reflection – Pilgrim Uniting Church

Rhythms of significance

August 20, 2020tandaplaceLeave a Comment

We all have a part to play in the Good News story. Today, we reflect on Mary’s song from Luke 1:46-55.

As you listen to the words, reflect in the silence:

How does this song compare to the songs you like to sing?
Why is this song significant enough to appear in Scripture?
Are there any parts that are challenging or confronting?
Is Mary’s song also your song in any way?

***

With hearts and hands and voices, glorify the Lord.
Within the very depths of who you are, rejoice in God, our Saviour,
who looks beyond what others see,
beyond the sin and shame of our fragile humanity,
with eyes of love and favour.

Surely the Shepherd of Israel,
the Lord Almighty,
has done great things – for you, for me.

A God of mercy and of strength,
he lifts up the meek and lowly
and fills the hungry with all good things.

Just as we think that the world belongs to the proud and the powerful,
bestow on us the blessing of life together, of life forevermore.

Just as we despair at the growing distance between rich and poor, old and young, sick and healthy,
bestow on us the blessing of life together, of life forevermore

Just as we arrogantly grasp for control over the circumstances and struggles of our lives,
bestow on us the blessing of life together, of life forevermore.

Just as we wonder whether there is still a future for your Church and what part we might play in it,
bestow on us the blessing of life together, of life forevermore.

*silence*

May the God of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh,
the God who is faithful from generation to generation,
remember us in mercy forever.
For indeed, from generation to generation,
God’s lovingkindness endures for those alive to the Divine Rhythm
with and within them.
Bestow on us the blessing of life together, of life forevermore
In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Rhythms of reflection

August 8, 2020tandaplaceLeave a Comment

God of each new day
and all the days that have gone before us –
all the way back to the beginning –
and all the days that have yet to unfold –
all the way into the eternal embrace of Your Love –

we thank you for the rhythm that You bring to life,
for guiding light,
for expansive love,
for Your sustaining grace.

We confess, this day,
just how often we lose sight of You
in all the spaces and the changes …

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

We confess, this day,
those parts of our lives that have become dull and shaded
by an absence of love or light …

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

We confess, this day,
our tendency to walk out of step with Your Spirit and truth,
favouring too much either rest or work …

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Give us, this day,
the grace to recognise and experience the Love
that embraces and shapes and fills
not only our world –
but our innermost being –
as we open our hearts and minds
to Your living Word
who calls us
to be hopeful,
to take risks,
to be committed,
to be determined,
to be generous,
to dream of what can be
as we take his lead
and tell a story –
about You and about us –
that sets us free
to live and breathe and move and have our being
in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

In silence, reflect:

Where have you felt the presence of God this week?
Where have you felt an absence of God this week?
What difference does the absence or presence of God make to life?

Wednesday: return

May 20, 2020tandaplaceLeave a Comment

A reflection by Rev. Dr. Roger Webb

Jesus’ earthly ministry had ended, and He then returned to the Father. A new chapter of God’s mission to the world was about to begin, one which placed the responsibility on His followers. The Gospel would flow out from Jerusalem in waves, like ripples on a pond when a stone is dropped into it.

Many people had seen the Risen Christ, but it was possible that some of them still had problems accepting the reality of Jesus’ resurrection, so He took time to once again explain from the Scriptures how He had to die and rise again after 3 days. (What scriptures might He have quoted eg. Isaiah 53?).

Why did Jesus have to return to the Father?

He had to make it clear that His earthly ministry had ended, and would not be returning again.
If He remained on earth, He could only be in one place at a time.
He left so that the Holy Spirit could come.

Having resourced the disciples theologically, Jesus then equipped them with His authority to proclaim the Gospel message throughout the world: the ripples began to flow outwards.

Before blessing the disciples, Jesus promised them the gift of the Holy Spirit’s power to equip them for their mission. (The Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost, some days after Jesus’ Ascension). Jesus’ Ascension and His blessing of the disciples inspired a time of joyful worship in the Temple.

How did the disciples experience the gift of the Spirit?

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8: NRSV).

(The Greek word for ‘power’ here is dunamis , which is the root of our words such as ‘dynamo’, ‘dynamic’, ‘dynamite’, etc.)

These events are a pattern for us, who have met the Risen and Ascended Christ and seek to contribute our ripples into the community.

How might we carry out our mission in our community?
How might the dunamis of the Spirit be manifested in our daily living and witness?
Does our experience of the Risen an Ascended Christ fill us with joy and inspire us to praise God continually?

An ancient legend: When Jesus returned to heaven, an angel asked Him: “Lord, now you have completed your earthly ministry, what plans have you made to continue your work?” Jesus replied: “I have Peter, James, and John, and all the other believers to continue my mission”. “But what plans have you made if they fail you?” Jesus answered, “I have no other plans”.

Tuesday: what shall we do?

April 28, 2020tandaplace2 Comments

This past Saturday many Australians responded to the call to participate in ANZAC Day at the kerb of their home instead of attending the traditional Dawn Services or mid morning commemorations.

In many conversations I have had since, people have remarked on their motivation – the desire to reflect on the sacrifices made by the women and men who have served them in the Australian Defence Force at times of conflict or in peace keeping missions or in providing assistance in natural disaster events.

In the busyness of our everyday lives we, that is all of us including you and I, seldom consider the extent of physical and or emotional injury endured by many of our ADF people; few are intimately acquainted with those who die while on duty seeking to serve their nation.

In this time of social distancing many of us have begun to recognise changes in the way we feel as we experience disconnection from routine patterns and find energy levels faltering. Most of us acknowledge the importance of acting in safe ways to protect others around us while incidentally keeping ourselves safer from the risks arising from the pandemic. But is there opportunity for more?

Perhaps we can find in this disconcerting time an opportunity for reflecting on our lives and our values for living. Personal Reflection as an element in our Christian life is fundamental. In Acts (2:31) we hear Peter call on those listening to heed the challenge that is inherent in Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection. Their reaction was to ask, “What shall we do?”

The invitation available to us all, is to take time to quietly undertake reflection on how we answer that question in our daily lives, not on one day each year, not one day each week, but each and every day.

You will notice this week your Elders are sharing the preparation of the daily presentations through the electronic media so that Rev Yvonne has time to complete some of her ongoing academic studies. In her last semester she was the recipient of a Dean’s Award for the exceptional standard she demonstrated in that period – we congratulate her and are confident her application and commitment will again achieve excellent results in this semester.

Blessings to all
George T