Dear friends,

We are on the precipice of the Holy Weekend.

I am constantly taken by the fact that on the first “Easter,” Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to Mary then the disciples whether they were ready for it or not. He had told them, repeatedly, that this was going to happen. I wonder if this was in any of their minds on the Friday as Jesus was being crucified? Was there any sense for these followers who were the first to hear Jesus talk about rising from the dead that maybe he was speaking the truth? Just maybe this thing he talked about might happen? Was there a sense of awe and mystery? Of leaning forward in their seats to wait with bated breath just in case it could happen?

Uniting's Advocacy Team is calling on your to help support proposed changes to drug laws in NSW.

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟲 𝗮𝘁 𝟳:𝟯𝟬𝗣𝗠 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝑺𝒚𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒚 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒃𝒚𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝑩𝒍𝒖𝒆 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒔 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳, 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, & 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 - 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲, & 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰

Dear friends,

Having a break, some time away from the business and busyness of work, no matter how much you might love what you do, is critical to refresh body, mind and spirit. (A small confession here — I’m very skilled at reminding others of the necessity of having time off, yet not so good at heeding my own wisdom!)

Join Jon Owen and Graham Long for an intimate conversation 
Wed 28 October, 7:00pm – 8:15pm {online} 

COVID-19 has seen the world isolate in a way we could have never imagined.  

Even though we have come out of lockdown across most of Australia, we are now living in a socially distanced world where we have little to no certainty of our future.  

In many ways we are being forced to re-evaluate our lives and our values.   

Wayside Chapel has always maintained its place in the world based on its strong sense of mission and vision. You are invited to join us online from the comfort of your own home for an exclusive conversation with Pastor and CEO Jon Owen and Pastor Emeritus Rev Graham Long, to talk about how we can find strength and meaning during these uncertain and challenging times.

The SYDNEY PRESBYTERY – VALUES AND CULTURE resources were created to help all consultative committees and councils be clearer about their ministry and work together with congregations, agencies, ministers and other leaders. We hope that this tool will be used across the Presbytery to help guide our mission planning, consultation work, Presbytery deliberations and in the variety of processes we undertake in the course of our ministry and mission; and often as we seek to discern call and align with the leading of the Spirit in making decisions together.

Dear friends,

For a little less than two weeks I have had the indescribable joy of being with my family again. South Australia opened its borders to NSW, and I was on the first flight I could book and heading across to reunite with my children and parents. For a while I didn’t think I would let my children go when I embraced them. The longing in my heart was so deep and had hungered for so very many months. I can truly say I have savoured every moment in their presence in this time we have spent with them.

Check out the first edition of CSU MAGAZINE! CSU reflects on keeping faith, doing justice & building community during COVID. The e-mag features interviews, articles, reflections & more.