Archer Earth Community Update 19 March

[Dianne Hearn]

Dear Friends

Agape dates for 2026

April 5 (Sun) Easter Sunday Sunrise at Shorncliffe   (Peter, Marilyn)

May 11 (Mon)  Tinchi Tamba Wetland Reserve (Tony, Kevin)

June 15 (Mon) Coochiemudlo (Heather, David)

July 12 or 13 TBA (Georgina, Greg)

Aug 10 (Mon) UQ Anthropology Museum with Michael Aird (Jules)

Sep 13 or 14 TBA (Tony, Elaine)

Oct 12 (Mon) New Farm Park (Mary, Darryl) 

Nov  9 (Mon) Boondall Wetlands (Don, Di, Paul, Jules)

Dec 13 or 14 TBA Christmas Celebration

March Agape

Our thanks to Mary and Rick Dalmau who hosted Agape at their beautiful property at 164 Greggs Rd Samford.  As we gathered we heard the story of Mary and Rick’s years on the property.  We acknowledged the traditional custodians, the Turrbul and Wakka Wakka people.  You may enjoy learning about this area at https://westernecho.com.au/the-history-under-your-feet/

To prepare for our time walking amongst the trees we listened to a dialogue of poems - When I am among the trees Mary Oliver, Lost David Wagoner and On the pulse of a new day, Maya Angelou.

Our personal time enjoying this place was followed by a time of sharing from photos we had taken.  

We concluded with prayer and a reminder from the Catholic Bishops of Appalachia that: it is the weak things of this world, that the Spirit takes up and makes it own…The dream of the mountain’s struggle, the dream of simplicity and of justice, is, we believe, the voice of God among us…and in taking them up, hopefully, we might be known, once again, as a centre of the Spirit, a place where poetry dares to speak…where art flourishes…where little needs come first…and, where, in a wilderness of idolatrous destruction, the great voice of God still cries out for life.

We had the opportunity at our gathering to acknowledge Tony’s 60 years of committed service with cake and an adaptation of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah for Tony:

This beautiful man where truth and justice alone shall stand

And he knows how to love the world for the future.

Some pics below.

April Agape Easter Sunday Sunrise

For our April Agape we will gather on Easter Sunday (April 5) at the same location as last year along the Shorncliffe foreshore - near the rock groin, a 5 minute walk south of the main Shorncliffe Jetty. 

We gather at 5am in the darkness symbolic of the tomb experience of Holy Saturday.  We will respect the silence of the water, air and land at this phase of the journey.  The light of dawn will gradually break the darkness and we will have a shift in mood to uncertainty and expectation.  We will share quiet music and poetry.  Finally the bursting forth of the sun onto the waters of Moreton Bay, the surrounding lands and vegetation.  This is our Halleluia moment of Eastering arriving - staying present to this Resurrection moment.

We will enjoy breakfast together on the grass park above the groin. Please bring folding chairs, own drinks and something to share for breakfast.

Archer Meditation  

Our meditation gatherings are on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. We gather at 2461 Sandgate Rd Boondall from 9.30am to 10am or via the online option at https://www.worldpeaceprayer.org/

Simply click on this link for the World Peace Prayer site and then click on the candle to join the meditation. Next Meditation Dates: April 1 and 15

Future Meeting Space

As we have been advised that 2461 Sandgate Road is to be sold this year, Peter met with Jeff Hunt the manager of the Mary Rice Centre at Nudgee College to check about the availability of a meeting area and some storage. 

He was very receptive to the Archer Earth Community storing any books etc in the garage that the centre also uses for storage.  He says he will be able to offer a space for meetings for the group that will be suitable for 20 plus people.  We usually only need a meeting space a couple of times a year and Sunday meetings would be possible.  Nudgee will organize someone to meet us, open the building and manage the alarms and lockup etc. There are toilets and a kitchen area we can use.

We can progress this further when we have more information about the future of 2461.

Archer Retreat

As we have already enjoyed a Winter and a Spring retreat in the Bunya Mountains we decided our next retreat there would be in Autumn 2027.  More details to come.

As some people are keen to have some retreat days this year there will be an opportunity to do this on Coochiemudlo following on from the June 15 Agape.  Heather and David will send out an EOI shortly. 

Interview with Diarmuid O’Murchu: Ecological Spirituality

You may be interested in this interview with Diarmuid O’Murchu in which he describes how we must move from an understanding of ‘holiness’ as detachment from the world to relationship and interconnectedness.  See 

https://livingearthcommunity.com/category/ecological-worldviews/ecological-spirituality/multimedia-ecological-spirituality/

Key Dates in March

19 March National Close the Gap Day

To revisit the Close the Gap targets see https://www.closingthegap.gov.au/national-agreement/targets

21 March International Forests Day

The theme for 2026 is Forests and Economies and reminds us of the essential role of forests in job creation, production of renewable materials, erosion control, food and medicine production, recreation and trade.  See https://www.fao.org/international-day-of-forests/en

22 March World Water Day

The theme for 2026 is Water and Gender and reminds us that where people lack clean drinking water and sanitation women and girls bear the brunt. They collect and manage water.  They care for households made sick by unsafe water.  Where clean water flows equality grows.  See https://www.un.org/en/observances/water-day

23 March National Eucalypt Day

The theme this year is Our Eucalypt Home: Unique, Irreplaceable, Treasured.

Eucalypts keep our unique animals, plants and fungi fed, watered, sheltered and safe.  See https://eucalyptaustralia.org.au/national-eucalypt-day/

24 March Feast Day of Oscar Romero

Oscar Romero bravely advocated for those who were poor and marginalised in El Salvador and was assassinated March 24 1980. We recall his words:

Let us not tire of preaching love, for this is the force that will overcome the world. Let us never tire of preaching love. Even if we see waves of violence coming to drown out the fire of Christian love, love must win out. It is the only thing that can.   Homily, September 25, 1977 

28 March Earth Hour

To demonstrate support for the environment millions of people across the globe switch off lights from 8.30 to 9.30 local time on Saturday 28 March.  While this is essentially symbolic action it hopefully reminds us all of the importance of energy conservation for our planet. 

For more information and to register see:  https://www.earthhour.org.au

We conclude with our final blessing from the March Agape:

May the blessing of the Creator…Mother of the Universe…Way, Truth, Light, Life of Christ, Love…Breath, Soul of Spirit…

be wisdom and insight, direct growth and guide us to read this time of change clearly…strengthen respect and understanding…draw closer when struggle, burden, war, powerlessness and long waiting diminish life…

be strength of wounded life and powerlessness, rekindle life in weariness…be sanctuary for the stillness where clarity is born….

be source of peace, deepen peacemaking and healing…this time for rebirth, so that life may be strong and flourish.

May the contemplative Spirit of deep listening and quiet still awareness spread over the whole of life, renew and bring peace.

Blessings from

Archer Earth Community

E: hear...@gmail.com

M: 0448275712