Welcome to Alpha! This is the opening welcome at the first session of Alpha. Alpha is course where people can explore life, faith in Jesus and meaning. Our church has been running this course over the past 7 weeks. We eat together, watch a video, and then discuss our questions in groups. This weekend, our guests from Alpha have been … Read More
Bridging Now to Next
National Reconciliation Week has been celebrated this week from May 27 to June 3. This year’s theme Bridging Now to Next is an invitation to consider the past, present and future. Elliot Keane from Baptist Mission Australia has prepared the following helpful reflection and resource guide. The theme – Bridging Now to Next – encourages Australians to look ahead and … Read More
faith first, money second
What comes first, money or faith? For a Christian, it seems obvious to say faith. The scripture teaches us, provision follows faith. By faith the Israelites were sustained 40 years in the desert. Jesus teaches not to worry about our provision, but to seek first the kingdom of God. Jesus teaches us to pray “give us this day our daily … Read More
Why spiritual companions?
I spoke recently about the idea of finding a spiritual companion – if you’re curious but unsure, here’s a bit more to think about… To become more like Jesus, we need to take up practices which give our relationship with him a chance to grow. It is possible to do this alone, but it is more effective, more impactful and … Read More
mother’s day and mothers day
I have had many mothers of faith in my life. Amongst these women my actual Mum is first. She has had maximum care and influence over my life. Of course I honour her first. But my sense of family is extended by other key women who have been my mothers of faith. There was Aunty Pauline, my mum’s closest friend. … Read More
Invite to Try Alpha
The Alpha Course is a safe space to explore life, purpose, and the Christian faith. Participants don’t have to talk if they don’t want to, but it is great to hear everyone’s thoughts. People can ask their questions and share their point of view. Alpha is free and everyone is welcome. Our Alpha Course will be run over seven weeks. … Read More
Greater Love Wins
This week we are between 2 solemn occasions, Easter and Anzac Day. These occasions are connected by powerful themes such as love, faith, sacrifice, death, hope, life. Both occasions story out the inhumanity of humanity. They speak of the evil powers present in our world that bring death and destruction, always at the cost of innocents. At Easter we recall … Read More
‘Effective Forever’
The essence of Easter – Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, is described by the Apostle Paul as a message of “first importance” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). It is the message of Good News, “on which your faith stands firm”. The events of Easter upend the Jewish sacrificial system forever. Jews and Gentiles, every human being, now have unprecedented access to the … Read More
to understand, we need God’s help.
Lent Reading: John 12:12-16 What does it take to understand the Christian faith? You don’t have to be clever. If you have ever read the Bible, you know it is mostly not a complex, esoteric text. You do need faith or to be seeking faith, because to really understand, we need God’s help. This is seen our Lent reading. It … Read More
god has new things for you
Lent Reading: Isaiah 43:16-21 Israel was in exile in Babylon. Captives because of their unfaithfulness to God. It is to the captive Israelites the prophet Isaiah reminds them of another time they were slaves. The time was a nearly thousand years earlier, in Egypt, when God “made a way through the sea” and defeated the army of Pharoah. From Egypt … Read More