Welcome to "Frank's News"  - a community newsletter for our St Francis College friends and supporters.

Contents

In this edition of Frank’s News

• Academic Writing & Study Skills Workshop

• Peter Kline’s Paper Accepted for Publication

• Spiritual Direction

• Grow Formation Intensive

• Commencement Service 2026

• Launch of Liturgia Dei Draws Warm and Engaged Audience

• Worship Through the Lens of Autism: A Rich Conversation Across Our Community

• Roscoe Library Matters

• innerVIVID Update: Endings

• Young Adults Ministry

• Pointro Campsite: Escape to Tranquility

• Contact Us

Frank’s News Editorial

Dear Readers,

It was wonderful to gather for the Commencement Service last Sunday. The University of Divinity Semester One has started with record numbers of students enrolled in units of study with St Francis College.  This includes our first three enrolments in the Graduate Diploma of Spiritual Direction, and several students from other UD colleges taking a class with us. I have the privilege of teaching the introductory biblical studies unit (Reading the Bible 1) and again this year there is a wonderful mix of students ready to engage with scripture as they start their theological education. In the preparatory reading students were asked to read the first chapter of Robyn Whitaker’s Even the Devil Quotes Scripture: Reading the Bible on Its Own Terms, published by Eerdmans in 2023, which lead to interesting conversation. Given the title’s allusion to the gospel reading for the first Sunday in Lent, I recommend this book during the Lenten Season.

There are many Lenten Studies available this year. At St Francis College we have a Tuesday lunchtime group listening to the stories from the ABM resource called HOLIDAY written by Stephen Daughtry and illustrated by Vanessa Daughtry (HOLIDAY - ABM Anglican Board of Mission).  This week while we were reflecting on the role of the cockatoo in the story one perched on a rooftop screeched loudly causing us to look out the window and up at it.  If you are at or near the college on Tuesday lunchtimes you are welcome to join us with BYO lunch and we will provide a cuppa and an opportunity to listen to birds, albeit not necessarily a cockatoo.

Over the next couple of years, the St Francis College site will change significantly. The Brisbane City Council has approved the Aura Holdings development application to build a 75-unit retirement village on the western side of the site, and they hope to start construction mid-year, with units available from 2028. Our next Open Day is on Saturday, 23 May; you may like to mark that date as one to come and visit the college before the construction work begins. (To register please visit - https://www.trybooking.com/DJZTK)

In June, the Rev’d Dr Elizabeth Smith will be scholar in residence for the month. She will deliver the Felix Arnott lecture with the title In our own accent: Australian English in worship and mission on 9 June.  This will consider questions such as: How well does our liturgical language equip us, not only to pray together, but also to talk about the Good News and the things of the Spirit with those who don’t speak our insider dialect? Felix Arnott Lecture 2026 — Saint Francis College. Elizabeth Smith will be the keynote speaker for our second annual Liturgy School at the end of June. She will give a public lecture on Liturgical Climate Change: APBA 30 Years On, reflecting on the role of A Prayer Book for Australia in today’s worship ecology and how liturgical practice has shifted since 1995.

The videos for the Endings theme in the Inner Vivid project are now available Theme 6: Endings? — innerVIVID.  They invite us to think about death and dying, an important reflection at this time of year, as we journey towards Good Friday. There is a daily Bible reflection on the youngadults.acsq (AYAM.QLD) Instagram page. The AYCF resources page has lectionary-based materials that you may find helpful during this season of Lent: https://aycf.org.au/. 

Lenten Blessings,

Ruth Mathieson

Academic Writing & Study Skills Workshop

When: Thursday, 12 March, 2:00–3:30pm
Where: Lecture Room 1 and via Zoom
Who: All students are warmly invited—new, returning, onsite, or online
Cost: Free

Strengthen your confidence and skills for success at university!

This practical workshop introduces the essential building blocks of effective academic writing and study habits at the tertiary level. Whether you're just beginning your studies or looking to sharpen your techniques, you'll gain helpful tools you can apply immediately in your assessments.

At St Francis College, we believe academic success shouldn’t be a secret. This session is designed to make expectations clear, demystify common challenges, and empower you with strategies that genuinely support your learning.

