Expanding Horizons

Oh Holy Night

Each night a child is born is a holy night. Kris offers reflections on the young of today and how their worries are different to those of previous generations. Nuclear war doesn't loom as large, the cold war is over, but the struggle for resources continues to threaten world peace. Climate change looms large in the minds of our young today. Kris encourages people of all ages to remember love is an action and to find a way to serve others.

Yeshua's Prayer

In Yeshua's Prayer, Kris looks at the origins of "The Lord's Prayer" (aka " The Our Father"). Can we determine how much of it was taught by Yeshua himself and how much was added later? And, more importantly, can we distinguish between the essential truth found in this famous prayer and the extra embellishments added as Christianity was codified? This podcast provides much food for thought and perhaps even some "essential bread" for our spirits.

An Oasis of Faith & Well-being,

This week we have another Uniting Church Chaplain, Rev Dave Williamson, a member of the Chaplaincy team at Flinders University since 2014. All at Flinders are welcomed by Oasis. The Oasis Team at Flinders is committed to supporting students and staff across multi-faiths, regardless of ethnicity, gender or gender identity. Dave introduces us to the African concept of Ubuntu, communal sharing and mutual support. A Multi-faith diversity in outreach is seen by the Oasis chaplaincy team as one of their strengths. Dave's talk may well point us to ways where we as a community can help with the work of Oasis at Flinders?

An Interfaith Service

At today's Inter-faith Service, Kris interviews the Rev Liellie McLaughlin, South African-born Minister within the Uniting Church, Environmentalist and practising Physiotherapist. Liellie is the Community Connections Coordinator for Pilgrim Uniting Church, a member of the Uniting Church's Synod Refugee Advocacy Group, Environmental Action Group and Covenanting Committee. Liellie describes herself as working "at the edges of the institutional Church", intentionally stepping away from a traditional minister's role - preferring instead to deepen our understanding of the nature of God from the bonds built from wider, Inter-faith and Multi-faith connections. My hunch is that the seeds that germinated from Liellie's first religious experience as a child in South Africa, led her to initiate "Hope's Café" and the Interfaith dinners we enjoy today. This interfaith "feast" - we shared and enjoyed together today, is a spiritual one. Our Interfaith Service finishes with an Inter/Multi-faith story of our times by Grant and a conclusion by Kris. So listen on and be nourished!

P.S.I've also managed to repair the distortion on the orginal Podcast file

Ego Death?

Many religious, philosophical and psychological traditions emphasize the importance of transcending the ego - that part of ourselves that is primarily self-interested. Kris examines these ideas and offers some suggestions for why and how we may become less controlled by our egos as we move through our spiritual journeys. 

Meditative

Readings and music set the scene for Kris's exploration of the benefits and challenges of the practice of meditation. He discusses how meditation involves deep relaxation, concentration, and maybe something more...

Random notes of a young man

Today's service, punctuated by bird calls and a low-flying light plane - was a combined service at Shady Grove, led by our Minister, Kris Hanna. We were privy to the remarkable, innermost thoughts of a young man, and his observations and resolutions about how he will conduct his life. Towards the end of Kris's address, this young diarist's identity is revealed. Listen on!

Forgiveness & Well-being

Our guest speaker is Joanne Giannes who offers Group and Individual healing and transformation through leadership training and therapy counselling in many different forms. Joanne speaks to us about "Forgiveness & Well-being". She begins her talk: "Forgiveness, like well-being is a verb. It's not a noun. It's an ongoing commitment, not without its obstacles. Collectively and individually we treat these aspects separately and yet most of us know - deep down, that they are deeply interconnected. Having a forgiving nature plays a crucial role in bringing them into harmony. We have the power to rewrite our stories, re-shaping the narratives of our grievances". Joanne's talk is not to be missed!

Our Flower Service

Today we celebrate the 'Flower Communion' of Unitarian, Dr Norbert Capek and its messages of Hope, Compassion, Peace and Loving kindness that blossomed in the decade before the ravages of Nazism swept waves of hate, intolerance and genocide across the globe. And in a world where we hear once again, the drum-roll of regional and global conflict, what qualities will we resolve to take from our 'Flower Service' (our Flower Communion) today, into our less-certain tomorrows?

Good Government, Bad Government; Power, Money and influence in Australian Politics

We were privileged to have South Australian Greens Senator, Barbara Pocock deliver the Catherine Helen Spence Oration at the University of South Australia's Pridham Hall on the 17th October, 2024.

Barbara began by taking us into the political and legislative milieu of the late 19th Century - Colonial, and early 20th Century - Australian politics, and the Constitutional and Democratic inequities of the era, that Catherine Helen Spence faced daily, and how she brought about effective legislative and social reforms - of which we are the beneficiaries.
Barbara then takes us into our contemporary Australian political milieu, and the Constitutional and Democratic inequities she faces every day in the way Power is played out in our Federal Parliament, how it's reported, what's being done about it - and what needs to be done - to return Democracy to Australia. A compelling journey with Sen. Barbara Pocock - not to be missed by those who are concerned about Australia's current political trajectory and especially by those who have - until now, been apathetic!