Events at this location

All are welcome to join us for the monthly Communion service on Sunday, September 7th at 10 am.  Sunday School starts this Sunday.  Stay for coffee and visiting after the service. We hope that you can join us.

Here is a bit more about the Sunday School at Sherwood Park United. 

•  Our Sunday School class is for 3 to 11-year-olds (i.e. up to Grade 6).  We currently do not have a youth group.Church starts at 10:00 and the children will stay with their families for the first part of the church service.  After the Children’s Time with Rev. Marlene, they will go with their teacher to the Sunday School room.  Parents/grandparents are welcome to stay with their children in class as needed.  The class will end, as the church service does, at about 11:00.  Registrations forms will be available on Sunday for parents/grandparents to fill out.

Here are Rev. Marlene’s notes on the upcoming sermon. 

Marlene’s Rev. Notes

“I am sending him, that is, my own heart back to you.” Philemon 1:12

In this week’s passage, we read that Onesimus was Philemon’s slave, who appears to have gone “absent without leave.”  The details of how or why are not known to us.  What we do know from Paul’s letter is that Onesimus is now a Christian and that Paul is smoothing the way for Onesimus to return to Philemon without suffering repercussions because of his conversion.

We may struggle with the idea that Paul is sending Onesimus back to slavery rather then writing to procure his liberation. And although Paul does send Onesimus back to his master, it is not a simple act of handing him over, instead, Paul encourages Philemon to receive Onesimus back as a brother in Christ.

It is not clear if Paul is asking Philemon to set Onesimus free or if he is simply reminding Philemon of how he should treat the slave.  If the latter, the treatment would not be one of consideration and care for a social inferior.  Instead, Paul exhorts Philemon to treat Onesimus as if he were an equal.  The basis for this radical shift lies in the transformative nature of the Good News of the gospel.  Through Baptism, social distinctions are gone, and new relationships are forged.  Philemon and Onesimus are now brothers in Christ, and Paul reminds Philemon that this inner reality needs to be manifested in how he interacts with Onesimus outwardly as well as in their relationship, for even this gap can be closed in Christ.

Rev. Marlene Salmonson

All are welcome to join us on Sunday as we celebrate new members in our community.  Sunday school will run during the service.  Please stay for coffee and conversation!

Here are Rev. Marlene’s notes for the upcoming Sunday.

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’” Luke 15:4-6

In the opening scene of this week’s passage, we find Jesus surrounded by the Tax Collectors and “Sinners” listening to what he is saying. Meanwhile, the Pharisees and Scribes begin murmuring “this fellow (Jesus) welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (But isn’t that just like him?”) The parables that follow are Christ’s response – showing God’s heart for the lost and highlighting the religious leaders’ lack of compassion.

In the first parable, a shepherd watching over 100 sheep loses one. Without hesitation, he leaves the 99 in the wilderness and searches for the single lost sheep until he finds it. When he returns home, he is met with rejoicing by his neighbours who have come together to celebrate.

Jesus says, “there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who do not need to repent.” For God actively seeks out the lost showing His love to be personal, persistent, and joyful.

In the second parable, a woman, at her home, after counting out 10 silver coins (a day’s wage)—loses one.  She lights a lamp, sweeps the house, and searches carefully until she finds it.  Afterwards, she calls her friends and neighbours and they rejoice together. Luke states that “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” These parables paint a picture of our God as a shepherd and as a woman, both relentless in their search for what is lost – and both overflowing with joy when it is found.

Rev. Marlene Salmonson