Thursday, 23 May 2019

Sound Recordings

The latest Mp3 recordings – Listen online, or Download . . .


Geoff Boyce Timing:  23:07 Size:  8.0 MB Uploaded:  13-May
SUN 12-MAY-2019 - 11,00 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 13 times ] Download   [ 11 times ]
Easter 4 – In Australia and elsewhere around the world, Psalm 23 – "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want ..." – would be the most recognised and best loved of all the psalms. It is often turned to in times of grief. In this sermon, it is examined in terms of the rules of hospitality and mutual obligation that were in effect at the time of its writing. For example, there was an obligation on a host to provide the very best of food and entertaknmnet for a stranger appearing at his door, and the stranger, now a friend, would have similar obligations towards his former host, and to any visitor to his home. In the history of the Israelites, their host was God; and with his grace and hospitality, God offered the Israelits a transformed lifestyle that would be a blessing for all. The psalm can be seen as a call to a "Radical Hospitality".
Psalm 23

Rev Mike Rayson Timing:  21:17 Size:  7.3 MB Uploaded:  13-May
SUN 12-MAY-2019 - 9.30 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 8 times ] Download   [ 2 times ]
Easter 4 – 'I will be there' – The sermon was delivered in song and word. After singing "Jusr Grace" to his own accompaniment at the piano, Mike testified to the grace of God witnessed in the miraculous healing of a 15 year old girl, her brain split in two down to the stem as a result of a road accident. She had been in a coma and on life support for months on end, when one day, during a family visit to the hospital, she sat up and asked for a pizza. God had somehow, secretly, miraculously and inexplicably, knitted her brain together, and she has gone on to live a normal, productive life. In Psalm 23 we read, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for THOU ART WITH ME ...". God promises that he will walk with us and guide us in the shadows, even when things are going horribly wrong..
Psalm 23

Rev Sandy Boyce Timing:  15:12 Size:  5.3 MB Uploaded:  6-May
SUN 05-MAY-2019 - 11.00 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 24 times ] Download   [ 16 times ]
Easter 3 – A professional rugby player for Australia, Israel Folau ('Izzy'), a committed Christian, is in trouble because of a social media post on Instagram, in which he has quoted from a few verses of scripture (Galatians 5:19-21) to tell various classes of sinners that they will be going to hell. His own addition of homosexuals to the list has upset many people. Such messages of condemnation and punishment are likely to draw people away from Christ. Has he spent time with the people he condemns, to get alongside them and discover how and why their lives are so robbed of joy? When Saul of Tarsus was following the written Law to the letter, he believed he was doing the right thing by vigorously persecuting and punishing members of the expanding Christian community – until he encountered Jesus, and found for himself the love and grace of the God who does not set about punishing and condemning, but who loves us unconditionally, warts and all,
Acts 9: 1-6

Rev Dr Greg Elsdon Timing:  24:42 Size:  8.5 MB Uploaded:  6-May
SUN 05-MAY-2019 - 9.30 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 18 times ] Download   [ 6 times ]
Easter 3 – Risen, and Reconciling – Peter's courage to follow Jesus had failed catastrophically when Jesus was arrested. It had been a chilly night, and while warming himself by a charcoal fire, he had denied three times that he had anything to do with Jesus. With everything falling apart, Peter and some other disciples went back to their former occupation of fishing on the Sea of Tiberias. Some time later they unexpectedly found themselves having breakfast around another charcoal fire, with Jesus acting as cook. Jesus asked Peter three times, "Do you love me?", and each time Peter replied, "Yes!" Jesus did not condemn Peter, he was not angry, and he didn't retaliate. For the sake of healing, restoration and re-commissioning, Jesus dealt with Peter gently – his grace overcame Peter's shame. What if we, too, were to offer unconditional love in the midst of another's humiliation, to become a sanctuary for the shamed?
John 21: 1-19

Rev Dr Greg Elsdon Timing:  18:28 Size:  6.4 MB Uploaded:  29-Apr
SUN 28-APR-2019 - 11.00 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 26 times ] Download   [ 13 times ]
Easter 2 – The confused and frightened disciples of the recently executed Jesus of Nazareth were together behind locked doors, when Jesus himself appeared among them, his crucifixion wounds clearly visible. He was openly and unashamedly the wounded one, and his wounds were the unmistakable signs of his solidarity with humanity. Jesus honoured the human body, whether bruised, broken, wounded or disabled. The present sermon was delivered on Break the Silence Sunday, a time for churches to learn about the terrible pain, grief, humiliation and rejection suffered by victims of rape and sexual assault. We need communities of trust, courage and compassion, where our stories of woundedness are listened to, and where we can feel honoured and cared for in our stories.
John 20: 19-31

Rev Sandy Boyce Timing:  16:21 Size:  5.6 MB Uploaded:  29-Apr
SUN 28-APR-2019 - 9.30 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 32 times ] Download   [ 8 times ]
Easter 2 – "Break The Silence Sunday" – This fourth Sunday of April was set aside for Break the Silence Sunday, to open up a conversation about sexual assault and rape. These are subjects usually avoided by churches as too private and personal. The victims suffer fear, shame, disgrace and humiliation; it is one of the most unreported of serious offences; there is a lack of community understanding; and the justice system works against the victims. Christ still carried the scars from his cruel crucifixion when he rose from the dead, and he became the wounded healer. This sermon examines, at some depth, the question of how we, as a faith community and disciples of Christ, can respond to victims of sexual assault and rape and help them towards a healing.
John 20: 19-31

Rev Sandy Boyce Timing:  14:39 Size:  5.1 MB Uploaded:  21-Apr
SUN 21-APR-2019 - 11.00 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 30 times ] Download   [ 11 times ]
Easter Day – The burning of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris has been described as a symbol of the decline of Christianity, traditions, faith and civilisation. But all buildings have an ending, whether by fire, earthquake, lightning strike, vandalism, disrepair, or fanaticism. We need sacred places, holy and set apart, marked by beauty and dedicated to the glory of God. The destruction of a sacred building is a catalyst for thinking about death and rebirth. But is there something wrong, when spending so much on repairing a big old fire-damaged cathedral is considered more important than caring for the poor, the under-privileged and the destitute, as Christ has taught us to do? Notre Dame will be rebuilt. But the church that witnesses to the risen life of Christ is not the actual building, it is the people. From the devastation of the day when Jesus was put to death, a new day has dawned and love has conquered death.
John 20: 1-18

