Episodes
52 minutes ago
A Good Friday Service
52 minutes ago
52 minutes ago
Today, as the focus of our Easter service, Kris talks about Courage in defiance of Authority:-
- that ultimate sacrifice of Jesus as Messiah, - to the Jews, that ultimate blasphemy.
To get us into an Easter mind-set, Kris asks us some key questions:-
- Is there a cause we feel very strongly about?
- How far would we be prepared to go in pursuit of that cause - especially if we were challenged by Authority?
- Would we be prepared to make that ultimate sacrifice - of our life in fulfillment of that cause?
We learn of one Messiah who made that ultimate sacrifice and is remembered;
- another, "wanna-be" 'messiah' who fell short but lived to tell the story - albeit one of capitulation to power - of failure and ignominy.
6 days ago
Our Water Service
6 days ago
6 days ago
Today our young people joint with us in celebrating our annual water "communion" . We were each given an opportunity to contribute our water offering to the common bowl which our young then carried out with them to to add to our garden, to feed other living plants and animals. As our water has intermingled, so do we. It is it illusiory to think that we are all separate. Today we come together to celebrate the wonderful diversity of cultures to be experienced in Adelaide; yet we are still - One Humanity, united by our common needs far more than what may divide.
In extending this water theme, Grant reads from the poet, Rumi about water followed by Kris's reflections on water. Despite the illusion that we are solid, Kris points to the the disproportionate amount of water that comprises all life on earth - the "sine-qua-non" of life - "without which we are nothing". Kris then reflected on Babylonian and Jewish creation myths separating water and sky (the firmament). And when humans arrive - well, that's when all the trouble began! Other water practices include ritual cleansing, immersion (the Jewish, Miqveh), absolution, baptism, "World Water Day", "Water for Peace" , ...the needs of Palestinians in Gaza and Rafah! We need the thirst to become better people!
Listen on for more of Kris reflections on what was a memorable celebration of Water!
Sunday Mar 17, 2024
Getting ready for a new year
Sunday Mar 17, 2024
Sunday Mar 17, 2024
Kris commences "Getting ready for a new year" with some illustrations and observations on ancient stone monuments, astronomically aligned to identify the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, which - since the stone age, heralded in the commencement of a new year. With Spring came fresh aspirations, to be energised into new resolutions for the year ahead: in Japan: Shunbun no Hi; amongst Kurdish and Iranian people - it's the rapidly approaching Nowruz.
Kris observes that the sum of our past thought and actions bear fruit and we "reap what we sow." Hopefully that fruit is wisdom and - if not loving - then at least positive, productive relationships that we can build upon.
Kris asks: "How did you go with your New Year resolutions?" We are invited to start afresh with the approaching Nowruz of the Kurdish and Persians? However, it's not the day or date - but the strength of our resolve to bring about change within ourselves that really matters. A New Year - the time for new resolve, a fresh start - can be any day, like now!
Kris begins the denouement of this address with a memorable quote from Unitarian, Ralph Waldo Emerson - "....every day is the best day of the year...." and follows this with some ideas for new resolutions which I found to be very relevant. Hopefully, you will too! So do listen on!
Friday Mar 15, 2024
Ramadan
Friday Mar 15, 2024
Friday Mar 15, 2024
Today we were privileged to have Salim return to address us about Islam, and especially the Islamic practices and observances during Ramadan - commencing after sunset, tomorrow. After his address, Salim gave us all the chance to ask some questions about Ramadan, and Kris followed with some questions of his own.
Sunday Mar 10, 2024
Ramadan
Sunday Mar 10, 2024
Sunday Mar 10, 2024
Today we were privileged to have Salim return to address us about Islam, and especially the Islamic practices and observances during Ramadan - commencing after sunset, tomorrow. After his address, Salim gave us all the chance to ask some questions about Ramadan, and Kris followed with some questions of his own.
Sunday Mar 03, 2024
What we stand for!
Sunday Mar 03, 2024
Sunday Mar 03, 2024
Kris commences his address "What (Do) We Stand For!?" at our Vespers Service at Shady Grove today with an anecdote that comes in the form of a criticism of Unitarians and Unitarianism: "You don't stand for anything!"
