In both the Lectionary and in the media there have been a lot of references to good and bad fruit with a Royal Commission revealing so many organisations and people profiting from handing out bad fru ... read more
When Karen played that song (called `Sun` by the group `Sleeping at Last`) a month or so ago, one particular phrase intrigued me. I guess space, and time Takes violent things, angry things And makes ... read more
Not long ago I went to a show called `White Spirit` as part of the Festival of Perth. Led by the haunting voice of Noureddine Khourchid, the son of a Syrian Sufi sh ... read more
Lent. We started this journey a few weeks ago when we shared in an Ash Wednesday service at the Church of Christ. It was a beautiful service led by Dennis Ryle, and perhaps not as dire as many of you might think. ... read more
You have to have some sympathy for Moses. He was in charge of a vast horde of refugees. They were escaping from Egypt - let`s face it they were kicked out! T ... read more
We live in a violent world, that much we already know. We see it on our screens, in our books and in the papers we read. People resort to violence, physical or verbal to get what they want, to seek revenge, to assert p ... read more
As the human race migrated to the four corners of the earth, they diverged into many different religious and ethnic groups. The human race, now 8 billion in number, is rapidly converging into a globalized society faced ... read more
It is fairly clear that our understanding of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus are usually formed by our continued exposure to the traditional Christmas Story embellished as it is with beliefs that simply do no ... read more
The story of `Jonah and the Whale` ranks alongside `Noah`s Ark` as one of the classic bible stories, and amongst the few that children continue to know today. It was indeed comp ... read more
That excerpt from Miriam Therese Winter`s song takes us back to the 1960`s when we too were young and full of energy and naivety. For many of us the music which this particular song typified was revolutionary. Here w ... read more
Well I wonder what you made of those readings?! In terms of my own theological framework they are way past their use-by date. The one from Isaiah would seem to bear echoes of a vol ... read more
A couple of weeks after hearing a sermon on Psalms 51:2-4 (knowing my own hidden secrets) and Psalm 52:3-4 (lies and deceit), a man wrote the following letter to the Taxation Department ... read more
We live in a world that expects perfection. We are to have the perfect life, the perfect job, the perfect children, and we are to be the perfect parents. Ouch, I think I might have failed there. I wanted the boys ... read more
First let`s hear about the Old Testament context for our Exodus reading for today. Some of you may have seen an SBS documentary not long ago linking the biblical plagues recorded i ... read more
From our first reading today we hear about Paul being in Athens. He notices all the idols the people are worshipping. I wonder what idols Paul would recognise walking through our shopping centres and su ... read more
In Isaiah, God we hear of a God who does not discriminate. All people are welcome in God`s house. God`s house is a place of welcome and prayer for all of God`s children, in ... read more
The way we usually think about God is that he will always say `yes` to us. He will welcome us, we say. He`ll accept us as we are: `Just as I am, without one plea`. He`ll love us, even though we might not love ourse ... read more
As ourIn Touch magazine and the front page of Revive remind us, this coming week marks the 40th year since the Uniting Church was formed out of the Methodist, ... read more
This passage of Scripture was a speech by Paul to the Areopagus. The Areopagus was a Council which operated in Athens from about the 5th century BC. It had ... read more
`Dear Theophilus, Many people have done their best to write a report of the things that have taken place among us. They wrote what we have been told by those who saw these things from the beginning and ... read more
What is the worst thing you have ever done? Have you done something to hurt someone physically, or to hurt someone emotionally? Have you done something that has affected someone`s l ... read more
And so we engage with the Easter narrative once again - I guess the key question is what meaning and purpose does this nearly two thousand year old ... read more
(Karen) This is channel JEW coming to you from Jerusalem on the first day of the Passover Festival of year 32, the Festival of Freedom which draws tens of thousands of the Jewish people to Jerusalem to com ... read more
`The Bible is an act of faithful imagination. It is not a package of certitudes. It is an act of imagination that invites our faithful imagination that makes ... read more
I feel quite close to this reading after our trip to Israel in 2013. Nev, Marg, Cathie Lambert and I spent two weeks driving around, visiting both the cities and the country side. As I think I said at the time, Jesus c ... read more
Having listened to the Old Testament lesson set for today, I am tempted to put my preparation aside and preach on the words, `Do not treat the deaf with contempt`. It`s right up there with the other commandments, ... read more
`A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,` So writes Shakespeare. Well possibly - because once something is named it carries all sorts of expectations. In th ... read more
Just before Christmas, one of my friends posted a clip on Facebook of Peter Rollins speaking which I`m going to put on in a moment - Rollins is a 44 year old writer, philos ... read more
Joseph, we are told, was a good man; a man who always did what was right. He kept his nose clean; he worked hard; he stayed out of trouble; he did the right thing by his neighbours; he did unto ot ... read more
Today`s passage from Luke`s gospel tells the story of the Prodigal Son (15: 11-32). And as I read it again, what leapt out at me was a phrase that took me back through the mists of time to when I was actually young. ... read more
I don`t know about you, but I`m a great believer in making a shopping list and sticking to it. I`m sure that`s the only way to go shopping. Unfortunately I can`t put it into effect ... read more
On weekends as a child I played on our farm in Kent, England. One Sunday I strayed further afield and was playing with a friend on a heap of road gravel between St Peter`s Anglican Church and my grandparents` home. T ... read more
Last week we held our monthly Amnesty group meeting. As usual it was full of talk and sharing, particularly since we had someone from the WA branch office visiting, and working out the letters we woul ... read more
The threefold theme continues in the readings set for this Trinity Sunday. The first from Proverbs names Wisdom (Sophia in Greek) as a co-creator at the beginning of time. Then w ... read more
Last week in the service at Wembley Downs, Matt asked who we would most like to have dinner with, if we had the opportunity to pick anyone we could, either alive or dead. I picked among others, Desmond T ... read more
The Christ Imprint (Revd Marion Millin) 10.4.2016 Readings: Acts 9:1-9; John 21:1-19
I have a feeling that we have all had life-changing spiritual experiences but we don`t get a chance to talk or think about it much. So let`s start by casting your mind back to your earliest spiritual encount ... read more
As you all know I combine a love of science, and more particularly a love of human biology and anatomy, with my role here at Wembley Downs. I teach anatomy and human biology to first and sec ... read more
We have heard from Nev about Jesus and Palm Sunday - when Jesus rides on a donkey into Jerusalem and Pilate rides in from the coast on a war horse. As Nev said, two men and two different ways of seeing life. It causes me to ... read more
As I start writing this sermon I`m not sure where it will lead. I note that later this evening Bill Loader will start his Lenten series on the books that did ... read more
It`s been an interesting and slightly disarming week. Every now again doubt comes knocking on my door, like an old friend who occasionally reappears, to my surprise. Faith ... read more
Kerry: There are some passages in Deuteronomy that we suspect never make it to a pulpit. Try reading the previous chapter! The Pentateuch, which comprises the first five books of the bible, of wh ... read more
I would firstly acknowledge a couple of friends who have helped me with this sermon, Stan Grant and Nadia Bolz Weber, who seems to be influencing me a lot lately. Some of th ... read more
The First Step (Ashley Macmillan) 24.1.2016 Readings: Psalm 10; Mark 4:35-41; A reading from the chapter `Cotton Candy` in Pastrix, written by US Lutheran Pastor, Nadia Boltz-Weber
SO, I`M going TO TALK ABOUT FAITH, but given that faith manages to make it onto the list of most ... read more
Cynthia Brown very kindly send me a copy of Karen`s Christmas Day sermon which I found not only to be interesting but also very much similar to at least some of the material I have pr ... read more
Who has a favourite book? …..
I`ve still got two of my favourite books from my childhood - this one was given to me 55 years ago for attendance at ... read more
I wrote this sermon before the events of Saturday when over 100 people were killed in Paris. I debated a whether to change it, but in the end I stand by what I wrote then, although it is not easy for a ... read more
It is hard coming back from holidays. Somehow you have been in a different place, at a different pace, experiencing different things, and then, woosh, you are back. It`s a bit like time trave ... read more
Bread and Wisdom (Revd Marion Millin) 8.8.2015 Readings: Proverbs 9:1-6; Psalm 111; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58
In trying to gain understanding from our readings for today, it might be helpful to realise the context within which they were written. The OT passage comes from what i ... read more
Today I want to talk about choices. We make them every day, from what we eat to where we work to who we marry. We can`t even go into the supermarket without having to make at least 50 decisions o ... read more
I was out playing golf with Nathan the other day. This is what one does post RPH. It was a sunny day, I was enjoying his company and we were getting ... read more
Family Life (Revd David Robinson) 7.6.2015 Readings: 2 Corinthians 4: 13-5:1; Mark 3: 20-35
The focus of our reading from Mark`s Gospel is mainly about Jesus in relation to his family of origin. Forgive me if I begin with a story about the tensions which can arise in the relationship ... read more
The other night I was privileged to go and hear Geoffrey Robertson speak at His Majesty`s theatre with my son Nathan. Nathan is a 5th year law student, although he looks mo ... read more
As I get older I find myself doing the things my mother does. Since we have just had Mother`s Day, maybe that`s not such a bad thing, since she has loved and cared for me all this time.
