Karl Vaters (pictured) proposes that instead of using the term ‘church growth’, it is better to use the less catchy but more useful expression, ‘striving to increase our capacity for effective ministry.’

Reflections

Leading small churches (without settling for less)

“The energy given in worship, the discipling of members of the congregation, the welcome accorded to visitors, attitudes towards new ideas, the nature and frequency of outreach – these are measures of a church’s health,” says The Rev’d Mark Vincent from The Parish of East Brisbane

Reflections

A Christmas call to revolutionary patience

“Wherever we see love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, we see the dawn which came in the birth of Jesus Christ slowly becoming the full light of day,” says Archbishop Phillip Aspinall in his Christmas 2019 message

Reflections

Words, and The Word, exist in and for community

As part of our series on how art and faith intersect, The Rev’d Paul Mitchell shares with us about his sermon, poetry and hymn writing: “…when life bubbles along with few ripples and everything is calm, the creative light which makes meaningful verse and reflections worth recording rarely appears. It is when I am stretched that poems sometimes erupt”

Reflections

‘Rebirth and Reminders’

In this new series on how art intersects with faith, Year 11 FCAC student Hannah Stanton shares how oil painting brings her back to what is important in life’s busyness: “The coins in the artwork represent the story in Luke 21.1-4 where a widow donated what she could despite her own shortcomings – to me the coins represent resilience and doing what one can even when the odds are against you”

Reflections

Clergy Christmas ‘survival’ guide

“Do not merely ‘survive’ Christmas this year – instead prepare yourself to both relish the mystery and face the challenges,” says The Rev’d Dr Imelda O’Loughlin