South Arm United Church's Podcast

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Fresh back from the preaching conference Rev. Lauren leads us in a reflection on the B attitudes explaining how they are not as aspirational list but are true of who we already are and are called to be as God's people - a people of humility, a people of mercy, a people whose hearts ache for justice in the earth and who work towards it with God being our helper. A people who are called to be pure in heart towards God, peacemakers on the earth and who are not afraid to be...

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Rev. Lauren was away this week at a preaching conference in Toronto so our Ministry Student, Wayne Ho delivered this week's sermon reflection on the death of Moses. 

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Moses has a tough job as the mediator between God and God's people. Today we look in the aftermath of the Golden Calf incident at Moses standing between God and God's people asking God to go with him. If God's presence does not go with us, them who are we really? 

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We've completed our special "Changemakers" series and return to a text chosen from The Revised Common Lectionary with scripture selections that are preached around the world on this day. Today we examine a passage where Paul makes a case for his lineage and societal status and then says, it's all nothing. The highest purpose and story of his life really is to know Christ and to follow him unto death. 

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This Sunday our Ministry student, Wayne Ho stepped up to preach as part of his learning plan. Wayne is in his final year of studying for a Master's of Divinity at Regent College in Vancouver. Hear as he shares a wise word about Empowerment and "making space" for all in the Body of Christ to be able to discover and utilize their God-given gifts to make a difference in the world. This was our first time hearing our student preach and we felt very blessed! We hope and trust you will be as...

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We continue in our series on being Changemakers in the world and walking the path Jesus laid out for us. Today we looked at the role of Creativity in walking with God. 5,000+ people needed to be fed and there was no obvious supply of food anywhere in site. Jesus finds a creative way to engage the disciples and feed the crowd so that everyone sees God's provision and amazing work. And in our second story for the day, a woman whose sin is known to the community comes to a supper at the...

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We continue in Week 2 of a month long series called "The Changemakers" put out by Marcia McFee and Worship Design Studio. Each week we are looking at the Feeding of the 5,000 story from a fresh perspective along with a complimentary text that works with our theme. The learning is to inspire us to question how we too might be Changemakers in our time, place and context, walking in the path of Jesus. Week 1 our theme was Compassion. Week 2 our theme is Collaboration. Jesus invited the disciples to be an active part in his...

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Everyone has giftings of things that we are good at and things we enjoy. Part of our highest call is to discover what those gifts are in ourselves and then to use those gifts for the glory of God. It can be all too easy for us to get puffed up about what we excel at, but the Apostle Paul reminds us that we all have a part and are to serve God and one another in humility. In this, we pray to be transformed more into the image and likeness of Jesus...

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This Sunday we explored the text of Moses at the burning bush. The fire that did not consume the bush captured Moses' attention. From there, it was God's command that captured Moses' heart and great purpose. To come before the ruler of Egypt (the superpower of the time) and demand that the ruler let the people go whom they are using and profiting off of, is a huge ask! Who am I to do that? Yet God assures Moses that it's not all on Moses really, but God will be the one directing...

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We begin a month (September, 2026) long sermon series from Worship Design Studio by Marcia McFee called, "Changemakers." Each week we will hear the "Feeding of the 5,000" story from Mark's Gospel along with a complimentary text which demonstrates the virtue God is calling us to, to be more like Jesus and enact real change in the world. This week the theme is Compassion. Jesus had compassion for the crowd and the Good Samaritan had compassion for the man on the side of the road who had been beaten, robbed and left half-dead. Where might...

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 **Volume may be louder than usual as it was outdoors in a park and Lauren projected her voice louder than usual** 09 Aug 2026 Worship & Picnic in the Park with our friends from Gilmore Park United Church. Lectionary Gospel reading this week is the story of Jesus walking on water. 

Music: More Voices Hymnal Song #90, "Don't Be Afraid". Words: John L. Bell and Graham Maule, 1995. Music: John L. Bell, 1995. Copyright Iona Community, Scotland.  Podcast/Streamed with Permission under One License Number: A-607425 & CCLI 2453477

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Rev. Lauren is back and before we enter today's scripture of Jacob wrestling with a man overnight, Lauren helps us remember the full context of Jacob's story to this point; a story full of complicated family dynamics that shows how we all contend with God and people in our ongoing work of being the very people of God. In our great days, our everyday ordinary days and our hardest days alike, God is with us in and through it all. Thanks be to God! 

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This Sunday Rev. Lauren was invited to guest preach at another church so many thanks to retired United Church Clergy and friend of South Arm, Rev. Sally McShane for leading worship and preaching this day! 

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While Rev. Lauren was away on vacation one of our great church leadership Olwen Walker offered to step in and lead service. Drawing inspiration from Ben Cremer's 30-Day Devotional, "Following Jesus in a World Obsessed with Empires," Olwen shares what it means to be a community of people aiming to follow in Christ's Word and Way in our time and place.

