Koonung Heights Uniting Church
Service of Worship at Home
Seasons of Creation 3 – Social Justice Sunday
15 September 2024 – 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: “Like A Rock” – (Seasons of the Spirit)
Like a rock, like a rock God is under our feet.
Like the starry night sky God is over our head.
Like the sun on the horizon God is ever before.
Like the river runs to ocean, our home is in God evermore.
Candle Lighting:
As we gather together today
we light this candle,
and in doing so we are reminded.
We remember that we gather
in the name of God,
Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of all life.
We remember that God is the Source of all life,
and the life that lives in all.
As we light this candle today,
may we also remember God’s call
to care for all Creation.
Acknowledgement of Country:
As we come to worship,
I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians
of the land where we meet,
Wurundjeri WoiWurrung People of the Kulin Nation.
I pay my respects to their 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:
‘Wisdom cries out in the street;
in the squares she raises her voice.’
(Proverbs 1:20)
We gather seeking wisdom,
to listen to the offerings of our Creator God.
Do we hear,
hear the sweetness of God’s commands,
sweeter that honey,
so much sweeter than honey!
Come let us taste and see,
and seek and find,
the goodness of our God.
We Sing: “Glory to God above!” – (TiS 94)
Glory to God above! Heavens declare God’s love;
praise him, you angels, praising 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 evermore!
Glory to God below let depths of ocean show;
lightning and hail, snow, wind and cloud perform at God’s 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 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!
Prayer of Adoration and Confession:
Glorious God,
we sing with the psalmist
as we gaze upon the skies
and wonder at your glory –
glory that speaks of your handiwork,
of your creative love and beauty.
Even as the breezes carry pollens that irritate,
we witness the springing of life,
as seasons chaos makes way for lengthening days
and we sense the hint of new warmth.
Help us read your wisdom
in the winds and stars and storms and calm.
May Creation revive us –
revive heart and spirit and renew strength
in our care for your blessed Creation.
But if we choose to see,
if we seek your wisdom,
if we hear the whispering speech
of the winds and waves
and the energy of earth,
we know there is much that is broken
where blessing should be.
Forgive us our collective greed
which has exploited Creation to breaking point.
Forgive our desire for mastery to subdue
rather than steward creation beyond what she can bear.
Forgive us
for failing to work with our neighbours as we need,
and with your wisdom to restore and renew the earth.
Forgive us
when wisdom has cried out in the street
and we have failed to hear or act.
May wisdom move us,
as the love of God renews us.
Amen.
Words of Assurance:
Friends, hear this good news:
No matter what we have done or left undone, we are loved by God.
In love, God sent Christ, who is our wisdom and our way.
In Christ, we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God.
The Peace:
May the Peace of God dwell with you
and also with you.
A Time for All (prepared by Harriet Ziegler):
We have the chance today to join in a worldwide action. It began yesterday as religious people all around the world kicked off an important week of action for climate justice. Today is a chance for us here at Koonung Heights to be part of it.
The Australian Religious Response to Climate Change – that’s pronounced ARK – is a national group of Christians, Jews, Muslims and other religious people who believe that the earth is sacred and that its destruction by climate change must be stopped.
There are actions both large and small that we can take to help reduce the effects of climate change. Over lunch today we’ll have the chance to look at low-cost actions we can take. And we’ll see that what we do as individuals does matter.
You may think, for example, that all the dangerous CO2 emissions come from the big polluters and the big countries. Not so. You’re going to learn more over lunch about the enormous role of food waste – yes, food waste – in creating CO2.
Your own food scraps play a role in the climate crisis and you can change that. Please do plan to come along – there is lunch to spare if you haven’t brought yours – and I’m sure any leftovers will be properly disposed of!
But it’s very true that industry needs to do a lot of the heavy lifting and governments need to get the policy settings right. None of our political parties in Australia have been doing that very well – and we need to let them know that climate change matters to us.
So today, we’re going to go beyond individual action we can take in our own homes and we’re going to also act on the larger scale. We’re going to make a statement to the community at large. Chris Burley is going to bring forward a banner. I think you need some helpers, Chris?
After church today, we’re going to put this banner out the front of the church. It reads, ‘For the sake of all beings, no public money for coal and gas’. Why did your social justice committee choose these words?
As Christians, we are concerned for ALL of God’s creation – the people of course, but also the animals, birds, reptiles, sea creatures, even the insects – all of whom are being affected by climate change. And the greatest cause of climate change is fossil fuel emissions – the burning of coal and gas.
