Pastoral Care at Life’s End

I currently work as the Manager of Spiritual Care and the Centre Director for the Clinical Pastoral Education Centre at Austin Health in Melbourne. I’ve worked as a hospital chaplain for over 11 years now and, in that time, I’ve spent significant time ministering to patients and families at the end of life. I am always immensely grateful to be invited into this very intimate time in patients’ lives. End of life care, or “palliative” …

Lutheran Nurses honoured

Two Lutheran nurses have been honoured by the Lutheran Nurses Association of Australia (LNAA). Angela Uhrhane, of Wodonga, Victoria, was named the inaugural Lutheran Nurse of the Year. Lynette Wiebusch, of Adelaide, was named an honorary LNAA Life Member. The awards were officially announced on 12 May – International Nurses Day and, this year, the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale. Angela is currently serving as Pastoral Care Nurse at Lutheran Aged Care …

As I see it … from Coral Boesch

The year 2020 will leave its mark on people all over the world. I wonder how generations to come will speak about it. Here, we contended with prolonged drought, floods, and widespread and devastating bushfires which threatened the lives and livelihoods of so many. Little did we realise that a further catastrophe was lurking; a challenge that the whole world would face; wholesale infection and death, often in tragic circumstances. Such changes and challenges followed! …

A tribute

Recently, I attended the funeral of my aunt and, although I was very fond of her, and a sad occasion, it was a wonderful day reminiscing about her friendly, generous nature. She was always ready to have a cup of tea with a visitor or visit with those less able. Stories of her hospitality were in every conversation.  The reason I mention these things is that she was a woman who knew who she was. …

The Princess and the Pauper Woman – Zu Bibi  (Part 2)

Peshawar, Pakistan 1997 There is a pair of well-worn, muddy shoes outside our door. On the inside, a faded shuttlecock burka hangs on a hook, and the sound of scrubbing comes from the kitchen. I look up from the rattling keys of my word processor. The thing I admire about Zu Bibi is her faithfulness. She comes across muddy fields, rain, hail or shine. She always comes. I’d never get all those letters done for …

Canaan in Australia

Located in Theresa Park, 55km southwest of Sydney, you will find a place called “Canaan of God’s Comfort”. It is home to the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary in Australia, a small community of Protestant sisters who have been living and working in Australia since 1979. They are part of a larger international sisterhood whose origin and main centre (Kanaan) is in Darmstadt, Germany. Founders Mother Basilea and Mother Martyria prayed for revival amongst the young …

The Opal Stone Journey

There is something special about intentionally wanting to become a multiethnic church that feels so new and invigorating but at the same time wonderfully challenging. It’s been hard to put into words what the experience is like for us at Trinity Lutheran Church, Pasadena, in Adelaide, with our relationship with our Indonesian community but I often like to picture our church to be on a journey to become like opal stone; a church which is …

Sign post at the WA SA border

On the cover – June/July 2020

Under all the different coloured skins from all the different cultures of our world, the same hearts pump the same coloured blood. Thank God for our diversity and unity. People will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down at the feast in the Kingdom of God. Luke 13:29 (GNT) Photo credit: Robert Turner

As I see it … Built on Bedrock

A few years ago, the magazine I edit used the theme Built on Bedrock. Tsunamis sometimes happen and we watch on television as buildings crumble and are washed away. I think about Christ’s illustration in Matthew 7:24–27 of the different results for the man who built his house upon sand and the one who built upon rock.  Bedrock … just what does it represent in our lives? Some might identify it as sound doctrine or …

Life Begins at 72!

Just as I was about to tell you about ministry in Vietnam, an email arrived to say the next trip to Vietnam was cancelled due to the virus. The airline said they regretted this, but I regret it much more. I have grown to love the people I meet in Vietnam. They are hungry to be taught the Word of God. Just this morning I received an email saying: “I hope that the coronavirus will …

Wait – there is a Chinese Lutheran congregation in Perth?

Hallelujah! This well-known phrase from the Bible is Hebrew and means “Praise the Lord!”. Praising God in all circumstances is something that can seem paradoxical in uncertain times like these where the COVID-19 has changed the world as we know it. And yet, we come across people who seem to be praising God ceaselessly through the great ups and horrible downs of life. That becomes a motivation and encouragement for us. Annie and Ku are …