Category Archives: Sermons

Reflection: From prison comes joy

Posted on September 26, 2020 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Reflection for North Balwyn Uniting Church27th of September, 2020 Matthew 21:23-32Philippians 2:1-13 Between last week’s reading from the Gospel according to Matthew, when Jesus told those around him the parable of merciful employer, and this week’s reading, in which there … Continue reading →

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Reflection: To argue or not to argue?

Posted on September 12, 2020 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Reading this passage, we might think that we are left with a church in which nothing is to be condemned. However, compare today’s reading with Paul’s response to another question about food, the question of whether Jews and Gentiles can eat together. Continue reading →

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Reflection: At sea in a storm

Posted on August 8, 2020 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Reflection for Western Heights Uniting Church August 9, 2020 Matthew 14:22-33 The church has from its very beginning been considered metaphorically to be a boat. This is unsurprising when we consider that Jesus’ first followers were fishermen and that the … Continue reading →

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Reflection: Wrestling with God

Posted on August 1, 2020 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Reflection for Western Heights Uniting Church 2nd of August, 2020 Genesis 32:22-31 I am writing this reflection on the day when the Victorian government announced that more than 723 Victorians had tested positive for Covid19, the highest daily count since … Continue reading →

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Reflection: Comfort during Covid19

Posted on July 25, 2020 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Contrary to the theology of the wackier fringe churches we do not believe that our faith will keep us safe from the Covid19 dangers faced by others, any more than their faith in God protected Jesus or Paul from execution by the Romans. Continue reading →

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Reflection: The children of God

Posted on July 18, 2020 by Avril Hannah-Jones

We are not just children of God; we are co-heirs with Christ. Everything that is his is ours. We could not be more important or have a higher status in the world than this. Continue reading →

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Reflection: THIS is who we are

Posted on July 11, 2020 by Avril Hannah-Jones

when we make mistakes, when the evil we do not want is what we do, we are still, always, no matter what, God’s children Continue reading →

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Sermon: We are not what we do

Posted on July 4, 2020 by Avril Hannah-Jones

If we keep the difference between shame and guilt in mind as we read today’s Bible passage, we can see that Paul is talking about guilt, about his behaviour, about his own actions, not about his identity. Continue reading →

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Reflection: We are good enough

Posted on June 27, 2020 by Avril Hannah-Jones

We are the beloved children of God, made in the image of God, those for whom Jesus demonstrated his love by dying for us – of course we are always enough! Continue reading →

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Reflection: Choosing the Gospel

Posted on June 20, 2020 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Reflection for Western Heights 21st of June, 2020 Matthew 10:24-39 and Refugee Week I have to confess that the Gospel according to Matthew is my least favourite. (For those interested, my ranking of the canonical gospels is Luke, John, Mark, … Continue reading →

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