Posts from 2022 (Page 3)

There are stories waiting to be told, stories of disempowerment, prejudice, preconceived ideas, ableism and judgement. Stories centring around parents who have a disability. Australia has signed and ratified the United Nations Convention[1] that acknowledges there has been serious discrimination against people with disabilities, but then in practice, allows that discrimination against them to continue. As an advocate for parents with disabilities who are engaging with Child Protection, DFFH[2], I have become convinced there must be a better way to…

Introduction “Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:32). Celebrated Annually on 1 October, International Day of Older Persons was passed by the United Nations General Assembly on 14 December 1990, which declared 1 October to be the International Day of Older Persons. There are currently around 700 million people over the age of 60. It is predicted that by 2050, this figure will have risen…

On Sunday, 18 September, on invitation, Rev Swee Ann Koh conducted the MUC monthly  Emerging Church service. A presiding minister has not performed this function in a long time, but Swee Ann said that he relished the task and had an important message to get across. “I want to unravel the word shalom and show it’s connection to the theme Health in Mind, Body, and Spirit,” he said. “I’m sure you realise that body, mind, and spirit are interconnected, that…

Published in Crosslight October 13, 2017 People around the world are hearing more foreign accents than at any time in human history. Are you guilty of judging someone by his or her accent? Snéha Khilay is a specialist in cultural diversity and unconscious bias. She feels this is just another form of unconscious bias and one aspect of equality that often gets overlooked. Accent is one of a number of characteristics, along with skin color, dress, or mannerisms, that identify…

“Where are we going to camp? “came the question over the UHF radio. “Not sure” was my reply.  “Ask Ron” I suggested. We were following the old Ghan railway line heading north on the Oodnadatta Track south of William Creek. We travelled in 4 vehicles, four couples, including our friends Jim and Sandy Hynek from Cedar Rapids Iowa, who we worked with in Zambia. We were headed to Nhulunbuy, a mining town and aboriginal settlement at Yirrkala on the western…

A perspective on Manningham Uniting Churches Vision and Values: The Vision of Manningham UC is: Inspired by Godand seeking to emulate the life of Jesuswe will identify and reflect God’s loveby creating, participating in and walking with communities locally, nationally and globally. And the core values are: Christ-centred, Relational, Risk Taking and Hospitable These are new to me, as they will be to others new to the life of our church. One of the ways I learn new things is…

A perspective on Manningham Uniting Churches Vision and Values: The Vision of Manningham UC is: Inspired by Godand seeking to emulate the life of Jesuswe will identify and reflect God’s loveby creating, participating in and walking with communities locally, nationally and globally. And the core values are: Christ-centred, Relational, Risk Taking and Hospitable Years ago Alastair and I visited Skellig Michael on the most SW coast of Ireland, site of a monastic settlement dating back to the 6th Century. The…

A perspective on Manningham Uniting Churches Vision and Values: The Vision of Manningham UC is: Inspired by Godand seeking to emulate the life of Jesuswe will identify and reflect God’s loveby creating, participating in and walking with communities locally, nationally and globally. And the core values are: Christ-centred, Relational, Risk Taking and Hospitable MUC’s Vision commits us to, “identify and reflect God’s love … locally, nationally, and globally.” Implicit in this vision is the idea that God’s love and action…

The kids are loving using the new petrol pump to fill up their cars, as they play on the outdoor terrace during Playgroup. The pump was made by Peter (a member of MUC), to replace a very old plastic one. The kids are also enjoying playing on the climbing equipment that was rescued from the Woodhouse Grove church. With softfall on the terrace surface they are still safe if they fall off

The Redgum Cafe has been operating now for over 6 months. I thought it was worth offering a bit of an insight into some of what we’ve achieved in our last few months of operations. We currently have 6 young trainees we work with in the cafe. We’re working with them to develop job-ready skills in customer service, coffee-making, and food safety and preparation. Along the way we help them to build confidence, communication skills, and the ability to work…

At the final service at The Grove we sang: ‘Who would true valour see, let him come hither’. The source of that hymn is in the second part of a once widely read, classic literary work entitled ‘The Pilgrim’s Progress’. Like many of the New Testament letters of St Paul, this book was written in prison. Its author was John Bunyan who was born in 1628.  He was a one-time soldier in Cromwell’s army during the civil war in England.…

The Playgroup kids have been busy planting carrots, lettuce, snow peas and zinnias in the 3 planter boxes donated to us by Bunnings Doncaster. Bunnings also donated the soil and the seedlings. The planters are out on the terrace where we are watching them grow so we can then eat the vegetables when they are ready!  Not sure that we are going to be able to feed all 62 children and babies who come to Playgroup each week though! Libby…