Podcasts about uniting church

Felicity Leitch talks to Lucy and Richard King from Slow Dough about their unlikely journey to the manse of the Uniting Church in Kiama. 

LIVE: Is Christianity Still Good News? (Panel Discussion from 2023)Originally recorded June 2023In this timely replay from our archives, we revisit a powerful live panel discussion that feels more relevant than ever. As we navigate 2025's challenging landscape of rising Christian nationalism and global uncertainty, four thoughtful voices offer alternative perspectives on Christianity's role and relevance today.Featured Panelists:Gregg MorrisSally DouglasWill NicholasCarlynne NunnKey Topics Explored:Woman wisdom and Jesus as the feminine divineThe 'cultural tale' we carry with usUsing sci-fi and storytelling to explore theological questionsFinding good news in failure, disappointment and ordinary momentsEpisode Highlights:Beautiful alternatives to dominant Christian narrativesFresh perspectives on what "good news" means todayThoughtful engagement with contemporary challengesHope-filled possibilities for faith in uncertain timesImportant Update: Spiritual Misfits is now being supported by the Sydney Central Coast Presbytery of the Uniting Church. For those who support the podcast or wish to begin supporting, please note our new bank account details are available at spiritualmisfits.com.au under the 'Support Us' tab.Want to reach out and let us know your thoughts or suggestions for the show? Send us a message here; we'd love to hear from you.The Spiritual Misfits Survival Guide (FREE): https://www.spiritualmisfits.com.au/survivalguideSign up to our mailing list:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/Join our online Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spiritualmisfitspodcastSupport the pod:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/support-us/View all episodes at: https://spiritualmisfits.buzzsprout.com

M: 6.5. E: 7.

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - Luke 6:27-38 - Love your enemies be compassionate Mikali (they/them) is a candidate for ministry in the NSW/ACT Synod of the Uniting Church. They write for the sacred arts collective Marion St, which creates worship music centring voices from the margins of the church. As a trans-femme non-binary person, Mikali is passionate about inclusive spiritual community and worship music that reflects lived experience. Mikali lives on Dharug and Gundungurra Country, where they love growing food and river swimming.

Acknowledgement of Country Headlines Today's program included several interviews with distressing themes. If you need to speak with someone for free and confidential support, you can call:Lifeline (national, 24/7): 13 11 14Suicide Callback Service (national, 24/7): 1300 659 467QLife (national, 3PM-midnight): 1800 184 527Rainbow Door (Victoria, 10AM-5PM): 1800 729 367 1800RESPECT, the National Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Counselling Service (national, 24/7): 1800 737 732 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners can also call:13YARN (national, 24/7): 13 92 76Yarning SafeNStrong (Victoria, 24/7): 1800 959 563 Content warning: this interview covers topics including forcible child removal, racism and sexual violence. Bev Burns, a spokesperson for the Land Back for Stolen Generations campaign, caught up with Priya earlier this week to unpack the fight to restore the site of Sister Kate's in Boorloo/Perth on Whadjuk Noongar land to Noongar community control. Bev took us through the history of Sister Kate's, a site of significant abuse and lasting trauma for Stolen Generations who were impacted by its operation under the Uniting Church, its transformation into the Aboriginal community-run Beananing Kwuurt Institute, and the Uniting Church's announcement last year that it planned to close the site and evict the BKI, bringing an end to the vital community and cultural connection, healing and services that it has provided to the local Aboriginal community. The campaign, led by Noongar women, is calling for the land to be handed back to Noongar people for the benefit of all Aboriginal people, including Stolen Generations survivors. Their occupation of the site which began on December 13th 2024 is still going strong. Support the Land Back for Stolen Generations campaign  by signing the petition here, and donating to cover essential costs via the details below. Name: Return Sister KatesBSB: 062 948Account Number: 3917 9786 Keep up to date with the campaign by following @landbackforstolengenerations on Instagram. We replay an excerpt of an interview from this week's Tuesday Hometime program where Jan Bartlett spoke to one of the three organisers of the Merchants of Death war crimes tribunal, Brad Wolf. Brad speaks about the years of work to bring the tribunal, which investigated US weapons manufacturers in relation to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, to fruition and its recommendations. To find out more about the tribunal's work and verdict, head to merchantsofdeath.org. Don't forget to tune in to Tuesday Hometime, 4-6PM every Tuesday on 3CR 855AM. Content warning: this conversation touches on themes of police violence, sexual violence, racism, queerphobia, and whorephobia. Damien Nguyen, a first-generation Vietnamese migrant sex worker and member of the Asian Migrant Sex Worker Advisory Group and Pride in Protest, joined us to talk about the impact of racial and gender profiling by so-called Australia's carceral border regime on migrants working in the sex industry. This conversation also included a discussion about the recent statement released by Pride in Protest in solidarity with trans women incarcerated at the Villawood detention centre, where detention centre workers are currently undertaking industrial action over a contract dispute - read it here. Scarlet Alliance have published translated resources on their site for Asian migrant sex workers who have experienced Border Force profiling and visa exploitation - you can find this information here. Content warning: this conversation includes discussion of transphobia. Dr Damien Riggs, a Professor in the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work at Flinders University, speaks with us about the recently announced federal review into the Australian Standards of Care and Treatment Guidelines for Trans and Gender Diverse Children and Adolescents in Australia. Auspath, Transcend and LGBTIQ+ Australia have created a factsheet addressing both the federal review and the Queensland government's decision to block access to puberty blockers for trans youth in the state, which you can find here. Support the national day of action to protect trans youth by joining a rally this Saturday the 8th of February. In Naarm/Melbourne, the rally will be held at 10AM at the State Library on Swanston Street.  Image credit: Matt Hrkac, 2024. Support Matt's excellent frontline photojournalism here.

Acknowledgement of Country Headlines Today's program included several interviews with distressing themes. If you need to speak with someone for free and confidential support, you can call:Lifeline (national, 24/7): 13 11 14Suicide Callback Service (national, 24/7): 1300 659 467QLife (national, 3PM-midnight): 1800 184 527Rainbow Door (Victoria, 10AM-5PM): 1800 729 367 1800RESPECT, the National Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Counselling Service (national, 24/7): 1800 737 732 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners can also call:13YARN (national, 24/7): 13 92 76Yarning SafeNStrong (Victoria, 24/7): 1800 959 563 Content warning: this interview covers topics including forcible child removal, racism and sexual violence. Bev Burns, a spokesperson for the Land Back for Stolen Generations campaign, caught up with Priya earlier this week to unpack the fight to restore the site of Sister Kate's in Boorloo/Perth on Whadjuk Noongar land to Noongar community control. Bev took us through the history of Sister Kate's, a site of significant abuse and lasting trauma for Stolen Generations who were impacted by its operation under the Uniting Church, its transformation into the Aboriginal community-run Beananing Kwuurt Institute, and the Uniting Church's announcement last year that it planned to close the site and evict the BKI, bringing an end to the vital community and cultural connection, healing and services that it has provided to the local Aboriginal community. The campaign, led by Noongar women, is calling for the land to be handed back to Noongar people for the benefit of all Aboriginal people, including Stolen Generations survivors. Their occupation of the site which began on December 13th 2024 is still going strong. Support the Land Back for Stolen Generations campaign  by signing the petition here, and donating to cover essential costs via the details below. Name: Return Sister KatesBSB: 062 948Account Number: 3917 9786 Keep up to date with the campaign by following @landbackforstolengenerations on Instagram. We replay an excerpt of an interview from this week's Tuesday Hometime program where Jan Bartlett spoke to one of the three organisers of the Merchants of Death war crimes tribunal, Brad Wolf. Brad speaks about the years of work to bring the tribunal, which investigated US weapons manufacturers in relation to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, to fruition and its recommendations. To find out more about the tribunal's work and verdict, head to merchantsofdeath.org. Don't forget to tune in to Tuesday Hometime, 4-6PM every Tuesday on 3CR 855AM. Content warning: this conversation touches on themes of police violence, sexual violence, racism, queerphobia, and whorephobia. Damien Nguyen, a first-generation Vietnamese migrant sex worker and member of the Asian Migrant Sex Worker Advisory Group and Pride in Protest, joined us to talk about the impact of racial and gender profiling by so-called Australia's carceral border regime on migrants working in the sex industry. This conversation also included a discussion about the recent statement released by Pride in Protest in solidarity with trans women incarcerated at the Villawood detention centre, where detention centre workers are currently undertaking industrial action over a contract dispute - read it here. Scarlet Alliance have published translated resources on their site for Asian migrant sex workers who have experienced Border Force profiling and visa exploitation - you can find this information here. Content warning: this conversation includes discussion of transphobia. Dr Damien Riggs, a Professor in the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work at Flinders University, speaks with us about the recently announced federal review into the Australian Standards of Care and Treatment Guidelines for Trans and Gender Diverse Children and Adolescents in Australia. Auspath, Transcend and LGBTIQ+ Australia have created a factsheet addressing both the federal review and the Queensland government's decision to block access to puberty blockers for trans youth in the state, which you can find here. Support the national day of action to protect trans youth by joining a rally this Saturday the 8th of February. In Naarm/Melbourne, the rally will be held at 10AM at the State Library on Swanston Street.  Image credit: Matt Hrkac, 2024. Support Matt's excellent frontline photojournalism here.

