PGIMF Worship Services

We were "Reflecting on . . . " James, chapter 1.  This unusual letter has been important to Anabaptists for centuries.  The version we are using (and you can also read whichever versions you cherish) is the Common English Version.  To this have been added comments, observations, and even questions made by Anabaptists from around the world and across the ages.  So, in a sense, we continued that discussion. NOTE: there is no response time recording for this Sunday.  

Janice Kreider spoke on "Time and Memory".  

Claire Goodfellow spoke on "Pondering the Presence of God: In His Sight". 

Kevin Hiebert spoke on Pope Leo XIV's Encyclical Magnifica Humanitas (subtitled: "on safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence"). He described an Anabaptist-Mennonite perspective on the appropriate use of technology, and prompted a discussion on the implications of the Encyclical for Anabaptist-Mennonites.

On Sunday, August 2nd, 2026, Amy Haynes gave a sermon on "Holy Anticipation". Paul and his book the Romans have a complicated history in the church. Paul is from an Androcentric (male-centric) time, and his words has been used to both harm and oppress people. In spite of this, Amy shows that Paul is not the pro-establishment figure many of us think he is. Paul fights against the exploitative force of the empire and the body-negative theology that many of us have. When using a metaphor for Jesus saving the cosmos, Paul points to the legs of a birthing mother, and the pain the mother experiences in producing a new life. Giving birth is a trinitarian act. Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit are in a cosmic dance. It's when time collapses, and the deep past, present, and future all experienced simultaneously. Christ is the ancestor, the midwife, and the life being born all at once. [JL]

On Sunday, July 26th, 2026, J. Evan Kreider spoke on Matthew 11:20-24. In the Scripture, Jesus denounces the towns in which his miracles had been most performed because the people did not repent: Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. Capernaum specifically he has referred to in the past as his own city. Half of his key disciples are from there. Much of his major miracles took place there. Jesus expressed frustrations that his efforts has not produced the results he expected. His messages has not changed as many hearts, nor has caused as many to repent, as he had hoped. People instead seemed to be merely entertained or intrigued by his miracles. Though Capernaum was where he did much of his work, it was not going to be the new capital of the new Kingdom of God. No, it was going to be no better than the ancient cities that God destroyed in the past. It's important to realize that being disappointed is a human trait. It's also important to realize that we have to live out our faith, or else we can end up like the people of Capernaum as well. Lastly, we should recognize that God himself only took 3 pages of the Bible to was be disappointed. [JL]  

“This is my story, this is my song” featured reflections by five speakers on their favourite hymns: Kathi’s Story about VT No. 113, "Cantai ao Senhor/O Sing to the Lord" Zach’s Story about VT No. 170, "Wonderful Grace of Jesus" Veronica’s Story about VT No. 31, “Come we that love the Lord” Rosie’s Story about VT No. 605, “How can I keep from singing” Gerda’s Story about VT No. 436: “O Lord My God / How Great Thou Art” There was no response time recording because it was combined with the sharing of prayer concerns.  

J. Evan Kreider spoke on "A Command or a One-Off?"  

Heidi Epp spoke on “Our Lives, a Living Masterpiece of our Creator” with a message in 5 parts. Part 1: Who Are You? What is one of the most important things about you that you would want others to understand about you? Part 2: What and where is your relationship with God? What parts of you feel closest to God? What parts of you might you fear to share with God? Part 3: The Invited Guest. What do you look for when you invite someone to participate in your artful living? Part 4: The Uninvited Guest. How have uninvited guests impacted your artful living? Part 5: The Black Mark. How have the black marks (yours or others) impacted your artful living? If you want to listen to the artists' explanations by Andre and Don, and see their drawings, log in and then refresh this page.

There was a child dedication for Yubin Yang.

Chan Yang spoke on "The Basis for Compassion".

Yoel Masyawong (AMBS) spoke on "Knowing, Being, Doing" based on 1 Samuel 3:1-10.

Rosie Perera spoke on "Freedom from Quiet-Time Guilt". After the service, a refugee sponsorship information session was held (the video recording of that will be made available soon to members & adherents).

Paul Thiessen spoke on "Pentecost Reflections: New Light Shines". Communion was served.  

On Sunday, May 3rd, 2026, Santosh Ninan spoke on, "Liberty through Truth". There are three themes that Santosh explores: personal deception, religious deception, and liberty through truth. Personal deception is when doubt is placed by the enemy. Words are twisted, and meanings changed, and we ask if God really did say that. Satan plants the seed of doubt before he counters what God said. We misunderstand God's character, our identity, and our relationship with him and each other. Religious deception is when the gospel is changed and diluted—transformed from what it was. In a 2005 book Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers by Christian Smith, the author points out that Moralistic therapeutic deism (MTD) is the new gospel. MTD states that as long as we are nice to eeach other and feel good, we don't need to think about God much. We create our own form of Christianity and utopianism, put ourselves above God in authority and power, and put ourselves at the center of the world. It sounds good, but it's not what Jesus taught, nor is it what will save us. The lie might be easy, but the end is death. Truth might be hard, but the end is life.  There is no salvation except through Jesus, who saves through the truth and the cross. Sin can't stand the presence of the holy God, and we have all fallen short. The wages of sin is death, but Jesus speaks to God on our behalf. The defence? Double Jeopardy: The punishment for our crimes was already done by Jesus's death on the cross, and one cannot be prosecuted for the same crime twice. Deception will enslave you, but truth will set you free. [JL]

On April 26th, 2026, Young Tae Choi gave a sermon on "My POIEO Story: A Journey of Nurturing Artists and Restoring Humanity".

On April 19th, 2026, Jackie Wyse-Rhodes gave a sermon on "Practicing Wilderness Solidarity with Miriam".

On Sunday, April 12th, 2026, Lydia Cruttwell spoke on, "Touch Me and See: Encountering the Resurrected Christ". The Jewish people had resurrection stories even before Jesus. They had stories of ghosts who could move through walls and stories of seemingly-dead people who came back to life. Jesus' resurrection was different, however. He had a body that the disciples could touch, but he could also appear and disappear at will. He was both physical, and spirit-like. His body was both old and new. And the disciples were in joyful disbelief—the type one feels when seeing people do good despite all the bad in the world. Before Jesus returned to heaven, he prepared his disciples for the next step: he opened their minds with proof and scriptures, instructed them to proclaim his name to all nations, and told them to wait in Jerusalem until he returns with the Holy Spirit. Acts continues what Jesus told his disciples—it's the sequel, and we are part of it. [JL]