By Andrew Humphries
Mardie Townsend often talks to her son Paul.
And that’s when the tears come.
After all, a parent should never have to bury their child.
“When we are at Bonnie Doon, I often go for a walk and when I walk past Paul’s cairn I say (in my head), ‘hi Paul’, and he replies (in my head) ...
By Talitha Fraser
Koonung Heights Uniting Church Minister Rev Heather Hon considers herself extremely fortunate to be part of such a warm and generous congregation.
That warmth and generosity is displayed on a regular basis as congregation members contribute to the wellbeing of their neighbours, outreach mission projects, and the broader Church in caring, generous and faithful ways.
By Andrew Humphries
In the summer of 2019-20, Australians watched on in horror as large parts of the country were destroyed by fire.
Images which showed people trapped on the beach at Mallacoota with nowhere to go made their way around the world.
Four years later, some sense of normality might have returned to Mallacoota but, like so many other ...
By Andrew Humphries
On the streets of St Kilda, Uniting Church Minister Rev Alex Sangster gets a daily glimpse of why missional work is so important in the lives of so many people.
At the 101 Engagement Hub on the corner of Carlisle and Chapel streets, Alex, her fellow St Kilda South Port Uniting Church Minister Rev Deacon John Tansey ...
By Cathy Withiel
Three mornings a week, Verley MacGregor runs into the waves at Mount Martha with a gathering of women friends, all howling like wolves.
Verley is a member of Sea Wolves, a group of up to 80 fun-loving women who arrive at the beach early, form a circle and hold hands.
By Robyn Whitaker
This month, Christians around the world will celebrate Easter, a time of year when we reflect on what it means to find light, hope, and new life in an often dark, difficult, and unjust world.
Next month we launch the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy.
By Rev Jay Robinson, Minister and Chaplain
In the first year of my first placement, I was in conversation with a member of staff at Monash University where I was the chaplain.
We were talking about Easter and just what we were each doing at this time.
The university was closed over the Easter period, which was unusual as the ...
The Easter period, moving from Good Friday to Easter Sunday, takes us through the grand themes of death and resurrection, cross and hope.
Earlier in Lent when we heard the stories of Jesus telling his disciples that he was going to suffer, be rejected, killed, and after three days, rise again, we also heard Peter taking him aside and rebuking ...
Rev Michele Lees, Minister, Echuca Moama Uniting Church
Monday
Monday is my official day off, although today began with a brief phone call from our church treasurer. We needed to sort out a financial issue which we spoke about yesterday. Monday is his day in the church office, so I understand that sometimes these calls are needed.
By Bill Loader
How can I know the loneliness of being without enough food, looking at my malnourished child, knowing it is too late?
How can I imagine the fear of random acts of violence, the bullying, and the violations on people not allowed a voice?
I can see more now than any previous generation. I can video scenes of ...
By Andrew Humphries
Pilgrim Theological College staff and students kicked off the academic year yesterday with a deep question to ponder.
As part of the college’s orientation, Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress Chair, Rev Mark Kickett, answered questions from Assembly President, Rev Sharon Hollis, on the subject of ‘doing ministry on stolen land’.
By Andrew Newmarch and Andrew Humphries
Out she came, clothed completely in protective gear: goggles, mask, gloves, and disposable gown, just like during Covid-19.
But this time the enemy was leprosy, and the point of the illustration was that the protective gear was no longer needed.
As Eaglehawk Uniting Church lay preacher Merrill Cole explained traditional fears about leprosy and ...