One of those things is to ... read more
Being and Becoming the Body of Jesus (Revd Neville Watson) 5.4.2015 Readings: Acts 9:1-6; Mark 16:1-8
Why do we gather this morning? We gather to celebrate the supra historical nature of Jesus of Nazareth, the fact that Jesus lived in the past and lives on today in the life of the world and in the lives ... read more
Leprosy is a chronic infection caused by bacteria. It results in lumpy skin and can cause disfigurement in the toes and fingers as cartilage is absorbed into the body. It is also known as Hansen`s disease after a Dr H ... read more
Waiting for the LORD (Revd Marion Millin) 8.2.2015 Readings: Isaiah 40:20-31; Psalm 147:1-11, 20c; 1Corinthians 9:16-23; Mark 1:29-39
In the beautiful poem we just heard from Isaiah 40, both consolation and inspiration can be found as epitomised in verse 31: `Those who wait for the LORD shall ... read more
If you don`t stand for something, you will fall for anything.
Readings: Isaiah 61:10 to 62:3; Galatians 4:4-47; Luke 2:22-40
On the tenth day before Christmas I awoke at my usual hour of 4am and it struck me like a bomb ... read more
Should we cancel Christmas? (Karen Sloan) 25.12.2014 Readings: Isaiah 9:2-7; Hebrews 1:1-3; Luke 2: 1-20
Christmas has come and it comes into a world heavy of heart. War, terror and unbelievable acts of savagery have graced our newspapers and our TV screens recently. We think of the Martin Plac ... read more
An angel spoke to Mary and said `Greetings most favoured one`.
How do we understand that? A winged messenger from the heavens flutters down and speaks to Mary. Is that how we understand it? Do we believe it li ... read more
Back in the 1970s two brothers, Robert Oldenshaw (66) and John Oldenshaw (70) gave an interview about their life. Robert became a Catholic priest as a young man and ... read more
For many this is a puzzling parable and sounds like a lesson in venture capitalism - the gospel according to Hockey so to speak. It is about using someone else`s money (what we call credit), investing it and reapin ... read more
Killing in the name of God (Revd Neville Watson) 2.11.2014 `There are psychopaths aplenty loose in Iraq but not every head hunter ranks as a madman. The truth is altogether more disturbing. Victory cannot be secured militarily. This battle has to be fought and won by the theologians.` Tom Holland< ... read more
As you will have gathered from the children`s address, after 55 years of playing hockey, I was recently was part of a gold medal winning team at the National ... read more
In preparation for today, and over the course of the last month, I have read almost every book and every sermon I could on this passage. This ... read more
Forgiving (Revd Marion Millin) 14.9.2014 Readings: Exodus 14:19-31; Psalm 114; Romans 14:1-12; Matthew 18:21-35 One of my theological `aha` moments came from watching a Compass program on the ABC a few years ago. Some Year 12 students from a couple of High Schools in Sydney ... read more
The following articles, reprinted here, formed the basis for this sermon:
http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/MtPentecost13.htm and at
http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/Conflict
PART I
... read more
Convictions (Karen Sloan) 29.8.2014 Readings: Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 16:13-20
These last few months have been a challenge for anyone who thinks there is a future for the human race. We have so many conflicts that seem to never go away, and recently have escalated. We can name th ... read more
Wrestling with God (Jim Malcolm) 3.8.2014 Readings: Genesis 32: 22-32; Psalm 17; Romans 5: 1-5; John 6:1-13
Hear the words of Elihu the Buzite, recorded in the book of Job, Chapter 32, verses 6 to 10:
``I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to dec ... read more
Before we look at the parable of the mustard seed let me remind you of the significance of Parables.
Firstly, their central position in the teaching of Jesus. As Matthew says, `In all his teaching ... read more
Don't Weed! (Karen Sloan) 17.7.2014 Reading: Matthew 13:24-30
I have been reminded quite recently about the radical nature of Jesus` parables. A few weeks ago, I spoke of unconditional love, and how we are called to love our children regardless of whether they pick up their sock ... read more
The Common Good (Karen Sloan) 29.6.2014 Readings: Genesis 22:1-14; Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 10: 40-42
The birth of this sermon has been very difficult. In fact it only came together a few days ago, as opposed to some which can be written weeks before. Perhaps it`s because of the nat ... read more
Today`s readings both come from the New Testament. Both are about leave-taking - One is from the beginning of the book of Acts to do with what we now call Jes ... read more
It is my melancholy duty this morning to inform you that notwithstanding the number of times you have heard that passage read at funeral services, there are no mansions in heaven for the faithful. The Greek w ... read more
Last Sunday at our 8 o`clock service at Nedlands, the speaker (our Youth Worker, Ric) mentioned that there were two processions on that Palm Sunday - one from the east, led by Jesus riding on a ... read more
Practising Resurrection (Karen Sloan) 20.4.2014 Readings: Acts 10: 34-43; Matthew 28: 1-10
Last year was a big year for me. Not only did I go to Istanbul and Canberra, but I also went to Israel. For a Christian this is supposed to be the Holy Grail, the place that Jesus lived, died and was ... read more
God's Friday (Revd Neville Watson) 18.4.2014
For over seventy years I have pondered the significance of Good Friday and I think I have at last got it. I freely concede however that next year it may be otherwise for ours is an evolving faith. But, at this point of time the significance of Good F ... read more
Anyone can pass it on (Jim Malcolm) 23.3.2014 Readings: Psalm 95; Exodus 17:1-7; John 4:5-42
It may have never occurred to you, but we have a rather special church here in Wembley Downs. I am well aware that not many other churches would accept me in the pulpit! I`ve certainly valued gre ... read more
Good, Evil and the Growth of Consciousness (Revd Marion Millin) 9.3.2014 Readings: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Matthew 4:1-11
The change of cloth colour to purple indicates we are now in the season of Lent on the church’s liturgical calendar. Traditionally it’s a time lasting forty days from Ash Wednesday to Easte ... read more
Streams in the Desert - World Day of Prayer (Revd Marion Millin) 7.3.2014 Reading: John 4: 5-42
This passage from John’s gospel about the woman at the well in Samaria has always been one of my favourites. And in 1999 I had the amazing experience of actually going to that same Jacob’s well at Sychar. A group of ... read more
Paradox (Karen Sloan) 16.2.2014 Reading: Matthew 5: 21-37
There are many contradictions or paradoxes in life that sometimes do our head in. In biology, chemistry, physics and cosmology we are surrounded by things that just do not seem to fit together logically. In physics w ... read more
The Hating has to Stop (Karen Sloan) 2.2.2014 Readings: 1 Corinthians1: 18-31; Matthew 5: 1-12
It is good to reflect on a holiday past, to identify those things that have been significant. Of course lazing around down south or in Bali are high points but it is also the things you read or ... read more
The God Reality (Revd Marion Millin) 19.1.2014 Readings: Isaiah 49:1-7; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42
As part of our communion liturgy we have that lovely play on words, `Jesus gives us real eyes to realise where the real lies.` (Richard Rohr). But a recent question from our be ... read more
God`s Labour Ward (Terry Quinn) 5.1.2014 Readings: Hosea 13:13; John 3: 1-21
From the first day of the Church`s life it faced constant struggles and resistance by its own members to the testimony of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit. On the one hand, the teaching of the Risen Ch ... read more
The Christmas Stories (Revd Neville Watson) 22.12.2013 Reading: Matthew 1:18-25
The Gospel reading set for today has always seemed strange to me in so far as it seems to beat the gun. We seem to have arrived at Christmas some days earlier than we should. We have just read of the birth of Jesus. W ... read more
JB and Christmas (Revd Neville Watson) 15.12.2013 Readings: Isaiah 7:10-14; Matthew1:18-25
The build up to Christmas continues, and into the story pops John the Baptist, a seeming nutter who used to walk around in a camel skin and whose diet consisted of grasshoppers and wild honey. What o ... read more
The Kingdom Here and Now (Karen Sloan) 1.12.2013 Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44
I live a double life. Two days a week I work for Wembley Downs Uniting, and two and a half days I work as a research officer for Royal Perth Hospital. In my work as a research officer ... read more
Midwives of Change (Karen Sloan) 27.10.2013 Reading: Exodus 1:1-27
The Common Dreams conference I went to in Canberra in September was great. There were lots of different speakers basing their talks on a common theme, Being midwives of change. They used this metaphor for birthing the ... read more
Planting Trees (Revd Frances Hadfield) 6.10.2013 Reading: Luke 17: 5-10 Rob Bell, in Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian faith, writes - `The moment God is figured out with nice neat lines and definitions, we are no longer dealing with God.
