The Rooster Crows LPCC Podcast: Recent Episodes
Rev. Stephen Milton
We invite you to a rare dramatic reading of John Milton’s poem Paradise Regained. The setting is the desert where Jesus has been fasting for forty days. Satan appears to tempt Jesus to stop being loyal to God. Satan beckons Jesus to the dark side - give in to pleasures of the flesh, and to temptations of power and glory. It's a dramatic story of the dangers of tyranny, of leaders without ethics - themes that are as fresh today as they were when Milton wrote the poem in 1671. Acclaimed Canadian actor R.H. Thomson plays Satan. He is joined by a talented cast playing Jesus, God, demons, Mary, and Milton's wry narrator. Please join us for a rare production of this Lenten tale.
Today's podcast features an interview with Robert Rayner, who believes that Toronto can help ease its homelessness crisis by providing personal cabins for people who prefer to live in encampments.
Rev. Stephen Milton examines how Christian theology, scripture, and history have contributed to centuries of persecution and marginalization of Jewish people. Tracing this legacy from the Crusades and medieval economic restrictions to New Testament interpretations shaped by the destruction of Jerusalem, he shows how misunderstandings about Jesus, the Messiah, and Judaism hardened into harmful doctrines. Rev. Milton challenges Christians to confront these painful truths honestly, emphasizing that Jesus’ teachings are deeply rooted in Jewish tradition and justice ethics. The sermon calls the Church to reject inherited prejudices, read scripture critically, and commit to interfaith respect, cooperation, and the shared work of building a more just and peaceful world.
In The Bonds of War, preached for Remembrance Day, Rev. Roberta reflects on the complex legacy of faith in times of conflict—grief for the fallen, anger at human violence, and hope for peace. Tracing the United Church’s roots through the Methodist and wartime traditions, she explores how churches wrestled with patriotism, pacifism, and conscience during both World Wars. From chaplains on the front lines to ministers who protested against war, Rev. Roberta shows how faith communities have struggled to balance loyalty to nation with loyalty to God. In an age of drones and digital warfare, she calls the Church to remain a voice of conscience—a brake on the machinery of violence—reminding us that God’s image resides not only in ourselves, but also in those we call the enemy.
In Indulgences and Grace, preached on Reformation Sunday, Rev. Stephen Milton revisits Martin Luther’s protest against the sale of indulgences—a system that turned forgiveness into a transaction to fund St. Peter’s Basilica. Drawing on Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, Rev. Milton contrasts prideful religion with humble repentance, reminding us that God’s grace cannot be bought or earned—it is freely given. From Luther’s challenge to church corruption to the United Church’s own repentance for past harms, Milton traces how faith deepens when it admits its failings and turns toward grace. True reformation, he concludes, comes not from defending our righteousness but from embracing God’s love and extending it to others with humility and compassion.
In Command-Meant, Rev. Stephen Milton explores how God’s laws—far from being restrictive—are meant to give life meaning and depth. Drawing parallels between modern debates over speed cameras and the ancient psalmist’s joy in following God’s commandments, he contrasts external enforcement with the inner freedom that comes from self-discipline. The Hebrew word mitzvah, often translated as “commandment,” carries a richer sense: a divine guideline that benefits both the individual and the community. Rev. Milton shows how Jesus distilled 613 laws into two—love God and love your neighbour—transforming obedience into relationship. In a world suspicious of limits, the sermon reminds us that slowing down, showing care, and choosing love freely lead not to less life, but to more.
In Thank You, preached on Thanksgiving Sunday, Rev. Stephen Milton explores the healing power of gratitude through the story of the ten lepers. Only one—a Samaritan outsider—returns to thank Jesus, crossing social, religious, and physical borders in his act of faith. Rev. Milton contrasts this ancient gratitude with today’s culture of ratings and transactions, where appreciation is often reduced to stars and reviews. True gratitude, he reminds us, is not about judgment or worth but about humility and connection—a soul-level recognition of grace freely given. Drawing on examples from handwritten thank-you notes to a restaurant covered in messages of thanks, Milton shows how gratitude can dissolve boundaries, foster generosity, and make us whole in spirit. In a divided world, he calls us to rediscover gratitude as a sacred practice that heals both giver and receiver.
