I love a sunburnt country…Those words evoke a special feeling of connection for many of us, and it is almost impossible to say those words without moving on to the following lines that conjure up personal reflections of what this country means to each of us. The words from this poem “My Country” by Dorothea Mackellar, connect us to the collective conscience of Australia, no matter in what part of the country we reside.
It is also my hope that our new Mission Centre President Meredith and her husband Dennis Carr also feel a close connection to Australia and fall in love with our country and with all of us, as part of Community of Christ. It is with great excitement that we welcome Meredith and Dennis to this wide brown land, as they embark on what will most probably be the biggest adventure they have ever undertaken in their lives, as together they move from Maryland, USA to start a new life in New South Wales Australia. It was a treat for me to interview them in our recent Australia Worships On-Line, and if you wish to revisit that interview you can do it here:
During that interview I was encouraged by both Meredith and Dennis’ sense of call, to provide leadership and ministry to us in Australia. Reflecting on the poem, it speaks of beauty and terror, drought and flooding rain, but also focuses on the view of far horizons and jewelled seas. As we focus on the future, may we be grateful that God is with us on the journey, with all its joys and challenges. With new leadership, direction and God’s guidance, may we step out with renewed faith together as we strive to build communities of joy, hope, love and peace across this wide brown land.
Seventy Robert Thompson
Transformation Minister