South Arm United Church's Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Rev. Billy Graham is said to have prayed the Psalms daily, such that every 3 months he would have prayed aloud all 150 Psalms before starting again. The Psalms have been called a mini-Bible unto itself. In the Psalms we find the the full scope of human experience. We find people not unlike ourselves laying their very souls bare before God in anger, in distress, in sadness, in jubi...

Send us Fan Mail Today we welcomed back guest Minister, The Reverend Dr. Brian Thorpe. Hear as he shares from God's word and brings the text to life in our time and place.

Send us Fan Mail In today's message we talk about being a gathered and sent people. Gathered into the church to worship, to hear a word from The Word, to pray and to encourage one another on in good works. And then we are sent out into the world to live out our faith, to share the good news and to participate in hospitality - both giving and receiving graciously. And we wonder, who might be t...

Send us Fan Mail In Canada, June is Indigenous History Month and June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day. If honour of this, we were fortunate to have The Rev. Murray Pruden join us as our guest preacher and co-presider. Rev. Murray opened our service with a wonderful prayer to 6 directions (East. South, West, North, Up and Down) and he offered a beautiful sermon which you can hear here.  Mus...

Send us Fan Mail Everyday we face a myriad of choices. In each moment we can choose to live by gratifying the desires of the flesh or the way of the Holy Spirit. Are we meant to subdue the flesh and live according to the Spirit 24/7 or is there a way to hold both body and Spirit as holy and be in communication with both? This is the topic we address in this week's sermon. Living in the flesh,...

Send us Fan Mail On June 10, 1925 people from across Canada who were part of the Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church and Congregationalist Church came together to form The United Church of Canada. June 10th, 1925 was the inaugural service in a giant hockey arena in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. That arena would later be famously named, 'Maple Leaf Gardens'.  On the 100th Anniversa...

Send us Fan Mail This Sunday we designated, 'Music Sunday' with special guest musicians and extra hymns. We also took time to honour all students connected to our church who are graduating from various grades, programs and schools.  Made in God's image and even more specifically, in the archetype of Christ, we are called to Love God and Love our neighbour as ourself. From a heart of...

Send us Fan Mail In this service we examined the story of a paralyzed man who lies for years by a pool thought to have healing properties. The story goes that occasionally an angel comes down to stir the waters and the first to get in the water while it's stirring find healing. But no one helps the man get in so he misses his chance again and again. Jesus asks him this strange questions, &quo...

Send us Fan Mail The book of Revelation can be intimidating and scary. But it need not be. For we know God has a plan to redeem and reconcile people and Creation. This has been the Master's plan and Jesus made The Way for it to come to pass by conquering sin and the grave (death itself). The vision John shows us, documenting what God has made known to him, shows us that God's plan ultima...

Send us Fan Mail There is coming a day when God will redeem and reconcile all Creation unto Godself. No pain. No tears. No death. No mourning. A new heaven and a new earth will have been transformed into God's glorious vision all along. From the beginning to the end and everything in between (The Alpha, The Omega, The Beginning and The End) this has been God's heart, God's work and...

Send us Fan Mail During Holy Week we hosted 5 services so the following week, we gave our Minister Lauren a break. Various leaders in the South Arm United Church community took responsibility for various parts of the service. Hear as Olwen Walker shares the message this week.  Music between scripture reading and sermon: "I Danced in the Morning" (Voices United Hymnal #352). Words: Sydney...

Send us Fan Mail Today we look at the popular conversion story of Saul to Paul. Saul a religious leader who persecuted Christ followers is met by Jesus in a holy encounter while on the road to Damascus. For 3 days he is temporarily blinded and fasts completely from food and water. God sends along a disciple named Ananias to find him and lay hands on him. With this, Paul regains his site, is baptiz...

Send us Fan Mail The lectionary today offered up a beautiful Passover Praise Psalm for this Palm Sunday. This Sunday marks Jesus entry into Jerusalem on a donkey and the beginning of Holy Week. The opening and closing verses of our passage today offer up the call to, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever".   Music between scripture reading and s...

