Toowoomba Floral Art Group Inc. in Toowoomba, Queensland | Community organisation

Toowoomba Floral Art Group Inc.

Locality: Toowoomba, Queensland

Address: Cnr Holberton and Pottinger Sts 4350 Toowoomba, QLD, Australia

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09.01.2022 The key to surviving a house fire is having an escape plan and practicing it regularly. What’s your plan? Leave no doubt you’ll make it out.

03.01.2022 This weekend’s Gospel reading (Matthew 3:1-12) has the powerful figure of John the Baptist calling people to ‘Repent!’ because he believed the Kingdom of Heaven... had come near. Lean, unwashed, and hairy John would have been a dramatic sight accentuated by his clothing, strange diet and uncompromising faithfulness to God. I imagine, probably unfairly, sophisticated political and religious leaders shaking their heads in derision and yet, it seems that crowds flocked to him. John affirmed that God wanted people to do better with their lives and that through Baptism there would be a new beginning for them. ‘Repent, for the kingdom of God has come near’ he roared! The dictionary definition of repentance is ‘sincere regret’ or ‘remorse’ and this is a helpful start, but I think it can be developed further so that it includes a real intention to do something differently. In Melanesian Pidgin there is the wonderful phrase, ‘Yu noken tok sore tasol, yu mas wokim sore!’ which means you can’t just say sorry, you have to do it! This is where the symbolism of Baptism is powerful for, at least in adult baptism, a person goes under the water into an environment where they cannot breathe or live, and then is lifted out of the water into a new chapter of life. And in this new chapter there is a determination to keep a clear focus on God, trusting that this will positively change character and behaviour. As Christians we’d go further to affirm that the focus on God allows God’s Spirit, literally God’s grace, to work in our lives and it is God’s Spirit that brings about this transformation. Now ‘repentance’ probably sounds like an old-fashioned word that’s not used much everyday conversation. But, in a wonderful service at St John’s Cathedral yesterday we were reminded that it is an important part of ministry in our time. It was thirty-nine degrees, and over one thousand people were present to witness and celebrate the Ordination of six Deacons, and six Priests. Before the Archbishop Ordained the Deacons he read the position description for Deacons outlined in the Prayer Book. Part of this reads ‘Proclaim the Good News of God’s love, so that many may be moved to faith and repentance’ So, clearly repentance is not just for people long ago listening to a hairy prophet beside the river Jordan it is something to take seriously in our time. As you and I prepare for Christmas and as we consider the call to repent we might helpfully look back over the last year and prayerfully ask what it is we sincerely regret. Maybe we don’t have to look back too far? Maybe there has been something that we regret from recent weeks? This may include something that we’ve done: like words that were unkind, untrue, or unwise Or, something that we haven’t done that would have blessed another person: like a visit, a phone call, or a letter I think it’s now helpful to go back to the Deacon’s job description because after saying ‘Proclaim the Good News of God’s love, so that many may be moved to faith and repentance’ it continues, ‘ánd hearts be opened to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly in the presence of God.’ This is a helpful reminder about why we should sincerely regret certain attitudes and behaviours. Because when we do and usually they are rooted in self-interest or laziness when we do, we are better able to do justice, be kind, and walk humbly. If you think these words sound familiar it is because they come from the prophet Micah and are often quoted: ‘He told you O mortal what is good, and what does the Lord require of you? But, to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God’ (Micah 6:8). So, as you and I prepare for Christmas and the coming year of 2020 what are some things that get in the way of us doing justice, being kind, and being humble? Have we allowed pride and cynicism to develop such that we expect nothing good from certain people or groups? Have we allowed apathy and indifference to develop because we recognise it will demand much of us to bring about change; or the sheer scale and complexity of an issue seems overwhelming? Have we become addicted to something such that we can think of nothing else but satisfying the craving that comes from this? ‘Repent!’ for the Kingdom of Heaven is closer than we think Let’s pray Holy God, we give thanks for the vision of how we might live better lives with you and with one another. Guided by your Spirit, help us to recognise what we need to let go of, and what we need to sincerely regret. Please fill us with your Spirit so that our attitudes, activities, hopes and dreams make justice and kindness real while recognising that we are just ordinary people, and not Messiahs. We pray in the name of the One we call ‘Emmanuel - God with us.’ Amen.

01.01.2022 Hello to you all we are just about getting ready for the new year floral art group come along and enjoy your day with our group Toowoomba Floral art group gets going 19th February 12-30 at the Rose Garden Holberton St Toowoomba