This post will be updated later today with the Worship Service taped at St. Matthews Church in Welland.

Bulletin: Worship Guide

Dialogical Sermon Between

Rev. Katherine Gohm and Rafael Rodriguez

(PDF version)

This Worship Service was taped at St. Matthews Church in Welland.

Bulletin: Worship Guide

Prayer of the Day

O God our defender, storms rage around and within us and cause us to be

afraid. Rescue your people from despair, deliver your sons and daughters from

fear, and preserve us in the faith of your Son,

Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Amen.

Gospel: Matthew 14:22-33

22 [Jesus] made the disciples get into a boat and go on ahead to the other side

[of the Sea of Galilee,] while he dismissed the crowds.23 And after he had

dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When

evening came, he was there alone, 24 but by this time the boat, battered by the

waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. 25 And early in

the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. 26 But when the

disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a

ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and

said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

28 Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on

the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on

the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he

became frightened, and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31

Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of

little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind

ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son

of God.”

Sermon:

Here’s a question to think on and don’t worry you won’t be asked to turn to a

neighbour and share….

What life lesson has shaped you the most?

The Rev. Dr. Zina Jacque has asked this question over years of retreats at

places like the Chautauqua Institute in New York. She discovered that in fewer

than 5 percent of responses, the formative lesson was learned in easy or

“good” times. Life Lessons nearly always come with a diploma from the school

of Hard Knocks—or as a pastor of friend of mine calls it “The ol’ two by four

shampoo”.Lessons learned happen in those “fourth watch” times—times like a slave

people make their daring “Passover escape” from Pharaoh’s Egypt. Times like

predawn on the third day when the stone sealing Jesus’ grave was rolled aside.

For Jesus’ followers the life lesson happens in a boat—scholars point to key

words Matthew uses to tell the story—the waves “torment” them— a word

often used to describe tyrants tormenting subjugated people. The disciples

give every once of physical strength, every shred of knowledge of the sea and

every ounce of nerve they have. And the chaos wins. The disciples are

defeated and in despair.

Then Jesus appears walking on the spine of the chaos monster—the sea,

Matthew calls it, which brings to memory stories of Mot, Tiamot, Neptune; all

beings that control the sea and mean harm to people.

Recall the Genesis story where God steps into chaos and harnesses it into

creation, harmony and order; and then calls it Good, very Good. Jesus does

what God does and announces himself in language God uses with Moses, “I

AM”…Don’t let fear be the last word.

Peter’s response is part of the lesson maybe. Let’s just say his reaction is a mix

of both faith and not faith…or as Richard Rohr likes to say, the opposite of faith

isn’t doubt…it’s control. Peter risks a lot by jumping ship. He fabricates a

proposition to test the teacher. For a second it looks like its working. Then

Peter, the Rock, sinks…managing to gurgle out a “Lord save me” before he goes

under. Jesus hauls him up and lands him gasping like a stunned mullet back

into the boat.

Bear in mind that Matthew presents Peter as a stand-in for the disciples and

the church….Peter says what the rest of us are thinking and does what the rest

of us hesitate doing. So, church, what’s the lesson?

Hint here are two things the lesson is NOT. 1. Try harder. 2. Just keep your eye

on Jesus. I doubt anybody would to all that trouble for such banal lessons.

There were two times I got in trouble with ICU nurses during my chaplaincy.

My “caffeine saves button” from my rabbi friend offended someone so the

spiritual care department instituted their “no flair” policy. I still have that

button and it has pride of place on my swag bag…briefcase. The other time I

got in trouble was when a nurse opined that God never gives us more than wecan handle. I said I wondered if that were true. Her reaction might have

permanently blown my hair back.

To my relief, our bishop Carla Blakley reminds us that saying isn’t really in

the Bible and the quote it’s based on is out of context anyway. Besides what if

it were true? When you finally hit the wall is that your fault? God’s fault?

The disciples get a near fatal dose of more than they can handle.

And it’s here that Jesus shows up doing God—things.

Jesus gets a fatal dose of more than he can handle. On the Third Day, God does

God-things. That’s the Good News-Gospel grounds for our praying the Prayer

Jesus taught us. We echo those desperate words from the sea soaked Simon

Peter,

“Deliver us from evil”.

amen.

This Worship Service was taped at St. Matthews Church in Welland.

Celebrating Emancipation Sunday

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost July 26, 2026

Emancipation Sunday

Emancipation Sunday commemorates the coming into effect of the Slavery

Abolition Act on August 1, 1834—Emancipation Day—freeing approximately

800,000 enslaved people in British colonies, including Canada.

For more than 180 years, Black communities across Canada have celebrated

Emancipation Day with church services, parades, outdoor festivities, protests,

speeches, entertainment and more, taking the opportunity for reflection on the

struggle for freedom and justice, past and present. By designating an Emancipation

Sunday, the General Synod invites Anglicans (and the ELCIC) in Canada to join in

that celebration and to support initiatives that address anti-Black racism within our

ecclesial structures and in society at large. (courtesy of the Anglican Church in

Canada)

Prayer of the Day (From the Anglican Church of Canada)

God of justice and compassion,

you created all people in your image

and call us to live in freedom and truth:

break every yoke that diminishes human dignity,

restore what has been wounded by sin and injustice,

and make us ministers of reconciliation

in the new creation you bring in Christ

and enable us to do the work that pleases you,

to repair what has been broken,

and to walk in the freedom that no power can take away;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Gospel: Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

31 [Jesus] put before [the crowds] another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like

a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field;32 it is the smallest of all

the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so

that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a

woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was

leavened.”

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man

found and reburied; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that

field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46

on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and

caught fish of every kind; 48 when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and

put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the

age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and

throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of

teeth.

Bulletin: Worship Guide

This Worship Service was taped at St. Matthews Church in Welland.

Gospel Reading and Reflections

Bulletin: Worship Guide