Crosslight September 2018

Crosslight No. 291 September 2018

Good sport

Running for Africa Page 13 Pacific practice

P8

Bad graze P14-15

Sole purpose P22-23

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Tuning into Christian podcasts

Shipwrecks and Sunday services – a lifelong ministry adventure

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Regulars Why Meredith Allen is smarter than Stephen Hawking

Letters - 16 Moderator’s column - 19 Notices - 24 to 25 Reviews - 26

13 Pic credit: Supplied

Olympian Eloise Wellings in Uganda

Guest editorial

Seasons of the soul

Cath James

Communications & Media Services

AROUND the end of August and beginning of September, there is something invigorating in the air.

It’s as if an unconscious rhythm has kicked in, one that tells my body it’s time to stop hibernating and protecting myself from the cold and, instead, open up to possibilities.

In Central Victoria, the wattles come into their own. They are outrageously prolific and puffs of sunburst-yellow fill the landscape where previously there was a hue of mottled-green.

The air gets warmer and brings with it the scent of pollen. The smell of woodsmoke and the chill of winter start to subside.

The more I observe and learn about this vast and complex world, the more it makes sense to me that God is the means by which we are all interconnected.

I don’t claim to understand this, but I have faith that it is true. When I read the Bible or pray and spend time in silence, I get glimpses of a bigger truth. The truths I have learnt from the natural world, that I see mirrored in the

Crosslight is a monthly newspaper produced by the Communications and Media Services unit of The Uniting Church Synod of Victoria and Tasmania.

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Christian faith and which play out in my life are this: that new life always springs out of death, that we cannot live alone – we need healthy communities/ecosystems to survive, that where energy is there is life.

Catholic and Orthodox churches begin September with the World Day of Prayer for Creation and you will see something of an environmental theme is this issue of Crosslight.

Learn how our and other churches are rallying around rural communities struggling with drought in East Gippsland in our feature on page 14 and 15. Page 6 has two stories about how the Uniting Church is linking environment and theology, something Rev Elizabeth Raine writes about in her reflection on page 20.

September has also traditionally been interfaith month and on page 4 we learn about an innovative month-long program being planned at Ormond Uniting Church to explore other beliefs.

On page 21 you will also find a strong response from our church to recent disturbing manifestations of racism in our public life.

As part of ‘For the Whole Creation’ proposal put to the last Assembly, we affirmed as a Uniting Church the need to understand the impacts of climate change on traditional, spiritual and contemporary ways of life, continue to advocate for change and reduce our impact.

But how does this affect me in my small life in Central Victoria?

As a spiritual response, this is what I have come up with: Practice feeling grateful – for blossom, for food, for friends and family and all that enables me to live and love, because that will allow me to say yes to what is lifegiving. Respond to injustice – harness the energy of feeling angry and join with others to make a difference, have hope that new life will come out of dark places, as it always has before.

Just as the natural world is responding and adapting, I know my response will need to adapt. There is truth in the Christian faith that will carry us through.

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Cath James is Presbytery of Loddon Mallee safety officer.

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News

Award for Archives

Synod Archives volunteers

THE dedication of Victorian Synod Archives volunteers has been recognised with an award from Museums Australia.

Synod records manager Graham Hawtin, synod archivist Dr Jenny Bars and volunteer Joan Hammonds were presented with the 2018 Victorian Collections Award for Excellence in Museum Cataloguing at the awards night hosted by Melbourne Museum in late August.

Mr Hawtin said the award was testament to the hard work of Archives volunteers and staff.

“This is a real vote of confidence in the many thousands of hours of dedicated volunteering effort by the dozen or so regular helpers over the last couple of years,” he said.

“Under the careful direction of our experienced synod archivist Dr Jenny Bars, who has really championed this project from the start, we are building a fantastic online resource which is opening up a wealth of fascinating material to researchers, wherever they are in the world.”

Now in its 25th year, the Victorian Museum Awards highlight outstanding achievements in the Victorian museum, gallery and collecting sector.

This year’s awards night honoured the work of organisations that have begun digitising their artefacts using the Victorian Collections online cataloguing system.

More than 145,000 objects from over 500 organisations are catalogued on Victorian

Collections, with most of publicly available.

Synod Archives was one of five organisations nominated for Victorian Collections Award in the paid staff organisation category.

Nominated organisations were judged on the number of artefacts catalogued, the proportion of items catalogued with accompanying photos, the quality of the records, the depth of historical research involved, and the percentage of records made public.

Synod Archives, largely through the work of volunteers, has put about 1000 items on Victorian Collections with more images and cataloguing information added every few weeks.

“We have already received lots of feedback from users of the system which has added greatly to our knowledge of the people, places and artefacts featured on our part of the Victorian Collection site,” Mr Hawtin said.

“It also shows the power of volunteering and what can be achieved when committed people choose to give up just a few hours a week to benefit others.”

See the Victorian Synod Archives on Victorian Collections at: https:// victoriancollections.net.au/organisations/ uniting-church-archives-synod-victoria

An unexpected partnership ELVA AVERILL

INSIDE Glenroy Uniting Church you will find a plaque and certificate recognising a unique partnership.

In July, Glenroy UC was presented with an award ‘For Commendable Service to the Nepalese Community’ from the Nepalese Association of Victoria.

The growing interaction between the community and the congregation began when the church offered its hall to Nepalese women’s organisation Didi Bahini Samaj Victoria (DBSV) to host meetings and events.

Glenroy member Catherine Schmidt was introduced to DBSV convenor Jamuna Parajuli two years ago by the Moreland City Council diversity officer.

Ms Schmidt had approached the council to explore how Glenroy UC, in inner north Melbourne, could better reach out to the very diverse surrounding population.

“There are people from many countries now living in this multi-cultural, multilingual, multi-faith community,” Ms Schmidt said.

“One of the challenges facing the congregation and the church council is how to be relevant in this situation.”

Since offering the hall, Ms Schmidt and SEPTEMBER 18 - CROSSLIGHT

other Glenroy UC members have attended DBSV functions and programs, including International Women’s Day events, family violence workshops and wellbeing programs.

The partnership has led to a Family Music Group, which meets on a Saturday morning.

Ms Schmidt, who as a qualified music therapist runs the program, said it is for the Nepalese and all others who want to join in.

“It is good family time and the numbers are growing,” Ms Schmidt said.

“We are welcoming mothers, fathers and even grandparents, together with the children, to sing, play, have fun and grow together.”

Last year, the Nepalese women organised a ‘thank you lunch’ for the congregation.

“We shared Nepali food and this was a special time,” Ms Schmidt said.

“Their family members came along, some of the women dressed in traditional clothing and one of the men played a traditional instrument.”

Ms Parajuli said she was very thankful for the venue.

“It opened up so many opportunities, to gather and discuss our common agenda, run various women-empowerment

Glenroy UC member Ray Averil and Jamuna Parajuli

programs, forums, events, and activities,” she said.

“More than this we feel like this is our second home where we have spent the happiest moments together. This is like the backbone that supports us in increasing our value and morale as women.”

Ms Schmidt said that before being

introduced to Ms Parajuli she knew nothing of the Nepalese women in the community.

“It has been about supporting a previously (to me) hidden group of people, in particular women, to participate in capacity-building and empowering activities, in our church space,” Ms Schmidt said.

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News

Full set of beliefs ORMOND Uniting Church will devote October to exploring four of the world’s great faiths.

The north-east Melbourne congregation will spend four successive Sunday mornings delving into Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and Judaism.

Normal worship time will begin at 9.30am followed by a 10-minute talk from a representative of the faith tradition being examined. Music, readings, group discussion and questions will follow the talk.

A multicultural meal with a panel discussion led by the representatives from the different faiths will follow the last Sunday session on 28 October.

“Our aim is that our congregation is opened up to understanding different expressions of faith, that God speaks to us in many different ways and to be open to that,” Ormond member and retired minister Ron Townsend said.

“Another aim is to show that you can worship with other people. We must find ways of connecting so we realise we’re not against each other but that we are all part of God’s kingdom.”

Ormond minister Rev Andrew Boyle will lead the first session on Christianity.

Amna Iqbal will share from the Islamic

tradition, Cynthia Mackenzie will speak about Buddhism and Pam Spiegel will represent the Jewish perspective.

Ms Spiegel said that forums like this were important in an ethnically and religiously diverse country.

“My expectation is that we can discover the similarities that unite our faiths with the hope it will lead to better understanding,” she said.

The idea for an interfaith month came out of Mr Townsend’s home group and was spurred by the interaction of church members teaching conversational English classes with people of different religious backgrounds.

“We sort of dabbled with looking at Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Christianity,” Mr Townsend said.

“And we said ‘why don’t we look at this seriously?’”

The month has been organised by four Ormond home groups, with each taking a responsibility for a Sunday.

Home groups are also preparing different types of food, such as halal and kosher, for the lunch and panel event following the last themed Sunday service.

“We’re asking people to particularly think about food and how that might reflect the

Cynthia Mackenzie with husband Larry Marshall

Justice & International Mission Conference

2018 Growing Peaceful Communities Saturday 27 October, 2018

Centre for Theology and Ministry 29 College Crescent, Parkville equipping Leadership for Mission Justice & International Mission

faith of the people,” Mr Townsend said.

Each of the presenters will be invited to participate in the final panel to answer questions about the four faiths.

Ormond member and synod artfull faith coordinator Christina Rowntree and synod interfaith community development worker April Kailahi are preparing a creative response to the month-long initiative.

Mr Townsend, who as a school chaplain taught world religions, said he hoped the month would have a strong educational value.

“I cannot understand why we as a society, and our education facilities, aren’t teaching world religions,” he said, arguing the majority of the world’s seven billion people adhere to some type of faith.

“To understand the world, you’ve got to understand something of these religions, whether you believe in God or not.

“Even as Christians, we don’t understand our faith very well.”

Mr Townsend said everyone is invited to attend the sessions.

“We would really like people to come along and be a part of it,” he said.

For catering purposes please RSVP for the 28 October mean and panel event by 14 October by calling Christine P: 95781553

SPEAKERS INCLUDE: ■ Zione Walker-Nthenda: Lawyer, Diversity & Inclusion Specialist ■ Rob Hulls: Director, Centre for Innovative Justice ■ Sean Winter: Head of Pilgrim Theological College ■ Inspector Mark Nichols:Victoria Police ■ Wendy Austin: Family Violence Prevention Advocate, Consultant

PROPOSED WORKSHOPS COULD INCLUDE:

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Addressing the role of alcohol businesses in driving up family violence – Victorian Alcohol Policy Coalition Addressing the role pokie venues play in driving up family violence – Alliance for Gambling Reform How should the church respond to the problem of family violence?

Privatised Risk – Ensuring the protection of people with disabilities in marketised support services – Mark Zirnsak

5 6 7 8

Youth Justice Reform that works – Jesuit Social Services

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How does the vision of a ‘just and sustainable peace’ relate to Australia as a multicultural, multi-faith society?

– Emeritus Professor Joseph Camilleri.

Responding to the Mass Murderer: Duterte in the Philippines – Rev. Berlin Guerrero What can be done to assist Rohingya refugees?

Building Peaceful Communities in Victoria – what can we do about the intersection between marginalised communities and violence?

For more information contact Ann Byrne on (03) 9340 8815 or email: ann.byrne@victas.uca.org.au For online registration please go to: https://ucavt. goregister.com.au/jimconvention/registration/rego 0084

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CROSSLIGHT - SEPTEMBER 18

News

Tongan tonic for Lorne REV SHERRYL SMITH

IT was a weekend to remember when Lorne Anglican-Uniting Church hosted six Tongan ministers and their partners late last month.

Lorne, on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, is a haven nestled between the beach and the Otway forest.

Some might call it the quintessential ‘God’s Waiting Room’ with the Lorne Anglican-Uniting Church congregation mirroring the demographic of the many retirees living here.

All-in-all, it’s a beautifully, quiet existence– that is, until 12 Tongans arrived.

The ministers and their partners journeyed from across Victoria and Tasmania for a weekend away – and generously shared their time and sublime singing with us.

Billeting the couples with congregation members gave the opportunity for sharing of lives, faith journeys, experiences and a lot of laughter.

SEPTEMBER 18 - CROSSLIGHT

Earlier an investor briefing breakfast heard how climate change is a real and increasing driver of financial risk and reward.

MinterEllison special counsel on climate change risk Sarah Barker said that for investors the discussion on climate change had moved beyond debate over how real it was to the financial implications.

Ms Barker’s particular area of expertise is the litigation consequences associated with climate change.

“Because it has evolved into a financial risk it means that corporate laws apply to the management of assets in the same way that as they do to every other financial decision,” she said.

“We have investors who are starting to overtly articulate their recognition of the fact that there are material risks and financial opportunities associated with climate change.”

Ms Barker believes awareness around the financial implications of climate change is “really going to really take off in the next

“They are an industry promulgated set of standards where industry is saying this is the information we think is necessary to present a true and fair view of this risk,” Ms Barker said.

She said that although the guidelines were voluntary, it would be perilous for firms not to address them.

“A disclosing business who ignores them is placing themselves at significant risk of shareholder and stakeholder activism,” she said.

In his breakfast presentation UCA Funds Management director of investments James Cook said that global economy was showing mixed signals and needed to be monitored carefully if investment decisions were to be timed correctly.

He said global geopolitics also contributed to economic volatility.

However, the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which UCA Funds Management aligns itself to, offered an investment framework that

Lorne Anglican Uniting Church congregation members and Tongan visitors

We took over a little water’s edge restaurant on Saturday night and were treated to a fantastic program of traditional and spiritual songs with some dancing – laced together

by Tongan cultural commentary.

Sunday worship was a true blend of cultures as the six Tongan ministers took

Ethically rewarding YOUNG people are leading the way in demanding higher ethical standards from businesses, UCA Funds Management investors heard at an annual investor briefing.

In May, UCA Funds Management was certified as a B Corporation, a global accreditation recognising businesses that meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.

Mindy Leow, head of community building from B Lab Australia and New Zealand, said an increasing number of consumers are willing to pay more for socially responsible goods and services.

Young workers in particular are seeking employment at organisations that align with their values and make a positive impact on society.

“More people and not just millenials are demanding their workplaces consider how they are contributing to society,” Ms Leow said.

“We’re seeing a movement of entrepreneurs that are creating businesses that are driven by purpose at its core.

“It’s really encouraging that this new economy is starting to emerge, but there are still systemic challenges that impede purpose and profit from thriving.”

One of these obstacles is the lack of standards to measure companies on their social impact and performance.

“We find that it can be really difficult sometimes to identify really good companies from those doing good marketing,” Ms Leow said.

“B Corp certification sets a high standard globally for companies to prove that they are walking the talk.”

Companies seeking B Corp certification undergo a rigorous impact assessment

parts of the service and hymns were sung simultaneously in English and Tongan.

The congregation was uplifted by the extraordinary singing and inspired by stories and prayer.

A number of congregation members commented that the Tongans visit was like

a reverse mission – we took the gospel to them and now they’re bringing it back to us in new, vibrant and unexpected ways.

They certainly lifted our spirits, and our hope is this will be one of many visits.

The Lorne Anglican-Uniting Church congregation plans to renovate and extend our hall at St Cuthbert’s.

We plan to increase the size of the hall and add a meeting room plus accommodation for 50 people, to create a Centre for Mission.

This will cater for groups such as our Tongan visitors, together with Scripture Union’s Family Mission, Theos and other regular groups coming to Lorne.

Apart from invigorating our congregation, it will be an ideal venue to bring church youth groups, school groups, conduct retreats and training, plus hold family events such as weddings.

