Worship Reflections on Matthew
15 February Fellowship@10 Transfiguration
REFLECTION Seeing in a new light Chris Mitchell The story of the Transfiguration is found in the three synoptic gospels – Matthew, Mark, and Luke. As usual the story is slightly different in each version, tailored to each gospel writers’ audience. Details differ but the essential story is the same. We all know the story – Jesus takes Peter, James and John and leads them up a high mountain. There, in front of their eyes, Jesus is transformed. his clothes become dazzling white the…
15 February Family@10 Transfiguration
Trans/figuration MUC Family@10, 15 February 2026Alison Sampson, reflecting on Matthew 17:1-9 What a weird story. Jesus goes up a mountain with a couple of his mates. Then he cracks his neck like a glow stick and lights up, and his friends see him talking to a couple of dead dudes. This story raises about a zillion questions, like, How did Jesus’ face and body light up? What about his clothes? How did the disciples know the other blokes were Moses…
21 December 2025 – Advent 4
Love in the shadows MUC Fellowship@10, 21 December 2025Alison Sampson, reflecting on Matthew 1:18-25 You can hear the following as a simple reflection on personal faith, and that’s great. But for those who have ears to hear, it also has much to say about current events, whether the shootings in Bondi, the ongoing deaths in Gaza, and so much more. For, in Matthew’s story, God demands that notions of righteousness, purity and holiness are set aside in favour of love.…
14 December – Advent 3
Joy in the rain MUC Fellowship@10, 14 December 2025Alison Sampson, reflecting on Matthew 11:2-11 The saddest funeral I ever did was for a young woman who died by suicide. She attended a local church which was very high energy. However, it did not do funerals and certainly not for suicide. Trying to find a pastor who would hold a service for their daughter, her distraught parents were eventually given my name. Why wouldn’t the other church do funerals? I’m given…
7 December Advent 2
Peace in the pressure-cooker MUC Fellowship@10, 6 December 2025 Alison Sampson, reflecting on Matthew 3:1-12 It was my first Sunday here at MUC. After the service, a person came up to me looking rather anxious. ‘I understand you’re a Baptist,’ they said. I confirmed that this is indeed the case. ‘Well,’ they said, ‘it may interest you to know that some people here believe in science.’ I suddenly realised why they looked so worried. If you pay any attention to…
30 November Advent 1
Our hope in the dark: Being left behind with Jesus MUC Fellowship@10, 30 November 2025 Alison Sampson, reflecting on Matthew 24:36-44 A mix up of metaphors on sleeping and waking, taking and leaving, and hoping against hope in the dark. But first, a story. My friend came home from school one day and found the house empty. His mother was visiting with the neighbour, but my friend didn’t know that. He walked around that empty house calling, ‘Mum? Mu-um!! MUM!!!’…