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Tag Archives: Mary
Sermon: Christmas Day
Christmas is created by God’s Spirit doing a new thing, and God entering the world in a new way. It also happens because of the openness of Mary and Joseph to all that scandalous newness. Are we able, like them, to say ‘yes’ to God when God does something new in our lives? Continue reading
Reflection: Uncertainty on Christmas Eve
Now Omicron has happened and finally, after almost two years, I know not to make any predictions at all. I have not only no idea what 2022 will bring, I have no idea what will happen tomorrow. But, really, that has always been true. We may think we live in a stable, predictable, world, but at every moment the unexpected can shatter it. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Christmas, Christmas Eve, covid19, Luke 2:1-20, Mary, Unexpected, Year of Luke
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Sermon: Small and insignificant
Reflection for North Balwyn Uniting Church 19th of December, 2021 Micah 5:2-5a Luke 1:39-55 This week we were finally able to hold a memorial service celebrating the life of Marcelle Maisey. Jenny Preston presided, and she preached on the Bible … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Elizabeth, love, Luke 1:39-55, Mary, Micah 5:2-5a, Proverbs 31, woman of valour, Year of Luke
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Sermon: The faith and generosity of Hannah
Both Hannah’s and Mary’s songs are deeply political songs about the way God wants the world to be; a world in which the hungry are ‘filled with good things’ (Luke 1:53), in fact the ‘hungry are fat with spoil’ (1 Samuel 2:5); a world in which God lifts the needy from the ash heap to sit with princes (1 Samuel 2:8) while the proud are brought down from their thrones. (Luke 1:52) Both Hannah and Mary sing of a world overturned. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged 1 Samuel 1:4-20, 1 Samuel 2:1-10, Advent, courage, generosity, Hannah, King David, Magnificat, Mary
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Reflection: Fighting on God’s Side
It is because we know that God has shown strength with his arm; has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; has brought down the powerful from their thrones; has lifted up the lowly; has filled the hungry with good things; has sent the rich away empty. And so we keep fighting on God’s side. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged asylum seekers, Elizabeth, immigration detention, injustice, Justice, Luke 1:26-38, Luke 1:46-55, Magnificat, Martin Luther King, Mary, refugees
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Sermon: A LOT of wine
There is nothing sensible or moderate about the amount of wine that the guests are now able to enjoy. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged celebration, feasts, Food, John 2:1-11, love, Mary, miracles
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Sermon: Love Sunday
In Jesus’ birth, as in Jesus’ death and resurrection, God is defeating death and hopelessness. Continue reading
Sermon: Hannah sings a new song
As we remember the anniversary of Kristallnacht and grieve the murder of worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue we remember that we Christians are the younger sisters and brothers of the Jewish people and we should offer them the love and respect that older siblings deserve. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged 1 Samuel 1:4-20, Hannah, Hebrew Scriptures, Judaism, Mary, reading the Bible
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Women Celebrating Justice: Reflection for the Victorian Country Women’s Association
In 1928 when the CWA opened ‘rest rooms’ throughout Victoria it was overturning an injustice that meant that women couldn’t travel far from home. We all know how important it is for women to have access to toilets; even today some girls leave school when they start menstruating because they don’t have access to water and toilets. So well done to those very first members of the CWA! Continue reading
Posted in Reflection
Tagged 1 Samuel 2:1-10, Country Women's Association, CWA, Hannah, Justice, Luke 1:39-56, Magnificat, Mary, Visitation, women in the bible, women's history
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Sermon: Mary the Magnificent
There’s no doubt that Mary and Jesus are mother and son; both of them are radical re-makers of the world. Neither of them is particularly meek and mild. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Advent 4, Christmas, Colm Toibin, Gospel according to Luke, Justice, Luke 1:39-55, Magnificat, Mary, Roman Catholic Church
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