Some people are so sure that their per ... read more
Creativity (Revd Gemmel Sherwood) 21.9.2013
The year 2013 is memorable in many ways. Already we have celebrated fifty years since Martin Luther King`s defining proclamation, `I have a dream that all should be equal`. In November we will commemorate the speech of Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg w ... read more
Giving it a good shake (Revd Neville Watson) 25.8.2013
Six weeks ago I took a service here where the title of the sermon was `A Faith for the Faithless`. As I finished putting together today`s effort, I realised that it is in effect part two of that sermon punctuated by six weeks abroad and its experienc ... read more
Get your priorities right! (Jim Malcolm) 4.8.2013 Readings: Hosea 11:1-11; Colossians 3:1-17; Luke 12:13-34
I don`t know about you, but I`m a great believer in making a shopping list and sticking to it. I`m sure that`s the only way to go shopping. Unfortunately I can`t put it into effect! ... read more
Same Love (Karen Sloan) 21.7.2013 Reading: Luke 10:38-42 Today I am going to do something different. I am going to let a song be most of the sermon. It`s not a Christian song, in fact it`s a popular rap song, and it goes to the heart of what we have heard for four weeks from ... read more
Luke 10: 1-18
The passage from Luke is about what we would refe ... read more
Living a Good Life (Karen Sloan) 30.6.2013 Readings: Galatians 5: 1,13-25; Luke 9:51-62
It`s funny how travelling can widen one`s view of life, giving us time to examine what we really believe and providing insights not seen when working 5 days a week. Some of you would know that I ha ... read more
To be `In Christ Jesus` (Dr Richard Smith) 23.6.2013 Readings: Galatians 3:23-29; Luke 8:26-39 `There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.` (Gal 3:28). This statement by Paul upset the or ... read more
John the Baptist`s Death (Revd Neville Watson) 16.6.2013 Reading: Mark 6:14-30
It is a story of Hollywood proportions - a flash back to a scheming woman, a drunken King, the dance of the seven veils and a head on a plate. But what on earth has it to do with the Christian faith? Quite a bit actually ... read more
GWS are the last on the AFL points table. If they won every game tha ... read more
The Prodigal God (Jim Malcolm) 2.6.2013 Reading: Luke 15: 1-3 and 11-32 A while ago my son gave me a book called `The Prodigal God` by Timothy Keller. As the name suggests, it takes a fresh look at Jesus` parable of the prodigal son and, as I read it, it set me thinking - which was ... read more
The God Man (Revd Neville Watson) 25.5.2013 Readings: John 16:12-15; Romans 5: 1-5
Who was Jesus of Nazareth? It is a question that has been asked from the moment he was born, and many answers have been given. Indeed, within the scriptures over two hundred names and titles have been a ... read more
Everybody Knows (Terry Quinn) 5.5.2013 Readings: Acts 16:9-15; Ps 67; John 14: 23-29 Today is the 6th Sunday of Easter. One of the daily lectionary readings for the fifty days from Easter to Pentecost is from the Acts of the Apostles. At the end of Luke`s Gospel the Risen Christ l ... read more
There is crucifixion but there is also resurrection (Karen Sloan) 28.4.2013 Readings: Acts 11:1-18; Revelation 21:1-6; John 13:31-35
Sometimes a week can feel like a year. This week so many things happened, so many things that opened my eyes once again to what it really means to be Jesus followers, to really believe ... read more
Dualistic Thinking (Revd Neville Watson) 21.4.2013 Reading: John 10:22-30 It was the Festival of The Dedication, the time when they remembered how the Jewish people, under the leadership of Judas Maccabeus, threw the Greek oppressors out of Palestine and rededicated the Temple. They had to r ... read more
Thomas - Faith and Doubt (Revd David Robinson) 7.4.2013 Readings: John 20:19-31; Acts 5:27-32 Our reading from John`s Gospel makes it clear that the disciples, even if they had heard the message from Mary Magdalene that she had seen a risen Jesus, either didn`t believe her or were so frightened ab ... read more
Into the Future (Revd Neville Watson) 31.3.2013 Readings: Luke 24:1-31; Acts 9:1-9
About the Scriptures
A few words about the scriptures which I hope will help you relate more deeply to the Easter stories, the time when the course of human history was changed. However and whatever happe ... read more
The Palm Sunday Procession (Revd Neville Watson) 24.3.2013 Readings: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Philemon 2:5-11; Luke 19:28-40 or John 12:12-16
My memory is not what it used to be, but I can remember as if it were yesterday the time I first saw a man riding a donkey. It was twenty years ago in Israel on the roa ... read more
You`re only as good as your next performance (Jim Malcolm) 3.3.2013 Readings: Psalm 63; Isaiah 53 1-8; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13; Luke 13:1-9
When I was performing in operas with the WA Opera Company I had the privilege of performing with some amazing singers. In my very first opera, The Abduction from the Ser ... read more
The Elephants in the Room (Revd Neville Watson) 24.2.2013 Readings: 1Kings 18:36-40; Matthew 5:43-48; Matthew 26: 47-52; `Arms and the Man`
From Afghanistan to Timbuktu, from Bali to Baghdad, the suicide bombing that Ashley has dramatised for us this morning is a common occurrence. What we have see ... read more
Who do we belong to? (Karen Sloan) 17.2.2013 Readings: Deuteronomy 26:1-11; Romans 10: 8b-13; Luke 4:1-13
I went last weekend to the concert down at the Leeuwin Winery in the south west. We haven`t been since we lived down there but when I heard who was singing I couldn`t resist. Caro ... read more
Good Shepherds (Revd Marion Millin) 10.2.2013 Readings: 1 Samuel 16:1,4 -13; Psalm 23; John 10:11-18
So what exactly is a Good Shepherd? Have you seen one lately? In our urban, industrial, technological society we don`t get to see too many shepherds or wolves! Or do we?
A Wedding at Cana (Revd Marion Millin) 20.1.2013 Readings: Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 36:5-10; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; John 2:1-11 If you think of this carafe being one litre and the six jars at Cana each being a hundred times that size then it was an awful lot of wine Jesus produced, wasn`t it? - ... read more
Spiritual Presence (Revd David Robinson) 6.1.2013 Readings 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20: 19-31 My daughter Margaret keeps me well supplied with novels. Recently she gave me one with the title `Judas Child` - it took me quite a long while to read it - the story was a bit complicated but in essence ... read more
A Canvas Rich with Meaning (Karen Sloan) 25.12.2012 Reading: Luke 2:1-14
Art, music and dance are all ways to see the world in creative and imaginative ways. They give us insights in what it is to be human and what we need to live full and complete lives.
Art particularly draws us in. A pa ... read more
Incarnation (Revd Neville Watson) 23.12.2012 Readings: Micah 5:2-5a; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45
In these weeks before Christmas, I have received a lot of mail referring to the event. One of them was from a jeweller who suggested I `celebrate the joy of giving` by giving to my wife ... read more
A Drink of Water (Karen Sloan) 16.12.2012 Reading: Luke 3:7-18
I have become a big fan of Peter Mayer. He was the song writer you saw a couple of weeks ago if you were here, on the DVD Holy Now. He sings about God, a god found in all of creation, a god who is like a river to i ... read more
Advent Hope (Karen Sloan) 2.12.2012 Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16;1Thessalonians 3: 9-13; Luke 21:25-36
It might surprise you but I am learning the piano. I didn`t do piano when I was a kid because my mother had a negative response to it from her childhood, so I took it up just b ... read more
A Pathway to Blessing (Terry Quinn) 25.11.2012 Readings: Deuteronomy 4: 1-12; 1 Thessalonians 2: 1-8; Matthew 22: 34-46
Today’s reading from the last chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy is about the death of Moses. He went up a high mountain and saw the entire country God had promised t ... read more
Love God - How in God`s name? (Jim Malcolm) 4.11.2012 Reading: Mark 12:28-34 From the Gospels we see that some of the people talking to Jesus seemed to focus on commandments, on rules, on a list of laws that must be complied with.
I`ve noted four different occasions where there are stories ab ... read more
Are we also blind? (Revd Neville Watson) 28.10.2012 Reading: Mark 10: 46-52 Karen commented last week on my lack of interest in novels. She is both right and wrong at the same time. It is true that I cannot remember the last novel I read. And I concede that some of the great thinkers of our d ... read more
Transforming Love (Karen Sloan) 21.10.2012 Reading: Mark 10: 35-45
It`s funny that as we age we find that we also mellow. These days Nev and I wouldn`t strongly disagree very often. He is after all much older than me! However there is one thing that we don`t really see eye to eye on. ... read more
God, Climate and Environment (Dr Richard Smith) 7.10.2012 Readings: Genesis 1:1-2, 26-31. 2:1-3; Luke 12:16-31
`In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth`. This portrays creation as a past event. Yet time progresses and theories advance and from a modern perspective we should read it as ... read more
Grassroots Revolution (Karen Sloan) 30.9.2012 Readings: Esther 7:1-6,9-10,9:20-22; James 5:13-20; Mark 9:38-50
I was overwhelmed the other day, while heading to work, to hear that Burma`s democracy leader and Nobel peace prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi was being awarded one of America`s h ... read more
The Getting of Wisdom (Karen Sloan) 23.9.2012 Readings: Proverbs 31:10-31; James 3:13-4:3,7-8a; Mark 9:30-37
I was sitting at my computer the other day, preparing the service, looking for some pearls of wisdom.
