Name: Speaking in Tongues: Sacred Symbol or Holy Babble? @centre-place
Uploaded: 2026-09-18T08:17:00-05:00
Duration: 8 min 17 s
Description: Speaking in Tongues: Sacred Symbol or Holy Babble?

Speaking in Tongues: Sacred Symbol or Holy Babble?

Centre Place 2026-09-18 | Speaking in Tongues: Sacred Symbol or Holy Babble?

Let There Be Answers! Episode 6

Centre Place 2025-10-04 | Got questions? Let there be answers! 😁 Join us as our lecturers John Hamer and Leandro Palacios tackle your questions and suggestions from the comments on our videos. While we host Q&A sessions at the end of our live presentations on history, philosophy, and theology, this podcast dives into the great questions that come in later. In each episode, we present them to John and Leandro (or a special guest), and our team monitors the chat for questions and insights from live participants. Priority is given to questions with donations, which support our channel. Tune in for an interactive, thoughtful, and fun conversation with our global community of learners and seekers.

In this episode we will start with questions from our most recent lectures:

* History of the Jerusalem Temple – youtu.be/30ad0bVSVl4
* Can We Know God by Reason? – youtu.be/SOhxTtP-vfk
* Christian Mysticism – Part 1: Introduction – youtu.be/h6vu3dbnMLc
* From Many Christianities to One Church: The Rise of Orthodoxy – youtu.be/h6vu3dbnMLc

📚 Browse our catalogue of free lectures at centreplace.ca/lectures

Your generous support allows us to offer these lectures at no cost. Please consider making a donation (tax deductible in the US and Canada):

❤️ centreplace.ca/donate ️

From Many Christianities to One Church: The Rise of Orthodoxy

Centre Place 2025-10-04 | In the first centuries after Jesus, many Christian movements flourished, each with their own scriptures, beliefs, and practices. Over time, the “proto-Orthodox” Christians succeeded in defining their teachings as correct and establishing authority, while rival groups were suppressed or forgotten.

In this lecture, John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place examines the struggle to define authentic Christian belief, from Jewish Christians who upheld the Mosaic Law to Gnostic Christians who rejected the Hebrew Bible altogether.

Join the livestream to participate in the discussion and to ask questions of our lecturer during the Q&A.

This lecture is part of our series exploring Christianity and the Bible from an academic perspective through history, mythology, archaeology, theology, and biblical studies.

📚 Browse our catalogue of free lectures at centreplace.ca/lectures

Your generous support allows us to offer these lectures at no cost. Please consider making a donation (tax deductible in the US and Canada):

❤️ centreplace.ca/donate

#religion #lostchristiangospels #earlychristianities #riseofchristianorthodoxy #jewishchristianity

Christian Mysticism – Part 1: Introduction

Centre Place 2025-10-04 | What is mysticism in the Christian context, and how has it shaped this tradition from Jesus to the present? How does it compare with mysticism in other religions? Why did women’s voices become prominent in the Middle Ages and the Catholic “counter-reformation,” but mainly in mystical writings? And are the spiritual practices many churches embrace today rooted in Christian mysticism or borrowed from Buddhism and New Age spirituality?

In this live presentation, Leandro Palacios of Toronto Centre Place addresses these and other questions as we begin our exploration of Christian mysticism.

This series traces the development of Christian mysticism from biblical and patristic roots through medieval and modern expressions. We explore influential writings from Gregory of Nyssa, Pseudo-Dionysius, Hildegard of Bingen, Bernard of Clairvaux, Meister Eckhart, Julian of Norwich, Catherine of Siena, Teresa of Ávila, John of the Cross, as well as contemporary voices.

Join the livestream to participate in the discussion and to ask questions of our lecturer during the Q&A.

This lecture is part of our series exploring Christianity and the Bible from an academic perspective through history, mythology, archaeology, theology, and biblical studies.

📚 Browse our catalogue of free lectures at centreplace.ca/lectures

Your generous support allows us to offer these lectures at no cost. Please consider making a donation (tax deductible in the US and Canada):

❤️ centreplace.ca/donate

#religion #ancienthistory #christianspirituality #whatismysticism

Continuing Revelation | Beyond the Walls Late Edition | OCT 26 2025

Centre Place 2025-10-03 | Scripture is an inspired and indispensable witness of human response to God’s revelation of divine nature. In the Gospel of John 15:26-27, Jesus talks about the coming of “the Spirit of truth” as “the Advocate” who testifies of Christ, calling on all of us as disciples to receive revelation to testify to that same truth. God graciously continues to reveal divine will today as in the past, as the Holy Spirit inspires and provides witness to divine truth. In humility, we continue to share God's ongoing revelation with our community and the world.

Beyond the Walls – Continuing Revelation. We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community on 📅 Sunday, October 26.

📅 Sunday, Oct 26, 2025
📖 Full worship bulletin: centreplace.ca/bulletin
🎵 All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and @MichaelKarpowicz. Copyrighted music with permission by OneLicense A-739874

🌐 Beyond the Walls is an online worship service with live ministry from around the world. Our global congregation gathers every Sunday at 12:00 pm ET and 6:00 pm ET. We’re an inclusive, non-dogmatic, progressive Christian community that affirms all gender identities and expressions, embraces interfaith and skeptical perspectives, and rejects literal interpretations of scripture.

#churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice

Continuing Revelation | Beyond the Walls | OCT 26 2025

Responsible Choices | Beyond the Walls Late Edition | OCT 19 2025

Centre Place 2025-10-03 | In the Gospel of John 14:15, Jesus promises that the Father will give us another “advocate to help you and be with you forever — the Spirit of truth.” This reflects the Enduring Principle of “Responsible Choices.” God gives humans the ability to make choices about whom or what they will serve. Many people experience conditions that diminish their ability to make choices, but we all share the reality that our choices contribute to good or evil in our lives and in the world. Many aspects of creation need redemption because of irresponsible and sinful (rooted in selfishness or fear) human choices. We are called to make responsible choices within our own circumstances that are in harmony with the truths of these enduring principles.

Beyond the Walls – Responsible Choices. We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community on 📅 Sunday, October 19. You can participate via live video as usual or join us in person at: 💒 320 Richmond Street East, Suite 101, Toronto, ON M5A 1P9.

📅 Sunday, Oct 19, 2025
📖 Full worship bulletin: centreplace.ca/bulletin
🎵 All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and @MichaelKarpowicz. Copyrighted music with permission by OneLicense A-739874

🌐 Beyond the Walls is an online worship service with live ministry from around the world. Our global congregation gathers every Sunday at 12:00 pm ET and 6:00 pm ET. We’re an inclusive, non-dogmatic, progressive Christian community that affirms all gender identities and expressions, embraces interfaith and skeptical perspectives, and rejects literal interpretations of scripture.

#churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice

Responsible Choices | Beyond the Walls | OCT 19 2025

Grace & Generosity | Beyond the Walls Late Edition | OCT 12 2025

Centre Place 2025-10-03 | God’s grace, especially as revealed in Jesus Christ, is generous and unconditional. In response to God’s grace, we generously share our witness, resources, ministries, and sacraments. Our generosity is not based on obligation or formulas, but according to our true capacity as disciples. After his crucifixion, Jesus in the Gospel of John’s telling begins appearing to his disciples. He appeared at a gathering of the Twelve one evening when one of their number, the Apostle Thomas was not present. The other disciples shared their testimony of the risen Christ with Thomas, but he refused to believe until Jesus appeared to him. While Jesus did appear to Thomas, he nevertheless chided him: “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” God’s grace and generosity extends to all and is ever present, but it may not come in the form that we expect.

Beyond the Walls – Grace & Generosity. We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community on 📅 Sunday, October 12. You can participate via live video as usual or join us in person at: 💒 320 Richmond Street East, Suite 101, Toronto, ON M5A 1P9.

📅 Sunday, Oct 12, 2025
📖 Full worship bulletin: centreplace.ca/bulletin
🎵 All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and @MichaelKarpowicz. Copyrighted music with permission by OneLicense A-739874

🌐 Beyond the Walls is an online worship service with live ministry from around the world. Our global congregation gathers every Sunday at 12:00 pm ET and 6:00 pm ET. We’re an inclusive, non-dogmatic, progressive Christian community that affirms all gender identities and expressions, embraces interfaith and skeptical perspectives, and rejects literal interpretations of scripture.

#churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice

Grace & Generosity | Beyond the Walls | OCT 12 2025

Centre Place 2025-10-03 | God’s grace, especially as revealed in Jesus Christ, is generous and unconditional. In response to God’s grace, we generously share our witness, resources, ministries, and sacraments. Our generosity is not based on obligation or formulas, but according to our true capacity as disciples. After his crucifixion, Jesus in the Gospel of John’s telling begins appearing to his disciples. He appeared at a gathering of the Twelve one evening when one of their number, the Apostle Thomas was not present. The other disciples shared their testimony of the risen Christ with Thomas, but he refused to believe until Jesus appeared to him. While Jesus did appear to Thomas, he nevertheless chided him: “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” God’s grace and generosity extends to all and is ever present, but it may not come in the form that we expect.

Beyond the Walls – Grace & Generosity. We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community on 📅 Sunday, October 12. You can participate via live video as usual or join us in person at: 💒 320 Richmond Street East, Suite 101, Toronto, ON M5A 1P9.