Rev Dr Greg Elsdon Timing:  23:45 Size:  8.2 MB Uploaded:  22-Apr
SUN 21-APR-2019 - 9.30 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 25 times ] Download   [ 12 times ]
Easter Day – 'I have seen the Lord' – Between the scripture readings and the sermon there is a dramatic monologue which has Mary Magdalene relating her own memories of what had happened at Jesus' tomb. When she realised that she was speaking to Jesus himself, he told her not to hold on to him, but to go back with a special message for his brothers. It was not a reprimand for wanting to touch him; it was Jesus telling her, and the men back home, that he was going back to his and their Father, who would send them another companion, the Holy Spirit, to be with them forever. We spend a lot of energy holding on to beliefs, practices and customs which are no longer of any benefit – holding on to what we have been told to do or believe or understand can make us incapable of responding to the freedom to follow Christ in our own context. The Christian life is a contest between holding on and letting go.
Isaiah 65: 17-25; John 20: 1-18

Rev Sandy Boyce Timing:  7:24 Size:  2.6 MB Uploaded:  19-Apr
FRI 19-APR-2019 - Good Friday Reflection  .mp3  Listen  [ 132 times ] Download   [ 69 times ]
Good Friday – Parallels are drawn between the horror and shock of watching the recent fire that destroyed part of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, built 850 years ago as a symbol of the body of Christ, and the horror and shock of the early disciples watching Jesus dying, nailed to a cross. When Jesus told his beloved disciple that Mary was now his mother, she became the mother of us all – Our Lady, or in the French language, Notre Dame. We await new life rising from the ashes, but let us mourn a great loss before looking for the new. Even death cannot suppress the irrepressible energy of God's presence. Love will rise from the ashes to greet a new day.

Rev Dr Greg Elsdon Timing:  15:13 Size:  5.3 MB Uploaded:  7-Apr
SUN 07-APR-2019 - 11.00 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 54 times ] Download   [ 25 times ]
Lent 5 – Lent is regarded as a serious, sombre time for focusing on confession – so what should we give up? The passage from John's gospel tells of a dinner party for Lazarus, whom Jesus had recently raised from the dead, and they were celebrating in spite of the lingering threat of Jesus' death. Mary, Lazarus' sister, could see the big picture of what was going to happen, and in a very extravagant display of her devotion to Jesus she anointed him as though for burial, using a large amount of expensive perfume. Let us celebrate in inclusive, life-preserving ways, and avoid the judgmental asceticism that frowns on all light-hearted, pleasurable experiences. Authentic celebration is a necessary discipline in the fight against injustice, a way to rise above impoverished circumstances. What if we were to take the call to celebrate more seriously, and go celebrate?
John 12: 1-8

Olly Ponsonby Timing:  18:05 Size:  6.2 MB Uploaded:  7-Apr
SUN 07-APR-2019 - 9.30 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 44 times ] Download   [ 19 times ]
Lent 5 – All four gospels tell of a woman anointing Jesus with a large amount of very expensive perfume, In an act of total love, devotion and worship. John's gospel identifies her as Mary, the sister of Lazarus whom Jesus had raised from the dead. She was beyond words, her worship was active and physical. She was undeterred by public criticism of her display of devotion, and. the fragrance of her perfume filled the whole house. Is the fragrance of our worship filling the space around us?
John 12: 1-8

Rev Sandy Boyce Timing:  19:32 Size:  6.7 MB Uploaded:  31-Mar
SUN 31-MAR-2019 - 11.00 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 40 times ] Download   [ 15 times ]
Lent 4 – The parable of the Prodigal Son tells of a father's joyful celebration on the return of his younger son from a ruinous time abroad, when the father treated his returning son like royalty, no questions asked. But the older son had a different attitude – conscientious and loyal towards his father, but critical, judgmental and angry towards his younger brother, whom he regarded as a "sinner" not fit for decent company. In her address, Sandy suggests that the real "sinner" is not the outcast but the one who casts the other out, and that exclusion of the "other" is exclusion of God and of joy. How will we seek reconciliation where there has been division and separation? How will we express grace ourselves, and extend the grace to others?
Luke 15: 1-3, 11b-32

Rev Dr Greg Elsdon Timing:  23:29 Size:  8.1 MB Uploaded:  31-Mar
SUN 31-MAR-2019 - 9.30 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 35 times ] Download   [ 26 times ]
Lent 4 – Lost and Found – For Jesus, God was Love before and above all; and when he was criticised for befriending the dregs of society that no decent person would be seen with, he told a parable about a young man who couldn't wait for his father to die before getting hold of his share of the father's estate. Moving out into the world, the son squandered everything his father had given him, and lived for a while in poverty and filth. Coming to his senses, he went back to his father to beg for a job and avoid starvation, and his father welcomed him back with open arms, no questions asked. His son had been lost and was found again. God does not ask questions when he embraces us. We are the ones being sought, and it is God who does the seeking. May we continue to love, and allow ourselves to be loved.
Luke 15: 1-3, 11b-32

Rev Dr Greg Elsdon Timing:  20:00 Size:  6.9 MB Uploaded:  24-Mar
SUN 24-MAR-2019 - 10.00 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 51 times ] Download   [ 26 times ]
Lent 3 (Combined Service) – The Jewish people had been in exile for 50 years, powerless, destitute and with no resources, when the prophet Isaiah brought them a message from God that the ancient covenant made hundreds of years earlier with King David was about to be reactivated, and the nation of Israel was to become a light to the world – a ridiculous idea, given the current circumstances. But God tells us that his thoughts are not our thoughts, and his ways are not our ways. We have the hope that God is always with us, making the world a better place to live in. Hope is not the same as confidence; confidence implies a belief in one's own abilities to get the job done. Let us allow ourselves to be transformed by the spirit of God to become a blessing to our neighbours. Leave the consequences to God, whose thoughts and aims are way beyond ours.
Isaiah 55: 1-9

Rev Dr Greg Elsdon Timing:  13:46 Size:  4.8 MB Uploaded:  17-Mar
SUN 17-MAR-2019 - 11.00 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 54 times ] Download   [ 27 times ]
Lent 2 – When some Pharisees warned Jesus that he should go into hiding because Herod had plans to arrest him, Jesus responded by asking the Pharisees to take a message back to "that fox"; and he went on to liken himself to a hen striving to protect her family. When a fox attacks a hen, the hen does not abandon her chickens. In a show of extravagant sacrificial love she is inevitably killed, laying down her life for others. She protects the vulnerable by gathering the victims into a community where the love of the mother lives on even after her death. Where we encounter "fox" power, the desire to control or manipulate with little regard for consequences, Jesus stands there as "hen", wounded breast bared and wings outstretched, to gather us into the community of friendship and the grace of God.
Luke 13: 31-35

