St Paul's Box Hill Podcasts

In Australia, "our mob" means our group, our people (without suggesting anything unruly). Today, our mob begins a final series of farewells to our church home of the last seven decades. Our focus, first of all, is on baptism, where Jesus welcomes us into his kingdom. [Organ/Choir - Epiphany 4]

Originally, baptism was a washing for repentant sinners. That's why John was surprised when Jesus, the sinless one, stepped forward for baptism in the Jordan. But the process of Jesus taking on our sins begins here. And this also changed baptism itself, from a simple washing to a means of the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins. [Organ - Epiphany 1]

As we start our new year, we need more than ordinary resolutions. We need resolutions under God. And we need to follow the advice that Paul gave the church at Ephesus. (Lay-led service.) [Organ - Epiphany]

The birth of Christ is a time of joy, precisely because we know this is the birth of our Saviour. At the same time, we know Jesus was born into this world that is so broken (today's Gospel records the horrific reaction of Herod when his power play was foiled), and we know the final cost of Jesus' rescue mission. The shadow of the cross looms large. [Instrumental - Christmas 1]

Children have a wonderful, fresh way of making the Christmas story their own, and retelling it in their own words (video used in this service is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suowe2czxcA ). We too can receive the Christ gift, the great exchange (as Luther called it), and retell the story in our own words and lives. [Organ/Choir - Christmas Day]

We can approach Christmas celebrations with many expectations. But since Christ came into our world in a lowly, ordinary way, was announced to the lowest social levels, and faced similar fears and risks as do all of humankind, and since he promises to continue to be with us, we may take him at his word, and become Christ-bearers. [Organ/choir - Midnight Mass]

Third of three repeated services of Bible readings alternating with Christmas carols and songs. Each of these three services has a different, shortened sermon (and indeed, on Christmas Eve, two different preachers). [Organ/Choir - Christmas Eve]

Second of three repeated services of Bible readings alternating with Christmas carols and songs. Each of these three services has a different, shortened sermon (and indeed, on Christmas Eve, two different preachers). [Organ/Choir - Christmas Eve]

First of three repeated services of Bible readings alternating with Christmas carols and songs. Each of these three services has a different, shortened sermon. [Organ/Choir - Advent 4]

Trigger warning: a story of the death of a child. Life can be cruelly hard sometimes, and most of us have experienced some kind of loss. The great surprise is that, even through these most difficult of times, God may be working to increase our faith. [Organ/Choir - Advent 4]

Pastor Neville spent several years in ministry in the central Australian deserts. He experienced first hand the wonderful transformation of the desert rains. Isaiah prophesies similarly about the rescue of God being like desert rains, transforming everything. And Jesus Christ is our rescue. [Organ/Choir - Advent 3]

The Jesse tree is another old Christmas tradition that highlights God's repeated promise to us. Each symbol tells one of the many ways that God has reminded us of his faithful promise. [Organ/Choir - Advent 2]

The death of a loved one is a terrible loss. But the resurrection of Jesus shows that death does not have the final word. Advent is a time to remember that Christ is bringing new life. [Organ/Choir - Advent 1]

Does it seem strange that, one month before our Christmas celebrations, the Scripture readings focus on Easter death and resurrection? Let us cry out with the thief on the cross, "Jesus, remember me!" (Organ/Choir/Cantata BWV 116 - Christ the King Sunday)

As he journeyed towards the cross, Jesus said, "The time is near." Indeed, his death and resurrection marked a significant change. No longer does God focus himself into a special place, such as the Jerusalem Temple. Now, through Christ, we are called living stones that build a spiritual house. [Organ/Choir - Pentecost 23]

The Saducees, a group of the religious leaders in Jesus' day, tried to trap Jesus with a grossly exaggerated story designed to ridicule his teaching about eternal life. Not only did Jesus confound those attacking him, but he also gave his disciples deep insight into the grace of God's gift, available to all who believe and accept. [Organ / Pentecost 22]

This All Saints Sunday, we think on those who have gone home to heaven in this past year, and we wonder about Jesus' saying, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." [Organ/Choir - All Saints Sunday]

We're very used to the statement "The truth will set you free". But what kind of truth? And what kind of freedom? These things are easily misunderstood. [Organ/Choir - Reformation Sunday]

The rather strange story of Jacob wrestling at the Jabbok River still speaks to us as we wrestle with the changes in our church. [Organ/Choir - Pentecost 19]

Do you approach Sunday morning worship as a duty, a ritual that must be fulfilled? When Jesus healed ten lepers, nine fulfilled their religious duties; but one outsider rushed back to thanks Jesus, falling at his feet in worship. He recognised his healing as a free gift of grace. [Organ/Choir - Pentecost 19]