I frankly was feeling slightly overwhelmed and marginally inadequate for ... read more
Who do you say that I am? (Karen Sloan) 16.9.2012 Reading: Mark 8:27-38 I spent last week away in Sydney listening to John Dominic Crossan, a highly regarded New Testament scholar and theologian, talk about the parables of Jesus. Apart from coming home to find the dog needing an operation and ... read more
Song of Life (Terry Quinn) 2.9.2012 Readings: Song of Songs 2, 8-13; James 1, 17-27, Mark 7, 1-8, 14-15, 21-23.
I wonder what your favourite Beatles song is: I wanna hold your hand? She loves you? Yesterday? Paul McCartney is a great song writer. Do you kno ... read more
Where else would we go? (Revd Neville Watson) 26.8.2012 Reading: John 6: 66-69
Hang on to your hats and fasten your safety belts. It`s going to be a rough ride for all of us this morning– and, if I don`t say something that offends you today, then I`ve failed this magnificent piece of scripture. ... read more
Imitating Christ in both words and actions (Matthew Sloan) 12.8.2012
Readings: Ephesians 4: 25 - 5: 2 `Authenticity is the alignment of head, mouth, heart, and feet - thinking, saying, feeling, and doing the same thing - consistently. This builds trust, and followers love leaders they can trust..` Lance Se ... read more
Need and Greed (Revd David Robinson) 5.8.2012 Readings II Samuel 11: 26- 12a; John 6: 24-35 The reading from John`s Gospel is a follow on from last Sunday`s story about the feeding of the 5000. The story is well known as are the arguments about what really happened - did Jesus perfor ... read more
Song of Life (Terry Quinn) 22.7.2012 Readings: Song of Songs 2, 8-13; James 1, 17-27, Mark 7, 1-8, 14-15, 21-23. I wonder what your favourite Beatles song is: I wanna hold your hand? She loves you? Yesterday? Paul McCartney is a great song writer. Do you kno ... read more
Hogfather (Revd Marion Millin) 8.7.2012 Readings: 2 Samuel 5:1–5, 9–10; Mark 6:1–13 8 July 2012
INTRODUCTION TO THEME
Many years ago the great theologian Karl Barth advised his students to Take your Bible and take your newspaper, and read both. But interpret newspapers ... read more
Choices (Karen Sloan) 1.7.2012 Reading: Mark 5:21-43
Today I want to talk about choices. We make them every day, from what we eat to where we work to whom we marry. We can`t even go into the supermarket without having to make at least 50 decisions on what to buy as there a ... read more
The Man from God`s Tomorrow (Revd Neville Watson) 24.6.2012 Reading: Mark 4:35-41 l clearly remember my first afternoon in Tiberias on Lake Galilee. Bernadette and I had booked into the Guest House on the lake side when I heard a noise like a train rushing past. My actual words were, `What on earth is ... read more
The Mustard Seed (Karen Sloan) 17.6.2012 Readings: 2 Cor 5:6-10,14-17; Mark 4:26-34 I love the radio. Particularly I love Radio National. No matter what time of the day or night it always has something interesting being talked about, or someone amazing being interviewed. I love the g ... read more
Pentecost 2012 (Karen Sloan) 27.5.2012 Readings: Acts 2:1-21; John 15: 26-27 and 16: 4b-15
I have two boys, one 19 and one 15, who are forever playing their music in my car, a travesty. After one drive, when my head was full of rap and rock, I played with the radio and discovered ... read more
Think God, Think life, Think Jesus (Revd Neville Watson) 20.5.2012 Reading: 1 John 5:12 It is not often these days that I find a new gem within the scriptures. I`ve been reading them now for about 65 years and most of the gems have been unearthed. But in today`s reading, there is a gem that sparkles like a d ... read more
Pluralism (Karen Sloan) 13.5.2012 Readings: Acts 10:44-48; 1 John 5:1-6; John 15:9-17
Last weekend we were lucky to have Lorraine Parkinson and John Bodycomb, retired Uniting Church ministers, authors and, in Lorraine`s case, a NT scholar, spend time with us, engaging and hop ... read more
What makes life Christian? (Robert Watson) 6.5.2012 Readings: Acts 8:26-40; 1John 4: 7-21; John 15: 1-8 What makes life Christian? Is it a set of beliefs about God and the world? Is it more specifically what one believes about Jesus? Is being Christian a matter of right doctrine or theolog ... read more
Words! Words! Words! (Rev Gemmel Sherwood) 29.4.2012 Readings: 1John 3:16-24; John 10:11-18
Words can be very helpful and very confusing. My four-year-old grandson was explaining to me, `Pop, me rode my bike yesterday!`
Wanting to be helpful, I said, `Instead of saying, `Me rode my bike,` y ... read more
God and Metaphor (Revd Neville Watson) 22.4.2012 Reading: Exodus 3:1-13 The opening words of Exodus 3 contain for me what is the most significant story in the Old Testament. It is about the nature of God. And let me say from the outset that, as disconcerting as it may be to the current batch ... read more
John 20 - Thomas (Revd Marion Millin) 15.4.2012 Readings: Psalm 133; Acts 4:32-35; John 20:19-31
I wonder where the Easter Story has connected with you this year? In one sense it is the culmination of the heroic journey of one extraordinary man challenging corrupt religious and economic v ... read more
What does the resurrection actually mean? (Karen Sloan) 8.4.2012 Readings: 1 Corinthians: 1-11; Mark 16:1-8
I have read so much in the last week about Easter day, about the significance of the resurrection of Jesus to our faith. In some ways it stands alone in our tradition as the most important day in the ... read more
Continuing Crucifixion (Revd Neville Watson) 6.4.2012 Neville Watson conducted our service of worship on Good Friday. He prefaced it by saying: `I am not asking you to agree with everything that is said this morning. Within this congregation we thankfully have a wide variety of faith positions. I do ... read more
Death and Dying (Revd David Robinson) 1.4.2012 Readings: Mark 14: 26-42; Mark 15: 1-15
The hymn we just sang – All creatures of our God and King . . . – Did you find it (all seven verses) a bit exhausting? And what did you think about Verse 6? . . .And you, most kind and g ... read more
God`s Evolving Covenant (Dr Richard Smith) 25.3.2012 Readings: Jeremiah 31-34, John 12:20-33
`What is the most important question you can ask in life`? Albert Einstein`s answer was: `Is the Universe a friendly place or not?`. Most people intuitively live as if the answer is YES. In Jeremiah ... read more
What is judgment? (Revd Neville Watson) 18.3.2012 Reading: John 3:14-21 This passage follows the conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus about the new birth. Nicodemus may have been an important Jewish leader but he was as thick as a brick about what Jesus is saying. This gives the writer of ... read more
Trailing Clouds of Glory (Jim Malcolm) 4.3.2012 Readings: 1 John 4:16b-21; Mark 2:18-22
I love Horace Rumpole. He`s a fictional Old Bailey Barrister created by John Mortimer and wonderfully acted by the late Leo McKern. He has a number of endearing characteristics, one of which is to quote ... read more
Life as a Journey! (Revd Neville Watson) 26.2.2012 Readings: Genesis 9:8-17; 1Peter 3: 18-22; Mark 9:1-15
When I use the word `journey` I automatically think of, and identify with, those great words of Morris West in his book entitled `A View From the Ridge`.
