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: July 1, 2018
The Sixth Sunday After Pentecost
Readings: 2 Samuel 1:1 & 17-24; Psalm 130; 2 Corinthians 8:7-15; Mark 5:21-43
This Sunday we will hear the account of Jesus’ double healing of Jairus’ daughter and a woman who had been sick for twelve years. These stories are woven together in circumstance but also by themes of healing, touch, and faith. There are also stark contrasts to be found here. Jairus and his daughter are people of status and position. He is both named and known. The ‘woman’ is unnamed and unknown. Jairus tells his story boldly and openly. The bleeding woman shares her’s reluctantly. Jairus’ daughter is mourned. The woman’s suffering is, initially, unrecognised.
Yet despite these stark differences Jesus moves effortlessly – and publicly – between these two crises. Circumstances differ. The need for – and offer of – Jesus healing touch is the same. Both – in their own way – ‘believe’ enough to approach Jesus. Perhaps that is the take-home message here: Come to Jesus as you are. After all, that is the only possibility.
We will combine this Sunday morning with the Tongan Methodist community at St Barnabas for Holy Communion from 9:00am. Holy Communion will also be offered at St Michael and All Angles, Hall from 11:00am. All are welcome!
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.