St. Clair Community Church Podcast: Recent Episodes
St. Clair Community Church
This is the official podcast of St. Clair Community Church in Hamilton, Ontario. For more information about our church, please visit stclaircommunitychurch.com.
On Sunday, Andy continued our series "The Mission Has A Church." Churches in North America (and the West more generally) have been in a period of decline for many years. The wider culture continues the project of secularism - the adoption of new ways of thinking, believing and being that are pointedly not Christian. How should Christians respond to these widespread cultural changes? Rather than reacting with fear (that leads to either fighting the culture or fleeing from it), another hopeful option is available: the recovery of the Mission of God as a way to understand the Trinity, the Bible, the Church, our relationship to culture and the nature of Christian justice and witness. Join us as we unpack the helpful ways a recovery of a missional perspective invites us into the work God is already doing in the world.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday, Matt continued our series "The Mission Has A Church." Churches in North America (and the West more generally) have been in a period of decline for many years. The wider culture continues the project of secularism - the adoption of new ways of thinking, believing and being that are pointedly not Christian. How should Christians respond to these widespread cultural changes? Rather than reacting with fear (that leads to either fighting the culture or fleeing from it), another hopeful option is available: the recovery of the Mission of God as a way to understand the Trinity, the Bible, the Church, our relationship to culture and the nature of Christian justice and witness. Join us as we unpack the helpful ways a recovery of a missional perspective invites us into the work God is already doing in the world.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday, John-Mark started our series "The Mission Has A Church." Churches in North America (and the West more generally) have been in a period of decline for many years. The wider culture continues the project of secularism - the adoption of new ways of thinking, believing and being that are pointedly not Christian. How should Christians respond to these widespread cultural changes? Rather than reacting with fear (that leads to either fighting the culture or fleeing from it), another hopeful option is available: the recovery of the Mission of God as a way to understand the Trinity, the Bible, the Church, our relationship to culture and the nature of Christian justice and witness. Join us as we unpack the helpful ways a recovery of a missional perspective invites us into the work God is already doing in the world.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday, John-Mark started our series "The Mission Has A Church." Churches in North America (and the West more generally) have been in a period of decline for many years. The wider culture continues the project of secularism - the adoption of new ways of thinking, believing and being that are pointedly not Christian. How should Christians respond to these widespread cultural changes? Rather than reacting with fear (that leads to either fighting the culture or fleeing from it), another hopeful option is available: the recovery of the Mission of God as a way to understand the Trinity, the Bible, the Church, our relationship to culture and the nature of Christian justice and witness. Join us as we unpack the helpful ways a recovery of a missional perspective invites us into the work God is already doing in the world. Today's sermon talked about what it means to be missional in today's cultural moment and how the mission has a church and not that the church has a mission. To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday, John-Mark concluded our Lent series "Praying with Jesus" with a sermon titled "What Jesus Prays for Us."
What can we learn about prayer from Jesus’ words and his example as recorded in the Gospels? Jesus continues to be intimately involved in our experience of prayer as our Great High Priest (He 4:14-16). Whenever and however we pray, it’s always with Jesus!
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday, Natalie continued our Lent series "Praying with Jesus" with a sermon titled "Get to the Secret Place"
What can we learn about prayer from Jesus’ words and his example as recorded in the Gospels? Jesus continues to be intimately involved in our experience of prayer as our Great High Priest (He 4:14-16). Whenever and however we pray, it’s always with Jesus!
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday, Andrew continued our Lent series "Praying with Jesus" with a sermon titled "To the Soundtrack of Glory,"
What can we learn about prayer from Jesus’ words and his example as recorded in the Gospels? Jesus continues to be intimately involved in our experience of prayer as our Great High Priest (He 4:14-16). Whenever and however we pray, it’s always with Jesus!
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday, Matt P continued our Lent series "Praying with Jesus" with a sermon titled "Praying With the Father’s Heart."
What can we learn about prayer from Jesus’ words and his example as recorded in the Gospels? Jesus continues to be intimately involved in our experience of prayer as our Great High Priest (He 4:14-16). Whenever and however we pray, it’s always with Jesus!
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday, John-Mark started our Lent series "Praying with Jesus" with a sermon titled "What God Wants to Give."
What can we learn about prayer from Jesus’ words and his example as recorded in the Gospels? Jesus continues to be intimately involved in our experience of prayer as our Great High Priest (He 4:14-16). Whenever and however we pray, it’s always with Jesus!
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday, John-Mark closed our series "Going God Knows Where" with a sermon titled "The Warning in the Wineskins." What should guide a faith community during seasons of transition and instability? In times of radical change, what spiritual resources are available to disciples of Jesus? Join us as we look at some snapshots from scripture that speak to God’s hopeful presence with his people in the midst of disruption and transition.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Going God Knows Where: Joseph's Bones
On Sunday, John-Mark continued our new series "Going God Knows Where" with a sermon titled "Joseph's Bones." What should guide a faith community during seasons of transition and instability? In times of radical change, what spiritual resources are available to disciples of Jesus? Join us as we look at some snapshots from scripture that speak to God’s hopeful presence with his people in the midst of disruption and transition.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday we had the last of three talks from Brett Ullman. This week we will be hearing his talk called "Media - Navigating Everything" that touched on the good, the bad and the ugly of technology.
(From: https://www.brettullman.com/media_navigating_everything/)
Brett Ullman is a well known youth culture, media and mental health expert who has been speaking on these subjects for 25 years. People appreciate his well researched, wise and practical approach to todays issues and the way in which he captures your attention. This talk will provide you with steps to take in order to better use media for good and ways to decrease its bad effects. Social media, video games, music and TV/streaming will be addressed and strategies for boosting your wellbeing will be provided. Some examples of questions that will be answered are: how do I protect my children from pornography, predators, bullying and other content online? How much screen time should my kids have each day? Should I monitor all communications my child has and if so, how?
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday we had the second of three talks from Brett Ullman. This week we will be hearing his talk called "Parenting - Navigating Everything" that touched on the good, the bad and the ugly of parenting and how to care for our young people today with an intergen mindset.
(From https://www.brettullman.com/navigating-everything/)
We all want the best for our kids but which parenting information do we choose? With over 75,000 parenting books produced in the past 21 years and the many voices, articles and online resources available, the task of figuring out where to turn for parenting advice is overwhelming.
Some foundational parenting questions all parents must consider:
What are Parenting Styles and which ones should I be using in my parenting? How can I gain better communication skills and use them with my children? What does spending time with my kids look like? How do I effectively discipline my children? Various aspects of home life also need addressing, with each section being a sizeable discussion on their own. In this talk I will look at where parents can begin these discussions, (on-ramps) and give them practical tools so they can effectively talk with their kids about all of the following areas:
Family Discipleship (how to raise our kids in our Christian faith) Health (mental, emotional, physical) Sexuality (pornography, dating, marriage) Media (TV, movies, music, social media) Drug / Alcohol use & abuse Education Finances
More on Brett from his website: Brett works as a full time speaker "[travelling] North America speaking to teens, young adults, leaders, and parents on topics including parenting, mental health, media, marriage, men, pornography, and dating. Brett’s seminars engage and challenge attendees to try and connect our ancient faith with our modern culture we live in. Participants are inspired to reflect on what we know, what we believe and how our faith ought to serve as the lens through which we view and engage tough conversations in our society today."
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday we had the first of three talks from Brett Ullman. This week we will be hearing his talk called "The Walking Wounded" on mental health.
(From https://www.brettullman.com/the-walking-wounded/)
When we are surrounded by these heightened emotions and feelings life becomes one that is isolated from others and we begin to be full of questions instead of answers and we do not know what will work, or where to turn.
How do we begin our journey towards hope, healing, redemption, rescue, and a restoration to wholeness? Where and when does our journey back to life begin again? As a Follower of the Way (A Christian) What about our faith? How does our faith fit into our healing journey?
This talk has no cliches, no Christianese and does not put forward promises of false hope.
Brett Ullman in The Walking Wounded begins to address how to walk back towards healing and away from our emotions, feelings and thoughts that are keeping us paralyzed in life.
No shame, fear, or hiding is required as we are safe to journey towards healing together. There is Hope for the Walking Wounded.
More on Brett from his website: Brett works as a full time speaker "[travelling] North America speaking to teens, young adults, leaders, and parents on topics including parenting, mental health, media, marriage, men, pornography, and dating. Brett’s seminars engage and challenge attendees to try and connect our ancient faith with our modern culture we live in. Participants are inspired to reflect on what we know, what we believe and how our faith ought to serve as the lens through which we view and engage tough conversations in our society today."
Who Is This Guy? An Introduction of John-Mark
On Sunday John-Mark introduced himself and told us his testimony. Learn more about our new interim Pastor on this week's podcast!
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday Karra told a story of her own making, a story of a family filled with different longings, and hoping to give gifts to meet the needs of their family members. This concluded our Advent series "The Heart that Seeks." The advent season often begins with awareness of longing. We sing "Come Long Expected Jesus" and remember the promises, the waiting, the hoping of a nation for salvation. Yet all that is to come in this season was born of a longing much older than a nation. A longing that is as old and as wide as the world. Christmas began with God’s longing for salvation and restoration of the world He created. Christmas began with His longing for us…
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
The Heart that Seeks: Longing for What Once Was
On Sunday Natalie continued our Advent series "The Heart that Seeks" and spoke about the longing for the past, how things used to be, and recognizing what that speaks to within us. The advent season often begins with awareness of longing. We sing "Come Long Expected Jesus" and remember the promises, the waiting, the hoping of a nation for salvation. Yet all that is to come in this season was born of a longing much older than a nation. A longing that is as old and as wide as the world. Christmas began with God’s longing for salvation and restoration of the world He created. Christmas began with His longing for us…
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday Andrew continued our Advent series "The Heart that Seeks" and spoke about the longing for a home we have within us and how that home is the one God is preparing us for. The advent season often begins with awareness of longing. We sing "Come Long Expected Jesus" and remember the promises, the waiting, the hoping of a nation for salvation. Yet all that is to come in this season was born of a longing much older than a nation. A longing that is as old and as wide as the world. Christmas began with God’s longing for salvation and restoration of the world He created. Christmas began with His longing for us…
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday Matt began our Advent series "The Heart that Seeks" and spoke about what Advent is and how it is a time to recognize the longing within us. The advent season often begins with awareness of longing. We sing "Come Long Expected Jesus" and remember the promises, the waiting, the hoping of a nation for salvation. Yet all that is to come in this season was born of a longing much older than a nation. A longing that is as old and as wide as the world. Christmas began with God’s longing for salvation and restoration of the world He created. Christmas began with His longing for us…
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday Alison Witt closed our series on the Beatitudes: Get Used to Different, with encouraging us to see the Kingdom of God coming to us through those coming into our country. Our series will be a nine-week journey through the Beatitudes, where we will explore the profound teachings of Jesus on life and perspective in the Kingdom of God. Discover through testimonies how these unconventional blessings offer a radical perspective on what it means to live in God’s favour, challenging our traditional views and inviting us into a deeper, more authentic faith.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday Andrew continued to lead us into our seventh week of our series: The Beatitudes: Get Used to Different. Our series will be a nine-week journey through the Beatitudes, where we will explore the profound teachings of Jesus on life and perspective in the Kingdom of God. Discover through testimonies how these unconventional blessings offer a radical perspective on what it means to live in God’s favour, challenging our traditional views and inviting us into a deeper, more authentic faith.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday our guest speaker Alice continued to lead us into our sixth week of our series: The Beatitudes: Get Used to Different. Our series will be a nine-week journey through the Beatitudes, where we will explore the profound teachings of Jesus on life and perspective in the Kingdom of God. Discover through testimonies how these unconventional blessings offer a radical perspective on what it means to live in God’s favour, challenging our traditional views and inviting us into a deeper, more authentic faith.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday Amanda delivered a beautiful sermon reflecting on her time in leadership at St.Clair. This is a sermon you'll want to listen to now and again in a few months as we grow and change into what God is calling us to as a community.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday Josiah continued to lead us into our fifth week of our series: The Beatitudes: Get Used to Different.
