Liturgies

This weekend we will be listening to an Australian Story program on the life of Megan Davis, one of the key architects and facilitators of the Uluru Statement and requests for a First Nations Voice to Parliament. This is an important story for us all to know and understand. Many of the criticisms of the Uluru Statement make the claim that it is a product of a Canberra elite out of touch with the poverty of many First Nations people. Hearing Megan’s story puts paid to these criticisms.

As we celebrate Fathers Day this weekend, Terry invites us all to be Fathers to our planet. If the conventional notion to be a father is to be a protector, provider, teacher, leader, mentor, and encourager, handing on important skills such as confidence, resilience, respect and kindness through love and nurturing discipline to future generations, then surely we are all called to do this to ensure the continuing of life on our precious planet.

Terry will be interviewing Michael Tansky. This is an opportunity to get to know another of our community members a little more, to find out what inspires and motivates them, and what keeps them up at night.

This week we join the National Campaign to save our Native Forests. They need protecting because we know it is one of the most effective ways to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises. We know first hand in Australia that the increase in drought and extreme bush fires make it imperative to protect and restore our Native Forests.

This weekend Mark Taylor has agreed to be interviewed by Terry. As we did last year with Ingerid, Marg and Liz in his interviews with them. It is an opportunity to get to know our community members a little more, to find out what inspires and motivates them, and what keeps them up at night.

To mark National Homelessness Week, Terry interviews Karyn Walsh to talk about how Micah Projects has been addressing this crisis.

We celebrate National Tree Day this Sunday. As the planet warms up the planting and care of trees will become even more important. Care of trees was very important to the first peoples of this land.

David discusses Pentecostalism and other types of Christianity which depend on belief in Predestination - the doctrine that people who accept the word of God will get to Heaven. Does this contradict the SMX view that right action (orthopraxy) is more important than right belief (orthodoxy)?

Significant communal rituals which celebrate key moments in our lives can inspire each of us to live fuller lives. Today we speak of one such ritual, Baptism. In our liturgies this weekend we will explore how SMX understands the relevance of baptism when experienced in a meaningful contemporary way

As we come to the end of NAIDOC week we recognise that the First Nations people of this country face a difficult three months as the Australian people prepare to vote in a referendum on whether they will have a voice enshrined in our constitution to government and parliament on matters concerning them. It is important that each of us is aware of the significance that this vote is for the well-being of our country and that each of us do all we can to bring about a positive outcome.