Koonung Heights Uniting Church
Service of Worship at Home
Christmas 2 – 5 January 2025 – 10am or whenever possible
WORDS FOR THE BEGINNING – The road isn’t straight
You may like to light a candle during your time of worship.
Feel free to text the Peace to other members of the congregation.
During the service we will share communion so you may wish to have the elements ready.
Introit: “Bless the Lord” – (TiS 706)
Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God’s holy name.
Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life.
Lighting the Christ Candle:
For everything there is a season,
and a time for every purpose under heaven.
Today is the first Sunday in 2025,
and as we gather we light the Christ Candle.
In doing this, we acknowledge the light of Christ,
which shines, bringing light to our path,
and guiding us through the year.Acknowledgement of Country:
As we gather,
I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians
of these unceded lands and waters,
the Wurundjeri WoiWurrung People of the Kulin nations.
I pay my respects to their Elders, past and present,
and to all future leaders and generations.
May we commit ourselves to be people of the covenant,
listening, truth telling and seeking justice for all.
Call to Worship:
Mysterious wise men travelled from the east
seeking the child born to be king of the Jews.
May we like them go on a journey of discovery.
These wise one’s persisted through setbacks and wrong turns
until they found the Christ child.
May we seek until we find.
They worshipped him and offered him their most precious gifts.
May we, too, worship the Christ-child,
offering him our hearts and our all.
A Time to Reflect:
As we gather on the first Sunday of 2025,
let us pause to remember the year that has just finished.
Let us think about the good times … (time of silence)
the bad times and the hard times … (time of silence)
the successes and the failures … (time of silence)
those times we are glad to remember … (time of silence)
and those we would rather forget … (time of silence).
Let us take also take a moment to bring all this before God.
Let us pray ….
Loving God,
we thank you for the past year and all it entailed,
and for your presence as we journeyed through it.
Help us to leave behind all from 2024
that restricts us or holds us back,
and help us see the potential
and the opportunities that this new year brings.
Let us move forward in hope
and in the light of Christ,
with hearts and eyes open,
believing in your goodness and never-ending love.
Amen.
We Sing: “Here in this place new light is streaming” – (TiS 474)
Here in this place new light is streaming, now is the darkness vanished away,
see, in this space, our fears and our dreamings,
brought here to you in the light of this day.
Gather us in, the lost and forsaken, gather us in the blind and the lame;
call to us now, and we shall awaken, we shall arise at the sound of our name.
We are the young, our lives are a mystery, we are the old who yearn for your face;
we have been sung throughout all of history,
called to be light to the whole human race.
Gather us in, the rich and the haughty; gather us in, the proud and the strong;
give us a heart so meek and so lowly, give us the courage to enter the song.
Here we will take of the wine and the water,
here we will take the bread of new birth,
here you shall call your sons and your daughters,
call us anew to be salt of the earth.
Give us to drink the wine of compassion, give us to eat the bread that is you,
nourish us well, and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true.
Not in the dark of buildings confining, not in some heaven light years away,
but here in this space, the new light is shining, now is the kingdom, now is the day.
Gather us in, and hold us forever; gather us in, and make us your own;
gather us in, all peoples together, fire of love in our flesh and our bone.
Call to Prayer:
Friends, one of the gifts of prayer is that it allows us to begin again.
As we bring our praise and thanksgiving to God
we remind ourselves of all that has been made available to us,
and as we bring our confession we name our shortcomings and mistakes,
opening ourselves to receive God’s grace and start again.
Prayer is an act of beginning again and again,
so let us come and bring our prayers to God,
knowing that God is already doing something new.
Let us begin again.
Let us pray …
Prayer of Praise and Confession:
Loving God,
with joy we tune our hearts and minds to praise,
for you have carried us through the past year
and now open us to the whole of 2025.
You are the Creator,
the One who invented time, this world, and this universe,
and who has given us the gift of life with which to enjoy it.
You love us beyond what we can understand
and call us to love you, our neighbour and ourselves.
