Central Church Port Kembla: Recent Episodes
Central Church Port Kembla
Central is a non-denominational Christian church that meets in the suburb of Port Kembla, Wollongong, Australia. This podcast is a recording of our Sunday sermon. In our gatherings we often have dialogue, ask questions, and listen to each other, not just the preacher. For this reason, what you hear here has been edited to remove bits and pieces of discussion that would otherwise be recorded as 'dead-space'. We hope you enjoy and are encouraged by what you hear. If you'd like to find out more about us you can find us at centralchurch.org.au or www.facebook.com/centralchurchportkembla/
Becca shares about walking the bright path together and experiencing ‘salvific resources’ along the way, drawing on the experiences of folks from Central who have been pilgrims on the Camino.
Adam and Lisa Gowen share some of their experience with Indigenous Spirituality and reflect on what salvation means through an Indigenous lens.
In this gathering we engaged with the idea of spiritual practice as paying attention. Our practices included: a time of paying attention to something from creation; praying an examen; and confession.Background music to use: https://karlverkade.bandcamp.com/track/db-pad-base
The Parable of the Prodigal Son is one of Jesus' most well-known and beloved stories. In this episode, Oran explores what this parable might reveal about salvation, the heart of God, and the radical nature of divine love. This message opens the doors to discussion on how God's grace might extend even beyond the grave, and what this means for how we understand the Father's relentless pursuit of his children.
Caro explains the framework of 'theological worlds' which goes a long way to explaining the different beliefs and worldviews that sit under the umbrella of Christianity. It can help explain why we can feel very different to other Christians and think differently about key issues while still following the same God.
Steff Fenton is a writer, speaker and pastor who spent an evening with us at Central sharing about their journey of finding a faith outside of the gender binaries, both of self and God. It was an absolute delight to listen to Steff share their story with us.
Do you have a memory of being held by God, in grief or joy? On Sunday we explored two contemplative practices around being held by God. We were guided in a meditation by Lynda and we also looked at Scriptures where God is described as holding or carrying God's people, like a parent carries a child. Ambient background music is by https://karlverkade.bandcamp.com/
Reimagining John 15:1-9 in the context of Jesus’ prior teaching can help us to remain without fear. Bryony shares how questions and embodiment have helped her remain in Jesus’ love.
How do ruptures in our faith and life shape us? How can we reimagine survival together? And what are considerations for being a church that takes trauma seriously?
In our gathering we look at two different metaphors for resilience and consider what wisdom they might have for us, and we finish with a lectio divina on the steadfast love of God.Ambient background music is by https://karlverkade.bandcamp.com/
Caro explores Jesus' unusual words to Mary in John 20 to consider how following God invites a regular letting go of old ways of thinking.
In the Gospel of John, we encounter the beautiful account of Jesus restoring Peter after his three denials on the night of His arrest. This story is rich with layers that reveal the true heart of Christ—the incarnate God. In this message, Oran explores these layers of Peter’s redemption and reflects on how God, in perfect love, restores us as well.
Drawing the series on Colossians to a close, Bryony explores the subversive instructions to slave masters in a letter being carried by a freed slave.
Continuing our Colossians series, Becca explores themes in chapter two, around survival in the shadow of Empire, the lure of 'secret knowledge' and how community is the way that we know God.
The stories we are told shape our lives. They influence how we see ourselves—and how we understand the world around us. Today, as in the days of Paul, the dominant story is often one of peace through violence, where might makes right. Paul, however, proclaims a better story: one in which violence is not passed on, but absorbed through Christ on the cross. In this message, Oran explores this transformative narrative by unpacking the centrepiece of Colossians 1—the Messiah Hymn.
What if real change requires more than good intentions? In this New Year sermon, Oran explores Jesus’ parable of new wine and new wineskins, and what it reveals about growth, frustration, and transformation. Jesus is not calling us to despise the old, but to discern when a season has ended and to make room for the new work God is doing among us. A reflection on change, grace, and the courage it takes to trust that God is still making all things new.
Using Isaiah 2 and Psalm 122 Bryony explores the “now and not yet” of the promised peace we wait for during advent and asks how we can prepare for the coming of the kingdom.
In our December contemplative service we explored the 4 themes of Advent: hope, peace, joy and love. We did an Examen around those themes, reflecting on our year and we also practiced centering prayer together, choosing one or the Advent themes as our sacred word.Ambient background music is by https://karlverkade.bandcamp.com/
Trauma is indifferent to morality. It does not weigh guilt or innocence; it leaves its mark based on impact, not intention. Paul, once a fierce persecutor of the early church, likely carried deep trauma after his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus. In this message, Oran explores signs of trauma reflected in Paul’s writings and considers what we can learn from his journey as both the one who inflicted harm and the one who later bore its weight.
How do we make sense of trauma and loss that life inevitably brings us? Becca shares from Jeremiah about how the prophet helped people make sense of the catastrophe of exile. She draws from the work of Walter Brueggemann, David Carr and Wil Gafney as she explores the promise of hope after devastation.
Liminal space is that strange and often uncomfortable place we find ourselves when the old has ended but the new has not yet begun. It can be a time marked by confusion, uncertainty, and even anxiety. Though we may be tempted to avoid it or rush our way through, liminal space plays a vital role in our growth and transformation. It is also said to be the place where we most profoundly encounter God. In this message, Oran explores the meaning of liminal space, examines its presence throughout Scripture, and considers how we might learn to wait well in these shadowy in-between places.
We do a few practices around Selah - finding the Divine Hospitality in slivers of silence inspired by Sally Longley's book, Conversations with Silence. We do some 'Divine Listening' to a few pieces of music and notice when we might be able to find seven sacred pauses throughout our day.Ambient background music is by https://karlverkade.bandcamp.com/
With seven weeks of 'ordinary time' left in the church calendar before Advent, how do we stay awake to God's presence while living in unprecedented and extraordinary times? Becca shares about Jesus' relationship to time and how nature can be a non-anxious presence that supports us to resist acedia and embrace this mystery of our life and times.
In light of the Genesis 1 commandment to care for creation, the impact of unfaithfulness on creation is outlined in passages from Isaiah and Hosea. We reflect on ways to show our faithfulness, particularly through the use of money.
