“Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”
John the Baptist is in prison and seems life-weary. His purpose in life was to proclaim the coming of Jesus and now he questions whether his life has had meaning and purpose.
For all who are jaded or find Christmas a distressing time, the answer the Jesus provides might spark some new hope, and a place to lay down the heavy burdens that seem to track close to us.
Sermon Sunday December 16th, 2007Â (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga
TEAR, an international Christian agency that is a strong advocate towards eliminating global poverty, has announced that the signing of the Kyoto protocol by the new Rudd Labor government in good news for the world’s poorest people.
Advocacy Co-ordinator for TEAR Australia, Ben Thurley, said he was “thrilled that the first act of our new Prime Minister was action on Kyoto. I hope it signals a new era in climate change negotiations and that Australia will now take more of a lead in the right direction.â€
Andy Atkins, Advocacy director of Tearfund UK, added: “This is a huge boost to the Bali talks, good for Australia and the world’s poorest people who suffer most at the hands of a changing climate. ”
The prophet Isaiah speaks of a world where wild animals live in harmony. His image of utopia is a pointer to the difference that the promised one will make.
If this promised one comes to us at Christmas, it is time to consider those places of hope and promise and the difference that God’s work of Christmas makes.
Sermon 9th December, 2007Â (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga
A priest says plainclothed police kicked their way into a Roman Catholic church in eastern Cuba then beat and used pepper spray on a group of dissidents.
The incident took place on Tuesday (local time) at the parish of Santa Teresita in Santiago as Father Jose Conrado Rodriguez was dressing before saying evening mass.
“I thought the church was on fire when I heard all the shouting,” he said.
Last Sunday churches around the globe began the season of Advent. While most people are focussed on the coming of Christmas (buying gifts, carols in the shops, decorations, community Christmas carols), there is often confusion about what Advent is really about.
For a reflection on what Advent means to the Christian church, read more>>
Climate change is a growing issue for our planet. As the climate change conference is underway in Bali, a group of Dominican Friars in Oxford have considered a Christian approach to the issue and how much responsibility humans can take for it.
This coming Sunday night, the ABC radio program Encounter will air their story. We encourage you to listen live, to the archive on the web site, or download a podcast.
One of the first things the new Rudd Labor government has done was to sign the Kyoto protocol on climate change as promised. The work now begins in earnest with nearly 200 countries gathering in Bali to discuss climate change and negotiate emissions targets, binding or non-binding.
The Vatican has sent a delegation of Roman Catholic experts to Bali due to the international importance of the conference.
Eight new chaplains have just started work in the Inverell district’s schools. The federal government has made available $150,000 for the funding of chaplains, and Inverell is just one area in the country to benefit from successful applications for funding.
Following on from a successful first year, the churches of Oakleigh are proud to present the 2007 Carols in the Park on December 7th.
Last year a crowd of around 2000 enjoyed a community Christmas celebration that included cultural items, a choir, and items from the local schools.
In response to last year’s event, local councillor, Denise McGill wrote:
The combination of energetic enthusiasm by all the churches, a fine display from local schools, a beautiful evening and many young families attending was a sight to behold. … this can only be an indicator of the appreciation and need in our community for such an event.
We invite you to mark this special evening in your diary.
Desmond Tutu, Achbishop Emeritus, has spoken out against the Anglican Communion for failing to embrace pandemic issues such as poverty and HIV, and be distracted by an obsession with homosexuality.