Jesus paid the ultimate price, and rose again.  Our faith and hope rests upon that Reality.
Imagine being a disciple in those trying times; dedicating one’s self to a man who represents hope and peace, and the overcoming of life limitations. Trying to find the courage to make a stand in the face of powerful threats, and finding one’s voice to say things that change lives. Imagine being a disciple now, in these trying times. Dedicating oneself to a man who represents hope and peace, and the overcoming of life limitations. Trying to find the courage to make a stand in the face of powerful threats, and finding one’s voice to say things that change lives. This post resurrection season asks us a question: How do I follow the risen Christ in my day to day life?
1 Peter 4: 12-14 is not that reassuring: 12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
Who wants to suffer, even for a good cause? As Christians it is easy to hear this kind of scriptural advice, nod our heads in agreement, and then like Peter, deny our Lord when our comfort and desires seem to be at risk.
Our scriptures this morning recommend behaviors that are counter to the world’s ways. Be humble. Go forth with courage. Cast all your anxiety on that faceless, formless spiritual entity in whom we believe, God. The Christian call for the best life involves a lot of giving up, letting go, and changing our default habits. Who eagerly does this?
Who wants to be humble? Pride is the most resistant to change and the most secure in protecting our self-image. It is true that a strong ego is necessary to mature effectively and have a solid personality, but real humility is the ability to be gracious with others. Contrary to popular belief we do not lose our sense of identity when we make way for others. This is the basic premise of all courtesy.
Despite all of our progress it can still seem like a dog eat dog world, where the basic premise of the “survival of the fittest” is the attitude that persists in ruling local and world affairs. We can hardly help ourselves in having our own survival as our first priority. As Christians we have to be optimists, thinking and believing that there is a better way for love and sharing to thrive. How to create that better way is the challenge.
The resurrection of Jesus posed a problem for the disciples. After years of giving up everything to follow him, he dies a violent death and leaves them to carry on his healing work without him. Of course he promises to give them the Holy Spirit, but suddenly the disciples find themselves thrust into a leadership role, when they have been quite happy to walk in the shadow of Jesus. Just by being himself, showing kindness and performing miraculous healing acts, Jesus posed a real threat to the established power brokers, who orchestrated his removal. I would assert that the same power dynamic is fully operational to this day. Disciples today face all the powers that be, asserting that universal and simple message to love one another as oneself! The new Pope must be amazed to be so brazenly challenged by a tyrannical political leader who is used to bullying his way around the world. Are we in 2026 or 26 CE?
In John 15: 18-26 Jesus states this clearly: 18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
Thank God that Jesus loves us. Jesus is aware of the danger inherent in being a disciple, and as we heard in John 17, Jesus prays for the disciples.  He prays for us. v. 11, 15: “Holy Father Protect them by the power of your name-the name you gave me-so that they may be one as we are one…My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”
So here we are post resurrection. Has my life changed? Have I become more Christ-like in the past few weeks? Do I rise up with joy and enthusiasm each day, ready to be an example of peace and love? Can’t I just rest in the idea that Jesus saves? My ego tells me I am not so bad, but I recognize my human limitations! It is so easy to fall into the swamp of excuses and anxieties. Romans 7: 15-20 clearly expresses the conflict:
15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
Although ideally we develop good habits as youngsters, human nature is such that we can’t take good intentions for granted. We are always positioned between our ideals and our everyday challenges. Spiritual commitment of any serious kind encourages us to reflect on our speech and behaviors on a daily basis. Or so I believe. This is not always a comfortable exercise! What! I am not so perfect? How can that be? To be willing to admit my mistakes and failings; to confess, at least to myself and God, and to then take responsibility for my shortcomings and try to improve, already demonstrates commitment, humility and courage.
So now I have to be honest. I know the law. I am free. Then what follows is the responsibility to act in accordance with belief in the risen Christ. So, I continue to reflect and guide myself along the path of salvation, accepting guidance along the way. This is a discipline that differs from the usual adult cares and career. This is keeping the layers of distraction at bay, keeping the layers of ego protections peeled, so that I am not surprised by the emptiness of living without meaning and love, hope and peace.
I take heart in Galatians chapter 5: 13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
It is well known that to smile is easier than to frown. It is well known that our attitude and way of responding to challenges is the key to dealing effectively with stress. The simplest expression of this is the almost facile question, Do you see the glass half full or half empty? We are given choice. We have free will. Even choosing not to decide is a decision! Of course there are conflicts and hurdles, obstacles that test our patience and resources. But, the wisdom of scripture gives us a method of walking as well as possible along life’s sometimes difficult pathways. Let us walk by the spirit. Let us enjoy the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, fulfilling and rising above the letter of the law.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6: 10, 18
Hallelujah!
Amen.
​

Message - Karen Lackey Ryan - May 10, 2026
​My favorite definition of Success is “Getting up just one more time than you fall.” In today’s readings, Jesus ascends, he rises up, he leaves Earth to sit at the Right Hand of God. However, for some Jesus is a failed prophet. He died a horrible death. He didn’t resist and overcome the Romans; he didn’t make a big show of pomp and circumstance, making everyone’s life suddenly easier by ushering in a heaven of truth and justice. He took a big fall. But he rose up. This is the paradox that twists so many minds, that by the death of Jesus we claim the victory, that life and death have meaning; that a seeming loss of everything can give what matters most of all.
