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This Sunday we celebrate Pentecost which was the ultimate turning point in human history: the moment God moved from dwelling among His people to living inside them. From a biblical worldview, this event launched the global church and reversed the ancient curse of division.
To understand Pentecost, we have to look back at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11). There, human pride resulted in fractured languages and scattered nations. At Pentecost (Acts 2), God used the diverse languages of the world to unite people under the Gospel. The sudden wind and tongues of fire signaled a new era. God did not erase cultural differences; He used them to declare that His kingdom belongs to every tribe, tongue, and nation. The timing of Pentecost was precise. It took place during the Jewish Feast of Weeks, a festival thanking God for the first harvest. Just as farmers gathered the firstfruits of the earth, Pentecost marked the first major harvest of souls for the Christian Church—3,000 people were baptised in a single day. We have a few people in our congregation preparing for baptism and/or confirmation at this time. Please keep them in your prayers. Pray for them and all of us that the Power of the Holy Spirit will be evident in our lives, changing us from the inside out, and enabling us to boldly live and speak up for Christ. Pray the Holy Spirit will equip us all with unique gifts to serve others and share hope. And pray the Holy Spirit will continue to break down racial and social barriers to create unity within the world wide Church, and unite us as family in our Church at Mount Eliza. Pray we will trust the leading of the Holy Spirit today, and continue to change and grow more into the people and church He wants us to be; Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, equipped for ministry and mission, bold in our witness and united as family. May the Holy Spirit draw us closer together and further into the mission of God. God bless you, Reverend Tanya Cummings
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 I wonder, where do you see God's goodness in the world?
When I'm looking at an amazing view of the sunset, I'm often in awe and thinking, 'God is Good'. When I'm staring dwarfed at the mountain ranges of the Remarkables in New Zealand, and I feel small and God feels big, I think, 'God is Good'. When I'm seeing the sunrise over an Icelandic glacier, exploring the big ice caves, and staring out over the 'iceberg lagoon', I think, 'WOW - how good is God?! The bible tells us from beginning to end, that God reveals his goodness to us through his Creation. So - what do you like to see that makes you think, 'God is Good'? Where do you like to go or visit or experience to make you feel small and God feel BIG? When do you notice God's goodness? This Sunday we're going to explore God's goodness, some questions around perhaps doubting God's goodness, and reflect on what to do in response to God's goodness in our everyday lives. I look forward to seeing you then! Amy When we speak about God, our language often leans toward the familiar — “Father,” “Lord,” “King.” These titles carry deep meaning, yet they only capture part of the picture. Across scripture, tradition, and human experience, God is revealed not only as a strong and guiding Father but also as a tender and nurturing Mother.
This dual imagery isn’t about assigning God a gender — rather, it’s about recognizing that the divine nature transcends human categories. God embodies the fullness of love, protection, and care, expressed in both maternal and paternal ways. The Paternal images of God, such as Father, often evokes images of strength, guidance, and provision. Like a loving parent who teaches, disciplines, and protects, God calls us toward growth and maturity. In this role, God is the steady hand that leads us through uncertainty, the voice that calls us to courage, and the provider who ensures we have what we need to flourish. Equally present in scripture and spiritual reflection is the image of God as Mother — the one who comforts, nurtures, and holds us close. God is likened to a mother who will not forget her child, who gathers her people as a hen gathers her chicks, who labours to bring forth new life. This maternal imagery speaks to God’s deep compassion, patience, and willingness to embrace us in our most vulnerable moments. When we hold both the maternal and paternal aspects of God together, we see a more complete picture of divine love. God is not limited to one mode of care — God is both the protector and the comforter, the guide and the shelter, the one who challenges us to grow and the one who soothes us when we fall. This balance invites us to expand our own understanding of love and leadership. It reminds us that strength and tenderness are not opposites but partners, and that true care often requires both. Recognising God as both Mother and Father can transform the way we relate to the divine — and to each other. It encourages us to embrace the full spectrum of love in our own lives: to be firm when needed, gentle when called for, and always rooted in compassion. In the end, God’s love is not bound by our categories. It is vast enough to hold us, guide us, and carry us — like a parent who is both strong enough to protect and tender enough to heal. God bless you and especially bless all the mothers among us this Sunday. See you in Church. Rev Tanya  Thank you to all who joined us in person and online for our ANZAC themed Church Service last Sunday. Thanks again to Commodore Jim Dickson for sharing with us some of his wisdom and experiences in the NAVY.
