Episodes
-
Baptism of the Lord - Luke 3:15-16, 21-22Geraldine (Gerry) Vytilingam has over 10 years of experience in ministry, spanning across rural, regional and metropolitan areas of Queensland and Victoria. Her dynamic skill set has developed over the last seven years working in Catholic education, through facilitating liturgies, social justice advocacy, staff formation, music ministry and student leadership development. Geraldine recently completed her Master of Theological Studies at the University of Divinity through the Fr John Wallis Scholarship, sponsored by the Missionary Sisters of Service. Her thesis focused on liturgical inculturation and how Aboriginal Spirituality is expressed in the Missa Terra Spiritus Sancti. Geraldine is interested in how Christian rituals (particularly the sacraments) can be a conduit of grace for individuals and communities, especially the vulnerable and marginalised.
-
The Epiphany of the Lord - Matthew 2:1-12Rev. Radhika Sukumar-White (she/her) has been a Minister of the Word in the Uniting Church in Australia since 2016. A second-generation Sri Lankan Tamil Australian, she grew up in Canberra before moving to Sydney to study Physiotherapy, Music and then Theology. Radhika is interested in leading dynamic and sacred worship, preaching, teaching and walking alongside individuals in their life and faith journeys. Radhika is currently serving as Ministry Team Leader at Leichhardt Uniting Church, a young, vibrant, justice-oriented community of faith on Gadigal and Wangal land. She serves alongside her husband, who also serves as Chaplain at the University of Sydney.
-
Missing episodes?
-
Christmastide - John 1:1-18 - Weaving the Word.
In this time of Christmas tide we have decided to revisit a stunning sermon from 3 years ago. I invite you to take this moment: breathe, relax and immerse yourself in the poetics of palawa woman Alison Overeem as she reflects upon the Gospel of John, weaving stories into the flight of butterflies.
Alison Overeem is a proud palawa woman from South-East Tasmania who is driven by culture, family, empowerment and creating safe spaces to build hope and healing. Alison is passionate about raising awareness of Aboriginal culture and history and the rights of women in society. As a result, Alison was a past member of the Tasmanian Womenâs Council. While working in aged care at the age of 16, Alison studied for a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) and graduated in 1989.
Alison established the Aboriginal Childrenâs Centre at West Moonah in 1989. As Director of the Aboriginal Childrenâs Centre from 1989 to 2013, she helped design a state-of-the-art, award-winning, culturally inclusive childrenâs centre at Risdon Cove. Alison believes she was fortunate to be at the forefront of developing a multifunctional Aboriginal service, the first of its kind in Tasmania. It was, in fact, a precursor to the Child and Family Centres rolled out across Tasmania in recent years.
In 2013, Alison was appointed as the Leprena Manager, Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC Tasmania). Alison has been instrumental in broadening Leprenaâs engagement, networking and connections. Leprenaâs mission is to be the lead provider of cultural and spiritual learning and immersion, uniting First and Second Peoples through Tasmanian Aboriginal culture, and the National UAICC story, across the nation. Leprena promotes a shared learning and unlearning between First and Second Peoples and provides projects and programs in a culturally and spiritually safe space by facilitating gatherings centred on cultural, emotional and social wellness. Leprena also provides training to church communities, not-for-profits, government and non-government organisations and educational groups.
Alison is also heavily involved with multiple advocacy, policy and strategic planning committees. She is a member of the UAICC National Executive, Uniting Care board of Australia, Uniting Church Assembly Standing Committee, Advocate for the Walking Together circle for the National UCA Assembly, co-chair of the UCA Vic Tas Walking Together committee and various others.
Alison has made numerous contributions to publications and resources nationally around culturally inclusive practice models of service delivery for Aboriginal communities. She has also been involved in advocacy and policies impacting social justice movements and climate change.
Alison has a Bachelor of Education and an Advanced Diploma in Management.
-
Fourth Sunday of Advent - Luke 1:39-45 - Leaping with Joy: Celebrating Divine Energies Embodied.
Rena MacLeod is a biblical scholar who researches and writes in the areas of violent biblical narratives, mimetic theory, and feminist theory. Her research draws out the shared space between womenâs contemporary experience of menâs violence, and those experiences reflected in biblical texts of female victimhood. Integral to this scholarship, is also analysing the roles and representations of womenâs courage, strength, and empowerment. Rena is especially interested in how these biblical representations of womenâs experiences may be read as destabilising the discourses and myths that sustain structures of gendered violence. Ultimately grounded in a biblical liberation framework, Renaâs research seeks to foster flourishing personhood and a society free from the dynamics of violent behaviour.
