Rev. Cathy

It is the final Sunday of Easter, and Rev Cathy reflects on how Christ may not physically be with us but he is with us in a new way. Christ's light shines in the darkness, as Paul and Silas experienced in the pain and dark of prison. Christ's light shines on us, and if we allow it, through us.

This week Rev. Mandy reflects on John 13:31-35 and Jesus's well known commandment to love.  But how do we love like Jesus - it's a big call!  The only way we can love like Jesus is empowered by his spirit and filled with his love.Our love is what marks us as Christians and it is our witness to the world that we are Jesus's disciples.  Our unity in love  is one of Jesus's deepest desires and it forms such a big part of his final message to his disciples.So, let us be followers of Jesus who love one another like Jesus loves us, so we can witness his love to the world.

This week in Couch Church, Rev. Cathy explores the idea of God as a quilt maker, joining together and reshaping lives in intricate and amazing ways. The story in Acts of Paul and Lydia is a perfect example of God the quilt maker at work.

This week in Couch Church Rev. Cathy reflects on the story of an ordinary disciple, Tabitha, reminding us of how God loves to call ordinary people to transform lives, not necessarily in big ways, but one person at a time. And that means God calls us!

This week in Couch Church we celebrate Easter. Christ is risen, he is risen indeed! It's a story filled with mystery, so join Rev. Cathy as together we explore the mystery of God...and an Easter egg! (This reflection uses some material from the Godly Play story 'The Mystery of Easter'.)

This week Rev. Mandy reflects on John 12:1-8, the story of Mary of Bethany anointing Jesus's feet.  Mary is often held up as a disciple we should emulate because of her deep devotion to Jesus.  But in truth Mary was also a non-conformist and radical rule breaker.  She broke stereotypes and challenged the social conventions of the day.  Mary's example challenges us to worship and adore Jesus like she did: extravagently, not counting the cost and unconcerned by what others might think or say about us. 

This week in Couch Church Rev Cathy wonders who is sharing the stories of Jesus, especially with children. Spoiler alert: it is happening and there is hope!

This week Rev. Mandy reflects on Isaiah 55:1-9 as we hear God's invitation to draw near to him and listen.  God is always calling us back to him, to return to him and receive his love and forgiveness in our hearts, our minds and our very souls.  As we hear and respond to God's invitation to come and feast on him, we drink from his waters of life and eat of the bread of heaven and we are satisfied.

This week in Couch Church Rev Cathy shares her reflection for Ash Wednesday, as we begin the season of Lent.

This week in Couch Church Rev Cathy explores the power of choosing through the story of the choice of Matthias as an apostle, and Jesus's command to us to choose to love one another. 

This week Rev. Mandy reflects on Luke's sermon on the plain (Luke 6:17-26).  Jesus has some shocking things to say about what it means to be blessed in the kingdom of God.  He takes the personal aspirations of many people - to be financially comfortable, food to eat and to have happiness and say Woe to you.  Jesus is not calling us to be a bunch of miserable people but to look beyond our selves and to be aware of the pain of others and to respond to it with compassion and love. 

This week in Couch Church Rev Cathy reflects on a simple but powerful conversation that happens in the middle of the story of the 'fishers of people'; a conversation between Simon Peter and Luke. We discover that even in our brokenness, Jesus calls us to follow and serve him.

This week Rev. Mandy reflects on Paul's first letter to the Corinthian church and his famous discourse on love.It is a core need of the human heart to love and to be loved.  Our loving and living God summons us to love and this is a big calling.  The good news is that God also equips us to love by the Holy Spirit.  Our capacity and ability to love the way we are called to comes from the never ending wellspring of the Spirit of Love who resides in us. 

This week it is Australia Day, a day which can be divisive, in a world where anger often trumps kindness and love. Rev Cathy reflects on God's call for us to be self-sacrificial and Christlike, setting aside bitterness and anger, and choosing kindness and love for all.

