Koonung Heights Uniting Church
Service of Worship at Home
Pentecost 11 – 13 August 2023 – 10am or whenever possible
You may like to light a candle during your time of worship.
Feel free to text the Peace to other members of the congregation.
Introit: “Bless the Lord, my soul” (TiS 706 – words below)
Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God’s holy name.
Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life.
Candle Lighting:
As we light the Christ Candle today,
we remember that Christ is our light,
the light that shines in the darkness and cannot be extinguished.
We also remember that when the light shines
even the darkest places are not so scary.
May the light of Christ continue to shine before us and within us.
Acknowledgement of Country:
As we gather to worship this day,
I acknowledge the traditional custodians
of this land and these waters,
the Wurundjeri WoiWurrung People
of the Kulin Nation.
I pay my respects to elders past and present,
and to all future leaders and generations.
As First and Second Peoples walking together,
may we commit ourselves to be people of the covenant,
listening, truth telling and seeking justice for all.
Call to Worship:
Here in this space,
we wear our hearts on our sleeves.
There is no use of filters or walls.
This space is an authentic space.
This space is a brave space.
For when it comes to God,
we are always invited
to bring our full selves into the room.
So come into this space with
your hurt and your joy,
your prayers and your dreams.
All of God’s children are welcome here!
So, let us come and worship God.
Prayer of Adoration:
Creator of all, Sustainer of all, Saviour of all,
your glory and majesty are beyond our understanding,
your power too awesome to behold,
and yet your love enfolds us as a gentle breeze.
Saviour of all, Sustainer of all, Creator of all,
we praise you and thank you for all you have given us,
and for the blessings that continue to come our way.
We thank you that we can gather and worship you today.
Amen.
We Sing: “Glory to God above!” – (TiS 94 – words below)
Glory to God above! Heavens declare his love;
praise him, you angels, praise him all you high and heavenly host.
Worship him, sun and moon; stars, complement their tune;
grounded in God’s good purpose let his grace become your boast.
O sing hallelujah and praise God for ever evermore!
Glory to God below let depths of ocean show;
lightning and hail, snow, wind and cloud perform at his command!
Let every mountain range, forest and grove and grange,
creatures of earth and air and sea praise God in every land.
O sing hallelujah and praise God for ever evermore.
‘Glory to God your King!’ leaders and people sing;
women and men of every age unite to praise the Lord.
Worship God’s holy name and let your lives proclaim
God’s saving power extends to those who love and serve his word.
O sing hallelujah and praise God for evermore.
Call to confession:
When we gather together we are quick to wave and say hello,
to pass the peace, to comment on the weather, to make small talk and show hospitality;
but how often do we go below the surface?
How often do we sit next to the same people, week after week,
oblivious to the things they might be carrying?
Family of faith, I believe God wants a deeper connection for us than that,
so listen now to our prayer of confession and then join me in silent prayer.
Let us listen. Let us pray.
Prayer of Confession:
I’ve been meaning to ask …
How are you?
What has your year been like?
Did you know that I have been thinking of you?
I have been meaning to ask
Is your mum okay?
Did your sister find a job?
Did you ever think we’d still be here?
I’ve been meaning to ask …
Did it get easier?
Did the grief subside?
Were you ever able to sleep at night?
I’ve been meaning to ask but I haven’t –
because it’s hard.
because I want to say the right thing.
because I’m not sure what you need.
I’ve been meaning to ask, but I haven’t, and so I’m sorry for my silence.
Forgive me. Show me wear it hurts.
Let’s start again.
Family of faith,
we could all use some practice in asking where it hurts.
In a moment of silent prayer,
think of the people in your world and in your lives,
who may need you to reach out and ask.
Give their names to God.
(time of silence)
Trusting that God hears all things, we say together:
Amen.
Words of Assurance:
Family of faith,
in the journey to love and care for one another,
we are bound to make mistakes.
Fortunately for us,
we worship a God who showed us how to love,
and who extends grace to us
even when we fail to do so for others.
So hear and believe the good news of the gospel:
We are seen.
We are heard.
We are loved.
We are forgiven.
Thanks be to God for this endless grace.
Amen.
The Peace:
The peace of the risen Christ be with you
and also with you.
A Time for All: Unpacking the “No”
I’m Rosalind, usually known as Rose, convenor of the Social Justice Group at Koonung Heights.
The question to be put to the Australian people at the 2023 referendum will be:
“A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?”