This Sunday we are focussing on DV Awareness. We are joining with the Anglican Church all over Australia to highlight the issue of domestic violence affecting people in our churches and celebrate the work the church is doing to prevent and respond to those who suffer. Research commissioned by the Anglican Church of Australia found that more than 1 in 3 women and 1 in 7 men in our churches are impacted by some form of violence in their home. It also found that very few victims felt they could approach the church for help or that their minister would respond with support. (I was once in their shoes!). The Anglican church has made Ten Commitments to prevent and respond to DV, beginning with training leaders and clergy, Creating resources to change church culture, Lead national prayer, advocacy, and awareness campaigns, and launching programs to help churches respond well and prevent harm. But the work has only just begun. Addressing domestic violence is a generational piece of work because even now, many children are growing up in homes where they witness domestic violence. We have a great deal of work to do. DV AWARE SUNDAY gives our church an opportunity to shine a light on the problem and to share the hope of God’s good news for those who suffer. We read in Luke 4: 14-21 of Christ's proclamation of his good news: that God sees and cares for those impacted by injustice and suffering and declares that such injustice has no place in the kingdom of God. As a church, we also want to be those who see and care for those impacted by domestic violence and to work together to create a future where everyone is safe, respected, and enabled to flourish as God intended. Let’s bring hope, shed light and say with one voice that domestic violence has no place in our homes, our relationships and in our churches. See you on Sunday. Love and Peace, Rev Tanya Give thanks to Lord, He is Good, His love endures forever.
I personally am so grateful to live in Australia and consider that we are truly blessed to live in this country. I acknowledge our freedom and privileges here have come at great cost to so many people. May we all continue to seek to live together well on this land. This Saturday is ANZAC Day, and we will continue on Sunday to reflect and remember those who have fought for this Country. We will hear from Commodore Jim Dickson OAM, MBE, whose NAVY Career began with Cadets at age 13 at Cerberus. After 41 years of Service, he retired as Naval Officer in December 1991. May we be blessed as we hear about his own experiences and observations from his early days till now. I will also bring brief reflection on Matthew 8:5-13, highlighting the extraordinary faith of a centurion ,and illustrating that faith in Jesus can transcend social, cultural, and religious boundaries. May we grow in our own faith and trust that Jesus’ word alone has power to transform situations. May we be encouraged to approach Him confidently with all our needs. May we follow the centurion's example and learn more fully to trust boldly and act in faith, expecting God’s promises to unfold. Rev. Tanya Is it sane to believe in the resurrection? That's one of the questions we've been exploring as we've been looking into 'The Case for Christ' as journalist and Pastor, Lee Strobel puts it.
Last week Tanya explored the four 'Es' that make up Strobel's case for believing the evidence of the resurrection to be true:
If you're still wondering whether it's 'OK', 'legit' or 'sane' to believe this evidence, have a read of this article by Greg Clarke from the Centre for Public Christianity. (It first appeared on ABC Online Opinion & Analysis). This coming Sunday, we're going to dig a little deeper into the Early Accounts and ask the question - can we trust what the bible says about Jesus? We'll be exploring some principles of Ancient History manuscripts, their origins and transmission. At the end of all that - the biggest, most important question any one of us can ask ourselves is this: If Jesus really did come back to life, what am I going to do about it? How you answer that will change your life. Rev Amy  What a wonderful Journey we had together over Easter. Thank you to all who joined us for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The Church was full on Sunday.
