Well, that went seamlessly…

Hi everyone, so, the live stream extravaganza didn’t work out the way we planned. We’d not aimed at perfect; chaotic, noisey, energetic sure, but not perfect. We knew our kids and tech were all elements of possible chaos, but we’re not kicking the kids out of the house so daddy can worship. Who’d have thought that was the audio that’d fail (honestly, it worked at 12, 1 and 2am last night) and the kids would be… themselves and completely save me? 

What we did get was an amazing whack over the head from God telling me that no matter how late at night I stay up and no matter how many times I preview and trial the online stream I should just be honest.

And honest is hard to do, it’s hard to be, especially when you’re supposed to put out an image for people of holy, leader material, all together… After all, isn’t that what you call me for? To be the perfect leader so no-one else has to be?

Here’s the reality though, honest is really hard and it’ll likely mean your son picks his nose on a live national viewed stream and you accidentally rewrite the Lord’s Prayer as you hug said child in prayer while the other jumps on a sofa. 

You do not need to put on a show to be loved.

You do not need to be the picture perfect image to be a leader in our church.

And no matter who you are you are welcome here, and I don’t just mean whatever your language, your culture, your age, your sexuality or gender.

I mean you don’t need to hide who you are, when we do gather you do not need to put on an image of whatever your idea of “perfect” may be. We will worship together in chaos and with joy, we will worship together in times of pain and lament together.

But we’re not going to aim for perfect.

So be prepared, it is very likely that we will disappoint you at times.

So, if you missed the live stream today you can access it here, no, it’s not what we planned (though I’d love to say it was completely scripted).

And after it are some of the videos (plus two trial videos of Holly and I singing before we decided we’d do the music live because, well… our pitch wasn’t perfect). 

May your week be a blessed one and may you find Jesus in the places he always told us he’d be, with your neighbour, the poor, the naked, the imprisoned, the refugee, the hungry, the sick, the lonely and the grieving.

All the video that was going to be in this Sunday’s live stream is now on our website including all the video that we’d cut because we preferred to do it naturally.

Today’s Blessing…

May this week find you staring at the sky, not looking for Jesus, but at the Beauty of God’s creation.

May this week find you seeing Christ, not in unexpected places, but expected places, with your neighbour, your colleague, the person who serves you at the supermarket, in the kids playing soccer on your street and in the conversations you have with 2 or three others.

May the peace of God, the breath of Christ and the anticipation of the flames of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Go in peace


Darren Wright

Live Worship form May 24, 2020

What didn’t make the stream…

After the massive audio/tech failure and we went to the iPad and went completely off script. Completely… all my script was on the iPad, which we now were videoing from, you didn’t get anything scripted… Just honest.

Welcome

Sing Praises With a Psalm

From Rev Sarah Agnew, Wesley UCA, Forrest ACT

Bible Reading – Acts 1:6-14

Kanthi leads us in reading the scripture for today.

Prayer of Confession

From Rev Yvonne Ghavalas, Riverina Presbytery

Prayer of Intercession & Lord’s Prayer

With my son (Theodore)

The Light

The kids and I sat down with the plan to share a story with you all, we decided after editing the heck out of it that it was too long for the service, but you may enjoy it at home anyway.

Some singing…

And here are a couple out takes of Holy and I singing out of key that we decided early on not to use, but what the hey, why not lean into the not being perfect motif of the day?

This week’s worship resources have been created by Margaret Reeson, a special thanks to her, the worship team, Chris Dodd and others who have contributed.

Mark Beresford, the Pastor at the Gungahlin campus of Mosaic Baptist and Darren had a conversation about this week’s reading from the book of Acts, you can access the conversation on Soundcloud here, it’s 40 minutes of two pastors talking about the bible. Mark’s a good friend and we’re thinking we’ll do more of these and get better as we go.

This week Darren is leading the Assembly Facebook worship, a weekly worship service streamed via Facebook by a number of different ministers from across Australia. If you’ve been tuning in you would have heard some remarkable voices and been able to worship alongside many from the UCA.

You do not need a Facebook account to watch, just head to this link for a 10am EST service from our lounge room. https://www.facebook.com/UnitingChurchAu/ Not long after the service I’ll put the video on our website.

But until then, welcome to worship.

Call to Worship

Come. Sit quietly.
Light your candle.
Prepare your heart and mind to sit with Jesus.

A prayer

Loving God, you have led us to this place,
not to shield us from heartache and the pain of human life,
but to heal us and inspire us,
to gently redirect us,
till we see the world as you do
and love it with your love. Amen

From Psalm 68

Our God, you are the one
who rides on the clouds,
and we praise you.
Your name is the Lord,
and we celebrate
as we worship you.

Our God, from your sacred home
you take care of orphans
and protect widows.

You find families
for those who are lonely…..

