NAIDOC Week (July 8-15) - Faithful Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Christian women on the NAIDOC Week journey

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Christian women profoundly shape our lives, our churches and our nation.

As leaders, trailblazers, pastors, theologians, politicians, activists and social change advocates, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women fought and continue to fight, for justice, equal rights, our rights to country, for law and justice, access to education, employment and to maintain and celebrate our culture, language, music and art.

To honour these women, this NAIDOC Week (July 8-15), we are sharing stories from Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Christian women who have – and continue to – faithfully serve God, his Church and his peoples in the face of injustice and disadvantage.

In friendship, I invite you to join us on this NAIDOC Week journey.

This will be a deeply moving week.

You'll hear stories of our mothers, grandmothers, ministry leaders with over 50 years experience, and theologians. You'll see paintings, you'll see videos, you'll be moved, inspired, convicted and challenged.

In friendship, will you journey with us this NAIDOC Week?

The theme of NAIDOC Week this year is "Because of her, we can!" That's why throughout the week we're sending daily emails from Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Christian women through the Grasstree Gathering and some non-Aboriginal friends of the Grasstree Gathering, as they share about the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Christian women that have inspired them and shaped their lives. The stories of these women will highlight the ongoing work ahead of us as we hear and see the path ahead they've forged for us to follow upon.

Join us as we celebrate the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Christian women who have gone before us, and continue to lead ministries that seek justice, healing and Reconciliation in this land.

Grace and peace,

Brooke Prentis

Aboriginal spokesperson for Common Grace and Coordinator

of the Grasstree Gathering

PS. I've spent the last few weeks connecting with Aboriginal Christian women across the country, as we've put together this NAIDOC Week 2018 series. I can tell you this will be a truly profound week for us all, and I earnestly encourage you to sign up for the journey.

Sitting by the river: one Friend's spiritual and healing practice

Mississippi River near Fridley, Minn. (c) Gabriel Vanslette/Wikimedia

Life Saving Quaker Practice

Michael Bischoff January 1, 2018

Michael Bischoff lives in Minneapolis, Minn.

This article is from Friends Journal

Although I’ve participated in Quaker worship for 25 years, it took a diagnosis of brain cancer for me to take on a wholehearted commitment to daily waiting worship.

I was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the most aggressive kind of brain cancer, in 2015. After a year of surgeries, chemo, radiation, and experimental treatments, I completed all of the available medical treatment in 2016. My prognosis was still not good. Average survival after this diagnosis is a year and a half. I knew that I wanted to continue some kind of treatment.

I live close to the Mississippi River, and before that time, I had occasionally gone to the river to pray. When my medical treatment ended, I decided to make daily Quaker worship next to the river my ongoing treatment. For the past year, I’ve been sitting silently next to the river every day, with the intention of listening for and following the Spirit’s movements. I see the trees, birds, and river next to me as fellow worshippers in community with me. I take this treatment as seriously as I took chemo and radiation.

Like in meeting for worship, most thoughts that arise during my treatment are from a shallow place in my busy mind and not something with spiritual power. The river keeps inviting me to place those in the river and let them pass.

When messages with spiritual power do arise, I jot them down and ask if the message is just for me, for another particular person, or for a group. Occasionally, the messages turn into an article, like this. Mostly, though, I sit and watch the river go past.

Many messages have become letters of gratitude or reconciliation to people in my life—such as acknowledging what I learned of God’s love from my pre-school teacher, or apologizing for my misuse of power in a past job. Some messages lead to conversations. Many days, like in meeting, there aren’t any messages, just sitting in waiting worship. Other days, a great blue heron will have a message delivered through a graceful flight above the water in front of me. Sometimes a turtle walks slowly across my path, eldering me in the ways of patience and persistence. The 100-year-old cottonwood trees around me season what I think is ministry, helping me test if it is a message with weight, or one to return to the river.

Research is increasingly showing the health benefits of being in beautiful natural places, especially in contemplative ways. Even more than the health benefits, my commitment to the river continues to grow because of how I experience it opening me more fully to the sacred river that is the foundation of our worship.  

