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Devotions for 13th December 2020 Advent 3 Welcome to these devotions for people who don’t have the internet, or are away, or who are interested anyhow. Last week our reading was Luke 1: 25-38- the angel Gabriel’s invitation to Mary to birth God’s Son (called the Annunciation). Today we’ll look more into who Mary was. Opening Prayer Dear God, within our Christian faith there are many views, traditions and practices that have encouraged, nourished and sustained people in so many different nations, cultures and circumstances. May taking this time in devotions here, encourage, nourish and sustain me in my life and faith. Help me not be narrow or closed, but may the Holy Spirit open me to more of the blessings you love to give your people. In Jesus’ name. Amen Acknowledgement As is our practice, we acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live and their care of, and connection to the land, before Europeans came here. We pay our respects to their Elders, past present and emerging. We acknowledge our Second People’s benefit from their dispossession, our First People’s loss and disadvantage, and also their on-going culture and connection to the land. We cannot change the past, but we can help shape the future and so commit ourselves to reconciliation and justice as First and Second Peoples together. Prayer Dear God, joining with others sharing this prayer- You are the depth deeper than we can reach, the love stronger than we can hold in our hearts, the light brighter than we can squint at, but through Jesus Christ you gently, respectfully and lovingly seek us first to share and enrich our lives and bring true peace to our world. You shower your blessings on all people, and give inner strength in trying situations to those who are open to you. We sense you in the awe and wonder of nature; and give you praise. We also become aware of our smallness, and at-times, shallowness. As we approach Christmas with all its hype and pressure, and Jesus’ story gets hidden in the background, speak to us once again with the richness and power of its ordinariness and mystery. We give thanks for Jesus; for his birth and life, his teaching and healings, his inclusiveness and courage, his death and resurrection. We claim the love, acceptance and forgiveness he promised. We give thanks for his disciples from the very beginning to those of our particular Christian community, filled with the Holy Spirit to tell and record and pass on the story. We give thanks for your Holy Spirit in our lives, bringing Jesus’ story to life in us and guiding us day by day. And we give you thanks and praise for the so-many blessings we’ve been given . . . for all that’s enjoyable in life . . . . and for all that challenges us to grow . . . . Hear the song on my heart. In the name of Christ. Amen Below are some portrayals of Mary. Have a look at each one and think about not just whether you like them or not, but where they might connect with your life, or what they say to you about Mary, and through her- Jesus. Here are some other passages from the gospels that involve Mary. For each one, ponder on what you think that passage reveals about her. Luke 2: 41-52 The Boy Jesus in the Temple 41 Every year the parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. 42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they went to the festival as usual. 43 When the festival was over, they started back home, but the boy Jesus stayed in Jerusalem. His parents did not know this; 44 they thought that he was with the group, so they travelled a whole day and then started looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 They did not find him, so they went back to Jerusalem looking for him. 46 On the third day they found him in the Temple, sitting with the Jewish teachers, listening to them and asking questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his intelligent answers. 48 His parents were astonished when they saw him, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been terribly worried trying to find you.” 49 He answered them, “Why did you have to look for me? Didn't you know that I had to be in my Father's house?” 50 But they did not understand his answer. 51 So Jesus went back with them to Nazareth, where he was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 Jesus grew both in body and in wisdom, gaining favour with God and people. John 2: 1-9 The Wedding at Cana 2 Two days later there was a wedding in the town of Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine had given out, Jesus' mother said to him, “They are out of wine.” 4 “You must not tell me what to do,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” 5 Jesus' mother then told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 The Jews have rules about ritual washing, and for this purpose six stone water jars were there, each one large enough to hold between twenty and thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill these jars with water.” They filled them to the brim, 8 and then he told them, “Now draw some water out and take it to the man in charge of the feast.” They took him the water, 9 which now had turned into wine, and he tasted it. Matthew 13:54-56 54 [Jesus] went back to his hometown. He taught in the synagogue, and those who heard him were amazed. “Where did he get such wisdom?” they asked. “And what about his miracles? 55 Isn't he the carpenter's son? Isn't Mary his mother, and aren't James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas his brothers? 56 Aren't all his sisters living here? Where did he get all this?” Mark 3: 20-21, 31-35 Jesus' Mother and Brothers20 Then Jesus went home. Again such a large crowd gathered that Jesus and his disciples had no time to eat. 21 When his family heard about it, they set out to take charge of him, because people were saying, “He's gone mad!” 31 Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. They stood outside the house and sent in a message, asking for him. 32 A crowd was sitting around Jesus, and they said to him, “Look, your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, and they want you.” 33 Jesus answered, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 34 He looked at the people sitting around him and said, “Look! Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does what God wants is my brother, my sister, my mother.” John 20: 25-27 25 Standing close to Jesus' cross were his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing there; so he said to his mother, “He is your son.”
