Koonung Heights Uniting Church
Service of Worship at Home
Easter 2 – 16 April 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” – (Click this link and skip the ads – TIS words below)
Candle Lighting:
As we light the Christ candle today
we remember that you show us the path of life.
God of unfathomable surprises,
even in the midst of our confusion and questions,
awaken us to belief,
and through the dewy gardens of dawn
lead us into this new day.
Acknowledgement of Country:
As we gather this morning,
I acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung
people of the Kulin nation.
I pay my respects to elders past, present
and emerging
and to all future leaders and generations.
As First and Second Peoples walking together,
we commit ourselves
to be people of the covenant,
listening, truth telling and seeking justice for all.
Call to Worship:
In the echo of God’s great ‘Yes!’ to life
and the cascade of resurrection and hope
we hear a queen shout ‘No!’
Between the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’
we find ourselves,
our faith
and our freedom.
In such a place we worship
and find a God who waits for us
to say ‘no’ to all that hurts
and ‘yes’ to all that brings life.
Let us hear each other’s ‘yes’ and ‘no’
and make a space for us all.
We Sing: “At the dawning of salvation” – (Click this link and skip the ads –TIS words below)
Prayer of Adoration and Confession:
God of all love, God of all care, God of all hope,
in worship and praise we come.
We come into this time,
into this space,
seeking greater knowledge of you,
hoping to understand you more,
and trying to follow your ways.
In love you sent your only Son, our Saviour,
to walk among us,
to live with us,
to teach us,
and by the presence of your Holy Spirit
you remain with us always.
In a world of confusion and pain,
in a time where differences are condemned rather than celebrated,
in a place where we try, but often fail to welcome the stranger,
you enter in, Holy God,
and shine a light on those and that which we do not immediately see.
Speak into our lives this day and all days
and guide us out beyond our comfort zones
tell us stories beyond our experience,
and show us new ways to live as your people.
Merciful God,
we live lives full of promise and potential,
and we have been given gifts untold through Jesus.
We have been shown and guided along the path towards your desire,
and yet we do not always live up to what you want from or for us.
For Jesus’ sake and in his name forgive us.
Loving God,
into this world of confusion and fear,
your light shines on all that we do not understand.
Help us today and all days to trust in you and your mission for us.
In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.
Words of Assurance:
Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Jesus stands, wounded hands outstretched,
waiting for our touch, our connection,
waiting to gather us in love.
We are blessed, forgiven and made new,
free to grow in faith and kindness.
The Peace:
Jesus came and stood among them and said “Peace be with you.
The peace of the Risen Christ be with you …
and also with you.
We Sing: “Give Thanks” – (Click on this link and skip the ads – TiS words below)
A Time for All:
We have just sung ‘Give Thanks’ and certainly we all have a lot to be thankful for if we think about it. At attitude of gratitude is something that helps us recognise all the positive things that we have in our lives, even in the midst of difficult situations. I have a couple of friends who take time each day to write down one thing they have to be thankful for and then place their thoughts in a glass jar. On New Year’s Eve, the jar is opened and together they remind themselves of all the blessings that have come their way throughout the year.
I’d like to invite you to try this now … take a moment to think of something that you can be thankful for that has happened in the last week. Once you’ve thought about it you might like to share it with someone close to you. Something that happened in the last week that I am thankful for, is that our cat Sabre came home after he had been missing for five days. He doesn’t normally go far and we think that he got himself caught in a shed or garage for a few days, but to be honest we aren’t sure. What we do know is that it was lovely when he came home on Monday morning … as Elizabeth said it was our own Easter miracle.
Last Sunday we celebrated the Easter miracle of resurrection. The love of God changed everything when morning broke and those who ventured to the tomb discovered that death had been defeated. We read the story of the women visiting the tomb from the gospels of Mark and John. Both accounts were varied, but both tell the story of an empty tomb, a changed reality, and a call to preach the good news of resurrection.
This week our Gospel passage is the resurrection story as Matthew tells it. As you engage with this text, what similarities and differences do you hear? Again women come to the tomb, but they don’t bring spices. They come to keep vigil at the tomb, but God communicates with them through their grief. God communicates through powerful events (an earthquake), through the preaching of others (an angel) and through a direct encounter with the risen Christ. What does this text give you to be thankful for?
Bible Reading: Matthew 28:1-10
– The Resurrection of Jesus
1 After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. 4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” 8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers and sisters to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Bible Reading: Esther 1: (1-9), 10-22
– King Ahasuerus Deposes Queen Vashti
1 This happened in the days of Ahasuerus, the same Ahasuerus who ruled over one hundred twenty-seven provinces from India to Cush. 2 In those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, 3 in the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his officials and ministers. The army of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the governors of the provinces were present, 4 while he displayed the great wealth of his kingdom and the splendour and pomp of his majesty for many days, one hundred eighty days in all.
