Reflection for the funeral of Jemima Pearson Campbell Hannah
Scripture Readings
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 – Read by Murray Hannah-Jones
Romans 8:37-39 – Read by Samantha Bykersma
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Preaching of the Word
We are gathered here today to say good-bye to Jemima Pearson Campbell Hannah, and to commend her to God.
(In the rest of the service I’ve referred to Jemima by her given name, but for this part I have to call her ‘Granny’, so when I say that you’ll need to replace it with the name that you knew her by.)
In which Avril is very excited (and moved) by an exchange of tweets
A few weeks ago I was one of the guests on the fabulous Doctor Who-based podcast Splendid Chaps. If you’re a fan of the Doctor and you haven’t found this podcast, go check it out NOW. It’s a wonderful fiftieth-anniversary celebration of Doctor Who, with podcasts on each of the eleven Doctors and on various themes: Family; Fear; Clothes. Continuing to milk that appearance on AHIGST from so many years’ ago (well, two), I was invited to be a ‘Splendid Chap’ (awesome!) and talk about religion.
I participated in (Part Two) of Seven/Religion. It was so much fun! I get a wee bit nervous when I suspect I’ve been invited somewhere as a ‘token believer’, but the other Splendid Chaps didn’t look at me as though I was crazy for believing, and I got to talk about faith and the Doctor, a topic about which I can happily blether for hours. As, in this case, I did.
And just to put the cherry on the top of the ice-cream sundae that was the whole experience, this happened:
I really need to thank Adam Hills for making fun of me. It’s opened so many doors; I’ve had a great time; and in a weird way I think I’m doing better ministry than I ever did before. I’m a very lucky fangrrl.
Churches oppose the PNG solution
For broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 28 July 2013.
Australian church leaders have strongly opposed the Rudd Government’s “PNG solution” designed to reduce the number of asylum seekers coming to Australia by boat.
The Australian Churches Refugees Taskforce said, “Shifting the burden and sending people to stay in a malaria-ridden island with almost no supports is not an acceptable alternative to protection.”
A Catholic Church spokesman said, “We have the duty as members of one human family to help those who arrive on our shores seeking asylum and to strive with all our resources to assist them no matter how inconvenient this may prove to be.”
A statement from the Baptist Churches of NSW & ACT said:
Every person seeking asylum is created in God’s image and is loved unconditionally by God, and Christians have an obligation to demonstrate this same love toward asylum seekers through compassion, advocacy…
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Talk for Wisdom’s Feast: Why the Church of Latter Day Geeks
As part of Wisdom’s Feast, a conference and education event held at the Uniting Church’s Centre for Theology and Ministry, six people were asked to give short talks on something about which they felt passionate. I wasn’t given a choice as to what I felt passionate about; I was asked to speak about the Church of Latter Day Geeks. Here’s what I said:
The Church of Latter Day Geeks started as a joke. Continue reading
Reflection: Practicing Sabbath
Sermon for Williamstown Uniting Church
Giving our time and talents
- Achenkirche, Austria. A place where I found it easy to worship and rest.
Leviticus 23:1-3
Acts 3:1-10
Luke 6:43-45
This is the second week in our month-long reflection on the relationship between our faith and ‘giving’. Last week we started with the big one, and talked about giving our money. This week should be much easier. We’re talking about giving our time and our talents. Much, much less challenging. Or is it? Continue reading
Archbishop of Canterbury takes up the cudgels
The churches are speaking up in the UK.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, stepped up what the Daily Mail described as his ‘war of words with the government over welfare’ today, challenging Government ministers over food banks and their derogatory language about people in poverty.
Dr Welby’s riposte to Lord Freud on foodbanks
Dr Welby’s comments came in an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme this morning (9 July). He specifically challenged Government minister Lord Freud who suggested last week there was an “almost infinite demand” for the free food supplied by food banks.
The Archbishop questioned where Lord Freud “got his information from” on food bank use after the welfare reform minister was reported last week as saying: “It is difficult to know which came first – supply or demand.” Mr Welby highlighted Church analysis that showed that in Durham 35 per cent of people using food banks were referred by social services because they…
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Reflection: In which Avril has an epiphany and decides to tithe
Not so much a sermon as a meandering reflection on Christian attitudes to money, with possibly some over-sharing on my part.
To find out how rich you are, go to http://www.globalrichlist.com/
2 Corinthians 8:1-15; Luke 12:13-21
Earlier this week I had an epiphany; a sudden realisation about the way in which I live my life. So this morning you’re not so much getting a sermon as a meandering reflection on this revelation. Continue reading
Posted in Random Musings, Sermons
Tagged giving, money, Sermon, tithing, Williamstown Uniting Church, Year of Luke
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“There’s no such thing as a solitary hero”: The reflection on video
Ten minutes of the Third Annual Service of the Church of latter Day Geeks; one of the songs and the reflection.
Rev Doc Geek 