Expanding Horizons

Annual Unitarian In-gathering, Water Communion and Blessing of our Children's' book-bags

This service - recorded on Australia Day, Sunday, 26th January, 2020 in the Unitarian Meeting House, Adelaide is conducted by our Minister, Rev. Rob MacPherson. It is our Annual Unitarian In-gathering, Water Communion and the Blessing of our Children's book-bags - held prior to their return to school at the end of the summer vacation. Because each element in this Unitarian "sacrament", is indispensable, it is recorded in its entirety. Against the backdrop of an unprecedentedly hot, dry and destructive Australian summer, Rob also reflects on that most precious commodity - water!

Mindfulness

Today's address is on Mindfulness. It was prepared by Jennie Opie who leads our members in the practice of "mindfulness" within our Unitarian services. In Jennie's absence, her address today is presented by John Hall.
"Do you ever struggle with negative thinking?" Jennie/John asks at the outset. Jennie, through John - then proceeds to offer some useful advice and "mindfulness" strategies to help us cope with negative thoughts whenever they occur. The problem comes not when we have negative thoughts (for we all have them) - but when we believe those negative thoughts to be true. Listen on!

The Stars in the Bright Sky

This address - 11 days after Christmas - commences with readings of the familiar Christmas Story in St Matthew's Gospel written for Jews by St Matthew, a Jewish convert to a "blasphemous, breakaway Jewish sect calling themselves Christians" and the rather more succinct account of Jesus' arrival in St John's Gospel as "The Word made Flesh". There is also a brief account of "the Commercial Christmas" narrative that has insinuated itself into the spirit of Christmas, globally and terminally.
The use of the Jewish didactic convention of the Midrash in St Matthew's account - saw the creation of a narrative on a human scale that has stirred the imagination of Christian artists, musicians, writers and poets for over two millennia. However, today's address soon takes listeners away from the familiar mythology of the Nativity to focus instead on the Christmas Stars that prompted that Magi to commence their journey in search of stable, manger and Jesus. The serenity and turmoil to be found in Nature and the Cosmos beyond, provides insights into ourselves and the natural world and suggests new stories and understandings shaped by Science.

The Gods Might Not Be Crazy

With reference to the South African film, "The Gods Must be Crazy", Jennie Dyster gives us some brief vignettes of various Gods throughout history and across cultures. Jennie explores whether the Gods really are crazy. Or does the fault lie in our own pre-conceived notions of God(s) or shared across religious institutions and communities?

Gifts Our Children Bring

Today's service commenced with a celebration of the gifts and talents of our Sunday Club children - presented by them in music, song, and verse as well as telling some Christmas jokes. This has been recorded here as a separate podcast. Enjoy!

What Gifts We Bring

Today's service commences with a celebration of the gifts and talents of our Sunday Club children - in music, song, verse as well as telling some Christmas jokes. This has been recorded as a separate podcast.

In today's Address, Rob reminds us of the people within our Church who have laboured to made it happen. With the festivities of Christmas well and truly upon us, Rob uses the symbolism of lighting "blue" candles, to remind us of people who are struggling with sadness and depression this Christmas and to "hold them in love and light". Rob reminds us of the "heritage gifts" of members past and the gifts - "emotional labour" not gift-wrapped in ribbons and bows, often unseen and unheralded - of people whose gifts sustain our church and the wider community, today.
And most evocatively of all, Rob reminds us of the unspoken pain and emotional labour of Mary in her special gift to humanity: in giving birth to her baby, Jesus and Jesus' gift of unconditional, self-giving Love. Listen on!

The Solstice and Christmas

Today's service - held in Adelaide on 15th December, 2019, is a team effort introduced by John Hall with today's address - "The Solstice and Christmas" being presented by Barbara Willow and Jane Brooks. They ponder the association between the Solstices and Christmas which coincided with the Winter Solstice and the ancient pagan festivals that occurred in the Northern Hemisphere. After bringing in the harvest and the onset of winter, people had more time to celebrate the simple joys of life, fertility and love. Early Christians also chose the Winter Solstice to celebrate the Birth of Jesus and the pagan festivals that preceded Christmas, influenced how Christmas is celebrated in song, dance and folk-law - even here in Australia. Listen on!

A Multi-faith Service reflecting on the theme - "Serving in a Troubled World"

Sunday, 20th October 2019 marked the fifth annual multi-faith service, the fourth to be held in the Unitarian Meeting House in Adelaide. It was introduced by our Minister and Chaplain at Pembroke School, Rev. Rob MacPherson - representing Unitarian Universalism - with contributions from leaders representing the major Faith Communities in Adelaide: Ann Aisatullin - Judaism, Rev Anne Hewitt - Uniting Church of Australia, Dee Sunyata - Buddhist (Naingma Tradition), Major Gratton Savage - Salvation Army, Manijeh Tavakoli - Bahá'i , Imam Atif Ahmad Zahid - Islam (Ahmadiyya Muslim Community), and Vani Shukla - Yoga Teacher with the Hindu Council of Australia.

Today's Annual Multi-faith Service will help you to understand just how much these faith traditions have in common when serving in a troubled world.

Gifts of Love and Duty

An address by our Minister, Rev. Rob MacPherson - recorded on Sunday, 1st December, 2019 in the Unitarian Meeting House in Adelaide.

Today, amidst the all-to-frenzied build up to Christmas, Rob seeks to discover the true nature of Christmas - of Giving and the nature of love that Kant describes as Practical Love, reflected in that giving. Much of Christmas is a "transparent fraud" - especially the (Father Christmas) fraud on children and their disillusionment on discovering it. It becomes "congenital" when they - in turn, perpetuate it through their children. Rob reflects on his own childhood and the significance of the curious and practical, Anglo-Irish gift of an orange. Listen on!

Staying with the Trouble

Today's service preceded the AGM of our Unitarian Universalist Church. Rob's address today was a very relevant and timely reflection on church governance and how - in what seems to be an emerging global tidal-wave of despotism - we will be challenged to give our fullest expression to the Fifth Principle of Unitarian Universalism: "the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregation and in society at large." Rob briefly mentions the history of democracy and observes the "messiness" of the democratic process - compared with totalitarian, dictatorial systems. However, rather than admonishing us to "stay out of trouble", Rob urges us to "stay with the trouble" of the democratic process - thereby giving our fullest expression to our UU Fifth Principle as the best and wisest way forward in church - and global - governance and decision-making. Listen on!