UpperRoom - Fairer Trade
June 27, 2007
| July 2, 2007 | ||
| 6:00 pm | to | 9:30 pm |
The upper room project meets the first Monday of each month (6:-8:30pm) to engage with spirituality and justice as struggled with and fought for by the Prophets and Jesus. We meet upstairs in the Shine Café/Bar (74 Kingsway Glen Waverley) with gallery space, discussion corners, opportunity for practical response and pondering space.
We hope the upper room will be
- Space to rest/relax with your tribe
- Be challenged by the prophetic call of compassion
- Connect with heartbeats for living
There will be food, wine and friends plus
- a gallery space for photos and other art.
- activist space - activities, information and people deeply into that topic to meet
- conversational space - multimedia and communally led (an interview, music, texts, a place to chat)
Please bring your friends - all are welcome
This month we will be thinking about fairer trade. The People for Fair Trade will be hosting the night and available to chat about pretty much anything in relation to this issue. 
NAIDOC Symposium & Exhibition - Wed 27
June 25, 2007
| June 27, 2007 |
Wednesday 27 June, 9.45am
Aborigines Advancement League, 2 Watt Street, Northcote
Set within the context of the 50th anniversary of two important Indigenous institutions—
NAIDOC and ‘the League’—a series of Indigenous leaders will speak on a variety of issues, with times for discussion and questions from the audience.
This is a time for us all to reflect on how far Indigenous people have come in Victoria and the significant contributions they have made and continue to make to shape this nation. NAIDOC provides the opportunity for all people to celebrate and look forward to improvements in life opportunities of Indigenous Australians and increased respect for our position and role in the life of the nation.
ENQUIRIES: Contact 9419 3613
Hosted by Aborigines Advancement League, ANTaR Vic and Brotherhood of St Laurence.
Sponsored by Reichstein Foundation and supported by Victorian NAIDOC Committee; VACSAL; VAEAI; RecVic; KHT; VACCHO; VAHS; VACCA; Stolen Generations.
So what happened to Friar Tuck?
June 20, 2007
I have been watching and enjoying the new Robin Hood series on ABC. I really like the play and references to “the war of terror” waged by the Sheriff against Hood. I like the merry men and Maid Marian is strong and cute…. but where is friar tuck? It seems to me that with the playful bent against the powers of greed he would fit nicely. You know, like in the Disney version, the Christian minister who helps aid with the redistribution of wealth, affirms the civil disobedience of hood’s action and is actively part of the liberation movement for the people. It seems like Marian has taken most of these roles in the new series without the spiritual/chaplain angle.
While thinking about other ‘Tucks’ it seems that beer/drunk or at least jolly is the key part of the character. Think of Tuck in the prince of thieves, a moderate figure whose main passion was for beer and ended up killing the other corrupt Christian minister. A far cry from the Disney Friar who was outspoken about the plight of the poor and the evil of the taxes. Of course Tucks protests for the poor were dismissed and told to save the sermons for Sunday.
I guess I’m wondering why miss such a rich character? Is it just that Christian figures are unpopular? Or is he in season two and I have jumped the gun. Thoughts?
BTW - I was chatting with Lynd about the lack of Tuck in the ABC show and mentioned that in the Disney version he was more like what I expected even sword fighting the sheriff being arrested for treason. Then James (7yrs) said (while jumping around the house demonstrating the scene), “Tuck didn’t sword flight he use a stick and shouted at them “I’ll give you taxes!!!” they were going to hang him you know” My kids make me laugh.
A morepraxis Widget!!
June 19, 2007
As mac users know well widgets are fun.
Mike has taken this fun and turned it into our own widget for morepraxis.
Now you can have the site feed straight to your F12 key - “Wow! That’s just what I always wanted!” I hear hundreds, thousands maybe even dozens cheer.
Thanks Mike you rock.
download it here
Isa 65 - Bible Study
June 15, 2007
MorePraxis bible study works as a resource to prime a conversation and reflection on a passage. So reflect and think about the text, listen for God and your spirit. I hope the format is less like the normal comprehension styled Bible study, but rather that it feels like ideas are raised and space is left for you and your groups to have a conversation.