With your constant presence You continue to offer us
your guidance, healing, and strength.
For these things, and so much more, we praise and thank you.
God of new beginnings,
we admit that we often follow the well-worn path,
simply because others have been there before.
Sometimes this is holy and humble,
but there are days when a new path needs to be tread.
On those new-beginning days, O God,
give us the courage to follow your star.
Give us the courage to go home by another way.
Give us the courage to kick up some dust and walk in a new direction
for the sake of justice, love, and neighbour.
For when you are doing a new thing, we want to have the courage to follow.
With hope in our hearts we wander, we travel.
Amen.
Words of Assurance:
Fellow travellers,
no matter the roads you’ve taken,
the steps you’ve made,
or the paths you’ve travelled,
there is nowhere you could go
that would land you outside of God’s love.
Regardless of the path we travel,
of how lost we may get,
or the twists and turns along the way,
we do not walk alone.
We are loved. We are forgiven.
We have every chance to begin again.
Thanks be to God for a love like that!
The Peace:
God has greeted us with his peace. Let us now pass the peace of Christ to each other.
The Peace of Christ be with you … and also with you.
We Sing: “This is a day of new beginnings” – (TiS 653)
This is a day of new beginnings, time to remember, and move on,
time to believe what love is bringing, laying to rest the pain that’s gone.
For by the life and death of Jesus, God’s mighty Spirit, now as then,
can make for us a world of difference as faith and hope are born again.
Then let us, with the Spirit’s daring, step from the past, and leave behind
our disappointment, guilt and grieving, seeking new paths, and sure to find.
Christ is alive, and goes before us to show and share what love can do.
This is a day of new beginnings; our God is making all things new.
Reading: Isaiah 43:16-21
16 Thus says the Lord,
who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters,
17 who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior;
they lie down; they cannot rise;
they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:
18 Do not remember the former things
or consider the things of old.
19 I am about to do a new thing;
now it springs forth; do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.
20 The wild animals will honour me,
the jackals and the ostriches,
for I give water in the wilderness,
rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my chosen people,
21 the people whom I formed for myself
so that they might declare my praise.
Bible Reading: Matthew 2:1-12
The Visit of the Magi
1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east and have come to pay him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him, 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet:
6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah,
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ”
7 Then Herod secretly called for the magi and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9 When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Reflection:
Too often, we’ve been told that a successful life is a linear one. But in reality, our lives unfold with many unexpected twists and turns. As we embrace another year, we may find ourselves looking back at what was so that we can more surely move into what will be, yet the reality is that our paths are rarely straight. Rather as we move through life, our paths are woven with the very threads of life that twist and turn in ways we cannot imagine or expect. In our biblical texts for today, I believe there are truths that speak into this reality. The Magi follow a star, embarking on a long journey in a foreign land in order to honour the newborn Christ. Instead of returning to Herod as commanded, they trust their dreams and go home by another way. Their journey, one that they may never have even imagined undertaking, isn’t straightforward, but we see the promise of Isaiah fulfilled as God ‘makes a way in the wilderness’, enabling them to follow their intuition and diverge from the expected path as they travel home.
Each week in this series we have heard words of blessing, words that we need to hear again and again. The road isn’t straight is our reminder for this last week of the series. In our quilt square design for this week we see triangles pointing in multiple directions. This is a visual reminder that much like the journey of the magi, the path that lies ahead isn’t always clear or straight. What we can rely on, however, is that God travels all the paths we can go, with the Spirit lighting our way, so we are never journeying alone.
The timeless tale of the Magi from Matthew 2:1-12 paints a vivid picture of this truth. These wise travellers from the East didn’t follow a straightforward path to find Jesus. They were guided by dreams and stars, and their journey was filled with royal encounters and unforeseen detours. Their experience teaches us a comforting lesson about our winding paths: we can feel uncertain and lost at times, but that is okay. We don’t need to have everything figured out.