Don’t think about coming to Lorne – just do it.

process that takes six to nine months and involves up to 400 questions.

UCA Funds Management scored a total of 125 points across the five areas of assessment – governance, workers, community, environment and customers.

“To become a B Corp 80 points is the minimum, so to have 125 points is actually a really, really high score,” Ms Leow said.

“Achieving B Corp certification is not an easy feat – out of the 3000 companies who have started the assessment in Australia and New Zealand, less than 10 percent have actually achieved it.”

Last year, UCA Funds Management gave $3.9 million of its operating surplus to Victorian and Tasmanian community services, including disability inclusion support, prison chaplaincy and reconciliation programs with First Peoples.

“We haven’t actually had to change our business to achieve our aspiration to become a B Corp,” UCA Funds Management CEO Mathew Browning said.

“We’ve just done what we do and have achieved that as an outcome.

“Of course, we can do better and we will be working to do better – but that is a very pleasing start.”

Bridgette McDonald, Mindy Leow, Jon Fernie and James Cook lead panel discussion

few months” in Australia.

This will be because of the “incredibly significant” guidelines prepared by the G20 Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures.

The Taskforce is chaired by media mogul and former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and has representatives from global finance giants.

had demonstrated increasing returns independent of cycles of economic activity and risk.

“We are hedging against all this risk through our ethical and socially responsible themes,” Mr Cook said.

“Recognition and alignment to the global phenomena of impact investing will identify fantastic opportunities ahead.”

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News

Climate of urgency

Alex Sangster blocking construction of the Adani rail link

WITH drought in the eastern states of Australia, record heatwaves across Europe and Asia and bushfires ravaging Greece and California, attention has shifted once again to the impact of global warming.

This year’s Uniting Earth national e-conference – held on 23 September – focuses on the theme ‘Hope in Action’ as ministers and activists explore community responses to climate change.

The conference is organised by Uniting Earth, a ministry of the NSW/ACT synod, and will feature speakers from across the church along with grassroots environmental campaigners.

In a break from previous years, all video presentations will be published online beforehand, with the conference itself serving as an opportunity to directly interact with the presenters.

One of the speakers this year is Fairfield Uniting Church minister Rev Alex Sangster.

In her video, Ms Sangster speaks about the use of nonviolent direct action (NVDA) to advocate for stronger climate action.

“For me, NVDA is part of the heart of the story of our faith and I think Jesus was engaged in NVDA pretty much from the beginning,” Ms Sangster said.

Creating a garden of spiritual growth A MEDITATION garden designed and built with involvement from the Sophia’s Spring Uniting Church community will be the centrepiece of a spirituality hub in the inner-Melbourne environment park CERES. Sophia’s Spring is an ecofeminist Christian community which grew out of Fitzroy Uniting Church.

The congregation has been meeting for Sunday services at the CERES

sustainability park and urban farm Learning Centre since 2010.

The meditation garden will be built around the Learning Centre of the park, which sits on the banks of the Merri Creek in East Brunswick.

The Learning Centre is also home to the Buddhist Melbourne Zen Group and Melbourne Insight Meditation.

CERES has worked closely with all

Meditation garden ritual 6

“I think it’s very important that Christians are visibly seen. Jesus was a sign, a visible act and the sacraments are visible acts of God’s love.

“We live in an era where everything is about the image, so we can subvert that and use that.”

Last year, Ms Sangster engaged in civil obedience to protest against the proposed Carmichael coal mine in central Queensland.

She joined activists and leaders from other religious organisations to block construction of the Adani rail link to the Carmichael mine.

“One of my favourite activists is 92 and

he’s a Second World War veteran. He goes to action with his son, who is 70 and is his carer,” she said.

“He is legally blind but he was there at Adani and is an absolute inspiration.”

Other e-conference presenters include Australian Religious Response to Climate Change President Thea Ormerod, Queensland UCA minister Rev Andrew Gunton and church leaders involved in the Maules Creek coal mine blockade in north-western NSW.

three groups over the past two years in consultation and planning of the garden, with the groups also contributing financially to the project.

Sophia’s Spring will help construct the garden and create prayers and meditations to mark the development stages.

The first stage of work involves removing the fire circle which has been on the site since the 1970s.

On 21 July, members of Sophia’s Spring, Melbourne Zen group and Insight Meditation joined with CERES staff and visitors to begin removing the circle.

Sophia’s Spring long-term supply minister Rev Jan Sebastian co-led a ritual acknowledging the significance of the site and of the new garden.

Corporate volunteers will join regular users of the Learning Centre in a series of working bees to build the garden.

The garden’s volunteer designer Min Manifold said it will “act as a gateway to a meditative experience” offering “larger open spaces and smaller private areas for both education activities and private reflection”.

“Through designs that are sensory, symbolic, mythic, liminal and journey based, the spiritual garden brings the visitor closer to the inner world,” Ms Manifold said.

“Our ability to attend, with care, to the inner world has a direct relationship to our ability to care for the outer world.”

The meditation garden is a key part of CERES’ vision to “create a life affirming culture” and “powerful place for innertransformation” at the park.

For Sophia’s Spring, the meditation garden is the latest in a number of collaborations which explore biblical and

theological thinking and justice theology.

In March this year – and again in June at CERES’ annual winter solstice event – Sophia’s Spring partnered with the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change, CERES and Friends of the Earth to present Deep Ecology rituals.

Workshop convenor and Sophia’s Spring member Jan Garood said these rituals draw on the pioneering work of spiritual and environmental thinkers Joanna Macy and Molly Brown. They begin with a grounding meditation that focuses on breath.

“Then, drama and story-telling allow people to share their experiences of connectedness to the natural world, she said.

“By feeling in touch with the Earth again, people find courage and clarity to resist the mindless consumerism of the growth economy and live a healing life.”

Also in March, Ms Sebastian led the Sophia’s Spring community and participants in an Elm Dance, a practice which aims to build connection with the Earth.

“Around the planet, as people gather to work together for the healing of the world, this simple, beautiful practice is spreading,” said Ms Sebastian.

“To acknowledge their commitment to justice for the Earth and all living beings, they join hands in a circle dance.”

Ms Sebastian is a long-term supply minister to Sophia’s Spring in the capacity of Intentional Creative Mobile ministry with Kay Quisenberry.

Sophia’s Spring is currently seeking a minister or ministry coordinator to continue the adventure of being a church in an environment park.

Visit http://unitingearthweb.org.au/32news/events/202-2018hope-in-action.html to view the video presentations.

CROSSLIGHT - SEPTEMBER 18

News

First aid for the mind EARLY intervention is key to supporting congregation members experiencing mental illness, according to an accredited mental health first aid instructor.

Marcel Koper, director of Awareness Centre and former coordinator of the Bethel Centre, said every year at least one-in-five Australians experience depression or anxiety.

“Sometimes church members think we’re a bit different from the rest of the population, but mental health issues are as common inside churches as outside,” Mr Koper said.

“So there’s a real need to deliver mental health training for churches to know how to respond and what our role is for people with mental health problems.

“Early intervention is the most important thing. Symptoms get worse and people get worse as they experience them longer.”

Bethel Centre and Mental Health First Aid Australia will run a two-day mental

health first aid training course at the Centre for Theology and Ministry on 3 to 4 September.

Facilitated by Mr Koper, participants will learn how to assist family and friends experiencing mental health problems.

Those who complete the course will be eligible to be an accredited mental health first aider for three years.

Developed in Australia by Betty Kitchener and Professor Tony Jorm in 2001, mental health first aid training has now spread to more than 22 countries.

Some of the issues covered in the course include depression, anxiety, psychosis and substance use.

Participants will also develop strategies to respond to crisis situations such as suicidal thoughts and behaviours, selfharm, panic attacks, traumatic events, drug or alcohol use, severe psychotic states and aggressive behaviours.

Mr Koper compared the course to a standard first aid training workshop.

“People who go to a two-day training for physical first aid learn compressions and mouth-to-mouth,” Mr Koper said.

“In mental health first aid they get a full understanding of the prevalence of mental health and the conditions around it and how to respond to them.”

The course also aims to challenge some of the stigma associated with mental illness, particularly in a church context.

“I’ve heard of people with anxiety problems being sent to exorcists,” Mr Koper said.

“We ask God to help us when we have anxiety symptoms and sometimes God isn’t alleviating our anxiety straight away, or it gets worse.

“In and out of churches – there’s still a lot of stigma.

“Part of this mental health training is to reduce that stigma and normalise mental health issues.”

Mental health first aiders are trained to provide initial support and direct people to appropriate professional help.

“They’re not diagnosers – they’re first aiders,” Mr Koper said.

“They don’t have to be the counsellor or the therapist or the psychiatrist. They’re the people who get them the right help.”

Encouraging people to seek treatment is not always a straightforward process.

“People are sometimes a bit resistant to get help,” Mr Koper said.

“Sometimes the right help is just to say ‘why don’t you come along to our weekly meditation night at the church’, or ‘let’s go for a coffee and have a chat’.

“One of the basics with this training is that you learn not all mental health problems are a crisis. For example, someone with depression isn’t necessarily immediately suicidal.”

Mr Koper said church members who are equipped with the right knowledge and training can feel empowered to offer appropriate mental health support.

“The more confident you are about having that conversation, the more likely they are to listen,” Mr Koper said.

“The most important statistic is that people are more likely to get the help they need if it is suggested to them.

“If a person says in a confident way ‘there’s some help here, I think this is a good person we can go and see together,’ they’re more likely to engage the help they need.”

The Mental Health First Aid course runs from 3 to 4 September. To register, visit www. trybooking.com/WCDW .

Early bird rate (until 27 August) - $185 Standard rate (27 August – 1 September) - $220

Lessons from London REV MAT HARRY

SETTING big goals, being decisive, valuing diversity and nurturing leaders are key aspects of creating and renewing churches, according to Anglican Bishop of Islington Ric Thorpe.

Bishop Ric, as we came to call him, oversees a strategy to revitalise 100 churches in London by 2020 and create more than 200 city-centre resource churches – that develop other churches – around England by 2030.

Representatives from a variety of denominations gathered to hear Bishop Ric speak during his Melbourne visit about the Church of England ’s effort to live out and spread the Gospel in this 21st century context.

Although the context of our synod and church is very different, we can still learn valuable lessons from Bishop Ric’s experiences.

First, we need to set big, hairy and audacious goals for the number of churches to be created or renewed.

This is so that we remain humble, which might sound like a paradox.

However, Bishop Ric suggests that we should not look at what we can do, but rather what needs to be done.

When we see the huge need for compassion, for community, for justice and for the love of God then we recognise we cannot do it by our own efforts.

Thus we humble ourselves and ask God for direction and help (Matt 9:37-38).

Bishop Ric also drew on the research in the 2014 Church of England report From

SEPTEMBER 18 - CROSSLIGHT

Bishop Ric Thorpe

Anecdote to Evidence to show that there needs to be an ‘intentionality’ with our actions.

This means careful decisions are made about the style of worship, the way people are nurtured as disciples and the importance of being alongside others, equipping them into leadership.

These decisions must then be lived out as intentional action.

We also heard that the church and its expressions are extremely diverse and that diversity should be cherished as a gift.

In England about 8 percent of the population attend existing churches with the likelihood that the figure will decrease.

The Anglican Church has strategically worked to renew churches as well as create new congregations for new people

in new places in new ways.

This mixed economy of ecclesial styles includes Fresh Expressions, church planting and missional communities.

Bishop Ric said that to be alongside the 92 percent of the people who aren’t attending church, Christians need to connect with local communities in lots of different ways.

In recognition that leadership is key to renewing the church, the Anglican Church in England has created a leadership pipeline.

Potential leaders, both lay and ordained, are identified and invested in.

Existing leaders are encouraged and supported to take on these people as ‘apprentices’ and model ministry for them.

When a new leader has matured sufficiently they are encouraged to take

on ‘apprentices’ of their own and pass the tradition on.

May we find ways to learn from Bishop Ric’s insights within our context as we seek to live out the first strategic priority of the Synod to “ministries which foster diverse gathered communities of renewal, Christian practice and mission,”

If you are interested in engaging further with ideas about beginning a new community or the renewal of an existing community please feel free to be in touch with Rev Mat Harry.

He can be reached by P: 9340 8841, M:0413 309 280 or Mat.Harry@victas.uca.org.au 7

News

Island care HUNDREDS of patients in remote islands of Vanuatu have consulted with visiting expert medical teams as a result of a partnership between Uniting Church congregations and the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu (PCV).

In August, a PCV Health project team saw 1372 patients on the remote island of Malekula.

Six children were referred to the Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) as needing major orthopaedic, heart or other surgery and 129 patients were identified for cataract surgery.

The team included a retired lecturer from the Royal College of Surgeons, a doctor with years of experience in

remote areas in Africa as well as eye care specialists and two dentists who handed out 1500 tooth brushes.

Unfortunately the dentists had to extract more than 300 teeth.

The team also delivered health education to patients, community groups and primary school children.

PCV Health project coordinator Don MacRaild OAM said much needed to be done on Maleka, and a second team would be visiting in November.

“Malekula is quite a large island and has a big population living traditional lifestyles but with very little access to any medical care,”Mr MacRaild said.

“There are no doctors, optometrists or dentists on Malekula island but there are some very big needs and our team is only scratching the surface. We are only able to target a small section of the island.”

Immediately following the work on Maleku, another PCV Health team set out for the island of Tanna.

In the first three days, the team of visiting doctors, optometrists and dentists, along with local PCV workers, saw 360 patients.

Vila Central Hospital with the donated endoscopy system

In July PCV Health sent a training team of four emergency medicine doctors and three nurses from Austin and Box Hill Hospitals to Vila Central Hospital.

The team was led by consultant physician Dr Jamie Hendrie who is a member of the Montmorency/Eltham Uniting Church, which financially supported his trip.

Training topics included treating heart attacks, asthma, major trauma such as road accidents, and how doctors and nurses can work together to save lives.

Mr MacRaild said the training teams equipped young doctors and other medical staff with clinical skills that were applicable in remote situations with little technical back-up.

“We’re taking over some really top people from Australia who put in oneto-one training with some of these young people,” Mr MacRaild said.

“The young doctors come back from training with the express purpose of starting health centres throughout the country, rather than working just in the main centres.”

Visiting PCV Health team members pay

their international fares while Rotary pays for domestic flights and accommodation.

The organisation and logistics of the trips depend on PCV Health employing eight staff in Vanuatu, including six eye care workers and two dental staff at their two clinics in Vila and Espiritu Santo.

The eight are paid out of funds raised by churches in Gippsland area, along with North Ringwood Uniting Church and Living Faith Church in Greensborough.

“It’s a team effort that depends entirely on the goodwill of a lot of groups and the church is really important within this,” Mr MacRaild said.

“The whole thing couldn’t run unless we had these eight employees over there who are paid through donations that come through congregations.”

PCV Health, Rotary and Uniting Church congregations also partner to send medical equipment to Vanuatu, including an endoscopy system to Vila Central Hospital earlier this year.

If you would like to support the work of PCV health you can contact Don MacRaild at E: dmacraild@hotmail.com

Visiting optometrist Tristan Glover watches local PCV worker Dick Naket consult a patient

Inspiration In The Heart Of Melbourne A unique space in the heart of the city, St Michael’s is more than a church.

If you’re looking for a progressive church that will not tell you what to believe and will listen to what you’ve got to say, look no further than St Michael’s Uniting Church in the heart of the CBD. We are known for presenting thought-provoking seminars and lectures by renowned international speakers and academics; as well as world-class musicians in the architectural splendour of a heritage listed church.

For a truly inspirational experience visit St Michael’s today.