I feel like a climber who, ... read more
Healing (Kerry Macmillan) 12.2.2012 Readings: 2 Kings 5:1-4; Mark 1: 40-45
Both of our readings for today are stories that tell us of instances where God has brought healing to the lives of people who suffered from a skin disease. From the Old Testament we have Naaman who is gr ... read more
Jesus and the Leper (Russ Revell) 12.2.2012 Reading: Mark 1: 40-45 I just want to offer some background to this story in Mark`s Gospel which may be helpful to thinking our way through the event.There are three areas I want to present and try to link them together.The first one ... read more
Liberation (Revd David Robinson) 5.2.2012 Readings: Isaiah 40: 21-31; Mark 1: 29-39
In preparation for today I asked Cynthia for some information about what Karen preached about last Sunday – and her quick response was to provide me with a copy of Karen`s sermon. The reason for my ... read more
The Age of the Spirit (Karen Sloan) 28.1.2012 Reading: Mark 1: 21-28
January is always a good time for reflection. Down at Busselton, along the bay, a warm sun beating down and the crystal clear water so blue and inviting. That`s where I have been for day days recharging, renewing and re ... read more
Encountering mystery (Revd Marion Millin) 15.1.2012
‘Readings: 1 Samuel 3:1-10; Psalm 139:1-6,13-18; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; John 1:40-51
Encountering the mystery that is God is what the first chapter of John`s gospel is all about starting with a universal picture of `Logos = the Word.` Origi ... read more
Three Surprises in Mark 1:1-8 (Revd Prof William Loader) 4.12.2011 Readings: Isaiah 40:1-11;2 Peter 3:8-15a; Mark 1:1-8
What is gospel? What is the good news? What is ministry? On the occasion of the commissioning of Karen Sloan as Pastor I invite you to reflect with me on the way Mark begins to address th ... read more
My Peace I give to you (Revd Neville Watson) 27.11.2011
Jesus was non violent. I don`t think there is any doubt about it. The story of Jesus is the story of the Cross, is the story of non violence. Gandhi saw the life of Jesus and the Cross as a profound example of violence being met by non violence. Some ... read more
Ready or not (Revd Marion Millin) 7.11.2011 Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25; Matthew.25:1-13
To be honest with you, I grimaced when I read the texts for today. Both of them sit uncomfortably for me for I feel like my theology has moved on. I do not see our God as a `jealous being` concerned a ... read more
What is leadership? (Karen Sloan) 30.10.2011
It`s an interesting time being around Perth at the moment. Actually for many people it`s very exciting seeing the Queen and Prince Philip and engaging in some traditional English activities like a high tea. I myself can`t get too enthusiastic about i ... read more
A Pathway to Blessing (Terry Quinn) 23.10.2011 Readings: Deuteronomy 4: 1-12; 1 Thessalonians 2: 1-8; Matthew 22: 34-46
Today’s reading from the last chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy is about the death of Moses. He went up a high mountain and saw the entire country God had promised to ... read more
A Significant Response (Karen Sloan) 16.10.2011 Reading: Matthew 22:15-22
I wonder if anyone here is a rugby fan. If so you probably watched one of the great games the other day, between South Africa and Australia. Hard tough rugby played by two teams at the peak of their skill. But it ma ... read more
The Kingdom of God (Revd David Robinson) 2.10.2011 Readings Philippians 3: 4b-14; Matthew 21:33-46
Over the last four weeks some members of the Nedlands congregation (mainly elderly) have been involved in studying a book by Marcus Borg, The Heart of Christianity. We have found that it ... read more
Our Culture in Crisis (Revd Neville Watson) 25.9.2011
My contention this morning is that our culture is in crisis. I use the word `culture` in the sense of `the way of living which is transmitted from one generation to another`. And I use the word `crisis` in the sense of `a turning point`. I have in mi ... read more
Love is the fulfilling of the law (Jim Malcolm) 4.9.2011 Readings: Psalm 149; Matthew 18:15-20; Romans 13:8-14
Our gospel reading today is fascinating! Look at the first verse – ‘If another member of the church sins against you...’. Wait a minute, isn’t this Jesus talking? So where does the church ... read more
What the world needs now (Karen Sloan) 28.8.2011 Readings: Exodus 3: 1-15; Romans 14: 1-12; Matthew 18, 21-35
I was sitting in the dentist the other day getting a clean, which I have to say is worse than getting a filling, and the therapist had the radio on. Now normally it is usually a mus ... read more
Send them away or feed them? (Dr Richard Smith) 31.7.2011 Reading: Matthew 14:13-21 – From our Reading: Do we send them away or do we feed them? Here is a profound moral question that Jesus addressed, and which we must now face with Climate Change impacting our globalised world. How might this be you ... read more
The Providence of God (Rev Gemmel Sherwood) 24.7.2011 Readings: Genesis 29:15-28; Romans 8: 26-39; Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
Paul writes, ‘We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves ….’
This reminded me of the story ... read more
Is there such a thing as Christian marriage? (Revd Dr Geoffrey Lilburne) 3.7.2011 Genesis 24: 34-62; Song of Solomon 2: 8-13; 1 Corinthians 7: 1-16; Matthew 19: 3-11Introduction
Our society has moved a great deal in relation to marriage. Today, we have an unmarried couple living in the Prime Minister’s lodge i ... read more
The Meaning of Life (Karen Sloan) 26.6.2011
Over the last few weeks I have been pondering life, and what it is to be human in our world today. I know it sounds very philosophical but there is nothing like a chat about the meaning of life over dinner to make one start thinking about it. Nathan ... read more
Leave taking (Revd Marion Millin) 5.6.2011 Readings: John 17:1-11; Acts 1:6-14
Today’s readings both come from the New Testament – both are about leave-taking. One is from the beginning of the book of Acts to do with what we now call Jesus’s ascension. But first we’re going to hear fr ... read more
The Way, the Truth and the Life (Revd Neville Watson) 22.5.2011 Reading: John 14:1-7 Any understanding of this passage begins with a recognition of the obvious. It is from John’s gospel and John’s gospel is different from the others. Matthew, Mark and Luke seek to present the data concerning Jesus of Naza ... read more
What does it mean to be Christian today? (Karen Sloan) 15.5.2011 Readings: Acts 2:42-47; John 10:1-10
Matt and I caught up with some of our friends the other night for dinner. Helen works as a volunteer coordinator at one of the big hospitals. Just after she started all the managers got together for an ori ... read more
Spiritual Presence (Revd David Robinson) 1.5.2011 Readings 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20: 19-31
My daughter Margaret keeps me well supplied with novels. Recently she gave me one with the title ‘Judas Child’ - it took me quite a long while to read it - the story was a bit complicated but in essence ... read more
An Easter People in a Good Friday World (Revd Neville Watson) 24.4.2011 Readings: Acts 10: 34-42; Matthew 28:1-10
In an email to my friend Bruce Barber, whom I regard as one of the best theologians in Australia, I asked ‘What should I preach about on Easter Day?’ His answer was ‘Read Ebeling 'The Nature of Faith’ ... read more
Good Friday - Were you there? (Karen Sloan) 22.4.2011
This intercessory service of worship is based on one developed by American Christians for the Abolition of Torture. In the introduction to the original, we read, `The service has been designed to assist faith communities relive the passion of Christ ... read more
Palm Sunday (Revd Neville Watson) 17.4.2011 Readings: Matthew 21: 1-11
‘Palm Sunday’
There were two parades that day. Through the Western gate Pilate entered on a horse accompanied by soldiers in full uniform with banners and drums and the sun glinting on spear and shield, and pe ... read more
It`s all about the eyes (Karen Sloan) 3.4.2011 Readings: 1 Samuel 16: 1-13; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41
The eye is an amazing structure. It is so complex it is often used as an argument against evolution. Some people suggest it had to be given by God as a complete package, because it wo ... read more
Love is the Key to Life (Karen Sloan) 27.3.2011 Readings: Exodus 17:1-7; Romans 5:1-11; John 4:5-42
Love is the key to life. Love can change anything and everything. Love is the outward show of God`s inward spirit driving us towards each other, giving life where there is death and despair ... read more
Living Water (Revd Cathie Lambert) 27.3.2011 Readings: Exodus 17:1-7; John 4: 5-42
Today’s readings are two of my favourites. For some of us, we will have heard them numerous times and heard many sermons preached about them. The John reading is so important to me that I chose it as one ... read more
Temptation (Matthew Sloan) 13.3.2011 Readings: Genesis 2:15-17 and 3:1-7; Matthew 4:1-11
What do we find tempting?
Temptation is all around us. It is a part of life and has been for as long as people have drawn breath. We don’t have to look far into the bible to come across ... read more
Airplane Mine! (Revd Bruce Sanguin) 8.3.2011
I WAS INVITED TO PREACH last Sunday at Wembley Downs Uniting Church in Perth, Australia.
Revd Neville Watson leads the community. He is worthy of a blog himself as an octogenarian peace activist (he was in Baghdad for the US `Shock and Awe` invas ... read more
Joy from the heart (Karen Sloan) 27.2.2011 Readings: Isaiah 49: 8-16a; 1 Corinthians 4:1-5; Matthew 6:24-34 What a few months it has been. Tragedy and grief and loss seem to be everywhere, as many of us both here and overseas cope with floods, fire, earthquake and accidents. It makes ... read more
Sixty Second Sermon (Revd Neville Watson) 20.2.2011 Matthew 5:38-48
I have probably heard more nonsense spoken of this passage than any other in the bible. And the current `With Love to the World` is no exception. It says about the passage: Jesus` advice is to let the oppressor have his ... read more
Only love wastefully (Jim Malcolm) 6.2.2011 Readings: Isaiah 58:1-9a; 1Corinthians 2:1-12; Matthew 5:15-20
The festive season has been eventful for the Malcolm household. Sandy has taken on a new course of university study, and she’s already started pre-reading Hugh MacKay’s book Wh ... read more
Speeches (Revd Gemmel Sherwood) 30.1.2011 Readings: 1 Cor 1: 18-31; Matthew 5:1-12
We heard some rather important speeches on Tuesday last (25 January 2011) when there was an announcement by the Prime Minister of the awards for The Australian of The Year and other leading citizens.
... read more
The Sacrament of the Present Moment (Terry Quinn) 23.1.2011 Readings: Isaiah 9:1-4; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4: 12-23
Christ sent me to preach the Gospel so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.
