Expanding Horizons

On Declining Church Attendance

Jennie - our lay leader addresses the identity and function of Unitarianism in the context of declining church attendance and what the future might hold for us and for Unitarianism. Jennie asks an inevitable question - within which there is an implied challenge to any church foolish enough to define itself solely by a socio-political agenda: - 
When our raison d'être as a church has been achieved, - when there is wide social consensus, how might we Unitarians find a new raison d'être? - one that provides more than a spiritual stepping stone for seekers until they find something better.  While greater demands bring greater commitment, we need to do fewer things - better. Listen on to how might use our curiosity, awe and wonder to focus more on healing and building relationships…. deepening connections, exploring identity - thereby redefining spirituality and building our understanding of the Individual and Collective Soul in ways that might challenge and re-energise us all into the future?

In Praise of Shadows

Today, Nicholas awakens us to the magic of shadows - "where darkness and light intermingle, giving depth, subtlety, understanding", - deeper insights into ourselves, - others and the world around us. We've become addicted to light. Light is so often used metaphorically - to "cast", "shed", or "throw light on" - the dark, the "shadowy", - a light of scrutiny, of understanding, and insight. This predisposes us to see shadows as dark, negative, evil. But light is only made possible by the magic of shadows: the light and shade that shapes (Japanese) gardens, - that shapes our Art, our Music and our lives.
Listen on for more of Nicholas's insights in his beautiful encomium "In Praise of Shadows". -It's not to be missed!

Why Pantheism?

Today, Jennie asks the question - Why Pantheism? She explains what Pantheism is and what Pantheists believe. In doing so, Jennie identifies the common threads of our Seven Unitarian Universalist Principles and Pantheism that bind them so seamlessly together.

”Masking”

The title of our member, Aaron Poeze's address today is "Masking". With only a passing reference to "masking up" for more contagious Covid B variants, Aaron quickly tackles the real theme of today's address: the "masking" we do to gain social acceptance from our groups, where we feel compelled to "mask" our true selves - to belong. The problem with "masking" is that we become a caricature of ourselves, dissociated from our groups - and ourselves - to quote Donald Winnicott "not entirely present", our true potential - "locked up".
Aaron reminds us of our first three Universalist Principles to suggest what changes are needed to enable us to be true to ourselves and unlock our full potential.

R & R (Rights and Responsibilities) - Does Australia need a Bill of Rights?

In her address today, Jennie Dyster, our Lay Leader confesses to a degree of duplicity in its title - "R and R" - not "Rest and Recreation" but "Rights and Responsibilities".
Today Jennie focuses on Human Rights in Australia and considers whether Australians need a Bill of Rights. Or does the English Common Law system we've inherited - the law made by our Judges and Australian parliaments provide sufficient protection against violations of our Human Rights?

Wintering

Nicholas commences this service today by giving thanks for the blessings of winter. In an address he titled, "Wintering", Nicholas uses Michael Leunig's Vasco Pyjama to raise some "existential" questions for Mr Curly - and for us on this cold, wet Sunday morning: -
- What is worth doing?
- What is worth having?
It is an age-old, linked question and Nicholas points us towards an answer by quoting Heraclitus: -
"Applicants for wisdom - do what I have done. Enquire within!"
...and Jesus: - "The Kingdom is within You".
Nicholas's winter challenge for us all is that these are the questions...issues... we must resolve for ourselves. And whenever winter depression or despair is driven by the catalyst of our circumstances, Nicholas suggests some strategies we might use. And we end where we started today's exploration of "wintering" - with thanksgiving!

Islam Dreaming

Jennie's address today, "Islam Dreaming" coincides with NAIDOC Week, 2022. She describes the historic connections between Islam and the northern, coastal Aboriginal nations that extend back to the arrival in the 1600's of Islamic Macassan Trepang (Beche-de-mare) fishermen from South Sulawesi, Indonesia, to our northern shores - almost two centuries before European settlement and the influence of Christian missionaries. Jennie uses this historical context to explain the recent upsurge in conversions of aboriginal people to Islam. Listen on for Jennie's informative address on a largely ignored aspect of our history.

Questions without Notice

Our Unitarian Community were indeed blessed this morning to have Kris Hanna as our guest worship leader. At the outset of today's service, Kris bravely invited us to write down any questions we might be harbouring about religious belief/faith, spirituality or issues of wider spiritual concern and he would do his best to respond. These were the four questions that time allowed us:
1. Can the Unitarian Principles and Sources be a blueprint for organising society?
2. How can we see and feel the presence of the Divine?
3. What are the limits to tolerance?
4. Is coincidence the manifestation of destiny?
Listen on for Kris's responses to each of these four questions - each entirely without notice.

In Praise of Habits

Jennie, our Lay Leader maintains that cravings/habituations are behind every habit - good or bad and motivate our actions. However what we're craving isn't the habit itself, but the relief or reinforcement we get from these habits. Listen on to Jennie's Unitarian and reasoned perspective on those good - and bad - habits to be found within us all.

The Children are not ok!

Before we open the Pandora's box of current global issues - climate change, covid, the war in Ukraine, school shootings in the USA, Jennie asks us to consider its effect on our young children as well as ourselves.
- Are these events keeping us - and our children - in a state of high anxiety?
- How should we manage it to prevent loss of hope and the onset of despair and depression - both within ourselves and within our children?
In today's address, Jennie provides us with some useful suggestions on how we might form a healthier perspective and get the balance right for the children.