John Bell, songwriter and leader from Iona Community, Scotland, will be leading workshops on worship, spirituality and ecology in Brisbane, 25th - 27th May.

The workshops, sponsored by Moreton Rivers Presbytery, will be held at Chermside Kedron Uniting Church, corner of Rode Rd and Gympie Rd, Chermside, Brisbane.

25th May Friday evening

Session 1 (7pm-9pm)
The purpose of singing in worship: Practical and informative session for worship leaders, Worship leaders, Choir Members, singers, musicians, or people who just love singing.

26th May Saturday

Session 2 (9am-12:30pm)
Models of Leadership: an ideal session for both lay and ordained leaders exploring worship leadership

Session 3 (1:30pm–3pm)
The Sine Qua Non of Community: ‘Sine qua non’ is Latin for ‘without which it could not be’ this session explores the essentials of an integrated community for the participation in worship

Session 4 (3:30pm–5pm)
People, Space and Place: This session explores the space we use for worship and how it can liberate or constrain us

27th May Sunday

Session 5 (1pm–2:30 pm)
Celtic Spirituality: practical insights, tools and treasures from an ancient tradition

Session 6 (3pm–4:30pm)
Why Christians need to act ecologically? Some perspectives biblical and otherwise

John Bell is a resource worker for the Iona Community. He is based in Glasgow and works colleagues in the areas of music, worship and spirituality. He does not have a mobile phone, driving licence, camera, or wife. He has never surfed the web, played a guitar, or eaten a Big Mac.

Vision Bookshop will have Iona/Wild Goose resources available for purchase during the workshop.

Workshop Costs
Single person cost $95
Group Discount (for 10 or more) $75/person
Friday only $20
Saturday only (lunch included) $60
Sunday only $40

Registration closes 23rd May 2007. Contact Ms Sara Brunt, Moreton Rivers Presbytery Office (07) 3359 9642

On Sunday, Jan, her husband Theo, and the children went to church and during the prayers of intercession, Jan asked for prayers for her family as they worked through their response to a diagnosis of ADHD for their son.

After church Jan’s elder offered to come around that afternoon for a chat.

When the elder arrived at the house, Jan made a cup of tea while the elder sat and watched the kids playing in the back yard.

“Is Theo around?” she asked. “He had a call from a client.” said Jan.

“He’ll be back as soon as he can. He works such long hours – he is really doing his best, he wants to create a great life for us and I really love him for it.”

“It seems like you were pretty busy in the last week too,” said the elder.

“Yes” sighed Jan, “We are always so busy, and with the extra time needed to deal with this ADHD stuff , I am finding it really difficult.”

“So you do most of the stuff when it comes to the kids?” asked the elder.

“Yes” said Jan, “Theo’s business is starting to take off and I want to support him as well as the kids.” The elder said, “I have been thinking lately about the way we order our lives, and as Christians I wonder if we do the family/ work thing well at all. Our faith is about mutual relationships and honouring and respecting each other, but we still tend to fall into traditional roles.”

“Tell me about it,” said Jan.

“But I am seriously considering giving up the teacher aide position. Even though I love it, I cannot fi t everything into my life at the moment. I could just do the book work at home for Theo and have more time for the kids. I was also thinking of giving up leading Girls’ Brigade on Friday nights.”

“Have you talked about this with Theo?” asked the elder.

“The decisions Theo makes about his work also affect you all as a family.”

At that moment Theo arrived home. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you arrived, he said, “It is just that some things are really urgent.”

To most people ‘theology’ sounds like an academic exercise with little relevance to everyday life. However we all do theology in some way. Our assumptions about God, the world, and how we interact with each other are all interconnected.

The conversation between Jan and the elder is encouraging reflection on their assumptions. The elder’s questions are encouraging Jan and Theo to look at the systems under the surface in their relationships with each other, with their son, with their church and ultimately with God. We could call this ‘systemic theology’.

On Saturday Jan took her son to his soccer match, part of the Christian Soccer Association fixtures. During the match he played as he normally did, boisterously! The half time whistle went and the children came off the field to get a half time snack. Jan quickly approached her son and reminded him, “You remember that we talked about eating oranges instead of the jelly snakes for energy – they are here next to your water.” Her son complained and looked wistfully at the other kids eating the glucose snacks, but ate his oranges and drank his water.

