faith

At our first Gathering for 2012, we spent some time just catching up, with best wishes for the New Year.

As per the Junction’s usual form, it was a very informal morning. Julia spent time with the kids, talking about being thankful and getting them to share (in exchange for snake lollies), the things they are thankful for. Then Mark carried the theme into communion.

It was then to our three Junction speakers, each sharing on what their plans are for 2012. See if you can find the commonality. :)

Russ started proceedings and told us about his changing work situation.

Steve Swain continued on with some of the thoughts from the April Gathering.

At one extreme are the Traditional Answers and the other are Emerging Questions. Crossing them on the other plane are Practice and Theory. The sorts of questions being asked are:

• What is church?

• What is mission?

• What does faith look like in the 21st century?

• What is leadership?

• What is ministry?

• What is the difference between ministry and mission?

Traditional is the living faith of the dead.

What is the Junction about?

The Junction began as a group of people wanting to be Christians without the overactive church activities. Wanted to be Aussies in chuch loving God, but also Christian outside of church.

The Junction’s core values are Mission, Community, Disciplines and Mentoring with Love overarching it all.

In some ways, we are still working out who we are. We don’t have to do something, we can be something.

Wynand de Koch is the Principal of Tabor College and was our guest speaker at the November Gathering.

Growing up, Wynand believed that God was a grumpy old man, with strict rules, who could turn on you quickly, swallow you up for no good reason. It wasn’t a healthy view.

However, after hearing then Bishop Desmond Tutu speak, his whole world was shaken.

Things that happen in your life can teach you the most interesting lessons.

Murray was our much loved tabby black and white cat. At 17 1/2 years old, he went out one day six months ago and didn’t come home. We thought he had gone away to die. Until he turned up in Hallam nearly 2 weeks ago.

If you haven’t read the full story - check out Evan’s wonderful perspective at: Do you have a cat named Murray?

Back now? Anyway, we are still dealing with the implications of his return.