We praise you, Lord God!
You treat us with kindness
day after day,
and you rescue us.

Song

He Walked On Earth – TiS 260

Video/Audio: https://youtu.be/Dw-fjgslBrk

He walked on earth, showing glimpses of heaven;
Demons, death, disease had no hand.
The wind and the waves were obedient before him:
well may they say, “Who is this man?”

Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away our sin,
The light of the world, the son of God.
Worthy is the Lamb to receive our praise
and glory and honour and power.

On the third day he was raised up with glory,
Reigning on high, the risen Son:
We have new life, a new hope, a new future;
Now we cry, ‘Come, Lord Jesus, come!’

Prayer of Confession

You are invited to use your hands during prayer.
Close both hands into fists and turn them over.

Loving God, we come to you as your children,
trying to hide things from you,
hoping you can’t see what is hidden in our hands.

You say to us: What are you hiding, my child?
[Pause]

You say to us: What is it that you cannot let go, my child?
[Pause]

You say to us: Open your hand and let it go.
I will not prise your hand open, finger by finger.
You know what is hidden and hurting.
You can empty your hands,
you can open your heart.

See the open hands of Christ, torn by nails.
This pain was offered for us.
This loving sacrifice can set us free.

Let us open our hands.
Let us place our fistful of pain into the wounded hands of Christ.
He will hold it for us.

Thank you, Christ Jesus.

Amen

Bible reading John 17:1-11

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

“I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.

Meditation on the scripture

Imagine that you are sitting with the other disciples. You are listening to Jesus speak these words. Read them again. As Jesus is praying this prayer to his Father, he is thinking of those who follow him, then and now. Is there a word or sentence here that is his word for you today? Mark it in some way, or copy it as a reminder.

Song

The great love of God – TiS 164

Video/Audio: https://youtu.be/5sdMssEBQoI

The great love of God
is revealed in the Son,
who came to this earth
to redeem everyone.

That love, like a stream
flowing clear to the sea,
makes clean every heart
that from sin would be free.

It binds the whole world,
every barrier it breaks,
the hills it lays low
and the mountain it shakes.

It’s yours, it is ours,
O how lavishly given!
The pearl of great price
and the treasure of heaven.

Prayers for others

(Chris Dodd)

Our Loving God

The book of Ecclesiastes remind us “to everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” The seasons of our life I’m not always times of comfort and love and peace. Ecclesiastes tells us there is a time to die; a time to weep, a time to mourn, and a time to refrain from embracing – all apt to this season of our lives.

Today Lord we live in a season of trial. A season not experienced by the generations living on this small, fragile planet. We struggle, we are rage, we are confused
and we are sad, and we want this to end.
And it will but in its own time. Until then we must continue to struggle.

This day we pray for those who help us be the burden of this difficult season. Too many who are workers on a minimum wage.

We pray for our health workers – doctors, nurses, administrative staff, paramedics, ambulance drivers – and ask that you keep them safe and well and that they may find times for rest and recuperation before they face their next shift.

We pray for those who work in our shops, especially those in shops that supply the essentials of life – food, cleaning products and yes coffee. Many of them are young and for those who wonder what the next generation will offer we already see the future of our world here is in good hands and we thank you for that foresight.

We ask your blessing on cleaners, for their early starts and thoroughness. In their anonymity they are doing a vital service for us all. And also for those in our nursing homes. We pray that staff and residents will be safe and the isolation they are feeling is not proving unbearable.

And for our teachers whose value is now appreciated by so many, be with them as they move back to classroom, teaching and explaining this confusing time to their students.

Finally we thank You that through this pandemic we have found out who and what is truly important, and maybe hold onto that truth in the days and years to come.

Be with us during this season of our life. Walk with us. Help us understand.

Amen.

Blessing

May the God of hope
fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit
you may abound in hope.
And may Almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Amen

Romans 15:13 RSV

Call to worship

Let us worship God
In our house, in our quiet place
Alone or with another
Let us worship God. 

This week’s Home Brewed Worship provides you all a number of ways to enter into prayer and to explore the Gospel story. If you’re at home with family, a partner, a friend or a spouse please consider working through some of this with them. If you’re alone, consider phoning someone else and inviting them to join you in worship.

A special thanks to Jack Barnard for bringing this week’s scripture to life and to Margaret and Pauline for the liturgy and prayers throughout the material.

Carve out some space sacred space in your home, perhaps you have candle, some colourful material, a cross, a bible, some pictures of the world, artwork or images of Jesus… 

You don’t need to use all of this material, nor do you need to do it all in one sitting, perhaps some of these prayers and music can travel with you throughout the week. Use the material as part of daily exercises, music to carry you through the week, reflections to ponder as you walk or stay at home.