Over the last several weeks we have heard members of the Social Justice Group talking about the Voice, answering some of the questions raised at our Pentecost lunch and sharing their reasons for deciding to vote Yes at the Referendum.
In the interests of fair play, I have the job of analysing the “Reasons to vote no” pamphlet.
It’s quite clever, they must have had a good marketing manager. All the words they use in the summary are emotive, the kind of words that push the ‘fear’ button we all have. “Risky, Unknown, Divisive, Permanent” – can’t you see the dark, threatening shapes hover?
But what truth is there to support these words.
Take RISKY
The claim of the No pamphlet is that “no issue is beyond the reach of the Voice and the High Court would ultimately determine its powers, not the Parliament”. I will confess that I didn’t really know what was meant by that, but when I looked into it I discovered it to be – well not exactly a lie – but definitely a stretch of the truth.
The No position is that there is “no comparable constitutional body anywhere in the world” but it seems they have not really done their research on this as Canada, New Zealand and the Nordic countries all have something similar in place for their First Nations Peoples.
The Voice will be an advisory body on issues relating to First Nations People. Does that pose a risk to the rest of us? The Parliament may or may not decide to act on the advice given, but at least it will be given by the people involved and not imposed by others, however well meaning.
What about UNKNOWN
What we know is that the Parliament will decide the composition of the Voice. As Harriet pointed out three weeks ago – our elected representatives will provide the structure.
Then there is DIVISIVE
As if we can overlook all the divisions in our society – the rich and the poor, men and women (remember affirmative action!). There is a huge divide already between First and Second Peoples statistically obvious in areas such as life expectancy, imprisonment and removal of children from parents. The Voice would be the opposite of divisive.
And lastly PERMANENT
Well, all I can say to that is “good” – given how many theoretically indigenous bodies have come and gone under different governments.
So, for my money, the “no” position as stated is clever but twisted, an advertising campaign playing on our emotions, not an honest evaluation of the situation. A proposal that once had bi partisan support has now become a political football. I hope we can be big enough to see it as an issue of justice and reconciliation as our First Nations People offered it.
For those who wish to follow up in more detail, I have included a link to the Guardian newspaper’s Fact Check of the No Case position on the Koonung Heights website.
Let us pray …
Dear Lord,
We want to thank and praise you for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family,
sisters and brothers to whom you have revealed so many truths,
about yourself and about your creation.
Thank you for the generous, gracious and faithful ways
they have shared these truths with us – through relationship,
through stories, through art, through song, through care for country.
This year we have the exciting opportunity to move forward
on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander justice.
Please help the non-Indigenous church here in Australia listen deeply
to our Indigenous brothers and sisters calls for justice,
for a Voice, for treaty and truth telling.
Help us echo, amplify and fight for these calls to come true because,
as followers of Jesus, you have called us to be people of love,
to be people who pursue reconciliation and justice.
We have ignored this call in the past, forgive us, help us not to fail now.
In the lead up to the referendum God,
please protect our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family
as they encounter people and spaces and structures that are not safe,
that wish them harm,
that presume to know what is best without listening to what is being asked for,
that spread misinformation and choose self comfort over justice.
Surround their hearts and spirits and communities with your love.
Help the non-Indigenous church to also surround them with our love and support.
And in the midst of what will be an exhausting year,
remind our Aboriginal and Torres Strait brothers and sisters that it is ok to rest,
to take care of themselves,
that their day to day lives are important to you,
and that you love them and want them to flourish.
Thank you for loving us Lord, please help us love you and each other and your world.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
(Meredith Walker-Harding’s Prayer for Voice and Justice – listentotheheart.org.au)
Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 1:1-18 –
Samuel’s Birth and Dedication
1 There was a certain man of Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives; the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3 Now this man used to go up year by year from his town to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. 4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters, 5 but to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. 6 Her rival used to provoke her severely, to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 So it went on year by year; as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”
9 After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and presented herself before the Lord. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. 10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 She made this vow: “O Lord of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite until the day of his death. He shall drink neither wine nor intoxicants, and no razor shall touch his head.”
12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 14 So Eli said to her, “How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your wine.” 15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation all this time.” 17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him.” 18 And she said, “Let your servant find favour in your sight.” Then the woman went her way and ate and drank with her husband, and her countenance was sad no longer.
