Koonung Heights Uniting Church – Service of Worship at Home
Advent 4 – 18 December – 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.
We Sing: “Light one Candle” – (Click on this link and skip the ads)
Acknowledgement of Country:
As we meet to worship today,
I acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung People of the Kulin nation,
the first inhabitants and custodians of this place
from time beyond remembering.
I pay my respects to their elders,
past and present,
and to all their descendants, from generation to generation.
I pray the God who brings hope, peace, joy and love
will continue to bless each one of us.
Call to Worship:
We are waiting on you, God.
We are still waiting.
The darkness is deeper, but look!
The star is beginning to shine
The everlasting light is creeping closer.
Hope is in the air.
Peace is promised.
Joy is the tip of our tongues.
Love is coming.
Love divine.
We are waiting on love,
and love is waiting on us.
Amen.
Advent Wreath:
Over a hundred people, from the ages of two to eighty years old, were asked the question, “What makes you feel connected; what makes you feel loved?” From the voices of different generations, hear their answers:
Handwritten notes.
Casseroles.
Being invited in.
Reading a book together.
The passing of the peace.
Family walks.
Social groups.
When I see my friends at school.
Surprise phone calls.
Making music with other people.
Home-cooked food.
Laughter.
Eye contact.
Dinner parties.
An inside joke.
Hugs.
Dancing in the kitchen.
Over the last three weeks we have lit the candles of hope, peace and joy.
Today we light the candle of love as a reminder that from the very first generation,
God has surrounded us with love.
May this good news—these threads of love—
not only weave deeper connections between neighbors,
but shape our actions and allow us to see God more clearly.
In a lonely world, let this light shine bright.
From generation to generation, we are held in God’s love.
Thanks be to God for that good news.
Amen.
We Sing: “Love divine, all loves excelling” – (Click on this link & skip the ads)
Prayer of Adoration & Confession:
Immortal God,
present to us in a human child
who could so easily not have lived to be a man;
invisible one, seen in a unique human face;
inaccessible one, cradled in a woman’s arms;
hidden one, revealed for all to see;
perfect, pure and holy,
you are caught up
in all the dirt, danger and messiness of human life,
and we are blessed beyond measure as a result.
In your wisdom you give us many gifts,
gifts which aid us as we face the challenges of life
and try to live as your faithful people.
We need one another and so you give us community,
community which helps us to grow,
to love and see you more clearly.
God of today and tomorrow,
when Mary was pregnant and afraid,
she ran to her cousin Elizabeth’s house
and she was welcomed.
Elizabeth threw open the door with joy
and showered blessings upon her.
How often do we have that same opportunity?,
yet we leave the door locked, the curtains drawn and the lights off.
How often do we shower critique or judgment
instead of blessings and joy?
Gracious God,
forgive us for the times we do not notice,
and for the times we do notice and choose to ignore.
Help us see you when we see our neighbour.
Amen.
Words of Assurance:
Friends, this is what I know – God delights in us.
God throws open the door, just like Elizabeth, and says,
“Come on home. There is room for you here!”
And in that moment, we are blessed,
we are forgiven, we are seen, we are healed and welcomed home.
So rest in this good news.
Let us respond together, using words from Mary’s song:
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.”
The Peace:
Christ welcomes everyone,
no matter what their background,
friends, strangers, foreigners and neighbours.
May the peace of Christ,
the One who welcomes each of us,
be with you …
and also with you.
A Time for All:
A drama series that I love is Call the Midwife. Based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth, it is set in the late 1950s and 1960s and centres around a group of nurse midwives working in the East End of London. The midwives work within a religious order, though not all of them are nuns. Mostly the show depicts the day-to-day lives of the midwives and those in the local neighbourhood whom they support. In the days when the majority of women gave birth at home, the midwife was the one who was present at this threshold moment of life, helping to bring a new life into the world.
In the reading we will hear shortly, there is a threshold moment when Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth greets Mary on the threshold, not only the threshold of her door, but the threshold of something new in Mary’s life and for the world. Elizabeth greets Mary with welcome, anticipation and a powerful blessing, one so powerful that the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaps in greeting. If Mary is fearful, this fear is met by the contagious courage of Elizabeth who seems to have enough courage for them both. As they share together, in the liminal now-and-not-yet space of pregnancy, Mary and Elizabeth frame the path of partnership for their children too.
In what threshold moment of your life did someone open the door for you? When might you have acted as a midwife for someone, helping them birth a new chapter in their lives?
