Hot News & Humour

by Rev Eric Smith

       I invite you to share a journey.  Our journey as Christians is always in the context of worship– the worship of the one God who calls us forwards as servant people, in the assurance of the covenant promises through Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

       I do not expect we will all agree with everything along the way, but I do invite you to do as I need to do, to look afresh at disturbing challenges to our views of the past so that we may live well in the future.

On the Sunday before Australia Day, the Uniting Church Assembly invites congregations each year to look at the story of Australia, and particularly at the often fraught relationship of the 1st and 2nd peoples.

Some of my ancestors were amongst the earliest 19th century settlers in Moorabbin and near San Remo-Wonthaggi, traditional areas of the Bunurong people.  I have no idea of the contacts between the lands’ indigenous inhabitants and these newcomers, all I know is that my great grandparents carved farms out of these lands.

Today we live in a country partly ravaged by bushfire, fires that overwhelm the landscape and tear at the heart and soul of country, the spirit country of our First Peoples and the beloved land in which we have the honour and privilege to dwell.  All Australians are on a journey. We hold many views about the relationships between white and indigenous Australians.  As Christians our views are formed from our beliefs, based on the Scriptural teachings.  On the Sunday before Australia Day we had these three Bible readings:

Psalm 40 is one of numerous Psalms that are a lament, an honest declaring to God of our grief, our frustration and our difficulties.  Such truth-telling is a necessary precursor of revived relationships.

Isaiah 49 is one of the servant songs: God inviting people in the darkest of times to know that they are not on the journey alone and that they are not simply to know comfort and personal hope, but that they are to serve as a light to the nations – they (we) have a purpose beyond our own immediate circumstances.

In the last part of the Gospel of John 1 one of Jesus’ first actions as he commenced his public ministry was to draw people to him, call them to follow him through hill and dale as he went about the countryside teaching, healing, opening people’s vision to God’s grace.  Andrew and John, then Peter, Philip, Nathaniel were all confronted by a man who spoke truth, who had such a clear vision that it seemed as if he knew them already – what they were searching for, what they yearned.  If it was true then, it is true now.  We too are called by Jesus with our yearnings, as we search for the way ahead.  Jesus teaches in 2020, Jesus heals in 2020, Jesus opens visions of the future in 2020, as a servant amongst servants.  As the crucified and risen one of the church community, that exists also to serve the world in which we live.  

The Australian nation has much more to do and our banner symbolises our commitment to continuing the journey.

We ought not be concerned about any legal implications of the word ‘sovereign’.  In this context it is not referring to the monarch, but to the concept of national identity.  Until a Treaty is negotiated, the prior residents have entitlement.

We pray together - constantly.

The reconciliation group of our congregation welcomes your comments and conversation.

As we celebrate so much that is good about Australia, maybe we can grasp the goal of the lament to honestly tell the truth of the past.  Maybe we can more fulsomely respect the indigenous people of the land and their culture, showing we have a purpose as a nation that we actually can make a difference.  And doing it because we are gifted by God, as servants of the Living God, in the Great South Land of the Holy Spirit.

The banner has been designed jointly by representatives of the Assembly and the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (the indigenous arm of the UCA).  It is an agreed and negotiated form of words, to be used consistently across the whole church, except for the names of the local First Peoples.

At the top are the emblems of the Uniting Aboriginal Islander Christian Congress  & UCA drawn together and belonging together in the cross.

 The words are in English, but the painting is indigenous – another form of partnership.

Words and painting recognise that God was active amongst the indigenous nations of the great southern continent before European people came, and that the Gospel gives an ever reviving spirituality for all Australian people.

The Covenant amongst First Peoples and Second Peoples draws out the action of the Spirit of God in creation, and celebrates the sacred gifts of God through the Dreaming, in Jesus Christ and through the future relationship we share.