Bible Reading: Mark 5:21-43 –
A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed
21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him, and he was by the sea. 22 Then one of the leaders of the synagogue, named Jairus, came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet 23 and pleaded with him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24 So he went with him.
And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. 25 Now there was a woman who had been suffering from a flow of blood for twelve years. 26 She had endured much under many physicians and had spent all that she had, and she was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 for she said, “If I but touch his cloak, I will be made well.” 29 Immediately her flow of blood stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my cloak?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 He looked all around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
35 While he was still speaking, some people came from the synagogue leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing[b] what they said, Jesus said to the synagogue leader, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” 37 He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38 When they came to the synagogue leader’s house, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” 42 And immediately the girl stood up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. 43 He strictly ordered them that no one should know this and told them to give her something to eat.
We Sing: “Comfort, comfort all my people” – (TiS 647 – words below)
Comfort, comfort all my people with the comfort of my Word.
Speak it tender to my people: all your sins are taken away.
Though your tears be rivers running, though your tears be an ocean full,
though you cry with the hurt of living: comfort, comfort.
Every valley shall be lifted, every mountain shall be low,
every rough place will be smoother: comfort, comfort.
Comfort, comfort …
Though your eyes see only darkness, though your eyes can see no light,
though your eyes see pain and sorrow: comfort, comfort.
Every night will have its morning, every pain will have an end,
every burden will be lightened: comfort, comfort.
Comfort, comfort …
Reflection:
“Where does it hurt? Come on, you can tell me.” As both a parent and someone who has worked with children, I have asked this question more than once. Maybe the hurt was reasonably obvious – a scraped knee or a tummy ache – something that could be fixed with a band-aid, a cuddle and a little rest. Sometimes it was more complex that that – hurt felt because of an unkind word, frustration at not being able to complete a task, an unexpected loss, or simply not getting your own way. As we get older it seems that we hold more of our pain inside and often need much more than a band-aid to fix it. This pain can sit deeply and surface when we don’t expect it. Earlier this week I was speaking with my Auntie who had turned 90 and had been taken out for lunch by her three nephews. She starting talking about her life and was reflecting with me that there were things she had always thought she would do, but never had. She commented on the fact she had never married or had children, something she would have loved to have done. She followed that up by saying that she had been lucky enough to do things others might have missed out on, like travel the world, but I am left wondering whether she still feels some pain and a sense of loss.
“Where does it hurt?” This week’s question is a humanising one, acknowledging that we all feel pain as part of our human condition. Each one of us has known pain and suffering, and the pain each one of us feels should not be diminished even though our experiences can be vastly different from one another. This question is not about who has the most pain, but the realisation that painful things happen to each one of us. If we really want to connect with one another at a deeper level, we need to acknowledge the pain that others carry and the pain that we carry ourselves. The pain for each one of us is real, and when we bear witness to the pain of another, this helps us cultivate compassion. Compassion, is not about providing an answer, but about being present, valuing the person who is sharing, and bearing witness to the pain.
Both of the texts we are invited to engage with this week, are stories of pain, but I feel it’s important to name something else too. Both texts touch on the common struggles related to fertility and health, and while they are the stories of women, I would like to acknowledge that it is not only the women who might be affected. While the stories are told from their points of view, when reflecting on these texts, we need to acknowledge the men who are also affected by the same struggles. We also need to be aware of the harm we can do to one another when we neglect the emotional, physical, individual, historical and systemic wounds that exist among us.
In 1 Samuel, Hannah’s pain is ignored, diminished and mocked. Yet, Hannah vulnerably and courageously bears all of herself before God, which transforms Eli’s perspective. She finds release by being fully seen and known by God, and by Eli’s acknowledgement. In the dual healing story of the haemorrhaging woman and Jairus’ daughter, we acknowledge those who suffer chronically and in isolation, as well as the pain of a parent whose child is gravely ill.