What you’ll learn:

• How to unpack and interpret assessment questions

• Foundations of good academic writing

• Practical approaches to studying well

• Tips you can use right away in your upcoming assignments

Join us in person or online—everyone is welcome!

Registration Link: https://www.trybooking.com/DJUYJ

Peter Kline’s Paper Accepted for Publication

We are delighted to share that Associate Professor Peter Kline’s new paper, The Fire of Enigma: Religious Subjectivity and the Sexual Unconscious, has been accepted for publication in Theology & Sexuality.

This paper forms part of Peter’s work over the past three years as a fellow in the University of Birmingham (UK) Templeton Grant project, to which this publication is a significant contribution.

In simple terms, Peter’s article explores how our religious lives are shaped by deep, often unconscious layers of human experience. He brings together theology and psychoanalytic theory to suggest that faith is partly formed by the mysterious, unresolvable questions at the heart of being human. The paper argues that this “fire of enigma” keeps drawing people toward God, not by providing easy answers but by continually opening new avenues of meaning and interpretation.

We congratulate Peter on this achievement and look forward to seeing the ongoing impact of his research. If you’re interested in reading the article, you can access it here:

https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/FNNW6HW5PX6W6NGWPIMX/full?target=10.1080/13558358.2026.2626308

Spiritual Direction

We recently invited Richard Fay to share a short video reflecting on the gift of Spiritual Direction, and he graciously provided a thoughtful and beautiful response. In the video, Richard— counsellor, retreat leader, and former CEO of the Centre for Men and Families Australia—speaks about how spiritual direction has shaped his life and ministry. He reflects on the importance of being deeply listened to, noticing God’s presence in daily life, and the way spiritual direction creates a spacious, grounded environment for discernment and growth.

Richard’s reflection offers a warm, down‑to‑earth glimpse into what spiritual direction is really like and may resonate with anyone exploring their own spiritual path.

Watch the video here: https://youtube.com/shorts/xs-i5gRBc7c

To learn more about Spiritual Direction at St Francis College, visit: Spiritual Direction — Saint Francis College

Grow Formation Intensive

The training year for those in the Grow – Formation for Ordained Ministry programme began with a three-day training Intensive 20 to 22 February.

The 2026 cohort has five incoming, and eight returning students from a variety of backgrounds, all committed to further discernment of their potential call to ordained ministry.

Twelve students participated in a programme of group building, norm setting, and liturgical practice. Sessions on the Lectionary, prayer, sanctuary and sacristy ministry and the newly released Lay Ministry Handbook were led by Dr Adam Couchman, Dr Helen Lancaster and the Rev’d Tim Booth.

Archbishop Jeremy spent time with students, talking about his expectations for training. Sunday morning was a practicum with an exploration of the ‘what, why, when and where’ of vestments, and an energised conversation about the liturgical shape of Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter.

The weekend concluded with the St Francis College Commencement Service, where the students were presented with Lay Ministry licences for the duration of their Formation journey.

Commencement Service 2026

St Francis College commenced the 2026 academic year on Saturday 22 February with a warm and joy-filled Commencement Service attended by more than 50 people, both from the College and wider Anglican community. Archbishop Jeremy Greaves presided and preached, grounding the gathering in a message of hope, formation, and deepened curiosity in faith. Reflecting on the role of theological education, Jordan Cuskelly noted the Archbishop’s encouragement “to leave with better questions, not less questions”—a sentiment that resonated deeply with both new and returning students.

The service followed the familiar shape of Anglican worship while incorporating several significant moments in the life of our College and Diocese. These included the commissioning of Jordan Cuskelly as the Anglican Young Adult Ministry Facilitator, the commitment of St Francis College students to ministry and learning, and the presentation of liturgical assistant licences to our ordained ministry formation students.

The Diocese’s Clergy Development, Training and Wellbeing team was also commissioned, affirming their important work of supporting clergy across Southern Queensland. The service concluded with the presentation of the 2025 academic awards, along with warm congratulations to all recipients for their dedication, scholarship and contribution to the life of the College.

