Worship Online Sunday 15th November: Count your blessings…
Hello friends,
Welcome to our online worship service. Last week we looked at the parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids … one of the three parables towards the end of Matthew’s Gospel which share a theme of “faithful waiting.”
This week we explore another of these parables … the parable of the talents …
Here is this week’s service
Thanks to Claire for helping out with the reading and prayers this week.
Sisters and brothers, don’t hold things too tight … don’t bury your life … risk living joyfully as people blessed with the grace of God … sharing good news in all your living … in word and deed!
Adnythamathanha woman Rhanee Tsetsakos spoke about her journey with Dr Deidre Palmer on the Called by God webinar in October 2020.
Dismissal and Blessing
Thank you, Lord,
for all the gifts you have entrusted to us.
Help us to always remember
that all we have comes from you
and can be joyfully used for your good purposes.
In the name of Christ,
Amen.
Worship Online Sunday 18th October 2020: God and the Pandemic – Groaning and Serving
Welcome to this Sunday’s worship time, presented today by Lloyd Walker, Sue Anderson, Barry Tattersall, Jenny Patchett and Val MacKenzie!
As we continue to explore Tom Wright’s book – God and the Pandemic, we’ll look at the writings of the New Testament – the early church. Our theme is “Groaning and Serving”
For music listening this morning, Lloyd recommends
The Servant King (By Graham Kendrick
And here’s the latest video from UnitingWorld reminding you about ways you can give gifts that truly change people’s lives this Christmas:
If you enjoyed the music featured in today’s video, take a look at the musicians behind it here:
https://www.facebook.com/theneoneffect/videos/912296962255518
Blessing
Go from this time:
- Not to understand all the challenges of the world – instead trust God with those cares.
- To pray without ceasing – groaning with the Spirit when the words are beyond you!
- To live our your calling as children/heirs of God, followers of the Servant King Jesus, and engage the world as Jesus did, with love, compassion and words of hope and transformation.
And the empowering grace of Christ Jesus,
the overflowing love of God,
and the embrace of the Spirit,
rest with you now and always,
Amen!
Worship online – Sunday 4 October 2020
Paul continues to explore Tom Wright’s book “God and the Pandemic: A Christian reflection on the Coronavirus and its aftermath” this week. Today we reflect on the question of lament. When the Israelites were exiled to Babylon they wrote down much of the Old Testament we have now (previously it was an oral history). The readings from Lamentations and Job offer insight on how God’s people are called to respond in such challenging times.
You can find more on Tom Wright’s book and where to get a copy by this link.
Led by: Rev. Paul Stephens – with thanks to Lynne Rankin from Belmont for the readings and Colleen Lawrence for our prayers.
There is a reflective post and piece of music recently composed by Rev David McGregor from Brisbane.
And finish with a new song of confidence composed by Leigh Newton and Craig Mitchell – based on Ezekiel.
Worship online Sunday 23rd August: The Exodus Story and Us – Part 1
Over the next two or three weeks, we will be hearing readings from the book of Exodus … the grand sweeping story in the Hebrew Scriptures about the liberation of the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt.
You might well ask, “Well what has that got to do with our situation now?”
“How does a story about events some 3,000 years ago help us today in the time of the Pandemic?”
I think it has loads to say to us.
At one level this is an epic story … absolute grist for the mill for Hollywood movie producers. Ever heard of films with the titles “The Ten Commandments” or “The Prince of Egypt?”
But on another level, there is much in the story of the Exodus that intersects with everyday life … the key protagonists confront us with the way we humans respond to difficult situations.
You can watch this morning’s worship service here:
John Bell has released a new song, for this time of separation from one another:
And some notices for you this week:
May the Lord bless you and keep you;
may the Lord make his face to shine on upon you
and be gracious to you;
may the Lord lift up his countenance upon on you
and give you peace.
Amen.
16 August 2020: Worship Online – Bridging the Boundaries
We have gone out to the ‘boundaries’ of Geelong today for our theme “Bridging the Boundaries”. It is filmed at the Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre and our thanks to the community there for their welcome.
Our passage from Matthew 15:21-28 doesn’t sound like the Jesus we know and love – his words initially are harsh and even cruel. Yet there is more to this story – with real parallels for us today in our busy lives. In fact, as we juggle working from home, home-schooling and all our daily chores during these Covid-19 times in Victoria, the lessons from this story are particularly relevant.
