It is less than four weeks until Christmas!
By now many of us will be in the midst of making plans, buying gifts, organising Christmas get-togethers, getting ready for a holiday and...
Defence Force Sunday
At the last census, over half a million people were recorded as having served or currently serving in the Australia Defence Force. Their service...
Good neighbours
Recently, I returned from an extended holiday overseas. I greatly enjoyed travelling around, seeing sights, well known and unexpected. Trying different foods is always...
Time for a Spring Clean?
Spring is here – although Wikipedia tells me that whilst spring occurs on 1 September in Australia, it doesn’t arrive in New Zealand until...
Combatting slavery
On 1 August 1834, an Act of Parliament came into effect in the United Kingdom and the British Empire that abolished slavery. The idea...
Disability and the Church
Disability is something that affects us all. It is estimated that over four million people in Australia live with some form of disability. Over...
Winter, Sport and Church
It’s June and the winter of sport is now in full swing. The teams in NRL that will be part of the final series...
The Coronation
Like many of us, on the evening of Saturday 6 May, I will spend time watching the coronation of their majesties King Charles III...
News from the pews
Easter and ANZAC Day
Remembering those who gave everything
Many of our holiday celebrations are about remembrance. On 26 January we remember the coming of the...
Religion and politics
Later this month, on Saturday 25 March, we will go to the polls to elect the 58th parliament of New South Wales. Voting is...
The blessing of holidays
The summer school holidays are over. For some this is a matter of huge relief, for others an instance of regret and an occasion...
Christmas is coming
When do you begin planning for Christmas? Some very organised people I know begin their planning for the next Christmas immediately after they have...
Is COVID over?
The threat of COVID-19 appears to be receding. No longer are our news bulletins dominated by the grim statistics of death, hospitalisation and infection...
Grief, mourning, loss and comfort
I am not an ardent Royalist, nor am I a dedicated supporter of Australia becoming a republic. But like most Australians I was saddened...
Church, 150 years ago and today
A little over 150 years ago the first services were held in the Church of the Good Shepherd. On Sunday 4 September there will...
Celebrating 150 years
A little over 150 years ago, on a day chosen to coincide with the founding of the colony of New South Wales, the Church...
From the pews
Dear friends…
At the beginning of each July, we observe NAIDOC Week. It runs from the first Sunday in July until the following Sunday (3...
What’s in a name?
Throughout the month of June, across the world, people will be celebrating the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Already the longest...
Views from the pews
On Sunday 10 April, the Prime Minster announced that the federal election would be held on Saturday 21 May. In Australia, as in several...