Wishing and Hoping

Welcome to the Bloor Street United Podcast for Sunday, November 27th, 2011. This podcast comes to you from Bloor Street United Church in downtown Toronto. Today Reverend Martha ter Kuile reads a lament from Isaiah, followed by a reflection on how the Occupy Movement was a modern lament against social and economic injustice in our world.

The podcast can be found at http://www.bloorstreetunited.org/audio/podcasts/sermonnov272011.mp3

Sermon:"Down to Basics"

Welcome to the Bloor Street United podcast for October 30th, 2011. This is a special day at the church as two couples  have brought their children to be baptized. This event is considered during this sermon about Christ's last visit to the temple, a few days before his death. Reverend Martha Ter Kile reflects on what Jesus wanted his critics to understand about his mission, and how these small children today will think about our world 100 years from now.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

"Face of Mystery"

Welcome to the October 23rd edition of the Bloor Street United Podcast. Today Reverend Martha ter Kuile talks about whether we can ever really understand God, or whether the divine is more than the human mind can comprehend.
To hear the podcast, click here:

Margaret Atwood: "Religion:Recovering our Roots" 2011 Craddock Lecture

Welcome to a special edition of the Bloor Street United Podcast. It is October 16th, 2011, and this podcast features our annual Craddock lecture, given by Canada's most famous novelist, Margaret Atwood. Ms Atwood is the author of many classics of Canadian literature, including The Handmaid's Tale, Surfacing, and The Blind Assassin. This morning she is delivering a sermon entitled "Religion: Recovering our Roots". Her talk draws on themes she has explored in her most recent novel, The Year of the Flood. Her talk is this year's Craddock lecture, an annual event at Bloor Street, where distinguished guests are invited to take over the pulpit for a Sunday to speak about issues of spiritual interest. Ms Atwood spoke to a packed house.

To listen to the podcast, please click here: http://www.bloorstreetunited.org/audio/podcasts/sermonoct162011.mp3

Sermon: Absence and Abundance

Welcome to the Bloor Street United podcast for May 28th, 2011. This week, our sermon is delivered by guest preacher, Jeffrey Hocking. He reflects on Jesus'  curious declaration that after his death, his disciples will accomplish much more than he did while alive. After the sermon, we will hear the choir perform "If Ye love me" by British composer Thomas Tallis. This will be followed by a rousing organ performance of the Fuga by Samuel Wesley, for four hands, performed by our own David Passmore and Honorary Musical Associate, Chrys Bentley.

Please click here to listen to the podcast:http://www.bloorstreetunited.org/audio/podcasts/sermonMay282011.mp3

Sermon:"Befuddled by Faith"

Welcome to the Bloor Street United podcast for May15th, 2011. This week, Reverend Martha ter Kuile reflects on the Bible's use of sheep and shepherds as metaphors for  Christ and his followers. Following the sermon, the choir will sing George Frideric Handel's "All We Like Sheep".

Click here to listen:http://www.bloorstreetunited.org/audio/podcasts/sermonMay152011.mp3

Sermon: "Springtime Grace"

Welcome to the Bloor Street United podcast for May 1st, 2011.  Today our sermon is being delivered by the Very Reverend Bruce McCleod, former Moderator of the United Church of Canada, and a longtime member of the Bloor Street Congregation. Today he reflects on the story of Noah's Ark. After his sermon we will hear a performance from Debussy's Petite Suite, for piano ( played with four hands).

To hear the podcast, click here:http://www.bloorstreetunited.org/audio/podcasts/sermonMay12011.mp3

Easter Sunday sermon

Welcome to the Bloor Street United podcast for Easter Sunday, April 24th, 2011.  On this joyous day we will hear Reverend Martha ter Kuile preach on the mystery of Christ's resurrection, an act which many of us today find perplexing, and impossible. Martha reflects on what the resurrection means, and what it meant for Christ's apostles. Following the sermon we will hear a performance of the rousing Allegro  from the Concerto for Two Trumpets by  composer Francesco Manfredini.

To hear the podcast click here:http://www.bloorstreetunited.org/audio/podcasts/sermonapr242011.mp3

Sermon:"Becoming Blind"

Welcome to the Bloor Street United podcast for April 3rd, 2011. This podcast comes to you from Bloor Street United Church in downtown Toronto. Today's sermon by Reverend Martha Ter Kile deals with the role of community in spiritual life. The sermon begins with a story from the Gospel of John where Jesus heals a blind man sitting by the side of the road.

The podcast can be found here: http://www.bloorstreetunited.org/audio/podcasts/sermonapr32011.mp3

Sermon:"Flirting with Destiny"

Welcome to the Bloor Street United podcast for March 27th, 2011. This podcast comes to you from Bloor Street United Church in downtown Toronto. It is the third Sunday of Lent, and this week, Reverend Martha Ter Kile puts a new spin on  a famous story from the gospel of John. Jesus has travelled to Samaria with his disciples. While they go into town to buy food, he meets a Samaritan woman by a well, and strikes up a conversation. She is surprised that a Jewish man would speak to her at all, much less engage in the debate which follows.

The podcast can be found here:http://www.bloorstreetunited.org/audio/podcasts/sermonmarch272011.mp3

Sermon:"Borne Again"

Welcome to the Bloor Street United Church podcast for March 20th, 2011. Today, Reverend Martha ter Kuile delivers a sermon entitled "Borne Again". She asks whether United Church Christians give too little attention to the contemplative side of  spirituality, instead focusing all our energies on doing good works. Following the sermon  David Passmore plays a short piano piece by Chopin, arranged by Alf Coward, entitled "Prelude in C Minor".

To listen to the podcast, click here:http://www.bloorstreetunited.org/audio/podcasts/sermonmarch202011.mp3

Sermon:"Sacred Presence"

Welcome to the Bloor Street United Church podcast for March 13th, 2011.  Today is the first Sunday of Lent. Our student Minister, Catherine Elsdon, preaches on the temptation of Jesus in the desert by Satan. Following the sermon, David Passmore plays the lovely piano piece Galiarda by Thomas Morley.

To hear the podcast, click here:http://www.bloorstreetunited.org/audio/podcasts/sermonMarch132011.mp3

Sermon:"Transfiguration Sunday"

 "Transfiguration Sunday" March 6th, 2011 

This week, Reverend Martha Ter Kuile preaches on the bible passage in which Jesus goes to a mountaintop, where he allows three apostles to see him transfigured as he speaks to Moses and Elijah. Martha discusses whether modern people can make any sense of this strange vision, particularly in a world where many are post-theistic, no longer believing in God at all.
http://www.bloorstreetunited.org/audio/podcasts/sermonMarch62011.mp3

Sermon: "O Taste and See"

This week's sermon by Reverend Martha ter Kuile is entitled "O Taste and See" This sermon was given as a group of volunteers were busy baking 100 loaves of fresh bread to be handed out to the congregation to friends, strangers and people in need.

For more sermons, text and audio, please check out our website at http://www.bloorstreetunited.org/sermons/sermons.html

Click "Taste and See" Sermon Feb 27 2011 Bloor Street United Church to listen to the podcast.