From the Vicar

Weekly messages


Greetings on the Fifth Sunday in Lent (17 March)

Dear members and friends of the parish of South Darebin,

Greetings! I look forward to getting to know you all in this interregnum period as you prayerfully search for a new Vicar. I know that the recent months have been chall-enging and I hope that together we can look forward to what can be, and will be, as the people of God in Northcote and Thornbury.

I would like us all to take heart in the words of Jesus when he said:

“Do not worry about your life… Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you — you of little faith? Therefore do not worry… But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matthew 6: selected verses from 26–34)

Let us take comfort in the knowledge that our God of love knows our needs and wants what is best for us, our families and our neighbours.

May God bless you all,

Canon Christopher

Fourth Sunday in Lent (10 March)

For God so loved the world… John 3: 16 ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.’ John 3: 16 has become a shorthand for the Christian faith. If you have ever watched big sporting events…

Third Sunday in Lent (3 March)

Lent – A time to reflect on our prayer life O Divine Master,Grant us this day,strength, when weak,love, when forsaken,courage, when afraid,wisdom, when foolish,comfort, when alone,hope, when rejected,peace, when in turmoil.Grant us the will to bestrength, love, courage, wisdom,comfort, hope, and peace to any in need.All for your sake. Amen.(Bishop Johnsen of Missouri) A friend…

The man who lived and died by Jesus’ words in the Gospel for Lent 2 (25 February)

Today’s Gospel passage is from St Mark Chapter 8: 31-38 Theologian and pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer died almost 79 years ago. He was the epitome of selflessness and a good role model for people today. Bonhoeffer, who stood up against Hitler and all the evil he represented, was executed at Flossenberg concentration camp only weeks before…

Recommended reading

We commend to you the following reflections and reading from blogs and websites.


Prayer for Growth

As we look to re-imagine the future with other church communities in the Melbourne Anglican Diocese, we pray for vision, guidance, joy and power to lead our Churches into growth.