📖 Full worship bulletin: centreplace.ca/bulletin
🎵 All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and @MichaelKarpowicz. Copyrighted music with permission by OneLicense A-739874
🌐 Beyond the Walls is an online worship service with live ministry from around the world. Our global congregation gathers every Sunday at 12:00 pm ET and 6:00 pm ET. We’re an inclusive, non-dogmatic, progressive Christian community that affirms all gender identities and expressions, embraces interfaith and skeptical perspectives, and rejects literal interpretations of scripture.

📅 Sunday, Oct 12, 2025
📖 Full worship bulletin: centreplace.ca/bulletin
🎵 All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and @MichaelKarpowicz. Copyrighted music with permission by OneLicense A-739874

🌐 Beyond the Walls is an online worship service with live ministry from around the world. Our global congregation gathers every Sunday at 12:00 pm ET and 6:00 pm ET. We’re an inclusive, non-dogmatic, progressive Christian community that affirms all gender identities and expressions, embraces interfaith and skeptical perspectives, and rejects literal interpretations of scripture.

#churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice

A History of the Jerusalem Temple

Centre Place 2025-10-01 | The Hebrew Bible limits offering sacrifice to a single location: a Temple or “house for the Lord” built in Jerusalem. The original temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 bce and the second temple, built under Persian rule and greatly enlarged by Herod was destroyed by the Romans in 70 ce. The centrality of the Temple for ancient Judaism is illustrated by the names historians give to the era: “The First Temple Period” and the “Second Temple Period.” Rabbinic Judaism and Christianity developed along diverging paths in the wake of the Second Temple’s destruction.

John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place will look at what we can know about the historic temples and trace the history of the contested sacred site from Antiquity, through the Middle Ages, to the present.

Join the livestream to participate in the discussion and to ask questions of our lecturer during the Q&A.

This lecture is part of our series exploring Christianity and the Bible from an academic perspective through history, mythology, archaeology, theology, and biblical studies. In this presentation we focus on the legends of Solomon, the temple destroyed by the Babylonians, the modest temple built by Zerubbabel and the returning exiles, and the much expanded temple of Herod the Great. We will also look at the pagan city of Aelia Capitolina that the Romans built on the site of Jerusalem, the Byzantine Christian city, the Muslim city of al-Quds with its Dome of the Rock, the Crusaders, the Templars, and more.

📚 Browse our catalogue of free lectures at centreplace.ca/lectures

Your generous support allows us to offer these lectures at no cost. Please consider making a donation (tax deductible in the US and Canada):
❤️ centreplace.ca/donate ️

#religion #temple #ancienthistory #israel #judaism

Worth of All Persons | Beyond the Walls Late Edition | SEP 28 2025

Centre Place 2025-09-29 | For the fifth of our Nine Enduring Principles Sundays, we consider the “Worth of All Persons.” God views all people as having inestimable and equal worth. God wants all people to experience wholeness of body, mind, spirit, and relationships: and we join with Jesus Christ in bringing that good news to the poor, sick, captive, and oppressed. We seek to uphold and restore the worth of all people individually and in community, challenging unjust systems that diminish human worth.

Beyond the Walls – Worth of All Persons. We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community.

📅 Sunday, Sep 28, 2025
📖 Full worship bulletin: centreplace.ca/bulletin
🎵 All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and @MichaelKarpowicz. Copyrighted music with permission by OneLicense A-739874

🌐 Beyond the Walls is an online worship service with live ministry from around the world. Our global congregation gathers every Sunday at 12:00 pm ET and 6:00 pm ET. We’re an inclusive, non-dogmatic, progressive Christian community that affirms all gender identities and expressions, embraces interfaith and skeptical perspectives, and rejects literal interpretations of scripture.
#churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice

Worth of All Persons | Beyond the Walls | SEP 28 2025

Centre Place 2025-09-28 | For the fifth of our Nine Enduring Principles Sundays, we consider the “Worth of All Persons.” God views all people as having inestimable and equal worth. God wants all people to experience wholeness of body, mind, spirit, and relationships: and we join with Jesus Christ in bringing that good news to the poor, sick, captive, and oppressed. We seek to uphold and restore the worth of all people individually and in community, challenging unjust systems that diminish human worth.

Beyond the Walls – Worth of All Persons. We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community.

📅 Sunday, Sep 28, 2025
📖 Full worship bulletin: centreplace.ca/bulletin
🎵 All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and @MichaelKarpowicz. Copyrighted music with permission by OneLicense A-739874

🌐 Beyond the Walls is an online worship service with live ministry from around the world. Our global congregation gathers every Sunday at 12:00 pm ET and 6:00 pm ET. We’re an inclusive, non-dogmatic, progressive Christian community that affirms all gender identities and expressions, embraces interfaith and skeptical perspectives, and rejects literal interpretations of scripture.

#churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice

Let There Be Answers! Episode 5

Centre Place 2025-09-24 | Got questions? Let there be answers! 😁 Join us as our lecturers John Hamer and Leandro Palacios tackle your questions and suggestions from the comments on our videos. While we host Q&A sessions at the end of our live presentations on history, philosophy, and theology, this podcast dives into the great questions that come in later. In each episode, we present them to John and Leandro (or a special guest), and our team monitors the chat for questions and insights from live participants. Priority is given to questions with donations, which support our channel. Tune in for an interactive, thoughtful, and fun conversation with our global community of learners and seekers.

In this episode we will start with questions from our most recent lectures:

* Will Christianity Survive the 21st Century? - youtu.be/tMj-CyVS0-0
* Did Akhenaten Invent Monotheism? - youtu.be/JoLl341xCZU
* Exegesis: How to Read the Bible Like a Scholar - youtu.be/3YvRWAOANv8
* Why the Bible Retells the Epic of Gilgamesh - youtu.be/gaI53yIkBN0
* The Stoic Jesus: Virtue, Reason, and the Kingdom of God - youtu.be/3rgddrY3TxQ
* The Last Pagan Emperor: Why Julian Failed to Stop Christianity - youtu.be/0LqdLzXO0KM
* Joshua vs. Judges: How Did the Walls of Jericho Tumble Down? - youtu.be/QgaGPdrY5h4
* The Ethics of Jesus – Part 1: Introduction - youtu.be/wDNw1KVL9yk

📚 Browse our catalogue of free lectures at centreplace.ca/lectures

Your generous support allows us to offer these lectures at no cost. Please consider making a donation (tax deductible in the US and Canada):

❤️ centreplace.ca/donate ️

Beyond the Walls Late Edition – Blessings of Community

Centre Place 2025-09-22 | The gospel is expressed best in community life where people become vulnerable to God’s grace and each other.

Blessings of Community | Beyond the Walls | SEP 21 2025

Centre Place 2025-09-21 | The gospel is expressed best in community life where people become vulnerable to God’s grace and each other. True community includes compassion for and solidarity with the poor, marginalized, and oppressed, and upholds the worth of persons while providing a healthy alternative to self-centeredness, isolation, and conformity.
Sacred community provides nurturing and growth opportunities for all people, especially those who cannot fully care for themselves. We value our connections to each other and share a strong sense of trust in and belonging with one another – even if we never have met. We are called to create communities of Christ’s peace in our families and congregations and across villages, tribes, nations, and throughout creation.

Join us for a special sacramental service which will be livestreamed from the Ziontario campgrounds. This service is the culmination of the Canada East Mission Centre Conference.

Beyond the Walls – Blessings of Community. We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community on 📅 Sunday, September 21, 2025.

You can participate via live video as usual or you can watch the service in-person at the Canada East Mission Centre Conference, which will be held at the Ziontario Campground: 💒 344516 N Line, Priceville, ON N0C 1K0.

📖 Full worship bulletin: centreplace.ca/bulletin
🎵 All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and @MichaelKarpowicz. Copyrighted music with permission by OneLicense A-739874

🌐 Beyond the Walls is an online worship service with live ministry from around the world. Our global congregation gathers every Sunday at 12:00 pm ET and 6:00 pm ET. We’re an inclusive, non-dogmatic, progressive Christian community that affirms all gender identities and expressions, embraces interfaith and skeptical perspectives, and rejects literal interpretations of scripture.

#churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice

Can We Know God by Reason?

Centre Place 2025-09-17 | The great Medieval theologian Thomas Aquinas believed it was possible to prove that God exists by reason alone (i.e., without relying on scripture or revelation) and he assembled 5 arguments which he believed did just that. He was not alone. Christian theologians like Anselm of Bec and philosophers like René Descartes and Gottfried Leibniz have been similarly confident. Medieval Muslim theologians including Avicenna (Ibn Sina) and Averroes (Ibn Rushd) came to similar conclusions as did the Medieval Jewish theologian Maimonides. John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place will outline some of the major arguments proposed by these figures and consider their merits.

Join the livestream to participate in the discussion and to ask questions of our lecturer during the Q&A.

This lecture is part of our series exploring Christianity and the Bible from an academic perspective through history, mythology, archaeology, theology, and biblical studies. In this presentation we focus on Thomas Aquinas, Anselm of Bec, René Descartes, Gottfried Leibniz, Avicenna (Ibn Sina), Averroes (Ibn Rushd), Maimonides, as well as Plato, Plotinus, the ontological argument, the argument from motion, the argument from the efficient cause, the argument from contingency, the argument from degree, and the argument from design.

