A time for Transformation
A letter from Circle Advocate Rev. Alex SangsterHey Transforming Worship crew,I write to you all from Melbourne. I write to you from a city ‘ringed in steel’. Where we rally ourselves, […]
Connecting Families
Connecting Familes, Nurturing FaithConnecting Families, Nurturing Faith’ is a resource for ministry leaders to encourage discipleship across households. It includes a step by step process, a checklist, ideas to share with families and information about four recommended resources.This is not another discipleship resource but rather a tool to assist ministry leaders to choose a resource, to […]
Called to be a Church for all
Called to be a Church for all The Transforming Worship Circle has created a liturgy that acknowledges both the experiences of exclusion and embrace for people with disabilities. Titled, Called to be a Church for All, the liturgy is the result of the 15th Assembly’s commitment to justice and inclusion regarding people with disabilities. A task group led […]
Called to be a Church for All
Rev. (Deacon) Andy Calder, Disability Inclusion Advocate, VIC/TAS Synod, offers this introduction and background. When preparing worship services, how much consideration is given to who will be there? Will all people find the liturgy accessible? What forms of communication are used? These are some of the questions which have been raised by people with disabilities, […]
Statement of Access and Welcome
Below is the Rationale for the Proposal – Disability Access Guidelines, adopted by the Assembly. In the Gift of Being – Called to be a Church of All and for All, a powerful image is Paul’s message to the Ephesians that Christ has come to tear down the walls that separate us (Eph.2:14). Divisions between “us” and “them” […]
Welcoming the Alien
By Rev. Lindsay Cullen, Assembly National Consultant and Sci-Fi aficionado Sci-Fi Church Sydney is a “Fresh Expression” designed to create a community space for people who love Sci-Fi and want to discuss the themes and ideas they find in Sci-Fi books, TV shows and movies, and the ways they intersect with spirituality and the Christian […]
Breaking the Silence
By Rev. Sandy Boyce, Deacon, Pilgrim Uniting Church, SA Break the Silence Sunday (BTSS) is an initiative that began in the United States, with a specific focus on sexual assault and rape. The SA Presbytery and Synod agreed in February 2019 to adopt the global day for BTSS, the fourth Sunday in April. BTSS aims […]
“Love that works no ill”
Rev. Radhika Sukumar-White reflects on how a joyful celebration of the resurrection quickly turned to a day of grieving for the hundreds killed in the Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka. She helped organised two vigil services in Sydney, which drew large numbers of people from all backgrounds. On Easter Sunday morning, my congregation in […]
Hello Companions on the Way!
One of my favorites all time worship inspirations passed away earlier this year. Her name was Mary Oliver. Of her many, many great works was this little gem, which, in a way, captures the heart of what worship can be…. “Instructions for living a life. Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” As folk involved […]