In Uprooted, Rev. Stephen Milton explores how faith helps us confront our deepest bitterness and pride. Reflecting on Jesus’ teaching that even faith the size of a mustard seed can uproot a sycamine tree, he reveals how this image symbolizes our ability—with God’s help—to release resentment that has sunk deep roots in our hearts. Through the humble metaphor of an apple, Rev. Milton invites us to see creation’s complexity as a reflection of God’s own subtle, multi-dimensional nature. Against the rise of simplistic, divisive versions of Christianity, the sermon calls believers to embrace nuance, humility, and forgiveness. True faith, Milton suggests, is not about claiming superiority, but about asking God to transform bitterness into compassion—so we can help others when they stumble and become, in turn, the apple of God’s eye.
In That Time Jesus Told a Joke, Rev. Stephen Milton unpacks one of Jesus’ strangest parables—the tale of a lazy, dishonest manager who cooks the books and somehow earns praise. Rather than glorifying fraud, Jesus uses satire to poke fun at religious leaders who obsess over piety while ignoring God’s abundance. Drawing on the image of olive trees producing thousands of extra fruits and the Buddhist idea of “interbeing,” Rev. Milton shows that creation itself is built on generosity and connection. The parable invites us to laugh at our pretensions and embrace God’s call to share freely, delighting in a world made for joy and community.
In Worship or Praise?, Rev. Stephen Milton traces how Christianity’s suspicion of animals—from the golden calf story to medieval theology—helped shape a worldview that treats creatures as soulless resources for human use. Drawing on Indigenous teachings and scripture, he contrasts this with traditions that see animals as conscious, spiritual beings interconnected with all life. In an age of climate crisis, Rev. Milton challenges us to move beyond domination toward reverence: not to worship animals as gods, but to praise them as neighbours who share God’s spirit and whose flourishing is bound up with our own.
In Seeing Clearly, Rev. Stephen Milton reflects on Paul’s short letter to Philemon, written unusually in Paul’s own hand to plead for the freedom of a slave named Onesimus. Drawing on insights from Candida Moss’ God’s Ghostwriters, Rev. Milton explores how enslaved scribes may have preserved much of the New Testament itself, making “nobodies” essential to the gospel story. Paul challenges Philemon to move beyond obedience to rules and instead act from love—seeing Onesimus not as property, but as a brother. In the same way, Rev. Milton invites us to put on “ethical eyeglasses,” to see strangers as family, and to let compassion, not command, guide our choices in a world where public good often depends on personal will.
In Meditating on Manners, Rev. Roberta Howey takes a playful look at Jesus’ surprisingly sassy lesson on etiquette. While manners may seem trivial, they shape how we communicate respect, status, and belonging. In Jesus’ time, seating arrangements at a banquet reinforced rigid hierarchies—but he flips the script, urging humility and hospitality toward the marginalized. Rev. Howey reminds us that Christians need not throw out the “rulebook” entirely, but we are called to rewrite it: to treat every person with dignity, to mean what we say, and to embody God’s love in both word and action.
In The Problems of Prophets, Rev. Roberta Howey reflects on Jeremiah’s reluctant call to speak truth to power—and the heavy cost of doing so. Like a scientist in a disaster movie whose warnings go unheeded, Jeremiah faced mockery, persecution, and even violence for proclaiming that Israel had forsaken its covenant with God. Yet God promised to be with him, not to spare him from struggle, but to sustain him through it. Rev. Howey draws connections to modern prophets like Martin Luther King Jr. and Greta Thunberg, who also confront the powerful with inconvenient truths. This sermon challenges us to listen for God’s voice in those who call us to justice, and to resist the temptation to silence them when their words are hard to hear.
In Pulling an All-Nighter, Rev. Roberta Howey reflects on the awe-inspiring Book of Kells—an illuminated Gospel painstakingly created by monks who poured decades of vigilance and devotion into every page. Their work, born not of fear but of love, becomes a living vigil: a way of staying awake to God’s presence in beauty, art, and hope. Drawing on Jesus’ call to “keep watch,” this sermon invites us to shift our vigilance from threats alone to the sparks of divine love around us. To keep awake, Rev. Howey reminds us, is to be ready to welcome God at any hour, and to see the Spirit glittering even in the darkest night.
