Columns » St John’s Southgate
Out of time
When going for a run on the morning of writing this column, I saw something out of place
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Perfectly locked-down
Lockdown number five in Melbourne was tough. Necessary, yes, but tough. Having now spent more than six months in hard lockdown since the beginning of the pandemic, the hardest thing for me was observing (and finally being unable to pretend it was otherwise) what will be long-term impacts on my young children
Read MoreHave you got any overseas travel planned?
Pastor You would have to be a fairly optimistic person to be mapping out your next journey to a foreign land, wouldn’t you?
Read MoreGroundhog Day
If someone says, “It’s like Groundhog Day”, you know what they mean, don’t you?
Read MoreCan I pray for you?
Scott Morrison recently spoke at a Christian conference where he mentioned that, in the course of his duties as Prime Minister, he had surreptitiously engaged in the spiritual act of laying on of hands
Read MoreRemember me
Last month, titan of the Australian music industry, Michael Gudinski, was farewelled at a star-studded State Memorial at Rod Laver Arena
Read MoreA cross to bear?
Pastor Jesus of Nazareth once said to his followers, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
Read MoreCompanions for the journey
Every time I put my four-year-old daughter Genevieve to bed, she asks for a Jupiter story.
Read MoreSometimes you have to laugh. It’s either that or cry!
It’s either that or cry! By Pastor Tom Hoffmann I found myself having a little chuckle upon hearing, COVID restrictions being what they were, that if churches were to present a children’s Christmas play this year, that the children performing would have to socially distance
Read MoreThe asterisk
Pastor Earlier in the year, it was suggested that due to COVID, the 2020 AFL Premiership would forever have an asterisk over it
Read More“You’re on mute!”
Pastor “What were you saying?” “Sorry about that ...
Read MoreAffirmation of 100
I’m a little embarrassed to admit it, but I recently found myself googling to find out what the 100 emoji meant
Read MoreThe organ of emotion
Is it okay to admit to being fully supportive of masking but at the same time being a little bummed out by it?
Read MoreOne step forward two steps back
It was all going so well! Our go-hard-go-early approach to lockdown in Australia was lauded as an example of how it should be done
Read MoreShutting down is easy. Opening up is hard
That’s something that has become abundantly clear to me as we, at St Johns, have started planning to reopen the church for public worship.
Read MoreI know that you are scared
A couple of months ago, before one thing and another changed all of our lives, my six-year-old son, Theodore, was excitedly preparing to attend a friend’s birthday party.
Read MoreThe pain of true beauty
One morning, late last year, I was driving in the car with my nine-year-old daughter, Eliza, and my six-year-old boy, Theodore, when a familiar piece of music started playing on the radio
Read MoreVulnerability, conversation and meaning
How do you ponder or explore the meaning of life?
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