Breathe the same breath …

After a full-on, uplifting and brilliant time together, for our WoW “Open Hearted” in Grafton NSW, I am now on my third coffee after a slow morning of unpacking, both literally and metaphorically. I wish to thank Alice and Tom and family for hosting the event in their home-town of Grafton. The historic Hall, with all its charm and rustic vibe was the perfect place to hold our event. My list of thanks is very extensive, but it is important to emphasise how blessed a community is, when we have people who see the value of volunteering and participating in community events such as WoW that has its heart grounded in  "Wholeness and Wellness".

  In his book Streams of Living Water, Richard J Foster suggests that sacramental living is manifest firstly through our corporate worship of our God and secondly through our material living.

            There are many different ways people worship their God.  We do it by using material and human forms whether by singing hymns or burning candles, dancing in ecstatic praise or bowing in speechless adoration.  We also use the cross and a dove as symbols of holy presence.  The sacramental emblems in the communion service are also a focus to lead us into God’s presence.

When peace like a river…

 The Board of Trustees of the Parliament of the World’s Religions--after much thought, prayer and heartfelt deliberation, realizing the complex and critical situation at hand--issues the following non-unanimous statement: 

Now that the Referendum is over, it prompts us, as a church…

God of Comfort,
send your Spirit to encompass all those whose lives
are torn apart by violence and death in Israel and Palestine.
You are the Advocate of the oppressed
and the One whose eye is on the sparrow.
Let arms reach out in healing, rather than aggression.
Let hearts mourn rather than militarize.

“Let us become a new spring and feel the breeze drift in the heaven's scent.’’ Rumi

The first song in the Sing a New Song collection is called: “Sing a New Song!”  It is a joyful praise song, with the words selected from the Psalms. 

“Alice is my little sister and now you are my friend too. “ said Uncle K