Still thinking Faiths Journey
In my life there have been several books that I have picked up and started to read and never got past the first few pages. Sometimes it is a novel and the authors beginning just didnt grab me. Or there was something in the first chapter that seemed to say, "No this isnt you; you wont get much from this!" Often other books come along and the previous book is abandoned. It can sit on the bedside table for a couple of months with other more important and interesting books placed on top of it. It seems such a callous thing to abandon a book after a short read and I know some people feel strongly about always finishing a book that they start. I am not one of those people.
There are other books that I have set aside and come back to later only to find that there was much in the book that I found both interesting and informative. For me an example of this is a rather academic book by James Fowler titled Stages of Faith. In 1987 I had begun my doctoral studies in the Philosophy of Education department at the University of Toronto. I had just completed an M.Ed and was very excited about this new venture. U of T is a large state university with an enormous graduate education department. I began reading the books for the course and found them both challenging and exciting. Authors like John Holt from Harvard University; Laurance Kohlberg; Alfred North Whitehead; Jean Piaget; Erik Erikson; Gail Sheehy among many others. I felt as if I was being welcomed into an exclusive club with its own language and secret handshake.
One of my professors who knew I was a minister suggested I read James Fowler, "Hes coming from a religious perspective so that should interest you," he said. So I got the book and began to read it. For whatever reasons it just didnt grab me. I think in part it was because I wanted to read what everyone else was reading and Fowler wasnt the flavour of the month. A year later I picked up the book again and maybe got to chapter two.
Well, I got my degree and a few years later returned to Australia with several boxes of books from my time in Canada. Stages of Faith by James Fowler was in one of the boxes, probably on the bottom under Erikson and Piaget. One day, I cant remember when or why, I opened the book and read the chapter titled "Stage 5 Conjunctive Faith". I was riveted. As I read more of the book I became increasingly committed to the idea that we are all on a faith journey and the importance of that journey is that we dont pitch our tent and remain at any one of the stages. I am sure that is what my professor was leading me to. Its all about the journey and its all about faith.
Richard Rohr once said, "Many religious folks insist on answers that are always true. We love closure, resolution and clarity, while thinking that we are people of faith"! How strange that the very word "faith" has come to mean its exact opposite. Instead of trusting it is often used to mean certainty. No matter what stage of the religious life one finds oneself at, the only requirement is to be open to the next stage that God and Life will lead you to.
Christopher Page
Thursday, 23 July at 7:30pm | Church Council. | Faichney Room. |
Monday, 27 July at noon | Time for Fellowship Lunch. | Faichney Room. |
Monday, 27 July at 7:30pm | Finance Committee. | Wettenhall Room. |
Thursday, 30 July at 10:00am | Prayers for Christian Unity. | Church. |
Saturday, 1 August 10am 3:30pm | Congregation & Council Retreat. | |
Sunday, 2 August at noon | JMC Christmas Lunch. | John Macrae Centre. |
Wednesday, 5 August at 6 9pm | PB Handbells. | Wettenhall Room. |
Sunday, 9 August at 11:15am | D Hodges Memorial unveiling. | Kinross House. |
Monday, 10 August at 10:30am | Drop In Card Day | Faichney Room. |
At 7:30pm | Finance Committee | Wettenhall Room. |
Tuesday, 11 August at 10:00am | Coordinating Forum | Faichney Room. |
Wednesday, 12 August at 6 9pm | PB Handbells | Wettenhall Room. |
Thursday, 13 August at 9:00am | UAT meeting | Wettenhall Room. |
Tuesday, 18 August at noon | Management Team | Wettenhall Room. |
Wednesday, 19 August at 6 9pm | PB Handbells | Wettenhall Room. |
Thursday, 20 August at 10:00am | Morning Group | Faichney Room. |
Sunday, 23 August at 10:15am | Baptism Reunion service and lunch. | |
Monday, 24 August at noon | Time for Fellowship Lunch | Faichney Room. |
Thursday, 27 August at 10:00am | Prayers for Christian Unity | Swedish Church. |
28 August 6 November | Christopher Page on Roach Exchange to Denver. | |
2 September 25 October | Wolfgang Stahlberg on Roach Exchange at TUC. | |
Sunday, 29 November at 10:15am | Grandparents service and lunch. |
Congregation Directory Its time for an update.