Following the liturgy, guests enjoyed light refreshments on the lawn of historic Old Bishopsbourne—an opportunity to reconnect, welcome new students and staff, and begin the academic year in community. Sincere thanks go to everyone who contributed to planning, preparing and serving on the day.

Launch of Liturgia Dei Draws Warm and Engaged Audience

St Francis College recently hosted the launch of Adam Couchman’s new book, Liturgia Dei: Worshiping the Worshiping God, welcoming a strong hybrid audience with excellent attendance both online and in person.

The event opened with thoughtful reflections from Ben Myers (Alaphacrucis University College) and Janice McRandal (Australian Catholic University / University of Divinity), each speaking to the significance of Adam’s work and its contribution to contemporary liturgical theology.

Adam then offered his own response, sharing stories, theological reflections, and the vision behind the book. His words drew listeners into the heart of the project and sparked meaningful engagement across the gathered community.

A lively Q&A session followed, with participants both onsite and online posing thoughtful questions that explored the themes, challenges, and possibilities raised by Adam’s work. The conversation was warm, generous, and deeply appreciated.

After the formal program, guests were invited to enjoy light refreshments, and many stayed well after the event’s close—continuing discussions, meeting Adam, and connecting with one another. The atmosphere was joyful and collegial, reflecting the strong sense of community around the College’s academic and spiritual life.

Reflecting on the event, Adam said:

“After years of working on this book, both as a thesis and now in its published form, I was very pleased to receive such thoughtful and engaged feedback. One of the most important responses on the day was that the book offered a sense of relief from the pressure that comes with treating worship as a human‑centred activity. Recentring worship as something God is already doing removes that burden. Instead of striving to make worship acceptable to God, we are given the privilege of responding to an invitation to join the eternal performance of glorifying God—something that Father, Son, and Mother Spirit have shared for all eternity.”

St Francis College extends sincere thanks to all who attended and helped make the launch of Liturgia Dei such a memorable occasion.

Worship Through the Lens of Autism: A Rich Conversation Across Our Community

St Francis College recently hosted a hybrid workshop, Worship Through the Lens of Autism, bringing together nearly 50 registered participants from across the Anglican community and beyond. With 31 people joining online and 18 attending in person, the session brought together a wonderfully diverse gathering of people eager to learn, reflect, and foster more inclusive worship.

The workshop invited participants to explore how autistic people experience worship, community, and spirituality—drawing on current research, lived experience, and theological reflection. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many attendees describing the presentation as “extremely engaging,” “highly relevant,” and “deeply insightful.”

Several participants noted that hearing directly from autistic voices was particularly impactful, helping them move beyond assumptions to a richer understanding of neurodivergent experience. Others highlighted the value of practical ideas—such as the importance of clear communication, gentle structure, sensory awareness, and the simple but transformative act of asking autistic people what supports them best.

The hybrid format enabled wide participation, and most found the environment accessible. A few constructive suggestions—particularly around Zoom breakout rooms and audio clarity—will help us continue refining how we host inclusive online experiences. Many attendees left inspired to bring new practices back to their parishes, including:

• clearer explanations of liturgical actions

• creating moments of silence and calm within worship

• encouraging congregations to welcome difference with an “it’s OK” mindset

• thinking more intentionally about sensory environments

• exploring connections between theology, tradition, and neurodiversity

The session also sparked interest in future workshops, especially around ADHD, ministry with autistic children and families, and deeper theological engagement with neurodiversity.

We are grateful to everyone who participated—both online and on campus—and for the thoughtful, generous reflections shared. The strong response affirms the importance of continuing this conversation as we learn together how to make our worshipping communities more hospitable, grounded, and attuned to the diverse people of God.

Roscoe Library Matters

Roscoe Library membership

Did you know that Roscoe Library membership is available for all those connected to the Anglican Church Southern Queensland? If you’re a parishioner, a member of the clergy, or you work in an Anglican school or agency, you’re invited to become a member at no cost. You’ll see books in our collection that you’ll not find in public libraries or local bookshops. For those at a significant distance from Milton who are not likely to visit in person, our ebooks and audiobooks might be of interest. Register here.