  3CR would like to acknowledge the Kulin Nation – true owners, caretakers and custodians of the land from which we broadcast. 3CR pays respect to Elders, past and present of the Kulin Nation. We recognise their unceded sovereignty.//News headlines//Tamala Shelton// Next up is a recording from a fundraiser held in December 2024 which was organised by the wonderful Ibi. The event raised money for Sisters Inside as well as mutual aid initiatives for people in Sudan and Palestine. In the following outtake you will hear the voice of proud Bundjalung and Lama-lama woman Tamala Shelton. Tamala is an actor, singer and author of the two spoken word pieces we are about to play. The first piece was written by Tamala to commemorate NAIDOC week last year, answering the call to keep the fire burning.The second piece is personal confrontation with the atrocities of genocide on social media as well as a call to action, in the name of justice for the Palestinian people. You can donate directly to Sisters Inside here, Bakri's (@bakri2) fundraiser for Sudan here, and Ibrahim's (@ibrahim_palestine20) fundraiser for Gaza here.//Yousef Alreemawi//Yousef Alreemawi is a musician, translator, educator and the founder of 3CRs much loved show ‘Palestine Remembered'. He is also the current director of Averroes Centre, a not-for-profit organisation that aims to promote knowledge about Arab culture in Australia. On Tuesday, Yousef joined me to talk about his exciting new project - a 12 week Arabic language course, hosted at Black Spark cultural centre. Instead of creating a standard course and then seeking out participants, Yousef will host a public gathering aimed at understanding the communities unique needs and interests for learning the Arabic language. You can register to attend the public meeting...which will be held at Black Spark on February 11th at 6pm...by emailing Yousef Alreemawi at “y.reemawi@gmail.com” to express your interest.//Sophie - Melbourne Activist Legal Support (MALS)// Joins us to unpack the service's Legal Observer Team Report on the policing of the Disrupt Land Forces protests, which was published on Monday this week. The report covers legal and human rights concerns about police conduct at and media reporting on protest actions undertaken to disrupt the Land Forces Exposition, so-called Australia's largest defence industry event, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 11-13 September 2024. You can read the full report here. If you are interested in participating in legal observer training or otherwise supporting MALS' vital work, you can visit their website here.//Invasion Day Rally Speeches// We'll listen back to speeches from Invasion Day rallies around the country, including by Guyala Bayles and Ruby Wharton in Magan-djin/brisbane, and Roxy Moore in Boorloo/perth. Roxy's speech focuses on the Land Back for Stolen Generations campaign being waged by Noongar women calling for the Uniting Church to hand back Whadjuk Noongar land that was stolen to establish Sister Kate's mission (support their campaign by signing the petition here). Our thanks to Anna Carlson at 4ZZZ for sharing the recordings of Guyala and Ruby's speeches, and to the Land Back for Stolen Generations crew for sharing Roxy's speech//.

Just a warning that today's episode includes (non-descriptive) mentions of the physical and sexual abuse of children as well as mentions of historically used racist language.This week, we're looking at a campaign for the return of stolen Whadjuk Noongar land, in the colonial city of perth, western australia.One of the most brutal genocidal strategies carried out by colonial governments resulted in the stolen generations. From the mid 1800s, a series of policies throughout the states and territories allowed for Aboriginal children to be removed from their families and put into state care or adopted to white families. Aside from being separated permanently from family and community, these children were frequently forced into hard labour, abused and even murdered. The policy of child removal was not officially ended until the 1970's, and continued into the 1980's in the colonial state of queensland. The forced removal of Aboriginal children from their families continues today through policing and carceral racism.Under a 1905 act in colonial western australia, A.O Neville, the so-called ‘chief protector of aborigines' was made the legal guardian of all Aboriginal children and embarked on a campaign to abduct children with lighter skin and raise them under European servitude, with the aim to breed out Aboriginality.In 1933, during Neville's eugenics program, an anglican nun known as Sister Kate set up a home for ‘light skinned' Aboriginal children in the outskirts of colonial perth. Contact with family was forbidden and the children were encouraged to believe they were white.In 1953 Sister Kate's home was taken over by the Uniting Church and conditions rapidly deteriorated for the children, who suffered horrific psychological, physical and sexual abuse, forced labour and neglect for decades.Following a national inquiry into the stolen generations in 1997, known as the ‘Bringing Them Home' report, the Uniting Church committed to help repair the damage that they had caused to the children and their families. Recommendation 41 of the Bringing Them Home Report states that churches should ‘review their land holdings to identify land acquired or granted for the purpose of accommodating Indigenous children forcibly removed from their families and in consultation with Indigenous people and their land councils, return that land'In 2007 an agreement between the Uniting Church Australia and the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress led to the establishment of the Beananging Kwuurt Institute, a social space to provide support for Aboriginal people on the former site of Sister Kate's.In December last year the Uniting Church shut down the centre and are attempting to take the land away from Noongar people again. Barkandji woman Bev Burns believes the church will sell the site to developers in order to pay the redress bill for past abuse.Bev was asked by the Noongar elders to speak for this interview, as some of them have faced threats and wish to remain anonymous.If you want to learn more about the Occupy Sister Kate's campaign: You can follow Land Back for Stolen Generations on Instagram. You can also go to actionnetwork.org/petitions/uniting-church-must-return-land-back-for-stolen-generations to sign the petitionYou can donate at BSB 062 948 and Account number 39179787.This episode was made on Wurundjeri land, this land was invaded, stolen and remains under occupation. Colonial violence continues, as does Indigenous resistance.The Sunday Paper and Podcast remain independent, not for profit and reader and listener supported.Our theme music was made by DOBBY.Matt Chun is our executive producer.The podcast is compiled, mixed and edited by Mell Chun. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesundaypaperpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

It's our 50th episode of the Reimagine Childhood podcast! Thanks for making it this far with us. We hope it's been beneficial to you and those you are tending to. Today, I am going solo and diving into a topic that I am very passionate about–the importance of building strong partnerships between church weekday ministries and the overall church community.  More than likely, your weekday program is serving both church members and non-church members, which means you have a prime opportunity to reach families who may not regularly attend church. I have found that many young families today prioritize activities, hobbies, and community outside of traditional church attendance and I firmly believe weekday ministries can be a vital link to connect these families with the church. Today we will discuss the importance of weekday ministries being deeply integrated into the mission and work of the church, rather than feeling like separate, disconnected programs. We will talk through not only why this is important, but also how you can go about creating a unified culture with your weekday and weekend ministries. I can't wait for you to tune in.   HERE is a link to a list of ideas for connecting the families in your weekday ministry with your church family. Need more resources? Check out the Resources Page on our website! As always, we would love to connect with you on Instagram and on Facebook

The Epiphany of the Lord - Matthew 2:1-12 Rev. Radhika Sukumar-White (she/her) has been a Minister of the Word in the Uniting Church in Australia since 2016. A second-generation Sri Lankan Tamil Australian, she grew up in Canberra before moving to Sydney to study Physiotherapy, Music and then Theology. Radhika is interested in leading dynamic and sacred worship, preaching, teaching and walking alongside individuals in their life and faith journeys. Radhika is currently serving as Ministry Team Leader at Leichhardt Uniting Church, a young, vibrant, justice-oriented community of faith on Gadigal and Wangal land. She serves alongside her husband, who also serves as Chaplain at the University of Sydney.

