This sermon originally included the names of a lot of real people, which was fine when spoken but is inappropriate on the Web.  With the exception of my brother, his wife and the Japanese potter Takeshita Shikamaru, all the names in this written version have been changed to invented names of the same ethnicity as the originals.  I don’t know any people who have these names, and if I have invented a name of someone you know it’s purely coincidental.

Acts 10:44-48 | John 15:9-17
I had thought this sermon through before I realised that I’d be giving it on Mothers Day, …

Alison wrote the following piece about Christmas at the Dish, and I thought it should be shared more widely!
Eighteen friends joined us in the Park last evening for our Christmas gathering.
Janet had organised a fabulous Christmas meal of Soup, Turkey, Cranberry sauce, Ham & mustard, roast vegetables, peas, individual Puddings and custard or Mango ice cream – a great thrill for many! – tea, coffee and cordial.
A real treat was the presence of some of the choir from Mt Colah Uniting Church. These folk came with Wendy Robinson, who has been coming to The Dish with the purpose of …

It is now over six years that The Dish of St. John’s has been serving, from the back of a Van, a meal to folk at Hornsby who come for the food and the company each week. This month marks a wonderful new step forward in outreach to the needy of Hornsby as the Van now goes out each Tuesday evening, thanks to a collaboration amongst the local schools of Wahroonga.
This initiative, going out on another evening, was led by Phil Ledlin of Prouille School Wahroonga. Each Tuesday a different primary school in Wahroonga sends volunteers from their school …

Each year the Abbotsleigh and Knox school communities run a four day (three night) ‘Abbox’ holiday camp for children with physical and intellectual disabilities. This year the camp runds from 10th to 13th December. St. John’s contribute to this fantastic initiative by helping out with catering. If you can help, please talk to Cecile Ferguson or Laurena Potter. You can find out more about Abbox on the Abbotsleigh website.

Over the past term those who we serve meals to, as well as the preparers and servers, have been delighted with the great variety and inspirational meals prepared by the parents of Year 3 Knox Preparatory students. This is an innovation inspired by the teachers of the students, as part of their Social Justice Program, which extends throughout the school. We, at The Dish, have been most thankful for the variety provided and generosity of the families – it has been heart warming to see the keen and eager faces of the boys as they bring their food to the …