We engaged with the writings of French priest and paleontologist Pierre Teihard de Chardin who once said that to plunge into matter is to plunge into God. In honoring the Season of Creation we meditated on a chosen leaf, flower, shell or strawberry and then finished with a Lectio Divina on some of Teihard’s writings on trusting Gods slow work in our lives. Ambient background music is by https://karlverkade.bandcamp.com/
“Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” These striking words from Christ, spoken during the Sermon on the Mount, carry an enormous weight. How are we supposed to grasp such a command, let alone live out a life of perfection? In this episode, Oran explores the idea of “perfection,” considering both its ancient meaning and our modern assumptions, to uncover how Jesus may actually be calling us not to flawlessness, but to wholeness.
We looked at the disorientation of desert seasons in our life, used Lectio Divina to reflect on a passage from Isaiah 35 and meditation on images on deserts across Australia and how those places might connect to our own lives.Background music to use: https://karlverkade.bandcamp.com/track/db-pad-base
Caro unpacks John 2:1-11 and looks at some of John’s deep wisdom and connection with other parts of Scripture.
John 2:1-11 is a story of Jesus’ first miracle in John’s gospel as well as a reflection point on how we can be moving from scarcity to abundance in our lives and communities.
Caro unpacks the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12 and we wrestle with what Jesus might have to say to us about surplus wealth.
The tension between the ideologies surrounding Capitalism and Care can be viewed as a spectrum. Henri Nouwen captures this contrast poignantly: “In a capitalist society... we are often measured by what we have. In the kingdom of God, we are measured by what we are willing to give away.” In this message, Oran brings both concepts into focus, inviting us to reflect on how they shape our values, choices, and daily lives.
We do a few short practices to help us be present to the moment and engage in a Lectio Divina from Jean-Pierre de Cassaude’s classic ‘The Sacrament of the Present Moment’.Ambient background music is by https://karlverkade.bandcamp.com/
Bryony considers how Miriam could be a queer icon while exploring the stories of Miriam as an adult in Exodus and Numbers. Miriam’s significance to the people as a leader and prophet is contrasted with Moses.
Caro looks at the often overlooked women in Exodus 1 and 2, without whom there would be no Moses and no liberation from Egypt. She looks at the different ways each woman resisted and disobeyed the powers and we celebrate the significance of small acts of mercy and justice.
It’s Palm Sunday and we immerse ourselves in the story of the Son of Man who stands as antidote to empire. We explore the quiet ways we also practice resurrection and live lives of resurrection.
We wrapped this gathering around the story in Luke 17:11-16 where Jesus raises a widow’s son. The story is a collision of celebration and mourning, life and death. We begin with doing a lectio divina on the passage and then do a short imaginative prayer exercise.Ambient background music is by https://karlverkade.bandcamp.com/
The mystery of the cross lies in how Christ’s death reconciled us with God. While many theories exist, none can be known with absolute certainty. In this episode, Oran explores two perspectives, reflecting on how Christ’s death and resurrection signify the end of death itself—and what that means not just for Christians, but for all of humanity.
Caro shares how the Cross makes plain a pattern of death and resurrection that is built into the universe; a pattern that God undergoes in Christ and one that we experience in our own lives.
The term scapegoat comes from the Ancient Israelite practice on the Day of Atonement. The priest confessed the wrong doings of the people over the head of the goat and the goat carried that guilt far away from the people. Rene Girard observed that all cultures have participated in scapegoating. Jesus was a scapegoat and his death and resurrection revealed the mechanism.
We start off with some cantering prayer and then using Gary Thomas’ content we dive into the nine different ways we can connect with God. We consider the ways we naturally experience God’s presence and acknowledge what feels foreign to us.Ambient background music is by https://karlverkade.bandcamp.com/
Becca shares about the “weirdness” of Christian community as well as the gifts of shared grief and hope.
Caro shares some of our journey as a church, highlights some of our values and shares some changes for us in 2025. Those changes relate to leadership structure and to our rhythm of gatherings.
In many ways our spirituality is personal and private, and in other ways we cannot walk this road of faith alone. This month we engaged in lectio divina and an examen to explore the gift of community and remind ourselves of the gift other people have been in our own journey of faith.Ambient background music is by https://karlverkade.bandcamp.com/
In today's digital age, we have access to an abundance of online resources—podcasts, videos, books, and journals—featuring insights from some of the world's brightest minds. With such a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips, what is the value of attending church? In this message, Oran will explore this question, encapsulated in the Greek phrase Egó mésa ekklisía - Ekklisía mésa mou, which translates to "Me within the church, the church within me."
We look at the story of Jacob’s Ladder from Genesis 28, reading it as if we were hearing it as a story told around a campfire and seeing what truth we might discover about humans and God.
Luke’s gospel begins with God disturbing many lives. Reflecting on the way God disrupts Mary’s life helps us to look for ways God might be disrupting our lives too.
Using Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel inviting her to participate with God’s good plans for the world, Caro invites us to see this story as an archetype of our own ‘yeses’ to God at different points in our life. This sermon used 6 different artworks… If you’d like to see them as you listen to this episode you can find them post on our Facebook page (and it the community group) posted on 9/12/2024.
In this message, Oran looks at some of the theological principles around forgiveness and how it does, and doesn’t, relate to God.
Caro unpacks Jesus’ teaching around turn the other cheek, give your robe as well and go the extra mile and looks at how Jesus is encouraging people to maintain their own dignity within a system of oppression. We are called to forgive people and resist systems of oppression and injustice.
Becca shares about the challenges that come with forgiveness, spiritual bypassing, and how we can “lower the bar” and offer ourselves and other deep compassion on the journey.
Together we reflect on forgiveness, what it might be and what it might not be, and then we do an examen considering what we might need to send away, let be or move away from in our lives.Ambient background music is by karlverkade.bandcamp.com/
This contemplative service leads us in reflecting on some quotes and poetry that invite us into wholesome confession, honesty, truth-telling and vulnerability.Ambient background music is by https://karlverkade.bandcamp.com/
Luke and Caro share together to kick off our series on forgiveness and we begin by looking at being people of humility who are able to confess our mistakes as well as what a healthy apology looks like.
Research highlights the many health benefits of immersing ourselves in nature. This connection extends beyond the physiological and psychological to touch on a deeper spiritual level. We aren't merely coexisting with nature; we are an integral part of it.Returning to nature, akin to returning to a Garden, is crucial for our well-being. In this message, Oran examines the link between nature and humanity from both scientific and spiritual viewpoints, while also exploring how the lack of nature in our lives relates to the concept of sin.
Caro looks at the way the Bible speaks of creation as an active participant in God’s world, and how mysticism opens us up to seeing all creation held together in Christ… along with humanity. We consider how this challenges the idea of human superiority and how it may inform the choices we make and lives we live.
