Author Archives: CraigT
MtE Update – June 7 2018
- Worship this Sunday June 10 will be led by Peter Blackwood and Robert Gribben.
- On Sunday June 17 our after-worship talk will be presented by Peter Blackwood, on Christian iconography. This is part of our continued reflection on the use of icons in our own weekly worship.
- The most recent Synod eNews (June 6) is here.
- Events in Refugee Week 2018 (June 17-23)
- The UCA media release on the church’s participation in the national redress scheme for victims of institutional child abuse (June 4)
- An invitation has been extended, to any interested, to attend the induction of the staff of the new Synod eLM unit (‘equipping Leadership for Mission’), including Sean Winter, Fran Barber, Mel Perkins, Nigel Hanscamp, Bradon French, Sue Withers, Adrian Pyle, Daniel Murray and Jenny Byrnes, Friday June 22 at the CTM: Details.
- For those interested in some background commentary to the readings for this Sunday June 10, see the links here.
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Old News
- The 15th Assembly of the Uniting Church gathers this July in Melbourne; you can see some of what is to be discussed on the dedicated web site (see especially the menu items at the top right of the page).
Lectionary Commentary – Sunday/Ordinary 10B; Proper 5B (Sunday between June 5 and June 11; if after Trinity Sunday)
The following links are to the Revised Common Lectionary commentary pages of Howard Wallace and Bill Loader, and are suggested as preparation for hearing the readings in worship for the Sunday indicated above.
Series I: 1 Samuel 8:4-11, (12-15), 16-20, (11:14-15) see also By the Well podcast on this text and Psalm 138
Series II: Genesis 3:8-15 (no link) and Psalm 130
June 3 – Pope John XXIII
These weekly “People to Commemorate” posts are a kind of calendar for the commemoration of the saints, reproduced here from a Uniting Church Assembly document which can be found in full here. They are intended for copying and pasting into congregational pew sheets on the Sunday closest to the nominated date.
Images (where provided) are of icons by Peter Blackwood; click on the image to download a high resolution copy of the image.
Pope John XXIII, reformer of the Church
Pope St John XXIII (born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, 1881-1963) came from humble beginnings, through a diplomatic ministry in the Roman Catholic Church, to become Pope at the age of 77, from 1958-1963. He was canonized in 2014. Far from being the caretaker in that role which others imagined, less than three months from his election, he called the Second Vatican Council together and presided over its first sessions (1962), Pope Paul VI bringing it to a conclusion after three more sessions, in 1965. Unusually, his saint’s day is not the date of his death, but the day the Council began (September 11). The Uniting Church remembers on his ‘heavenly birthday, June 3, and we grant him the title ‘Reformer of the Church’. His own favourite papal title was ‘Servant of the servants of God’. Many called him ‘Good Pope John’. He charmed people with his gentle sense of humour.
The Vatican Council was indeed a reforming council, well beyond expectation. It benefitted from a century of serious scholarship and pastoral thought across Europe and the Catholic world. He invited representatives of other churches as non-voting observers. There was lively debate on the floor of St Peter’s, and in the coffee shops around Rome. His stated intention was to ‘open the windows [of the Church] and let in some fresh air.’ The unimagined result was change in the whole of the western church. Key documents were composed and promulgated, the first being on ecumenism (Unitatis redintegratio), which propelled the Roman church into relationship with others, defining non-Catholics as ‘separated brethren’. From dialogue, we have all learned to state more clearly what we believe, what unites and what still divides us as Christians. The Church’s primary purposes and its structures were redefined in Lumen Gentium, including its evangelical mission in the world. The liturgy was radically challenged, vernacular forms of language replacing Latin, word and sacrament given a new balance, and new rites composed. The centrality of Scripture was emphasized and a new three-year lectionary created. On all of this scholarship and wisdom, other churches have drawn on in their own ongoing reforms.
Pope John was a Christian visionary. His passionate sense of humanity was summed up in his remark, ‘We were all made in God’s image, and thus, we are all Godly alike.’ Many of the gains of the Council must be attributed to the gifts of Pope Paul VI, but it was Good Pope John who summoned his Church, and all of us, to reform and renewal in the humble spirit of Christ.