I’m now six months past the average survival for my diagnosis, and one year into my daily worship at the river.  I don’t assume my worship at the river will cure me, but I continue to trust that this treatment is an essential part of my healing.  When I now sit in worship with other humans, I feel my friends at the river holding us in the sunlight, grounding us in generative soil, and cleansing us in the watershed.

CALL OUT BY THE PLANETARY HEALING ARTISTS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA INC TO PLANETARY HEALING ARTISTS

PHAAA - Planetary Healing Artists Association of Australia inc. 

is a not for profit organization that creates a forum for artists including visual artists, performers, writers, healers, 

and other creatives in the community to share ideas for a sustainable future in a creative way. 

The main purpose is supporting an environmentally sustainable planet. 

WE WELCOME YOU TO JOIN US at 7.30pm, 

1st Thursday bi-monthly upstairs at St Kilda RSL, 

88 Acland Street, St Kilda

On behalf of the Planetary Healing Artists' Association, COMMON and WIN Foundation

We are forwarding this email to invite Faith/Spiritual artists to exhibit to our upcoming art exhibition, One World.

There are 2 weeks to go now for submission forms to be in by 5th September 2017.
'One World', art exhibition is dedicated to world peace and will celebrate spirituality, faith and belief. It will explore the common connections between people with diverse beliefs, and promote the idea that by uniting for a common vision of a better world for all, that together we can make a difference. It is our hope that the exhibition will promote greater understanding and compassion in the broader community.

The exhibition will open on UN International Peace Day, 21st September 2017 and will run until 29th September at 4Dverse Gallery in St Kilda (1/118A Carlisle St - opposite the Town Hall).

We are calling for artworks along these themes in a variety of visual art mediums, representing a diverse range of beliefs and faiths. Submissions are due on 5th September (see attached for a flyer and submission form) and will be selected by a Panel curating the exhibition. 

Please share this email with your networks and let us know if you would like to exhibit your artwork.

Blessings
Maria
for the Planetary Healing Artists Team

info@planetaryhealingartists.org

www.planetaryhealingartists.org

Volunteers always win...  the more you get to act, the more opportunities you create. Raise your hand. Step forward. Step up. You'll be glad you did.  Jeff Haden

Brimbank & Maribyrnong Interfaith Network: Spiritual Care and Family Violence Forum for Chaplains and Pastoral Carers

Australian consciousness of family violence and violence against women and children is extending beyond the level where we have been for about forty years.  A major contributor to making us more aware is Rosie Batty, 2015 Australian of the Year. Our nation is the middle of a rethink and an extension of our knowledge.  Because of this, please consider this event.

The Brimbank and Maribyrnong Interfaith Network invites you to:

Spiritual Care and Family Violence Forum for Chaplains and Pastoral Carers

Date: Thursday 17 September 2015       Time: 9am - 3pm

Location: 

Reception Room, Maribyrnong City Council, 

Corner of Hyde and Napier Streets, Footscray 

(5 minutes’ walk from Footscray station)

The forum will bring together Pastoral Care workers and Chaplains in the community sector to consider the impact of family violence, appropriate spiritual care and the potential for healing and growth as we work with affected individuals and families.

Speakers:

• Dr. Robyn Gregory, CEO Women’s Health West – setting the scene
• Monique Toohey, Managing Director Nasihah Consulting – culturally appropriate responses
• Jen Allen, Executive Director of Victorian Institute of Counselling and Coaching - keys to recovery

Includes group discussion and consideration of the implications for your practice.  

Cost - $40, $30 for SCA members (includes morning tea and lunch)

 To register please download and complete the form and submit by 10 September 2015.

More Information: Geoff Wraight, Baptcare Pastoral Care, Telephone:  0409 314 626 | Email:gwraight@baptcare.org.au  OR Gareth Fuller, SASHS Chaplain, Telephone:  0487 921 641 | Email:gareth.fuller@aus.salvationarmy.org

Brought to you by: The Salvation Army, Brimbank and Maribyrnong Interfaith Network, Baptcare, Brimbank City Council, Maribyrnong City Council and Spiritual Care Australia.

Worldwide Forgiveness Day - 1 August, 2015. Take up the Tutu challenge.