Bryony explores different passages of Scripture that highlight the ways that Creation teaches us about God. We then reflect on what it’s like being a student of creation and what we’re learning.
Parables are like riddles, they can be difficult to understand and may have multiple and unclear meanings. They often leave us feeling challenged and uncomfortable. In this podcast, Oran looks at the parable of the wheat and the weeds and considers the lenses in we approach this parable through, and if there is more to Jesus' story than the separation of the saints and sinners at the end of days.
Caro unpacks the parable of the net and helps us discover a way this parable can fill us with hope instead of fear.
This month we're wrestling with the parables of the kingdom in Matthew 13. Caro starts by unpacking the nature of parables before looking at the strangeness within the mustard seed, yeast, hidden treasure and pearl. The whole point of parables is to leave the listener thinking, provoked, confused or even annoyed. So we draw no conclusions but aim to let the strangeness sit with us and do its work.
Adam joins us for this Sunday at the end of NAIDOC week. He shares how Western, Indigenous and Biblical perspectives on fire can weave together to bring wisdom to our lives.
This Sunday we asked our young people to curate the service and they chose to discuss the topic of God and suffering and wanted a panel style discussion. This is what unfolded as people shared their experiences of God in the midst of their suffering.
The art of lamenting is not often practiced by the modern day Christian. Yet, it is a sacred, age old form of spiritual practice, possibly the most raw and honest way we come to God. In this message, Oran looks at the godly nature of lament and using Psalm 10 as an example, walks through the four movements of the lament psalm.
More than any other book in the Bible, the Psalms teach us how to be human. They reveal to us that our humanity is not a flaw, but the very means by which we encounter God. Using Psalm 25, Caro invites us to consider how we might carry the unfinishedness of our lives in a way that helps us to remain open to God's grace.
Becca introduces us to Walter Brueggemann's pattern of the life of faith. We are always moving in different ways (and perhaps even in different parts of our life) from: secure orientation - where life makes sense, all seems well, we're in a state of equilibrium; to painful disorientation - where life is chaotic, disordered, things don't make sense, we're swept off our feet by something unexpected (or unjust) and we feel disoriented; through to* surprising reorientation - where things begin to feel 'new' again, not a return to what was, but a movement towards surprising grace, risky hope, unexpected regrounding. We are rarely in control of when or how this reorientation comes.The Psalms as a whole book contain the full spectrum of human experience and emotions, and even within any given Psalm we can see the movement from secure orientation to painful disorientation or painful disorientation to surprising reorientation.The Psalms give us permission to be ourselves, exactly as we are, raw, honest and unfiltered before God.The Psalms remind us that God does not want a curated 'nice' relationship with us, but can handle our grief, rage, despair, fear, longing, lostness and exhaustion.
Becca hosts Laura, Bekk and Kim as they share their thoughts and experiences with the motherheart of God. They share ways in which seeing God as mother has been healing, and also the ways they see God as beyond gender. This is a really authentic and honest discussion and highlights the ways each of us have an individual and unique relationship with the Divine.
The Myth of Redemptive was a term popularised by Theologian Walter Wink in 1945, in his book The Powers That Be. It is the idea that war brings peace, might makes right, and out of violence and chaos comes peace and order. We see this myth at work all throughout human history and still today in our everyday lives. We think that if we, the good guys, can just hit the "bad guys" hard enough, there will be justice. But this only perpetuates the violence, not stops it. In scripture we see Jesus' whole ministry as a push back against the Myth of Redemptive and instead shows us redemptive suffering on the cross. In this podcast, Oran looks at this myth and how it has influenced us over history, including scripture and theology.
How does Jesus' post-resurrection encounter with two people who don't recognise him speak to our own experiences of loss and grief?
Becca shared about how Jesus' resurrected body still carried the wounds from his past, giving us courage to be honest about the wounds we still carry.
The Sacrament of the Present Moment is the practice of being present and aware of God within the individual moments of our lives. This reminds us that God is everywhere, all the time, always waiting to engage us. In this message, Oran looks at how we might practice this sacrament in our daily lives, and observed the writings of Jean Pierre de Caussade and Eckhart Tolle.
This week we talk about the mysterious power of Christ’s death not as an historic event but as a real energy at work in us and the cosmos. How can we trust in death and resurrection in our own lives?
We continue with our lent series sitting with Henri Nouwen’s wisdom. This week Caro unpacks how our self worth can be stuck in what other people say or think about us. We wrestle together being honest with how we struggle with this as well as looking at Jesus and asking ourselves ‘how was he able to live from such a sense of beloved identity?’
We wrap this contemplative service around Henri Nouwen's wise words: "I'm not what I have, I'm not what I do, I'm not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God." Caro leads us in a practice that helps us ground ourselves in our belovedness and Becca shares how needing to be in control or responsible for things has been a challenge in her life, and she leads us in a practice she has found helpful in letting go. **There is a part of Becca's sharing that we have edited out as she shared some personal things she didn't want up on the podcast.
We continue with our lent series sitting with Henri Nouwen’s wisdom. This week Caro unpacks how our self worth can be stuck in what we have or do and how God invites us to live a little more from our belovedness.
Caro zooms out and in on this strange and wonderful account and we look at what it might have to offer us as a metaphor for our spiritual lives.
It is easy to assume that the way we read and interpret the Bible today, with our modern and scientific minds, is the way it has always been done. That the words we glean through scripture from God are the same today as they were for the early church. However, it may be surprising, and perhaps confronting, to realise that our way is a relatively young way of approaching scripture. In this message, Oran looks across seven pivotal stages of biblical interpretation throughout Christian history and discusses what we might gain from a greater hermeneutical awareness.
Walking through the lectionary texts Caro invites us to consider the trajectory of God’s presence in Scripture which ends in the high point of our bodies being the dwelling place of God. We then unpack what this means about the sacredness of our bodies and how we might listen to our bodies to hear God speaking to and in us.
It’s the first Sunday after epiphany and our texts for today have the themes of water, Spirit and birds. We read through the texts and Caro shares some insights around God’s presence hovering over all creation including us.
Caro preaches through the lectionary texts for this second Sunday in Advent and we discuss how we hold on to hope when it feels like God is slow.
In our contemplative service this month we sat in the theme of Light, engaging in an Examen and Lectio Divina to connect us to God this Advent.
Oran leads our community in unpacking the lectionary texts for this first Sunday of Advent centering around the questions of 'what are we waiting for?' and 'how do we wait?'
Caro looks at some of the stranger details of this story including how Jesus liked to wander in ‘in-between’ places; how these men in their physical suffering had found a remarkable social healing; and how this might just be the unsexiest miracle Jesus performed. She finishes by reading a Rilke poem which alongside this passage encourages us to stay close to Jesus our Source.
