Over the past week, I have been deeply moved by the way God’s presence becomes visible through the sacraments and through the simple act of gathering of community. Our travels from Perth to Adelaide were filled with moments that reminded me how the Spirit draws us together, invites us to deeper belonging, and meets us in worship, blessing, and hospitality.
Our week began in Perth, where we were first welcomed into the life of the community and then shared in the joyful celebration of Peter Lonsdale’s ordination to the office of Evangelist. The Perth congregation welcomed us with warmth, generosity, and a faithfulness that has carried their community through many seasons. In every conversation, and every shared experience, we experienced the Spirit’s presence through the steady and loving commitment of faithful people.
It was deeply meaningful to witness the moment when God’s quiet invitation met Peter’s willing heart. As the community surrounded Peter with prayer and blessing, I felt deep gratitude for the Spirit that has been shaping his ministry for many years.
From Perth we traveled to Adelaide, where we participated in several communion services across the community. Each service carried its own spirit, yet in every place I encountered the spiritual depth of those that have lived a lifetime of faithfulness. The hospitality we received in Adelaide also reflected that same spirit of faithfulness and care. We were welcomed wholeheartedly, embraced generously, and nourished both physically and spiritually by communities whose devotion to one another and to God was evident in every interaction. I was profoundly appreciative of those whose steady commitment and dedication to service helped to create a community where I could find belonging.
As I look back over the week, what stands out most for me is the shared spirit that lives within our communities. It is a spirit that is not isolated to one congregation or one region, but flows through all of us. I sensed it in Perth as people gathered around Peter with such love and affirmation, and I sensed it again in Adelaide as communities shared in the Lord’s Supper with reverence, joy, and deep devotion.
This shared spirit is shaped by the many ways we walk together in faith. It is the steady dedication of those who show up week after week, the quiet acts of service that no one sees, the deep trust in God’s presence through seasons of change, and the commitment to welcome others with warmth and generosity. It is a spirit formed by shared stories, shared songs, shared tables, and shared prayers.
It is also a spirit that holds us together across great distances. Even though our Mission Centre stretches over vast geography, there is a recognizable thread of faithfulness and love that binds us as one community. Even when we are thousands of kilometres from home, that same spirit greets us with openness, sincerity, and kindness.
For me, this shared spirit is one of the clearest signs of God at work among us. It is a reminder that we are part of something larger than ourselves, something rooted in grace and sustained by the countless ways people choose to love, serve, and invite others to belong.
May we remain open to the sacred encounters that wait for us in worship, in service, in community, and in the everyday expressions of faith that reveal God’s love in our midst.
With gratitude,
Meredith Carr
Australia Mission Centre President