Greetings, During the week some of us have been gathering for the Seasons of Creation Bible Study. This week there was recognition that as a community we don’t find it easy to lament. We are not comfortable expressing grief and sorrow at how things are, and to recognise our part in this. There is a…

Greetings, This Sunday, 21 September, is International Day of Peace, a day that calls all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace. From peacekeepers on the front lines of conflict, to community members, to students in classrooms around the world, everyone has a role to…

Greetings, As we travel through the Season of Creation, I was interested to discover that September 16 is the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. Forty years ago, nations came together under the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and agreed to take appropriate measures to protect people and…

Greetings, This morning, thanks to a live cross while watching the news, I found myself seeing humpback whales play in the waters of Hervey Bay, their chosen location to stop and relax during their migration.  The joy of their movements was reflected in the faces of the people watching them – creation together delighting in…

Greetings, With our focus on Asylum Seekers this Sunday, I have found myself thinking about a family we met when Elizabeth was in Prep.  She was buddied up with a little boy whose family entered Australia due to religious persecution – a dangerous journey that took them across many countries over a long time.  After…

Greetings, Since the middle of July, we have been looking at the intersection and connections between faith and culture during worship. We have explored music, politics, art, literature, poetry and science, and our last foray into this will be Civic Space. As we have explored together, I wonder where you might have found connections in…

Greetings,This week a significant birthday will be celebrated in our family. As Elizabeth is turning 18, I have been recalling the joy and challenge of her arrival. I remember looking at how tiny and beautiful she was, and wondering at how the marvel of new life could grow from just a couple of cells. Yet…

Greetings, What’s in a name?  ‘A rose by any other name would smell as sweet’ is a well-known quote from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.  It means that the essence or nature of something is not changed by its name.  However, to my way of thinking, a name ends up holding some of the essence of…

Greetings, Whenever I get the chance to go back to Sydney I notice changes, particularly around the area where I grew up.  There is more traffic, more high-rise, and more of what I remember has gone.  While I don’t go to visit the place, these changes make me realise that I have changed too, and…

Greetings,I wouldn’t consider I’m a great artist, but I do have moments of inspiration where an idea comes together and I am able to create something tangible. I don’t really know how this happens, but wonder if it is the Spirit at work.In a recent conversation a friend and I were discussing the beauty that…