For some your focus may be to hear the gospel preached, others the gospel sung, while others may want to find a practice that they can enter into over the course of the week to make space for the Holy Spirit to work on us.

*We know there have been others using this resource in their own homes or communities, if you’d like to have updates and information of new resources please jump on our email list.

Order of Service

Some people have requested an order of service as a guide to use this material at home. Access a formal order here. If you’re happy making your own way through these resources please make yourself at home.

Home Brewed Families

We’ve curated some resources specifically for families to use in their homes this week, you can access them here.

As we enter into worship we invite you to contemplate these 3 questions:

• What am I grateful for this week?
• Who will I check in with / make contact with this week?
• Where will I seek, or create beauty this week?

This Week’s Readings:

Psalm 66 (MSG)

John 14: 15-21(CEV)

Acts 17:22-31 (CEV)

Prayer

A Prayer for Sunday

Prayer of Confession

Prayer for Others with Pauline Loughhead

Singing the Scripture

This is a selection of songs that speak to this week’s bible readings and themes, use it to fill your house with music throughout Sunday, perhaps you might continue to listen to the music through the week.

Jack, who reflected on the scripture this week suggested that I link to Robin Mann’s song “God Vs 1.0” an old but a goodie that links really well with this week’s reading from Acts.

Playlist for the week of May 17, 2020

Reflection on the Scripture – Tune In

Jack Barnard invites us to tune into God as he reflects on this week’s scripture readings.

Tune In – Reflection May 17, 2020

After hearing Jack’s invitation to tune in perhaps you’d like to listen to the song he referenced in his reflection. Listen to Breathe

Worship @ Home Ideas

Map With Sound

“Anytime I feel lost, I pull out a map and stare. I stare until I have reminded myself that life is a giant adventure. So much to do and see.”

– Angelina Jolie

Make a word art image that recreates a place where you spend time with God.

Close your eyes and listen to (or imagine) all the sounds in that place, both natural and unnatural, make a list of all the sounds.

Use the list to create a visual composition, create a map of sound.

*Activity inspired by the book “Sketch Book Dares” by Laura Lee Gulledge

A Love Playlist

Jesus said to his disciples: “If you love me, you will do as I command.”

Can you create a playlist of your favourite songs about “love”?

• What songs need to be in the list?
• Why should certain songs be included in your list?
• Can your household come up with your top 3 songs of love?
• What do these songs say about love?
• What songs would you use to describe love to others? 
• Can you send your playlists to Darren for inclusion on our Facebook Page?

Go Deeper

This week we invite you to find a way to tune into God’s presence, here are a few ways you might be able to do that.

Spiritual Practice: Practice Silence

Spiritual Practice: Breathing Prayer

Spiritual Practice: Breath Lines

Spiritual Practice: Praying The Scripture – Enter The Story

Call to worship

Let us worship God
In our house, in our quiet place
Alone or with another
Let us worship God.

If you have a candle, light it now.

Psalm 66:8-9, 20 (CEV)

All of you people,
come praise our God!
Let his praises be heard.
God protects us from death
and keeps us steady.
Let’s praise God!
He listened when I prayed,
and he is always kind.

Song:

Come Down Oh Love Divine (Lyrics Below)

A Prayer for Sunday

Text: http://www.gungahlinuniting.org/?p=5515

Song:

God of My Breathing (Lyrics Below)

Bible Readings:

Psalm 66 (MSG)

John 14: 15-21(CEV)

Acts 17:22-31 (CEV)

Prayer of Confession

Text: http://www.gungahlinuniting.org/?p=5517

Reflection on the Scripture – Tune In

Jack shares his reflection on this week’s Scripture readings and invites us to consider how we tune in to the Holy Spirit Video with Jack Barnard: Video/Audio & Text

After Jack’s invitation you may wish to sit and reflect while listening to the song Breathe, which he referenced in today’s reflection..

Song:

Spirit Friend (Lyrics Below)

Prayer For The People (Pauline Loughhead)

Prayer for Others, Video/Audio & Text

Song:

Blessed Be The Name (Lyrics Below)

Blessing

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace.

Amen

Come down, O Love divine – Lyrics

Come down, O Love divine,
seek now this soul of mine,
and visit it with your own ardour glowing:
O Comforter draw near,
within my heart appear
and kindle it, your holy flame bestowing.

There let it freely burn,
till earthly passions turn
to dust and ashes, in its heat consuming:
And let your glorious light
shine ever on my sight
and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.

And so the yearning strong
with which the soul will long
shall far outpass the power of human telling:
For none can guess its grace
till we become the place
in which the Holy Spirit makes his dwelling.