How is the nature of our personal healing tied up with the world’s salvation? Becca looks at Luke 17 and what it might mean for us today.
The content of Acts 10 lends itself well to the idea of spiritual direction. Caro shares with us a little about what Spiritual direction is and then we hear an imaginative interpretation of Peter unpacking his vision and it’s implications with a spiritual director (Kym Dixon kindly agreed to participate as a director.)
In this episode, Oran takes a look at Peter's vision of the animals in the sheet from a psychological view, considering the mindsets around disgust, purity, sacrifice and mercy and how they affect our interaction with those around us. Peter's reaction to the vision of the unclean animals is not exclusive to just ancient times, that same psychology affecting Peter's perspective is still very present in us today. God was inviting Peter beyond his cultural and religious boundaries, but Peter had to overcome deeply embedded 'disgust' (uncleanness, impurity, unholiness etc) in order to discover God in the 'other'.
We look at the life and the teaching of St. Francis and reflect and listen to the wisdom Francis offers us today.
As we continue to explore ways of decolonising our church practices, Caro leads us into a communal exploration of Acts 10. We read the passage with some context explained. Then we wrestle together with what this story might show us about what God is doing and how God is ‘doing’ it.
Caro shares how her upbringing leaned more towards spiritual bypassing that equipping her to lament when needed. She shares how lament give us a way to protest to God, express and process emotion with God and voice our confusion. Becca also shares briefly what breath prayer is and how that has been a gift for her in prayer.
Caro shares how speaking to God as we speak to a friend provides a space of prayer as connection. And how the prayer of silence, or wordless prayer, can be a way we discover God in all the spaces in between.
Caro shares how liturgical prayer has been a source of life for her. Liturgy can be a gift to our prayer lives, a way we can join in the rich prayer life of the church across geography, time and history. As part of this service we had the opportunity to spend 15 minutes engaging with some liturgy. If you’d like to have a taste of this, get in touch and we can help you out.
Caro speaks briefly about St. Ignatius then leads us through an imaginative prayer experience with the text. Inviting us to find ourselves in this story and see how the Holy Spirit brings the text alive in our lives.
Larissa Minniecon, a Kabi Kabi, Gureng Gureng, Ambryn and Zenadth Kes woman, shares an Indigenous perspective on abundance and Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well.
In this month’s contemplative service we looked at the life of St. Teresa of Avila and participated in a couple different spiritual practices.
Ambient background music is by https://karlverkade.bandcamp.com/
Food is a highly political topic. The injustice between the “haves” and the “have nots” can be seen in our local communities, as well as on the global scale. In Jesus’ times, the Romans controlled the food supply, and the Pharisees wrapped so much religious red tape around food, many of the Jewish people struggled to keep their families fed. Yet amidst this boiling pot of tension, Jesus fed 5000 people through prayer and provision. In this podcast, Oran explores the significance of this miracle, and the freedom it presented to the crowd following Him, and to us today.
The audio recording from our service failed, so Luke and Caro have put together a snippet of Simone's life and writings for people to enjoy and reflect upon.
Ambient background music is by https://karlverkade.bandcamp.com/
Caro shares some of our story as a church and how our culture and approach to finances and resources has changed over the years, including where we’re at now.
Some of the members of our church board share our ethos and values around giving and chat about our current financial situation as well as our hopes for the future.
This week Oran gives an overview of the biblical narrative through a lens of generosity. This lens shows God's love as abundant, plentiful and generous. Sin, on the other hand, is not so much scarcity, rather the lie of scarcity - that there is not enough and we must take as much as we can to find wholeness and happiness. We can see this lie come to people time and again throughout scripture, and also in our own lives presenting the challenge of trusting in God's unlimited provision instead of our own limited resourcefulness.
This month we dive into the life and writings of St Therese of Lisieux, engaging in an Examen and a brief Lectio Divina.
Tonight Belinda Fleming, Cheryl Meers and David Fleming share thoughts, reflections and insights from the book "God Walk" by Mark Buchanan, that they have been reading together over the past several weeks.
There are different things in life that are invitations to us to slow down in this fast paced world. Some are natural, like winter; some are unexpected, like illness or loss; and others are practices we adopt to intentionally slow us down, like boundaries or spiritual practices. 6 people from our community share briefly how one of these things has been an invitation for them to live a slower paced life.At the end Caro reads two poems. These are ‘Sometimes’ by David Whyte, and ‘In Search of Quiet’ by Will Small.
Caro looks at our passage this month through a Christological lens that centres Jesus to see what might be happening. In this light we can read this passage as the anointing of Jesus as King, but a different kind of king to all other leaders in history and our world.
Luke shares a bit about his own journey towards feminism, as well as a brief overview of feminist theology. We then read the passage and listen to the voices of women in our church as they wrestle with the text.
After anointing Jesus with perfume, the disciples/pharisees grumble saying that perfume could have been sold to feed the poor. However, Jesus rebukes them saying "you will always have the poor but you will not always have me". As onlookers, or as people in a position of power, this response from Jesus does not make sense. We can only begin to understand when we look at this story from a powerless perspective. In this message, Oran examines these words from Jesus and considers why a powerless perspective on our own lives might be the only path to true spiritual growth.
Caro reads this passage verse by verse with a curiosity and an appreciation of the masterpiece of the Gospel of John.
We read the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a donkey and consider how it was an act of political street theatre. A subversive way that Jesus models a different kind of power. Caro then invites us to keep imagining ways we can live the alternate way of Jesus, and we look at the lives of three different followers of Jesus to see how they lived out the upside down kingdom of God.
In this episode, Oran looks at Moral Influence Atonement theory, one of the 7 prime theories acknowledged by the church over the course of Christianity. Within this message, Oran briefly looks at the history and purpose of Moral Influence Theory, and discusses the resurgence in its relevance in today's day and age.
Becca shares out of James Cone’s book how through the horrific period of lynchings in America’s history, Black Christians saw in their own suffering Christ crucified with them. Becca connects this perspective with all those who have been oppressed and brutalised through history, especially here in our own context, the past and present injustices done to Indigenous Australians.Music: 'He was Numbered Among the Lawless' Steve Schallert
Caro looks at a quote from Plato written 300 years before Christ which said that if ever a truly righteous man was to walk the earth, he would be deemed unrighteous then tortured and killed. Caro uses this to reflect on humanity’s tendency to always stuff things up, and the cross as God’s response: forgiveness, grace, love and mercy.
