Hello friends,
On this Day of Pentecost, Paul considers the ways in which the Holy Spirit is still forming and transforming the church today, shaking us up, clearing our heads, and pushing us to new understandings and awareness of God’s action in the world and where we need to be as part of that.
He asks the questions: What might the Holy Spirit be teaching us about witnessing to Jesus in our time? How are we being reshaped by the Spirit to be church in the era after COVID-19 restrictions ease?
Our prayers after reflection are underscored by an original composition shared with us by David Stephens https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQaC… who may or may not be related to Paul! Thanks to Colleen, Suroor, Hadeel and Shaghek for their contributions to today’s worship.
You can find today’s worship service on YouTube here:
A quick note today about the people pictured in the “Warm Wind” prayer – some of you may recognise the faces of these local leaders, psalmists and prophets.
Jacqui Bennet & Gabrielle Photo: Phil Hines, Humans in Geelong
Jacqui is the founder of Humans in Geelong – a citizen journalist project to tell the good stories that are happening in Geelong. She is also a much loved primary school teacher here in Highton. She is pictured with Gabrielle who works with the Red Frogs project, supporting young people during their schoolies experiences. The head office of Red Frogs is located at the One Hope church in Barrabool Hills.
Kym Dillon Photo: Phil Hines, Humans in Geelong
Kym Dillon is an extremely talented local musician, composer and choral conductor. He leads the “With One Voice” choirs in Geelong and Ashburton and is working on a project putting Psalms to music.
Monica Winston Photo: Transition Streets Geelong
Monica has been working to educate and support our local community to transition to a more connected, low energy, sustainable future, teaching Permaculture and nurturing the Transition Streets movement in Geelong. Years ago she brought an inspirational workshop to St Luke’s for the Environment Action Group, Awakening the Dreamer. She has never stopped working with community to build a better future for us all.
For singing today I couldn’t find a video of a Spirit focused song – send me your suggestions! However if you join us on Zoom today we’ll share some more music from David that we can all sing to. Here’s a great listening song from Leigh Newton in the meantime:
An update from UnitingWorld on how their work with our partners overseas is tackling the challenges of the Pandemic:
Please if you can do donate to their COVID19 appeal here: https://fundraise.unitingworld.org.au/actnow
A spark.
that is all we need on this day, Holy One God,
to light our quarantined aloneness
so that we can burst into bonfires
which signal to all those around us that
you are bringing to life and grace
to us, and to the whole world.
We pray in the name of the crucified and Risen One, Jesus Christ, the Lord. Amen.
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