We need only to look at the news to get a sense of the enormity of suffe ... read more
Faith (Karen Sloan) 16.1.2011 Readings: Isaiah 49:1-7; 1 Corinthians 9:1-9; John 1:29-42
What is Faith to us? I hope we are gathered here because we have faith that God is the sacred mystery of life, part of us and our world. I hope we are here because we have faith t ... read more
Empire Under Threat (Revd Neville Watson) 25.12.2010 Readings: Matthew 2: 1-16, Selected paraphrased readings from Isaiah entitled 'Isaiah's Dream' (see below)
We listen now to a paraphrase of some of Isaiah’s statements. Isaiah was one of the great orators of his day, as was Martin Luther K ... read more
Thank God for Joseph (Karen Sloan) 19.12.2010 Readings: Isaiah 7:10-16; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25 This week is the fourth week of Advent, so we light the candle of joy.
Though at the moment there is not much joy around, just lots of tragedy and grief.
I can not speak this morni ... read more
Jesus` Paradigm for Enduring Peace (Dr Richard Smith) 4.12.2010 Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10 , Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19, Romans 15:4-13, Matthew 3:1-12
God’s Kingdom of Peace comes non-violently when we establish distributive justice in the world, which you heard in Neville’s sermon last week.
Sadly, viol ... read more
Our God is Non Violent (Revd Neville Watson) 28.11.2010 Reading: Matthew 24:36-44
`There will be two men in the field. One will be taken, the other left. Two women grinding at the mill. One will be taken, the other left.`
I wonder if you know what is the best selling series of books ... read more
Where are we going? (Karen Sloan) 7.11.2010 Readings: Isaiah 61:1-6, Matthew 25:31-46, Thomas Berry, Eco-Theologian:`If the dynamics of the universe from the beginning shaped the course of the heavens, lighted the sun, and formed the Earth . . . if this same dynamism brought for ... read more
Where are we now? (Karen Sloan) 31.10.2010 Readings: Job 12:7-10, Romans 8:19-22, Rev 22:1-5, Matt 6:19-24 We ended last week with a new creation story, one that included the whole of the universe and of life. This new creation story, with God at its centre, revealed a picture of inte ... read more
Where have we come from? (Karen Sloan) 24.10.2010 Readings: Dreamtime creation story - Australian aboriginal tradition; Genesis 1:1-3, 26-37; Genesis for a new millennium - Arthur Peacock We live at an amazing time in history - A time when we can explore both ourselves and our universe at a ... read more
Whence comes the power of faith? (Dr Richard Smith) 3.10.2010 Reading: Luke 17:5-10
'Mr Darwin you will not get well until you recover your faith.' These words were spoken to Charles Darwin by his Doctor in the film Creation in response to the chronic ill health he suffered from the stress of ... read more
Rich Man, Poor Man (Karen Sloan) 26.9.2010 Readings: Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15; 1 Timothy 6:6-19; Luke 16:19-31 A few weeks ago Matt and I went down to Dunsborough for an extended family weekend away. My cousin Robyn had acquired a beautiful house down there and wanted to catch up with t ... read more
Being a Prophet (Revd Neville Watson) 19.9.2010 Reading: Jeremiah 8:18-9:1
The optimist sees the glass half full of water. The pessimist sees the glass of water half empty. Same picture, completely different approach. Each results in inaction. The Optimists look through their rose-coloured ... read more
Two Reflections (Russ Revell) 5.9.2010 Reading: Philemon 1-21Opens an envelope and reads the lette –
My dear friend
I apologise for not keeping in touch with you but I have been so busy with my new Social Support Group. I will get straight to the point of this letter ... read more
Jesus and the Political Process (Revd Neville Watson) 22.8.2010 Readings: Jeremiah 1:4-10; Hebrews 12:18-29; Luke 13:10-17
I recently endured a day in bed. It was fortunate enough that it was a Friday and I was able to read The Guardian Weekly slowly and deliberately instead of my usual skimming at ... read more
Jesus and Transformation (Karen Sloan) 15.8.2010 Readings: Isaiah 5:1-7; Hebrews 11:29-12:2; Luke 12:49-56
The bible is something we can learn so much from, about our faith and about who we are. As many people have said, we need to take it seriously, but not literally, for it has a complex ... read more
What on Earth Does 'Heaven' mean? (Jim Malcolm) 1.8.2010 Readings:
2 Kings 2:1-3, 6-14; Romans 12:1-2, 9-18; John 14: 1-12
When I last preached I took a scientific look at faith and belief in God and explained that as a scientist who could not prove the existence of God I have chosen, because i ... read more
Sharing the love - the case for equality and justice (Karen Sloan) 25.7.2010
I love books. I love the feel of them, the smell of them, the way they look crammed in a bookshelf. But more than anything I love the way they can tell us things. The way things were, the way things are and the way things are going to be, maybe. They ... read more
Joy (Terry Quinn) 3.7.2010 Readings: Isaiah 66:1-10; Galatians 6:14-18; Luke 10:1-12
It is the summer of 1940 and we are on the northern French coast, north-east of Calais, just below the French-Belgian border. The place is Dunkirk and the British army is surrounded by ... read more
Wisdom (Revd Gemmel Sherwood) 30.5.2010 Readings: Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31; Psalm 8; Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-15
On 24 May 1543 Nicolas Copernicus was buried in an unmarked grave in the church in Frombork in Poland. He had been declared a heretic by the Catholic Church because he taug ... read more
Discovering and Understanding the language of Unity (Revd Tara Curlewis) 23.5.2010 Readings: Acts 2: 1-21 and John 14: 8-17Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of ... read more
The Story of Thomas (Revd John McCarthy) 12.4.2010 Readings: Acts 5: 27-32 ; John 20: 19-31
Last Sunday I dealt with some of the personalities of the Resurrection including us. Today we concentrate on one person, Thomas. During the years I’ve been a bit hard on Thomas. The odds were against h ... read more
Jesus is Alive! (Revd Neville Watson) 4.4.2010 Readings: Isaiah 65:17-25; Mark 16:1-8
Where does one start and finish on Easter Day? I do not know. I could stand here for a couple of hours and simply scratch the surface. As Marcus Borg says, `This is far more than a ghost story.` (1)
... read more
Palm Sunday (Robert Watson) 28.3.2010 Readings: Luke 19:28-40; Philippians 2:5-11
Can you remember the stir caused within churches when Webber and Rice’s rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar hit the stage? Was it blasphemous? What about that ending? And some of those words! 'He ... read more
Getting the message (Karen Sloan) 21.3.2010 Reading: John 12:1-8
Last week as kids do, Patrick had a sick day so I rearranged my life so that I could stay home with him. In our house when you are sick but not too sick a movie can be watched and even though I was supposed to be working ... read more
No Rest in Peace! (Jim Malcolm) 7.3.2010 Readings: Matthew 5:1-16, 43-48; Matthew 25:32-40: Romans 12: 9-21
Do you ever read the obituaries? I know some people make a habit of it, and I remember that poem that finishes 'If my name’s not there I know I’m not dead, so I have a goo ... read more
(Revd Marion Millin) 28.2.2010 Readings: Genesis 15:1-12,17-18; Psalm 27; Philippians 3:17- 4:1; Luke 13:31-35
When I first read the passages for today I have to admit I was not exactly inspired, thinking what on earth’s the connection between a very ancient covenant ritu ... read more
The Temptations (Revd Neville Watson) 21.2.2010 Reading: Luke 4:1-13
Why would you have the Temptations as the reading for the first Sunday inLent? It`s simple! Because the passage presents alternatives to the Way of the Cross. The temptations deal with the identity and vocation of Jesus - ... read more
Dazzling Darkness (Barry Preece) 14.2.2010 Reading: Luke 9:28-36
Barbara Brown Taylor writes and I quote: Those of us who spend a lot of time in church have heard Luke’s story of the transfiguration so often that we may think of it as a public event.According to Luke, it was not a pub ... read more
The Spark of Doubt (Karen Sloan) 7.2.2010 Reading: 1Cor 15:1-11 As I mentioned earlier I had a wonderful experience at the quarry the other night. The weather was perfect, the moon was full and the trees were covered in light. The music was terrific and one sensed all was right with ... read more
Good News to the Poor (Revd Neville Watson) 31.1.2010 Readings: Jeremiah 1: 4-10; 1Corinthians: 13, 1-13; Luke 4: 21-30
I had intended today to preach about climate change and make a few comments about the scriptures at the time of their reading. The powerful nature of the scripture passages w ... read more
Commitment (Karen Sloan) 17.1.2010 Reading: 1Cor 12:1-11 While on holidays it`s a great time to read. I read lots of books while away, some complete trash and some not. One that wasn`t, was a little book by Mitch Albom called `Have a little faith`. He is the author of `Tuesday ... read more
Farewell to 2009 (Terry Quinn) 27.12.2009 Readings: 1 Sam 2:18-20, 26; Ps 148; Col 3:12-17; Luke 2:41-52
Today is the last Sunday of 2009. It is appropriate that we take leave of the year in a Christian way. Today is an opportunity to size up 2009 – to rate the year. It is appropri ... read more
Christmas Day (Karen Sloan) 25.12.2009
Christmas day is a day for singing and rejoicing, for the giving and receiving of gifts and for family and friends. But it is also a day that should push us out beyond all of our old comforts and convictions, our habits and fears and even our need fo ... read more
It's enough to make you cry (Karen Sloan) 20.12.2009 Reading: Luke 1:39-45
This week I tried hard to find a sermon topic that did not involve the poor, or did not focus on justice and compassion or the lack of it in our world. But I failed miserably and for two very good reasons.
