Flying start for St Petri’s newest series

St Petri Lutheran Church’s ‘Reading Revelation Today’ teaching series is off to a flying start with more than 90 people attending on the first night.

The series, which commenced in late April, is being taught by Rev Dr Noel Due. It is part of the Barossa congregation’s Regional Learning Hub program, which was established to encourage local people to develop skills in church ministries, learn more of the Scriptures and develop confidence in living their faith amid the challenges of daily living.

‘Noel’s presentation was inspiring … people went away “thinking”, not afraid but curious’, said Kerry Kroehn, the Regional Learning Hub’s project officer. ‘[They] are keen to come back; some have told their friends to come, so that’s a good sign that we are on target.’

St Petri Lutheran Church was one of 10 congregations that received grants through the inaugural round of the LCANZ’s Local Mission Fund for projects commencing in 2025. Funding for the program is supporting learning, growth and resources covering the areas of Theology, Discipleship and Ministry, Creative Arts and Community Support and Growth.

The Regional Learning Hub is located on the campus of St Petri, with an outreach to local church and community across Barossa and Light regions.

As well as the ‘Reading Revelation Today’ series, in 2026 the Regional Learning Hub will be running sessions and activities to ‘nurture the souls of those who give to others’ and also a series to help people to ‘express their feeling and inner creative self’ through journalling. Also planned are sessions with a Christian psychologist to help young people, families and those in leadership people deal with anxiety and other life challenges.

In September the Hub will be hosting a retreat with Rev Dr Dean Zweck, who will lead sessions on ‘Acts of the Spirit’. For those wanting to grow in their confidence and capacity to connect with people in sharing the gospel, experienced mission facilitator Craig Heidenreich will be leading a series of short online sessions.

There will be something for history buffs, too, with sessions over four Sunday afternoons exploring the expansion of German Lutheran congregations into South Australia.

‘We are excited to explore these opportunities and are looking to present each one in a different way that will connect with people, their variety of life experiences and availability’, Pastor Adrian Kitson said. ‘Most sessions will have an interactive element, connecting real people to real concerns and experiences.’

Resources and access to session videos will be available online at the Regional Learning Hub website (https://hub.stpetri.org.au)

The LCANZ’s Local Mission Fund helps congregations, districts and agencies as they seek new ways of reaching their neighbours and their local communities with the gospel. Expressions of interest for the Local Mission Fund 2027 will open in July 2026.