Category: The Path in 2024

Initially I stayed with my friends Maurice and Betty Coutanceau, then spent the weekend with Rev. Ian Arnold, both of whom I’ve known from the New Church in Australia (NCIA) since I was young. I particularly wanted to spend time with Ian, as he is the “senior pastor” in the NCIA and I have much to learn from his vast international ministry experience. Betty is very active with Bible study in their church, and welcomed me into a women’s Bible study group that she leads in their home. Maurice contributes to the music in their church, and is now a luthier. He makes a variety of stringed instruments, and plays them too. Ian included me in his daily walks on a bush track near his home. We saw a mother python brooding over her eggs, and many bush turkeys.

The next ministry trip was to Perth, on the west coast in Western Australia. Check the Australia map in the “Wonderful Woonona” post in February for the exact location! I was invited as a visiting minister by a lovely group of New Church people from two branches of the Swedenborgian community. There is not a minister in Perth, so they rely on lay leaders, visiting ministers and a retired minister, sometimes separately and sometimes integrated. The lay leaders of the two groups, David Walker (NCIA) and Mary Smuts (General Church), each hosted me in their homes. While in Perth, I gave two classes, one of which was the “Why Worry?: We Knew This Would Happen” presentation I’d given at the mini-retreat in Sydney in January (see the “Ministry and Music” post from March). I also led a worship service with Communion/Holy Supper. We also got together socially a few times. So good to catch up with old friends and meet new people as well!

It was a well-organised visit in Perth, thanks to Mary Smuts’ skill at planning minister visits. Several elderly members were in need of a pastoral visit, but declined because they were too sick. But I did manage to visit with my friend Ros, whom I hadn’t seen in over 30 years. I also managed to spend a little time circle dancing, which I had been introduced to at Gathering Leaves (the international retreat for Swedenborgian/New Church women), watch a windsurfer near there at Safety Beach, and see some friendly cricket in the park. Aussies spend a lot of time on outdoor activities year-round, especially at the 12,000 beaches around the Aussie coastline.

Early in February, we had a family outing to the nearby Symbio Wildlife Park to see both Aussie wildlife and some from other countries. We lucked into feeding times for many of them, as you can see from the koalas munching leaves in the tree. The kangaroos however had already had a good feed, and could not be enticed to eat anything from our hands : ( The giant monitor lizards were decidedly active as it was not a very hot day. A friendly, perhaps too friendly, sulfur-crested cockatoo was very interested in sharing our lunch! Often the Tasmanian Devil hides out under cover, but he showed his behind to us as he waited for food. And the fairy penguins, which used to visit the Taylor family farm in Victoria annually from Antarctica, were a new and playful addition to the Park this year.

Continuing on the water theme, I accompanied Evie to her swimming lessons shortly thereafter. Learning to swim, including learning basic lifesaving skills, is highly important in Australia because 80% – 90% of the population live in coastal areas. Going to her lesson brought up so many memories of learning to swim in private lessons as well as in PE class, where we also learned lifesaving. An unusual feature of her swim school is the family of llamas in the enclosure next to the pool. One of them was rather fascinated with my hair, apparently!

Near the end of February, we went camping for a weekend with some friends of Jon and Angela’s. The campground at Lake Conjola NSW had tent and caravan (trailer) camping, cabins, and fun activities for the kids. Everyone enjoyed the pool and cafe! The river offered fishing and kayaking, and the nearby beach and lagoon were great for surf and monstrous sand dunes.

The following weekend, the New Church in Australia (NCIA) held a weekend mini-retreat at the Roseville New Church, in northern Sydney. The theme was “What’s the Use?” Previous plans for a week-long retreat at a conference centre had been dropped because of low registration numbers, which was also the case for an Assembly that had been scheduled for April. On the Saturday, I went out to dinner afterwards with some Hurstville congregants and visitors.

I was supposed to be the retreat preacher on the Sunday. Normally the NCIA-affiliated Roseville church would not have a female preacher, because their minister is “on loan” from the General Church. But as it was in the context of an NCIA retreat, I was invited to deliver the message. The politics of women’s ordination are still alive and kicking! However, I learned on Saturday night that I had been exposed to Covid earlier in the week so decided not to risk being a Rona Superspreader. Rev. Howard Thompson from the Roseville Church graciously filled in for me.

Speaking of low registration numbers, dwindling numbers in Swedenborgian/New Church and other religious organisations, and suggestions for strategies in response, was the topic of my presentation at the mini-retreat. Earlier in January, I’d given the same talk (with USA statistics) in Bryn Athyn, PA, USA to local people and Zoom attenders from around America. People from the branches of the Swedenborgian/New Church faith community in Australia and America seem to respond to my question of “Why Worry?: We Were Told This Would Happen.”

With the Canberra group, the plan is to meet monthly while I’m in Aus. On Saturdays we are doing a Spiritual Growth class written by my friend Rev. Clark Echols in USA, and on Sundays we have a worship service, followed by lunch together. In the photo, Tina is holding up her mobile phone to represent Jen, who joins us via Zoom.

And that brought to a close my path in Australia in January 2024, with three more months to follow!