A Lenten Journey
In the sermon “Towards Harmony,” Dennis leads his congregation through a comprehensive study of the transformative power inherent in baptism, in alignment with St Peter’s Lenten theme of “Living in Harmony.”
A key part of the sermon is the emphasis on renewing our baptismal commitment—a significant act for the rebirth it symbolises and the promises made during the event, notably based on the traditional prescriptions of the Book of Common Prayer.
Dennis uses a provided meme as a visual tool to encapsulate these sacred promises. The meme underscores the transformative essence of baptism—encouraging trust in Christ, rejection of sin, advocacy for justice, and rejection of evil, thereby offering a personal transformation and a communal repossession of harmony, justice and peace.
The sermon journey, drawing from lessons from the Melbourne College of Divinity, explores varying themes from God’s ever-present nature, even in troubling times, to the virtues of rejecting selfishness and taking up personal burdens, as exemplified in the story of the Transfiguration.
The importance of confronting and abandoning evil, particularly the love of money, is emphasised in scrutinising the event of Jesus’ marketplace uproar at the temple. A critical part of the message worth noting was the Mothering Sunday sermon, highlighting us as God’s masterpieces created for definitive purposes, undergirded by God’s love and wish for our best.
The call is for a disposition to embrace unexpected changes and opportunities positioned to reflect God’s love and respect for our neighbours.
The concluding message challenges us to embrace the revolution of faith during Easter, encapsulated in the baptism act.
The focus is not on a floorless walk in our faith journey. Instead, it encourages a deep awareness, acceptance of God’s surprises, and a will to explore them while abandoning debilitating pasts.
The emphasis is on the need to actively seek justice and uphold a new life journey, thereby sharing in Easter’s abundant bless
Breaking Open 