Celebration or Commiseration?

Rev. John Morrison _______________________________________________________________________________________   Readings             Micah 6:1-8 & Matthew 5:1-12 (NRSV)   Introduction   26th January. Today. Australia Day, at least officially. Others call it Invasion Day, Survival Day, Day of Mourning. A day that is meant to unite us as a nation but which is increasingly divisive.   Read more…

Three gifts

John 1:1-18 & Matthew 2:1-12 Late last year I bought a book called Last Christmas. It is not the book of the film – which was a bit of a festive season flop – but a collection of essays and stories about ‘people’s memories of past Christmases and hopes for Read more…

Taking Joseph in

Matthew 2:18-25   There’s a lot to take in when you discover you’re pregnant – even in a planned pregnancy. Actually, the more I think about it ’planned pregnancy’ has to be an oxymoron (similar to another expression I remember from that period in my life – making a ‘birth Read more…

Mary

 Isaiah 35:1-10, Luke 1:39-55 As you know this church and many churches around the world mark the four Sundays leading up to Christmas as the season of Advent. Advent literally means ‘arrival’ or ‘coming’ and is observed as a time of waiting or longing. Waiting, yes, to celebrate again the Read more…

Angels

Luke 1:26-33, Matthew 24:36-44 – Angels   The first words out of the angels’ mouths every time it seems are, “Do not be afraid!” It’s Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, who first converses with an angel in Luke. He is in the temple – chosen by lot which Read more…

Jesus, remember me

Luke 23:33-43 – Jesus, remember me This Sunday marks the end of one year in the church calendar and the beginning of another. Known as Christ the King Sunday it is a time to reflect on the meaning of Christ’s kingship before we again, through the season of Advent, begin Read more…