St Michael's talks & sermons

How are we to face the future?  How can we do it with anticipation, but not anxiety?  Jessie shares from these scriptures on that theme: Acts 16.9-15 Revelation 21.10, 22-22.5 John 14.23-29

Easter 3, Acts 9.1-6, Revelation 5.11-14, John 21.1-19 Listen carefully, and you'll hear the epistle reader introduce "Revelation Chapter 5" as "Revolution Chapter 5".  Which is about right. Tim McKenzie preaches on Singing the Lamb's Song. The witness of history is that those who've been prepared to do this are truly revolutionaries.

Protestants often think of being a Christian as a question of believing things.  But is that the right place to start? Jesus puts a frighteningly terrifying emphasis on doing things.  In this sermon, Dr. Philip Fountain lets Jesus speak for himself, with devastating effect. Scripture: excerpts from Matthew 5, 6, & 7

Ruby Burgess outlines the breathtaking vision of a God who isn't just loving and compassionate, but who is love and compassion. Scripture Texts: Psalm 103, 1 Corinthians 13, and John 14.15-31

Another exciting episode in the series, "Why be a Christian in 2022?"  Matthew gives his telling of the Christian story, invites you to give yours, and offers his top 10 reasons for thinking the Christian story is more than just a fairytale...

Is Christmas just about joy?  Or is it about grief as well?  How do those go together?  And how does Angela Merkel's blessing to her successor, Olaf Scholz, help us approach the Christmas message in a world of trouble and joy?

Text: Luke 1:26–56   Cassandra Burton-Wood, lately chaplain at Victoria University of Wellington, delivers a final message about Mary the mother of Jesus, before leaving town for love and theological study. 

Texts: Acts 4.32-35; 1 John 1.1-2.2; John 20.19-31 The Rev Dr Tim McKenzie explores faith, doubt and the resurrection (with a special appearance by Tim Overton) Please forgive the mediocre audio quality in this episode!

Genesis 41:41–49; 1 Corinthians 7:17–24; Luke 19:1–10 .  What does 'vocation' mean for Christians? Is it about landing your dream job? Or becoming a priest? The second in a series on faith & work.

Texts: Psalm 46 , Romans 8.26-40 & Mark 1.35-39 Mel spoke on the four S's of contemplative prayer — silence, solitude, stillness and surrender.

Texts: 2 Samuel 7:18–29 , Ephesians 5:18–21 ; Luke 11:8–13 Richard begins our series on prayer.

The texts for the day were Ezekiel 34.11-16, 20-24; Ephesians 1.15-23 and Matthew 25.31-46 Dr Ben Thirkell-White, until recently Associate Professor of International Relations, Victoria University of Wellington, now at the Reserve Bank, reflects on Christ the King Sunday and its political message for today. Christ the King is a recent feast — instituted by Pope Pius XI in the troubled period betwe...

The texts for the day were Revelation 7.9-17; 1 John 3.1-3;  Matthew 5.1-13

The texts for the day were Psalm 69; Isaiah 24:4–13; John 3:1–17

Psalm 13; Lamentations 3; Matthew 4:1–11 Tim introduces the Biblical genre of lament as one pattern for our conversations with God. 

Tim the vicar preached from Isaiah 58:1-9 ; 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 ; Matthew 5:13-20

Rev. Dr. Deborah Wilson, chaplain at Queen Margaret College, introduces St Matthew's depiction of Jesus as teacher — a new Moses who would in his own self fulfil the law. Texts: Isaiah 9:1–4 , 1 Corinthians 1:10–18 , Matthew 4:12–23

Māmari refers to Léon Cogniet's (1794–1880) painting 'Le Massacre des Innocents':

For the fourth Sunday in Advent, Tim preaches from 2 Peter 3 and Matthew 1.18-25

The Rev Jenny Dawkins, from All Saints Peckham, South London , visits and preaches for the first Sunday in Advent.  The texts were Isaiah 2:1–5 , 2 Peter 1:1-11, 19–21 and Matthew 24:36–44 .

A sermon preached at St Michael's Anglican Church, Kelburn, Wellington, New Zealand, 24 November 2019.