Worship Reflections

Worship Reflections

Missed church on Sunday? Want to revisit something that was spoken about last Sunday? Read the reflections that were given at last Sunday’s (and previous) services.

17 March 2024

Manningham Uniting Church Sunday, 17th March 2024 Fifth Sunday of Lent Fellowship@10 Texts: Jeremiah 31:31-34 & John 12:20-33 Theme:          As if… Introduction Today is the fifth Sunday of Lent.  When was the last time you made a promise? “I promise I’ll have that work done by tomorrow.” “I promise I’ll clean my room.” “I promise I’ll love you forever.” When was the last time you broke a promise?  One of my pet annoyances is when a character on TV or in a movie says, “I promise…

10 March 2024

Smudgement (John 3:1 4-21) 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, l5that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. l6 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. l7 Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that…

3 March 2023

Theme:          What Makes You Angry?Texts: Exodus 20:1–17; John 2:13-22 Introduction Good morning. This Sunday is the third Sunday in Lent. Just as the season of Lent helps Christians prepare for Easter, Jews travelled to Jerusalem early to purify themselves for Passover (John 11:55).  Christians likewise practice meditation, prayer, and participate in worship throughout Lent. Connecting with the Jews in this way helps us avoid anti-Jewish readings and enables us to reflect on the audacity of Jesus’ actions and claims. John…

18 February 2024

First Sunday of Lent 18th February 2024Text: Mark 1:9-15Theme:     Wilderness in Life Introduction Good morning. Wherever you are, whatever thoughts and emotions are sitting with you this morning, welcome. Today is the first Sunday of Lent, Year B of the lectionary reading cycle —which means that last year we read Matthew’s account of Jesus’ temptation by the devil, in the wilderness, and next year we will read Luke’s account of Jesus’ temptation by the devil in the wilderness. Each story…

11 February 2024

Manningham Uniting Church 11 February 2024 Theme: THE WAY OF LOVE: Love God and Love Neighbour Readings: Psalm 50, Romans 12:1-10, Mark 9:2-9 Thank you Swee Ann for the our theme for today. Today there are going to be bits of philosophy, ethics and theology to frame this theme The Way of Love: Love God und Love Neighbour from my point of view. So,there is quite a risk today my offerings may land like earnest minister sermonese. There is a person in…

4 February 2024

Manningham Uniting Church 4th February 2024       Together@10    Theme:   Generosity Encouraged Texts: Mark 12:28-34   2 Corinthians 9:6-15 Introduction In the Uniting Church Basis of Union, the section on Gifts and Ministries states:“The Uniting Church…  acknowledges with thanksgiving that the one Spirit has endowed the members of Christ’s Church with a diversity of gifts and that there is no gift without its corresponding service: all ministries have a part in the ministry of Christ.”  In short, the Uniting Church believes in the priesthood of all believers. This morning’s commissioning service is…

28 January 2024

Manningham Uniting ChurchSummer Series on the Book of Ruth28th January 2024Text: Ruth Chapter 4Theme:         Hope for an Uncertain Future Introduction  Good morning. I hope you have enjoyed the Summer Series thus far. Enjoy is probably an inappropriate word. I hope you have found the series thus far to be engaging and challenging. I have personally learned so much from my research and preparation of the reflections. I have read the book of Ruth from multiple perspectives. This morning, we will focus on…

21 January 2024 Service of Mourning

Manningham Uniting ChurchSummer Series on the Book of Ruth21st January 2024Text: Ruth Chapter 3Theme:         Hope for the Stereotyped Introduction Good morning. Since 2019 the Uniting Church has marked a Day of Mourning  on the Sunday before 26 January to reflect on the dispossession of Australia’s First Peoples and the ongoing injustices faced by First Nations people in this land. We are invited to continue to reflect on the effects of invasion, colonisation and racism on First Peoples.  Let us pray…God, may my words…

14 January 2024

Manningham Uniting ChurchSummer Series on the Book of Ruth14th January 2024 Text: Ruth Chapter 2 Theme:         Hope for the Marginalised IntroductionLast Sunday we focused on Chapter One of the Book of Ruth.Let’s recap…Naomi, an Israelite, leaves her home during a famine. While away, in Moab, her husband and sons die. Naomi convinces one of her Moabite daughters-in-law, Orpah to return to her homeland and seek a new life. The other, Ruth, refuses, declaring her love and loyalty to Naomi: “Ruth said, don’t…