Isaiah 65:17-25 - A New Earth (Full text in pfd)
Focus on Palestine - Discussion & Dinner
June 14, 2007
| July 20, 2007 |
Focus on Palestine
Friday 20th July 2007. 5-6pm
Discussion with Sylvia Haddad
CCTC—60 Jacksons Road Mulgrave VIC
RSVP: Kristen Hobby on hobby@bigpond.net.au or Jeff Wild jwild@nnca.org.au
Cost: Free
The situation in the Middle East is a complex one. Come and join other young people
in this lively discussion. We will hear Sylvia’s story and gain some new understand-
ings and insights into the region.
Sylvia Haddad:
Sylvia Haddad is the Executive Secretary of the Joint Christian Committee in Lebanon
and is visiting as part of the Partners4Peace program. The JCC believes in empowering
Palestinians, regardless of age or gender, with knowledge and skills leading to self-reliance, to create in each person a provider for the family and community, and to pre-
serve Palestinian identity, heritage and culture.
Come and support Palestinian refugees, learn more about how to contribute to peace, especially in the Middle East
Friday 20th July
6.30pm for 6.45pm
Talk 8.00pm
Cost: Dinner and talk $25; Talk only $5.00
Tickets from: VCC 9650 4511 or CCTC 9790 1000
Venue: Churches of Christ Theological College, 40-60
Jacksons Road, Mulgrave
RSVP: Mon 16th July
World Refugee Day Rally June 17
June 6, 2007
| June 17, 2007 | ||
| 12:00 pm |
Say NO to Christmas Island Detention Centre - Howard’s Guantanamo for refugees.
So, you think Australia has relaxed its brutal refugee policies?
Think again. A new 800 bed, $500 million refugee prison is due to open on Christmas Island this year. Leaked plans show it includes a babies’ compound and class rooms, despite promises that children will no longer be locked up.
Join the Refugee Action Collective’s march for justice - 12 noon on June 17 at Melbourne Museum. March with us to Multicultural Arts Victoria’s Emerge Festival at Fitzroy Town Hall, then relax and enjoy food, music and dancing from all over the world.
Bring you friends and family. Invite your colleagues at work. Download the poster and flyer at www.rac-vic.org and pin it up at work, your local café and library.
Posters and flyers for the rally are available at the New International Bookshop at Trades Hall.
Say NO to Howard’s Guantanamo for refugees.
Let’s tell the politicians that refugees should be welcomed, not jailed.
For further information go to www.rac-vic.org , email: refugeeaction@hotmail.com
CPT - Hebron:The games children play
June 5, 2007
I got this email from CPTnet today, by Esther Kern. I always find stories about play and watching how kids play a revealing experience.
In his arms, Samir held a piece of weathered wood about two-and-a-half feet long, three inches wide and a half-inch thick. Close to one end was a three-inch projection on which Samir kept a firm grip with his right hand, much like a finger on a trigger, ready to fire a bullet.
Mahmoud nodded at his son while saying, “Do you see how he holds his ‘gun’? That is what he sees the Israeli soldiers doing.” Laughing a bit, he added, “The children also play ‘Jews and Arabs’. They ’shoot’ each other and when they are ’shot’, they are supposed to ‘die’. Once when they were playing, a ‘Jewish’ child refused to die. The Arab child told him “you’re supposed
to die!”, after which the Jewish child held up his hands and retorted, “No I’m not! I’m the press!”
I asked, “And how do you feel about all of that?” “I don’t like to have my children playing guns “, he replied thoughtfully.” But what can you do? Children will imitate their environment.”
*Names have been changed.
Young People and Spirituality Project/Survey
June 3, 2007
Jacqui Hodder from the Youth Research Centre at The University of Melbourne has an online survey for young people as part of a project looking at young people and spirituality.
This is from the survey introduction:
I want to find out what it is like being young in today’s society: what’s hard, what’s fun, and most of all, what you understand about spirituality and if it’s relevant to your life and why/why not? It doesn’t matter if you feel like you believe in something or not, it’s just important to explore all the parts of young people’s lives and as yet, not much is known about the spiritual part.
When people like me find out about young people and how they’re going, it’s easier to make decisions about the kinds of programs that would support your lives and what could be done better for young people in schools and the community. I would really appreciate your help. Please make your answers as short or as long as you like. Only you can tell me what it is like to be young - it’s your experiences that count, your understandings and insights. There’s no right or wrong answers, only your stories about what you feel is important. The answers you give are anonymous.
For more info: You can complete the online survey at
http://www.edfac.unimelb.edu.au/yrc/survey/s2.html
Source: Youth Research Centre
June 07
June 1, 2007
Post prayers for our world, countries, cities, families, friends and selves.
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