Some people have a gift for learning languages. They seem to have a natural ability to remember vocabulary, understand sentence structures, and talk with an accent which sounds like they have been speaking the language their whole lives. Others, however, can find learning a new language really difficult. It can be even harder when there... Continue Reading →
The Way of Christ-like Love
Over the season of Lent, groups of people from our parish explored what the gospel readings for the coming week can teach us about following Jesus in the way of Christ-like love. We did this by asking what each Bible reading teaches us about God’s love for us in Jesus, trusting God’s love for us,... Continue Reading →
The King of Peace (Luke 19:28-40)
There is a lot of conflict in the world at the present time. Almost daily we hear news about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, violence between Israel and Palestinians in Gaza and other neighbouring countries, the tariff war between President Trump and countries that trade with the USA, as well as other civil wars, conflicts... Continue Reading →
An Extravagant Offering (John 12:1-8)
It's very important for people living in our time and place to smell good. It’s probably more important that we don’t smell bad, some might even say it’s essential, but smelling good is still a pretty high priority for most people. To achieve this, there is a wide range of personal hygiene products, body sprays,... Continue Reading →
The Father’s Love (Luke 15:1-3,11b-32)
There are times in our lives when we can have a disagreement with someone or our relationship with that person can go through a rocky patch. What do we do then? Do we sit back and wait for the other person to make the first move to make things right? Or do we try to... Continue Reading →
Turning Around (Luke 13:1-9)
If you drive from Greenock towards Nuriootpa along Sir Condor Laucke Way, you go over a bridge which crosses the Sturt Highway. Just before you reach the bridge, there is a sign on the exit ramp from the highway facing the Nuriootpa-Greenock Road which reads, “Wrong Way. Go Back.” Hopefully you will never see this... Continue Reading →
Under Jesus’ Wings (Luke 13:31-35)
Last weekend Tropical Cyclone Alfred had a severe impact on South-East Queensland and Northern New South Wales. There were plenty of pictures and videos of high winds, massive waves, pelting rain, flooding rivers and the damage which resulted from these extreme storm conditions. Some of the more amazing images showed people venturing out into the... Continue Reading →
Tested Love (Luke 4:1-13)
In a few messages this year I have explored the point of view that the heart of the Christian message is Jesus’ new command to his disciples: to love one another the way that he has loved us (John 13:34). St Paul tells us that the only thing that counts in the Christian life is... Continue Reading →
Unveiled (2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2)
I remember a conversation I had years ago with someone who didn’t believe that God exists. We were standing in a school carpark and this person at one point in the conversation looked around him with his arms wide open and said, “Where is he? I can’t see him. Show me God so I can... Continue Reading →
The Golden Rule (Luke 6:27-36)
A couple of weeks ago we talked about the heart of the Christian message being love: trusting God’s love for us in Jesus and loving others the way Jesus loved us. One way the Bible describes this love is 1 Corinthians 13. We talked about growing in our capacity to love others in 1 Corinthians... Continue Reading →