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 – Order of Service May 1, 2020
An apology to Kanthi, I had intended to put subtitles into the video of this week’s readings but a technical issue (I had a few this week) stopped me from being able to to so. Instead I encourage people to listen to the reading and enjoy hearing Kanthi bring you the Gospel today.
Call To Worship:
A song that invites us to reflect on the words of Psalm 31
Reflect:
When In Need – A reflection after Psalm 31 by Rev Dr Sarah Agnew
Prayer:
Song:
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
Song:
Nada te turbe – A Taizé Tune (Lyrics & Translation)
Reflection on the scripture:
Darren reflects on this week’s reading from the Gospel of John
Song:
I Will Sing Of Your Love Love Love
Prayers For Others:
Caroline leads us in this week’s prayers for others
Song:
A Blessing:
Reflection – April 26, 2020
2019 Annual Report – Gungahlin Uniting Church
In May 2019 we gathered around Jack and Tess and celebrated their wedding, it was a major highlight for me in a year which has gone way too quickly. The celebration of Jack & Tess gathered their families, people from the Benedictus community, Tuggeranong UC, Holy Covenant Anglican and a huge collection of friends from all over the place. Together we sung, laughed, cried and we danced as we revelled in the joy of a new marriage, it was one of the most beautiful ecumenical celebrations I’ve participated in.
This year has also brought the deaths of Jae Ho and, more recently Danila, and we’ve mourned their loss as community, many of us are still working through the reality that they’re no longer with us.
Personally, 2019 has been the year where GUC has moved from being my employer, to being my community of faith, my home. The first few months of 2018 we were really just settling in and getting to know people, it was a whirlwind, the last 12 months however has been a time where I’ve fallen in love with the people of this community and starting to dream about the kind of church we can build together.
There are many churches in Canberra for people to belong to, but, in my opinion there are not enough communities like ours out there. We need to continue to celebrate what we are building here, and proclaim loudly that GUC is an open, inclusive, playful, intergenerational and welcoming community, where all are welcome and all are invited to find ways to live out their faith and calling, no matter their age, gender, language, culture, gender identity or faith tradition. We also need to continue to look at ourselves in the mirror to find new ways to improve our hospitality, challenge our presumptions, play and celebrate more. How will you help us do that this year?
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