What is the deeper meaning of Christmas, a festival celebrated worldwide? How should we understand the significance of Christ's birth? Reverend John Jegasothy, a long-serving priest in the Uniting Church and a dedicated servant to the Tamil community, sheds light on these questions. - உலகெங்கும் விமர்சையாகக் கொண்டாடப்படும் கிறிஸ்மஸ் விழா உலகிற்குத் தரும் செய்தி என்ன? கிறிஸ்து பிறப்பின் அர்த்தத்தை நாம் எப்படி புரிந்துகொள்ள வேண்டும்? விளக்குகிறார், பல வருடங்களாக Uniting Church மத குருவாகக் கடமையாற்றியவரும், தமிழ் சமூகத்திற்கு தொடர்ந்து சேவையாற்றி வருபவருமான அருட்திரு ஜோன் ஜெகசோதி அவர்கள்.

Jonty and Rev Ness are joined in the studio by Rev Faaimata Havea Hiliau, the Uniting Church's moderator for NSW/ACT.Contact Rev Mata: https://www.nswact.uca.org.au/team/rev-faaimata-havea-hiliau/Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/373445507761084Become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/FilthyHopeEmail us: filthyhopepod@gmail.comFollow us on Socials:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filthyhopestudios/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/filthyhopepodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@filthyhopestudios?_t=8lLmIm1duvC&_r=1X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/FilthyHopeListen to Into the WordSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/24pRK5xEVz6TOeihxnmC7g?si=26a641cd9c774b20Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/into-the-word/id1734437831YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA1zq_mnGIs&t=413s&ab_channel=FilthyHopeStudios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Third Sunday of Advent - Luke 3:10-18 Robyn Whitaker is Associate Professor of New Testament at Pilgrim Theological College in the University of Divinity, and Director of The Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy.  She is also an ordained Uniting Church minister. Robyn specialises in the Book of Revelation and the Synoptic Gospels, writing for both academic and popular audiences. Her recent books include Revelation for Normal People and Even the Devil Quotes Scripture: Reading the Bible on its Own Terms. Robyn lives in Melbourne with her husband and their two dogs. While she only preaches occasionally these days, she co-hosts a podcast for preachers called By the Well that discusses the lectionary readings each week.

At today's Inter-faith Service, Kris interviews the Rev Liellie McLaughlin, South African-born Minister within the Uniting Church, Environmentalist and practising Physiotherapist. Liellie is the Community Connections Coordinator for Pilgrim Uniting Church, a member of the Uniting Church's Synod Refugee Advocacy Group, Environmental Action Group and Covenanting Committee. Liellie describes herself as working "at the edges of the institutional Church", intentionally stepping away from a traditional minister's role - preferring instead to deepen our understanding of the nature of God from the bonds built from wider, Inter-faith and Multi-faith connections. My hunch is that the seeds that germinated from Liellie's first religious experience as a child in South Africa, led her to initiate "Hope's Café" and the Interfaith dinners we enjoy today. This interfaith "feast" - we shared and enjoyed together today, is a spiritual one. Our Interfaith Service finishes with an Inter/Multi-faith story of our times by Grant and a conclusion by Kris. So listen on and be nourished! P.S.I've also managed to repair the distortion on the orginal Podcast file

At today's Inter-faith Service, Kris interviews the Rev Liellie McLaughlin, South African-born Minister within the Uniting Church, Environmentalist and practising Physiotherapist. Liellie is the Community Connections Coordinator for Pilgrim Uniting Church, a member of the Uniting Church's Synod Refugee Advocacy Group, the Environmental Action Group and Covenanting Committee. Liellie describes herself as working "at the edges of the institutional Church", intentionally stepping away from a traditional minister's role - preferring instead to deepen our understanding of the nature of God from the bonds built from wider, Inter-faith and Multi-faith connections. My hunch is that the seeds that germinated from Liellie's first religious experience as a child in South Africa, led her to initiate "Hope's Café" and the Interfaith dinners we enjoy today. However, this interfaith "feast" - we shared and enjoyed together today, is a spiritual one. Our Interfaith Service finishes with an Inter/Multi-faith story of our times by Grant and a conclusion by Kris. So listen on and be nourished!

In NSW Australia there is a Drug Summit underway. It is exploring better ways to respond to the experience and effects of substance use. This episode is a story about the Uniting Church who helped lead the establishment of the first Drug Summit two decades ago and is still leading the Fair Treatment campaign to fight for a better way for the community to respond to drug use.This episode is a ChangeMakers story - it tells the story of the people who fought for that first Drug Summit, why they did it and what they achieved. It paints a picture of a different way that our society could respond to something that too many of us don't want to talk about or would prefer to push under the carpet - substance use.This episode was recorded in 2018 and is re-released today in support of the Fair Treatment's campaign. You can find out more about that campaign here - https://www.fairtreatment.org/ChangeMakers 2024 is supported by the Civic Power Fund and work with the UCL Policy Lab. This year they are supporting ChangeMakers to bring together a collection of Chats filled with extraordinary ideas and everyday experience to understand how we can change the world, www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/ucl-policy-lab and www.civicpower.org.uk/.For more on ChangeMakers check us out:Via our Website - https://changemakerspodcast.org (where you can also sign up to our email list!)On Facebook, Instagram, Threads - https://www.facebook.com/ChangeMakersPodcast/On X/Twitter - @changemakers99 or @amandatattsOn LinkedIn - Amanda.Tattersall Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In NSW Australia there is a Drug Summit underway. It is exploring better ways to respond to the experience and effects of substance use. This episode is a story about the Uniting Church who helped lead the establishment of the first Drug Summit two decades ago and is still leading the Fair Treatment campaign to fight for a better way for the community to respond to drug use.This episode is a ChangeMakers story - it tells the story of the people who fought for that first Drug Summit, why they did it and what they achieved. It paints a picture of a different way that our society could respond to something that too many of us don't want to talk about or would prefer to push under the carpet - substance use.This episode was recorded in 2018 and is re-released today in support of the Fair Treatment's campaign. You can find out more about that campaign here - https://www.fairtreatment.org/ChangeMakers 2024 is supported by the Civic Power Fund and work with the UCL Policy Lab. This year they are supporting ChangeMakers to bring together a collection of Chats filled with extraordinary ideas and everyday experience to understand how we can change the world, www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/ucl-policy-lab and www.civicpower.org.uk/.For more on ChangeMakers check us out:Via our Website - https://changemakerspodcast.org (where you can also sign up to our email list!)On Facebook, Instagram, Threads - https://www.facebook.com/ChangeMakersPodcast/On X/Twitter - @changemakers99 or @amandatattsOn LinkedIn - Amanda.Tattersall Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the American Christian church and public education could unite to address today's most pressing societal challenges? Join us for an eye-opening conversation with Kurt Rohrs, a governing board member of the Chandler Unified School District, as we navigate the turbulent waters of social disorder, violence, and class divisions. Drawing from historical reformation movements, Kurt offers fresh insights into the significance of liberty and the First Amendment in safeguarding religious practices within secular school systems. This episode delves into the delicate balance of discussing Christian beliefs in educational settings amidst the rise of cancel culture, while also emphasizing the vital role of leadership in fostering open dialogue.Is social media the modern-day addiction we should fear the most? We tackle this provocative question by exploring the impact of technology on parenting and communication, especially in the wake of COVID-19. Kurt shares his perspectives on the challenges posed by social media addiction, likened to a dangerously addictive substance, and underscores the importance of parental control over children's device use. Together, we unpack the role of pastors and churches in addressing cultural issues like rising anxiety and moral decline, advocating for clear parental boundaries to combat the link between youth-related crimes and technology use.Can schools focus solely on education while respecting family autonomy on sensitive matters like gender identity? The episode moves into contemporary issues, advocating for schools to remain neutral and respect family privacy in navigating topics like the LGBTQ+ conversation. We reflect on the importance of moral leadership in the home and church, where such guidance should primarily originate. With a nod to our diverse audience, including many Lutherans, we encourage steadfastness in proclaiming the word of God, and we extend our gratitude to Kurt for his invaluable contributions. Don't miss this thought-provoking dialogue that invites you to share, like, and subscribe for more meaningful conversations aimed at reestablishing faith as a vital force for good in our communities.Support the showWatch Us On Youtube!