7 January 2024

Manningham Uniting Church Summer Series on the Book of Ruth 07th January 2024Text: Ruth Chapter 1Theme:         Hope in Difficult Times IntroductionThis morning we begin the Summer series on the Book of Ruth. I would recommend that you take the time this week to read through this book a couple of times.  It is only four chapters, and you can probably read the whole book in less than half an hour.  While the book of Ruth is only four chapters long — approximately…

31 December 2023

The First Sunday of Christmas, Year B Texts:             Isaiah 61:10-62: Luke 2:21(22)-40     Theme:                     My eyes have seen your salvation! IntroductionWelcome, beloved friends and family of faith. The last service for the year. The last Sunday of the year. As we stand on the precipice of a new year, we find ourselves looking back at the year that was, and looking forward to the year that is to come. For me, the birth of Jesus, dear friends, is more than just a historical event.…

Christmas Day 25 December 2023

How to find Hope, Peace, Joy and Love in a weary world Reflection on Hope We need more hope. We need more mercy. We need more justice. If there’s ever a time when people need hope, IT’S NOW! It’s when the world is darkest that hope shines the brightest. The weary world needs hope. We all need hope.  But what’s hope?  Hope means different things to different people, but hope is more than wishful thinking. But the question arises: Is there any…

10 December 2023

Advent 2 Date:         10.12. 2023 Text: Isaiah 40:1-11 and Mark1:1-8 Title: Comfort and Peace Introduction “Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” (Isaiah 4O:1,2) I don’t know about you but I certainly need the Comfort that God offers to God’s people. The context of these comforting words. The Hebrew people were definitely in need…

3 December 2023

Sunday, December 3, 2023 – 1st Sunday in Advent, Year B Texts: Isaiah 64:1-9Mark 13:24-37 Theme: Naming Where We Are Introduction The relentless war in Ukraine.  Unspeakable violence in Israel and Gaza.  Blistering wildfires in western Australia. The rising cost of living and homelessness, significant overrepresentation of First Nations people in the criminal justice system and climate change policy and impacts.   As we approach our next liturgical season and a new Church year, we find ourselves, once again, in a world that threatens…

26 November 2023

A Rainbow of Hope                                               Mathew 25: 31 to 46 Somewhere, over the rainbow, Skies are blue. And the dreams that you dare to dream, Really do come true. A few years ago, I might have sung that sing for you. But that dream has somewhat faded.  Those musical buffs will recognise this song from the Wizard of Oz, sung by Judy Garland. A rainbow.  So what is special about a rainbow? you might ask. Let us pray As a…

12th November 2023

Reflection for Fellowship@10   12th November 2023  Text:  Matthew 25:1-13  Title:  Wise or Naïve? Introduction Let’s recap. Ten bridesmaids were waiting for a bridegroom, they waited so long that they fell asleep! This parable is familiar to you. Right? So, there were these ten bridesmaids waiting for a bridegroom. Five of the bridesmaids were wise and five of the bridesmaids were foolish we are told. The wise bridesmaids brought along some extra oil for their lamps, the foolish bridesmaids did not.  Long before the bridegroom…

19th November 2023

REFLECTION it’s about trust! Throughout this year of Matthew we have heard a number of parables about the kingdom of God.  In fact, most of the parables about God’s kingdom are found in Matthew How many times did Jesus say, The kingdom of heaven is like…? the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed… the kingdom of heaven is like yeast… the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field… the kingdom of heaven is like a…

5th November 2023

Reflection for Together@10 5th November 2023  Text:  Matthew 25:31-46.   Title: Homelessness Introduction  “The good we do lives on in others, and it is one of the most important things that does.” These are the words of the late Rabbi Lord Johnathan Sacks who died on 7th November 2020.  He had been Chief Rabbi in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations for 22 years and a source of inspiration for many. “The good we do lives on in others, and it is…

29 October 2023

Text:      Matthew 22:34 – 46 Title:      Putting Love Before Everything Else Introduction The Pharisees and the Sadducees have been taking turns, as if by design, trying to trap Jesus. Last Sunday in Matthew 22:15-22We have the Pharisees and the Herodians ganging up to entrap Jesus: “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one, for you do not regard people with partiality. 17 Tell us, then, what you think.  Is it…

22 October 2023

REFLECTION             What is God’s? CONTEXT The drama in Matthew’s Jerusalem is getting more serious.  The Pharisees sensed that what Jesus stood for ran directly against what they stood for.  The Pharisees derived their power and authority from demanding slavish adherence to the Jewish laws.   Jesus threatened their authority.  Who was to be followed? The religious leaders or this upstart carpenter – this Jesus who seemed to claim authority for himself, even above the law. In Matthew 21, Jesus had entered Jerusalem as if he…
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