Let us pray,
God of yesterday and God of tomorrow,
from the very beginning, you gave us the gift of relationships,
from the very beginning, you tucked us into communities,
from the very beginning, you wired us for connection,
and from the very beginning, you made our hearts capable of love.
Thank you for our Elizabeth’s,
the people who have thrown open doors for us,
and have helped us birth new things in our lives.
May we all be ready to take on the role of midwife,
greeting others with joy and cheering them on.
May we always be open to seeing you in the face of others.
Amen.
Bible Reading: Luke 1:39-58 – Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.
45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
Mary’s Song of Praise
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
48 for he has looked with favour
on the lowly state of his servant.
Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name;
50 indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has come to the aid of his child Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
56 And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
The Birth of John the Baptist
57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
We Sing: “Tell out, my soul” – (Click on this link & skip the ads)
Watch and listen to the reflection
Reflection:
The year was 2006 … it was Christmas Eve and I was sitting in church not feeling quite myself. It was hot, I was tired, and I wondered whether going to church this night was the best decision. I was also pregnant. Being only about two months along, no-one knew, and as we were planning to tell Tony’s parents on Christmas Day, this was the last night that the secret would be just ours. I had heard the story of Mary’s journey to Bethlehem many times over, but this year, as I sat and listened, it was different. As I pondered anew Mary’s journey, I thought about all that it would mean for her and how her life was about to change. At the same time I wondered about the incredible journey that was being laid out before me … before us! There was so much I didn’t know and so much that I hoped for … as well as the knowledge that things were going to be very different.
How is it possible to get ready for the coming of a baby? How is it possible to prepare for something that will completely change your life? Well, even though you know the reality, I’m not sure that can ever be one hundred percent ready. Still, you have to take action and prepare for the change in the way you can. Within the words of Luke’s gospel that we have just heard, I wonder if that is what Mary is doing? I wonder if Mary is trying to find a way through the change and prepare for what is going to come. After the angel departed, his words still ringing in the air, does Mary decide to take action too? Because really what is ‘nothing will be impossible with God’ but a more theological way of saying ‘your whole life will change’. And what is ‘the holy spirit will come upon you’ but an obliteration of any control she will have in her life? So Mary takes action … Mary flees.
Yes, Mary flees, but I don’t think she is running away … rather she is running forward, she is running to something. Mary runs to Elizabeth’s house.
She is compelled to go and she leaves eagerly and quickly. Maybe she is so excited that she wants to share her news with Elizabeth who she knows is also pregnant. My sister was in the latter stages of her pregnancy when I had discovered I was pregnant and I couldn’t wait to share the news with her. Maybe Mary wants to test out the accuracy of Gabriel’s words. Maybe she is scared about her own predicament and thinks that it would be good to focus on someone else for a while. Perhaps Mary simply seeks out the company of another woman who is also pregnant and can offer her guidance. For whatever reason, Mary sets out with haste to Elizabeth’s house.
When Mary arrives at her cousin’s place (perhaps unannounced), Elizabeth doesn’t just welcome her – she is filled with the Holy Spirit and speaks a blessing upon Mary as her own child leaps and kicks within her womb. She sees how God is at work and names it out loud. In this moment of profound solidarity, Mary and Elizabeth see the divine in one another. This connection inspires Mary to sing her radical hymn of praise, declaring how God’s liberating love remains steadfast throughout the ages. In this warm affirmation from Elizabeth – Blessed are you among women – Jesus is recognised as the unique person that he is. Even the unborn John salutes Jesus, as he leaps in his mother’s womb when Mary and her unborn child approach.
In the meeting of Elizabeth and Mary, there is confirmation that the unbelievable words of Gabriel are indeed to be believed. The aged and barren Elizabeth carries within her the child who will become John the Baptist. Mary carries within her womb the God-One, contained, vulnerable and being nurtured by her. As Elizabeth speaks, her words differ from the words of Gabriel who draws attention to the greatness of the child that Mary carries. Elizabeth, however, draws attention to the maternity of Mary and identifies her as the mother of Jesus.
In these words of blessing Elizabeth testifies that yes things will change, but that the one thing that won’t change is God. As Mary prepares simultaneously to become a wife and a mother, she needs this blessing. Maybe this is why Mary runs to Elizabeth … because she needs to hear the good news and so ran to the person who could affirm God’s goodness to her.
We shared stories earlier of those who have stood with us and proclaimed blessing in the threshold moments of our lives. I wonder how we might be able to do this for others? We do not have to be physically pregnant to birth something new, and I sense that God is able to birth things in everyone if others are able to come close to them.
