The empowering influence of friendship

Dear Explorers

We will be discussing  Jesus and the empowering influence of friendship: Why gracious living is more important than right belief by John W H Smith in our next series of meetings.

We will be studying the book over 6 weeks on a Tuesday from 2.30–4 pm in the Weyer Room at the Caloundra Uniting Church.

4 April, 11 April, 18 April, 2 May, 9 May, 16 May

(Note that we are skipping Anzac Day 25 April.)

Closer to the time I will send you a study guide for the 6 sessions. Included is a scan of the front and back covers, and the contents. I have read the book and thoroughly recommend it. As in previous years, if you cannot attend the study sessions, you can read along at home. Henriette Guest’s Range Spirituality (Montville area) group will also be studying the book.

At our first Gathering on 28 May we will discuss and meditate upon an issue or theme developed in the book.

Ken Williamson

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Greetings fellow explorers

The Season of Lent has begun, and it’s time to slow down and listen to our hearts (metaphorically, of course!). Next Monday (6^th March) the Explorers invite you to share an opportunity to ponder life as it is, and how it might become. The program will include video clips, music (recorded and sung) and readings from personally inspiring, helpful, challenging or insightful poems or texts, both sacred and secular, and from various cultural backgrounds. We’ll begin with music that will help us enter that meditative frame of mind.

If you have a brief contribution (5 or 6 minutes max.) you’d like to share, please let me know by Friday (phone 0401 513 723 or email (browniw5@optusnet.com.au) so that it can be incorporated into the program. A keyboard and pianist will be available to accompany songs, and recordings, video clips and texts can be displayed on-screen.

We will gather at 6 p.m. in our new venue – the Ocean Room, Redcliffe Uniting Church, cnr Richens St and Anzac Ave., Redcliffe. As usual tea, coffee and nibbles will be available on arrival.

Shalom,

Ian

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Available as an online Zoom session or by attendance.

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Reminder: Merthyr Road (Q) Explorers this Friday.17th February from 10am. Keynote speaker – Everald Compton. Open Discussion. RSVP to desley.garnett@gmail.com

Our guest focusing speaker is Everald Compton:

Distinguished Australian with many passions developed in a lifetime of community and social engagement . He is an author including a book related to the establishment of our constitution, chair of the Longevity Forum, participant in the roll-out of Australia’s Blueprint for Ageing and the implementation of Voluntary Assisted Dying, and a government lobbyist successfully capturing the interest of most politicians. He has academic association with the University of Queensland as an adjunct  professor and also an honorary senior fellow of the Sunshine Coast University. It takes my breath away!

oOo

Dear fellow explorers and seekers

We’d like to remind you that we’ll be gathering for the first time this year on this coming Monday 6^th February. Most importantly, it will be at a new venue – the Ocean Room at the Redcliffe Uniting Church, at the corner of Anzac Avenue and Richens St. Redcliffe. We invite you to join us at 6 p.m. for what promises to be a very stimulating discussion about the church’s relationship with Jesus, led (via video) by Rev Dr Robin Meyers, pastor of the Mayflower Congregational Church and Professor of Philosophy at the Oklahoma City University, USA. A flyer is attached for you to share with anyone you think might be interested.

The car park adjacent to the Redcliffe Uniting Church is accessed from Richens St. There are two ways to get to the Ocean Room from the car park:

1. enter the new Hub building, turn right after the garden, progress 20 m down the breezeway and the room is the last on the right OR
2. walk around the western side of the Hub building to the rear of the Church, enter the breezeway through the gate, and the Ocean Room is first on the left.

Hoping to see you at the Ocean Room on 6^th. As is our usual practice, we’ll have a cuppa, snack and chat between 6 and 6:30, before the programme starts.

Shalom,

Ian

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Our next Explorers seminar at New Farm on Friday 17^th February (please note the change of date) will be led by Everald Compton. He will be addressing the forthcoming Australian referendum on the ‘Voice”. Gathering at 10am and seminar at 10.30am.

He will outline the constitutional history of failure to recognise indigenous people as well as key issues regarding the case for YES and NO while not hiding the fact that he will personally vote YES. He will be happy to handle lots of questions. Paul Inglis will be the facilitator.

Some background material:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice

In 2023, Australians will have their say in a referendum on whether to update the Constitution to include an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.

The Voice will be an independent, representative advisory body for First Nations people. It will provide a permanent means to advise the Australian Parliament and Government on the views of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on matters that affect them.

A set of principles that describe how the Voice will work were agreed to by the First Nations Referendum Working Group.

The Voice is a body that will:

• provide independent advice to Parliament and Government
• be chosen by First Nations people based on the wishes of local communities
• be representative of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• be empowering, community led, inclusive, respectful, culturally informed and gender balanced, and includes youth
• be accountable and transparent
• work alongside existing organisations and traditional structures.

The Voice will not have a program delivery function, or a veto power.

The structure and role of the Voice would be decided by Parliament through legislation, with members to be chosen by First Nations people.

The referendum is part of the Government’s commitment to implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full.

Other information links:

Prime Minister proposes draft referendum question and constitutional amendments | Indigenous Voice (niaa.gov.au)

About | Indigenous Voice (niaa.gov.au)

What is a Voice to Parliament? – From The Heart

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum will fail without more detail – ABC News

Final Report | Indigenous Voice (niaa.gov.au)

oOo

Greetings fellow Explorers

 A reminder that this evening’s gathering (Monday 5th December) – an informal communal meal – will start half an hour earlier than our normal time (i.e. 5:30 instead of 6:00 p.m.). You’re invited to bring a plate to share (mains, dessert or fruit) and drinks, and your own crockery, cutlery and glassware. Tea, coffee, milk etc will be provided. A fridge is available for short-term cold storage, and a microwave to heat things up.

We’ll meet as usual in the Function Room at Azure Blue (91 Anzac Ave., Redcliffe). For more information about the group or access to the venue, please call Ian on 0401 513 723.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Shalom,

Ian and the Team

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