As you prepare for St Luke’s worship, enjoy a ‘Flashmob Gospel Choir’ , Filmed at Five Points South Fountain in Birmingham, Alabama in 2013 (50 years after the civil rights protests that ended segregation in the USA commenced there).
Join in worship…
Reflect on how much God loves you with this song from the Hillsong team
Who you say I am – Hillsong Music ©2017 (Ben Fielding, Reuben Morgan)
Many thanks to Hadeel Al Badran again who helped me with the filming and edited today’s service. Hadeel is continuing work on new videos for Humans in Geelong like the post about Mental Health.
Thanks also to Nilu Bizhani (Gospel reading) and Deb Walker (Creed) for your contributions, and to the young people from Uniting Faith & Families who helped open my eyes to some ‘home truthes’ from this passage last week! And to Graeme Gardiner for providing ‘We will love’ in the middle.
Don’t forget to join us on Zoom for sharing time at 10am – link in a separate email.
Grace and Peace go with you into the week,
Lloyd
Sunday 12th July: Online Worship – Spiritual resources in the time of COVID-19
Dear friends,
Recent events have demonstrated clearly that COVID-19 is an aggressive virus which will not be easily thwarted. As a people of faith, we have resources to support us through these days.
In our last worship video we reflected on the hope Jesus offers, summarised in the words of the great invitation “Come to me all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest.”
Today we will be exploring some more resources of the faith.
As part of this we will hear from Rhonda Dingle who will offer some guidance for stilling our souls and minds … and opening ourselves to God.
For singing this week, Beth recommends “Great is Thy Faithfulness” – you might enjoy singing along with this gently acoustic version from Maranatha Music:
To learn more about Christian Meditation, Rhonda recommends
“Mindfulness and Christian Meditation” by Tim Stead
available through The Wellspring Centre in Ashburton and also Book Depository.
Big thanks to our helpers this week:
Rhonda Dingle, Western Heights UC (Being Still segment)
Shaghek Qassabyan (Bible Readings)
Abigail and Zoe Hodge McAvaney (Prayers)
May the grace of Christ attend you,
the love of God surround you,
and the Holy Spirit keep you,
this day and forever.
Amen.
Sunday 28th June: Online Worship – Jesus was a refugee
A special welcome to the members of the Belmont Congregation of the Uniting Church who are sharing with us this week and next week, while Rev. Ikani Vaitohi is enjoying a couple of weeks of very well-deserved leave.
We are reflecting this week on the experience of refugees, asylum seekers, displaced persons, migrants … those who have left their places of birth and set out on journeys to new lands.
As part of this service you will hear the story of Shoghig Araboglian and her family. We are very grateful to Shoghig for sharing her story so that we can all grow in our understanding.
Thanks to Sue, Shoghig, Marina and Shaghek for helping to present worship today. Thanks also to The String Contingent for granting permission to use their evocative music in today’s video presentation – an amazing and generous group of musicians, some of whom have spent time in Afghanistan teaching music at the Afghan National Institute of Music in 2016.
For a song today you might enjoy this version of “The Blessing” sung by people from churches all over Australia, including some Uniting Churches and some Geelong churches – an ecumenical project!
If you would like to hear more stories from refugees in Australia, see these stories recommended by the Refugee Council of Australia:
Some local folk who have attended the Sacred Edge Festival in the past will recognise Mariam Issa, a “festival favourite” introducing a Global Storytelling night for Refugee Week 2020:
You might like to make this your “Family Movie night” this week!
And:
May the grace of Christ attend you,
the love of God surround you,
and the Holy Spirit keep you,
this day and forever.
Amen.
Geelong Churches UCA Celebration Service this Sunday 21st June 2020
Dear Friends,
Come and join the celebration.
This Sunday Uniting Church Congregations in the Geelong region will be sharing in a service to mark the anniversary of the Uniting Church.
The service will include an interesting conversation with Rev. Dr, D’Arcy Wood and Rev. Dr. Geoff Thompson on the significance of The Basis of Union.
The service will commence at 10 am on Zoom (note the link below which is different to usual St Luke’s Sunday service link).
Here is the order of service:
The service will be available on Youtube after Sunday morning.
Grace and peace,
Paul
Sunday 31st May: Online Worship- Pentecost
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.
http://lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.com/
