Awaken Bowness Podcast

Trickster Jesus: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

In this amazing sermon, Dave King begins with the parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee but then he shows us some other stories from Luke 18 and 19 to show how this parable is a key for unlocking all sorts of ways Jesus invites in those from the sides and sends away those who assume their place in the center. Wow! Thanks Dave! 
Themes he covered include "mercy", "childlike faith", and who's sent away vs who is invited in. 
 

Trickster Jesus: The Pearl of Great Price

In this story we unpack the way the text does not *actually* the kingdom is like the pearl - the kingdom is like the merchant who knows what he's looking for and can recognize it when he finds it. Do you know what you really desire and will you recognize it when you see it? 
 
Nikayla gives a small sermon and then Chris L comes up with a personal illustration. This personal testimony was an incredible gift to Awaken and a historical moment in lives of all of us. Thank you Chris! 

TricksterJesus: Labourers in the Vineyard

Have you ever stopped to consider:
Why did certain labourers get chosen first and why did some get looked over until the very end of the day? 
What kind of a businessman would give the same wages to all? 
 
Sounds to me like everyone is invited to the joy of becoming like Jesus and it sure sounds like God isn't a capitalist. It sounds like there's an abundance of joy and belonging and if it isn't a competition, we can celebrate one another's joy. Thank you Jesus for being a trickster and conspiring goodness in our community. 

Trickster Jesus: The Kingdom of Heaven is like Yeast

Lacey Hilgen brings this beautiful message to all of us where she goes through scripture and teaches us about the three measures, the bountiful feast, and the Kingdom of heaven. Thanks Lacey!

Trickster Jesus: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

D'arcy Watsham takes us on a beautiful journey through how not to read this parable and how we might read it anew. Thanks for this challenging message to be open to the neighbourhood and open to one another. 

Trickster Jesus: A Parable Series on the God who is Gentle and Shrewd

This Sunday Pastor James Wheeler leads us in a brilliant and trauma-informed sermon on the parable of the Lost Son in Luke 15:4-32. What a gifted preacher and compassionate steward of the Word - thank you James!
Engaging the parables is an art that has largely been lost. The parables of Christ are designed to surprise, challenge, and shake us up because Jesus comes to us, gentle as a dove but shrewd as a serpent. Jesus isn’t just a teacher – he’s a trickster and a conspirator. Jesus speaks as both omniscient creator and innocent fool – an impassioned judge and a childlike prankster. This is the art of teaching in parables. In this series we will let the Trickster Christ conspire goodness in our midst and draw us closer together as a courageous community of Christ-followers in the neighbourhood.
 

Element: Water

We have reflected on Body and Blood at Awaken this year, and now we are wrapping up these reflections at the Communion Table with a series called ELEMENTS where we will reflect on the four elements: earth, fire, water, air and how all of creation is gathered together at the table where we are nourished together on the body and blood of our Incarnate God. All of creation eagerly awaits the reconciliation of all things: element to elements.
 
Today, Malcolm Klager leads us in a sermon about the theme of water in the bible - it's short but packed! He ultimately invites us to come to the waters to be washed and reborn. Thanks Malcolm!

Pentecost Sunday: The Wind and Fire of God

Dallas Loewen gives this brilliant sermon on Pentecost Sunday where he brings together Willie Jennings and Robin Wall Kimmerer to invite us to be a people shaped by a vision of belonging achieved not by forcing others to be like us but by being a people that learn to speak the language of others. The church is a guest in the world and we are here to listen and learn. God has invited us "...inside the risk of following the Spirit - the risk is believing in new relationships" - Willie Jennings. 
 
 

Element: Air

Please forgive the technical glitch at the beginning of this sermon - we made the mistake of trying to be fancy which meant you can't hear the first five minutes so the intro might not make sense but trust us - it gets great! 
 
We have reflected on Body and Blood at Awaken this year, and now we are wrapping up these reflections at the Communion Table with a series called ELEMENTS where we will reflect on the four elements: earth, fire, water, air and how all of creation is gathered together at the table where we are nourished together on the body and blood of our Incarnate God. All of creation eagerly awaits the reconciliation of all things: element to elements.
 
 

Element: Fire

We have reflected on Body and Blood at Awaken this year, and now we are wrapping up these series at the Communion Table with a series called ELEMENTS where we will reflect on the four elements: earth, fire, water, air and how all of creation is gathered together at the table where we are nourished together on the body and blood of our Incarnate God. All of creation eagerly awaits the reconciliation of all things: element to elements.
 
Pastor Nikayla leads us in a reflection on fire in the bible focussing on Elisha and the showdown on mount Baal and the God who is fire (Hebrews 12:29 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”).