No one likes to lose, or even be criticized. Such pain to the ego is to be avoided at all costs. There are almost limitless ways of protecting the ego, our imagined fragile self-esteem that avoids dealing with threatening hard facts and realities. We may feel threatened but we have not been tested unto blood. Hebrews 12:4. Jesus paid the ultimate price, and rose again.  Our faith and hope rests upon that Reality.
Imagine being a disciple in those trying times; dedicating one’s self to a man who represents hope and peace, and the overcoming of life limitations. Trying to find the courage to make a stand in the face of powerful threats, and finding one’s voice to say things that change lives. Imagine being a disciple now, in these trying times. Dedicating oneself to a man who represents hope and peace, and the overcoming of life limitations. Trying to find the courage to make a stand in the face of powerful threats, and finding one’s voice to say things that change lives. This post resurrection season asks us a question: How do I follow the risen Christ in my day to day life?
1 Peter 4: 12-14 is not that reassuring: 12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
Who wants to suffer, even for a good cause? As Christians it is easy to hear this kind of scriptural advice, nod our heads in agreement, and then like Peter, deny our Lord when our comfort and desires seem to be at risk.
Our scriptures this morning recommend behaviors that are counter to the world’s ways. Be humble. Go forth with courage. Cast all your anxiety on that faceless, formless spiritual entity in whom we believe, God. The Christian call for the best life involves a lot of giving up, letting go, and changing our default habits. Who eagerly does this?
Who wants to be humble? Pride is the most resistant to change and the most secure in protecting our self-image. It is true that a strong ego is necessary to mature effectively and have a solid personality, but real humility is the ability to be gracious with others. Contrary to popular belief we do not lose our sense of identity when we make way for others. This is the basic premise of all courtesy.
Despite all of our progress it can still seem like a dog eat dog world, where the basic premise of the “survival of the fittest” is the attitude that persists in ruling local and world affairs. We can hardly help ourselves in having our own survival as our first priority. As Christians we have to be optimists, thinking and believing that there is a better way for love and sharing to thrive. How to create that better way is the challenge.
The resurrection of Jesus posed a problem for the disciples. After years of giving up everything to follow him, he dies a violent death and leaves them to carry on his healing work without him. Of course he promises to give them the Holy Spirit, but suddenly the disciples find themselves thrust into a leadership role, when they have been quite happy to walk in the shadow of Jesus. Just by being himself, showing kindness and performing miraculous healing acts, Jesus posed a real threat to the established power brokers, who orchestrated his removal. I would assert that the same power dynamic is fully operational to this day. Disciples today face all the powers that be, asserting that universal and simple message to love one another as oneself! The new Pope must be amazed to be so brazenly challenged by a tyrannical political leader who is used to bullying his way around the world. Are we in 2026 or 26 CE?
In John 15: 18-26 Jesus states this clearly: 18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
Thank God that Jesus loves us. Jesus is aware of the danger inherent in being a disciple, and as we heard in John 17, Jesus prays for the disciples.  He prays for us. v. 11, 15: “Holy Father Protect them by the power of your name-the name you gave me-so that they may be one as we are one…My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”
So here we are post resurrection. Has my life changed? Have I become more Christ-like in the past few weeks? Do I rise up with joy and enthusiasm each day, ready to be an example of peace and love? Can’t I just rest in the idea that Jesus saves? My ego tells me I am not so bad, but I recognize my human limitations! It is so easy to fall into the swamp of excuses and anxieties. Romans 7: 15-20 clearly expresses the conflict:
15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
Although ideally we develop good habits as youngsters, human nature is such that we can’t take good intentions for granted. We are always positioned between our ideals and our everyday challenges. Spiritual commitment of any serious kind encourages us to reflect on our speech and behaviors on a daily basis. Or so I believe. This is not always a comfortable exercise! What! I am not so perfect? How can that be? To be willing to admit my mistakes and failings; to confess, at least to myself and God, and to then take responsibility for my shortcomings and try to improve, already demonstrates commitment, humility and courage.
So now I have to be honest. I know the law. I am free. Then what follows is the responsibility to act in accordance with belief in the risen Christ. So, I continue to reflect and guide myself along the path of salvation, accepting guidance along the way. This is a discipline that differs from the usual adult cares and career. This is keeping the layers of distraction at bay, keeping the layers of ego protections peeled, so that I am not surprised by the emptiness of living without meaning and love, hope and peace.
I take heart in Galatians chapter 5: 13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
It is well known that to smile is easier than to frown. It is well known that our attitude and way of responding to challenges is the key to dealing effectively with stress. The simplest expression of this is the almost facile question, Do you see the glass half full or half empty? We are given choice. We have free will. Even choosing not to decide is a decision! Of course there are conflicts and hurdles, obstacles that test our patience and resources. But, the wisdom of scripture gives us a method of walking as well as possible along life’s sometimes difficult pathways. Let us walk by the spirit. Let us enjoy the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, fulfilling and rising above the letter of the law.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6: 10, 18
Hallelujah!
Amen.
