“As we gather for this Synod I wonder what ‘strange land’ you live in? As individual people, things happen in life that can cause us to feel lost, and in a strange land, and they include the experiences of love, grief, injury, disease, ageing, and unemployment…But collectively, as a denomination of Christian faith, I think there are at least three elements of ‘strange’ in the ‘land’ we currently live in,” said Bishop Cam Venables in his sermon during Friday night’s Cathedral Synod service
“If we all hold our world before God in this time, we will surely come through this period with a deeper faith and a greater intimacy with God and one another…and if you find yourself in an enforced sabbath, as I have, sing (and draw) praise to God,” says The Rev’d Penny Jones
“Might this culture of publicly saying ‘thank you’ be something that remains once COVID-19 passes. What would our world look like if such grateful messages endure beyond this time,” says Bishop John Roundhill on a new culture of gratitude he has seen emerging
“My Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel teammates were clearly upset when they came home one night after visiting a family in the West Bank town of Azun. As they debriefed with me, I learnt about the arrest of a 14-year-old Palestinian boy earlier that morning. This was the first time that we heard a firsthand account of Palestinian children being detained by the Israeli military, but sadly this wasn’t the last story that we documented in our roles as Ecumenical Accompaniers,” says Nell Potter from the Palestine Israel Ecumenical Network
“It’s been a bit of an adjustment to move from Sanctuary to pews, but this shift helped me to see that something that’s as clear as day to me as a clergyperson, may not be so to a layperson in the pews. This is something I have been thinking much about recently,” says The Rev’d Canon Ron Bundy
Wakka Wakka man The Rev’d Canon Bruce Boase, Yiman woman Olivene Yasso and Quandamooka and Bundjalung woman Aunty Sandra King OAM share their thoughts on the forthcoming Week of Prayer for Reconciliation and National Reconciliation Week, which are held between 27 May and 3 June annually, marking two significant milestones in the Reconciliation journey
A Fraser Coast Anglican College primary teacher has been recognised with two prestigious NEiTA Foundation accolades at the National Excellence in Teaching Awards
“You might be asking — why should I care about aged care or aged care reform? When I asked two of Anglicare’s aged care leaders this question, the following is what they shared,” says Dr Stephen Harrison, Director of Mission, Research and Advocacy at Anglicare Southern Queensland
Resource Church leader The Very Rev’d Dr Peter Catt tells us about the collaborative work the Cathedral has been doing in the advocacy and justice communications space to help resource our church leaders in their opinion piece and press release writing; community forum and workshop presenting; media liaison; campaigning; political lobbying; and, homily and public lecture crafting
Members of our Diocesan community recently joined in a global ecumenical prayer vigil, hosted online by the World Council of Churches, which gathered clergy and lay people in solidarity, hope and lament for the people of Sudan who continue to suffer amidst the violent conflict — resources are available for online or in-person vigils
