St Michael's Uniting Church

We need to be “connected.” But we don’t need the conflicts.

Posted: November 25, 2015 | 0 Comments

Notes on the Sunday address by Dr Francis Macnab, 22 November 2015. By John Abbate. Our relationships affect us profoundly, in both positive and negative ways. Partners, family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances—the people of our continuing relationships are often opaque to us, full of contradictions. “[Our relationships] survive on uncertainty and supposition, fear and farce,” said…

Anxiety and Worry

Posted: November 18, 2015 | 0 Comments

Notes on the Sunday address by Dr Francis Macnab, 15 November 2015. By John Abbate. With the horror of the November 13 attacks in Paris still very fresh in the mind, Dr Macnab this Sunday began his address with some thoughts on anxiety and its relationship to loss, particularly the loss of faith or belief: “Anxiety…

The Power of your Memories

Posted: November 11, 2015 | 0 Comments

Notes on the Sunday address by Dr Francis Macnab, 8 November 2015. By John Abbate. A billion dollar industry has grown up around “use it or lose it” paranoia about the brain. Unfortunately, the idea that mental exercises or “brain training” games can enhance memory and preserve the mind in good condition lacks scientific foundation….

Seven Ways To Avoid Depression

Posted: October 21, 2015 | 0 Comments

Notes on the Sunday address by Dr Francis Macnab, 18 October 2015. By John Abbate. “Whenever I see a person struggling with their depression, and I see them discover a few tiny seeds of inspiration and hope, I’m amazed—I’m amazed that such possibilities walk around all of us, every day.” There are many kinds of…

Turning Our Lives Around After Our Turbulent Losses

Posted: October 7, 2015 | 0 Comments

Notes on the Sunday address by Dr Francis Macnab, 4 October 2015. By John Abbate. “I was alone In my distress and desolation. But as I sat sadly on the ground, The sun reached out his hand to me And touched my face And so my healing began.” —Marjorie Pizer, “My Healing” This year…

We Search For a Softer World.

Posted: October 5, 2015 | 0 Comments

Notes on the St Michael’s Day address by Dr Francis Macnab, 27 September 2015. By John Abbate. To prevent violence, destructiveness, and waste; to promote harmony, health, and wellbeing—everyone who does their best in this regard engages the great themes of St Michael’s day, summed up by Dr Macnab as “the search for a softer…

Self-Compassion: Stronger Than Self-Criticism

Posted: September 23, 2015 | 0 Comments

Notes on the Sunday address by Dr Francis Macnab, 20 September 2015. By John Abbate. Can we let our self-compassion be stronger than our self-criticism? That is the question at the heart of this address. “We can love ourselves in a very determined and narcissistic way,” said Dr Macnab, “but do we really love the…

Forget the 7 deadly sins. Focus on the 9 miracles of the mind.

Posted: September 16, 2015 | 0 Comments

Notes on the Sunday address by Dr Francis Macnab, 13 September 2015. By John Abbate. “Rejoice in the Lord always,” says the Bible. Most of us take life for granted. “We’re not into rejoicing,” said Dr Macnab. In some churches, dealing with the evil of sin has become the focus of religious practice. There is…

The Great Secret of the Best Physician

Posted: September 10, 2015 | 0 Comments

Notes on the Sunday address by Dr Francis Macnab, 6 September 2015. By John Abbate. Supreme technical skill as a physician is sometimes not enough. The oncologist Dr Ranjana Srivastava, when confronted with patients in extreme anxiety, at perhaps the most difficult time of their life, said that “it was enough to simply say, ‘I will…