Two days after my arrival in Australia in January, I was able to provide a bit of music ministry for the congregation that I grew up in – the Hurstville New Church in the southern Sydney area. The pastor, Rev. Todd Beiswenger, pictured adjusting the camera for the social media feed, is moving to Canada at the end of the year. I’ve enjoyed my collegial friendship with him and his wife Jenn for the last 13 years.
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.”
By my third weekend in January, my five-year-old granddaughter Evie was asking me why I’m always leaving. I was off again, this time to Canberra, the capital of Australia. I’ve been ministering when in Aussie to a group of Swedenborgian/New Church people since 2020, after their minister left. On the drive there from Sydney, I always stop at the “Coolabah Tree Cafe,” reminiscent of the tree in the legendary “Waltzing Matilda” song. It was my Mum’s favourite place for a coffee on the way to Canberra.
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!