Yet Australian governments of all kinds continue to put public money into fossil fuel exploration and development. We know that we will need fossil fuels for a long time to come – but the companies that dig and drill for them make big profits. Do they need government handouts as well?
With our banner, we’re saying that we want public money to go not into coal and gas but into creating sustainable and renewable alternatives, and employment for those who will have to transition to other work.
We need to send a message to all political parties that business as usual is not good for the health of the planet and of the beings who inhabit it.
A huge banner will also be hung on Tuesday at 10 am outside St Paul’s Cathedral in the city. A couple of us will be going in and you’re welcome to join us. We’ll let you know about it next week.
But back to here at Koonung Heights this morning. After the benediction, anyone who wants to join in is welcome to walk outside onto the ramp or into the driveway. Rev. Heather will bless the banner and we’ll then affix it to the railings and grab a group photo of anyone who wants to be in it for use in our social media.
Then we’ll regather inside for tea and coffee, and then for our forum starting about 11.45. We, your social justice committee, hope you’ll join in all of these things. For the sake of all beings.
We Sing: “Touch the earth lightly” – (TiS 668)
Touch the earth lightly, use the earth gently,
nourish the life of the world in our care:
gift of great wonder, ours to surrender,
trust for the children tomorrow will bear.
We who endanger, who create hunger,
agents of death for all creatures that life,
we who would foster clouds of disaster,
God of our planet, forestall and forgive!
Let there be greening, birth from the burning,
water that blesses and air that is sweet,
health in God’s garden, hope in God’s children,
regeneration that peace will complete.
God of all living, God of all loving,
God of the seedling, the snow and the sun,
teach us, deflect us, Christ re-connect us,
using us gently and making us one.
Bible Reading: Psalm 19
– God’s Glory in Creation and the Law
1 The heavens are telling the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
4 yet their voice goes out through all the earth
and their words to the end of the world.
In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens
and its circuit to the end of them, and nothing is hid from its heat.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;
the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can detect one’s own errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless
and innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Bible Reading: Mark 8:27-38
– Peter’s Declaration about Jesus
27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi, and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” 30 And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes and be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
34 He called the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38 Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Reflection:
On Thursday just gone, it was R U OK? Day, a day when we are encouraged to check in with one another and have a meaningful conversation about how things are going. This year the theme is intentionally encouraging people to look just beyond one day and Ask R U OK? Any Day because life happens every day. We all know that lots can happen in a year, a month, a week, and sometimes even in one day, so it is important to check in through regular, meaningful conversations. We don’t have to look hard to see that it’s not only people who are struggling, the global community is struggling as more pressure is put on the planet we call home. As profits take priority over the planet and people, we are all adversely affected. For some, this means that we might not see wildlife in the numbers that we used to as their habitats are destroyed, for others it means there is no clean water to drink, and others still are living with the reality that their very countries are in fear of disappearing beneath the waters.
The theme of Season of Creation 2024 is ‘To hope and act with Creation’, but the question is how we are to act with hope in the face of so much despair and calamity. I believe the role of Christians is important in the movement of care for Creation as we have the capacity to bring a couple of lenses to this. Firstly, we are a people of resurrection hope who believe that even out of death, there can be new life. Surely this enables us to bring hope even when many are despairing. Secondly, we have the opportunity to work in the power of the Spirit – the spirit of wisdom and the spirit of renewal which can assist us as we step into our role as co-creators with God, re-creating and redeeming the whole of Creation.
The early church explicitly spoke of the ‘two books of God’, the first book of Creation and the second, the written words that form our scripture – God was understood to speak through Creation as well as the pages of the Bible. Today’s Psalm expresses this balance beautifully. Author CS Lewis called this Psalm ‘the greatest psalm in the psalter, with the greatest lyrics in the world’ and it’s not too difficult to see why. From the first verse we see how the heavens are bearing testimony to the presence of God. The power of the Creator is being made known through the unspoken speech of Creation. Without language we can become aware of the power and presence of God. When have you walked by the ocean or looked at the stars and sensed the mighty presence of God? I’ve had a couple of experiences when I’ve been in nature and been so overwhelmed by the presence of God that I’ve found myself singing songs of praise, sometimes to the surprise of those around me. ‘Good’ and ‘very good’ are constant words in the entire process of creation, named as God looks over the Creation. The whole cosmos is not only a wonderful gift, but a reflection of the glory of the Creator, and yet what was created as good has been mismanaged through human ignorance and sin.
