St. John The Divine's Podcasts

The story of the Presentation is not quite as the Rector once imagined it. And that previous imagining was a result of cultural conditioning more than anything else. So how can we take the challenge of reading Scripture and allowing it to critique our culture rather than just reading into our Bibles what we want. Simeon and Anna give us some pointers in today's reading... The Venerable Alastair McCollum Rector, St John the Divine Victoria

The Rev'd Patrick Sibley Deacon

The season of "Ordinary Time" after Epiphany and leading up to Lent offers us the extra-ordinary chance to reflect on the in-breaking of God in our daily lives, bringing holiness to our ordinary. The Reverend Gillian Hoyer Assistant Curate

When we divide the world into worthy and unworthy, into those who are properly Christian and those who aren’t, we ignore Jesus calling to follow and we listen to other voices which threaten to draw us away from the values which are at the heart of Christian faith. Who’s voices are we privileging – and can we hear Christ in them? The Venerable Alastair McCollum Rector, St John the Divine Victoria

Legends from the early church are interesting and entertaining. This morning, as we mark Epiphany Sunday, we recall the legend of Emperor Constantine's mother, Helena, finding the bones and skulls of the Three Wise Men, and preserving them as treasured sacred relics. We consider how God transforms the Magi, and in our own time, each of us, from "seekers" of Christ into "stars" who reflect the Light of Christ for other seekers to see and to follow. The Rev. Canon Kevin Arndt Priest Associate, St John the Divine Victoria

The Christmas story we celebrate is a mishmash of traditions and Gospel narratives – much of it mythic in it’s expression. But the purpose of these narratives are not to give a literal account of events around the birth of Jesus, but to challenge us to think about who Jesus was and is, and to seek for deeper meaning in the signs of Scripture. Why is this particular set of images, ideas, and poetic imaginings so important to defining us, as individual followers of Jesus and as a spiritual community. The Ven. Alastair McCollum Rector

What is a saint? Is it all heavenly cities, choirs, angels, harps, and thrones? The Rector guides us on a visualisation of the worship of heaven such as laid out in Revelation and popular imagination – and then goes from there to consider the defining quality of Sainthood. The Ven. Alastair McCollum Rector

A sermonlet, only a short thought, about Baptism and the importance of our spiritual journey given as part of the celebration of baptism for St John’s member Justin Routledge The Ven. Alastair McCollum Rector

What is a saint? Is it all heavenly cities, choirs, angels, harps, and thrones? The Rector guides us on a visualisation of the worship of heaven such as laid out in Revelation and popular imagination – and then goes from there to consider the defining quality of Sainthood. The Ven. Alastair McCollum Rector

The gospel of Luke tells the story of the Annunciation - the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary to ask her to bear God's son into the world. Mary knows that this is a dangerous and subversive call, yet still says yes, giving her consent to bear God. In doing so, she is proclaiming the greatness of the Mighty One who turns the world upside down and reminding us that listening to and believing women has always been a foundational part of our our faith. The Reverend Gillian Hoyer Assistant Curate

In sharp contrast to the warm, soft images of the Nativity that will soon fill our churches at Christmas, this morning we encounter a very prickly John the Baptist. From his riverbank perch in the wilderness, John invited his first followers to turn away from all that was not God, and to begin a new healing journey. Likewise, John continues to call us today to make a path for the Holy in our lives, to seek the ways of healing, and to prepare ourselves to receive God's good gifts on the Way. The Reverend Canon Kevin Arndt Associate Priest

With Maestro David on the organ, and an iconic sixties rock song soaring in the rafters, we enter the season of Advent. Whether it's the trippy lyrics from the Summer of Love, or the harsh images of a first century apocalyptic Gospel, sometimes you just have to be there at the time to truly "get it." This morning we consider how our lives, like the Fig Tree in Jesus' parable, wax and wane with their own seasons and tenor. We consider Jesus' urging to "Stay Awake!", lest we sleep through the good times, as well as the bad. The Reverend Canon Kevin Arndt Associate Priest

Giving a cup of water to a thirsty person helps us remember that the Reign of God is happening right now. It is also happening right where we are. We need to be aware of how present God is to us at all times and places in our lives. The Reign of God can be found in simple actions that are done with kindness, respect, and compassion. We are being the Reign of God as we love one another. The Rev'd Bill Tarter, OSF Associate Priest

The "Parable of the Talents" is a text long associated with stewardship campaigns and invitations to give time, treasure, and talents for the up-building of our communities, as we are encouraged to follow the example of the first and second slaves. The stewardship theology is good and right, but is it really what this parable is about? Once we expose how shaky our modern assumptions and interpretation of this text really is, we turn our attention this morning to reflect on how Jesus' audience would have heard it in its original context. Spoiler alert -- the real hero isn't the harsh billionaire slave-holder, or his collaborators! The Reverend Canon Kevin Arndt Associate Priest

Today, we read of the death of Moses in Deuteronomy. After all the ways that Moses had served God in his lifetime, Moses is permitted to peek into the Promised Land, but not to enter it, all because of a foolish mistake made once in securing water for the people. If to you, that seems unfair, you're in good company. It also troubled the Rabbis of old -- the great sages of the Talmud -- who used every ambiguity in the text to craft a powerful, emotional Midrash. This morning we recall that Midrash, and seek comfort in the wisdom of the Rabbis. The Reverend Canon Kevin Arndt Associate Priest

Today's sermon put a new swing on what belongs to God and what belongs to the Emperor. A challenge to look at where we are going as a parish and why we are here ahead of our "Why?" day next Sunday. The Reverend Patrick Sibley Deacon

Today's parable told by Jesus in Matthew 22:1-14 is a really difficult one that challenges some of the things we like to think about God and judgement. How might we unpack this really uncomfortable parable and make sense of it in light of a God of grace and love. Hint: It is, but isn't, all about the clothes! The Reverend Gillian Hoyer Assistant Curate

This thanksgiving we hear the story which formed the Jewish people, we hear of the bread of life, we hear where our focus should be from St Paul's letter the Philippians. So the Rector asks - what stories do we tell that form and shape and guide and inspire us in our own walk of faith, and our service to one another and the world? The Ven Alastair McCollum Rector

As we continue to follow the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness, this week we find them without water and wondering if God is among them or not. What do we do when God seems absent in our lives? When things happen that make it hard to believe God is with us? While we do not have all of the answers to those difficult questions, we can learn from the experiences of Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness about how we can journey together. The Reverend Gillian Hoyer Assistant Curate

The Biblical story of the Exodus has inspired and nourished God's people for millennia in our struggles to break free from the things that enslave. It recounts how Hebrew slaves escaped bondage and captivity in Egypt, and journeyed into the unknown, in search of a new life in a new place. But judging from their complaining and conflict in the wilderness, freedom has a learning curve. Perhaps God's gift of "manna" can teach us a bit about learning to be free and trusting God to sustain us. The Reverend Canon Kevin Arndt Associate Priest