Let me tell you a story ...

As Jesus walked by the sea of Galilee he saw two brothers

Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother

Casting their nets into the sea, for they were fishermen

Jesus said, "Follow me. and I will make you fish for people"

Immediately they left their nets and followed him

Going on from there, Jesus saw two other brothers

James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, sitting in a boat with their father Zebedee

They were mending their nets

Jesus called to them

Immediately they left their nets, and their father, and followed him

Just as a little test I have tried writing out one of the stories our small but keen group learned at a workshop with Pam Faro on Saturday. This woman is amazing. Her website says she "will travel most anywhere to help you experience the power of storytelling!" Based in USA, she's visiting Australia for a Network of Biblical Storytellers conference in Victoria in a couple of weeks. Middle of school holidays was not the ideal time for a workshop, but ten keen participants grew in faith and understanding under her gentle encouraging and skillful guidance.

Not in communion

First day in the new job and I was invited to attend the Professional Development Day on Catholic faith. The bishop gave a very thoughtful and insightful introduction to Catholic theology (as much as possible in only 3 hours). I enjoyed and appreciated his intellectual integrity. And understand better the "context of Catholic faith and values" within which I will be working.

I also realise how deeply Protestant I am. I appreciate the Catholic interpretation of what is required for the church universal to enjoy the unity that Christ desires. I now understand how pivotal acceptance of transubstantiation is in our separation. I am firmly within the 'real presence' school of understanding. Our inability to celebrate communion together pains me.

As we approach Reformation Sunday I find myself with Luther. "The true treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of God." To me that is such a treasure and a way of living. Together with doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with Godde.

For now it seems a case of celebrating common understanding and feeling the pain of separation. I do agree that we cannot cover over or deny the separation that exists as a result of current theology and doctrine.

This is where I stand. Seeking to remain true to myself and to my understanding and tradition. So help me God!

Big hearted Godde

Over the past weekend I was among 40+ leaders in our local church at the Naamaroo Conference Centre - a great venue surrounded by National Park land with plenty of opportunity for bushwalking and reflection. As I wandered on Sunday morning I was reading the Oremus office for the previous day and kept coming back to these words from Micah7 (vv 14 and 18):

Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock that belongs to you, which lives alone in a forest in the midst of a garden land; let them feed in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old... Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of your possession? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in showing clemency.

I had with me Te Paipera Tapu - the Bible in Te Reo Maori - the language of the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand. As far as I know this is basically the translation made by predominantly British missionaries in the 19th Century - as there is no notation of revisions in the frontispiece. I find benefit in reading scripture in a language I don't know (especially a phonetic one like Maori) as it somehow reaches through my intellect and connects at a gut level.

The last part of verse 18 reads: ... no te mea e ngakau nui ana ia ki te tohu tangata. In this case I know enough Maori to know that ngakau nui is big heart. And tohu tangata is a subject people. I think this means that Godde has a big heart toward the people of Godde.

Ngakau nui will be my updated mobile phone banner for the next while (I noted the other day it is still Lent for Life but we are well past that season of the church year). As I delight to know that Godde delights in showing clemency. That word is so precious.

Blogging testimonial

RevHRod posted a Friday Five that perfectly fits with a post I have been composing in my head for a few weeks now. Thinking about how I joined the blogosphere and about telling my story. So thank you so much for the prompt and the interesting questions below:

So how did you come up with your blogging name? And/or the name of your blog?

My blogging name is a phonetic version of my initials and the name of my blog - well that involves criticism of my denomination but I have voiced it to the State Moderator and anyone who knows me reasonably well knows about my set the bird free mantra. The Uniting Church in Australia was born out of a sincere and real commitment to an ecumenical vision in 1977, bringing together the Congregational Union, the Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church. Similar to the UCC in the USA and the URC in the UK. The Basis of Union is an excellent document that has had its own evangelistic effect, bringing people into this new denomination. All this I admire and respect. My difficulty when I first came to Australia was with the logo. Despite an impeccable statement of meaning, the flame/bird seems imprisoned within the heavy black outlines. Over time of course I have found pockets of creativity and freedom and inclusiveness. I have even found some places like Wesley Mission that have modified the logo. My passion persists in the name of this blog and I do long to see the fullness of Godde reflected in the week-by-week worship and the day-by-day living of this denomination born in such hope and enriched with such potential.

Are there any code names or secret identities in your blog? Any stories there?

No. I cannot bring myself to give my family members code names or even to talk about them much in my blog. I feel irritated by the standard ones (DD, DS, DH etc). I do like reading other people's ones (like Songbird's Princess who is searching for a new on-line identity) and Sally's joyful sharing of her family stories, but I'm somehow more reluctant!