📚 Browse our catalogue of free lectures at centreplace.ca/lectures

Your generous support allows us to offer these lectures at no cost. Please consider making a donation (tax deductible in the US and Canada):

❤️ centreplace.ca/donate

Beyond the Walls Late Edition – Peace & Nonviolence

Centre Place 2025-09-17 | How should we, as disciples of Christ, be active in our defense of the persecuted and abused as we promote justice and peace?

Peace & Nonviolence | Beyond the Walls | OCT 5 2025

Centre Place 2025-09-17 | After many years of discernment, the 2025 Community of Christ World Conference approved a resolution calling for nonviolence to be our preferred path to establishing true peace. Since the adoption of our historic seal in the 1870s, “Peace” has been our motto and the Community of Christ Temple in Independence is especially dedicated to peace. Jesus is an advocate for nonviolence, calling on us to “turn the other cheek,” to “love our enemies,” and to “pray for those who persecute” us. He modelled that behavior on the cross when he prayed on behalf of his executioners. Nevertheless, promoting true peace does not mean giving into abusers, which only furthers their cycle of abuse. How should we, as disciples of Christ, be active in our defense of the persecuted and abused as we promote justice and peace?

Beyond the Walls – Peace & Nonviolence. We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community.

📅 Sunday, Oct 5, 2025

📖 Full worship bulletin: centreplace.ca/bulletin

🎵 All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and @MichaelKarpowicz. Copyrighted music with permission by OneLicense A-739874

🌐 Beyond the Walls is an online worship service with live ministry from around the world. Our global congregation gathers every Sunday at 12:00 pm ET and 6:00 pm ET. We’re an inclusive, non-dogmatic, progressive Christian community that affirms all gender identities and expressions, embraces interfaith and skeptical perspectives, and rejects literal interpretations of scripture.

#churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice

Will Christianity Survive the 21st Century?

Centre Place 2025-09-17 | Church attendance and affiliation are facing rapid decline in Europe and the Americas. Considering the rise of secularism and fundamentalism, Christianity’s collapse has been anticipated since the Enlightenment. Many wonder whether Christianity can survive the 21st century. But is Christianity collapsing or evolving into new forms?

In this lecture, John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place examines the latest trends in secularization, the rise of the religiously unaffiliated — including the “Nones” and the “Spiritual-but-not-religious” — shifting demographics and fertility, religious switching, migration, and growth in the Global South to ask: Will Christianity survive the 21st century?

Join the livestream to participate in the discussion and to ask questions of our lecturer during the Q&A.

This lecture is part of our series exploring Christianity and the Bible from an academic perspective through history, mythology, archaeology, theology, and biblical studies. In this presentation we focus on current demographic trends, Islam, secularism, the Enlightenment, and fundamentalism.

📚 Browse our catalogue of free lectures at centreplace.ca/lectures

❤️ Your generous support allows us to offer these lectures at no cost. Please consider making a donation (tax deductible in the US and Canada): centreplace.ca/donate ️

#christianity #ChurchDecline #Secularism #Fundamentalism #ReligiousTrends #FutureOfReligion #BibleStudies #Enlightenment #ReligiousNones

The Malthusian Catastrophe

Centre Place 2025-09-17 | Can the world keep up with population growth? Watch full video:
Will Christianity Survive the 21st Century?
youtu.be/tMj-CyVS0-0

Unity in Diversity | Beyond the Walls Late Edition | SEP 14 2025

Centre Place 2025-09-15 | While each individual is called to discipleship, the gospel is lived in sacred community. While the Apostle Paul affirms that we “are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28), equality and oneness do not mean uniformity or conformity (D&C 165:3d). As individuals, we are each uniquely gifted, and bringing that diverse giftedness together enriches the united body. How can this be lived out? In one of the most famous passages of scripture, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Paul explains that love must be our motivation and our goal. Shannon McAdam, Co-Apostle for Canada and Co-President of CWM will offer our message on the theme of Unity in Diversity.

Join us for a special sacramental service which will be livestreamed from far Beyond the Walls of Toronto Centre Place at the Chilliwack Community of Christ in British Columbia. This service is the culmination of the Canada West Mission Centre Conference. Karin Peter, Senior President of Seventy, will ordain Gwyneth Beer to the Office of Seventy in Community of Christ. The service will also include the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, which is a tradition of the Canada West Mission Centre Conference.

Beyond the Walls – Unity in Diversity. We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community on 📅 Sunday, September 14, 2025. We will share communion 🍞🍇 with all those participating live from around the world 🌏

You can participate via live video as usual or join us in person at: 💒 9845 Carleton St, Chilliwack, British Columbia V2P 6E4. The service begins at 12:00 pm Eastern, 11:00 am Central, 10:00 am Mountain, and 9:00 am Pacific. If you are attending in person at the Chilliwack Community of Christ, we invite you to arrive at 8:00 am Pacific Time for breakfast and fellowship.

📅 Sunday, Sep 14, 2025
📖 Full worship bulletin: centreplace.ca/bulletin
🎵 All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and @MichaelKarpowicz. Copyrighted music with permission by OneLicense A-739874

🌐 Beyond the Walls is an online worship service with live ministry from around the world. Our global congregation gathers every Sunday at 12:00 pm ET and 6:00 pm ET. We’re an inclusive, non-dogmatic, progressive Christian community that affirms all gender identities and expressions, embraces interfaith and skeptical perspectives, and rejects literal interpretations of scripture.

#churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice

Unity in Diversity | Beyond the Walls | SEP 14 2025

Did Akhenaten Invent Monotheism?

Centre Place 2025-09-12 | Pharaoh Akhenaten promoted the exclusive worship of the Aten in ancient Egypt, rejecting all other gods centuries before monotheism developed in Israel. Was monotheism first invented during the Amarna period?

In the 14th century BCE, Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) abandoned Egypt’s traditional pantheon and promoted devotion to the Aten. Although he established a new henotheistic (possibly monotheistic) religion during his reign, after his death his successor Tutankhamun reversed the reforms. In this lecture, John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place explores Akhenaten’s one-god revolution and its echoes in the later monotheistic religion of Israel.

📚 Browse our catalogue of free lectures at centreplace.ca/lectures

❤️ Your generous support allows us to offer these lectures at no cost. Please consider making a donation (tax deductible in the US and Canada): centreplace.ca/donate ️
#ancientegypt #pharaoh #exodus #moses #bible #biblestudy

Sacredness of Creation | Beyond the Walls Late Edition | SEP 7 2025

Centre Place 2025-09-08 | In the beginning, God created everything and declared it good, according to the creation story found at the beginning of Genesis. This famous passage is retold at the beginning of the Gospel of John, which identifies God’s Word as Christ who is “coming into the world.” The authors of the gospel go on to say that “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” This reverence expresses the inherent “Sacredness of Creation” — the second of nine Enduring Principles in our series. All creation, both the seen and the unseen, is connected, and we join with God as stewards of care and hope for all creation.

Beyond the Walls – Sacredness of Creation. We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community on 📅 Sunday, September 7, 2025. You can participate via live video as usual or join us in person at: 💒 320 Richmond Street East, Suite 101, Toronto, ON M5A 1P9.

We will share communion 🍞🍇 with all those participating live from around the world 🌏

📅 Sunday, Sep 7, 2025
📖 Full worship bulletin: centreplace.ca/bulletin
🎵 All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and @MichaelKarpowicz. Copyrighted music with permission by OneLicense A-739874

🌐 Beyond the Walls is an online worship service with live ministry from around the world. Our global congregation gathers every Sunday at 12:00 pm ET and 6:00 pm ET. We’re an inclusive, non-dogmatic, progressive Christian community that affirms all gender identities and expressions, embraces interfaith and skeptical perspectives, and rejects literal interpretations of scripture.

#churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice

Sacredness of Creation | Beyond the Walls | SEP 7 2025

Centre Place 2025-09-07 | In the beginning, God created everything and declared it good, according to the creation story found at the beginning of Genesis. This famous passage is retold at the beginning of the Gospel of John, which identifies God’s Word as Christ who is “coming into the world.” The authors of the gospel go on to say that “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” This reverence expresses the inherent “Sacredness of Creation” — the second of nine Enduring Principles in our series. All creation, both the seen and the unseen, is connected, and we join with God as stewards of care and hope for all creation.

Beyond the Walls – Sacredness of Creation. We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community on 📅 Sunday, September 7, 2025. You can participate via live video as usual or join us in person at: 💒 320 Richmond Street East, Suite 101, Toronto, ON M5A 1P9.

We will share communion 🍞🍇 with all those participating live from around the world 🌏

📅 Sunday, Sep 7, 2025
📖 Full worship bulletin: centreplace.ca/bulletin
🎵 All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and @MichaelKarpowicz. Copyrighted music with permission by OneLicense A-739874

🌐 Beyond the Walls is an online worship service with live ministry from around the world. Our global congregation gathers every Sunday at 12:00 pm ET and 6:00 pm ET. We’re an inclusive, non-dogmatic, progressive Christian community that affirms all gender identities and expressions, embraces interfaith and skeptical perspectives, and rejects literal interpretations of scripture.

#churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice

Exegesis: How to Read the Bible Like a Scholar

Centre Place 2025-09-03 | The Bible contains historical inaccuracies, supernatural events, contradictions, violence, misogyny, homophobia, and xenophobia. Can we trust these texts to teach us anything about God, spirituality, or ourselves? Exegesis — the way scholars and theologians read scripture — provides tools to make sense of these passages and uncover meaning for our lives today.

