Expanding Horizons

Paul versus Jerusalem

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.

Wisdoms from the Desert

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).

Alchemy

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.

"Blessing of the bags";"Why are we here?"

The first part of today's service was a celebration of our young people - traditionally called "the "blessing of the (school) bags" - in recognition of the new school year facing our young people. Kris interviewed each of them about their hopes and aspirations for the school year ahead. To quote Kris - "What wisdom they bring! what amazing truths"! We celebrate the maturity and potential of the children of our Unitarian Church. This was reinforced by Grant's memorable reading from the Diary of Ann Frank. As we are elevated by her wisdom, revelation, maturity and insight; we also weep at her loss, as one of millions of young victims of the holocaust.
Kris commenced his address today with a question: "Why are we here, this morning - rather than in a Christian Church?" Today, Kris explores the distinction between Unitarianism and Christianity and what we share in common with Christian Churches. Unitarianism is as old as Christianity. We SA Unitarians have come from a Christian background. Many of us once attended Christian churches. We have our seven Unitarian Principles but these have arisen from the stories and wisdoms in both the old and New Testament that brought them alive in our imagination, not the dogma - those unbelievable bits such as the Trinity, written into Credo to bolster the power of the institutional Church. Our Seven Principles also add modern insights.
But let's not forget these ancient stories - and the parables and wisdoms of Jeshua, to which we may add wisdoms, insights and practices of other religious traditions. They are our stories - our wisdoms, too!
Kris's address today is not to be missed! Listen on!

"Astray-ya"

Kris commences his "Astray-ya day" address with some challenging questions to focus our minds:
"What is Australia?", "What is our place in Australia?" and "What are the spiritual implications of us being here in this time and place?" - "topics as vast as the continent itself", Kris observes.
To help us clarify these issues, Kris looks back to what he perceives to be four phases of Australian History - when cultural interaction and spiritual expression have simultaneously evolved to help us find answers to what is essentially our spiritual search for an Australian Identity. It's one that each us must undertake. Kris concludes: "The search for meaning is not only treasured as one of our Unitarian principles, it is the most noble of human pursuits - unleashing our imagination on the task of becoming peaceful, loving and wise human beings".

What a spiritual feast today! Listen on - to begin - or to continue your search.

”Well Donne!”

Kris's address today - "Well Donne", explores the life of the English poet, John Donne, a contemporary of Shakespeare, through the medium of his poetry, arguably, the most memorable and enduring of which is "No man is an island entire of itself..".
Donne lived in dangerous times. Disadvantaged by the stigma of being born Catholic in Elizabethan London, Donne's life was flawed, conflicted, opportunistic - but lived - fully!
Through his reading of Donne's poetry, Kris spans the full spectrum of John Donne's life - conflicted, ranging from the dissolute young man of his early poems, his sycophantic but successful search for patronage and privilege, his conversion to Anglicanism, culminating in his appointment as Dean of St Paul's. Listen on!

Big Picture - Little Picture

Under the title - "Big picture - Little picture", Our President, Jenny begins with the superficial attraction of a "big picture" view: focusing on the overall vision at a macro-management level - as contrasting with what is often seen as nit-picking, "little picture" micromanagement, where vision and focus is blurred by the detail. Jenny gives some contemporary examples of the dangers of big picture thinking, especially  when it is based on false assumptions such as denial of the science. This will lead to potentially catastrophic global consequences.
Smaller, progressive and achievable steps, based on sound assumptions will provide incremental gains that aggregate to a tipping point, and - when the time is ripe, bigger reforms will become politically possible. Listen on to some very useful anecdotes.

Christmassy

In today's service we are graced with the choral contribution of the Terrace Singers - accompanied and directed by Margaret Lambert and their singing of carols arranged by Sir Karl Kenkins.

Kris "cuts to the chase" in today's Christmas Eve service. He commences with reference to the first and original Gospel attributed to Mark's  version of the birth, essential teachings, crucifixion and death of Jeshua. The original account was silent about his resurrection and the doctrine of the Trinity, added much later to the biblical (Gospel - "Good News") accounts of the life of Jeshua...Jesu...Jesus.
Kris asks: "What were the essential teachings of Jesus that we should remember on the day Christians have chosen celebrate the birth of Jeshua, which we can have hold of, which brings forth our best selves. ...Something in our hearts that sets us on the path to Wisdom and Love?

Mid-summer musings

As the summer Solstice rapidly approaches, pushing Christmas ahead of it and bringing the prospect of warm summer days "perchance to dream", Kris - in these mid-summer musings, draws widely from literature, film, a poem of Joy Burki-Watson - read this morning by Helen; Karl Jung - "We dream of our questions, our difficulties", to find resolution; the Mythologist, Joseph Campbell contrasting Oriental acceptance of illusion and European preoccupation with the rational: the Persian poet, Hafiz's allusion to the Sun and its power - contrasted with the aloof and patriarchal Duke, Theseus - in Shakespeare's "A Mid-Summer Night's Dream. Kris suggests that we might be tempted, like Theseus - to emotionally detach ourselves from the "seasonal realm of pageantry and emotional hooks, with its thicket of labels and indoctrinating messages constantly bombarding us'.
The Spanish poet, Antonio Marchado points the way in his poem: "Last Night while I was Sleeping". Kris asks: "What if our hearts were like the sun?" Rather than the emotional detachment of Theseus, Kris advocates another way to navigate the seasonal maze we may find ourselves in at Christmas.  Kris's musings were rich with allusion. And on what promised to be a warm summer's day, we did not nod off! Nor will you! Listen on!

A Youth-led Service. Kris Hanna’s Address ”On Children”

Today is a celebration of our young people. They conduct the first part of today's service which takes the form of short plays they have written and directed.
Kris's address is also about young people, historical lamentations about them in the Town & Country Magazine in 1771, and even back to that grumpy old man, Aristotle: "They think they know everything, and are always quite sure about it!"
Today, Kris looks at the "Generation Gap": when the innocence and exuberance of the young in exploring the emotional roller coaster of life contrasts with the grumpiness and disapproval of elders? A perennial issue? What's at play here? Kris looks at what Kahlil Gibran wrote about children, what Jeshua said about children and what it means for our lives. Listen on!