“Sometimes going to the hairdresser can be unexpectedly life-changing. For about a year, people in my community had been urging me to explore a calling to ordained ministry. However, when my hairdresser, who is not religious, said, ‘You know what? You should become a priest!’, I knew I had to start paying attention,” says Melissa Conway, who is soon to be ordained a deacon and appointed as assistant curate at St James’, Toowoomba
“And, like the streets, so many of the things I cherished about Toowoomba and Highfields from my childhood have not changed – the warmth, hospitality and pragmatism of country people; the fresh, peaceful environment; the ease of getting around; and, the sense, being on the edge of the country and the bush, that we humans are part of a much bigger expanse and plan for God’s good creation,” says newly ordained deacon The Rev’d Mel Conway from St Anne’s, Highfields
Christian, Muslim and Jewish community leaders united for a just peace, condemning the ongoing atrocities being committed by Israel in Palestine, during the weekend’s International Day of Peace commemorations at St John’s Anglican Cathedral
“Christian unity is deeply rooted in the gospel and integrally related to God’s mission in the world,” says Archbishop Phillip Aspinall
“If God created everything, then who created God? This question was asked by the 10-year-old grandson of a couple in our congregation, but it should not be dismissed as a childish question,” says The Rev’d Charlie Lacey
“The Nicene Creed was originally written in Greek and translated into Latin…Over the next few centuries, an additional word crept into the Latin version of the Creed. We don’t know exactly how this unauthorised change occurred, but we do know that it caused enormous friction, anger and, eventually, what became known as the ‘Great Schism’,” says The Rev’d Dr Cathy Laufer, while offering a study guide for parishes so our community can take steps to repair the divisions in Christ’s Body
“One of the traditions observed each year at the Ekka is the Blessing of the Plough. In maintaining this tradition, we give thanks to God for the goodness of creation and pray for our proper care of natural resources,” says Archbishop Phillip Aspinall
Clergy and lay people from across our Diocesan community gathered at St Francis College’s Chapel of the Holy Spirit on Sunday for a valedictory service to celebrate the 2021 graduation of formation students
“Pace (pronounced ‘par chay’) is Italian for ‘peace’. Our new Pace Community seeks to help bring peace to those who yearn for it – whether churched or unchurched for we are all seekers and searchers,” says The Rev’d Daniel Hobbs