Olly Ponsonby Timing:  13:44 Size:  4.7 MB Uploaded:  17-Mar
SUN 17-MAR-2019 - 9.30 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 61 times ] Download   [ 32 times ]
Lent 2 – "Our Lenten journey continues..." – Abraham waited a long time for the fulfilment of God's promise that he would be ancestor to a host of offspring; and we ourselves are not strangers to waiting with memories of hard times, bitterness, worries and fear. We cannot help but notice a hurting world. As a prison chaplain, our preacher tells of the pain of separation experienced by prisoners – separated from society, overlooked, and well acquainted with regret, remorse and fear. Let us acknowledge our own pain and suffering, look to God, read his promises, and ask God, "What will you do for me? While I'm waiting, let me know your presence and comfort." To which you could add, "What can I give in your name, to bring good news to others in this hurting world?"
Genesis 15: 10-18

Rev Sandy Boyce Timing:  19:00 Size:  6.6 MB Uploaded:  10-Mar
SUN 10-MAR-2019 - 11.00 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 154 times ] Download   [ 131 times ]
Lent 1 – After his baptism, Jesus was led by his Father's spirit into the wilderness for 40 days to consider the nature of his person and mission. He faced a series of ideas or temptations from his spiritual accuser, who was quoting particular verses lifted straight out of the Bible; and in response, Jesus also used verses taken straight from the Bible. It is an example of 'Midrashim', the traditional Jewish way, still practised, of discovering meanings in the Bible that are much deeper than the literal, by engaging in constructive debate. It is far removed from using an isolated "proof text" to ram home a point. The sermon also deals with the importance of keeping memories alive, an example being the annual observance of Passover with its commands that involve remembering the terrible past in Egypt and showing compassion to strangers.
Deuteronomy 26: 1-11; Luke 4: 1-13

Trish Brice and Revd Dr Greg Elsdon Timing:  31:44 Size:  10.9 MB Uploaded:  11-Mar
SUN 10-MAR-2019 - 9.30 AM Early Word and Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 83 times ] Download   [ 38 times ]
Lent 1 – "Balance for Better" – This service celebrated the 125th Anniversary of the granting of voting rights for women by the Parliament of South Australia, and Trish describes in some detail the activities of seven remarkably courageous women at the heart of the Women's Suffrage movement. They had strong church backgrounds, generally from the Methodist tradition, and they worked unceasingly towards social justice for women and girls forced to live and work in appalling conditions. In the short sermon following the Early Word we are reminded that all of us, like Jesus, are beloved of God, and that like Jesus, we too will be confronted by temptations and difficult moral and ethical decisions. Lent is a period set aside for contemplating such things..
Luke 4: 1-13

Rev Dr Greg Elsdon Timing:  18:40 Size:  6.4 MB Uploaded:  3-Mar
SUN 03-MAR-2019 - 11.00 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 91 times ] Download   [ 51 times ]
Transfiguration of Jesus – The majesty of Jesus was revealed on the mountaintop with manifestations of glory, light, clouds, historic figures, and a voice from a cloud affirming him as the beloved only son of his Father. Down in the valley there was a frantic father and his beloved only son, a very sick boy. Mountaintop experiences and valleys of shadow go together. Whether we hear of glory or of agony, let us listen – both need to speak, and both are beloved of the Father.
Luke 9: 28-43a

Gary Stuckey Timing:  22:19 Size:  7.7 MB Uploaded:  4-Mar
SUN 03-MAR-2019 - 9.30 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 80 times ] Download   [ 33 times ]
Transfiguration of Jesus – Radiance – Transfiguration comes from the mountaintop experiences where we take time apart with God, and from where the courage can come that we need to go on. There is a mystery in the world, a Dream Time, a reality beyond the natural world; but while it is good to go to the mountains to think about the deeper mysteries of life, it is not where we live. We live on the plain, in places where Christ comes to us in the form of human need.
Luke 9: 28-43a; 2 Cor 3: 17-18

Rev Dr Greg Elsdon Timing:  23:01 Size:  7.9 MB Uploaded:  24-Feb
SUN 24-FEB-2019 - 11.00 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 106 times ] Download   [ 50 times ]
Epiphany 7 – With so much misunderstanding and bad feeling between Them and Us, so much hurt and offence, if we don't look after ourselves, who will? And Jesus tells us to love them! How do we act towards those who hold animosity towards us? Forgiveness is being a fighter for freedom – from retaliation and worse, from being controlled by the past. It is a chance for grace and renewal. instead of continuing mistrust and animosity.
Genesis 45: 3-11, 15; Luke 6: 27-38

Rev Sandy Boyce Timing:  11:02 Size:  3.8 MB Uploaded:  17-Feb
SUN 17-FEB-2019 - 11.00 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 92 times ] Download   [ 44 times ]
Epiphany 6 – Shortly after selecting his twelve apostles, Jesus spoke to a crowd about future blessings for people at the bottom of the social scale, and future woes for people at the top of the social scale. He was speaking of the upside-down social system of the Kingdom of God – the inverse of the conventional system, with the wealthiest at the top of the heap caring little for the disadvantaged and destitute beneath them. Sydney's Kings Cross Wayside Chapel, and their Wayside Chapel café at Bondi Beach, are following the teaching of Jesus by providing a safe place for people from any walk of life. The Wayside Chapel focus is "love over hate", and their mission is "creating a community with no 'us' and 'them'".
Luke 6: 17-26

Rev Dr Greg Elsdon Timing:  21:20 Size:  7.4 MB Uploaded:  17-Feb
SUN 17-FEB-2019 - 9.30 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 93 times ] Download   [ 47 times ]
Epiphany 6 – The Beatitudes – The Beatitudes of Jesus are confronting. How can you feel blessed when you're thoroughly miserable with poverty, hunger, disease, weeping, and more? And why should you be cursed with woe when everything is going your way? It sounds ludicrous. Let us sit with the texts from the Scriptures that irritate us, the sayings from Jesus that appear so confronting, and see in practical, earthly ways how they might lead us closer and closer to the heart of the God of Jesus, that our lives might be whole and free.
Jeremiah 17: 5-10; Luke 6: 17-26

Rev Dr Greg Elsdon Timing:  23:26 Size:  8.1 MB Uploaded:  10-Feb
SUN 10-FEB-2019 - 9.30 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 88 times ] Download   [ 64 times ]
Epiphany 5 – Jesus' Call: Our Response – After a futile night's fishing in the Sea of Galilee, the three fisherman Simon, James and John accepted some unsolicited advice from Jesus to try again – and the result was an overwhelming catch. They could see that they were not dealing with an ordinary human being. Jesus assured them that there was no need to be afraid. He invited them to give up catching fish destined for the dinner plate, and instead to follow him and go fishing for people, that people might have life to the full. Peter protested that he was far from perfect – but God calls us just as we are and then shapes us into being his faithful servants. The three fishermen did follow Jesus, and they became his first disciples. (The 9.30 AM and 11 AM sermons were very similar, and the above summary could have been used for either of them.)
Isaiah 6: 1-8; Luke 5: 1-11