Our series will be a nine-week journey through the Beatitudes, where we will explore the profound teachings of Jesus on life and perspective in the Kingdom of God. Discover through testimonies how these unconventional blessings offer a radical perspective on what it means to live in God’s favour, challenging our traditional views and inviting us into a deeper, more authentic faith.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday Amanda continued to lead us into our fourth week of our new series: The Beatitudes: Get Used to Different.
Our series will be a nine-week journey through the Beatitudes, where we will explore the profound teachings of Jesus on life and perspective in the Kingdom of God. Discover through testimonies how these unconventional blessings offer a radical perspective on what it means to live in God’s favour, challenging our traditional views and inviting us into a deeper, more authentic faith.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday our guest speaker Robert continued to lead us into our third week of our new series: The Beatitudes: Get Used to Different.
Our series will be a nine-week journey through the Beatitudes, where we will explore the profound teachings of Jesus on life and perspective in the Kingdom of God. Discover through testimonies how these unconventional blessings offer a radical perspective on what it means to live in God’s favour, challenging our traditional views and inviting us into a deeper, more authentic faith.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday Amanda continued to lead us into our second week of our new series: The Beatitudes: Get Used to Different and how being Poor in Spirit might look different than we've come to believe.
Our series will be a nine-week journey through the Beatitudes, where we will explore the profound teachings of Jesus on life and perspective in the Kingdom of God. Discover through testimonies how these unconventional blessings offer a radical perspective on what it means to live in God’s favour, challenging our traditional views and inviting us into a deeper, more authentic faith.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday Amanda introduced our new series: The Beatitudes: Get Used to Different and how the Beatitudes have been interpreted in multiple ways and how we would look at it during this series. Then Alexa shared her testimony and how God brought her back to Him!
Our series will be a nine-week journey through the Beatitudes, where we will explore the profound teachings of Jesus on life and perspective in the Kingdom of God. Discover through testimonies how these unconventional blessings offer a radical perspective on what it means to live in God’s favour, challenging our traditional views and inviting us into a deeper, more authentic faith.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday Andrew K spoke from the book of James 5:19-20, this sermon closed our series Whole and Holy: a Study in James. What happens when one person lives out their faith? When a person lines up their actions with their faith, they become more whole as a person, and more holy as a temple of God. How does that affect their community? This integral faith affects the wholeness and holiness of our community. Journey with us in a season of preparation and anticipation: to make sure our own “house” [as in body] and our own “house” [as in “church community”] is in order. Over the next few months, we are going to take a good look in the mirror and let the Good News shape our every day lives. It is a wonderful thing to be in a church so intentional in learning to follow the ways of Jesus. Please note that with our Community month in August there will not be an podcasts being posted on this channel until September. To see what we are doing each Sunday check out our newsletter or social media posts. To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday Amanda spoke from James 5:13- 18, for week eleven of our series, "Whole and Holy: A Study in James".
What happens when one person lives out their faith? When a person lines up their actions with their faith, they become more whole as a person, and more holy as a temple of God. How does that affect their community? This integral faith affects the wholeness and holiness of our community. Journey with us in a season of preparation and anticipation: to make sure our own “house” [as in body] and our own “house” [as in “church community”] is in order. Over the next few months, we are going to take a good look in the mirror and let the Good News shape our every day lives.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday Nikki spoke from the book of James 5:12, for week ten of our series, "Whole and Holy: A Study in James".
What happens when one person lives out their faith? When a person lines up their actions with their faith, they become more whole as a person, and more holy as a temple of God. How does that affect their community? This integral faith affects the wholeness and holiness of our community. Journey with us in a season of preparation and anticipation: to make sure our own “house” [as in body] and our own “house” [as in “church community”] is in order. Over the next few months, we are going to take a good look in the mirror and let the Good News shape our every day lives.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday Amanda spoke from the book of James 4: 13-5:1-6, for week eight of our series, "Whole and Holy: A Study in James". What happens when one person lives out their faith? When a person lines up their actions with their faith, they become more whole as a person, and more holy as a temple of God. How does that affect their community? This integral faith affects the wholeness and holiness of our community. Journey with us in a season of preparation and anticipation: to make sure our own “house” [as in body] and our own “house” [as in “church community”] is in order. Over the next few months, we are going to take a good look in the mirror and let the Good News shape our every day lives.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday Natalie spoke from the book of James 4:11-12, for week seven of our series, "Whole and Holy: A Study in James". What happens when one person lives out their faith? When a person lines up their actions with their faith, they become more whole as a person, and more holy as a temple of God. How does that affect their community? This integral faith affects the wholeness and holiness of our community. Journey with us in a season of preparation and anticipation: to make sure our own “house” [as in body] and our own “house” [as in “church community”] is in order. Over the next few months, we are going to take a good look in the mirror and let the Good News shape our every day lives.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday Amanda spoke from the book of James 3:1-12, for week five of our series, "Whole and Holy: A Study in James". What happens when one person lives out their faith? When a person lines up their actions with their faith, they become more whole as a person, and more holy as a temple of God. How does that affect their community? This integral faith affects the wholeness and holiness of our community. Journey with us in a season of preparation and anticipation: to make sure our own “house” [as in body] and our own “house” [as in “church community”] is in order. Over the next few months, we are going to take a good look in the mirror and let the Good News shape our every day lives.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday Amanda spoke from the book of James 3:1-12, for week five of our series, "Whole and Holy: A Study in James". What happens when one person lives out their faith? When a person lines up their actions with their faith, they become more whole as a person, and more holy as a temple of God. How does that affect their community? This integral faith affects the wholeness and holiness of our community. Journey with us in a season of preparation and anticipation: to make sure our own “house” [as in body] and our own “house” [as in “church community”] is in order. Over the next few months, we are going to take a good look in the mirror and let the Good News shape our every day lives.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday Andy G spoke from the book of James 2:14- 26, for week four of our series, "Whole and Holy: A Study in James". What happens when one person lives out their faith? When a person lines up their actions with their faith, they become more whole as a person, and more holy as a temple of God. How does that affect their community? This integral faith affects the wholeness and holiness of our community. Journey with us in a season of preparation and anticipation: to make sure our own “house” [as in body] and our own “house” [as in “church community”] is in order. Over the next few months, we are going to take a good look in the mirror and let the Good News shape our every day lives.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday Karra spoke from the book of James, for week three of our series, "Whole and Holy: A Study in James - Favouritism and Honour." What happens when one person lives out their faith? When a person lines up their actions with their faith, they become more whole as a person, and more holy as a temple of God. How does that affect their community? This integral faith affects the wholeness and holiness of our community. Journey with us in a season of preparation and anticipation: to make sure our own “house” [as in body] and our own “house” [as in “church community”] is in order. Over the next few months, we are going to take a good look in the mirror and let the Good News shape our every day lives.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday Amanda continued to lead us into our new series "Whole and Holy: A Study in James." What happens when one person lives out their faith? When a person lines up their actions with their faith, they become more whole as a person, and more holy as a temple of God. How does that affect their community? This integral faith affects the wholeness and holiness of our community. Journey with us in a season of preparation and anticipation: to make sure our own “house” [as in body] and our own “house” [as in “church community”] is in order. Over the next few months, we are going to take a good look in the mirror and let the Good News shape our every day lives.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday Amanda introduced our new series "Whole and Holy: A Study in James." What happens when one person lives out their faith? When a person lines up their actions with their faith, they become more whole as a person, and more holy as a temple of God. How does that affect their community? This integral faith affects the wholeness and holiness of our community. Journey with us in a season of preparation and anticipation: to make sure our own “house” [as in body] and our own “house” [as in “church community”] is in order. Over the next few months, we are going to take a good look in the mirror and let the Good News shape our every day lives.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday Andrew spoke about the difference in the practice of Repentance and Confession and how together they prepare the way for Christ's Kingdom. At one point we read the confession, which can be found in our teaching notes through the link below! Have you ever felt like there had to be more ways to pray then the one you grew up with? Or have you found yourself in a situation where the prayers you know how to do, doesn’t feel like the kind of prayer that is needed? This series will explore various ways people encounter God through prayer and can bring others to encounter God in the ordinary moments of life. By exploring different ways to pray, we will discover how God shapes, challenges, and deepens our faith and reveals Himself to us and through us. As we explore these facets of encounters with God, may our hearts be open, our minds renewed, and our lives transformed by the power of His presence.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday we heard from an amazing guest pastor and friend of St. Clair, Ray L., who spoke about speaking in tongues and how we can develop our personal prayer lives with this gift of the Spirit and encounter God through the prayer of our spirit.
Have you ever felt like there had to be more ways to pray then the one you grew up with? Or have you found yourself in a situation where the prayers you know how to do, doesn’t feel like the kind of prayer that is needed? This series will explore various ways people encounter God through prayer and can bring others to encounter God in the ordinary moments of life. By exploring different ways to pray, we will discover how God shapes, challenges, and deepens our faith and reveals Himself to us and through us. As we explore these facets of encounters with God, may our hearts be open, our minds renewed, and our lives transformed by the power of His presence.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday Megan spoke about Imaginative Prayer and how we can encounter God in our imaginations and how that leads to transformation.
