Adriana Aranha speaks of simple and yet astounding ways to address poverty and hunger in an urban setting in Brazil and concludes that ending hunger is easy. As we reflect on the story of Jesus feeding a large crowd, where his disciples can only see scarcity, we are challenged to think how we might be more like Jesus and allow the abundance of God to guide us.
Sermon 3rd August, 2008Â (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga
The kingdom of heaven is like …
Weeds, poisonous yeast, rotten fish? Jesus throws up some provocative images to get us to think about the kingdom of heaven, who is included and why.
Sermon 27th July, 2008Â (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga
Jacob discovers the blessings of God when he least deserves it. Not only that, Jacob is running away from his past and meets God in an obscure and desolate place.
We reflect on where God is found and how that changes our lives.
Sermon 20th July, 2008Â (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga
From Matthew’s gospel we hear the parable of the Sower, where seed is scattered with reckless abandon onto places that seem wasteful. This sign of God’s abundance is added to when Jesus speaks of the harvest from fertile soil – it is much more than farmers could ever hope for in reality.
Is this a sign of how much God loves us? Is it a story with a simple moral – that we ought to listen?
Sermon – 13th July 2008 – Matthew 13Â (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga
For the latest happenings from the Balkara Parish and the St. David’s Oakleigh congregation, check out our online copy of the July newsletter.
Parish News – July (pdf 135kB)
The next Oakleigh labyrinth will be held at St. David’s Uniting Church, 154 Drummond St, Oakleigh on:
Wednesday, July 9th at 8pm.
Come and allow the space to still the noisy spaces, and allow your walking bodies to re-connect heart, mind and soul.
More information about the Labyrinth at the St. David’s UCA in Oakleigh, including photos and schedule of labyrinth events.
The latest newsletter on labyrinths from Veriditas is available as a free pdf download. The current edition focusses on creativity and the labyrinth and has many gems including information about Sting’s latest CD ‘Songs from the Labyrinth’.
I have a car sticker that asks provocatively, ‘Who would Jesus bomb?’
It is not anti-terrorist, nor is it anti USA. But it is a protest about those who use violence as to get there own way. The Scriptures speak of the inter-connectedness of relationships:
If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ …
from 1 Corinthians 12
Sermon 6th July, 2008Â (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga
The St. David’s Uniting church had cause to celebrate yesterday as the Wednesday community luncheon turned 15.
The luncheon has been running every Wednesday between February and December for the past 15 years, aimed at being a place of gathering and community for local residents. Good and cheap food, entertainment, and a place of belonging are all features of the weekly gathering at 154 Drummond St., Oakleigh.
The community lunch costs a mere $3 and all are welcome to come and enjoy. Lunch begins at 12:30 pm every Wednesday, and there is also an invitation to come early for a brief service of worship in the church beginning at noon.
Jesus prays to the Father that those who follow him might be as one, as he and the Father are one. We reflect on the challenge of one-ness and how we might share the love that Christ has shown.
Sermon June 22, 2008 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga
Jesus sends out the disciples to extend the reach of the gospel. As Jesus claims his authority to do so from the Father, this authority is given to the disciples as well. From there, a reading of the gospel of Matthew from the end gives us a clue about what we are given authority to do.Â
Sermon June 15th, 2008 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie WierengaÂ