The Sunday Assembly

The Age reported on a group of atheists who meet on Sunday which looked a bit like church without God. "The Sunday Assembly".

During the week I went along to a community garden and kitchen project. I meet a couple of new faces and while the gardening was central I'm sure in most part it was about community meeting and getting to know others, as well as benifiting the community. Really worthwhile. For me this sort of thing is very much an extension of my Christianity

I think what the "Sunday assembly is doing is similar, it's part of our DNA. To have fellowship and to be a positive influence on those around us. Their focus probably is on system of beliefs without God.

I suspect that how well they do will be dependent on how they sell the message If you look at the classy presentations, contemporary worship, emphasis on the tithe, that the large growing churches are pushing I doubt the assembly will get much more than a handful showing up regularly. They have a lot to learn from the Church.

Never the less its good to see a diversity of opinions and people who want to make a positive influence on society.

 

Sunday Lentil as anything

On Sunday after going to Solace in Melbourne we headed off to 'Lentil as anything', not far away. Its a place which I've wanted to go to for ages. Its based on the principle of you pay for what you think the meal is worth.

You can see from the blurb from the photo which I took some their objectives. Whilst eating I could see that they were addressing social isolation, supporting migrants and refugees. I couldn't help wondering when I was looking at the staff what there stories were? What countries did they come from? Where they here because of war or famine? Has the training that has occurred at 'lentil as anything' to be a waiter, cook barista helped them integrate into Australian society?

So for me the problem was how much to pay? Christina thought it was like her days at university with all of the vegan and vegetarian foods. She thought it should cost about $40 for what we ate as a family. Jemima, 6 price $1, and thought this was hilarious.

Anyway I think I gave more than it was worth. The reason was I could afford to, and I felt that these guys were making a great contribution to individuals and community at large.