Christmas Memories

Tinsel and lights - Christmas Pudding and custard - Laughter, friends and family - Silent Night, Holy Night - Christ is born!

What images come to mind when you think of Christmas? What music or food or feelings are invoked? Think of what inspires you at Christmas time? What moves you? What do you love? What brings you Joy? What brings you Peace? Is there a particular memory you have of a past Christmas?

As a way to spread Christmas Cheer this coming season we invite you to take a moment to recall a past Christmas Memory or family tradition. Then write your Christmas Memories down and send them to me abonnefin@cofchrist.com.au by 5th December so I can include your contribution in our December Herald edition. Your words can be as little as a paragraph or two or a whole story. Photos are welcome also.

Think of this as your Christmas Card to our community.

“What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past,

courage for the present, hope for the future.” Agnes M Pahro

Worldwide Advent Worship in December

Join the worldwide church in an Advent worship service planned for December. Special music and ministry from around the world will connect us to ways “The People Walk.”

Australian Eastern Daylight time:

  • 12 December World Church Advent Service online - 9pm

  • 13 December World Church Advent Service online - 7am

Streamed live on the world church's Facebook page and YouTube channel and available later in the archives.

Planning is underway with members of the First Presidency anticipated to take part, as well as Grammy-nominated organist Jan Kraybill, and members of the church from many locations.

Exploring Prayer - sessions extended though to November!

Led by June Stephenson, this is a time for young, enquiring minds (aged 25 - 40ish) to come together and explore different styles of prayer and spiritual practices.

We will discuss the different lenses for discovering God’s will, the stages of faith, and explore individual preferences in communicating with God.

Last session, Sunday Nov 14, at 8pm.

Please REGISTER so we can share with you the Zoom link & other resources.

We Are Bound Together - Worship On-Line this Sunday

Join this week’s Australia Worships On Line, on Sunday 24th September at 11am (AEDT). With guest speaker Robert Thompson.

Robert Thompson is a long serving minister working full-time for Community of Christ. His passion has been on special events and congregational support however over the last two years his focus has been on engaging a different way of experiencing community church through Australia Worships On-line. This week Robert will share with us, in his usual fun and engaging style with some insights about how we may experience being “bound together” through church in the post pandemic, social media savvy, face to face and virtual, brave new world of the future.

Zoom Link - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/292634084

Global Challenges - Sunday 7th November @ 3:00pm (AEDT) - Mitigating Human-Induced Climate Change: Ethical and Social Aspects

Climate change impacts – heat waves, droughts, wildfires and floods – are increasing in frequency and severity. Given the political will, Australia could reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by transitioning to renewable energy, based mainly on existing, commercially available technologies. Although there are no major technological or economic barriers, resistance by vested interests with political power has slowed the transition. But time is of the essence. The climate crisis raises moral, ethical and social issues for our consideration: What is Australia’s fair share of the small remaining global emissions budget? Should the rich countries end economic growth and hence growth in emissions, so that developing countries can develop? How should governments assist workers who lose their jobs as a result of the transition? How can citizens push governments to take effective climate action?

Green Shoots - Tiona and the Green Cathedral

Join in the November 12 Lecture:

To join in click here and scroll down to Green Shoots Tiona Lecture - Church History Without Boundaries 2021 Lecture Series

"Green Shoots - Tiona and the Green Cathedral, From Inception into Tomorrow: A Continuing Legacy of Camping Ministry and Sharing the Sacredness of Creation" with Ben Smith

Lecture begins at 12PM (AEDT)

Calculate the time in your location: https://www.timeanddate.com/worldc.../converter-classic.html

Register, or watch recordings from the Historic Sites Foundation Lecture series via the link: Church History Without Boundaries 2021 Lecture Series

Join Our 3 October Observance for International Day of Non-Violence - Online Event to Highlight Role of Peace

Community of Christ will observe the International Day of Non-Violence in Australia this will be held on 3 October with a Taizé worship on Facebook and YouTube at 5:00 am. AEST (Sydney, Melbourne time), 4am Brisbane time.

This United Nations-designated event will include gifts from global musicians, members of the Council of Twelve Apostles, and President Steve Veazey to guide us as we seek understanding of nonviolent struggle, and continue our shared journey toward Jesus, the peaceful One. Taizé is a contemplative style of worship. 

This reflective, music-centered worship offers an opportunity to consider Community of Christ’s calling to create a world of peace and justice for all people.

This experience will be streamed and later available as a resource to watch online. More details will be available through www.cofchrist.org and social media.

To join the worship click on the blue highlighted text above. You do not need a facebook account to access the service.

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Who do you say that I am? Worship Online this Sunday

Join this week’s Australia Worships On-Line, on Sunday 12 September at 10am (AEST). With guest speaker Emily Judd.

Emily presents the message, on the Biblical Scripture from Mathew 16:13, through her lens as a young priest, student, podcaster, youth leader, world traveller, musician and much-loved member of our church community.

After our worship this Sunday; when she poses the question to us all, “Who do you say that I am?”, I’m sure we will be able to respond that, even in these challenging times, “I am Blessed”!

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/s/292634084

Exploring Prayer - four sessions starting this month!

Led by June Stephenson, this is a time for young, enquiring minds (aged 25 - 40ish) to come together and explore different styles of prayer and spiritual practices.

We will discuss the different lenses for discovering God’s will, the stages of faith, and explore individual preferences in communicating with God.

Run over four sessions, via Zoom, commencing at 8pm (Australian Eastern time) on 19 Sept, then: 3 Oct, 17 Oct, 31 Oct 2021.

Please REGISTER so we can share with you the Zoom link & other resources.

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