Welcoming Lachlan Keating, the CEO of Deaf Aotearoa, to Purposely where he shares his organisation's mission to represent and serve deaf people. Lachlan joined the organisation nearly two decades ago and has been instrumental in driving the mission forward. Born in Tasmania, Australia, Lachlan's career journey is as inspiring as it is diverse. Deaf Aotearoa's mission is centred on ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for deaf people and the organisation strives to eliminate communication barriers and create equal opportunities for deaf individuals across the country. One of the major challenges faced by the deaf community is accessibility in education and employment. Deaf Aotearoa has taken significant steps to address these issues. Their First Signs service is a critical initiative, providing deaf babies and their families with early access to New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL). This early intervention lays a solid foundation for better educational outcomes and fosters stronger communication within families. Deaf Aotearoa also emphasises the importance of building a pipeline of deaf leaders. By nurturing leadership within the community, the organisation ensures that deaf individuals are well-represented at all levels of society. Various programmes and workshops are conducted to empower members of the deaf community, enabling them to take on leadership roles and advocate for their rights. While the organisation has up until now relied on government contracts and sign language interpreting services, it is also expanding its philanthropic and fundraising efforts. These efforts support initiatives that are not covered by government funding, ensuring the sustainability and growth of their programmes. Lachlan's work with deaf communities in Brisbane provided him with invaluable experience and insights. To further his expertise, Lachlan studied nonprofit management and leadership at Harvard Business School, equipping him with the skills needed to lead Deaf Aotearoa effectively. In Brisbane, Lachlan began his remarkable journey in the nonprofit sector by working as a lead gardener at Wesley Mission. He led a team of adults with learning disabilities, Down syndrome, and autism, taking them out to do gardening for churches and properties under the Uniting Church in Queensland. This experience not only honed his leadership skills but also deepened his commitment to social service. He later moved into roles in supported employment, helping people with disabilities, mental illness, and refugees from Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Somalia find work. After moving to New Zealand, Lachlan joined what was then known as the Deaf Association, continuing his work of getting deaf people into jobs. His dedication and leadership saw him rise through the ranks, becoming the South Island regional manager, then General Manager of Community Development, and eventually the CEO in June 2012. Under Lachlan's leadership, Deaf Aotearoa continues to advocate for better education and employment opportunities for deaf individuals. His leadership philosophy revolves around self-awareness, vulnerability, and the courage to focus on what the organisation does best. He places a strong emphasis on good character and hard work, both in recruitment and in daily operations. Lachlan remains optimistic about the future of Deaf Aotearoa remains dedicated to its core purpose of breaking down barriers for the deaf community. For full transcript of this episode visit www.purposelypodcast.com

In this message from our Awaken series, Brett Lush explores the biblical call to justice and mercy; focusing on God's heart for fairness, equality, and community impact. Exploring passages like Micah 6:8 and Amos 5:24, join us as we delve into how God has intervened in history through movements of justice, particularly within the Uniting Church in Australia, and calls us to join in that legacy today. Discover how God's concern for the marginalised—the last, least, and lost—can inspire holistic renewal in our society. Join us as we learn what it means to live out justice and mercy in our communities.We pray this message encourages you as we apprentice to become more like Jesus.––––––––––––––We'd love to hear from you!hello@church.nuwww.facebook.com/newlifegoldcoastwww.instagram.com/@newlifegoldcoast ★ Support this podcast ★

Jason John is a fascinating human being with a very interesting story doing very interesting things. He's an ordained minister in the Uniting Church, has a PhD in zoology and is, amongst other things, a ‘forest chaplain.'In this conversation we talk about evolution, sexual ethics, eco-faith communities and poetry.At the end of this episode Jason shares a couple of his poems — which in my opinion are brilliant. One of the poems in particular uses strong language that you may not want to listen to with kids around. Or if you're the kind of person who potentially may be offended by some strong language, you're also welcome to not listen to it. In my opinion it is an excellent piece of art, that provokes some great questions around language and offence and patriarchy and divinity, and we do unpack some of that briefly afterwards. That poem starts at around 53 minutes. Everything before then is great if you want to listen that far and then tap out. Of course, you're also welcome to skip straight to the juicy bit if you are now desperate to hear strong language. In our conversation we talk about one of Jason's books, called ‘Christian Sex Today', which Jason has very generously made free for listeners of the pod. What a top guy! Listen to the episode, download his book and then send him a warm message of gratitude.Learn more about Jason and his work: https://ecofaith.org/Get Jason's book ‘Christian Sex Today' FREE!https://ecofaith.org/freebiesPassword: SpiritualMisfitsWant to reach out and let us know your thoughts or suggestions for the show? Send us a message here; we'd love to hear from you.Sign up to our mailing list:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/Join our online Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spiritualmisfitspodcastSupport the pod:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/support-us/Send us an email: Spiritualmisfits@outlook.comView all episodes at: https://spiritualmisfits.buzzsprout.com

 New documents reveal Queensland Police waited days to follow up a complaint that might have seen paedophile Ashley Paul Griffith exposed sooner. Find out more about The Front podcast here. You can read about this story and more on The Australian's website or on The Australian's app. This episode of The Front is presented and produced by Kristen Amiet, and edited by Lia Tsamoglou. Our regular host is Claire Harvey and original music is composed by Jasper Leak.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Special Reading - Matthew 15: 2- 28 Professor Dr Anne Pattel-Gray was the former Head of the School of Indigenous Studies at the University of Divinity, Melbourne Australia. Professor Pattel-Gray has an earned Ph.D. from the University of Sydney awarded in 1995 in the Studies of Religion with the major focus on Aboriginal Religion and Spirituality plus a Doctor of Divinity from India awarded in 1997. She is a member of the Uniting Church in Australia, and she has achieved many firsts in her prestigious life, and she is known as a trail blazer, and she has opened many doors for her people. She is a recognized scholar, theologian, activist and prolific writer with many chapters and authored publications. Professor Anne Pattel-Gray is a descendant of the Bidjara Nation in Queensland and a renowned Aboriginal leader within Australia – nationally and internationally. She has dedicated her life to the struggle of Australia First Nations (AFN) as a strong campaigner, lobbyist towards seeking justice, equity and equal representation for First Nations people.

This week on Filthy Hope Pastor Jonty and Rev Ness take the time to answer some audience questions. First they unpack the different roles in leadership in the Uniting Church, including Ministry of Pastor and the two different ordained ministry roles of Minister of the Word and Deacon. Then they unpack some of the challenges and complexities that friendship groups and social interactions can bring up in a church setting.Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/373445507761084Become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/FilthyHopeEmail us: filthyhopepod@gmail.comFollow us on Socials:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filthyhopestudios/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/filthyhopepodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@filthyhopestudios?_t=8lLmIm1duvC&_r=1X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/FilthyHopeListen to Into the WordSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/24pRK5xEVz6TOeihxnmC7g?si=26a641cd9c774b20Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/into-the-word/id1734437831YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA1zq_mnGIs&t=413s&ab_channel=FilthyHopeStudiosTimestamps:0:00 - Intro clip0:55 - Theme music1:09 - Welcome5:08 - Deacons, ministers, and pastors in the Uniting Church30:48 - Inclusive AND vulnerable communities1:04:57 - Final thoughts1:06:16 - Outro song Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jennie begins her address, today with an assertion of social commentator, Hugh MacKay's - in his book - The Way We Are - "that we are not as well equipped as previous generations to deal with sustained challenge". In probing and testing this assertion, Jennie takes a contemporary snapshot of the way we are, commencing with the bushfires of 2019-2020 and the Covid-19 Lockdowns that followed. Jenny draws on the strength and spirituality of poetry emanating from The Effective Living Centre of the Uniting Church, Wayville to help in her evaluation of how we Australians are faring. Are we wilting at the external and internal challenges Australians - young, old and in-between - are now facing? Listen on!

The Uniting Church in Australia will appoint a person of colour as its leader for the first time on July 11. Reverend Charissa Suli is a mother of four and the daughter of Tongan migrants. She says she will bring a vision to empower diverse and marginalised voices, borne out of personal experience.