Reading with Spiritual Eyes: Book Chat

On Tuesday 24 March 2026, 5:30pm – 7pm we shall gather to discuss Isobelle Carmody’s Comes the Night.

Will slipped on the left glove and twitched a finger to establish a link to the kite tronics. A shiver of electric energy ran through his hands as they synched to his nerves through the gloves.

Will lives with his father in a future domed Canberra where citizens are safe from extreme weather events, dangerous solar radiation and civil unrest. He does not question his carefully controlled existence until the recurrence of an old nightmare propels him on a dangerous quest. Gradually Will discovers his dreams hold cryptic clues that lead him into a shadowy alternate dimension. Here he must grapple with dark forces that operate in both worlds, with the help of his best friend Ender, her brilliant but difficult twin sister Magda, and a mysterious gift from his uncle.

*** Although this novel is marketed as Young Adult, Comes the Night has been recommended by a very well-read adult! Please register for set-up and catering purposes.

New books!

God and the Machine: Navigating Faith in the Age of AI by Nathan Webb, with its accompanying Leader Guide could be an interesting book for a parish study group. From the publisher: “Explore the possibilities of AI with discernment and grace. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved from a niche topic to an integral part of everyday life. What began as small conveniences has developed into something that shapes the way we work, live, and even worship. For Christians, it can be easy to see AI as something out of science fiction—sparking fear, skepticism, or even dismissal. God and the Machine invites both the curious and the cautious to grapple with profound questions about how and why AI is becoming an integral part of our daily lives. Ignoring it isn't an option—but neither is abandoning the call to thoughtful discernment. Join Nathan Webb, pastor and self-described "nerd," as he explores the future of AI and the Church with wisdom, faith, and hope. Together, you'll consider how to embrace innovation without compromising your ethics and discover the grace-filled possibilities God may be unfolding through this new frontier.”

Following Matthew, Following Mark, Following Luke and Following John by William Loader.

These four commentaries use the author’s own translation, are relatively short (around 200 pages) and, although there is a lifetime of scholarship behind them, do not include bibliographic references. Here is the publisher’s description of Following Matthew: “What are the main things one needs to be aware of in order to take Matthew seriously as a witness to faith? This commentary seeks to read Matthew in the context of its world without glossing over the challenges that such an open and positive critical engagement presents. It provides a careful contemporary translation and a concise, informed commentary designed as a practical resource for preachers, for people wanting an intelligent faith, and for group study and discussion. Its author, William Loader, is a leading international scholar, an engaged researcher, and a committed pastor who has written commentaries on all four Gospels and has a passion for promoting an informed faith.”

 The books mentioned above are just a few of the books that have been added over the past few weeks, but this link will take you to all the items that have been added to the Roscoe Library during 2026. Please join … you’ll be so glad that you did!

innerVIVID Update: Endings

Did you know Assoc. Professor Peter Kline features in every single innerVIVID episode? He's a wise and intelligent guy!

Catch up with him and a cast of thousands in the next 5 episodes of innerVIVID, the project designed for you to share with people not yet part of the church. And you can watch it yourself, too!

These five episodes are themed around "Endings", exploring death and grief and souls and more.

https://innervivid.au/the-actual-videos/theme6

Young Adults Ministry

Our Young Adult Ministry Facilitator, Jordan Cuskelly is holding a young adults night from 6:30pm on Thursday, 26 March at St Francis College in the Common Room. It’s an ‘ice breaker night’ where young adults will gather to play board games, play pool and eat pizza as they get to know one another. If you know anyone who might be interested, let them know! Contact Jordan at jordan.cuskelly@anglicanchurchsq.org.au if you have any questions.

Pointro Campsite: Escape to Tranquility

Just outside of Boonah and only 90 minutes from Brisbane, Pointro Campsite offers a back to basics camping experience on the banks of Maroon Dam in Queensland. Enjoy spacious sites, firepits, hot showers, and clean toilets — great for fishing, hiking, water sports and much more. Ideal for families, friends, and group retreats. Our bunkhouse sleeps up to 36 and is great for youth camps.

Book now on Hipcamp or email pointro@anglicanchurchsq.org.au for bunkhouse bookings.