Tag Archives: unity

Jesus’ Compassionate Ministry: Lessons from Mark 6 and Ephesians 2

While the needs of the world are great, and the church is called to imitate Jesus’ compassion, none of us is Jesus. Not even collectively is the church the Messiah. In today’s scenario, we are the Twelve, not Jesus, and we can take time to rest. Continue reading

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Sermon: An imagined community

The church is another such imagined community, and one that is both local and global. Everyone who participates in the service here each Sunday is part of this congregation, whether they attend in person, listen online, or read a paper version. And all these members of North Balwyn Uniting Church are members of an imagined community we call the one holy catholic and apostolic church. Continue reading

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Sermon: In favour of the Voice to Parliament

The final paragraph of the Uluru Statement is: ‘In 1967 we were counted, in 2017 we seek to be heard. We leave base camp and start our trek across this vast country. We invite you to walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future’. I do hope that Australians will walk together with First Nations people and approve the Voice, in numbers comparable to the 90% who voted ‘Yes’ in the 1967 Referendum, because doing so will be, I believe, an act of love. Continue reading

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Sermon: Day of Mourning

Today, the Sunday before the 26th of January, is commemorated by the Uniting Church as a Day of Mourning, remembering that while the raising of the Union Jack in Sydney Cove was ultimately wonderful for all the Second Peoples who have been able to live here, it was the beginning of centuries of dispossession, disease, and violence for Australia’s First Peoples. Continue reading

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Christmas Day: The unity of humanity

Covid19 has shown us that the unity of humankind, and the importance of universal justice and care, are not simply nice sentiments to be paid lip-service at Christmas time, but plain, down-to-earth, common sense. Continue reading

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