Sermons

2 Samuel 11.1-15 Psalm 14 Ephesians 3.14-21 John 6.1-21 Sunday 25 July, 2021 Unimaginable abundance                                  ©Suzanne Grimmett When we come to the day when we are celebrating the completion of the work on the roof, I will begin by saying that the story of King David walking around on his own roof and espying the beautiful, bathing Bathsheba was not the roof story I was hoping for! In fact, hope may be in short supply after hearing the narrative of David’s misdeeds. Throughout the church’s history, attempts have been made with this text to sanitise either the whole story … Read more

8th Sunday after Pentecost July 18thSt Andrew’s Indooroopilly Richard Browning Readings: 2 Samuel 7:1-14a and Psalm 89:20-37 Ephesians 2:11-22 Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 Key Concept:Lean in and allow; ‘undergo’ and become. Guiding question:Who are your teachers? Gospel Message:In Christ, the dividing wall is ended, there is a new and singular humanity. Prayer:O God help us become your teaching, where there is hurt, let us bring healing, where there is division, peace, where there is darkness, light. Let us look and look again until we see in every other the face of Christ. Amen. Ephesians 2:11-22 So then,remember that at one time … Read more

2 Samuel 6.1-5, 12b-19 Ps 24 Ephesians 1.1-14 Mark 6.14-29 Sermon by Lauren Martin Is it just me, or have any of you ever wondered why in the Gospel Mark the author decided to place the remembering of John the Baptist’s death between the sending out and the coming in of the Twelve disciples? Jesus had just sent out the Twelve to proclaim repentance, cast out demons and to anoint and heal, and then suddenly we are thrown into the story of the demise of John the Baptist, replete with drama, intrigue and murder – as many good stories since … Read more

5th Sunday after Trinity  June 27th   St Andrew’s Indooroopilly Fr Richard Browning Readings: First reading and Psalm  2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 Psalm 130 Second reading  2 Corinthians 8:7-15 Gospel  Mark 5:21-43 Key image/movement:  Moving towards the threshold. Reaching out with empty hands.  Prayer: O Christ for whom we search, our help when all help is nought; we come to you and reach out in our emptiness. Meet us there and give us what you freely share; wholeness, healing, life. Amen. The edge Introduction Of all the stories in our readings today, I will focus on the story within a story: … Read more

1 Samuel 17.57-18.5 Psalm 9.9-20 2 Corinthians 5.6-10, 5.14-17 Mark 4.35-41 Whatever it is that keeps widening your heart                                   ©Suzanne Grimmett Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith? These words on Jesus’ lips in the midst of the stormy sea might prompt us to ask ourselves the same questions. Where do you find courage when you need it? Last week I mentioned the novel, The Secret Life of Bees and I would like to extend that reference today as I think the themes speak loudly to the question of where we find faith in the midst of the … Read more

SERMON Sunday 13 June 1 Samuel 15.34-16.13 2 Corinthians 5.6-10, 5.14-17 Mark 4.26-34 The persistent power of bees, seeds and trees                  ©Suzanne Grimmett I had bee hives when I used to live outside the city, and they were a source of fascination to me. The total commitment to the life of the hive, the skill and artistry of the different roles of the different bees and then the miracle and mystery of honeycomb and honey that all of this endeavour and organisation produces amazed me. We know now that the disappearance of insects across the globe is cause for great … Read more

We believe in one God… 5 June 2021 4th Sunday of Easter 1 Samuel 8.4-11, 16-20; 11.14-15 Psalm 138 2 Corinthians 4.13-5.1 Mark 3.20-35 ©Lauren Martin We as Christians share in the belief that it is through Jesus Christ that we have the forgiveness of sins. The bonds of sin and death have ended! In the Gospel reading we heard today there is one very problematic sentence. “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal … Read more

SERMON  Evensong  Domestic and Family Violence Awareness Month Sunday 30 May St John’s Anglican Cathedral, Brisbane ©Suzanne Grimmett “I want to know what love is” was the cry of the 1984 soft rock ballad by Foreigner which became an instant hit, perhaps because it voiced the disappointment and confusion of so many. On an evening when we are exploring the scourge of family and domestic violence in our society, to look to love as the answer may seem inane and impotent. Love surely is the subject of romantic ballads and Hollywood movies, a language of useless platitudes or saccharine sentimentality … Read more

May 30th St Andrew’s Indooroopilly Fr Richard Browning Readings: Isaiah 6:1-8Psalm 29 Romans 8:12-17 John 3:1-17 Key image or metaphor: St Andrew’s Crucifix Clue for spiritual practice:             Don’t bring an assertion (‘we know’).                         Live a question instead. Intellectual proposition: Knowing is not a head thing, it is a lived thing. Unless it costs, unless it shapes how we live and act, we do not know and we do not believe. If there is a gap between what we say and how we act, hypocrisy is near. Jesus is unapologetic towards religious experts and any hypocrisy. Gospel message The … Read more

SERMON Pentecost Sunday 23 May 2021 Acts 2.1-21 Psalm 104.26-36 Romans 8.22-27 John 15.26-27; 16.4b-15 Risking the horizons of possibility                                                 ©Suzanne Grimmett Sometimes, I have to go looking for poetry. Sometimes, if I am not going to serve up from the pulpit a bland reconstruction of the texts with a bit of historical criticism thrown in, I need to search through commentary after commentary and troll the internet for the inspiration of someone who has dived deeper than me and found not only truth, but life-giving metaphor that hopefully we can take into our own lives and nurture the … Read more

16.05.21 SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER St Andrew’s Indooroopilly Acts 1:15-17,21-26             Psalm 1         1 John 5:9-13          John 17:6-19 Have you ever known the satisfaction of accomplishing something that is really important and then experiencing a sense of joy in its completion? I know that I have experienced that feeling many times in my life. The birth of my four children is one example and another is that in July this year, I will have been married 50 years. I imagine that many of you would have examples of experiencing this joy that I speak of. Well Jesus expresses this joy in … Read more

Feast of the Ascension Acts 1.1-11 Ephesians 1.15-23 Mark 16.15-20 Write your own ending                                       ©Suzanne Grimmett Are you the kind of person who likes a story to have a proper ending? Someone who likes the ‘i’s’ dotted and the ‘t’s’ crossed? If this is you, then you might find some movies probably are irritating beyond words. The classic movie which kept audiences perplexed and confused was Gone with the Wind, but I am sure you have had other cinema experiences or novels which left you with more questions than answers- sometimes, when it prompts us to greater reflections and … Read more