Missional Community in our digital age “The medium is the message.” This insight by professor Marshall McLuhan began as some “inside baseball” of communications theory. But it was so profound, and so resonant with our late-modern experience, that it’s now a household phrase. And to prove the point, its popularity in Canada probably owes moreContinue reading ““The medium is the message””
Author Archives: Matthew Neugebauer
Faith to perceive his glory: Lent II
Almighty God,whose Son was revealed in majestybefore he suffered death upon the cross,give us faith to perceive his glory,that being strengthened by his gracewe may be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory;who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,one God, now and for ever. What is faith? I’m currently reading aContinue reading “Faith to perceive his glory: Lent II”
Sermon: Epiphany 5B
St. Stephen’s, Maple; Zoom Eucharist; February 7, 2021 Collects and Readings for the Day:Isaiah 40:21-31Psalm 147:1-111 Corinthians 9:16-23Mark 1:29-39 “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.” There’s an almost-comedic tension running through this first half of the Gospel of Mark,Continue reading “Sermon: Epiphany 5B”
Sermon: Epiphany 2B
St. Stephen’s, Maple; Zoom Eucharist; January 17, 2021 Collects and Readings for the Day:1 Samuel 3:1-20Psalm 139:1-5, 12-171 Corinthians 6:12-20John 1:43-51 “The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’” Silver linings. I’m not an optimist by nature, which is all the more reason for meContinue reading “Sermon: Epiphany 2B”
Sermon: Christmas Day Year B
St. Stephen’s, Maple; Zoom Eucharist; December 25, 2020 Collects and Readings for the Day:Isaiah 52:7-10Psalm 98Hebrews 1:1-4John 1:1-14 “In these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.” I speak to you in the name of Christ, the WordContinue reading “Sermon: Christmas Day Year B”
Sermon: Pentecost 24A
November 15, 2020; St. Stephen’s Maple Zoom Eucharist Readings:Judges 4:1-7Psalm 1231 Thessalonians 5:1-11Matthew 25:14-30 To you I lift up my eyes, to you enthroned in the heavens! In the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen This parable. Its interpretation has become more obscure as our cultural context has changed. I can thinkContinue reading “Sermon: Pentecost 24A”
New Testament Apocalypses: Synoptics and Epistles
“Little Apocalypse”: Matthew 24-25; Mark 13; Luke 21:5-37 In all three Synoptic Gospels, Jesus launches into the “Little Apocalypse” immediately upon predicting the destruction of the Temple. This suggests that the passage was written or included as a response to this very event in 70 CE. This is closer to the “post-facto prediction” that weContinue reading “New Testament Apocalypses: Synoptics and Epistles”
The Four Genres of the Apocalypse: Part Two
St. John immediately departs from the Apocalyptic tradition of pseudonymous centuries-old prediction: the very first verse indicates that Revelation describes “what must soon take place.” While the book does do some future-predicting, this “must soon take place” combined with past-tense narration (in English at least) suggests a preoccupation with present first-century realities in a wayContinue reading “The Four Genres of the Apocalypse: Part Two”
The Four Genres of the Apocalypse: Part One
Four genres? Isn’t the Revelation to St. John the Divine a part of the Apocalyptic tradition? Well yes, it is indeed an Apocalypse-proper. It uses many of the images and conventions that we’ve encountered so far in this course: the Heavenly throne room, an angelic guide, the use of animals and even stranger beasts toContinue reading “The Four Genres of the Apocalypse: Part One”
Homily: Pentecost 21A
October 25, 2020; St. Stephen’s Maple (Zoom Eucharist) Collects and Readings “Return, O Lord; how long will you tarry? Be gracious to you servants.”
Luminous Beings 