 

Message - Frances Jones - May 3, 2026
​“You Know the Way”
         The words at the very beginning of this Scripture that we're discussing today might make us think that we are attending a funeral, or a Celebration of Life because these words are often spoken at such a ceremony.  They are comforting and reassuring for those in attendance.  However, the ones who were listening to Jesus say these words at this particular time and in this context, didn't understand what he was saying, and they admitted that they had no idea what Jesus was talking about.
         How could these followers of Jesus have known what this meant?  Yes, they had listened to his many messages indicating that he was the Way, the Truth, the Life.  But were they just words to them?  What did they really mean?
         We have discussed many times the reaction of Thomas to various episodes in the life of Jesus. He may often be referred to as the doubting disciple, but there are other important characteristics concerning this disciple that demonstrate honesty, courage and devotion.
         When his Master and Lord decided to return to Judea at the time of Lazarus' death when it was not safe for him to do so because of the threat of being stoned by Jewish authorities, Thomas was the follower who spoke up and said,  "Let us also go, that we may die with him".
         Today, we notice Thomas' honesty, admitting that he had no idea what Jesus was talking about concerning where he was going, and why they were not included in this journey.  We can also see that this disciple was a critical thinker.  How could they possibly know the way?  The disciples had no road map and no GPS to direct them.
         Many times, we have discussed Thomas' character and his reactions to various episodes in the life of Jesus, but we rarely visit Philip's attributes.
           In John McArthur's book entitled, Twelve Ordinary Men, Philip is described as someone who knew the prophecies well and had been a follower of John the Baptist.  So when Jesus found him and personally called him, Philip's reaction was that he had found Jesus.  From Philip's point of view, his search was over – he had found the Messiah, and immediately shared this amazing news with his best friend, Nathaniel.
         One important characteristic concerning Philip was similar to a specific attribute of Thomas.  They were both critical thinkers and needed to know the facts.
         In the story of feeding the huge multitude, it was Philip to whom Jesus called to figure out how all those people could be fed because he knew well that he was a good organizer, was very good with figures, and a person who paid attention to protocol.  Whether Philip had already begun to count the heads in the crowd or not, we do not know, but it didn't take him long to figure out the amount of money they would need in order to feed everyone. Did he think it was impossible?
         Concerning Philip's attention to protocol, if he were at a meeting, possibly an AGM, he would probably be the one to be sure that all was done 'by the book', in an orderly fashion.  He might also be the one most likely to say, 'Oh, we can't do that!'
         On one occasion in particular, Philip's reaction was a disappointment to Jesus.  Attempting to explain once again to Thomas and Philip that he and the Father are one, Philip demanded, 'Lord, show us the Father . . . that will be enough'.
         Philip, along with the other followers of Jesus, had witnessed miracle after miracle; he had heard Jesus' teachings; he had even witnessed demons being cast out, and ultimately the dead raised to life.  What had he learned?
         Before we are tempted to point fingers at doubters and at those who ask questions, like these two disciples that we are discussing today, can we not see some of our own characteristics in these two followers of Jesus who wanted to better understand?  Have we not found it difficult to completely comprehend the Three in One – our Triune God?
           Is it a bad thing to doubt?  Is it wrong to have questions?  Does it mean that we are unbelievers; that we are not true followers of our Lord? When we experience crises, sadness, disappointment, don't we want someone to blame, or at least to ask why certain things happen the way they do?
         Some individuals search for their true identity – what makes them tick?  Some want to know the meaning of life. Do I live, then die, and that's it?  Questioning our beliefs, and the beliefs of others, can sometimes lead to personal growth.  Doesn't it force us to search within ourselves and make us face up to those unspoken ponderings?  What do I really believe?
         Thomas and Philip had doubts, but their soul-searching resulted in finding answers.  Jesus' disciples were not perfect individuals, chosen as the 'cream of the crop'.  They were all regular individuals with strengths as well as weaknesses.  Isn't it reassuring to know that imperfection is exactly what the Lord was, and is, looking for?
         All of the disciples chosen specifically by God are good examples of how he takes individual weaknesses in order to make his strength perfect.
         How encouraging for us to realize that even with our questions, our uncertainties, and with the weakness of our faith, we too can have the opportunity to share the Good News.  We can exclaim personally, just as Thomas did, 'My Lord and my God!'
 
AMEN!
 
Frances Jones – May 3, 2026
 

Message - Frances Jones - April 19, 2026
Highway or Country Road, Take Me Home {On the Road to Emmaus}          Luke's gospel is the only one of the four gospels that reveals this particular story about these two individuals on the road to Emmaus.  Here we find two of Jesus' followers walking away from Jerusalem and from their discouragement and disappointment, heading toward the comfort and the peace of home.          As I picture them, walking and talking between themselves, I can't help but think about John Denver's song, 'Country Road, Take Me Home', as they now needed time to think, to ponder on all that had happened during those last few days, and to try to make some sense of it all.          Nothing had turned out as they had hoped it would.  Their teacher, leader, and Master had not set up a kingdom, freeing them from enemy dominance.  Instead he had succumbed to all manner of cruelty at the hands of his oppressors.  This innocent man had been humiliated, beaten and crucified like a common criminal, and then placed in a securely-guarded tomb.  It all seemed surreal.  How could this have happened to such a loving and caring individual?          We can only imagine the fear that all of his followers were experiencing at this time.  What might happen next?  Would they too be hunted down by Jesus' enemies?  Would they receive the same treatment?          Now, on this third day after his burial, there was incredible news that caused much confusion - Jesus' body was not only missing from the tomb, but it was believed by some that he had actually risen from the dead!  How could this be possible?  A huge, heavy stone had been placed against the tomb's entrance.          But, on this particular morning, Mary, who had gone to find Jesus' body in the tomb, had a very unusual and unexpected encounter, right there in the garden outside the tomb.          One thing that I find interesting about Mary's encounter with her risen Lord was the fact that, at first, he was unrecognizable.  She met a man that she supposed to be the gardener.  However, she soon found out that it was indeed her risen Lord who had taken on the persona of a gardener. And, on this particular Sunday, as we celebrate the beginning of Earth Week, it now seems quite appropriate indeed to imagine Jesus as a gardener. After his resurrection, why would Jesus assume a different identity?          It wasn't until her Lord spoke her name that Mary knew right away that this was no other than her Lord.  Excited seems like a mild word to express how she must have felt when she heard that familiar voice call, 'Mary'.  Nothing else mattered to her right at that moment.  Her Saviour was alive!  He had risen!  Hallelujah!          This was news that must be shared.  So, immediately she ran back to tell the other disciples who had hunkered down where they felt they would be safe.          We can only imagine the emotions and the excitement in her voice as she attempted to get the words out, to explain what she had seen, what she had heard, and what she had experienced.  The disciples, on the other hand, might have at first looked at her out of the corner of their eyes.  Was this woman hysterical? Was she so consumed by sorrow that she was imagining things?          But, what if, even though quite unbelievable, Mary was actually speaking the truth?  Without much hesitation, Peter and another disciple (assumed to be John) took off running toward the tomb.  Mary was right!  The tomb was empty.  But, where was Jesus?          On their way back to the group, I have to wonder if they were disappointed that they hadn't experienced the same thing that Mary did.  They did not experience an encounter.  If he wasn't there in the garden, as Mary had described, where might he be?          Back in the safety of the group, as these followers of Jesus continued to huddle together in fear, we can imagine the feelings of sadness, disappointment, and despair that they were suffering from.  As they re-lived the terrible things that had taken place just days ago – this innocent man, who had called them to follow him, who was a living example of loving and caring, gentleness and humility had suffered a cruel death on a cross at the hands of his enemies.  And for what reason?          Thinking about these disciples and the torment in which they were now living, we might wonder if they were asking themselves questions like, 'what did I do to help my Lord?'  They knew very well what they had done, and what they had not done.  Haunting them now was the fact that they had lied, denied their Lord, and had scaattered and hid, fearing for their own lives.  Would they be hunted down by Jesus' enemies?  Might they experience this same fate?          I wonder if Mary also was pondering on all that had happened.  She had been there at the foot of his cross, staying with him through the ordeal, but why did her Lord appear to her in the persona of a gardener?  Why had she not recognized him?          We might ask that same question concerning this encounter that we read about today. This time, on the road to Emmaus' Jesus appeared as a 'stranger' who walked along with two of his followers as they were heading for the comfort and the peace of their home.  They needed to get away from Jerusalem and away from the despair and the sadness.          As they continued to discuss all the events of recent days, it seemed that they were not escaping the terrible things that had happened at all.          When this so-called 'stranger' joined them and asked them what they were discussing, they assumed that he was not from the area, so they continued to talk about all the things that had just taken place.  But it was this stranger's re-telling and re-enforcing of the Scriptures that they found so enticing.  They hung on his every word.  There was something about this man that affected them deeply, but they couldn't quite 'put their finger on it'.  It was unexplainable.          Finally, when they reached their home, hungry to hear more of what this stranger had to say, these two individuals extended an invitation to him.  Come in and sit down at the table with us.  Share our meal and we can continue our discussions.          It turned out that this was a very wise decision.  By inviting this stranger into their home, and to share a meal, their eyes were opened.  Because of a familiar custom practised by this stranger – taking the bread, giving thanks for it, blessing it, and then sharing it with them, there was no more doubt.  This was indeed their risen Lord.          At that moment, however, Jesus as the stranger disappeared. Why do you think he disappeared?  Had he fulfilled his purpose?  Did he want them to recognize him through his familiar behaviour, because of familiar practices and customs they had shared together?  Or could he have left them because he wanted them to recognize him because of their faith?          I read that an invitation to share a meal was a significant act at that time.  It signalled acceptance and friendship.  It was a time of relationship.  And, as the Scriptures (Matthew 25:35) have recorded Jesus saying, 'I was hungry and you fed me'.  He also taught about serving those in need in general – the hungry and thirsty, the stranger, the sick and the imprisoned . . .'  He taught that by serving them, they were also serving him.          We notice in this story that Jesus met individuals right where they were and right in the middle of their confusion, their sadness, their guilt.  These encounters did not take place in a designated location – not in a special place of worship or on a mountaintop.  We have learned that encounters with our Lord can happen in the most unexpected locations.  It might be in a garden, on a highway or a dusty road, or even in a boat on rough waters.          Where might an encounter with our risen Lord happen to you and me?  Thinking about it, how many times has he approached us right where we are, and with all the baggage that we're carrying?  Maybe there have been times when we have not been aware of his presence – that we haven't recognized him because we have been so preoccupied, too wrapped up in our emotions and our personal circumstances to realize that he was right there with us.          What a comfort to know that Jesus is willing to meet us right where we are.  And let us remind ourselves that he also responds to our invitation to come in and share.  How comforting to know that whether our journey takes along the highway or travelling down a country road, we do not walk alone.   AMEN!  ​

Message - Karen Lackey Ryan - April 5, 2026
​Luke 24:6-7: He is not here; he has risen! That’s the message. Hallelujah! That said, we can go directly to the coffee and chocolate! Of course, not so fast! Like our celebration of the birth of Jesus at Christmas, which is overshadowed by the secular frenzy of Santa Claus and shopping, Easter is hard to explain in ten words or less. Let me dig a little, under the decorated Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies, to get to the deeper meaning. How to explain the hope of the resurrection as if I was talking to a youth or unbeliever? As        1 Peter 3:15 tells us: to Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 
I think of the book, Where’s Waldo? In which the young face of Waldo is hidden on page after page of densely pictured images, the purpose of which is to find Waldo in the midst of all of the colorful, illustrated chaos. Likewise, the women who went to the tomb looking for Jesus must have been shocked and surprised at the emptiness. After years with him, witnessing miracles and kindness, and a new way of thinking, the question Where’s Jesus? was likely uppermost in their minds. Finding Jesus was imperative. Where is Jesus today, in the midst of the world’s chaos?
