As a child I always enjoyed treasure hunts. I was just as happy planting the treasure as finding it. After the lawn was mowed one of us would hide pegs in little piles of freshly mown grass and the rest of the family had to race around and see how many they could find. In chapter 13 of Matthew's gospel ...
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Embracing the discipleship journey
Hello! I’m really pleased to be the new cross-platform editor here at Journey. The ‘cross-platform’ bit of my job title is new, and represents that while the print edition of Journey will always be an important part of how we operate, digital and social media are becoming an increasingly important aspect of our media landscape. That’s why over the next ...
Read More »On the way to reconciliation
The beginning of June marks the close of Reconciliation Week, but our reconciliation programs have failed to find a lasting solution. Pastor Bill Hollingsworth asks, is it because we have left Christ in the wings rather than making him the centre and circumference of our efforts? When I was appointed to the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, I was asked what ...
Read More »What the new Pope means for Protestants
The world watched in fascination as Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope of the Roman Catholic Church in March 2013. Leader in Catholic/Protestant dialogue and past Uniting Church President James Haire explores why Protestants should care about Pope Francis. Since 2002 I have been a Member of the International Commission for Dialogue between the World Methodist Council and the Vatican. ...
Read More »Reclaiming the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
I find it difficult to write about the spirit of God, particularly as prose. My words want to dance into poetry and metaphors prance around the page. Gusts and breezes, breath and mist, intuition and wonder, hearts on fi re strangely warmed. My words will simply not behave! Settle down and form sentences. The Scriptures suggest the Spirit was there ...
Read More »Preparing for the discipleship journey
The Year of Discipleship is part of the Uniting Church in Queensland's Vision 2020, focusing on the call to form active and accountable disciples of all ages. Linda Hamill implores people to embrace their discipleship gifts this Pentecost. Discipleship is about being disciplined in what we do. At Pentecost, the first disciples of Jesus made a stand for what they ...
Read More »Selflessness, sacrifice and the still small voice
This edition of Journey is all about celebrating those who put others before themselves. From prison chaplains (page 14) to volunteers who work tirelessly for a cause or organisation they believe in. The Uniting Church is full of these people. Sometimes they are up the front urging people to understand the difference we can make in the lives of others; ...
Read More »Rebuilding community, again
Exactly two years, two months and two days after the terrible floods of January 2011, the people of Laidley, west of Brisbane, were inundated once again. But while the flood waters swept away so much, they couldn't take the community's spirit. Laidley Uniting Church minister Euan McDonald reflects on the months that followed. Our church still has many reminders of ...
Read More »Fashioning disciples for a hurting world
The Year of Discipleship is part of the Uniting Church in Queensland's Vision 2020, focusing on the call to form active and accountable disciples of all ages. Mel Perkins reminds us that we are all 'works in progress' on the discipleship journey. Life throws up many challenges that get us thinking about faith, and sometimes being a disciple is hard. ...
Read More »How welcome are those who bring peace
I visited Alex a few times after I had conducted his wife's funeral. He recalled being in school one hot afternoon in Rockhampton when a man came running through the grounds announcing, "The war is over! The war is over!" The man continued on his way, jumping over fences and running through back yards to let everyone know that the ...
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