Koonung Heights – Surrey Hills Uniting Church
Service of Worship at Home
Pentecost 8 – 3 August 2025 – 10am or whenever possible
All-Age Worship – Pyjama Day
Crossroads of Culture and Faith – Story
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 might like to have the elements ready.
Introit: “Wominjeka Everyone” – (Tune Clementine)
Wominjeka, wominjeka, wominjeka everyone.
Wominjeka, wominjeka, wominjeka everyone.
Lighting the Christ Candle:
We light the Christ Candle today remembering Jesus,
his life among us, and that we all walk in his story.
May this light illuminate the stories within us,
stories that shine light on the story of Jesus.
Acknowledgement of Country:
As we come to worship together,
let us acknowledge where we are.
Here is the land, here is the sky.
Here are my friends, and here am I.
We gather today on traditional Land.
With our First Nations people we’ll walk hand in hand.
We’d like to say thank you for letting us share
the land that you love, and we promise to care.
Call to Worship:
‘In the beginning’
is just the start of an ancient story
still being told.
Not just in the printed word,
but in the living word.
We are a part of that story still.
So let us gather to worship
the One who writes our story anew every day.
We Sing: “Morning has broken” – (TiS 156)
Morning has broken like the first morning;
blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning,
praise for them, springing fresh from the word.
Sweet the rain’s new fall sunlit from heaven,
like the first dewfall on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,
sprung from completeness where his feet pass.
Mine is the sunlight; mine is the morning
born of the one light Eden saw play.
Praise with elation, praise ever morning,
God’s recreation of the new day.
Prayer:
Everlasting God,
you have called us here today
to hear your word,
to worship and praise you.
We give thanks for the multitude of stories,
stories told throughout time,
stories that have enriched our lives.
We thank you for writers and storytellers
who share messages of love and truth,
for letters and history,
for song and law and parable,
for stories that challenge and stretch us,
and ones that help us know you.
We thank you that you are part of our story,
and we ask that you forgive us
when we forget to share your story.
Give us courage to share what you mean in our lives.
Amen
Words of Assurance:
No matter what people see when they look at us,
God sees the story written deep within our hearts.
No matter what our story might say,
we are loved and invited to be part of God’s story.
This is good news.
Thanks be to God.
Why PJ Day?
PJ Day had a long history at Surrey Hills Uniting Church. Beginning 20 years ago, as a way to involve the congregation in inter-generational worship, and connect the youth groups winter sleep out at the time. As part of the youth group we would ‘sleep-out’ in the (not so warm!) church hall, as part of Melbourne city missions winter sleepout to support those sleeping rough. We raised money for many years for Melbourne City Missions annual PJ day appeal/winter sleep out, and more recently Whitehorse Churches Care.
PJ Day has always been a highlight, with the young people in particular looking forward to the day for many weeks (or months) in advance! Always celebrated as an all-age service, we are grateful to be able to share this as part of the new congregation.
We Sing: “Christ be our light” – (The Source 1409)
Longing for light, we wait in darkness. Longing for darkness, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people; light for the world to see.
Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts, shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light! Shine in your church gathered today.
Longing for peace, our world is troubled. Longing for hope, many despair.
Your word alone has power to save us. Make us your living voice.
Christ be our light! …
Longing for food, many are hungry. Longing for water, many still thirst.
Make us your bread, broken for others, shared until all are fed.
Christ be our light!
Longing for shelter, many are homeless. Longing for warmth, many are cold.
Make us your building, sheltering others, walls made of living stone.
Christ, be our light!
Many the gifts, many the people, many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another, making your kingdom come.
Christ, be our light! …
Come, listen to a story – a retelling of a story told to King David by the Prophet Nathan
Once, said Nathan, there were two men who lived in the same town. One man was rich, and the other man was poor.
The rich man had huge herds of goats and sheep and many cattle.
The poor man had only one little ewe lamb. He had bought this lamb and taken good care of it. The lamb had grown up with the poor man’s children. It shared his food and drank from his cup. The lamb trusted the poor man and often fell asleep in his arms. This lamb was like a child to the poor man. He loved it.
David smiled. He could picture the scene. There were rich men and poor men in his kingdom. Rich men’s flocks and herds were cared for by family members or paid employees. Poor men were often very close to their animals.