After the children had gone back on, some of the mums came to Jan and “We noticed you brought oranges today - is everything OK?”

“Well” Jan explained speaking to the group, “We’ve been to a psychologist recently about a concern that perhaps he has ADHD. So one of the things we are doing is modifying his diet. No more sugary snakes I am afraid. I am just so worried about him and don’t really know which way to turn.”

The parents nodded. They had watched Jan’s son over the year and were aware of some of his behaviours. However, one of the mothers said, “You have to be a bit careful about diagnosing ADHD. I know that you go to church - are you asking your church community to pray for you? The Bible does say ‘Ask and it will be given to you.’

Another mum said, “You could bring him to our church on Sunday. Every week we see Jesus’ healing power change the lives of people just like your son. ”

“You must be feeling pretty stressed at this stage,” said another. “These things are often sent to try us, to help us re-evaluate our lives. We’ve just done the Purpose Driven life and Rick Warren explains that life on earth is a test. This might be part of the test.’

“I’m not so sure about that,” said another, “I believe that God is compassionate and maybe you have already found the answer to your prayers with the psychologist who is obviously giving you some direction. We can see God working in all those who help us on our life’s journey.”

Another mum declared, “I’ve never thought about the impact of the jelly snakes. I’m going to have a look for some snacks that don’t have the same effect. Until then we could all go back to oranges”.

There was a general murmur of agreement from the group and Jan thanked them. “I really didn’t want this to be such a big issue, but thank you so much for understanding” she said.
Later as Jan and he son drove off (they’d lost by one goal in the second half) Jan struggled with the idea of life as a test. She wondered who the test might be for, herself, her son, her husband or the whole family.

Who would have thought theological reflection would be done on the soccer field sidelines? Last month, in the home group Jan’s friends helped her reflect through the telling of stories. This time her friends are responding to psychology and medicine through their ‘confessional perspectives’. Some are drawing on the resources of their traditions, including teaching at church and popular books.

McFague’s seminal approach to narrative theology was laid out in 1975 in her book, “Speaking in Parables: A Study in Metaphor and Theology”, published by Fortress Press.

She was until very recently Dean of the Divinity School and the Carpenter Professor of Theology at Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville, Tennessee. Although she’s retired, she’s become Distinguished Theologian in Residence at Vancouver School of Theology.

In “Speaking in Parables”, McFague lays out an approach for intermediary or parabolic theology: theology which relies on various literary forms – parables, stories, poems, confessions – as a way from religious experience to systematic theology. McFague brings a commitment to bringing the Word to life for ordinary people, grounded in an existential, personal and sensuous reflection on life.

McFague refers often to poetry (Gerard Manley Hopkins), stories (Tolkien) and parables (such as those written by Kavka).

McFague reminds the theologian that metaphor and symbol should be used as food for thought – contemplated, probed, reflected upon, rather than manipulated, translated and reduced. Theologians, she says, need to learn to express insights in autobiography as much as in systematic propositions.

Speaking in Parables has recently been republished by SCM, 2002, but the 1975 version is also available online at Religion Online:
Speaking in Parables: A Study in Metaphor and Theology: Online

McFague’s later books include: Metaphorical Theology: Models of God (1997), The Body of God: An Ecological Theology (1993), and Super, Natural Christians: How we should love nature (1997). Her most recent book is Life Abundant: Rethinking Theology and Economy for a Planet in Peril (2000)

Jan is a working mum who has three children. Her husband is very busy in his own sign writing business and works long hours during the day and in the evening finishing work for his customers. Jan works part time as receptionist and book keeper for the business and also part time as a teacher’s aide at her children’s school.

She is strongly involved with her local church, and leads Girls’ brigade every Friday. During the week nights she plays squash once a week and ferries the kids around to soccer practice for the local Christian soccer club. At soccer practice she talks to other mums who come from a variety of other Christian churches in the area

Jan’s youngest child has shown behavioural problems since he was a small child. In kindy there was an understanding that he needed to be watched all the time as he would push other kids off the slide and disrupt the sleep time. He has not grown out of this behaviour, and now, at primary school the teachers are suggesting that Jan’s son has ADHD.

