Mar2020
Lyrics humbly lead us to the Lamb
by Rev John Henderson
In the early 1820s, Charlotte Elliott suffered from an illness which left her with a permanent physical disability. She turned to Christ and devoted her life to writing poetry, editing Christian journals and composing about 150 hymns.
Feb2020
Sacrificial love inspires hope
by Rev John Henderson
Christians often use the word ‘sacrifice’ in a very specific way. For instance, Jesus said, ‘Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice”. For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners’ (Matthew 9:13).
Dec2019
Being right with Christ
by Rev John Henderson
Human beings naturally want to be ‘right’. We will go to great lengths to justify ourselves using all the arguments and force we can muster.
Nov2019
Motivated by love rather than fear
by Rev John Henderson
Our survival as a species is at stake. We seem to be damaging the earth – possibly irreparably – or at least the biosphere, which makes our organic life possible. Its complex and interconnected ecology, atmosphere, oceans and weather systems may be permanently damaged due humans.
Oct2019
We find it reassuring when someone says, ‘I am praying for you’
by Bishop Lester Priebbenow
Struggles in the church and the world around us cause us to say, ‘The church and the world really need our prayer’. In the divine service, we pray ‘for the church, the world and all people according to their needs’.
Sep2019
God gives us the word to speak
by Rev Mike Fulwood
The deadline is here. I am sitting in front of my computer screen and I am imagining Bishop John enjoying his leave. Right now I am wishing we could swap places. In particular, I am wishing he was here to write his Heartland column.
Aug2019
There’s always more to learn of God
by Rev Robert Bartholomaeus
When I finished my confirmation instruction, I can remember thinking to myself, ‘I must know everything there is to know about God now. What more could there possibly be to learn?’ Looking back I can see that I was quite deluded.
Jul2019
His love sets us free
by Rev John Henderson
What an amazing, generous God we have! While we humans anxiously wring our hands and get sore heads from worrying about who is right and who is wrong, who is in and who is out, what we should do and what we shouldn’t do, God just comes along and overturns it all.
Jun2019
Thank God for democracy
by Rev John Henderson
By the time you read this column, Australians will have voted for a new federal parliament. Voting to decide who will represent us in parliament is our sacrosanct privilege.
May2019
God can bless us through adversity
by Rev John Henderson
At 10.00am on Saturday 23 March 2019, the NSW District Pastors Conference met at Warrambui with the task of providing nominations for District Bishop, Assistant Bishop, and the pastor member of the District Church Council.
