https://vimeo.com/445249388
Prayer of confession – August 2, 2020
These are contentious times, Author of Life.
We are constantly wrestling with something.
We wrestle with each other:
over opposing points of view, and their varied interpretations,
our differing experiences, or lack thereof,
over how to mend the rips and tears in the fabric of our lives,
who will or should stand in the gap.We wrestle with ourselves:
our competing interests, obligations, time constraints,
our doubts and fears,
our cans and shoulds, our wants and needs.And we wrestle with you, Holy One.
We wrestle with your Word –
with what it says, and what it means.
Preferring Holy Certainty to Holy Mystery,
we chafe against your inscrutable ways.
There is already too much uncertainty in these pandemic days.We don’t like it.
Equating the wrestling with our most negative
perceptions of conflict, we seek to avoid it at all costs.Forgive us, Holy One.
In so doing, we miss possibility; we short-circuit hope.An integral part of discernment, it is in the wrestling
that we discover what we truly believe, what really matters,
where clarity, understanding, and positive change are birthed.It is where we find you.
Cleanse and renew us, Author of Life.
Put a right spirit within us.
Replace our fear with tenacious faith, and stubborn, defiant hope.May we choose, like our ancestor Jacob –
A Prayer of Confession, based in Genesis 32, from Kathy Swaar
to stay present; to keep wrestling,
not letting go until your blessing is recognized and received.
Reflection – July 26, 2020
Home Brewed Worship – June 21, 2020
Readings for June 21, 2020
Genesis 21:8-21
Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17
Matthew 10:24-39
Romans 6:1b-11
Worship at Home – Order of Service
Order of Service for people worshipping from home
Exploring the Scripture – On Hagar
This week’s Genesis reading is Genesis 21:8-21, it’s the story of Hagar being sent away by Abraham with their son, it’s a hard story because it’s a story of a mother and child, abandoned and at the brink of death.
We don’t often hear Hagar’s story, but as we’re coming to the end of Refugee Week I’ve put some resources together to help you explore her story, and the story of other refugees this week.
These resources invite us to read, watch, listen and ponder the story of Hagar as a Refugee as National Refugee Week comes to a close.
Resources to explore the story of Hagar at home.
Singing the Scripture
Here’s a playlist of songs that reflect on this week’s scripture readings in a variety of ways. Use this as a playlist in your home over the day, or during the week.
Family Resources
Apologies, there are not many family resources for worship this week. Although, there are a number of things to discuss in the resources for exploring the story of Hagar (though her story is not a great one for kids).
Here are some stories to listen to and discuss together, as it’s the end of National Refugee Week these stories might help you discuss how we as a country and a community listen to the voices of refugees. Perhaps you might link it to Hagar’s story and ask if your household believes God hears the cry of refugees like God did for Hagar. How do you think God acts in the world today?
Or perhaps you”d like to spend some time with the singing the Scripture playlist and sing, dance and pray together.
This is a beautiful story…
If you had to leave what would you take with you? What game would you play? What is the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten? What things remind you of your home? So you speak any other languages?
Home Brewed Worship Resources – June 14, 2020
This week’s Home Brewed Worship provides you all a number of ways to enter into prayer and to explore the 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 and prayer.
A special thanks to Margaret Reeson for her work on compiling the order of service for worshipping at home.
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
Here is a order of service for people worshipping at home curated by Margaret Reeson
Home Brewed Worship Resources for Families
Resources for families exploring faith at home curated by us for you.
Singing the Scripture
Here is a playlist of songs that you can listen to this week that explore themes in this week’s scripture readings.
Readings
Prayers and Liturgical Reflections
To Laugh or to Cry – Reflection
Visual reflections for this week
Go Deeper
This week is National Refugee Week. Common Grace have a daily resource exploring Refugee Week, you can access it here on their website, or here on their Facebook page
Racism and Reconciliation, a reflection by Rev John Squires
By The Well’s podcast on this weeks Genesis reading, Laughter, Hope & Hospitality
a reflection on this weeks Genesis Reading by Sara Koenig
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