Jul2016
500 years on, what would Luther say?
by Reid Matthias
If the great reformer himself could have attended the Martin Luther@500 conference held in Melbourne recently, what would he think of everything being said and done in his name? We asked Pastor Reid Matthias, who attended the conference, to investigate. He stands blockish and imposing, with his feet planted stolidly and his arms crossed in… Read more
Jul2016
Media a gift from God
by Richard Fox
Media often gets a bad rap. There is so much bad news broadcast and published that it makes us wonder if media can ever be used for good. Just like Martin Luther, we at Lutheran Media believe it can be – and that it is a great gift from God. We have been using media… Read more
Jul2016
Why I’m not celebrating the 500th anniversary
by Stephen Pietsch
As part of the lead-up to the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017, an ecumenical working party of Lutherans and Catholics has been planning a program of projects and events to jointly commemorate the occasion. One project is a series of articles, written by Lutheran and Catholic authors from around Australia, to be published… Read more
Jul2016
Music stirs memories
by Heidi Smith
Since her childhood Heidi Smith has known about the influence music can have on people’s physical and mental wellbeing. And having played organ and piano for church services in congregations and aged-care facilities since she was a teenager, she has seen positive changes in people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Now… Read more
Jul2016
Living with dementia
by Colleen Fitzpatrick
No cure but God’s promises My confirmation text offers me comfort and encouragement and is one I often recall: ‘I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being… Read more
Jul2016
Family encouragement for eternity
by Rachel Schilling
Grow Ministries newsletter Grow Together is a quarterly printed resource aimed at equipping families with inspiration to take up their spiritual role as parents, grandparents and carers with eternity in mind. As Michelle Anthony shares in her book 7 Family Ministry Essentials with Megan Marshman: ‘What you believe and where you aim your heart determine… Read more
Jul2016
Life and hope in the desert
by Andrew Weiss
I am driving out to Ali Addeh refugee camp as part of the 2016 Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS) teacher study tour in the Republic of Djibouti, located in the north-east of Africa. The landscape is unlike anything I have ever seen; like something that could be used to depict a distant planet in a… Read more
Jul2016
‘Gap’ year with a difference
by Darren Linke
Completing a year-long internship at Tandara Lutheran Camp at Halls Gap in Victoria’s Grampians National Park is unlike any other internship. The internship has been offered to young adults since 2014. It is an opportunity to serve others and focus on God during a year of personal discovery and growth. It involves learning about relationships,… Read more
Jul2016
Sharing the burden
by Kimberley Pfeiffer
I met him before he was diagnosed. He offered us Christian friendship and encouragement as a young family and to my husband as he began his ministry. He was a retired pastor, husband, father, grandfather, colleague, friend to many, child of God. He had once been keen to tell a joke, but this was no… Read more
Jul2016
Making church dementia-friendly
by Chris Materne
When you or someone you love is diagnosed with dementia your world changes forever. Dementia affects thinking, behaviour and the ability to do everyday things. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia and typically begins with memory loss. Other types of dementia bring different dysfunctions, but ultimately people with dementia face increasing impairment…. Read more
