The Gift of Monasticism

The Gift of Monasticism

What has been your experience of monastic life? Does it extend further than watching The Sound of Music? Perhaps your experience of brothers, nuns or priests in religious schools or communities has been negative? Perhaps very positive? In today's final topic in our 'God is Good For You' series, we considered the gift of monasticism to the Church and world, and its biblical basis. Drawing from Revelation 14.1-5, this week the congregation were invited to meditate on their own experience of three disciplines monasticism reminds us to mimic: missional creativity, putting others before ourselves and practicing daily rhythms of prayer.  Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 21 June 2026

Letting Ourselves Love Again

One of the greatest human triumphs is the decision to try again after failure, or love again after heartbreak. These decisions are the essence of how we renew after setbacks, both as individuals and as the Church. This Sunday, we continued our 'God is Good for You' series with a focus on how God guides us to rebuild, by turning hearts of stone into hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36.24-32). Drawing from the prophet Ezekiel's words to Israel in the 5th century BCE, we considered how God's spirit helps to remedy four unhelpful coping strategies: escapism, denial, self-sufficiency and intellectual pride. First, God calls us to commit to the process of rebuilding the ruins. Second, we rediscover the beauty of repentance and forgiveness. Third, we love again, realising we can't do life alone. Lastly, we embrace the spiritual gifts, and give up relying solely on our own intelligence to solve problems.  Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 14 June 2026

Rejoicing In All Circumstances: A Demonstration

Have you ever experienced what it is to rejoice on your worst day, or through your darkest year? If not, you are missing out! This week we practiced what it is to live the defiant, rebellious lifestyle of a disciple of Jesus. As Paul described in Philippians 4.4, we choose to praise and rejoice in all circumstances, because we know that whatever is happening today is not the end of our story. We celebrate, sometimes ahead of schedule, that all will be well, everything will be healed, relationships will be reconciled and God will have the victory over our stories. This Sunday, at the end of our service, we put on our dancing shoes as we welcomed a surprise visit from the Bay Street Brass band and danced in the street to When the Saints Go Marching In.  Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 7 June 2026

Faith and Science Reunited

Have you noticed that theology and religious history have been largely removed from school and university subject offerings? One of the greatest tragedies of the 21st century has been the relegation of theological study to personal interest or private religious observance. Science is, today, seen to be the sole pathway to continuous social improvement, whilst religion is a lightweight topic that is no longer needed to fill the gaps science once left open. When did the Church decide to accept this? Why haven't we managed to meet the signs of the times with curriculum that weds science with theology? Today, we considered the need for a holistic faith that pursues God every day with effort, and with every part of our being, including our minds. We revisited God's command in Deuteronomy 6.4-12 to be tireless in the pursuit of passing on scriptural truth to the next generation.

In Christ There Is No Racism, Classism or Sexism

One of the reasons the early Church grew so rapidly was because it was an ATTRACTIVE community to join. It was uniquely inclusive of different racial groups, campaigned against slavery, and elevated slaves and women to leadership roles that had always been reserved for men. The early Church radically rejected polygamy, infanticide and sex slavery, teaching men to be faithful to and respectful towards their wives. Baby girls were wanted and kept as equal in value to boys. All of this stemmed from the day of Pentecost, as the Holy Spirit was being poured out on all flesh, indiscriminate of race, age, class or gender. How do we reconcile our experiences of communities that call themselves Christian but fail to deliver equality? This Pentecost Sunday we answered this question by taking a close look at Paul's letter to the Galatian province c. 48-50 CE.