Have you ever felt like there had to be more ways to pray then the one you grew up with? Or have you found yourself in a situation where the prayers you know how to do, doesn’t feel like the kind of prayer that is needed? This series will explore various ways people encounter God through prayer and can bring others to encounter God in the ordinary moments of life. By exploring different ways to pray, we will discover how God shapes, challenges, and deepens our faith and reveals Himself to us and through us. As we explore these facets of encounters with God, may our hearts be open, our minds renewed, and our lives transformed by the power of His presence.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
To listen to our podcast: https://stclaircommunitychurch.com/podcast/
On Sunday Amanda spoke to who's who in the parable of the Widow and the Judge, and that we might not expect them to be who we think. This sermon continued our Encounter series as this sermon focuses on the heart that we offer to God.
Have you ever felt like there had to be more ways to pray then the one you grew up with? Or have you found yourself in a situation where the prayers you know how to do, doesn’t feel like the kind of prayer that is needed? This series will explore various ways people encounter God through prayer and can bring others to encounter God in the ordinary moments of life. By exploring different ways to pray, we will discover how God shapes, challenges, and deepens our faith and reveals Himself to us and through us. As we explore these facets of encounters with God, may our hearts be open, our minds renewed, and our lives transformed by the power of His presence.
On Sunday, Matt developed our understanding around Liturgical prayer as we continue our Encounter series. This form of prayer is rich with beauty and has a long tradition within the church and Matt/Sarah put together a take home liturgy that can be found through our teaching notes on Substack or in the newsletter.
Have you ever felt like there had to be more ways to pray then the one you grew up with? Or have you found yourself in a situation where the prayers you know how to do, doesn’t feel like the kind of prayer that is needed? This series will explore various ways people encounter God through prayer and can bring others to encounter God in the ordinary moments of life. By exploring different ways to pray, we will discover how God shapes, challenges, and deepens our faith and reveals Himself to us and through us. As we explore these facets of encounters with God, may our hearts be open, our minds renewed, and our lives transformed by the power of His presence.
On Sunday Diane continued our new series "Encounter" by exhorting us towards practicing intercessory prayer. Have you ever felt like there had to be more ways to pray then the one you grew up with? Or have you found yourself in a situation where the prayers you know how to do, doesn’t feel like the kind of prayer that is needed? This series will explore various ways people encounter God through prayer and can bring others to encounter God in the ordinary moments of life. By exploring different ways to pray, we will discover how God shapes, challenges, and deepens our faith and reveals Himself to us and through us. As we explore these facets of encounters with God, may our hearts be open, our minds renewed, and our lives transformed by the power of His presence.
On Sunday Nikki continued our new series "Encounter" by talking about Praise & Worship as Embodied Prayer. This sermon was an excellent one to have kick off our week of prayer as we continue to press deeper into types of prayer practices and how to deepen our relationship with God. Have you ever felt like there had to be more ways to pray then the one you grew up with? Or have you found yourself in a situation where the prayers you know how to do, doesn’t feel like the kind of prayer that is needed? This series will explore various ways people encounter God through prayer and can bring others to encounter God in the ordinary moments of life. By exploring different ways to pray, we will discover how God shapes, challenges, and deepens our faith and reveals Himself to us and through us. As we explore these facets of encounters with God, may our hearts be open, our minds renewed, and our lives transformed by the power of His presence.
On Sunday Andy continued our new series "Encounter" by talking about the dark night of the soul and where God is when we feel like we can't hear His voice. Have you ever felt like there had to be more ways to pray then the one you grew up with? Or have you found yourself in a situation where the prayers you know how to do, doesn’t feel like the kind of prayer that is needed? This series will explore various ways people encounter God through prayer and can bring others to encounter God in the ordinary moments of life. By exploring different ways to pray, we will discover how God shapes, challenges, and deepens our faith and reveals Himself to us and through us. As we explore these facets of encounters with God, may our hearts be open, our minds renewed, and our lives transformed by the power of His presence.
On Sunday Amanda introduced our new series "Encounter." Have you ever felt like there had to be more ways to pray then the one you grew up with? Or have you found yourself in a situation where the prayers you know how to do, doesn’t feel like the kind of prayer that is needed? This series will explore various ways people encounter God through prayer and can bring others to encounter God in the ordinary moments of life. By exploring different ways to pray, we will discover how God shapes, challenges, and deepens our faith and reveals Himself to us and through us. As we explore these facets of encounters with God, may our hearts be open, our minds renewed, and our lives transformed by the power of His presence.
On Sunday Karra continued our Advent Series: Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room, by looking at the topic of Joy and how we need to make space within ourselves to have joy, peace, and hope. Every year it seems that the Christmas season fills up quickly with to-do lists, work parties, family visits, and Christmas concerts. Some of us find ourselves in a season where we need peace, or struggle to hold joy. How do we intentionally make time to focus our hearts and minds in these times? Join us as we journey towards Christ's birth using the themes of Advent so that we may PREPARE our hearts for joy, peace and hope...and the ultimate gift of Jesus Himself.
Note: This is our last Podcast of 2023 as we won't have a sermon on Christmas Eve, we will see you in the New Year!
On Sunday Natalie continued our Advent Series: Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room, by looking at the topic of Peace and making space to have our imaginations illuminated through the birth of Christ through Mary. Every year it seems that the Christmas season fills up quickly with to-do lists, work parties, family visits, and Christmas concerts. Some of us find ourselves in a season where we need peace, or struggle to hold joy. How do we intentionally make time to focus our hearts and minds in these times? Join us as we journey towards Christ's birth using the themes of Advent so that we may PREPARE our hearts for joy, peace and hope...and the ultimate gift of Jesus Himself.
On Sunday Amanda closed our series on the church being a Valiant Bride with a message of exhortation. What if Proverbs 31 wasn’t (just) about the good wife? What if it was meant to paint a picture of the church of Christ as a valiant bride/wife to Christ? Join us in one of the most well-known (and possibly mis-understood) biblical passages in the Old Testament to discover hidden wisdom for the church today.
Note: Due to technical difficulties, we had to re-record this sermon, hence the late publishing and difference in sound. We felt it was important to get this up as it is our last sermon of the series. Enjoy!
In Sunday's sermon, Amanda spoke about we are called to open our hands to the poor and how this is also a posture of prayer. Please note that today's sermon is a shorter one as we transition to having an in-house panel discussion. What if Proverbs 31 wasn’t (just) about the good wife? What if it was meant to paint a picture of the church of Christ as a valiant bride/wife to Christ? Join us in one of the most well-known (and possibly mis-understood) biblical passages in the Old Testament to discover hidden wisdom for the church today.
SUNDAY GATHERING: A Valiant Bride - A Woman of the Word.
On Sunday Amanda continued our series on Proverbs 31, focusing on the importance of having wisdom through knowing the Scriptures. What if Proverbs 31 wasn’t (just) about the good wife? What if it was meant to paint a picture of the church of Christ as a valiant bride/wife to Christ? Join us in one of the most well-known (and possibly mis-understood) biblical passages in the Old Testament to discover hidden wisdom for the church today.
SUNDAY GATHERING: A Valiant Bride - The Faithfulness of the Groom.
On Sunday, Brian from our leadership team, shared his testimony and how it reveals God's faithfulness. What if Proverbs 31 wasn’t (just) about the good wife? What if it was meant to paint a picture of the church of Christ as a valiant bride/wife to Christ? Join us in one of the most well-known (and possibly mis-understood) biblical passages in the Old Testament to discover hidden wisdom for the church today.
In Sunday's sermon, Amanda spoke about how the work the wife does speaks to her spiritual life. Please note that today's sermon is a shorter one as we transition to having an in-house panel discussion. What if Proverbs 31 wasn’t (just) about the good wife? What if it was meant to paint a picture of the church of Christ as a valiant bride/wife to Christ? Join us in one of the most well-known (and possibly mis-understood) biblical passages in the Old Testament to discover hidden wisdom for the church today.
In today's sermon, Amanda spoke about why the image of a bride used to describe the Church. What if Proverbs 31 wasn’t (just) about the good wife? What if it was meant to paint a picture of the church of Christ as a valiant bride/wife to Christ? Join us in one of the most well-known (and possibly mis-understood) biblical passages in the Old Testament to discover hidden wisdom for the church today.
This week Andrew talked about the importance of caring for the household of God. What if Proverbs 31 wasn’t (just) about the good wife? What if it was meant to paint a picture of the church of Christ as a valiant bride/wife to Christ? Join us in one of the most well-known (and possibly mis-understood) biblical passages in the Old Testament to discover hidden wisdom for the church today.
On Sunday Amanda led us into week two of our new series on Proverbs 31:10-31, where we looked at the context of Proverbs 31 and it's importance in regards to the rest of the Scriptures. What if Proverbs 31 wasn’t (just) about the good wife? What if it was meant to paint a picture of the church of Christ as a valiant bride/wife to Christ? Join us in one of the most well-known (and possibly mis-understood) biblical passages in the Old Testament to discover hidden wisdom for the church today.
On Sunday Amanda started off our new series on Proverbs 31:10-31.What if Proverbs 31 wasn’t (just) about the good wife? What if it was meant to paint a picture of the church of Christ as a valiant bride/wife to Christ? Join us in one of the most well-known (and possibly mis-understood) biblical passages in the Old Testament to discover hidden wisdom for the church today.
One Shot Sermon: Call to Holy Greatness On Sunday
Josiah spoke from the book of Luke 22:24-30, and how we are called to step into living in and out of God's glory. Please note that there was a slight technical difficulty in getting the beginning of the sermon, but we felt that it was still worthy of posting.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
When we say “yes” to following Jesus, most of us do not really realize what this wholehearted surrender of our lives fully means, or how we will be changed as we become more like Jesus. Yet we can trust that the Shepherd is leading us and will equip us with all that we need. Join us as we embark on what apprenticeship to Jesus looks like, the epic adventure of discovering who we are in Christ and how we shine as light in the world.
