Wildwood Mennonite Church 팟 캐스트

On Eternity Sunday each year, we pause to reflect on our losses from the past year and from a lifetime of human frailty. "Comfort, comfort my people" is the offering from God through the voice of the prophet Isaiah. What does that comfort look like and how do we receive it? Join us for a view of God in the rocking chair.…

"Non-duality is the highest level of consciousness. Divine union, not private perfection, is the goal of all healthy religion" (Richard Rohr et al). Non-duality is a bit of a puzzle for some of us, not exactly words a ton of Mennonites use to describe our spirituality. What do we make of this final tenet in the Alternative Orthodoxy series, and wha…

This Peace Sunday Heather Peters, Peacebuilding Coordinator with MCC Saskatchewan, challenged us with these important questions: How do we humanize our enemies? How do we help others find peace when we’ve been victimized ourselves? How do we open ourselves to the wonder of forgiveness? All these questions bring us back to the question of the centra…

"The path of descent is the path of transformation. Darkness, failure, relapse, death and woundedness are our primary teachers, rather than ideas or doctrines." This sixth tenet of the Alternative Orthodoxy really has to be experienced over a lifetime more than taught on a Sunday morning. But we won't let that stop us from sharing a bunch of words …

What's hiding in your shadow? The fifth tenet of the Alternative Orthodoxy (Richard Rohr and the Center for Action and Contemplation) says "The 'separate self' is the major problem, not the 'shadow self' which only takes deeper forms of disguise." You read that right, our shadows--darkness, weakness, sin--are not actually the insidious problems we …

"Everything belongs. No one needs to be punished, scapegoated, or excluded." Yeah, right. That just doesn't seem possible. There's just too much guilt and blame to go around; surely someone needs to be held accountable for this mess! And yet, there's a difference between accountability and punishment, between making things better and making someone…

Our Thanksgiving service this year featured multiple elements of poetry, personal stories, prayers, and more--one of those "you had to be there" kind of things. We curated a few of the highlights for this post, though, so click on to enjoy!

Because people and their suffering are near to the heart of God, the church needs to be on the leading edge of showing care and compassion for those struggling with their own mental health, or that of family members or friends - and that might include all of us at one time or another. So that the burden of poor mental health is not carried alone, h…

"For those who see deeply there is only one reality. By reason of the Incarnation, there is no truthful distinction between sacred and profane." ~ Richard Rohr, Another Name for Everything Podcast, "Frame". In this post(?)pandemic reality, many churches are joining the long history of religious institutions with beautiful, mostly empty buildings. T…

"Foundation // If God is Trinity and Jesus is the face of God, then it is a benevolent universe. God is not someone to be afraid of, but is the Ground of Being and on our side." Some big ideas on the table this week--prepare to have your mind blown, like a balloon metaphor for the expanding universe!…

In a world filled with conflicting opinions and confident incorrectness, how do we know what is right and true? What do we do when other Christians embrace and promote a form of religion that seems alien or even dangerous to us? What's the basis for knowing what we think we know and making the necessary decisions of life when our understanding is i…

We were pleased to have Claire Ewert Fisher from Mount Royall Mennonite Church join us this Sunday. Claire shared with us on the theme of “At Home...farmers, vine, and fruit-bearing branches.” Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. “Pooh”, Piglet whispered. “Yes, Piglet?” “Nothing,” said Piglet, taking Pooh’s paw. “I just wanted to be sure of you.” …

Ken Bechtel shared with us on the topic of “Bent But Then Set Free” this Sunday. Ken was unfortunately unable to be with us in person so Audrey Mierau Bechtel shared Ken’s words with us. "However "bent" we may be, God views us as sons, daughters and children, worthy to be set free."