One day, said Nathan, the rich man had a visitor. The laws of hospitality bound him to provide a meal for his guest. Although he had large flocks and herds, he did not want to kill one of his own animals. Instead, he went to the poor man’s house took his pet lamb and killed it and cooked it for his guest.
David exploded! How dare the rich man do that? How could he be so cruel? Did he not care about the poor man? About his love for the lamb? About his poverty? Such a man deserved to die! At the very least he should buy the poor man four lambs to replace the lamb he had killed and eaten!
And Nathan said to David, you are that man! You have lands and herds. You rule nations.
And you kill and steal.
This story is found in 2 Samuel 12:1-9 if you want to find it and read it again.
Bible Reading: Luke 9:1-6
Please click on the link to view this as a stop-motion animation created by Coen.
1 Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey: no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money – not even an extra tunic. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. 5 Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 So they departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere.
Reflection:
Today we understand truth to be held in facts, but a lot of truth is held in story. Stories also hold morals, visions and challenges. Stories provoke emotion, insight and conscious in a way that ‘facts’ never can. Stories bring us into situations and as we are immersed with them, we can grasp some of the broader feelings and emotions that are tied up in the choices the characters, and we ourselves, make. The story that the prophet Nathan told David did just this – it not only provoked emotion in David, but it convicted him of what he had done.
The Bible is, in fact, full of stories. The most important is the story of Jesus told by different writers. Their stories tell us how Jesus lived, died and rose again. Their stories also tell us how Jesus encouraged his disciples to tell the story of God’s love to others. We have heard part of that story today.
Actually, we hear some of Jesus’ story each time we share Communion together. So let’s enter the story together now, as we set the Communion table and engage in a mindfulness exercise.
So when we say Mindfulness what do we mean? Mindfulness is simply paying attention. It’s making space to notice what’s within us and around us. It’s not about emptying our minds – but about being fully present. Present to the story. Present to God. Present to one another.
Before we gather at the table, let’s take a moment to become still. Stillness can feel unusual in our busy world. But throughout Scripture, God speaks in the silence – in the quiet of the garden, the stillness of the cave, and the calm after the storm.
Let’s take this moment not to rush into Communion, but to arrive – to become aware, to settle our hearts, and to open ourselves to what this table has to offer.
I invite you now to sit comfortably, feet resting on the ground if you’re able. Close your eyes, or soften your gaze. Let your hands rest quietly.
Take a slow breath in … and out.
Again, in … and out.
Notice your breath. Notice the weight of your body on the seat. Notice the people beside you – the shared warmth of community.
As we sit here together in silence the communion table is going to be set for you. I will introduce a different symbol that forms an important part of the communion story, one of our young people will bring it forward and place it on the table we have set up the front.
As each item is brough forward I will give you a question to silently reflect on. To help you focus and be in the moment and to reflect on each symbol.
The Welcome Table – A Communion Reflection
Wominjeka Sign
This means welcome. Come with purpose.
Who are we inviting to come today?
The Tablecloth This cloth makes the table ready for everyone.
How can we make space in our lives for others—especially those who might feel left out or forgotten?
The Bread This reminds us of Jesus, who shared meals with all kinds of people.
What does it mean to share what we have—not just food, but time, kindness, and care?
The Cup
This cup is filled with love and promise.
Who in our community needs to know they are loved and not alone?”
An Extra Plate or Chair This is for someone who isn’t here yet. Maybe someone who’s lonely, or someone who doesn’t have a home.
How can we be ready to welcome them?
A crochet rug
This rug has been donated today to give to the homeless.
Today as we stand in our PJ’s and make donations to Melbourne City Mission how will your donation today help someone in need?
A Candle or Light
This light reminds us that even in dark times, we can bring hope.
What small light can we shine this week?”
At this table everyone is welcome. We don’t need to bring much – just open hearts, willing hands, and the courage to care.
We Sing: “Father welcomes all his children” – (TiS 491)
Father welcomes all his children to his family through his Son;
Father giving his salvation, life for ever has been won.
Little children, come to me, for my kingdom is of these;
life and love I have to give, mercy for your sin.
Father welcomes …
In the water, in the word, in his promise, be assured:
those who are baptised and believe shall be born again.
Father welcomes …
Let us daily die to sin, let us daily rise with him<
walk in the love of Christ our Lord, live in the peace of God.