On Sunday Duncan T. spoke from the book of 2 Corinthians 8:1-15,this sermon closed our on-going series An Unexpected Journey. It is a wonderful thing to be in a church so intentional in learning to follow the ways of Jesus. Please note that with our Sabbath month in August there will not be an podcasts being posted on this channel until September. Please contact Julien for more details on the August teaching from Practicing the Way.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Unexpected Journey: Amanda's Ordination On Sunday we had a couple friends from Anchor Ministerial Fellowship come to ordain Amanda's ministry! This is a huge milestone for her and our church. Listen to who they are, what ordination means and what Amanda has been called to as a servant of God's Word.
When we say “yes” to following Jesus, most of us do not really realize what this wholehearted surrender of our lives fully means, or how we will be changed as we become more like Jesus. Yet we can trust that the Shepherd is leading us and will equip us with all that we need. Join us as we embark on what apprenticeship to Jesus looks like, the epic adventure of discovering who we are in Christ and how we shine as light in the world.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
On Sunday Andrew spoke from the book of Deuteronomy to speak about the importance of passing on the faith to the next generation. Please note that this is just the sermon portion of the service, so the transition from sermon to benediction is a little jumpy.
When we say “yes” to following Jesus, most of us do not really realize what this wholehearted surrender of our lives fully means, or how we will be changed as we become more like Jesus. Yet we can trust that the Shepherd is leading us and will equip us with all that we need. Join us as we embark on what apprenticeship to Jesus looks like, the epic adventure of discovering who we are in Christ and how we shine as light in the world.
On Sunday Laurie Widgery spoke about God's joy in our lives. An encouraging and uplifting sermon you'll want to hear again and again.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
When we say “yes” to following Jesus, most of us do not really realize what this wholehearted surrender of our lives fully means, or how we will be changed as we become more like Jesus. Yet we can trust that the Shepherd is leading us and will equip us with all that we need. Join us as we embark on what apprenticeship to Jesus looks like, the epic adventure of discovering who we are in Christ and how we shine as light in the world.
On Sunday Megan Little and Sarah K. used Scripture and Art to highlight the importance of reflecting on eternity. This is a sermon where you should definitely check out our teaching notes.
To visit our Teaching Notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
When we say “yes” to following Jesus, most of us do not really realize what this wholehearted surrender of our lives fully means, or how we will be changed as we become more like Jesus. Yet we can trust that the Shepherd is leading us and will equip us with all that we need. Join us as we embark on what apprenticeship to Jesus looks like, the epic adventure of discovering who we are in Christ and how we shine as light in the world.
On Sunday, we gathered to celebrate those in our community shifting out of their roles, some from staff and some from leadership. It was a Sunday for our history books, thank you for those who were a part of it. Join us next week as we continue to look at what apprenticeship to Jesus looks like, the epic adventure of discovering who we are in Christ and how we shine as light in the world. It has been and continues to be "An Unexpected Journey."
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
When we say “yes” to following Jesus, most of us do not really realize what this wholehearted surrender of our lives fully means, or how we will be changed as we become more like Jesus. Yet we can trust that the Shepherd is leading us and will equip us with all that we need. Join us as we embark on what apprenticeship to Jesus looks like, the epic adventure of discovering who we are in Christ and how we shine as light in the world.
On Sunday Amanda spoke about how our community has received answered prayer, for week sixteen of our series, "An Unexpected Journey: the adventure of a community committed to Christ." Join us as we embark on what apprenticeship to Jesus looks like, the epic adventure of discovering who we are in Christ and how we shine as light in the world.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
When we say “yes” to following Jesus, most of us do not really realize what this wholehearted surrender of our lives fully means, or how we will be changed as we become more like Jesus. Yet we can trust that the Shepherd is leading us and will equip us with all that we need. Join us as we embark on what apprenticeship to Jesus looks like, the epic adventure of discovering who we are in Christ and how we shine as light in the world.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
When we say “yes” to following Jesus, most of us do not really realize what this wholehearted surrender of our lives fully means, or how we will be changed as we become more like Jesus. Yet we can trust that the Shepherd is leading us and will equip us with all that we need. Join us as we embark on what apprenticeship to Jesus looks like, the epic adventure of discovering who we are in Christ and how we shine as light in the world.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
When we say “yes” to following Jesus, most of us do not really realize what this wholehearted surrender of our lives fully means, or how we will be changed as we become more like Jesus. Yet we can trust that the Shepherd is leading us and will equip us with all that we need. Join us as we embark on what apprenticeship to Jesus looks like, the epic adventure of discovering who we are in Christ and how we shine as light in the world.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
When we say “yes” to following Jesus, most of us do not really realize what this wholehearted surrender of our lives fully means, or how we will be changed as we become more like Jesus. Yet we can trust that the Shepherd is leading us and will equip us with all that we need. Join us as we embark on what apprenticeship to Jesus looks like, the epic adventure of discovering who we are in Christ and how we shine as light in the world.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
When we say “yes” to following Jesus, most of us do not really realize what this wholehearted surrender of our lives fully means, or how we will be changed as we become more like Jesus. Yet we can trust that the Shepherd is leading us and will equip us with all that we need. Join us as we embark on what apprenticeship to Jesus looks like, the epic adventure of discovering who we are in Christ and how we shine as light in the world.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
When we say “yes” to following Jesus, most of us do not really realize what this wholehearted surrender of our lives fully means, or how we will be changed as we become more like Jesus. Yet we can trust that the Shepherd is leading us and will equip us with all that we need. Join us as we embark on what apprenticeship to Jesus looks like, the epic adventure of discovering who we are in Christ and how we shine as light in the world.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
When we say “yes” to following Jesus, most of us do not really realize what this wholehearted surrender of our lives fully means, or how we will be changed as we become more like Jesus. Yet we can trust that the Shepherd is leading us and will equip us with all that we need. Join us as we embark on what apprenticeship to Jesus looks like, the epic adventure of discovering who we are in Christ and how we shine as light in the world.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
When we say “yes” to following Jesus, most of us do not really realize what this wholehearted surrender of our lives fully means, or how we will be changed as we become more like Jesus. Yet we can trust that the Shepherd is leading us and will equip us with all that we need. Join us as we embark on what apprenticeship to Jesus looks like, the epic adventure of discovering who we are in Christ and how we shine as light in the world.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
When we say “yes” to following Jesus, most of us do not really realize what this wholehearted surrender of our lives fully means, or how we will be changed as we become more like Jesus. Yet we can trust that the Shepherd is leading us and will equip us with all that we need. Join us as we embark on what apprenticeship to Jesus looks like, the epic adventure of discovering who we are in Christ and how we shine as light in the world.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
When we say “yes” to following Jesus, most of us do not really realize what this wholehearted surrender of our lives fully means, or how we will be changed as we become more like Jesus. Yet we can trust that the Shepherd is leading us and will equip us with all that we need. Join us as we embark on what apprenticeship to Jesus looks like, the epic adventure of discovering who we are in Christ and how we shine as light in the world.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
When we say “yes” to following Jesus, most of us do not really realize what this wholehearted surrender of our lives fully means, or how we will be changed as we become more like Jesus. Yet we can trust that the Shepherd is leading us and will equip us with all that we need. Join us as we embark on what apprenticeship to Jesus looks like, the epic adventure of discovering who we are in Christ and how we shine as light in the world.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
When we say “yes” to following Jesus, most of us do not really realize what this wholehearted surrender of our lives fully means, or how we will be changed as we become more like Jesus. Yet we can trust that the Shepherd is leading us and will equip us with all that we need. Join us as we embark on what apprenticeship to Jesus looks like, the epic adventure of discovering who we are in Christ and how we shine as light in the world.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
When we say “yes” to following Jesus, most of us do not really realize what this wholehearted surrender of our lives fully means, or how we will be changed as we become more like Jesus. Yet we can trust that the Shepherd is leading us and will equip us with all that we need. Join us as we embark on what apprenticeship to Jesus looks like, the epic adventure of discovering who we are in Christ and how we shine as light in the world.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
When we say “yes” to following Jesus, most of us do not really realize what this wholehearted surrender of our lives fully means, or how we will be changed as we become more like Jesus. Yet we can trust that the Shepherd is leading us and will equip us with all that we need. Join us as we embark on what apprenticeship to Jesus looks like, the epic adventure of discovering who we are in Christ and how we shine as light in the world.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
As we begin the new year, we look at how we can become the kind of people that are outlined in Romans.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
As we prepare for Church at Home this coming Sunday, we encourage you to listen to this podcast from Amanda and Diane, as they dive into fasting and how it plays an important role in our spiritual journey.
Do you look forward to Christmas? Or do the holidays bring up mixed feelings in you? Do you feel discouraged? Hopeful? Fearful? At Peace? Joyful? Unhappy? All of the above? As we journey towards Christmas through the eyes of Charlie Brown and his friends along with some well-known biblical characters, we will be invited to shift our perspective and discover the Miracle in the manger.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Do you look forward to Christmas? Or do the holidays bring up mixed feelings in you? Do you feel discouraged? Hopeful? Fearful? At Peace? Joyful? Unhappy? All of the above? As we journey towards Christmas through the eyes of Charlie Brown and his friends along with some well-known biblical characters, we will be invited to shift our perspective and discover the Miracle in the manger.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Do you look forward to Christmas? Or do the holidays bring up mixed feelings in you? Do you feel discouraged? Hopeful? Fearful? At Peace? Joyful? Unhappy? All of the above? As we journey towards Christmas through the eyes of Charlie Brown and his friends along with some well-known biblical characters, we will be invited to shift our perspective and discover the Miracle in the manger.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Do you look forward to Christmas? Or do the holidays bring up mixed feelings in you? Do you feel discouraged? Hopeful? Fearful? At Peace? Joyful? Unhappy? All of the above? As we journey towards Christmas through the eyes of Charlie Brown and his friends along with some well-known biblical characters, we will be invited to shift our perspective and discover the Miracle in the manger.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
How many times have you found yourself riveted by great stories? What if YOU found out you are in the middle of a great story? As followers of Jesus, we are living in THE kingdom story! Invited to live as children of God in His Kingdom, seeing things from his perspective and sometimes doing things (seemingly!) backwards. Join us as we unwrap the parables to discover his invitation into His(story).
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
After her conversations with Matt Pamplin, Amanda continues the discussion of what God might be inviting St Clair into in the weeks and months ahead.
How many times have you found yourself riveted by great stories? What if YOU found out you are in the middle of a great story? As followers of Jesus, we are living in THE kingdom story! Invited to live as children of God in His Kingdom, seeing things from his perspective and sometimes doing things (seemingly!) backwards. Join us as we unwrap the parables to discover his invitation into His(story).