St Michael’s Uniting Church 1 2 0 C O L L I N S S T M E L B O U R N E - W W W. S T M I C H A E L S . O R G . A U

The Thinking Person’s Church 8

CROSSLIGHT - SEPTEMBER 18

News

Learning literacy from laptops

Shana Thorpe, 11, tries out online tutoring with Tony Cree

THE Aboriginal Literacy Foundation is going digital with an innovative scheme to deliver one-on-one tutoring to Indigenous students, including those living in remote areas.

For 20 years the Aboriginal Literacy Foundation (ALF) has been devoted to improving reading and other academic skills of Indigenous children, primarily though providing tutoring programs and supplying books as well as other educational resources.

ALF CEO and founder Dr Tony Cree said digital learning platform Need A Tutor was a new way of connecting students with highly trained and experienced tutors in Melbourne and Ballarat.

“It’s a real step forward,” he said.

“If the child is a long way from the school but can pick up the internet we can tutor quite remote places as well.

“It could even be done on a smartphone but obviously it’s better to have a laptop.”

Dr Cree said online tutoring had a number of benefits, including removing child safety concerns about a child being left one-onone with an adult and Indigenous cultural

SEPTEMBER 18 - CROSSLIGHT

sensitivities about male and female adult interaction with boys and girls.

There can also be cultural or logistical reasons why it is difficult for Indigenous students to attend schools, which makes digital tutoring to homes a valuable substitute.

Dr Cree said the hardware was available due to a government push to get computers into schools.

He said he had seen Northern Territory schools with plenty of computer facilities but no library, indeed not even a bookcase.

Even Groote Eylandt, which is a threehour flight in a small plane from Darwin, has a school with internet facilities.

Dr Cree pointed out that NAPLAN testing indicated Indigenous children in year 6 were roughly three-and-a-half reading years behind their non-Indigenous peers and this gap had not closed in the last 15 or 20 years.

“Our big push is with upper-primary and lower-secondary students,” Dr Cree said.

“The problem is many are going into a secondary school with a basically grade 2 or grade 3 reading ability, so it’s hardly

“It isn’t just a literacy matter, it’s a job and a health and a lifestyle matter.”

surprising that a lot of them drop out at the first opportunity. If you can’t read, you can’t do the assignments so I don’t think you have much of a chance, do you?

“Griffith University research shows that Indigenous Australians with good literacy skills were five times more likely to have a job but also have an improved life expectancy.

“It isn’t just a literacy matter, it’s a job and a health and a lifestyle matter.”

ALF tutoring also includes numeracy skills.

“We try to get students up to a basic level of numeracy so they can face secondary school with some prospect of success,” Dr Cree said.

Providing books and other materials that Indigenous students want to read has long been the mission of the ALF. “We’ve actually sent 100,000 volumes from Melbourne to schools in Northern Australia in the last two years,” Dr Cree said.

Dr Cree said that new approaches, such as digital tutoring, were something privatelyfunded not-for-profits such as the ALF have the freedom to try.

“We can afford to experiment and try different things that governments can’t do,” he said.

“Many innovations in health and education are initiated by the private sector. When its seen to work you’ll find the government comes in big time. If this is successful you might very well find it taken up by education departments.”

The ALF is funded by donation from individuals and philanthropic organisations.

“We have no government money but we have very, very strong supporters in the community. We have about 3500 people who subscribe or give money to us directly,” he said.

“Because we have no government money we are rather accountable. Government money can just disappear quite easily but people who give their own money want to know exactly where it’s gone. So we run a pretty tight ship.”

Dr Cree said half of his individual backers came from the Australian churches.

“The Catholics and the Uniting Church are probably our biggest supporters,” he said.

“We really, really appreciate it.”

9

Youth

Listen up TIM LAM

JUSTIN Timberlake is no longer popular, but superhero movies are very much in fashion.

That’s the verdict from young Uniting Church’s members, who have shared their observations on what is ‘lit’ (trendy) or ‘quit’ (outdated) on a new weekly youth ministry podcast called Work Experience.

Host Bradon French, who is the Synod’s intergenerational youth coordinator, said the podcast was a valuable resource to help the Church connect with its younger members.

“In the Uniting Church, there isn’t a lot of opportunities to get experience of ministry with young people,” he said.

“The podcast is raising awareness, connecting people and resourcing their ministry practices in their local setting.”

For the uninitiated, a podcast is an audio file which can be downloaded on to your mobile phone or computer and listened to whenever you choose.

Bradon said it became evident early on that listeners wanted to hear directly from young people and those involved in youth ministry.

“Whether it’s an 18-year-old Tongan Fortnite (video game) streamer, someone from a theological faculty or youth workers in congregations, they want to hear from them,” Bradon said.

“People enjoy hearing from the breadth of the Church about these issues and hearing authentic experiences rather than just one person’s perspective.”

With more than 3.5 million podcast listeners throughout Australia, it is fair to say that podcasts are very much ‘lit’.

“Podcasts are becoming infinitely more popular as an alternative to mainstream radio,” Bradon said.

“You can find a podcast about pretty much anything you’re interested in.”

In the August series, Work Experience focused on people traditionally on the margins of youth ministry, such as CALD (Culturally And Linguistically Diverse) youth and children with learning disabilities.

“We try to be responsive to the audience,” Bradon said.

The Min/Max podcast - a trio of self-confessed geeks get together each week to talk about theology and pop culture.

Theosophia – a podcast dedicated to promoting women's voices in theology.

Religionless Church – a platform for those who feel frustrated or estranged from institutionalised Christianity.

A Jew and a Gentile Walk into a Bar...Mitzvah! - A Jew and a Christian talk about faith, mental health and social justice.

Ergasia – hosted by Mountview Uniting Church minister Rev Brendan Byrne, this podcast explores faith, work, theology and economics.

10

“You can find a podcast about pretty much anything you’re interested in.”

“When people ask for a particular thing or have particular issues, we try to find the right people to teach us about that.

“The September series will be looking at strategy – asking why we are doing youth ministry and how, rather than just assuming and doing it by accident.”

One area Bradon is keen to explore is how young people find a sense of belonging in the online space.

“I’d love to do more on the digitalgathering space – whether it’s the gaming church or Instagram communities,” he said.

“Part of what we’re trying to do is explore elements of life that are just normal for people under the age of 21 that the vast majority of the Church have no idea about.”

Pilgrim Theological College student Liam Miller is the host of Love Rinse Repeat, a podcast that explores topics such as missiology, Asian Christianity, postcolonialism and Indigenous spiritualty.

The podcast originated from Liam’s work as a Uniting Church chaplain at Macquarie University.

“We wanted to have content and conversations happening outside the traditional group times and hear from a variety of people,” Liam said.

“I started doing these short video interviews originally on YouTube, which I shared with our students and for a wider audience.”

Liam soon began exploring other online channels to make the content more accessible.

“If I see a video interview I’m much less likely to watch it as I have to sit on my laptop and look at it the whole time rather than being able to listen while I go for a walk, or drive my car or do chores around the house,” Liam said.

“So I started uploading some of the old video episodes in podcast form and recording new episodes.”

An episode that received plenty of positive feedback was an interview with transgender Christian author Austen Hartke.

“For a lot of people hearing that story and knowing it was out there – I got a lot of feedback from people saying they really appreciated it,” Liam said.

“I’ve also interviewed a comedian in New York who hosts podcasts about race and Hollywood. We talked about comedy and faith and how all those things intersect.”

While some episodes may cater to more theologically-minded listeners, Liam said Love Rinse Repeat aimed to reach a broader audience.

“It’s about trying to make what we sometimes see as ‘ivory tower concepts’ more accessible,” he said.

“I recently interviewed Geoff Thompson about his book A Genuinely Theological Church – for that audience it’s primarily Uniting Church people, ministers and theologians.

“But so much of the interview also had relevance to any Christians listening.”

Liam is keen to experiment with new formats in future episodes.

“I would like to do a sports fantasy draft, but with theologians,” he said.

“I like interviews, but there’s already a lot of interview podcasts out there so I’m looking at how I can break the format a little more.”

Listen to Work Experience at https://player. whooshkaa.com/shows/work-experience and Love Rinse Repeat at http://www. loverinserepeat.com/podcast Search for Work Experience and Love Rinse Repeat in iTunes to subscribe.

Liam Miller

CROSSLIGHT - SEPTEMBER 18

Family

Q&A with Tai Alphred WE asked Murrumbeena Uniting Church’s family ministry coordinator Tai Alphred to tell us a bit about herself and ministry.

Tai Alphred with Blaire Burness and daughter Seneca

Can you tell us a little about your background?

“Children make me laugh, they teach me, they show me God in daily conversations, they reveal the Holy Spirit through their ideas and excitement. I could go on and on!”

My name is Tai (pronounced Tay) Alphred. I was born in the USA and grew up in California. I am married to a wonderful Australian and we have two beautiful children.

What’s your religious background?

I was baptised as an infant as a Catholic.

Most of my family members were Catholic but not many were practicing Catholics.

I was blessed to have a father who took me to church every Sunday. This was our special father/daughter time and I always looked forward to getting dressed up and going to church together. This, I believe, is what cemented my faith from a very young age.

I was also blessed by my godmother, Aunty Gerry, who was incredibly involved within our church and was such a great role model for me as a child and teen.

What led you to Murrumbeena Uniting?

When my son was in grade 1, I saw an advertisement for a Christmas craft program at Murrumbeena Uniting Church called ‘Countdown 2 Christmas’. I was excited about this three-day program which included crafts, cooking, drama, music, so I signed my son up.

He came home with such amazing crafts to hang on our tree – which we still have – and lots of wonderful Jesus stories that

by Christmas Eve I couldn’t wait to see the children’s service. Murrumbeena Uniting Church had a band playing, puppets and costumes for the kids to participate in the real story of Christmas.

I thought:“This is what church should be like” – fun and relevant and embrace everyone, especially young families and children – so I began bringing my children.

What led or called you into ministry?

I had been coaching gymnastics for a few years and suffered an awful back injury, which sadly forced me to resign. I remember journaling to God and feeling quite emotional about this loss and asking Him: “What am I going to do next?”.

He gave me my answer. I wanted to continue working with children and I was pushed by God to become a CRE (Christian Religious Education) volunteer at my children’s school.

SEPTEMBER 18 - CROSSLIGHT

My next great blessing in my ministry journey came when our children’s and families pastor asked if I would be interested in working with the families at our church in a 10-hour per week role. I was over-themoon! This again was God, planting His seeds. I said yes immediately. And now, six years on, I’m still loving it.

Tell us about your role as Murrumbeena UC’s Family Ministry coordinator.

I work with the families within our church and with families from outer communities who come to join in our events. I organise monthly family events like FEAST (Families Eating and Sharing Together), craft days, movie days, board game days, Countdown 2 Christmas, etc. I encourage spiritual formation through conversations and coffee catch-ups. I also facilitate Toolbox Parenting Courses.

The highlight of my role are the two sessions of mainly music that I facilitate every week. The mainly music program is designed for under-fives and their carers.

Through music, God-songs, dance, rhyme time, instruments, prayer, and fellowship we worship our beautiful God. How many families are there at Murrumbeena?

We have about 10. Our mainly music family numbers average between 10-15.

What are the main challenges of family ministry?

The most obvious would be trying to figure out how to get families to bring their children to church more often.

At Murrumbeena Uniting Church we try to be as creative as we can, to be allinclusive, intergenerational and make church fun and enjoyable for all ages. But we also fully recognise that for today’s modern family, church does not necessarily have to be on a Sunday.

For instance, with our mainly music families, what they experience through the beautiful Holy Spirit on a Tuesday morning is their church day. In our own way we are worshipping God through God-songs, prayer, an interactive reflection/prayer area, and offering support and encouragement to each other in a loving and Christian way.

Can you nominate some key things you have learnt about family ministry?

I have learnt the importance of connection – that everyone needs to feel connected. God wants us to build relationships with each other, and ultimately, to love and support each other with no judgments made.

From all children and my own, I have experienced the true and amazing flow of the Holy Spirit – an overwhelming sense of joy which is God. I have also learnt that ‘God Speaks Through Children’ and what wonderful life-lessons they can teach us.

Children make me laugh, they teach me, they show me God in daily conversations, they reveal the Holy Spirit through their ideas and excitement. I could go on and on!

My ministry with families and their gorgeous children is one of the biggest gifts in my life. I truly feel incredibly blessed!

How is your study going?

I am currently studying the Graduate Certificate in Children’s and Families Ministry course through Pilgrim Theological College.

My next unit will be the Spirituality and Nurturing of Children intensive with Dr Vivienne Mountain, which runs from 28 November to 5 December.

What will you learn in this unit?

It explores the historical and current interest in the spiritual life and development of children. It examines links between scripture, theological thought, spiritual and psychological development and neurobiology in relation to ministry with children. I cannot wait!

Can you tell us about the Working Women’s Bursary?

I was told about the bursary by (Children’s and Families Ministry coordinator) Chris Barnett. He said the Uniting Church could offer me this as my ultimate goal is to obtain a 20-hour per week position as a Uniting Church Children’s and Families Pastor. I have now been blessed with a partial scholarship. I will finish a required third unit (of my own choice) next June and complete my course.

11

People

Meredith an inspirational type CAROLYN TATE IT is a devastating truth that people with disabilities are often judged by mainstream society before they’ve had a chance to share who they are and what they can contribute.

Their intelligence – and sometimes value – can be called into question in a way other people will never experience or understand.

This is something people with disabilities learn to live with to a certain extent, but it’s not something Meredith Allan accepts.

Since she was a child Meredith has lived with a disability that affects her ability to speak and walk.

For the past 50 years, she has spoken via alternative and augmentative communication (AAC).

In July, Meredith became president of the International Society of Alternative and Augmentative Communication (ISAACC) – the first president to use AAC. AAC is any means that helps convey meaning without talking, and in Meredith’s case that means using devices that translate type into speech.

“I use an iPad with the flipwriter app, I also use the ProLoQuo4Text app for speeches. Apps are taking over the world,” she said.

Meredith said she had seen first-hand the positive effect augmented communications have for users.

“Over the years, millions of hours have been put into developing AAC vocabularies throughout the world, bringing language to people who use AAC,” she said.

Perhaps the world’s most famous user of AAC was the late Nobel Prize winning astro-physicist Stephen Hawking, who as it turns out Meredith is not shy of comparing herself to.

Meredith once told a dinner party companion that she was smarter than Hawking.

“My conversation partner doubted my claim,” she said.

“I told him Stephen Hawking had the best education any person could have, and lost his voice after he had completed his PhD. He never had to prove his intelligence or authorship and he had the resources of Cambridge University to back him as his disease and disabilities progressed.

“I, on the other hand, lost my voice aged 10 and had to fight damn hard to be educated beyond year 8.

“If Stephen Hawking was born with his degree of disabilities, we all know he would have barely obtained a primary school education, his frustration would be interpreted as challenging behaviour, and his quality of life would be at the mercy of NDIS planners.”

Meredith says she didn’t share this story to pat herself on the back, but because there is a message for others.

“The message to all the young people who use AAC is that if you have the opportunity to be educated, take it. Use your AAC and fight all the way,” she said.

“When you know you are loved, the fight is easier knowing you are loved.

“The voice of the next Stephen Hawking must be heard.”

Meredith’s own schooling is an example of the determination needed to overcome what some judge impossible.

“My teachers at the special school I attended told my father, ‘That girl has unrealistic expectations, she wants to go to university’,” she said.

“Forty years later, I can say I embraced the 26 letters of the English language, I worked hard, I pushed my body through every pain barrier. Only we know the never-ending pain our bodies put us through.”

