Washed Clean

Alice YoungFrontPage, News, Pastor

Years ago, when Owen wore white business shirts to work, a blue pen was inadvertently left in the pocket and made its way through the laundry with all the whites. I remember the efforts I went to, to clean the blue stains out of the clothes that were contaminated by the blue ink. It took heavy duty stain remover and … Read More

WHAT WILL WE THANK GOD FOR INTO ETERNITY? 

Alice YoungFrontPage, News, Pastor

Lent Passage: Ephesians 2:1-10  What can you thank God for today? Take a pause, have a think, what comes to mind? Now, focus your thanks on what Paul describes in Ephesians 2:1-10. Once you were dead in your sins, serving first your desires, disobedient and out of relationship with God, under judgement. Now, through faith in Jesus you are forgiven, … Read More

DOES THE CHRISTIAN MESSAGE MAKE SENSE? 

Alice YoungFrontPage, News, Pastor

Lent Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:16  “Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Cor 1:22-24)  Does the Christian message make sense? Yes and no. Paul says to ‘No’ for those who rely … Read More

WE NEED FAITH FOR GRACE 

Alice YoungFrontPage, News, Pastor

Lent Reading: Romans 4:13-25  We need faith for grace. In Romans 4 the Apostle Paul says Abraham, while he and his wife Sarah were unable to conceive, was given the promise by God to be “the father of many nations”. This is grace. God in his generosity appointed Abraham for this promise. Abraham did not have to win a competition, … Read More

What is Jesus calling you to?

Alice YoungFrontPage, News, Pastor

During Lent, our Link articles will bring a brief devotional each week on Jesus’ journey to the cross from the Lent readings for this year. This past Sunday at Unley Park Kids, we took a journey back in time to the Jordan River – diving head first into the story of Jesus’ baptism in Mark 3:9-15. It’s this small section … Read More

40 DAYS OF PRAYER AND PREPARATION 

Alice YoungFrontPage, News, Pastor

This week, on Ash Wednesday, Lent begins. This is a period of 40 days before Easter, not counting Sundays, where Christians fast by giving up something. Don’t know about Lent? You can read more here.  In our church we use the period of Lent for 40 Days of Prayer. We are asking our people to dedicate time in the day to … Read More

WHERE OUR CHURCH IS IN PRAYER 

Alice YoungFrontPage, News, Pastor

What opportunities do we take as a church to pray? Many Christians personally reflect they ‘don’t pray enough’. I often wonder what is ‘enough’. ‘Never’ praying we could agree is not enough. ‘Daily’ could be a solid effort. The Apostle Paul encouraged prayer ‘without ceasing’ (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), which likely seems impractical to many. I suggest Paul is deepening our … Read More

WHY IS SERVING CORE TO CHRISTIAN FAITH? 

Alice YoungFrontPage, News, Pastor

We value our opportunities to serve our community. We value doing good, but why is serving others core to our Christian faith? In his book, Letters and Papers from Prison, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, the Church “is the Church only when it exists for others…not dominating, but helping and serving.” He wrote this because he understood this is the way of … Read More

SADNESS AND JOY 

Alice YoungFrontPage, News, Pastor

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music” Psalm 98:4 (NIV)  Why did you last ‘shout for joy’? Psalm 98 encourages noisy praise from the nations and all creation. This shout comes because of the hope of release from long-suffering. The suffering of Israel in exile, the nations wrestling with injustice, and creation … Read More

Make Room

Alice YoungFrontPage, News, Pastor

December is here! I’m sure you can relate to the sense that the year has gone quickly and here we are with Christmas around the corner. As Christmas events and gatherings fill the calendar it is often challenging to step away from the logistics, schedules and planning and make room to ponder the message of Christmas: the gift of Jesus … Read More