Liturgies

Terry will be sharing some insights from his recent retreat. A time to slow down can be an invitation to return to our deeper selves. To be grounded in the present moment where life is truly worth living.

We are beginning this year with a liturgy which focuses on Micah Projects. This year Micah celebrates 30 years of service to the community. We will be watching a wonderful brief documentary that highlights who and what Micah has meant to so many people.

Our Christmas Vigil celebration was wonderful. Beautiful music, thought provoking homily from Terry, presided so well by Heather and Tony and a liturgy that was inspired - we were on holy ground. Wow, this community is really something special.

As we continue our Advent theme of The Joy of Waiting in Times of Uncertainty and Fear, Liz will explore what our sacred scriptures contribute to the topic.

Margaret will reflect on Advent as a time of waiting, a time of transformation, a time of tapping into the living hope within and allowing it to shape our way of seeing, coping, interacting and being in our world.

Narelle Mullins speaks of the challenge of waiting in the wilderness. In the wilderness the Gospel tells us that God spoke to John the Baptist and called John. Even if he felt powerless in his wilderness, he was to act…to prepare the way of the Lord. Waiting in the wilderness can be uncomfortable and disturbing but many of Australia’s First peoples wait there In our wilderness, can we hear that voice within calling us deeply into divine intimacy and love?

As we prepare for Christmas this Advent, it can be a time to slow down and return to what is most important in our lives. Traditionally it is a time of preparing and waiting for the coming of the light. A light which is often dimmed by our traveling too fast over false ground. Let us take time this season to slow down and allow our souls to take us back to find the joy that dwells deep within slow time. Homily by Terry Fitzpatrick.

Peter Kennedy will be speaking this weekend via a video recording. He will be speaking about Sanctuary and its true meaning. In particular he will be reminding us of the graciousness of the Union Movement that gave us SANCTUARY when we were exiled from the Catholic Church. And for this we are forever grateful.

Heather Eckersley will speak to us of our upcoming Advent journey, with an invitation to consider using an Australian publication based in our own landscape. Here is a contemplative opportunity to press pause on our inner noise, to wait, watch and listen and see what happens.

Richard Rohr says that retribution is a system that works best in prisons and courtrooms but is not the way of the Gospels. Our best selves need honest exposure to truth and a desire to restore relationships. Otherwise, we are controlled by the past.