In The Blueprints, Rev. Roberta Howey explores how the United Church of Canada was shaped not by dramatic upheaval, but by patient, faithful compromise. From the creation of the Moderator role to the balance between local autonomy and national vision, our structure reflects trust in both God and one another. Just as Abraham and Sarah trusted in God’s covenant without knowing the outcome, so too every Moderator steps into a sacred covenant—part pastor, part prophet, part ambassador—helping the church discern where God is leading next.
In this week’s sermon, True Riches, Rev. Stephen Milton explores the deeper meaning of wealth through Jesus’ parable of the rich fool and a forgotten story from the Acts of Thomas. When a king commissions a palace, Thomas gives the money to the poor instead—claiming the real palace is being built in heaven. Like the farmer who hoards his harvest only to die that night, both stories challenge the illusion that we own what we’ve been given. Rev. Milton reminds us that true riches aren’t stored in barns or banks, but in how we share with others. In a world obsessed with more, Jesus calls us to simplicity, generosity, and trust in God’s abundance.
In The Sacrifice, Rev. Stephen Milton tackles one of the most troubling stories in the Bible: God’s command for Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac. How can such a horrifying test be part of a faith rooted in love? This sermon explores the difficult demands of discipleship, from Abraham’s silent obedience to the radical courage of Jesus and modern-day figures like Martin Luther King Jr. Far from a comfortable faith, we are invited into one that asks us to walk into fire—against injustice, racism, and complacency. Real faith, Rev. Milton reminds us, isn’t always easy—but it is transformative.
In this week’s sermon, Who Are You?, Rev. Stephen Milton reflects on Abraham’s encounter with three mysterious strangers—figures who turn out to be divine messengers. Through radical hospitality, Abraham welcomes what he cannot yet recognize: the presence of God. Drawing on scripture and stories from Mother Teresa to modern-day homelessness, Rev. Milton explores how divinity is often disguised, especially in those the world overlooks. The sermon challenges us to look again at the stranger, and to remember that God may be sitting right across the table.
In this week’s sermon, Hagar’s Hope, Rev. Stephen Milton explores the story of Hagar, an enslaved woman cast out while pregnant with Abram’s child. Drawing connections to modern issues like declining birth rates, immigration, and reproductive rights, he shows how the politics of birth still marginalize the vulnerable. Yet in the wilderness, Hagar encounters God and becomes the first person in scripture to name the divine. Her story reveals a radical truth: God sees and blesses the outcast, calling us to do the same.
In this week’s sermon, Abraham Leaves Home, Rev. Stephen Milton reflects on the moment when God calls Abraham to leave everything familiar and journey into the unknown. With no miracles, no signs, and no clear reason why he was chosen, Abraham responds with pure trust—faith in a voice he has never heard before. Rev. Milton explores how this act of faith, rooted not in proof but in promise, becomes foundational for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Drawing connections between Abram’s story and our own struggles with uncertainty, identity, and self-worth, the sermon highlights how God’s grace often arrives unearned, inviting us to trust even when we feel unqualified. As Paul later affirms, it was faith—not ritual or rule-following—that made Abram righteous. In a world still full of unknown paths, the sermon calls us to step forward like Abraham, trusting in a God who believes in us first.
In this week’s sermon, Male and Female and…, Rev. Stephen Milton challenges rigid interpretations of gender through the lens of scripture, hospitality, and compassion. Preached on Pride Sunday, the message begins with Jesus rebuking his disciples for wanting to call down fire on an inhospitable Samaritan village—an echo of the destruction of Sodom, often misused to condemn queer people. Rev. Milton reclaims the Sodom story as one about violent inhospitality, not sexuality, and draws a parallel to today’s climate of exclusion fueled by attacks on diversity and trans rights. Highlighting lesser-known biblical insights—from Jesus’ acceptance of eunuchs to the Talmud’s recognition of seven genders—he underscores that the Bible has room for more than binary thinking. As cultural backlash threatens DEI efforts and Pride celebrations, the sermon calls the Church to emulate Christ’s example: to reject fear, extend hospitality, and affirm the sacred worth of all people, regardless of gender identity or orientation.