Since antiquity, Christian thinkers recognized that many texts call for allegorical or symbolic interpretation. In the 19th century, the rise of archaeology, literary criticism, and related fields opened the way for academic, critical readings of these ancient writings. By considering the context of composition, the nuances of the original languages, parallels in Greco-Roman, Mesopotamian, and Egyptian sources, and differences among manuscripts, exegesis helps uncover meaning even in the most puzzling and disturbing passages.

In this presentation, we introduce the basic steps of exegesis so that the next time you read the Bible, you are familiar with how scholars and theologians approach these texts.

Join the livestream to participate in the discussion and to ask questions of our lecturer during the Q&A.
This lecture is part of our series exploring Christianity and the Bible from an academic perspective through history, mythology, archaeology, theology, and biblical studies.

📚 Browse our catalogue of free lectures at centreplace.ca/lectures
Your generous support allows us to offer these lectures at no cost. Please consider making a donation (tax deductible in the US and Canada):
❤️ centreplace.ca/donate ️

#bible #biblestudy #bibleverse

All Are Called | Beyond the Walls Late Edition | AUG 31 2025

Centre Place 2025-09-01 | Is following Jesus the same as being a disciple? If we are sent into the world, what is our mission? And what happens when we feel unprepared to answer the call?

In John 17, Jesus offers a prayer to the Father on behalf of his disciples, including us today. “As you sent me into the world,” he says, “I have sent them into the world.” Jesus was not born into one of the royal households of his day, the Herodian dynasty or the Roman Julio-Claudian dynasty. Instead, he was born to a couple from a humble background. Likewise, he did not find disciples among the rich, the powerful, or even the learned. Instead, he called women and men of humble origins, illustrating the principle that “All Are Called.”

As our study of John’s Gospel continues, we embark on a series exploring how each of the Enduring Principles is expressed in its text, beginning with our testimony that “All Are Called.” God graciously gives people gifts and opportunities to do good, and Jesus Christ invites us to find joy in our lives by expressing our giftedness by becoming disciples who share his life and ministry. As disciples, we respond faithfully, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to our best understanding of God’s call in our lives.

Beyond the Walls – All Are Called. We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community.

📅 Sunday, August 31, 2025
📖 Full worship bulletin: centreplace.ca/bulletin
🎵 All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and @MichaelKarpowicz. Copyrighted music with permission by OneLicense A-739874

🌐 Beyond the Walls is an online worship service with live ministry from around the world. Our global congregation gathers every Sunday at 12:00 pm ET and 6:00 pm ET. We’re an inclusive, non-dogmatic, progressive Christian community that affirms all gender identities and expressions, embraces interfaith and skeptical perspectives, and rejects literal interpretations of scripture.

#churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice

All Are Called | Beyond the Walls | AUG 31 2025

Centre Place 2025-08-31 | Is following Jesus the same as being a disciple? If we are sent into the world, what is our mission? And what happens when we feel unprepared to answer the call?

In John 17, Jesus offers a prayer to the Father on behalf of his disciples, including us today. “As you sent me into the world,” he says, “I have sent them into the world.” Jesus was not born into one of the royal households of his day, the Herodian dynasty or the Roman Julio-Claudian dynasty. Instead, he was born to a couple from a humble background. Likewise, he did not find disciples among the rich, the powerful, or even the learned. Instead, he called women and men of humble origins, illustrating the principle that “All Are Called.”

As our study of John’s Gospel continues, we embark on a series exploring how each of the Enduring Principles is expressed in its text, beginning with our testimony that “All Are Called.” God graciously gives people gifts and opportunities to do good, and Jesus Christ invites us to find joy in our lives by expressing our giftedness by becoming disciples who share his life and ministry. As disciples, we respond faithfully, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to our best understanding of God’s call in our lives.

Beyond the Walls – All Are Called. We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community.

📅 Sunday, August 31, 2025
📖 Full worship bulletin: centreplace.ca/bulletin
🎵 All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and @MichaelKarpowicz. Copyrighted music with permission by OneLicense A-739874

🌐 Beyond the Walls is an online worship service with live ministry from around the world. Our global congregation gathers every Sunday at 12:00 pm ET and 6:00 pm ET. We’re an inclusive, non-dogmatic, progressive Christian community that affirms all gender identities and expressions, embraces interfaith and skeptical perspectives, and rejects literal interpretations of scripture.

#churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice

Lazarus, Come Forth: Resurrection and Eternal Life | Beyond the Walls Late Edition | AUG 24 2025

Centre Place 2025-08-25 | What does it mean to be truly alive? The raising of Lazarus is one of the most remarkable miracle stories in the Gospel of John. While the authors of John present the miracle as the physical resurrection of Jesus’ dear friend, the lesson they take from the story is about “true Life” — participating with the eternal right now in the present. John Hamer and Leandro Palacios go beyond the walls and consider these ideas of spiritual resurrection and life eternal while they explore the streets of downtown Toronto.

Beyond the Walls – Lazarus, Come Forth. Join us for an hour of online worship, reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community.

📅 Sunday, August 24, 2025
📖 Full worship bulletin: centreplace.ca/bulletin
🎵 All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and @MichaelKarpowicz. Copyrighted music with permission by OneLicense A-739874

🌐 Beyond the Walls is an online worship service with live ministry from around the world. Our global congregation gathers every Sunday at 12:00 pm ET and 6:00 pm ET. We’re an inclusive, non-dogmatic, progressive Christian community that affirms all gender identities and expressions, embraces interfaith and skeptical perspectives, and rejects literal interpretations of scripture.

#churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice

Lazarus, Come Forth: Resurrection and Eternal Life | Beyond the Walls | AUG 24 2025

Centre Place 2025-08-24 | What does it mean to be truly alive? What is eternal life? What is the meaning of the resurrection of the dead? In this online worship service, John Hamer and Leandro Palacios go beyond the walls and consider these ideas of spiritual resurrection and life eternal while they explore the streets of downtown Toronto.

The raising of Lazarus is one of the most remarkable miracle stories in the Gospel of John. While the authors of John present the miracle as the physical resurrection of Jesus’ dear friend, the lesson they take from the story is about “true Life” — participating with the eternal right now in the present.

Beyond the Walls – Lazarus, Come Forth. Join us for an hour of online worship, reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community.

📅 Sunday, August 24, 2025
📖 Full worship bulletin: centreplace.ca/bulletin
🎵 All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and @MichaelKarpowicz. Copyrighted music with permission by OneLicense A-739874

🌐 Beyond the Walls is an online worship service with live ministry from around the world. Our global congregation gathers every Sunday at 12:00 pm ET and 6:00 pm ET. We’re an inclusive, non-dogmatic, progressive Christian community that affirms all gender identities and expressions, embraces interfaith and skeptical perspectives, and rejects literal interpretations of scripture.

#churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice #onlinechurch #onlineworship

Why the Bible Retells the Epic of Gilgamesh

Centre Place 2025-08-20 | The Epic of Gilgamesh preserves some of the oldest stories in human history—and many of its themes resurface in the Bible. In this lecture, John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place examines how myths of creation, the fall, the flood, and humanity’s quest for eternal life were reimagined by the authors of the Bible. We’ll explore how these retellings differ from the original Mesopotamian accounts and why.

Key parallels include:
* Enkidu’s loss of innocence → the fall of Adam and Eve
* Utnapishtim’s flood → Noah’s Deluge
* The plant of immortality → the tree of life
* The serpent that robs Gilgamesh → the snake in Eden

This lecture is part of our series exploring Christianity and the Bible from an academic perspective through history, mythology, archaeology, theology, and biblical studies. In this presentation we focus on comparative mythology in the ancient Near East and the Book of Genesis.

📚 Browse our catalogue of free lectures at centreplace.ca/lectures

❤️ Your generous support allows us to offer these lectures at no cost. Please consider making a donation (tax deductible in the US and Canada): centreplace.ca/donate ️

#EpicOfGilgamesh #BibleOrigins #ComparativeMythology

AUG 17 Beyond the Walls Late Edition 2025

Centre Place 2025-08-18 | Our series on Jesus’ “I Am” sayings culminates with his declaration, “I Am the Resurrection and the Life,” taken from John 11:1-27. The evangelists who wrote the Gospel of John are focused on the question of what constitutes “true life,” which they testify is experienced in our lives in the present as much as any afterlife. Roger Dodson returns to share his reflections on the resurrection and living the life Christ calls us to live.

Beyond the Walls – I Am the Resurrection and the Life. We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community on 📅 Sunday, August 17, 2025. You can participate via live video as usual or join us in person at: 💒 320 Richmond Street East, Suite 101, Toronto, ON M5A 1P9.

