Liturgies

In our liturgy this week as we continue the themes of World Environment Day and World Oceans Day, we hear from Damon Gameau. He begins his talk by stating that clearly ecological collapse is one of the greatest challenges of our times. We've long looked to science, politics and business for solutions, but perhaps we also need to be looking to storytelling. What role do stories play in addressing climate change and biodiversity loss? Can we tell a new, but old, story about humans and nature that will reshape our world for the better?

Homilist Mark Thomson is a SMX member, Micah Projects Board Member, and practising architect who will share some thoughts on linking”our spiritual environment” to ‘the world environment.'“

This weekend Terry will be speaking on the unitive nature of the Holy Spirit so central to this feast of Pentecost. This unitive and reconciling nature of the spirit will be most necessary in the hearts of many Australians as we attempt to achieve a First Nations Voice to Parliament later this year.

In today’s liturgy we will be listening to Richard Rohr speak about the power of contemplation. He explores, how for most of us we were taught that prayer was talking to God. The prayer of silent contemplation was for those select few.

The Earth is our mother. We need to realise that the Earth is not just our environment. The Earth is not something outside of us. Breathing with mindfulness and contemplating your body, you realise that you are the Earth. You realise that your consciousness is also the consciousness of the Earth. Look around you–what you see is not your environment, it is you.

Michael Tansky explores Steve Biddulph's latest book titled "Fully Human – A new Way of Using Your Mind". Our bodies are sending us messages every second we are alive. These messages are quicker, subtler and much smarter than our conscious brains at knowing what’s going on. Yet most of us ignore them but we do this at our peril. Michael will explore how can we tap into them more effectively.

This week we will hear from Lara Watson a proud Burri Gubba woman and a Trade Union Indigenous Officer. She will be sharing what a win for “Yes” in the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum would mean for her people and the people of Australia.

Terry will speaking about the importance of remembering. As Christians we are disciples of Jesus. Jesus invited his disciples to remember him in the breaking of the bread. On Anzac Day every year we remember those who gave their lives for this country. He will be making a case for why it is important to remember ALL those who gave their lives.

Margaret Clifford will continue with the Easter theme and speak about the many ways we can experience awe and how it can transform our lives. This awe moment is the divine presence breaking into our lives, lifting us up, out of ourselves, to something vast, to connectedness, so we live lives of moral beauty.

Our world cries out to hear the timeless message of Easter, that this divine essence which lies at the heart of all life, will never leave us. To deeply hear the words, I AM with you always. This I AM is always there to guide, strengthen and inspire us to act with Justice, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with God.