In the second half of the psalm, the psalmist declares the inspiration and trustworthiness of the law, named as the word of God. For the psalmist these words revive the tired soul, bringing light, hope and wisdom, and there exists harmony between the beauty of Creation and the law. The universe is indeed sacramental – we see the fingerprints of God in Creation and feel God’s presence with us.
As Martin Luther said, ’God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and in clouds and stars.’
As we hope and act with creation, we need to remain grounded in God and the commandment to care for Creation, but also in our love for Creation. Particularly for those of us who live in places where nature is not so apparent, we need to find opportunities to connect with nature. When I worked in the summer camps in Ohio, each group would sleep out on the hill for one night of the camp. Many of these children came from high-rise, commission housing areas of Cleveland. One night as we set up camp on top of the hill, I heard a young girl exclaim, ‘Wow, they have stars in the country’ – her inner city, apartment complex existence meant that seeing stars was a new experience for her at 10 years old. I wonder if this is part of our ministry to the world – inviting people to connect with nature – for people will not care for that which they don’t love.
The response to Jesus’ question ‘Who do you say that I am?’ is a turning point in Marks narrative. Peter gets the answer right when he says ‘You are the Messiah’, but then Jesus starts to speak of his suffering. Peter is unhappy with this, and Jesus reminds him that he is called to be a follower. We miss the nuance when we read the text in English, but in Greek the words ‘get behind me’ are the same as the earlier invitation of Jesus to ‘come follow me’. Jesus reminds his disciples what it means to be intentional in following him – it means that we need to deny self. So what might it mean to follow Jesus in the face of the state of our Earth?
I wonder if the challenge for us in this day and age is the challenge to the materialism that hardens our hearts towards God and our fellow creatures? Rather than our talk being all about ‘self-esteem’, I wonder what would happen if we changed the narrative to be about ‘other-esteem’? Maybe if we did this, it would be easier for us to sacrifice things, putting one another and Creation first. We are called to act with hope. Surely living like this would be an action that brings hope, and we all know that it is hope that, in return, inspires action.
Amen.
We Sing: “The heavens shall declare” – (TiS 746)
The heavens shall declare the glory of his name,
all creation bow at the coming of the King;
every eye shall see, every heart will know,
every knee shall bow, every tongue confess:
holy, holy, holy is the Lord;
see the coming of the King; holy is the Lord.
Prayer for Others (prepared by Liz Pace):
Creator God we come before you with our prayers.
We sit in your sanctuary this morning facing the challenge to be your disciples in a world that mostly does not value the teaching of your son Jesus, but rather values power, fame, success and wealth.
We seek your help to be honest with ourselves and admit that we can do more to make your message of love and compassion available to others. Help us to think differently so that our discipleship is shown in many ways, not confined to a building or a day, but shining through all our actions and words every day.
We know we make mistakes. Help us to learn from them and continue to seek better ways to act in the future. Discipleship is hard at times and we relapse into worldly values. Pull us away from self pity and encourage us to try again.
We are aware of the struggles of those around us as well as the feeling of hopelessness. Help us to acknowledge that we cannot solve all problems but we can do our little bit, and together, with the grace of God , achieve much more than we can imagine.
We each have particular prayers to bring before you this morning whether they be for those affected by war, famine, flood or fire, hunger, illness and unemployment or also for those much closer to home suffering illness and frailty. We speak these prayers in our hearts now in silence …
(time of silence)
God, hear our prayers.
As we struggle with discipleship help us to take the time to be thankful for your amazing creation as it blossoms and blooms around us. Open our ears to the bird song, the buzz of insects, the crackling in the undergrowth as the small animals seek food and shelter. Refresh us to face each day with new energy and an open mind as we seek to be your disciples in this world.
Let us say together the 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.
We Sing: “Lord of creation” – (TiS 626)
Lord of creation, to you be all praise!
Most mighty your working, most wondrous your ways!
Your glory and might are beyond us to tell,
and yet in the heart of the humble you dwell.
Lord of all wisdom, I give you my mind:
rich truth that surpasses our knowledge to find,
what eye has not seen and what ear has not heard
is taught by your Spirit and shines from your word.
Lord of all bounty, I give you my heart;
I praise and adore you for all you impart,
your love to inspire me, your counsel to guide,
your presence to shield me, whatever betide.
Blessing:
May wisdom guide and bless us
as we move beyond this time together.
May we see the Creator in all that is around us
and become co-creators with God.
May we following Christ
and bring his healing love to all we meet.
Go in peace,
knowing that God walks with us on the journey.
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, Seasons of Creation, Ministry Matters and By The Well Podcast.