Forgiveness Day 2015 - Aug 2, 2015

Worldwide Forgiveness Alliance
Spreading Forgiveness Around the World

Sunday, August 2, 2015 • 7 pm
at Unity Marin • Novato

The Worldwide Forgiveness Alliance (WFA), founding organization of International Forgiveness Day, is sponsoring its 19th Annual International Forgiveness Day Awards Ceremony on Sunday August 2, 2015. WFA focuses on providing training in the techniques of forgiveness as well as in the knowledge of the psychological, physiological, emotional and spiritual benefits of the forgiveness process. WFA also promotes the spread of awareness and knowledge of the scientific findings related to forgiveness.

This year people all over the world will be synchronized in our celebration of Forgiveness Day. We have made some amazing global allies with the most recent being an organization called: The Moment of Calm . 

On the 2nd of August 2015 The Moment of Calm are asking that you take a moment to forgive. Last year 1.7 Million people took that moment. So on the 2nd Of August at 2 pm  wherever you are you are invited to take 2 minutes to Forgive someone! See below to learn more

This year on Forgiveness day we could have 2 million people practicing Forgiveness!

   

You are the Forgiveness Alliance, people working to bring more forgiveness to this world and we value your support. Please attend and bring a friend! Together using the power of forgiveness we will change the world!

More info: 415-261-1393
worldwideforgivenessalliance@gmail.com

Order Tickets for Forgiveness Day 2015 - $20.00

2015 Heroes and Champion of Forgiveness

2015 Champion of Forgiveness

Facing The Painful Challenges Of The Year Of Forgiveness!

Once the power of forgiveness is introduced every hidden upset shows up

read more...

2015 Hero of Forgiveness

She Forgave the Hate-Driven Men Who Almost Killed Her

Now Her Music Has Made Her a Healing Angel to the World.

read more...

Our Heroes and Champions

Tutu Global Forgiveness Challenge and Worldwide Forgiveness Alliance Invite You to Join the Movement!

Desmond Tutu, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and international statesman for reconciliation and forgiveness has announced the launching of his global Forgiveness Challenge starting on May 4, 2014.

Click on our Forgiveness Challenge link below and sign up to become an activist for forgiveness. On his website you’ll find answers to your questions about forgiveness and even learn how to forgive! Remember, the act of forgiving can bring more love and peace to your life.

When enough of us forgive—we can change the world!

 

Signup for our Forgiveness Alliance Newsletter and Events Calendar

>> Signup <<

The Worldwide Forgiveness Alliance is a non-profit organization whose mission is to evoke the healing spirit of Forgiveness worldwide.

We declare that "Forgiveness Is the Greatest Healer of Them All" and that "Without Forgiveness There Is No Future".

Mission Statement

The Worldwide Forgiveness Alliance is a non-profit 501(c)3 tax-deductible organization whose mission is to evoke the healing spirit of Forgiveness worldwide. We declare that “Forgiveness Is the Greatest Healer of Them All” ⁽¹⁾ and that “Without Forgiveness There Is No Future”⁽²⁾

To accomplish this far-reaching mission we have set the following goals:

• To establish an International Forgiveness Day in every village and hamlet across the world by the year 2025.
• To bring the curative powers of forgiveness to the elderly, to youth, to chemically dependent and/or abused women, men and children through classes, workshops and seminars.
• To promote the practice of forgiveness as a Life Skill and to develop curriculum, classes and workshops for children, youth and adults of all ages.
• To develop training programs to certify counselors as “Forgiveness Life Skill Teachers.”
• To create forgiveness workshops and seminars in corporations to effectuate breakthroughs and help increase net profits. The benefits of forgiveness training breakthroughs make possible more creative, stress-free and happy job relationships which can increase net profits.
• To promote and publicize the research findings that Forgiveness creates better health, abundance and ease, more joy, greater optimism and hope and lessens depression, stress, illness, disease. Forgiveness also opens one to more lasting, happy, supportive relationships.
• To help develop and conduct further research to quantify and codify the powerful effects of the applied practice of forgiveness in a multiplicity of settings.
• To create entertainment/learning events (Forgiveness Film Festivals, Forgiveness Concerts, etc) in communities around the world.

1 Dr. Gerald Jampolsky

2 Archbishop Desmond TutuW

Women's Federation for World Peace --- Bridge of Peace sisterhood event - Saturday 22 February, Clayton Community Centre Theatrette