“I first encountered a talking circle at a Quaker Sunday service in a circular room on a rainforested hill in the Brisbane suburb of Kelvin Grove. I entered the room to find people sitting in silence in a circle of chairs around a small central table…With the recent shift back to in-person gatherings, talking circles are a great way to foster dialogue, with hybrid in-person/digital options also possible. Here are eight tips to make your talking circle space suited for dialogue that matters,” says The Rev’d Tim Booth, Ministry Development Officer from the Parishes and Other Mission Agencies Commission
Participate in a public dialogue about digital communication, or submit a case study that sets an example for the world: expressions of interest are invited for active participation in a symposium scheduled for 13-15 September 2021
“As with most other practitioners and service providers that we engage, there will be times that that doctor, that electrician, that coach, that counsellor will not be the right fit. To give yourself the best shot at finding the right supervisor the first time, it may be helpful to consider the following questions,” says Wellbeing and Development Officer Rebecca McLean from the Parishes and Other Mission Agencies Commission
“Our op shop is more than a shop. It is a ministry – a warm and welcoming space where people know that they come for a chat every weekday,” say Parish of Chermside op shop coordinators Jan Donkersloot and Anthea Meadows, who also offer valuable tips for starting and running a church op shop
Two young Christian sisters reflect on their plan to set an official world record, while simultaneously raising awareness of children’s and women’s empowerment and climate care, by singing the world’s 195 national and UN permanent member state anthems in 100 languages at St John’s Cathedral, as part of the Cathedral’s International Day of Peace celebrations on 21 September
“The character of Phoebe in Paul’s Letter to the Romans has always intrigued me. Paul wrote to the Church in Rome, trusting Phoebe with the delivery of that letter…So, she’s a landowner, runs a thriving business and is trusted by the Christian community far and wide. That is a life I wanted to read more about,” says Fiona Hammond from St Francis College
Meet award-winning teacher Louise Brown and find out about her recent teaching highlights, current activities and goals, favourite book and secret skill and what she would write on a billboard
“Anglicans in Development (AID), part of the Anglican Board of Mission, has worked closely with the Ahli Arab Hospital for many years, chiefly in supporting its outreach to improve the health and future of underweight babies in Gaza. More recently, AID has begun supporting a new initiative that combines child nutrition services with educating mothers about nutrition,” says Dr Julianne Stewart
“Learning how speech acts work and deploying them skilfully is like carrying around a very handy box of tools, drawing on the tools that are best suited to the purpose. This can enable us to walk the delicate balance between power and love in the everyday communications of family, work or church life,” says The Rev’d Michael Wood
“There was no set date for my retirement. No celebration. No intentional, ‘Now I begin a new stage of my life!’ Perhaps it was my decision not to continue lecturing at St Francis College that led to my retirement. I think receiving my Pensioner Concession Card was the clincher. Nevertheless, I simply morphed into retirement and I’m loving it,” says The Rev’d Dr Carol Hebron