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.
Bianca Manning and Franz Dowling share a song on the longing we have for the peace and hope Jesus brings to our common home.
BIANCA MANNING & FRANZ DOWLING
For our twenty-third Advent 2023 devotional, Bianca Manning and Franz Dowling share a song on the longing we have for the peace and hope Jesus brings to our common home.
But when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is sure.
I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works; these things are excellent and profitable to everyone.
Titus 3:4-8
We are often overwhelmed and deeply troubled by the suffering, brokenness, and darkness in the world around us. Even now in December many of us are still feeling the grief of the referendum loss. We watch on in horror as conflicts around the world see more and more innocent people killed and displaced, and feel desperate for the senseless violence to end.
This song touches on some of this brokenness in our world, and the desperation it raises in us that leads us to long for God. We are led to a place of realisation that only Jesus, with the mercy that He brings, can truly bring the hope and renewal we so desperately seek.
In our humanness, we pray we will not view ourselves as powerless against the ailments in our world. Rather, may we resist passivity and be active in doing everything we can for the flourishing and reconciliation of all things as we seek to walk with and imitate Christ.
We rejoice in the salvation we have received through Jesus, and we deeply long for the fullness of that salvation to be made manifest in our common home. We know it is coming. We know He is coming. So we wait, we pray, and we act.
This Advent, may we be people who devote ourselves to good works (Titus 3:8), in hope, in peace, in joy, and in love.
Bianca Manning is a Gomeroi woman, a social worker, and Common Grace's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Coordinator. Bianca currently lives in Logan, South East Queensland on the lands of the Yuggera and Yugambeh peoples, working with Senior Aboriginal Christian Leader Aunty Jean Phillips in the Brisbane and Logan areas.
Franz Dowling is a folk singer/songwriter and youth worker from Jinibarra Country, QLD. His music is inspired by a lot of early folk, with classical guitar influence, and he seeks to express his values and emotion through poetry and song. Find more of Franz’s music on BandCamp & YouTube
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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.
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Rev Christine McPherson reflects on the beauty, wonder, and strength of the presence of Jesus in our common home.
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Musician Alanna Glover reflects on Mary’s song and the hope we share in Jesus' birth.
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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.