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Last Week's Service - CaLM Springwood

Rev Geoffs Reflections

Jesus' Way: The Subversion of Empire

The Pearl, the Treasure, and the Deep Human Yearning A Bedouin sat by the fire of a caravanserai – a desert waystation where travellers pause to rest—preparing a simple meal. As he worked, two pearl merchants arrived at the same moment and began unloading their camels for the night. One merchant, with a subtle flourish, allowed a large pearl to drop from his hand so that it rolled toward the other. The second man picked it up, brushed the dust away, examined it closely, and admired its beauty. “That is a fine pearl,” he said, “as large and lustrous as any I have seen.”

Weeds, Wheat, Forgiveness and Second Chances...

Many of us grew up with stories of superheroes—Batman and Robin, Superman, and the colourful cast of cartoon heroes who filled our childhood imaginations. In those worlds, everything was simple. Good and evil were clearly defined. Heroes were purely good, villains purely evil, and the line between them was bright and unmistakable. The heroes defended goodness through strength and violence, overcoming evil with decisive force. It was a comforting worldview: neat, tidy, and morally uncomplicated.

Extravagant, Reckless, Lavish Love - God's Reign!

The band arrived at the concert hall in the late afternoon, a curious and delightful mix of musicians drawn from different corners of the musical world. They were not celebrities, nor household names, but each was respected in their own field. What brought them together was not fame or ambition but a shared desire to raise funds for a charitable cause close to each of their hearts. Their unity was not in style but in purpose, and that purpose gave the gathering a quiet sense of anticipation.

Jesus: Rest for the Weary, Easing Life's Burdens...

A theologian walked into a coffee shop at the end of COVID lockdown, frustrated by being locked away whilst visiting his wife’s elderly grandmother. He’s bored and starts playing a game trying to work out what the women a few tables over, does for a living.

Christ is Present - In Humble, Vulnerable Love

This week I invite you into a story – actually, into two stories – and through them, into a deeper understanding of what it means to follow Jesus. The first story is one I've told before, about Tony Campolo, sociologist, teacher, and evangelical preacher. One day, he was walking down the main street of his town, dressed in what he called his “establishment gear”—a suit and tie, looking every bit the professional. As he walked along, he noticed, a little way ahead of him, a man who was clearly homeless. The man was wandering along the footpath, holding a cup of coffee, reaching out to people as they passed by and offering them a sip.

The Courageous Way of Love and Justice…

I am in the midst of hanging a painting of Gandhi on my wall – along with one of St Francis of Assisi. I looked at these two small figures but giants of history. They walked to the beat of a different drum, and both were heavily influenced by the life and teaching of Jess of Nazareth

Uniting Church News

A New World Needs a New Church

It's hard to describe exactly what season the rural and coastal church is in right now. But one thing is clear: the season has changed.

What Her Heart Was Singing

There is a moment Sarah Manche describes that stays with you. A room full of people singing happy birthday for a grown adult sitting at the table, eyes wide. People have told her, she says, that it was the first time in their life anyone had ever sung happy birthday to them.

A Prayer for the People of Venezuela

A devastating earthquake has struck Venezuela, causing widespread loss and displacement. In response, Rev Pablo Nunez has written a prayer for all who wish to join the Uniting Church in praying for the people of Venezuela. The prayer is offered in both English and Spanish.

Una Oración por el Pueblo de Venezuela

Un devastador terremoto ha sacudido Venezuela, causando pérdidas generalizadas y desplazamiento. En respuesta, el Rev. Pablo Núñez ha escrito una oración para todos los que deseen unirse a la Iglesia Unida en oración por el pueblo de Venezuela. La oración se ofrece en inglés y en español.

“No One Wants to Be Saved. Everybody Wants to Belong”

Bec Reidy does not think of herself as a good person. She will tell you that fairly early in a conversation, and she means it. "Doing what I do helps me sleep better at night," she says. "It's just as much for me as it is for anybody else."

Service is in His DNA

Will Giacometti did not come to service through a single defining moment. He came to it the way most things that last tend to arrive, quietly, gradually, and through the people around him.

The Long Way With Young People

There was a passion at Gungahlin to bring people together and drive the young people’s ministry forward, and someone had to be the one driving this. That person was Narelle Dodd.