Things I see in these are- that she was very human, vulnerable, part of a community, serious about her Jewish faith- making the trip to Jerusalem each year, yet amazingly restrained when they found him in the temple. She could be a bit bossy? She had expectations about Jesus, and in the ordinariness of their lives she hung on to the promises made at his conception. Having Jesus as her son caused her worry and great grief. I wonder how much her faith, her mothering and her teaching made Jesus who he became. What else did you notice? Prayers Dear God, in the ordinariness, vulnerability and struggles of our lives as individuals, in families and communities, and in our concerns about the big issues of life and the world, we pray. You loved the world so much you sent Jesus to save us. If only everyone took up living his way we wouldn’t be in the mess and danger we’re in . . . But you persist with your way of love, and when we sabotage ourselves, hurt each other, and damage the world, as a human race, and as individuals, you don’t abandon us, but restore us to new life. You are quietly working your revolution around to this world becoming what Jesus called ‘the Kingdom of God’ You are also concerned for the details of our individual lives. In quiet we share our needs and concerns for ourselves and those we hold dear . . . In quiet we grieve and share your pain for the suffering in our world. . . In quiet we ask you to fill us with hope and joy for the vision of how the world could be as you want it . . . As we get swamped by the consumer Christmas and things getting back to ‘normal’, help us keep perspective, to find quiet, to pray, to appreciate the simple and free gifts you give. And we offer ourselves to do what we can, as you call and empower us . . . In Jesus’ name. Amen Blessing As Mary carried Jesus and that shaped her life, may we carry Jesus and may he shape our life, with interruption and disturbance, that are overtaken with joy and peace and hope because of the love we have found in connection with him. Amen       
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Welcome to these devotions for people who don’t have the internet, or are away, or who are interested anyhow. Today we’re not really getting into the pre-Christmas/Advent thing but leaping from Mary’s choice at the Annunciation, we are going to reflect on seeking God’s guidance when we have decisions to make.
Opening Prayer Dear God, I give thanks for my connection to you, and to our Christian community. As I spent this time in devotions, draw me closer to your heart, to appreciate more the intimate place in which I’m held in your love. Increase my confidence in your goodwill towards me and my spiritual skill in hearing what you call me to and want for me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen Acknowledgement We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live and their care of, and connection to the land, before Europeans came here. We pay our respects to their Elders, past present and emerging. We acknowledge our Second People’s benefit from their dispossession, our First People’s loss and disadvantage, and also their on-going culture and connection to the land. We cannot change the past, but we can help shape the future and so commit ourselves to reconciliation and justice as First and Second Peoples together. Reflective meditation (Read this slowly allowing memories to arise and subside) Dear God, life has many ‘hump’ moments, when we’ve been waiting- expecting hopefully- or dreading, something, and then the moment happens and life has changed forever: like the birth of a child or grandchild, or a medical diagnoses, or finishing school, or buying a house, a new relationship, moving in and getting married, or a major accident, or death of someone close, or moving towns or even country, or a lucky win, or a hard-earned victory, a new device, hurtful words or violence towards us, or an inheritance coming your way, getting your driver’s license or giving it up, moments of ecstatic beauty, taking up a job, or retiring, an ‘ah-ha!’ moment when we suddenly understand or appreciate something, a profound spiritual experience, or a shame-bomb dropped on us for something we’ve done wrong, moments of healing grace, or the flooding warmth of cherished memories. We remember many of these things in our lives. . . . Some have been decisive choices, others have been beyond our control. These are life. And so are the very ordinary times in between. You, God, are there with us in them all, whether we notice or not, with your love. What a wonderful gift you have given us! We give you our praise and our thanks; through the understanding and grace of Christ. Amen We’re taking the Advent readings out of order today: Bible reading: Luke 1: 26-38 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee named Nazareth. 27 He had a message for a young woman promised in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was a descendant of King David. Her name was Mary. 28 The angel came to her and said, “Peace be with you! The Lord is with you and has greatly blessed you!” 29 Mary was deeply troubled by the angel's message, and she wondered what his words meant. 30 The angel said to her, “Don't be afraid, Mary; God has been gracious to you. 31 You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king, as his ancestor David was, 33 and he will be the king of the descendants of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end!” 34 Mary said to the angel, “I am a virgin. How, then, can this be?