Tag Archives: Easter

In the 21st century what should Christians make of the concept of “sin”? A long-gone relic or a necessary corrective in a society seduced by moral relativism and the cult of victimhood? Simon Gomersall explores sin, Easter and atonement. It is now conventional to assert that the language and concept of sin is irrelevant in both 21st century Australian society ...

It’s that time of the year again when both kids and the bean counters (should that be egg counters?) in confectionery corporations lick their lips at the prospect of huge spikes in chocolate consumption levels. Australians will spend a staggering amount on chocolates (not to mention seafood, fluffy rabbit toys and eggs) during the Easter period but they’ll also give ...

The ancient Greeks had two words for time: chronos and kairos. Chronos is the passage of ordinary time; hours, days, months, years, however we measure that mysterious quality. Kairos is the idea of time as being of significance; that quality of a period of time that holds a more profound significance than any other time. “It was the right time,” ...

The new Uniting Church youth camp Easter Madness was a great success. Journey reports Over 100 young people from across the Uniting Church in Queensland celebrated the Easter weekend together at the inaugural Easter Madness youth camp in March. The Easter Madness Appeal also meant that 13 young people, including two leaders, from rural and remote Queensland were able to ...

While our primary focus should be to take the gospel message outside of these four walls, Easter presents an opportunity to welcome newcomers to church. We asked a Uniting Church teenager for some suggestions about how to invite someone to be part of the church. Show them hospitality What’s the adult equivalent of a sleepover? Do that! Invite your friend or ...

Blatantly biblical or subtly current—Easter themes of sacrificial love, redemption and resurrection are being told and retold in modern cinema. Ashley Thompson explores. Undertones, analogies and parables—not all Biblical retellings of the Easter story are as obvious as The Passion of the Christ (2004) or The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005). In fact, if evangelism is the goal, ...

Conveying the meaning of Easter to people unfamiliar with the story is a job for all Christians, but it can be a challenge. Rev Matt O’Donoghue explores. Easter is my favourite part of the church calendar. It’s just so rich in ways to express ourselves in worship. Everything from a sombre Tenebrae service on Maundy Thursday through to joyous messy ...

While Christmas is the time we celebrate God dwelling among creation, I would argue Easter is the ultimate expression of Emmanuel—God with us. I attended the Let Them Stay protest at Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital in February. That night it wasn’t clear if the immigration department would forcibly remove baby Asha from the hospital, and the demonstration was the largest ...

Telling others about the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection is a vital part of mission and discipleship, but it can be difficult—even intimidating. Rohan Salmond looks at how to overcome some of the challenges to evangelism. When Jesus was betrayed and crucified, the movement which had built up around him was shattered and immediately went underground. The eleven ...

Resurrection is at the core of Christian faith. Rev Dr Anita Monro reflects on how this dramatic part of the Easter story means renewal for our lives. Jesus’ dramatic story has several acts. It’s not just about birth and death, it’s not only about healing and teaching, it’s also equally about resurrection. But what does that act of the drama ...