Worship Reflections from 2024
14 July 2024
How Dancing Leads to Spite (Mark 6:14-28) 14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, ‘John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.’ 15But others said, ‘It is Elijah.’ And others said, ‘It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.’ 16But when Herod heard of it, he said, ‘John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.’ 17 For Herod himself had sent men who arrested…
7 July 2024
Mark 6:1-13 (MUC Pentecost 7 July 2024) Theme Quote: I don’t know, I don’t care, and it doesn’t make any difference. (Jack Kerouac)Quote: Is it ignorance or apathy? Hey, I don’t know and I don’t care. (Jimmy Buffett) The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth 6 He left that place and came to his home town, and his disciples followed him. 2On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, ‘Where did this…
30 June 2024 Cutting of Ties
Service to Mark the Conclusion of Rev Swee Ann Koh’s Ministry at Manningham Uniting Church and his Retirement on Sunday, June 30th, 2024 @ 2.30 pm A Reflection: My Story. My Testimony. My Account. Prologue First things first, thank you for coming to my Cutting of Ties and Retirement Service. When I announced to the congregation that I am retiring on 30th June 2024, I said: “Whether it’s good news or bad news depends on you.” Some of you might want to see me…
23 June 2023
The Big Storm REFLECTION PART ONE – DAVID AND GOLIATH Of course, if we were growing up today, I am not sure we would be allowed to hear the story of David and Goliath. It’s a bit gory – especially the bit at the end, which we didn’t read …then David ran and stood over the Philistine; he grasped his sword, drew it out of its sheath, and killed him; then he cut off his head with it. Goliath was a…
16 June 2024
Manningham Uniting Church Fellowship@10 16th June 2024: Pentecost 4 Theme: The Power of Small Text: Mark 4:26-34 Introduction“The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground 27 and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how.” (Mark 4:26,27). “He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of…
2 June 2024
Manningham Uniting Church Fellowship@10 Holy Communion 02. 06. 2024: Second Sunday after Pentecost Theme: Listening to God’s Call Text: 1 Samuel 3:1-10 and Mark 2:23-3:6. Introduction ‘In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.’ (1 Samuel 3, 1b) These words begin the story of the calling of Samuel. Are you a good listener? Do you know there is a big difference between hearing and listening? Hearing means that the sound waves go into your ear, make the eardrum vibrate, nerves in the snail-shaped structure are stimulated…
26 May 2024 Trinity Sunday
Trinity Sunday 26 May 2024 Rev Dr Con Apokis Readings: Isaiah 6:1-8, John 3:1-17 lntroducing the Theme Quote: Spanish proverb “Jealousy is thin because it bites but never eats”. I fear that I am about to annoy some of you – I not only love the Christian Trinitarian tradition and outlook – I believe in the God of Jesus through it. Quote: Anonymous – as we continue with you this will be one of my go to themes – “If you think you are leading but…
19 May Pentecost
Manningham Uniting Church Together@10 19th May 2024: Pentecost Theme: The flames have died down Text: Acts 2:1-11 Pentecost is the birthday of the Church. On this birthday of the church, we would do well to remember the stories our ancestors wove together about what it was like back in the beginning. We are told they were huddled together in fear. Afraid to go outside, in case the authorities might spot them. Tormented by their grief. Afraid the dream might be over. Some of them…
5 May 2024
Manningham Uniting Church Fellowship@10 5th May 2024: Easter 6Theme: Love, love, love Text: John 15:9-17 Introduction What are the top five languages spoken in the world? Chinese — 1.3 billion Native SpeakersSpanish — 486 Million Native SpeakersEnglish — 380 Million Native SpeakersArabic — 362 Million Native SpeakersHindi — 345 Million Native Speakers Next question. How many words for Love are there in Greek? The answer is eight. In English, we use “love” in many ways. We “love” our partner, we “love” the Spring weather, we “love” our friends”…
28 April 2024
Manningham Uniting Church Fellowship@10 28th April 2024: Easter 5 Theme: God is not WhiteText: Acts 8:26-40 Introduction Is God white? You know the answer. Right? According to Rev Dr Grace Ji-Sun Kim, “When Western Christians think about God, the default image that comes to mind is usually white and male.” In her latest book, When God Became White: Dismantling Whiteness for a More Just Christianity. She says: “Christianity is rooted in the ancient Near East among people of darker skin. But over time, European Christians cast…
21 April 2024
Manningham Uniting Church 21st April 2024 Easter 4B Texts: Psalm 23, 1John 3:16-24, John 10:11-18 Theme: Jesus – the Glory of God lntroducing the Theme Lent is the season to divest yourself of all the things that would diminish your capacity to be a follower of Jesus. Easter is the season to encourage you in all the things that would enable your capacity to be a follower of Jesus. Last week I used a verse from Hebrews 1:3 to make sense…
14 April 2024
Manningham Uniting Church 14th April 2024 Easter 3B Texts: Acts 4: 32-35, Hebrews 1:3, John 20: 19-23 Theme: Where Art Thou? The theme was introduced by a video of ‘The Week with Charlie Pickering’ (Your Cancelled – Easter April 2024 – Series 10 Episode 9) demonstrating how naïve and uninformed people are to the meaning of Easter. Introduction Quote: “One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art.” (Oscar Wilde)Quote: “There is one thing one has to…
7 April 2024
Manningham Uniting Church 7th April 2024 Easter 2 B Theme: Exposing our Wounds Text: John 20:19 – 31 Introduction Now who wants to share some of the feelings that you have identified in the various characters in John 20:19-31. Congregation share… Let us pray. All we have are a few brief stories. There’s the one about the empty tomb. A stranger robed in white, a gardener perhaps. Folded grave-cloths. Weeping women. Fleeing men. Horrible wounds. Rumours. Confusion. Doubt. Joy. Love. Fear. And always the nagging question. Why?…