The Sending Forth by Rick Sarre at Tiona Reunion Camp is a beautiful prayer of renewal and mission, a message sending us forward in love and purpose.

My first experience at Tiona Reunion unfolded with a quiet sense of anticipation, the kind that comes when you step into a space shaped by years of tradition yet open to new stories…

I do not think there is anything more beautiful and peaceful than to watch snowflakes start to fall on Christmas morning.  Unfortunately, I have not been on the other side of the world to watch this scene first-hand.  However, I have witnessed this spectacular sight many times on my television screen.  As I thought about the imagery depicted by the snowflakes falling from heaven, I could see a similarity to the Holy Spirit falling upon us.

Shortly after our Newcastle congregation opened nearly 25 years ago, we formed a Craft Group as an outreach ministry. What began as a small class introducing and teaching needlework—smocking, candlewicking, silk and wool embroidery, patchwork, and more—quickly grew as participants developed their skills and discovered their favourite crafts. Before long, individuals were excelling in their chosen areas and producing some truly beautiful work…

We have now entered the Christian season of Advent celebrated in Christian communities right throughout the world.  The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus meaning “coming”.  It is a season observed in many Christian churches, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus…

The Bendigo congregation was the host for the Victoria Gathering last Sunday. My day started early with preparation for this special day, with a luncheon to prepare for our many visitors followed by a worship service and then my Ordination to Elder…

This past week took me into two communities whose faith and welcome left a deep impression on me. Our first stop was the Sunshine Coast, where we gathered for the baptism of Daniel Brand. It was a gentle and joyful service, filled with warmth and a genuine sense of support. As Daniel entered this new life in Christ, the community around him offered encouragement, support, and a place to belong. It was a beautiful reminder that God works through the sacraments to shape us, bless us, and call us into community…

Over the past week, I travelled from Adelaide to Sydney, then on to Queensland to visit in Brisbane and Toowoomba. I moved through busy airports, long stretches of road, and very different landscapes. While the locations kept changing, the relationships did not. Our schedule moved between congregational gatherings, conversations with Mission Centre staff, and meaningful visits in people’s homes. Each encounter had its own tone and setting, but all of them were marked by hospitality and a genuine desire to connect.

Thursday Church in Melbourne grew from a mutual need. Climate change was highlighted with devastating bushfires in Victoria over the summer of 2019-2020. Life’s uncertainty was disquieting.  Connectedness felt during church camps at Kallara nurtured the desire of a few to meet together in one of their homes…

Tuesday Church began during the COVID-19 lockdowns, not as a program, but as a conversation between friends who needed space for honest questions, spiritual depth, and connection. What started as four people sitting with uncertainty has become a small and trusted community that meets online each week, holding sacred space for learning, reflection, and care…