In this week’s sermon, Improvising the Kingdom, Roberta reflects on Paul’s vision of a church built on radical equality, as found in Galatians 3:23–28. Drawing a humorous parallel to Monty Python and the Holy Grail, she questions the long-term authority of Paul’s improvised letters, written with the belief that Jesus’ return was imminent. The sermon challenges the Church to distinguish between the letter and the spirit of the law, especially in light of historic and ongoing injustices like the treatment of Indigenous peoples. Through examples such as hospital smudging ceremonies and the evolving work of the United Church of Canada, Roberta urges us to build a more compassionate, inclusive faith—one that honors the divine in every person and reflects Christ’s love through care, flexibility, and justice.
In this week's sermon, Perseverance, Rev. Stephen Milton explores how hardship can shape character and deepen hope, drawing on Paul’s words in Romans 5:1–8. Delivered on Father’s Day and Trinity Sunday, the sermon traces the evolution of fatherhood—from distant authority figures to emotionally present caregivers—and warns against modern political movements that idolize authoritarian “father figures.” Connecting the struggles of early Christians under Roman rule to today’s resistance to injustice, Rev. Milton calls us to persevere in faith, stand for compassion, and trust in a God whose love transcends fear and violence.
In this week's sermon, The Vote, Rev. Roberta Howey reflects on Jesus’ promise that the Holy Spirit would guide his followers after his departure, urging them to discern with love, not fear. Drawing from John 14:23–29, the sermon traces the United Church of Canada’s historic decision in 1988 to allow the ordination of openly gay and lesbian ministers. It recounts the courageous risks taken, the fierce backlash that followed, and the enduring call to love in the face of fear. This sermon reminds us that true discipleship often means leaning into the Spirit, embracing change, and taking bold steps toward justice—even when the path is uncertain.
In this week's sermon, Getting it Wrong, Rev. Stephen Milton explores how God often works through our failed plans and unexpected turns. Reflecting on Peter’s vision that broke Jewish food taboos to spread the gospel to Gentiles, he draws a parallel to Lawrence Park’s own bold experiment with Soul Table. Though the initiative didn’t go as hoped, surprising blessings followed. This sermon invites us to stay humble, open to the Spirit’s leading, and ready to follow—even when we get it wrong.
In this week's sermon, Going Deeper, Rev. Stephen Milton explores the profound spiritual depth of Psalm 23, moving beyond its comforting words to uncover its deeper message for the soul. Reflecting on the image of God as shepherd and the soul as the beloved sheep, he invites us to reconnect with the sacred part of ourselves that remains rooted in divine presence—even through life’s darkest valleys. This sermon challenges modern assumptions about identity and reminds us that true peace lies not in external stability, but in the soul’s eternal connection to God.
In this week's sermon, Feed My Sheep, Rev. Stephen Milton reflects on Jesus' call to selfless leadership through Peter's redemption and recommissioning. Drawing parallels to today’s political climate, he challenges us to embrace a servant-hearted model of leadership that feeds others—spiritually and physically—with compassion and love.
This week, Rev. Stephen Milton reflects on a beautiful change the Gospel of Luke makes to the Palm Sunday story, one that looks at how to make peace.
Rev. Stephen Milton meditates on the relationship between Christianity and those living in poverty, and how that relationship is often forgotten in practice.
Reimagining God's Justice. In this week's sermon, Rev. Stephen Milton challenges the idea that disasters and tragedies are punishments from God, exploring how Jesus redefines divine justice and mercy. Through the parable of the fig tree, he invites us to see God not as a punisher, but as a patient gardener, nurturing us to grow, thrive, and bear fruit in a world that desperately needs love and compassion.
This week's sermon tells the story of the real Saint Patrick behind the legends. His struggles may help us understand what Canadians should do faced by threats to our national sovreignty.
