Sunday, March 27, 2016

Easter Sunday Playlist #02 "How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful" Florence + the Machine


Celebration, reflection, big sound...

Easter Sunday [in case you missed it]












Welcome + Acknowledgement
Introit TiS 381 “This Joyful Eastertide” v1 and chorus
Call to Worship
He is Risen!
He is Risen Indeed!

What a joy it is to celebrate the love of God
We are called to be Easter people
Darkness cannot claim us
Fear cannot bind us
Christ is risen
Christ is risen, indeed 
Amen

Jesus is alive again.... 
And we join with all those down the centuries who place their hope in this story of life
Today across the world thousands of people recommit themselves to putting faith into action
To live out God’s grace, compassion and love
Refusing to believe that what can be seen is all there is
Like the sun hitting you in the face, we are warmed into wondering what it all means

Song #01 TiS 370 “Christ the Lord is Risen Today”
Opening Prayer
Storybook “Hunwick’s Egg” by Mem Fox onscreen and shared at the front
[also crayons etc in the space and cardboard 'bricks' to draw/write on]
Song #02 TiS 380 “Yours Be the Glory
Bible Reading/s Isaiah 65: 17-25 Luke 24: 1-12
Video “Rev.” 3min 14
Reflection
Song #03 TiS 390 “Alleluia Give Thanks to the Risen Lord” v1,2,3,5
Announcements/Concerns [only essentials]
Offering
Prayers for the World
‘The Mystery Gift’ explored 'cardboard box at Christmas now opened by the kids]
Song #04 TiS 242 “Lord of the Dance” v1,2,3,5
Sending OUT
Recessional TiS 779  “May the Feet of God Walk with You”

THESE WERE THE NOTES I STARTED WITH BUT DID EXPAND [BRIEFLY]
Easter Sunday Reflection 
[1] Jesus is alive again?  You must be crazy, you’re talking nonsense!!
At least that’s what Jesus disciples thought when Mary, Joanna, Mary
and the other women returned
At v11, “the words seemed to them an idle tale” [literally meaning delirious]

[2] And let’s face it,
If it’s not hard to believe, maybe we’re not really trying…
And as Christian communities I think we sometimes miss a huge opportunity
to say to each other… You know what, if it’s a bit hard to believe,
come on in, you’re amongst friends

Let’s be part of a movement, gathered, trying to work out what it means…
Working to play our part in God’s mission in the world…

[3] 24But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb,
taking the spices that they had prepared…

Nobody expected it to be otherwise BUT

2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
3but when they went in, they did not find the body.
THEY DID NOT FIND THE BODY

[4] We can speak in metaphors,
we can define how we speak about God differently,
OR we can claim a ‘simple faith’…

BUT the only way I know how to respond to the RESURRECTION,
To God beating death and showing again the strength of unfathomable love IS...

What happens to people and communities when they live it as a reality
And as defining and shaping and sustaining…
 [EXAMPLES GIVEN...]

KIND OF LIKE “HUNWICK’S EGG… HE WORKS OUT IT’S NOT AN EGG,
IT WON’T HATCH, BUT IT’S BECOME THAT CONNECTION IN HIS LIFE
WITH SOMETHING BIGGER BEYOND HIMSELF AND IT BRINGS COMFORT,
LIFE AND PURPOSE… it's not in the expected form but it's real...

[5] When God’s spirit turns up,
whole communities are transformed by HOPE,

[explain] ETERNITY [National Museum]
“To hope is to dream. Of what might or will be. Of the possible and the mere possible — hope against hope. To hope is to strive for the best.
To build on glimmers of new beginnings. To hope is to never give up.
To remain expectant, against hopes dashed, disappointments, falsities.
To hope is to believe there is a way.”

4While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes
stood beside them.

These women are grieving, numb, they would be in the ‘in between space’ regardless
In the middle of that struggle come the words of hope…
[expand]

Remember what he said,
“Why are you looking for the living mong the dead?”
He is not here, but has risen. 6Remember how he told you
8Then they remembered his words, 9and returning from the tomb, 
they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest.