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
How many times have you found yourself riveted by great stories? What if YOU found out you are in the middle of a great story? As followers of Jesus, we are living in THE kingdom story! Invited to live as children of God in His Kingdom, seeing things from his perspective and sometimes doing things (seemingly!) backwards. Join us as we unwrap the parables to discover his invitation into His(story).
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
How many times have you found yourself riveted by great stories? What if YOU found out you are in the middle of a great story? As followers of Jesus, we are living in THE kingdom story! Invited to live as children of God in His Kingdom, seeing things from his perspective and sometimes doing things (seemingly!) backwards. Join us as we unwrap the parables to discover his invitation into His(story).
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
After her conversations with Matt Pamplin, Amanda continues the discussion of what God might be inviting St Clair into in the weeks and months ahead.
After her conversations with Matt Pamplin, Amanda continues the discussion of what God might be inviting St Clair into in the weeks and months ahead.
Join Matt and Amanda as they sit down to chat in more depth about the story and DNA of St Clair, what the transition means to them, and what God might be inviting St Clair into in the weeks and months ahead.
How many times have you found yourself riveted by great stories? What if YOU found out you are in the middle of a great story? As followers of Jesus, we are living in THE kingdom story! Invited to live as children of God in His Kingdom, seeing things from his perspective and sometimes doing things (seemingly!) backwards. Join us as we unwrap the parables to discover his invitation into His(story).
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
How many times have you found yourself riveted by great stories? What if YOU found out you are in the middle of a great story? As followers of Jesus, we are living in THE kingdom story! Invited to live as children of God in His Kingdom, seeing things from his perspective and sometimes doing things (seemingly!) backwards. Join us as we unwrap the parables to discover his invitation into His(story).
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Join Matt and Amanda as they sit down to chat in more depth about the story and DNA of St Clair, what the transition means to them, and what God might be inviting St Clair into in the weeks and months ahead.
This morning we marked our transition, releasing the Pamplins from all that they have served us with throughout the years, and commissioning Amanda as she continues to lead St Clair in the this next stage of our journey.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
As we enter a new season, we begin a conversation of how to identify threats that have been exposed, and whether we should want to go back to a ‘normal’ church, or if we should relearn what it looks like to follow Jesus.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
The final week of the series “A Great Cloud of Witnesses”, learning about how the scripture was a lived reality for the people of the Bible, but also for us today, as the people of Hamilton in 2022.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Week five of the series “A Great Cloud of Witnesses”, learning about how the scripture was a lived reality for the people of the Bible, but also for us today, as the people of Hamilton in 2022.
Week four of the series “A Great Cloud of Witnesses”, learning about how the scripture was a lived reality for the people of the Bible, but also for us today, as the people of Hamilton in 2022.
Week three of the series “A Great Cloud of Witnesses”, learning about how the scripture was a lived reality for the people of the Bible, but also for us today, as the people of Hamilton in 2022.
Guest speaker Oscar Muriu leads us in a study of Mark 2, diving into the concept of friendship, the different levels that exist, and the importance of “stretcher bearers” in today’s world.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Week two of the series “A Great Cloud of Witnesses”, learning about how the scripture was a lived reality for the people of the Bible, but also for us today, as the people of Hamilton in 2022.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Week one of the series “A Great Cloud of Witnesses”, learning about how the scripture was a lived reality for the people of the Bible, but also for us today, as the people of Hamilton in 2022.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
The final week of our Life in the Spirit series, where we explore following Jesus into places we might not want to go - into deeper moments of surrender - so that we can flourish.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Week six of our Life in the Spirit series, where we explore following Jesus into places we might not want to go - into deeper moments of surrender - so that we can flourish.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Week five of our Life in the Spirit series, where we explore following Jesus into places we might not want to go - into deeper moments of surrender - so that we can flourish.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Week four of our Life in the Spirit series, where we explore following Jesus into places we might not want to go - into deeper moments of surrender - so that we can flourish.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
The staff sit down to discuss Church @ Home, answering a few of the questions that have been asked, and offering a deeper insight into what to expect, and why this is an important function in the church.
For more information, see our website, or if you have any questions, please email cheryl@stclaircommunitychuch.com.
Week three of our Life in the Spirit series, where we explore following Jesus into places we might not want to go - into deeper moments of surrender - so that we can flourish.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Week two of our Life in the Spirit series, where we explore following Jesus into places we might not want to go - into deeper moments of surrender - so that we can flourish.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
A brief update from Matt Pamplin about his role at St Clair from September onward.
If you have any questions please email stclair@stclaircommunitychurch.com
Week one of our Life in the Spirit series, where we explore following Jesus into places we might not want to go - into deeper moments of surrender - so that we can flourish.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
A brief update from our staff and leadership teams about the next few months at St Clair, including monthly chuch at home, finances, and beginning the hiring process.
If you have any questions please email stclair@stclaircommunitychurch.com
Today we focused on how we need to let Jesus speak into the places of our heart that are locked up, so that we can develop a maturity of spirit.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Today we celebrate the resurrection of Christ - the resurrection that changed the world and explodes it into life. Hallelujah, He is risen!
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Today as we celebrate Palm Sunday, we ask ourselves what kind of Jesus we are following - the one we think has the power and authority, and will back our agenda? Or the crucified one, who is personal and practical?
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
As we journey through the season of Lent, we recognize that we will always worship something, and how important it is that we place our trust in the one who will rescue us and save us.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
As we journey through the season of Lent, we acknowledge that the enemy and forces of darkness remain on this earth and are powerful, but as children of God we know he cannot physically make us do anything we do not want to do, but can only try to deceive and manipulate us through the framework of lies.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
As we journey through the season of Lent, we acknowledge that after the blessing of identity comes the testing, which is a gift as we are not only given the opportunity to show God what’s on our heart, but also the opportunity to learn an important lesson that we can apply to the rest of our life.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
As we journey through the season of Lent, we receive the invitation to the wilderness, where we are able to share the identity of being co-heirs with Christ without choosing, earning, or proving.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
As we being the season of Lent, we recognize that wilderness is where things have stripped away, and all we have left to comfort us is God. This is a place for self examination, as we explore what’s going on under the surface and what our identity is when everything else is stripped away.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
We read from the book of Luke, and listen to many stories relating to various forms of prayer, as we prepare to head into a week of prayer at St Clair.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
We begin the new year exploring what the Spirit is trying to speak to the Church in these days,and what it means to be a community that truly practices forgiveness.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
We begin the new year exploring what the Spirit is trying to speak to the Church in these days, and how facing trouble is a sign of coming into alignment with Christ.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
We begin the new year exploring what the Spirit is trying to speak to the Church in these days, the importance of blessing, and how we as a people can bless others.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
We begin the new year exploring what the Spirit is trying to speak to the Church in these days, the importance of blessing, and how we as a people can bless others.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
We begin the new year exploring what the Spirit is trying to speak to the Church in these days, and how we can embrace an intergenerational framework.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
We begin the new year exploring what the Spirit is trying to speak to the Church in these days, and reimagining what the Church could be.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
As we enter a New Year, we are reminded that it is in the ordinary, mundane places that God wants to break forth. When we come to the end of ourselves, we need to trust him and remain in him.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Advent reminds us that we are God’s people, and we are taught to wait. We wait in a world of that is full of pain and brokenness, and we long for things to be made whole.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Advent reminds us that we are God’s people, and we are taught to wait. We wait in a world of that is full of pain and brokenness, and we long for things to be made whole.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Advent reminds us that we are God’s people, and we are taught to wait. We wait in a world of that is full of pain and brokenness, and we long for things to be made whole.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Advent reminds us that we are God’s people, and we are taught to wait. We wait in a world of that is full of pain and brokenness, and we long for things to be made whole.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
We continue this fall looking at what is most essential to our life and faith as a community.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
We continue this fall looking at what is most essential to our life and faith as a community.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
We continue this fall looking at what is most essential to our life and faith as a community.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
We continue this fall looking at what is most essential to our life and faith as a community.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
We continue this fall looking at what is most essential to our life and faith as a community, highlighting specifically some of the next steps for St Clair as a family, and what changes are in store.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
We continue this fall looking at what is most essential to our life and faith as a community.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
We continue this fall looking at what is most essential to our life and faith as a community.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
We continue this fall looking at what is most essential to our life and faith as a community.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
We continue this fall looking at what is most essential to our life and faith as a community.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
We continue this fall looking at what is most essential to our life and faith as a community.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
We continue this fall looking at what is most essential to our life and faith as a community.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Short weekly reflections on the gospel of Mark as a compliment to our Sunday AM summer gatherings of conversation and communion over zoom.
Short weekly reflections on the gospel of Mark as a compliment to our Sunday AM summer gatherings of conversation and communion over zoom.
Short weekly reflections on the gospel of Mark as a compliment to our Sunday AM summer gatherings of conversation and communion over zoom.
Short weekly reflections on the gospel of Mark as a compliment to our Sunday AM summer gatherings of conversation and communion over zoom.
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Listen to insights from Christine Westhoff on Scripture and how we are formed by the word. For notes from this conversation go to https://stclair.substack.com/
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Listen to insights from Roger Nix on Scripture and how we are formed by the word. For notes from this conversation go to https://stclair.substack.com/
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Listen to insights from Joe Steinke on Scripture and how we are formed by the word. For notes from this conversation go to https://stclair.substack.com/
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
Listen to insights from Aaron White on Scripture and how we are formed by the word. For notes from this conversation go to https://stclair.substack.com/
Listen to insights from Jill Weber on Scripture and how we are formed by the word. For notes from this conversation go to https://stclair.substack.com/
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life - Gospel of John
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
I AM the True Vine - Gospel of John
Please click on the link to access all of our teaching notes: https://stclair.substack.com/
I AM the Bread of Life - Gospel of John
The ‘I am’ statements of Jesus in John’s gospel are profound truths that give unique expression to who God is, what God is like. Jesus' identification reveals something of the entire narrative of scripture and speaks to the right now of our own lives. Jesus delivers a staggering word offering himself as the bread of life and that he gives it for the life of the world.
John 6:25-51
Exodus 16
Isaiah 55
Philippians 4:1-14
John 7:38
Charles Spurgeon
"I cannot tell you exactly how manna tasted. Some say that it tasted like wafers made with honey. The Jewish notion is that it tasted according to every man’s own taste; so that, if he preferred, this flavour or that, the manna has that flavour to him, and thus it was to each one a personal and peculiar delicacy. This I know, that there is a sweetness about my Lord which is precisely that which delights me. I cannot communicate it to you, for you must each one taste for yourself. I believe that the Lord has a flavour different to me from that which he could have to you, because our circumstances and our desires somewhat differ… each believer has his own special delight… When Jesus said “I am the bread of life,” He meant ‘I am the sweet bread, that satisfying bread, that delicious bread, the like of which is never found elsewhere’."