Sometimes, I wonder if the most profound moments in life come from taking a courageous turn that leads us away from what we had meticulously planned. Maybe it’s a change of direction that we feel called to, but others can’t seem to get their heads around – a career change later in life, embracing a particular lifestyle, or taking a stand for justice because you can’t just sit quietly anymore.
King Herod, steeped in ulterior motives, directed the Magi to report back where the Christ child was. But after being divinely warned in a dream, the Magi chose not to return to Herod, opting to leave ‘by another road’. Their decision to embrace alternative paths, possibly at personal risk, challenges us as we think about our own journeys. The Magi were willing to have their assumptions challenged and plans changed. The same is true for us. We don’t have to have all the answers or an obstacle-free path because hope is what empowers our journey.
I also wonder if sometimes the pathways we have laid out for ourselves, the straight and narrow ways we assume we are to take, are not our only options. As we move forward in faith, we will all have opportunities to decide between conforming to external expectations and following God’s path. Following the Spirit’s stirrings may lead us down paths we might never have imagined. How did an office manager end up being a minister … because I followed the Spirit’s stirrings in my own heart and in the words of those around me. Did this lead me out of my comfort zone? Yes, but it let me to the place that I am meant to be, and has been much more life-giving than I could have imagined.
It is also important to remember that we don’t have to know where we are going to know that God is with us. The words we read from Isaiah 43 testify to this truth with a powerful promise: God makes a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. This prophetic assurance paints a vivid picture of God’s active presence in our lives: creating paths where none seem to exist and inviting us to embrace the new things God is doing. It’s a divine invitation to move forward, learn from the past, and step into new possibilities. I can also say that’s been part of my experience.
Whatever journey we are on, we are never alone in it. Like the Magi, we are often called to take unexpected paths and find new ways. Every journey carries risks and revelations, but God actively carves paths in the wilderness, guiding us through uncharted territories with the promise of making all things new. Just as each step the Magi took brought them closer to the star and the Christ-child, each movement forward in faith brings us closer to where we truly belong. Having this perspective empowers us to face the uncertainties of our journey with courage, knowing God is with us in the detours. And when we journey with God, each step brings us closer to all that God has in store for us.
In the last year, we have been on a journey that many of us would not have expected only twelve months ago. As two congregations on the amalgamation journey, I am sure we are moving forward with a mixture of feelings which might include some excitement, apprehension and grief. Yet we do not take these steps alone, but with God who is calling us to this new thing that will be birthed.
As we move forward, may we find comfort in knowing that, like the Magi, the light of God will guide us. May we rest in the hope that we do not go alone, but that the love that knowns our name goes alongside us and before us. May this assurance fill us with peace and courage, and keep us open to the new and unexpected paths that God may reveal in the days to come.
Amen.
Affirmation of Faith:
We believe in a with-us God,
a God who is beside us
in the mountains and valleys,
holding our hand through every bump and turn.
And in the chaos of our journey,
we believe that God sees what we cannot always see:
a path home by another way.
Therefore, trusting in this ever-present and guiding God,
we lace up our shoes.
We look for God’s fingerprints in the world.
We trust that there are paths still unexplored,
paths that God has only begun to invite us down.
And like the Magi, we dare to follow.
May it be so,
Amen.
We Sing: “The road winds ever on” – (Tune: Divinium Mysterium)
Fears of straying from the pathway planted deep in childhood,
come to haunt us when the road ends and the way ahead is obscured.
Then the Spirit wraps around us to protect and reassure –
and the road winds ever on.
All our best laid plans can shatter, leaving us to mourn the loss
of the future we imagined, and feel like our life is on pause.
At the edge the Spirit’s waiting there to ferry us across –
and the road winds ever on.
A world constantly in motion evades our attempts to know
what may be around the corner, or where any road will go.
So the Spirit stirs within us to be carried by the flow –
and the road winds ever on.
Prayer for Others (written by Bryan Long):
Note the prayer response this morning
God of love hear our prayer … and make us a blessing to others.
Let us pray,
Silence is one of the profound ways of entering into prayer – so let’s just be silent for a short time as we begin this New Year in prayer.