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and God's power will rest upon you. For this reason the holy child will be called the Son of God. 36 Remember your relative Elizabeth. It is said that she cannot have children, but she herself is now six months pregnant, even though she is very old. 37 For there is nothing that God cannot do.” 38 “I am the Lord's servant,” said Mary; “may it happen to me as you have said.” And the angel left her. Situation and Reflection For Mary- the appearance of the Angel Gabriel was a profound experience- yet she was still free to say yes or say no. She chose to say yes readily - after a questions or two- despite the risk of disgrace and a life of struggle that would follow. And bless her for that! We don’t usually have such a clear signal from God. What would you say to someone who was asked to be part of a randomised trial for a new drug? They asked for your advice. On the one hand, if the drug worked it could give them a longer life, but then they might be given the placebo and it do them no benefit. It would give them a sense of helping other people into the future, but it also would be likely to have some nasty side effects. Our natural reaction is to say- ‘It’s up to you. Do what’s best for you.’ Then, if we bring our Christian faith into it- does that make a difference? Jesus’ life, and his picture of God, is of a self-giving love. Surely that would seem to put more weight on the side of doing the trial- yes it might be a sacrifice for us, but then it could result in a significant benefit for many people into the future. All the medical treatments we have these days come from people taking the risk of their own suffering for the benefit of others. Jesus said, ‘There is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friends.’ The same goes for many decisions- what do I spend my money on? What career might I choose? Especially for say police, or armed services, or other emergency services where there’s a huge risk to you from PTSD or worse. Do we make the decision based on a sense of being called by God to do it; or a sense of guilt if we don’t? I think this is an important distinction to make if we’re serious about our Christian faith. There’s a difference between ‘I want to’ and ‘I feel I should’. One is joyful, one is a chore. One is life-giving, one is life-draining. If we do something because we see a good purpose in it, we can be happy to make sacrifices. If we’re doing something only because we feel we should then we won’t be happy. I think this is a dilemma for Christians in many situations. And why many people shy away from the Christian life- they feel- we too often feel- God will take away the things I enjoy and make me do painful things. There are millions of sacrificial things we could do- but how do we sort out the ones we are called to- the ones that God is really inviting us to do? In other words how do we ‘discern’ God’s will for us? Can I suggest three things to help us sort this out: 1 Jesus’ teaching was to love God with your whole self and love your neighbour as yourself. Firstly in loving God completely, you put yourself at God’s disposal- willing to do what you’re called to do. Now that sounds risky. But then in loving your neighbour as yourself- weighing those equally- you’re looking for a win-win direction- something that is good for others and good for yourself. Not a win-lose, or a lose-win action. Looking after yourself is not necessarily being selfish. So, in the drug trial example- weigh up the risks against ‘How much will I feel that I’m doing good here?’ 2 Jesus prayed seriously before the big decisions in his life: nights out on the mountain seeking to hear what direction God was calling his ministry to. Somehow he found answers in those times. There was the 40 days in the wilderness to learn what God had for him to do. Timing was also important in that. It was when John the Baptist was put in prison he felt the time was right to begin his ministry. Then there was the special revelation in the Transfiguration (Luke 9: 28-31, 51)- that for him the path was to head to Jerusalem knowing he’d be arrested and crucified. Wait for an answer that gives you a sense of peace in your heart. 3 Don’t make these decisions alone. Ask your trusted friends who understand your faith. Get their perspective. You have to make the decision, but seek their wisdom. We probably have a range of ideas about Satan from the bible, from church, from medieval art and from the media. Biblically, rather than Satan being a name, it’s ‘the Satan’- the accuser. It’s the voice inside your head that puts the guilts on you- that says ‘If you’re a real Christian you should do . . . (whatever)’. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13: ‘I may give away everything that I have, even burn myself out doing good deeds, but if I don’t have love, it does me no good.’ Ask God for the power to love, and with whatever you might have been asked to do, if you’d only be doing it because you felt you ‘should’, then it’s not God’s call, and feel free to not do it. But if you feel you’d be doing it from love, even if it’s something difficult, tackle it with freedom of spirit and joy. Prayers for others and ourselves Each line is an invitation to bring to mind in prayer people, (which can include ourselves), or situations for which we want to pray: Dear God, I bring to you people who are not well and needs your healing touch . . . I bring to you people who are struggling and needs your word of encouragement . . . I bring to you people who are sad and needs your comfort and hope . . . I bring to you situations in our world today that need your Spirit of peace . . . I bring to you situations in our society that need changing . . . I bring to you the church and its needs . . . I bring to you my own needs and those of people I love . . . I bring to you something from this service . . . Dear God, I give thanks for those who are also sharing these prayers, and join my prayers with theirs. We offer ourselves to do your will that we may be part of your answer to these prayers, in the name of Jesus our Leader. Amen. Blessing Listen to God’s call to you. It is always for your good. But have it out with God- seek clarity. God loves the debate. Then act boldly and joyously and with peace in your heart knowing you are giving life to the world. Devotions for Sunday 15th November
Welcome back to these devotions for people who don’t have the internet, or are away, or who are interested anyhow, (following my holidays which were quiet and nice thanks!) I hope these give you a lead in to connecting with God and reflecting on life- and living next week with a spiritual boost. Prayer Dear God, in spending this time in devotion, may we meet here heart to heart, our thankfulness and your joy, our honesty and your truth, our hopes with your love, our fears with your strength, our openness and your life, our sorrow and your compassion. We approach you in the name of Jesus. Amen Acknowledgement – especially in this NAIDOC week We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live and their care of, and connection to the land, before Europeans came here. We pay our respects to their Elders, past present and emerging. We acknowledge our Second People’s benefit from their dispossession, our First People’s loss and disadvantage, and also their on-going culture and connection to the land. We cannot change the past, but we can help shape the future and so commit ourselves to reconciliation and justice as First and Second Peoples together. Prayer. There are a number of hymns in our hymn book with great words but impossible tunes. It can be good to take time to read them as prayers- slowly and contemplatively. Here’s one- TIS 261 1 Lord you are the light of life to me; When darkness hides my path, you help me see Shine on me, O Lord, that now and all my days your light may lead me on, guiding my ways. 2 Lord, you are the rock on which I stand, Stable and strong in you, held by your hand; Keep me safe, O Lord, in weakness let there be your loving, firm embrace upholding me. 3 Lord, you are the truth that sets me free; Only in you is found true liberty. Teach me then, O Lord, in all thing to pursue your good and perfect will, growing like you. 4 Lord, you are the Lamb of God who died, Suffering for love of me, scorned, crucified. Love me still, O Lord, let others daily see your selfless, serving love flowing through me. 5 Lord, you are the King who ever reigns; Earth’s rulers rise and fall: your throne remains. Rule my life, O lord, I yield myself anew your name to glorify, living for you. Brian Hoare. Readings: Matthew 18: 15-17 15 “If your brother sins against you, go to him and show him his fault. But do it privately, just between yourselves. If he listens to you, you have won your brother back. 16 But if he will not listen to you, take one or two other persons with you, so that ‘every accusation may be upheld by the testimony of two or more witnesses,’ as the scripture says. 17 And if he will not listen to them, then tell the whole thing to the church. Finally, if he will not listen to the church, treat him as though he were a pagan or a tax collector. 2 Timothy 2: 23-26 23 But keep away from foolish and ignorant arguments; you know that they end up in quarrels. 24 As the Lord's servant, you must not quarrel. You must be kind toward all, a good and patient teacher, 25 who is gentle as you correct your opponents, for it may be that God will give them the opportunity to repent and come to know the truth. 26 And then they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the Devil, who had caught them and made them obey his will. Message: I’ve been reading and we’ve had a study group looking at the book- Me and White Supremacy- by Layla F Saad, who is English, born of East African parents. It’s a challenging book that shows how deeply ingrained racism is, even if we think we’re not racist. I didn’t realise just what privilege I have as a white person- how much easier it is for us than it is for black people or people of colour. It showed how we see white as normal- other colours and other cultures are the odd ones. And how, if we’re kind people we might want to save black people- but so often it’s from our sense of superiority. Anyhow I don’t want to dwell on that just now, but on what was raised by one particular chapter, titled- Called in and called out. Called in is where someone- and particularly a person of colour- might speak to us privately about our racism. Like in the Matthew reading- if a brother or sister has something against you, go and show them their fault . . . Called out is when it’s done publicly. It’s not racism I’m wanting to focus on, but the whole thing about how we respond when we are corrected or told we’re wrong. How do we respond? Do we get defensive? Get abusive? Get our backs up? Cut off anything to do with the person who has corrected us? Or if it happens within the life of the church- do we say ‘That’s it! I’m never coming back here!’ It’s quite natural to feel under attack- especially when we hadn’t intended to cause any harm. It’s a horrible feeling. It raises the fight or flight response. We like to think of ourselves as good people. Being told we’re wrong upsets that self-image. We want others to think we’re good people. That’s at risk, and we might be shamed, rejected, thought less of, especially if we’re called out publicly on it- whatever it is. If we’ve hurt someone, the pain is still felt whether we didn’t intend to. Step on someone’s foot- their foot hurts just as much if it was accidental. (Though it would hurt more if you stomped on it deliberately; and the thought that you did it from wanting to cause pain would hurt emotionally.) We’ve seen some examples of poor reactions in the last week or so with President Trump’s behaviour. And then Mr Morrison’s response to the revelations of unfaithfulness among his Ministers – ‘the Labor party are just as bad’. While possibly true, it wasn’t facing up to what had happened. Or do we show a more mature approach? Can we stand back from our bruised ego? Can we even thank the person for their concern and say ‘I’ll go away and think about what you’ve said’? And after reflecting coolly- if the person was right- you apologise, and resolve to not do that again. With this approach the relationship is restored, you’ve learned something and become a better person, and the person who spoke to you is also greatly relieved, because it is also a big risk to challenge someone else’s behaviour; a risk we are often too afraid to take. In church services we usually have a prayer of confession. I’m not terribly into the prayer of confession as we usually do it. In the standard UCA service it comes near the beginning. We just get going, and then tell God how bad we’ve been. I usually don’t feel it. My head says yes that’s true, but really inside I think I have, like everyone else, done the best I could at the time. Perhaps not my best best, but I’ve tried. More often my sins are from blind spots, or mistakes, or things I haven’t realised at the time, rather than wilful wrongdoing. (I realise that for people who come with a strong sense of having done wrong and shame, the prayer of confession and the absolution can be helpful. But I also wonder whether the Catholic practice of individual confession/reconciliation would be more helpful) What Me and White Supremacy has awakened in me is a realisation that my judgment of myself is very self-justifying. I’ve got an excuse for everything. I don’t realise just how big my blind spots are. I know we’re all caught up in a culture that exploits the poor, that’s killing off the planet. If we were really serious about change we would be doing so much more than we do. We are happy with our privilege and comfort and too addicted to revolt against it. Especially, for some of us, given our age and energy levels and individual powerlessness. The wonderful grace of God gives us freedom to admit our weaknesses, our mistakes, our failures, our wrong judgments of ourselves and others and our sins. We can be honest with ourselves. We need not get defensive and we can stand back from our egos. We can concede to being wrong without our being and sense of self-worth suffering damage. God’s love for us gives us rock-solid worthwhileness. Pray for the Holy Spirit to help us have this mature-faith attitude and confidence. In Me and White Supremacy Layla Saad also says we’re going to make mistakes. We’re going to say the wrong things at times. ‘So even when you slip up, forget, and regress into old white supremacist habits and behaviours, you can repledge to your commitments and begin again. Antiracism is not about perfectionism. It is about the intention to help create change met with the consistent commitment to keep learning, keep showing up, and keep doing what is necessary so that Black people, Indigenous people and People of Colour can live with dignity and equality.’ (p200) This is so like the gospel about our whole living. Affirmation As human beings we are a mystery even to ourselves. We are rational and irrational, civilized and savage, capable of deep friendships and murderous hostility, free and in bondage, the pinnacle of creation and its greatest danger. Our Christian faith affirms our dignity and our fallenness in these three ways: We are created in the image of God. We are sinners who deny and distort our created being. By God’s grace we are forgiven and freed, called and helped by the Holy Spirit to serve as Christ’s disciples, to live our full human potential in love, faith and hope. (Based on Daniel Migliori: Faith Seeking Understanding p 143) Prayers (please add in to these prayers your own experiences, people and situations of concern) We praise you Spirit of Life for what you are and for the gifts you give us constantly. You are beyond our full understanding, but we have a glimpse. You created us in your image- individuals with choice and emotions, the capacity to love, the ability to be creative. You created us to live in community with you and each other, sharing your gifts to us in peace and harmony. We scan our last week in quiet, inviting you to raise within our hearts