There is a hanging question in the Acts account of the coming of the Holy Spirit:

What does this mean?

One of the striking features of the Acts story is that we can see the Holy Spirit by what is happening. The apostles are released from the locked rooms of their fears and share the good news of God’s love in new and courageous ways.

Sermon May 11th, 2008 (Pentecost) (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

As the apostles of the early church prepare themselves for Pentecost, the Scriptures record that they devoted themselves to prayer.  It seems to be the perfect way to prepare a heart, soul and mind for the divine to find a home.

Sermon May 4th, 2008 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

Jesus’ farewell discourse to his disciples in John’s gospel has an incredible depth of love at its core. The commandment to love one another as I have loved you seems not so much an order, but a natural response to divine love that we experience. 

Sermon April 27th, 2008 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga 

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 

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.

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

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