Growing up in a Christian community the presence of Jesus and the symbols of Easter are familiar, even a bit banal, one option among others. Yes, the cross is gory, unwarranted death is ugly, but the same evil drama is played out every day at one place of the world or another. If I had been born into a poverty-stricken, oppressed society where I had no rights, meeting Jesus and learning about the hope and mental freedom that Jesus provides would surely be mind-blowing and life changing; As it is for us, as we learn, as we hold to what is sacred, safe, and sure in our anxious human lives.
We live in an affluent and so-called secular society, where people pretend that they have no need of the “supernatural” or even any need of the sacred. Well, I need Jesus, the world needs the resurrected Christ, to save us from ourselves. So many of the rights, assurances and freedoms that we enjoy are the result of attitudes, beliefs, and the organization of society that are derived from a monotheistic belief in a loving God, all of which we so often take for granted.
There is a cynical saying, which is, “Life is a B..tch/horrible, and then we die.” We can be overwhelmed with the burden of being human; dealing with physical and social challenges that seem to happen randomly, that overwhelm us, and that we cannot avoid even though we try. We fear death; we are attached to our lives, even when we are not content.
We say, “Jesus conquered death.”  What does this mean? As a result of the crucifixion Jesus made the transition from a physical presence to a spiritual essence. What the death and resurrection of Jesus gives us, gives me, is meaning. Physical Death does not signal the end of meaning of our life. That holding to truth and justice, even the loss of our material presence and capacity, is not the end of the significance of our actions. The Roman authorities robbed Jesus of a continued full life. Jesus robbed the Roman and Jewish authorities of having the last word. The tomb could not contain him. It was not the end. What was perceived to be a grief filled, hopeless empty space now fills our needy hearts with joy and hope and the Holy Spirit.
One definition of passion is, the willingness to suffer for what you love. As John 3:16 states so clearly: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. This is the Passion of Christ; To defy   the hopeless idea that death is the end; To assert that the foundation of the universe is love; To manifest love in an example that all can know, and that life consists of love and meaning even in the face of insurmountable odds. A recent earthly example of this Passion is the example of those two pilots seeing the firetruck, their doom, on the runway, and doing their best in the ultimate moments, doing the right thing to save lives.
John 15: 13:  Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  Even humans give their life for what we love, either in a sudden incident, or by the daily sacrifices that are made to meet the needs of those we love and care for. This was the biggest surprise for me of motherhood, the realization that I could kill or die for my daughter, and endure the daily needs with patience! That the love and care of that special bundle would be the motivation and meaning for much of my adult life.
So where is Jesus now? When I had my accident, over 20 years ago now, I was asked by a minister, Where did I think Jesus was in that event? My reply was that Jesus was in all the people who treated me, all those who got up early to be at work early to care for others. That I could no longer think that I was alone getting up in the dark, commuting in rain and snow and hail, or whatever challenge was required to be met, in efforts to be reliable and caring; that we are surrounded by countless others who get up every day and do their passionate, humanly best for others.
Where is Jesus? He is not in the tomb. He is here with us, right now, right here. The love of Christ has left the tomb and gone out to the world at large. The love of Christ is available to all. The meaning of Christ’s resurrection is that He is in our hearts. He is in our daily lives as we care for ourselves and each other. The reality and idea of love as the highest value cannot be erased from the world’s consciousness, no matter how much death and destruction is rained down upon us; that love endures beyond fear and revenge. This is the revolution. This is the Good News that changes lives. This is the message upon which to secure our lives.
Easter is a time to celebrate the passion of Christ. That he gave his life, to assert the truth that Love is all. This is our foundation, the rock upon which we are able to stand with the full armor of God, 13 … so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6
Easter is a time to renew our faith, to take up our cares again with renewed strength and confidence in our own journey to the cross. Easter is a time to revisit our trust in the love of God for all of us and all of humanity. Now is the time for the new life of spring, the Easter eggs representing new birth, coinciding with our renewed hope and reassurance that love is the answer to our deepest questions.
