It’s really hard to fathom that Christmas is only three weeks away. It is perhaps harder to fathom that my baby girl will be here in around six weeks. Those two events seem to be coming like freight trains, and yet there is still a sense of twiddling my thumbs, and waiting, and waiting, and […]
Over the last few weeks, I had the great privilege of co-teaching a short course on Sacraments, aimed at candidates for ministry and potential lay presiders in rural communities. Alongside Rev. Bronwyn Murphy, I got to talk about the Uniting Church’s theology of sacraments, and then train these potential presiders in the actual acts of […]
The most famous quote attributed to St. Francis of Assisi says: “Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.” What I think he means by this is that our lives should be a sermon – the way we act, interact, give, share, decide, and so on. Words are but one part of the […]
Today, on Spring Into Action day, I wanted to offer a refresher on one of the Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations that we explored in last year’s Discipleship Month: risk-taking mission. That is: what’s the point of Spring Into Action, and activities like it, that pull us out of our comfort zone? Churches have historically […]
It has been three weeks since Emily and I joined the Emmaus Walk in Meroo Christian Centre. We were invited by Peter McAndrew (who is involved in the leadership team of the Emmaus Walk) to a 3 ½ day retreat; Emily took part in “Women’s Walk #96”, and I took part in “Men’s Walk #95”. […]
The NSW/ACT Synod meeting was a wonderful event! Tessa, Sun and I flew the (metaphorical) West Epping flag proudly, as we helped to lead the music each day. There were moments of joy and celebration, as well as some difficult, tense and emotional conversations to be had. Rev. Simon Hansford (the new Moderator) chaired the […]
From Sunday afternoon last week to Wednesday, Adrian and I headed up to the St Joseph’s Spirituality Centre (formerly a convent founded by Mary MacKillop) at Kincumber to join other ministers in our Synod who are in their first three years out of formation for ministry at UTC, for a retreat. This is a mandatory […]
An old adage says: “what we wear reveals who we are”. When John and I lead worship, we choose to wear particular items of clothing that help to communicate who we are within the space of this congregation. Knowing that past ministers here have elected not to do so, I thought it might be prudent […]
Do you remember where you were when you found out that Princess Diana had been killed in a car accident? I was only nine at the time, but I still remember it distinctly; my mother, sister and I were watching coverage of it on TV, and though we had no particular connection to her, we […]
This has been a truly fantastic Discipleship Month at West Epping! First we had Rev. Fie Marino (Synod Multicultural Consultant, whose good looks were particularly appreciated by some!), who preached on what it means to break down the barriers that separate us from those who are different, or the “other”. Next, we welcomed Pastor Emma […]