Liturgies

This weeks online homily holds an important message from Brother Steindl-Rast that is timeless and timely - focusing on the things for which we are grateful. Let's not be obsessed by everything that is going wrong but focus on what we can be grateful for.

Mahatma Gandhi once said "the greatness of humanity is not in being human, but in being humane". When we return to a place of shared compassion, we can truly begin the work of restoring hope and life on our planet. Each week in our liturgies, we aspire to encourage each of us to find that place of shared compassion.

Marg talks with Terry about her life, especially her involvement with the SMX community and how important it is to her.

As we reflect on the year we realise that as the SMX community we walk with and alongside a loving presence just as the disciples on the road to Emmaus. It is in this presence we can open ourselves to change, it is here we can transform old opinions and expectations. It is here our sense of separateness melts and we are aware that we are part of the dynamic whole.

John Fitzwalter is an artist and a gallery owner. He talks about the role of the arts in helping us focus on that which really matters in our lives. He insists that we are not separate and that it is through the arts that we are able to gain connectedness.

This is the first of a series of one on one conversations we are planning. These will take the place of homilies and will focus on our community people and how they relate to what we do at St Mary's in Exile.

David Pincus will be speaking about Paul’s Epistles, which, he believes, were the vehicle that conveyed the message of Jesus to the world and convinced so many of the hearers that Jesus outlined a good way of living. St Paul was one of the most influential figures in Christianity's formation and influence. This weekend we explore some of the most interesting dimensions of this character.

The Season of Creation 2022 began on 1st of September, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and ends October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecology. Season of Creation is the annual ecumenical celebration that unites the world’s 2.4 billion Christians in prayer and action for our common home.

On Father's Day our liturgy focused on the parlous state of men's mental health and how this was partly a legacy of Christianity's adopting Greek philosophy's disconnect of mind and body. This week we will be exploring how the ancient spiritual practices of making sounds like chants and singing can heal our bodies and minds.

Margaret discusses the concept of Reciprocity that scientist and author, Robin Wall Kimmerer, says, broadens what it means to be human in all our relationships, including our relationship with Earth. Kimmerer suggests that in a culture of gratitude, both the honour of giving and the humility of receiving, are necessary halves of the whole.