the things we need to remember- joys and successes: struggles, hurts and failures . . . Lead us past our failures to the human potential you call us to, which we find in Jesus and the deep yearning of our hearts. We share some of those yearnings with you in prayer, asking your Holy Spirit’s reconciling, healing, guiding, creative action. This is what we want to see for our families and loved ones . . . in particular naming . . . . This is what we ask for ourselves . . . This is what we yearn for in our community, nation and world- -in places where the coronavirus is hitting hard . . . healthwise . . . and economically . . . -where there is conflict, polarisation, hatred and violence . . . -where there is poverty, displacement and despair . . . -where people are working for healing, community, living and sharing the gospel . . . We pray for all leaders, for students doing exams, for journalists and the media, for researchers and environmentalists, and this week- especially for our First Nations’ people. We join our individual prayers to those of all your people. In Jesus’ name we pray. Blessing Held in the grace of God, Listen for Jesus’ words to your heart, Act with courage, Look with compassion on others, Honour yourself as God’s child, And may the freedom Christ gives make your heart light and your body strong. Amen  Devotions for Sunday 27th September 2020
Welcome to these weekly devotions. As you read, reflect and pray, may you connect with the God who loves you and calls you on into life at its very best for you and for the blessing of the world. Acknowledgement We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of our land, and pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging. We honour their care of the land and acknowledge that as Second Peoples, we have benefitted from their dispossession. So we commit ourselves to reconciliation and justice as First and Second Peoples together, and to learn from them to care for each other and the land. Prayer – based on a prayer by Kevin Lyon in Psalm-Prayers for Every Mood I do not pray alone, Lord, I pray with my brothers and sisters, Who work together For the coming of your Kingdom. I make mine the prayers of each, While they make my prayers their own, Giving prayer a new meaning, A new dimension, A new depth Even getting together in your presence Lord, Is itself a prayer. When we pray, The whole world prays. We know its needs, We live its aspirations. All who suffer the same evils, Need the same blessings. There is no selfishness in common prayer. Dear God, I like this prayer. It shows I’m not alone even though we can’t be together. We are all interconnected. We pray with gratitude and thanksgiving because the blessings of life and love so far outweigh the burdens of grief and our problems, and your gifts and giving to us are all that fill us. I take a moment to name just a few of those blessings and gifts . . . . . and surprises . . . . . Thanks for our church and the faith I have in you. It makes such a difference in my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen Backtrack In last week’s Devotions and in our free_key.com Zoom service we talked about the phrase ‘Love is Love’. During free_key I was struck with the question – ‘How would single people feel about what we’re saying here?’ In church we talk a lot about love, and emphasise families and marriage, but many of our members are single- some are young and unmarried, others are older and never married, some separated or divorced and we have many widows or widowers. People living alone is a fast growing demographic. In the 2016 census 31% of households in Warrnambool were single person households. In our reading last week from Matthew 19: 11-12 Jesus affirmed single people. John Bell (from the Iona Community who wrote a number of hymns we sing and is single) in the book Ten Things They Never Told Me About Jesus has a chapter title ‘Christian Family Values?’ in which he shows Jesus really challenges our Western nuclear family ideal. That’s not how families were in Jesus’ times. What he was calling for was such a close community in baptism that ‘water is thicker than blood’. Jesus invites us ‘into a larger family which is defined by commitment to the kingdom of God’. ‘Whoever does the will of God is my mother, sister, brother’ (Matthew 12: 50). In 1 Corinthians 7 Paul recommends that being single is a better life- being single, like him, allows one to serve God with greater devotion, He’s giving his opinion, not making rules, and says it’s OK to marry, and you should if you have a strong desire to do so. Paul was, however, expecting the ‘second coming’ of Christ at any moment which would change everything. In the book Faith in a Time of Crisis Vaughan Roberts, an Anglican priest who is single, calls for us to “encourage godly singleness. Singleness is a great gift from God. Whether it’s chosen or not, singleness is a great context in which God can work wonderfully.” He calls for the church to have a “real community among God’s people, whether married or single . . . where they show their love for God and for each other in all kinds of practical ways . . . with greater value placed on friendship. Married people can have a wonderful ministry by ‘adopting’ single people as almost being extra family members.” Exploring the phrases on this banner- this week’s phrase is KINDNESS IS EVERYTHING. I found this banner originated from a handwritten sign