The Directory is a great tool to help us engage with one another.
Music
Thank you to Gordon Atkinson who is playing the organ at the 10.15am service today.
Yesterday Jennifer performed in Zutphen in the Netherlands and will be performing in Denmark this coming Tuesday. Following that, Jennifer will travel to Malmo to join force with Camilla Hellgren (former organist at the Swedish Church) to perform in Camillas church, the two will perform 4-hands repertoire, bringing some additional joy to their friendship founded in Melbourne.
Church fundraising stall
Lenore and Lyn will be having a stall this morning from 9.30 am. Please buy some homemade cakes, biscuits, slices, chutney etc. and some treats to take home. Much appreciated Lenore and Lyn
Skills, Opportunity, Survival in Kenya
Christie Faulks will be speaking today about her small charity SOSK: Skills, Opportunity, Survival in Kenya. TUCs church outreach project has been supporting this program for nearly four years. We have contributed in helping her purchase land to build an education centre. Christie will tell us about her most recent visit to Kenya.
Reverend David Hodges
There will be a Dedication of the Reverend David Hodges Memorial following the 10:15 service on 9th August in Kinross House. It will include morning tea. Please RSVP to Nina Mumford for catering purposes on 9505 6775 or nina.mumford@optusnet.com.au
John Macrae Centre
A special mid-winter Christmas dinner will be held at the Centre on Sunday August 2nd at 12.30 pm. Come and enjoy a convivial feast - entree, roast turkey, and plum pud with hard sauce. Our guest speaker, Patricia Begg, will inspire us with her discoveries during a recent trip to Russia "Opulent Moscow".
Please ring the JMC office on 9829 0320 for bookings. $40 per person. Everyone is most welcome to attend.
Toorak Op Shop
still needs winter clothing donations. 143 Canterbury Rd, Toorak. Ph: 9827 3172.
Encounter - Engagement - Enhancement
Congregation Elders and Church Councillors Retreat on Saturday 1 August we will be holding a special one day workshop where we will explore our theme of Engagement. In the morning we will learn about the practices of Contemplation, Meditation, and Centring Prayer including a quiet pilgrimage around the grounds of our church.
In the afternoon it will be movie time, discussing a current film and its relevance surrounding the deeper issues in life. Everyone from our church community is invited to attend this inaugural event where we can engage with one another and celebrate the multi-faceted and vibrant community which is TUC.
Workshop from 10:00 to 3:30 with lunch provided at a reduced cost of $15. If you are only able to attend either the morning or the afternoon session you will be most welcome and encouraged to be a part of this new event. Please feel free to invite a friend from our wider community to see what TUC is all about. Engagement!
The Future of Religion, Jesus, & Christianity
The Progressive Christian Network of Victoria & Common Dreams on the Road present a Lecture & Symposium by Dr David Galston.
Venue: | Toorak Uniting Church |
Friday 28 August 7.00 pm | "Has Religion a Future?" |
Saturday 29 August 10:00am | "Has Jesus a Future?" |
11:30am | "Has God a Future?" |
1:30pm | "Is There a Post-Christian Christianity?" |
Bookings: | Will Open Soon. |
News from Kinross Arts & Spirituality Centre
Gallery Contacts: |
For all exhibition enquiries and bookings please telephone Lyndel Wischer on: 9829 0340 or email: uat@toorak.unitingchurch.org.au or visit the Kinross House page on the TUC website. You are also welcome to call in to the Kinross House Office which is normally attended 10 am 3 pm, Tuesday Friday or by appointment.
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Lectionary Readings for 26 July 2015, Pentecost 9
2 Samuel 11: 1 15; Psalm 14; Ephesians 3: 14 21; John 6: 1 21.
The liturgical colour for Pentecost is green.