For enquiries regarding the Sydney Community or to speak with a priest, please contact:

Rev. Lisa Devine 0401 367 808

REGULAR SERVICES
Please refer to the programme.

Services & events are held at:

The Christian Community
8 Montague Street
BALMAIN NSW 2041
christiancommunity.sydney@gmail.com

Management Committee:

The Management Committee of the Sydney Congregation contact:

John Shaw Ph. (02) 47573731

Gospel Readings: HERE

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AUGUST - OCTOBER 2010

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Until the discovery of Australia Europeans were absolu-tely convinced that all swans were white. Just one sighting was enough to call into question the certain knowledge of centuries. It was astonishing. In the meaning of the Archangel Michael’s name there is a challenging question: Who is like God? Seeking an answer we might look at knowledge born of past centuries of wrestling with this question. In fact there were times when the wrong answer would have got you burned at the stake! We can also look to the future. We can look for black swans.

At a recent conference for teachers and doctors Florian Oswald told us a story about a project with 16 year old high school students. In groups of three the students were sent out to walk to a given destination with-out food, money, and means of transport or directions. The journey usually took about four days. One group got into conversation with a man in his front garden who was curious about who they were. On hearing their story he invited them in for a meal and then to stay the night.

The house was large and immaculate but he did not mind that the dirt of their shoes left footprints on his floor. He and his wife had to leave early the next morning so he gave them the key and told them where to leave it. When they came back with their story they were filled with astonishment. They would never have trusted dishevelled strangers with assorted piercings in the way they had been trusted. The impression was deep and lasting. Before they left they cleaned the home from top to bottom perhaps surprising themselves as much as the couple.

Walt Whitman wrote:

    ‘Do I contradict myself?
    ‘Very well then I contradict myself,
    ‘(I am large, I contain multitudes.)’

We are so much more than we yet know and the world is full of invitations for being astonished. Michael beckons us to go out to the edges of our knowing and dare to find out who we might be.

Lisa Devine