Arana Hills Uniting Church

23/08/2026

From the Minister’s Desk -

Matthew 16: 13-20

Imagine Jesus standing before you and asking, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answers with courage and openly declares his faith in Jesus. His response reminds us that faith is not only something we speak about; it should shape the way we live each day. When we choose to serve, God gives us grace and helps us use our gifts to care for others and build his kingdom on earth. The Church is called to do the same by showing the love of Jesus, offering forgiveness, and helping people begin again. Our words and actions can shape how others understand God. Since guilt can cause deep pain, grace and mercy can bring healing and hope. So, if Jesus asked you today, “Who do you say that I am?”, what would your choices show about your faith in him?

16/08/2026

From the Minister’s Desk -

Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28

Living together in unity is precious, provided it does not require us to sacrifice diversity. How we define unity depends on where we draw its boundaries. In our faith community, are we united because we think, believe, and act alike, or because we love and respect one another amid our differences? The first understanding is narrow; the second is more inclusive. In this week’s Gospel, Jesus broadens the boundaries of belonging through his encounter with the Canaanite woman. How might his example guide us?

09/08/2026

From the Minister’s Desk -

Romans 10:5-15, Matthew 14:22-33

Romans reminds us that Christians are called to share the good news of Jesus with others: “How beautiful are the feet” of those who bring this message. In the Gospel, the disciples are afraid in a storm. Jesus walks towards them on the water and asks Peter to come to him. Peter becomes afraid and starts to sink, but he was brave enough to leave the safety of the boat. Where is God asking us to step out in faith today? How can we live the Gospel when life feels uncertain? What challenges do we face when we follow Christ and leave what feels safe? We can be sure of this: when we call for help, Jesus comes to us.

02/08/2026

From the Minister’s Desk -

Romans 9:1-5, Matthew 14:13-21

In Romans, Paul deeply wants his own people to receive the new life offered through Christ. He is saddened that many have not accepted this gift or have not heard the message in a way that speaks to them. In Matthew, Jesus sees the hungry crowd with compassion. The disciples want to send the people away to find food, but Jesus shows that what they already have can become enough for everyone. This miracle points to the Eucharist: Jesus gives himself as the bread of life, offering spiritual nourishment to all. It also reminds us that the world has enough food when we share fairly and act with justice.

26/07/2026

From the Minister’s Desk -

Romans 8:26-39, Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

The Spirit helps us when we are weak, even when we cannot find the words to pray. God promises never to leave us, and Christ gave everything for us. This is the heart of the message in Romans. In the Gospel, we are reminded that even a very small amount of faith, like a mustard seed, can be the start of something great in us. As we listen to God’s Word today, we can be encouraged to keep trusting, even when the world feels overwhelming because of violence, cruelty, suffering and unfairness. It can be hard to know where to start, but we can still begin. Where can we do that today? Where can we plant a small seed of faith by living out our calling?

24/07/2026

A great winters morning to engage in conversation at our Coffee N Chat at Arana Hills Uniting Church

Lamentations 3:22-23: "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness".
It’s a beautiful, refreshing reminder of God's grace each day.

20/07/2026

From the Minister’s Desk -

Genesis 28:10-19a

What are we waiting for? We may be waiting for things to change, but maybe we are the ones who need to help make that change happen. We may be waiting for our hopes to come true, but maybe having hope is already a gift. Jacob’s story can help us understand this. When we stop, rest, and let our dreams catch up with us, we may discover that what we are waiting for is already here. Jacob says, “Surely the Lord is in this place – and I did not know it.” If we stop struggling for long enough, we can begin to see that God is with us in every situation. This gives us hope, and that hope gives us what we need to live with faith and fullness.

12/07/2026

12/07/2026

From the Minister’s Desk

Romans 8:1-11, Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23

In this passage from Romans, Paul asks us to think about how we live. Living “according to the flesh” does not mean our bodies are bad. God cares about every part of us: our body, mind, heart and soul. Jesus wants us to live with real and deep faith. A shallow faith is not enough. We are called to pray, seek the truth together, choose what is wise and good, and keep trying to do God’s will.

05/07/2026

From the Minister’s Desk -

Romans 7:15-25a, Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

In Romans, Paul describes a struggle many of us know well. He wants to do what is right, yet he finds himself caught in weakness and failure. We can feel the same when our lives seem confused or broken, and we may wonder whether our faith is strong enough to trust in God’s mercy and forgiveness. Yet Paul does not end in despair. His faith leads him back to hope in God’s grace. In Matthew, Jesus speaks with frustration about people who have been given many good things but still reject them and complain. Even so, Jesus gives thanks for those who come to God with simple and humble faith. He promises that they will find love, blessing and rest.