The Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost ---- 18 October 2015

This Sunday we had a guest preacher - the Rev. Canon George Nicholson "Nick" Wells, a recently retired priest of the Anglican Diocese of Huron and good friend of mine. I originally met him through our mutual interest in historical reenacting. His sermon was quite moving and well delivered. In it, he discussed the idea of power and how it is perceived in our world. He also reminded us that power in the Christian sense is found in powerlessness and in service.

Mark 10:35-45

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’³⁶And he said to them, ‘What is it you want me to do for you?’ ³⁷And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’ ³⁸But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’ ³⁹They replied, ‘We are able.’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; ⁴⁰but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.’

41 When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. ⁴²So Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. ⁴³But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. ⁴⁵For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’ 

It was an excellent service and I'm so please that Nick was able to come and preach at St. John's.

Nick decided to stand on the first step of the chancel to even up some of our height difference.
He's actually taller than I... in a number of ways.