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Author Archives: Avril Hannah-Jones
Review: David Cronin, Balfour’s Shadow (2017)
The horror is that this is a book published in 2017 and no matter how awful the actions of the British and the Israelis it documents, no one could have imagined the extent of the genocidal campaign Israel is currently carrying out, in 2024. Continue reading
Sermon: Ending in Darkness
Reflection for North Balwyn Uniting Church2nd of June, 2024 Psalm 88 Bruce and I, with the help of our cantor, Tom, are being a bit cheeky today. The psalm that Tom led us in this morning, Psalm 88, is not in … Continue reading
Sermon: Sadly without unicorns
There have been many Christological interpretations of this psalm throughout history, and I am going to ignore all of them, except to say that an early mistranslation of ‘He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox’ had Sirion, another name for Mount Hermon on the border between Lebanon and Syria, skipping like a young unicorn. There were some wonderful interpretations of this psalm based on this mention of a unicorn, but sadly I must ignore them all, given that the unicorn was an ox. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Brene Brown, Gerard Manley Hopkins, gratitude, Monty Python, nature, Psalm 29, Trinity Sunday
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Sermon: “with warm breast and with ah! bright wings”
Do not be afraid of night, of death, of exile, of grief. The Holy Spirit, God’s ruach, still broods over the world with warm breast and bright wings. Continue reading
Book Review: Yet in the Dark Streets Shining: A Palestinian Story of Hope and Resilience in Bethlehem
Bishara writes that three issues make it difficult for Western Christians to listen to Palestinians: guilt over Christian antisemitism; belief in Israel as an ally of the West; and, most potently, Christian Zionism, the belief that the State of Israel is the fulfilment of prophecy and a harbinger of the eschaton. Of the three, it is probably the first that keeps members of the Uniting Church silent on the question of Palestine. Bishara’s story makes it clear that Western Christians must not assuage our own guilt at the expense of Palestinians. Continue reading
Posted in Books, Random Musings
Tagged Bishara Awad, Book Review, Books, Gaza, Israel, Mercy Aiken, Nakba, Occupation, Palestine, Yet in the Dark Streets Shining
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Sermon: Advice from Julian of Norwich
I have been struggling so much with the evil of the world over the past six months. It is always possible to find things in the world that seem to challenge any faith we might have in a good God, but there have been times over the past few months when I have had to turn off the television news because what is happening around the world and in Australia has so enraged me that I have felt physically sick. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged anger, Easter 7, Farewell Discourse, God's Universalism, John 17:6-19, Judas, Julian of Norwich, Mothers' Day, universal salvation
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Sermon: The Ethiopian Eunuch
Today’s story, and the entire theme of the Book of Acts, is that as the gospel spreads through the world it gathers in more and more of those who have been pushed away or forgotten. We are the descendants of the community we see being created in the Book of Acts, and so we always need to look beyond our doors to see who has been excluded, so we can welcome them in. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Acts 8:26-40, Apostle Philip, Easter, Easter 5, Ethiopian eunuch, inclusion, LGBTIQ, marriage equality, transgender, Year of Mark
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Sermon: To be Christian is to be in community
Reflection for North Balwyn Uniting Church The Third Sunday of Easter, 14th of April 2024 Luke 24:36b-48 This may be sad news for those of you who are, like me, massive introverts, but following Jesus is always a communal activity. … Continue reading
Sermon: Easter Sunday
Jesus Christ is Lord of all, not only of those like Peter, and the peace he preaches includes peace between those of different faiths and nations. From this moment on, if the church is to truly be the body of Christ, then its doors must be flung open, and everyone must be allowed to stream in. Continue reading
Sermon: Street marches
Reflection for North Balwyn Uniting Church Palm Sunday, 24th of March 2023 Psalm 118:1-2 19-29 Mark 11:1-11 After hearing today’s gospel story, of Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem the week before his death, I am a little surprised that the Roman powers … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Hope, Mark 11:1-11, Palm Sunday, political protest, Psalm 118:1-2 19-29, street marches, Year of Mark
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