Oran chats about how hospitality and community are expressions of God’s kingdom and how we attempt to live them out at Central. We then wrestle together with how introversion, church trauma, burn out and Covid have affected how we practice these.
Carol talks some more of our values at Central, more specifically around how we hold our theology and how we work for justice.
Through February, we’re going to be looking at some values we hold dear at Central and Caro begins by looking at our value of developing a deep and robust spiritual life. At Central we believe that each of us is responsible for our own spiritual life and that involves sending our roots down deep into the rich depths of our faith tradition and opening wide to become places of refuge and life for others.
We look at the gospel text for this Sunday, the baptism of Jesus in Matthew 3 and Caro shares some reflections on what the baptism of Jesus might reveal to us about the nature of God, and she invites us to remember our own baptism and the way God first wooed our hearts.
Caro looks at the life of Mary and the ways in which we can see wisdom for the spiritual life and how Jesus regularly does unexpected things that invite Mary to change and grow.
Oran and Luke look at the life of Joseph, what we know from Scripture and what we can imagine reading between the lines and both share their thoughts around how Jesus interrupts Joseph’s life with both challenges and goodness.
Caro looks at the parable of the persistent widow alongside the other passages of the scripture that sit alongside this gospel reading in the church lectionary. Through the readings we listen to how the Bible is in conversation with itself and what common threads we can see through the passages.
Brooke Prentis helps us read this parable through Aboriginal eyes and highlights for us some of the many persistent Indigenous voices crying out for justice in these lands now called Australia.
Too often our faith life/spirituality is reduced to obedience-disobedience, saying yes or no to God. But our lives and our hearts are more complex than that. Caro offers a way for us to pay attention to the resistance we might feel in areas of spirituality, and invites us to ask a deeper question of what we might be protecting, and what Jesus might be inviting us to.
The only way we have ever been able to describe the Kingdom of God is through metaphor. In this episode, Oran looks at ways different people, and people groups, have reimagined the Kingdom of God. He discusses the need for an ever maturing understanding, so the church can better reflect the Kingdom and identify it in the world.
Caro shares some of her own experience with healing and out of that talks about the tensions of an over simplistic theology of healing. She shares how holding onto faith, hope and love might be a path between certainty and cynicism as we wrestle with our hopes for healing and the suffering we see in our world.
Shane Clifton shares with us how his reading of this passage has changed over time including both before and after an accident left him with quadriplegia.
Please be advised that explicit language had been used in this episode.
We use the story in John 8 to bounce into a discussion on shame. 3 people in our church (Lynda, Michael and Fyona) bravely and vulnerably share their own experiences and insights into shame in their lives.
Caro, Oran and Becca have a conversation about Jesus' final words to the woman in our text this month 'go and sin no more'...we throw around some ideas about these words, how they can be read problematically and then also how they might be read as instruction and permission and promise.
Caro looks at this passage of the attempted stoning of the woman through the lens of mercy. Showing us how Jesus reveals the character and nature of God as mercy, and what it might look like for us to recognise the divine pauses for mercy in our lives.
Luke looks at the story of the attempted stoning of the woman in John 8. He looks at the passage through the lens of Rene Girard's Scapegoat mechanism.
Jesus told the story of the prodigal son during His ministry years. However, about 200 years later, a very similar parable appeared in the Lotus Sutra as part of the teachings in the Mahayana line of Buddhism. In this podcast Oran looks at the similarities and differences between both tales, and considers how the both bring glory to God.
Guest speaker, and Aborignial Christian leader Adam Gowan, reflects on Jesus' parable of the prodigal son. Adam discusses how Aboriginal people view these stories much more through the relationships and connections between things, rather than the simple "events" of the story.
In this episode of the podcast special guest speaker, Linda Pesavento, draws from her counselling experience to take an IFS look at the story of the prodigal son.
In the gospels, Jesus pointed to the "sign of Jonah" when the Pharisees asked him to perform a miracle to prove his authority. This simple phrase is weighted with so much Jewish context, and has links to ancient near eastern cosmology and mysticism. In this episode, Oran will unpack some of this information to better understand the significance of signs, and just what Jesus meant by "sign of Jonah".
Tonight Bruce Skinner, from YWAM Wollongong, looks at the story of Jonah from a missional perspective, making an insightful comparison between the book, and the story of Abraham who debated with God over the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Bruce raises some deep and thought provoking questions around our attitudes towards mission and the part we play in God's plan.
There are a lot of reasons as to why we might think the book of Jonah is a parable. Tonight, Oran explains this parable and considers the message Jonah might offer. Oran also looks at how parables can take us far deeper than historic accounts, and become intrinsic and valuable lessons to us all.
Oran looks at the story of the woman at the well as a microcosm of revelation, and considers how Christ reveals Himself in our own lives, as well to all of mankind over the course of human history.
Becca questions whether the Samaritan woman really had a sordid past or if there's another way of understanding her encounter with Jesus and how that might challenge the way we see others.
Caro brings some insights to this passage inspired by reflections from several Early Church Fathers on John 4.
Caro shows how the writer of the Gospel of John relates the place of God's glory and exultation to the cross. We also look at what the metaphor of the cross as the throne of God might have to offer us in our spiritual lives.
Caro looks at the image of the cross as a divine magnet working in two ways: drawing all people to God, and acting as a magnetic force for the powers to be drawn to and defeated.
Caro suggests some ways we can approach this passage, and focuses on how each of the temptations Jesus faced are temptations for Jesus to be 'more than human' which he resists.
Trigger Warning: towards the end of this message Caro shared how she struggles with the interplay of the promises of God to protect us alongside the reality that people do experience sexual violence/rape.
In the 15th Century Erasmus translated the word 'logos' in John 1 as 'conversation'. Bouncing out of the creativity of this, Caro talks about how the Divine Conversation is always happening in and around us. This week she unpacks all the ways we can speak as a way of joining this conversation.
This week Oran looks at the Temptations of Christ through the lens of how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament.
In the 15th Century Erasmus translated the word 'logos' in John 1 as 'conversation'. Bouncing out of the creativity of this, Caro talks about how the Divine Conversation is always happening in and around us. This week she unpacks what it is to listen in to that conversation.
Because Covid is still disrupting ordinary life and our church gatherings in some ways, Caro created some short videos to communicate all kinds of church info for 2022 so that everybody could view or listen to it. This episode is the audio taken from those videos.
Caro carries on from last week, inviting us to look broader than the immediate so we can see the presence and activity of God in our lives, inviting us into faithful following and transformation.