God of My Breathing – Lyrics

God of my breathing and God of my heart 
Spirit embodied in all human parts 
Would that this body, from head to the toes 
Bring forth Your glory in all that I know 

God of my eating and God of my taste 
Flavor my nourishment full with Your grace 
Bless what comes in through this mouth that it might 
Bless how I live with the kindness of Christ 

God of my hearing and God of my sight 
Bless all I find from the moment I rise 
Upon this mind your table be found 
Prayerfully offered these visions and sounds 

God of my footsteps and God of my path 
Where these feet travel may they know no lack 
Shoes on the pavement or toes in the soil 
Carry your servant where Christ bids them go 

God of my memories, Lord of this mind 
God of the moment whose vision is time 
All I remember and all I forget 
Hold in Your keeping so this soul might rest 

God of my limits and God of all truth 
You who have knit me with joy in the womb 
Would that this body from head to the toes 
Bring forth Your glory in all that I know

credits
from Worldmaking, released May 12, 2004 
Tune: SLANE, traditional Gaelic melody

Spirit Friend – Lyrics

Artist: David Haas
Composer: Traditional
Composer: Rob Glover

God sends us his Spirit to befriend and help us,
Re-create and guide us, Spirit-friend
Spirit who enlivens, sanctified, enlightens,
Sets us free, is now our Spirit-Friend.

Spirit of our Father, Spirit-Friend,
Spirit of our Jesus, Spirit-Friend
Spirit of God’s people, Spirit-Friend.

Darkened roads are clearer, heavy burdens lighter
When we’re walking with our Spirit-Friend:
Now we need not fear the powers of the darkness:
None can overcome our Spirit-Friend.

Blessed Be The Name – Lyrics

I am standing beneath Your wings
I am resting in Your shelter
Your great faithfulness has been my shield
And it makes me want to sing

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be the name of the Lord
I will bless Your holy name for all my days
Blessed be the name of the Lord

I sing praises to Your name oh Lord
For You daily bear my burdens
Your great faithfulness is my reward
And it makes me want to sing

Written by: Andy Park
CCLI#1827078 ©1995 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing (ASCAP). All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured. Used By Permission.

This week’s Home Brewed Worship provides you all a number of ways to enter into prayer and to explore the Gospel story. If you’re at home with family, a partner, a friend or a spouse please consider working through some of this with them. If you’re alone, consider phoning someone else and inviting them to join you in worship.

Carve out some space sacred space in your home, perhaps you have candle, some colourful material, a cross, a bible, some pictures of the world, artwork or images of Jesus… 

You don’t need to use all of this material, nor do you need to do it all in one sitting, perhaps some of these prayers and music can travel with you throughout the week. Use the material as part of daily exercises, music to carry you through the week, reflections to ponder as you walk or stay at home.

For some your focus may be to hear the gospel preached, others the gospel sung, while others may want to find a practice that they can enter into over the course of the week to make space for the Holy Spirit to work on us.

*We know there have been others using this resource in their own homes or communities, if you’d like to have updates and information of new resources please jump on our email list.

Order of Service

Some people have requested an order of service as a guide to use this material at home. Access a formal order here. If you’re happy making your own way through these resources please make yourself at home.

Home Brewed Families

We’ve curated some resources specifically for families to use in their homes this week, you can access them here.

As we enter into worship we invite you to contemplate these 3 questions:

• What am I grateful for this week?
• Who will I check in with / make contact with this week?
• Where will I seek, or create beauty this week?

This Week’s Readings:

Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16
John 14:1-14 (Kanthi reads this week’s reading in Sinhalese)
Acts 7:55-60
1 Peter 2:2-10

*It’s interesting that today’s Gospel, read on Mother’s Day is all bout the Father. What happens if you go back to the John reading and replace the name “Father” with “Mother”? Do you experience it differently?

Prayer

When In Need – A reflection after Psalm 31 by Rev Dr Sarah Agnew

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

Caroline leads us in this week’s prayers for others

Singing The Story

This is a selection of songs that speak to this week’s bible readings and themes, use it to fill your house with music throughout Sunday, perhaps you might continue to listen to the music through the week.

A Playlist for May 10, 2020

Story:

I had a technical issue this week, so no story from me, but perhaps you’d like to head over to The Dollar Store Children’s Sermons website for a reflection on this week’s gospel.

or

Perhaps you’d like to head over to the children’s ministry video from Wesley Uniting Church “If you know me, then you also know God“

Reflection on the reading from John’s Gospel

Darren reflects on this week’s reading from the Gospel of John

Worship @ Home Ideas

If you are creating a little reflective corner at home here is an idea for this week.:

Build a place with many dwellings with what you can find in the house. Talk with another about what it might look like to design a dwelling place where you feel welcome, comfortable and able to abide in God’s love.

Discuss with each other what it feels like to be left out/not included. What could others do to make you feel more welcome?

Discuss:

1. Who and what makes you feel safe?
2. In what ways are you finding refuge right now?
3. How do you find refuge in God?