Part 5 of our colonisation series is live! This one's all about Victoria. Did you know Melbourne began as a business venture? What was the intent and meaning of Batman's Treaty? Jonathan and Jacob trace how what begun with the only formal land agreement between First Peoples and British settlers quickly turned into one of the biggest land grabs in history. Listen here: https://mannagum.podbean.com/e/ep-40-the-end-of-the-world-victoria-legacies-of-colonisation-pt-5/

On Tuesday 9 December, the Victorian Government will deliver an Apology to First Peoples for the past and ongoing harms inflicted on First peoples by the State. The Apology is a key recommendation of the Yoorrook Justice Commission and was agreed to in the first Statewide Treaty, recently signed into law. If you want to want the special session of Parliament you can register for the link to the livestream here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/apology-to-first-peoples-by-the-victorian-government-livestream-tickets-1975894619998. The University of Divinity is hosting a gathering to watch the Apology together at St Paschal Campus, 90 Albion Road, Box Hill (VIC). It's free, but they ask that you register: https://vox.divinity.edu.au/event/witnessing-history-a-gathering-for-truth-and-solidarity/

Everyone knows the story of Zacchaeus, but how much do we know about the world of 1st C Jericho? Deb Storie takes us behind the text to realise the fuller implications of Jesus' words and deeds in Luke 19. Read against this backdrop, Luke's account, as the kids say, "hits different." Read it here: https://mannagum.org.au/articles/Zacchaeus-and-Jericho-in-Full-Colour

"How do we fall in love with the natural world? With this extraordinary planet?" Artist Megan Forward found some of the answer in her own backyard - literally! And it lead to far more than she bargained for... Read her story here: https://mannagum.org.au/articles/Love-Not-Fear-The-Joy-of-Making-a-bit-of-Eden-out-of-Rubbish

Ever wondered what the non-negotiable Christian political positions are? Jonathan lays out his list, as well as his case for ditching "package deal politics" in his latest article interrogating political labels and trying to apply some to himself. Read it here: https://mannagum.org.au/articles/Why-I-am-a-Left-wing-Conservative-Radical-(but-not-a-Progressive)

We're celebrating 50 editions of Manna Matters this spring! In our first article, Jonathan reflects on all that's changed - and some that hasn't - since 2009. Read it here: https://mannagum.org.au/articles/Manna-Still-Matters-Reflecting-on-Fifty-Editions