Against Greed And Hate
Online Worship
Against Greed And Hate
“The Holy Spirit is part the force that has drawn us back into community together since the pandemic. Just as it has been the force that has been drawing Christians together through out our history.” The Rev'd Canon Rob Park offers prayers, a short reflection, and some reflection questions based on the Gospel reading, John 20:19-23.
Online Worship

Against Greed And Hate

Good Morning,

Welcome to your online worship for Trinity Sunday, June 4, 2023.

I want to thank St. Mark’s delegates to Synod, Nigel Challen, Janet Vickerman, and Elizabeth Stone for their good work representing our parish at our annual diocesan Synod.

The video of the Monday session is available on the diocesan website, but here is a link to the part of the video that was the Bishop’s charge to Synod.

Today’s Opening Sentence

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.” – Isaiah 6.3

Today’s Reading – Matthew 28:16-20

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”1

Your Online Message and Prayers

Click on the above image to view our online worship on YouTube.

Reflection questions for the week: 

  • Even though we often are reminded in the New Testament of what opposition Jesus and the Good News he proclaimed faced, we can risk becoming numb to gravity of the force it brought on Jesus and the disciples. I invite you to stop and reflect on just how heavy handed those in authority were in facing the challenge that Jesus message of love. 
  • Imagine yourself as one of the disciples, who now have begun to truly understand the fullness of Jesus’ power and message.  How inspired would you be to take up and continue Jesus proclamation of the Good News, in the face of that opposition?
  • We are all participants in our societies economy of money in varying degrees depending on where we are in our life. In what ways in your life do you feel being a Christian brings you into opposition to earthly power and profit?
  • In what ways do you feel that you are choosing to follow Jesus command to love God and love your neighbour, against those in our society who would motivate us with more selfish goals?

This week music is provided by Ryan Van Dijk, our Music Director, and the choir. Thank you to them all for their ministry of music!

A continued reminder that if you are at all uncomfortable being in-person for worship, or if you are not feeling well, please join us here online.

Thank you again for joining with your parish family in our online worship today.

Find out how you can support our ministry and good work in the community here.

God Bless you and have a blessed week. Be well!

Peace,

The Rev’d Canon Rob Park

  1. Scripture quotation is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.