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Mark 5: 21-43 The Very Reverend Naomi Cooke is an ordained Anglican priest and is currently the Dean of the Cathedral of Grafton in regional NSW's Bundjalung and Gumbaynggirr country.  Naomi's spiritual formation has been shaped by a rich tapestry of ecumenical experiences. Her childhood faith was nurtured within the vibrant parish and youth movements of the Roman Catholic Church alongside the invitational discipleship of Sydney Anglican youth groups. She studied at a Baptist theological college, developed her vocation within the gentle and inclusive Anglo-Catholic traditions of regional QLD and NSW, worked within the democratic and inclusive ethos of the Uniting Church of Australia, and served for two decades as a School Chaplain in Independent Schools. With degrees in Theology and Arts (English Literature), she was amongst the first women in Australia to be ordained by a female Anglican Bishop and is only the 9th woman in Australia to be installed as a Dean of an Anglican Cathedral. Naomi works closely with First Nations communities in the journey towards Reconciliation and her ministry includes the creativity of Godly Play, Taize prayer, Prayer Spaces and Labyrinth reflections.

Easter Sunday - Mark 16: 1-8 - And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. Rev Assoc Prof Kylie Crabbe is a Minister of the Word in the Uniting Church and Associate Professor of Biblical and Early Christian Studies in the Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry at Australian Catholic University. She was in congregational ministry prior to pursuing further academic work. Kylie joined ACU in late 2017 from the University of Oxford, where she undertook her doctorate and was Lecturer in Theology at Trinity College (2015-2017), Instructor in New Testament Greek for the Faculty of Theology and Religion (2016), and Assistant Welfare Dean at Trinity College (2017). She is also a member of ACU's Gender and Women's History Research Centre, and Chair of the Board of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy. Kylie has published and taught widely in New Testament studies and Second Temple Judaism, including her 2019 monograph Luke/Acts and the End of History, and 2021, edited with John M.G. Barclay, The Reception of Jewish Tradition in the Social Imagination of the Early Christians and 2024, edited with David Lincicum, Divine and Human Love in Jewish and Christian Antiquity, forthcoming.   Kylie's current research focuses on disability in early Christian literature and the contemporary legacy of how biblical passages about disability have been interpreted. She holds a current Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) from the Australian Research Council (2022-2025) for her project ‘Inside Others: Early Christian Protagonists and Their Impairments' (DE220101054). In this work she is supported by a Project Reference Group of people with lived experience of disability, carers, and advocates.

Pastor Jonty and Rev Ness are joined in the studio by Richard La'Brooy, a Uniting Church school chaplain.Read more about Act 2: https://www.act2uca.com/Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/373445507761084Timestamps:0:00 - Intro clip1:07 - Acknowledgement of Country1:37 - Theme song1:52 - Welcome4:58 - Richard La'Brooy's call to ministry and teaching9:12 - The joys of teaching young children15:58 - Why teachers teach and the importance of schooling21:31 - A lesson in taming the tongue27:13 - Should religion and education overlap?35:47 - Social media and how the church can better engage with young people43:52 - Private schools and the Uniting Church47:48 - Church planting and One Body Worship53:26 - What are you grateful for?55:11 - The future of the Uniting Church and Act 257:54 - Final thoughts59:11 - Outro song Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Second Sunday of Lent - Mark 9:2-10 Rev Dr Sarah Agnew, Minister in the Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) is a poet and liturgist, storyteller and biblical scholar. Though her favourite role in life is ‘Aunt Sarah,' Sarah also takes joy in her placement with the delightful Christ Church Uniting, Wayville, on Kaurna Land, teaching at Uniting College for Leadership and Theology, and participating in the Network of Biblical Storytellers and their Scholars Seminar (nbsint.org). Sarah composes liturgy and prayers for Words for Worship (MediaCom Education) and her own Pray the Story series, and her poetry collections include Whisper on My Palm (2022) and Hold Them Close (2018). Find more at sarahagnew.com.au

Mitch has now officially become a pastor in the Uniting Church, and has the sweet wardrobe to prove it. In light of this Will, Hannah and Mitch have a discussion about the relationship between tradition and progress. How do we know what from the past is worth holding onto? How do we know if we're actually making progress?Plus the trio come up with a name for the metaphorical Spiritual Misfits pub. Sign up to our mailing list:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/Join our online Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spiritualmisfitspodcastSupport the pod:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/support-us/Send us an email: Spiritualmisfits@outlook.comView all episodes and access transcripts at: https://spiritualmisfits.buzzsprout.com

Radhika Sukumar-White is an ordained minister in the Uniting Church of Australia and she co-leads Leichhardt Uniting Church, a beautiful and vibrant community of faith, justice and creativity. We talk about Radhika's own story as well as some of the unique characteristics that make LUC the special place that it is and what other communities might be able to learn from their approach. Sign up to our mailing list:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/Join our online Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spiritualmisfitspodcastSupport the pod:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/support-us/Send us an email: Spiritualmisfits@outlook.comView all episodes and access transcripts at: https://spiritualmisfits.buzzsprout.com

Liz and Ben are blessed by two returning guests, the Rev Dr Avril Hannah-Jones and Dr Charlotte Pezaro, as they go on one last visit to Roundworld - this time as clerics, wizards and librarians clash over who should take ownership. It's Terry Pratchett's fourth and final collaboration with Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen, 2013's The Science of Discworld IV: Judgement Day. Ponder Stibbons has just activated Unseen University's latest “Great Big Thing”, the culmination of six years' research (and spending) into the frontiers of magical knowledge. It summons a side effect: improbably-named librarian Marjorie Daw, from the even less probable universe in a bottle, Roundworld. Marjorie decides to stick around when she discovers her entire universe is under threat: the Church of the Latter-Day Omnians, who believe the Disc is round, think Roundworld should be theirs. After surviving elves and Auditors, will it be lawyers and priests who decide Roundworld's fate? This time in the (really short!) fiction chapters, the wizards barely visit Roundworld at all; Ridcully spends most of his time talking to Marjorie, before the last few chapters detail the trial - sorry, hearing - of the century. In the non-fiction chapters, Jack and Ian do talk about science...but mostly about religion. Their big idea this time revolves around Gregory Benford's ideas of human- and universe-centred thinking. As the fiction pits priests against wizards, you can probably see where this is going. We certainly could, and we'll be blunt: we didn't like it. Is this really a book about science? How do the authors' ideas of “religion” gel with yours - or even Pratchett's previous books and writing on the subject? What did you think of Marjorie Daw? Do you want us to do a special episode with Avril about Scott Morrison's book? And were we too harsh on this book? Join in the conversation using the hashtag #Pratchat71 on social media. Guest Rev Dr Avril Hannh-Jones (she/her) is a Minister in the Uniting Church. While she should be known for her tireless activism for marginalised communities, most people know her for the Church of the Latter Day Geek: an occasional service where science fiction and fantasy stories serve as parables, and cosplay is allowed in the pews. Avril previously appeared on Pratchat back in 2019 to discuss Small Gods in #Pratchat16. Avril posts weekly Reflections on her blog, Rev Doc Geek, tweets as @DocAvvers, and would love to see you at a Sunday service at North Balwyn Uniting Church. Guest Dr Charlotte Pezaro (she/her) is an educator with a PhD in pedagogy and years of experience communicating science and technology, and shaping how it is taught in Australian schools. She last joined us in 2021 for #Pratchat41 to discuss Nation, which is both Charlotte's and Pratchett's favourite Pratchett book. You can find out more about Charlotte at charlottepezaro.com, or her education work at dialogic.com.au. As usual, you can find notes and errata for this episode on our website. Next episode it's time for another short story: this time a young adult one Pratchett wrote for Diana Wynn Jones in 1989, “Turntables of the Night”. It was originally published in the anthology Hidden Turnings, but you'll most easily find it in Pratchett's short fiction collection A Blink of the Screen. We'll be discussing this tale of record collectors and DJs with superstar DJ and comedian, Andrew McClelland! Have a read and send us your questions using the hashtag #Pratchat72, or via email to chat@pratchatpodcast.com.