Rev Sandy Boyce Timing:  20:30 Size:  7.1 MB Uploaded:  27-Jan
SUN 27-JAN-2019 - 11.00 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 104 times ] Download   [ 54 times ]
Epiphany 3 – A community of Christ's followers is described metaphorically in terms of different parts or members of a human body, such as ears, eyes, nose and feet, all important for the body's general welfare. In the Body of Christ, the comuunity of his followers, no part of that body is more important than any other; all have their functions, and are to be respected regardless of class, ethicity or gender. We need a radical culture shift towards more compassion, kindness, tolerance, generosity, forgiveness, and mutual respect. In Australia this could include issues such as a treaty with the First Peoples; a serious consideration of the Uluru Statement from the Heart; and changes to the unconscionable ways in which asylum seekers are treated.
1 Corinthians 12: 12-31a; Luke 4: 14-21

Rev Sandy Boyce Timing:  17:07 Size:  5.9 MB Uploaded:  6-Jan
SUN 06-JAN-2019 - 11.00 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 124 times ] Download   [ 71 times ]
Epiphany – The kingdoms of Herod and Jesus had entirely different scripts. Herod's kingdom was based on scarcity and grasping for power – his efforts to protect things that he was afraid of losing had resulted in a reign of terror with frequent murders and assassinations. He was terrified when he met some magi enquiring about the precise location of a baby boy who might usurp him as king of the Jews. But the kingdom of God that Jesus would be preaching was based on the abundance of God's mercy, not on scarcity; and sharing God's abundance will result in trust, acceptance, openness, grace, forgiveness and mercy. We need a conversion from the illusion of scarcity, to a recognition of God's world of open-handed abundance.
Matthew 2: 1-12

Rev Dr Greg Elsdon Timing:  33:38 Size:  11.6 MB Uploaded:  6-Jan
SUN 06-JAN-2019 - 9.30 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 132 times ] Download   [ 74 times ]
Epiphany – "... with love, joy and justice as our star" – Matthew tells a story of some officials from beyond the Roman Empire arriving in Jerusalem, and enquiring at the court of Herod, the region's despotic puppet king, for the exact location of the baby who would grow up to be king of the Jews – and Herod was terrified at the idea of a baby usurping him. Herod was in the big city using force, abusive power and wealth to maintain his kingdom and his personal privileges; while in the little unpretentious village of Bethlehem there was a baby destined to be king of a different sort of kingdom, the Kingdom of God. Matthew wants us to understand about God's grace, revealed to us through that baby.
Isaiah 61: 1-6; Matthew 2: 1-12

Rev Dr Greg Elsdon Timing:  20:59 Size:  7.2 MB Uploaded:  30-Dec
SUN 30-DEC-2018 - 11.00 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 126 times ] Download   [ 64 times ]
Christmas 1 – When Jesus, as a 12 year old boy, disappeared from view for three days, he was found in deep discussion about the meaning of scriptures – and he did not see himself as lost, he was going about his Father's business. In Luke's gospel, images of lost and found are used frequently. When we think we've lost Jesus, it is we who are lost, not Jesus. When he calls us to follow him, it does not mean that he'll go along with us, whatever we're involved in; it is we who must follow him and go along with him in his mission to the world. If we think we've lost Jesus, we need to retrace our steps and do whatever we can to find him again.
Luke 2: 41-52

Rev Sandy Boyce Timing:  17:05 Size:  5.9 MB Uploaded:  25-Dec
TUE 25-DEC-2018 - Christmas Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 132 times ] Download   [ 62 times ]
Christmas Day - God is with us - How then might we give birth to Jesus in our time and place? Will we let the Christ child move us so we can see the divinity that lives, breathes in, with, through and beyond us? So that we can be the love that brings peace on Earth and good will to all?
Luke 2: 1-20

Rev Sandy Boyce Timing:  14:19 Size:  5.0 MB Uploaded:  23-Dec
SUN 23-DEC-2018 - 11.00 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 126 times ] Download   [ 65 times ]
Advent 4 – The Magnificat, or Song of Mary, is simple, straightforward, and profound. It reverses the way things are, revealing a God of compassion and justice for the oppressed. And not only for the oppressed, but also for those who work alongside of the oppressed. It is a song, not an oration – and songs are powerful. Words are not always needed; St Francis of Assissi is supposed to have said, "Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary use words." The Magnificat is a mixture of politics and religion, calling for a re-orientation of unjust systems. It gives confidence, and a courageous hope in God.
Luke 1: 39-55

Rev Dr Greg Elsdon Timing:  23:12 Size:  8.0 MB Uploaded:  23-Dec
SUN 23-DEC-2018 - 9.30 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 174 times ] Download   [ 111 times ]
Advent 4 – My soul cries out – The account of the birth of Christ is more than the story about the arrival of a baby who was going to grow up to do wondeful things and arrange for our salvation. It was God coming among us and for us, to assure us that despite the messiness and uncertainty of the world, we are not alone and God loves and cares for us. The words of Song of Mary, the "Magnificat", are scarcely the words of a frightened 15 year old unmarried mother – they are like the words of a rebel talking about an unjust system. Dietrich Bonhoefer called it "the wildest, most passionate, most revolutionary hymn ever sung", and using the Magnificat in worship has often been forbidden in jurisdictions where it is regarded as dangerous and sedititious. How much does God care about our social, political and ecomomic realities? What is it about Jesus, that we want to be born in us?
Luke 1: 39-55

Rev Dr Greg Elsdon Timing:  20:11 Size:  7.0 MB Uploaded:  16-Dec
SUN 16-DEC-2018 - 11.00 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 130 times ] Download   [ 63 times ]
Advent 3 – In his letter to the Philippians, Paul encourages his readers to "rejoice always". Rejoicing and happiness are not the same thing, because happiness is an immediate reaction to something while joy comes from gratefulness. When John the Baptist confronted his listeners with dire warnings about their lives and they were asking in despair, "What shall we do, then?", his answer was not to go away into the desert to contemplate; it was to go home, share what they had, be merciful to others, and do justice. And they would be free to inhabit the stuff of their lives, rejoicing in the realisation that all of life is pure gift.
Philippians 4: 4-7; Luke 3: 7-18

Rev Sandy Boyce Timing:  17:43 Size:  6.1 MB Uploaded:  16-Dec
SUN 16-DEC-2018 - 9.30 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 131 times ] Download   [ 64 times ]
Advent 3 – "One human family / food for all" – Ahead of the reading and sermon there is an account from one of our members of the collapse and extinction of communities of bees who had lived for years in her suburban garden – a local climate change tragedy linked to our lack of care for God's creation. ---
When John the Baptist appeared out of the desert preaching a baptism of repentance, the advice he offered to questioners was to be merciful, to love justice, to look after one another, not to cheat, and not to assert power to the detriment of others because of religious heritage. And someone greater than John would be coming to bring it about. The sermon includes a plea for us to look after each other in relation to our planet, that we might achieve food security, improved nutrition, sustainable agriculture, and an end to hunger.
Luke 3: 7-18

