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 […]
As the lovely news of my pregnancy spreads, I have been receiving not only congratulations, but a vast array of advice and superstitions around pregnancy. Here are just a few morsels: “Your bump is small; you must be carrying a boy.” “Your hair is different; you must be carrying a girl.” “Don’t wear high heels, […]
Many of you will have read the ABC article last week by Julia Baird, which discussed the connection between evangelical Christian preaching around submission and male headship and the prevalence of domestic violence. The article was certainly confronting and challenging, and raised vast amounts of discussion, particularly through social media. One of the most sobering […]
Hello friends! It’s lovely to be back among you all, after three weeks in the USA. Adrian and I had a wonderful time together. We spent the first four days in Washington DC, exploring the various national monuments (and the breathtaking National Cathedral) and the many museums of the Smithsonian. The next ten days were […]
Last Sunday, I found myself looking around our beautifully decorated church, and thinking to myself: Easter at churches is like our Open Day for the local community. We snazzy up the sanctuary and pull out the flowers and amp up the music and wear our best clothes and bring out a nicer morning tea, and […]
An old family friend once chastised me at a wedding for saying “congratulations” to the bride, instead of “best wishes”. Apparently, according to Miss Manners, one should not congratulate the bride, as it implies that she has won herself something – the groom. On the other hand, it is perfectly acceptable to congratulate the groom, […]
Amazing Grace is perhaps the most well-known, well-loved, often-used and most-quoted Christian hymn of our era. It is the hymn most used at weddings and funerals, regardless of the faith affiliation of the couple or deceased. It is estimated to be sung at least 10 million times annually, and has appeared on over 11,000 albums. […]
Ask yourself: when I wake up on Easter morning, how will I be different? What am I preparing for? Ask yourself: is there something in my life that I tell myself I need, but I actually don’t? Can I give it up for a while? Ask yourself: is there something in my life – a […]
The denial of death is all around us. When people die, they are often alone, sequestered in hospitals away from the sad eyes of friends and family. If someone happens to die at home, the corpse is quickly sent away from the grieving relatives. In polite society, one doesn’t talk much about death. We ourselves […]