Meredith is writing a thesis on disability and identity as part of her Masters degree at Deakin University.

Unfortunately, Meredith says, for every story of hope, there are many other stories of discrimination and rejection for people of disability.

“It’s something personal we rarely share.

We hope we forget them, but we never do,” she said.

Meredith can tell one such story from a recent trip.

“Last October, I flew to Brisbane for work,” she said.

“Three of the four taxis I took did not want to take me. The first taxi driver looked at me and swore in my face.

“The second taxi driver actively protested with the warden on the taxi rank and pointed at the maxi taxi, insinuating I should be taking that taxi instead.

“The third taxi was similar, he only took me because the taxi stand warden made me show him where I had to go and made the taxi driver take me.

“You can only imagine the pain and hurt I feel that I am made to feel so very unwanted to travel for an hour in those taxis.”

Meredith recently retired from her 30-year career in the public service but continues working as a communication assessor and disability educator for Scope Victoria.

A member of Highfield Rd Uniting Church, Meredith said church had played an important role in her life.

“My faith in God has always been with me,” she said.

“My inner strength comes from that faith.”

Linley L Lin inley Li Liersch ier e and Meredith M Me Mer eredi edith th A Allen

12

CROSSLIGHT - SEPTEMBER 18

People

Going the extra mile CAROLYN TATE

WHEN Eloise Wellings runs she often has much more on her mind than best times or even Olympic glory.

Not only is she an elite long-distance runner, representing Australia in the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, she’s also a founding director of the Love Mercy Foundation, which helps northern Ugandans live empowered lives.

Eloise’s dream of Olympic glory began when she was young.

At the age of six, she held her age group shot put record at Little Athletics, but at age 10 she began to show her potential as a long-distance runner.

Watching the Barcelona Olympics, Eloise realised she wanted to compete for Australia one day.

The road to the Olympics was a rocky one. Eloise qualified for the 2000 Sydney Olympics and thought she’d achieved her dream to compete for her country – in front of a home crowd, no less. But a stress fracture meant a devastated Eloise had to pull out of the Olympic team.

Eloise began to think God was using injuries to punish her because she had done something wrong and started looking for answers.

“I think a pinnacle moment was going to church with a school friend and hearing the Gospel and understanding grace,” she said.

“I guess a light bulb just went on, and I started to understand God’s love for me.”

Eloise also suffered from an eating disorder early in her running career.

“It’s a mental illness,” she said.

“It was six years of one step forward, SEPTEMBER 18 - CROSSLIGHT

Julius and Eloise

two steps back and gradually beginning to change all those habits and becoming stronger and stronger and more self-aware.

I was finally, thankfully, able to get through it and never look back.”

This was a pivotal moment in her life, where she realised she had been running for the wrong reasons. Eloise chose to follow Jesus.

“It turned everything on its head,” she said.

“I was running for approval, and had a perfectionist view and almost being a slave to the sport.”

“Once I found Jesus I was free to use the gifts He had given me and it didn’t matter if I succeeded or not.”

However, Eloise wasn’t one to give up on her dreams. She finished fourth in the 5000m at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, and sixth in the 10,000m at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Although persistent injuries meant she missed out on the Athens and Beijing Olympics, her lifelong dream finally came true in 2012, when she ran the 5000m and 10,000m track events at the 2012 London Games.

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Eloise was the highest-placed Australian athlete in the history of the 10,000m, finishing tenth with a personal best time. She also placed ninth in the 5000m.

Eloise continues to represent Australia, most recently at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

While proud of her athletic achievements,

it was a chance meeting 10 years ago that was to change the course of Eloise’s life – and the lives of many others.

In 2008, while recovering from another injury, Eloise attended a running camp in the United States. It was there she met Ugandan dual Olympian Julius Achon.

Julius told Eloise about his dream of restoring his village in Northern Uganda, which had been destroyed after decades of civil war. Julius had been forced to become a child soldier at the age of 12, but had managed to escape.

As an adult, he dedicated his life to helping children affected by Africa’s longest-running war. Many were without food, clothing, housing or education.

Some children Julius met couldn’t even remember their names.

Eloise was moved by Julius’s experiences and went to Uganda to see first-hand the challenges people face. It was in Uganda that the two runners decided to create a food program, which would empower families to support themselves through farming. They called it Cents for Seeds, and it became the main focus for their new organisation, Love Mercy Foundation.

“The soil there is incredibly fertile,” Eloise said.

“It’s been said poverty in Africa would be eradicated if all of Uganda’s soil was used to full capacity. You throw some seed on the ground and it will grow, as long as there’s rain.”

The Love Mercy Foundation has raised almost $3 million since 2010 and empowered many Ugandans.

Their website states: “Love Mercy sees a future where Northern Uganda is transformed through simple solutions to poverty. Our projects increase access to education, health care, and income generation, and are funded entirely by generous donations to the public.”

Cents for Seeds funds a micro-financing program that has supported tens of thousands of women to start farming by loaning them a 30kg bag of seeds. At the end of the season the loan is repaid and those seeds can be passed on to another family in need.

“It’s taking away the traditional model of sponsoring individual children and it is empowering families to be able to create their own cash flow and sustainability to do that themselves,” Eloise said.

“To pay for school fees and buy other household items and to put their kids through education after school – that, for me, is really exciting.”

Eloise said the foundation, along with her Christian faith, had helped her stay motivated to keep at the top of her sport.

She said she thought about Love Mercy all the time when she’s running – sometimes even taking phone meetings as she trains.

Eloise Wellings is the keynote speaker at UnitingWomen 2018, a biennial gathering of women across the Uniting Church.

The conference will take place at Brisbane’s Somerville House from 27 to 30 September.

To register, visit unitingwomen.org.au.

13

Drought

Drought resistant DAVID SOUTHWELL

FRONTIER Services patrol minister Rowena Harris could never have anticipated that a modest request for frozen meals would rapidly expand into an ecumenical effort to support struggling farmers as drought grips Victoria.

“It’s been an amazing week,” Rowena said.

“I started out thinking I was going to pick up some frozen meals from a generous school and ended up with an exciting project, powered by the Holy Spirit.”

Rowena is based in the remote East Gippsland town of Swifts Creek. She was at a leadership meeting for an ecumenical Bible study in regional centre Bairnsdale when the group began planning their regular donation of frozen meals to the Salvation Army foodbank.

Rowena asked if she could take 10 frozen meals to distribute to farmers and others she knew were doing it tough in her wideranging area of ministry.

“Oh, we can do better than that,” replied Michelle Grimsted, who is sacramental worker for the Catholic parish of St Mary’s in Bairnsdale.

Rowena was invited to talk to St Mary’s primary school where students were cooking meals for people in need as part of their faith formation process.

Rowena told the kids that farmers were sometimes having to choose between buying groceries medicine or feed for the animals.

She explained that Swifts Creek Uniting Church was distributing meals and placing money into accounts at a local grocery store and chemist to be drawn on by those who were drought-affected.

However, with a congregation of 10, there was only so much they could do.

Another speaker on the day was Gay Holmes, a local real estate agent.

Gay approached Rowena and said the mothers’ group would like to join with the students and cook meals, biscuits and other treats for the farmers.

She was also planning fundraising activities for drought relief, such as “Farmers in Pyjamas” in September where, for a $2 donation, participants can wear their PJs for the day.

She has approached local politicians, schools and some big corporations such as Kmart and Nissan about taking part.

Gay said her group had been unsure who to give the money to, but after hearing Rowena they wanted to give it to her to distribute in the local area.

“I was sitting there thinking ‘this is incredible’,” Rowena said.

“It’s a different church in a different town and they are all focusing on me!

“I still can’t believe that these people who live in Bairnsdale, who hadn’t even really heard about Frontier Services – although

everybody knows there’s a Uniting Church up in the mountains – that these women were so excited by what they and the school could organise was just amazing.”

Word of the collaboration has spread fast on social media and there are also plans to involve the Nagle Catholic College.

“It’s not really what my church is doing for the drought, it’s a network of communities. It’s amazing,” Rowena said.

Rowena has begun meeting with Michelle in Bairnsdale to load her car up with frozen meals and deliver them as she heads back up mountains.

“It is such a privilege and blessing to be part of this awe-inspiring cause,” Michelle said.

“It is a powerful reminder of the invisible God becoming visible through the actions of students and teachers. The body of Christ becoming one through the love and support of all who were involved.”

Rowena agrees.

“The Church, in all its forms, can be a fabulous family” she said.

“We received another gift, a wonderful cheque, this week from the Drouin-Bunyip Parish UCA.

Michelle Grimsted and Rowena Harris load up the car with frozen meals

“I already am divvying it up. I know folk who need fuel for medical appointments, to begin with.”

Rowena said much more help would be needed in what she is now calling the Mountains Project.

“That it’s an ongoing project is most satisfactory,” she said.

“I hear the stories, I see the people and the stress on their faces. I pass the trucks, on my narrow roads, stuffed full of bales.

“It’s tough, and can only get worse.”

A one-in-20 year shortfall of rain and three dry spring seasons in a row have seen much of Gippsland declared to be in drought.

Many are calling it a green drought as the

“I see the people and the stress on their faces. I pass the trucks, on my narrow roads, stuffed full of bales. It’s tough.”

14

landscape does not look classically parched in the way that larges swathes of NSW and Queensland are.

“It looks green but it’s only surface green,” Rowena said.

“We’re only a few steps behind NSW and Queensland.

“We all know the stories now of people spending $2000 or $3000 a week on feed and water.”

At a meeting of emergency services, which Rowena attended as a fire chaplain, she learnt just how deceptive appearances can be.

“Generally at this stage, the soil has lost 2 percent of moisture in the ground so we go into spring with 98 percent moisture in the ground,” she said.

“This spring we are going in with a loss of 95 percent moisture. That’s basically incompatible with farming.”

The meeting was told the bushfire season has officially been brought forward from summer to spring. In a first for Gippsland, fire restrictions will be introduced in September.

Already a major fire has broken out at Cape Conran and there have been a number of smaller ones throughout the district.

That a green sheen masks a devastating

dryness is not news to Swifts Creek UCA members Evan and Dot Teague. The Teagues run a 1000ha sheep and cattle farm at Ensay in the Tambar Valley, approximately 80km northeast from Bairnsdale.

“East Gippsland is bloody awful. And don’t get any ideas it is half bad, it’s very, very bad,” Evan said.

“We had a very difficult year last year.

There was an unusual summer break with good rain last year, then we didn’t have an autumn and it’s been very dry in the winter.

“Last month we had 21mm, while normally we get two inches (50mm). It’s been very ordinary.”

“What’s made it worse is that during June we had an unusual number of frosts. July and August have been nothing but strong winds.”

Evan said that while South Gippsland was getting some rain, it was largely passing by his area.

“We live in a rain shadow,” he said.

“With all those fronts that come from the west, they hit the hills and go over South Gippsland out to sea. It’s worse in Omeo. It’s really bad up there.

Evan and Dot Teague

“If we were to get 50mm it would make a hell of a difference, straight away.”

The lack of good growth has forced Evan to feed his cattle.

“Every beast we own is being fed every second day,” he said.

“Their condition is deteriorating. It’s no good.”

While Evan has maintained the size of his cattle herd, he has sold 80 percent of his sheep.

“We sold sheep once we got the wool off them because I could see we were heading for a disaster,” he said.

“That went against the grain, because I value my sheep pretty highly. But I couldn’t sell any cattle then because they were in the middle of calving.”

Asked what his plans are if the lack of rain continues, Evan has an emphatic reply.

“I wish to Christ I knew,” he said.

“We’re towards the end of August and we just hope we get some rain and get some relief.

“I can’t go on doing what I have been doing for the last three months. Physically it’s taking the sap out of me and financially it’s pretty severe.

CROSSLIGHT - SEPTEMBER 18

Drought

D’Arcy Fitzgerald feeds sheep on his Omeo property

“We’ve been feeding the animals cubes and hay. A truckload of 25 cubes, which is sixtonne, costs $14,000 and lasts three weeks.

“And I’ve been spending at least that much on hay every three weeks, so it’s running into bikkies. At this stage I haven’t had to ask the bank to borrow money for fodder. That would be next step.

“Do I see any light at the end of the tunnel? No.” Despite this bleak prognosis and that, at age 76, he is finding the physical side of farming more difficult, Evan is adamant he has no plans to leave farming.

“I won’t be forced off the property,” he said.

“I live on the farm I was born in. It was my father’s WWI soldier settlement block and that’s where we live.”

He believes while people are aware of the desperate drought situation in Queensland and NSW, many don’t realise what is happening further south.

“Absolutely, people don’t know how bad it’s getting in Victoria,” Evan said.

Rosemary Fitzgerald owns a farm near Omeo. She said normally they feed cattle with hay from their own property, but are now having to buy it by the semi truckload.

“My son D’Arcy runs the farm and feeding stock is a daily job,” she said.

“The feeding started a month earlier than normal after some reduction in numbers of stock.

“We don’t usually need to feed sheep but this year we started supplementary feeding in February and March.

“Cartage is a significant part of the cost and the price of feed is increasing as it gets harder to source.

“It takes a financial and emotional toll.”

For more information on the Mountains Project, contact Rowena Harris on M: 0409 111 996 or Michelle Grimsted on M: 0409 666 051.

SEPTEMBER 18 - CROSSLIGHT

Respite, rally and repair FOR farmers, and others who need some respite from the stress of drought, the Gippsland Presbytery has a little-known option for a seaside getaway.

The presbytery owns the Lake Tyers Camp and Caravan Park, near Lakes Entrance, and offers free or heavily subsidised accommodation to people in need of a break.

“The campsite has done this for a long time, but not many people know about it, so they don't get many referrals for assistance,” management committee chair Ron Gowland said.

The park has 22 self-contained cabins, with one suitable for disabled use, and about 80 campsites.

Guests self-cater and must bring their own linen and blankets.

Most cabins have balconies that overlook the sea.

“It’s not a clinical campsite like a lot of them,” Ron said.

“We don’t have main roads, it’s dirt roads.

That’s sort of what the attraction is I suppose.

“It’s a special place for a lot of people.”

Ron said booking a respite stay was simply a matter of phoning the campsite manager.

“Normally a third party tells us because people don’t put their hand up themselves,” Ron said.

“We have had a man who had cancer and he and his wife spent time there, we also had a family whose father had passed away

Lake Tyers Camp and Caravan Park

and the mother and kids went there for a few days.

“Normally they are grateful for the opportunity because it’s so near Lakes Entrance that you can just look out over the waves.

“It’s a hidden jewel that not many people know about. We would encourage people to use it because that is what we are there for.”

For Lake Tyers Camp and Caravan Park respite stay inquires, call P: (03) 5156 5530. A number of Men’s Sheds are raising funds to assist farmers, businesses and communities affected by the drought in East Gippsland.

Shedders are holding barbeques, selling goods made in their Sheds and other donated items to raise money for the Gippsland Farmer’s Relief Fund.

Every dollar raised goes directly to those in need, including businesses struggling due to a drop in spending.

So far more than $5000 has been raised in Gippsland.

Men’s Sheds nationally are rallying to help all drought affected regions of Australia. A challenge has been issued by the Yass Shed in NSW for all Sheds is to raise $1000 each for Drought Relief.

You can follow what Men’s Sheds are doing to help those affected by drought at their Facebook Page www.facebook.com/ australianmensshedassociation.

If you would like to support the work of Frontier Services, the manse at Swifts Creek requires work by volunteer carpenters, painters, handymen and handywomen as well as gardeners.

Accommodation is available in Swifts Creek or nearby and there is also a caravan and camping ground in town.

Work on the manse will be conducted between 26 October and 2 November.