This week Rev. Mandy reflects on John 2:1-11 - the first of Jesus's signs - the miracle of water changed into wine.  Let's go on a short journey together as we unpack why there is so more to this story, than the fact Jesus turning up to a wedding one day in Cana and saved the day when they run out of wine.

This week Rev. Mandy reflects on The Baptism of Jesus, taking a wide angle view of God's self-revelation.Reflecting on Psalm 29, Luke 3:15-22 & Acts 8:14.17, we discover that  God speaks, through nature, through Jesus and through the Holy Spirit.  Our God is not silent, he is always revealing and communicating with his creation and to us.  

This week Rev. Mandy reflects on John 1:1-18 and the rich truths found there that Jesus is God.  Despite Jesus coming into the world he created, many did not recognise him or welcome him.  Even today, we too can fail to see Jesus at work in our midst and recognise his presence among us.Rev. Mandy challenges us all this year, to slow down and to be attentive to Jesus's presence in the everyday moments of life.  Jesus is right here, in this moment - in the now.  It is only when slow down and stop that we are open to recognise and be suprised by what God is going among us.

This week Rev. Mandy reflects on Malachi 3:1-4 and Luke 3:1-6 and the role of repentance in preparing our hearts and lives for God.The Christian story is one of new beginnings and new hope.  Repentance is the transformational work that brings change.  As we practice confession and repentance we participate in God's forgiveness. God's forgiveness has the power to transforms us and make things right, both in us and in the world.  As God's transformed people, we are his agents of peace, hope and reconciliation in the world.

On the feast of Christ the King, Rev. Mandy reflects on the nature of Jesus as King and his kingdom.  Jesus is king over all things and exalted because of his death on the cross.  Jesus's kingdom is not a place but made up of people who belong to the truth and listen to him.  The Holy Spirit testifies to our spirit the truth about Jesus.  Jesus is always speaking truth - truth about us,  the truth about our lives, and the truth about God.  

This week in Couch Church Rev Cathy dives into the story of Hannah. We discover that Hannah is more than simply a woman who was sad because she had no child. Hannah is a woman of prayer - determined, fierce prayer!

This week in Couch Church, Rev. Cathy continues sharing the story of Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi. And this week we discover, with Naomi, that God is present, even in times when we don't realise God is there. God is present in times when things are hard, and when we have to make difficult choices.

This week in Couch Church Rev Cathy shares the first part of the story of Ruth. It's a fascinating little story - a story of deep, self-sacrificial love. (Part 2 next week!)

This week Rev. Mandy reflects on Mark 10:35-45 and discipleship. God's kingdom is not about earthly power and glory - glory comes through suffering and through the cross.   Jesus calls his disciples not to chase glory and to use their power for the benefit others not over them.  

This week in Couch Church, Cathy reflects on the story of Job and how it tackles two big questions about human existence: 'Why do bad things happen to good people?' and 'Where is God in all of this?'

This week Rev. Mandy reflections on James 3 and the power of our tongue. We can use our words to build others up or tear them down.  The tongue is a litmus test for the true state of our hearts.  When we are under pressure, we truly find out what is in our hearts.  The good news for the human heart is that God's forgiveness has the power to heal us from the effects of words which have wounded us.  

This week in Couch Church, Rev Cathy revisits the passage from Ephesians where St Paul encourages us to put on the armour of God. This image of armour has become twisted and misused over time, so we go back to what St Paul was really saying.

This week, in our final sermon of our series 'What's in the liturgy and why is it there?', Rev's Cathy and Mandy reflect on the importance and power of music in our liturgy.  

The Ballina Threshold Choir sings for people at the end of life, for those in pain and for their loved ones and carers. Here is a bit of their story, and a sample of their gentle songs. 

Join Rev's Mandy and Cathy this week as they explore Communion, and in particular the Anglican teaching on what happens to the bread and wine in Communion. 

Join Cathy and Mandy in Couch Church this week as they get up close and personal with our Anglican liturgy!

This week in Couch Church we explore Anglican liturgy. What IS Anglican liturgy? Join Rev Cathy as she explores this!

