Worship Mission Discipleship 14th June 2020

‘The kingdom of heaven has come near’

The written Resources mesh with the weekly video and 'should' be downloadable from here or https://tinyurl.com/ybewxach (email me at robhanks@bigpond.net.au if not)

Today’s invitation is more to a time of Reflection,
Read Romans 5:1-5
“Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us”

‘Hope’ from the Eternity Display, Australian 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.

Hope is grounded, not in optimism, but in a deep sense that ‘this too will pass’ or that we don’t have control of our circumstances, yet hold on to something deeper, more long lasting and ultimately filled with meaning…

Wild Spirit, Wild Wind Russ Parker
Lord God of the wild wind of heaven,
Send us your warm wind,
Y
our fresh wind,
Your mighty wind;
I
t’s what we want for Jesus’ sake.
Amen

Read Matthew 9:35-10:8

the entire bible in one poem
good parts version
contrary to all evidence
we are not an accident
we are not a meaningless coincidence

despite what it seems like
you are not the first to feel despair
nor the first to find hope,
you are therefore, never alone
find love
make love
be love

but you knew this, didn't you
so don't forget to tell the stories
Michael Toy

Silence God, meet us now in this extended silence (an opportunity for silent reflection & prayer)

Video Hymn
Together in Song 560 "All My Hope on God is Founded” Joachim Neander

Video Prayer “Elliot’s Encircling Prayer”

Song “Like a Candle”
Craig Mitchell, Time Beale, Roger Imms written in memory of Rachel Millen

Today what in the world frustrates, angers, saddens you? what needs to change? Pray…

Bonus Song
“One Country” Midnight Oil as a Closing Reflection, inviting us to join the journey for change

…“Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 
2through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; 
and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.

Worship Mission Discipleship 7th June 2020

The written Resources mesh with the weekly video and 'should' be downloadable from here or https://tinyurl.com/ybewxach (email me at robhanks@bigpond.net.au if not)

To Begin, it might be worth doing this reading looking out at the night sky
If so you could spend a simple time reflecting, asking to hear God in the awe and beauty
OR go for a daytime walk us tide and just take in the sky at that time…
Do you have a favourite piece of music you could listen to?

Read Psalm 8 (NLT) For the choir director: A psalm of David,
to be accompanied by a stringed instrument
1 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
    Your glory is higher than the heavens.
2 You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength,
    silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.
3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
    the moon and the stars you set in place—
4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
    human beings that you should care for them?[c]
5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God[d]
    and crowned them[e] with glory and honor.
6 You gave them charge of everything you made,
    putting all things under their authority—
7 the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals,
8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents.
9 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

Video for Reflection “Time-lapse NASA Earth Acoustic”

Video Song “Come One Come All” Malcolm Gordon

Video Bible Reading Matthew 28:16-20 Don Cameron

Video Song “Solid Rock” Darlow feat. Shane Howard
Please note the information about Reconciliation Week 2020
“In This Together” celebrating 20 years since the Harbour Bridge Walk
But also asking us whether we have made enough progress in reconciliation,
which requires truth telling and justice

Excerpt from Sarah Dylan Breuer (here and towards the end of the day)
This Sunday is Trinity Sunday, a time when we celebrate especially the communion that is God's very Self, and remember the Great Commission that the risen Jesus gave us to baptize people from all nations. But the commission Christ gave us doesn't stop there, and too often what follows is the Great Omission in the life of the church. We're called not just to baptize. We're not called to make churchgoers, people who include religion as one among many respectable civic activities. We're called to make disciples, people who really follow Jesus as Lord.

Video Clip How Do We Hear God

Reflection Questions
‘The good news’ or gospel, that the Kingdom of God exists and God who is love, waits to break into our lives and bring meaning and value, always has an address (a context into which it is shared). The world has changed so rapidly in the last 70+ years…
What would be ‘good news’ for people in the world today, or at least in our community?
What is a human hurt or hope you believe is present in our community, waiting to be met?
When you have you most felt a sense of God speaking into your life or circumstances, with a life giving response?

Video Song “Be Thou My Vision” Audrey Assad

“Your holy war, 
your northern star
Your sermon on the mount from the boot of your car ... 

So love is hard 
And love is tough 

But love is not 
What you're thinking of”

U2, “Please,” Pop

Finally, God’s kingdom coming,
making all as it was when the world was born:
lands as borderless as the skies.
Humanity in the image of God,
invited into communion with the God
whose very Being is Triune communion.
The grace of the Lord, Jesus the Christ.
The love of God.
The communion of the Holy Spirit.
With all of us, always.
So please, get up off your knees.
The risen Christ invites us to into the world bearing this Good News!
Thanks be to God.“
13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you”
Amen

Is the western Christian church’s party over?  What different shape might we take?

