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Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost August 9, 2026
Prayer of the Day
O God our defender, storms rage around and within us and cause us to be afraid. Rescue your people from despair, deliver your sons and daughters from fear, and preserve us in the faith of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Amen.
Gospel: Matthew 14:22-33
22 [Jesus] made the disciples get into a boat and go on ahead to the other side [of the Sea of Galilee,] while he dismissed the crowds.23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. 25 And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terriLied, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
28 Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Sermon:
Here’s a question to think on and don’t worry you won’t be asked to turn to a neighbour and share….
What life lesson has shaped you the most?
The Rev. Dr. Zina Jacque has asked this question over years of retreats at places like the Chautauqua Institute in New York. She discovered that in fewer than 5 percent of responses, the formative lesson was learned in easy or “good” times. Life Lessons nearly always come with a diploma from the school of Hard Knocks—or as a pastor of friend of mine calls it “The ol’ two by four shampoo”.
Lessons learned happen in those “fourth watch” times—times like a slave people make their daring “Passover escape” from Pharaoh’s Egypt. Times like predawn on the third day when the stone sealing Jesus’ grave was rolled aside.
For Jesus’ followers the life lesson happens in a boat—scholars point to key words Matthew uses to tell the story—the waves “torment” them— a word often used to describe tyrants tormenting subjugated people. The disciples give every once of physical strength, every shred of knowledge of the sea and every ounce of nerve they have. And the chaos wins. The disciples are defeated and in despair.
Then Jesus appears walking on the spine of the chaos monster—the sea, Matthew calls it, which brings to memory stories of Mot, Tiamot, Neptune; all beings that control the sea and mean harm to people.
Recall the Genesis story where God steps into chaos and harnesses it into creation, harmony and order; and then calls it Good, very Good. Jesus does what God does and announces himself in language God uses with Moses, “I AM”…Don’t let fear be the last word.
Peter’s response is part of the lesson maybe. Let’s just say his reaction is a mix of both faith and not faith…or as Richard Rohr likes to say, the opposite of faith isn’t doubt…it’s control. Peter risks a lot by jumping ship. He fabricates a proposition to test the teacher. For a second it looks like its working. Then Peter, the Rock, sinks…managing to gurgle out a “Lord save me” before he goes under. Jesus hauls him up and lands him gasping like a stunned mullet back into the boat.
Bear in mind that Matthew presents Peter as a stand-in for the disciples and the church….Peter says what the rest of us are thinking and does what the rest of us hesitate doing. So, church, what’s the lesson?
Hint here are two things the lesson is NOT. 1. Try harder. 2. Just keep your eye on Jesus. I doubt anybody would to all that trouble for such banal lessons.
There were two times I got in trouble with ICU nurses during my chaplaincy. My “caffeine saves button” from my rabbi friend offended someone so the spiritual care department instituted their “no Llair” policy. I still have that button and it has pride of place on my swag bag…briefcase. The other time I got in trouble was when a nurse opined that God never gives us more than we can handle. I said I wondered if that were true. Her reaction might have permanently blown my hair back.
To my relief, our bishop Carla Blakley reminds us that saying isn’t really in the Bible and the quote it’s based on is out of context anyway. Besides what if it were true? When you Linally hit the wall is that your fault? God’s fault?
The disciples get a near fatal dose of more than they can handle. And it’s here that Jesus shows up doing God—things.
Jesus gets a fatal dose of more than he can handle. On the Third Day, God does God-things. That’s the Good News-Gospel grounds for our praying the Prayer Jesus taught us. We echo those desperate words from the sea soaked Simon Peter, “Deliver us from evil”. amen.
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost August 2, 2026
Prayer of the Day
Glorious God, your generosity waters the world with goodness, and you cover creation with abundance. Awaken in us a hunger for the food that satis:ies both body and spirit, and with this food :ill all the starving world; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Amen.
Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21
13 Now when Jesus heard [about the beheading of John the Baptist,] he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.
14 When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15 When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They replied, “We have nothing here but :ive loaves and two :ish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the :ive loaves and the two :ish, he looked up to heaven and blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And all ate and were :illed, and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21 And those who ate were about :ive thousand men, besides women and children.
The Sermon:
A dozen travellers packed into a tiny house in North Dakota late one bitter cold December night munching cookies and sipping cocoa and coffee as one of the hosts, my grandfather, engaged these young adults asking about their lives and telling stories of his own. He was in his glory. As was my grandmother. Never mind that her grandson impulsively invited a van load of students he was travelling with for a very impromptu visit as they made their way across the prairies to Montana for Christmas break.