5 When these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in the citadel of Susa, both great and small, a banquet lasting for seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. 6 There were white cotton curtains and blue hangings tied with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and coloured stones. 7 Drinks were served in golden goblets, goblets of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king. 8 Drinking was by ordinance without restraint, for the king had given orders to all the officials of his palace to do as each one desired.
9 Furthermore, Queen Vashti gave a banquet for the women in the palace of King Ahasuerus.
10 On the seventh day, when the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who attended him, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king wearing the royal crown, in order to show the peoples and the officials her beauty, for she was fair to behold.
12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command conveyed by the eunuchs. At this the king was enraged, and his anger burned within him.
13 Then the king consulted the sages who knew the laws (for this was the king’s procedure toward all who were versed in law and custom, 14 and those next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media who had access to the king and sat first in the kingdom): 15 “According to the law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus conveyed by the eunuchs?” 16 Then Memucan said in the presence of the king and the officials, “Queen Vashti has done wrong not only to the king but also to all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17 For this deed of the queen will be made known to all women, causing them to look with contempt on their husbands, since they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.’ 18 This very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s behaviour will rebel against the king’s officials, and there will be no end of contempt and wrath! 19 If it pleases the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be altered, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. 20 So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, vast as it is, all women will give honour to their husbands, high and low alike.”
21 This advice pleased the king and the officials, and the king did as Memucan proposed;
22 he sent letters to all the royal provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, declaring that every man should be master in his own house.
Reflection: Saying ‘No’.
Many of you know that I am a member of the Presbytery Standing Committee. I was in our monthly meeting last Wednesday and as usual, when it came to the end of the meeting, there was a call out to see who might be prepared to lead the devotions for the next meeting. As is often the case, there was a moments silence. Then, to my horror, I heard someone say “I think Heather would be happy to do that.” “No”, I sputtered, “not next month, I’ve just got too much on.” Someone else volunteered and the meeting ended as we said the grace together. Before leaving, I questioned the person who had suggested me. “Why ever did you do that?”, I asked. “Well”, he said, “I just wanted to see if you could actually say no”!
Sometimes it’s easy to say no but at other times it can be really hard. We might want to answer ‘no’ but end up saying ‘yes’ because it seems more appropriate or what people expect. We might say ‘yes’ because we crave acceptance and we want to be part of the cool crowd. We might say ‘yes’ because we are being asked to do something we have always said ‘yes’ to in the past, even though we know that at the moment the timing isn’t right.
We might also say ‘yes’ because it gives our confidence a boost. When someone we think highly of has asked us to do something we often want to say ‘yes’ because we feel affirmed. We can all be guilty of saying ‘yes’ when we want to say ‘no’, and we all know that saying ‘yes’ at the wrong time, or when we are uncomfortable with our ‘yes’ response, can have consequences.
In our reading today we meet Queen Vashti. She is a woman who demonstrates strength and character as she says ‘no’ to the king, and inevitably reaps the consequences. This reading begins the book of Esther, a book which we will be looking at over the next four weeks. The story it recounts takes place in the Persian period and reflects life in the Jewish Diaspora.
If we were Jewish, we would know the book of Esther well. In fact, we would have heard it recited when we celebrated Purim a month ago. Purim is the Jewish holiday that commemorates the saving of the Jewish people, as recounted in Esther. The holiday is a joyous festival where people dress up, exchange gifts of food and drink, donate to the poor, and eat a celebratory meal.
As Christians, however, we find the book of Esther to be unusual. Not only is it one of the few biblical books named after a woman, it is also unusual because it does not mention God. Consequently, it is a book that many churches overlook, but despite this it is a book that is full of God’s presence, even though God’s name may not appear. It is a book that might challenge us to explore where God can be found in places, times and people, where God’s presence is not immediately obvious.
But back to Queen Vashti. The book of Esther begins with Vashti refusing to attend a feast which is being held by the King, Ahasuerus, during which he is showing his wealth and good fortune to his guests. He sees Queen Vashti as another of his wonderful possessions, something to be shown off, something that would impress. The invitation he sends her is really a command. The king asks Queen Vashti to attend him in her crown, not as an attempt to enjoy her company, but rather display her as an object.
We don’t know much about Vashti. What we do know is that she’s the queen, she has given a banquet for the women, she is beautiful, and that she has said no to the king when he asked her to attend him. We also know that the king is objectifying her. She does not want to go to the drunken king, merry with wine, to be paraded around. She displays a tremendous level of courage in her refusal, and one can only assume she understood the potential for retribution from an angry king.