Robert Gribben
MtE Update – May 31 2018
- Following morning tea THIS Sunday June 3 we’ll have another of our hymn-learning sessions; please stay if you can, as we enlarge our repertoire!
- The 15th Assembly of the Uniting Church gathers this July in Melbourne; you can see some of what is to be discussed on the dedicated web site (see especially the menu items at the top right of the page).
- For those interested in some background commentary to the readings for this Sunday June 3, see the links here; our focus on 1 John continues from 2.11-17.
Other things potentially of interest
A time of reflection, prayer and music this Saturday 2nd June.
A Taizé prayer will be held at Trinity College, Royal Parade, Parkville at 5:30pm the Saturday of reconciliation week. Dinner to follow in the dining hall nearby.
Looking forward to seeing you there. Any questions can be directed to this email address or you can connect to our Facebook group: Taize in Melbourne, Australia. Thanks!
Old News
Outreach Ministry
Make it Messy! Training Day THIS Saturday June 2 Parkville
Make it Messy! will assist those already engaged in Messy Church, churches contemplating beginning a Messy Church and people genuinely curious about the Messy Church phenomenon take the next step in their Messy journey. Join with others from churches across the state for a day of active engagement, stimulating discussions, encouraging stories and helpful electives that will empower your ministry in your local context – whether you are already engaged with Messy Church or not!. Across the day you will have the opportunity to connect with experienced Messy Church leaders and engage with…
Introducing Messy Church
Starting a Messy Church
Extreme Craft for Messy Church
Opening the Bible in Messy Church
Growing discipleship in Messy Church
Exploring what makes Messy Church church
Messy Church beyond the monthly gathering
Activities and games for building Messy community
More information and registration: e-mail ann.byrne@victas.uca.org.au or Make it Messy 2018 (live from May 1); for more on the ‘messy church’ idea: http://messychurchaustralia.com.au/
Please let Craig or Lauren know if you’d be interested in being part of an MtE group attending this workshop
Lectionary Commentary – Sunday/Ordinary 9B; Proper 4B (Sunday between May 29 and June 4, if after Trinity Sunday)
The following links are to the Revised Common Lectionary commentary pages of Howard Wallace and Bill Loader, and are suggested as preparation for hearing the readings in worship for the Sunday indicated above.
Series I: 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) and Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
Series II: Romans 12:9-16b (no link) and Luke 1:39-57
MtE Update – May 24 2018
- The latest Presbytery Newsletter (May 22) is here.
- Following worship Sunday June 3 we’ll have another of our hymn-learning sessions.
- For those interested in some background commentary to the readings for this Sunday May 27, see the links here. Our preacher this week is Rob Gallacher, who’s nominated 1 John 4.13-17 and 5.3-5 to replace the set Romans reading
Outreach Ministry
Make it Messy! Training Day Saturday June 2 Parkville
Make it Messy! will assist those already engaged in Messy Church, churches contemplating beginning a Messy Church and people genuinely curious about the Messy Church phenomenon take the next step in their Messy journey. Join with others from churches across the state for a day of active engagement, stimulating discussions, encouraging stories and helpful electives that will empower your ministry in your local context – whether you are already engaged with Messy Church or not!. Across the day you will have the opportunity to connect with experienced Messy Church leaders and engage with…
Introducing Messy Church
Starting a Messy Church
Extreme Craft for Messy Church
Opening the Bible in Messy Church
Growing discipleship in Messy Church
Exploring what makes Messy Church church
Messy Church beyond the monthly gathering
Activities and games for building Messy community
More information and registration: e-mail ann.byrne@victas.uca.org.au or Make it Messy 2018 (live from May 1); for more on the ‘messy church’ idea: http://messychurchaustralia.com.au/
Please let Craig or Lauren know if you’d be interested in being part of an MtE group attending this workshop
Other things potentially of interest
Old News
Dear friends
Please find attached a brochure from the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce that you can use to take action advocating against the removal of basic financial supports for up to 12,000 people over the next year. The issue is rather urgent in that the first cohort of people to be removed from financial supports (possibly up to 3,000) will be in June. They anticipate 12,000 being removed from these supports over the next year. Any removal of financial supports will result in destitution and homelessness for many of these people and we are also entering winter which is a particularly difficult time for homelessness. We are aware that faith based agencies are likely to be the ones who will have to do their best to fill this gap.
The Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce is encouraging people of faith to respond to this issue because this is a breach of human rights to cause people to be destitute who are lawfully going through a refugee protection process.
Further resources on this issue can be found at:
Thank you in advance for your action on this issue,
| Mark Zirnsak
Senior Social Justice Advocate |
You are warmly invited to a public lecture on the relationship between Western Philosophy and Indian Thought by Professor Françoise Dastur (Emeritus, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis) at Australian Catholic University, Melbourne campus.
Wednesday 30 May, 2018
5.30 – 7.00pm
ACU Melbourne Campus,
115 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy
Room 404.G.09 (Mercy Lecture Theatre)
About the lecture
Until recently, the matter of the relation between Western philosophy and Eastern traditions of thought had been largely neglected by European philosophers, especially in France. It is the depth of the ignorance of Indian philosophy in Europe that was highlighted by the French philosopher and journalist, Roger Pol-Droit, in his 1989 book The Oblivion of India: A Philosophical Amnesia.
India has been a place of prodigious development in mathematics, astronomy, philology and philosophy since ancient times. However, it was only at the end of the 18th century that Europe began to discover the importance of Indian literature and philosophy, beginning in Germany where writers and philosophers chose to look in the direction of the Orient. In this talk, Professor Dastur will explore the many points of convergence between Western philosophy and Indian thought, suggesting that these need much further analysis and development.
About the speaker
Professor Françoise Dastur taught philosophy in the University of Paris I from 1969–1995, in the University of Paris XII from 1995–1999, and in the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis from 1999–2003. She taught also as a visiting professor in the universities of Mannheim, Rio de Janeiro, Caracas, Warwick, Essex, De Paul (Chicago), Boston College, and North Western University (Evanston).
Professor Dastur was, as honorary Professor of Philosophy, attached to the Husserl Archives of Paris (ENS Ulm), a research unit affiliated to the French National Center for Research (CNRS) until June 2017. She was a founding member and the President of the École Française de Daseinsanalyse, of which she is now honorary President. She has published many articles in French, English and German, and is the author of several books in French, five of which have been translated into English.
Inquiries: richard.colledge@acu.edu.au
For further information, and to register to attend: http://irci.acu.edu.au/events/western-philosophy-and-indian-thought/
Campus Map: http://www.acu.edu.au/about_acu/campuses/melbourne/map
Lectionary Commentary – Trinity B
The following links are to the Revised Common Lectionary commentary pages of Howard Wallace and Bill Loader, and are suggested as preparation for hearing the readings in worship for the Sunday indicated above.
MtE Update – May 16 2018
- After church THIS WEEK May 20 we’ll build on our last conversation about our worship, with a focus on the prayer of the church, as it is found in Sunday worship.
- Following worship on Sunday June 3 we’ll have another of our hymn-learning sessions.
- For those interested in some background commentary to the readings for this Sunday May 20, see the links here (we’ll hear the psalm and the gospel for the day, and continue with our focus 1 John, picking up some of his reflections on the Spirit (for Pentecost) : 1 John 4.1-12, on which some comment can be found here.).
Other things potentially of interest
Dear friends
Please find attached a brochure from the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce that you can use to take action advocating against the removal of basic financial supports for up to 12,000 people over the next year. The issue is rather urgent in that the first cohort of people to be removed from financial supports (possibly up to 3,000) will be in June. They anticipate 12,000 being removed from these supports over the next year. Any removal of financial supports will result in destitution and homelessness for many of these people and we are also entering winter which is a particularly difficult time for homelessness. We are aware that faith based agencies are likely to be the ones who will have to do their best to fill this gap.
The Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce is encouraging people of faith to respond to this issue because this is a breach of human rights to cause people to be destitute who are lawfully going through a refugee protection process.