I AM the Good Shepherd - Gospel of John
The ‘I am’ statements of Jesus in John’s gospel are profound truths that give unique expression to who God is, what God is like. Jesus' identification reveals something of the entire narrative of scripture and speaks to the right now of our own lives. We are asked to have eyes to see Jesus as the Good Shepherd, hear His voice and trust that He really is as good as He says he is.
John 10:1-21
John 9:39
John 12:32
Christine Cain
"Sometimes when you are in a dark place you think you've been buried, but you've actually been planted."
I AM the Resurrection and the Life - Gospel of John
The ‘I am’ statements of Jesus in John’s gospel are profound truths that give unique expression to who God is, what God is like. Jesus' identification reveals something of the entire narrative of scripture and speaks to the right now of our own lives. Jesus offers himself as the resurrection and the life, bringing a hope that defies what is possible to a troubled world and to those of us who face despair.
John 11:1-44
Fredrick Buechner
"Resurrection means the worst thing is never the last thing."
Karl Barth
"Only where graves are, is there resurrection."
Ronald Rolheiser
"Despair is the death of our sense of surprise, the belief that nothing new can happen to us. We despair at that precise moment when, consciously or unconsciously, we say in resignation: “That is the way I am, that is the way things have always been for me, that is the way it will always be! I know what is possible! For me it is too late!” Once this has been said, we are in a tomb. Why is this despair? Why is it so dangerous? Because the resurrection is always, like it was the first time, a surprise, the totally unexpected, the impossible, that which defies all logic, the laws of nature, and the wisdom of common sense and convention. When we have every angle of reality so calculated and figured that we know all the possibilities, then nothing new can come along to surprise us. We have ceased believing in God and grace in a real sense. We have slimmed down God and grace to fit our own minds."
I AM the Light of the World - Gospel of John
The ‘I am’ statements of Jesus in John’s gospel are profound truths that give unique expression to who God is, what God is like. Jesus' identification reveals something of the entire narrative of scripture and speaks to the right now of our own lives. Knowing Jesus as the light of the world is much needed in the midst of these dark days that mark the beginning of a new year.
John 8:12 / 48-59
Psalm 37:4-5
Psalm 119:105
Ephesians 5:8-1
1John 1:4-5
1 John 1:5-7
2 Corinthians 4:6-12 / 16-17
CH Spurgeon
"But we have the trustworthy and the true when we hear Jesus exclaim ‘I am the light’. Where else shall light be found?! Where shall the bewildered sons of men find a reliable guide? In the teaching of the person, the life, the death, the sacrifice of the Christ of Nazareth, we have light self-evidential, palpable by its own brilliance. ‘I am the light of the world, he that follow Me shall not walk in darkness’. Thus, then, He a light that is the be followed. Do any of you want to enjoy the light that streams from Christ, be assured you cannot realize it by reading about it - you must follow it… To follow Him means to commit yourselves to him, to believe him, and yield yourselves up, obediently doing what he bids, and implicitly accepting what he says. You must have no other master."
Christine Cain
"Sometimes when you are in a dark place you think you've been buried, but you've actually been planted."
What Should We Do? - 4th Sunday of Advent
John the Baptist sets the table for us to be ready to receive Jesus into the world. Luke 3 shows us that many different people heard John’s call to repentance and asked “what shall we do?” This Advent season we look to reorientate our hearts by reordering our lives through the act of generosity.
Luke 3:1-20
Matthew 6:21
Ephesians 3:14-21
Samuel Wells
“The problem is that the human imagination is simply not large enough to take in all that God is and has to give. We are overwhelmed. God’s inexhaustible creation, limitless grace, relentless mercy, enduring purpose, fathomless love: it is just too much to contemplate, assimilate, understand. This is the language of abundance. And if humans turn away it is sometimes out of a misguided but understandable sense of self-protection, a preservation of identity in the face of a tidal wave of glory.”
One Who Is More Powerful - 3rd Sunday of Advent
John the Baptist sets the table for us to be ready to receive Jesus into the world. Luke 3 speaks of a fire that will come with the messiah. This Advent season we eagerly wait for Jesus to be revealed as a fire that brings light and heat to our lives and for the life of the world.
Luke 3:1-20
Malachi 4:1-6
John 1:6-9
John Wesley
“I felt my heart strangely warmed.”
Thomas Merton
"It is important to remember the deep, in some ways anguished seriousness of Advent, when the mendacious celebrations of our marketing culture so easily harmonize with our tendency to regard Christmas, consciously or otherwise, as a return to our own innocence…. But the Church, in preparing us for the birth of a Savior and a King of Peace, has more in mind than seasonal cheer. The Advent mystery focuses the light of faith upon the very meaning of life, of history, of man, of the world and of our own being. In Advent we celebrate the coming and indeed the presence of Christ in our world.."
Henri Nouwen
“What needs to be guarded is the life of the Spirit within us. Especially we who want to witness to the presence of God’s Spirit in the world need to tend the fire within with utmost care…Our first and foremost task is faithfully to care of the inward fire so that when it is really needed it can offer warmth and light to lost travellers.”
Dorothy Day
"Early generations of Christians faith was a bright fire that warmed more than those who kept it burning."
Rabbi Jonathon Sacks
"Religion is like fire. It warms, but it also burns, and we are the guardians of the flame."
Padraig O’Tuama
"Prayer is a small fire lit to keep cold hands warm."
Preparing the Way - 2nd Sunday of Advent
John the Baptist sets the table for us to be ready to receive Jesus into the world. Luke 3 reveals to us that the light was coming in a very dark time. This Advent season we are learning to eagerly wait while we endure the darkness and difficulty of these days.
Luke 3:1-20
Isaiah 42:1-4
Isaiah 53:2-3
John 3:30
John Ortberg
“Who you become while you’re waiting is as important as what you’re waiting for.”
Ronald Rolheiser
"We spend about 98 percent of our lives waiting for something else to happen to us…. sometimes we are just waiting for our bus to arrive, for our workday to end, or for a cherished friend to visit. But at other times our impatience is deeper and we ache for a new season in our lives, a new person to fall in love with, a more meaningful career, or for the courage to finally face up to a nagging problem. We are always waiting. In that sense, we are always in “advent”. We long for someone or something to come along and bring new meaning into our lives. For us, as Christians, we see that new meaning in the coming of Christ. The season of Advent is a time to get in touch with our longing, our aching, our frustrations."
Walter Brueggemann
“Decrease what is old and habitual and destructive in your life so that the new life-giving power of Jesus may grow large with you: Decrease what is greedy, what is frantic consumerism, for the increase of life-giving truth-telling in your life, truth-telling about you and your neighbour, about the sickness of our society and our enmeshment in that sickness. Decrease what is hateful and alienating, for the increase of healing and forgiveness, which finally are the only source of life.”
Saint Teresa of Avila
"
Let nothing disturb you;
Let nothing make you afraid;
All things pass;
But God is unchanging,
Patience is enough for everything.
You who have God, lack nothing.
God alone is sufficient.
"
Matt, Amy and Dave take time to explain what a sabbatical is, what it will look like for Matt, why right now was the right time and what it means for St Clair now and moving forward.
Then I Saw - 1st Sunday of Advent
John receives this vision on the Island of Patmos while in Isolation and after persecution. When John is in isolation thats when he sees Jesus. The vision John gets is not what he expects. The one at the centre of reality is the Lamb that was slain". This upends our view of how the world is. Where is our attention? Who do we look too during this time?.
Revelation 5:6-14
Darrell Johnson
“Revelation calls us to radical discipleship, to all out courageous loyalty to the lamb in a world feverishly worshipping the beast.”
Teresa of Avila
"When one reaches the height of human maturity they only have one question left "How can I be helpful?"
NT Wright
“The call of the gospel is for the church to implement the victory of God in the world through suffering love”
Walter Wink
"History belongs to the intercessors who believe the future into being. Even a small number of people, firmly committed to the new inevitability on which they have fixed their imaginations, can decisively affect the shape the future takes. These shapers of the future are the intercessors, who call out of the future the longed-for new present."
A brief teaching on why Sunday matters and how we anticipate continued change with our gatherings looking ahead.
God is Love - 1st John 4:16-21
The letter of 1st John gives us timely wisdom into what is essential for faith and how we grow in discipleship; learning to live the life of Jesus. 1st John 4:16-21 is a bold and simple reminder of the kind of life we are called to live.
1st John 4:16-21
Luke 6:32, 35
Mark 12:28-311 Thess 2:8
Jackie Pullinger
“I went up to a man and said ‘Jesus loves you’ but realized that it didn’t mean anything unless I did it.”
Barbara Brown Taylor
"In every circumstance, regardless of the outcome, the main thing Jesus has asked me to do is to love God and my neighbor as religiously as I love myself. The minute I have that handled, I will ask for my next assignment. For now, my hands are full."
Love One Another - 1st John 3:11-18
The letter of 1st John gives us timely wisdom into what is essential for faith and how we grow in discipleship; learning to live the life of Jesus. 1st John 3:11-18 shows us the way of love, that the way of Jesus is the way of love and that loving our enemies and giving to those in need is how we live as people of peace in a hostile and violent world.
1st John 3:11-18
1 Corinthians 12:31-13:1-8
1 Corinthians 10:16-11:28
Parker Palmer
“Violence is what happens when we don’t know what else to do with our suffering.”
Thomas Merton
"There is a pervasive form of contemporary violence to which the idealist most easily succumbs: activism and overwork. The rush and pressure of modern life are a form, perhaps the most common form, of its innate violence. To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit oneself to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything, is to succumb to violence. The frenzy of our activism neutralizes our work for peace. It destroys our own inner capacity for peace. It destroys the fruitfulness of our own work, because it kills the root of inner wisdom which makes work fruitful.”
Anne Lamot/p>
"You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do..”
We Shall Be Like Him: 1 John 2:28-3:3
The letter of 1st John gives us timely wisdom into what is essential for faith and how we grow in discipleship; learning to live the life of Jesus. 1 John 2:28-3:3 is an emphatic reminder that we are loved by God and being called his children means we can trust him through the inevitable hardships of life, which will shape us to be more like him.