-
Third Sunday of Advent - Luke 3:10-18
Robyn Whitaker is Associate Professor of New Testament at Pilgrim Theological College in the University of Divinity, and Director of The Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy. She is also an ordained Uniting Church minister. Robyn specialises in the Book of Revelation and the Synoptic Gospels, writing for both academic and popular audiences. Her recent books include Revelation for Normal People and Even the Devil Quotes Scripture: Reading the Bible on its Own Terms. Robyn lives in Melbourne with her husband and their two dogs. While she only preaches occasionally these days, she co-hosts a podcast for preachers called By the Well that discusses the lectionary readings each week.
-
Second Sunday of Advent -Luke 3:1-6
Keren Terpstra is the Dean of St Paulâs Cathedral, Sale in the Anglican Diocese of Gippsland. Before coming to Sale, Keren had appointments in Melbourne, and before that in Brisbane, where she trained and was ordained.
She is a passionate Trekkie, loses herself in Chinese dramas, engages in imaginative worlds by writing fanfiction and playing PS4, enjoys walking around the lakes in town, loves quilting and sewing and handcrafts, is a composer and organist, and is learning to play the harp â in her spare time!
-
First Sunday of Advent - Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
Gillian writes: I am the Chaplain and Head of Religious and Values Education at St Aidanâs Anglican Girlsâ School in Brisbane, a position I have held for the past 10 years. Prior to that I have been a parish priest, worked in a cathedral, assisted a Primate and most importantly, been mum to 4 amazing children.
I am an Anglican priest with tertiary qualifications in Japanese, Law and Theology. I am a lifelong Anglican with a keen interest in the future shape of the church and in womenâs issues within the church and beyond. I think working as a school chaplain is the best job in the church, because it brings me into contact with such a variety of people, many of whom have no or little knowledge of the church or Christianity, but who are keenly interested in living a meaningful life.
I am also a vowed member of the Society of the Sacred Advent, an Anglican religious order of women, and I am committed to the ongoing contribution of religious orders to the life of the Anglican Church and its schools. I am curious about what religious life might look like in the 21st century, and what treasures it still has to offer.
My other interests include gardening, baking, quilting, and my little border terriers who make life so much richer.
-
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe - John 18:33-37
The Right Revâd Sarah Plowman is Assistant Bishop in the Anglican Church Southern Queensland. She has spent most of her life in SE Qld, growing up on the Sunshine Coast. She began her career as a Physics and Maths teacher, during which time she explored a vocational call into youth ministry. After serving in parish and Diocesan roles in youth ministry, she returned to schools as a lay chaplain, and pursued a call to ordained ministry. Since her ordination to the priesthood in 2005, she has served as chaplain at three Anglican schools, loving the energy and dynamism of the educational environment.
In 2020, she transitioned out of school ministry, taking on the challenging role of the Director of Discernment and Formation, based at St Francis Theological College. In this role she was able to explore and develop the nature of vocation, and encourage Anglicans in their journey to ordained ministry. In June 2024, she was consecrated as a bishop in the Anglican church and is now an Assistant Bishop in the ACSQ with responsibility for the Northern Region of the diocese.
She is married to Darius, with two daughters and two step-daughters, all in their late teens. She loves hiking, camping and running, as well as tending and growing her garden which is full of native plants, birds, insects and lizards!
-
Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time - Psalm 91
Dr Robyn Ober is a Mamu/Djirribal woman from Far North Queensland. She is a Lead Researcher at Batchelor Institute in the Northern Territory spanning three decades. She is well renowned for her expertise of both-ways pedagogy, working to combine Indigenous and non-Indigenous ways of knowing, being and learning in teaching practice and research. She serves in key leadership and ministry at Darwin Hillsong church and often speaks at Christian events and gatherings in the Northern Territory and beyond. Over the past four decades she and her family have supported her parents in pioneering new churches and building Indigenous leadership in Christian ministry across northern Australian in remote and rural Aboriginal communities.
-
Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time - Mark 12: 38-44 - How can we be more generous with what we have?Bernadette has had a long career as a secondary school RE teacher, retiring last year from a Catholic girlsâ school in Melbourne. She currently teaches Religious Education to both primary and secondary pre-service teachers at Australian Catholic University. She graduated with her Doctor of Philosophy in September 2018 from the University of Southern Queensland. Last year Bernadette co-authored a book with Ann Rennie entitled Witness, Specialist, Moderator: the critical role of Catholic educators in a changing world. It is available from Garratt Publishing.