Rev Sandy Boyce Timing:  15:26 Size:  5.3 MB Uploaded:  10-Dec
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Advent 2 – Churches and Christians have often been told to keep out of politics and stick to their job of saving souls. But during his time on earth Jesus often upset the religious and political authorities by pointing out their corruption and the lack of social justice. In Australia, groups of concerned Christians are persistently lobbying their politicians when they see situations of injustice, and one result has been the recent passing of the Modern Slavery Act by the Parliament of Australia. We are called to find the lost, heal the broken, feed the hungry, release the prisoners, rebuild the nation, bring peace among the people, and make music in the heart. This is the message of Christ.
Luke 3: 1-6

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Advent 2 – "The Alchemy of Transformation" – Thousands of the world's eminent scientists, from numerous disciplines, have been publishing irrefutable evidence of global warming and its dire consequences. Yet there are many who dismiss the irrefutable facts as "fake news" because there is no place for the facts in the world as they see it – the only world held to be real is a world of measurable objects, and the spirit world of dreams, fantasies and imagination is disregarded. Alchemists in times past sought to change base materials into gold, and their endeavours were a spiritual process, a symbol of transformation of the soul, with unexpected discoveries, shrouded in mystery. Maybe, in the dross of our own many failures, we might find the transformation of the soul that will keep our world alive.
Malachi 3: 1-3; Luke 1: 68-79; Job 12: 7-10

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Advent 1 – Advent is a time when we are encouraged to acknowledge life on earth as it really is, rather than seeing it in terms of what our religion says it ought to be. We are encouraged to live courageously in the truth of the present, not as pious escapists in denial of the terrible and frightening things happening around our world. And during this Christmas season, we look forward to celebrating something beautiful waiting to be born.
Luke 21: 25-36v

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Advent 1 – "Embracing Earth and each other" – In the scripture reading, Jesus warns that before his return there will occur violent disturbances such as tossing, roaring seas, and people will be very afraid. Such things are happening right now, with extreme weather events brought on by man-made climate change. Jesus has warned us to be on guard, and not let this come on us unexpectedly – it is the season to be alert. We can organise ourselves to help our poorest and most vulnerable communities survive the effects of the climate crisis. Let us be led by peaceful, prayerful action, to overcome the forces that are undoing all of God's beautiful, diverse creation and with it the fabric of civilisation.
Luke 21: 25-36

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Reign of Christ / Christ the King – The crucifixion of Christ and the salvation of the world are historical events which can be dated. The four gospel writers give convincingly similar descriptions of the crucifixion, from their own viewpoints; and the classical historians Josephus and Tacitus both mention the crucifixion as a significant public event at the time. As for Pontius Pilate – he is described by Philo and Tacitus as a skilful, ruthless middle-ranked Roman official, and the gospel accounts of what happened when Jesus appeared before him are quite plausible. These things happened. God himself came into our world with all of its unloveliness and frightfulnes – into our world, not into a world of ideas or a Christian fairyland.
John 18: 33-37

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Pentecost 26 – As Jesus and the disciples were leaving the temple, one of them mentioned how impressive it all was – and Jesus let him know that the temple would not last, it was going to be destroyed utterly. There were going to be chaotic times that would be seen as the birth pangs of something new. Jesus said not to be afraid, God is at work bringing new life. We all personally have times of upheaval and conflict when we are faced with new ideas and ways of thinking. In our discussions, let us all demonstrate respect and gentleness – not with bold, frank, hard-hittng public argument, but with mildness and fairness as we engage with others.
Mark 13: 1-8

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Pentecost 25 – Jesus shows how we stand in judgement for our treatment of the poor and needy. Speaking with his disciples, he singled out Scribes in the vicinity of the Jerusalem temple, wealthy, self-important officials of the theocratic Jewish government with immense religious and political powers and a well-deserved reputation for corruption, especially in regard to widows. Then he pointed out an impoverished widow offering her very last two small coins to the temple treasury – a gift of far greater value to God than ostentatious donations from the wealthy. She knew she could say, "I matter to God". Jesus calls us to notice and embrace those whose bodies and lives are broken by injustice, by domestic or sexual violence – the homeless and hungry, those struggling to live on Newstart – to see in their faces the face of Christ.
Mark 12: 38-44

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Pentecost 25 – "... out of her poverty she has given everything" – The story of the "widow's mite" is more than a case study of the costly sacrificial giving of a widow donating her last few low-value coins to the temple – it also tells of Jeaus' condemnation of the corrupt religious system whose practicioners paraded themselves in pretentious robes, recited long prayers, donated impressive sums out of their considerable wealth, and at the same time exploited the poor and defenceless. The widow was a victim of an oppressive religious system – could it have been anger or despair that led her to put the last of her livelihood into the collection box? God has a desire and demand that justice be shown toward those who, for whatever reason, find themselves victims of need, poverty or exploitation. Thank God for the recent Australian Royal Commissions into banking and the institutional responses to childhood abuse.
Mark 12: 38-44

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Pentecost 24 – This sermon, with the theme "Grow, Nurture, Flourish", begins with a discussion of the home as a place of security, love and trust. In the first few books of the Old Testament there are so many rules and instructions governing personal and community life, that anyone trying to follow them conscientiously and religiously must inevitably fail. But in the passage from Mark's gospel, Jesus gives a different interpretation of the Law, emphasising that what was behind it all was God's unconditional love for all of creation. The Kingdom of God is spread by sharing God's love, in an atmosphere of trust and friendship such as might be found in a loving home. God has sent his Holy Spirit to befriend us; so let us grow our relationships, nurture our discipleship, and flourish in our ministry of love.
Mark 12: 28-34

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Pentecost 23 – Seeing with eyes wide open – As Jesus was making his way toward Jerusalem for the last time, a blind beggar started yelling for his attention. The author of Mark's gospel has told us that the beggar's name was Bartimaeus, and it's a name with several layers of meaning. Apart from "son of Timaeus", it can also be interpreted in the Aramaic language as "son of filth", and in the Greek language as "son of honour". Jesus went over to this disgraceful person and asked him "What do you want me to do for you?" Through his faith, the beggar received his sight and the hope for a fulfilling life. Do we see rough-sleeping beggars as filthy no-hopers, or do we see their potential as people of honour?
Mark 10: 46-52

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Pentecost 18 – When the two disciples asked for positions close to Jesus in his kingdom, they probably knew they were signing up for a dangerous mission. As Christians we have power from the Holy Spirit; it is a power that can be used to bless others, but it should not be something to boast about. Being a servant in the Kingdom of God means humble service, performing menial tasks, sometimes very unpleasant tasks, that others may not want to do but that have to be done. Strive to serve others, to enable others to shine and discover their gifts. But – do not set out to be noticed for your serving by trying to do everything for everyone.
Mark 10: 35-45