What comes next, once we have encountered the risen Christ? Two things come to mind: The first is to face our emptiness, the mirror of the empty tomb, the agony of a meaningless life and fill our hearts with love. Next is to not cling to the physical Jesus, but to rejoice in his being, and take responsibility for the new life that meeting and following Christ entails, to become examples of the love of God in our own lives, here and now.
Two verses from the New Testament summarize it best: For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  Colossians 1:13-14  
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Love is the answer.
Hallelujah! Thanks be to God.
Amen
 
 
 
 
                                         

Abram was a traveling man. He started from Ur, went to Haran, received a message from God to go where God had promised, spent time in Bethel, went to Egypt because of a famine, before ending up in Canaan. Many of us decide to move from our comfort zones, but do we hear a direct message from God to do so? At seventy-five we might be more reluctant than Abram to pack up everything and move away from all that is familiar. We may be reluctant to just get up and take a walk through the desert.  And there always is a desert to cross. Abram heads bravely and without question into the unknown because God told him to.
Maybe we are more like Nicodemus, full of knowledge, with great social standing, well established but unknowing, seeking answers from Jesus for life’s big questions.
What are the big questions? For Abram it might have been, Where is God leading me? For Nicodemus it was, What is missing from my life when I already have so much? Abram accepted God, and obeyed. Evangelicals might rightly say that Nicodemus was missing a personal relationship with Christ.
Right about now is when all who are born again sing out, Believe, only believe! This is also when the skeptics and philosophers start arguing. What is the definition of God? How to trust God? Is it really God’s voice that I hear? Is it blind faith that I must obey? What must I do to be saved? Is being a good person enough? This is the beginning of the debate between faith and works.
There are many verses that give contradictory messages about faith and works. From Ephesians 2 we learn that: 8 it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. James provides the apparently opposing view: James 2:24: "You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone".
There are those who say, I am saved, therefore I can do what I want, God has already forgiven me. But their behavior stays the same. Others may be full of doing Good Works, thinking that they will earn a place sitting at the right hand of God. We don’t like to admit that our works can never equal God’s Creation or God’s Grace. So which is it? Is it one or the other, or both?
The problem with works alone is that we cannot earn our way into God’s grace. Good works do not buy salvation. On the other hand, as Jesus explained to Nicodemus, faith changes us; we are “born again” in the sense that our thinking and our emotions change. We put God at the centre, and we prioritize a new spiritual start in life. We become followers of Christ. Belief comes before works, producing the changed hearts and minds which evolve into action for others.
I found a quote by John M. Frame (born 1939) a prominent American Reformed theologian, philosopher, author, and Presbyterian, who gives a Christian definition of a “justified” good work.
John Frame defines a righteous deed in the following way. A righteous deed is one that (1) obeys the proper standard, God’s law (James 4:11; 1 John 3:4); (2) seeks the proper goal, God’s glory (1 Cor) and the success of his kingdom (Matt 6:33), and (3) is motivated by true faith (Rom 14:23) and love (1 Cor 13:1-3).                                                        4John Frame, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief (Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R, 2013), 848-49. https://withallwisdom.org/2025/04/28/common-grace-good-works-and-the-unbeliever/
This is a perfectly good answer, and doesn’t refer to Christ directly. But, after reading this I was worried about the non-Christian who does Good. I was thinking of the expectation of proselytizing to the unsaved unbeliever, both far away and nearer home. Surely it is not only born again Christians who care for one another. I found the answer in the idea of Common Grace: the theological concept of God’s undeserved, non-salvific kindness extended to all humanity and creation, regardless of faith, (as religious affiliation.) Common grace is distinct from special or saving grace, which is the transformative work of God in the hearts of the elect for salvation. Still I wonder, Are we not all elect? Is the presence and motivation of love evidence enough? A willingness to follow where love leads?
This is where a probably mythical story comes to mind, a (non-Christian)/Muslim woman sharing with another of a different creed eg. Hindu (non-Christian): She divided the small portion of rice in half, putting it into two separate bowls. As she handed the bowl to the woman, she felt a profound sense of peace. When she went back to her pot to serve her own children, she found it still full, as if she had not taken any out at all. The rice fed everyone in her house, and there was even enough left over to send with the hungry neighbor to her home. (The Koran blesses the sharing of food). (Hospitality is a value in all cultures.)
Abram was not a Christian. Romans 4: 1, 2 13, 16 tells us, What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. Therefore the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring- not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
Hebrews 11:1 gives us our well-known definition of faith: Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Abraham had faith. He trusted God and obeyed without hesitation, heading off into the unknown, holding the promise of God to “make his name great.” For Nicodemus knowledge was not enough, he lacked the simple belief in God and God’s direction for his life. This is always the starting point and the end point: Is God at the centre of our lives? Have we realized, as Nicodemus did, that he needed God to fulfill his heart? Does our faith transform and inform our daily lives so that we seek to follow God’s direction? Do our good works flow from this well of belief in God’s love and grace toward us all? Do we know and accept that we are loved unconditionally by God? Does that love now guide our behavior?