1 John 2:28-3:3
Hebrews 10:19-11:40
Romans 5:1-5
2 Corinthians 2:18
Hebrews 12:1-12
John 3:19
Jacques Ellul
“Christians were never meant to be normal. We’ve always been holy troublemakers, we’ve always been creators of uncertainty, agents of dimension that’s incompatible with the status quo; we do not accept the world as it is, but we insist on the world becoming the way that God wants it to be. And the Kingdom of God is different from the patterns of this world.”
C.S. Lewis
"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
Rainer Maria Rilke
"Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror.
Just keep going. No feeling is final.
Don’t let yourself lose me.
Nearby is the country they call life.
You will know it by its seriousness.
Give me your hand.”
Pedro Arrupe
"More than ever I find myself in the hands of God. This is what I have wanted all my life, from my youth. But now there is a difference. The initiative is entirely with God. It is indeed a profound spiritual experience to know and feel myself to be totally in the hands of God.”
Do Not Love the World: 1 John 2:15-17
The letter of 1st John gives us timely wisdom into what is essential for faith and how we grow in discipleship; learning to live the life of Jesus. 1 John 2:15-17 helps us to see that we live in a world of disordered loves and that we have a part to play in how we shape our love and affection for God.
1 John 2:15-17
John 3:16-19
Genesis 3:4-6
Hebrews 12:2
James K.A. Smith
“Our idolatries are less like conscious decisions to believe a falsehood and more like learned dispositions to hope in what will disappoint. Our idolatries are not intellectual; they are affective—instances of disordered love and devotion. Idolatry is caught more than it is taught. We practice our way into idolatries, absorb them from the water in which we swim. Hence our idolatries often reflect the ethos of our environments.”
James K.A. Smith
"Being a disciple of Jesus is not primarily a matter of getting the right ideas and doctrines and beliefs into your head in order to guarantee proper behavior; rather it’s a matter of being the kind of person who loves rightly – who loves God and neighbor and is orientated to the world by the primacy of that love”
God is Light: 1 John 1:5-2:2
The letter of 1st John gives us timely wisdom into what is essential for faith and how we grow in discipleship; learning to live the life of Jesus. 1 John 1:5-2:2 tells us that God is light and that having a right understanding of sin through confession, our lives are brought into the light of his presence.
1 John 1:5-2:2
Jeremiah 17:9
Ephesians 5:8-13
Psalm 139:23-24
G.K. Chesterton
“It is possible that God says every morning, ‘Do it again’ to the sun; and every evening, ‘Do it again’ to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.”
Martin Luther
“Sin is humanity curved in on itself.”
John Ortberg
“Sin is often the attempt to meet a legitimate need in an illegitimate way.”
Sunday we talked about learning to shape our life around THE LIFE. We've put together some extra resources to teach about what a rule of life is, why live with it and where to begin.
The Life Appeared: 1 John 1:1-4
The letter of 1st John gives us timely wisdom into what is essential for faith and how we grow in discipleship; learning to live the life of Jesus. 1 John 1:1-4 tells us that Jesus appeared as The Life and we are witnesses to it and so we orientate all of our life around the life of Jesus.
1 John 1:1-4
John 1:1-4
1 John 3:2
Paul Kingsnorth:
“The great tides of current affairs and history will roll on with or without us. What we have the power to do is work in our own small spheres and in our internal and local landscapes. Using this power is often more effective in the end than the short bursts of public rage that rise and fall through the ages. We are regularly guilt-tripped into taking part in the meta-narratives of others. What happens if we do what we can with what is within, and respond to the communities in which we actually live? The still small voice is always waiting to be heard.”
Andy Crouch
“Rule of life is a set of practices to guard our habits and guide our lives..”
John Tyson
“I am basically convinced that without a shared rule of life, based on tangible practices,
discipleship won’t happen in a western context. Radical individualism and consumerism are simply too overwhelming as seductive forces for individual christians to resist.”
GK Chesterton
“The more I considered Christianity, the more I found that while it had established a rule and order, the chief aim of that order was to give room for good things to run wild.”
St Clair is… Mission
Every fall we remind ourselves of what defines us as a community; what brings us together and what sends us out. This week we talk about the value of Mission and what it means to be participants with enacting God's love in the world.
2 Corinthians 5:14-20
Colossians 1:15-19
Matthew 16:24-26
Augustine
“You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace.”
Lesslie Newbigin
“The deepest motive for mission is simply the desire to be with Jesus where he is, on the frontier between the reign of God and the usurped dominion of the devil.”
Barbara Brown Taylor
“much of what passes for spiritual teaching in this country is about consoling the self, not losing it.”
Bishop Desmond Tutu
"Forgiving and being reconciled to our enemies or our loved ones are not about pretending that things are other than they are. It is not about patting one another on the back and turning a blind eye to the wrong. True reconciliation exposes the awfulness, the abuse, the pain, the hurt, the truth. It could even sometimes make things worse. It is a risky undertaking, but in the end it is worthwhile, because in the end only an honest confrontation with reality can bring real healing. Superficial reconciliation can bring only superficial healing."
St Clair is… Family
Every fall we remind ourselves of what defines us as a community; what brings us together and what sends us out. This week we talk about the value of Family and how it is only through the sacrificial love of Christ and sacrificial love for one another that we can live into being the family of God.
Hebrews 2:10-11
Philippians 2:1-5
John 13:34-35
Mother Tereasa
If you want to change the world, go home and love your family
St Clair is… Presence
Every fall we remind ourselves of what defines us as a community; what brings us together and what sends us out. This week we talk about the value of Presence and how knowing nearness of God in our life and in the world changes who we are and how we live.
Psalm 4
1 John 1:2
Miroslav Volf
We are in a crisis: pandemic, racist violence, political uncertainty, cultural clashes, economic downturn. All this is exposing fragility of our lives and calls our way of life as individuals and society into question. The truth is we must be confronted with fragility and death to seek a more promising life. That’s Jesus: the healthy do not need – and do not seek - a doctor. We are sick and yet, faced with death, most of us crave not a new life, but the life we’ve always known, the very life whose cracks the crisis is exposing.
Dorothy Day
The greatest challenge of the day is how to bring about a revolution of the heart, a revolution which has to start with each one of us?
Our full time staff of Amy, Matt, and Dave, take time to share reflections on behalf of the staff team and leadership team at St. Clair. We talk about the significance of the Black Lives Matter movement, how we can respond personally and what are the implications for us moving forward.
Reimagine Church: Outsiders Inside
--- Acts Chapter 10 is a key moment in the life of the Church. Cornelius encounters an Angel and Peter a vision. Peter is sent to Cornelius to proclaim the Gentiles are part of the promise, and in that moment the Gentiles receive the same gift of the Holy Spirit. What is happening here is a new understanding of family. This is all initiated by God, not Peter’s good ideas. How is the Church to love with the vision of people from all tribes, nations, and tongues, being brought together in Christ.
--- Ephesians 3:10
Genesis 12:1-2
Isaiah 49:6
Leviticus 19:34
"The book of Acts speaks of revolution. We must never forget this. It depicts life in the disrupting presence of the Spirit of God. There is only one central character here in this story of Acts. It is God, the Holy Spirit." -Dr Willie Jennings
“The problem with the world is not a shortage of theories or feel good slogans, the problem is that we confuse proliferation of progressive terminology with empathy and engagement. We say the right things, but we fail to act on them, because we want to feel virtuous without paying a price.” - Payam Akhavan
"If a world caught up in the unrelenting exchange system of violence was to be overcome, then here was the very means God would use to overcome violence - by the introduction of a new reality of belonging that drew together different people’s into a way of life that intercepted ancient bonds and redrew them around the body of Jesus and in the power of the Spirit." - *Dr Willie Jennings*
Reimagine Church: People of Peace
--- The encounter between Philip and the Ethopian in Acts 8 is a profound example of God doing a unique work, though at the heart of what is taking place is a simple conversation. To Reimagine Church we to need to rethink what it is to speak the good news of Jesus in a world desperate to know another way is possible.
--- Acts 8:26-40
Acts 8
Acts 1:8
2 Corintians 5:11-20
--- CH Spurgeon
Be true to truth as it comes to you. If God gives you only a common candle-light, make good use of it… Instead of complaining that you have no more light, make good use of what you have. Many groan over their inabilities, and yet they have never gone to the end of their abilities: this is sheer hypocrisy.
CH Spurgeon
Ah my brothers, you and I have need to understand the Bible. I will suppose you read it-let me hope that I am not mistaken; but when you read it, do labour above all things, to understand it. The book was written to be understood…. “I heard a person say once that they read through the bible six times on his knees in search of trying to understand a particular doctrine and I said ‘ Brother, that is an awkward position to read the Bible. You should have sat upon a chair and studied it in an easy posture! You should not have galloped through it racing over the chapters but rather read a little at a time and just try to understand it”
Rainer Maria Rilke
God speaks to each of us as he makes us,
Then walks with us silently out of the night.
These are the words we dimly hear.
You, send out beyond your recall.
Go the limits of your longing.
Embody me.
Flare up like a flame
And make big shadows I can move in.
Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror.
Just keep going. No feeling is final.
Don’t let yourself lose me.
Nearby is the country they call life.
You will know it by its seriousness.
Give me your hand.
Reimagine Church: Holy Disruption
--- Acts 4:13 says, “When they saw the courage of these unschooled ordinary men they were astonished and took note they had been with Jesus”. What does it mean for the Church to look like people who have been with Jesus? The world and Church is being disrupted and shaken. How do we look like Jesus in the midst of this? In the passage we see three things; Kindness, Courage and the Miraculous. Following Jesus involves all three. As Jacques Ellul says, "Christians are meant to be holy troublemakers".
--- Acts 4:1-14
Luke 6:32-36
Titus 3:3-4
Ephesians 2:7
“Christians were never meant to be normal. We’ve always been holy troublemakers, we’ve always been creators of uncertainty, agents of dimension that’s incompatible with the status quo; we do not accept the world as it is, but we insist on the world becoming the way that God wants it to be. And the Kingdom of God is different from the patterns of this world.” - Jacques Elul
“ In America Christianity has become more of a social group, status symbol or class rather than a transformative grace that leads the enemies of God to himself and helps them to love the things they once hated.” - Sho Baraka
“Whilst the pagan priests neglect the poor, the hated Galileans devote themselves to works of charity . . . These impious Galileans not only feed their own poor, but ours also; welcoming them into their agape." - Roman Emperor Julian (on Early Church)
In the Western Church we are educated way beyond our obedience.
