U-Talk: A Movement of the Holy Spirit

U-Talk: A Movement of the Holy Spirit

Photo: Retired Ministers gathered on 25 May to share their moments of enlightenment in life and ministry.

U-Talk is a quarterly gathering of retired and current ministers in placement about the witness of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church, facilitated by the Moderator of the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of New South Wales and the ACT, the Rev. Myung Hwa Park.

There are many references in the Basis of Union about Christian community.  It says for example; “The Church’s call is to serve that end: to be a fellowship of reconciliation, a body within which the diverse gifts of its members are used for the building up of the whole, and instrument through which Christ may work and bear witness to himself.”  The small gathering of retired ministers for half a day was one such demonstration of how Christian community advances.

Ministers gathered to renew friendships, catch up on news, and share their experiences of calling, learnings from their Ministry, wisdom and prayers for the Uniting Church.

An acknowledgement of country by the Moderator was followed by prayer then four short presentations by retired Ministers, John Pender, Marion Gledhiill , Dorothy McRae McMahon, Ruth Thomas and Dorothy McRae McMahon. They spoke of being moved by witnessing acts of forgiveness, occasions of justice and sometimes great injustice, love and compassion.

John Pender recounted stories of being moved by sacred spaces, creating  balance between being and doing and a time of feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit when he travelled to St Petersburg where he visited Rembrandt’s  famous painting, ‘Return of the Prodigal Son’,  “I was invited into the painting to become a participant and I was forever moved,” he said of the experience.

Discussion ensued of lives dedicated to Jesus and it was generally agreed that there is no such thing as retirement for Ministers of the Word.

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2 thoughts on “U-Talk: A Movement of the Holy Spirit”

  1. My email address is correct. Redenbach has been corrected as it began with small r and the rest in capitals. I am happy for it to be published. Maurine Redenbach

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