There Shall Be No Poor Among You
On the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Mark Groleau invited us into the intersection of the original “St. Stephen” (i.e. the first Deacon of Acts 6, chosen to serve […]
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The Cost of Safety
Mark explores a story of Jesus’ encounter with a man cast out by a well-off society–a clear illustration of how bringing someone to safety costs someone else their comfort. The gospel story is a challenge particularly to the comfortable: stop protecting our own peace at the expense of others… and start creating safe space, even when it costs.
Suffering and Power, Nostalgia and Babies
This morning Mark Groleau compares four poems dedicated to four ancient babies: two by Virgil and two by Zechariah and Mary. The contrast points to two very different visions for the world, exposes our expectations around suffering and power, and challenges our Christmastime sense of nostalgia. Which is the way of true joy?
A Cure for Chaos
Mark Groleau takes us on a deep and wide journey through biblical theology that leads us to three encounters: a) Chaos (the Sea), b) Calming the Sea, c) the River of Life.
Just How Much Do I Want To Be A Christian
Mark continues where he left off in his last talk (on the temptations of Jesus – “Give Up Like Jesus “) after he shares some of his thoughts on how to read the Bible in a way that might make you more interested in being a Christian. Then he draws our attention to why it was important that Jesus started by building community with some fishermen.
Give Up Like Jesus (And Do It Together)
On the first Sunday of Lent, Mark Groleau walks us through the temptations of Jesus and asks us to consider the things Jesus “gave up” and why. He points out that each response Jesus gives “the satan” links to Old Testament Jewish teachings and to what was happening in the cultural landscape of that time. Mark recognizes that we continue to face the same challenges the early church faced. He encourages that following The Way of Jesus still means giving up on power and doing “small things with great love” to care for our neighbours and the world
Our Chronic Existential Waiting Crisis
On the final week of Advent – the week of Love – Mark Groleau helped us to face our CHRONIC EXISTENTIAL WAITING CRISES by addressing the ways humanity, and Christians in particular, are always waiting for the next best thing that promises salvation. But what if what we’re waiting for never comes? And what if that’s because it’s already here? God -aka Love- is with us. If
Jesus: New And Old
In the lectionary readings this week, we read how Jesus explained the Kingdom of God as “the new and the old.” Mark Groleau focuses on how polarized Jesus’ time was – just like today. But Jesus’ “new way” was compassion, and the conviction that he had started a new age of healing and equality among his followers.
Why It’s Best To Just Kill Jesus (Palm Sunday)
Today Mark Groleau talks about exactly what Jesus did on Palm Sunday and why he did it. His coming into the city on a donkey and then shutting down the temple for a day was carefully staged, and it was a rebuke of the very domination systems we still inhabit today.
How to Throw Jesus Off a Cliff
Mark Groleau wonders why he should come back to church after the pandemic and thought it would help if he taught us five steps to throw Jesus off a cliff (or why it’s not a new thing that “insiders” like evangelicals have trouble with what Jesus actually wanted).