If you would like to join a work party, please contact Lindsay Oates on P: (03) 5668 1621, M: 0408 343 531 or E: lindsayo@dcsi.net.au 15

Letters Creative approach EVOLUTION is anathema to some Christians, but it doesn’t rule out creation. It’s obvious that many species have evolved over millennia for we have archaeological evidence to prove it; but it doesn’t disprove creation.

Creation is not finished; creation is an ongoing process – it didn’t all happen in six days and then remain static thereafter.

Proof of this can be seen in ice-ages coming and going, sea levels fluctuating (the Mediterranean Sea basin being dry in some ages), coastlines changing, and continental drift that has seen the continents moving away from Gondwanaland.

All this is obviously part of God’s plan for the progression of his marvellous creation.

Melva Stott Anglesea, Vic

With respect I WAS distressed to read the letter from Alexander Drysdale (August) in response to Greg James’s July letter, for two reasons.

First, to say that “Mr James has no right to attempt to postpone Assembly decisions” ignores the Uniting Church understanding that faithful Christians do have the right to engage with the councils of the church and their processes.

I am the minister in Mr James’s church, and fully supportive of his desire to express his concerns and convictions. I believe he did so appropriately. He and I have different views on this issue, as well as a great deal of respect for each other as brothers in Christ.

Alexander Drysdale’s letter reads to me like: “If you don’t like it, leave”, or “get over it”, or sentiments along those lines, which I’m really sad to read in a letter to a Uniting Church publication.

As a member of Assembly, one of the most inspiring things for me was the way in which we held in grace and respect people who were expressing different convictions from our own, recognising their faithful discipleship of Christ alongside our own. I believe we heeded the command of Jesus for whenever two or more of us gather: “I am in your midst - so act like it!” (Matthew 18:20). I hope to see that same approach reflected in the ways we talk to each other in all aspects of the church’s life, including the letters we write.

Rod Peppiatt Launceston, Tas

Service review “EVANGELISM is a bit of a dirty word these days in the Uniting Church,” Rev Dr Robyn Whitaker is quoted as saying in the July issue of Crosslight.

“Religion of any kind is deeply important to people’s lives, cultures and communities,” she adds.

Most people equate religion with its public face as seen in church services each Sunday morning in every suburb and town.

What then do the public observe which 16

reflects the importance of religion? Many in the community say they are spiritual but not religious and certainly see no need to celebrate in any communal gathering.

Do we in the Uniting Church need to revisit the traditional format of Sunday services to better reflect our mission?

I would like to see the columns of Crosslight addressing this issue with examples of what congregations throughout the synod are doing to engage with their communities. The “Synod Snaps” page gives a hint of this with its photos of messy church, the icon school, creative religious artworks or intergenerational ministry.

As Dr Whitaker states: “We need to listen to the experiences of each other.”

Alan Ray Mont Albert, Vic

Right confession CAN I tell Kim Searle (Crosslight, August) a story?

A man came to Jesus and accepted him as his saviour. He tried his best, but he was having trouble with one particular sin and he asked for forgiveness every time he prayed. After one particular prayer session he heard a voice saying, “What sin?”

We believe, in fact we know, that we are sinners. But Jesus came to us and lived a perfect life so that when he died he could take on the full burden of our sin. The Scripture confirms this in so many places when we all acknowledge that he is our saviour. He died for us so that we could be free.

That does not give us carte blanche to continue to sin and do what we like, as Paul so eloquently teaches us.

The point is that we are forgiven anyway! Confession on a Sunday (or at any time) should be renamed ‘A Sinner’s Acknowledgement’. If we can come to God, who has already forgiven us, to acknowledge our sins, it brings this to the front of our minds and shows that we are aware of our errors and, in so doing, acknowledge that we have a reason, a motive, to do better. To try and live as Jesus lived. If we are going to carry around our burden and not leave it to him to lift then we are the failures by not understanding and, therefore, the most miserable.

I don’t rejoice in being a sinner. I rejoice that in Jesus, who lives in me, I have found a saviour and a friend. He listens to me as I recall my failings and guides and strengthens me as to how I can do better with never any suggestion that I am a disappointment in his eyes.

That is my comfort and I rejoice every day that I live in trying to do my best for him. What other reason is there for being here?

Alexander Drysdale Lyndhurst, VIC A THOUGHT in response to Mrs Searle’s comment on the prayer of confession in August Crosslight.

The main problem with prayers of confession is that they typically invite us to self-examination. If the prayer lists a number of things I might have done,

I can nod or shake my head as they’re mentioned. If I don’t recognise a problem, I conclude that there isn’t one. If I do, I confess it and imagine myself justified before God. Confession, however, is best when it catches us by surprise – when I find God convicting me of something I hadn’t considered to be a problem. This might even be something I considered a good thing, attributed to God as a gift or a right I can enjoy. Such conviction will almost never happen when the confession is the first or second prayer in a service. This is typically because God hasn’t said anything yet – it’s just the worship leader speaking, or me inside my head – so we can scarcely have had the surprise God brings.

There is, then, very good sense in praying the prayer of confession after the readings and sermon, because their work is to bring good news in contrast to our bad news. The good news in the sermon will be an offered release from some bad thing I couldn’t imagine was a thing from which I could be, or needed to be, released.

When the prayer of confession reflects the concrete word of God proclaimed, it might actually touch the hearts of those praying it because God – in the readings, the sermon, etc. – has already laid the ground for praying such things.

If the confession prayer does not touch us in this way, it may not be the prayer which is the problem.

Craig Thompson (Rev Dr) Congregation of Mark the Evangelist, North Melbourne, Vic IN response to Mrs Searle, and with complete respect to her, God made man in his image and not the other way around, as she suggests when she states that the church needs to, “portray an understanding of God suitable for our time”. God doesn’t change.

Attending church is not just a practice we do, it is supposed to further our relationship with him. This is why we present ourselves as an offering to hear his words and see ourselves in his light, not our own. Otherwise why go?

As she has written, “God’s love that makes us feel of worth” is not based on our love to him, but his love for us. The Bible puts it in Ephesians 2:8: “For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith. And this is not of yourselves, but is the gift of God.” Throughout the letters of John, the emphasis that we are not made right by our own righteousness but God’s is clearly shown. That is the way we know we are born of God and have our minds fixed on him and his ways.

How can we love God without acknowledging our sin first as in 1 John 1: 6, “If we say we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in darkness (of sin), we lie and the truth is not in us.”?

And going to church reminds us of this; we can then love others properly and unselfishly as Ms Searle believes. This happens when the truth of the Bible is delivered and God is at the centre of our hearts. If the Bible is not a book of facts or truth, how can it or anything a Christian believes be accurately worth sharing because we are only fooling ourselves and no one should believe? But this is not the Gospel.

The creeds and confessions are like communion, we don’t have it because we are crucifying Jesus every time but, as the Bible states, we do it to remember Jesus’s

sacrifice and thank Him for what He has done and then live accordingly. Our sins are already forgiven, but how can we know that they are forgiven if we don’t look to God for it first?

Joseph Adams Skye, Vic

Good read I AM touched by the diversity and depth of stories Crosslight shares with us about people finding, searching and sharing God’s love in the ordinary world around them. From the Kids Hope mentoring work that changes life for despairing children, to the families’ reunion in Uganda that showed hope and kindness despite years of war, to the warm feedback from international guests about the UCA Assembly consensus process. Thank you also for Katharine Massam’s incredibly insightful article about the (selective) stories we create and then live within (for better or worse!), and lastly the beautiful and touching story of Sharon Hollis as she forged on into a new chapter of her life as Moderator, not even knowing if she could be put back together after losing her husband - just trusting the giftedness and belovedness we see in others (and they see in us). In that openness, of course, we find love and the fullness of life.

I’m blessed to read this enlightening, inspiring journal every month!

Ray Thomas Euroa, Vic

Well done THE Uniting Church in Australia sees the dawning of a most brilliant progressive all-inclusiveness in acceptance and cultural values, in this, Australia’s new age of same gender-marriage.

How proud am I to be a part of our Uniting Christian community that invites new idealism, opening the doors towards marital unification for all.

This surely sets a transformative tone to invite new members with developing hope in Christian faith to step forward, joining the ranks of our all-inclusive Uniting Church; standing alongside our loving and compassionate brothers and sisters.

How amazing is the evolution of faith; broadening the scope and strengthening the support for lessons in authentic unbiased love. This extends the opportunities to teach and be taught Christ-like qualities regarding tolerance, compassion, community and love.

The power the new validation has will be to unify those who have felt unheard, unnoticed, unappreciated and voiceless.

They can now find a champion and leader in the Uniting Church’s progressive faith.

This exemplifies the same teachings of love, compassion and inclusivity that Christ had for all.

Russell Hawkins Frankston, Vic Letters to Crosslight are always welcome.

Letters should be 300 words or less and include full name, address and contact number/email.

Letters may be edited for space, style and clarity.

CROSSLIGHT - SEPTEMBER 18

Every person has a story to tell

Shipwrecks and Sunday services MIRIAM IMMS

BECOMING the wife of a Methodist minister and relocating house 15 times in the years following was certainly a challenge for someone like me. I grew up very securely based at the one family home in the Hobart suburb of Taroona.

After marrying Bob our first big move, after some months of training in Sydney, was to Papua New Guinea to work as teachers and missionaries in the remote area of Salamo in 1953.

As it turned out, the journey to PNG was anything but plain sailing!

Our ship Muroro was swept onto rugged cliffs in a north-easterly gale off central Queensland and broke up before dawn.

Our crew of six spent a week marooned in bushland, where we lived mostly on wild oysters, while various members set out on fruitless one or two-day hikes to find help.

Luckily, we found a fresh stream of water near the beach – you can survive a long time if you have clean water.

As we weakened on day seven, one of our party, David, trekked south and found some fishermen at a camp near Yeppoon, which lead to our eventual rescue.

Following this gruelling experience, I had a period of recuperation back in Tasmania before joining my husband in Salamo, where we spent three rewarding years teaching boat-building and joinery.

On returning to Australia my husband began preaching on five Tasmanian circuits.

For our growing family of five this meant frequent changes of schools and friendship circles.

The 60s and 70s were years of swiftly changing moral values and attitudes to church life. Our children experienced their share of teasing about being parson’s kids

– some snide and hurtful comments even from college staff.

Although each of the children has suffered, at times a great deal, they have borne their share of a totally unsought role cheerfully and with patience.

Each has given back to us with loyalty, respect and support.

Like many of our day we lived within very strict budgets, somewhat increased after ordination.

To make ends meet we did sewing at home and the kids took on after school jobs.

For dinner we found 50 ways of using apples and 50 variations of mince. There were always gifts at the door of garden vegetables and fruit from wonderful parishioners.

When Paul was born and I was incapacitated for weeks, seven Christmas puddings, dozens of cakes and biscuits, and offers of household help arrived unsolicited.

There was always a Sunday roast, often a leg of succulent lamb, after church and Sunday school. On Saturday afternoon the vegetables had to be prepared so we could get to church on Sunday.

Holidays were camps in leaky postand-rail tents or renovated worker’s huts, seeking out places of natural beauty with bush, mountains, beach and sea.

Our family became a transportable youth club. People still liked their young ones to be connected with the church, with its no liquor, no smoking attitudes, but lots of fun.

There were campouts, hangouts, hikes, a 15-bike expedition from New Town to the Petchey’s Bay house, also from New Town to Freycinet with readings and prayers and songs on Wineglass Bay to the sound of surf rolling in.

Bob and Miriam Imms

SEPTEMBER 18 - CROSSLIGHT

A news report of the shipwreck

Then came 1976, and the last Methodist Conference was held in the magnificent and historic Wesley Church, Hobart.

Twenty nine young people from lively Moonah and more sedate New Town gathered at the parsonage for tea – once more the mince and apple variations with barbecued sausages on the ploughshare – and then all were packed into the galleries of Wesley to reverberating hymns.

How much more significant this event was than we could envisage – with a generational faith, and a heritage of gentle goodness and service to God, the local church and missions all laid out on the altar of the new Uniting Church in trust and hope.

We went on to the burgeoning Kingborough Circuit, which had seven churches, from Taroona, Sandfly and Kingston, through the Channel to Kettering, Woodbridge and Middleton.

The Huon circuit next door was added to our duties with four more churches – Franklin, Glen Huon, Judbury, Ranelagh and Cygnet – all to be consulted and

matters regarding proposed Union discussed, with procedures carried out.

A busy father was rarely home in evenings and had three or more services each Sunday.

But the vigour and buoyancy of the music-loving, contemporary, forwardthinking, seafaring, creative young family has carried on a visionary branch of ministry throughout Kingborough, Taroona Hobart, Melbourne, even Sydney, and across the Northern Territory as part of Desert Song to this very day.

My grandfather George James, who in 1902 asked Wesley Church to put Taroona on the preaching plan, might see God himself at work such a string of descendants.

His granddaughter, June, still holds together the faithful Taroona congregation with high quality music of faith and devotion.

My husband, Bob, at 92 years of age, can still take his place at the pulpit to preach.

It’s off-the-cuff nowadays as his eyesight doesn’t allow him to read notes.

In all this full life of ministry and family we say thanks be to God.

PLEASE send us your stories. They can be in the form of poems, comics, creative writing or artwork such as kids’ drawings, culinary art, graphic design, photography, digital illustration, sculptures, pottery, paintings and sketches. If English isn’t your first language, or you are unsure of how to start, please contact us at Crosslight for a chat.

Email submissions to crosslight@victas.uca.org.au.

17

Pilgrim Reflection

Site for rituals STEPHEN BURNS

RECENTLY I’ve had the great fortune to help establish a new website which focuses on exploring liturgy.

The website, www.exploringliturgy.org, has many strands, but concentrates on five aspects of worship: 1. The distinct perspectives and rituals that emerge in Aboriginal-Christian communities 2. The experience of worship traditions in diaspora, as they migrate with people – which often brings great resources for renewal with them 3. Emerging and experimental approaches to worship 4. Interfaith adventures in prayer (sometimes called “inter-riting”) 5. Neo-Pentecostal styles of worship, which is perhaps Australia’s most significant “export” in terms of contributing to Christianity worldwide (think Hillsong).

Collaborating with me on this exciting project has been Pilgrim faculty member (and regular Crosslight contributor) Katharine Massam and Pilgrim research associate Catherine Schieve. We also plan to publish a companion book called Futures Of Worship.

The Exploring Liturgy website also documents the rituals and communities we encounter where one or more of the above five factors are found. The website uses methods employed in liturgical studies – such as making “ritual surveys” of the assembly, leaders, worship space, ceremonial scenes – so it relates closely to what goes on in liturgy classes at Pilgrim Theological College, as well as other places.

Traditional church baptism

Examples of such surveys can be found in a book written by the University of Divinity’s Glen O’Brien (Christian Worship: A Historical and Theological Introduction) or my own Pilgrim People: An Invitation to Worship in the Uniting Church.

The basic idea also relates to local writing, namely Coralie Ling’s contribution to the feminist-Christian worshippers that then met at Fitzroy Uniting Church. This group has evolved into Sophia’s Spring, which is now situated at CERES in West Brunswick (see Coralie’s chapter in Teresa Berger’s Dissident Daughters: Feminist Liturgies in Global Context).

The Exploring Liturgy website has a more

recent snapshot of Sophia’s Spring, which sits alongside: • a growing repository of other accounts on Hillsong • City on a Hill (a conservative evangelical Anglican church meeting in a Melbourne cinema) • charismatic gatherings of Pentecostals in old-line contexts as well as LGBTI-majority settings • energetic open-air Orthodox gatherings on the seashore, which include swimming after the cross to mark the Feast of the Epiphany - a kind of Christian version of Australian Ninja Warrior!