What are some blog titles that you just love? For their cleverness, drama, or sheer, crazy fun?

Red Wine and Garlic, Don't eat alone, Anchors and Masts, Pacific Highlander, Yearning for God (I just love Jan's washing line signature pic),

What three blogs are you devoted to? Other than the RevGalBlogPals of course!

Eternal Echoes. Abbey of the Arts, and the poetry dialogue between Black Pete and the Midwesterner

Who introduced you to the world of blogging and why?

This is the picture that started it all! Short answer - Sally at Eternal Echoes. Long answer: Blogging - I'd heard the word and knew some people did it but really didn't know what it was all about and had never read one. Except - now I think about it - Saartje who I discovered when looking for cute knitting patterns one time. But back to the main story! I was leader of a Lent Event study group and looking for a illustration of the 'woman at the well' A google image search found this brilliant picture by He Qi @ Eternal Echoes . Read Sally's blog accompanying it and loved it. Bookmarked the page. Went back to visit fairly regularly. Visited some of her 'fellow travellers.' Began to respond in comments. Found some of my comments were almost as long as the blogs. So thought - maybe I could give this a go. Sally was SOOOOOO encouraging with my first tentative posts. Then I was hooked really and have met new cyber friends through a not-completely-but-fairly random snowballing method. I still have concerns that I am living in a virtual reality and avoiding relationships I should be nurturing in person. The time I spend on-line has increased and there are questions about my priorities. But all-in-all blogging is a positive experience and has provided some of the creative opportunity that I so craved when I coined the title.

Bonus question: Have you ever met any of your blogging friends? Where are some of the places you've met these fun folks?

No I haven't. although I have made snail mail contact with a handful. Bavelry has a card exchange group which is fun to add a personal contact dimension. Today I was both sad and glad to read in the headlines of the death of Olive Riley - purportedly the world's oldest blogger. Maybe you've already heard the news. This wonderful woman lived just up the coast from me yet tonight is the first time I've heard of her. This strengthens my resolve to develop my 'Australian' blogging network as well as continuing the journey with my 'up over' friends.

Addicted to carbon

Ban Ki-moon has issued a call to all the world to kick our carbon habit. In his message for World Environment Day (at the beginning of this month) he said:

"Addiction is a terrible thing. It consumes and controls us, makes us deny important truths and blinds us to the consequences of our actions"

Yet will I heed this call? Seriously? I recently completed one of those carbon footprint exercises - thinking I would come out reasonably OK as I think I live in a planet-friendly way. Yet if everyone on this earth lived like me we would need the resources of three planets to support our lifestyles. From powerhouse I learnt that my footprint is almost twice the national average and FIVE TIMES the world average. This is scary stuff.

I can cut down on vehicle use - and eat less meat. Use a water conserving washing machine - dry clothes on the line - and switch off the lights. The change required is even more radical. A challenge for me is that the response required is collective and not just personal. It cuts across my need to be needed. To provide transport to school and work and church activities. To run around after others. It also cuts across our decision to attend a church in a distant suburb. And that of the Uniting Church to provide clergy with large cars. And large houses.

In responding to this call I feel like the hypothetical disciple portrayed in the sermon this morning. Imagine if Simon and Andrew had made a more reasonable response. Well yes Jesus of course we'd love to follow you. You are a good teacher. We want to be on your team. Not literally of course. Metaphorically. We'll stay here where we know the situation. Of course we'll sign up. It will be good for you to say you have the numbers. Leave us with some of your literature and we'll read it thoroughly. You don't really mean for us to hit the road with you Jesus. Do you?

But for now that feels as if this is where I am. Mitigating rather than changing everything. What does it mean? For me? For us? Here? Now? To cut free from this addiction. The stuff I do seems so like shifting the deck chairs on the Titanic, or fiddling while Rome burns, or whatever.

It's fine to sing Where you lead Lord I will follow
The challenge is to follow into unexplored territory. To keep working on those mitigating actions and whittle away the size of the footprint. To honestly discuss and share with those around me how everything can change. If the price of petrol finally influences church attendance perhaps we can explore how worship times can better match public transport. To seek the healing of blindness, so that I understand the consequences of my actions. To find out and speak the truth. To live in the rhythm of grace and break out of the control of the empire.

This whole post sounds a bit breast-beating and helpless. It's not meant to. The Church has been a powerful force in overcoming destructive forces through history, as have the organised efforts of other religions. At a personal level Hanane and Katie knitting for peace send a powerful message to everyone who meets them. In Amazing Grace those eighteenth century women gave up sugar in their tea as a powerful message against slavery. I hope and pray that people of faith can join together to address the carbon addiction that at the same time sustains and threatens our way of life. It is essential. And we collectively know that there is a better way.