Sermons
Year B – Fifth Sunday In Lent – The Voice On An Angel
17 March 2024
Some people like to watch the ABC for their news – others like to watch Sky News. Some like to read The Age for their news – some prefer the… Read more
Year B – Fourth Sunday In Lent – The Sting Of Sin.
10 March 2024
We have an interesting set of readings today which are intimately linked but seemingly totally opposite in understanding. In the Gospel reading we have what would be the most well… Read more
Year B – Third Sunday In Lent – Foolish Behaviour
3 March 2024
Have you ever been called a fool for being a Christian? I have. Have you ever felt like a fool in front of others when a discussion about Christianity comes… Read more
Year B – Second Sunday In Lent – Covenant Not Law
25 February 2024
Most people tend to like rules. We know where we stand. Sometimes rules inhibit us – like when we know the road is clear but they’ve either forgotten to take… Read more
Year B – First Sunday In Lent – Wilderness blessings
18 February 2024
I’ve always been intrigued by the sequences of events at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. It begins with his baptism, then sent into the wilderness, tempted by the devil, among… Read more
Ash Wednesday – God’s Valentine Love
14 February 2024
Around the world today many people will be celebrating but most won’t be aware of the significance of what today brings to Christians – Ash Wednesday. Today, being 14th February,… Read more
Year B – The Transfiguration – Preparing For The End
11 February 2024
In the beginning God said “Let there be light – and there was light”. This is not the light that we associate with daylight from the sun as the sun… Read more
Year B – Fifth Sunday After Epiphany – Blessed proclaiming the Gospel
4 February 2024
The first chapter of Mark is an amazing chapter. Here we are about to end our Epiphany season and we are still in chapter one. In this chapter we’ve had… Read more
Year B – Fourth Sunday After Epiphany – A new authority
28 January 2024
Authority. It’s a word that is supposed to bring us comfort and assurance. But in a world with increasing insecurity, authority can seem to be an invasion of our privacy… Read more
Year B – First Sunday After Christmas – What’s in a name?
31 December 2023
As we journey through life we gain many possessions. As children it might be things we collect – things like coins, stamps or certain toys that are collectable. As we… Read more
Christmas Day Sermon – The first Christmas
25 December 2023
The story of the very first Christmas is very different to today’s Christmas celebrations. To me it seems so much more enjoyable as we listen to that first Christmas. Yes… Read more
Christmas Eve Sermon – Keeping our Christmas joy
24 December 2023
No doubt as you’ve been going about your shopping or other activities you’ve been hearing Christmas Carols being played. There are some of the traditional ones like Away in a… Read more
Year B – 3rd Sunday in Advent
17 December 2023
Every Sunday, and perhaps in your daily prayers, we pray in the Lord’s Prayer – your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. What is God’s will?… Read more
Year B – Second Sunday In Advent – Patience And Humility In Suffering
10 December 2023
Today we are introduced, as we always are on the 2nd Sunday of Advent, to John the Baptist. John is an interesting character. Jesus says he is the fulfilment of… Read more
Year B – First Sunday In Advent – Be alert but not afraid
3 December 2023
As we look at the world around us it’s easy to feel that Jesus could return any day now if not today. In scripture Jesus prophesied about the signs we… Read more
Year A – Last Sunday of the Church Year – The Kingdom prepared for us.
26 November 2023
Today brings about the end of another Church Year. A year that seems to go so quickly when we hope for a time of rest after a busy Easter. But… Read more
Year A – Twenty-Fifth Sunday After Pentecost – A trusting relationship
19 November 2023
Although he didn’t invent the saying, famous basketballer Michael Jordan made popular the saying: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” In other words, if you have a shot… Read more
Year A – Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Pentecost – Patiently Waiting
12 November 2023
How are you at waiting? It can be hard to wait. Don’t you get frustrated when you are put on hold and you hear: “Your call is important to us. Please… Read more
Year A – All Saints Day – Hidden Glory
5 November 2023
People often talk about the Book of Revelation as if it’s a taboo book. You hear comments along the lines of – it’s too freaky – I don’t understand it… Read more
Year A – Reformation Sunday – Truly set free
29 October 2023
Like a lot of people, maybe most people, perhaps all people, I don’t like to admit I’m wrong or to have my errors pointed out. It’s very uncomfortable and we… Read more
Year A – Twenty – first Sunday After Pentecost – Image is everything
22 October 2023
Image seems to be everything these days. In social media you have to get that profile picture just right so people will friend you, add you, follow you, swipe you,… Read more
Year A – Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost – You are invited
15 October 2023
Jesus has used quite a few parables in recent weeks to give us a picture of what the Kingdom of Heaven is going to look like. He used examples of… Read more
Year A – Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost
8 October 2023
Two teams played off last week to determine who was the Premiership Club in the AFL. A week earlier both clubs were ecstatic to have made the achievement of playing… Read more
Year A – Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost – Is the Lord among us or not?
1 October 2023
Is the Lord among us or not? Great question. Have you asked that question before? Is the Lord among us or not? What has made you ask that question? What… Read more
Year A – Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost – An unpayable debt
17 September 2023
If you have a credit card you probably try your hardest to pay it off in full or at least pay as much as you can to limit the amount… Read more
Year A – Creation Sunday – Creative justice
10 September 2023
I was rather surprised when I read our Old Testament reading from Amos. Surprised because Israel were being reprimanded for doing what God has supposedly commanded Israel to do: Observe… Read more
Year A – Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost – Sliding Doors
3 September 2023
There was an interesting movie from 1998 called Sliding Doors. It had 2 scenarios facing a woman on her way home from work. Both scenarios have her rushing to catch… Read more
Year A – Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost – Who do YOU say that I AM.
27 August 2023
“But who do you say that I am? This is a question I find that I continually ask myself. It is a question we should all ask ourselves in regards… Read more
Year A – Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost – God’s mercy
20 August 2023
There is a saying that revenge is a dish best served cold. What does that mean? It means that often when someone hurts us we feel the need to pay… Read more
Year A – Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost – With Jesus by my side
13 August 2023
The walking on the water by Jesus is an interesting miracle. It has 2 dimensions to it. The physical and the spiritual. Let’s first look at the physical dimensions. Jesus… Read more
Year A – Tenth Sunday After Pentecost – Always enough
6 August 2023
Over the past few weeks we have listened to Jesus teach us about the Kingdom of Heaven and God’s grace and mercy through parables. Parables are interesting ways of teaching… Read more
Year A – Ninth Sunday After Pentecost – Our Prayer helper
30 July 2023
A couple weeks ago we heard a heart felt confession by St Paul that must have taken real courage. The good I want to do I do not do –… Read more
Year A – Eighth Sunday After Pentecost – Between a rock and a hard place
23 July 2023
There is a saying that one is sometimes caught between a rock and a hard place. Basically, it means you are in a difficult situation where you have to choose… Read more
Year A – Seventh Sunday After Pentecost – Keep Sowing
16 July 2023
On one of my recent walks I went past a house that was obviously abandoned. Apart from the letter box overflowing with junk and personal mail the overgrown grass was… Read more
Year A – Sixth Sunday After Pentecost – Spiritual Rest
9 July 2023
Jesus today seems frustrated. He doesn’t get the people’s attitude. Those around him criticized John the Baptist as being possessed by a demon because he didn’t eat or drink in… Read more
Year A – Fifth Sunday After Pentecost – All Welcome?