-
Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time - Mark 12:28-34
Di writes: I am a Buandik First Nations woman. I am Reverend Canon Auntie Di Langham, Director of Reconciliation in Newcastle Anglican. I am mother of four, grandmother of 14 and great grandmother of 7. My ministry has included Juvenile Justice Chaplin and 20 years as a gaol chaplain. I am secretary of National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council. I am invited to speak at many churches and groups. I like to challenge people in their faith and get them to go on a spiritual journey that sometimes may be uncomfortable. I believe that it is in this discomfort we grow.
Belinda writes: I am a proud Buandik woman. Auntie Di is my mother. I am currently working at Nikinpa Aboriginal family and community centre. I am an artist. I use gum leaves as the backgrounds of my art. I belong to Nikinpa Women's art group who create healing leaves for those who have Iost loved ones or reconnecting with culture. I attend Campfire Church. I like to write creatively.
-
30th Sunday Ordinary Time - Mark 10:46-52
Helen Cunningham OP is a member of the Dominican sisters of Eastern Australia and The Solomon Islands. She has a teaching background in various areas of education including adult education. She has a Masters in pastoral ministry (USA) and a Masters in Applied Christian Spirituality (Dublin). Both of these degrees were completed after she retired from teaching in schools. Helen has a long history of working as an Associate in Pastoral Ministry and has worked in various dioceses including Maitland-Newcastle. She is currently working in pastoral ministry in the Diocese of Parramatta.
-
Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Mark 10:35-45Ann Rennie is a Melbourne writer and teacher. She has a regular column in Australian Catholics and has contributed to The Sunday Age Faith column for the past 25 years. She has been published in The Age, The Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald, WA Today, Brisbane Times and Madonna. Ann is a former REC and is currently teaching English and RE at Genazzano FCJ College in Kew. Each year she compiles and contributes to the teacher prayer and reflection book published by Garratt Publishing. She writes a monthly column for her parish cluster, as well as the odd film review for Australian Catholics online. Ann has written a number of books about faith, life and education, most recently Witness, Specialist Moderator - the critical role of the Catholic educator in a changing world written with Dr. Bernadette Mercieca. She is excited to be presenting Small Wonders on Radio Maria Australia. 202.928 every second Thursday. Ann believes in good news and the Good News.
-
Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Mark 10:17-30 Angela works as a Pastoral Associate for the Passionist led St Joseph's Parish in Hobart, and is the Administrative Assistant for WATAC (Women and the Australian Church). She is passionate about the silenced female voice in the lectionary and finds the presence of God in the gift of the Australian Women Preach team, her theological studies, and her privileged existence in the Southern most island of Australia, where she lives, climbs, breathes and walks with her beloved Guy and Ella.
-
Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - Mark 10: 2-16
Penny Jones
Penny is an Anglican priest and spiritual companion, who has been offering spiritual guidance and inspiration for more than thirty five years. As a dancer, labyrinth and InterPlay facilitator, and yoga practitioner, she is especially drawn to the interface of spirituality and the body, and to the ways in which physical movement can effect spiritual shifts. She has served on the staff of four theological colleges and courses, specialising in the New Testament, practical theology and homiletics
website: http://www.soulworkerpennyjones.com
Josephine Inkpin
Josephine is an Anglican priest serving as Minister of Pitt Street Uniting Church in Sydney. The first out licensed ordained transgender Minister in Australia, she has been very actively involved in many recent struggles for LGBTIQ+ advance in faith spaces and wider society and is currently co-chair of Equal Voices and a member of the Trans Council of Equality Australia. Formerly a staff member of the National Council of Churches in Australia and General Secretary of the NSW Ecumenical Council, she has worked in many capacities, not least with inter-faith relationships and First Nations people of faith, and as a theologian and church historian. websites:https://www.blessedimp.org/ and https://www.transspirit.org/
Together, Jo and Penny helped create the Queer Theology unit for Pilgrim College, the first such university initiative in Australia. Some of Penny and Jo's reflections and spiritual addresses can also be found at https://www.penandinkreflections.org/
-
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
Dr Mayrah Yarraga Dreise says... I am a proud Yuwalaraay and Gamilaraay Woman from Southwest Queensland Northwest New South Wales. I speak and teach our languages in our community and lead local dance (yulagi) ceremonies. I am also a visual artist considering Australian History, stolen generations, intergenerational trauma and the impact of colonisation on First Nations peoples in the forms of both painting and public art installation.