Jan is devastated by the news that this could be the reason for her son’s behaviour. She had been hoping and praying that he might just grow out of his boisterous behaviour. But this diagnosis affects her profoundly – what might this mean for her family and her child? Is she a failure as a mum? How should they manage the situation? Does God have something to do with this? Isn’t her son just being who he is and what right do they have to think of medicating him?

When we are faced with situations in our day to day lives we often don’t think that the way we respond to a situation may involve “Doing Theology”. And yet, for most Christian people, doing theology is part of their everyday lives.

In the following few weeks we are going to follow Jan through her story and make some commentary on how she “does theology” in her situation. We are going to travel a while with Jan as she discusses her news with the other soccer mums, her home/bible study group, the school counsellor, and an elder at her church. As part of this we are going to point out different styles of theology that arise as part of her journey.

Here’s a prayer adapted from a liturgy prepared in 2001 by the Gospel and Gender Commission of the Uniting Church in Australia. International Womens Day is on Wednesday March 8.

Short Liturgy for International Women’s Day 2006

Gathering

We come before you,
God of ancient times,
acknowledging your presence with us

We come before you,
God of the present,
believing in your presence with us

We come before you,
God of the future,
hoping for your presence with us

Celebrating, Living, Journeying

We are women (people) on the way

Fighting, Caring, Challenging

We are women (people) on the way

Hurting, Believing, Exploring

We are women (people) on the way

Sharing, Understanding, Nurturing

We are women (people) on the way

Blessing

Gather us to you
as a mother hen
under your sheltering wings;

And shield us as we go -

For we are women (people) on the way.

We go from here
– blessed for the journey that lies before us;
and strengthened for the challenges we may yet face;

We go with -

the love of the God who nurtures us

the presence of the God who protects us

the sustenance of the God who inspires us.

Adapted from Liturgy for IWD 2001, Gospel and Gender, National Assembly Uniting Church in Australia

This year the WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY is being extended to become TEN DAYS of PRAYER FOR RECONCILIATION AND CHRISTIAN UNITY.

Dates: 26th May (Sorry Day) to Sunday, 4th June (Pentecost).

The original texts for the resources came from Ireland. Our Christian sisters and brothers in Ireland wanted to share the insight that new relationships between divided communities often begin in small gatherings of two or three. It was out of that experience that they chose the verse, Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them (Matthew 18:20), as the theme.

See the NCCA resources online.

Resources can also be ordered from Queensland Churches Together, ph. 07 3369 6792 or email: qctadmin@tpg.com.au . A flyer and order form is also available there.

Why not organize an ecumenical gathering around the Ten Days of Prayer for Reconciliation and Christian Unity?

Trinity Theological College and Vision Books are working together to host a couple of forums on theology on Saturday November 26.

Challenging the church with the gospel

The morning session (10 am - 12 noon) is an opportunity for dialogue with the President of the Uniting Church, Rev. Dr. Dean Drayton. In a recently published book, Which Gospel? Three New Testament Perspectives, Dr. Drayton has challenged the church to re-acquaint itself with the New Testament accounts of the gospel. The book has been described as a wake up call to the churches to reconsider their function as gospel bearers that focus on God rather than ourselves.

Dr Drayton will expand on these insights and discuss them with a panel of UCA members.

As well as being President of the Uniting Church in Australia (2003-2006) , Dean is Lecturer in Theology: Mission and Evangelism at the United Theological College in Sydney. See his profile there. Ordained in 1969, he has served as parish minister, Director of the New South Wales Synod’s Board of Mission, and Moderator of the NSW Synod in 1995/96.

Defending Christianity in a scientific age

The afternoon session (1 pm to 4 pm) is an opportunity to explore some recent discussions in the encounter between Science and Christianity. Professor Peter Harrison (Bond University) and Professor Ross McKenzie (University of Queensland) will provide insights into Alister McGrath’s, Dawkins God: Genes Memes and the Meaning of Life.