ORDER OF WORSHIP

Prelude: Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott (P. 106) by Johann Pachelbel
Greetings: John Hamer — Toronto Centre Place
Call to Worship: by invitation
Opening Hymn CCS: “There’s an Old, Old Path”
Invocation: Lauren Carr — Kansas City, Missouri
Living Church Lesson: Sharon Hines — Easley, South Carolina
Global Welcome: Leandro Palacios — Toronto Centre Place
Hymn CCS 59: “Eternal God, Transcending Time”
Lectionary: by invitation
Sermon: Roger Dodson — Whitby, Ontario
Meditation on the Message:
Closing Hymn CCS 390: “Onward to Zion”
Sending Forth: John Hamer — Toronto Centre Place
Postlude: Improvisation No. 8 from 10 Improvisations (Op. 28) by Léon Boëllmann

A bulletin with the order of worship is available at centreplace.ca/bulletin

All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and Michael Karpowicz. Late Edition Host: Noelle Gaffka

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: ONE LICENSE LICENSING PERMISSION: REPRINTED / PODCAST / STREAMED WITH PERMISSION UNDER ONE LICENSE A-739874. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Beyond the Walls is an online worship service offering live ministry from locations around the world. Our global congregation meets every Sunday at 12:00 pm Eastern / 11:00 am Central / 10:00 am Mountain / 9:00 am Pacific Time.
For those who missed the morning service while it was live, Late Edition is an opportunity to experience the ministry that was offered live earlier in the day while building community with friends from around the world. Join us at 6:00 pm Eastern / 5:00 pm Central / 4:00 pm Mountain / 3:00 pm Pacific Time.

We are an international community of disciples and seekers facilitated by Community of Christ in Canada and the Toronto congregation. We are a non-dogmatic church open to interfaith and skeptical perspectives. We reject literal interpretations of scripture. We welcome and affirm all gender identities and expressions. On the first Sunday of each month, we invite online attendees of all religious affiliations and spiritual types to celebrate communion.

@CofChrist #churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice

AUG 17 Beyond the Walls Online Church 2025

Centre Place 2025-08-17 | Our series on Jesus’ “I Am” sayings culminates with his declaration, “I Am the Resurrection and the Life,” taken from John 11:1-27. The evangelists who wrote the Gospel of John are focused on the question of what constitutes “true life,” which they testify is experienced in our lives in the present as much as any afterlife. Roger Dodson returns to share his reflections on the resurrection and living the life Christ calls us to live.

Beyond the Walls – I Am the Resurrection and the Life. We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community on 📅 Sunday, August 17, 2025. You can participate via live video as usual or join us in person at: 💒 320 Richmond Street East, Suite 101, Toronto, ON M5A 1P9.

📅 Sunday, August 17, 2025
📖 Full worship bulletin: centreplace.ca/bulletin
🎵 All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and @MichaelKarpowicz. Copyrighted music with permission by OneLicense A-739874

🌐 Beyond the Walls is an online worship service with live ministry from around the world. Our global congregation gathers every Sunday at 12:00 pm ET and 6:00 pm ET. We’re an inclusive, non-dogmatic, progressive Christian community that affirms all gender identities and expressions, embraces interfaith and skeptical perspectives, and rejects literal interpretations of scripture.

@CofChrist #churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice

The Stoic Jesus: Virtue, Reason, and the Kingdom of God

Centre Place 2025-08-13 | In the Roman Empire, Stoicism was more than philosophy — it was a way of life embraced by emperors, slaves, and sages alike. At the same time, the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth offered a radically different vision of justice, humility, and spiritual integrity. Yet in some respects, Stoic philosophy and Christian moral teachings converged.

In this lecture, John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place examines the possible influence of Stoicism on early Christianity, exploring how the historical Jesus might be understood as a teacher of Stoic virtue within the context of Second Temple Judaism.

Join the livestream to participate in the discussion and to ask questions of our lecturer during the Q&A.

This lecture is part of our series exploring Christianity and the Bible from an academic perspective through history, mythology, archaeology, theology, and biblical studies. In this presentation we focus on comparative mythology in the ancient Near East and the Book of Genesis.

📚 Browse our catalogue of free lectures at centreplace.ca/lectures

❤️ Your generous support allows us to offer these lectures at no cost. Please consider making a donation (tax deductible in the US and Canada): centreplace.ca/donate ️

#lecture #christianity #stoicism

AUG 10 Beyond the Walls Late Edition 2025

Centre Place 2025-08-11 | In declaring “I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” Jesus reveals Christ’s essential nature to us and to all of creation. The Father, God the infinite source, is invisible and imperceivably remote, but God’s glory has been made manifest in Creation through God’s Word, Christ. But Christ is more than just a sign of the Creator. Christ is the Way — the dynamic, all-encompassing path — that leads to Truth and that is Truth. As we align ourselves with the Way and the Truth, we experience true, spiritual Life.

Beyond the Walls – I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community on 📅 Sunday, August 10, 2025.

ORDER OF WORSHIP

Prelude: 3. Prière à Notre-Dame from Suite Gothique by Léon Boëllmann
Greetings: John Hamer — Toronto Centre Place
Call to Worship (John 14:5-7): Ann Mitchell — London, Ontario
Opening Hymn CCS 260 “Rain Down”
Invocation: Jamie Carson-Cantrell — Tucson, Arizona
Living Church Lesson: Marian Thompson — Edmonton, Alberta
Global Welcome: Leandro Palacios — Toronto Centre Place
Hymn CCS 209 “Lord, Lead Me by Your Spirit”
Lectionary (John 14:8-17): Ann Mitchell — London, Ontario
Sermon: Don Wiley — Murrieta, California
Meditation on the Message: Leandro Palacios — Toronto Centre Place
Closing Hymn CCS 624 “God of Grace and God of Glory”
Sending Forth: John Hamer — Toronto Centre Place
Postlude: Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir (P. 183) by Johann Pachelbel

A bulletin with the order of worship is available at centreplace.ca/bulletin

All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and Michael Karpowicz. Late Edition Host: Noelle Gaffka

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: ONE LICENSE LICENSING PERMISSION: REPRINTED / PODCAST / STREAMED WITH PERMISSION UNDER ONE LICENSE A-739874. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Beyond the Walls is an online worship service offering live ministry from locations around the world. Our global congregation meets every Sunday at 12:00 pm Eastern / 11:00 am Central / 10:00 am Mountain / 9:00 am Pacific Time.
For those who missed the morning service while it was live, Late Edition is an opportunity to experience the ministry that was offered live earlier in the day while building community with friends from around the world. Join us at 6:00 pm Eastern / 5:00 pm Central / 4:00 pm Mountain / 3:00 pm Pacific Time.

We are an international community of disciples and seekers facilitated by Community of Christ in Canada and the Toronto congregation. We are a non-dogmatic church open to interfaith and skeptical perspectives. We reject literal interpretations of scripture. We welcome and affirm all gender identities and expressions. On the first Sunday of each month, we invite online attendees of all religious affiliations and spiritual types to celebrate communion.

@CofChrist #churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice

AUG 10 Beyond the Walls Online Church 2025

Centre Place 2025-08-10 | In declaring “I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” Jesus reveals Christ’s essential nature to us and to all of creation. The Father, God the infinite source, is invisible and imperceivably remote, but God’s glory has been made manifest in Creation through God’s Word, Christ. But Christ is more than just a sign of the Creator. Christ is the Way — the dynamic, all-encompassing path — that leads to Truth and that is Truth. As we align ourselves with the Way and the Truth, we experience true, spiritual Life.

Beyond the Walls – I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community on 📅 Sunday, August 10, 2025.

ORDER OF WORSHIP

Prelude: 3. Prière à Notre-Dame from Suite Gothique by Léon Boëllmann
Greetings: John Hamer — Toronto Centre Place
Call to Worship (John 14:5-7): Ann Mitchell — London, Ontario
Opening Hymn CCS 260 “Rain Down”
Invocation: Jamie Carson-Cantrell — Tucson, Arizona
Living Church Lesson: Marian Thompson — Edmonton, Alberta
Global Welcome: Leandro Palacios — Toronto Centre Place
Hymn CCS 209 “Lord, Lead Me by Your Spirit”
Lectionary (John 14:8-17): Ann Mitchell — London, Ontario
Sermon: Don Wiley — Murrieta, California
Meditation on the Message: Leandro Palacios — Toronto Centre Place
Closing Hymn CCS 624 “God of Grace and God of Glory”
Sending Forth: John Hamer — Toronto Centre Place
Postlude: Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir (P. 183) by Johann Pachelbel

A bulletin with the order of worship is available at centreplace.ca/bulletin

All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and Michael Karpowicz. Late Edition Host: Noelle Gaffka

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: ONE LICENSE LICENSING PERMISSION: REPRINTED / PODCAST / STREAMED WITH PERMISSION UNDER ONE LICENSE A-739874. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Beyond the Walls is an online worship service offering live ministry from locations around the world. Our global congregation meets every Sunday at 12:00 pm Eastern / 11:00 am Central / 10:00 am Mountain / 9:00 am Pacific Time.
For those who missed the morning service while it was live, Late Edition is an opportunity to experience the ministry that was offered live earlier in the day while building community with friends from around the world. Join us at 6:00 pm Eastern / 5:00 pm Central / 4:00 pm Mountain / 3:00 pm Pacific Time.

We are an international community of disciples and seekers facilitated by Community of Christ in Canada and the Toronto congregation. We are a non-dogmatic church open to interfaith and skeptical perspectives. We reject literal interpretations of scripture. We welcome and affirm all gender identities and expressions. On the first Sunday of each month, we invite online attendees of all religious affiliations and spiritual types to celebrate communion.

@CofChrist #churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice

Let There Be Answers! Episode 4

Centre Place 2025-08-06 | Got questions? Let there be answers! 😁 Join us as John Hamer, our lecturer, tackles your questions and suggestions from the comments on our videos. While we host Q&A sessions at the end of our live presentations on history, philosophy, and theology, this podcast dives into the great questions that come in later.