I have been in Education for over 40 years with much of my work focused on Indigenous Education. I was a classroom teacher for 25 years as a history, Visual and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies secondary subjects, and a principal in two schools for 10 years. I have also been the Indigenous education project officer for the then Queensland Studies Authority, Senior Lecturer in Indigenous education at the Queensland University of Technology and at Charles Sturt University. Prior to my current role I was the Associate Professor for Indigenous Education at the Australian Catholic University.
In my current role I work across Brisbane Catholic Education offices and 146 schools to improve outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education. Some key focuses of this work include: Professional Development of Teachers, School Leaders and officer staff in cultural safety and First Nations Curriculum and Education, implementing ACARA Version 9 with First Nations content for all BCE students, engaging with First Nations communities and parents, offering a variety of cultural workshops to students across different sectors at the Ngutana-Lui BCE Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural studies centre at Inala and contributing to the development of BCE policies, strategies and programs.
-
Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Mark 9:30-37 - Exploring His Gentleness
Patricia Smith is a pastoral musician, composer and liturgist in Ku-ring-gai Chase Catholic parish in the diocese of Broken Bay, in northern Sydney. Her long involvement in parish music, and mission through RCIA, Childrenâs Liturgy of the Word, special religious education in state schools and school-parish liaison, have led her to a profound appreciation of the importance of Christ-centred teaching and Eucharistic centring, in engaging young people and indeed all members of the eucharistic community in ongoing and increasingly closer relationship with Christ and his people.
-
Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Mark 8:27-35 - Sacred Spaces â Where Human and Divine Meet
The Reverend Melissa Conway (BTh, Grad Cert Public Sector Leadership, Cert Financial Markets (Financial Planning), JP (Qual)) is the Associate Priest in the Anglican Parish of Toowoomba â St Jamesâ in the Diocese of Southern Queensland, with primary responsibility for the Church of St Anne in Highfields.
Prior to entering ministry, Melissa served in the Australian Public Service for over 36 years, with extensive experience in leadership and managing projects, programs and change. Melissa brings experience, expertise, attention to detail, discernment and ompassion to the work she undertakes. Melissa takes a keen interest in community building and partnerships, discipleship, pastoral care, social justice, earth care, liturgy, liturgical music, and small group leadership. As a guidingprinciple, Melissa is motivated to share the love of God and the reality of Godâs kingdom, here and now, with the people she meets.
Melissa currently serves on the Anglican DioceseâsAngligreen Committee, the National Board of the Movement for the Ordination of Women (chairing its Strategic Planning and Communication Committee), and the Management Committee for Religious Instruction at Highfields State School. She chairs the Local Chaplaincy Committee for the Highfields State School and StateCollege and represents the Anglican Church on the Toowoomba Inter-Faith Working Group. Melissa was recently nominated as a representative of the Anglican Church on the Queensland Faith Communities Council.
Melissa is the child of a post-war refugee to Australia. She was born in Sydney and grew up in Toowoomba. Her adult children and young grand-children all live in Brisbane.
-
Dr Moira Byrne Garton is a native South Australian who now calls Canberra home. She works as a federal public servant, and is married to Matthew. Together they have four young adult children, including one with disabilities.
Moira holds a PhD in political science from ANU, and a Postgraduate Diploma of Theology from Newcastle Uni, completed as part of the Catholic Womenâs Fellowship. Moira enjoys exploring the histories, literature and practices of her spiritual heritage.
-
Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Special Reading - Matthew 15: 2- 28Professor Dr Anne Pattel-Gray was the former Head of the School of Indigenous Studies at the University of Divinity, Melbourne Australia. Professor Pattel-Gray has an earned Ph.D. from the University of Sydney awarded in 1995 in the Studies of Religion with the major focus on Aboriginal Religion and Spirituality plus a Doctor of Divinity from India awarded in 1997. She is a member of the Uniting Church in Australia, and she has achieved many firsts in her prestigious life, and she is known as a trail blazer, and she has opened many doors for her people. She is a recognized scholar, theologian, activist and prolific writer with many chapters and authored publications. Professor Anne Pattel-Gray is a descendant of the Bidjara Nation in Queensland and a renowned Aboriginal leader within Australia â nationally and internationally. She has dedicated her life to the struggle of Australia First Nations (AFN) as a strong campaigner, lobbyist towards seeking justice, equity and equal representation for First Nations people.
- Show more