When a baker’s dozen appeared at her doorstep unannounced—late a night— grandma just beamed, beckoned us, quickly got everybody seated and had the kettle boiling in what felt like one deft motion. In true grandma Cassezza form, she nipped down to the dugout basement to her magic freezer and re-emerged bearing several dozen cookies; always on hand just in case.
In true Grandma Cassezza form, she showed loving care by feeding her family, the students and monks she cooked for at the Abbey, and even a very unexpected group of kids heading home for Christmas. That’s just how my grandma rolled.
She was devout so maybe she liked that Jesus rolled the same way. If people are hungry and who cares about a silly guest list! People are hungry so you feed them with what’s on hand—even when at :irst glance it doesn’t look like much. Matthew’s story about the feeding of crowds reminds us God does a lot with a little—The story is about even more than that.
Jesus has heard about the sort of feeding that Herod and his cronies were up to….Dinner parties to impress, impulsive muscle :lexing and impetuous promises eventuating in the decapitation of a troublesome prophet. Herod was just a turn coat puppet serving an empire whose bread and circuses slogan was about feeding people just enough to keep them from starving or rioting. Food becomes a form of control.
Food becomes weaponized when one country goes to war with another. Starving people out is considered a reliable tactic for getting what you want. Consider the words from US President Richard Nixon’s Agriculture Secretary Earl Butts; “Food is a weapon”. For Jesus, food is love. Food is life. Food keeps starving prophets and widows alive. Food fuels Israel’s long march to freedom. Food connotes God’s daily loving care—that the emperor Domitian would claim that :ish jump into Roman nets to serve the empire’s good pleasure blasphemes God’s generosity and goodness to everyone.
Jesus takes bread, thanks God, breaks it and gives it freely because people are hungry and he is compassionate. May we hold fast to that vivid image as we pray “give us this day our daily bread”. May we remember deeply as we share bread and wine—Jesus literal gift of himself to us. May the church learn to be companions, or bread share-ers for any and all who hunger.
Passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, at the St. Catharines Hospital on Sunday, July 26, 2026, in his 83rd year. Beloved husband of Carolyn (nee Rominger). Loving father of Nancy Ort (Isaac Phillips) and Julie Reniewick (Bill Mitchell). Cherished grandfather of Tiffany Roberts (Bradley), Kyle Roberts, and Erin Roberts (Arron) and great-grandfather of Ryan. Dear brother of Elinor Randall (Jack), Pat Peever, and the late Joan Colley (late John). Les will be lovingly remembered by his brother-in-law Len Rominger and many nieces and nephews. Les loved animals and will be sadly missed by his fur grandbabies Layla, Asher, Cash, and Tucker. Les loved to travel and spent many winters in Florida. He was a member of the Timberline Riders Motorcycle Club, Port Colborne Gun Club, and Welland Curling Club. He loved his sports and played slow pitch with many teams over the years. Les was a structural steel draftsman and successfully owned and operated his own business Frontier Detailing. The family will receive their friends at the H.L. Cudney Funeral Home, 241 West Main Street, Welland, on Friday, July 31, 2026, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., followed by a service to celebrate Les’s life in the Cudney Chapel at 11 a.m. Interment to follow at Overholt Cemetery, Port Colborne. If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Humane Society. Online condolences available at www.cudneyfuneralhome.com
It’s cool inside
Today’s attendance -> 21 Last year -> 12
Sermon 🔈 (audio only)
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost July 26, 2026 Emancipation Sunday Emancipation Sunday commemorates the coming into effect of the Slavery Abolition Act on August 1, 1834—Emancipation Day—freeing approximately 800,000 enslaved people in British colonies, including Canada.
For more than 180 years, Black communities across Canada have celebrated Emancipation Day with church services, parades, outdoor festivities, protests, speeches, entertainment and more, taking the opportunity for reflection on the struggle for freedom and justice, past and present. By designating an Emancipation Sunday, the General Synod invites Anglicans (and the ELCIC) in Canada to join in that celebration and to support initiatives that address anti-Black racism within our ecclesial structures and in society at large. (courtesy of the Anglican Church in Canada)
Prayer of the Day (From the Anglican Church of Canada)
God of justice and compassion, you created all people in your image and call us to live in freedom and truth: break every yoke that diminishes human dignity, restore what has been wounded by sin and injustice, and make us ministers of reconciliation in the new creation you bring in Christ and enable us to do the work that pleases you, to repair what has been broken, and to walk in the freedom that no power can take away; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Gospel: Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
31 [Jesus] put before [the crowds] another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field;32 it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” 33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and reburied; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls;46 on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48 when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Attendance this date ->15 – last year ->34 (a baptism)
Sermon 🔈 (audio only)
St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Welland, Ontario, Canada 
Our 150th Anniversary Flowerbed on Saturday, August 8, 2026 Closeup HERE Closeup HERE