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Pentecost 18 – "... but it is not so among you" – The disciples were simply not understanding what Jesus was on about, when he taught about servanthood and serving others in God's kingdom. He had to remind them, again, that greatness in God's kingdom is characterised by a radical form of service to the poorest and least privileged, not by the acquisition of power and authority over others. Sadly, in the centuries since the church's beginning, institutional churches have often brushed that teaching aside as irrelevant in the real world. As a current example, witness the spotlight of public scrutiny that has brought into the open the abuse of children left in church care. Jesus has taught us that such things ought not to take place in our midst.
Mark 10: 35-45

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Pentecost 18 – When a rich young man begged Jesus to tell him how to get eternal life, he was very disappointed when Jesus, in a sign of his love for the man, told him to start by disposing of his wealth and giving the proceeds to the poor. There is more to life than accumulating wealth in order to convince ourselves that we have achieved a good life by our own effort. Get rid of that excess stuff, follow Jesus, and discover what it means to live in the grace of God's kingdom. Let's reflect on what beliefs, practices, fears, hopes, attitudes or dispositions might be keeping us from our deepest longing for a fulfilment that can come only from God.
Mark 10: 17-31

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Pentecost 20 – If God is on our side, how do we make sense of life's disappointments and hardships? How can a God who is good collaborate with what we experience and see as evil? How bad must things get before people lose faith? With our high-tech lifestyle there is disaster lurking at every corner – but we are God's beloved, and our worth is not in what we have or do, but in our inherent human dignity. Hardship can be reformative rather than destructive, and it's not the amount of darkness you find in the world, but how you stand in the darkness.
Job 1: 1, 2: 1-10

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Pentecost 20 – Renewing all creation – Jesus was asked by some influential men whether it was permissible for a man to arbitrarily divorce his wife; and in his reply, he pointed out that it was because of hard-hearted people like themselves that Moses had been obliged to write laws dealing with divorce. After that encounter, Jesus spoke with his disciples of a woman divorcing her husband, as well as a husband divorcing his wife. At the time it was unthinkable, and Jesus was saying that women, too, ought to have a say in marriage and divorce. And children, the most vulnerable of people and the lowest in status, can teach us a lot about the loving presence of God.
Mark 10: 2-16

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Pentecost 19 – A reign of God is characterised by humility, service and inclusiveness – qualities that people of power can find offensive and challenging. The main concern of Jesus was that people should be set free from the power of evil and welcomed into the reign of God. Powerful actions against evil should be welcomed wherever they occur – the church does not have an exclusive franchise over the practice of justice and compassion. What if we were to focus not on our differences, but to focus on learning to work with people who are not like us, as we build communities of compassion and justice?
Mark 9: 38-50

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Pentecost 19 – Social Justice Sunday: Witnessing life in Palestine – Nell Potter, Executive Director of Palestine Ecumenical Network, gives us a first-hand, factual account of a few of the gross injustices and violations of basic human rights aganst Palestinian Arabs, that she and her companions observed during a recent three month visit to Israel, Palestine, and the Occupied Territories of the West Bank.
Esther 7: 1-6, 9-10; 9: 20-22

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Pentecost 18 – The final section of Proverbs chapter 31 describes the activities and accomplishments of an extremely capable, over-achieving woman – successsful in everything she does as entrepreneur, business woman, wife and mother. But what can be the effect of this example on women in today's increasingly frantic world? It would leave no time for things like recreation, or pregnancy and childbirth. You would be left with the feeling that you've never done enough, leading to depression, sleep disorder and other health issues. This section of Proverbs should not be taken as a job description for women. It is about character, which transcends gender and circumstance. Could it be applied to the collective endeavours of a community, men and women working together?
Proverbs 31: 10-31

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Pentecost 18 – "Then he took a little child ..." – The twelve disciples had been arguing about who was the greatest among them. Jesus had to tell them that in God's kingdom, the greatest was not the person with the most power and authority over others, but the person acting as a servant to the lowest and most vulnerable; and in his lesson he drew their attention to a little child. Children are utterly dependant on others, they are vulnerable to all manner of abuse, they often get into trouble, and they can be unwelcome nuisances. It's much the same for any of us when we find ourselves on the edges of society. Jesus assures us that when we welcome people like these in his name, we are also welcoming them in God's name and on God's behalf.
James 3: 13 - 4: 8a; Mark 9: 30-37

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Pentecost 17 – The disciples misunderstood Jesus when he was telling them how he was heading towards trouble, and that they had to be prepared for trouble if they were to follow him. The service that Jesus spoke about and demonstrated is about servanthood and humility, not privilege, power and authority. The disciples didn't get it – they misudertood, and resisted the ideas that Jesus presented. There is an arrogance in knowing all the answers, when we don't even know the questions. Live the questions now, the deep questions of life, not the shallowness of correct creeds and liturgies. Perhaps, one day, you may live into the answer. Who do we think Jesus was? What do we think of the question of living with God?
Mark 8: 27-38

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Pentecost 17 – Words of Wisdom?! – We all make mistakes when we speak without thinking, and what we say can be remembered for a long time and play havoc with the lives of others. The same goes for what we post on Facebook or tweet on Twitter. Who do we honour in our lives by our words, actions and inactions? What wisdom do we bring to bear? Despite electronic social networking, it is essential for us to have live interaction with friends and loved ones. If we seek just the wisdom of the world for attaining our own happiness and fulfilment, our life, in the end, will be hollow and empty; but if we go against worldly wisdom, forgetting our own selfish desires and seeking good and justice for others as we would wish for ourselves, we will find ourselves living and enjoying life to the full.
James 3: 1-12; Mark 8: 27-38; Proverbs 1: 20-33

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Pentecost 16 – Jesus was trying to have some time out in someone's house when he was tracked down by a desperately worried woman whose daughter was critically ill. As far as Jewish people were concerned, the woman was from a despised minority and didn't deserve too much consideration. When Jesus refused her plea for help because she wasn't Jewish, she reminded him that even outcast dogs like herself were sometimes thrown a few scraps. As a result of the woman's faith and persistence, her daughter was cured. And the encounter taught Jesus a lesson, bringing him to a new understanding of who he was and what he had been called to do. Regardless of who we are, or where we have come from, there is always room for more at God's table,
Mark 7: 24-37

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Pentecost 15 – The Song of Solomon is a series of love poems, of two young people in an idealised spring time. It is a passionate description of physical love and romantic longing, with body and soul united in love – flesh and blood are one. In the Hebrew text it is part of the wisdom lierature, placed right in the middle to emphasis its central importance. Human intimacy is a window into a deeper understanding of God's love for us. We need to hear this Song of Songs – the horrors of human perversion of love must be continually challenged by its true expression as a part of God-given humanity.
Song of Solomon 2: 8-13

