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Author Archives: Avril Hannah-Jones
Sermon: Maybe we’re the answer
One of the commentators I read this week said that Jesus might have initially been reluctant to do anything because ‘the expectation that Jesus be a cash and goods dispenser is both ridiculous and corrupting’.[3] But maybe his mother’s response to Jesus’ words is a reminder of the importance of trust and persistence. Maybe we should, like her, keep prodding God to do something in situations of need and poverty, because we know that God wants a world abundance and generosity. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged love, abundance, John 2:1-11, miracles, generosity, signs, wedding at cana, wine, UnitingWorld, PNG
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Sermon for the Epiphany
When I look at the refugee crisis in the world, I wonder whether it happened to remind us that anyone can become a refugee, that God himself became an asylum seeker in Jesus. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Epiphany, giving, Isaiah 60:1-6, Light, magi, Matthew 2: 1-12, Psalm 72:1-7 10-14, Third Isaiah
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Sermon: Being wowsers, do-gooders, virtue signallers, etc
Here at the beginning of the new year we are reminded of the imperative to live out our faith by doing good, knowing that this will sometimes be misunderstood, and that we will sometimes be called names. But if we are, if people accuse us of being wowsers or do-gooders, of being woke or virtue signalling, of being hypocrites or of endorsing a particular sort of politicised virtuous liberalism, we can still rejoice. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Anne of Green Gables, do-gooder, Matthew 25:31-46, New Year, Revelation 21:1-6a, virtue signalling, woke, wowser
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Christmas Day: The unity of humanity
Covid19 has shown us that the unity of humankind, and the importance of universal justice and care, are not simply nice sentiments to be paid lip-service at Christmas time, but plain, down-to-earth, common sense. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged 'First Coming', Christmas Day, covid19, Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 2:1-20, Madeleine L'Engle, Psalm 96, unity
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Reflection: Uncertainty on Christmas Eve
Now Omicron has happened and finally, after almost two years, I know not to make any predictions at all. I have not only no idea what 2022 will bring, I have no idea what will happen tomorrow. But, really, that has always been true. We may think we live in a stable, predictable, world, but at every moment the unexpected can shatter it. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Christmas, Christmas Eve, covid19, Luke 2:1-20, Mary, Unexpected, Year of Luke
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A bit cut out of the Christmas Day sermon
I wrote this, about Psalm 96, but in the end didn’t fit. So I cut it out. I hate having to do that. But I like it; so have an outtake from the Christmas Day Sermon, about God’s care for … Continue reading
Sermon: Small and insignificant
Reflection for North Balwyn Uniting Church 19th of December, 2021 Micah 5:2-5a Luke 1:39-55 This week we were finally able to hold a memorial service celebrating the life of Marcelle Maisey. Jenny Preston presided, and she preached on the Bible … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Elizabeth, love, Luke 1:39-55, Mary, Micah 5:2-5a, Proverbs 31, woman of valour, Year of Luke
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Sermon: Rejoicing and repenting, or vice versa
We know that poverty and disaster can cause people to feel ashamed if they need help. Australia was for so long considered to be a ‘working man’s paradise’ that it was even a joke in an Agatha Christie story. A wealthy young man disowned by his uncle asks his uncle’s butler whether he should leave for Australia.
Rogers coughed discreetly.
‘Well, sir, I’ve certainly heard it said that there’s room out there for anyone who really wants to work.’
Mr Rowland gazed at him with interest and admiration.
‘Very neatly put, Rogers. Just what I was thinking myself. I shan’t go to Australia – not today, at any rate.’[2] Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Advent 3, Gaudete Sunday, Isaiah 12:2-6, John the Baptist, Joy, Luke 3:7-18, Repentance, Zephaniah 3:14-20
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Sermon: Would we really want God to appear?
Undoubtedly Zechariah would have asked God to allow him and Elizabeth to have a son, and in his song we hear his gratitude not only for this gift but for the liberation of his people, but there is no doubt that this appearance of the Lord has deeply disrupted his life. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Advent 2, Gospel according to Luke, John the Baptist, Luke 1:68-79, Luke 3:1-6, Malachi 3:1-4, Year of Luke, Zechariah
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Very short reflection on baptism
The Uniting Church baptises babies and children without asking them to make any promises because we recognise that in baptism, as in all else, the initiative lies with the God who loves us and calls us here today. Continue reading
Posted in Reflection
Tagged baptism, love, religious discrimination, religious freedom
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