Richard Dawkins, Oxford’s Professor of the Public Understanding of Science, is one of science’s most unrelenting critics of Christianity. Alister McGrath, Oxford’s Professor of Historical Theology, is among the most able contemporary Christian apologists. Peter Harrison and Ross McKenzie will introduce us to the theological and scientific issues at stake in this debate.

Peter is Professor of History and Philosophy at Bond University. He is widely published in the history of modern thought and his current writing is at the forefront of discussions about the relationship between science and Christianity. His book, The Bible, Protestantism and the Rise of Natural Science (Cambridge, 1998) has been widely acclaimed. He is a founding member of the International Society for Science and Religion.

Ross is a Professorial Research Fellow in the Physics Department at the University of Queensland. His research interests focus on using quantum physics to understand complex molecular materials ranging from organic metals to proteins. He often gives seminars at universities and churches on the relationship between science and theology. He is currently the Chairman of the Queensland branch of ISCAST (Institute for the Study of Christianity in an Age of Science and Technology).

Indooroopilly Uniting Church is located at 74 Station Road, Indooroopilly (on the corner with Musgrave Road, directly opposite the south-west corner of Indooroopilly Shopping Town). Parking is available on church grounds via the Musgrave Road entrance.

There is no cost for either session, although a gold coin donation would be appreciated for morning and afternoon teas.

Morning Tea will be served from 9.40 until the commencement of the first session at 10.00am. You can either bring your own lunch or buy something from the Shopping Town food court (literally across the road) or from the many other nearby food outlets in Indooroopilly. Afternnon tea will be served during a break in the aftenroon session.

You do not need to have read the books to participate in the sessions. The presenters will not assume that the books have been read beforehand. A bookstall will be present on the day. If you wish to purchase Which Gospel? Three New Testament Perspectives beforehand, you can do so via Vision Books. Dawkins’ God: Genes, Memes and the Meaning of Life is available at most mainstream Christian bookstores in Brisbane at the various online bookshops.

Vision Books is an activity of Broadwater Road Uniting Church, 481 Broadwater Road, Wishart. It specializes in resource needs for UCA congregations. Email them or phone 061 7 3849 8548.

Trinity Theological College is the Uniting Church member school of the Brisbane College of Theology. It offers courses in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in both theology and ministry. Visit the college website www.trinity.qld.edu.au/ or phone 3377 9950.

Australians have an opportunity to be part of an exciting new development in worship – A Season of Creation. The current Season of Pentecost/Trinity already includes many creation themes. A Season of Creation focuses these themes in a special way.

The planned Season of Creation is scheduled for the four weeks in September that precede St Francis of Assisi Day. The initial four week pilot of this new festival in the church year was held in about 40 Uniting Church congregations in Melbourne in September 2004. The response was very positive.

In September 2005, parishes and congregations from major denominations across Australia will launch A Season of Creation with four Sundays having titles linked to the readings: Forest Sunday, Land Sunday, Outback Sunday and River Sunday. Your parish is invited to join in the celebrations.

The materials being prepared to celebrate A Season of Creation, include a 3 year Cycle of Readings, Bible Studies based on these readings, liturgies for each Sunday, Earth ministry activities and guidelines for teams to plan the worship program. These materials will be available from OpenBook in Adelaide. (www.openbook.com.au)

Why a Season of Creation? For many reasons!

1. First, because God has given us a creation with which to celebrate!
2. Second, because through worship we have an opportunity to comes to terms with the environmental crisis in a spiritual way and empathise with a groaning creation.
3. Third, because a fresh focus on the wonder and wounds of creation will help us to care for creation as part of our ministry.
4. Fourth, and perhaps most important of all, this Season enables us to celebrate the many ways in which Christ is connected with creation.

As Dr. Senn, a liturgist from the USA, said recently in Adelaide, the Season of Advent was only introduced after several centuries of celebrating Christ’s birth. We also have an opportunity to enrich the church year with a new segment in the church year, A Season of Creation.

If your parish, region or committee would like more information about this new development and the possibility of participating in regional workshops to introduce A Season of Creation please contact Dr. Norman Habel, the project coordinator, Cath James (Uniting Church Victoria/TAS) or John Pfitzner at OpenBook.