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Pentecost 15 –
For 2000 years the church has been changing and adapting, to minister in many changing contexts and settings. This sermon tells of some outstanding churches and congregations, from around the world, that have gone through very hard times and have become an inspiration and a hope for the future. The particular churches are St Nicholas Church, Leipzig, Germany; Pitt St Uniting Church, Sydney; Australia; the Wayside Chapel, Kings Cross, Sydney, Australia; and St George's Tron Church, Glasgow, Scotland. Do we see changes in our world as a time of regret? As a problem? Or are they a moment of opportunity and promise?
James 1: 17-27; Mark 7: 1-6, 14-15, 21-23

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Pentecost 14 – In this reflection on the parable of the Good Samaritan, it is pointed out that the parables of Jesus, if listened to, will comfort the afflicted and also afflict the comfortable. The way to full, eternal life in abundance is to allow oneself to become an active instrument and a channel of boundary-breaking hospitality – a neighbour who scandalises you with compassion, who crosses the ancient bloodied line that separates 'us' from 'them', who teaches the real meaning of 'good' and shocks you with a new face of God.
Luke 10: 25-37

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Pentecost 14 – "Refugee and Migrant Sunday" – This recording includes (1) the reading of a statement from the President of the Uniitng Church, Dr Deidre Palmer, dealing with 'A Christian response to racism', in view of the intolerance being shown in public discourse towards migrants and refugees; (2) a message from Geoff Boyce on 'A Christian exploration of hospitality and welcome', with a message that makes Hospitality the greatest of the three virtues of Faith, Hope and Love; and (3) a message from Margaret Chittleborough concerning practical support for vulnerable people, through a Circle of Friends.
Ephesians 6: 10-20

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Pentecost 13 – Across the world there is division, hatred, hostility, despair and vilification – and the only way to overcome them is a focus of wise and thoughtful living, recognising that which we can love and respect in each other even when we do not hold the same values. It is not to say that differences are of no importance, and at times we must set limits and stand in opposition to values and forces that threaten what we hold dear. We need places of belonging, peace and kindness; we need to mirror God's non-discriminatory embrace.
Ephesians 5: 15-20

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Pentecost 13 – "Living Wisely" – Wisdom is not the same as knowledge or cleverness; rather, it is a willingness to recognise and know one's own self in success and failure, nobility and disgrace, faithfulness and failing. Solomon was granted wisdom by God – yet he was far from the ideal super-hero depicted in many sermons and Sunday School stories. He was a deeply flawed, hedonistic, violent and despotic king, but loved by God for all that. Coming to realise that you are loved by God, just as you are, is the beginning of wisdom.
1 Kings 2: 10-12, 3: 3-14; Ephesians 5: 15-20

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Pentecost 12 – The Christians in Ephesus were being assured that God is unconditionally gracious and inclusive in his love for all mankind – quite unlike the Greek gods which were traditionally unpredictable, vindictive and punishing. The Ephesians were being urged to live in a new social reality, a new household of God, treating each other with love, respect and honesty, imitators and mimics of God as revealed in the life and teachings of Christ. Michael Ramsey, a former Archbishop of Canterbury, once wrote that "God is Christ-like; in God there is no un-Christlikeness at all".
Ephesians 4:25 - 5:2

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Pentecost 12 – "No longer strangers and aliens but citizens and members of one household" – The Uniting Church's Basis of Union document refers to five different statements of faith, dating from the Reformation and later, formulated for different people, at different times, and for different circumstances – and the church's ministers and instructors are urged to study them all and take notice of what they say. Although the New Testamant gospels and epistles were written for different audiences with different backgrounds and circumstances, the believers all had a common faith demonstrating peace, reconciliation, forgiveness, grace, hope, joy, and the abiding love of God.
Ephesians 4:25 - 5:2

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Pentecost 11 – When Paul was a prisoner of the Roman Empire because of his teaching about Jesus, he was able to continue his ministry from inside the prison thanks to a sharpened understanding of the meaning of faith, gained during his suffering and exclusion. There have been more recent examples of people gaining insight and being emboldened while imprisoned for their beliefs; they have included Dr Martin Luther King Jnr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Nelson Mandela, and Ahed Tamimi, a Palestinian teenage girl imprisoned for slapping an Israeli soldier during a military raid.
Ephesians 4: 1-16

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Pentecost 11 – "Forgiveness, Spirituality and Wholeness" – In human experience forgiveness is important, and it is complex. It is not just about condoning hurtful behaviour, or surrendering a right to justice, or forgetting an offence. In her sermon, Pam, who is a very experienced counsellor, employed a set of Russian Babushka dolls, wooden dolls of decreasing sizes that fit inside each other, to illustrate layers of our being which she labeled as Physical, Mental, Emotional, Mask and Core; and she explained how the different layers need to be involved if we are to achieve the peace of true forgiveness.
Matthew 18: 21-22; Luke 6: 37-38; John 20: 21-22

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Pentecost 10 – The scripture passage shows Paul's realisation that God wishes us to live in freedom from divisions and strife, unhindered by racism, discrimination, hatred and fear. In the Australian media there is a current emphasis on the violence and lawlessness of some young people of African descent, often Sudanese, and it has led to the vilification of other young persons on the basis of their Sudanese appearance. That is not God's idea of hospitality and acceptance. If we have Christ dwelling within us and among us, we will find ourselves grounded and rooted in unconditional acceptance of God's love, with a liberating hope and an abundant grace offered to all.
Ephesians 3: 14-21

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Pentecost 10 – "Finding hope in despair" – Dr Amanda Ruler spoke of her association with the Medical Association for the Prevention of War (Australia); the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War; and ICAN, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017 for its work towards the Treaty for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons. Dr Ruler speaks of the utterly catastrophic consequences of any nuclear war; and many countries, including Australia, have yet to ratify the treaty. She also speaks of the extreme poverty in countries like Malawi, and the need for international aid.
Ephesians 3: 14-21

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Pentecost 9 – We construct and maintain walls as our symbols of division, privilege, fear, mistrust and hatred. There have been, and are, many physical walls to divide peoples, a few examples being the Great Wall of China, the Berlin Wall, Hadrian's Wall, and the wall between Israel and the Palestinian State. We divide and protect ourselves on the basis of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religious practices, and much else besides. God is in the business of demolishing the walls that divide us, so that the whole of humanity, in all its diversity, might be included in his household.
Ephesians 2: 11-22

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Pentecost 9 – "Diversity in unity" – The core issue at Ephesus, and likely a significant issue elsewhere, was how to live as a Christian community that embraced both Jews and non-Jews at the same time. Christ has broken down the dividing wall between insiders and outsiders, rich and poor, the privileged and the exploited. It was not that the non-Jews had found the God of the Jews, but rather that God had brought the two parties together and they were now one people. May it be so for us today, in all our human diversity and brokeness.
Ephesians 2: 11-22

Rev Sandy Boyce Timing:  16:43 Size:  5.8 MB Uploaded:  15-Jul
SUN 15-JUL-2018 - 11.00 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 246 times ] Download   [ 116 times ]
Pentecost 8 – "Abundant Grace, Liberating Hope" was the theme of the recent 15th National Assembly of the Uniting Church, and Sandy's sermon describes the compassion, integrity and wisdom with which many contentious issues were tackled. The Gospel calls us to address the world in the whole of reality. In the words of Dr Deidre Palmer, the new President of the UC, "Hope is believing despite the evidence, and watching the evidence change".

