Category Archives: Sermons

Sermon: Avril talks about “boat people” – again

Posted on August 10, 2014 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Sermon for Williamstown Uniting Church August 10, 2014; Ordinary 19 Matthew 14:22-33 Listening to today’s gospel reading is one of those times when our twenty-first century Australian mindset can create a problem. Most Australians are happy coastal dwellers, much more … Continue reading →

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Sermon: God is not safe

Posted on August 3, 2014 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Sermon for Williamstown 3rd of August, 2014 Genesis 32:22-31 Today’s story from the Hebrew Scriptures is one of my favourites, and Jacob is one of the biblical characters with whom I most empathise. That may seem strange; I hope it … Continue reading →

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Sermon: A test Abraham failed?

Posted on June 28, 2014 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Sermon for Williamstown Sunday the 29th of June, 2014 Genesis 22:1-14 What on earth can we do with today’s reading from the book of Genesis, the Akedah or binding of Isaac? The Revised Common Lectionary, which leaves out other stories … Continue reading →

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Sermon; When life is utterly unfair …

Posted on June 15, 2014 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Sermon for Williamstown Uniting Church 15th of June, 2014 Genesis 1:1-2:4a Psalm 8 One of the things that I love most about being a minister is that as part of that role people include me in the most important moments … Continue reading →

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Sermon: We’re all on a journey

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Avril Hannah-Jones

I have lots and lots of books with maps inside the front cover. Maps of Middle-Earth, Pern, Britain in the time of King Arthur; maps of the kingdoms of the Alorns and Angaraks, of Narnia, of Discworld, of Earthsea and … Continue reading →

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Sermon: God and gardens

Posted on May 11, 2014 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Garden Sermon for Williamstown Uniting Church 11th of May, 2014 Genesis 2:4b-15 Jeremiah 29:4-7 Amos 9:13-15 “And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed.” The Book … Continue reading →

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Sermon: Multiple Happy Endings

Posted on April 20, 2014 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Sermon for Williamstown Easter Sunday, the 20th of April, 2014 Matthew 28:1-10 Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! This is the message at the heart of Easter; the affirmation at the heart of the Christian faith; the eucatastrophe (one … Continue reading →

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Sermon: Taking to the Streets

Posted on April 13, 2014 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Sermon for Williamstown 13th of April 2014 Matthew 21:1-11 So, here we are at Palm Sunday. Jesus enters Jerusalem to choruses of praise and a crowd going wild. Rather than entering as most pilgrims do, on foot, Jesus enters riding … Continue reading →

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Sermon: Beware of Blind Faith

Posted on March 28, 2014 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Sermon for Williamstown 30 March 2014 John 9:1-41 This morning we heard a wonderful tale of light and sight and blindness, in which faith is born and faith is lost. The story begins with a question of theodicy, of God’s … Continue reading →

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Sermon: Brothers and Sisters Together

Posted on March 28, 2014 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Sermon for Williamstown 23 March 2014 John 4:5-42 Today’s reading from the Gospel according to John is one of my favourite stories in the entire Bible, with one of my favourite characters. The Samaritan woman has often got a bad … Continue reading →

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