Father welcomes …
Communion:
The Peace
The peace of the Lord be with you and also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
God you have been with us since the beginning.
You have never left us or forsaken us.
You continually encourage and confirm us, holding us up to what we can be.
Even when we get it wrong, you invite us to new mountaintop moments
which affirm that we are your beloved.
Your patient grace is always with us, and your love and mercy know no bounds.
You became the Christ, and set an example in Word and deed
of a vision of who we can and could be, and how things can and could be.
You proclaimed the Kingdom of God and shared it with us.
In the greatest act of compassion and grace,
you accepted our brokenness and let it break your body to death, but not your love.
You died and took with you the way of death, but death did not win.
You rose in hope and healing to carry us into the future,
and when the time came you gifted us with your Spirit to go with us.
For all this we thank you,
joining our voices to the song of the Church on earth and in heaven, singing:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of love and light,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
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
Creating, Redeeming, Sustaining God,
let your Spirit come upon your people gathered here.
Spirit of compassion, bless us and this bread and wine.
May this meal be food and drink for our journey –
renewing, sustaining and making us whole.
When we eat and drink may we experience again
the presence of the risen Jesus in our midst.
Amen.
Lord’s Prayer
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.
Distribution
The bread we take is a sharing in the body of Christ.
The wine we take is a sharing in the blood of Christ.
These are the gifts of God for the people of God.
The bread of life – the cup of hope.
May this meal nourish and refresh you, strengthen and renew you,
and may it remind you that you are loved. Amen.
(eat and drink)
Prayer
God of love, we give you thanks for satisfying us with this meal.
Send us from here to reveal your love in the world.
Inspire us to use our words to point others to the Word, your Son Jesus.
Inspire in us the resolve and the courage, the compassion and passion to do justice,
love kindness and walk humbly with you.
Amen.
Prayer for Others (prepared by Elizabeth Hon & Others):
Let us pray …
Dear God,
I ask you today to hear our prayers for our families, friends and the world.
This day we think about those who are cold and hungry this winter, while we sit here in our warm clothes and pyjamas. We think of people who are homeless and have nowhere safe to sleep at night. We also know there are young people who are unable to live at home. We should be grateful that we are not forced to live in these conditions. Help us to understand what they are going through so that we can offer help where it is needed most. Thank you for organisations like Melbourne City Mission and many others who help where they can.
There are so many terrible things happening in our world – wars, famines and many injustices. We pray for aid agencies who ease suffering and ask that governments and leaders will rule fairly and responsibly to care for people and the planet.
It is also good to pray for our friends and families. Let us take a moment to think of those who are special to us and need our prayers.
(Time of silence)
Thank you God that you listen to our prayers whenever we need you to. Help us to be the answer to the prayers of others.
Amen.
We Sing: “All the sleepy should have a place to sleep” – (TiS 697)
All the sleepy should have a place to sleep.
All the hungry should have a place to eat.
All the mourning should have a place to weep.
Does not every child of God deserve a home?
Make love happen by God’s grace and by God’s power.
Let God move you on this day and in this hour.
New creations will then blossom like a flower
for together we can be the hands of God,
for together we can be the hands of God.
All who suffer should have a place to heal,
and compassion to ease the pain they feel.
Talk is easy, but who will make love real?
Does not every child of God deserve some peace?
Make love happen …
The forgotten should be remembered too.
Lonely people might need a friend or two.
Who would be there if it were me or you?
Does not every child of God deserve some care?
Make love happen …
Blessing and Sending:
May we fix our eyes on God
and focus on love and generosity.
May we let Christ direct our steps
with renewed hope and peace.
May we be filled with the Spirit
as we go into the world.
The blessing of the Triune God,
One in Three, Three in One,
go with you.
Amen.
We Sing: “This Little Light of Mine” – (Listener Kids YouTube)
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine (x3)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Jesus is the light, I’m gonna let him shine (x3)
Let him shine, let him shine, let him shine.
I will stomp my feet, and I will clap my hands and shout! Shout!
I will run around, I’ll jump off the ground and shout! Shout!
Thanks to all the children and families from Koonung Heights – Surrey Hills Uniting Church who have helped prepare this all-age worship service.
Spill the Beans (Issue 55) was also used.