Firstly we ... read more
While shepherds watched (Karen Sloan) 13.12.2009 Readings: Zephaniah 3: 14-20; Luke 3: 7-18 In Christian circles we hear of joy all the time, but what is joy? Well, it is defined in the Macquarie dictionary as, `a great gladness and delight arising from present or expected good`. In our s ... read more
Repentance (Revd David Robinson) 6.12.2009 Readings Malachi 3: 1-4; Luke 3:1-9
I attended a performance of The Messiah about ten days ago – Perth Concert Hall was packed out by well dressed people – many of whom had a meal at the Concert Hall prior to the performance and enjoy ... read more
Hope and the Coming of Christ (Jim Malcolm) 29.11.2009 Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16; Luke 21:25-36
For the young at heart - Why don`t you look properly?
Do you ever lose things? When I was young I remember Mum telling me to go and get something ¬- maybe I was to put my shoes on or something like ... read more
What is truth? (Karen Sloan) 22.11.2009 Reading: John 18: 33-37
The other day, when I was browsing in a bookshop while waiting for Paddy to finish with an appointment, I came across a very interesting book, and as is my nature I bought it. The book is entitled `Immortal words, hist ... read more
The Fall of the Berlin Wall (Karen Sloan) 9.11.2009 Reading: Mark 13: 1-8 This week saw the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall, a wall that reminded us of the Cold War and the fear we all had that we may perish under a nuclear attack. I remember so clearly going through Check Poin ... read more
The Widow`s Mite (Revd John McCarthy) 8.11.2009 Readings: Ruth: 3:1-5, 4:13-17; Hebrews 9: 24-28; Psalm 127; Mark 12: 38-44
In last Sunday’s glossy STM magazine Tom Percy wrote the Opinion Page. He is a political and social commentator and is on 6PR every Thursday morning. He said at the ... read more
Connections (Karen Sloan) 18.10.2009 Reading: Job 38:1-7
Over the last couple of weeks Matt and I have had the privilege to spend some time with his cousin Julie and her husband Rob and their family. Julie has been fighting breast cancer for about nine years, and is at the end o ... read more
Human Intimacy (Prof William Loader) 4.10.2009 Reading: Mark 10:2-12
These days we have come to recognise that marriages do not always work and that sometimes the most creative solution is divorce. People are then free to remarry. At best they engage the process in a way that leads to gre ... read more
Cost Effectiveness (Karen Sloan) 13.9.2009 Reading: Mark 8:27-38
As most of you know I spend some of my working time at Royal Perth Hospital where I assess the outcome of hip and knee replacement surgery. We look at how well patients function after the surgery, what their pain levels ... read more
See, hear and respond (Barry Preece) 6.9.2009 Readings: Psalm 125; James 2:1-10; Mark 7:1-8.14-15,21-23
In the Epistle and Gospel we heard about Inclusivesness and Healing. Another major story which teaches in a similar way is that well known one of Saul, who, when on his way to Damascus ... read more
The Way (Karen Sloan) 23.8.2009 Readings: John 6:56-69; Ephesians 6:10-20
On Friday night, Matt, Nathan and I did what most of you have done, and went to see Les Miserables at the Regal. It was a great production and David, of course was the star of the show. If you don`t k ... read more
What is at the heart of Christianity? (Karen Sloan) 16.8.2009 Readings: John 6:51-58; Ephesians 5: 15-20 What is at the heart of the Christian faith? Is it laws that we must follow without question, is it some eternal life that we seek to have once this life has ended and we are done with all the strugg ... read more
Who Me? (Jim Malcolm) 9.8.2009
Service of worship Wembley Downs Uniting Church, 9 August 2009 - Commissioning of Elders
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 6:1-8
For the young at heart - Who, me?
That reading from Isaiah picks up the ideas of kingly glory, brightness and ... read more
Come away and rest awhile (Karen Sloan) 19.7.2009 Readings: Mark 6:30-34 and 53-56; Ephesians 2:11-22 I love the first part of the reading from Mark. Jesus tells his disciples to `come away to a deserted place by yourselves and rest a while. For many were coming and going and they had no le ... read more
Faithfulness and Generosity (Karen Sloan) 28.6.2009 Readings: 2 Samuel 21: 1-14; Corinthians 8:7-15; Mark 5: 21-43 As some of you might know, Matt and I are doing some renovations. Now it has been a real eye opener, as we have not embarked on anything like this in all our 18 years of marriag ... read more
A Love that Calms a Storm (Karen Sloan) 21.6.2009 Reading: Mark 4: 35-41
A storm, and a boat, and a powerful message on how to get to the other side. In this case the other side was a land of gentiles, a land full of different people and customs and beliefs. Jesus stilled the storm, and allo ... read more
Unity (Karen Sloan) 24.5.2009 Readings: John 17: 6-19; 1John 5: 9-13 Today, in this sermon, I want to talk about unity. Not a unity where everyone believes the same thing but a unity that combines who we are biologically with our spiritual connections. One in which all t ... read more
The Timeless Shepherd (Rev David Robinson) 3.5.2009 Readings 1 John 3:16-24; John 10: 11-18
There is an old story about a student minister who was sent to a small country village to preach a trial sermon. He did so and then decided to take a week off from his studies and have a holiday in that ... read more
Science and Theology (Karen Sloan) 14.4.2009 Reading: John 20:19-31 I am doing a unit at Murdoch this semester focussing on science and theology. It has been extremely interesting, particularly to see how the relationship between the two has developed over time, and in response to moder ... read more
The foolishness of God (Jim Malcolm) 5.4.2009 Readings: Zechariah 9:9-10; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; Mark 11:1-11
`God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.` Those words from First Corinthians struck me five weeks ago when they were par ... read more
What is the key to it all? (Revd Gemmel Sherwood) 29.3.2009 Readings: Jeremiah 31: 27-34; John 12:20-33
Barack Obama said in 2004: ‘There is not a black America and a white America and a Latino America. There’s a United States of America.’ It was a signature statement. He had his name written on ... read more
John 3:16 (Revd Neville Watson) 22.3.2009 Reading: John 3:16
The words we have just heard constitute for me some of the most important words in the bible – but not in the way they are usually presented and interpreted. They way they are usually presented is that all we have to do ... read more
The Call to Non Violence (Karen Sloan) 8.3.2009
After Neville`s call to see Grand Torino as part of our Lenten devotions, I would just like to ask, by a show of hands, how many people have seen the movie.
The last time I gave a service I focussed on the movies, and what movies can tell us about ... read more
…the kingdom of God has come near (Revd Ken Williams) 1.3.2009 Readings:
Genesis 9: 8-17; Psalm 25: 1-10;1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1: 9-15
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
We have come to the first Sunday in Lent – a season of special spiritual disciplines for a smal ... read more
Who sez? (Jim Malcolm) 1.2.2009 Readings: Deuteronomy 18:15-20; 1Corinthians 8:1-13; Mark 1:21-28
The last couple of months haven’t been a good time for me. At the beginning of December I contracted a bout of the shingles, and it has taught me a lot. I used to think that ch ... read more
Follow Jesus (Terry Quinn) 25.1.2009 Readings: Jonah 3:1-5; Mark 1:14-20
These are two readings which both have an important story to tell us and I`d like to talk briefly about each one.
The Jonah story
• Reminds us that we all struggle to understand the God we follow
... read more
Christmas Simplified (Revd David Robinson) 4.1.2009 Readings John 1:1-14; Ephesians 1:3-14
1. I wonder what sort of Christmas celebrations there would be if we only had the two Gospels instead of 4? I’m thinking of having Mark and John only. It would certainly mean that most if not all of ... read more
What do we celebrate? (Revd Neville Watson) 25.12.2008
Christmas is the central time for celebration within our community Celebration is what Christmas is about. All normal activities cease on Christmas Eve and are on hold in the week following Christmas day. It is the major gift giving time of the year ... read more
Sustainable Living (Kirsten Lambert) 14.12.2008 Reading: Isaiah 61:1-7
Today’s bible reading from Isaiah is one of my favourites and it’s obviously one of Jesus’ too because it’s the one he is reported to have read aloud in the synagogue. It’s about the Messiah, the servant of God who has ... read more
The Hope of Advent (Karen Sloan) 7.12.2008 Readings: Isaiah 40:1-11; 2 Peter 3:8-15a; Mark 1:1-8
As I said at the beginning of the service, I have just finished reading the autobiography of Dr Chris O`Brien. For those of you who don`t watch RPA on telly, he is one of this country`s l ... read more
The Menu is not the Meal (Revd Neville Watson) 23.11.2008
Experiencing God
In our quest for a contemporary faith I have spoken about God and I have spoken about Jesus. I have suggested that we should cease using language and metaphors of the first century. Expressions like 'heavenly father' may have been ... read more
Talents - A 60 Second Sermon (Revd Neville Watson) 16.11.2008
The Parable of the Talents is perhaps the most misunderstood parable of all. To read it as an endorsement of establishment economics and present day hedge funds is to miss the point completely.
