Improvising the Kingdom - Sermon by Rev. Roberta Howey

In this week’s sermon, Improvising the Kingdom, Roberta reflects on Paul’s vision of a church built on radical equality, as found in Galatians 3:23–28. Drawing a humorous parallel to Monty Python and the Holy Grail, she questions the long-term authority of Paul’s improvised letters, written with the belief that Jesus’ return was imminent. The sermon challenges the Church to distinguish between the letter and the spirit of the law, especially in light of historic and ongoing injustices like the treatment of Indigenous peoples. Through examples such as hospital smudging ceremonies and the evolving work of the United Church of Canada, Roberta urges us to build a more compassionate, inclusive faith—one that honors the divine in every person and reflects Christ’s love through care, flexibility, and justice.