Matthew 7 answers my dilemma: Yes, works, but works informed by love.  9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. 15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
Let our works flow from being loved as children of God. May we act from a deep well of love and kindness.
Thanks be to God.
Amen.
​Message - Karen Lackey Ryan - March 1, 2026
​

Message - Frances Jones - Feb. 15, 2026
​ ​Who Am I?
         Today, as we mark the end of the Season of Epiphany, we celebrate the Transfiguration of Jesus on a high mountain.  What an unforgettable experience that must have been for any who were present, not only to witness it firsthand, but to have been invited, as well as involved, in this momentous event.
         All of the Scripture readings that were suggested for this particular Sunday are being read because there seemed to be a common thread that runs through them all.
         From Exodus, one of the Books of the Law, we read where Moses had been called by God to a mountaintop where he would receive the Law.  While there, he too heard the voice of God in a cloud and, because of the brightness that was emitted as God spoke, Moses, unable to look at its brilliance, was forced to hide his face.
         The Scripture reading from the General Epistles revealed Peter's words of encouragement to those Christians who were losing hope because of problems within their church.  Because of his first-hand experience, having witnessed the true majesty of the transfigured Jesus, Peter was able to bring reassurance and hope to those who might have otherwise been ready to give up.
         And then, from the Gospel of Matthew, we are able to experience this supernatural phenomena for ourselves through the words as recorded in the Scriptures.
         As we take a closer look at the significance of this event, we might ask ourselves what effect such an experience might have on you and me.  We might also wonder, 'why was I invited to witness Jesus being miraculously changed right before my eyes?    Might there be something about us that needs to experience the glory of our Lord for ourselves?
         We also might wonder why Jesus chose these three disciples in particular to follow him to the mountaintop.
         Simon Peter, his brother Andrew, James and his brother John were the first disciples that Jesus called to follow him.  As we have read, they were ordinary men who made their living from the fishing trade.  And each of them had his unique strength and weakness, just as we all do.  But, from the group of twelve followers, it was only these three – Peter, James and John – that Jesus requested to accompany him to witness this Transfiguration of their Lord.
         Do you think that Jesus had a closer relationship with these three disciples; possibly because they were the first to be called to follow him?  He had promised them that he would make them fishers of men.  And, it was to these three disciples in particular that Jesus gave nicknames.  James and John became known as the 'Sons of Thunder'.  Peter was called the 'Rock' – the rock upon which Jesus would build his church.  Could this have had anything to do with why Jesus invited them to join him on the mountaintop for this spectacular event in his life?  Was it particularly important for them to be there with him, and to experience it for themselves?
         Each of the disciples possessed very unique personal attributes.  Peter, as we know, possessed strong leadership skills, but was sometimes impatient with others.  He had much to learn about humility, restraint and about serving others with love.
         James and his younger brother John possessed zealous and ambitious attitudes.  They offered to bring fire down upon a group of individuals who opposed Jesus, and even believed that they deserved the right to sit on either side of Jesus when he would set up his kingdom.
         Knowing what we do about their personalities, how might this experience of witnessing Jesus' Transfiguration affect them?
         As we take a close look at our gospel reading today, we notice that this chapter began with the words, 'after six days'.  Six days after what?  Here again, as we have seen before, something must have happened that might have had an effect on what we are discussing today.
         By reading some of the previous chapter, we learn that Jesus posed a direct question to his disciples.  He asked them what others were saying concerning who he was.  After they replied with what they had heard people saying, Jesus then directed that same question to them, personally.  'What about you?  {Who am I?}  Who do you say that I am?'
         It seemed natural for Peter to speak up on behalf of the rest as he answered Jesus with assurance and confidence, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!'.
         There is one other statement that Jesus made during this time that always bothered me – probably because I didn't understand how this could be true.  Jesus said, 'I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom'.
         However, the more I pondered on Jesus' Transfiguration - the extreme brightness and the beyond-worldly brilliance and glow that was emitted from his appearance - Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets, standing on either side of Jesus, making him the bridge connecting the two; and then the voice of God declaring his love for his Son - I couldn't help but wonder if this was exactly what Jesus was eluding to when he said what he did about being able to witness his glory. Was this a glimpse of what will be?
         We can only imagine how 'all shook up' those disciples must have been after witnessing such a metamorphosis as Jesus glowed with brilliance before their very eyes. Just how shaken up would you and I have been under the same circumstances?
         So, on the way back down the mountain, Jesus felt the need to reassure his followers/companions.  Besides words of assurance, Jesus also gave them a serious and solemn order.  They were instructed to tell no one anything concerning what they had just witnessed - until after he had been raised from the dead.  'Raised from the dead!' Now there was something new on which to ponder.
         Would you or I be able to follow Jesus' instructions not to discuss this amazing and eye-opening experience with anyone until after a specific time?  I can imagine having a coffee with a friend and blurting out – 'You won't believe what happened to me today on the mountaintop!' 
         On that memorable day, three disciples trudged up to the mountaintop behind Jesus - each one with his individual strengths and weaknesses.  Coming down the mountain were three changed men.  No longer did they look at Jesus as a man from Nazareth.  They were now able to see Jesus in an entirely new 'light'.
