Tag Archives: Year of Luke

Reflection: Uncertainty on Christmas Eve

Posted on December 24, 2021 by Avril Hannah-Jones

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 →

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Sermon: Small and insignificant

Posted on December 18, 2021 by Avril Hannah-Jones

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 →

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Sermon: Would we really want God to appear?

Posted on December 4, 2021 by Avril Hannah-Jones

Undoubtedly Zechariah would have asked God to allow him and Elizabeth to have a son, and in his song we hear his gratitude not only for this gift but for the liberation of his people, but there is no doubt that this appearance of the Lord has deeply disrupted his life. Continue reading →

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Sermon: Hope in a time of pandemic

Posted on November 27, 2021 by Avril Hannah-Jones

As we realise our vulnerability, we are offered reassurance. When we are tempted to despair, we are given hope. Continue reading →

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Sermon: A terrifyingly simple parable

Posted on September 29, 2019 by Avril Hannah-Jones

It also takes the church out of the safe realm of biblical interpretation and theology into the scary realm of economics and politics. We could quite easily be told that questions of taxation and social security are none of our business. But we are in the Year of Luke and Luke, as I’ve already said, had no qualms about bringing socioeconomics into religion. Maybe we can too. Continue reading →

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Sermon: A complete puzzle of a parable

Posted on September 21, 2019 by Avril Hannah-Jones

I have been chewing on this parable, as Jesus’ first hearers would have chewed it over on their way home that evening, wondering what the Lord meant by this story. Continue reading →

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Palm Sunday Sermon for the combined service

Posted on April 13, 2019 by Avril Hannah-Jones

we can work for peace, justice and reconciliation with complete confidence, because God has already won the victory Continue reading →

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Sermon: When bad things happen

Posted on March 24, 2019 by Avril Hannah-Jones

We live in a world in which, sadly, bad things do happen to good people. Continue reading →

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Sermon: God’s motherly love

Posted on March 18, 2019 by Avril Hannah-Jones

In times of difficulty, post-Royal Commission, during congregational change, grieving the Christchurch massacre, as we walk with Jesus on the road to his death during Lent, we can rely on the God who loves us as a mother and protects us as a hen protects her chicks Continue reading →

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Sermon: Imitating God

Posted on February 23, 2019 by Avril Hannah-Jones

We are to love our enemies because they too are God’s beloved; we are to do good to those who hate us because they share our humanity; we are to bless those who curse us because they are created from the same dust as us; we are to pray for those who abuse us because they, like us, will one day die and be judged by Jesus. Continue reading →

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