Resisting the Call to Give Up. In this week's sermon, Rev. Roberta Howey reflects on the perseverance of women who fought for their place in politics and the church, despite opposition. Drawing on the story of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, the sermon challenges us to recognize discouragement for what it is and find strength in God's love to keep moving forward.
Coping with American threats to Canada. In this week's sermon, Rev. Stephen Milton talks about how Canadians are feeling at a loss due to threats to Canada's sovereignty by the United States. He draws on the scripture passage in the Gospel of Luke, where Jesus is transfigured on the mountain top to suggest how we can find the strength to deals with our current uncertain circumstances.
This week’s podcast features a sermon by Rev. Stephen Milton about Jesus’ instruction to love our enemies. He draws on the work of W.E.B. Dubois, an early African American sociologist who coined the term “double consciousness.” This sermon has been re-recorded for this podcast.
Peace, and happy Sunday.
Stephen
This week's podcast features a sermon by Rev. Stephen Milton that draws on the wisdom of early African American theologian Howard Thurman. How can Jesus say that the poor will inherit the Kingdom of God, and that those who weep will laugh? Even more puzzling, why does Jesus predict the rich will become poor? Thurman's ideas help untangle the mystery, drawing on the African American experience. The podcast ends with a jazzy outro by our music director, Daniel Rubinoff.
The Sistine Chapel in the Vatican has the world's most famous Christian images, but do they still matter? That's what Canadian author Jeannie Marshall has been thinking about for the past 20 years, since she moved to Rome. Join us for a fascinating personal meditation on how these 500 year old images can still be meaningful, even in our secular culture. To listen to the podcast, click here [ put in the url for the podcast on our website], to see it on YouTube, click here [ https://youtu.be/92CjyAec_HQ?si=Syk-an-Rfh_hUpaH].
In our latest podcast we tell the amazing story of the formation of Canada's first union for the homeless. The Toronto Underhoused and Homeless Union (TUHU) was created just over a year ago. Rev. Stephen Milton talks to two of the union's founding members, Rev. Angie Hocking and an African refugee, who has asked to be called Iya. It's a fascinating story of the unexpected formation of the union, and the equally surprising ways it has been helping people who are victims of the city's housing crisis.
Rev. Roberta speaks to Tim Kennedy and Jeanette Unger, chaplains with the Ecumenical Chaplaincy at U of T, who are a part of the critical piece of spiritual care for young adults.
"Each year, thousands of students start at universities and colleges across Canada. Many are away from home, family and friends, and are learning who they are as adults for the first time. It can be a stage of both real anxiety, and also real growth. Professors and TAs will work hard to keep their brains working. But who is looking after their hearts? Today we speak with Tim Kennedy and Jeanette Unger, chaplains with the Ecumenical Chaplaincy at U of T, who are a part of the critical piece of spiritual care for young adults.
Stay out! : How Canada and the U.S. are locking out refugees. Canadians take pride in being a country that welcomes refugees, but this year, Canada and the US revised the Safe Third Country agreement making it harder than ever for refugees to get in without an invitation. To find out what's going on, we talk to experts in Toronto, Texas and Halifax to learn how the new rules work, and what they mean practically and ethically for refugees fleeing violence and climate change at home.
For as long as humans have been around, there have been people that we would identify today as a part of the LGBTQ2S+ community. Cultures and histories from across time and space have shown people resisting oppression, creating families and communities, exploring the depths of human emotion through arts, and sharing stories.
The Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives, now called the ArQuives, has worked for the past 50 years to preserve this history in the Canadian context. Roberta had the pleasure of interviewing their research archivist, Daniel Payne, on how the LGBTQIA2S+ community has worked to not just make history, but to preserve it and share it with the world.
In this edition of the Rooster Crows Podcast, Rev. Stephen Milton poses a simple question: if a healthy person were forced to live on the streets tomorrow, what would happen to their health? Stephen interviews Roxie Danielson, a street nurse in Toronto who works with people who are experiencing homelessness. Roxie has been doing this work for nine years, and used to sit on the steering committee for the Shelter and Housing Justice Network in Toronto.
