South Arm United Church's Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Sunday Dec. 24, 2023. Advent 4 & Christmas Eve, 10:00am Service.  Today we look closely at the what the angel Gabriel said to Mary and remember, nothing is impossible for God.  Music between the scripture and sermon covered under copyright: One License A-607425 & CCLI 2453477

Send us Fan Mail Christmas Eve 7:00pm was a special service with lots of readings, singing and a very special children's Christmas storybook reading. Thanks to our Community Life Coordinator, Trish Gorton for choosing this story and reading it so beautifully. 

Send us Fan Mail The Gift of Being Present - to Love, Version 2. God with us and God for us.  Music between the scripture and sermon covered under copyright: One License A-607425 & CCLI 2453477

Send us Fan Mail January 7, 2024 service. In the Christian calendar, our service fell on the day we honour Jesus' baptism. Today we recall what happens spiritually when we are Baptised and formally welcomed into the Church/the Body of Christ.  Music between the scripture and sermon covered under copyright: One License A-607425 & CCLI 2453477

Send us Fan Mail Service from Sun. Jan 14, 2024. This week we looked at: (1) Jesus calling disciples, (2) their recognition of something special in Jesus that is worth following and (3) That angels would be ascending and descending on Jesus. Notice how the word 'ascending' comes first. Could there be angels amongst us? Music between the scripture and sermon covered under copyright: One L...

Send us Fan Mail South Arm service from December 17, 2023. Today we focus on Mary. Having received the news that she was to become pregnant by the Holy Spirit and give birth to Jesus, her response is a song, 'The Magnificat'. Blessed Mary who holds a sacred and special place in the story of God with us.   Music between the scripture and sermon covered under copyright: One License A-60742...

Send us Fan Mail On Dec 17, 2023 (Advent 3 & Music Sunday), Ron Stevenson our Music Minister lead the choir in a beautiful rendition of, "Mary's Boy Child". Enjoy!

Send us Fan Mail Thurs. Dec 21, 2023 on the Solstice, the longest day of darkness in the year, we held a "Blue Christmas" service to collectively name and hold the grief and struggles that can arise through the holidays. Here is the reflection from that night based on a United Church of Canada hymn, "O Ancient Love" (Voices United Hymn #17, words and music by Michael Joncas, 19...

Send us Fan Mail On Thurs. Dec 21st, 2023 on the evening of the Winter Solstice, the longest day of darkness in the year, we held a "Blue Christmas" service. This special service made space to hold the grief and pains people carry through the holiday season. Here is the Poetry of Jan Richardson that closed our service that evening, "How the Light Comes" & "Blessing for...

Send us Fan Mail This Sunday begins Advent - the Season of preparation and waiting expectantly for Christ's arrival. This year our Advent series is called "The Gift of Being Present". The basis of the material comes from Worship Design Studio by Marcia McFee and is being utilised by a number of other United Church's in our region. "The function of advent is to remind us wh...

Send us Fan Mail We hope you enjoy this episode as Jean-Ann narrates us through a fun Christmas pageant. Thank you to each of our actors who brought the characters to life and shared with us what may have been the inward thoughts of those involved in the birth story of Jesus.   Music between the scripture and sermon covered under copyright: One License A-607425 & CCLI 2453477

Send us Fan Mail How can we preach Peace while there is war in the Holy Land ? Today we remember that world empires and regimes have long battled for control of the Middle East. The New Testament was written in this very context. Perhaps the war can bring the scriptures even more to life for us and makes us yearn for the Advent promises of  Peace of Christ more than ever.  Music between the script...

Send us Fan Mail This Sunday we had a very special part of the service where Minister Lauren and the Community of Faith made a Covenant to each other to support one another in growing in faith, hope and love over the next 2 years. The scripture from Joshua this week also spoke about covenanting as Joshua challenges Israel to choose this day whom they will serve. The response? "As for me and m...

Send us Fan Mail Such a joy and privilege to officially welcome 7 new members into the church community. Music between the scripture and sermon covered under copyright: One License A-607425 & CCLI 2453477

Send us Fan Mail Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again. This is a familiar call of the church and our response, might be "Amen" but just as likely we may respond, "When"?! When will Christ return? Only the One whom Jesus called Father knows the exact date and time. We need not worry as much about the 'when' and more about what is in our control; be...

Send us Fan Mail In today's sermon episode we looked at the end of the life of Moses. God takes Moses high on a mountaintop once again and shows Moses the Promised Land, promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Unfortunately Moses himself will not enter that land. This is the end of Moses' journey and indeed his life. A new kind of leader is needed in this next chapter. The Law/Commandments...

Send us Fan Mail We as the church are a counter-cultural people. Constantly under the authority of whatever empire was ruling at the time, Israel and Judah were forever vulnerable to attack and were under the authority of the system of empire in which they lived. Amidst that, they were set apart as God's people. Today we hear of a beautiful praise psalm in which people "Sing, sing, sing&...

Send us Fan Mail This week we try not to jump too quickly to thinking we know everything about this Psalm. We learn about sheep and the important role the Shepherd plays ensuring them good pasture to graze, water to drink, safe travel and protection from enemies all around. The Shepherd stands between the vulnerable sheep and the prying enemies. The sheep rely on the Shepherd. They know danger is...

Send us Fan Mail What starts out as a love letter to a vineyard quickly turns to judgement. This metaphor of a vineyard that starts out beautiful but quickly turns sour, is a prophecy God has given Isaiah to proclaim over God's very people. The fruit God expects is Love, justice and right living. As we give Thanks this Thanksgiving weekend for the harvest and for our blessings, let us take a...

Send us Fan Mail We've never been masters at getting along perfectly with one another and the rest of creation in the world. The Bible records a number of examples of very human behaviour that comes from the flesh and not the spirit. We are not alone in our struggles and desire for better. Nevertheless, our heart's desire, aim and call are to:  Look to Jesus,  Follow Jesus,  Imitate Jesu...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we hear the blessing over the Communion elements both spoken and sung. This was Lauren's first communion with the South Arm United Church community. This occasion was made all the more special by recognising that churches around the world were all celebrating Communion on the same day & by the grapes for the juice coming from our very own orchard. Special...

Send us Fan Mail Examining "The Labourers in the Vineyard" parable, we reflect on how paying all labourers the same wage whether they worked a full day or part of the day seems unfair to the first workers, and a tremendous blessing to the latest workers. With God, all are (1) invited to participate, (2) all are paid and provided for and (3) all leave with a denarii, enough to obtain &quo...

Send us Fan Mail Based on Romans 14:1-14 this week we have a reminder from the Apostle Paul that as Christians, it is Love which most binds us.  The key take away is a reference from the Pulpit Fiction Podcast: In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity.  Music between the scripture and sermon covered under copyright: One License A-607425 & CCLI 2453477

Send us Fan Mail In the first sermon of our podcast Lauren shares a reflection on Psalm 119:33-40. Key points:  (1) Faith is both vertical and horizontal.  (2) This psalm is the longest at 176 verses (22 stanzas, 8 lines each).  (3)  It’s a love letter to God and God’s word.  (4) Give is life in Your Way O’ God.  Apologies that the recording starts a couple minutes in. Referencing Dorothy meeting...