South Sydney Uniting Church is ecumenical (e.g. supporting the National and World Council of Churches) and inclusive,
affirming the gifts of people of all ages, cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations and identities. We seek peace with justice,
and the integrity of creation. We celebrate with a service each Sunday at 10am.

"We acknowledge the traditional owners of this land: the Gadigal people of the Eora nation."

56a Raglan Street
Waterloo NSW 2017
Phone/Fax: 02 9319 1373

Map

Rev. Andrew Collis
Mobile: 0438 719 470

All Welcome
The church, hall and garden are accessible by way of paths and ramps. The toilets, sinks and shower, located in the hall, are wheelchair accessible. Please ask if further assistance is required.

The Orchard Gallery (artist run space) invites applications for exhibitions

Local healthy food. Subscribe & Pick Up Right Here At The Church
Tuesdays 5:30-6.30pm.

The South Sydney Herald Independent Newspaper

Donations in support
of our ministries are gratefully received
UCA South Sydney
BSB: 634 634
Acc: 100048727

Church and hall bookings
On Sundays, the church, hall and garden are used exclusively for the worship and ministry activities of South Sydney Uniting Church. From Monday to Saturday we offer our church and hall for the use of others. Read More

Our church is open for people to attend our Sunday worship at 10.00am.  We also welcome participation via zoom - subscribe to our e-newsletter for details (see Right →).

Homily

Christmas Day, Year C
South Sydney Uniting Church
December 25, 2021

Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)

‘Re-imagining God’

Andrew Collis

Religious doctrine ought to raise questions, evoke visions, encourage thinking.

At Christmastime we can find ourselves discouraged though, inundated with thoughtless sentiment, mere repetition, cliché.

The doctrine of the Incarnation, central to all manner of orthodoxy, means adventure, freedom. The contradictions (often jarring, embarrassing) – divinity, humanity; virginity, motherhood – may be crucial. They make space for new thinking, new life together.

Incarnation/Christmas invites our re-imagining virginity or radical sensitivity to the world as a mode of parenthood; the art of nurture, protection, guidance and release enabling/producing a second naïveté or beginner’s mind.

The two terms, virginity and parenthood, exchange places. The miraculous takes place in this angelic realm.

Incarnation/Christmas invites our re-imagining God as a poor child among the animals in need of our love; human being as an embodiment of cosmic care.

Divinity – a poor child among the animals in need of our love … Humanity – an embodiment of cosmic care … a custodial species.

The two terms, divinity and humanity, cross over in playful fashion. The miraculous takes place here, in this stable, again and again.

Just imagine…..

Read More