"If you take care of the least of these, i’ll take care of the church”. - A word for St.Clair from Josiah
"Jesus is Lord is not my personal opinion, I take it to be a determative political claim. The difficulty is following a crucified Lord entails embodying a politic that cannot resort to coercion and violence. Its a politic of persuasion all the way down. Its a tiring business that is slow and time consuming. But Christians believe that by redeeming time, Christ has given us all the time we need to be politically for peace." - Stanley Hauwerwas
“The mind which asks for a non-miraculous Christianity is a mind in process of relapsing from Christianity into mere 'religion'.” - CS Lewis
Reimagine Church: Property and Possessions
With so much disruption in the world right now and so many ways we could respond, we look again at the example of the early church. Seeing the posture of the followers of Jesus, we are challenged by the need to separate ourselves from our dependencies on our stuff at the risk it would blind us to our own privilege. Pentecost Sunday reminds us that God has poured out his Spirit for the life of the world and we are invited to a life of repentance in response.
Acts 2
Mark 1:15
John Calvin
Repentance is being wounded by an awareness of our wrongness.
Cornell West
We are stuck in joyless quest for pleasure
Walter Brueggemann
The prophetic task of the church is to tell the truth in a society that lives in illusion, grieve in a society that practices denial, and express hope in a society that lives in despair.
James Cone
The gospel of Jesus is not a rational concept to be explained in a theory of salvation, but a story about God’s presence in Jesus’ solidarity with the oppressed.
Rudolph Bahro
When the forms of an old culture are dying, the new culture is created by a few people who are not afraid to be insecure.
Our full time staff of Amy, Matt and Dave take time to share reflections on behalf of the staff team and leadership team at St. Clair. Coming off a week of being offline to prayer for our community, this conversation is a collection of many conversations that have been happening throughout COVID.
We share about what this time of transition and change means for us as individuals, the impact it has on our missional families and the implications it has for our larger community moving forward.
When we think of the word church what comes to mind? We often think of the Sunday gathering but the New Testament talks more about “who” the church is. In this new series we are looking at what the church could be in the midst of this season and what are some themes of the early church we can learn from. In this message we look at Acts 1. A key virtue of the Early Church is patience but also they are filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to live the life of Jesus.
--- Acts 1:1-11
Romans 8:11
Romans 12:12
— “There are times when the hero has to sit down,” he said later. “At some bridges in life the part of you that always gets it done has to sit down.” David Whyte
God, in dealing with Israel across the centuries, was never in a hurry. God’s mission is unhurried and unstoppable. [In fact] “patience is the very nature of God. Patience is a distinctive sign of the Christian". Alan Krieder
Does anyone have the foggiest idea what sort of power we blithely invoke? Or, as I suspect, does no one believe a word of it? The churches are children playing on the floor with their chemistry sets, mixing up a batch of TNT to kill a Sunday morning. It is madness to wear ladies’ straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares; they should lash us to our pews. For the sleeping god may wake someday and take offense, or the waking god may draw us to where we can never return.” Annie Dillard
The work of the spirit is to impart life, to implant hope, to give liberty, to testify to of christ, to guide us into truth, to teach us all things, comfort the believer and convict the world of sin. DL Moody
Recover Your Life: In The Wilderness
The desert was a definitive experience Jesus and the Israelites and can be for all of us living the way of Jesus. The desert/wilderness experience is enduring a place of hardship that the tenderness of God may be revealed in our life. Examining Luke 4:1-22, we learn from Jesus' temptation in the desert and what emerged out of the desert with Jesus.
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Song of Songs 8:5
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Hosea 2:14
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Hebrews 2:17-18
“This Lent your call reverberates urgently: “Be converted!”, “Return to me with all your heart”. You are calling on us to seize this time of trial as a time of choosing. It is not the time of your judgement, but of our judgement: a time to choose what matters and what passes away, a time to separate what is necessary from what is not. It is a time to get our lives back on track with regard to you, Lord, and to others. The Lord asks us and, in the midst of our tempest, invites us to reawaken and put into practice that solidarity and hope capable of giving strength, support and meaning to these hours when everything seems to be floundering. The Lord awakens so as to reawaken and revive our Easter faith... In the midst of isolation when we are suffering from a lack of tenderness and chances to meet up, and we experience the loss of so many things, let us once again listen to the proclamation that saves us: he is risen and is living by our side. The Lord asks us from his cross to rediscover the life that awaits us, to look towards those who look to us, to strengthen, recognize and foster the grace that lives within us.” - Pope Francis
Recover Your Life: Scripture
We are invited to know God and learn his ways through recognizing his voice in the words of Scripture. Reading from Deuteronomy 8, the final word Moses gives to his people, we are given the reminder to make God's words as essential to us as bread for our daily life.
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Deuteronomy 4:5-7
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Deuteronomy 6:4-9
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Deuteronomy 8:1-18
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Psalm 1
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Psalm 119:9-16
“Spiritual theology, using Scripture as text, does not present us with a moral code and tell us ‘live up to this’; nor does it set out a system of doctrine and say, ‘Think like this and you will live well.’ The biblical way is to tell a story and in the telling invite: ‘Live intothis - this is what it looks like to be human in this God-made and God-ruled world; this is what is involved in becoming and maturing as a human being. We do violence to the biblical revelation when we ‘use’ for what we can get out of it or what we think will provide colour and spice to our otherwise bland lives’" - Eugene Peterson
“When we privatize scripture we embezzle the common currency of God’s revelation. But Scripture is never that - the revelation draws us out of ourselves, out of our fiercely guarded individuality, into the world of responsibility and community and salvation” - Eugene Peterson
Recover Your Life: Prayer
We know we “should” pray but does prayer make a difference? Prayer has always been central to the church and the life of Jesus but is often not seen as “doing anything”. Looking at the story of Moses is Exodus 3 we see that Prayer is about intimacy and Intercession. Gods work in the world always starts with God’s work in us and then moves out. Walter Wink says that “history belongs to the Intercessors”.
Exodus 2:23-3:10 Luke 11:1-11 Acts 4:23-36
“Prayer is talking to God about what we are going to do together.” - Dallas Willard
"The work God wants to do in the world always starts with the work God wants to do in you.” - Matt Pamplin (paraphrasing a bunch of cleverer people)
Intercessory prayer is spiritual defiance of what is in the way of what God has promised. Intercession visualizes an alternative future to the one apparently fated by the momentum of current forces. Prayer infuses the air of a time yet to be into the suffocating atmosphere of the present. History belongs to the intercessors who believe the future into being. Even a small number of people, firmly committed to the new inevitability on which they have fixed their imaginations, can decisively affect the shape the future takes. These shapers of the future are the intercessors. (Walter Wink)
"God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer.” - Mother Teresa
At a time when the fear of not having enough could trap us into only be concerned with ourselves, generosity is all the more important. Reading from 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, we look at the experience of the early church and how their generosity in times of need was a powerful expression of the gospel, a demonstration of the abundance of God, for us and for the life of the world.
- 2 Corinthians 8 - 9 - Psalm 112 - 1 Timothy 6:17-19
"We read the Gospel as if we had no money, and we spend our money as if we know nothing of the Gospel." - John Haughey
"I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditures excludes them." - CS Lewis
"The test of my love for Jesus is the practical one, all the rest is sentimental jargon." - Oswald Chambers
The resurrection of Jesus changes everything. It is cosmic in nature but also deeply personal. We look at Mary’s encounter and how she is commissioned by Jesus to take good news to everyone. What does that mean for each of us?
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Despair is the death of our sense of surprise, the belief that nothing new can happen to us. We despair at that precise moment when, consciously or unconsciously, we say in resignation: “That is the way I am, that is the way things have always been for me, that is the way it will always be! I know what is possible! For me it is too late!” Once this has been said, we are in a tomb. Why is this despair? Why is it so dangerous? Because the resurrection is always, like it was the first time, a surprise, the totally unexpected, the impossible, that which defies all logic, the laws of nature, and the wisdom of common sense and convention. When we have every angle of reality so calculated and figured that we know all the possibilities, then nothing new can come along to surprise us. We have ceased believing in God and grace in a real sense.
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"We have slimmed down God and grace to fit our own minds". - Rolhesier
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"Resurrection means the worst thing is never the last thing". - Frederick Buechner
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"The message of Easter is that God's new world has been unveiled in Jesus Christ and that you're now invited to belong to it.” - NT Wright
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"In many respects I find an un-resurrected Jesus easier to accept. Easter makes him dangerous. Because of Easter, I have to listen to his extravagant claims and can no longer pick and choose from his sayings. Moreover, Easter means he must be loose out there somewhere.” - Philip Yancey
This week we are continuing our “recover your life" series looking at John 9:1-12. We looked at how to practise hospitality during Covid-19. In welcoming the stranger we may actually be welcoming Jesus.
Message Quotes:
"Jesus didn’t come to make us a christian he came to make us fully human." - Hans Rookmaker
“Hospitality means primarily the creation of free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place. It is not to bring men and women over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines.” - Henri Nouwen
“Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” - Ellie Wiesel
God has taken on a disguise, a most unlikely disguise of the stranger, the poor, the hungry, the prisoner, the sick, the ragged ones of the earth. “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me. If we cannot detect God’s presence in the world, it may be that we have been looking in the wrong places." - Philip Yancey For us, “Satan” and “wild animals” refer particularly to the chaos inside of us that normally we either deny or simply refuse to face – our paranoia, our anger, our jealousies, our distance from others, our fantasies, our grandiosity, our addictions, our unresolved hurts, our incapacity to really pray, our faith doubts, and our moral secrets. The normal food that we eat, distracted ordinary life, works to shield us from the deeper chaos that lurks beneath the surface of our lives. Lent invites us to stop eating whatever protects us from having to face the desert that is inside of us. - Ronald Rolhesier
Dave Arnold speaks on Sabbath and the opportunity our new reality holds for us to enter in the presence of God in this practice.
In light of the global pandemic, Matt Pamplin speaks from Philippians 4:4-9 and encourages us to be a people of peace, connected to the Presence of God.
Dave Arnold speaks about the season our world is in and the way we as a Church can respond.
Dave Arnold speaks about how the Psalms can be used in prayer and what we can learn about prayer from the Psalms.
Dave Arnold & Matt Pamplin unpack the words of Christ from Matthew 5:27-30 regarding lust.
Matt Pamplin, Dave Arnold and Andrew Klumpenhouwer talk through the entirety of the Sermon on the Mount. The discussion gives perspective on how our kids have been learning from Jesus teachings and highlights specifically the passages in Matthew 5-7 that haven't been mentioned in our Sunday gatherings.