Mar2017
Harmony Day 2017 (Australia)
by Bishop John Henderson
Since 1999, Australia has celebrated 21 March each year as Harmony Day. The promotions say ‘Harmony Day celebrates Australia’s cultural and religious diversity. It is about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone’. We associate the word harmony most often with music. Harmony comes about when different notes, voices or musical instruments come… Read more
Feb2017
Living in God’s blessing
by Bishop John Henderson
‘I will bless you … so that you will be a blessing’ (Genesis 12:2). At the end of our worship services, the pastor blesses the congregation. The blessing will often take the form of the words Moses gave to Aaron: ‘The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine on… Read more
Feb2017
All in the family
by Bishop John Henderson
To most people, family matters. It’s where we learn – among other things – how to connect with the world, why some things are more important than others, and how to respond to the expectations of other people. In the church, many times our families have been our strength. They have stuck together through adversity…. Read more
Nov2016
Marrakech Climate Conference and Interfaith Statement
by Bishop John Henderson
News of the US presidential elections has overshadowed the fact that world leaders are meeting once again to discuss action on climate change. This year the conference is in Marrakech, Morocco, from 7-18 November. The Marrakech conference follows a landmark conference last year in Paris, France, where national leaders signed an agreement committing them to… Read more
Nov2016
Paris Terror Attack
by Bishop John Henderson
Once again the world has been shaken by a hideous terror attack. Lutherans in Australia and New Zealand, together with people of faith everywhere, unite in expressing our deep sympathy to the people of France, and in particular to those whose loved ones have been murdered or injured. We pray also for those who witnessed… Read more
Nov2016
The true spirit of renewal
by Rev John Henderson
People often ask me about Lutheran Renewal. What does the church think about it? How is the church going to respond to it? The desire for renewal is hardly surprising in an age when individual fulfilment has become the most important thing in life. Naturally, we want more. That can be a good thing –… Read more
Oct2016
We’ve only just begun
by Bishop John Henderson
In human terms, 50 years is a reasonably long stretch of time. It is sufficient for birth, education, adolescence, maturity, family and career. In church terms, however, 50 years is not so long. It’s barely enough to get started. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the LCA, it is still a young church, perhaps… Read more
Sep2016
Prayer makes a world of difference
by Bishop John Henderson
Being a dairy farmer can be tough: milking twice a day, poor seasons, low prices, government regulations, running a business, and the thousand and one complexities of modern farming. I know several dairy farmers. I am the first to admit that I don’t really know what their life is like. So when I got a… Read more
Aug2016
Jesus comes to find us
by Bishop John Henderson
On my 21st birthday, my mother gave me a jade ring, which she had bought in Hong Kong on her way home from China. She died a few years later, and that ring is one of the few things of hers that I still have. God is expert at finding what is lost… He finds… Read more
Jul2016
True Christian character
by Bishop John Henderson
‘And so they stand before the throne of God and worship him in his temple day and night’ (Revelation 7:15). Where do Christians most show their true character? Is it in works of service? I heard recently that if active Christians were to stop volunteering, more than 80 percent of community volunteer hours would be… Read more