Liz and Ben are joined by guest author Caimh “C. K.” McDonnell as they read a very early and very short chapter in the history of the Watch: Terry Pratchett's 1993 short Discworld story, “Theatre of Cruelty”. When the Watch discover a murdered entertainer with pockets full of change, a string of sausages round his neck, and no witnesses to the crime, the Clues are very unhelpful. But Corporal Carrot is on the case - and when it comes to solving the crime, he knows the way to do it... Written for W H Smith's free Bookcase magazine - a pristine copy of which now fetches a few hundred dollars - “Theatre of Cruelty” was published not long before the second Watch novel, Men at Arms. It packs more jokes into 1,000 words than most people write in a lifetime, and is also a delightful extra outing with the original officers of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch. But don't take our word for it: you can read it yourself at the L-Space web. Is it a satisfying murder mystery? Why does Pratchett seem to have a thing for Punch and Judy? And how on Earth did we talk for nearly two hours about such a short piece of writing? Join the conversation - and send us your favourite short stories and cruel bits of theatre - using the hashtag #Pratchat70. Guest Caimh McDonnell is a comedian, writer and author best known for two series of books. The first is the “Dublin Trilogy” comic thrillers, starring Bunny McGarry and a cast of loveable rogues, beginning with A Man With One of Those Faces in 2016 (though see the reading order on his website). The other - as C. K. McDonnell - is the comic urban fantasy series The Stranger Times, about a weird newspaper called The Stranger Times, and beginning with the novel titled...er...The Stranger Times in 2021. Aside from his books you can hear his writing on two podcasts: The Bunnycast for further crime stories, and The Stranger Times Podcast for more Stranger Times. You might also catch him live this Halloween via his Facebook or YouTube accounts! Caimh is on Twitter at @caimh, and his website is whitehairedirishman.com. The Stranger Times series has its own site at thestrangertimes.co.uk. You'll find notes and errata for this episode on our web site. For our October episode, we're going on one last trip to Roundworld as we read and discuss The Science of Discworld IV: Judgement Day with two special guests, including our old friend and Uniting Church minister, the Reverend Doctor Avril Hannah-Jones. We're recording around the 25th of September, so don't delay - get your questions about the book (or the Science series as a whole!) in ASAP via email to chat@pratchatpodcast.com, or on social media using the hashtag #Pratchat71.

Kelly Skilton is an artist and pastor who heads up new and digital communities for the Uniting Church in Victoria and Tasmania. A few years ago Kelly got a diagnosis of ADHD. We discuss neurodiversity, spirituality and creating inclusive communities with a focus on digital spaces. Kelly shares about Sonderverse, which you can check out here: https://www.sonderverse.org/Sign up to receive the Sunday Message:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/Join our online Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spiritualmisfitspodcastSupport the pod:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/support-us/Reach out to us by email: Spiritualmisfits@outlook.com

In this episode of Body, Mind & Soul, we explore if faith and spirituality is expressed differently by women. How does spirituality support women in the ADF? Are there barriers? How can a female perspective on faith and spirituality enable Defence capability? Series 3 – Soul is presented by Reverend Kaye Ronalds who is the Religious Advisor Committee for the Uniting Church.

“I have begun to feel that there is resurrection now. God has touched me. For this, I thank God. I believe that there is something more.” Andrew Prior, Minister; Uniting Church in Australia

During the interview with co-organizer Rada Tochalnaya, we discuss the purpose of the concert, as well as specify the time and place of the concert. - Під час інтерв'ю зі співорганізаторкою Радою Точальною обговорюємо ціль концерту, а також уточнюємо час та місце проведення.

  In our first show back for 2023 we talk about some popular Go Vegan campaigns such as Veganuary that encourage people to try adopting a vegan diet for 30 days and provide email support resources and cookbooks. We discuss whether these campaigns can frame veganism as a diet through the focus on food and miss the broader ethical considerations of animal liberation, or are they a critical first step for vegan curious people who are searching for information and the support that will help them make the transition. For further information on the campaigns and organisations we discussed, please see:  Veganuary https://veganuary.com/en-au/ Vegan Easy (Animal Liberation Victoria) https://www.veganeasy.org/ Vegan4Life (Animal Liberation Queensland) https://www.vegan4life.org.au/ World Plant Milk Day https://www.worldplantmilkday.com/ Food Empowerment Project https://foodispower.org/ Project Fresh Start holds community lunches at the Uniting Church, High St Frankston, Victoria on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month from 12pm.  https://www.facebook.com/projectfreshstart21/  Music we played on the show: Stray by The Teethers https://open.spotify.com/track/795sHubR0hPX90dETXYgPI?si=964ca12697f344ee Everything is great by Alice Skye https://open.spotify.com/track/5o7idEY12ht7TrTHu5e4fG?si=fa7506754c8f43a8 Shouting Out by Motor Vehicle Rundown   If you have any feedback about the show or the campaigns we discussed, we'd love to hear from you. Please email us at freedomofspecies@gmail.com   Thank you for listening. 

Jonathan is joined by Anna White-Atkins for a deep-dive on the Uniting Church from the perspective of its Evangelical pastors and congregations. They explore the good, the bad and the ugly of the Uniting Church and the commitment of its Evangelical members to work for its renewal. Anna White-Atkins is a project officer at Propel Network, a new national network of evangelical leaders, congregations and agencies in the Uniting Church in Australia. Prior to joining Propel, she was pastor of a Uniting Church congregation in Melbourne for ten years. The Political Animals is hosted by Dr Jonathan Cole, an academic, writer, speaker and translator specialising in political theology: the intersection of religion and politics. Jonathan was a senior terrorism analyst at Australian intelligence agency the Office of National Assessments where he worked on Islamist terrorism and the global jihadist movement. He is the author of The Reign of God: A Critical Engagement with Oliver O'Donovan's Theology of Political Authority and Christian Political Theology in an Age of Discontent: Mediating Scripture, Doctrine, and Political Reality. You can follow Jonathan and the show on Facebook and Twitter.

