Weekly letter from St Luke's - 7th November 2025

Dear Parish Friends

As the church year moves to its conclusion later this month, we are up to the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost and our readings focus on 'what happens next'. The prophet Haggai assures his hearers that God's spirit continues to abide with them - they need not fear. Paul, to the Thessalonians, implores them to stand firm, sure in the knowledge of their salvation. Then in Luke's gospel, Jesus responds to a question about life after death by telling his listeners to not fear, as such fear impedes living a full life. Jesus calls us to imagine what it is like to live without the fear of death so that we can approach our lives differently. If all of this is true, if through Jesus we are all children of the resurrection, then how does that free us? How do we spend our time? Our money? Our energy?

This Sunday is also kept in the Anglican Church of Australia as Defence Force Sunday as it  is the closest Sunday to Remembrance Day, 11th November. Our Archbishop has recorded a video message, along with former Army chaplain and retired Brigadier the Reverend Rob Sutherland CSC, who previously served as Archdeacon for the Army. In 2014 Rob was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) for his service and his pioneering work in Australia investigating Moral Injury and the spiritual wounds of combat. You can see this video here.

As always, services on Sunday are at 7am and 9am. The notice paper and the 9am service sheet are available via the links below. Our 9am service includes Children's Church and will be streamed on Zoom.

Yours in Christ

Rev'd Timothy