•

interfaith encounters at the extraordinary Stupa of Universal Compassion, a Buddhist place of pilgrimage in rural Victoria.

The website also has an archive, which has gathered all sorts of things, from prayers and poems (for example, feminist renderings of The Lord’s Prayer) to videos of song (such as Tongans singing in an almond orchard), to photos sent from pilgrims in Ireland, Spain and India.

The archive contains many guest contributors, who write on a range of interesting and sometimes thoughtprovoking subjects.

Now that the website is up and running I have been amazed by not only the volume of visitors it has attracted, but the diverse places they are accessing it from (every continent except Antarctica).

Such has been the website’s popularity, it has convinced me not only of the importance of digital technology and platforms to broadcast whatever we find important to say or enthuse about, it has also been a very striking insight into the hunger for renewal and openness to new things in the worship of God. You can visit the Exploring Liturgy website at www.exploringliturgy.org.

To visit the Pilgrim units in liturgy and other disciplines, go to www.pilgrim.edu.au.

Stephen Burns is coordinator of ministry studies at Pilgrim Theological College and professor of liturgical and practical theology in the University of Divinity.

Evangelical church service

18

CROSSLIGHT - SEPTEMBER 18

Moderator’s column

Sharon Hollis reads to children at Pilgrim Uniting Church in Launceston

Love letter IF you have been following the Revised Common Lectionary you most likely have spent some time recently reading the letter to the Ephesians.

If you haven’t paid much attention to the letter I encourage you to read it because it is particularly helpful for not just thinking about the life of the Church but the trend in our nation towards the politics of division.

The letter has more to say about the Church than almost anything else in the New Testament. One of the interesting things is the amount of time it gives to the Church and how those who belong to it should live.

About half of the letter is devoted to how Christians are to behave towards each other. At its heart is a conviction that in Christ we are loved by God and that, as beloved of God, we need to live as loving people. As people who are forgiven we need to forgive. As people made wise we need to live wisely.

For the writer to the Ephesians, the unity of the Church is a key way the Church lives ethically as the chosen people of God. Our unity comes as a gift of grace from

SEPTEMBER 18 - CROSSLIGHT

God, in Christ. Through Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension those barriers which previously separated us from God and each other are overcome and we are made one people.

We are no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, because we are made one in Christ.

We have “one body, one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God (Ephesians 4:4-5)”.

The body of Christ is not static. Rather it is an organic body which we need to grow into the unity which Christ gives us.

The gifts of God are given to us not for our own sake, but for the sake of the body of Christ, the Church, for building up the body that we might be made one in love.

We grow into the gift of unity when we align ourselves with God’s ways. We grow into the gift of unity when use our gifts to build each other. We grow into the gift of unity when we seek restoration and renewal in the body. We grow into the gift of unity when we seek the wellbeing of the whole body.

The vision of unity in the letter is a delicate dance between my growth as an

individual disciple and the growth of the whole community. When I grow in my understanding of God’s ways, when my individual discipleship is strengthened, the community of the Church is strengthened.

In this growing into unity I become who I am truly meant to be only in relation to others who I share the life of faith with.

When I am transformed in wisdom and love through the gift of the Spirit I am part of the transformation of all things.

We are all connected, we all belong because we “bear one another in love (4:2)”.

This is not a warm gushy feeling, but a calling to act with love in the world.

This is what it means to “live a life worthy of our calling (4:1)” – that we love and endure with each other, especially when it is hard to do so, when we don’t feel loving, or when the pain of disagreement and difference seems insurmountable.

As people called to belong to each other and grow into our calling as the body of Christ, love means we act with humility and goodwill towards each other – especially in hard times.

We live in a country and world where

people of ill-will seek to use difference to divide and demonise our capacity to live in unity and embrace diversity. However, difference and disagreement is a witness to the power of God’s loving presence to sustain communal life.

As a Uniting Church we are wrestling with learning to live together, to be united even we don’t agree on key theological and ethical issues.

The recent Assembly has highlighted different understandings of human sexuality. To live as a community of love doesn’t mean we ignore those who have different beliefs.

Rather, we commit again to the act of loving each other and seek to be humble, to listen generously and grow together as the body of Christ – because that is our calling and gift.

To do anything less would be fail to live a life worthy of our calling.

Sharon Hollis Moderator

19

Reflection

And God saw

it was good…

REV ELIZABETH RAINE

AT the very beginning of our Scripture, we find God creating a world that is “very good”. It is clear from the first chapter of Genesis that God created a world for humans, plants and animals alike.

God saw to it that all the creatures and human beings were provided for, with the human charged with being a steward of God’s good creation.

This is particularly clear in Genesis 1–2.

Keeping the creation as ‘good’ can be reasonably interpreted as not poisoning or polluting it, as giving due care to the natural needs of domestic food animals, and as preserving the habitat of wild animals. This is further reinforced in Genesis 8, where God makes the same covenant with animals as humans, promising never to destroy the Earth again.

It is a sad truth that in our modern, civilised world, we have not kept the creation good.

We have allowed synthetic chemicals to poison our air and our waterways, we have destroyed natural habitats so animal and plant species face extinction.

Indigenous peoples have been driven off their land to satisfy large corporations requiring mono crops and oil supplies, and we have allowed the overfishing of many species.

With the increase of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels, we have changed the climate of our planet; threatening the homelands of many people and the extinction of many animals. We leave a trail of virtually indestructible plastic garbage throughout the world.

Right now we have so many good reasons, as Christians and stewards of the planet, to live sustainably. These include climate change, energy costs and problems of supply, personal happiness and contentedness, species extinction, disastrous environmental destruction, our family’s health and safety,

adaptability, healthy food and water supply issues, waste, and a fair go for those who grow our food. We could no doubt add several more reasons to this list.

We are treating our world as if it has endless resources instead of finite ones. I can’t help wondering if God could still call creation “good”.

It is hard to accept that the things that have propped up my lifestyle – the free market, capitalism, fresh food all year round, cheap transport and goods – are the very things that have caused the problem.

Our economy is predicated on all of us buying stuff we probably don’t need or really want. Those producing this stuff have one aim – make everyone consume and spend more. And we become used to cheap stuff.

Our clothes are far less expensive than a hundred years ago, because we rely on oppressed people in developing Asian countries to make them.

There are more gadgets to simplify our lives and save time in the kitchen, and on cleaning and washing than ever before.

Car ads on TV must outweigh ads for bicycles or electric scooters by a 100 to 1.

We are seduced by convenience, leaving a trail of one-use plastic bags, straws and bottles behind us, killing the creatures God created as good.

Surely as the Christian church, economic factors should not be our driving motivator.

Our driving motivator should be to care for God’s good creation. We need to become much more thoughtful about what we consume, and what impact it will have.

As an American First Nations person once said, ‘you can’t eat money, and the sooner we recognise this, the better.’

This reflection first appeared in the July edition of Revive magazine, the publication of the Uniting Church in Western Australia.

2018 WALKING TOUR OF WORSHIP IN EAST MELBOURNE You are invited to join a guided tour of three worship centres arranged by the Uniting Church Historical Society on TUESDAY 9 OCTOBER 2018.

SWell Conference 2018 Connecting with Presence Friday 12th – Sunday 14th October 2018

For those longing ffor ecological, communal and spiritual connection.

SWell provides a welcoming community where you will experience healing, befriend your true-self, discover clarity of purpose and begin to awaken with abundant life through Presence. The 2018 SWell conference welcomes guest speaker and facilitator Rod Pattenden who explores our human calling to attend to Presence.

Venue: SWell Centre, 2 Minona St, Hawthorn, VIC, 3122 Early Bird (3-day): $195 (before 25 Sept)

Assemble by 10am outside the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, 488 Albert Street, East Melbourne, 3002.

The tour will include St Peter’s Eastern Hill Anglican Church and conclude at Trinity German Lutheran Church.

Lunch is self-catering.

RSVP is essential. Contact Geoff on P: (03)9528 4293 or E: gkp@netspace.net.au by Sunday 30 September.

Please indicate names of attendees, contact phone and email, and any special requirements.

www.swellcentre.com www.trybooking.com/XMJU

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CROSSLIGHT - SEPTEMBER 18

Opinion

Race to the bottom SWEE ANN KOH

LAST month, Queensland Senator Fraser Anning, formerly of One Nation but now representing Katter’s Australian Party, used his first speech to the Australian Senate to lament the demise of “our predominantly European identity” of the 1950s and ’60s.

He proposed radical changes to Australia’s immigration program, including a “drastic” cut to the annual migrant intake and the resumption of White Australia-style discrimination based on race.

And he has the audacity to use the words, “the final solution” to advocate for a plebiscite on immigration.

Personally, I think his speech is worse than the one that One Nation founder Pauline Hanson gave over 20 years ago when she said that Australia was “being swamped by Asians”.

We are living in dangerous times. We can certainly see a resurgence of far-right nationalistic politics, not just in Australia but also in America and across Europe.

In his final speech as Race Discrimination Commissioner, Tim Soutphommasane warned us: “Race politics is back. Right now, if feels like there has never been a more exciting time to be a dog-whistling politician or racebaiting commentator in Australia.”

People with extreme views feel emboldened to make them known and increasingly they become mainstream.

There is a growing hostility to the very idea of immigration. The belief that immigrants are responsible for much of Australia’s social ills because they don’t integrate, remains immensely strong.

Herald Sun columnist Andrew Bolt wrote earlier this month: “There is no ‘us’ any more, as a tidal wave of immigrants sweeps away what’s left of our national identity.

Another 240,000 foreigners joined us last year alone, not just crowding our cities but changing our culture.”

He suggested that Jews, Indians and Chinese were forming ethnic “colonies” across the country.

Concerns over the alleged lack of integration by recent migrants have been voiced by former prime minister Tony Abbott, then Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton and even the Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge.

Last year, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull insisted citizenship must reflect “Australian values” as he unveiled tighter requirements for new applicants.

The talk about integration of migrants sounds very much like the old idea of assimilation.

This approach promoted the absorption of minorities into a shared value system.

Its aim was to make minority ethnic groups and their needs and aspirations as invisible as possible.

SEPTEMBER 18 - CROSSLIGHT

The very notion of integration presents immigrants as a problem to be solved, and integrating as that solution.

The dominant culture/group is not expected to integrate. It’s a one-way street. “Integration” is merely a matter for the minorities.

So, we see that multiculturalism in Australia is under attack from politicians, journalists and others.

For me, multiculturalism is not an ideology or public policy. It is simply stating what Australia is today – a multicultural, multiethnic, multilingual, and multi-faith country.

We live in a fractured world where othering – the process of perceiving or portraying someone as fundamentally different – is dividing us along racial lines.

We need to speak up against this. Silence is no longer an option.

Silencers like the status quo. They usually lament those past glorious days.

Senator Anning is a case in point: “Fifty years ago Australia was a cohesive, predominantly Anglo-Celtic nation,” he told the Senate.

“Most people thought of themselves as Christian of some sort, although most of us didn’t go to church all that often. Everyone, from the cleaners to the captains of industry, had a shared vision of who we were as a people and our place in the world.”

The Senator Annings of this world wish to return to a time when they could shut out anything or anyone that wasn’t like them and threatened their sense of power.

Walter Brueggeman in his latest book, Interrupting Silence: God’s Command to Speak Out, said, “The church has a huge stake in breaking the silence, because the God of the Bible characteristically appears at the margins of established power arrangements, whether theological or socioeconomic and political.

“The church at its most faithful is allied with artistic expression from the margin that voices alternatives to dominant imagination.”

Let’s unite to speak up against the growing tide of racism, bigotry and othering. Silence is no longer an option!

Swee Ann Koh Intercultural Community Development 21

Feature

Wangaratta’s PALS get together on the first Wednesday of each month

Company time BARRY GITTINS

“One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do.” – Three Dog Night ALBANIAN woman Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, who is better known as Mother Teresa, once said that “loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty”.

Working with the most marginalised people of that vast Indian city, Mother Teresa reputedly never again got to see her mother or sister after she’d left home.

Increasingly, the West is attempting to tackle the issue of loneliness. Last January, the UK appointed a “Minister for Loneliness” after research showed that “nine million British people often or always feel lonely”.

More than a third of US citizens aged over 45 report feeling lonely.

Closer to home, more than 80 percent of respondents to a 2016 Lifeline survey believed loneliness was on the rise – that’s eight of every 10 Australians.

Sadly, 66 percent of them said they “often feel lonely”.

How do we best respond to those kinds of numbers and that weight of isolation?

“We have all known the long loneliness, and we have found that the answer is community.” – US activist and social reformer Dorothy Day

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The Wangaratta Uniting Church (about 250km north-east of Melbourne) regularly hosts “PALS” – People Alone Lending Support.

On the first Wednesday of each month, up to 25 members (aged from 50 to 99) of the community get together.

PALS coordinator Elva Lovett said the meetings were a great way to “share our lives”.

“We take bus trips, we’ve participated in some church services, we have guest speakers on topical subjects, enjoy special events like the AFL Grand Final, and we share memories and photographs,” she said.

“We ladies share the group with six men, but we have recently lost some foundation members to old age and illness.”

Asked how serious loneliness was in her community, Elva said it was “a bigger problem than any issue we have ever had in our lives”.

“I am fortunate that I have good neighbours, but not everyone has that experience,” she said.

Elva found that PALS helps alleviate loneliness. She also volunteers at Wangaratta’s hospital where, she said, “many people tell us that they are isolated geographically and emotionally”.

Elva has been part of PALS since 1998, and has led the group “as a fill in” since January this year.

She and her three volunteers in the kitchen love what they do, and Elva says “our people really look forward to catching up; for some of us it’s the big adventure for the month”.

“We come from private residences, from retirement homes and aged care facilities.

Everyone is welcome and we come from church backgrounds of all kinds and from

no church backgrounds as well. Members come and members go,” Elva said.

At the beginning of the year, PALS was in hiatus. The big question Elva fielded was, “When are we starting?”

Happily, the answer was “soon”.

“Loneliness is, I think, people’s biggest fear, whether they are conscious of it or not.” – Film director Andrew Stanton Rev Dr John Broughton is the Director of Mission for Uniting AgeWell.

John is tasked with providing guidance and pastoral and spiritual advice to the Uniting AgeWell chaplains in Victoria and Tasmania.

He employs, supports, trains and supervises 12 chaplains across 20 sites.

“There are people in aged care who are lonely because they don’t have family

“Close involvement with communities helps cultivate the skills of listening and looking out for others in crisis” CROSSLIGHT - SEPTEMBER 18

Feature

Lilian 90th birthday

Elva Lovett

John Broughton

Hugh Mackay

SEPTEMBER 18 - CROSSLIGHT

nearby, or no family at all, and have few visitors,” John says.

“Some people ended up far away from their working lives and everything and everyone they ever knew.

“Young or old, if you have time on your hands and are on your own, then you need human intimacy.

For older people, the opportunity to reflect on life lessons is important, and to note the contribution they have made and the legacy they will leave behind.

“Every person needs to know they are of worth; that they have a uniqueness, and a right to dignity and respect.

“For older Australians, sometimes people feel regret or guilt because they didn’t tell them they loved them, or spend enough time with them. That can contribute to their loneliness.”

John said that while some people desired company, “others prefer to spend time on their own”.

“In the Christian faith, we believe we are made in the image of God, and the image of God is relationship – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In that way, relationships enhance our humanity,” he said.

“With older Australians, they can have all their reflections and memories going through their minds and no one to share them with.