It was awesome to see many visitors coming to celebrate the resurrection with us. I don't know how many actually believe the resurrection happened, so we want to spend the next two weeks exploring the historical facts and evidence for the resurrection. We begin this Saturday night with watching The Case for Christ movie together at Church at 6:30pm. You can watch the trailer HERE. You may also like to join us for Pizza at 6pm? (Please let us know if your coming for Pizza). In the movie which is based on a true story, a Journalist sets out to prove the resurrection didn't happen. The evidence he found convinced him that it did happen. He was moved from being an atheist to become a Christian, and has since become a Church Minister. The movie reminds us that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central claim of the Christian faith. It is not a peripheral doctrine, an optional belief, or a metaphorical idea that can be spiritualized away. Paul states clearly in 1 Corinthians 15:14: “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain”. Everything rises or falls with the resurrection. If Jesus rose from the dead, Christianity is true, and the world is forever changed. If He did not, the Christian faith collapses. Come take a closer look at the resurrection with us and please invite your skeptical friends along. All welcome! Rev. Tanya You may also enjoy this song which affirms what Christians believe (The Creed - Hillsong) : Listen HERE  Good Friday is my favourite day of the year because we get to remember the lengths Jesus Christ went to, to show us the love of the Father. There is no greater love than laying one's life down for one's friends. We are Jesus' friends and I am completely blown away by his sacrifice made for me, and you, and all. That's why I love Good Friday, taking the time to ponder on this intentionally and more deeply. We are truly and deeply loved my friends! Let that really sink in!
It's my prayer that each of us draws closer to God this Easter. To aid this, you are warmly invited to attend our Maundy Thursday Interactive/ reflective service (Lamb Pizza is served at 6:30pm - please register for that). On Good Friday we will reflect on the responses of those present at Jesus' crucifixion and ponder our own personal response afresh. And of course, Easter Sunday we rejoice in the resurrection and ponder what that means for our lives today. After Easter we are showing the movie "Case for Christ" which speaks into any doubts we have around Jesus and the Easter story. And beginning May 11 we will run the 'Life Explored' Course at Slims Pizza Restaurant on Monday nights. I love being on this Journey with you as we journey to the cross and beyond. May you and your family enjoy a blessed Easter. Rev Tanya Life can feel noisy, uncertain, and overwhelming at times. Yet in Philippians 4:8–9, the Apostle Paul offers a gentle but powerful invitation: to anchor our thoughts in what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.
This isn’t just a list of virtues — it’s a roadmap for joy. Paul reminds us that joy is not found in perfect circumstances, but in a mind and heart aligned with God’s truth. When we choose to dwell on what uplifts rather than what drags us down, we create space for peace to take root. Paul also urges us to practice these things — to live them out daily. Joy grows when our thoughts inspire our actions, and our actions reflect the goodness we’ve been meditating on. The promise is beautiful: “The God of peace will be with you.” So, let’s be intentional. Let’s filter our thoughts through the lens of Philippians 4:8–9, and watch how joy quietly transforms our perspective — not because life is suddenly easy, but because our hearts are resting in the One who never changes. I look forward to seeing you this Sunday as we celebrate Palm Sunday and hear Sue Shanasy speak on the symbolism of the cross. Her message will help us to focus on the cross as we appraoch Easter. Here are two beautiful songs that can aid our worship this easter season too. Living Hope by Phil Wickam (One of Tanya's fav's) - Click here to listen. Jerusalem by City Alight (Amy's favorite Easter Song) - Click to listen here Blessings on your week, Rev Tanya  Today I am filled with JOY after our first 'Taste and See' cooking class!
We had 4 young people, aged between 8-14 and possibly an extra sibling coming along next week too. I am filled with JOY at the partnership in the gospel with those who came along to help as leaders (thanks Kathy & Sandra this week!) and for all those who've lent their equipment for us to borrow. I am filled with JOY at the amazing questions Caesar had about God, how he made the world and how do we know what's right and wrong. I am filled with JOY at already, the pre-emptive questions about 'if we're made in God's image, how come we do bad things?' I am filled with JOY that one of the girls heard the story of God making the world for the very first time. I am filled with JOY and hope that one of the parents may be interested in joining our English Class. And I am filled with JOY at the possibility of new connections with these families. As we come together this Sunday, we'll be diving into Paul's letter to the Philippians and what he says about joy. We'll see that much of his JOY comes not from material things, but from the people he's ministered to and within Philippi, and the legacy of faith they will leave behind together. I wonder if there's a believer from your past and/or in recent times who has brought you joy? Why not spend a moment giving thanks for them right now? Rev. Amy |
