April 2nd Palm Sunday 9:30 am in the church – A litany of scriptures and songs April 6th Maundy Thursday 6:30 pm in the hall – the service of shadows includes elements of ‘Air, Earth, Water, and Fire’ with the tradition foot/hand washing and Holy Communion. April 7th Good Friday 9:00 … [Read more…]
‘A Search for Peace’ – John BirchThe search for peace both for nations and individuals has seemingly occupied the minds and hearts of every generation of human beings, and sadly is still at the heart of politics and personal well-being. These five studies look at how the Bible can help in our understanding of this … [Read more…]
As we draw closer to Eastertide, the time in our church year when our thoughts bring us to contemplate through prayers, reflective music, and the marking of Ashes we gather in the church on Wednesday February 22, 2023 at 7pm to begin the five weeks of Lent prior to the Easter Event
Easter Sunday (Mark 16.1-8)Neil Millar The reading we just heard constitutes the end of Mark’s gospel – at least according to oldest manuscripts. The story introduced so confidently as the ‘good news (proclamation) of Jesus, the Son of God’, concludes abruptly with a tale of confused women fleeing an empty tomb; afraid to say anything … [Read more…]
Good Friday (Mark 15)Neil Millar A lot has happened in the story since last evening. According to Mark, after his betrayal and arrest in the Garden, when his disciples fled, Jesus was taken to the high priest’s house for ‘questioning’ by a coterie of priests, elders, and scribes. Their enquiries were vicious and relentless, with … [Read more…]
Maundy Thursday (Mark 14.26-42)Neil Millar In April 2015, almost six years ago, Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed in Indonesia, after spending almost 10 years in a Bali prison. You may remember the story – how they were convicted of attempting to smuggle heroin into Australia, how they matured and changed during their … [Read more…]
(Acts 1.6-11) Ascension/Easter 7Neil Millar (24 May 2020) In the two volumes written by Luke in the New Testament, the story of Jesus’s ascension functions as a literary lynchpin. Volume one, the gospel of Luke, ends with a description of Jesus being ‘carried up into heaven’ (Lk 24.51), and volume two, the Acts of the … [Read more…]
(John 10.1-10) 3 May 2020Neil Millar In rural Australia we tend to drove and corral sheep using dogs, horses and utes. In many other parts of the world it’s not like that. Two years ago, almost to the day, I was on pilgrimage across the plains of La Mancha in Spain, when I saw a … [Read more…]
(Matthew 28.1-15)12 April 2020 – Neil Millar Over the past few days, we have been participating in a great work – what the early church called ‘the liturgy’, the ‘work of the people’. For many today, this work, this commitment to word and silence, reflection and prayer, seems unfamiliar, even odd. And when you think … [Read more…]
(Matthew 27 1-31)10 April 2020 – Neil Millar There’s a terrible violence in Matthew’s account of Good Friday. It starts with the authorities’ refusal to accept Judas’ repentance. He’s served his purpose. No one cares about him anymore, and his remorse is cast back in his face. ‘What are your second thoughts to us?’ Left … [Read more…]