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The View from the E.D.

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30 November, 2025Pastor John Strelan

01 First Sunday of Advent A
Sermon - The View from the E.D. - Pastor John Strelan - 20251130.pdf

On July 13 1984, Terry Wallis was involved in a car accident that left him in a coma. For 19 years he remained comatose in a minimally conscious state. Doctors believed his condition was permanent. Then, in 2003, he spontaneously awoke.

Can you imagine how much the world changed in those 19 years? Can you imagine how it must have been to suddenly wake up? And, I wonder, if that was you, what would you like to see when you woke up? Who would you want to have around you after sleeping for 19 years?

One of the first people Terry Wallis saw was his mother. And he recognized her.

~ Pastor John

Matthew 24:36-44

36 Jesus said: ‘But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42 ‘Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

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Breaking the Spell

29 March, 2026 Pastor John Strelan

Words of wisdom from children:

· Never trust a dog to watch your food.

· When your dad is angry and he asks you, “Do I look stupid?” don’t answer him.

· If you want a kitten start out asking for a horse.

· Never try to baptize a cat.

This Sunday we celebrate the day Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey. He went into the temple and the children shouted ‘Hosanna’. He turned to the chief priests and scribes and asked, “Do you hear what these children are saying?”

This Sunday four young people will be confirmed. Come and hear their words of wisdom.

~ Pastor John

Click here for a link to our new spotify podcast containing the latest sermon recordings.

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Little Deaths

22 March, 2026 Pastor John Strelan

I pulled a muscle in my shoulder on Monday night. At a swing dancing class of all places! (Don’t ask!) Don’t worry, it only hurts when I move. It wouldn’t have happened five years ago. Perhaps it’s a sign I’m getting older? Perhaps it’s a sign of my mortality?

Woah! Hold it right there! Did you see what I did just then? It seems quite a leap from an injured shoulder to dying! But, is it such a leap? Or is it that we don’t want to think about dying? Even when we are surrounded by death everyday. Even when we suffer from ‘little deaths’ all the time. You know those moments that suck a little bit of life out of you?

Our society’s way of dealing with death is to deny it (never mind the irony that we can’t get enough of death on our TV screens!) But, I wonder if by denying death we are missing out on a bit of life? Perhaps a lot of life?

And, I wonder if Jesus’ words to Martha might not be translated: ‘Those who believe in me, even though they are dying, are living’ (John 11:25)?

I wonder.

~ Pastor John

Click here for a link to our new spotify podcast containing the latest sermon recordings.

If you are unable to access spotify, 2026 sermon recordings can be found here

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There but by the grace of God go I

15 March, 2026 Pastor John Strelan

This [see image] is the checker shadow illusion designed by Professor of Neuroscience, Edward Adelson. When you look at the image which is the darker square on the checkerboard, is it A or B?

Well, as you may have guessed (even if your eyes are telling you something different), both squares are exactly the same shade. (Or perhaps you didn’t guess that?) In truth, neither is darker or lighter than the other.

Sometimes even our eyes blind us to reality.

~ Pastor John

Click here for a link to our new spotify podcast containing the latest sermon recordings.

If you are unable to access spotify, 2026 sermon recordings can be found here

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