“Piety”
Sunday, June 7, 2026
Matthew 9: 9-13, 18-26
St. John the Evangelist Anglican
Jesus is remembered for saying: “Take heart … your faith has made you well.”
Please be seated.
It is a privilege for me to be in this pulpit, and to share in leadership this morning with Angus and the Choir, among many, including Eileen; soon after her reFirement from the National Office of the Anglican Church of Canada, after such a distinguished career there.
I grew up in a suburb of Toronto, in a neighbourhood of predominately Roman Catholic and Jewish households. The Lougheeds were among the token Protestants! Though, we all learned from each other about how we ‘lived out what we believed’, in the way we worshipped, and interacted with each other, and with the world so loved by the Holy One of Many Names. Which could be summed up in one word: piety. How we live out what we believe, in worship and service. Including with different postures of prayer.
At a large funeral for my friend’s Dad, Fr. Paul – who would go on to serve at St. Gabe’s Parish for over 40 (!) years – began: “The Lord be with you … (and also with you) … Armand was a good Catholic. He came to Mass often, arrived early, and he sat … at the back!” 😊 As an ‘ecumenical friend’ of St. John’s, I may be late for my own funeral, and I often sit here, at the front, for several reasons: I sing loudly rather than well (!); I like this vantage point on the altar, lecterns, choir, and organ pedals (!); and I have this ledge to rest my prayer and hymn books upon; like a prayer desk.
One of the many things I appreciate about worship here at St. John’s is the calibre of piety (living out what we believe in worship and service) including through music. For instance, the Compline Service here in the nave on a recent Sunday eve, ably led by Tenor Gerald King, joined by several other sisters and brothers, with echoes of 9th century monasticism. Though I chose to sit on one of these nifty more accessible chairs, I felt the need that night to be on bended knee. And this morning, I’ve taken the liberty to move one of the prayer desks from beside the high altar, and I will use it for the Prayers of the People and Confession … then I’ll turn it for ease of access during the Eucharist.
So it must have been … for a tax collector named Matthew, in a society that considered him a complicit sinner, who recognized and felt such piety, that he promptly followed Jesus’ call. Even to unlikely table fellowship, at Jesus’ home in Capernum. And to the dismay of the self-righteous Pharisees, Jesus – their brother Jew – guided them with these words: “ … I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”
And then we have the ‘sandwiched’ miracles, with two women that Jesus each refers to as daughters. (Bruggemann et al on Year A) Miracles that scholar C.H. Dodds has described as “taking and creating faith’”. Taking and creating faith.
From the years I spent in Hospital Chaplaincy, the distinction between the curing of physical ailments, and the healing of spiritual ones, comes to mind.
The ‘sandwiched’ miracles begin with a colleague of the critical religious leaders – who were actually more pious in their belief, than self righteous – and this worried father is coming to Jesus, seeking the ancient ritual of Laying on of Hands for the healing of his young daughter. If not the curing.
Recently – in another use of this ancient ritual – my colleague Brent Krysa, who periodically sings beside Gerald in the Choir here, had hands laid upon him by Bishop Townsend, for ordination as an Anglican Deacon!
And during worship here at St John’s, a defining moment of piety for me is the fraction, when the host is broken, before it is shared… equipping us to be part of the body of Christ, risen in the Church.
Back in the miracles, from very publicly calling Matthew the tax collector from a fringe of that society, to follow him, Jesus now follows the earnest parent to the daughter’s bedside. And their paths cross with a woman on another fringe, who has been ailing of a haemorage for twelve years, which – by ancient practice – precludes her from attending worship. And she very privately reaches out to touch the fringe of Jesus’ cloak, as he reassures her: “Take heart … your faith has made you well.”
If only some others with needs of curing – and healing – could experience that reassurance.
Marion Best is a former Moderator of the United Church of Canada, who often refers to her ‘call to faith’ story. When, amidst a difficult pregnancy, in the delivery room, Marion recalls ‘reaching out to touch the fringe of Jesus’ cloak’. And her daughter was safely born, and eventually followed her mother into ministry in the United Church.
Beyond the encounter between the woman on the fringe, with the fringe of Jesus’ cloak, when he arrives at the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus sends the crowd away, goes inside, and ‘lays hands on the girl’ who then apparently ‘got up’. Of miracles that ‘take and create faith’. Knowing that many other households have and seek both … and still wait.
St. John’s is one of those places ‘to wait’, and to pray (even on bended knee), to serve, and to be served, with a piety that is an expression of what we believe, including with Renew 26.
Another former Moderator of the United Church, Bruce McLeod, died recently. (During the Second World War, he was my Mom’s Sunday School teacher in Toronto!) And among many aspects of his ministry shared, Bruce is fondly remembered for challenging congregations: “If this church building were to disappear, would this corner sag for the absence of its piety?” That is surely the case for St. John’s. At the corner of Duke and Water St. in Downtown Kitchener. And thanks be to God for that!
(Rev.) John Lougheed
Angus Sinclair was appointed Director of Music of St. John the Evangelist on February 1, 2023. Having graduated in 1981 (Honours B.Mus.) in organ performance from Wilfrid Laurier University, he went on to distinguish himself as a church musician, recitalist and accompanist touring in both Canada and the UK. For over 40 years Angus has served parishes and congregations throughout Southwestern Ontario as director of music. He experiences his present appointment to St. John’s as a welcome homecoming, both spiritually and musically.
As our parish musician, he provides both support and leadership so that a variety of parish programs can find musical expression and attract participation. When our handbell choir is in season, he is one of our ringers. At parish dinners, he provides popular piano music for the guests to dine by. For both worship services and concerts, he will rehearse and accompany vocal and instrumental soloists from our congregation on piano, organ, or even accordion.
Angus Sinclair was appointed Director of Music of St. John the Evangelist on February 1, 2023. Having graduated in 1981 (Honours B.Mus.) in organ performance from Wilfrid Laurier University, he went on to distinguish himself as a church musician, recitalist and accompanist touring in both Canada and the UK. For over 40 years Angus has served parishes and congregations throughout Southwestern Ontario as director of music. He experiences his present appointment to St. John’s as a welcome homecoming, both spiritually and musically.