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Affirmation of Faith based on the Preamble

Affirmation of Faith based on the Preamble

In about 2011, Rev Jenny Tymms prepared an Affirmation of Faith based on the Revised Preamble to the Constitution of the Uniting Church in Australia. This was done in consultation with First Nations people so that the language would work well in ways that were inclusive of...

The stunning guitar instrumental album "Reverie" by the impossibly talented Rob Timbs is now available for free on the "Songs of Faith and Hope and Love" website. It's been made to sound even better by the original engineer Chris Adams - who does this as a wonderful act of...

God-bearer

God-bearer

I was introduced to the description of Mary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer by Kenda Creasy Dean and Ron Foster in their brilliant book about youth ministry, The Godbearing Life. The term comes from the Greek work theotokos, and the theological notion is more prominent in...

Make a New Way

Make a New Way

Here's a new song from David MacGregor and myself. The lyrics were prompted by the narrative of John the Baptist in Mark 1, "Prepare the Way", plus my ongoing reaction to the Voice Referendum in Australia, and the video interviews that I did with Rev Dr Garry Deverell (editing...

Christmas in the Shed

Christmas in the Shed

Christmas Eve at Blackwood Uniting Church in December 2018 was an Australian-themed nativity called "Christmas in the Shed," named after an album and songbook by the same name compiled by Adelaide singer-songwriter Leigh Newton. Leigh was our special guest singer and...

Growing Disciples

Growing Disciples

I'm making some memes. Right-click or control-click to download at full size.    

Pentecost Peace Cranes

Pentecost Peace Cranes

Here's a repost from my old blog of the wonderful Pentecost celebration at Blackwood UC in 2018. This is referenced in my book Deeper Water. Last year's Pentecost Service involved the congregation in making and hanging about 1200 paper birds (representing the Holy Spirit) in...

Building Faith Brick by Brick

Building Faith Brick by Brick

Over a decade ago, Emily Slichter Given began experimenting with Lego to explore Bible stories with children. As former Director of Children and Family Ministry in an Episcopal church in the US, Emily developed these programs developed several years. They are presented in two...

Brick Church Australia

Brick Church Australia

I have a new project to explore what it might look like to form new faith communities around a common interest in LEGO (TM). This has come about for a few reasons, including my own need/call to be involved in something in a missional vein. Lego has become big as a play and...

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