Monthly Archives: December 2025

Christmas Day: Making room for Jesus

Posted on December 23, 2025 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Reflection for North Balwyn Uniting Church Christmas Day 2025 Luke 2:1-20 A few weeks ago, I was at a service of Lessons and Carols where I heard a new Christmas Song. This does not often happen to me, at least … Continue reading →

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Sermon: Light amid darkness; God amid disgrace.

Posted on December 19, 2025 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Terrorists wish to create terror. We defeat them by refusing to be afraid. On Monday night, I attended a Chanukah event at Federation Square with other Uniting Church ministers, and I was so glad that Victoria Police had offered the Jewish community support to continue holding it, rather than advising them to cancel it. Terrorists also wish to divide us. We defeat them by staying united. The weirdest of all the responses to this terrorism was the attempt by Islamophobes to claim that Ahmed al Ahmed was not a Muslim immigrant, but an Australian IT worker called ‘Edward Crabtree’. The response to antisemitic hate needs to be more commitment to the wonderful multicultural and multifaith diversity of Australia, not less. Continue reading →

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Sermon: Making Peace

Posted on December 5, 2025 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Reflection for North Balwyn Uniting Church 7th of December 2025 Isaiah 11:1-10Matthew 3:1-12 Today, the second Sunday of Advent, is Peace Sunday, so naturally I have spent this week thinking about peace, and particularly about the peace most of us … Continue reading →

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