“There can also be anxiety about life and events and a lack of consolation if friends and family have passed on.”

That’s where chaplains can minister to lonely people, John said.

“The role of a chaplain has changed from being someone who is restricted to the confines of the church to being someone who is visible and available to talk with people and listen to them wherever they are,” John said.

“Chaplains offer relationship, counsel and trust and they have the added dimension of being able to share the most private conversations about spirituality, if they are invited to do so.

“Religion is one way of expressing spirituality and spiritual expression can be helpful in addressing loneliness.”

To help combat loneliness, Uniting AgeWell chaplains offer support and counselling, facilitate woodwork, cards, games, excursions, concerts, films, and visits from school children.

“Our chaplains and pastoral care volunteer visitors are there for people in times when they feel alone or, indeed, are alone,” John said.

“All the lonely people, where do they all belong?” – Eleanor Rigby, The Beatles Author, social researcher and commentator Hugh Mackay has long studied the subject of loneliness.

He has cited public health experts’ belief that “loneliness is a greater risk to our public health than obesity” and has suggested faith and community can help produce “a more compassionate and less anxious society”.

Back in 2013, he spoke of “RSI syndrome”, or “Reduced Social Interaction syndrome”.

Speaking to Crosslight, Hugh said he thought RSI syndrome “is increasing, and the indicator is the rise in anxiety”.

“Beyondblue has told us that two million Australians were suffering from anxiety last year; anxiety and depression are symptoms of social fragmentation, which is increasing,” Hugh said.

Hugh notes that single-person dwellings

“In the Christian faith tradition, we believe we are made in the image of God, and the image of God is relationship – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In that way, relationships enhance our humanity.”

will soon make up every third household in Australia.

“This means that the risk of social isolation, which adds to social fragmentation, is greatly increased,” he said.

Hugh points out the increasing social isolation that comes from “Drive In, Drive Out” employment, and a population that moves house “on average every six years”.

He also notes that “we have elevated ‘busyness’ to the status of a social virtue – with mobiles and texts and emails, we are never really away from work, meaning there’s less time and energy available for local neighbourhood interaction; people are stretched”.

While aged Australians face the prospect of loneliness, Hugh, perhaps surprisingly, thinks the young are at a significantly higher risk.

He has long drawn the connections between social media use by young people and increased loneliness.

“They are constantly on their own, sending and receiving messages without any ‘deeper’ connection,” Hugh said.

“When we talk face-to-face, one of the critical components of the conversation is eye contact.”

Australian neuroscientist Dr Fiona Kerr has found that the critical component for empathy is eye and skin contact.

A deeper connection between people needs all the subtleties and nuances of faceto-face communication, posture, gesture, tone of voice.

Hugh said those who began using smartphones in pre-puberty are most at risk of failing to understand what it is to have deeper personal connections.

US ‘i-Gen’ researcher Dr Jean Twenge said there was now a generation of kids who acquired smartphones before adolescence.

These ‘digital natives’ are less inclined to want to learn to drive, go to parties or start dating.

Hugh said the more we cut ourselves off from human presence the more it slowed our moral development.

“Close involvement with communities helps cultivate the skills of listening and looking out for others in crisis,” he said.

“With churches in decline, individuals are waking up to the fact they don’t know their neighbours.

“We have to reconnect, and we are realising that we have to compensate for that loss, by inviting our neighbours in for a drink, or have street parties, or informal get-togethers – rebuilding our grassroots is how we will solve this problem.

“If churches want to revitalise themselves they have to rethink the model and rediscover service to others.”

Hugh noted that local libraries were filling some of this community building role, with homework coaching, discussions groups, maternity classes, pre-natal and child playgroups, and public speaking and reading groups.

Still, he added, “the church can be a place where people can share their problems, and find ‘belonging’ with people who are warm and mutually supportive”.

According to Hugh, doctrine is less significant for many than the human embrace.

“Many young people who describe themselves as SBNR – spiritual but not religious – may be surprised to find that many Western Christians also feel that way,” he said.

“I just might have a problem that you’ll understand. We all need somebody to lean on.” – Bill Withers Hugh has previously quipped that “nothing brings us closer to despair than the relentless pursuit of our own happiness”.

“We need each other,” he said simply.

“Whether in a religious or secular context, we are talking about the ancient wisdom that was captured by Jesus and the rabbis, by Buddha and the Hindus, by the Greek philosophers, and has been re-discovered by contemporary psychologists.

“If you pursue your own happiness, a sense of fulfilment, meaning and purpose, then you will find out that stuff comes from giving, not taking.

“That means putting our faith in something greater than ourselves – God, love, the power of forgiveness, social justice – and focusing on the needs of other people. The best way to solve our own sense of loneliness is to help address the loneliness of others.

“We are hopeless in isolation. For the communities that sustain us to thrive, we need to engage with them and breathe life into them.”

Elva reckons her friends at PALS in Wangararra have the right approach to warding off loneliness.

“We support one another. If someone’s not there, we make sure that they are OK,” she said.

“We have a genuine regard and respect for one another and an interest in each other’s lives – we need more of that in this world.”

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Notices

Placements CURRENT AND PENDING PLACEMENT VACANCIES AS AT AUGUST 15, 2018 PRESBYTERY OF GIPPSLAND Lakes Entrance (0.6) (P) (C) Presbytery Minister – Mission and Resourcing (C) Trafalgar (*) Yallourn/Morwell/Newborough (*) Drouin-Bunyip Parish (*) Maffra - Heyfield (*) Presbytery Minister – Resourcing ministry Morwell – Yallourn (*) PRESBYTERY OF LODDON MALLEE Castlemaine Parish (*) Central Mallee Cooperating Parish (0.5) and Tyrrell Parish (0.5) (C)(P) Presbytery Minister – Administration (*) (C) Presbytery Minister - Generalist – Southern Region (C) Presbytery Minister – Generalist (*) PRESBYTERY OF NORTH EAST VICTORIA Presbytery Minister, Liaison and Education (C) (P) Kyabram Parish p/t (*) Seymour Parish (*) PRESBYTERY OF PORT PHILLIP EAST Chadstone – Melbourne Fijian UC (*) Chelsea, Carrum and Edithvale (C) Hampton Park (*) Mount Martha (*) Mulgrave-Monash (*) Noble Park (*) Presbytery Team Leader (*) PRESBYTERY OF PORT PHILLIP WEST Ascot Vale (0.6) (C) Essendon North (0.5 – 0.7) (P) (C) Presbytery Minister – 2 placements (P) (C) Brunswick – Children, Youth and Young Adults (*) Footscray (*) Sunshine (0.5) and Sunshine Hospital Mental Health Chaplaincy (0.5) (*)

PRESBYTERY OF TASMANIA Derwent Cluster (Glenorchy and Claremont) (0.6) (C) Hobart Cheil (0.6) (C) Hobart (Wesley) IIM (C) West Coast Patrol (*) Launceston North (*) Presbytery Minister – Mission Development (*) PRESBYTERY OF WESTERN VIC Henty Region – Surrey Cluster (P) (C) Lake Bolac Cluster (*) Presbytery Minister, Pastoral Leadership and Education (P) (C) Ararat IIM (*) Ballarat Central (*) Ballarat South (*) Horsham and District (*) PRESBYTERY OF YARRA YARRA Banyule Network – Pastoral Care and Discipleship (C) Banyule Network (*) Glen Iris Road (C) Heathmont (*) Melbourne (St Michaels) Presbytery Minister (*) Ringwood (C) Deepdene (*) Healesville/Wandin-Seville/Yarra Glen (*) NORTHERN SYNOD Nungalinya College Principal (P) (C) (C) Current - may be in conversation (*) Pending - profile expected soon.

Ministers available for placement may express interest in a particular placement.

(P) Suitable for pastor.

A lay person wishing to be considered must lodge an Expression of Interest.

Enquiries and written Expressions of Interest to: Rev Sue Withers Secretary, Placements Committee Email: placements.secretary@victas.uca. org.au

COMING EVENTS DIALOGUE WITH OTHER VOICES SEPT-NOV 2018 Heathmont Uniting Church, 89 Canterbury Rd, Heathmont During his supply ministry, Rev Dr Paul Tonson will engage with voices of other beliefs. Our guests in September will be Father Greg Reynolds, of Inclusive Catholics on Sunday, 9 Sept; Sherene Hassan, of the Islamic Museum on Sunday, 16 Sept; and Rabbi Fred Morgan, of Progressive Judaism on Sunday, 23 Sept.

Join us at 10am, including other Sundays in the month when the biblical theme of the other/the stranger will be discussed.

Paul is biblical, evangelical and progressive in presenting the Christian faith in contemporary thought forms.

For updated details, call the church on P: (03) 9729 4452.

ERHUSOUL ‘SPRING RHYTHYM’ CONCERT 2PM, SUNDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER Kensington Town Hall, 30-34 Bellair Street, Kensington.

A Father’s Day concert program by Erhusoul, a cross-border amalgamation of Chinese and Western music to promote the East-West exchange of music and to grow an awareness of and love for Chinese folk music. For more information see www.erhusoul.org.au.

RECITAL 150 - DEEPDENE UNITING CHURCH 2.30PM, SUNDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER Deepdene Uniting Church, 958 Burke Road, Deepdene.

An organ recital by international recitalist Christopher Trikilis, Director of Music at the Basilica of Our Lady of Victories Camberwell, will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the inauguration of the Deepdene Uniting Church organ, originally housed at the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind in Prahran.

MINISTRY MOVES Ray McCluskey to commence at Cranbourne on 1 January 2019

Steve Crump, commenced at Royal Melbourne Hospital chaplaincy on 9 July 2018

Paul Blacker, to commence at Banyule Network - Ministry Team Leader on 1 January 2019

Paul Goh (OD), commenced Multicultural and Crosscultural Officer South Australia 1 August 2018 Damien Tann (Lay), to commence at Kaniva – Serviceton on 1 October 2018 Richard Franklin, to commence as NEV Presbytery Minister – Administration and Strategy on 1 November 2018

Tim Matton-Johnson, Minister/ Chairperson UAICC Tasmania to retire on 31 January 2019 David Carter, Koonung Heights to retire on 30 November 2018 Chris Meneilly, Southern Mornington Peninsula to retire on 31 January 2019 CONCLUSIONS Rosemary Carter, Church of All Nations Carlton concluded on 19 August 2018

David Withers, to commence at Bacchus Marsh on 1 November 2018

Denise Liersch, The Avenue Blackburn to conclude on 28 February 2019

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BONZA BORONIA BEANIE BONANZA 10AM – 1PM, SATURDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER Boronia Road Uniting Church, 209 Boronia Road, Boronia.

There is still plenty of time to sew, knit, felt, weave or crochet a beanie. The cost is $2 per beanie, and you may enter as many times as you like. The day includes a gala exhibition and judging. Competitors and visitors can purchase yummy, cheap lunches and Devonshire teas, and browse the craft stalls. Afterwards reclaim your beanie, have it auctioned, or leave it with us to find a good home for it via our mission outlets.

Entries can be lodged at the church office on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings between 10am and noon, or on the day before 10am.

Canberra Region Presbytery: Presbytery Minister – Wellbeing

RETIREMENTS

Tony Davies, to commence as Presbytery Minister – Pastoral Care and Mission on 1 November 2018

Tupe Ioelu, to commence at Geelong (Wesley) on 1 December 2018

DEMENTIA FRIENDS SEMINAR 1.30PM, FRIDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER St John’s UC, 37 Virginia St, Mt Waverley Join us for a ‘Dementia Friends’ Seminar where a volunteer from Dementia Australia will present an illustrated session featuring speakers who are experiencing dementia.

After the presentation, please join us for a cup of tea or coffee and informal discussion.

If you wish to attend please advise Margery Kennett on P: (03) 9807 4084, or E: office@stjohnsuniting.org.au

CALLS AND APPOINTMENTS FINALISED

Scott Finlay, commenced at Beaumaris ministry on 1 August 2018

‘FREE SPIRIT’ IN CONCERT 2.30PM, SUNDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER Glen Waverley Uniting Church, cnr Kingsway & Bogong Avenue, Glen Waverley.

Join us for an afternoon of contemporary, sacred and secular music, jazz and comedy, and some vibrant toe-tapping numbers!

Afternoon tea included. Free Spirit is a choir of Glen Waverley Uniting Church, and occasionally also sings at other church services and fundraising events around Victoria. All proceeds will support Glen Waverley UC’s program and activities.

Admission: suggested donation is $25 Adult / $20 Concession.

Tickets available from the church office on P: (03) 9560 3580, or from Vida on M: 0411 246 254. Enquiries to Vida.

A call to a role offering ministry, vision and discernment as part of a ministry team of three, enabling the presbytery in our vision ‘to be a region in which congregations and faith communities’ worship vibrantly, witness authentically and serve enthusiastically the mission of God.’

Key areas of responsibility include:

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Resourcing congregations to function in healthy ways Working with congregations to discover new futures Caring for congregations facing radical change Governing efficiently – increasing innovation and accountable leadership Deeping connections – working with the wider church for mutual wellbeing

Individuals with wide-ranging Uniting Church ministry experience and skills are encouraged to apply. The applicant must hold, or be willing to hold, a WWCC number (NSW) and a WWVP card (ACT). Only applicants with the right to work in Australia may apply for this position.

For enquiries contact John Williams on M: 0419 253 915 or E: cochairJohn@cruc.org.au Applications should be sent to: Synod Associate Secretary, Rev Bronwyn Murphy on E: BronwynM@nswact.uca.org.au

Applications close by COB: Friday, 12 October 2018

CROSSLIGHT - SEPTEMBER 18

Notices MIND BODY SPIRIT SERVICE 5.30 – 7.30PM, SUNDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER North Balwyn Uniting Church, 17-21 Duggan St, Balwyn North, www.nbuc.org.au.

Speaker - Dr Peter Sherwen, formerly a GP in North Balwyn. Palliative care doctor for 20 years – now working at Caritas Christi Hospice, Epworth Hospital and for Eastern Palliative Care community service.

The topic is “Decision making at the end of life”.

To be followed by soup and a short service of reflective worship in the church.

RUSHWORTH UC’S CELEBRATION OF THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS FOUNDATION AS A METHODIST SUNDAY SCHOOL AND CHURCH 10.30AM, SUNDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER Rushworth Uniting Church, 21 Murchison Road, Rushworth A parish service will be held at the Rushworth UC at 10.30am, followed by a shared luncheon. A warm invitation is extended to those with current or former associations with the Rushworth Methodist/ Uniting Church. No need to indicate your attendance in advance. For further information contact the Waranga Uniting Churches Parish Minister, Brian Spencer on E: brianspencer@warangaunitingchurches.net. au or M: 0400 274 482.

A CELEBRATION OF TALENTS – MONTROSE UNITING CHURCH 5, 6 AND 7 OCTOBER Montrose Uniting Church, cnr Mt Dandenong & Gratten Roads, Montrose.

Members of the church and the local community are invited to exhibit and sell their work, or come and view the artworks on display. Refreshments provided. Further details available closer to the event.

HEIDELBERG DROP-IN CENTRE CELEBRATING 40 YEARS 10AM TEA FOR 11AM SERVICE, SUNDAY, 14 OCTOBER 187 Burgundy Street, Heidelberg On Thursday 11 October and a worship service on Sunday 14 October at 11am, with morning tea at 10am. All are welcome to join for one or both occasions. For invitations, email office@hei.unitingchurch.org.au.