Rev. Roberta speaks with Joseph Lauren of Restorative Justice Housing Ontario (RJHO) who assists former prisoners by providing safe, affordable housing. This gives them the stable foundation they need to become positive members of their communities. It will also lead to lower rates of re-offence and safer neighbourhoods, which helps the city as a whole.
In Canada, when someone is no longer incarcerated, they often have little support. Without access to their community, income, or housing, the chances are very high someone will return to prison. The Restorative Justice Housing of Ontario is working to reintegrate people into society, one apartment at a time.
In our final podcast of the year, we feature some of the weird backstories behind Christmas traditions. Why did kids have to go on strike to get Christmas vacations? Who was the real Saint Nicholas? If you haven't been following Stephen's daily emails about Christmas, this is a good way to catch up, and get some killer trivia for Christmas dinner.
In this episode of our podcast we're talking about contemplative Christianity - what is it, where did it come from, and why don't many people know about it? We talk to Justin Coutts of NewEdenMinistry.com, an online contemplative community hosted from Manitoulin Island. Justin and Rev. Stephen talk about the ancient roots of this form of Christianity, which focuses on meditation and prayer, rather than judgemental morality. This could be the kind of Christianity you hoped could exist - and was there all the time.
In a special Halloween edition of the Rooster Crows, Stephen and Roberta dive into some ghost stories that come from United Churches across the country. Why do so many churches have ghosts? What does the UCC think about ghosts? And why are they so focused on the pipe organ?
This episode we are continuing our discussions around death, specifically Medical Assistance in Dying, with two important voices. Heather Morgan is a disability advocate and shares her concerns and hopes around MAiD as the disability community contends on health care and MAiD.
Anne Simmonds is one of the leading voices on dying and grieving in the United Church of Canada, having published articles, led lectures for future faith leaders, and has been on panels throughout her careers around spirituality, death, and community. Her insights on how we treat death are important for anyone who will be dealing with death, including MAiD.
Rooster Crows is a production from Lawrence Park Community Church
Co-Hosts Roberta Howey and Stephen Milton
This episode is written, hosted, and edited by Roberta Howey
Lawrence Park Community Church https://www.lawrenceparkchurch.ca/
Heather Morgan: https://poweredbylove.ca/
Anne Simmonds: http://www.annesimmonds.ca/"
Talking about death is always an awkward subject for us in today's society. There are hundreds of things we would rather talk about. But that is the struggle with death; the conversations are never convenient and always incredibly important. Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) is one such conversation that we should have. It is an increasingly common option for Canadians, at the same time that our population is aging and we deal with the Covid era.
Today we are joined by Susan Desjardins of Dying with Dignity, and Janice Craig, the Bereavement Coordinator of Kawartha Lakes.
Rooster Crows is a production from Lawrence Park Community Church
Co-Hosts Roberta Howey and Stephen Milton
This episode is written, hosted, and edited by Roberta Howey
Lawrence Park Community Church https://www.lawrenceparkchurch.ca/
Dying With Dignity https://www.dyingwithdignity.ca/
Kawartha Lakes Hospice Care https://www.ccckl.ca/services/hospice/
Rev. Milton speaks with Missy McLean from "Moms Stop the Harm" who advocate for the change of failed drug policies, provide peer support to grieving families, and assist those with loved ones who use or have used substances.
Welcome to The Rooster Crows, brought to you by Lawrence Park Community Church.
Today, we are with Camp Scugog! It is a special place that holds a piece of our hearts in the LPCC community, and we hope to share why that is with you all right now.
Summer camps are a major part of the ministry of the United Church of Canada. The UCC currently runs over 50 camps across Canada, with a huge range in ages and interests. There are camps focused on wilderness exploration, arts and music, those specialized for LGBTQ kids, and more.
What is special about summer camp? And what is special about Camp Scugog? Grab your sleeping bags and your bug spray, and let’s go find out.
Joining us today are Camp Scugog’s Dana Leahey, Camp Director; Carol Rhynas, Assistant Director; and Emily Clark, Development Officer.