Sometimes people hurt in silence or hide their pain because it isn’t the sort of thing that should be shared in public. Some learn how to smile through the platitudes. Others believe that because their pain has been invalidated or ignored so many times that something about their feelings or experiences is disgraceful. It can be easier to bury emotions for fear of how they might be perceived. In the book of Samuel, Hannah has been belittled, patronized, and provoked for her infertility – a bodily condition over which she has no control. Somehow, Hannah is able to share her pain with a humble and dignified honesty that trusts that there is no “right” or “proper” way to feel. After Hannah explains how she is feeling in her own words, she finds some peace. She is also finally acknowledged and respected Eli. Even though Eli is not able to provide an immediate solution for Hannah, he is able to accept her hurting and pray for her. In this way he is present, even when he cannot fix things. If we are ever going to be people who bring peace and healing to this hurting world, we must be willing to pause and bear witness to pain—to our own and others’. Like Hannah, with dignity and honesty we can embrace our stories without shame, trusting that God is present and ever listening. In turn, instead of shirking away or delegitimising, we can perceive and accept the pain of others, and like the God we follow, stand alongside those who suffer.
In the passage from Mark we find Jesus in the midst of human life in all its realness. He is on the way to a girl who is critically ill and finds himself in the press of the crowd. A woman touches him and Jesus stops, turns around, acknowledges and takes notice. He listens to this woman who has been hurting and ostracised for a long time. Even though he is on his way somewhere else, and I expect has an anxious father trying to move him along, he stops and is present to this woman. Her hurt has been pushed aside, but as Jesus speaks with her he disrupts prejudice and reinstates her in the community. He then continues on his way and enters a stagnant, grief filled room. He reaches out and touches the body of a girl already thought to be lost and heals her. Jesus’ healing of the girl disrupts death itself.
In light of this, I wonder how we might allow Jesus to disrupt us so that we are able to acknowledge others’ pain and seek life together? How might Jesus’ example call us to put ourselves in the uncomfortable places of life where human beings live, breathe and hurt. We need to be in these places, because these are the places where we also find Jesus, the One who is always present and bears witness to pain.
Tell me – where does it hurt?
I’m not offering to fix the pain – I’m not that powerful –
but I am offering to see it.
Show me your scars,
and I’ll show you that you are not alone.
Amen.
We Sing: “A Covenant of Grace” – (TiS 654 – words below)
We all come from the dusty earth and from the places of our birth
Ancestral stories, who we’ll be, we bring it all to “come and see”.
We all have wounds that no one sees – oppression, trauma, and disease
When we bear witness to the pain it can begin to heal again.
Prayer for Others (prepared by Wendy & Graham Ray)
Let us pray.
Loving God, we bring this prayer, and our own prayers before You today.
We give thanks for our church community.
As individuals we have gifts. Together, as a community, following Your example, we have the ability to make the world a better place.
We pray for our troubled world at this time.
We pray for those countries in crisis – experiencing war, excessive heat, fires, and floods; for those affected by hunger, persecution and injustice.
We pray that leaders around the world will have wisdom, insight and a sense of justice.
May all people work together for peace and harmony, seeking the common good.
There are those Lord in our local communities, who need your strength and healing.
We think of those who may be homeless, experiencing difficult family situations, coping with ongoing health issues, or unsure of their future direction.
We pray that they will experience Your presence and come to know Your love.
In a moment of silence, we each bring before You the prayer that is on our minds at this time.
(time of silence)
We pray that You will continue to bless this church, with Your love.
Keep it close to the path You have shown us.
We pray for joyful worship, warm fellowship, inclusive outreach, and gracious interaction with others.
As Your hands and feet in the world, may we follow Your healing example.
This we pray, saying the Lord’s Prayer together …
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.
We Sing: “Community of Christ” – (TiS 473 – words below)
Community of Christ, who make the Cross your own,
live out your creed and risk your life for God alone:
the God who wears your face,
to whom all worlds belong,
whose children are of every race and every song.
Community of Christ, look past the Church’s door
and see the refugee, the hungry, and the poor.
Take hands with the oppressed, the jobless in your street,
take towel and water, that you wash your neighbours feet.
Community of Christ, through whom the word must sound –
cry out for justice and for peace the whole world round:
disarm the powers that war and all that can destroy,
turn bombs to bread, and tears of anguish into joy.
When menace melts away, so shall God’s will be done,
the climate of the world be peace and Christ its Sun;
our currency be love and kindliness our law,
our food and faith be shared as one for evermore.
Blessing:
Family of faith, as you leave this place, may God grant you
the curiosity to counter assumptions, the vulnerability to befriend,
the bravery to speak your truth, the wisdom to listen,
the strength to ask for help, the resiliency to choose love, even when it’s hard,
and the awareness of the Holy Spirit always beside you.
In the name of the Great Connector – Love itself – 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:- Fig Tree Worship and A Sanctified Art, including prayers by Rev Sarah Are.