Holy Cross Burlington: Recent Episodes
Holy Cross Burlington
How does God care for me? This is the question we seek an answer for in out time of contemplation.
We hear that nothing is able to separate us from God's love. What is God's love though?
We hear the story of Jesus healing all kinds of infirmities. We reflect on what it means to be whole. The reading implies a physical wholeness, yet we know that true wholeness is not just limited to our physical body.
Today we reflect on God being our help in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic. We may be looking far off to see the help coming over the hill, but we know that God made the whole world and is over the hills, and right next to us at the same time.
Today we reflect on our longing to be with God through Psalm 42:1-3. At this time in the COVID-19 pandemic, we also long to be with each other.
In the ongoing time of our physical distancing we reflect on the theme of light as we celebrate the lengths that God goes to in order to protect and care for us.
Our Easter Prayers continue during our time of physical distancing through the COVID19 pandemic.
These prayers are for Maundy Thursday and is the second of three videos that comprise our worship. The first and third videos are hosted on Holy Cross' YouTube channel.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we hear the story for Wednesday of Holy Week, which is the plot to arrest Jesus, the anointing at Bethany, and the betrayal of Jesus by Judas. We reflect on the kindness that Jesus says we can show at any time.
On Tuesday in Holy Week we read a portion of the story that would have unfolded today. We hear of the suddenness of the withering of the tree that Jesus cursed, and we reflect on the suddenness of changes in our own lives.
Monday in Holy Week we look at the cursing of the fig tree, and Jesus overturning the tables in the temple.
Palm Sunday Worship during the COVID-19 Pandemic. We look at Mark 14:3-9 where a costly ointment is poured on Jesus and people object. Pulling together Jesus' teaching about taxes, and the teaching about loving one another, we ask ourselves how we show kindness and love to each other in the midst of this pandemic -- and the need for our government to support everyone (even if it means raised taxes later.)
We continue to gather in our separate places to pray together during this time of physical distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We wonder today who we can trust in the midst of this confusing time. The answer might be found in last week's reading. The greatest commandments involve love. Trust those who act in the way of love.
Continuing our time of self-isolation during the closure of 3455 Lakeshore Road, Holy Cross continues to gather together in prayer.
A time of prayer during the COVID-19 shutdown based on Psalm 121 -- Where will my help come?
Our second pre-recorded worship during the COVID-19 pandemic. This week's readings focussed on love. Love of God, love of neighbour, and how we can show love by staying away yet still in contact with one another in this time.
The first session in our time of prayer during the social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first week's recording for a time of Centering Prayer in preparation for Holy Cross' upcoming Annual Congregational Meeting on February 9, 2020.
As children we're willing to suspend certain beliefs in order to enter into a story. That is what we are called to do tonight was we enter into the story of Jesus' birth.
The return home ... The desire to return home can be quite strong in some people. Home might mean different things to different people — and it might even mean different places for people of the same family — but the desire to return to a place that is safe, welcoming, and makes us feel whole, can burn…
Let’s back up a bit You know the expression, “One step forward, two steps back.” That’s kind of where we’re at this morning. We’re getting closer to Christmas — further along in Advent — hopefully a bit more prepared for the birth of Jesus; and yet, we’re headed backwards in the scriptures. We go from…
Holy Cross' gift to you is a time of quiet listening for God's will in the midst of the busyness that comes at this time of year. Please join in a time of silent centering prayer.
Linda Bonney Olin wrote this song in 2019. We performed it at Holy Cross on January 20, 2019 as many members stayed home due to the snow and cold that day.
The Hebrew text in Isaiah 7, uses the phrase "God _is_ with us", and the Greek text in Matthew 1, uses "God with us". In times when our faith is challenged, it can be difficult to remember "God with us", yet it can be a source of comfort to remember that "God _is_ with us." (Oh, and don't worry, it isn't as mind-numbing an idea, as a depiction of the angel appearing to Joseph in the stained glass shown duirng the sermon.
Life can get weary even though we know we are blessed in many ways by God. The same was true for the people in Habakkuk's time. In this time of Advent, we're encouraged to wait. God is about to do a miraculous thing that will usher in an era so wonderful that we'll devote all we have to it.
The story of swords being made into plowshares isn't just about peace, it is also about overcoming fear to find inner peace through faith in the Word of God.
Why was Abram chosen to become Abraham and the ancestor of many nations? What did he do that warranted that type of attention from God? In short -- NOTHING. Abraham didn't warrant God's blessing, and neither do we. This story is the beginning of God dealing differently with God's people. We are chosen by God to be blessed because we exist, and because God wants us to be blessed.
At first the story of the Flood and Promise can be interpreted as a simple, nostalgic children's story. However it is much more complex than that. Ultimately it is a story about God's love for the world, and how God chooses a better way (in the end) than returning violence with violence. That is our calling too.