The people of St Barnabas have met for worship since 16th September 1979 where they first met at the Fraser Primary School. As the congregation was … Read More
St Barnabas, Charnwood
St Michael’s, Hall
"In the early days, small groups of pioneer settlers were making their homes in the countryside around the centre now called Canberra and, despite the … Read More
Barney’s Boutique
The St Barnabas op shop, Barney's Boutique, is located at the church centre in Charnwood, 10 Charnwood Place, Charnwood. See map below. A … Read More
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Worshiping Together this Sunday: June 10, 2018
The Second Sunday After Pentecost
Readings: 1 Samuel 8.4-20, 11.14-15; Psalm 138; 2 Corinthians 4:13 – 5:5; Mark 3.20-35)
Each of the readings we hear today will ask us to choose between this world and the Kingdom of God. To which Kingdom do you belong? Where does your allegiance lie? Can you even see the difference between the two?
Even Jesus’ family struggled to see this clearly. Their blunt assessment of his mission and teaching: ‘He has gone out of his mind’. Our story begins with their failed attempt to ‘restrain him’. The religious leaders see Jesus with no more clarity. They name him ‘Beelzebul’ the prince of demons. Unable to deny the miracles, they attack the messenger and credit the demonic with heaven’s signs. Jesus parabolic response simply asks, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan?’ and insists that they are witnessing the plundering of the ’strong-man’s house’. How blind we can be!
Our reading ends with a thought provoking Jesus insisting that ‘Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother’. Belonging to the Kingdom – or family – of God is about seeing and trusting the God who transforms our allegiance and will! May you see and follow well!
Today we offer two opportunities to worship with us. The community that meets at St Barnabas, Charnwood, will gather at 9:00am for Holy Communion. The community of St Michael and All Angels, Hall, will gather at 11:00am. All are welcome to join us at either centre.
Worshiping together this Sunday: June 3, 2018
The Second Sunday After Pentecost
Readings: 1 Samuel 3.1-10 (11-20); 2 Corinthians 4.5-12; Psalm 139.1-6, 13-18; Mark 2.23-3.6
The gospel reading we will hear this Sunday tells two accounts of Jesus’ activity on the Sabbath day. In the first story, Jesus’ disciples are seen collecting and eating grain from a field. The Pharisees understood this as harvesting and therefore work. Jesus’ response to their accusations was to point to the behaviour of David, concluding that, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.’ (Mark 2:27).
In the second, Jesus deliberately heals a person ‘in front’ of the congregation in the local synagogue. Before this he challenges those gathered to answer a question about the law: ‘Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?’ (Mark 3:4).
Look carefully and you will see a theme beyond Sabbath here. It is about the motive behind the law God gave. The Sabbath, and by implication the rest of Moses’ law, was a generous gift designed for us and for our salvation. God intended it for good.
How sobering it is to realise that we can so easily misunderstand the very heart and motive of God.
Two Holy Communion services will be conducted this Sunday. The first will be at St Barnabas, Charnwood from 9:00am. The second will be held at St Michael and All Angels, Hall from 11:00am. All are always welcome to these services.
Worshiping Together this Sunday: Trinity Sunday
Readings: Isaiah 6:1-8; Psalm 29; Romans 8:12-17; John 3:1-17
This Sunday, Trinity Sunday, is set aside to celebrate the revelation of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each contributes to our particular understanding of God. The Trinity, however, is more than an assertion of these three God-glimpses. This doctrine also asserts the revelation of God in loving community. God revealed in relationship.
Perhaps this insight gives context to Jesus’ call to love God and others. The church is a community re-learning the art of love under the tutelage of the three-in-one. We are constantly learning to use the tools of forgiveness and repentance to rebuild our broken relationships. The answer to alienating sin is an ever-growing community gathered around this loving, God-community we call the Trinity.
So, if you would like to join us in this God-inspired communal pursuit, we will be sharing communion together this Sunday at St Barnabas from 9:00am and at St Michael and All Angels from 11:00am. All are most welcome.