Further resources on this issue can be found at:
Thank you in advance for your action on this issue,
| Mark Zirnsak
Senior Social Justice Advocate |
You are warmly invited to a public lecture on the relationship between Western Philosophy and Indian Thought by Professor Françoise Dastur (Emeritus, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis) at Australian Catholic University, Melbourne campus.
Wednesday 30 May, 2018
5.30 – 7.00pm
ACU Melbourne Campus,
115 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy
Room 404.G.09 (Mercy Lecture Theatre)
About the lecture
Until recently, the matter of the relation between Western philosophy and Eastern traditions of thought had been largely neglected by European philosophers, especially in France. It is the depth of the ignorance of Indian philosophy in Europe that was highlighted by the French philosopher and journalist, Roger Pol-Droit, in his 1989 book The Oblivion of India: A Philosophical Amnesia.
India has been a place of prodigious development in mathematics, astronomy, philology and philosophy since ancient times. However, it was only at the end of the 18th century that Europe began to discover the importance of Indian literature and philosophy, beginning in Germany where writers and philosophers chose to look in the direction of the Orient. In this talk, Professor Dastur will explore the many points of convergence between Western philosophy and Indian thought, suggesting that these need much further analysis and development.
About the speaker
Professor Françoise Dastur taught philosophy in the University of Paris I from 1969–1995, in the University of Paris XII from 1995–1999, and in the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis from 1999–2003. She taught also as a visiting professor in the universities of Mannheim, Rio de Janeiro, Caracas, Warwick, Essex, De Paul (Chicago), Boston College, and North Western University (Evanston).
Professor Dastur was, as honorary Professor of Philosophy, attached to the Husserl Archives of Paris (ENS Ulm), a research unit affiliated to the French National Center for Research (CNRS) until June 2017. She was a founding member and the President of the École Française de Daseinsanalyse, of which she is now honorary President. She has published many articles in French, English and German, and is the author of several books in French, five of which have been translated into English.
Inquiries: richard.colledge@acu.edu.au
For further information, and to register to attend: http://irci.acu.edu.au/events/western-philosophy-and-indian-thought/
Campus Map: http://www.acu.edu.au/about_acu/campuses/melbourne/map
Old News
Friends of Vellore Victoria invite you to a Recital of Choral and Organ Music in QUEEN’S COLLEGE CHAPEL on Sunday, May 20th 2018 at 3 pm, 1–17 College Crescent, Parkville.
David Agg will perform organ works by Pachelbel, Bach, Vierne & Stanley. The Queen’s Chapel Choir will sing 19th century English choral works. The FOVV will also launch their annual appeal for 2018, followed by afternoon tea in Eakins Hall.
Further information from David Runia 0419 419 766 or Viviane Harangazo 0429 933 780.
Outreach Ministry
Make it Messy! Training Day Saturday June 2 Parkville
Make it Messy! will assist those already engaged in Messy Church, churches contemplating beginning a Messy Church and people genuinely curious about the Messy Church phenomenon take the next step in their Messy journey. Join with others from churches across the state for a day of active engagement, stimulating discussions, encouraging stories and helpful electives that will empower your ministry in your local context – whether you are already engaged with Messy Church or not!. Across the day you will have the opportunity to connect with experienced Messy Church leaders and engage with…
Introducing Messy Church
Starting a Messy Church
Extreme Craft for Messy Church
Opening the Bible in Messy Church
Growing discipleship in Messy Church
Exploring what makes Messy Church church
Messy Church beyond the monthly gathering
Activities and games for building Messy community
More information and registration: e-mail ann.byrne@victas.uca.org.au or Make it Messy 2018 (live from May 1); for more on the ‘messy church’ idea: http://messychurchaustralia.com.au/
Please let Craig know if you’d be interested in being part of an MtE group attending this workshop
Lectionary Commentary – Pentecost B
The following links are to the Revised Common Lectionary commentary pages of Howard Wallace and Bill Loader, and are suggested as preparation for hearing the readings in worship for the Sunday indicated above.
Ezekiel 37:1-14 (alt) see also By the Well podcast on this text
Acts 2:1-21 see also By the Well podcast on this text