In this episode we address questions from our most recent lectures:

* How Zoroastrian Is Judeo-Christianity? youtu.be/UkOOIamkYKg
* Philo and the Logos youtu.be/zkY0KnO7n-c
* Female Apostles in the Early Church youtu.be/6VvwGNZV3bY
* What Is the Trinity? youtu.be/XaUMhIo61xQ
* Lost Testaments of the Patriarchs youtu.be/UPqPU5xMEps
* Contradictions in the Passion Stories youtu.be/fkMLZlWHpYw
* Contradictions in the Easter Stories youtu.be/5uwo4z80G9A
* How Christ Differs from the Dying and Rising Gods youtu.be/GY3fAnkBK_s
* How Justinian Destroyed Rome to Save It youtu.be/W_w0V-YD11U
* The Gnostic Mary Magdalene youtu.be/GqAmGOtf62c
* Is the Bible Anti-LGBT? Uncovering Same-Sex Love in Scripture youtu.be/xEu7dvZTvS0
* Is Atheism a Branch of Protestantism? youtu.be/nWbQofilsXw
* The Ethics of Jesus – Part 1: Intro youtu.be/wDNw1KVL9yk
* Joshua vs. Judges: How Did the Walls of Jericho Tumble Down? youtu.be/QgaGPdrY5h4

Beyond the Walls Late Edition – I Am the True Vine

Centre Place 2025-08-04 | Jesus declares “I Am the True Vine” and goes on to explain that we are the branches: “Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit.”

AUG 3 Beyond the Walls Online Church 2025

Centre Place 2025-08-04 | Jesus declares “I Am the True Vine” and goes on to explain that we are the branches: “Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit.” This metaphor directly connects all of us as Christ’s disciples to Christ. Heidi Ramirez brings our message as we consider, what does it mean for us to “abide in Christ” and for “Christ to abide” in us? As branches that extend from the true vine, what is the fruit we are bearing in our communities?

Beyond the Walls – I Am the True Vine. We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community on 📅 Sunday, August 3, 2025. We will share communion 🍞🍇 with all those participating live from around the world 🌏

ORDER OF WORSHIP

Prelude: 3. Prière à Notre-Dame from Suite Gothique by Léon Boëllmann
Greetings: John Hamer
Call to Worship: Jared Poplett — Knoxville, Illinois
Opening Hymn CCS 586: “The Summons”
Invocation: Trudi Gunderson — Pahoa, Hawaii
Testimony: Jamie Funk — Topeka, Kansas
Global Welcome: Leandro Palacios — Toronto Centre Place
Lectionary: Jared Poplett — Knoxville, Illinois
Sermon: Heidi Ramirez — Orlando, Florida
Hymn CCS 516: “Coming Together for Wine and for Bread”
Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper: Leandro Palacios — Toronto Centre Place
Closing Hymn CCS 102: “Earth and All Stars”
Sending Forth: John Hamer
Postlude: Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir (P. 183) by Johann Pachelbel

A bulletin with the order of worship is available at centreplace.ca/bulletin

All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and Michael Karpowicz. Late Edition Host: Noelle Gaffka

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: ONE LICENSE LICENSING PERMISSION: REPRINTED / PODCAST / STREAMED WITH PERMISSION UNDER ONE LICENSE A-739874. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Beyond the Walls is an online worship service offering live ministry from locations around the world. Our global congregation meets every Sunday at 12:00 pm Eastern / 11:00 am Central / 10:00 am Mountain / 9:00 am Pacific Time.
For those who missed the morning service while it was live, Late Edition is an opportunity to experience the ministry that was offered live earlier in the day while building community with friends from around the world. Join us at 6:00 pm Eastern / 5:00 pm Central / 4:00 pm Mountain / 3:00 pm Pacific Time.

We are an international community of disciples and seekers facilitated by Community of Christ in Canada and the Toronto congregation. We are a non-dogmatic church open to interfaith and skeptical perspectives. We reject literal interpretations of scripture. We welcome and affirm all gender identities and expressions. On the first Sunday of each month, we invite online attendees of all religious affiliations and spiritual types to celebrate communion.

@CofChrist #churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice

The Last Pagan Emperor: Why Julian Failed to Stop Christianity

Centre Place 2025-07-30 | Christianity’s rise to become the world’s most populous religion largely hinges on a pivotal moment in history: the conversion of the Roman Emperor Constantine. Had Constantine’s imperial heirs not patronized the church, co-opting it as Rome’s state religion, history would have been very different. One last pagan Emperor did attempt to reverse the trend, stripping the church of imperial patronage, while promoting the worship of the old gods: Julian, the nephew of Constantine.

In this live lecture, John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place will look at the reign of Julian (remembered by Christians as “the Apostate”) and the reasons why he failed in his attempt to defeat Christianity.

Join the livestream to participate in the discussion and to ask questions to our lecturer during the Q&A.

📚 Browse our catalogue of free lectures at centreplace.ca/lectures

Your generous support allows us to offer these lectures at no cost. Please consider a making donation (tax deductible in the US and Canada):
❤️ centreplace.ca/donate ️

#lecture #christianity #judaism #bible #biblestudy

JUL 27 Beyond the Walls Late Edition 2025

Centre Place 2025-07-28 | Among the earliest portrayals of Jesus in artwork is as the “Good Shepherd.” The early Christian understanding of Jesus as the Good Shepherd contrasts with the common Biblical portrayal of bad leaders as bad shepherds. “I know my sheep and my sheep know me,” says Jesus, adding, “and I lay down my life for the sheep.” As we continue our exploration of the “I Am” sayings in the Gospel of John, Nancy Ross of St. George, Utah, will use this saying as a jumping off point for an exploration of who Jesus is in our lives today.

Beyond the Walls – I Am the Good Shepherd. We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community on 📅 Sunday, July 27, 2025.

ORDER OF WORSHIP
Prelude: Chaconne in F Major (HWV 485) by George Frideric Handel
Greetings: John Hamer — Toronto Centre Place
Call to Worship: by invitation
Opening Hymn CCS 259 “The Lord’s My Shepherd”
Invocation: by invitation
Living Church Lesson: Parker Johnson — Calgary, Alberta
Global Welcome: Leandro Palacios — Toronto Centre Place
Hymn CCS 12 “You Are My God”
Focus Scripture (John 10:11-21): by invitation
Sermon: Nancy Ross — St. George, Utah
Meditation on the Message: Leandro Palacios — Toronto Centre Place
Closing Hymn CCS 247 “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need”
Sending Forth: John Hamer — Toronto Centre Place
Postlude: Praeambulum in D Minor (WV 36) by Heinrich Scheidemann

A bulletin with the order of worship is available at centreplace.ca/bulletin

All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and Michael Karpowicz. Late Edition Host: Noelle Gaffka

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: ONE LICENSE LICENSING PERMISSION: REPRINTED / PODCAST / STREAMED WITH PERMISSION UNDER ONE LICENSE A-739874. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Beyond the Walls is an online worship service offering live ministry from locations around the world. Our global congregation meets every Sunday at 12:00 pm Eastern / 11:00 am Central / 10:00 am Mountain / 9:00 am Pacific Time.
For those who missed the morning service while it was live, Late Edition is an opportunity to experience the ministry that was offered live earlier in the day while building community with friends from around the world. Join us at 6:00 pm Eastern / 5:00 pm Central / 4:00 pm Mountain / 3:00 pm Pacific Time.

We are an international community of disciples and seekers facilitated by Community of Christ in Canada and the Toronto congregation. We are a non-dogmatic church open to interfaith and skeptical perspectives. We reject literal interpretations of scripture. We welcome and affirm all gender identities and expressions. On the first Sunday of each month, we invite online attendees of all religious affiliations and spiritual types to celebrate communion.

@CofChrist #churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice

JUL 27 Beyond the Walls Online Church 2025

Centre Place 2025-07-27 | Among the earliest portrayals of Jesus in artwork is as the “Good Shepherd.” The early Christian understanding of Jesus as the Good Shepherd contrasts with the common Biblical portrayal of bad leaders as bad shepherds. “I know my sheep and my sheep know me,” says Jesus, adding, “and I lay down my life for the sheep.” As we continue our exploration of the “I Am” sayings in the Gospel of John, Nancy Ross of St. George, Utah, will use this saying as a jumping off point for an exploration of who Jesus is in our lives today.

Beyond the Walls – I Am the Good Shepherd. We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community on 📅 Sunday, July 27, 2025.

ORDER OF WORSHIP
Prelude: Chaconne in F Major (HWV 485) by George Frideric Handel
Greetings: John Hamer — Toronto Centre Place
Call to Worship: by invitation
Opening Hymn CCS 259 “The Lord’s My Shepherd”
Invocation: by invitation
Living Church Lesson: Parker Johnson — Calgary, Alberta
Global Welcome: Leandro Palacios — Toronto Centre Place
Hymn CCS 12 “You Are My God”
Focus Scripture (John 10:11-21): by invitation
Sermon: Nancy Ross — St. George, Utah
Meditation on the Message: Leandro Palacios — Toronto Centre Place
Closing Hymn CCS 247 “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need”
Sending Forth: John Hamer — Toronto Centre Place
Postlude: Praeambulum in D Minor (WV 36) by Heinrich Scheidemann

A bulletin with the order of worship is available at centreplace.ca/bulletin

All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and Michael Karpowicz. Late Edition Host: Noelle Gaffka

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: ONE LICENSE LICENSING PERMISSION: REPRINTED / PODCAST / STREAMED WITH PERMISSION UNDER ONE LICENSE A-739874. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Beyond the Walls is an online worship service offering live ministry from locations around the world. Our global congregation meets every Sunday at 12:00 pm Eastern / 11:00 am Central / 10:00 am Mountain / 9:00 am Pacific Time.
For those who missed the morning service while it was live, Late Edition is an opportunity to experience the ministry that was offered live earlier in the day while building community with friends from around the world. Join us at 6:00 pm Eastern / 5:00 pm Central / 4:00 pm Mountain / 3:00 pm Pacific Time.

