The Place Where the Divine Meets Us
Poet, speaker and pastor Will Small reflects on the good news of Jesus’ birth for our common home.
Rev Christine McPherson reflects on the beauty, wonder, and strength of the presence of Jesus in our common home.
REV CHRISTINE MCPHERSON
For our thirteenth Advent 2023 devotional, Rev Christine McPherson reflects on the beauty, wonder, and strength of the presence of Jesus in our broken common home.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.
May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all of them.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-28
As I walk the bush land near my home in Darug Country I’m in awe of the changing seasons and colours that the bush brings year after year. I also see brokenness and damage from humans from either ignorance or sometimes intent. Yet the bush is resilient. Even after a tree is completely hacked at and broken for its wood it does all it can to stay alive and sends out new shoots of delicate beauty.
May it remind us of the Holy Spirit breathing life upon us. Of our Heavenly Father remaining faithful to us. For this I am thankful, for this I rejoice, for this I find peace.
Rev Christine McPherson is Senior Pastor at Berowra Baptist Church. She has a love for the vast beauty of Australia and has many stories to tell from the two year trip she took with her husband and four kids exploring this land. Christine has a passion for sharing about Jesus and that He is actually good news to our world! Her preaching extends to sharing who Jesus is, what God is revealing of Himself through the Bible, to being equipped with the Holy Spirit to take action in partnering with God in bringing about restoration in our relationships with God, others and the land.
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Poet, speaker and pastor Will Small reflects on the good news of Jesus’ birth for our common home.
Rev Mitch Forbes reflects on the life-giving and life-changing hope of Christ coming into our common home.
Aunty Sue Hodges leads us in prayer as we reflect on keeping alert while waiting on God to renew our common home.
Artist Erin Kennedy shares the hope in waiting for God to renew our common home.
Dr Louise Gosbell explores the anticipation and expectation we have in this in-between space of waiting for the Lord.
Teacher and poet Joanna Hayes reflects on the waiting and preparing for the Messiah, God with us, in our common home.
Andrew Errington reflects on the making of our common home through the coming of God to Jerusalem in Messiah Jesus.
Pastor, academic, editor, writer, and poet Rev Dr Megan Powell du Toit explores the wrestle found in our waiting and preparing for the presence of God in our common home.
Poet and advocate Stevie Wills reflects on God’s choosing of unexpected people to participate in Jesus' work for our common home; a place where everyone has purpose.
Kanolu and Lardil man Joshua Lane leads us in prayer as we rejoice in the coming of Jesus into our common home.
Artist Mish Graham reflects on the good news of Jesus and the common home we find in Him.
Moses Kakaire reflects on Jesus coming into our common home, and how we can help realise this joy-filled good news for all today.
Rev Christine McPherson reflects on the beauty, wonder, and strength of the presence of Jesus in our common home.
Aunty Alison Overeem reflects on the birth of Jesus weaving together the promise of hope and renewal.
Becca De Souza reflects on the hope and blessing of Jesus' birth in bringing healing, freedom and rejoicing to our common home.
Musician Alanna Glover reflects on Mary’s song and the hope we share in Jesus' birth.
Dr Isabel O'Keeffe leads us in prayer as we welcome the coming of Jesus into our common home.
Dr Byron Smith explores how Jesus coming into our common home is good news for the poor.
Meredith Walker-Harding reflects on the abundant joy and peace brought to us, and our common home, through Jesus.
Rev Dr Melinda Cousins explores the humble and unexpected coming of God into our common home.
Rev Dr Steve Bevis reflects on the importance of community as we work and grow together, living out Jesus’ love for our common home today.
Teresa Brierley reflects on giving ourselves to the work of renewing our common home.
Bianca Manning and Franz Dowling share a song on the longing we have for the peace and hope Jesus brings to our common home.
Jasmine Wrangles leads us in prayer reflecting on the assurance and hope we have in Jesus.
Gershon Nimbalker reflects on the transcendent hope and joy of Jesus’ birth into our common home.