Spirit, justice, and the NASH

We’ve been attending the National Folk Festival (NASH) in Canberra every year (except the Covid ones) since 2014. It’s held over the long Easter weekend and has the idealistic slogan “Five days in a perfect world”.

That might not be strange for long-time folkies like us but during most of those years we were pastors of a church, and some people were surprised (horrified?) we weren’t in church for all the Holy Week activities. How could we go off to a folk festival and not be in church?

Well, we must admit we found more spiritual nourishment in the music, dance, storytelling, and celebration at the NASH then we ever had in Holy Week church activities. And each year we’ve come away from the festival challenged by new singers we’ve discovered and their songs about the struggle for social justice around the world.

One of the things we’ve discovered over the years is that many of the artists who sing about social justice see Jesus as an example to follow even though many of them have never (or seldom) darkened the door of a traditional church. One singer we discovered this year included these lines in a song called “Enough”:

“I heard about a man in a faraway land who made respectable folks aghast
steadily gathering an entourage of fishermen, prostitutes, and outcasts.

Near as they could figure it, he was illegitimate
and say he was born in a stable.
Say he made wine out of water one time
and knocked over some banker’s tables,
but it was like daring the authorities and clergy to do their worst
and he said the first would be last and last would be first.

Don’t give like the hypocrites and make a big show of it
well they’re always gathering more
and if you want to see heaven sell your possessions
give what you got to the poor
and if you try to save your life, you’ll surely lose it.

He said the kingdom is inside you if you choose it.
He and a dozen good buddies wandering around
sleeping rough they never had a lie. They always had enough.”

Lyrics by Scott Cook

Many of these artists understand that Jesus came with a message of love, compassion, and justice for the poor and hungry and they are inspired by this example of his. Our question is why do so many Christians who attend church each week not understand this?

We did attend a worship service at the NASH this Easter Sunday and the time was closed with the singing of Amazing Grace. This is a song that we heard played several times as we walked throughout the festival grounds. This time it was led by Gina Williams, an Aboriginal singer from WA. She explained that it was hard to translate the song into her native language because they had no words for “amazing” and “grace”. And the concept of justice they had was a retributive one.

So, her attempt to sing the first verse of the song translates as this in English:

“Big beautiful heart
Sweet listening
This weak one you keep
Before I (was) lost, now I am here
Blind, now I see”

Lyrics by Gina Williams

This is our prayer for so many of our Christian brothers and sisters who only see Jesus as a sacrifice to an angry God. Jesus is so much more and many outside the church see this.

The Basin Track Aboriginal Site Tour

What: we are hosting a tour of an indigenous site in northern Sydney as a way for us to engage with issues of indigenous justice. The tour will be led by Guringai Aboriginal Cultural Tours

When: Sat 21 October 2023, 10am-1:30pm

Where: Kuringai Chase National Park, 45 min drive north of Sydney CBD, (West Head).

Details:

  • Meet at the Resolute Picnic Area (RPA) just before the Lookout (which is presently closed for a major upgrade). This is 13 kms (North) past the NPWS toll booth along the West Head Rd.
  • We are at the picnic area till after lunch. We start with a talk about artefacts then boomerang throwing then Red Hands Cave
  • Bring your own lunch
  • After Lunch then it’s a 3.5 Kilometre drive back (South) on the West Head. Road to the start of the Basin track. We walk in, flat walk 400m each way, (duration – about 1 hr).
  • Then Lite Afternoon snack and closing prayer hosted by AAANZ on a clearing on the Basin Track 50 metres in from the road

Costs: Depends on how many people join us. Between $45 and $65.

  • Costs do not include the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) toll to be paid on entering the Park at the Southern end of West Head Road

RSVP: Please email brucedavies122@gmail.com as soon as possible so we can start making estimates of numbers

Ted Sherwood to lead the next First Saturday discussion

What do the three Anabaptist centralities – Jesus, community, and reconciliation – have to do with how we think about our finances? Ted Sherwood has given some thought to this subject and is going to lead us through an introductory discussion of this topic.

Our discussion will be on Saturday, 6 May 2023, live-streamed via Zoom between 4:00 and 5:00pm. Join earlier to mingle with other participants.

Contact aaanz.info@gmail.com for the Zoom link.

Drew J. Strait to lead the next First Saturday discussion

Dr Drew J. Strait is Assistant Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in the USA. We will be discussing his work on “Christian Nationalism”.  We will view a 30–minute video intended for use in small group study to “break silence” in your community. Later this year Drew is leading a short course online called Resisting Christian Nationalism with the Gospel of Peace with this video as an introduction to the course.

Our discussion will be on Saturday, 4 March 2023, live-streamed via Zoom between 4:00 and 5:00pm.

Contact aaanz.info@gmail.com for the Zoom link.

AAANZ AGM 2022

The AGM will be held via Zoom on the evening of Thursday 3 November, starting at 7:00pm.