Loving God, as we look to the year ahead, we do so with wonder and praise, knowing that whatever the year brings you will be with us, knowing that however lost we get you will find us, knowing that you love the greatest and the weakest, the oldest and the youngest, the wises and the foolish.
We pray for our world, that these multi crisis we face can become an opportunity, and that this year might begin to mark the end of conflicts, pain and injustice around the world. that 2025 may find the news not dominated by greed and fear, war and violence, but provide hope and expectation.
God of love hear our prayer … and make us a blessing to others.
As an election approaches here in Australia we pray for our politicians to be sensitive to their constituents. The task they have is not easy, but we pray that you will guide them in governing with compassion, decency and especially in creating a more equitable society.
God of love hear our prayer … and make us a blessing to others.
We hold before you those who have positions of extensive influence; sports stars, TV identities, radio hosts, those who control newspapers, the internet and social media, that they may use their influence for the good of the community.
We lament that post-truth, fake news and misinformation have permeated our world. We lament that our young people are learning to doubt objective truth. Lord, help us to strive for truth in all that we do, that we may reflect your goodness.
God of love hear our prayer … and make us a blessing to others.
Loving God, bring us back into harmony with your creation. As we contemplate the damage that we have inflicted upon this beautiful planet, give us the wisdom to know that we, as individuals can make a difference, by the things we do, and by speaking out. We give thanks for those whose courage has awoken the world into action, and ask that the eyes of all be opened to the task before us, to live as stewards of this fragile earth.
God of love hear our prayer … and make us a blessing to others.
God of community – we pray for our two congregations – our brothers and sisters in Christ, for those who are anxious about the future, for those struggling with their faith, for those who minister among us, for all your people in this place. We think of our ministers and our church leaders as they plan for a new faith community in your name … and we pray that all who come here may find a warm welcome. We pray especially for Russell & Sophie Croxford as they seek new ministry leadership in the UC.
God of love hear our prayer … and make us a blessing to others.
Caring God, we entrust to your tender care those who are ill or in pain, knowing that you are there to hold them safe. We pray for those who are hurting in our own congregations. Comfort, heal, and restore them to health and strength. Give skill and compassion to all who are caring for them. We name silently before you now, all those who are dear to us …
(time of silence)
God of love hear our prayer … and make us a blessing to others.
God of hope,
When it seems that there is no hope, you show us new ways forward. When it seems that there are only endings, you show us new beginnings. Strengthen our belief in the powers of life over death – of truth over falsehood – of love over despair – that we may be bearers of hope in the world.
Amen.
Star Words:
The use of star words, also called “star gifts,” is a prayer practice connected to Epiphany and the new year that has been growing in popularity in Protestant churches for nearly a decade now. The idea is that a list of intention words, or guiding words, are written or printed, and during the service you are invited to draw a word, and to use that word as a guiding word throughout the year.
We trust that God uses multiple ways to guide us and speak to us. A star word is offered as a tool to actively seek and reflect on God’s presence among us.
Today, you will be invited to draw a star word as you take communion. You are encouraged to trust the word you have drawn and place it somewhere you will see it regularly throughout the year. This will allow you to reflect on how God has moved through, around, or in connection to that word and in your life, during the year.
Communion:
Invitation to the Table
Once again we find ourselves at Christ’s Table.
No matter how the road twists and turns,
it somehow always leads us here, to God’s abundant grace.
But it’s no surprise that we’ve ended up face to face with God,
because God is around every corner.
Like the Magi, we travel not knowing where our journey will end,
but we can trust God to provide respite along the way
in a piece of bread shared, in the cup poured out,
in our community’s warm embrace.
We worship a hospitable God whose arms are always open.
There’s space for you here, and God is saving you a seat.
So bring your weary feet and grateful hearts.
Bring your hunger, your curiosity, your joy and your sorrow.
Bring your whole self to this Table.
Come, let us meet God here.
Let us pray.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
Ever-present God, our traveling companion,
we follow every path in search of you.