Worship Discipleship Mission 31st May 2020

Pentecost, from the Greek Πεντηκοστή Pentēkostē meaning “fiftieth”
The 50th day after Passover… counting days seems significant this year!

The written Resources mesh with the weekly video and 'should' be downloadable from here or https://tinyurl.com/ybewxach (email me at robhanks@bigpond.net.au if not)

Mark Hewitt

Words for Pentecost
The Spirit of God is among us, within us, around us, between us
The Spirit of God is here to inspire us bringing energy, bringing warmth
The Spirit of God is here to move us in ways yet to be revealed
Calling us out into a world in need
The Spirit of God breathes into us bringing new life to us all

‘Space’
   In some ways this is a story about ‘space…’ There is space for community, breaking down barriers, sharing life and pointing towards hope through the energy and spark of God’s Spirit, through the ‘dangerous and liberating memory and presence of Jesus!” (adapted from the thoughts of JB Metz). This space connects us with our founding story and the empowerment of Jesus followers to ‘speak the language’ of those around them… like the wind (breath) or flame of the Spirit! In different places in the Bible ruach or breath is used, so too dunamis which gives us words like dynamo, dynamic and dynamite… a reminder of our capacity in community to bring energy, charisma or disruption… Here is a community of people, waiting, in the space between… from Easter to this point, still working through grief, trying to make sense of isolation, some afraid, others still wondering what next… not unlike a COVID-19 world, taking steps for safety, waiting for God’s presence as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to breakout, to breath life into their existence! They are open to questions of how God exists in the world… reminding me of 3 songs… Is God ‘interventionist’? (“Into My Arms” Nick Cave) Is life all about irony? (“Ironic” Alanis Morissette) and/or is Regina Spektor’s song right, about people seeing God in the struggle? (“Laughing With” Regina Spektor) See these bonus tracks in the video in case you’re not sure what I’m talking about…

Is God ‘in control’ or are we empowered to understand Jesus call to ‘follow’ living out God’s values? This film was based on a short story and the collage attempts to show some parts of the two hour story exploration

+ Video Clip “The Adjustment Bureau Collage”
Questions for Reflection:
What story/s can you tell about God’s engagement in the world and your lives?
When is a time you’ve been aware of God’s Spirit as if like a breath or wind blowing through community?
What (1) thing do you hope the church could be emboldened to act on through God’s Spirit where you are?

Prayer/Reflection Time
Spend some closing time in prayer, walking or sitting, with a cuppa or silence… tell God about”
Your community of faith and all it’s participants and those in your local community you seek to serve
Staff and Leaders plus residents at local Aged Care, Nursing Home and Retirement Facilities
Nurses, Doctors & Other Staff at Hospitals and Clinics, Local GPs and allied Health
Principals, Leaders, Teachers and Students at all our Schools plus University Students & Staff
Those still effected by drought and last summer’s Bushfires
For people and countries right across the world

Closing There were so many options, I offer the simplicity of John Bell teaching….
Together in Song 711 (Come O Holy Spirit) or Wa Wa Wa Emimimo (taught to many at World Council of Churches)

Youtube wasn't keen on my Bonus Clip so it's missing from the video, yet stupidly, it's here

Worship Discipleship Mission 24th May 2020

"Breathe"
   These “at home” Resources for Worship, Discipleship & Mission are being shaped at the time of the Three Step Plan out of shutdown due to COVID - 19. Groups of ten will be allowed to gather in ‘Places of Worship,’ but the question remains, should we? Is this an opportunity to ‘gather’ differently, or for a Team to gather and contribute to further ‘at home’ options while some will need to avoid risk until a vaccine is developed… all good faithful questions!

The written Resources mesh with the weekly video and 'should' be downloadable from here or https://tinyurl.com/ybewxach (email me at robhanks@bigpond.net.au if not)

This week the video ties us to viewing it (with pauses)
BUT try to find time to venture outdoors for simple sit, walk or contemplate…
Or experiencing these resources, do you have a window with a view?

Words for Worship
Our story is woven into God’s story of hope and love

In this time and space remember Jesus life and example
May we find here a true relationship with Christ

We are sent to seek the energy and spark of God’s Spirit
Let’s worship God with eyes open to God’s activity already underway

Some of the themes in this batch of resources are accompanied by songs like...
“Common Ground” Midnight Oil Garrett/Moginie
Listen to the mp3 audio here or at https://tinyurl.com/y8elbxrf if you're game!

“We do not think ourselves into new ways of living, we live ourselves into new ways of thinking.” 
― Richard Rohr