Caro reflects on how her experience of lockdown caused her to be hyper-focused on the immediate, and how she came to realise the gift of discipleship is that we live with an awareness of the story God is writing in the world, and the story He is crafting in our lives – one with a beginning and a future that goes beyond all that we’re feeling, seeing and understanding in any given moment.
During lockdown Lynda has been prompted to think about her purpose...what is God doing in her life, and how she might outwork that in the world around her. Caro has a chat with Lynda about what she's been thinking, and together they reflect on how the ideas of 'calling' and 'purpose' have changed for them over the years, both personally and in church.
Caro leads us into some of the writings of Julian of Norwich and invites us into contemplation or a lectio divina of sorts. Contemplation starts at 15:40.
Background music by Karl Verkade https://karlverkade.bandcamp.com/
Song used throughout episode is by David Benjamin Blower. You can hear more of his music at https://benjaminblower.bandcamp.com/ or https://davidbenjaminblower.com/ or wherever you stream music.
Translation used of Julian of Norwich's work is by Mirabai Starr
Luke has a conversation with Linda and Ashleigh on how we live well leaning into lament and praise as we experience the highs and lows of life.
Oran shared some thoughts about our experience in lockdown and how we might connect that with the story of the Israelites in exile in Babylon.
This is a contemplation wrapped around Teresa of Avila's concept of our soul as an interior garden with God, the gardener at the centre. It finishes with a guided imaginative prayer exercise to create space for us to connect with God.
Music by Chris De Souza https://desouzamusic.bandcamp.com/album/solastalgia and Karl Verkade https://karlverkade.bandcamp.com/album/bridge-ambient-pads-iii
Linda leads us in an examen based on a reflection originally created by Father Michael Sparough SJ.
Caro and Becca have a conversation with Irish poet Padraig O Tuama about the language and poetry of Genesis 1. Padraig is a poet, host of the Poetry Unbound podcast and has worked for many years in the area of reconciliation and conflict resolution.
Adam Gowen, our Wiradjuri friend, shares some thoughts on Genesis 1 drawing from his Indigneous heritage and learning.
Luke looks at the story of Zacchaeus through the lens of a spirituality of descent. Drawing on the insights of Meister Eckhart and others, Luke helps us to see the ways in which our culture and our egos celebrate achieving, success, and the insatiable thirst for more. All the ways we spend ‘climbing our trees’. He suggests that Jesus is always calling us down from our trees, and outlines what a spirituality of descent might look like in both our inner and outer world.
This week we read the encounter Jesus had with Zacchaeus through the lens of 12-step recovery programs, and specifically steps 8 and 9 which have to do with making amends.
In this episode Oran looks at the story of Zacchaeus through a narrative framework to discover more to this passage than just a Sunday School story.
Caro does a brief explanation of what the apophatic tradition is in theology and spirituality and then looks at how an apophatic reading of this text gives us space to face the unknown, the silence, the seeming absence and the mystery of God.
Becca shares how we can read this passage through the lens of mental health, drawing from her own experiences as well as John Swinton's book Finding Jesus in the storm: the spiritual lives of Christians with mental health challenges, she suggests how we can find hope that Jesus is still in our boat during any storms we're currently facing and beyond.
For the first sermon in our series on reading scripture through different lenses, Oran looks at the passage of Jesus calming the storm from a political view point.
This week Caro outlines what we’ll be focusing on as a church in our preaching this year.
In this episode Oran looks at the story of doubting Thomas and explores the role doubt has to play in our faith journey.
This week we look at the Cross through the lens of the scapegoat mechanism. Caro attempts to explain the imagery of the scapegoat in the Old Testament, unpack a little of Rene Girard's scapegoat theory as it related to human society, and then help us gaze at Jesus on the Cross and how he might be exposing and healing our compulsive need to pass blame.
What is the cross all about? There are many, many things we can see God doing through the cross. This week Caro lays out the idea of the reconciliation of all things that we see in 2 Corinthians 5:19, Colossians 1 and Ephesians 1.
This week Oran explores the story of Jesus cursing the fig tree. What is the meaning behind the only violent act of Christ recorded in the gospels, and how is it relevant to us today?
Caro shares the plan for our Church in 2021…COVID dependent of course. Listen to what our new rhythms of gathering will become.
Drawing from the book of Acts, Carolyn shares what it looks like to be the people of God in a changing world.
Caro unpacks the beatitude ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled’ and we look at the power dynamics present in issues of justice and injustice.
Caro shares the prayer of St. Brendan and how it has been providing connection and meaning in her life and she invites us to find ourselves in the words of this ancient prayer.
Prayer of St Brendan Help me to journey beyond the familiar and into the unknown. Give me the faith to leave old ways and break fresh ground with you. Christ of the mysteries, I trust You to be stronger than each storm within me. I will trust in the darkness and know that my times, even now, are in your hand. Tune my spirit to the music of heaven and somehow, make my obedience count for you. Amen.
Caro has a conversation with Becca about the writing of a Psalm that took all our community’s words describing our relationship with God during isolation and lockdown. We chat about people’s diverse experiences of the spiritual life and how the Psalms give us space to feel every emotion available in our human experience and bring it before God.
Caro talks about the desert father saying: “Go into your cell and your cell will teach you everything.” And how we can mine the lockdown season of COVID-19 for all its treasure. Here is the list of questions Caro throws out: Spirituality • Where, when and how did you most often experience the presence of God? • What parts of your character did you feel God developing during this time? • Describe your relationship with God during this season in 3 words. • If you missed gathering together as church, what did you miss the most? How does this help you understand what’s important for your spiritual life? Body • What gave you energy? • What drained your energy? • Did you exercise more or less than in normal life? How has this felt? • Have your eating patterns changed? • What changes to your lifestyle have you made and do you want to keep them? Creativity and Purpose • What creativity emerged in you? • What frustrated you the most and what did you do about that? • Have any dormant dreams, ideas or hopes risen up in you? What are they? • Has anything been birthed in you? • What would you have liked to have done during this time that you haven’t done? What stopped you? Emotional Life • What was the most common emotion you experienced throughout this time? • What have you loved about this season? • What are you feeling as we move out of this lockdown time? • What loss did you feel most sharply? Describe your feelings and what they might reveal. • Where did you find joy? Relationships • Who did you miss the most? What did you miss about them? • Who was your greatest encourager during this time? • What did you miss the most about not being able to gather with large groups/communities? • What relationships did you not miss at all? How might you re-imagine that relationship with that person/people in a way that is healthier for you? Self • What did you learn about yourself that you didn’t know before? • What did you re-learn/remember about yourself that you had forgotten? • What parts of your character have you realised are under-developed? Looking backwards/looking forwards • Did this time remind you of any other time in your life? If yes, in what way? • If this was to happen again in 2 years’ time (another pandemic/lockdown) what message would you want to give yourself? • If you don’t want life to return to normal, what are you going to change? Write 3 specific things that you will do or no longer do. • If you’re really keen for life to return to normal, what are the 3 most important things you’re going to do to usher in that normal?
