What Matters

Mothering Love of God

The Catholic Catechism states that the respective "perfections" of man and woman reflect something of the infinite perfections of God.  In this message I reflect on the window into God's character that our mothers provide us: Download The Mothering Love of God _ 12 May

Finding Lost Joy

Too many Christians have lost their joy. In God's presence is a fullness of joy we can experience as we look back, around, up and forward.  Listen in: Download Finding Your Joy _ 5 May Or read the manuscript here: Download Joy Manuscript

One Thing Necessary

There are many things we can, and even should do as followers of Jesus, but Jesus affirms to Martha that one thing is necessary; to follow the example of Mary.  Mary rested in, communed with and heard from God has she sat at the feet of Jesus.  What would it mean for us to do the same?  Listen in: Download One Thing Necessary _ 28 April  Or you can read the manuscript here: Download One Thing Necessary

Present Suffering - Future Glory

In Romans 8 Paul makes the radical claim that our present sufferings are incomparable to the future glory that will be revealed in us.  In suffering, God meets us, transforms us and delivers us.  Listen in: Download ALIVE_wk4 Or read the manuscript here: Download Present Suffering Manuscript Final

Abba Father

The most primal cry of the human heart is for God.  Paul tells us that this cry need not be one of fear, but of intimacy and love - to our 'Abba, Father'.  Listen in to find out more: Download Alive-Wk3  Or you can read it here: Download Abba Father

Life in the Spirit

Paul makes the remarakable claim that as Christians we have the same power that raised Jesus from the dead living in us (Romans 8:11).  Listen in here: Download ALIVE _ The Same Power _ Wk 2

No Condemnation

Paul begins Romans 8 with the life-altering claim  that NOW, there is no condemnation for those how are in Christ Jesus.  Listen in: Download ALIVE _ Wk 1 _ No Condemnation  Or you can read it here: Download No Condemnation

Kylie's Story

We have just celebrated Vision Sunday at Newlife Uniting.  We believe that in 2013 God i calling us into greater encounters with Him that lead to a greater harvest which gives greater glory to him.  In my talk I had Kylie's permission to share her story, written in her words. Kylie has been attending Newlife Uniting - Pac Pines since last November.  Thuis is her story:

"I grew up in a Christian family, attending church, Sunday school and later youth group. But circumstances as a child left me feeling deserted by God. I had not been to church in around 25 years before walking through the doors of, not a church but a basketball court. 

The first sermon that I heard that day was on the lost sheep. When I told my mother she laughed and said that she and family members have been praying for me for many years. 

So I continued to come and listen to Orrell speak. His means of communication is such that it reaches me and I understand what he is saying to me. 

I spoke to my mum on the 3rd of January and told her I was thinking about becoming a Christian. 

I went to bed that night but I was woken by a bright white light on the ceiling of my home. It had rays extended out of it - much like how you see a picture of a sun drawn. I initially felt fear but almost immediately felt an immense sense of calm. The light descended from the ceiling and entered the centre of my body with the rays spreading throughout my body. It was a feeling of warmth and extremely calming. I fell back asleep.

I dreamt of Jesus. He sat on a rock in a field of yellow flowers. And I sat there at his feet, not as a grown woman but as a child. We didn't speak. We just sat with me picking flowers. I felt love, peace and a strong feeling of safety.

I told my friend the next day of my experience and the dream. He has known me since I was 5 years old and was actually the minister of the church I attended as a little girl. He'd told me this was a vision - a visit from the Holy Spirit.

It was a sign I could not ignore. God had spoken to me in a pretty big way. I became a Christian on the 9th of January.

I have suffered depression and anxiety for a very long time and this past month I have been reading my bible and praying daily. I've pretty much handed my life over to God, trusting his plan for me that he will keep me safe. I know that at times I will face hard times but with God by my side I will be able to turn to him for help and guidance.

My story is testimony to God's never ending, unconditional love for us."

Greater: Vision Sunday 2013

In 2013 God is calling Newlife into greater encounters with him, that lead to a greater harvest for him, that gives greater glory to him.  Listen in here: Download Vision Sunday 2013 _ GREATER __  Or you can read the manuscript here: Download Vision Sunday Manuscript

Newlife Uniting: A Pilgrim People

Newlife is a Uniting Church.  We enjoy the rich heritage of the three denominations – Methodist, Congregational, Presbyterian – that in June 1977 courageously came together to form a uniquely Australian Christian expression.  From the start it was envisioned that this new church would be a movement, not an institution.  This vision was captured in the foundational document of the Uniting Church, the Basis of Union, which states in Paragraph 3:

The Church lives between the time of Christ's death and resurrection and the final consummation of all things which Christ will bring; the Church is a pilgrim people, always on the way towards a promised goal; here the Church does not have a continuing city but seeks one to come.

We are a pilgrim people, constantly on the move as the Spirit of God calls, equips and empowers us into new adventures in mission as we share in Christ’s ongoing ministry of renewal and reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:16-20).  Here at Newlife this biblical vision is encapsulated in our vision statement, Changing Lives, Transforming the World.  We believe God’s work of renewal is happening all around, and to our joy, through us as the world is transformed one life changed by God at a time.  At Newlife we will always live out of, not in the past.  We will celebrate and learn from our rich heritage; the failures as well as the successes.  We will fully embrace the present while always peering over the horizon with eager expectation that God’s best is still to come.  We will not dishonour God with low expectations, but will live out of the conviction that ‘God is able to do abundantly more than all we ask for or imagine, according to his power that is at work in us.’ (Ephesians 3:20)  To God always be the glory!