Celebrating St. Francis through Learning
The feast of Saint Francis of Assisi was celebrated on October 4th. While many churches host animal blessingsSt. Francis Day is also an opportunity for study and education.
Faith in action: The People's Climate March
Dear Friends,
Will you join us to create a vibrant Anglican presence at the People’s Climate March on Saturday 28th November? Find out more...
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Are Religious Children kinder?
Does faith make our children kinder and more generous?
This article from The Guardian highlights research that says....(find out more)
Read MoreResources for conversations across faiths
As the world becomes more pluralistic there are two or more responses we can make. We can draw back into our turtle shells, put fingers in our ears and pretend its not happening or... we can begin conversations within and beyond our communities to discover ways forward in peace.
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Understanding our ourselves, digitally
If you want to educate people you need to understand them. And these days, if you want to understand them you need to have some ideas about the world that they live in and how they navigate it.
To that point, Deloitte's new edition of its yearly study into the digital habits of Australians is fascinating!
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Video Resource: Australian Suffragan Bishop seeks climate justice
Suffragan Bishop Tom Wilmot in the Archdiocese of Perth, Anglican Church of Australia, welcomes the moral leadership provided by the Papal Encyclical Laudato Si’ and reflects on the situation in Australia.
Watch this video in which he urges us to...
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The model of the Vibrant Faith team...
Innovation! The Youth Ministry Change Project
Anyone who’s been in youth ministry awhile shares some ongoing frustrations: Families are busy. Programs are not attended like they once were. It’s not clear that programs even work. What you have observed at your church is backed up by cross-denominational research: programs don’t build faith.
But now we know what does...
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Marks of Mission conference
The Common Life Missions Conference looks like it will be a good one. I've heard of a few people from our diocese (Southern Queensland) who will be heading across, including people from ABM and others.
With more than 50 workshops focusing on all aspects of the Marks and keynote speakers from New Zealand, Ireland and more it'd be hard to come away feeling like you'd had anything other than a great learning experience.
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New Lifelong Faith Journal - FREE!
You've heard me talk before about John Roberto's Lifelong Faith website. The new journal is out this week and features 82 pages of expert practitioner advice about parish faith formation in all its forms.
Find out more...
Read MoreWho are the Happiest People in Australia?
Happiness is a loaded term these days.
It seems to be the goal of many people but what does it mean? Is it a day by day proposition? Or is it a more long term sense of one's existence, in the same way that climate is different to daily weather? Is it the 'be all and end all'? Or is there more to life?
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Growing the faith of Yrs 10-12
Senior Ichthus is a famous 6 day/ 5 night residential camp open to all Year 10, 11 and 12 students; an exciting experience that challenges young people and gives them opportunities to form and strengthen new and existing friendships. Worship / prayer / games / food / music / sport / night programs / messy games / Challenge night / service / socialising / fun / and much, much more...
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Nurturing a Spiritual Approach to Climate Change
Here's a note from the Griffith University Centre for Interfaith & Cultural Dialogue...
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Book Launch Lecture – Dr Matthew Tan
Book Launch Lecture – Dr Matthew Tan
9 July, 2015 from 5.30pm in the Hanly Room, Francis Rush Centre, 277 Elizabeth St, Brisbane City
Brisbane Launch “Justice, Unity and the Hidden Christ”, by Archbishop Mark Coleridge.
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Introduction to Pastoral Care
The Anglican Church Southern Queensland is pleased to offer Pastoral Care
Volunteer training workshops. The course runs over two separate Saturdays and the
fee is $20 for both days which includes a workbook, and morning and afternoon
tea (BYO lunch).
The course offers...
Faith Formation for Yrs 10-12?
Got a few young people on the edges of your parish but no resources to do things for and with them? Maybe their parents come to church but the kids are a bit on the outer? Senior Ichthus sounds just right for you. Run by our own AYCF department, Senior Ichthus will help those young people to consider their own faith and enable them to bring that wonderfully positive experience back to their parishes...
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Christian education is about small groups. And I like Zebras!
Training in Christian Education
Ever wondered what drives great ideas for ministry across the ages? Knowing how Christian education works, what underpins it and how to do it better is a start! Jonathan Sargeant is coordinating Christian Education (THL366) next semester at St Francis Theological College. Find out more here...
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Selma - Film review
Everyone loves a movie with a message, especially when that message is something uplifting or inspiring. Sometimes, though, the message can overpower the film, or more to the point, the message is something we could all agree with, but the film itself does not do that message justice. I'm not pointing any fingers (cough* Invictus), but does a movie like Selma live up to the message it carries?
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The Faithful Families blog
Research suggests that if you want the faith of children to grow it needs to happen primarily in the home. It's great to have supporting programs happening in the parish but the home is the locus.
Taking this seriously, Stephen Harrison has created the Faithful Families blog, weekly resources to help families grow faith at home. Every idea is simple and easily used.
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Directing the spiritual life
The MEC Spiritual Direction Formation Program is an ecumenical program that offers participants the opportunity with experienced spiritual directors to both discern the call to the ministry of spiritual direction and develop the skills necessary to assist others in discovering the sacred in everyday life.
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Wish I Was Here
Aidann Bloom (Zach Braff) and his wife Sarah are facing one of life’s great challenges: Aidann’s dad, Gabe (Mandy Patinkinn) is dying. If that wasn’t enough, Gabe’s health means that Aidann needs to start homeschooling their children. But what does he know? Not much as most of the kids’ questions, inspired by their grandfather’s plight, are about faith, belief and other big life questions.
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