We begin a series of reflections on the ‘Lord’s Prayer’. We wonder how the words Jesus has given us relates to Paul’s idea that words are inadequate. We discover a source of ‘sighs too deep for words’ and come to a new understanding of prayer.

Sermon Sunday January 31st, 2010 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

The ministry of Jesus is beginning to take shape as we hear of his speaking in the Synagogue of his home town. As he reads from the scroll of Isaiah, we can an insight into the nature of his ministry. As Jesus brings good news, it is good news because it is more than a blessing of God’s love, but fundamentally it is about addressing social needs.

Sermon Sunday January 24th, 2010 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

At the wedding of Cana in Galilee, Jesus turns vast amounts of water into wine and saves the wedding host from great embarrassment. While we rightly focus on Jesus and the disciples who ‘believe in him’, there is a key person of faith in this story who often goes unnoticed.

Mary begins this sequence of events with such conviction and faith in her son that she compels the stewards to ‘listen to him’. Her conviction rubs off on them, and soon the whole village of Cana has been transformed through the abundance of God.

Sermon Sunday January 17th, 2010 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

When John the baptiser claims he is unworthy to even untie the sandals on Jesus’ feet, we begin to sense that Jesus is unreachable.

The gospel speaks loudly to a counter-reality. It is God who takes initiative and reaches out to both Jesus and then to all of humanity through Jesus. Barriers, pedestals, and notions of worthiness all seem to melt into nothing in the light of God’s grace.

Sermon for Sunday Jan 10th, 2010 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga

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

Last Saturday the animals returned to the St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh in search of an angel. The portable animal farm is a central feature of our annual ‘live nativity’ scene to celebrate the Christmas story with our local community. Thanks to all who made the day possible, and especially thanks to all the young ones who give us joy through their delight in God’s creation.

Congratulations to Tawanda Wh. of Chadstone, winner of our entry prize. Tawanda receives a complimentary family pass to the ‘Rain, Hayne and Shine’ animal farm at Balnarring.

On Friday 4th December, Warrawee Park in Oakleigh was tranformed into a lively and festive gathering place for over 3000 people from our local community. Featuring school choirs, Christmas carols, cultural items, crowd games, Santa and more, 2009 proved to be the most popular carols to date.

Many thanks go to those who made the carols possible. In particular we thank Rev. Mano Manopavan who will be leaving in the new year for Queensland but has been instrumental in bringing the churches of Oakleigh together to stage four events so far. Major sponsor this year was the Rotary Club of Oakleigh who supported us generously when many businesses were struggling through the GFC. The Monash City Council Community Arts grant has also helped tremendously, alongside sponsors such as Coates hire, Huntingdale and Hughesdale Pharmacies, Lions Club of Oakleigh, Cartridge World Oakleigh, and Woodards Real Estate.

Carols in the Park will return again next year on Friday December 3rd.

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