2 July 2023
It’s probably seen on every church sign board – on every church bulletin – on powerpoint displays – in fact it’s probably the very first word spoken by the Pastor… Read more
Year A – Fourth Sunday After Pentecost – the logic of Grace
25 June 2023
When I was serving at Frankston, the manse had hooked up pipes from our drainage system to fill up containers so we could recycle water from our showers and washing… Read more
Year A – Third Sunday After Pentecost – God’s laughable plans
18 June 2023
There is an old saying – if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans. In our Old Testament reading today it seems that the opposite has happened…. Read more
Year A – Second Sunday After Pentecost – Faithful interruptions
11 June 2023
Do you find these days that interruptions are just nonstop? You’re talking to someone and they check their phone mid sentence because they feel it vibrate or hear it ring…. Read more
Year A – Trinity Sunday
4 June 2023
The question of Creation is a debate that occurs not just between atheists and Christians but even amongst Christians. Did God create the world in 6 literal days or are… Read more
Year A – Pentecost Sunday – Reconciled
28 May 2023
Today we celebrate a special occasion in the church that we call Pentecost Sunday. The word Pentecost simply means 50th because it is 50 days since Easter Sunday. It is… Read more
Year A – Ascension Sunday – Mission fulfilled
21 May 2023
Have you ever started a project and felt like giving up? Maybe you’ve been enthused to start a jigsaw puzzle and you get all the border pieces together but then… Read more
Year A – Sixth Sunday Of Easter – The Unknown God revealed
14 May 2023
There is a well-known understanding that history has a tendency to repeat itself. It might be in the area of fashion or music tastes. But what we see happening in… Read more
Year A – Fifth Sunday Of Easter – God in the driver’s seat
7 May 2023
I’m not sure how many of you use a GPS when you’re driving your car but how much trust do you put in it? Last week I had to drive… Read more
Year A – Fourth Sunday Of Easter – more than a number
30 April 2023
Do you get frustrated like I do with having to remember so many numbers. What’s your mobile phone number? What’s your customer number? What’s your PIN number? What’s your licence… Read more
Year A – Easter Sunday – Main Service
9 April 2023
A blessed Easter to all of you! Today, we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. This is the greatest day in the Christian calendar, and it… Read more
Year A – Easter Sunday – Dawn Service
9 April 2023
Given our hindsight we presume we would have acted differently to Mary at the open grave. “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him,… Read more
Year A – Good Friday – The 7 last words of Christ
7 April 2023
Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing: This would have to be the most profound statements made by our Lord Jesus Christ – “Father, forgive them,… Read more
Maundy Thursday
6 April 2023
On this Maundy Thursday, we gather together to commemorate the Last Supper, where Jesus shared the Passover meal with his disciples and gave them a new commandment – to love… Read more
Year A – Palm Sunday – Our Triumphal entry into Heaven
2 April 2023
Today, we celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, where the people welcomed Jesus with palm branches and shouts of “Hosanna!” But as we remember this joyous occasion,… Read more
Year A – Fifth Sunday In Lent – Signs
26 March 2023
We are almost at the end of our Lenten road since Ash Wednesday: We are in the home stretch with Palm Sunday next Sunday. During the past few weeks of… Read more
Year A – Fourth Sunday In Lent – Whose fault?
19 March 2023
Have you had difficulty finding some of your favourite shopping items which seem to constantly be out of stock? I know that things like eggs and lettuce have been in… Read more
Year A – Third Sunday In Lent – Is the Lord among us or not
12 March 2023
“Is the Lord among us or not?” It’s an interesting question asked by Israel and a question that many Christians have most likely asked when times of difficulty arise. “Is… Read more
Year A – Second Sunday In Lent – faith journeys
5 March 2023
Our Genesis reading takes us back to the beginnings of our faith – Abraham, or Abram as he is known here – considered to be the father of faith, even… Read more
Year A – First Sunday In Lent – Tempted
26 February 2023
“Temptation” is a word that doesn’t have much context in today’s world – a world that is often described as being “post-modern”. One of the central understandings of post modernism… Read more
Ash Wednesday 2023
22 February 2023
Be reconciled to God. Paul is pleading with us to be reconciled to God. It’s an interesting request. I didn’t think that I was not reconciled to God. Isn’t that… Read more
Year A – Transfiguration
19 February 2023
At lunch times I like to go home and while I’m eating my lunch I usually watch an episode of one of my favourite TV shows and it’s usually a… Read more
Year A – Sixth Sunday After Epiphany – Spiritual growth
12 February 2023
It’s hard to fathom that our Grandson is turning one next week. It’s been amazing watching him develop – crawling, standing up and eating solid foods. That last one is… Read more
Year A – Fifth Sunday After Epiphany – Salted or Assaulted
5 February 2023
We live in a very health-conscious age. We watch our calorie intake – we read that ever shrinking panel on the back of products to see how many kilojoules that… Read more
Year A – Christmas Day – No room at the inn – plenty of room in God’s heart
25 December 2022
Christmas is an occasion that brings families together. And maybe you’ve been the host trying to fit everyone in to save the expense of a motel. I know we’ve had… Read more
Year A – Christmas Eve – The same story – the same God
24 December 2022
Has Covid, the lockdowns, curfews, restrictions, changed your life? Has it changed the way you socialize? The way you worship? The way you work? The way you shop? Sometimes changes… Read more
Year A – Fourth Sunday Of Advent – We are all needed by God
18 December 2022
I’m the sort of person who believes if you want a job done well you do it yourself. I’ve never been that good at delegating. And I know a lot of… Read more
Year A – Third Sunday Of Advent – Do we look for another?
11 December 2022
You can almost feel it – you can almost taste it – you can almost touch it. Christmas is in 2 weeks. Whether the excitement is because you can’t wait… Read more
Year A – Second Sunday Of Advent – Be prepared
4 December 2022
There is a lot of evidence that Christmas is upon us. Shops are starting to put up decorations. Christmas catalogues and specials are hitting our mailboxes. Christmas breakups seem to… Read more
Year A – First Sunday Of Advent – End Times Complacency
27 November 2022
As we prepare for Advent the weeks leading up to Advent and also today speak about the end times. Usually when we think of “end times” we think of quite… Read more
Year C – Last Sunday Of The Church Year – The crucified King
20 November 2022
When you think of a king what image immediately comes to mind? We have recently had the coronation of a King – King Charles the third and there were lots of… Read more
Year C – Twenty-Third Sunday After Pentecost – Testifying to hope
13 November 2022
“When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” “Nation will rise against nation,… Read more
Year C – All Saints Day – A glorious inheritance
6 November 2022
The Herald Sun recently reported that – there is going to be a massive transfer of intergenerational wealth among Australians. It is estimated that a staggering $3.5 trillion of assets… Read more
Year C – Reformation – The 5 Solas
30 October 2022
Today we celebrate the Reformation of the church. An event that began just over 500 years ago with an Augustinian Monk by the name of Martin Luther nailing his infamous… Read more
Year C – Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost – Made righteous
23 October 2022
A couple weeks ago I spoke about heroes and villains and how we often make villains out of good people. Like the Pharisees who are often portrayed as the evil… Read more
Ringwood 60th Anniversary – Work in progress
23 October 2022
What an amazing achievement – 60 years – albeit now 61 because of Covid. A diamond celebration. It’s not an easy task to achieve and how fitting that a 60th… Read more
Year C – Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost – Gratitude or expectations?
9 October 2022
A lot of the TV shows and movies we watch have heroes and villains. It’s a natural categorization of people – the goodies and the baddies. Even in police dramas… Read more
Year C – Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost – reversal of fortunes
25 September 2022
There is the old saying that there are 2 things certain in life – death and taxes. In our Gospel reading one of those is certainly true – death. Jesus… Read more
Year C – Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost – Our mediator with God
18 September 2022
We have a new King – King Charles the third. And no doubt most preachers will be focusing on this and Paul’s encouragement to pray for our leaders in order… Read more
Year C – Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost – God’s mission
11 September 2022
The big word in churches is Mission. But it’s a word that can be easily misunderstood. Our parish is undergoing a review at present that we are calling “cultivating a… Read more
Year C – Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost – Counting the cost
4 September 2022
The news keeps getting grimmer and grimmer when it comes to cost of living. Petrol, groceries, energy costs, mortgages. People are needing to reassess their living expenses to work out… Read more
Year C – Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost – Humble hospitality
28 August 2022
With the explosion of different social media platforms it seems that everybody has the potential to be famous. It’s not that uncommon for a regular person to get thousands of… Read more
Year C – Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost – Freed from fear of the Law
21 August 2022
Today’s gospel reading is really sad. But I’m not talking about the woman who was bent over for 18 years in physical pain. No, I’m talking about the religious leaders… Read more
Year C – Tenth Sunday After Pentecost – Don’t give up
14 August 2022
Back in my youth group days at Box Hill a couple friends of mine decided to visit another friend from our group who was working at Hermannsburg in the Northern… Read more
Year C – Ninth Sunday After Pentecost – Bigger – not always better
7 August 2022
Bigger is better! Isn’t that what we’re led to believe? Bigger is better. Bigger churches are seen to be more successful. Bigger companies make more profit. Whereas we’d love our… Read more
Year C – Eighth Sunday After Pentecost – Lord, teach us to share
31 July 2022
Our Gospel reading about hording possessions would have been very appropriate at the beginning of Covid when certain items became in short supply. We saw people rushing out and buying… Read more
Year C – Seventh Sunday After Pentecost – Lord teach us to pray
24 July 2022
When there is a tragedy you often hear people respond to the victim saying our thoughts and prayers are with you. While there’s nothing wrong with that and I’m sure… Read more
Year C – Sixth Sunday After Pentecost – Listen to Jesus
17 July 2022
O for the life of Mary. To be able to have the freedom and luxury of sitting at Jesus’ feet free of the busyness of life that has captured Martha…. Read more
Year C – Fifth Sunday After Pentecost – Go and do likewise
10 July 2022
I’m a fairly practical person and when I have to do something I like to have instructions. So when I’m confronted with a problem or a new situation I like… Read more
Year C – Fourth Sunday After Pentecost – Upholding God
3 July 2022
Have you ever been out somewhere and all of a sudden the topic of conversation changes to religion? Do you hope that no one asks your opinion as you hear… Read more
Year C – Third Sunday After Pentecost – Dealing with problem makers
26 June 2022
Last week I began by asking you a question of how do you deal with your problems. The context was the demon possessed man who was deemed too difficult to… Read more
Year C – Second Sunday After Pentecost – Out of mind out of sight
19 June 2022
How do you deal with your problems? Many people like to sweep them under the carpet – out of sight out of mind. But just because you can’t see the… Read more
Year C – Trinity Sunday – Best left unexplained
12 June 2022
The Holy Trinity is an interesting teaching of the Christian church. The word “Trinity” doesn’t appear in the bible so it has been disputed by many denominations like the Jehovah’s Witnesses… Read more
Year C – Pentecost – Healing or hurting Words
5 June 2022
There is the old saying that “the pen is mightier than the sword”. Often we associate that saying with harm that can be done through the words we speak or… Read more
Year C – Ascension
29 May 2022
Today we celebrate the end to Jesus being with his followers after his resurrection. In Luke’s Gospel Jesus takes his closest friends to Bethany. Here Jesus tells them that the time had… Read more
Year C – Fifth Sunday After Easter – The New Creation
15 May 2022
On Good Friday we focused on the 7 last words of Christ. And one of those 7 words of Christ was – It is finished. It is finished, as we… Read more
Year C – Fourth Sunday After Easter – The Promise Keeping Shepherd
8 May 2022
We are well and truly in election mode with a Federal Election later this month. And as always in the lead up to any election out comes the cheque book and… Read more
Year C – Easter Sunday – Passing the message on
17 April 2022
No one expected it – not one single person. What we celebrate here today was totally outside of the realm of belief of every single disciple even though Jesus had told… Read more
Year C – Good Friday – The 7 last words of Jesus
15 April 2022
Father forgive them for they know not what they do. There is a lot going on in the world today that gets our anger to boiling point. Whether it’s the… Read more
Year C – Maundy Thursday – From darkness to light
14 April 2022
Maundy Thursday begins our journey through the darkness of Good Friday to the light of Easter Sunday. Maundy Thursday is itself a night of sadness. When we celebrate Holy Communion… Read more
Year C – Seventh Sunday After Epiphany
20 February 2022
I believe that one of the most powerful people in the Bible is Joseph – the firstborn son of Jacob and Rachel even though he was the 2nd last son… Read more
Year C – Sixth Sunday After Epiphany – Not pitied but envied.
13 February 2022
These 2 years of Covid have been extremely difficult and challenging. I remember through the first wave of lockdowns where we were told – 2 weeks to flatten the curve… Read more
Year C – Fifth Sunday After Epiphany – A broken spirit renewed by God
6 February 2022
We have an interesting set of readings for today. Usually there is a thread running between them that creates a common theme. On one level that theme is being called… Read more
Year C – Fourth Sunday After Epiphany – God’s “unfair” love
30 January 2022
It was supposed to be a homecoming welcome when Jesus arrives at Nazareth, his home town. Local boy makes good. We get very excited and proud when one of our… Read more
Year C – Third Sunday After Epiphany – Mission Statements
23 January 2022
Mission statements are used by Churches to help them to define who they are. Both of our congregations have a mission statement to which we continue to check ourselves against… Read more
Christmas Day 2021 – More than just a memory
25 December 2021
I heard a comment recently that BC and AD were going to be redefined from “before Christ” and “Anne Domini” (the year of our Lord) to Before Covid and After… Read more
Christmas Eve 2021 – God’s suffering love
24 December 2021
On that very first Christmas Eve as Mary began her labour pains and was preparing to give birth she discovered that her child was going to be very different. It… Read more
Year C – Fourth Sunday Of Advent – An unconventional God
19 December 2021
Today’s Gospel is a little different to others in that it features two women dialoguing with each other and we know both of their names – Mary and Elizabeth. Usually men are… Read more
Year C – Third Sunday Of Advent – Joy to the world
12 December 2021
The Third Sunday of Advent is known as “rejoice” Sunday. We know that Advent is a season of waiting and today we are called to be joyful as we await… Read more
Year C – Second Sunday Of Advent – Making a straight path for Jesus.
5 December 2021
The 2nd Sunday of Advent always introduces us to John the Baptist. John is described as a relative of Jesus through his mother Mary and her relative Elizabeth although we’re… Read more
Year C – First Sunday Of Advent – God knows.
28 November 2021
Waiting is not my strong point. I would rather take longer to get somewhere without needing to wait in a traffic jam even if the route with the traffic jam… Read more
Year B – Christ the King Sunday – King of the new Kingdom
21 November 2021
Throughout this pandemic and even before with many tragedies our world has faced people have asked – where is God in all this – or – why has God allowed… Read more
Year B – All Saints Day – Kept safe until the Day
14 November 2021
Human beings have always been interested in what we call “End Time” prophecies. People have for centuries checked their horoscopes – have consulted clairvoyants and tinkered in other ways of… Read more
Year B – Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Pentecost – All or nothing
7 November 2021
“It’s all or nothing” is a term often used when you’ve got nothing to lose. You sometimes hear stories of people down on their luck and they use their last… Read more
Year B – Reformation Sunday – No distinctions
31 October 2021
Well here we are with a sense of freedom. Still some restrictions in place but a sense that we are beginning to enjoy some of the freedoms we had with… Read more
Year B – Twenty-Second Sunday After Pentecost – Blind faith
24 October 2021
Our Gospel reading today is interesting, not because of the story of Jesus healing a blind man, but because of what Jesus says to blind Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus has heard that Jesus… Read more
Year B – Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost – Humble glory
17 October 2021
When the 10 disciples heard about James and John’s request to Jesus – “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”… Read more
Year B – Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost – Heart surgery
10 October 2021
I find the question put to Jesus today rather strange. A man ran up and knelt before Jesus, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal… Read more
Year B – Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost – Childlike faith
3 October 2021
Why is it that life gets more complicated as you get older? As a child you really don’t have a lot of things to worry about. Your parents look after… Read more
Year B – Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost – Moving forward
26 September 2021
Someone once commented to me that they were surprised that we don’t see more one eyed, one armed Christians hobbling along on peg legs. I looked at them puzzingly to… Read more
Year B – Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost – Being the best God has made us to be
19 September 2021
Tomorrow night, one AFL player will be crowned the best and fairest player of the year – the highest individual accolade awarded in Australian Rules Football. Apart from 2017 I could… Read more
Year B – Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost – A very heavy Cross
12 September 2021
Children love to hear fairy-tales – I think we can still call them that. Most fairy-tales usually start and end the same way – The beginning – Once upon a… Read more
Year B – Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost – Keep praying – it’s your right.
5 September 2021
Whenever I read this Gospel reading it really speaks to me. Not the healing side of it but the geographical reach of Jesus into Tyre and Sidon which were Gentile… Read more
Year B – Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost – Following the rules
29 August 2021
When I’m going on my daily walk I see many people with their masks under their noses, under their chin, or no mask at all. I’m sure you’ve seen that… Read more
Year B – Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost – Lord to whom shall we go?
22 August 2021
How did you go filling out the census last week? I’m looking forward to hearing the results when they are released but particularly I want to see the section on religion… Read more
Year B – Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost – Singing in the heart
15 August 2021
I’m not sure how you are going at present but I have stopped watching the news on TV and reading the newspaper. For those of you who know me that… Read more
Year B – Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost – It is enough now, O Lord
8 August 2021
Have you ever read a passage in the Bible and thought – wow – that’s exactly what I’m going through – or, that’s exactly how I feel at present. When… Read more
Year B – Tenth Sunday After Pentecost – Divided we fall
1 August 2021
Usually in times of adversity human kind rallies together to tackle the issues. Think of our recent responses to things like overseas humanitarian issues – floods, fire, drought, hunger– and… Read more
Year B – Ninth Sunday After Pentecost – Do not be afraid – I am God
25 July 2021
Jesus walking on the water – a neat party trick or is there something deeply revealing about this miracle. Firstly we need to understand that Jesus never does anything just… Read more
Year B – Eighth Sunday After Pentecost – Breaking down walls
18 July 2021
The great divide happened again this week as NSW Covid cases spiked at the start of the week into triple figures. The resultant action was to declare red zones and shut… Read more
Year B – Seventh Sunday After Pentecost – God’s plan before time began
11 July 2021
John the Baptist features prominently during Advent as he prepares the way for Jesus’ arrival at Christmas time. We don’t hear much more about John’s life other than he is… Read more
Year B – Sixth Sunday After Pentecost – Power in weakness
4 July 2021
Have you ever been asked what your favourite Bible passage is? Do you have one? Many choose Psalm 23 – the Lord’s my Shepherd. Many choose John 3:16 – for… Read more
Year B – Fifth Sunday After Pentecost – Persisting In Hope
27 June 2021
In today’s Gospel, we hear two stories of healing. But they come about in different ways. One is what we call through intercessory prayer. When we pray for someone who… Read more
Year B – Fourth Sunday After Pentecost – Crossing over to the “other side”
20 June 2021
Several years ago there was a celebrity psychic by the name of Jonathon Edward who claimed he could make contact with deceased relatives with messages for their loved ones. He… Read more
Year B – Third Sunday After Pentecost – Is Bigger really Better?
13 June 2021
Bigger is better is how we usually understand things. Go to McDonalds and you’ll be tempted to upsize your meal from small to large. Buy something on TV shopping and… Read more
Year B – Second Sunday After Pentecost – Divided We Fall
6 June 2021
I believe that our Old Testament reading today is one of the most important readings to understanding the human condition and how our world works. It especially speaks to what… Read more
Year B – Holy Trinity – Protecting God’s Identity
30 May 2021
Identity theft is a growing concern in society today. Every day I receive either a warning of a new scam trying to trick me into handing over my private details… Read more
Year B – Pentecost Sunday – Groaning with God
23 May 2021
We live in a world that is groaning. We hear it every time we turn on the TV news – every time we pick up the newspaper – every time… Read more
Year B – The Ascension – Don’t underestimate the Ascension
16 May 2021
The Ascension of our Lord falls on the 40th day after Jesus’ resurrection. During those 40 days Jesus established eye witnesses who would pass on to future generations proof of… Read more
Year B – Sixth Sunday Of Easter – Family Privileges
9 May 2021
Blood is thicker than water: It doesn’t matter what you know – it’s who you know that matters. These and other sayings highlight the reality that there are privileges that… Read more
Year B – Fifth Sunday Of Easter – The greatest love of all
2 May 2021
ISM’s and Phobias seem to be dominating our world at present. Racism, sexism, ageism Homophobia – transphobia – Islamophobia Whenever we disagree with something or someone we instantly fall into… Read more
Year B – Good Shepherd Sunday – Sheepish Behaviour
25 April 2021
To be called a sheep is not a very flattering thing. It is a term usually used when referring to a person who doesn’t think for themselves but just blindly… Read more
Year B – Good Friday
1 April 2021
Today is a day that weighs heavy on the church. Each year on Good Friday, we hear the account of Jesus’ gruesome death; Each year we experience those same emotions that accompany… Read more
Year B – Maundy Thursday – 1st April 2021
1 April 2021
A lot of things have changed in the way we do worship in this past 12 months. And Maundy Thursday is no exception. Much in our bible reading tonight would… Read more
Year B – Easter Sunday – 4th April 2021
1 April 2021
I will never forget last Easter Sunday. There were just 4 of us at Ringwood for that day. We had our organist playing the organ instead of recorded music. We… Read more
Year B – Fifth Sunday In Lent – Suffering’s hidden mystery
21 March 2021
With the AFL football season starting this week there is a sense of privilege for those who were fortunate enough to have had a ticket to watch their team play…. Read more
Year B – Fourth Sunday In Lent – God’s Masterpieces
14 March 2021
I don’t consider myself a cultured person at all. Let me just unpack that. I don’t look at artwork and see the nuances and expression of the artist and what… Read more
Year B – Third Sunday In Lent – The true church
7 March 2021
The Ten Commandments play a foundational role not just in the life of Christians but in society also. But it depends from which angle you look at them as to… Read more
Year B – Second Sunday In Lent – Human responses to divine plans
28 February 2021
Peter sometimes gets a bit of an unwarranted criticism throughout his time with Jesus. Yes he didn’t always get things right – but isn’t that human nature? Do we always… Read more
Year B – First Sunday in Lent – Ministering Angels in the Wilderness
17 February 2021
Wasn’t that quick? We woke up Friday morning to discover that we were back into lockdown for the 3rd time. We thought everything was going okay. We had hit zero… Read more
Year B – Ash Wednesday
17 February 2021
Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return are words we would normally hear after the sermon on Ash Wednesday as you receive a sign of the… Read more
Year B – Transfiguration Sunday – The Life-Force of God
14 February 2021
When we read the book of Genesis, one of the most well-known acts of God’s creation is the first act when God says – “Let there be light”. Like many… Read more
Year B – Fifth Sunday after Epiphany – God’s healing proclamation
7 February 2021
As the restrictions for the pandemic ease around us it’s really hard to know the difference between what can and can’t we do as opposed to what should or shouldn’t… Read more
Year B – 4th Sunday after Epiphany – Head to heart knowledge
31 January 2021
Marks’s Gospel is an interesting account of the life of Jesus. It doesn’t have the sweet recording of Jesus birth – shepherds, manger, wise men coming to visit. No, here… Read more
Year B – Epiphany 3 – The Good News of repentance
24 January 2021
Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night to a house or car alarm going off? What’s your first response? If it’s like mine, it’s usually not… Read more
Year B – 2nd Sunday after Epiphany – Come and see Jesus
13 January 2021
This is my first week back for 2021 so firstly I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year. In my break I have tried to contemplate what… Read more
Year B – Christmas Day
24 December 2020
There have been many emotions throughout this Covid year – anger, uncertainty, confusion – but high up there, perhaps at the top, was and still is – fear. Fear of… Read more
Year B- Christmas Eve
24 December 2020
There are 2 major celebrations in the Church – Christmas and Easter. Last Easter none of us would have thought that we could not have had an Easter Service –… Read more
Year B – 4th Sunday in Advent – God knows better
17 December 2020
Even though much of the bible is what we call Patriarchal – that is heavily written from a male perspective where many women remain unnamed – Jairus’s daughter – Jephtha’s… Read more
Year B – Advent 3 – Reflecting the true light
10 December 2020
I was interested in reading last week that China landed a rocket on the moon and obtained some samples from the moon’s surface. I am always fascinated by moon travel… Read more
Year B -2nd Sunday in Advent – Same story – different challenges
6 December 2020
One of the challenges during Advent and Christmas is hearing the familiar story we all know. Not that there’s anything wrong with the story but sometimes we sort of switch… Read more
Year B – 1st Sunday in Advent – Worth the wait
25 November 2020
Jesus says today – “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near”. Jesus… Read more
Year A – Last Sunday of Church Year – An unexpected reward
22 November 2020
Today we celebrate the last Sunday of the church year. Next week we begin our Advent celebrations to prepare for Christmas where we welcome Jesus coming to this earth as… Read more
Year A-24th Sunday after Pentecost – A Trusting Relationship
15 November 2020
I sort of feel a bit sorry for the 3rd person in Jesus’ parable today. It seemed that his intentions were honourable. He thought he was doing the right thing…. Read more
Year A – 23rd Sunday after Pentecost – A missed opportunity
8 November 2020
I went to the store last week to purchase something and in big letters – CASH NOT ACCEPTED – must pay by card. I never thought I would see the… Read more
Year A – All Saints Day – Worship in eternity
1 November 2020
Today we commemorate All Saints Day. A day when we acknowledge to God our thanks for the life that he gives and for the life that he gathers into his… Read more
Year A – Reformation Sunday – Freedom
25 October 2020
I’m sure many of us were glued to our TV screens last Sunday and scouring the news to see the list of freedoms that we were granted as we slowly… Read more
Year A – 20th Sunday after Pentecost – The Image of God
18 October 2020
As we get further and further into this period of lockdown and closed churches, I keep thinking of the incident in Acts 5 where the Apostle Peter was ordered by… Read more
Year A – 19th Sunday after Pentecost – Accepting God’s invitation
11 October 2020
During this period of Covid restrictions the challenges of invitation has been at the forefront. I’ve done a wedding, a baptism and 7 funerals – and all of them faced… Read more
Year A – 18th Sunday after Pentecost – Holding up a mirror
4 October 2020
One of the things I enjoy about the Pentecost Season in the church is that we spend a lot of time listening to Jesus’ parables. Parables are a special way… Read more
Year A – 17th Sunday after Pentecost –
27 September 2020
How are you feeling after 8 weeks of stage 4 lockdowns? How are you feeling after 6 months of restrictions on what some call basic human liberties and rights? Do… Read more
Year A – 16th Sunday after Pentecost – A generous God
20 September 2020
Have you ever had that stumper of a question put to you? How can a loving God send people to Hell? How can a loving God send people to Hell?… Read more
Year A – 15th Sunday after Pentecost – A Second Chance
13 September 2020
For some weeks now the questions have been asked. Whose fault is it that we are still in lockdown while the rest of the country has opened up? Whose fault… Read more
Year A – 14th Sunday after Pentecost – Peace through reconciliation
6 September 2020
Today’s Gospel reading has probably the most important teaching of Jesus or anyone in the Bible. And the reason it is so important is that it goes to the heart… Read more
Year A – 13th Sunday after Pentecost – A Matter of Perspective
30 August 2020
We have to admit that this Corona Virus pandemic has taken us completely by surprise. It has turned our lives upside down. Have you noticed the different reactions people… Read more
Year A – 12th Sunday after Pentecost – The Jesus’ Quiz
23 August 2020
Our family enjoys doing the Herald Sun quiz during dinner. It feels really good when you get the answer right – but even better when no one else knows the… Read more
Year A – – 11th Sunday after Pentecost – Irrevocable promises of God
16 August 2020
In the past week I have been reflecting quite deeply about last week’s Gospel reading. If you recall it was the account of the disciples being in a boat that… Read more
Year A – 10th Sunday after Pentecost – Getting to the other side
9 August 2020
Fresh from their miraculous feeding of the 5,000, the disciples are about to encounter another miracle of Jesus but this one will be like none other. Jesus has decided to… Read more
Year A – 9th Sunday after Pentecost – God’s compassion
2 August 2020
Our bible reading from Paul today shows just how much sacrifice love is prepared to make. Paul, known as Saul before his conversion, was a leading Pharisee before he met… Read more
Year A – 8th Sunday after Pentecost – The Kingdom of Heaven
26 July 2020
Jesus tells 5 small parables today to describe the Kingdom of Heaven. They each complement each other and also describe a different aspect of God’s Kingdom which we’re going to… Read more
Year A – 7th Sunday after Pentecost – The time of suffering is short
19 July 2020
When the pandemic first caused our lockdowns in late March we gathered our strength and knew that soon in the future that this pandemic would all be in the past… Read more
Year A – 6th Sunday after Pentecost – Sowing God’s seed of love
12 July 2020
I’m not a gardener – I can barely gather the motivation to drag out the lawn mower and mow the grass. I look with envy those who live in apartment… Read more
Year A – 5th Sunday after Pentecost – Saint and Sinner inner struggle
5 July 2020
I love this passage by Paul today. It’s among my favourites because Paul really does sum up the Christian struggle and what it’s like. Many people I know feel guilt… Read more
Year A – 4th Sunday after Pentecost – Extending our welcome
26 June 2020
The comment has been made by several Pastors during the COVID 19 lockdowns that coming out of lockdown is much harder than going into lockdown. And it’s true from what… Read more
Year A – Third Sunday After Pentecost – Physical and Spiritual Fear
21 June 2020
Our last service in this church was 22nd March – 3 months ago. It was the 2nd last Sunday of Lent just before Palm Sunday which celebrates the triumphal entry… Read more
Year A – 2nd Sunday after Pentecost – Saved by grace
14 June 2020
Today begins our Pentecost season. Even though we celebrated Pentecost Sunday a couple weeks ago this is now what we refer to as the Pentecost “Season”. The Pentecost Season is… Read more
Year A – Trinity Sunday – Our identity
7 June 2020
I love Christmas – I love Advent – I love Lent – I love Easter, Ascension and Pentecost. They are high points of celebration in our church. But for some… Read more
Year A – Pentecost – Life through the Holy Spirit
31 May 2020
It seems strange to have today’s Gospel reading. I say that because we also had this Gospel reading – a shortened version of it – the first Sunday after Easter…. Read more
Year A – Ascension Sunday – Ascended, not gone.
24 May 2020
There seemed to be a feel of jubilation this week when I spoke with people. The first of the lockdown restrictions were eased which allowed family members to once again… Read more
Year A – 6th Sunday of Easter – The Known God
17 May 2020
Have you ever had that situation where you come across someone you should know? You’re 100% sure you’ve met them before but you can’t remember their name. When that happens… Read more
Year A – 5th Sunday of Easter – Trusting in Lord Jesus – The “I AM”
8 May 2020
Last Sunday Jesus made a bold statement about himself saying – I am the Gate for the sheep. Today he is making another bold statement about himself saying – I… Read more
Year A – 4th Sunday of Easter – Our gated community
3 May 2020
We are now in week 5 of our isolation away from our Sunday Church services. Despite our sadness at not being able to worship together it’s been very encouraging that… Read more
Year A – 3rd Sunday of Easter – What our eyes don’t see.
26 April 2020
Three words in our Gospel reading today reflect so much of our society. Three words that sound so sad they make you want to cry. We had hoped. Three words… Read more
Year A – 2nd Sunday of Easter – God is in control – even if you don’t see it.
19 April 2020
Over the Easter period I spoke at length about the effects of the Pandemic and its effects on us particularly the isolation that has been placed on us as we… Read more
Year A – Easter Sunday – Fear and Joy
12 April 2020
If we could sum up the feeling of the world at present I believe the word “fear” best sums up how people are feeling. Fear of catching COVID-19 Fear of… Read more
Year A – Good Friday – The 7 last words of Jesus
10 April 2020
Father forgive them for they know not what they do. I was watching a special on TV last week about the Coronavirus and the presenter said – let’s get the… Read more
Year A – Maundy Thursday
9 April 2020
I wonder how Jesus would have coped under today’s restrictions. Washing his disciples’ feet. Gathered together – 13 of them – sitting close together. Passing around a common cup for… Read more
Year A – Palm Sunday – Built on the rock
5 April 2020
Hasn’t life changed? If we go back just a couple months ago life was never better. I had just arrived back from my 2 week cruise and excited that we… Read more
Year A – 5th Sunday in Lent – The world’s worst brings out God’s best
29 March 2020
Lazarus is one of the best known stories in the Bible. Even those who are not familiar with him know something about the story. That Lazarus died and rose from… Read more
Year A – 4th Sunday in Lent – The Lord is my Shepherd – I shall not want
22 March 2020
So how are you coping with all that’s going on? Have you started to panic wondering if you have enough food? Do you panic when you arrive at the supermarket… Read more
Year A-3rd Sunday in Lent – Relational Evangelism
15 March 2020
Last Sunday we heard Jesus teaching Nicodemus a lesson on God’s love. It ended with the well-known text – John 3:16 – God loved the world so much that he… Read more
Year A – 2nd Sunday in Lent – Do not fear
8 March 2020
Today’s Gospel reading introduces a character who doesn’t seem to appear much in the bible but is an important person to understand. John tells us that Nicodemus is a Pharisee,… Read more
Year A – Midweek Lenten Address – Theme: The Bending Low of the Son of God
4 March 2020
“Sticks and stone may break my bones but names will never hurt me.” Do you remember that saying? I asked my year 10 students if they had heard it before,… Read more
Year A – 1st Sunday in Lent – Resisting temptation
1 March 2020
On our recent cruise we had a magician to entertain us. Before the show he came up to me and asked if I would mind if he called me up… Read more
Year A – Ash Wednesday – His blood be on us
26 February 2020
Having just returned home from a cruise on the Princess cruise ship I have been watching with great interest and also relief what is happening in China with the Coronavirus… Read more
Year A – The Transfiguration – Listen to him
23 February 2020
Having recently returned home from a cruise in January I can’t help feeling for the 4000 people who were quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan. The rooms… Read more
Year A – 6th Sunday after Epiphany – Reconcilable differences
16 February 2020
There are some tough teachings in the Bible but none would be as challenging as the one Jesus has placed before us today. Jesus says: if you are angry with… Read more
Year A – 5th Sunday after Epiphany – Salting the earth
9 February 2020
Do you ever get frustrated when you buy fresh produce from the supermarket and in a couple days it’s already looking like it’s ready to be thrown out? Bananas, for… Read more
Year A – 4th Sunday after Epiphany – Simply blessed
2 February 2020
Sometimes the solution to a problem is so simple that we often overlook it because, it can’t be that simple. In fact a Franciscan monk, William of Occam from the… Read more
Year A – 3rd Sunday after Epiphany – New beginnings (Lay Reading)
26 January 2020
Today is January 26th and we are just over three weeks into 2020. Did you make any resolutions this year? If you did, how are they holding up? New Year’s… Read more
Year A – 2nd Sunday after Epiphany – Receiving the call from Jesus (Lay Reading)
19 January 2020
Today’s theme that can be found in all four of our readings is the theme of being called. The readings from Isaiah and from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians… Read more
Year A – The Baptism of Jesus – The First Step (Lay Reading)
12 January 2020
We don’t think about it much, but for most of us, one thing that brings us to church on Sunday is the fact that we are baptized. Some of us… Read more
Year A – The Epiphany – God’s Epiphany Mission to the Nations
5 January 2020
You often hear about difficulties growing up as a middle child. As a middle child myself I can affirm that at times it wasn’t easy. When my older brother bullied… Read more
Year A – 1st Sunday after Christmas – God’s gift of love (don’t waste it)
29 December 2019
The gifts have been received and opened; The recycling bin is filled with gift wrapping that once made an ordinary gift seem extra special. Our family and friends have come… Read more
Christmas Day Sermon 2019 – Truth is God’s true power.
24 December 2019
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. What I found is special about Christmas is that everything… Read more
Christmas Eve 2019– Christmas removing fear
24 December 2019
Even though I have heard the Christmas story many many times, as I’m sure you have – I do wonder what it would be like to have heard it for… Read more
Year A – Advent 4 – What on earth were you thinking God?
22 December 2019
Do you ever question God and what he’s doing in your life? What are you doing God? Sometimes it’s really hard to understand why God does things the way he… Read more
Year A – Advent 3 – Jesus is the one we are waiting for
15 December 2019
In the lead up to an election we hear lots of promises about what this leader will do for us if we elect them. And more often than not when… Read more
Year A- Advent 2 – Wilderness spirituality
8 December 2019
John the Baptist is always an interesting character. It’s easy to focus just on the message that he came to proclaim – Repent. But there’s more to John the Baptist… Read more
Year A – 1st Sunday in Advent – It’s getting close now.
1 December 2019
Having turned 60 a few weeks ago I got asked quite regularly – “how do you feel”? Do you feel older? And I reply by saying – truth be told,… Read more
Year C – Christ the King – Last Sunday of the Church Year – Fully human, fully divine, fully saved
24 November 2019
The church’s teaching about Jesus is that he is fully human and fully God. He is not half human and half God. So, mathematically it doesn’t add up as he… Read more
Year C 23rd Sunday After Pentecost – Better than Fig Leaves
15 November 2019
It would be fair to say that most people believe that we live in uncertain times. Whether it be through financial insecurity, unemployment, fears of a recession. Even the housing… Read more
Year C All Saints Day – Life, but not as we know it.
10 November 2019
Today we acknowledge All Saints Day and a day of remembrance for those who have given of their lives to defend our nation. It is a day when we… Read more
Year C – Reformation Sunday
25 October 2019
Ask anyone to describe “the church” and you’ll get a variety of answers. But, no doubt, top of the list would be – those do-gooders who keep telling us how… Read more
Year C – 19th Sunday after Pentecost – Persistent in prayer
20 October 2019
Last week saw a week of disruptions in the city, including other states around Australia, and in fact around the world to demand what they call “climate justice”. Despite the… Read more
Year C – Sunday after Pentecost – Unity through suffering
13 October 2019
Border Security is a major political divide in many countries. Whether it’s the wall being built on the border of the USA and Mexico – or the sending of those… Read more
Year C – 17th Sunday after Pentecost – Increase our faith?
5 October 2019
It’s an interesting request from the apostles to Jesus today – Increase our faith. I wonder why they made that request. Were they having doubts? Were they going through some… Read more
Creation Sunday- God’s gift through pets
5 October 2019
There is an old saying that says – Dog spelt backwards is still man’s best friend. Often a person will get asked – are you a dog person or a… Read more
Year C-16th Sunday after Pentecost-Reversal of Fortunes
29 September 2019
Earlier this year I was sitting in Swan Street Richmond waiting for a friend on our way to watch the football. While I was waiting a young man came up… Read more
Year C 15th Sunday after Pentecost – One mediator
22 September 2019
I listened to an interview with Australian swimmer Susie O’Niell. She was affectionately known as Madam Butterfly as she dominated the pool with her butterfly swim style. Leading up to… Read more
Year C: 14th Sunday after Pentecost – Lost and found
15 September 2019
I read an interesting article a while ago about parents who forget their child in the back seat of their car and go off shopping or come home and forget… Read more
Year C 13th Sunday after Pentecost – Moulded by God
8 September 2019
With Father’s Day last week no doubt many fathers received home-made gifts from their children. Whether it was macaroni glued to paper with some sparkles on it or maybe something… Read more
Year C 12th Sunday after Pentecost – The best seat in the house
1 September 2019
We probably don’t realise how much status is held by seating. The AFL finals begin this week and already there has been outrage over seating. Geelong wants a home final… Read more
Year C 11th Sunday after Pentecost – 6570 days of suffering
25 August 2019
6570 days. That’s how many days the woman in our Gospel reading had been afflicted by her condition. For 6570 days this woman could not stand up straight but was… Read more
Year C 9th Sunday after Pentecost – Faith in the unseen
11 August 2019
The book of Hebrews is an interesting book in the New Testament. It is masterly written but we don’t know who wrote the Letter to the Hebrews. Initial thoughts were… Read more
Year C- 8th Sunday after Pentecost – Using our abundance
4 August 2019
Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce stirred up the media this week when he said that he was struggling financially to support his families even though he earns well over $200,000 per… Read more
Year C-7th Sunday after Pentecost – Lord, teach us to pray.
28 July 2019
In our Gospel reading today we have Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer which Jesus gave to his disciples to teach them how to pray. It’s a little bit different… Read more
YEar C – 6th Sunday after Pentecost – Sibling rivalry
21 July 2019
Sibling rivalry. Is this what we are seeing in our Gospel reading between Mary and Martha or is it something deeper? Jesus has come to the home of Mary and… Read more
Year C- 5th Sunday after Pentecost – Go and do likewise
14 July 2019
There are some fairly tough parts in the bible but for me there is none tougher than today’s Gospel reading when Jesus says – “Go and do likewise”. It reminds… Read more
Year C-4th Sunday after Pentecost-The harvest is plentiful – but so is rejection
4 July 2019
I have to admit that I struggle a bit with our Gospel reading in trying to understand it. Jesus says to the 72 disciples that he is sending out –… Read more
Year C-3rd Sunday after Pentecost-Following Jesus, at what cost?
30 June 2019
Have you ever signed up for something and it’s turned out to be something different to what you expected? Or have you ever committed yourself to something and not realised… Read more
Year C-Pentecost 2nd Sunday after Pentecost-Strength for Ministry in silence
21 June 2019
Have you ever woken up in the morning and thought – I just want to go back to sleep. Do I have to get up? As we move into the… Read more
Year C-Trinity Sunday-Persevering in suffering
14 June 2019
Last Monday we celebrated the Queen’s Birthday and along with it came the Queen’s Birthday Honours. Among them, as usual, was a list of sporting and entertainment celebrities. Along with… Read more
Year C – Pentecost Sunday – Your legal advocate
7 June 2019
A few years ago I was thinking to myself that maybe it’s time I thought about having a will prepared. For a long time I kept hearing that it’s never… Read more
Year C Ascension – Our Jerusalem
2 June 2019
Today we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven. For 40 days after Jesus rose from the grave on Easter Sunday he walked the earth to establish eye witnesses so… Read more
Year C Easter 6 – Spiritual disruptions
26 May 2019
While travelling along the freeway recently I found myself in the wrong lane. I saw my exit getting closer and closer. I just needed someone to realise I had my… Read more
Year C 5th Sunday of Easter-Do not hinder God
17 May 2019
With all the scandals in the church these days why are you still coming to church? With all the negative press about Christians these days why are you still a… Read more
Year C Easter 4 -More than a number
10 May 2019
I was watching a TV show the other night and a person when about to die says – “well, I guess my number is up”. How often are you identified… Read more
Year C Easter 3 – When you least expect it, expect it
5 May 2019
When you least expect it, expect it. It’s a saying that inspires hope into a hopeless situation. When you least expect it, expect it. It’s a saying that inspires us… Read more
Year C Easter 2-Obeying God’s authority rather than human authority
28 April 2019
The sporting world has been divided in recent times regarding the punishment dished out on Rugby League player Israel Folau. In case you missed it, Folau posted a quote from… Read more
Sermon Easter Sunday – Who believes this nonsense? (Main Service 9am)
21 April 2019
Before I have my tea at night I like to watch the News headlines to see what’s been happening in the world. If I’m home in time I like to… Read more
Yeac C Easter – Believing is seeing (Easter Sunrise Service)
21 April 2019
Seeing is believing – or is it Believing is seeing. In this case at the tomb of Jesus it is definitely Believing is Seeing. Mary has come to the tomb… Read more
Year C Good Friday – Our empathetic Saviour
19 April 2019
When tragedy strikes it’s interesting to see the different responses from our leaders. When the terrorist attack happened in Christchurch last month, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern came out with obvious… Read more
Year C Maundy Thursday – Loving by example
18 April 2019
Children are really good at watching their parents and imitating them. So as parents we always need to be careful about what we say and do around young impressionable children… Read more
Ephiphany 7
24 February 2019
People in society today like to do things that make them stand out in the crowd. They might do it by the clothes they wear. They might do it by… Read more
Year C Epiphany 5
10 February 2019
I’m not sure how you feel about it – and maybe it’s just my age showing – but I get really annoyed when I hear our Prime Minister, Scott Morrison,… Read more
Year C – 2nd Sunday after Epiphany – God the gift giver
20 January 2019
Well Christmas is well and truly over both officially and unofficially. It was over officially 2 weeks ago on Epiphany Sunday – the 12th day of Christmas. But I suspect… Read more
Year C – First Sunday in Advent – True Hope
2 December 2018
Hope is a funny word. It’s one of those words that depending on the context it could mean the opposite of what was intended. Like the VCE student who “hopes”… Read more
A God who “is”
25 November 2018
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. This is a very powerful statement by… Read more
Year B 26th Sunday after Pentecost – The Day is approaching
18 November 2018
The last census revealed what we all knew without the numbers being officially collected. The numbers in church are declining. We didn’t need to see what people responded in the… Read more
No line in the sand
9 September 2018
Once again Melbourne is gripped in racial tensions after a violent brawl in Collingwood in the early hours of last week. The racial profiling identified the main perpetrators as African… Read more
7th Sunday after Pentecost– Healing despite suffering (year B)
8 July 2018
Last Sunday Channel 7 aired a program featuring a Melbourne man Charlie Goldsmith. Charlie claims to have the gift of healing that he has been using for over 18 years… Read more
Pentecost 6 – The Ministry of Interruptions (Year B)
1 July 2018
You know the drill. It’s 6pm – you’re busy starting dinner or perhaps you’ve just sat down to dinner and the phone rings. Should I answer it or let it… Read more
5th Sunday after Pentecost-Safe passage through the storm (Year B )
24 June 2018
The nation was shocked last week at the brutal attack and death of a young Melbourne comedian walking through a park in Carlton on her way home from the city. … Read more
4th Sunday after Pentecost-Sown in darkness (Year B)
17 June 2018
Every day I do things that I have no idea how they work. I have no idea how my car works; I just put my key in the ignition and… Read more
3rd Sunday after Pentecost-United we stand, divided we fall (Year B)
10 June 2018
In the story book Aesop’s Fables there is a story called – The Four Oxen and the Lion: A Lion used to prowl about a field where Four Oxen gathered. … Read more
2nd Sunday after Pentecost– The Sabbath – work, rest and play (Year B)
3 June 2018
One of my favourite chocolate bars is the Mars Bar. When I was growing up their slogan was “A Mars a day helps you work rest and play”. I found… Read more
Holy Trinity/Thankgsgiving
27 May 2018
From an early age we are taught to say “please” and “thankyou”. We might hold something out before a child and say – “what do you say” and we wait… Read more
Pentecost (Year B)- Our Advocate
20 May 2018
I enjoy watching American Crime drama – shows like Law and Order, Bones, Major Crimes and others. And one of the things that I’m always intrigued with is what they… Read more
Ascension (year B) – still with us.
13 May 2018
Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was the first human to journey into outer space in 1961. While he was so high up in the sky he is quoted as saying “I… Read more
6th Sunday of Easter (Year B)-Friends of Christ
6 May 2018
I have a bible that I received some years ago that has a page at the back for me to date and sign to indicate the day I accepted Jesus… Read more
Easter 2 (Year B) – Not living in fear
8 April 2018
Our first reading from Acts seems so different to our Gospel reading from John. Both give an account of Jesus’ disciples gathered together after his death and resurrection – but… Read more
Easter Sunday (Year B)
1 April 2018
Do you know what the 10 greatest fears are: FEAR OF FLYING FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING FEAR OF HEIGHTS FEAR OF THE DARK FEAR OF INTIMACY FEAR OF DEATH FEAR… Read more
Easter Sunday Dawn Service-Our Lives Rebooted (Year B)
1 April 2018
Every now and then as I’m working on my computer it begins to slow down and get really sluggish. Things take longer to process – programs take longer to open. … Read more
Good Friday: It is finished (Year B)
30 March 2018
We wonder why Jesus ministry had to end this way. Why was it necessary for Jesus to die? They are very reasonable questions, but they are not questions that we… Read more
Maundy Thursday (Year B)
29 March 2018
Betrayal seems to be so common place these days in the public sphere. In politics we have seen Prime Ministers betrayed by their parties ousting them for someone more popular. … Read more
Palm Sunday- My rights (Year B)
25 March 2018
The greater good is a common expression which indicates that you are doing something that most likely will not benefit you but many people. Palm Sunday is an example of… Read more
4th Sunday in Lent- God’s Masterpieces (Year B)
11 March 2018
I asked a year 12 student recently what their plans were for next year when they finish High School. It was like I had asked them to prove the existence… Read more
3rd Sunday in Lent-How foolish! (Year B)
4 March 2018
There are several Bible verses that I would call my favourite. Today’s reading includes one of those: Paul wrote, “We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness… Read more
Follow the leader
25 February 2018
One of the features of Australian politics over the past 10 years has been the instability of leadership. In the past 10 or so years we have had the deposing… Read more
Jesus predicts Peter’s denial
21 February 2018
As a parent I would always try to give a word of encouragement to my children before a big event. Whether it was a sporting event or before an exam… Read more
Hating sin, loving the sinner
18 February 2018
The story of Noah’s ark is a favourite among many people, particularly young children. It is a story that is best known for the images of all the different animals… Read more
Faith in low times
11 February 2018
High and low experiences are part of everyday life. When a couple gets married they vow to love each other “in sickness and in health – for better and for… Read more
True healing
4 February 2018
One of the things that I miss about my first Parish in Minyip, a rural country town in the Wimmera, is going out at night and just looking up at… Read more
True Authority
28 January 2018
American Artist Andy Warhol once said: “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes”, It’s where we get the saying “15 minutes of fame”. Today it seems that… Read more
Our merciful God
21 January 2018
Today’s Old Testament reading only gives us part of the story of Jonah’s call. If we didn’t know the whole story of Jonah we might believe that Jonah is an… Read more
Speak Lord your servant is listening
14 January 2018
We often hear comments that we live in godless times. We have this image that our country was once considered a Christian country but we are slowly watching the census… Read more
Finding Jesus
7 January 2018
Christmas is well and truly over for most people. Most have taken down their Christmas trees and are finishing off leftover ham and mince pies. (Ringwood) Our Christmas Tree is… Read more
Waiting for our Saviour
31 December 2017
The year ended in similar way to how it began. In January a driver used his car to drive through the streets of Melbourne killing 6 and injuring many more…. Read more
Looking again to the manger
25 December 2017
I wonder what would have happened if Jesus were born in today’s world. In all our busyness would we have responded like the Shepherds and said: Let us go now… Read more
Our gift wrapped Saviour
24 December 2017
Christmas is a very exciting time for adults and children – for everyone. It’s a highlight of the year and part of the excitement is the giving and receiving of… Read more
Expect the unexpected.
20 December 2017
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to… Read more
Peeling back the layers of Christmas
17 December 2017
I was getting my car serviced during the week and I overheard a couple of the staff chatting at the coffee machine. One said to the other – “so, are… Read more
Winners and Losers
10 December 2017
We live in a society that seems to be more and more categorised into winners and losers. The recent postal survey on Same Sex Marriage is a classic example. It… Read more
Waiting and watching.
3 December 2017
We look again to God with anxious eyes this Advent. With all the difficulties in the world sometimes we can feel so inadequate in trying to make the world a… Read more
Love comes to life
26 November 2017
Have you ever invited someone to church and they responded that if they ever entered a church the walls would come crashing down? Usually they say that because they believe… Read more
We are family
5 November 2017
There is a saying – blood is thicker than water. It is said to indicate that when it comes to loyalties family comes first. Families in the Lutheran Church has… Read more
In God’s Image
22 October 2017
I love it when a baby is born and there is a scramble to identify family images in the child. Whose nose does he have? Whose eyes does she have?… Read more
The invitation
15 October 2017
Having been involved in the preparation for our daughter Grace’s wedding earlier this year this reading today took on a new meaning for me. Usually people only see the end… Read more
Stewards of God’s vineyard
8 October 2017
Often when watching Current Affairs on TV you’ll see a story about a tenant of a rented property who has trashed the house and left it in a disgusting mess… Read more
By what authority?
1 October 2017
There is not much doubt that the church has little to no authority in today’s modern world. In Luther’s time the church was very powerful. The Pope was a person… Read more
Is God Unfair?
24 September 2017
Sometimes life just isn’t fair? It’s one of the hard realities we learn early on. You can learn it in kindergarten when that child won’t share with you. You can… Read more
Forgive us our sins
17 September 2017
On the first Tuesday of every month many Australians nervously await the announcement from the Reserve Bank regarding what they are doing about interest rates. Our nation’s debt is so… Read more
Christian Conflict Resolution
10 September 2017
Jesus deals with a very sensitive topic today – the topic of conflict within the church. Conflict doesn’t have to be a negative experience in the church or in any… Read more
FATHER’S DAY AND THE GIFT OF OUR FATHERS
4 September 2017
Today is Father’s Day, and given that fathers and fatherhood are in crisis in our modern western culture today, I thought I’d go “off script” so to speak, and talk… Read more
Jesus, Son of God – what does this mean?
