Billabong

What a great name for an Aussie Church. Liz and I went there last Sunday to meet up with some old friends. One couple that we've known for quite some time and another friend who has made this her church home. It's quite a unique church plant, sponsored by the Uniting Church of Australia. We absolutely loved being there. Moreso because the service emphasis was on women serving Christ. For that reason almost all of the service participants for the day were women, including the speaker. A humorous video clip was shown at the beginning of a woman singing, very rapidly, the 250 words that a Mum is likely to say in a day. Words that may be repeated everyday!!! The title of the Encounter message was, 'Mere Women'. A seasoned female Pastor and missionary gave the talk and questions were invited from the congregation. People participated in a quite lively way. Also a chinese person from mainland China shared how she found Christ while a student here in Australia and how she is received in the workplace as both a 'boss' over men and a Christian. That was very refreshing and inspiring. God is so good, reaching into the life of this person so schooled in communism. The children, once they returned from their specialised class time joined in the worship and seemed to be right up with what was going on, even in the sharing of communion. Perhaps the whole atmosphere was enhanced by the fact that the service took place in a big white marquee (ten) on land that includes a genuine billabong, and a sheep to boot! All in all it was a great experience and Christ honouring conversation continued at the 'cuppa' time afterwards. Will certainly be returning there as time permits.

"Women's Meetings"

One of my pet annoyances in church life is the syndrome of having special meetings just for women.

Is it because women are seen as having special needs and so need unique programs ?
Or is it to give women a place to share openly about their lives and spiritual growth ?

Of course there is the real need for women who have young children at home and can't go out at night to regular home groups to have opportunity for fellowship and learning more from the bible in study groups. I'm thinking even more about the sort of meetings which make women out to be a 'special case' - a class of people who have to be encouraged all the time as what their particular role is in life and how God has created them for a particular role in life.

Even the groups which major on health, beauty, personal development etc. all leave me with the feeling that somehow women need special 'handling' over and above other Christians (namely men) I know there are some women out there who feel affirmed with all this attention, but I have always felt demeaned by such separatist gatherings and just want to be know as a 'Christian'.

I'm interested to read if others feel this way, because I suspect there are heaps of women

No end of trouble

You may have wondered why we hadn't posted on here for a while. Well, there's a very good reason, which may seem, to the rest of you out in the blogosphere a bit dumb. We couldn't remember our password so couldn't get in!!! I know, I know, all we needed to do was to scrap the old password and begin a new account with a revised password. So, we've done that and are back on air. In the meantime we have had a lot of activity over on the CBE blogsite, The Scroll (see link) and since we have been made administrators we have even more reason to be spending a lot more time there. But even so, we do want to regularly check in here, not just with equality stuff, even though that is our passion, but ordinary stuff as well. Like, what we've been up to of late and stuff that we are getting out of the Word that might bless others as well. We really miss, since no longer being in paid ministry (due to retirement), the almost daily involvement of sharing with others from God's Word and being a part of their growth in Christ. Admitted we can still do that through this medium and with our immediate family, including 8 grandchildren, but it's not the same as the church community and the interaction and ministry opportunities that go along with church life. We are really enjoying retirement, don't get me (Trevor) wrong but now that we've had it a bit easier we are both chafing at the bit to share current insights into God's word. For Liz there's also the music component. She's really missing worship leading and playing for a congregation. We have a piano and music at home but it's not the same as inspiring others to sing and worship God in the Sunday celebrations or Home Group times. Attending is not the same as leading. We don't want to be pew warmers!