Perhaps the criticism was from a person searching for the certainties of a creed and we are a Non-Credal church. But it's not that we are without beliefs, principles - certainties even! It's just that we are free to decide what those certainties are. Unitarianism is older than Trinitarianism, and today, Kris answers that criticism with What We Do Stand For.
Australian Unitarians find themselves historically, philosophically and globally - midway between British Unitarianism and American Unitarian Universalism. Kris's address today considers where we've been as Unitarians, where we're at -now, and where we might be heading. We have some decisions to make!
Sunday Feb 25, 2024
The Eight-fold Path
Sunday Feb 25, 2024
Sunday Feb 25, 2024
Kris's Address today is on the Buddhist approach to living - The "Eight-fold Path" to Enlightenment, based on the Four Noble Truths:-
- that suffering is an inevitable part of living-
- - whose causes can be determined.
- It's possible to escape suffering and-
- there is a path - the "eight-fold path" we can follow to end suffering.
The Buddha's practical guide to effective living is as relevant to our living today as it was 2,500 years ago.
Kris explains the Eight-fold path: Right View; Right Intention (or Resolve); Right Speech; Right Action; Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness; Right Concentration. The Eight-fold Path is not an ordered sequence of steps to follow - but more like eight spokes of a wheel, each playing their part - in keeping the wheel turning, true! And then there's the role of Meditation. Kris also sets us some homework! - And some challenges!
Sunday Feb 18, 2024
Paul versus Jerusalem
Sunday Feb 18, 2024
Sunday Feb 18, 2024
In "Paul versus Jerusalem" Kris takes us on a fascinating journey from radical Judaism to Orthodox Christianity. We explore with Kris - the journey of the Jewish Pharisee, Paul. Born to privilege in Tarsus - initially a persecutor of Jews who had believed early accounts of Jesua's teachings, miracles, crucifixion and resurrection. Paul, their persecutor, in his "Road to Damascus" moment of conversion, was to soon to join those he persecuted, ultimately to die - a Martyr. Early Christians had formed a revolutionary break-away sect of Judaism - soon to morph into the early Christian Church. Kris traces Paul's - and the Christian Church's separation from orthodox Jewish traditions, beliefs and practises. In James's writing we glimpse the early debate between himself and Paul and other early Christians about Faith and (good) Works. Is Faith enough to ensure salvation? Paul's letters and those of Peter and James were soon augmented by other early Christian writers who wrote under the pseudonyms of Paul, Peter and James to develop a distinctively "Christian" doctrine for Gentiles, spreading beyond Jerusalem especially after it was destroyed by the Romans, beyond Jewry - to Gentiles, to Rome and to the world.
Sunday Feb 11, 2024
Wisdoms from the Desert
Sunday Feb 11, 2024
Sunday Feb 11, 2024
Today I dig down into the true meaning of the Beatitudes (St Matthew Chapters 5-7) as taught by Jesus in his "Sermon On The Mount", over two Millennia ago. To help me, I use the scholarship of the Presbyterian theologian, the Late Rev. Professor William Barclay, who studied the ancient Aramaic language spoken by Jeshua - in Germany, in the years prior to the outbreak of WW2. It is only by revealing the ancient Aramaic meaning of these eight Beatitudes that their meaning, power and relevance shine through to illuminate our lives, today. Ironically, these wisdoms were taught in a land that now reverberates with the sounds of war, rendering the Holy Land, "Unholy". These eight Beatitudes point the way to peace - within ourselves and between neighbours, communities, and nations. My address today is graced by excerpts from two late Mozart Sonatas for Violin and Piano: K 269 and K 301, played to us by Margaret (piano) and Barry (violin).
Sunday Feb 04, 2024
Alchemy
Sunday Feb 04, 2024
Sunday Feb 04, 2024
Today, Kris explores the 'medieval?' pursuit of Alchemy. Many of the concepts of the Alchemists are still relevant within our lives, today: Change and Transformation - as expressed in the Arts, in Psychology, in spiritual writings, and in our search for that 'holy grail' of a transforming, spiritual dimension to our lives.
Kris's insights today may help us in the 'alchemy' of our own spiritual transformation: - from the literal objectivity of the alchemist (scientist?) - towards the mystical: - that "letting go" of all our hurts to allow for regrowth and transformation towards more loving, kinder people and towards a deeper spirituality, - towards better selves, - an 'alchemy' of insight, understanding and transformation that we are all searching for.