This week Rev. Mandy reflects on Mark 6:1-13 and hometown visits.  Sometimes it is the ones closest to us that are the hardest to reach.  It can take an outsider to share the good news of Jesus with our loved ones.  Be encouraged to keep praying for your friends and family who might have walked away from the faith or no longer believe.  I'm a testimony that those prayers work!

This week we begin our sermon series 'What's in the liturgy and why is it there?' We begin by exploring what liturgy is and how it can help us connect more deeply with God.

This week in Couch Church Rev Cathy wrestles with horror stories in scripture, through one particular story we find in 2 Samuel. 

Rev Cathy reflects on the story of Jesus and the disciples caught in a wild storm on Lake Galilee. What can this teach us about how we deal with the storms of life? 

This week Rev. Mandy reflects on 2 Corinthians.  Paul encourages the Corinthians not to lose heart or give up when things are a struggle but to hold to the truth we are new creations in Christ.  We are being transformed to be new creations and to bring new creation reality to the world around us.

This week in Couch Church Rev Cathy reflects on the story of young Samuel, who listened to the voice of God. Are we ready to listen? Because God has something to tell us that will make our ears tingle!

Rev. Cathy reflects on what the disciples did after Jesus was no longer physically present with them. Did they follow his instruction to wait for the Holy Spirit? What happened next, in this sequel to the Gospel of Luke?

This week Rev, Mandy reflects on John 16.16-24 and the importance of turning to Jesus first in every situation.  We can do this as believers only through Jesus, his death and resurrection made it possible for us to access God without a mediator and as his beloved children.

This week Rev. Many reflections on 1 John 3:2 and the importance of our identity as believers.  As we grow in our identiy and love, we become more and more like Jesus.  Our adoption into God's family matters, and as we live out our true identity as believers we are faithful witnesses to the Resurrected Jesus. 

This week, Rev. Mandy reflects on the resurrection of Jesus and explores our Christian hope.  

This week in Couch Church, Rev Cathy reflects on unexpected saviours.

In the Prophet Jeremiah, God makes a new promise, a new covenant. This week Rev. Cathy asks 'Does this mean  that God's old promises no longer apply?' A parable about an elephant helps us to explore this tricky question.

This week in Called By God, the Rev'd Judy Edwards shares her story of being called by God to ordained ministry. Called By God is produced in the Diocese of Grafton as part of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the ordination of women in the Diocese.

This week Rev. Mandy reflects on Numbers 21:4-9 and John 3:14-21 and discovers that the true one-of-a-kind Son of God, Jesus, loves the whole world!  If this is not the Jesus you know, listen in to hear the Good News of the true one-of-a-kind Son of God!

For the third Sunday of Lent, Rev Cathy revisits the 10 Commandments and invites us check in on how well we are living God's 'Ten Best Ways'.

This week Rev. Mandy reflects on Mark 8:31-38 and contemplates on what it means to follow Jesus and what taking up your cross and denying yourself looks like.  As we journey with Jesus through Lent, it is an opportunity to see how Jesus might be inviting us reimagine life, get behind him and follow and live in a new way. 

This week in Couch Church, Cathy reflects on listening to the story of Noah and the flood with grown-up ears, and hearing God's promise of compassion.

This week Rev Mandy reflects on the Transfiguration from the point of view of the disciples.  The disciples didn't get what went down on the mountain top that day.  It took a lot of prayer, time, questioning and pondering for them to fully understand what they had seen - the true Jesus, the eternal Son and the Messianic Son.   

This week Rev Mandy reflects on Mark 1:29-39, the importance of prayer and the healing ministry of Jesus.  Jesus took time to pray and made it a priority.  Jesus also comes to bring healing and wholeness to our whole person.  Where might Jesus be inviting you to say Yes to receive the fullness of the gospel?

This week Rev. Mandy reflects on Psalm 111 and 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 and explores the difference between knowledge and wisdom.  Knowledge doesn't automatically equal wisdom.  Knowledge used unwisely can lead to harm.  A heart transformed by love is the key to wisdom and walking in the fear of the Lord.