Send us Fan Mail On the cross Jesus quoted these words from Psalm 22, "My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?" Today we look at the Psalm Jesus quoted and reflect on Good Friday.  As the reading is longer than usual, we took time in the middle and at the end to sing a hymn in taize style of repetition and contemplation, "O God, Hear My Prayer". Words & Music copyright Le...

Send us Fan Mail Easter Sunday we brought in 2 special musicians: Sarah Stevenson, Soprano & Ian Cohen, Trumpet. Listen as Sarah uses her angelic voice to share with us, "Now the Green Blade Rises".  Words: J.M.C. Crum Music: French. Podcast/Streamed with Permission under One License Number: A-607425 & CCLI 2453477        

Send us Fan Mail What happened? This is the question the disciple asked as he left the empty tomb. It's a good question. What meaning do we take away from Jesus life, death and resurrection? It is Easter Sunday, "He is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed!". We join with churches around the world this day and celebrate that Jesus has conquered sin and the grave. And because Jesus has conquere...

Send us Fan Mail Isaiah had a message for God's people. Look back to the Exodus and remember that God is your God and you are God's people. Keep your eyes and heart on God. But do not live in the past. And do not rest on your laurels. God is doing a new thing and invites them (and us) to follow.  Today we also welcomed a new Music Minister who did a beautiful job and fit in so well we co...

Send us Fan Mail The Prodigal Son (someone who spends a fortune recklessly) is one of the most well known stories of our faith. This parable is the 3rd in a trilogy of stories about something of great value being lost and found. The first parable in this section of Luke tells of a Good Shepherd who leaves 99 sheep to bring 1 lost sheep back into the fold. The 2nd story tells of a woman who lost a...

Send us Fan Mail Today we say a huge Thank You and send our long time Music Director home with our prayers and wishes for a happy retirement after 23 years of relationship here. This was Ron's final farewell at the end of his last service with us. Podcast/Streamed with Permission under One License Number: A-607425 & CCLI 2453477    

Send us Fan Mail A parallel to this scripture is found in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus tells a parable about a homeowner who offers a banquet. When the banquet is prepared the host sends out a worker to gather the invited guests. Each come up with reasons they are too busy to attend. So the homeowner directs the worker to gather the outcast from the streets and the alleyways. Bring all who were initi...

Send us Fan Mail This Sunday The United Church of Canada looks ahead to March 14th (3.14) and we call that, PIE Day as a play on words for pythagorean theorum (pi). In The United Church that term has come to be used for a Gospel of Inclusion that is Public, Intentional & Explicit (PIE) in welcoming the outcast into the church, particularly the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Today's lectionary pass...

Send us Fan Mail When the Pharisees warn Jesus that Herod is out to kill him, Jesus replies, "Tell that fox for me I am casting out demons today, tomorrow and the next day will be on my way." The ways of the world are not God's ways and God does not answer to any earthly ruler. Jesus is going about God's work on the way to Jerusalem and will not be stopped or sidetracked by the...

Send us Fan Mail This service took place on 02 March 2025 which in the church calendar is "Transfiguration Sunday." Jesus took 3 disciples up a mountain to pray. There Moses and Elijah appear in glory and Jesus appearance is alight. Moses & Elijah talk to Jesus about his coming crucifixion, his 'exodus' from Jerusalem. Simon Peter wants to set up tabernacles to Moses, Elija...

Send us Fan Mail Grab a piece of bread or cracker along with some grape juice and join us from wherever you tune in as we celebrate The Lord's Supper together. All are welcome at this table of Grace, Mercy, Redemption and ultimately, Love. 

Send us Fan Mail Today's lectionary passage seems to speak right into the heart of our world at this time; the call to "trust in the Lord" at all times and places while the wicked seem to prosper. Remember the wise counsel of the prophet Micah (6:8) to "...Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly before God." We are the light bearers, the hands and feet of Christ in the worl...