Author: Robyn Hodge

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Worship Online Sunday 22nd of November 2020 – Christ the King

Dear friends,

So, a funny thing happened today.  We decided to test out some of the new technology we will be using to stream our services once we are meeting again in person, and recorded today’s worship “live” at the church this afternoon.

We thought it went pretty well, but as often happens when you are trying new things and learning how to use new technology, there were glitches.   

This meant that this week’s service will be – delayed – and delivered as a “podcast” to listen to, rather than a video, within the next day or so.

In the meantime, we invite you to visit another congregation for worship today – and there are so many places and people to choose from!

The Presbytery focus service will be live-streamed to YouTube from Leopold Uniting Church and led by Presbytery Minister Narelle Collas – you can find their channel here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi2OzTW4P2OHoi0nNse_Jjg

I’m not sure of the time there.

The Macedon Ranges partnership has their service ready to go here:

or if you want to stay closer to home, you could pop over and visit our neighbours at Belmont Uniting here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6mXx6ryp1AegGlrhv3W2Lg

And Terrigal Uniting is a congregation we are watching as a great model of how to include people at home with people at church in worship – their 8am worship service will stream here 

https://youtu.be/Pe4cFKH_9jw

So hopefully you’ll find some different opportunities to worship this Sunday.

Here’s the song that Lloyd, Deborah and Robyn sang today (but the sound didn’t record!) – you can sing along with another version here:

With thanks for your understanding and wishing you all the Blessings of the Kingdom for this coming week,

Lloyd, Paul, Christopher and Robyn.

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St Luke’s needs your help!

Hello friends,

As we prepare to re-open our buildings for worship and community use, there are some extra requirements we need to put in place to keep the buildings COVID safe.

Spacing  seating and setting out movement guidelines

We will need some fit and strong people to move furniture around the church buildings so that we can ensure people are sitting, standing, and moving in a way that allows them to keep 1.5 metres apart.

Cleaning

There are more complex cleaning requirements for the building, and we need to recruit and train volunteers in COVID safe cleaning practices.  Volunteers will be needed for Worship and other church meetings held in the building, and people will also be needed to assist with cleaning for community use.

COVID Marshals

As people come together again, it is recommended that there are specific people present at events to ensure that people are signing in and out of the buildling, sanitising their hands and wearing their masks, and following guidelines for physical distancing.  We are hoping to recruit and train a few Marshals so that the work is shared around.

Tech support team for video streaming of worship and other events

To ensure that everyone can be part of worship, whether in person or online, we will be streaming our services at times.  We will need people who can set up and operate cameras, lighting and microphones, and who can operate streaming software.  If you are interested in learning how to do this, please contact Paul or Robyn via the church office.

If you would like to find out more or offer your assistance, (or volunteer a relative – cheeky!), please contact Robyn through the church office ASAP.

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November Messy Church this Friday on Zoom – God’s Promise to us

Hi Messy Church Family!

Our next Messy Church Zoom will be 4:30pm Friday 20th November- put it on the calendar! Our theme will be “God’s Promise to his People” as told in the story of Noah’s Ark. Think Rainbows and Animals!

Some fun things are happening during our actual Messy Church Zoom and you need to get a few things together before our fun time.

Before the meeting have ready:

*Lego- we are going to be building an ark to hold the animals or maybe make an ark out of an old box and make lego/crafty animals to fit inside.

*Some textas, crayons or pencils to colour a big rainbow to stick in our windows to remind us of God’s promise

*Have a look around the house/laundry basket for items that are either Red/ Orange/Yellow/Green/Blue/Purple/Pink we can use in prayer time.

*if you have a bright /tie died/rainbow coloured shirt- lets wear them when we meet up on the night! Our Zoom will be bursting with colourful people all gathered together to praise God- how wonderful.

We miss you, we hope you’re well and safe, and we look forward to seeing you again on November 20th.

Love from St Luke’s Messy Church Team- Paul, Shaghek, Barbara, Jean, Judy and Robyn

 

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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 …

The parable of the Three Servants – Matthew 25:14-30

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.

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Worship Online Sunday 8th November – Waiting, waiting…

Good morning friends, Grace and Peace to you.

Jesus often taught by telling parables … short stories containing a message that have a capacity to transform us …

Sometimes the meaning of a parable while confronting is pretty straight forward, think, for example, of the parable of the Good Samaritan …

But today we are going to look at a parable which is not so easy to interpret … the parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids …

I am going to argue that at its heart the parable contains a counter-cultural message … that in God’s kingdom there is a place for waiting … faithful waiting

Remembrance Day this Wednesday

Paul reminded us that it will be Remembrance day this Wednesday.  The Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne is hosting a virtual service – details here

NAIDOC Week

A week of recognition and celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.  Here is a reflection on NAIDOC week 2020 written by  Alison Overeem of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress in Tasmania:

NAIDOC Week Reflection

There are many events planned for NAIDOC week and you can find out more about them here:

NAIDOC Week Events

One of these events is the launch of a new song which you can listen to here:

And you might also enjoy this version of Amazing Grace by Paul Kelly and the late Gurrumil:

A blessing in the words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu:

Go in peace, and remember:

goodness is stronger than evil;

love is stronger than hate;

light is stronger than darkness;

life is stronger than death;

victory is ours

through Christ who loved us.

Amen.

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Justice calendar 2021

The Justice and International Mission Cluster’s 2021 Social Justice Calendar is now available. It includes significant dates, such as NAIDOC Week, Refugee Week and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Find it here:

Social Justice Calendar 2021

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Pilgrim news

Pilgrim Theological College said farewell to 11 students at a valedictory service hosted via Zoom last week.

While these students are at the tail-end of their studies, you may be interested in beginning your own.  Pilgrim also have shorter courses which are a great next step for deepening your faith learning and discipleship.

Enrolment for 2021 is now open and the timetable is available here.

Pilgrim also welcomes Monica Melanchthon into the role of Academic Dean for the next two years.

More information:

https://pilgrim.edu.au/

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Time for remembering

The annual Time for Remembering ceremony invites people to come together to commemorate loved ones lost and injured on our roads, give thanks for those who survived, and pay tribute to all who work tirelessly to reduce the road toll.

This year the 20th annual ceremony will be held via Zoom on November 15 from 12pm-1.30pm.

Register here:

https://events.humanitix.com/time-for-remembering

 

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NAIDOC week reflection

Leprena Centre  Manager Alison Overeem has written a poetic reflection for NAIDOC Week, which starts on Sunday. This year, the theme is Always Was, Always Will Be in recognition that First Nations people have occupied and cared for Australia for more than 65,000 years. Alison asks that we learn the history of First Peoples and hear and honour their stories. “It’s in knowing this connection to Land, through this lens of discernment the true lessons are learned. Honour the land and the stories sitting within Country wherever you may be. May our Churches and agencies discern, for it is in Nature’s classroom that we truly learn.”

NAIDOC Week 2020 reflection