Host: Rev. Roberta Howey
Musical Interlude: "When a Poor One" by Hubert Razack
https://campscugog.org https://www.wearecamp.ca/ lawrenceparkchurch.ca
Welcome to the Rooster crows, brought to you by Lawrence Park Community Church. This week, we are doing a special Lenten episode. Rev. Stephen Milton of LPCC has been taking us all on a journey around lent and Easter traditions. These have ranged from tiny tidbits to the fabric of our societies themselves. Today Rev. Stephen Milton and Rev. Roberta Howey explore just a few of these traditions.
Today, we introduce our second co-host, Rev. Roberta Howey, who recently started with Lawrence Park and is thrilled to be here. This episode, we are talking about stories; who writes them, who reads them, and what makes a great story. Roberta chats with Marlene Bourdon-King, one of the judges for the TCTE Short Story Fiction Contest, which is held annually in Toronto."
Christmas pageants would seem to be one of those things the pandemic could have killed, but instead, they morphed. Why do churches hang onto this way of telling the Christmas story, even moving them onto zoom? In this episode, we look at the first Christmas pageants, how they evolved, and why people keep doing them.
What is it like to live on an Indigenous Reserve in Canada? Rev. Stephen talks with Leo Atlookan, a member of the Eabametoong first nation in Fort Hope, Northern Ontario. Like many reserves, the water from the taps is not safe to drink. Leo shares with us his experiences of living on a reserve that people love, but which many must leave due to a persistent lack of safe housing. The podcast is available on Apple, Spotify, Google Play and our website at www.lawrenceparkchurch.ca.
Has the Bible helped create modern racism? That’s the question Rev. Stephen explores in our latest podcast. He talks with Professor HyeRan Kim-Cragg of the University of Toronto. Professor Kim-Cragg draws on feminism, her own Korean roots and critical race theory to provide a rich and nuanced look at how the Bible has shaped our modern situation, and how it can help us fight back against racism. The Rooster Crows LPCC podcast is available on our website, and you can subscribe to it on Apple, Google Play and Podbean. Let us know what you think, and please share with friends. This is one more way LPCC is trying to share progressive Christianity with the world.
Spiritual traditions speak a lot about eternity, but what is it? Is eternity a long time, or something else? In this episode, we talk about religious and scientific ideas about time and eternity, with our special guest Professor Benjamin Olshin of Philadelphia. He is the author of Deciphering Reality, and has recently been writing a book on the nature of time.
What is forgiveness? And when is it time to seek our reconciliation? That's what we explore this week, by talking about the deeper meanings of the Bible story that inspired the Broadway show, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.
Paradoxes: can't live with them, can't live without them. Paradoxes are those parts of life where opposites come together and refuse to part, which is both frustrating and confusing. But spiritual traditions and folk tales tell us that appreciating paradox is the key to wisdom. So how can we learn to love paradoxes, and use them to reach the next level in our understanding of the world?
This week’s podcast is about an old movie that gave birth to a term that we hear every day now: gaslighting. The movie is “Gaslight”, made in 1944, starring Ingrid Bergman. The film’s depiction of emotional manipulation has seen a new lease on life as people have used the same approach on the internet and in politics. How much are we as a civilization still being gaslighted today? That’s what Rev. Stephen Milton and Joyce Taylor discuss in today’s podcast.
Every year, millions of people buy Christmas trees, even in the middle of a pandemic. But why? There are no Christmas trees mentioned in the Bible, yet Christians go out of their way to buy them. In this week’s episode, Stephen and Joyce talk about the deep symbolism beneath the craze for Christmas trees. How they relate to trees in other religious traditions, and why there may actually be some very good subconscious reasons for putting them up, even in our largely secular society.
In this podcast we feature highlights from our church’s anniversary bash, which took place in November of 2020. Lawrence Park Community Church was created 75 years ago, as a place where people from multiple Christian denominations could worship. One of our former ministers, Rev. Dr William Kervin, provides the sermon, and we hear some music from the service. There is even a very funny ditty written about the history of the church, recorded with a great sense of humour by our own Amye Sagar.
What happens when leaders are corrupt? Can they expect to get away with it or does life have a way of catching up with them? Can the wicked prosper until the end or will they get their just desserts? That's what we explore in this week’s podcast.