Know Jesus, know the Father.Know the Father, know God’s love.Know God’s love, and share it abundantly.Share God’s love, and great things will be done in God’s name.Sermon April 20th, 2008 (pdf)St. David’s Uniting Church, OakleighRev. Arnie Wierenga 

For the latest happenings from the Balkara Parish and the St. David’s Oakleigh congregation, check out the online copy of the April newsletter.Parish News April 2008 (pdf 121 kB)

Jesus uses the image of keeper of a safe haven to indicate that through him an abundant life is offered. The problem with abundance is that it is often confused with satisfying all our desires, rather than simply providing the things we need. This reflection on Psalm 23 offers an alternative.

Sermon April 13th, 2008 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

The disciples travel on the road to Emmaus, encountering a stranger who they do not recognise. It is not until Jesus breaks the bread to share in community with them that they know a profound truth – Christ has risen. As we reflect on the mystery of this story, we embed ourselves in the experiences of the disciples, the places where bread and Jesus meet them. As we do this we seek to experience for ourselves the mystery of Christ’s presence as the bread is broken.

Sermon 6th April, 2008 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

The labyrinth prayer and meditation walk returns to Oakleigh this coming

Wednesday night, 8pm, April 2nd.

The venue is the Oakleigh Uniting Church hall, 154 Drummond St. (near the library – see map).
We invite you to come and enjoy the healing and transformational space of the labyrinth.

For more details, click here.

Please invite others who may enjoy the opportunity to slow down and be refreshed through the labyrinth.

Be inspired by an indigenous perspective from Vicki Walker, the mystical art of Jenni Mitchell, poetic reflections from Christina Rowntree and the reflective genius of Shane Charles on didgeridoo. 

 

Saying Sorry to the Earth – flyer

 

7.30pm till 9.45pm, Sunday 30th March,2008

Templestowe Uniting Church, 104 Atkinson Street, car park at 111 Wood Street

 

This is Grandstand’s second major event to draw our community together to reflect on the environment.  Grandstand is an informal group of grandparents/seniors from Manningham and beyond, mainly folk from the local UCA churches.

Speaking of Jesus and the events of Easter, St. Augustine said:

And he departed from our sight
that we might return to our heart,
and there find Him.

As we muse over the events of Good Friday, sit in vigil on Saturday and experience the rise of the Son on Easter Sunday, we reflect on these words from Augustine to seek out places where the resurrection of Christ meets us.

Sermon – Easter Sunday, 23rd March, 2008 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

Theologian and philosopher, Blaise Pascal once said that wars would cease if occasionally people could only sit quietly alone in their rooms.

If Pascal meant that our task as followers of Christ was to prayerfully reflect on who we are before God, and what God does for us at Easter, then I agree with him. But as we head towards another Easter, we could be forgiven for thinking that too few people really know God’s love and peace.

The time before Easter, the season of Lent, is a time of preparation for the church. Traditionally it has been a season where candidates ready themselves to be baptized into the faith on Easter Sunday. It was common for the candidates to knock on the door of the church to have the priest ask the question, “What do you seek?” The answer would come back, “New life in Christ.” The candidates would then be invited into the church to be placed in the midst of the congregation, highlighting that they are received into the community of faith.

If only more people would be welcomed into communities and know that they are loved by fellow human beings and by God! If only those who know God’s love would find the courage to sit quietly before God and allow God’s love to purify their hearts, souls and desires.

Lent and Easter are regular seasons on our Christian calendars, not because Jesus needs to die again and again, but because our process of purification is a lifelong one. It is easy to seek “New life in Christ”, but much more difficult to let go of revenge, or to let go of the lust for power, wealth and domination. This is why Lenten reflection is as important to us as it is to first-time baptismal candidates.

But until that time when all wars cease, Pascal provokes us to sit quietly in our rooms. This Lent and at other times we are called to consider who we are as God’s creatures, and who we are as people in this complex web of humanity and creation. And at this point of reflection we are reminded again how important Easter is to us. ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Sitting alone to genuinely consider who we are before God takes great courage. But once we know just how much God loves us, we are given what we need to allow God into the depths of our hearts and souls. Once we allow God to touch us deeply, it is time to right the prejudices, the hatred, and the parts of us that are wounded. And if we allow God’s love to touch us deeply, we are far less likely to dump our wounded nature onto others. Knowing that we belong in God’s love, knowing that we have life forever in God’s name, knowing that we belong in God’s community will transform the world towards Pascal’s vision for peace.

Please immerse yourself in God’s community knowing that you have a place to belong. And please immerse yourself in quiet reflection or prayer that you may fully know God’s Easter gift for you. And together we will find ‘new life in Christ’.

Blessings, Rev. Arnie

It is a very human trait to project onto Jesus all our desires and wants. As Jesus enters Jerusalem, a crowd makes a great fanfare and fuss over him, but they do not really know who it is they hail, or what it is they are seeking.

Sermon 16th March, 2008 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

The gospel story of Jesus and the man born blind has at its heart the age-old question of Why Suffering?. The common idea amongst Jesus’ contemporaries is that the one who was blind must be dark himself, or if not him, then it must be his parents.

We reflect on light and dark, on sin and hope, and the places where the light of Christ is found.

Sermon Sunday March 2nd, 2008 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga