Maria has the inspiration and dedication to produce our animations. She is a retired primary school principal, with a passion for teaching children and adults. Her interests include ; exploring my faith, reading, and (when it is safe to do so), A cappella singing and choral directing.
The Hebrew scriptures orient us to the saving work of God.
These passages lead us along a path that brings us to the point where we can sense God’s work in the story of Jesus.
May what we read in Isaiah help us to ponder the ways we might invite God into our lives and experiences.
May they show us how we deal at times, with a seeming absence of God and how we pray.
Dates in our times and lives stand out like milestones. Dates can alter our lives so they will never be the same again.
Isaiah wrote many prophesies of the coming Messiah. He caught a glimpse of God’s plan!
800 years later, Jesus says “Today your scripture is revealed”. Have you met the Messiah?
David Barrow calls us in the Uniting Church to be the “salt of the Earth” and embody public, practical discipleship that challenges market-driven culture and builds communities rooted in justice, generosity, and hope.
Through community organising—churches, unions, and civic groups—he urges faithful, to strategic action that reflects Christ’s radical love and counters “empire” or market values, citing that the church must be “the conscience of the state”, engaging politically and prophetically in the world to protect creation and uphold justice for all.
Jesus came into the world as the ‘upside down’ king – his kingdom is not of this world.
To commit to following Jesus is not to go along the pathway of power, authority or prestige.
Rather to relate with humility, through compassion, holding fast to a righteous way of living.
This Sunday we remember God’s creation in the animal world.
Kira’s work across the world with animals is not only connecting with her faith but continuing to carry out conservation of many species in many countries.
She is connecting with 10,000 species scientists from almost every country, with partners like
Zoos, Aquariums, Botanic gardens, Corporate agencies and Government agencies.
Seeing the sun rise on Easter Day morning is like an explosion of ‘Resurrection Life’.
When we recognize that the Resurrection is not ‘historical’ but an ever present reality that happens over and over, it is then that we can catch a glimpse what the meaning of this life really is – it is much bigger than any death!
Old Testament predictions come to fulfillment.
On the journey with Jesus, the disciples misunderstand many of the prophesies presented to them in the teachings. A humble donkey plays a main role.
God’s love is not reserved for a once a year religious event be it Christmas or Easter, a few privileged people or confined to a time or place.
God’s love is revealed in Christ’s humanity, for the sake of all our humanity.
Giving birth is an ordinary process for women all over the world – maybe for some it is more vulnerable and risky.
Through the birth of this baby the world would be turned on its head,
God enters irrevocably and extraordinarily into human history to show the way of God in the world. The ‘Good News’ is that God continues to be with us in our joys and struggles.
The ‘Upside Down Kingdom of God’ tells us something about ourselves and that our day to day way of operating, is not the same as the way God operates.
Greatness in his followers is about serving. Leaders are the servants of all and God’s Grace is there for everyone.
