Recorded Worship Service Videos

President's Message for the 49th Anniversary of the UCA

The President, Rev Charissa Suli, celebrates the 49th anniversary of the Uniting Church in Australia, giving thanks for its history, diversity, and shared faith. Using the image of an unfinished Tongan fala (mat), she describes the Church as a community continually being woven together by the love of Christ—across cultures, differences, and challenges. Charissa acknowledges the covenant with First Peoples, the burdens many congregations carry, and the Spirit’s call to renewal, courage, and deeper prayer. Looking toward the 50th year "Jubilee", she invites the Church to heal divisions, confront racism, and continue weaving Christ’s love for future generations.

Service 21 June 2026

Romans 12: 1 – 8: Paul teaches that true community is formed when every part of the body works together with purpose. However, modern life is marked by loneliness, shame, and hiding that is a sign of the brokenness first seen in Adam and Eve. We long for the harmony of paradise, but fences, boundaries, and fear shape our world. Our Op Shop becomes a deeply theological response to this brokenness, when it is a place where walls come down, dignity is restored, and people are seen without judgement. Through precious acts of service, volunteers help rebuild community, offer connection, and reveal God’s healing love. In this way, our Op Shop can give them an idea of God’s perfect community.

Service 14 June 2026

Matthew 9:35-10:8: Jesus’ command to heal, proclaim, and cast out demons feels impossible in today’s world, where public evangelism is often misunderstood or ridiculed. And the disciples themselves were unqualified, conflicted, and socially insignificant. Peter denied Jesus, Judas betrayed Him, and others came from opposing backgrounds. Their calling shows that God chooses ordinary, vulnerable people so that the good news itself carries the power, not human ability. Like the messenger from Marathon who simply shouted “we won,” our lives are meant to embody God’s Euangelion. God provides, as seen in Genesis 22, and sends us not for our strength but for His purpose and authority.

Service 7 June 2026

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-23 : Jesus’ call to the tax collector, His healing of the unclean woman, and His raising of the dead girl reveals a ministry that breaks social and religious boundaries. What seemed beautiful to modern readers was shocking in Jewish society. Jesus chose mercy over sacrifice, creating space for the outcast to encounter God. Like the widow of Zarephath and David in the cave, God meets people in desperate places and brings new life. Christian life begins in this mercy, where sinners become disciples, suffering turns to joy, and death gives way to life. Jesus calls, heals, and raises us into true life.

Service 31 May 2026

1 John 5: 1-25: John brings his letter to a close by showing that faith in Jesus, love for God’s people, and obedience to God’s commands all belong together. Those who are “born of God” overcome the world—not by strength, but by trusting the One who came “by water and blood,” Jesus Christ. God Himself testifies to the truth of His Son, and this testimony gives believers assurance of eternal life. Because of this confidence, Christians can pray boldly, intercede for one another, and live free from the power of sin and idols. The letter ends with a calm certainty: we belong to God, and His Son gives us true understanding and life. Psalm 34:1-22: David praises the Lord for delivering him from fear and danger, inviting others to join him in tasting and seeing that the Lord is good. The psalm teaches that God watches over the righteous, hears their cries, and draws near to the brokenhearted. Though the faithful may face many troubles, the Lord rescues, protects, and redeems. In contrast, those who do evil bring ruin on themselves. The psalm closes with a strong promise: the Lord will not let those who take refuge in Him be condemned.

Service 24 May 2026

Acts 2:1-21: The story of Pentecost reveals our God who refuses to remain distant. In Acts 2, the Spirit comes as wind and fire, showing that God’s nearness is personal, powerful, and life giving. Jesus promised the Helper so that God’s presence would not only be beside us but within every believer, continually and intimately. Faith is born in this proximity, not in abstraction. From creation to the early church, God draws near, breathes life into weary souls, and forms a community filled with His Spirit. The Spirit still comes to us today, shaping our faith and sustaining our cry, “Lord, I need you”.

Service 17 May 2026

John17:1-11: Jesus’ farewell prayer emphasised oneness, the Father, the Son, and the disciples united in relationship. This union reveals God’s nature in Jesus and bridges us to the Father, shaping our identity in His plan. Our own journey illustrates that identity is given, not earned, rooted in family and community chosen by God. So, prayer is more than asking. It is practicing and experiencing who we are in God’s plan, like young eagles learning to fly. Abraham’s story also shows that even in failure, God calls us to pray and live by grace. Connected to God, we reflect His power and peace.

Service 10 May 2026

John: 14:15-24: Jesus’ farewell message can sound conditional. In John’s Gospel, Jesus uses “if” statements not as requirements but as invitations into covenant life. Biblical covenants always begin with God’s promise. God saves, loves, and acts first. Jesus’ “if you love me” shows how we remain in the life He already gives. Like Abraham, we often struggle to trust God’s promise, but God meets us in our limitations. Jesus sends the Spirit, a real Helper, to guide us into His truth. We follow His way not to earn grace, but because God loved us first and never leaves us orphaned.

Service 3 May 2026

John 14:1-14: We long for stability and resist disruptions that unsettle our plans. The disciples felt this deeply when Jesus prepared to leave them. Jesus’ departure shook the framework of their identity and security. Jesus’ promise of “many rooms” was not simple comfort but the assurance of a covenant relationship, like a groom preparing a place for his bride. Jesus’ absence is ironically part of God’s covenant with us because Jesus is not merely an idea but a real, embodied presence who takes up space in our lives. As He prepares a place for us, we are called to embody His presence and reveal His compassion in the world.

Service 26 April 2026

John 10:1-10: We live in a troubled world where human attitudes can be more destructive than natural disasters. At the same time, we share our hearts with others even when we are in difficult situations. These contrasting experiences show both the weakness and the beauty within humanity. Our attitudes shape how we interpret life, but they are formed slowly through experience, reflection, and daily choices. A positive attitude can lead us toward hope, while a negative one can hold us back. Still, Scripture teaches that attitude alone cannot capture the depth of the heart where faith, trust, and love are formed by God’s Spirit. Today’s reading reminds us that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are stubborn, imperfect sheep. Our attitude does not qualify us for His care but His faithfulness does. Though thieves in life steal our peace, health, and purpose, Jesus comes to give us life to the full. In Jesus ongoing guidance, we are reminded of our ongoing discipleship through our listening to His voice daily, walking in His ways, and entering His gate each day. This is the path of blessing.