Message: Gratitude and Hope / John 16:12-15

Today we gather to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the United Church of Canada. One hundred years ago, churches from different traditions came together to form a new church. The Methodists, most of the Presbyterians, and the Congregationalists united to become the United Church. Although their histories, ways of worship, and theological perspectives were not the same, they shared a deep hope. They believed that by coming together, they could follow Jesus Christ more faithfully, love one another more fully, and care for their communities more passionately. 

Since then, the United Church has journeyed along many paths. It has been a church willing to take bold steps, seeking to respond to the needs of each new time. It has spoken out for justice and inclusion. It has been a shelter for weary souls, a place of comfort, healing and renewal. It has worked for peace, cared for God’s creation, and walked alongside those who were once pushed aside. The United Church has not always been perfect. There have been struggles, missteps, and failures. Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit has continued to guide us, strengthen us, and call us forward, reminding us that what matters is not perfection, but the willingness to grow and become better than we were before.

Today is also Trinity Sunday, a day when we reflect on the mystery of God. God is one, and yet three: Father (Creator), Son (Saviour), and Holy Spirit (Sustainer). This is not something we can fully understand, but at the heart of the Trinity is the perfect relationship. The three persons of God live together in perfect love and perfect freedom. Some early Christians described the Triune God as Lover, Beloved, and Loving. They are united in love, always giving and receiving. There is no control, no fear, no competition. This is the very heart of who God is: to love freely and to be free in love.

Because we are made in the image of God, we too are made for relationships. No one is meant to live alone. We are called to live together, to love one another, and to build communities where love and freedom can flourish. True love does not seek to control. True freedom is not selfish. When love and freedom come together, they strengthen one another. Love leads us into freedom, and freedom opens us to love even more deeply.

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus was preparing his disciples for what was coming. He said to them, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth” The disciples had walked with Jesus, listened to him, and shared their lives with him. As he prepared to leave, he promised that the Spirit would remain with them and lead them forward. They would not be left alone. Their community would continue, and they would keep learning and growing with the Spirit’s guidance.

This promise was not only for the first disciples. It is for us as well. We live in a world that is changing rapidly. Technology keeps advancing. We can now meet online, speak to people across the world, and access more information than ever before. These can be great blessings. They help us stay connected with loved ones far away, share knowledge widely, and even worship together during difficult times.

However, there are also risks. Technology can trap us in bubbles where we only hear what we already agree with. It can weaken our true human connections. We may forget how to sit together, how to truly listen, how to see one another’s faces, and how to care for others with kindness and patience. Although we seem to connect more through online interactions, many people feel a deeper sense of loneliness. This is because they do not take enough time to reflect on the deeper meaning of life.

This is why a faith community like the United Church remains so important. The Church is where we learn to build real relationships. Here, we meet people of different backgrounds and experiences. We learn to listen to others, to be patient, and to see life from a broader perspective. We offer a space where people can slow down and listen to God’s voice. We help one another remember who we are and whose we are. We practise how to forgive, how to support one another, and how to walk together even when we do not fully agree. The Church helps us understand the boundaries of life, and when it is time to open those boundaries to others. 

For the past one hundred years, the United Church of Canada has sought to live out this calling. And now, as we look to the future, we hold on to hope. May we continue to be a church where love is real, where freedom grows, where the Spirit leads, and where all people find welcome. May we open our doors wide, care for those who are lonely, build relationships that cross differences, and trust that God will use even our small acts of love to bring healing and hope to the world.

We are not alone. We live in God’s world. We trust in the Triune God, who creates, loves, and sustains us in the beauty of divine relationship.

Thanks be to God. Amen.


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