We often tell stories that make us either look good or feel good about ourselves. We encounter a fascinating story from the gospel of Luke where a Pharisee is upstaged by a “sinner”. As we delve into the details we reflect on our own role as both Pharisee and “sinner”, and find a path to God’s grace and love.

Sermon Sunday June 13th, 2010 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

Things are not as they appear. When both widow and prophet are struggling to make sense of a desperate situation they are both pushed to see beyond limits. Through a difficult human encounter the hospitality of God is found and with it an abundance never imagined or thought possible.

Sermon Sunday June 6th, 2010 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

Often the realities of life prevent us from functioning at our best. This was as true for Jesus’ disciples as it is for us. This week we reflect on the feeding story where there is only a few loaves and fish available for a large crowd and the disciples lack vision for what is possible.

Jesus invites the disciples to feed the crowd and yet they cannot. So rather than get angry or just do it himself, he begins the process of blessing and breaking of the bread and then invites the disciples to join in with the hospitality of God.

Sermon Sunday May 30th, 2010 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

As we celebrate Mother’s Day and the gift of life and creation given us by God, we reflect on the amazing story of call upon Mary. As the angel greets her with news difficult to fathom, we consider why this is good news, not simply for Mary but for everyone.

Sermon Sunday May 9th, 2010 (pdf)

Jesus reminds us that disciples are known through their lives of love towards others. As we reflect on how difficult this is to do and be, we know that alone we cannot live out this calling.

Despite the struggle, through embracing this reality and finding ourselves close to the replenishing love of God, we come much closer to the dream of God’s new heaven and new earth.

Sermon Sunday May 2nd, 2010 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

Dorcas barely rates a mention in the biblical texts. She is a disciple, a deacon, one who helps widows through simple acts of mending clothes. Her example moves an entire village and the people find when she dies that even their grief cannot overcome the power of God’s Spirit to ensure the power of one continues.

Sermon Sunday April 25th, 2010 (pdf)
St. David’s Oakleigh Uniting Church
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

We find Jesus and Peter meeting on the beach after Jesus’ death and resurrection. This is one of those extremely awkward moments …

Not long before this event Peter had denied ever knowing Jesus, just at that time Jesus needed his friend the most. Three times Peter repeated this ritual denial, and then the heart-renching reminder as the cock crowed, and Jesus found his destiny on the cross.

So here in this beach a mysterious encounter. Peter is sure it is Jesus although there is an ambiguity about him. The Spirit of Jesus is vividly present and yet Peter’s eyes don’t quite know what to make of it all. And then comes a moment of undoing, a point of transition, and a step that sees Peter transformed into an entirely new disciple.

On the beach Jesus asks Peter three times to confirm his love. It annoys Peter, probably racked by pain and guilt of his earlier failure. And yet Jesus gentle hands over the mantle of discipleship to him in this process, “Feed my sheep.”

We find that Jesus invites and welcomes people with the worst of backgrounds – Peter and Saul are just two examples. Jesus also invites those who feel inadequate or lack courage – Ananias is one example. And we are encouraged by the generosity of love that gives us insight to God. And this love has the power to radically turn us around and transform Peter, Saul, Ananias, you and me into the people we are called to be.

Sermon Sunday April 18th, 2010 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

When Peter gets into trouble for proclaiming so boldly about his risen Lord, we are left wondering what has happened to transform this timid, fearful and impetuous disciple into the one we find in Acts. We look to a locked and fearful room for the encounter that changes everything.

Sermon Sunday April 11th, 2010 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

In and of itself, and empty tomb means just that – an empty tomb. A stolen body does not amount to resurrection, nor does breathing life into a corpse.

We find that the disciples see an empty tomb but do not understand. It is only once Mary has had an encounter that restores her to hope, to life, to renewed relationship – that she becomes witness to the risen Christ.

Sermon Sunday April 4th, 2010 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

Worship service at 154 Drummond St., Oakleigh. All welcome.