We are an international community of disciples and seekers facilitated by Community of Christ in Canada and the Toronto congregation. We are a non-dogmatic church open to interfaith and skeptical perspectives. We reject literal interpretations of scripture. We welcome and affirm all gender identities and expressions. On the first Sunday of each month, we invite online attendees of all religious affiliations and spiritual types to celebrate communion.

@CofChrist #churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice

Joshua vs. Judges: How Did the Walls of Jericho Tumble Down?

Centre Place 2025-07-23 | According to the Book of Joshua, the walls of Jericho collapse following an elaborate ritual, and with God's aid, the Israelites begin a rapid and brutal conquest of the Promised Land. However, the Book of Judges tells a very different story. While Joshua describes the total destruction or displacement of the native Canaanite population, Judges presents a slow, difficult process of settlement marked by setbacks, incomplete victories, and ongoing Canaanite presence.

In this lecture, we will examine archaeological and historiographical evidence to understand why the biblical tradition preserves these two conflicting accounts. What really happened at Jericho? What is the significance of the ritual in Joshua that brings down the walls? And why did this story matter to ancient Israel?

Join the livestream to participate in the discussion and to ask questions to our lecturer during the Q&A.

📚 Browse our catalogue of free lectures at centreplace.ca/lectures

Your generous support allows us to offer these lectures at no cost. Please consider a making donation (tax deductible in the US and Canada):
❤️ centreplace.ca/donate ️

#lecture #christianity #judaism #bible #biblestudy

JUL 20 Beyond the Walls Late Edition 2025

Centre Place 2025-07-21 | As we continue our exploration of the “I Am” sayings in the Gospel of John, we come to one of the least known and most enigmatic sayings: “I Am the Door of the Sheep.” Drawing on the common Biblical analogy of “sheep” and the people of God, Jesus declares that as the door “whoever enters through me will be saved.” Vickie Thatcher joins us from Dallas, Texas, to consider ways in which Christ serves as a spiritual door for us today.

Beyond the Walls – I Am the Door of the Sheep. We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community on 📅 Sunday, July 20. You can participate via live video as usual or join us in person at: 💒 320 Richmond Street East, Suite 101, Toronto, ON M5A 1P9.

ORDER OF WORSHIP
Prelude: 2. Rhosymedre from 3 Preludes Founded on Welsh Hymn Tunes by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Greetings: John Hamer — Toronto Centre Place
Call to Worship: Jen Fischer — Kent, Washington
Opening Hymn CCS 578 “Jesus Is Calling”
Invocation: Cecilia Housman — El Dorado, Kansas
Peace Lesson: Elray Henriksen — Oslo, Norway
Global Welcome: Leandro Palacios — Toronto Centre Place
Hymn CCS 161 “In the Quiet of This Day”
Lectionary: Jen Fischer — Kent, Washington
Sermon: Vickie Thatcher — Dallas, Texas
Meditation on the Message: Leandro Palacios — Toronto Centre Place
Closing Hymn CCS 388 “Redeemer of Israel”
Sending Forth: John Hamer — Toronto Centre Place
Postlude: Brejeiro by Ernesto Nazareth

A bulletin with the order of worship is available at centreplace.ca/bulletin

All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and Michael Karpowicz. Late Edition Host: Noelle Gaffka

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: ONE LICENSE LICENSING PERMISSION: REPRINTED / PODCAST / STREAMED WITH PERMISSION UNDER ONE LICENSE A-739874. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Beyond the Walls is an online worship service offering live ministry from locations around the world. Our global congregation meets every Sunday at 12:00 pm Eastern / 11:00 am Central / 10:00 am Mountain / 9:00 am Pacific Time.
For those who missed the morning service while it was live, Late Edition is an opportunity to experience the ministry that was offered live earlier in the day while building community with friends from around the world. Join us at 6:00 pm Eastern / 5:00 pm Central / 4:00 pm Mountain / 3:00 pm Pacific Time.

We are an international community of disciples and seekers facilitated by Community of Christ in Canada and the Toronto congregation. We are a non-dogmatic church open to interfaith and skeptical perspectives. We reject literal interpretations of scripture. We welcome and affirm all gender identities and expressions. On the first Sunday of each month, we invite online attendees of all religious affiliations and spiritual types to celebrate communion.

@CofChrist #churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice

JUL 20 Beyond the Walls Online Church 2025

Centre Place 2025-07-20 | As we continue our exploration of the “I Am” sayings in the Gospel of John, we come to one of the least known and most enigmatic sayings: “I Am the Door of the Sheep.” Drawing on the common Biblical analogy of “sheep” and the people of God, Jesus declares that as the door “whoever enters through me will be saved.” Vickie Thatcher joins us from Dallas, Texas, to consider ways in which Christ serves as a spiritual door for us today.

Beyond the Walls – I Am the Door of the Sheep. We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community on 📅 Sunday, July 20. You can participate via live video as usual or join us in person at: 💒 320 Richmond Street East, Suite 101, Toronto, ON M5A 1P9.

ORDER OF WORSHIP
Prelude: 2. Rhosymedre from 3 Preludes Founded on Welsh Hymn Tunes by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Greetings: John Hamer — Toronto Centre Place
Call to Worship: Jen Fischer — Kent, Washington
Opening Hymn CCS 578 “Jesus Is Calling”
Invocation: Cecilia Housman — El Dorado, Kansas
Peace Lesson: Elray Henriksen — Oslo, Norway
Global Welcome: Leandro Palacios — Toronto Centre Place
Hymn CCS 161 “In the Quiet of This Day”
Lectionary: Jen Fischer — Kent, Washington
Sermon: Vickie Thatcher — Dallas, Texas
Meditation on the Message: Leandro Palacios — Toronto Centre Place
Closing Hymn CCS 388 “Redeemer of Israel”
Sending Forth: John Hamer — Toronto Centre Place
Postlude: Brejeiro by Ernesto Nazareth

A bulletin with the order of worship is available at centreplace.ca/bulletin

All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and Michael Karpowicz. Late Edition Host: Noelle Gaffka

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: ONE LICENSE LICENSING PERMISSION: REPRINTED / PODCAST / STREAMED WITH PERMISSION UNDER ONE LICENSE A-739874. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Beyond the Walls is an online worship service offering live ministry from locations around the world. Our global congregation meets every Sunday at 12:00 pm Eastern / 11:00 am Central / 10:00 am Mountain / 9:00 am Pacific Time.
For those who missed the morning service while it was live, Late Edition is an opportunity to experience the ministry that was offered live earlier in the day while building community with friends from around the world. Join us at 6:00 pm Eastern / 5:00 pm Central / 4:00 pm Mountain / 3:00 pm Pacific Time.

We are an international community of disciples and seekers facilitated by Community of Christ in Canada and the Toronto congregation. We are a non-dogmatic church open to interfaith and skeptical perspectives. We reject literal interpretations of scripture. We welcome and affirm all gender identities and expressions. On the first Sunday of each month, we invite online attendees of all religious affiliations and spiritual types to celebrate communion.

@CofChrist #churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice

The Ethics of Jesus – Part 1: Introduction

Centre Place 2025-07-16 | In this live lecture, John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place will extract and evaluate the ethical teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, as distinct from his overtly religious teachings and the Christian understanding of Jesus as the Christ. While prophets in the Biblical tradition attempted to persuade by invoking divine authority, “thus says the Lord,” Jesus more frequently taught by analogy and example, similar to the methods of contemporary sages and philosophers. As we distill Jesus’ ethics, we will compare them with other ethical systems of the era.

Join the livestream to participate in the discussion and to ask questions to our lecturer during the Q&A.

📚 Browse our catalogue of free lectures at centreplace.ca/lectures

Your generous support allows us to offer these lectures at no cost. Please consider a making donation (tax deductible in the US and Canada):
❤️ centreplace.ca/donate ️

#lecture #christianity #judaism #bible #biblestudy

JUL 13 Beyond the Walls Late Edition 2025

Centre Place 2025-07-14 | The contrast between light and darkness is a metaphor that many ancient sages used to explain reality. Plato used it to represent knowledge and ignorance in the Allegory of the Cave. In Genesis 1, God separates light from darkness, and the Gospel of John introduces Jesus as the light that shines in the darkness. This imagery later gave rise to Gnostic ideas that associated the physical world with darkness. However, the Gospel of John presents a non-dualistic view of reality in its portrayal of Jesus. “I Am the Light of the World,” he declares. In this context, darkness is not an evil force, but the places in our world—and in our own lives—where divine light longs to shine.

From Kirtland, Ohio, Seth Bryant will explore this scripture as we reflect together on the meaning of this metaphor in our lives today.

Beyond the Walls – I Am the Light of the World. We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community on 📅 Sunday, July 13, 2025.

