Wildwords: Sermons From Wildwood Mennonite Church

Biblical writers remind us, tenderly, so many times - in liturgy, letters, and the mouths of angels – fear not, do not be afraid. How will we wrestle room in our imaginations, in our hearts, away from fear to make room for compassion? How might heavenly citizenship teach us about open-heartedness and open-handed living? Can beauty shape us into more compassionate people?  from Eileen Klassen Hamm

What do you do with a fig tree that doesn't produce figs? Cut it down because consequences matter? Or give it extra care and attention because that might just be what it needs? And beyond good gardening techniques, what about humans--do we get what we earn, or do we receive what is given?

Feeling surrounded, back-against-the-wall, with no way out of whatever situation you're in? Name your crisis--personal conflict, international war, pandemic impacts, natural catastrophe, systemic failure... there's more than enough of that feeling to go around these days. Moments like this have long been part of the human condition, and our spiritual ancestors (often? sometimes? occasionally?) chose to pursue hope and trust and transformation over inevitability. What might we learn from their voices?

This season of Lent begins with... a call to shift our priorities away from personal security. Umm... seriously?? Have you looked outside lately? This is no time to relax on the security side!!! A fair assessment of current events, true. And yet, our first glimpse of Jesus as an adult finds him in the desert, by choice, facing his vulnerabilities. What's he doing there, and why would we want to join him? Come and see.

Our Food Security series wraps up (for now) with a call to action. We've heard lots of good ideas, from changes to our personal food habits to volunteerism and advocacy to potential church projects. But let's be real: change is hard, and there are a few humps we'll need to get over if we're going to take action. Let's take a look at those and consider a few simple rules at the core of food security for all.

We welcomed Lisa Martens Bartel from Grovenland Farm near Drake, SK as our guest this Sunday. From Lisa: “As a farmer, my entire life is connected to the land, but it's not a love for physical labour that drew me here but a calling for justice. The concerns over food security and food justice are not just a political concern but a theological one as well, one that challenges us to reconnect with our food.”

Food is interwoven into all parts of our community and our lives. Food Security is the the idea that "“all people, at all times, [should!] have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life" (The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization). As our congregation continues to partner with the work of the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre, let's learn together more about how we can contribute towards becoming a Food Secure community!

This week's sermon calls our attention to an unusual parable in Luke 11---it seems that Jesus is in favour of waking your neighbours up in the middle of the night? The homeowner's association is definitely going to hear about this one! Actually, Jesus has a typically upside-down message about the nature of satisfaction and the purpose of prayer. Tune in for a decidedly un-satisfying experience!

In response to the lawyer's question, “Who is my neighbour?” Jesus turns the question on its head and asks, “Who became the good neighbour?” Jesus asks that same question of us. So, who is our neighbour and to whom are we expected to be neighbours? Who do we serve?  If we want to live right, and if we are made for togetherness, goodness, and compassion, then is there a way to do that?

How we frame our stories of uncertainty changes our experience, which changes how we interact with others, respond to our challenges, and how we show up in our world. So in uncertainty, are we stuck in a maze trying to avoid the tricks, keep our heads down, and get out before dark? Or are we walking a labyrinth, keeping on the path, smelling the roses, finding meaning in each step with the knowledge we’re on a journey back to the centre? We are pleased to have guest speakers Scott Kim and Chery Woelk sharing with us this week.

Remember Jesus' punk rock pre-teen phase? Where he ditched his clueless parents and headed back to the festival for another few days partying with his friends? Of course the official version (Luke 2:40-52) is cleaned up a little... But still, a bold move for the future Christ. What can we learn about boldness and maturity from Jesus' rebellious streak?

Our "four-gospel journey of growth and transformation" finally makes its way to the gospel of Luke. Now that we've answered the call, weathered the storm, and opened our eyes to the garden of God's presence...what's left? Can't we just sit in the joy of that garden for a while longer? Where does this road lead from here? And why are there stinky shepherds joining us on the journey?

Dare to Imagine...God's Face? Over the course of recorded history, the People of God have used many different names, metaphors and images for God. Yet when God chose to come near, God chose something new and incredible to reveal their self to us. Good things come in small packages... come and see! For the full effect check out the video of this sermon on our website.

Sing it with me... "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!!!!" Does that feel a little forced? A few too many exclamation points, a bit too much sugar, a little bit of emptiness behind the eyes of that forced smile? Yes, it's Christmas. And yes, life is still full of tragedy, trauma, fears and longings. Some big and existential, far too many local and personal. An ancient reality, right back to the manger and the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night. What do we do with the tension of Christmas? Is there beauty and even Joy somewhere within it all?

It's been a complicated couple of weeks for our congregation. Specifically, we've been navigated the hiring process for a third half-time pastor, a discordant process that resulted in the candidate withdrawing her name from consideration. Our Advent theme calls us to "Dare to Imagine...God's Embrace"--so where do we find that when we are shaken by conflict and uncertainty?

Our Advent series begins with an invitation: "Dare to Imagine...God's Goodness." With all that is wrong about the world dominating the headlines and weighing heavy on our hearts, where can we find the hope of the Advent season? Yet from the ancient poets to the slightly-less-ancient gospels to the very real and present concerns of our time, there is a call that continues to echo. Is it possible that, though we find it hard to hope, hope still finds us? We also appreciated a presentation from the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre, part of our Advent Giving Project of collecting hygiene kits. Listen to that presentation and Joe's mini-sermon.

This week, our delightful journey through the gospel of John's "Garden of Joy" brings us to... the cross? Yes, "there was a garden in the place where Jesus was crucified" (John 19:41)--the pain and trauma and grief of such a horrific event is right there in between the beautiful words of comfort and inspiration. Does this mean for us, on Eternity Sunday, that our grief and pain and trauma also belong, that we will not be crushed by them, that we can together make space for even the worst of endings and trust that this, too, shall somehow be transformed into new life? Come and see.

Last weekend MCC hosted their annual Peace conference, centering themselves around the theme of Restoring Justice: exploring how to do justice better. This morning's scriptures continue to challenge us to refuse the constraints of a broken system that continuously fail the most vulnerable and declare that we are going to choose a different way forward. Listen to what Nora Pederberg shares with us.

Footwashing? As in, the ritual that some churches do once a year during Holy Week? That's about following Jesus' example in humility and service, the status and work of the servant and their master flipped upside down. That's true, but it's not the whole story. The footwashing story of John's gospel (ch 13) is also about intimacy, knowing and being known. We're well practiced in the serving and giving piece; are we also willing to receive?

Happy Halloween!... in church? Seriously, people dressed up in costumes and everything! Even the preacher, wearing a "Grim Reaper" costume to preach a sermon on Halloween, the most un-Christian of holidays. Our fundamentalist Mennonite ancestors must have been rolling over in their graves (or perhaps just lying really still so as to discourage any and all grave-related activity…) But really--what's the good of Halloween? Can God really be present somewhere amidst the graveyards and ghouls? Join us to find out!