God's grace and healing power are so present in our world today! Enjoy this reading of "Miraculous Manna" by Rusanne Carole from Voice of Truth. ***** I lay in a hospital bed only a couple of kilometers from my home, but it felt like I was a world away - alone with my thoughts, fears, and yes, so many soul churning and burning questions.   So many looming questions sneaking up like an unexpected visitor at the front door of my heart and mind! And with the battle of words in my head - more questions, more concerns, more potential for my mind to go to places I did not wish it to go! Wandering worry came against me like a thunderous cloud of darkness, tempting me to receive or reject the spewed false claims. But I believed God was saying to me, “Rusanne, you have known me well now for a time and learned much. What would I ask you to do if I were sitting right here with you in this hospital room?”  I knew He was saying, “I am here. I will never leave you. We will walk through this together.” His great, mighty love brought me the comfort I was longing for and spoke to the worry and fret-filled enemy of fear. Additionally, the Holy Spirit's boldness was swelling up deep inside my heart. His very presence was preparing me to witness to those around me. Here I was, lying in a hospital bed yet still on mission for the cause and glory of Christ. It began August 11, 2020 when, like most mornings, I woke early to make my coffee and sneak back to bed to have my quiet time before my boys woke up. But that morning was different. I could not walk to the kitchen. My legs felt weighted down like someone was pulling me down through the polished concrete floor, and the pain in the lower right side of my abdomen took my breath away. I slowly made it back to my bed and, when I lay on my left side, the pain eventually subsided enough to allow me to try again. I attempted this short walk from the bedroom to the kitchen five times. Each time with no success. It was 4 am, in the spring in Queensland, Australia, just the right time for the sun and the birds to present themselves as if to say, “Wake up and rise with us! Another day awaits!”  I waited until 5:50 am and then rang my son to come to my room. Two of my four sons live at home with me, and the other two older boys live locally.  I teasingly said to him, “I don't want to worry you, but I am not well, and I need you to make your first call to 000 for an ambulance.” Suddenly, he was in front of me as if he had catapulted from his room to mine. I also asked him to ring the carer that comes to assist me in supporting my son to get ready for school. He has special needs and requires assistance with day-to-day tasks. I knew I wasn't going into work that day, but that I would be going to a hospital.  I was finally able to walk to the ambulance waiting in my driveway after several attempts at “sucking the green whistle” – taking the pain medication that the ambulance driver provided. Once in the back of the ambulance, I remember being asked where I wanted to go.  I replied, “Hawaii.”  They chuckled and said, “No, what hospital?”  And immediately I knew I had a choice to make, but I also knew God was right there with me. I have beautiful friends here in the land I chose to move to over twenty years ago, but I do not have any family other than my children. I am a single mother raising two boys and, whenever I have been unwell, the enemy has taken advantage and attempted to do his dirtiest work in my life, each time trying to place me in a state of fear and despair. I was familiar with the enemy's tactics and schemes, and knew that I must always be on alert and ready for his surprise attacks and be adorned in God's armour and have my total focus on Him. I knew this, but it is an entirely different thing to practice it - especially when extreme waves of pain are coming at you full force like a train of testing and trial. Focus was needed. Focus on Jesus. But the battle began in my mind yet again.   Worry, fret, and fear lured me into their cycles of destruction. Arrows flying straight into my heart. Who will look after my boys if I can't? What if something happens to me? No one can look after my sons like I can, especially my son who requires care for all of his needs. Lord, please let me be ok.   I was first misdiagnosed with kidney stones. Then, two days later, my appendix was removed. And yet my pain persisted.  An MRI was scheduled. All the while, unrelenting circles of confusion afflicted my heart and mind.   When I was in the tunnel of the MRI machine, I found it very difficult to breathe and relax. I was on a lot of pain medication, which made me feel very frightened and panicked. While I was lying there, a vision landed in my mind. I closed my eyes and saw purple wings enclosing me, rather than the beige walls that sloped around me eating me up with the loud, clanking, beating sound of the MRI machine. The wings reminded me of God's presence and protection. Immediately the Lord brought my mind to Psalm 91:4 “Lord, you will cover me with Your feathers. Under Your wings I find my refuge. Your faithfulness will be my shield and protection.”  Then the contrary words were spoken by the doctor, “You have a mass and we will phone the oncologist.”  It was as if I was thrust by force off the rock of Christ. I knew I had to jump back on and gather myself. I had a choice right then and there - allow my mind, heart, and body to fall off the rock into a sea of distress and despair; or fight to stand again by the power of His Holy Spirit, on His rock. He was calling me to plant my feet back on His rock of refuge, to be soothed and protected by His strength. It was there that He reminded me He had carried me through so much in the past eleven years - ever since I had given my life to Him.   There was a piercing scream inside of me that only I could hear. Armed by His power, I sensed the Lord's soul-piercing hope. “No! This is not how it ends! The enemy had come again to kill, steal and destroy, but my God and I say No!”  After eleven days in the hospital, I was discharged. The doctors wanted me to have time to recover from the surgery before I would have another MRI to determine if the tumour had changed at all in size. After that there would be an appointment to discuss the next steps of my treatment, but that treatment would definitely include a biopsy. My doctor, the fifth one who looked after me in my eleven days in the hospital, said the diagnosis was a one in one million, and the mass was located in my hip/buttocks area. My beautiful pastor and friend came to visit and anoint me with oil. As we visited and ate green apples with peanut butter and drank peppermint tea, he jokingly said, “I always knew you were one in a million and a pain in the butt!”  To find laughter in a time such as this was medicine for my soul, and I was so thankful to have him with me praying for healing. I was saved in his little Uniting Church on December 13th, 2009.  Another story for another time. I returned home. I had never seen the results or pictures from the MRI.   One day, God gave me an impression of a white snowball melting in the snow. By His presence, I knew. I began telling everyone that my tumour was gone, including the surgeon that I had my follow up visit with that operated and removed my appendix.  He kind of brushed it off, and asked me to let the doctor contact him after the biopsy was scheduled and the results were in. Because he was a teaching doctor at the university, he was very curious about the diagnosis and how we would proceed. I had many prayer warriors and friends fighting for me in combat prayer. I was so grateful for the many friends that prayed, phoned, and dropped food at my home for my boys.  It was a real witness of the love and support of the body of Christ in time of need.     Sometime after the revelation with the Lord, my beautiful friend and sister in Christ, Lynne, phoned to check on me.  She said she had been praying for me and God prompted her to paint. During our conversation she shared and sent a picture of the purple wings she had painted. These were the SAME purple wings God had given me a vision of the day I was having the MRI. We both took the time to praise and thank God, and I had confirmation in my heart that God had this.    This painting that linked us at that moment is the beautiful and anointed painting that God placed on the cover of the first edition of “Voice of Truth” in January 2021.  Isn't our God amazing how He weaves and orchestrates beauty and connections in a tapestry of love and testimony for those who love, seek and serve Him? The time came for the follow up MRI and the next appointment with the surgeon. The young man who greeted me at the clinic to conduct the test was named Adam. I giggled at this. I often experience God's sense of humour present in a situation. When he introduced himself, “Hi, I'm Adam,” I think I even replied laughing, “Of course it is!” He kept sliding me in and out of the machine, time after time.  He finally asked about the diagnosis and inquired if I was given any medicine, because he couldn't find anything!  This time I had taken a sleeping mask to place over my eyes to help me keep my eyes closed, which would, hopefully, help me stay relaxed.  As he slid me into the machine one more time after sharing the news he could not find any mass, the soft fabric on the mask caught the tears that flowed from my eyes in gratitude that the snowball (tumour) had actually melted. It had melted in the mighty Hand of God. He did what no man ever could, He had miraculously healed me. The following day I sat in my doctor's office. The doctor sat at his desk in front of his laptop, while I leaned across his desk with my chin in my hands watching him flip from the results taken in the hospital to those from the previous day's test. He kept pushing the computer buttons with the tip of his bright yellow pencil and, looking at me above the rim of his silver framed glasses then looking at the computer, saying, “this is unexplainable!”  I spoke with God-given confidence, “It is explainable. It is the power of prayer, and God has healed me.” You see my friend, this topic of healing was near and dear to my heart, for to this very day as I write this, I am awaiting God to heal my son. God had me name my precious boy Christian, even before I became a Christian. And just months prior, I had been studying the topic of healing. I had asked God, “Lord, show me a healing!” I had no idea it would be me.   To those of you reading this, I don't have all the answers, but God does. I don't know why He healed me and removed the tumour, but I am grateful that He did. He is a loving God and wants the best for all of His children. I have never been good at waiting. But God has shown me it is all in His way, His timing, in His grace and goodness.    I'm still believing in healing for my son. I'm still believing in all He has for me and my family and friends…and humanity. I'm still believing in Jesus who came to save and who prepares an eternal home for His children. I'm still believing in God's ways that protect me. And I'm still believing that He loves me and He loves you. I'm still believing…I pray you are too!    And for those who have lost loved ones to death and disease, none of us can wholly comprehend the faithful and just plans of God, or why we hear of some being healed and others not. I am praying that in those moments of the lack of our earthly understanding, God's love and provision will meet you here on this earth giving you strength to continue running to Him, no matter the loss and cost. I am trusting that in heaven one day we will understand God's perfect timing, and we will all experience the comfort of God himself wiping every tear from our face. 

Namila Davui (aka Myshon Kyd) was born in Lautoka, Fiji. He's played Rugby League for the Parramatta Eels, the Canterbury Bulldogs and Fiji, playing a handful of test matches and was chosen in the squad for the Fiji Bati in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. He's also hip hop artist, and is training to be a minister in the Uniting Church. He is the Director of Davui Productions, who specialise in youth development programs and consultation in the Brisbane region. Listen in to his story!

You might think that TV journalist and proud indigenous woman Narelda Jacobs has a perfect life. She's the co-host of Studio 10, makes regular appearances on The Project, she's a three-time host of the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, and she's... done lots of other things that are also on her Wikipedia page. But like all of us, Narelda's life has been far from perfect. I mean come on guys, we're all imperfect, surely you've learnt that by now! In this episode, Narelda talks openly about the challenges of falling pregnant as an 18-year-old... and then having to tell her parents. This would be hard for anyone, but Narelda grew up in an extremely religious household and her father was a Reverend of the Uniting Church. But that turned out to be a mere warm up for what was to come three years later, when she came out to her parents as gay. We loved this chat with Narelda. And well, we love Narelda. We're sure you will too.