Rev Dr Greg Elsdon Timing:  24:31 Size:  8.5 MB Uploaded:  8-Jul
SUN 08-JUL-2018 - 11.00 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 240 times ] Download   [ 125 times ]
Pentecost 7 – Paul was being attacked by arrogant sham apostles, who were pointing out the strife and disasters that accompanied his activities. Surely a real apostle would demonstrate a bit more power and influence? In a letter to the church in Corinth, Paul answered by writing not of his accomplishments, but of the weakness and vulnerability that had enabled him to demonstrate God's powerful transforming grace. It is when we recognise our own weakness that we are most likely to find that God is present. What really matters is not what we own and control – it is enough that we have God's grace, so that in our weakness God may give to us again and again out of his immeasurable grace and love.
2 Corinthians 12: 2-10

Rev Vikki Waller Timing:  20:32 Size:  7.1 MB Uploaded:  2-Jul
SUN 01-JUL-2018 - 11.00 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 245 times ] Download   [ 119 times ]
Pentecost 6 – In the day's Gospel passage there is mention of people weeping and wailing over the death of a 12 year old girl; and in the Old Testament passage there is song of lament composed by King David, an unrestrained outpouring of grief over the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. Grief is focussed on our own experience of a world irrevocably altered by the loss, and the Bible honours the feeling of grief by including such laments in holy Scripture. It is significant that in the Eucharist, the central symbol of Christian practice, bread is broken and torn apart. It is God becoming one with us in our brokeness. The broken Christ offers himself to us, embracing us, wounds and all, and incorporates us into his wholeness that we might know ourselves beloved.
2 Samuel 1: 1, 17-27; Mark 5: 21-43

Rev Dr Greg Elsdon Timing:  27:02 Size:  9.3 MB Uploaded:  1-Jul
SUN 01-JUL-2018 - 9.30 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 262 times ] Download   [ 125 times ]
Pentecost 6 – "An Audacious Faith" – In the set gospel story for the day there are two examples of audacious displays of faith in Jesus as a healer, serving as examples of what can happen when we open ourselves to the gracious touch of Jesus. The sermon begins with an account of a woman who was raped by a church minister when she was 14 years old. Few believed her or helped her, until, some 60 years later, she was able to report it officially, and investigations were undertaken. There were hearings in a secure location; her story was believed and accepted; and at last she has been healed of her own belief that she had been the one responsible. What lies and secrets need to be acknowleged, in order for us to be healed and made free to live as God intended?
Mark 5: 21-43

Rev Phil Hoffmann Timing:  24:21 Size:  8.4 MB Uploaded:  25-Jun
SUN 24-JUN-2018 - 10.30 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 264 times ] Download   [ 122 times ]
Uniting Church Anniversary, combined service - A review of the first 41 years of the Uniting Church in Australia, with a message based on the gospel account of Jesus calming a storm on the Sea of Galilee.
Mark 4: 35-41

Rev Dr Greg Elsdon Timing:  20:45 Size:  7.2 MB Uploaded:  18-Jun
SUN 17-JUN-2018 - 11.00 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 272 times ] Download   [ 135 times ]
Pentecost 4 - Planting Seeds of Hope, Kindness, Hospitality, Forgiveness, Persistence, Patience . . . . The Kingdom or Reign of God is not dependent on us. It is God's work in and among us. We need to hear these stories as words of encouragement to us. We are not responsible for the outcome only planting the seeds. What seeds will we plant this week?
Mark 4: 26-34

Rev Ian Giles Timing:  21:46 Size:  7.5 MB Uploaded:  17-Jun
SUN 17-JUN-2018 - 9.30 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 273 times ] Download   [ 123 times ]
Pentecost 4 - Passion for Justice and the Things of God and Burnout - We want to get things done but we can forget to take the trouble to care for ourselves. Jesus' story helps us understand that there are times when we can do nothing but rest and wait while God continues to build the Kingdom.
Mark 4: 26-34

Rev Christy Capper Timing:  22:01 Size:  7.6 MB Uploaded:  11-Jun
SUN 10-JUN-2018 - 11.00 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 276 times ] Download   [ 135 times ]
Pentecost 3 - Differences - Christy reflects on her experience of differences. It's amazing what we learn when we sit and listen to people who do things differently. When we make differences divide us in and between our denominations we end up with problems. Jesus prayed that we might be one. May we continue our pilgrimage following Jesus, praying for unity and despite our differences focus on that which we have in common.
Mark 3: 20-35

Peter Russell Timing:  23:10 Size:  8.0 MB Uploaded:  10-Jun
SUN 10-JUN-2018 - 9.30 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 261 times ] Download   [ 133 times ]
Pentecost 3 - What is Family? - Jesus proclaims a new kind of family. Those that align themselves with him and seek to follow God's agenda, bringing his reign and reality into the present are his family. This means engaging in liberation, our own as much as others, setting people free from oppression, whether from themselves or within their communities, from oppressive political regimes or self indulgent politics which only seeks to serve the rich. This is what God's life within us, through the Spirit, calls, inspires and enables us to become, a new kind of family, day by day.
Mark 3: 20-35

Rev Vikki Waller Timing:  17:23 Size:  6.0 MB Uploaded:  4-Jun
SUN 03-JUN-2018 - 11.00 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 278 times ] Download   [ 131 times ]
Pentecost 2 - Sunday observed as Sabbath? What was the purpose of the Sabbath? What should our attitude be towards the Sabbath? What about the Lord's Day? Does our faith and practice serve to enhance life or stifle the enthusiasm of those around us?
Mark 2:23-3:6

Rev Dr Dean Eland Timing:  24:43 Size:  8.5 MB Uploaded:  3-Jun
SUN 03-JUN-2018 - 9.30 AM Sermon  .mp3  Listen  [ 278 times ] Download   [ 131 times ]
Pentecost 2 - 'The Social Ethic of Jesus and the Church of the Open Door' - Faith communities don't just live for themselves; for duty; for keeping the show on the road. Faith communities are there to help and serve; they aim to bring out the best in themselves and others; to enhance and build community life; to be communities of the open door.
Mark 2:23-3:6

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