SWELL CONFERENCE - PRESENCE 12- 14 OCTOBER A fresh expression of being ‘church’ with those who connect spiritually with the Source, and know about resting into Presence, but would not particularly want to spend time singing hymns and listening to sermons in a church. We welcome guest speaker and facilitator Rev Rod Pattenden, who explores our human calling to attend to Presence, and SWell practitioners who will create spaces for companionship, connection and cultivating Presence. Come and participate in this brilliant event. Book at www.trybooking.com/XMJU GRAND FETE - GLEN WAVERLEY UNITING CHURCH 8.30AM - 2PM, SATURDAY, 20 OCTOBER Glen Waverley Uniting Church, cnr Kingsway and Bogong Ave, Glen Waverley.

Lots of stalls, food and entertainment, trash ‘n’ treasure stall, pre-loved books and clothes, craft, cakes, plants and a silent auction. Your donations of goods for the stalls are most welcome. (Please do not bring to the church until the week of the fete). All proceeds support our church’s outreach projects.

For further information contact the church office on P: (03) 9560 3580.

SENIORS MORNING TEA AT THE HUB SUPPORTING RESEARCH INTO MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE 10AM – NOON, THURSDAY, 25 OCTOBER Glen Waverley Uniting Church, cnr Bogong Avenue and Kingsway.

Come along to The Hub and enjoy a delicious morning tea as we celebrate and thank our seniors for the help they give in our community. Bring your family and friends, all ages welcome. All donations go towards research into Motor Neurone Disease.

Info and group bookings, telephone P: (03) 9560 3580.

SERVICE OF RELEASE FOR REV CHRIS MENEILLY 10AM, SUNDAY, 28 OCTOBER Southern Mornington Peninsula UC, 6 Murray Anderson Road, Rosebud.

CLASSIFIEDS CAPE WOOLAMAI, PHILLIP ISLAND: Summerhays Cottage. Sleeps three. Tranquil garden. Stroll to beach. Discount for UCA members. www.summerhayscottage.com. au. Ring Doug or Ina, M: 0401 177 775.

HYMN BOOKS AVAILABLE: Due to closure, North Dandenong Uniting Church has hymn books available – 50 Uniting in Worship Book 1, 90 Australian Hymn Books, 30 Sing Alleluia books and 30 Scripture in Song Book 1. Postage only payable. Contact Sue Lyons on M. 0438 821 889.

LORNE: Spacious apartment, breathtaking ocean view, open fire, peaceful, secluded, affordable.

P: (03) 5289 2698.

SENIORS’ SPECIAL: Enjoy a break in luxury surroundings. Three days and three nights, dinner, bed and breakfast for $450 per couple (including GST). Jindivick Gardens. P: (03) 5628 5319.

WANTED TO BUY: Antiques, secondhand/retro furniture, bric-a-brac and collectables. Single items or whole house lots.

Genuine buyer. Contact Kevin.

P: 0408 969 920.

POSITION VACANT Synod Meeting Logistics Coordinator The Synod is seeking applications for the casual position of Synod Meeting Logistics Coordinator.

The successful applicant will be responsible for managing all aspects of the planning and implementation of the 18-monthly Synod meeting in July 2019, including budget setting and all logistical and practical arrangements.

Obtain a position description and apply online at: https://ucavictas.mercury.com.au For more information contact Clare Boyd-Macrae on (03) 9251 5210 Applications close Monday 17 September

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Assembly of Confessing Congregations (within the Uniting Church in Australia)

2018 National Conference

Living & workinG within the faith and unity of the one holy catholic and apostolic church.

Presbytery of Tasmania

Presbytery Minister – Mission Development

17 – 19 September 2018 Wesley Church Wesley Mission Pitt Street, Sydney

Expressions of interest are invited for a full-time ministry placement in Tasmania to commence 1 January 2019. This ministry placement is open to ordained ministers and lay people with suitable skills and ministry experience (Ministry of the Word or Deacon, or Ministry of Pastor).

Join a great ministry team of volunteer leaders and presbytery staff in a beautiful state and contribute your passion for mission development to the transformation of the Uniting Church in Tasmania. This role includes partnership with the new equipping Leadership for Mission (eLM) unit in the VicTas Synod as ‘Presbytery eLM Minister’ for Tasmania.

For more information including ministry role description contact the VicTas Synod Placements Secretary: placements.secretary@victas.uca.org.au or (03) 9340 8800.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE 28 SEPTEMBER 2018.

SEPTEMBER 18 - CROSSLIGHT

The ACC is a network of evangelical, reformed and orthodox congregations and members within the Uniting Church.

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Review

Faith no more

All natural

Graphic Gospel

Deep thinking

REVIEW BY NICK MATTISKE

REVIEW BY DAVID MERRITT

REVIEW BY TIM LAM

REVIEW BY NICK MATTISKE

BOOK | SEVEN TYPES OF ATHEISM | JOHN GRAY

BOOK | SEASONS AND SELF. DISCOURSES ON BEING ‘AT HOME’ IN NATURE | REX A. E. HUNT

GRAPHIC NOVEL | THE REIGN OF GOD: BOOK ONE | ISSEY FUJISHIMA

BOOK | WILD SEA: A HISTORY OF THE SOUTHERN OCEAN | JOY MCCANN

THE cover of John Gray’s Seven Types of Atheism features seven highlighted gumnuts.

Is Gray suggesting atheism is a form of nuttiness? Sort of, as even though Gray is an atheist himself, he thinks that only a minority of the wide variety of atheisms surveyed here are legitimate.

Pure atheism, according to Gray, is harder than it looks, and much atheism simply fills the god-shaped hole with other grand ideas.

Modern atheists tend to be materialists, but atheists can believe in the continuity of life after death, as spiritualists did in the 19th century.

Schopenhauer, a dour atheist Gray admires, thought the spiritual was real and the material world illusory. You can have atheist religion, such as Buddhism.

Some atheists, such as Marx, put faith in the communal aspects of humanity.

Nietzsche favoured the heroic individual and disdained the masses.

JS Mill was staid, while the Marquis de Sade’s atheism informed his libertinism.

Voltaire was money-grabbing and extravagant, Nietzsche an ascetic.

Atheism can breed tolerance or intolerance, sometimes in tandem. Gray notes the irony in secular humanists – who have inherited ideas of freedom of conscience from Christianity – wanting to ban religion. Atheism can be liberal or conservative. Although many modern atheists are liberals, the atheist capitalism of Ayn Rand is indifferent to the poor.

Gray defines atheism as simply the lack of need for a creator-god. His own version is a mix of misanthropy and shouldershrugging, which contrasts with the new atheists (whom he does not dignify with capital letters) and their blind faith in human progress.

Gray claims this is a legacy of Christianity, but many Christians share Gray’s scepticism over the purely human ability to create utopia. In this at least, Gray is closer to Christianity than he would like to think.

THE author’s introduction to this book starts with a quote from American author and philosopher Sam Keen: “Whether we continue to talk about God is not so important as whether we retain the sense of wonder which keeps us aware that ours is a holy place.”

Rex Hunt has served contemporary (progressive) Christianity well as a leader, speaker and author. This is his seventh published title.

Most of this book is a collection of addresses and sermons which show Hunt’s good communication, creative imagination and focus on the real world of people and the universe, particularly the environment on planet Earth.

Hunt’s interpretations of life are offered in the context of liturgy. The opposite of dogmatic, they are invitations to explore fresh perceptions and experiences.

The first part of the book is a valuable introduction to his focus on naturalism.

When traditional churches seem hopelessly bogged in supernatural beliefs, Hunt’s clear focus on the natural world as all there is provides a challenging alternative: He writes: “Religious naturalism, the religious orientation which is the matrix for this book, has two central aspects.

One is an appreciation of religion with a view that nature can be a focus of religious attention. The other is a naturalist view of how things happen in the world – in which the natural world is all there is, and that nothing other than natural may cause events in the world.”

The first part of the book lays out the author’s vision and perspective.

The latter section of addresses and sermons can be read selectively as particular examples of issues and questions for consideration.

Seasons and Self is a valuable resource to stimulate consideration of the nature of religion in the contemporary world.

THIS debut graphic novel from Melbourne-based artist Issey Fujishima blends Western-style comics with Japanese manga to create a fresh take on the Gospel.

The Reign of God is set in 70CE, a period of conflict and bloodshed in the Holy Land.

The Roman army has recaptured territory from Judean insurgents and Jerusalem stands as the last stronghold against Roman conquest.

A young priest named Yosef has defected to the Roman Empire, seeking to negotiate peace with the rebels. But his life changes when he meets Shimon, an old man from Galilee who claims to be a disciple of the crucified Messiah.

While The Reign of God is set in Jerusalem in 70CE, the majority of the book depicts a flashback from 40 years previously, detailing Shimon’s childhood and his encounters with John the Baptist and Jesus.

Fujishima’s hybrid art style mirrors his Japanese-German heritage.

The characters and landscapes of ancient Judea come alive through striking blackand-white ink drawings.

It is clear Fujishima has devoted plenty of research into the early Christian church and strives for historical authenticity.

The Jesus depicted in The Reign of God has dark skin and wears a simple tunic, a stark contrast to the traditionally Eurocentric representations of a white Messiah in flowing robes.

An appendix of maps and historical notes offers an insight into the background of the Holy Land during Jesus’ time.

The first century was a particularly brutal period of oppression for Jerusalem and The Reign of God does not shy away from depicting Rome’s violent persecution of rebels.

The grim and mature content means this is not a kid-friendly graphic novel, but teenagers and young adults will enjoy this exciting retelling of the Gospel story.

WE Australians are beach lovers. But in winter there is a stark difference between our idyllic, northern, Pacific beaches and the southern coastline pounded by icy waters travelling unhindered from Antarctica.

The Southern Ocean is an example of humans attempting to impose structure on the natural world. It shares literally fluid boundaries with the other oceans, but there is some delineation via the temperatures, the presence of icebergs and the distribution of animals attuned to niche environments. It is inhospitable to humans but rich in other life.

For a long time it was thought not to exist. Europeans proposed a Great Southern Land to balance the continents in the north. Captain Cook, one of the first Europeans to extensively steer through and chart the half-frozen waters – and commissioned to claim the land for Britain – found lots of ocean instead.

In the 1950s, pioneering environmentalist Rachel Carson wrote that the oceans were “inviolable”, so big that they were eternally wild, but the ecologically ruinous touch of humans reaches even to their depths. In the 20th century two million whales were slaughtered in the Southern Ocean. If that wasn’t bad enough, in the 1970s the Soviets started harvesting krill, the biggest biomass on the planet and an exclusive food source for whales.

The ecosystem is easily upset. Humandriven warming is causing Antarctic ice melt, potentially raising sea levels.

The melting also reduces the numbers of microorganisms that rely on the ice for shelter, in turn reducing their ability to soak up carbon dioxide, further contributing to warming.

Although in previous decades the Southern Ocean was seen as a vast resource, we now understand its vulnerability. People are impacting it. We must understand that our own health is dependent on the health of this wild ocean.

Available from Allen Lane https://www.penguin.com.au/books/seventypes-of-atheism-9780241199411 RRP $45

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Rev David Merritt is secretary of the Progressive Christian Network of Victoria.

Available from Coventry Press, http://www.coventrypress.com.au RRP $34.95.

Available from http://www.thereignofgod.com/home/buy/ RRP: $17.95 (paperback), $8.99 (iBook and Kindle).

Available from https://www.newsouthbooks. com.au/books/wild-sea/ RRP: $32.99

CROSSLIGHT - SEPTEMBER 18

Social media round-up

Most read online story: Freedom to decide on marriage

Facebook: Kids Talk at Trinity Brighton Uniting Church

Instagram: Art exhibition at Kinross

Facebook: NextGen youth visit Berwick Uniting Church

Subscribe to the NewsBot by following these three steps: In this month’s social media wrap, NextGen youth share lessons from their Korean trip with Berwick Uniting Church members, Kinross Arts Centre hosts a new art exhibition and children at Trinity Uniting Church explore the Gospel using Duplo.

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The winner of the 2018 SparkLit Australian Christian Book of the Year https://crosslight.org.au/2018/08/20/bible-history-down-under-claims-bookprize/ A new role for Uniting Church Past President Stuart McMillan https://crosslight.org.au/2018/08/01/new-role-for-stuart-mcmillan/

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Time to shine

Reflecting two lives of faithful service KEITH FAGG

THE enduring love story and dedicated Christian service of Bert and Ruth Fagg has inspired a vibrant new artwork adorning Wesley Church in Geelong.

Commissioned by the Fagg family, the work is part of a bequest from Bert Fagg, who died in 2015, in memory of his beloved wife of 70 years, Ruth who passed away in 2016.

Their family considered the artwork to be a fitting legacy in memory of both parents for their long, faithful and active service to Wesley. The piece, created by local artist Jill Shalless and glassmaker David Hobday, was unveiled and dedicated on 27 May. “Given Ruth and Bert’s love of the outdoors and gardening, this design has emerged as a contemporary landscape,” Ms Shalless said.

“Across the colours, light, texture and movement in the glass, there are quiet places, delicate shifts in hue creating glances of sunrise and sunset imbuing their nurturing, gentle spirit.

“Joyful bursts of vibrant colour dance over the surfaces, bringing to mind their optimistic, energetic, radiant spirit.”

SEPTEMBER 18 - CROSSLIGHT

Bert was a member of Wesley Church since his birth in 1917 and Ruth a member since their marriage in 1945.

Both were active in many areas of church life.

They both loved their church and were faithful witnesses in numerous and diverse ways.

Bert was very active in the Tennis Club, Men’s Club, Property and Planned Giving Committee, and as a church steward for decades.

He applied his practical woodworking and engineering skills to many tasks and projects around the church complex. Bert was the quintessential ‘quiet achiever’.

Ruth was a Sunday school and Bible class teacher and for many years led the Pastoral Care Committee.

She was a foundation and lifelong member of the Women’s Evening Fellowship.

With her lovely soprano voice, she sang in the choir for seventy years and often performed solos.

Ruth also initiated the “Over 50s Fitness Class” which has been running for over 30 years.

Every Sunday morning Ruth would stand just inside the front door warmly welcoming people to worship.

Keith, Roz, Marion, Peter and Barry - children of Bert and Ruth Fagg - with the glass artwork.

She saw hospitality as a way she could live out her faith and continued welcoming people right until she was physically unable to do so.

The artwork is located near to where she would stand.

Mr Hobday said that to create “Jill’s beautiful design” each tile in the artwork was painstakingly made of two layers of glass – a white background layer to reflect

light and a clear coloured top layer.

“Each tile went into the kiln at least three times with the tree taking five firings before it was right,” he said.

“An aluminium bracket is glued to the back of each tile that fits into a similar cleat of the wall frame, so that supported by an invisible frame it appears to ‘float’ off the wall.”

Wesley Church welcomes you to view this colourful and impressive artwork.

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Synod Snaps

“ WE A RE MA K I NG PH OTOGRA PH S TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR LIVES MEAN TO US.” —Ralph Hattersley

Installation outside St John’s Uniting Church in Elsternwick to remember refugees and asylum seekers who have died in Australia’s offshore detention centres.

Madeleine Edwards leads Year 6 Wesley College students as they practise the Uniting Church’s consensus decision-making model.

Yarra Yarra Presbytery Chairperson Rev Ross Pearce, Rev Liz McMillan and Rev Ray Gormann at Highfield Road Uniting Church for the induction of Ms McMillan as the new presbytery minister.

Noel McBean, Cathy McGilp and Margaret Duncan enjoy high tea at Highfield Road Uniting Church. The event honoured members celebrating their 90th birthday this year.

Doris Waddell celebrated her 100th birthday with the North Essendon congregation.

Last month, Crosslight reported on the Tongan royal family’s Melbourne reception with former missionaries.

Here is the official group photo from the visit.