If you plan to join us, please email aaanz.info@gmail.com for the Zoom link.

If you are not a registered member and would like to be part of the AAANZ, please fill out the membership request form before the meeting.

Doug Hynd to lead the next First Saturday discussion

Dr Doug Hynd

Dr Douglas Hynd is Adjunct Research Fellow, Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture. The post-Christendom era in the English-speaking world has seen a significant reduction in access to political power by the churches, a slow loss of their social and cultural influence, and a shredding of their moral standing from abuse scandals and other public failings. 

Doug’s new book Community Engagement after Christendom directly addresses these challenges, proposing a different approach to the relationship between church and society.

On Saturday, 1 October 2022, Doug will be interviewed by Jim Longley about that book. The discussion will be live-streamed between 4:00 and 5:00pm.

This will be in conjunction with a gathering of AAANZ members and supporters in Canberra.

Contact aaanz.info@gmail.com for the Zoom link.

Doug’s book Community Engagement After Christendom has been published by Wipf and Stock.

Debbie Armanious to lead our next First Saturday discussion

As part of our regular series of online discussions, Debbie Armanious will join us via Zoom on Saturday 3 September at 4:00pm.

Debbie is the Director and Co-founder of Exodus Community Services in Sydney.

The video below tells the story of Exodus and its vision to offer a holistic and inclusive service that values, empowers and supports individuals and families on their journey of growth, healing and recovery.

Debbie says, “To Exodus, every single person who approaches our doors for support is our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. And so, there is always room at this inn.”

Contact aaanz.info@gmail.com for the Zoom link.

Dr Andrew Shepherd to lead a discussion

The next First Saturday webinar will be at 4pm (AEST) on 6 August 2022, with Dr Andrew Shepherd leading the discussion

Andrew is a Lecturer in Theology and Public Issues. His working life has alternated between academic teaching roles and leadership responsibilities in Christian and non-profit organisations. After his initial degree in English Literature and History he completed post-graduate studies in theology. His doctoral thesis offered a theological ethic of hospitality in conversation with French philosophers, Emmanuel Levinas and Jacques Derrida.

Andrew suggests that we watch this video on YouTube before the Zoom gathering.


“First Saturday” Gatherings

“Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good. Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer.”

-Hebrews 10: 24 – 25, Good News Bible

First Saturdays are a monthly gathering via Zoom on the first Saturday of each month, with the goals of connecting and encouraging AAANZ members and friends around Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand.

The Zoom opens at 3.30pm (Sydney time) for informal sharing.

The hour between 4pm and 5pm is usually recorded, and includes a short meditation, and some discussion around a specific topic.

After 5pm, there’s time for those who want to stay a little longer to hear from and pray for people around the AAANZ network.

Email info@anabaptist.au to request the Zoom link to the meeting, or check your email if you’re on our mailing list (First Saturday info will be in the “Events & Actions” mailing).

First Saturdays in 2024:

NEXT DATE: Saturday, November 2, 3:30pm AEST – 5pm, on Zoom

TOPIC: Exact topic TBD

GUEST SPEAKER: Joji Pantoja of Coffee for Peace

ABOUT JOJI: Felicitas “Joji” Pantoja has dedicated her career to building peace in conflict zones and improving the lives of marginalized groups through economic stability. Based in the Philippines, Coffee for Peace uses coffee production as a tool to address the economic, environmental and peace issues prevalent in conflict-affected communities. Today, Coffee for Peace provides sustainable livelihoods for Indigenous and migrant groups in rural areas, enabling over 880 farmers to escape poverty and build their coffee production capacity. The company’s focus is on sustainable agriculture, peace and reconciliation between religious groups, environmental protection, and entrepreneurship. Joji and her husband Dann are also part of the Anabaptist-inspired Peace-Builders Community, Inc.

If you’re on our mailing list, you can find the Zoom link in your emails. Sign up for AAANZ mailings here.

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LATER DATES:

  • December 7 – Book Study, Anabaptist Essentials, chapters 7 – 9

Recent First Saturdays on YouTube:

May 2024: Anabaptism at 500, John Roth

April 2024: Strength in Weakness, Chris Marshall

March 2024: Book Study Part 1 – Anabaptist Essentials, Errol Thompson

November 2023: An Anabaptist View of Creation Care, Doug Kaufman

September 2023: Anabaptist Movement in the UK, Stuart Murray Williams

August 2023: The Voice, Gershon Nimbalker

June 2023: Christian Nonviolence, David Cramer

May 2023: Christian Discipleship And Our Money, Ted Sherwood

March 2023: Political Idolatry: Countering Christian Nationalism, Drew Strait

February 2023: Disrupting Mercy: The Gift of Extreme Kindness Motivated by Compassion, Matthew Clarke

For more recordings, please visit our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@AnabaptistsAuNZ