Oran unpack the idea of this COVID-19 time as liminal space and then dives into how we can wait in this in between space well.
To celebrate Mother’s Day, Becca guides us through a time of reflection in prayer connecting with the maternal images of God present in the scriptures.
Music by Karl Verkade karlverkade.bandcamp.com/track/bridge…extended-mix
Intro and outro music by Chris De Souza desouzamusic.bandcamp.com/track/right-single
The Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.”
Music by Karl Verkade Song: Bridge in E Major (extended mix) https://karlverkade.bandcamp.com/track/bridge-in-e-major-extended-mix
Intro and outro music by Chris De Souza Song: Right https://desouzamusic.bandcamp.com/track/right-single
A Guided Meditation for encountering God’s love when you feel you lack control of your situation.
Becca leads a gentle guided meditation for when we’re feeling the stress and anxiety of lacking control over our situations. She helps you engage your body, mind and spirit resting in the present moment of God’s love. This one is not a jogging or driving or washing up episode 😊
Music in the background of the meditations is by Karl Verkade
Cheryl leads us through a guided prayer reflection using Psalm 91. In this episode you’ll want to be sitting somewhere still where you can engage with God yourself, as Cheryl will lead you to ask Jesus some questions and let Him speak to you. This one is not a jogging or car or washing up episode 😊
Caro chats with Chris about the new song he wrote at the beginning our social isolation for the COVID 19 pandemic.
You can purchase this song via Bandcamp here is the link: https://desouzamusic.bandcamp.com/
Prayer of St Aidan Leave me alone with God as much as may be. As the tide draws the waters close in upon the shore, Make me an island, set apart, alone with you, God, holy to you. Then with the turning of the tide prepare me to carry your presence to the busy world beyond, the world that rushes in on me till the waters come again and fold me back to you. Amen. Aidan of Lindisfarne
Carolyn, in continuing our look at the sermon on the mount, starts our look at the beatitudes.
Do you wish to provide episode notes for this recording? Carolyn continues our look at the sermon on the mount with “true and false disciples” found in Matthew 7:21-23
A day diving into some of the content from Brad's books: A More Christlike God, A more Beautiful Gospel and A More Christlike Way, A More Beautiful Faith. Brad has a way of communicating who Jesus is, and the life He invites us to live that makes you fall in love all over again with Jesus.
A day diving into some of the content from Brad's books: A More Christlike God, A more Beautiful Gospel and A More Christlike Way, A More Beautiful Faith. Brad has a way of communicating who Jesus is, and the life He invites us to live that makes you fall in love all over again with Jesus.
A day diving into some of the content from Brad's books: A More Christlike God, A more Beautiful Gospel and A More Christlike Way, A More Beautiful Faith. Brad has a way of communicating who Jesus is, and the life He invites us to live that makes you fall in love all over again with Jesus.
A day diving into some of the content from Brad's books: A More Christlike God, A more Beautiful Gospel and A More Christlike Way, A More Beautiful Faith. Brad has a way of communicating who Jesus is, and the life He invites us to live that makes you fall in love all over again with Jesus.
A day diving into some of the content from Brad's books: A More Christlike God, A more Beautiful Gospel and A More Christlike Way, A More Beautiful Faith. Brad has a way of communicating who Jesus is, and the life He invites us to live that makes you fall in love all over again with Jesus.
A Q&A session with Brad where he answers a variety of questions ranging from relating to his personal faith journey through to theology around the wrath of God and the Bible.
Oran continues on with our series on The Sermon on the Mount with his talk on “the good and the bad fruit” found in Matthew 7:15-20
Carolyn uses the piece of artwork “Mary comforts Eve” by Sister Grace Remington as a look at advent.
Linda shares some thoughts on Matthew 7:24-27, the final verse in the Sermon on the Mount.
Carolyn shares from the sermon on the mount about the wide and narrow road and how these ancient words can apply to us today
Billy is from the Pioneer Network UK and he is sharing with us today what it means to be blessed in the ordinary
Continuing with our Sermon on the Mount series Carolyn and Luke both speak on “do not judge”
Following on from Carolyn’s talk on Jesus telling us “do not worry” we have three people bravely and vulnerably sharing their lived experience of worry and anxiety.
Continuing the series on The Sermon on the Mount, Oran takes a close look at Matthew 6:22-23, which is sometimes (incorrectly) referred to as “the evil eye”. He asks “how can we see God in everything?”
Download the slides here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3a4jwygqd5bfpe1/Oran-%20%20Evil%20Eye%20Slides.pptx?dl=0
This week Cheryl shares some of her own personal story of pursuing freedom in Christ, and the things that can be hinderances in becoming intimate with God.
This week, Caro speaks from Matthew 6:1-4, focusing on joining God in giving in secret and hidden ways. At the beginning of the message Caro was showing a bunch of photos from her garden...so we've attached the slides from this talk so you can follow along visually if you'd like.
You can download the PDF here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dz8cincuau8uo4h/AAD48afj-9dYage-H94Zwk-ta?dl=0
We have guest speaker Linda Ward, who leads a Pioneer Network church in the UK, sharing on Luke 4 and what it is to be a sent people.
What are some of the habits that form you? In this talk, Ryan takes an in depth look into one of the 3 habits that Jesus mentions in Matthew 6:1-18; fasting. How can this practice, now so secularised as the latest dieting fad, draw us into further Christlikeness and what could it look like today?
This week Caro unpacks the idea of the language of reward present in the next section of the Sermon on the Mount. And also chats about the impact of language and translations on our reading of Scripture.
Joining us for Reconciliation week we have a guest speak Adam Gowen, a Wiradjuri man from Ulladulla to share with us.
This week Carolyn looks at Matthew 5:33-37 and looks at what is behind what Jesus is really talking about.
Who is your enemy? Most of us don’t really resonate with the idea of a personal enemy like we see in movies so how does Jesus’ teaching on enemy love (Matt 5:43-48) relate to us? Ryan delves headfirst into this passage to explore Jesus’ hidden challenge to us as he invites us into greater wholeness.