Scripture passages include: Hebrews 10:24-25, 2 Corinthians 13:11, Colossians 3:16 & John 15:4-5, 9. 

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12 July 2026 Service lead by Rev. Jay Olson

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In this praise Psalm of David we look at what the verses tell us about who God is, what God does and how we are compelled to respond. God is, God does, So we...

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Enjoy this full edition of a very special service honouring the stories and living history of our church. South Arm began in 1906. That's a lot of great history, ministers and families who have worshipped and served here! Many of our current members have been here over 40+ years. They carry important stories and memories of the church across the ages that we don't want to lose. Today we revisit some of the stories of eras past, sing some old hymns and cherish the living history of our church that has formed who we are...

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Jesus calls the 12 together and empowers them with his authority to go out and do the ministry he himself had done: proclaim good news, heal the sick, cast out demons, make lepers well and raise the dead. They are to go from place to place where God directs. Some households will welcome them and extend hospitality, some will run them out of town. In all, God is with them and they are Called, Equipped and Sent. Called, Equipped and Sent. As followers of Jesus, as followers of his Way, we too are Called...

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In their old age, well past the natural child-bearing years, word comes to Abraham that his wife Sarah will give birth to their first child. In the natural this is preposterous for a senior well beyond menopause and child-bearing years to imagine (which is why she laughed), but for God... anything is possible! And what God says will happen, comes to pass. Not always in our time or way. In fact, rarely in our time or way but in God's way and wisdom. The promises of God are always worth waiting for. The...

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This year South Arm United Church is engaged in a Visioning process to seek God's guidance on whom we are called to be and how we might better open our doors to serve our neighbours (and the world). As part of that visioning we want to honour the past, taking the best of who we are into the future. Acknowledging the deep roots and living history of the church that formed who we are today, we want to honour those stories, sing some old hymns and name how much the church has evolved...

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This Sunday we celebrate Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit to the followers of Jesus. Pentecost (meaning "50" is 50 days from Passover). And Pentecost happens under very specific circumstances. People pilgrimaged to Jerusalem from all across the Roman Empire for the Festival of Weeks (commemorating the wheat harvest and the giving of the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai). This gathering of diverse people spoke Greek because of the empire but their native language would have been from the region they were from. So when tongues settle on the disciples and they...

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Today we get to hear Jesus offer a prayer to the One he called Father. This prayer from the heart asks that we may be one in unity with God and God's call on our lives, as the Trinity is in their own, 3-in-1 relationship.   

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Last week we looked at the passage immediately before this one. Jesus had shared with his followers 2 central teachings: (1) that to see Jesus is to see the One he called Father and (2) that the way to where he is going is to follow him. He is the Way. We may want the coordinates but Jesus instead offers an invitation - follow me. 

Today we pick up in the next verses of John where Jesus relates his personhood and work with the relationship of the Holy Spirit. Jesus will soon leave this e...

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I am glad to live in a time when we have Google Maps. That technology which helps us get places, able to speak directions to us and knowing up-to-date delays and the best route is quite incredible. But when The Way is with you, you do not need a map. In the lectionary Gospel passage for today Thomas asks Jesus, "We do not know where you are going so how can we know the way?" It's an honest question I can easily imagine asking Jesus myself. And Jesus replies, "I am the way...

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The church is a different kind of community from many in the world. Where else but around Jesus do we find people of all different languages, nations, identities, ages, socioeconomic statuses etc gathering in one place with someone so major in common? Society often divides us up into neat and not so neat identities and categories. The church breaks down all that. The church is a weird and wonderful, counter-cultural community. Let's name that, recognize what it means and own our place in that ongoing story of God's people and work called to...

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We see with more than just our eyes. Our heart, our ears, our sense of smell and touch all play a part in how we come to really see people and know they truly are. On the road to Emmaus, 2 disciples are walking when suddenly Jesus joins them post-resurrection. But the fail to recognize just Who is walking with them. He unpacks scripture pointing to himself, reminding these disciples all the prophets had said about the path to life coming through death and resurrection. But it's only when they join him at the...

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This recording is from the Sunday after Easter and Reverend Lauren was away. A wonderful retired United Church Minister, Rev. Brian Thorpe filled in. Enjoy this message! 

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Good Friday. Today we follow Jesus and his journey to the Cross and look at how our inclinations as people and as a society lean towards violence, while Jesus Way is the Way of Peace and Forgiveness - even to his accusers! 

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It's Easter Sunday and He is Risen! Celebrate Easter Sunday and Communion/Eucharist with us as we mark that Jesus arose in the world and conquered the powers of sin and the grave/death. And, Jesus Way is still alive in the world today - through us. 

