"Give Us a Sign" Campaign!!

   Well done Maitland Eastside and I've seen Hamilton 'onboard' as well, read about the campaign here. The idea is to post messages in support of asylum seekers and refugees and the issues arising, each Tuesday in LENT!! I like to think it's a lot better use of the space that crappy slogans about "knee mails" or "chrch" and about how all that's missing is "u"...

Presbytery Worship 24.2.15 So far...

First Link is the source of the Pastoral Prayer shared by Warwick for Sue and Trevor
"All Desires Known" Janet Morley from amazon.com here in third edition now...

This now reflects aspects of the worship we shared, as it happened, where originally this post was 'the plan'... it mostly went as I'd hoped except a few explanations expanded a little where simple was good. I knew it would be a test to use music clips for a number of aspects but the idea is to provide wallpaper or mood to an activity and to do more than spoken words can offer... but there is a generational factor there around what people are used to... how does God 'hear us' when we write or stick... the true task is, how do pray by writing or sticking or reflecting or listening... God will hear it regardless!!

1. SONG “Hope” Jack Carty here

She works real hard and pays her bills

She try’s to improve on what she builds

She takes the hits and bears the pain

When life is hard laughing in her face

Hope don’t leave when she needs you

Please don’t run away too far too soon

When all is dark inside her room you’re the one she holds onto

Some get luck and a fast track there

And some are happy just where they are

But oh, I feel that there’s more to me

But the dealer won’t count the cards up my sleeve

Hope don’t leave when I need you

Please don’t run away too far too soon

When all is dark inside my room you’re the one I hold onto 

You’re a temptress but I know your kind.

You whisper softly “you’ll make it if you try”

And every time I fall I curse your name

But I love you so I hope you’ll stay

Stupid girl you cannot win

It’s a rough and ruthless world we’re in

But oh I know it’s beautiful to jump from ledges

When you know you’ll fall

Hope don’t leave when we need you.

Please don’t run away too far too soon.

When all is dark inside our rooms you’re the one we hold onto

But the song is chosen because given a theme of hope, it's quite a desperate story, a lament and hopeful it conveys a sense that hope might be all this person has...

2. ‘Good News’ 

"Mark Chapter 1 says it,

“The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God”

The good news has a person, a relationship, an invitation.

The good news always has an address, a place, a time, an offering of hope.

But how is the good news heard?

What is good news to Angela the single mum trying to get kids to school?

What is good news for Jack the farmer waiting literally years for rain?

To the bloke who apprentices to an electrician, likes a punt and a beer?

To the young girl Julie, who gets bullied mercilessly every day at school?

What is good news to Vince,
the aboriginal man who always seems to be served last at the newsagent?

Or to Viktor, the Congolese office manager, now driving cabs on the night shift?

The good news is, the rule and reign of Heaven breaks into the here and now.

What does it mean today, ‘to fish for people’?

What gifts and skills do we bring and with whom will we collaborate?

How can we hear where God is speaking and acting at the very edges of our community?
What if God is only speaking at the very edges of our community?

How are we the church for God’s mission in this time and place?

Let’s worship God...

3. HYMN TiS 179 “Praise with Joy” John Bell Graham Maule

4. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and WELCOME

We acknowledge the Worimi people who share a special relationship with this land

and pay our respects to their elders past, present and future,

Being HERE we are reminded of the missions established in this area and around Karuah

[We take a moment to listen and reflect thanks to Mick the Didge, from Newcastle University]
This was a youtube clip at 6mins, taking 1min + and converted to mp3 audio only]

[Chairperson]
We are ALL welcome in this place,

But any NEW representatives to the Presbytery Meeting,

[whether new or returning are especially welcome…
...Would those ‘in the know’ please introduce any new members of Presbytery to us ______

We welcome you all to the task of using your gifts to discern a focus and direction,

for mission and ministry within the wider Hunter Region…

ould those ‘in the know’ please introduce any new members of Presbytery to us ______

5. PASTORAL MATTERS and TACTILE PRAYER

Tonight, what is your prayer? What is your prayer for the Uniting Church?

What is your prayer for the people in your community, those you can name or not?

We include in our prayers:

- ________________

- ________________

- ________________

Write your prayer on the cut out, in groups of 3-4 share something from it, then bring it to stick

on the cloth we have [4] minutes to do all those things 

Play “Sky Full of Stars” Coldplay at background volume, turn up at end here

6. STORYBOOK“A Bus Called Heaven” Bob Graham available here

Images onscreen

7. HOLY MOLY "Calling Disciples" edit to 1min 50 available here

8. READING: Mark 1: 14-20 Jesus Calls the First Disciples 

I WONDER:

[1] I wonder did these fishermen already know Jesus when he called them?

[2] I wonder what Jesus meant when he said, "I will make you 'fish for people"?

[3] I wonder if all this happened on the same day?

[4] I wonder what it means that with casting or drift nets you would catch any and all types of fish?

[5] I wonder what it means to follow Jesus today? I wonder what nets we need to mend?

SONG with Intro as PRAYER 4mins

This is ‘The Bus Called Heaven’ while reflecting on this song by Malcolm Gordon from NZ,

Come and use a texta to write your prayers and hopes for refugees and asylum seekers and others in need across our planet, who are on your mind tonight,

you have the 4mins of the song to come and write!!

“SURELY THERE IS ROOM” Malcolm Gordon

mention the 2nd “Songwrite” national gathering 12-14 June 2015 Adelaide

Available for download via here including lyrics to copy and paste

WORD OF MISSION and Spoken SENDING OUT 

Offered by Chairperson Warwick...

