Author Archives: Avril Hannah-Jones

Sermon: Destruction and Newness

Posted on March 20, 2021 by Avril Hannah-Jones

This is a dangerous exercise of prophetic imagination. If the ‘least’ as well as the ‘greatest’ know the Lord on equal terms, what will the world look like? It cannot be a world in which those with particular types of education or holding particular offices will have power and privilege, while everyone else knows their place. Continue reading →

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Sermon: The powerlessness and ugliness of God in Jesus

Posted on March 13, 2021 by Avril Hannah-Jones

If we ignore the crucifixion’s horror we lose that solidarity between God and suffering humanity. If we make Jesus too attractive and powerful, we might think that ugly, suffering human beings are not part of the world that God so loves. Continue reading →

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Sermon: Righteous Anger

Posted on March 6, 2021 by Avril Hannah-Jones

This week many people, particularly women, have expressed anger. Before condemning this anger, or dismissing those who are demanding change from Australian institutions as a ‘mob’, let us remember today’s gospel story and Jesus’ outrageous, zealous, righteous anger in the Temple. Continue reading →

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Sermon: Totally depraved; dearly loved.

Posted on February 27, 2021 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Reflection for North Balwyn Uniting ChurchSecond Sunday of Lent, 28th of February 2021 Mark 8:31-38 There is a joke I have started using on social media when discussing distressing news of human beings doing wrong. People ask how something so … Continue reading →

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Sermon: Nothing will make God give up on us

Posted on February 20, 2021 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Whenever we feel at our most alone, we can have faith that God is with us, because Jesus entered the wilderness ahead of us. Continue reading →

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Sermon: Living in the face of death

Posted on February 13, 2021 by Avril Hannah-Jones

I am almost sure that this was not what the writer of the books of Kings intended, but for me today’s story is a parable about love in the face of death. When everything tells us to turn back, not to take the hard journey of love, if we have the courage to continue to love we see a revelation of God. Continue reading →

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Sermon: Putting one foot in front of the other

Posted on February 6, 2021 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Reflection for North Balwyn Uniting Church 7th of February 2021 Isaiah 40:21-31 Psalm 147 Mark 1:29-39 We woke up on Thursday morning to a new case of community transmission in Victoria. The covid19 journey is truly a wild rollercoaster of … Continue reading →

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Sermon: Freedom, love, covid19 … and Margaret Court

Posted on January 30, 2021 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Commentators from outside Melbourne were appalled that we were willing to follow such draconian rules and accused us of having Stockholm Syndrome. It was not Stockholm Syndrome. It was love. Continue reading →

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Sermon: When God is a comedian

Posted on January 23, 2021 by Avril Hannah-Jones

There aren’t many books of the Bible that are laugh-out-loud funny, but the Book of Jonah is one of them. Continue reading →

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There are no more chances

Posted on January 19, 2021 by Avril Hannah-Jones

There is never any need to interview white supremacists and neo-Nazis. Sunshine in their case is NOT the best disinfectant. The ABC is culpable. Ketan Joshi In March 2019, an Australian white supremacist walked into a mosque, armed with a … Continue reading →

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