In the art of Improvisation acting, performers are invited to jump into an unfolding story someone else began by agreeing with what they do and adding to it. This technique is known as, "Yes, and...". This happened, "Yes, and" then this happened! Today we e...

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Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey's colt which marks Palm Sunday and the entrance to Holy Week appears in all 4 Gospels. Each Gospel writer tells the story a little differently. This year we focus on Mark's account. But what does that mean? How does Mark frame the story next to the other Gospel accounts? Well, you're in luck because this week Reverend Lauren prepared posters and preached the story 4 ways, detailing how each Gospel writer tells the same story. Please visit our Facebook page: South Arm United Church to see the images...

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Continuing in our Good News series we examine the story of the woman accused of adultery who is brought into the temple for judgement. Faith leaders confront Jesus and ask what should be done with her. The scene reads like a set up. But Jesus flips the script by writing some things in the sand which cause these righteous leaders to drop their stones and walk away. None is left to accuse her except Jesus, who offers her forgiveness and the chance to start again. God's justice is generous and no matter our...

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We continue in our "Good News" Lenten series this week acknowledging the systemic injustices that exist in our world, how Jesus meets people on the margins with compassion and love and calls us to love to do likewise. We acknowledge the rhythms and pressures of empire vs. the rhythms of God. We acknowledge that God forming us for this world, for this time means we are a cherished part of God's creative plan without needing to prove anything to the world. The Good News? God cares for those on the margins, the most...

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Continuing in our Lenten "Good News" series, we look today at Mark's account of "The Feeding of the 5,000". Jesus sent out the disciples (here called Apostles for the first time which means, 'sent ones') to do as he has done - teach, encourage people to repent, pray, anoint, heal the sick and follow Jesus' example. Having gone out in pairs to minister to people as Jesus instructed, they return to report back, in need of rest. Jesus invites them to get away with him to a deserted place. But the crowds see Jesus...

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There are times when God's word is so good I who love to preach (Rev. Lauren) just want to sit down, be quiet and let God speak. This Sunday was one of those times. Someone asked if I could put the big point of the message up front and in this sermon I did just that. After giving the big point in the first 1-2 minutes I was very tempted to sit down and let the words sit with people. I had a whole sermon prepared but God's word and the big point...

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First Sunday of Lent. We are following a series created by 'A Sanctified Art' entitled, "Tell Me Something Good". Each week the sermon title begins with the words, "The Good News is...". Today we find Jesus at a wedding party where he will perform his first miracle (sign/wonder work) that points beyond the act itself to revealing something of his identity. With the wedding banquet as our setting and a 93 year old Birthday in the church, we decorated with balloons and started the sermon with a little dance party. Starting in this...

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The banners in the church turn to white for this service as we celebrate Transfiguration Sunday. This is from the last Sunday of Epiphany/Ordinary Time before the Lent season begins next week. In Matthew 16 the religious elite ask Jesus for a sign (which he does not provide anymore than he has already), Jesus and the disciples cross a lake and head to Caesarea Philippi where Jesus asks the disciples who people say He is. Then, Jesus asks them directly, who do You say I am? And Simon Peter correctly identifies Jesus as...

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God gives a word to the prophet Isaiah to deliver to God's people, you fast and act holy in vain when you don't live as my people the rest of the week. Is it good to fast? Yes, absolutely. Is it good to worship? Yes, absolutely. Is it good to bow down in prayer? Yes, of course. But what good is any of that if we return to our normal lives and live like everyone else, as if God has not transformed us in any way? None. 

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United Church Growth Animator, Rev. Scott Reynolds was with us all weekend. 

On Saturday he lead our Seeking God's Vision team on a Retreat to begin imagining where God is calling us to serve and grow as a community. 

Sunday morning Rev. Scott co-lead service and was our Guest Preacher. His message reminded us: (1) How the way of Christ looks very different to the ways of the world & (2) To go and look for the face of Christ in others and show up in such a way that they see th...

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This Sunday we had a special Guest Preacher, Jeannie Van Zandt. Jeannie is a student at Vancouver School of Theology (VST) where she is completing a Master's of Public and Pastoral Leadership towards being a Hospital Chaplain. Today she lead our in-service Children's Time with a beautiful illustration from The Chronicles of Narnia and then spoke on Why Jesus Came. And after church she stuck around to mingle with our community as we gathered around tables of food and coffee for an old-fashioned, church potluck. 

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Having spent a good amount of time in Corinth, Paul has established relationships and has encouraged the home churches there. He gets reports that things have gone sideways a bit and sits down with a fellow leader, Sosthenes, to pen this letter to the Corinthian churches. They have divisions and disagreements to do with following different leaders, worship styles and right beliefs. The church is a beautiful, set apart community of God called to serve God in the world. We have all the spiritual gifts we need to do this work but sometimes...