9.26pm… if time allows   TIME WAS UP

This might be a metaphor for the kind of collaboration required, the eclectic gifts needed

for the future forms of church and where they might be found…

"SIGNAL STRENGTH" first NYC wifi orchestra here

Of course to use the youtube clips you need to download them yourself, book me in at your congregation/community to teach a lesson in how to do that... 

"I'm Not Gonna Miss You" Tim McGraw sings Glenn Campbell Ocars 2015

Remarkable one final song from Campbell before Alzheimer's takes hold...

'Good News' ?

‘Good News’ Liturgy

Mark Chapter 1 says it,

“The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God”

The good news has a person, a relationship, an invitation.

The good news always has an address, a place, a time, an offering of hope.

But how is the good news heard?

What is good news to Angela the single mum trying to get kids to school?

What is good news for Jack the farmer waiting years for rain?

To the bloke who apprentices to an electrician, likes a punt and a beer?

To the young girl Julie, who gets bullied mercilessly every day at school?

What is good news to Vince, the aboriginal man always served last at the newsagent?

Or to Viktor, the Congolese office manager, now driving cabs on the night shift?

The good news is, the rule and reign of Heaven breaks into the here and now.

What does it mean today, ‘to fish for people’?

What gifts and skills do we bring and with whom will we collaborate?

How can we hear where God is speaking and acting at the very edges of our community?

How are we the church for God’s mission in this time and place?

Let’s worship God...

UCA Hunter Combined Youth Event Term 1

"Ooooiiiilllllllssss"

So, how often do you get the chance to say a huge "thank you" to your musical heroes...

The bi-line of Hirst/Moginie is all over the music of 'Midnight Oil' [the name drawn out of a hat] that perfectly describes the energy and vibe of this unique Australian band. 

A band who cut their teeth touring the east coast of Australia honing their craft and building an audience so that when 'Diesel & Dust' went berserk internationally there was no one at Newcastle Workers Club that was surprised!!

   I spent 15 or 20 mins talking to Jim about 10,9,8... and just told Rob Hirst about feeling ten feet tall and walking on air after any of the live gigs when I'd seen the Oils.... The 'Curators Tour' at the Museum went for 1hr 40 today plus pics and signatures in a generous walk through of what really is a fascinating exhibit. I still think my fav. from manly and here are the hand written lyrics and original musical scores for my fav. songs... little pieces of history scribbled on hotel stationary and drink coasters!! I really am glad I emailed the Museum before the Manly exhibit was open to say "you have to get this here in Newcastle"!! I used up too much time to ask Rob what it was like to play Letterman in the US, next time I guess!!

   

Well worth a read...

Preach it... https://achurchforstarvingartists.wordpress.com/2015/02/19/when-churches-want-a-pastor-who-can-bring-in-young-families/

I wish I'd authored this, oh wait... maybe on the odd occasion I have...

"The Making of Midnight Oil" Newcastle Museum

   I cracked the vacuum bag of old t-shirts and handed over this 'Earthquake Relief Concert' t-shirt from 1990 when the best of aussie bands played the 'International Sports Centre' to 25000 or was it 35000 fans raising money for the Lord Mayor's Earthquake Relief Fund!! No more pics until you've had a chance to walk, bus [let's face it you can't catch the train to Civic now] fly or crawl to Newcastle Museum 10am to 5pm except Mondays during term!! It costs but so did getting the exhibit here!!

"Stand in Line" Midnight Oil 1982 Wanda Beach for JJJ

"The Deadheart" Midnight Oil

If this isn't may fav. Midnight Oil song it's pretty close... it's this song live that draws the audience into the "duh do do do do duh do do do!!!" during the opening chords. The band would play a sprawling introduction disguising which song, during a 'Diesel & Dust segment in the show and slowly people would pick up that it's on... and join in...
The song is Australian, it's about deep culture and things that matter and it reflects the bands own story of a few weeks travelling in remote indigenous country and being drawn into that story.

One more sleep until the Opening Party for 'The Making of Midnight Oil' at Newcastle Museum...
@1233Newcastle

Midnight Oil celebrating the Newcastle Museum Exhibit that opens Friday 20th

Oils on the Water secret Goat Island JJJ gig that some punters swam to... and this is one of my favourite Oils tracks of all time!!! It's great at a live concert ala Newcastle Workers Club!!
That mic stand is front and centre of a replica pub stage at Newcastle Museum from Friday for 'The Making of Midnight Oil'

"The Breakfast Club" 30 Years!!!

The Breakfast Club...



And the 2010 OSCARS tribute to Director John Hughes!!



Well done on the link/homage too 'Pitch Perfect'...

"In the Arms of the Angel" Sarah McLachlan and P!NK

One of my fav. songs from two of fav. performers!!

"Great Southern Land" Like a Version by Little May

"Sorry"

 
From the sky above Anzac Pde, Maroubra a few years back...
A recognition of the need to say "sorry" to indigenous people for a history of invasion, cultural destruction and often just ignorance of the intricate and rich history here in this land...

Curators Tour 'The Making of Midnight Oil' 11am 20th February 2015

11am 20th February Newcastle Museum with Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst
Tickets here $20 plus fees... and details of the Exhibition here

"Wallflower" Diana Krall on Letterman

Heard this on the radio the other day...

The Best and Worst Ads Superbowl XLIX

Here at Rolling Stone Magazine E Link