Westminster Loving God & Neighbour

Latest Podcasts

• True Repentance: Create in me a clean heart (Sermon) May 21, 2023
  A methodist pastor was once asked to stop speaking about sin so plainly. He replied: “Would you like me to replace the label on a poison jar to say its peppermint?” In other words, it’s not loving to lie. I’ve preached over 600 sermons in 15 years. Generally speaking, people respond well to sermons about […]
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• Be still and know that I am God (Sermon) May 14, 2023
  It’s easy to lose perspective when facing uncertainty, fear or dread. Our brains can zero-in exclusively on our problems. That’s why regaining perspective is so important. Perspective is about seeing the bigger picture and right-sizing our problems.  Psalm 46 is about regaining perspective when it feels like your world is coming undone. Perhaps that is […]
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• The Lord is my Shepherd. What does Psalm 23 mean for us today? (Sermon) May 8, 2023
  “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want…” These words begin the world’s most famous psalm. It is said at funerals. It is memorized, tattooed on arms, and underlined in Bibles. Drawing from his own experience tending sheep, David penned a song to teach us about God as a perfect shepherd. He provides for […]
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• A prayer for help to a righteous God – from April 30, 2023 May 2, 2023
  Pray along as Pastor Ruttan leads us in this prayer from worship on April 30, 2023. 
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• The Two Ways (Sermon) May 1, 2023
  Every day we are faced with choices. Lots of choices. I’ve heard that the total number of variations in just the first 10 moves of a chess game are 169,518,829,100,544,000,000,000,000,000. Wow! Life can seem like that. Lots of choices, lots of outcomes. Psalm one foregrounds the importance of a single solitary choice. Will you choose […]
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• Words from Nena LaMarre April 26, 2023
  Last week we commissioned Nena LaMarre, our new music director. Pastor Ruttan asked her two questions during the service – how she became a Christian and what the roll is of music in worship. Her answers were genuine and heart-felt. We praise God for your faithfulness Nena!
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• Failure doesn’t disqualify you (Sermon) April 23, 2023
  You’ve made mistakes. Some small, some big. If so, you’re like the apostle Peter. But Jesus didn’t write him off. He certainly had reason to. Peter denied knowing him three times at his time of need! Instead, Jesus shared a word of redemption. He also gave him an important job to do. We can learn […]
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• Ordinary Missionary (Sermon) April 17, 2023
  When we think of a missionary we usually think of someone going to serve in another country to spread the message of Jesus or help with a charitable project. But all of Jesus’ followers are given a commission. It’s a word which means “with a mission.” Yes, there is the “great commission” in Matthew 28 […]
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• No pain, no gain (Sermon) April 11, 2023
  Two young boys cut their hands before a handshake. It’s a sign of their bond with one another. We could also call it a covenant. They are now “blood brothers.” We too are in a covenant relationship with God. He is faithful to us. We are supposed to be faithful to him. But what happens […]
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• Hope over the long haul – a talk with Winston Newman April 11, 2023
  “Without food we can live for weeks. But we cannot live for a minute without hope.” So said the father of Rabbi Hugo Gryn while imprisoned in a concentration camp. Hope is that important! On Easter morning Pastor Ruttan had a talk with the Rev. Winston Newman, a friend, prayer partner, retired pastor, man of […]
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• Tradition or Traditionalism? (Sermon) April 3, 2023
  All of us have certain traditions which are meaningful to us. When it comes to our faith, there are traditions surrounding Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter, Christmas, our devotional habits, and weekly worship too. Jaroslav Pelikan distinguishes between tradition and traditionalism: “Tradition is the living faith of the dead, traditionalism is the dead faith of […]
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• Bleedership (Sermon) March 27, 2023
  Leadership is desperately needed in our world. When we think of a “leader,” we usually think of someone in an official capacity, like a coach, boss, Prime Minister or President. But Jesus’ people are continually presented with opportunities for unofficial leadership. These are everyday moments when someone needs step forward to provide guidance, make a […]
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• Always Winter, never Christmas (Sermon) March 19, 2023
  Today’s sermon was given by special guest, Jeff Walther. He has spent many years in radio and teaching at Georgian College, until recently retiring. He is a long time member of our church and spends some Sundays giving Sermons at churches in our area as well as at our very own when Pastor Ruttan is […]
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• How to get the most out of a Sermon (Sermon) March 12, 2023
  It’s a strange topic for a sermon. In fact, this isn’t really a sermon. It’s a talk about sermons. If you’ve ever wondered what sermons are, why we listen to them, or if you struggle to connect or engage, then this is for you. Let’s say you attend worship services for 20 years. Even if you only […]
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• 8 book recommendations to grow your faith March 7, 2023
  I was recently asked for some book recommendations that would grow someone’s faith and discipleship. It was asked in the context of Lent by someone who is trying to be proactive in learning about God. But the suggestions are good for any time of the year. In this informal audio clip, I simply introduce these […]
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• Live like royalty (Sermon) March 5, 2023
  Jesus says his kingdom is not of this world.  First, we should note that he is the king. Second, that we are his royal subjects. Third, that this kingdom is other-worldly. This sermon on John 18:19-40 explores the nature of this kingdom and how to live like royalty in a land which seems, in many […]
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• Prayers of the People (from Feb.5 service) March 3, 2023
  A beautiful and timeless prayer by Pastor Ruttan, spoken during service on February 5, 2023.
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• Fun Lent Trivia March 2, 2023
  What’s the deal with Lent? We know that some people give up stuff (fasting), and it leads up to Easter. But what does the name mean? Why do people say it’s 40 days when it’s actually 47, and what do Ashes on foreheads have to do with anything? This short podcast is a bit of […]
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• Integrity Under Pressure (Sermon) February 26, 2023
  A well-known definition of integrity is “doing the right thing when no one is looking.” When decisions are easy and when there is no pressure, it’s easy to have integrity. It’s harder when you are under stress. This sermon explores John 18:1-18, Jesus’ betrayal in the garden of Gethsemane, and two examples of having (and […]
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• Praying for what Jesus Prays for (Sermon) February 22, 2023
  Did you realize that right before his betrayal and torture Jesus prayed for you? He did. He prayed for his disciples, and also “for those who will believe in me through their word…” That’s us! Not only does he pray for us, but that prayer teaches us what God wants for our lives. This sermon […]
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