         Replacing his zeal for stirring up trouble, James' passion became directed toward spreading the Good News of who Jesus really is.  John became known as the 'Beloved Disciple' whose main message focused on love and truth.          Peter, who at times was known to have argued with Jesus concerning what God had planned for him, learned submission and humility.  He also learned that leadership must be grounded in loving service.
         Like those followers of Jesus, you and I also have our individual strengths and weaknesses.  What if we were the ones witnessing the Transfiguration of Jesus?  What effect would it have on us?  Might we return from the mountaintop a transformed individual?
         Hundreds of years ago, Jesus asked the question - 'Who am I? Who do you say that I am?'.  Today, is he posing that same question to you and to me?  'Who am I?  Who do you and I say that Jesus is?
AMEN!

Message - Karen Lackey Ryan - Feb. 1, 2026
​What Are You Looking For?        
​  Our reading from the gospel of John today started out with, 'the next day'.  Doesn't that make us curious about what happened just prior to this?          By looking back, we can discover that John, the preacher and baptizer, had been questioned by some priests and Levites concerning who he really was.  Was he the Christ?  Elijah?  Did he profess to be a prophet?  John's answer was the same to all of their questions.  'No'.  Finally, these inquirers got to the point and asked him directly, 'Who are you?' John's reply was simple and straightforward, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'make straight the way for the Lord'”.          It doesn't tell us in the Scripture that we read this morning, but I can't help but wonder if those priests and Levites who were questioning John were still around as he recognized Jesus walking nearby and bellowed out with his thundering voice, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!' If they were still there with John to hear and to see what he was talking about, do you suppose they returned rejoicing, eager to share this news with others?          This epiphany that John experienced certainly had a tremendous effect on him.  It seemed that every time he saw Jesus walking nearby, he couldn't help but shout about this miraculous discovery.  And, using his thundering voice of one calling in the desert, he would exclaim every time – Behold! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world'.          And those were the very words that John shouted out as he shared the news with a couple of his followers.  Noticing Jesus walking by, these two men – Andrew and a friend – immediately left John to follow along behind Jesus.  Had they too been searching for this promised Messiah?  Or, were they just curious?          Jesus, realizing that he was being followed, finally turned around and asked them a very direct question, 'What are you looking for?' (NIV) or 'What do you want?' (The Good News Bible).  When they replied with the question about where Jesus was staying, we notice the directness of his reply, 'Come and see'. Jesus' questions were direct, and his replies were short and meaningful.          Whatever it was that they discussed with Jesus that day certainly had a lasting effect on them.  Andrew not only shared his excitement with his brother, Simon, but brought him to meet Jesus face to face.          When Jesus revealed that he already knew Simon, and chose to change his name to Peter, what kind of a message do you think that sent? This was the beginning of discipleship.          Today, as you and I ponder on this very direct question from Jesus, what would our responses be? 'What are you looking for?'  or 'What do you want?'          In this new year of 2026, what are you and I looking for?  Is it different from what we were looking for yesterday?  Has it changed from what we were seeking at the beginning of 2025?  Are we still searching for the same thing that we were searching for as a young person growing up?          If what we are looking for now has changed, how has it changed?  Is it because of personal situations?  Does it have anything to do with what is happening in our relationships, or what is taking place in our own communities, or around the world?          What are you looking for?  What do you want?  Short, direct questions.  But just how easy is it to express exactly what it is we are looking for?  And, do we even know what it is we really want?  How many different things or ideas would come into our heads when asked these questions?          Many people might say they are wanting world peace.  Some could be seeking justice. There are those who will be looking for this new year to bring good news in the form of change – maybe a change that involves health or relationships.  Some might answer this question thinking about their New Year's resolution – eat healthier, exercise more, think before we speak, etc. Etc.          There are many things that people might be searching for – a true friend, someone who can be depended upon no matter what. It could be that we are seeking inspiration, so we seek out a motivational speaker, or we read a book or an article by an author known for their inspiring and uplifting ideas.  But how long does this newly-acquired motivation or inspiration last?  After we have listened to an inspiring message from a motivational speaker, we remember specific things or ideas for a while, but then, life gets busy, we get preoccupied and likely forget a lot of what was said.          If that question were asked to you and to me today, right now and without warning, do we even know what it is that we are looking for?  How would we respond to such a question?          Maybe we are not seeking anything in particular.  We're just trying to get through one day at a time, taking what comes along.  Can it be that we don't need anything - we have it all?          What are you looking for?  What do you want?  Do Jesus' direct questions have an effect on you and me?  Our answers would probably be as individual as we are.  One person might think about material items – a new house; a new car.  Another person might be seeking Truth.  Others could be looking for forgiveness, reconciliation and healing.          Some people like to have their fortunes told.  They want to know what the future holds for them.  Others rely on information or suggestions from someone else before making decisions.          Jesus' questions and comments, although short and to the point, give us something to ponder on.  What is it that is really important to us individually?  For the answer to his question, will I look outside myself, or will I search within?          In this new year of 2026, is Jesus still asking those same questions that he asked Andrew and his friend many years ago?  Like them, as we follow, always remaining a few steps behind, is Jesus asking us, 'What are you looking for?  What do you want          Is Jesus still asking those same questions in 2026? 'What are you looking for?  What do you want?'  Do you believe that his concise response would remain the same, even today? 'Come and see!'   AMEN

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