Worship Reflections by Rev Swee Ann Koh (Page 2)
24 September
Title: Are You Envious Because I am Generous? Introduction Let me first welcome all of you to this baptism service. Good to see so many of you here. I hope you will find this service meaningful for you. As you know we are here to baptise Amelie Alice May Smith and Jasper Andrew Hanson into the family of God. What is baptism? Or what is the meaning of baptism? The Uniting Church considers baptism as a gift from God. “Baptism…
3 September 2023
Introduction This morning I want to begin my reflection with a preamble.We have a difficult passage this morning – Matthew 16:21-27.There is a great chance that some of you might not like my reflection.This passage is not for the faint hearted. The passage from the Gospel according to Matthew contains one of Jesus’ hardest sayings. “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to…
20 August 2023
Text: Matthew 15:21-28 Title: Crossing the Line Introduction That annoying Canaanite woman is at it again and not even Jesus can catch a break. Every three years that annoying woman comes along to disturb us. The way the anonymous gospel storyteller that we call Matthew tells his story, this annoying woman exposes Jesus for the human being that he was and shatters our illusions of Jesus the god-like super-hero. I know we could just look the other way. We could…
2 July 2023
Whoever Welcomes You Welcomes Me Matthew 20:40-42 Introduction In the 10th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus sends twelve disciples to share good news throughout the region of Galilee. In today’s passage, he speaks a word of welcome:“Whoever welcomes you welcomes me.” When it comes to welcome, I think the church needs to be careful. I think every church sees itself as a welcoming church. Is Manningham Uniting Church a welcoming Church? Barbara Brown Taylor once wrote that she cringes…
4 June 2023
Introduction Let’s vote on the Trinity! IN or OUT? The Church celebrates Trinity Sunday today. Don’t panic I am not going to reflect on the Trinity this morning. I am fully aware that some of you don’t subscribe to the doctrine of Trinity. And I don’t intend to bash you with another sermon on Trinity. According to Rev Dr John Squires, a retired Uniting Church’s minister and a biblical scholar, “Trinity Sunday is one of those extremely rare moments during…
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