Rev Pam Hynd's sermon for Pentecost 20
In the past - and sometimes still - the Church has thrown out both logic and compassion in its treatment of people who have suffered divorce. Then we read what Jesus, in the Gospels, said about divorce and we wonder if faithful followers of Jesus are condemned to return to that dark path. Let's take a deep breath, read Mark 10:2-15 carefully, and think this through.
Mark 9:35-50 is one of those passages in the Gospels that asks us to look seriously at the way our actions in this part of life follow us to the other side of the grave. This is not comfortable to talk about because it is scary and also because it so highly controversial. So, let's take a deep breath and do this uncomfortable thing!
Week 3 of St Paul's 2021 Season of Creation Jesus said that when we welcome a little child we welcome him. What does this tell us about our care for creation?
In week two of 2021 Season of Creation we look at the relationship between God and the Cosmos God has made. God is known through what God has made and through the words God has spoken. This knowable God is celebrated in Psalm 19 and ultimately revealed in one point of creation where God's work and and Word unite.
Rev Kathy begins our Season of Creation at St Paul's with a reflection on crossing boundaries to love as God loves us all.
Rev Pam Hynd's sermon for Pentecost 14
Over the past few years, and the past week in particular, people around the world have reflected in new ways on the nature of evil and the possibility of being genuinely spiritually safe. In the face of systemic evil, we find wisdom and guidance of these ancient words written to a little church in Ephesus.
Domestic abuse is the other pandemic that is killing women throughout Australia, and limiting their capacity for doing and being all they are created to do and be. A recent report commissioned by the Anglican Church of Australia (see https://anglicanfocus.org.au/2021/06/11/national-anglican-family-violence-research-report-released) showed that misreadings of some Bible passages are correlated with abuse within churchgoing families. We need to take this seriously and take a close look at what Paul was really saying in Ephesians 5.
This is a sermon preached by Rev Margaret 8 years ago at Holy Trinity, Dulwich Hill, in Sydney, on the same passage as this week's sermon. Because this passage deserves serious study we have included both sermons. This one takes more time for in depth exegesis of Ephesians 5. Click here for a transcript with suggestions for further reading.