In this past Sunday’s service, we turned our attention to the prophetic word of Joel 2: “Then afterward I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy…” (Joel 2:28). We were reminded that the promise of the Spirit is not reserved for a select few—but for all people.
And recalled the Pentecost service back in June, where we gathered as the combined Uniting Churches of Geelong, If you missed the livestream or would like to revisit the message, the podcast of the service is available to listen here: “Pentecost Service June 2025 – SonderVerse”
As a church, we are at a moment of renewal. We are called out of drought and silence, into the flow of the Spirit. The drought in Joel’s day—the locusts, the famine, the disaster—becomes for us a frame for what might be next. That is, we are a church taking the promise seriously: that our ministries, our gatherings, our digital presence, our outreach to schools and libraries—all of it—is part of the great work of the Spirit being poured out.
So what does this look like in practical, grounded action?
- We embody the vision that “all flesh” includes young and old, women and men, people of many cultures, people on the margins. It means listening when we might have ignored. It means inviting new voices when we might have assumed old ways.
- We engage the four strategic goals of the Faithful Futures Project (coordinated ministry, respecting Country, intercultural leadership, all‑age growth) not as optional add‑ons, but as rhythms of the Spirit in action.
- We act locally and visibly: in our school chaplaincy, in the library table groups, in the university café conversations, in the livestream chat, and in the dinner table across generations.
Here is how you can join in this week:
- Listen to the podcast linked above. Let Joel’s promise stir you.
- Reflect: In your daily life—what place or person feels dry, forgotten, or overlooked? How might the Spirit be poured there?
- Act: Choose one concrete step this week:
- Invite someone under‑represented in church to share their story.
- Volunteer once in one of our Third Space ministries (school, library, digital).
- Bring fresh leadership or idea to a meeting: “What’s one vision we haven’t yet asked the Spirit about?”
- Share: On our Facebook page or via the Growing Page comments, post this prompt: “This week I will let the Spirit pour out by …” and include one action step. Let others see the movement.
As we move deeper into the season ahead, let us remember: this is not a survival strategy—but a resurrection move. The Spirit still breathes. The fire still burns. Not for destruction—but for renewal.
Let us walk together, as First and Second Peoples, seeking community, compassion, and justice for all creation.
St Davids Newtown Uniting 