Church as we haven't known it for a society as we haven't known it
For Support, Encouragement, Equipping, Knowledge Sharing- 13th April, 2019 For all those who are already involved in, or interested in developing, Missional Communities and Networks. Looking at some of the (perhaps new) skills for the creation and development of MCs in the 'Live, Work and Play' cultural universes where unchurched people spend their time. For … Continue reading Notice – A ‘SEEK’ Day – Missional Community Gathering
It is quite dispiriting to feel the need to return to this topic. It has been quite a few years since I first wrote about the ‘Transferee Mirage’. The original context was the satisfaction being expressed by many church leaders at the time that a (then) recent National Church Life Survey (2011) indicated ongoing attendance … Continue reading The ‘Transferee Mirage’ – Again!
Morning sunlight dapples forest floor, At Escarpment’s foot, a sparkling Pacific dances in a southern breeze Eucalypt scents the air, Tumbling seaward the Creek burbles with pleasure Kookaburras laugh with joy Collared Doves coo, Magpies carol and Currawongs call, Backed by a Cicada choir God’s creation rejoices and sings unbounded praise for Summer’s morn.
In 'The Man Who Planted Trees, Jean Giono describes his experiences that flowed from a chance encounter with a Shepherd when he was on a walking holiday in the French Alps. He recounts how after about three days of walking he came to a barren and colourless stretch of land where almost nothing grew and … Continue reading A Forest of Kingdom Outbreaks
Ship cruising along, passengers full, Ease and comfort were expected to be, But blind eyes were turned to the dangerous sea. I went up to the Bridge, but there was no one there, The place for the Helmsman, it was bare. Charts for Navigation were lying around, but readers of them not to be … Continue reading The View from the Bridge
The general subject of this booklet is the Missional Malaise that now infects the whole Australian church landscape. The specific subject is the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, arguably still the strongest part of the Australian non- Catholic Church and thus of broader relevance to the wider church. While the specific focus is Sydney, it can … Continue reading The Missional Malaise – Time for Something Completely Different
The writer of the Biblical book Ecclesiastes, often called ‘The Teacher’, makes the statement that- “For everything there is a season”. (3:1) This ‘season’, as the last year fades and the horizons of the yet untravelled vistas of the new year … Continue reading The Big Why? – A New Year’s Reflection
In the light of the now well documented general and longstanding failure of the church to produce significant missional fruit, the ‘Unbounded Church’ concept is driven by the belief that there is an urgent need to do ‘Something Completely Different’. Suggested below are 10 New Year’s resolutions that may be helpful in creating a missionally … Continue reading Ten New Year Suggestions for Missional Fruit
Once again we have stepped through the gate of the new year. The blank canvas of 2019 lies before us. What will we paint on it? What tapestry will we weave as we journey through that space of time? Every year at this time, I am reminded of the poem written by British poet Minnie … Continue reading The Gate of the Year–A Reflective Re-Post
Around the year 1748 Czar Nicolai of Russia built a fortress on the island of Suomen Linna in the Baltic Sea. It was built to mark and guard his new territory, the country we now call Finland, which he had gained from Sweden. In the middle of that sea-fortress is a Lutheran Church, and one … Continue reading War Zone 2019