This week three of our men shared their experiences of God as a mother, we also discuss patriarchy and how we can continue to be a church that celebrates both men and women as made in the image of God.
Oran looks at the often quoted and frequently misunderstood “eye for an eye” passage in Matthew 5:38-42.
Cheryl continues our look at the sermon on the mount with an exploration of Matthew 6:19-24
In celebration of Easter, Caro invites us to participate in the story of Easter. This message was more of an experience than a sermon, involving art, music and reflection. To view the art shown throughout the podcast click here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1DQ_HDdlCVJLmk0x-kWEJb528HzY57wbzAP3-rOLFvMc/edit?usp=sharing
Song Credits: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, by Isaac Watts in 1707, Public Domain. Son of Sorrows, by our friend Steve Schallert, 2014, off the Album ‘Songs of Sorrow, Songs of Hope’ Battle Hymn of the Republic by William Steffe and Julie Ward Howe, Public Domain
Lust - the topic we all love to hear about (!). But Jesus doesn't shy away from confronting lust. We know adultery is not ok, but how much do we let Jesus into the area of our sexual desire? We chat this week about what lies beneath our lust and the things that drive us to unhealthy sexual activity and how Jesus offer us wholeness in the deepest places
Most of us in our lifetime will be able to refrain from murdering someone, but what about when Jesus ups the ante to confront the anger we hold within. Caro dives into Matthew 5:21-26
Continuing on with our series on the Sermon on the Mount, Cheryl speaks on Matthew 5:17-20 – The fulfillment of the Law
This week Caro share some of the culture and values we hold as a church and communicates our church theme and other specific church info for 2019. If you belong to Central and are catching up on a missed week, then this will fill you in on what’s going on this year. If you’re a listener outside of our community, then this message will give you more of an idea of who we are as a church.
Historically Christians have had a somewhat dysfunctional relationship with flesh. But the theology of the incarnation lays out that God willingly 'put on flesh'. So, what if our body, our flesh is not something to ignore, escape or overcome, but the very meeting place of God? Caro unpacks these ideas.
Kenosis is a word used by Paul in Phil 2 to describe the self-emptying of Christ in his incarnation. Caro raises the idea that this kenosis, rather than being a one-time event in the person of Jesus, may in fact reveal something to us about the nature of God, that He is eternally self-emptying. We then look at what this teaches us about our own spirituality.
Our friend Joel Marsh speaks about his struggles with anxiety and finding God in the dark places.
This week Caro dives into the parable of the widow and the judge…and Jesus’ encouragement to us to pray and not give up. FYI there’s a little story we edited out because it was too personal for a podcast…so if it seems a bit disjointed around the 28 minute mark…that’s why.
Paul shares how the parable of the rich fool found in Luke 12:13-21 is applicable to wealthy Western nations today.
The first part of Oran’s two part talk on Jesus in the wilderness looks at the time prior to Jesus’ baptism and how this relates to the seasons in our own life.
Carolyn looks at the compassionate Jesus, and what making room for compassion looks like in our increasingly complex world.
This week Caro unpacks the 2 stories that sit side by side in Mark 5 where Jesus heals the sick woman and raises the dead girl.
This week in church we had our youth run the service. Firstly 3 of our young people sat on a panel and all the adults got to ask them questions and then 3 adults they had chosen sat on a panel and the young people questioned them, It was a great night of sharing an honesty!
Matt from Soul Survivor NSW shares about living out the calling of God to be courageous using Joshua 1.
Part 2 of Caro’s sermon on Mark 5: 1-20, looking through the lens of community life and how we love one another.
Carolyn looks at the 'parable of the weeds' from Matthew 13:24-30 and what Jesus has to say about the presence of 'evil' in our world
This week Billy Kennedy, head of the Pioneer network of churches in the UK, shared with us from 2 Kings 4 and challenges us to ask ourselves ‘what is the oil in our house?’ and ‘how can we give it away?’
Our good friends Jen and Joel Marsh from CityLife Church Christchurch share with us some of their story and their reflections on Luke 19:1-10.
This week Caro preaches on Mark 5:1-20 looking at this passage through a political lens. This passage highlights that when the Kingdom of God confronts the Empire of this world, Jesus comes out on top.
Carolyn chats with Lynda, Michael Lear and Michael Tibbs discussing the practices of beholding Jesus.
This week Caro looks at some of Jesus’ teaching on judging others and challenges us in our attitudes and love for one another.
This week we have a look at the Jesus who is the great question asker and challenge our notion that we come to Jesus for answers. Perhaps instead we come to Jesus to be questioned and in the process find a God who wants a relationship with us.
This week we dive into the deep waters of trinitarian theology. It was an experiment in corporate thinking, questioning and searching out new understanding as a community…so it’s raw!!. It may help to listen to this along with the powerpoint slides, as there are lots of quotes to chew on. I, Caro, am truly grateful for a faith community that gives me space to think out loud, provoke thinking and not have it all figured out.
You can download the slides here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/sri0x5mmlsdbh94/Trinity%20Sunday%202018.pdf?dl=0
Mother’s Day Sunday at Central and we had a panel discussion about the femininity of God and the joys and challenges of being a female in the church.
This week Caro looks at the encounters Jesus had with people following His resurrection, and how they highlight to us the things that are most important in the heart of God. ** This message begins with some words of encouragement given to different people, if you want to skip straight to the sermon, start listening at roughly 16 minutes and 20 seconds in.
This Sunday we had Lynda speak to us about Doubting Thomas as we explore our own doubts.
This Sunday we had a guest speaker with us - Frank Naea. Frank speaks all over the world on the Fatherheart of God and blessed us with a great message.
This week Brian unpacks the story of the disciples on the Emmaus Road and brings out the interplay between facts, faith and feelings. He also reminds us that Jesus often comes to us in the form of ‘the stranger’.
This week Caro looks at the death and resurrection of as demonstrating one of the spiritual patterns in our Christian life. This is a pattern we’re not called to just simply know, but one we are invited to participate in. In this message we’re asked: “What are you needing to…or trying to..die to right now?” and “How can we practice resurrection?”
This week we look at Luke 19:28-44 and Caro discusses the paradox of who Jesus is in this passage. This leads us to the challenge of holding seemingly opposing truths in tension in our own lives.
Listen as Oran unpacks Mark 14:1-9, where Jesus is anointed by ‘a sinful woman’. Oran asks us where we find ourselves in this story…are we like the woman who displays an extravagant act of devotion, or are we like the scoffing onlookers?
Link to video resource: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2Kw_XvQBlQ