Today is the first Sunday of Black History month. Our sermon is delivered by Nadia Hohn, a member of the congregation who teaches at Africentric Alternative School in Toronto. In her sermon she makes reference to the Sankofa bird, whose head looks backwards as it moves forward.

Today Reverend Martha ter Kuile reads a lament from Isaiah, followed by a reflection on how the Occupy Movement was a modern lament against social and economic injustice in our world.

Welcome to the Bloor Street United podcast for October 30th, 2011. This is a special day at the church as two couples have brought their children to be baptized. This event is considered during this sermon about Christ's last visit to the temple, a few days before his death. Reverend Martha Ter Kile reflects on what Jesus wanted his critics to understand about his mission, and how these small children today will think about our world 100 years from now.

In this sermon, Reverend Martha ter Kuile talks about whether we can ever really understand God, or whether the divine is more than the human mind can comprehend.

This week's sermon features our annual Craddock lecture, given by Canada's most famous novelist, Margaret Atwood. Her sermon is entitled "Religion: Recovering our Roots". Her talk draws on themes she has explored in her most recent novel, The Year of the Flood. Her talk is this year's Craddock lecture, an annual event at Bloor Street, where distinguished guests are invited to take over the pulpit for a Sunday to speak about issues of spiritual interest. Ms Atwood spoke to a packed house.