Wildwords: Sermons From Wildwood Mennonite Church

This Palm Sunday, we remember Jesus's triumphal entry in Jerusalem, the beginning of his final journey to the cross. With shouts of "Hosanna!" and waving leafy branches, the crowd welcomes their king. But we know that, in a few days, they will be shouting "Crucify him!" In this messy in-between, where do we find ourselves? Are we ready to accept the kind of "king" that Jesus truly is?

Who is most responsible for Jesus' death on the cross? There are the usual first-century suspects... but should anyone closer to home be included on the list? If so, are we also complicit in other major tragedies of our world? Or maybe none of that really matters? How can we think about complicity and wrong-doing in ways that help to move us towards justice and harmony?

Peter's denial of Jesus is a small but profound story, woven into the Easter narrative of all four of the Gospels. In these moments, Peter's devotion to Jesus is tested, as it was earlier in the garden during Jesus' arrest. Peter seems to lose his way, but is there hope for redemption? As disciples of Jesus committed to peace, can we find the "third way" that's neither violence nor silence in hard times? 

Jesus wants to wash Peter's feet. Peter does NOT want this to happen. What's going on for both of them? How do we hear the voice of Christ in the midst of our own internal monologues and the deluge of other voices we live in? And what does it mean for us to follow Jesus in this ritual of footwashing today?

This is the first Sunday of the season of Lent, the slow journey with Jesus toward the cross and Easter. The sermon series, Dwelling in Dissonance, invites us to sit in the uncertainty, the aching, and the mystery of our current experience, in light of the stories of Jesus' final days in the gospel of John. We begin with the miraculous story of the raising of Lazarus. 

On this Brunch Sunday we focused on the story of Hagar. When Hagar ran away God pursued her and showed Hagar that God was with her always. Hagar named God “El Roi: the God Who Sees Me.” This week Lucy Bridges shared with us the story of her son Sean and how she started “Sean’s Fund” through the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) to honour Sean’s life.

The family stories of Sarah, Hagar, and Abraham in Genesis are full of faith and doubt, joy and sorrow. When they lose sight of God's promises and abundance, they take matters into their own hands and the consequences are discord and unravelled relationships. How can we have radical hope in difficult times, and continue showing radical hospitality when we feel lost or threatened?

Is a relationship with God more contract or covenant? The agreement(s) God made with Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 12-17 were both spiritual and political, personal and collective. How did/do the concerns at one end of that spectrum impact the concerns of the other end? Where does your relationship with God fall in that continuum and what does that mean for your faith? How does a local church, existing on both ends, balance the tension between them in ways that are inclusive and accountable, flexible and structured?

In this interpretation of the Hebrew origin stories in Genesis, we follow the humans as they doubt God and forget their true names, which brings a host of consequences. They embark on a journey with God out of the garden, which becomes our journey of recovering, remembering, and reminding others of our truest names: we belong, we are beloved, we are delightful.

Are you good? What about the rest of the people and the world around you? The Genesis Creation story makes the generous claim that, despite all the headlines, this world is all kinds of good! How do we come to terms with that, as people of faith with our eyes wide open? And how does that goodness call us to respond?

This Sunday, we were pleased to welcome Sharon Murugiah, Executive Director of Shekinah Retreat Centre, to share with us about Shekinah Summer Camp. You can learn more about Shekinah at www.shekinahretreatcentre.org/. Sharon also shared with us a reflection on Philippians 1:1-11.

On the first Sunday of 2026, we celebrate the Epiphany, which is the event of the Magi visiting the baby Jesus. But it's more than that; it's also an invitation to follow Jesus as disciples, and to be guided by curiosity and wonder as we enter a new season!

"Love is the Gift of Christmas." Yes. And also, what does that…even…mean? If it’s to be more than a nice holiday sentiment, I’d like a few more specifics. Join Ken Bible and Evangelical Barbie to explore a broad view of the Love of Christmas!

The third week of Advent is typically known as Joy Sunday in some Christian traditions. As we wander through metaphorical and literal deserts, like our spiritual ancestors, we're invited to see the places of joy and hope where Immanuel, God-with-us, meets and sustains us.

The story of Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones is one of restoration, healing, and amazement. This Advent, we're invited to think of the places in our lives and communities that feel dead, and where we need the Spirit to energize us with the breath of life.

Why are Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego crashing the Advent party this year?? The backstory is complicated, but the result is that we are reminded anew that God shows up in this season--and every season--in unexpected and improbable ways. Come and Be Amazed with us!

Eternity Sunday is the last Sunday of the Christian calendar year. During the service, we remember those we've lost this year, and spend time lighting candles, sharing memories, and holding space for one another. This reflection on Revelation 21:1-5 revolves around a story of two friends, Yohanan (John) and Alexander, who embody God's presence for one another in challenging times.  

This Sunday, for the fourth installment in our sermon series Who is My Neighbour? Being the Church for the Neighbourhood, we had Lois Siemens as our guest speaker. Lois shared a dramatic reading around the table to show how Jesus invites us to cross boundaries and make a place for everyone at this table, where he has first invited us.

Listen to the Prophets! As we continue the journey through the bible, we encounter the prophets - those who call us to attention, remind us how to treat our neighbours, and dream a new world into being. Are we listening?

[God] brings justice to the orphan and the widowed,    and befriends the foreigner among you with food and clothing. In the same way, you too must love the foreigner,    for you were once foreigners yourselves in the land of Egypt.~ Deuteronomy 10:18-19It really is that simple. And hard and complicated. God gave this vision to the ancient Hebrews of a society organized around the most vulnerable people. How can we live into this vision in our neighbourhoods today?