The timeline is a reminder that this is a journey, a journey which still has much distance to travel.  The church has achieved much as a partnership of First and Second Peoples, but we are still not in the Promised Land.  The Australian nation has much more to do and our banner symbolises our commitment to continuing the journey.

We ought not be concerned about any legal implications of the word ‘sovereign’.  In this context it is not referring to the monarch, but to the concept of national identity.  Until a Treaty is negotiated, the prior residents have entitlement.

We pray together - constantly.

The reconciliation group of our congregation welcomes your comments and conversation.

As we celebrate so much that is good about Australia, maybe we can grasp the goal of the lament to honestly tell the truth of the past.  Maybe we can more fulsomely respect the indigenous people of the land and their culture, showing we have a purpose as a nation that we actually can make a difference.  And doing it because we are gifted by God, as servants of the Living God, in the Great South Land of the Holy Spirit.

TIDBIT:  To Europeans several centuries ago the continent unknown to them in the Southern Hemisphere was called on maps “The Great South Land of the Holy Spirit” – that’s us in Australia.   Soon they also had an island in the Pacific called “Espiritu Santo” – today it is a northern island in the place our friends from Vanuatu call home.

Footnote: re The Covenanting Painting — The Wagalak sisters are creation sisters, who carry their power in their dilly bags. When they walk, they use the contents of their dilly bags to create the landscape.

During our Advent 4 Service, Sunday 22 December, Rev Eric Smith and David Morison presented their version in dialogue form of the Advent story from Luke chapters 1 & 2.

On Sunday 26 January, there was a retiring Offering for this appeal.  The wonderful response raised over $1,000.  The Offering Bowl is still available in the foyer for those who would like to contribute.

The funds raised will go to trauma and grief counselling, children's programs, financial aid, and other support services, as we move from crisis to recovery.

From Mary and David Morison Thank you for helping us celebrate our Golden Wedding Anniversary, and for sharing (on 12th January) a very special Sunday Worship Service and morning tea with us, and our family.

Three Wednesday mornings in January 2020 — Cuppa and Chat was most enjoyable and well attended!  A chance to sit back and relax!  

A garden event on the 3rd Jan. saw some tidying up of our grounds.

Thanks to Tilly Leunig, the workers enjoyed a delicious pizza tea.

Did you receive an interesting book, for Christmas, have time over the holidays to catch up with some other good reading or perhaps visit the cinema?

These are the enjoyments we love to share at The Book Group so we are looking forward to our meetings on the first Wednesday afternoon of every month throughout 2020 and you are very welcome to come along too.

We are continuing to meet at the Warragul Hub (corner of June Crt and North Rd) where we also enjoy a selection of their refreshments as we chat.

The next book group meeting will be on Wednesday 4th March at 1.00pm at the Warragul Hub.  If you would like more information talk to Nick or Lesley.

If you were inspired by Geoff Leunig’s account of his tour of the Holy Land you might like to join a group who will travel there via a video program by Ray Vander Loan an experienced historian and teacher.  Explore the places, people and events recorded in the Bible and discover through their intriguing cultural context its significance to Christians today.  This ‘tour’ commences on 12 February at 10am, for a total of five weeks.

If interested please contact Lesley.

Over many years we have shared gifts with the Christmas Bowl through the National Council of Churches in Australia.  In this fire-filled summer the NCCA has received messages and prayers of support from some of the partner organisations to whom our gifts have been sent.  A tremendous sign of the solidarity of Christian people across the world.  This year from our congregation we have forwarded $2550.95 for the Christmas Bowl.

School Zone
During this new school year you are invited to pray for the children, teachers and all the school community as you are passing. Take a School Zone card as a reminder.  Pray also for the students and teachers from our congregation.

At tonight's evening service, the preacher's topic is "What is hell?"
You're welcome to come early and hear our choristers practice.

Our church ladies have cast off clothing items of every kind.
They may be seen in the back hall next Friday evening.

Ms Charlene Moses sang for us "I will never pass this way again"
which gave immense pleasure to the congregation.