Sometimes we run as fast as we can,
taking every shortcut like a child eager to arrive at the promised destination.
Sometimes we find ourselves wandering,
unsure of whether we’re following the trail or forging our own way.
Sometimes we just need to lie down and stare up at the stars,
resting before we set out once again.
Wherever we are, we know you are right beside us.
Holy God, we follow every path in search of you,
and yet, you are already here.
You have been with us all along, leaving breadcrumbs of grace.
Let the taste of this bread and cup open our eyes to the places we’ve met you.
Let these star words remind us to seek you out in even the most unexpected places.
Guide us, invite us, challenge us in the year ahead,
and remind us that we are yours, your beloved,
whom you have claimed, redeemed, and called good.
We ask all these things in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray, saying …
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name;
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and 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.
The Story of the Last Supper
Every time we gather at this table, we tell the same story –
the story of a Messiah who gathered his friends together for one last supper,
the story of a Messiah who loves us so much
that he keeps on offering us a seat at the table.
On the night of Jesus betrayal and arrest, as he shared a meal with his friends,
Jesus took bread; gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to his followers, saying:
“Share this bread among you; this is my body which will be broken for justice.
Do this to remember me.”
When supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks and gave it to his disciples, saying:
“Share this wine among you; this is my blood which will be shed for liberation.
Do this to remember me.”
Invocation
Pour out your Spirit on this ordinary meal,
that in this bread and cup we may glimpse a new day.
May the sight of everyone being welcomed at this Table
remind us that all are loved by you.
May the evidence that there is food for all
remind us that no one is meant to go hungry.
May the fact that our own sin, shame, and doubt do not keep us from this Table
remind us that you welcome and love us as we are.
And may all of these Communion truths serve as building blocks for a new day,
for a new beginning.
Amen.
The Pouring, Breaking and Serving
Christ is the bread of life,
food for healing and wholeness.
Christ is the cup of hope, wellspring of new life.
These are the gifts of God for the people of God.
All is prepared so come, eat and drink.
(Eat and drink)
Prayer after Communion
Holy God who lights our way,
we thank you for this moment of respite along the journey,
a moment to be filled with good things,
to be reminded of our beloved-ness
and sent out to be your hands and feet in the world.
Though we’d often prefer a straightforward, step-by-step plan for our lives,
you’ve instead given us an invitation to wander, to seek,
to take a different road, to be guided by a star.
May these star words be a map to you,
guiding us to look under every rock and around every corner,
seeking you out everywhere,
because everywhere is exactly where you are.
And next year, when the road leads back to this very place,
may we find that you were with us every step of the way.
With hope we pray, Amen.
We Sing: “Sent forth by God’s blessing” – (TiS 531)
Sent forth by God’s blessing, our true faith confessing,
the people of God from God’s table take leave.
The supper is ended: may now be extended
the fruits of God’s service in all who believe.
The seed of God’s teaching, our hungry souls reaching,
shall blossom in action for all humankind.
God’s grace shall incite us, God’s love shall unite us
to work for the kingdom, God’s purpose to find.
With praise and thanksgiving to God ever-living
the tasks of our everyday life we will face,
our faith ever sharing, in love ever caring,
embracing as neighbours all those of each race.
One feast that has fed us, one light that has led us,
unite us as one in the life that we share.
Then may all the living, with praise and thanksgiving,
give honour to Christ and his name that we bear.
Blessing:
As you leave this place,
may you have the wisdom to lean on one another.
May you have the courage to hold onto hope,
the compassion to do the good that is yours to do,
and the confidence to trust that God sees you as a blessing.
For in a world full of dead ends,
we are invited to begin again.
So start here. Start now.
Start with love and begin again.
In the name of Christ, our new beginning,
go in peace.
Amen.
Thanks to all those who have assisted in preparation for this liturgy with encouragement, prayers and conversation. I have also utilised the following resources:
A Sanctified Art (Words for the Beginning) and Fig Tree Worship Resources.