You might think that TV journalist and proud indigenous woman Narelda Jacobs has a perfect life. She's the co-host of Studio 10, makes regular appearances on The Project, she's a three-time host of the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, and she's... done lots of other things that are also on her Wikipedia page.But like all of us, Narelda's life has been far from perfect. I mean come on guys, we're all imperfect, surely you've learnt that by now!In this episode, Narelda talks openly about the challenges of falling pregnant as an 18-year-old... and then having to tell her parents. This would be hard for anyone, but Narelda grew up in an extremely religious household and her father was a Reverend of the Uniting Church. But that turned out to be a mere warm up for what was to come three years later, when she came out to her parents as gay.We loved this chat with Narelda. And well, we love Narelda. We're sure you will too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I sat down with a good friend, Jonathan Foye, to discuss his book Ganbaru: How All Japan Pro Wrestling Survived the Year 2000 Roster Split. We discuss the all-too-human drama of this story of grief, conflict, separation, and a will to persevere, playing out in and out of the ring.  In the year 2000, Mitsuharu Misawa left All Japan Pro Wrestling. He took all but two of the company's contracted wrestlers with him. To keep the company alive, company owner Motoko Baba made two phone calls. One was to a man who had walked out on the company a decade ago. The other was to an age-old rival. Buy the Book: https://www.amazon.com.au/Ganbaru-Japan-Wrestling-Survived-Roster-ebook/dp/B09PRN4NMG   Jonathan Foye is a journalist and academic. He is the current Editor of Insights Magazine for the Uniting Church in NSW and the ACT. He holds a PhD in Communications and tutors part time at the University of New South Wales. Jonathan enjoys running, watching pro wrestling, and playing videogames. He lives in the Blue Mountains with his wife, Sarah, their son James, and their Labrador, Walter. Ganbaru is his first book.   Find more episodes: www.loverinserepeat.com/podcast Follow the show on twitter: @RinseRepeatPod // follow me: @liammiller87  

In this second week of the Season of Creation, our focus turns to humanity, specifically how Christian humans are called to put serve creation. Pastor Meredith Harber joins us from Alaska and tells us stories about whales and how their well-being is so interconnected to human behavior. It's Free Willy in 2021 with whales and with all creatures.  Also, you can join APT on this Tuesday night (Sept 14) at 8pm EST on Facebook Live for our first Season of Creation gathering. We'll dig deeper into our relationship with Planet Earth, share our prayers, and grow in community together. APT will be live on Facebook each Tuesday in September 2021 at 8pm. Tuesday, Oct 5 will be our Animal Blessing! More details to come about how your pet can receive a special blessing and animal tag to adorn collar, aquarium, or cage. Today's prayer comes from the worship resources available at www.seasonofcreation.com. The copyright for the season of Creation materials produced in Australia is held jointly by Norman Habel and the Justice and International Mission unit within the Commission for Mission of the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania. This unit was the initial sponsoring body for these materials. All Places Together (APT) is a non-geographic community, based in Virginia. APT seeks to gather individuals who are searching for God in the wilderness of life, individuals who deeply want to connect to something beyond themselves, and individuals who believe the love of Jesus is embodied in all of God's diverse creation. Thank you to our Mission Partners: Virginia Synod (www.vasynod.org) and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (www.elca.org). To give to All Places Together, visit our website: http://www.allplacestogether.org/ Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the button "Give to All Places Together". This will take you to the APT giving page. Enter your contribution amount to the basket and follow the instructions to check out!

All Places Together begins our celebration of the Season of Creation with the person who introduced Pastor Colleen to it, Pastor Lyle McKee. Lyle weaves together his extensive biblical and ecological knowledge to explore how God is present throughout Planet Earth and how people ought to interact with creation.  Also, you can join APT on this Tuesday night (Sept 7) at 8pm EST on Facebook Live for our first Season of Creation gathering. We'll dig deeper into our relationship with Planet Earth, share our prayers, and grow in community together. APT will be live on Facebook each Tuesday in September 2021 at 8pm. Tuesday, Oct 5 will be our Animal Blessing! More details to come about how your pet can receive a special blessing and animal tag to adorn collar, aquarium, or cage. Today's prayer comes from the worship resources available at www.seasonofcreation.com. The copyright for the season of Creation materials produced in Australia is held jointly by Norman Habel and the Justice and International Mission unit within the Commission for Mission of the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania. This unit was the initial sponsoring body for these materials. All Places Together (APT) is a non-geographic community, based in Virginia. APT seeks to gather individuals who are searching for God in the wilderness of life, individuals who deeply want to connect to something beyond themselves, and individuals who believe the love of Jesus is embodied in all of God's diverse creation. Thank you to our Mission Partners: Virginia Synod (www.vasynod.org) and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (www.elca.org). To give to All Places Together, visit our website: http://www.allplacestogether.org/ Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the button "Give to All Places Together". This will take you to the APT giving page. Enter your contribution amount to the basket and follow the instructions to check out!

How we see ourselves as dads affects how our children see Christ in us. According to Eric Wallace of Uniting Church and Home, the joy we find in understanding our true identity in Christ prepares us to love and lead our families well.   “If you don't get it first, you have a hard time leading someone on a journey you haven't been on yourself.”    Eric discusses with Mike his experience in helping others rediscover their identity in Christ on The Noble Man Podcast Episode 57. It's common to read through the scriptures and feel our righteousness is based on performance, but Eric is passionate about helping us understand that what we have is already complete in Christ.   “We're always looking for the formula. We're looking for what we need to do, and we do it. The reality is God wants us to see what He has done.”   “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” I Corinthians 5:17    Eric outlines 7 identity statements from the Word on who we are as new creations in Christ:    I am a new creation in Christ.    I am hidden in Christ.    I am forgiven.    My righteousness is in Christ.    I am dead to sin.    I am a branch.    I am an ambassador.    “My performance does not earn me righteousness. It doesn't make my identity better. What I have is already complete in Christ.” We were wired by God to seek joy, and that joy can be found in Him alone. As dads, ask God to help you find that joy in salvation. Joy in knowing your identity in Him will help draw your children to this Savior that you love and trust.    Resources:    Uniting Church and Home    Ephesians Bible Studies - Defined: Who God Says You Are - Kendrick Brothers    Noble Warriors Resources on Identity      View Show Notes: NobleWarriors.org/episode57 Leave a Review: If you like what you've been hearing, we invite you to leave us a review. Tell us what you love about this episode!  More Resources and Encouragement: NobleWarriors.org  © Copyright 2021 All rights reserved

Almost fifty million people in the United States live with some type of physical or intellectual disability. That's one in five. In this special episode, twelve distinguished guests—scholars, organizers, religious leaders, writers—join us to talk about how we can create communities of belonging where people with disabilities and everyone else can feel welcome. This panel discussion took place during the Summer Institute on Theology and Disability at Hope College. Learn more about disability resources in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at disability.churchofjesuschrist.org. The video referenced during the episode is available here. About the Guests (in order of appearance) Devan Stahl Assistant professor in the Department of Religion at Baylor University. Stahl studies intersections between disability studies, theology, and bioethics. Munorwei Chirovamavi Executive director of “To Love a Child” in Zimbabwe, a ministry providing pre-school children with a secure and caring environment while feeding their minds, bodies and spirit. He is also a Baptist pastor and theological educator.Neil Cudney Director of organizational and spiritual life for Christian Horizons, an organization which supports people with disabilities in Canada and four other countries.Katie Steed Disability Specialist manager for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Reverend Christopher Rajkumar Director of the Indian Disability Ecumenical Accompaniment. He is an ordained minister of the Church of South India and a theological educator and writer.Andy Calder A minister in the Uniting Church in Australia. He is the Disability Inclusion Advocate with the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania. He is the 2019 recipient of the Henri Nouwen Award, awarded by the Spirituality and Religion Division of the AAIDD.John Swinton An ordained minister of the Church of Scotland and the Chair in Divinity and Religious Studies at the School of Divinity, History, and Philosophy, University of Aberdeen. He founded the university's Centre for Spirituality, Health and Disability. His most recent book is Becoming Friends of Time: Disability, Timefullness, and Gentle Discipleship.Topher EndressDoctoral candidate and Fellow at University of Aberdeen Centre for Spirituality, Health, and Disability.Jill HarshawPart-time lecturer in Practical Theology and Disability Theology at Queen's University Belfast. She is author of God Beyond Words: Christian Theology and the Spiritual Experiences of People with Profound Intellectual Disabilities.Shelly Christensen, MA A pioneer in the faith community disability inclusion movement. She is an international speaker and consultant to numerous faith-based organizations. Shelly's newest book, From Longing to Belonging: A Practical Guide to Including People with Disabilities and Mental Health Conditions in Your Faith Community, is a resource for all faith-based organizations and service support agencies to enhance and encourage participation and inclusion for each and every person. Shelly is co-founder and organizer of Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM). Barbara J. Newman Director of church services for All Belong: Center for Inclusive Education as well as a special education consultant to Christian and Catholic schools. Barbara is a national speaker and author of several books including Accessible Gospel, Inclusive Worship.Bill Gaventa Director of Summer Institute on Theology and Disability and an ordained American Baptist minister. For eighteen years he was associate professor at the Rutgers Medical School in the Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities. He now serves as a consultant, trainer, speaker, and author. The post People with disabilities in religious communities [MIPodcast #94] appeared first on Neal A. Maxwell Institute | BYU.