Caro Field

Today I am sad, after receiving word that a dear friend in Hobart died last week, aged 103 (and a half).

Keith was a member of my home congregation in Sandy Bay and I have many fond memories of him. In the early days, he would always sit with his mate Jim in church. Being two elderly and somewhat deaf gentlemen, their running commentary of the service was rarely as sotto voce as I’m sure they thought it was. The pair reminded me of Statler and Waldorf, the two old guys who contributed comments from the peanut gallery in the Muppet Show.Continue ReadingPost a Comment

Caro Field
Ministry intern in the congregations of Myrtleford and Beechworth

There is a street in the inner suburbs of Hobart that is lined with plane trees. At this time of the year there is usually a carpet of leaves at least a foot deep along the street. A friend who lives just off that street has been known to complain bitterly about the tenacity of the leaves. They fly into his yard and even manage to get into his house under his front door and through his mail slot. I used to love walking along that street and rustling through the leaves. It was one of those ‘inner child’ compulsions.

Here in Myrtleford, I now find myself living in a house with a row of plane trees along the street. When I arrived in March, a congregation member made dark mutterings along the lines of “come autumn, you’re going to have fun with that plane tree out the front.” Little did she realise…Continue ReadingPost a Comment

Caro Field
Ministry intern in the congregations of Myrtleford and Beechworth

How often have we heard this saying? As I was preparing for worship this week, I was struck by the Epistle reading (1 John 3:16-24), which reminds us that when it comes to loving others, words are not enough; we need to love, “not in word or speech, but in truth and action”.Continue ReadingPost a Comment

Caro Field
Ministry intern in the congregations of Myrtleford and Beechworth

It’s Wednesday afternoon, just over a week since I arrived with all my worldly possessions in Myrtleford to commence my first ministry placement after exiting from the Theological College. Technically, this is still “settling in and unpacking” time, after the move from Melbourne, and I don’t officially start “work” until after my service of recognition as an intern, which is not until Saturday.Continue ReadingPost a Comment

A Reflection of Luther’s “Theology of the Cross” by Linley Liersch.
UCA Exit Candidate.

The more I read of Martin Luther’s Theology of the Cross the more I am taken to understand how we as a church are still in need of the accountability of the Cross. All around me within the Uniting Church I see Theologies of Glory, that deny the presence of God upon the cross for a god up in the sky who sits in heaven and never hears us cry (To quote a favoured NCYC Song). Continue ReadingPost a Comment

Alan Austin
Melbourne-based freelance journalist

Tabcorp’s decision announced today may offer an insight into the changing nature of our community. But I wouldn’t bet on it. The gambling giant wants to break a long-held Australian tradition and take bets on sports events on Good Friday. Will a ferocious backlash force Tabcorp to drop the plan? Will a reasoned debate result in a clearer understanding of contemporary multi-faith Australia? Or will the response be a collective yawn?Continue ReadingPost a Comment

Caro Field
Ministry intern in the congregations of Myrtleford and Beechworth

Two weeks ago, a friend of mine committed suicide.

Glenn’s death came as a complete shock to all who knew and loved him, as is so often the case with suicide. He was a warm and friendly person, who always had time for a chat, in fact, once he got going; it was usually hard to shut him up. Continue ReadingPost a Comment

Mark 9:2-9

By: Jennie Gordon
St. Margaret’s Uniting Church, Mooroolbark

O beam of blessing bright,
unbroken by
the claim of death’s deep night
shine on

shine on
through billowing smoky cloud
and earth’s soft ashen shroud
shine on

shine through the haze
for days and endless days
as nightmares steal
sleep’s sweet caress
companion flame
who knows our name
shine into soul’s distress
shine on
shine ever on

shine on and wait
with those who watch tonight
for glimpses of
the dawn’s first hope-filled light
shine on
shine on transfiguring one
beloved son
shine on

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By: Alan Austin
Melbourne based freelance journalist

Tragedies bring out the best and worst in us.

Although most media coverage of the bushfires has been excellent – especially The Age and ABC Radio – some news outlets have been appalling.Continue ReadingPost a Comment

By: the Rev. David Pargeter
Mr Pargeter is Executive Director of the Commission for Mission, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania

I find myself reacting against the idea that the church – of which I am a part and for which I have enormous respect – would try to shrink one of the most critical ‘faith’ conversations of our time into a conflict between the Church and an individual.

By focussing on the individual instead of arguing over the issues involved we risk creating a martyr at the expense of increased understanding.Continue ReadingPost a Comment