Charmaine is a single mom of 3 wonderful children, is a new member of WMC, a Nurse Manager in the SHA, and a Saskatoon Public School Board Trustee. In this message, Charmaine takes us through her personal journey, questions and perspectives on disability, prayer, and healing. Having had a brother who was paraplegic and a child with non-verbal autis…

What's hiding in the back of your spiritual closet? Faith can be like building a spiritual wardrobe of various beliefs: trying some on for just a little while, wearing some for particular seasons, or selecting some basics as foundations for any outfit. As our needs and tastes change over time, what do we do with the pieces of faith that no longer f…

Okay, fine, we live in "a world of overwhelming complexity." So what are we supposed to do with that? How do we keep it together without ignoring, blaming, othering, or otherwise drifting into self-destructive patterns? The ancient book of Job has some wisdom in that direction, with a delightful assist from--who else--Mary Poppins.…

Which division are you in? The world of sports has a myriad of ways to break down competition: age, sex, skill level, weight class, region, amateur or pro, team or individual, recreational or competitive, "special" or otherwise... Divisions like that are all over the place in our lives. Some are carefully thought through, some are random, and plent…

How do we live in a world of overwhelming complexity? Much of the time, by shifting the focus--and the tension--onto some other person or group. Ah, yes, the old, familiar scapegoat mechanism! I'm not scared, you're scared! I'm not angry, you're angry! I'm not to blame, you're to blame--and everyone else agrees! This tradition is grounded in ancien…

[read in Hollywood movie trailer announcer voice]: "In a world of infinite complexity, one human stands with the rest. Taking on normal tasks and winning ordinary battles with their incredibly average abilities, yet imagining that they are somehow at the center of it all..." Is that what your inner monologue sounds like? The world is indeed infinit…

Exploring what acknowledgment means after there has been harm and how to work towards reconciliation as a faith community. Harry Lafond, elder from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation and Deacon with the Prince Albert Roman Catholic Diocese talks about the past and future for Indigenous families. In 1867 with the passage of the Indian Act the rights of Indigen…

Exploring what acknowledgment means after there has been harm and how to work towards reconciliation as a faith community. What happens when two communities with different worldviews make a treaty together? Lyndon Linklater, from the Office of the Treaty Commissioner Speakers Bureau, shared Indigenous worldview, story and song with us.…

Exploring what acknowledgment means after there has been harm and how to work towards reconciliation as a faith community. In May WMC will be exploring what a treaty land acknowledgement can look like for us. On May 1st we explored with Heather Peters some of the questions that have already come up: How will our land acknowledgement be connected to…

A short stroll through any grocery store in our city will reveal that our food choices have become a lot more complicated than they used to be. With access to a global menu, what food should we be choosing to stick in our mouths? In this talk, Jared Regier will share about his journey toward food security in the city, the underlying motivations beh…

On Easter, calls of “Christ is Risen!” echo around the globe. This holiday lands differently for different people—what does Easter mean for you and how will you respond this year?

This is a suffering world and so much suffering is rooted in power. Jesus transformed how power is understood by coming to earth in human form. He was someone who dared to lower himself to raise us up! Using the image of vessels at sea, what are the privileges and responsibilities of speedboats? What does Jesus, the one who rode a donkey, teach us …

The familiar parable of the “Prodigal Son” contrasts being “pious” or “religious” with the "prodigal" inclusive love of our welcoming God. Who are we within this story of the feather brained fugitive child, the faithful and faultfinding brother, and the fond forgiving father?

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 mor…

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 spiritu…

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. …

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 consi…

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 a…

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). …

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. Tu…

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 compass…

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 ro…

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 str…

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 sh…

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 ser…

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 l…

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 …

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 i…

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 S…

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 forw…

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…

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 …

This Sunday our worship service is a celebration of our church's work through and with the Mennonite Central Committee! As you may recall (through the timey-wimey fog of the pandemic year that was), 2020 marked 100 years of MCC, and we celebrated that long and deep and wide history in one of our Zoom services last fall. As part of the centennial fe…

An influential Jewish teacher, a Samaritan woman, an ancient well, a failing water filter, the Garden of Eden. What do they have in common and who is willing to dance? Strange questions that the book of John might possibly have some answers to as we continue looking at a path of deeper wisdom. Put on your dancing shoes and follow along as Jesus con…

A wedding, a garden, an age-old moral quandary, and a 150 GALLONS of the best wine you can imagine--our journey through the gospel of John brings us to John 2, the "water to wine" miracle story. More than just testing out his supernatural abilities, this origin story has Jesus flipping ancient metaphors and unsettling age-old religious traditions..…

"In the beginning was..." The Word? The Christ? The Truth? The Dance? This week's sermon finds us back on the Four Gospel Journey to Radical Transformation (with Alexander Shaia's Heart and Mind), entering the third path in the Gospel of John. What is the nature of the universe and the nature of God, and how is it possible that those could come tog…