The gospel of John begins in a most radical way:

In the beginning was the Word
and the Word was with God
and the Word was God.

… and the Word became flesh and lived among us.

We consider the impact that such grand theology has upon us, and discover that through the incarnation this impact is known in very tangible and concrete ways.

Sunday January 3rd, 2010 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

Often by the time Christmas Day arrives people are weary and anxious. While many find joy at Christmas, often it is a mixed blessing, and for others it carries with it distress through difficult relationships or reminders of loss.

We hear Mary’s song of joy and hope and look to be refreshed and enthused by what God has done for her, and her response of faithfulness.

Sermon Sunday December 20th, 2009 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

John the baptist urges people to live lives with integrity – that is lives that show God’s justice at work. While his instructions for sharing seem sensible and clear, we reflect on how solidarity results in a stronger outcome of God’s justice compared to a simpler act of generosity.

Sermon Sunday December 13th, 2009  (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

While it may seem a little early to be making New Year’s resolutions, the church has just begun a new year as the season of Advent signals a time to prepare for God’s love revealed through Jesus. We reflect on John the Baptist’s message of preparation that invites us to consider our own New Year’s resolutions.

Sermon – Sunday 6th December, 2009 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

As Jesus notices a simple act of generosity from a poor widow, we see that God’s sense of abundance is not measured in common human values. This is good news for all of us but especially those who feel they have nothing to give.

Sermon Sunday November 8th, 2009 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

Jesus gives two commandments that are deceptively simple in appearance but difficult to live out. We explore the first one in particular as means to following Jesus on the way towards God’s love.

Sermon Sunday November 1st, 2009 (pdf)

The gospel story for today seems a painful reminder that we live with persistent grief and loss. Bartimaeus is blind, Jesus stops and restores his sight. What then happens to many of us who cry out by the roadside longing to be healed from our own afflictions?

We look closely at this encounter and realise there is much more than meets the eye. In Bartimaeus we find strength and hope. In Jesus we find a way to move forward and find new meaning and hope amidst the reality of life.

Sermon Sunday October 25th, 2009 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

Perhaps James and John would have breathed a sigh of relief in hindsight after Jesus rejected their lobbying to be in places of greatness with him. Their desire to be at Jesus’ right and left at the time of greatness would have had them hanging like common criminals on crosses either side of Jesus. Such is the upside-down nature of the kingdom of God. Such is Jesus’ message that the first shall be last, and the last first.

Jesus invites us to consider a different path – one that cares for others and seeks to build community. Rather than ‘lord it over’ others, he invites us to become the servant of others in the process of building the kingdom of God.

Sermon Sunday October 18th, 2008 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

Today we launch our Mission & Planning book and engage in fresh ways as people of faith in this community. We have tracked a vibrant journey as disciples of Christ over the last year as part of our mission process. We are invited to be ‘light to the world’, to be people who find that the gifts God gives us are for sharing with others.

Sermon Sunday October 4th, 2009 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

The apostle Paul shares an image of community as a body made up of a variety of parts. Each part plays a vital and complimentary role in the whole. We explore how this relates to our own community – despite being too young or too old, despite chronic illness, despite being active but having little direction – despite all of these things each of us remains important and has a part to play in being the body of Christ.

Sermon Sunday September 27th, 2009 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga