Sermons

Fourth Sunday in Advent Micah 5.2-5a Song of Mary Hebrews 10.5-10 Luke 1.39-45 Sunday 22 December 2024                                               @Suzanne Grimmett Here as we are, so close to celebrating Christ’s birth, the air is full of promise. Promise for the coming child, the promise of a world that desires peace, the promise of God’s dream for the world coming to life. And here, in this domestic meeting between two women- two cousins- we catch a glimpse of the way God works to bring this dream about, and what kind of dream it is. Few women in history have been as idolised, … Read more

Zephaniah 3.14-20 A Song of Isaiah Philippians 4.4-7 Luke 3.7-18 Advent 3       ©Suzanne Grimmett Have you ever had a dream, Neo, that you were so sure was real? What if you were unable to wake from that dream? How would you know the difference between the dream world and the real world? These, of course, are words spoken by the character Morpheus in the classic movie, The Matrix. Now 25 years old, the film remains a classic because it speaks a compelling and haunting truth. In case you are not familiar, in the first of the series; …computer hacker … Read more

The Rev’d Richard Browning Malachi 3.1-4 The Song of Zechariah Philippians 1.1-11 Luke 3.1-6 In the name of God, Dreamer, Dream and Breath. Amen. If we are in the business of dreaming, fire is really helpful. Humans have been at it for millennia. Nestled by darkness the flames dance and shake and shoot up with delight, kicking sparks that spiral towards the stars. Dreaming and fire are companions. So, when was the last time you made a fire? There is an art to it. Something like newspaper is scrunched and bunched then little sticks, not even kindling is next, then … Read more

Feast of St Andrew Deuteronomy 30.11-14 Psalm 19.1-6 Romans 10.8-18 Matthew 4.18-22  @Suzanne Grimmett What does it mean to be called? Judging by the St Andrew’s Day Gospel reading we share, to be called is to have your life utterly disrupted. Andrew was just doing what he always did to make a living and help feed his family and community, casting his fishing nets into the Sea of Galilee with his brother Simon’s help. We can only speculate about how much these brothers knew Jesus before this moment when they apparently walk away from everything they have known at a … Read more

2 Samuel 23.1-7 Psalm 132.1-12 Revelation 1.4b-8 John 18.33-37                                                                                                                            ©Lauren Martin I invite you to take a moment and picture in your mind an image of a king. Any king. What kind of king do you see? Do you see a modern-day monarch? A historical image of royalty? A medieval inspired fantasy, with epic quests or tyrannical rule and oppression? These are not the types of kings known in Jesus’ time. Perhaps, in this context you thought of someone like King Herod or King David? Today we come to the last Sunday in the church … Read more

1 Samuel 1.4-20 The Song of Hannah Hebrews 10.11-25 Mark 13:1-11 Sunday 17 November    ©Suzanne Grimmett ‘Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!’ We might imagine the disciples stepping out from the shadows of such a glorious building, the centre of sacred worship and identity, and feeling that there, at least, is a foundation for their lives. There is God’s glory within stone and brick, an invitation into God’s presence and the cultic practices that bring together the people of God. The restoration of that temple must have seemed a worthy goal- one that would have carried incredible … Read more

Feast of All Saints Wisdom 3.1-9 Psalm 24 Revelation 21.1-6a John 11.32-44 Sunday 3rd November 2024   ©Suzanne Grimmett In this story of the raising of Lazarus, found only in John’s Gospel, we witness the humanity of Christ, overcome with grief, and a God who refuses to let death have the last word. It reveals the bigger story of the God who pursues us even to the grave, drawing us always from death and decay to life, love and community. So as we gather to mark this Feast of All Saints, what we are doing is celebrating those who embody the … Read more

The Rev’d Canon Selina McMahon It’s wonderful to be able to be with you today. As Rev’d Sue said, I’m Selina McMahon, although I have an unusual middle name: Missouri – named in honour of my great aunt Missouri. To this day no-one knows why, in a family where girls were called Ada, or Elizabeth, or Alice, we have a Missouri – but there it is. Sharing your name with someone famous can sometimes be tricky and can lead to confusion. This was probably also true for the two apostles we celebrate today, Simon and Jude, both of whom are … Read more

Pentecost 21 – 2024 Mark 10:17-31 © Marian Free In the name of God who cares for the greatest and the least, and who preferences the poor over the rich. Amen. How much money is too much money? This is a question that greatly troubled someone I once knew. He (I’ll call him Jack) had married into a family that was very comfortable and he had worked in a profession that ensured a good income.  Jack wasn’t Steve Jobs rich, but he was well-off. For reasons that he didn’t ever share, today’s gospel passage caused him particular concern. On more … Read more

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost Job 1.1, 2.1-10 Psalm 26 Hebrews 1.1-4, 2.5-12 Mark 10.2-16                                                 ©Suzanne Grimmett Anyone who has raised children may have suffered through the toddler time where suddenly everything seems up for debate. “Why?” asks the three year old…whether that be when asked to brush teeth or put on a jacket or simply as they observe you going about your normal tasks but want to know the reasons for everything. One of the reasons for this is a whole-hearted desire to learn; to know about this wonderful world they are encountering, even when they do not have … Read more

 Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost Proverbs 31:10-31 Psalm1 James 3:1-12 Mark 9:30-37 Sunday 22 September 2024                               ©Lauren Martin The reading from Proverbs 31 begins with the question, who can find a capable wife? With the description of what is a capable wife following this question in Proverbs. It’s no wonder she is not easy to find! Ralph Milton wrote, who would want to be married to such a whirling dervish? She sounds exhausting to be around and somehow able to successfully live without taking any time to care for herself, including time for sleep. At first glance this passage … Read more

Address by Leanne Wood Anglicare Manager for Research, Evaluation and Advocacy Thank you for the invitation to join you today, on Anglicare Sunday. I’ve worked for Anglicare for over a decade, and without a doubt, these have been the most challenging – and satisfying – and – years of my career. They’ve been challenging because day in and day out I’m confronted with the evidence and, via our service delivery staff, the lived reality of much of what is wrong with the world: homelessness, domestic and family violence, poverty. Many of the people Anglicare works with have few channels to … Read more