taken up by the Wisconsin Women’s Health Authority. In wanting to make a banner for our church we decided to add ‘. . . we believe: God is Good’ at the start because everything flows from that. ‘Kindness is Everything’ doesn’t have the same political sting as the other phrases, but could be seen as a summary of them all. Does Scripture attest that Kindness is Everything? Well, yes. In the Psalms there are many references to God’s kindness; eg Psalm 84: 11 The Lord is our protector and glorious king, blessing us with kindness and honour. He does not refuse any good thing to those who do what is right. The prophets called for kindness as the way to live; eg Zechariah 7: 9 “Long ago I gave these commands to my people: ‘You must see that justice is done, and must show kindness and mercy to one another. Jesus challenged the religious people of his day summarising the commandments as kindness; Matthew 9: 13 Go and find out what is meant by the scripture that says: ‘It is kindness that I want, not animal sacrifices.’ I have not come to call respectable people, but outcasts.” Paul said kindness was one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit; Galatians 5: 22-23 The Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 humility, and self-control. Kindness, mercy and compassion are fairly interchangeable words. Jesus said; Luke 6: 36 Be kind just as your Father is kind. Reflection Here are some quotes from the website: kindnessiseverything.com
Reflective Action For your reflection, read through that list again and circle any thoughts that were new or were a good reminder. Maybe design a poster with one of the sayings and with links to actual times you received, witnessed or acted with kindness. These statements all feel warm and fuzzy, so how about this Scripture Verse? Psalm 141: 5 Good people may punish me and rebuke me in kindness. Every parent knows that there’s truth in that. We have to rebuke or in some way punish our children when the do the wrong thing- for their good (and everyone else’s good). But we’re not so easy to see it as kindness when it’s us being so rebuked or having something we want taken away from us. Some more difficult questions to ponder: 1 What if we reversed it and said Everything is Kindness? Would that work? Could we see the bad things that happen could actually be kindness? (This is hypothetical and standing back from real suffering) But maybe the person that so sadly died suddenly was spared a later, long drawn-out and painful death? We can’t know this, but maybe with an eternal view we could see this? Could Covid-19 actually be kindness by giving us a jolt that we might change our ways and prevent terrible devastation of the environment and socially through our greed and inequality as a human race? We can’t say, but I affirm that God can turn bad things into good for us if we ask. What difference would it make to our lives if we could imagine everything as kindness? 2 Is kindness enough? We usually think of acts of kindness as personal and individual. Are they enough to change the power of greedy and corrupt interests in our world: or do we need to pull on the levers of politics and public opinion and legislation to make change? It seems so slow- like two steps forward and two steps backwards. My faith gives me a hope that in this ‘dance’ God is stronger, love is more powerful, and the Holy Spirit is bringing the world to the place of peace, justice, sustainability, and spiritual life that Jesus envisioned. Prayers God of love and kindness, I open myself to be more of a channel of your kindness. Clean out the rubbish of wrong and regret so that it flows more easily through me. Prime my imagination with ways I can put love into action. May I know that all I give will be replenished by you Holy Spirit; and may my kindness grow a crop of goodness in my world and wider in your world. And in prayer I send love to situations where I may not be able to act: I pray for the whole Covid-19 situation: for those who are sick, those who are bereaved, for carers at risk, for leaders who have to make unpopular decisions in kindness, those who are losing their livelihoods and whose incomes are being reduced, and all who are finding the restrictions really hard – all throughout the world. We give thanks for the good progress that’s been made in Victoria. I pray for my loved ones in their needs . . . I pray for the issues in out local community . . . For our national issues . . . And I pray for myself with all that’s going on within me and around me . . . Give me physical and mental health, spiritual strength, and enough for life; and where I have so much more than enough help me to wear that responsibility and find the joy of sharing . . . And joined with others I pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil; for the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen Thanks for giving your time to read and reflect on these devotions. I’m conscious that if I’m thought of as a kind person, it’s because you who support the church create the opportunities for me to be so. Blessing In this time, may God fortify your inner being with hope and love. May they be expressed in actions of kindness. And like a goal assist- may you be able to receive kindness and set others up to be kind as well. What a blessing our interconnectedness with each other and the whole world is. From God. Amen |
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