This Advent – Stop The Donkeys
We'd like to invite you to think a bit harder this Christmas. It seems to me that there's a part of the story of Jesus' birth that we seldom dwell on, and we'd like to help your community enter into it. If you're willing. A few weeks ago I participated in a conversation that gave rise to the thought that when Herod ordered the mass killing of the boy's under two Mary, Joseph and Jesus wouldn't have been the only family who tried to escape the genocide. They couldn't have been the only … [Read More...]
Luke 1:26-38 : Year B (Advent 4) – Hail Mary
Given the sort of risk and physical crap the bible says Mary had to survive in order to have a baby I’ve always thought that Lara Croft (from the video game Tomb Raider) might be a more appropriate image of the mother of Christ rather than domesticated, insipidly pale faced, blue veiled, watery eyed portraits we’re used to. If you consider that talk of a new Davidic line would have likely been considered seditious in the then occupied Palestine and consider the content of Mary’s Song in … [Read More...]
The Hidden Forest by Jeannie Baker
Title: The Hidden Forest Author: Jeannie Baker Illustrator: Jeannie Baker Publisher: Walker Books UK Publisher: Greenwillow Books USA ISBN – Hardback: 0-688-15760-2 (trade USA) ISBN – Hardback: 0-688-08918-6 (lib. ed. USA) ISBN – Hardback: 1-85681-010-0 (UK) ISBN - Paperback: 0-7445c7876-0 ISBN - Big Book: 0-84428 518-9 Themes: Wonder, Environment, Conservation, Forrest, Diversity, Nature, Beauty ‘When you see kelp forest under the water and you’re looking up, the sun is … [Read More...]
When The World Is Reminded That All We Are Is A Bunch of Munchkins
I can't help but thinking of the scene where Dorothy enters Oz, her house in tatters, (having been picked up and thrown through the air by a tornado) she climbs out of the house to find that she's killed a woman, her house has landed smack dab on the body of someone wearing some remarkably groovy slippers. Initially distraught Dorothy meets some munchkins who explain to her through song that this was a "Wicked Witch" and she ought not be worried, they're so convincing infact that they sing a … [Read More...]
This Advent – Stop The Donkeys
We'd like to invite you to think a bit harder this Christmas. It seems to me that there's a part of the story of Jesus' birth that we seldom dwell on, and we'd like to help your community enter into it. If you're willing. A few weeks ago I participated in a conversation that gave rise to the thought that when Herod ordered the mass killing of the boy's under two Mary, Joseph and Jesus wouldn't have been the only family who tried to escape the genocide. They couldn't have been the only … [Read More...]
Book Reviews
The Hidden Forest by Jeannie Baker
Themes: Wonder, Environment, Conservation, Forrest, Diversity, Nature, Beauty
It’s a Book by Lane Smith
Themes: Laughter, Literacy, Books, Technology, Knowledge, Questions, Simplicity, Gadgets
Milli, Jack and the Dancing Cat by Stephen Michael King
Themes: Vocation, Call, Gifts, Passion, Being different, Being Honest with yourself, Seeing things differently, Being different, Imagination, Creativity, Vision, Art, Sharing joys, dance, welcoming strangers, bravery, friendship, making friends, what do you love about your friends, making gifts…
Youth Ministry
This Advent – Stop The Donkeys
We’d like to invite you to think a bit harder this Christmas. It seems to me that there’s a part of the story of Jesus’ birth that we seldom dwell on, and we’d like to help your community enter into it. If you’re willing. A few weeks ago I participated in a conversation that gave [...]
When The World Is Reminded That All We Are Is A Bunch of Munchkins
I can’t help but thinking of the scene where Dorothy enters Oz, her house in tatters, (having been picked up and thrown through the air by a tornado) she climbs out of the house to find that she’s killed a woman, her house has landed smack dab on the body of someone wearing some remarkably groovy slippers.
If I were a refugee
Adrian re-posted a reflection by Michael Leuinig from this weekend’s Sunday Age It says what no-one in the media or anyone in our political leadership seems to be saying at the moment, and oh how much it needs to be said… If I were a refugee What a nice one I would be. Not in [...]