[6] Rev Adam Smallbone BBC TV Series 3
St Saviours in the Marshes...A struggling suburban East London congregation
All episode Adam is reminded he volunteered to lend the timber cross
He finally carries it through town and up to the small hill
He is struggling with his mission, questioning, he’s made some mistakes
AND he is wondering what to do, he’s given up…

HE IS MET IN HIS SINGING BY THE MYSTERIOUS CHARACTER
IN A terrible lime tracksuit [beautifully cast as Liam Neeson]

[7] GOD meets Adam in his worst moments/ reminding him it’s in ALL moments
For me this scene is a telling one about faith in a resurrected JESUS
That GOD meets us in all moments of our life
In this scene Adam is reminded “It’s OK” “I’m with you”

OUR TRUTH TO SHARE IS HOW GOD MEETS US,
When we tell our story, when we live it together,
Others might rush back to the tomb, see the folded linen clothes
And go home amazed at what had happened…


and yes, I forgot the Lord's Prayer... on Easter Sunday [says all you need to know about my drive to make room for context and inspiration] BUT we include it 'most weeks' just not all...

Luke 24:1-12
24But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
3but when they went in, they did not find the body. 4While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them.

5The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.

6Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.”

8Then they remembered his words, 9and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles.
11But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

12But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Easter Sunday Song #01 "Miracles" Chris Martin from the credits of the film "Unbroken"


Couldn't yet show the acoustic version at the Film party but this is the song...

TV/Movies I’ve Caught Up with or Watched Recently

TV/Movies I’ve Caught Up with or Watched Recently
Way too many of these have been while working on my Mac at the same time but it’s been a rich catch up of an evening when no TV of note has been on or in an afternoon of admin tasks or just for fun!!

James Bond Spectre
Concussion
Joy
The Hateful Eight
The Revenant
Sicario
Steve Jobs
The Dressmaker
Brooklyn
Deadpool
Spotlight
Whiplash

Better Call Saul
House of Cards

11.22.63

I hope to catch Batman/Superman, Hail Caesar and a few others soon...

Easter Saturday #2 "Pedestrian at Best" Courtney Barnett

Easter Saturday #1 "The Thing About Grief Is" Claire Bowditch


Thinking of a few people today I know are struggling...

Friday, March 25, 2016

Good Friday at 'Church in the Trees'






And there was 'Good Friday' ...
Acknowledgement + Informal Welcome
Introit TiS 730 “Jesus Remember Me” (x2)
Reading Part #01 John 18: 1-32
Song #01 TiS 342 “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
Extinguish the Candle + Prayer “This Easter”
Call "This Easter God" too long to write here
Reading Part #02 John 18: 33-40 and 19: 1-16 [first part]
Song #02. TiS 717 “Give Thanks”
Reading Part #03 John 19: 17-30 and 38-42
Brief Reflection
Song #03 TiS 256 “From Heaven You Came Helpless Babe”
Paper Cross Prayers
with music soundtrack “I Grieve” Peter Gabriel
Final Prayer
Video “Way of the Cross” 2min 50
Sending OUT then
Song #04 Unaccompanied Cello Suite 1 in G (Bach) by Yo Yo Ma
Looped a few times for people to stay/sit or go...

Easter Thursday Reflective Worship





For those playing at home:
Thursday night from 7pm at 'Morisset Uniting Church in the Trees' we got things together
to spend a reflective time...

Led in with "Dona Nobis Pacem" Yo Yo Ma
Acknowledgement/Welcome
Entering into the Story/Introduction
Prayer [one word contributions]
We listened to
"For You Deep Stillness" Robin/Dorothy Mann
"Believing the Impossible" Michael Toy Poem
Reader One: Luke 17: 20-21 and Luke 13: 18-20
Reader Two: Luke 18: 31-34
We listened to
"Stories of Hope" Rob Hanks/Phil Newton
with lyrics onscreen
A Story Luke 22: 7-23 from 'Mystic Bible'
+ sharing what Easter means to you
Reader Three: Luke 22: 24-27
Reader Four: Luke 22: 39-46
{Take What You Need" Prayer Activity [tear off the page]
We listened to
"Will You Walk This Path with Me"
Rads Sukumar-White Ben Cross
Sending Out
If I has to plan tomorrow for next year I'd suggest closer focus on Readings with a 'pot luck' dinner to share and bread cob/cup eucharist...

"Bad" Luka Bloom Good Friday


Good Friday reflection...

Uniting Church Prez Stuart McMillan's Easter Video


The President of the Uniting Church in Australia Stuart McMillan has appealed for a serious national conversation on Indigenous Sovereignty in his 2016 Easter message.

UCA Moderator's Easter Message 2016