Just like the midwife who guides and supports the birthing process, if we can find solidarity with others and see them as precious children of God, then that in itself is a blessing. Mary and Elizabeth are two women who are on the threshold of change. They are able to bless and hold each other. They are able to find solidarity as they travel together.
The blessing that they offer is not done with the ‘you should’ imperative, and neither is it about a future hope. Rather, blessing is about what happens in the present. It is a declaration of who God is and the gift that we are each given. Elizabeth’s blessing called Mary into being as a mother … it helped birth a new pathway for her.
Someone once said that the pen is mightier than the sword. There is truth in this, for words matter. As people who worship a God who spoke the world into being, we know the power of words. We can speak words of blessing that create life and hope. We can speak words of praise and thanks for all that we have. Yet we are also capable of speaking words that belittle, overpower, sanction and abuse. Let us never forget the power of words and strive to speak words that are full of blessing.
From generation to generation, we can see how God is at work in our relationships. If we really look, we can find God in each other. When we see the divine in each other it impacts how we live and move in our world. When we view every human being as a child of God, we begin to generate a different world, to birth something new. Let us partner with God in this is co-creation.
Amen.
We Sing: “We Belong to One Another” – (Click on this link & skip the ads)
Affirmation of Faith:
We believe that creation is inextricably linked.
We belong to one another in an undeniable way.
We are bone of bone and flesh of flesh,
life breathed into dust.
We believe that God invites us
to live into that truth –
to love without abandon,
to see the good in one another,
to trust that all belong to God.
We know that this life of connection is easier said than done,
which is why we gather in this space, week after week,
generation after generation, to be reminded:
We see God in each other.
This we believe.
Amen.
Prayer for Others (prepared by Peta Lowe):
When you hear the words: “God who made us and loves us”,
you are invited to respond: “Hear our prayer”.
God our Creator,
Help us to see your image in your creation.
Guide us towards greater respect and care for our environment.
We pray for swift and effective Climate Action.
Help us to see your image in the people of the world.
In the suffering people of war-torn Ukraine.
In the hungry people in the Horn of Africa.
In the refugees fleeing war, persecution or famine.
In the people of our own country whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyed by floods.
In the Indigenous Australians calling for justice and a Voice.
And in all who work to bring peace, justice, welcome, support and material aid.
God who made us and loves us, Hear our prayer.
God of the Incarnation,
We pray for your Church worldwide, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
We know that Christmas will be celebrated in different ways around the world. Please guide us all to embrace humility, generosity and compassion, as, once again, we welcome Jesus into our lives.
Help us to reflect in our actions and our interactions, the qualities of hope, peace, joy and love. May these be evident in the way we reach out to the community around us.
God who made us and loves us, Hear our prayer.
God made present in Christ,
We pray for all those people who are looking forward to celebrating Christmas with family and friends.
We also pray for those who are approaching Christmas with worry, because of financial hardship, and the rising cost of living.
For those approaching Christmas with fear, because conflict and violence are part of their life.
For those approaching Christmas with sadness, because of bereavement and loss.
We remember people who will spend Christmas in hospital, or in a Nursing Home.
People who live alone and housebound, who feel isolated and lonely during the quiet Christmas period when their usual services and social supports take a holiday.
We pray for those who are homeless at Christmas, and those who offer them hospitality.
We pray for all those people who will be working over Christmas, especially those working in the service of others.
God who made and loves us, Hear our prayer.
Loving God,
We pray for ourselves this Christmas.
Be with us in our giving and in our receiving, especially in our receiving of your most precious gift, the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ.
Grant our hearts your peace, your hope, and the joy of knowing and reflecting your love.
God who made us and loves us, Hear our prayer.
We pray in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray:
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: “Love came down at Christmas” – (Click on this link and skips the ads – TiS words below)
Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas, star and angels gave the sign.
Worship we the Godhead, Love incarnate, Love divine;
Worship we our Jesus: now where do we see his sign?
Love shall be our token, love be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and neighbours, love for plea and gift and sign.
Blessing:
As you leave this place, may you go knowing that
from generation to generation,
we have been claimed and loved.
From generation to generation
God has been by our side.
From generation to generation,
we are not alone.
The God of yesterday and the God of tomorrow
knows you by name, loves you and calls you forth, saying
“Go be the person you are called to be,
love wildly, do justice, and come back soon.
May it be so. 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:- Spill the Beans (Issue 45), A Sanctified Art (Generation to Generation), Ministry Matters, and Texts for Preaching.