Bushfires in Victoria

For this post I borrow a Mike Emmett photo without permission..

Australia's worst bushfires swept across Victoria over the weekend and particularly on Saturday 7th with a resultant loss of over 170 lives, countless hectares of bush, houses and all the emotional, community and physical energy that goes with it.

Colleagues are asking 'what can> should> will we> provide for people facilitating discussion> prayer> reflection> worship across synod [NSW/ACT] or the nation? Some are sharing wisdom, plans, suggestions and raw emotion as this is still and unfolding tragedy and fires are still threatening as yet untouched areas!!

Coming back off a break [complete with head cold] my mind and emotions are still swirling from all the images and news, the analysis and stories, with thoughts of all that's needed and possible...

I would want to suggest or agree with the following:

• It's very early to be throwing loads of images at people


• It would be sad to use music, scripture or liturgy to 'insert' God into the situation but rather it's important to trust and allow God to 'do what God does' and enter into our story, struggle and suffering in spaces and places where room is made


• Every person and group will be different and I suspect the situation is very different for Victorians and others


• It is possible to be too quick to try to answer peoples questions


• We can affirm that God is


• We can affirm that peoples experiences and emotions are real


• We can seek create space for honest and 'safe' expression which might initially be about allowing people to see and know the desolation, lament and loss in what's happened


• Spaces for reflection and prayer can be powerful


• Think about using bowls of water or trays of sand alongside scripture [especially instead of candles] in a space where people could trace their thoughts and prayers, ask their questions and get in touch with confusion, anger, powerlessness, hope, desire to help etc


• Like some colleagues I wouldn't be too keen on music attempting to answer or override where people are at, but rather use space making sound and questioning or open rythms


• Today for about 20secs Channel Nine used a song with video snippets and it was "Mysterious Ways" by Bryan Adams from the "11" album. I thought the first 2mins 10 of the song would be useful with a set of slideshow images trying not to overwhelm e.g. fires, volunteers, some of the countryside but not lots of families, burnt out cars, or reminders of the worst of the tragedy... it's not yet a week since this happened


• Some other tracks which come to mind include:


• The album "Theology" Sinead O'Connor is a spot on suggestion from Cheryl at Hold This Space


• "Fragile" Sting


• "Never Meant to Fail" Alex Lloyd


• "Holding On" Alex Lloyd


• "Coming to Life" Andrew Winton


• And there are tracks by Missy Higgins, Kasey Chambers & Wendy Matthews


• All of these are as much if not more about the mood than the lyrics...


• I have an idea about collecting newspapers and using those for people to thumb and pray but again its pretty early and people may just need to be in a space where they can pray with very simple prompting...
• Black Chalkboard painted sheets of mdf and chalk could create a chalking gallery or grafitti space
• Listening rather than speaking is underrated
• Two places to do more reading would include Urban Seed and Godspace


• If you were looking for photos you can purchase them from Fairfax


• I have asked permission to use a few of their pictures in worship [we'll see]


• In relation to questions about 'where is God in all this?' I agree with Christine Sine at Godspace "...The question that many are asking of course is where is God in the midst of this horror. And I must confess there are no easy answers. I certainly do not believe that God wants disasters like this to occur, nor do I believe that it is punishment for our sins. More than anything I believe that God is present in the grief and the suffering of families who have lost everything, including loved ones in the fires . God cares deeply and intimately for all human kind. God is with us in our grief and wants to comfort us in our anguish..."


• Some colleagues have made reference to Luke 13: 1-9 about the fruitless figtree but even morseo the way in which Jesus is drawing attention to peoples mortality and the need for reconciliation> relationship with God


• Others mention Psalm 80


• What is a biblical story allowing us to live in the story yet offering hope we are actually ready to hear in the nature of the world lived according to the values of God and all it offers us in the face of uncontrollable tragedy and loss
• TextWeek has been updated with liturgy, ideas and articles related to the bushfires
• The Uniting Church in Australia has a national fundraising initiative and other information, pastoral letters and responses
• Stay tuned for more ideas, reflections and resources from colleagues and egroup sharers...