Kris's address is the sequel to an earlier address he gave on the seven sins: - focusing today on seven virtues. Kris draws inspiration from an affirmation by the Roman Stoic Philosopher, Seneca, - of the joy that comes with living the virtuous life. Kris poses the question Seneca posed 2000 years ago: "- for what prevents us from saying that the h…

Today, Zainab tells the story of her family's escape from Iraq when she was a 10 year old:- her family's perilous journey at the hands of people smugglers on an overcrowded Indonesian fishing boat; abandoned by the crew; discovered by the Australian Navy; her family's arrival in Darwin; confined to the Woomera Detention Centre - before Zainab and h…

The subject we reflect on today is "10 Things for Humans to Know". Kris reflects on some contemporary rules to guide human conduct and some rules from the past. He then concludes with the response of the avatar - "Chat GPT" when it was asked for ten humanitarian rules. What was generated "robotically" by Chat GPT's Artificial Intelligence resolved …

Kris's address during National Reconciliation Week, focused on reconciliation with First Nations people. Kris briefly explores the history of Reconciliation:- commencing with restraint in the face of provocation between a Guugu Yimithirr elder and Captain Cook, the Constitutional change brought about by our most successful national referendum which…

Today, with the focus of today's service on 'conversation', Kris introduced Rev. Dave - visiting our church again, from the USA. In the course of their conservation, Kris asked Rev. Dave about his rules for living a good life. Dave responded with four rules:- The 12 O'Clock Rule The 30 second Rule The 13% Rule and Rule number 6 - - but you'll need …

Kris approaches today's address: "Transcending the human condition" (Transcendence) with some questions:- "What do we mean by being human? - able to rise above our animal instincts?" "How do we go from being "nice", "reasonable" people to a state of Transcendence?" "How do we move beyond moral development to spiritual development?" "What holds us b…

Today, Mothers Day, 2024, Kris explores the role of Motherhood and the impact Mothers have had on the lives of their children.By SA Unitarians

Kris begins his address with a question: "Who was Georg Philipp Friedrich Fruihwald von Hadenburg - alias Novalis?" a corruption from di Novali - "The Newcomers" - the name his ancestors gave to themselves when they settled on their land. Novalis b. 1772, was a Lutheran, (Pietist) mystic, in awe of the beauty and mystery of Nature and the universe …

Kris introduces us to a remarkable, Eastern Orthodox Church which has stood in Gaza City for more than a millennium - resolute, obdurate - a beacon of hope and tolerance amidst the rubble, turmoil and despair. Kris asks - "What lessons can we learn from the microcosm that is this Church of Saint Porphyrius. They were lessons that needed to be learn…

In the context of an approaching Anzac Day, Kris begins today's address today by reading our seven Unitarian Principles. Altruistic as these 'Seven Principles' are as Unitarian Universalist aspirations for a better world for all, the community consensus with which they are received encourages "a certain kind of passivity" ... lip service? "Somethin…

Those lucky enough to be born in the Chinese "Year of the Dragon" are said to be endowed with Power, Abundance, Majesty and Longevity. Kris's address today takes its title from Bruce "The Dragon" Lee's martial arts film - "Enter the Dragon". It is about a darker side: that "dragon" within ourselves and commences with a reading from an interview wit…

Today Kris delves into the symbolism behind the plot of the 1990s film "The Matrix", drawing from the Matrix's similarities with the Martin Scorsese film, "The Last Temptation of Christ, the folk-law of the Greek heroes and (Joseph Campbell's) The Hero's journey". There is also a Christian context to the symbolism of "The Matrix". Kris asks - "What…

On this third day of Easter, Resurrection Day, in an address called "Risen", Kris explores some of the Resurrection Mythology from other cultures and religious traditions that preceded the New Testament account of the bodily resurrection of Jesus. Kris asks: "Why have humans throughout history and in so many cultures from around the world, woven st…

Today, as the focus of our Easter service, Kris talks about Courage in defiance of Authority:- - that ultimate sacrifice of Jesus as Messiah, - to the Jews, that ultimate blasphemy. To get us into an Easter mind-set, Kris asks us some key questions:- Is there a cause we feel very strongly about? How far would we be prepared to go in pursuit of that…

Today our young people joint with us in celebrating our annual water "communion" . We were each given an opportunity to contribute our water offering to the common bowl which our young then carried out with them to to add to our garden, to feed other living plants and animals. As our water has intermingled, so do we. It is it illusiory to think tha…

Kris commences "Getting ready for a new year" with some illustrations and observations on ancient stone monuments, astronomically aligned to identify the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, which - since the stone age, heralded in the commencement of a new year. With Spring came fresh aspirations, to be energised into new resolutions for the…

Today we were privileged to have Salim return to address us about Islam, and especially the Islamic practices and observances during Ramadan - commencing after sunset, tomorrow. After his address, Salim gave us all the chance to ask some questions about Ramadan, and Kris followed with some questions of his own.…

Kris commences his address "What (Do) We Stand For!?" at our Vespers Service at Shady Grove today with an anecdote that comes in the form of a criticism of Unitarians and Unitarianism: "You don't stand for anything!" Perhaps the criticism was from a person searching for the certainties of a creed and we are a Non-Credal church. But it's not that we…

Kris's Address today is on the Buddhist approach to living - The "Eight-fold Path" to Enlightenment, based on the Four Noble Truths:- that suffering is an inevitable part of living- - whose causes can be determined. It's possible to escape suffering and- there is a path - the "eight-fold path" we can follow to end suffering. The Buddha's practical …