The Charlie Chaplin Experience

Congratulations on your part in bringing Charlie Chaplin to Cooranbong (“Tramp fans,” Connections Vol 26 No 23). I live in Dora Creek and have a great collection of Chaplin films. Five years ago, I returned to my old home town of Manchester in England. Manchester is the home of the Halle Orchestra. I attended one of the orchestra’s concerts in the city’s The Bridgewater Hall. The concert featured the screening of Chaplin’s film The Goldrush, with the original music played by the orchestra. The memories of the concert—the highlight of my tour to the United Kingdom—still brings tears to my eyes. I would love to see a re-enactment in Australia, perhaps even in Cooranbong.

Bernard Carroll
wp.avondale.edu.au/news

Wendy Jackson: A gender-equal church

God did not create men and women in a hierarchy (“A gender-equal church,” Connections Vol 26 No 7). “He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them ‘Mankind’ when they were created” (Genesis 5:2, NIV). Sinful humans created hierarchies post-fall and God has been trying to bring us back to His ideal—we are all His equal children—since then. It also seems illogical to deny all of the undoubted gifts of half of humanity. The Lulu Wightman struggles should not happen to women in the 21st century. Thank you, Wendy, for your mission and may God continue to be with you.

Colin Crabtree
wp.avondale.edu.au/news

Wendy’s comments about knowing for certain God had called her to theology resonate with every woman who has been called to a ministry leadership position in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Aleta King
wp.avondale.edu.au/news

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Brenton Stacey: Roaring lambs

I dislike the phrase, “roaring lambs” (“Roaring lambs,” Connections Vol 25 No 17)—lions were made to roar, lambs were made to bleat. For a lamb to roar is a noise against nature, compared to which cacophonous rock music is soothing poetry. I think the metaphor is a poor one.

Nevertheless, we are made to be salt and light, and the principle Bob [Briner, author of Roaring Lambs] espouses is one I fully endorse. Indeed, we are made to sting, tickle and illumine where we are and who we meet.

Thank you for reminding us.

Grenville Rume
wp.avondale.edu.au/manifest
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Graduation 2012

Thanks to the organisers of graduation 2012. I found the class theme, “By their fruits,” so fitting. The quality education Avondale provides gets better every year. Melissa Roger’s achievement (“Master of music,” Connections Vol 25 No 27) is proof of this.

Avondale-trained teachers taught me for most of my training life. I salute Avondale for graduating service-minded students who come to the Pacific islands. I wish Avondale God’s blessings for 2013. See you again at graduation this year.

Fulori Bola
Pacific Adventist University
Papua New Guinea
wp.avondale.edu.au/news

Sara Thompson: “The least”

From the “Road-to-publication-is-rarely-smooth” file: Sara Thompson waited almost a year before the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific’s newsmagazine Record published her winning piece from the Signs Publishing Company Writing Competition at the Manifest Creative Arts Festival in 2012 (“The least,” Connections Vol 25 No 7). The poem received this comment:

I have taught English literature for over 30 years and have never been moved by a poem written by a young student, as much as this poem has affected me. Congratulations to Sara on her achievement. I believe she was truly inspired in her writing of it. I believe that she well deserved the Signs Publishing Company prize. I hope we apply her message in all our lives.

Gerry Blum
Western Australia
record.net.au/items/the-least

Brown talks to Smith and Jones

An update (“Brown talks to Smith and Jones,” Connections Vol 25 No 22): I had a positive meeting with Member for Casey Tony Smith on October 15. He asked for more information on this issue of international tax evasion by multinational corporations and was open to further meetings on these issues.

Nathan Brown
wp.avondale.edu.au/connections
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Market Day Southlake

Thank you for hosting a great market (“Shop, play, relax,” Connections Vol 25 No 24). My daughter and I loved it—she had a ball. All the staff were kind and friendly. Hope you organise another Market Day Southlake soon.

Ivana Zanardi
www.facebook.com/avondaleaustralia
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