The third guy is a whistle blower. He spells out hi ... read more
Being Fully Alive (Revd Neville Watson) 26.10.2008
Last month I was speaking about God. Today I will be speaking about Jesus. But before I do this let me remind you of the story line so far. My concern in this series of sermons is that we should update our language of God, that in speaking about God ... read more
The Two Big Stories (Terry Quinn) 5.10.2008
Readings: Psalm 33; James 2:14-26; Mark 14:22-31
We’re in a storm, we’re going to get wet but we won’t sink. Malcolm Turnbull.
This week we have read and heard much about the financial crisis. The market economy is going through its passi ... read more
Speaking of God (Revd Neville Watson) 28.9.2008
The question 'Do you believe in God?' has an obvious and simple answer: 'It depends what you mean by the word God.' If you mean a superhuman being sitting in heaven controlling the weather and determining whether I shall go to heaven or hell, then I ... read more
How many times? (Cynthia Brown) 14.9.2008
Matthew 18:21-35; Romans 14:1-12
Hamas Leader`s son renounces Islam.
Did you see that headline in the paper a couple of weeks ago? Mosab Hassan Yousef, son of one of the founders of Hamas, arrived in the United States 18 months ago and converted t ... read more
If God is love . . . (Jim Malcolm) 7.9.2008
Readings: Exodus 12:1-14; Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 18:15-20; Psalm 149
When I first looked at the readings set for today I was challenged. `How can I make sense of this lot?` I asked myself. So I called for reinforcements. A group of friends was gath ... read more
Best Ever Speeches (Karen Sloan) 31.8.2008
The ABC some months ago ran a competition to determine the best ever speeches. The speeches could come from any era and have been given either here or overseas. It is not surprising really that the one voted the greatest speech ever was delivered by ... read more
Who do you say I am? (Revd Neville Watson) 24.8.2008 Readings: Exodus 3:1-15; Matthew 16:13-20
The Burning Bush
In the Old Testament (Exodus 3) is found that superb story of Moses looking after sheep near Mt Horeb when he notices a bush which, although burning, is not consumed. The sy ... read more
Not a Bad Day (Revd Neville Watson) 17.8.2008
Reading: Matthew 15:21-28
Some have suggested that Jesus was having a bad day. We all have bad days. Some of us even have bad Sundays. It is an interesting thought but I doubt if this is what this passage is about.
It is rather a graphic unforgett ... read more
Exclusion and Embrace (Elaine Ledgerwood) 3.8.2008 Matthew 14:13-21
I was recently reading Miroslav Volf’s Exclusion and Embrace, the Preface of which starts:
After I finished my lecture Professor Jurgen Motlmann stood up and asked one of his typical questions, both concrete and penetrati ... read more
Home Thoughts from Abroad (Revd Neville Watson) 27.7.2008
I have entitled this morning’s sermon 'Home Thoughts from Abroad'. It is not intended to be a travelogue – although there will of necessity be a recounting of our travels. What I would like to do is to share with you some of the theological insights ... read more
Standard Operating Procedure (Kirsten Lambert) 13.7.2008 Romans 8:1-11 is one of those passages that is almost too well known. I find really difficult to read because I just tune out. As someone once said of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, it is ‘full of quotations’. Liturgies and prayers and thousands of ser ... read more
There goes my everything! (Jim Malcolm) 29.6.2008
Readings: Genesis 22:1-14; Psalm 13; Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 10:40-42.
Two weeks ago Sandy and I attended the Anglican Church in Dongara and listened to a sermon from our son, Matt, the local Anglican rector, about giving. It was special for us in ... read more
The enduring summons of Jesus (Terry Quinn) 22.6.2008
Reading: Matthew 10:24-39
Robert Frost ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must ... read more
What do we regard as a miracle? (Karen Sloan) 15.6.2008 Reading: Matthew 9:34-10:8
Just what do we regard as a miracle?
Is it when a community seeks out and engages someone lonely and isolated with love and compassion?
Is it when a mother forgives the drunk driver who killed her beloved daug ... read more
Heroes (Kirsten Lambert) 8.6.2008
Readings: Matt 9: 9-13, 18-26; Gen 12:1-9; Romans 4:13-25
Have you ever noticed how when Hollywood attempts to film any of the biblical stories they can’t help but turn the characters into your typical heroes? In movies like “The Greatest Story ev ... read more
A portrait of Jesus (Revd Prof Bill Loader) 1.6.2008
Reading: Matthew 7:21-29
In this passage we reach the climax of Jesus` first public address. The author of the Gospel according to Matthew paints his portrait of Jesus in a way that brings his importance home to his local congregations. The result ... read more
Into the Needle`s Eye (Revd Neville Watson) 25.5.2008
Reading: Matthew 6: 24-34
Money is a crucial issue in the scriptures. There is more about money in the New Testament than any other subject than the Kingdom of God, and even then (as in our passage today) the two of them are linked together. When ... read more
Being Present to the Presence of God (Revd Neville Watson) 27.4.2008
Readings: 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:15-21
It’s taken me seventy years or so but I think I am starting to see what the Christian faith is all about, why the Church is dying and what we should do about it. It may take more than ten minutes to explain ... read more
Have you eaten? (Elaine Ledgerwood) 13.4.2008
Have you eaten? To our western ears, this is such a strange way to start a conversation. We live in a world of diets and weight loss, so while it is possible that a person hasn’t eaten, it tends to be out of choice.
In India, ‘Have you eaten?’ i ... read more
Resuscitation vs Resurrection (Revd David Robinson) 6.4.2008
Readings: Acts 2: 14a, 36-41, Luke 24: 13-35
Over the Easter period the media shows a lot of interest in what the Churches are doing and saying– and especially if the views expressed are at all controversial. The Anglican Dean of Perth, Dr Shepp ... read more
The Triumph of Love (Kirsten Lambert) 30.3.2008
Reading: John 20:19-31
When I first read the verses that I had to preach on for today, it made me laugh. How ironic that I had to preach on doubting Thomas and the resurrection. Over the years I’m sure I’ve believed pretty much everything one can b ... read more
History is His Story (Revd Neville Watson) 23.3.2008
Reading: Matthew 28:1-10
A few weeks ago Elva mentioned that she had found a sermon of mine that I preached ten years ago. I was somewhat flattered to think that for some reason or other someone had a ten year old sermon of mine. Elva wondered wheth ... read more
Palm Sunday (Revd Neville Watson) 16.3.2008
What a day it was! It was one of the most important events in the life of Jesus. Am I exaggerating? No, providing you recognise its context in the story.
The story so far
Jesus lived in Palestine on the Mediterranean Sea. The geography o ... read more
Fullness of Life (Karen Sloan) 9.3.2008 Readings: Ezekiel 37: 1-14; John 11: 1-45 I read an article the other week, which profoundly moved me and gave me a small insight into the human condition. It comes from a little column that appears weekly in the Weekend Australian and is tit ... read more
Blindness of the Heart (Terry Quinn) 2.3.2008
Readings: John 9: 1-41
One of the fundamental causes of human suffering, of every kind of violence, of every injustice and every sin, is blindness not physical blindness, but blindness of the spirit, blindness of the heart, as the Bible calls it. ... read more
Thinking about Dying? (Revd Neville Watson) 24.2.2008
I want today to preach a sermon on death and the afterlife. If you want a text it would be the words that we have heard and will increasingly hear in the near future – the words of committal heard in almost every funeral service:” Ashes to ashes, dus ... read more
Where the Devil Did Evil Come From? (Jim Malcolm) 10.2.2008
Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
After a story like that it is tempting to say ‘What a load of rubbish!’ and preach on one of the other readings. But Rabbi Harold Kushner in his book ‘How good do we have to be’ has some words that challenge that approach.
... read more
Mountains (Revd David Robinson) 4.2.2008
Readings: 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17: 1-9
The Theme for the service today is `Mountains`. We don’t have many in or around Perth but in some countries they are the dominant feature of the landscape. It would be hard to imagine Switzerland without ... read more
Reflection (Elaine Ledgerwood) 27.1.2008
Well, it was Australia Day yesterday, how was it? [Get some feedback about what various people were doing on the day – fireworks, BBQ, beach etc – interrupted with a person coming in with a flag and claiming the land for the ‘kingdom of God’]
‘Re ... read more
130 Calais Road, (crnr of Minibah Street)
Wembley Downs, Western Australia.
Phone 08 9245 2882
Ten kilometres northwest of Perth city centre,
set amongst the suburbs of City Beach, Churchlands, Scarborough, Wembley Downs and Woodlands
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