Crows Nest District Uniting Church

10/08/2026

Genuine Love - A Moderator's Reflection for Uniting News

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10

In a world increasingly marked by division, mistrust, and self-interest, Paul’s words to the church in Rome sound both simple and revolutionary: “Love must be sincere.”

Paul is not speaking about sentimentality or mere kindness. The word he uses points to something authentic, genuine, without pretence. Genuine love is not a performance. It is not a strategy. It is not offered only when it is convenient or reciprocated. Genuine love flows from hearts transformed by Christ and shaped by the Holy Spirit.

The challenge for the church is that people quickly recognise the difference between love that is proclaimed and love that is practised. They know whether our welcome is genuine. They notice whether our concern for justice is real. They experience whether we honour one another, particularly those whose voices are often overlooked.

Paul's instruction comes immediately after his call for believers to be transformed by the renewing of their minds (Romans 12:2). Genuine love is not simply a personal virtue; it is the fruit of lives being continually reshaped by the grace of God. It is the visible evidence that Christ is alive among his people.

In Luke 12, Jesus warns against storing up treasures for ourselves while neglecting what truly matters in the kingdom of God. He reminds us that life does not consist in the abundance of possessions, status, or achievements. Rather, life is found in relationship with God and neighbour.

Read more: https://ow.ly/9ybn50ZuUwR

10/08/2026

This week we settle into the spiritual practice of Play.
Somewhere along the way, many of us lose our capacity for play. Life becomes about responsibilities, productivity and getting things done—and we can forget that joy is part of what it means to be fully alive.
What if play is one way of remembering that you are God’s beloved—not because of what you accomplish, but simply because you are invited to delight in life with Him?
Take a moment to think about the ways you can do things that you enjoy that remind you that you are alive.

03/08/2026

31/07/2026

Thinking about faith in the context of boots, poles and fairy tales. Walking poles steady me on loose gravel; my worn boots grip the uneven ground, and every incline reminds me that the terrain I can't control is exactly where I most need a hand to hold. That's pretty much how walking with God works too. Sometimes, He doesn't smooth the path, but He does steady my steps. Our faith as we walk with God, like a good pair of boots, isn't tested on flat ground; it's proven on the climbs, the mud, and the places where I'd stumble alone.

28/07/2026

Bumping your way though times of stress, anxiety, depression ... or all those things that have to be done? Here's a couple of verses from Mini Paull's poem, as we pray: "Precious Lord, You who never abandon us ... help us take the next step as we walk by faith in You."

27/07/2026

We took a drive around the Scriptures at church yesterday. Psalm 31 said in the middle of our problems, let’s name the One who is our Rock: the One we run to for safety. Psalm 62 said keep on saying it. We need to repeat truth to ourselves and each other. God is our hope and we can find rest in Him alone. Then Psalm 121 said and here’s why: because the God we’re trusting isn’t missing in action; He keeps watch over us. We pivoted to James, because God’s grace, love and protection has work-boots. We not only love and trust God, but we are challenged to walk in His ways. Do our attitudes and conversations reflect God’s love and truth? Let’s practice what we preach … treat every person as someone worth seeing. And … for that tricky conversation … that situation we don't know how to fix … that thing our minds keep coming back to … let’s both come to God and seek His wisdom and hope … then let’s get out there and live our faith with integrity, authenticity and compassion

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20/07/2026

It's almost time to stand with our mates in the bush🌾

Every year, church communities across Australia open their doors to share stories from the Outback and support the work of our Bush Chaplains and Outback Links volunteers. Have you registered to host your own Frontier Services Sunday service this year? There's still time, and the service doesn't have to be held on 30 August if another date suits your congregation better.

Get in touch with Anne Jones, Donor Relations Officer, on 1300 787 247 or [email protected] to reserve your spot.

Download your free Order of Service below🔗
frontierservices.org/order-of-service

18/07/2026

The vast distances of the outback are daunting and hard to comprehend for many city people. Jennie Feldmeier’s patch dubbed the Cunnamulla-Burke and Wills Remote area, is a ten hour drive from top to bottom, and about eight hours from east to west.

14/07/2026

Reflection - All things for Good - Romans 8:28
In recent decades, the Western world has seen the emergence of Positive Psychology and a growing focus on wellbeing. There is much in these approaches to human flourishing that can resonate with Christian faith. Yet they can also become highly individualistic, even drifting into a kind of narcissism when they lose sight of the common good.

The wisdom of Paul’s letter to the Romans stands in contrast to such approaches when he writes, “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”

Taken on their own, Paul’s words “all things work together for good” might be misunderstood to mean that if we love God, our lives will be easy, free from suffering, and filled only with joy. Such an interpretation can sound a little like some personal and organisational change approaches, where the emphasis falls on focusing on the positive and discouraging anything that sounds negative.

Yet Paul’s letter to the Romans is not written in denial of difficulty. It faces hard realities: universal sin, suffering, persecution, and division. These realities are held together with Paul’s deep conviction in the unconditional grace of God revealed in and through Jesus Christ.

Paul’s claim about “good” follows verses that speak of the sufferings of this present time, the groaning of creation, hope in what we do not yet see, and the need for the Holy Spirit to intercede because we do not know how to pray as we ought.

Read more: https://ow.ly/vH2Y50ZkuWe