ORDER OF WORSHIP
Prelude: Chaconne in F Major (HWV 485) by George Frideric Handel
Greetings: John Hamer — Toronto Centre Place
Call to Worship: Twila Rider
Opening Hymn CCS 314 - When the Darkness Overwhelms Us
Invocation: Steve Tignor
Living Church Lesson: Emelia Goheen
Global Welcome: Leandro Palacios — Toronto Centre Place
Hymn CCS 51 “God of Dawn, Each Day’s Renewal”
Focus Scripture (John 8:12-20): Twila Rider
Sermon: Seth Bryant
Meditation on the Message: Leandro Palacios
Closing Hymn CCS 240 “Light Dawns on a Weary World”
Sending Forth: John Hamer — Toronto Centre Place
Postlude: Praeambulum in D Minor (WV 36) by Heinrich Scheidemann

A bulletin with the order of worship is available at centreplace.ca/bulletin

All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and Michael Karpowicz. Late Edition Host: Noelle Gaffka

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: ONE LICENSE LICENSING PERMISSION: REPRINTED / PODCAST / STREAMED WITH PERMISSION UNDER ONE LICENSE A-739874. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Beyond the Walls is an online worship service offering live ministry from locations around the world. Our global congregation meets every Sunday at 12:00 pm Eastern / 11:00 am Central / 10:00 am Mountain / 9:00 am Pacific Time.
For those who missed the morning service while it was live, Late Edition is an opportunity to experience the ministry that was offered live earlier in the day while building community with friends from around the world. Join us at 6:00 pm Eastern / 5:00 pm Central / 4:00 pm Mountain / 3:00 pm Pacific Time.

We are an international community of disciples and seekers facilitated by Community of Christ in Canada and the Toronto congregation. We are a non-dogmatic church open to interfaith and skeptical perspectives. We reject literal interpretations of scripture. We welcome and affirm all gender identities and expressions. On the first Sunday of each month, we invite online attendees of all religious affiliations and spiritual types to celebrate communion.

@CofChrist #churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice

JUL 13 Beyond the Walls Online Church 2025

Centre Place 2025-07-13 | The contrast between light and darkness is a metaphor that many ancient sages used to explain reality. Plato used it to represent knowledge and ignorance in the Allegory of the Cave. In Genesis 1, God separates light from darkness, and the Gospel of John introduces Jesus as the light that shines in the darkness. This imagery later gave rise to Gnostic ideas that associated the physical world with darkness. However, the Gospel of John presents a non-dualistic view of reality in its portrayal of Jesus. “I Am the Light of the World,” he declares. In this context, darkness is not an evil force, but the places in our world—and in our own lives—where divine light longs to shine.

From Kirtland, Ohio, Seth Bryant will explore this scripture as we reflect together on the meaning of this metaphor in our lives today.

Beyond the Walls – I Am the Light of the World. We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community on 📅 Sunday, July 13, 2025.

ORDER OF WORSHIP
Prelude: Chaconne in F Major (HWV 485) by George Frideric Handel
Greetings: John Hamer — Toronto Centre Place
Call to Worship: Twila Rider
Opening Hymn CCS 314 - When the Darkness Overwhelms Us
Invocation: Steve Tignor
Living Church Lesson: Emelia Goheen
Global Welcome: Leandro Palacios — Toronto Centre Place
Hymn CCS 51 “God of Dawn, Each Day’s Renewal”
Focus Scripture (John 8:12-20): Twila Rider
Sermon: Seth Bryant
Meditation on the Message: Leandro Palacios
Closing Hymn CCS 240 “Light Dawns on a Weary World”
Sending Forth: John Hamer — Toronto Centre Place
Postlude: Praeambulum in D Minor (WV 36) by Heinrich Scheidemann

A bulletin with the order of worship is available at centreplace.ca/bulletin

All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and Michael Karpowicz. Late Edition Host: Noelle Gaffka

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: ONE LICENSE LICENSING PERMISSION: REPRINTED / PODCAST / STREAMED WITH PERMISSION UNDER ONE LICENSE A-739874. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Beyond the Walls is an online worship service offering live ministry from locations around the world. Our global congregation meets every Sunday at 12:00 pm Eastern / 11:00 am Central / 10:00 am Mountain / 9:00 am Pacific Time.
For those who missed the morning service while it was live, Late Edition is an opportunity to experience the ministry that was offered live earlier in the day while building community with friends from around the world. Join us at 6:00 pm Eastern / 5:00 pm Central / 4:00 pm Mountain / 3:00 pm Pacific Time.

We are an international community of disciples and seekers facilitated by Community of Christ in Canada and the Toronto congregation. We are a non-dogmatic church open to interfaith and skeptical perspectives. We reject literal interpretations of scripture. We welcome and affirm all gender identities and expressions. On the first Sunday of each month, we invite online attendees of all religious affiliations and spiritual types to celebrate communion.

@CofChrist #churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice

Is Atheism a Branch of Protestantism?

Centre Place 2025-07-09 | The rise of atheism in modern Western societies is often treated as a rejection of religion—but what if this cultural trend is more accurately understood as part of Protestantism itself?

In this live lecture, John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place explores how Protestant reforms—especially the rejection of Catholic tradition, the doctrine of sola scriptura, the emphasis on rational inquiry, and the rise of literalist interpretations of scripture—created fertile ground for natural religion and Enlightenment-era deism, and ultimately for an ethical framework devoid of spiritual or supernatural elements.

We will also consider how modern atheism continues to engage in dialogue with Evangelicalism—another modern expression of Protestantism—echoing the way theologically opposing movements have remained in conversation throughout Christian history.

Join the livestream to participate in the discussion and to ask questions to our lecturer during the Q&A.

📚 Browse our catalogue of free lectures at centreplace.ca/lectures

Your generous support allows us to offer these lectures at no cost. Please consider a making donation (tax deductible in the US and Canada):
❤️ centreplace.ca/donate ️

#lecture #christianity #judaism #bible #biblestudy

JUL 6 Beyond the Walls Late Edition 2025

Centre Place 2025-07-07 | Bread was the primary source of sustenance in Antiquity. In the first of the “I Am” sayings from the Gospel of John that we will explore, Jesus teaches “I Am the bread of life.” Jesus compares himself to the manna that fed the children of Israel as they wandered in the wilderness. “You ancestors,” Jesus says, “ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died.” By contrast, Jesus asserts, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven,” and “whoever eats of this bread will live forever.” People in the multitude think that Jesus is talking about literal, material bread and ask him, “always give us this bread.” But once again, the meaning of Jesus’ message is not literal. What nourishment do we lack in our own spiritual lives? How can we receive the bread of life in a meaningful sense today?

Join us as we celebrate two sacraments: the confirmation of Kevin Thompson and the Lord’s supper.

Beyond the Walls – I Am the Bread of Life. We invite you to share this hour of reflection, prayer, meditation, music, and fellowship with the Beyond the Walls global community on 📅 Sunday, July 6. You can participate via live video as usual or join us in person at: 💒 320 Richmond Street East, Suite 101, Toronto, ON M5A 1P9.

ORDER OF WORSHIP
Prelude: Gott sei gelobet und gebenedeiet (BWV 322) by Johann Sebastian Bach; Gott sei gelobet und gebenedeiet (WV 6) by Heinrich Scheidemann
Greetings: John Hamer — Toronto Centre Place
Call to Worship: Lana McCarty — Belleville, Illinois
Opening Hymn CCS 552: “We Are Companions on the Journey”
Invocation: Claudia Baggerly
Charge to the Candidate — Leandro Palacios
Sacrament of Confirmation for Kevin Thompson — John Hamer and Roger Dodson
Global Welcome: Leandro Palacios — Toronto Centre Place
Focus Scripture: Lana McCarty — Belleville, Illinois
Sermon: Tom Webber
Hymn CCS 523: “As We Gather at Your Table”
Blessing on the Bread: Roger Dodson
Blessing on the Wine: John Hamer
Closing Hymn CCS 645:The Trees of the Field
Sending Forth: John Hamer — Toronto Centre Place
Postlude: Toccata all’offertorio in C major from Sonate d'Involatura per Organo e Cimbalo, Parte Prima, by Domenico Zipoli

A bulletin with the order of worship is available at centreplace.ca/bulletin

All music performed by the Beyond the Walls Choir and Michael Karpowicz. Late Edition Host: Noelle Gaffka

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: ONE LICENSE LICENSING PERMISSION: REPRINTED / PODCAST / STREAMED WITH PERMISSION UNDER ONE LICENSE A-739874. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Beyond the Walls is an online worship service offering live ministry from locations around the world. Our global congregation meets every Sunday at 12:00 pm Eastern / 11:00 am Central / 10:00 am Mountain / 9:00 am Pacific Time.
For those who missed the morning service while it was live, Late Edition is an opportunity to experience the ministry that was offered live earlier in the day while building community with friends from around the world. Join us at 6:00 pm Eastern / 5:00 pm Central / 4:00 pm Mountain / 3:00 pm Pacific Time.

We are an international community of disciples and seekers facilitated by Community of Christ in Canada and the Toronto congregation. We are a non-dogmatic church open to interfaith and skeptical perspectives. We reject literal interpretations of scripture. We welcome and affirm all gender identities and expressions. On the first Sunday of each month, we invite online attendees of all religious affiliations and spiritual types to celebrate communion.

@CofChrist #churchonline #churchservice #worshipservice