27 August 2017
Getting into places is getting more difficult these days. At the footy you have to go through bag searches and body scans which takes such a long time. If you… Read more
God’s “un-fairness”
20 August 2017
Today’s encounter between Jesus and the Canaanite woman from the region of Tyre and Sidon is often misread and even misunderstood. People are often left scratching their heads wondering about… Read more
The Deafening Silence of God.
13 August 2017
People often ask me how I became a Christian and then later on becoming a pastor. They seem a little disappointed with my answer thinking I had this huge mountain… Read more
How did he do that?
6 August 2017
I was watching the TV show – America’s Got Talent a couple of weeks ago and they had a magician as one of their acts. They chained him up and… Read more
Kingdom Parables
30 July 2017
Jesus today continues his teaching in Parables and gives us 5 ways to imagine the Kingdom of Heaven: Like a mustard seed; like yeast in flour; like treasure hidden in… Read more
Evil mixed with good
23 July 2017
‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ That is a question that has been asked of God since the beginning… Read more
Generous or irresponsible Sower?
16 July 2017
When I found out that my first Parish was going to be a country town in the Wimmera called Minyip I was contacted by the chairman to see if my… Read more
Regretting our actions
9 July 2017
The news this week has been dominated with violence in sport where people have reacted in ways that they say was not to cause hurt but it did. It began… Read more
The Welcoming Community
2 July 2017
Traditionally many houses have at their front door a mat for visitors to wipe their feet on. Invariably there is written on the mat “welcome”. Hence we get the term… Read more
Dealing with sin through Baptism
25 June 2017
The story of Isaac and Ishmael is an interesting story. God had promised Abraham a son with his wife Sarah from which would become a great nation – so numerous… Read more
God’s Mission
18 June 2017
Although last year’s census has not yet released the results for religious beliefs – it is expected that there will be a drastic decline in the number of people who… Read more
Saving the best till last
11 June 2017
There is a saying that you “leave the best till last”. Sometimes it can be misused to cover up an oversight like when you’re thanking a group of people and… Read more
God’s gift to us
4 June 2017
Every year in our household birthdays and Christmas are becoming harder and harder to find a gift to give. As children grow older and no longer scream for the latest… Read more
Ascension Sunday
28 May 2017
Another week and another terrorist attack. This latest one being a bomb exploded at a concert intended for young people. The intention was to cause maximum harm to quite vulnerable… Read more
Confirmation Sunday
28 May 2017
I was watching the news a couple weeks ago where an item came up that in one way made me laugh but in another way made me sad. It spoke… Read more
The Unknown God made known
21 May 2017
When people find out that I am a Pastor I come across so many people who tell me that they aren’t Christian but they are spiritual people. Sometimes they even… Read more
Jesus is the Way
14 May 2017
There’s a knock at the door. You open the door and there is a nicely groomed couple perhaps with a young child with them. They greet you with a smile… Read more
Jesus our Gate
7 May 2017
I’m always intrigued about the image used for our relationship with God that focuses on sheep and shepherd. Whereas there are some endearing pictures of Jesus the Good Shepherd carrying… Read more
Recognising Jesus by faith.
30 April 2017
Have you ever stopped to think about how amazing God’s creation is? I find the colours and variety in nature amazing. God could have created a world full of bland… Read more
Eternal Life – not a scam
16 April 2017
Rarely a day goes by when I don’t receive an email trying to lure me into a scam. They range from Lotteries that I have won that I did not… Read more
Seeing by believing
16 April 2017
The resurrection cab be a confusing story and apparently was equally confusing for those who were present at the time. Mary Magdalene, whose life had been transformed by Jesus, came… Read more
Destined to die – destined for eternal life.
14 April 2017
At our community meal a few weeks ago I was chatting with one of our guest who was enjoying his cup of coffee after his meal. We have lots of… Read more
True Evangelism
13 April 2017
Evangelism is a word that is on the tips of the tongues of all churches. Churches are feeling the pressure of declining memberships and are looking at ways to attract… Read more
Quick Change
9 April 2017
There is a saying that if you don’t like Melbourne weather, just wait half an hour and it will change. I’ve found myself these past few weeks starting off the… Read more
Jesus, the final Word.
2 April 2017
Today’s gospel reading is again a very long reading but at the heart of message is the question or statement made by both Mary and Martha and also the crowd… Read more
Big isn’t always better
26 March 2017
On the front page of the Knox Leader newspaper there was an article which really interested me. And its opening paragraph read: RELIGION is booming in Knox with people flocking… Read more
Is the Lord among us or not?
19 March 2017
What do you expect when you come along to church? Do you expect to come away feeling like you’ve just had the most amazing experience ever being blessed by being… Read more
The journey of faith
12 March 2017
Our Bible reading today includes one of the most well-known bible verses – John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone… Read more
Living with temptation
5 March 2017
It is interesting that immediately after such an important moment of Jesus’ life – God’s public announcement at Jesus’ baptism – this is my Son whom I love – that… Read more
Listen to HIM.
26 February 2017
Over the past few weeks we have heard Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. It has had some challenging commands like turning the other cheek and loving your enemy. We heard… Read more
Hidden greatness
19 February 2017
My father and I often have quite interesting discussions on politics and world news. My father comes from a Middle Eastern background so his solution to crime is quite simplistic…. Read more
Keeping the Spirit of the Law
12 February 2017
Sometimes I find the 10 commandments very easy. After all, I’ve never murdered anyone. I love my parents. I have been faithful in my marriage. I don’t bear false witness… Read more
Pass the salt please
5 February 2017
When I read the bible reading for today the first thing I did was googled “can salt lose its saltiness. Apart from the bible reading I’ve never heard of it… Read more
True Greatness from God
29 January 2017
The phrase which we heard over and over again during the American Presidential campaign by Donald Trump and in his inauguration speech was “make America great”. And he said that… Read more
An uneasy call
22 January 2017
230 years ago a fleet of 11 ships was sent from England to Australia to establish a penal colony for the sending of prisoners. On January 26th this week we… Read more
What will 2016 be remembered for?
1 January 2017
What will 2016 be remembered for? For many it will be one of the worst years of terrorist attacks. It’s estimated around 1500 have been killed and 3500 injured in… Read more
True God and True Human
18 December 2016
On the surface it seems that Joseph has 2 choices. He can abide by the Law of Moses and hand over Mary to be judged with the likely result being… Read more
Should we expect another?
11 December 2016
Have you ever bought something you’ve seen advertised and then been disappointed once you’ve gotten it home? Over the years I’ve fallen for a few items on TV shopping. As… Read more
The God of all hope
4 December 2016
Of all the qualities that Paul could have assigned to God it’s interesting that he refers to God as a God of hope. We live in a world where hope… Read more
Hope for Christians
13 November 2016
Sometimes you get a bible reading where it’s really hard to say “this is the Gospel of the Lord – praise to you O Christ”. Today’s Gospel reading appears to… Read more
God of the opposites
6 November 2016
In the Superman comics there is a planet called Bizarro World. It is a world where everything is the opposite of planet earth. Instead of being a round planet it… Read more
50 years of Unity
30 October 2016
Quite often when I attend a Lutheran function I have to explain how a person with a surname like mine ended up, not just in the Lutheran Church but as… Read more
Being made right before God
23 October 2016
Is the Pharisee’s prayer that bad? On the surface he sounds like a good and righteous man who does more than most. He observes the evils of the world around… Read more
Nagging God with prayer
16 October 2016
If you’re a parent then the chances are you’ve experienced the supermarket meltdown where your child has had a tantrum because they really want that chocolate that the supermarket has… Read more
Jesus brings justice
2 October 2016
A new and controversial law was passed in Victoria this week. People who drop their pants to show their backside in public face up to six months in jail with… Read more
Reversal of fortunes
25 September 2016
Once again we have a story that seems to be about money. One could easily be led to believe from this parable that the poor go to heaven and the… Read more
Pentecost 18
18 September 2016
One cannot help but call the manager in our parable today a rogue. Firstly he has mismanaged his master’s accounts. How, we don’t know. But then, when his mismanagement is… Read more
Even worst of sinners are forgiven
11 September 2016
September 11 always brings back haunting memories of the day we woke to hear about the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre. It’s been 15 years since it happened… Read more
A love hate relationship
4 September 2016
Have you ever been caught out by an unexpected cost? Have you ever bought a cheap printer for your computer only to find that when the ink runs out the… Read more
The seat of honour
28 August 2016
The Olympics are over and now the fallout has begun. Australia won 29 medals in Rio, at a cost of $11,434,910 per medal. People are now starting to ask questions… Read more