Before the Parking Lot

When God is Silent

From Luke’s gospel to a cellar wall in wartime. This Remembrance Day reflection asks how we hold faith and memory together when the world keeps breaking our hearts. 📖 Scripture: Luke 20:27-38 Jesus discusses the resurrection 🎶 Music: I Believe by Mark Miller ★ SUPPORT THIS PODCAST & THE MINISTRY OF EAST END UNITED [https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/72635?v2=true]★ ⛪️ East End United Regional Ministry [https://www.eastendunited.ca/] is an Affirming (🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ positive) community of faith, part of the United Church of Canada in Toronto. 📲 Let's Get Social Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/EastEndUnitedMinistry] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/eeuchurch] Website [https://www.eastendunited.ca/] ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/72635?v2=true] ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/72635?v2=true]

Dreams that Break the Drought

In this poetic reflection, Rev. Bri-anne dreams of rain that falls on everyone, and a Spirit that floods every forgotten corner. From soup kitchens to shelter lines, from food banks to border crossings, a vision of mercy poured out...until even the dry things say yes. 📖 Scripture: Joel 2:23-32 I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten... 🎶 Music: Healing Rain by Peter Verity, performed by Bri-anne Swan. ★ SUPPORT THIS PODCAST & THE MINISTRY OF EAST END UNITED [https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/72635?v2=true]★ ⛪️ East End United Regional Ministry [https://www.eastendunited.ca/] is an Affirming (🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ positive) community of faith, part of the United Church of Canada in Toronto. 📲 Let's Get Social Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/EastEndUnitedMinistry] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/eeuchurch] Website [https://www.eastendunited.ca/] ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/72635?v2=true] ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/72635?v2=true]

Score one for the water. Score one for love.

Rev. Bri-anne weaves together a love story, a community’s fight to protect the water, and Psalm 42’s cry of longing. A reflection on rivers, resistance, and the ways water keeps calling us home. 📖 Scripture: Genesis 1:26-31 God creates humans in their image. Then there was evening, and there was morning. The sixth day. 🎶 Music: River [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPsrxXRLFa4] by Joni Mitchell, performed by the East End United Choir. ★ SUPPORT THIS PODCAST & THE MINISTRY OF EAST END UNITED [https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/72635?v2=true]★ ⛪️ East End United Regional Ministry [https://www.eastendunited.ca/] is an Affirming (🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ positive) community of faith, part of the United Church of Canada in Toronto. 📲 Let's Get Social Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/EastEndUnitedMinistry] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/eeuchurch] Website [https://www.eastendunited.ca/] ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/72635?v2=true] ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/72635?v2=true]

Before the Parking Lot

Rev. Bri-anne invites us back to the first liturgy of Genesis 1—when creation sang “let there be” before we paved paradise and called it progress. A reflection on covenant, kinship, and the Earth still singing. 📖 Scripture: Genesis 1:1-19 and there was evening, and morning, the first day... ★ SUPPORT THIS PODCAST & THE MINISTRY OF EAST END UNITED [https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/72635?v2=true]★ ⛪️ East End United Regional Ministry [https://www.eastendunited.ca/] is an Affirming (🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ positive) community of faith, part of the United Church of Canada in Toronto. 📲 Let's Get Social Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/EastEndUnitedMinistry] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/eeuchurch] Website [https://www.eastendunited.ca/] ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/72635?v2=true] ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/72635?v2=true]

Cloud Illusions

On this Cosmic Sunday, we turn our gaze to clouds, golden hour light, and Holy Mystery. Through Joni Mitchell’s lyrics, John’s gospel, and A Song of Faith, we explore Creation as relationship—both intimate and cosmic. Even when the sky feels heavy, or when we confess “I really don’t know life at all,” still the light shines. 📖 Scripture: John 1:1-18 In the beginning was the word... (From the First Nations Version) [https://firstnationsversion.com/book/first-nations-version/] 📖 Reading: Opening stanzas from A Song of Faith (2006) [https://united-church.ca/community-and-faith/welcome-united-church-canada/faith-statements/song-faith-2006] 🎶 Music: Both Sides Now [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bHoPuiQ6jU] by Joni Mitchell, performed by the East End United Choir. ★ SUPPORT THIS PODCAST & THE MINISTRY OF EAST END UNITED [https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/72635?v2=true]★ ⛪️ East End United Regional Ministry [https://www.eastendunited.ca/] is an Affirming (🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ positive) community of faith, part of the United Church of Canada in Toronto. 📲 Let's Get Social Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/EastEndUnitedMinistry] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/eeuchurch] Website [https://www.eastendunited.ca/] ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/72635?v2=true]