Vashti’s actions not only anger the king, but also terrify the men. What has been a matter of personal disobedience suddenly become a matter of state, which sees the king replace her, not only to punish her, but to send a message to other women that disobedience will not be tolerated.
This certainly seems an overreaction, and we might be tempted to laugh at the king’s foolish behaviour, which sets in train a series of events he can’t yet imagine, but it is not that simple. Statistics tell us that there are still people who think that they can ‘master’ others, as though they are simply objects. Even in our own country the statistics on abuse and domestic violence are horrific. While it is important to clarify that not all domestic violence is perpetrated by men, we must take seriously the reality that in Australia 61 women died at the hands of an abusive partner or ex-partner in 2021.
Queen Vashti, through her disobedience, on one level, achieves her desire, she no longer has to see the King. Nevertheless, it also results in the loss of her position and privilege. This is not a simple story, for by making a decision about her body, about herself, Vashti is punished. This is not a happy ending as Vashti loses her status and disappears from the narrative. So then, where might God be?
When there is obvious injustice it can be hard to see where God is, yet it seems to me that we see something of God in Vashti. Is it the spark of the divine that enables her to say ‘no’, and enables her to have the agency she can in a culture that objectifies her? It seems to me that God also is with those who question what is right and wrong, and who choose to persist in choosing what is right, regardless of the consequences. It seems to me that God stands with those today who call out power structures that are built on inequality, discrimination and terror, and that God holds those who are victims of these structures. And it seems to me that this is what we are being called to do.
What if ‘no’ is the right answer?
It is such a tiny word,
and carries so much weight.
Often it is the hardest answer to give.
Our temptation is to please.
To say ‘yes’
rather than cause hurt or stress.
Not just for you but for others.
‘No’ can open doors not just close them.
‘No’ can lift weights heavier than any dumbbell.
‘No’ can save you from sinking beneath the surface of life.
‘No’ can save others from themselves.
‘No’ can save the planet instead of causing more damage.
‘No’ can release the potential in others.
What if ‘no’ is the right answer?
It has the power to set you free,
free to say ‘yes’ to the right things.
Amen.
We Sing: “Inspired by love and anger” – (Click on this link for the tune – TIS words below)
Prayer for Others (prepared by Peta Lowe):
Dear God,
We pray for people suffering because of wars and conflicts.
We pray for people suffering because of extreme weather events and disasters.
People who have lost loved ones,
People who have lost their homes and livelihoods.
Communities who have been displaced and scattered.
We pray for people living in places where Climate Change is causing water shortages, and reducing the capacity of the land to produce food, leading to hunger, malnutrition and disease.
We pray for people whose homelands are threatened by rising sea levels.
Lord, where people are suffering, we know you are there. Help us to recognise you.
Lord, hear us. Hear our prayer.
We pray for people working for peace.
For people implementing Climate Action, through governments, businesses and communities.
For people working to protect the environment, and to find solutions to environmental problems.
We pray for those involved in medical research,
And those seeking ways to improve the quality of life of people living with disabilities and chronic illness.
Lord, where there is hope in people’s hearts, we know you are there. Help us to recognise you.
Lord, hear us. Hear our prayer.
We pray for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
For those involved in the debate, and those who are educating the public.
May respect prevail, and may the outcome truly benefit Indigenous Australians.
We pray for those who advocate for refugees and asylum seekers.
For those pursuing fair wages and decent conditions for all workers.
Lord, where people are seeking justice, we know you are there. Help us to recognise you.
Lord, hear us. Hear our prayer.
Dear God, we pray for people who are homeless and hungry, and all who assist them.
For families struggling to meet the cost of living, and all who try to help them.
For all people who are ill or injured, or frail, or confused, and those who care for them.
Lord, where people show compassion, we know you are there. Help us to recognise you.
Lord, hear us. Hear our prayer.
Dear God, we pray for churches around the world. We think especially of churches seeking to build inclusive communities, and to promote and defend the rights of women, of people with disabilities, and of disadvantaged minority groups.
We pray for the churches around Australia, including the Uniting Church.
We pray for Koonung Heights, for Rev. Heather and her family, our Church Council, and all the groups who make up the life of our church.
Lord, where people try to follow the Way of Jesus, we know you are there. Help us to recognise you.
Lord, hear us. Hear our prayer.
Dear God, we pray for ourselves, for our families and our congregation. We think of those unable to attend Worship, and all who live with ill health or worry.
We pray for our wider community; may we reach out to them with love.
May each of us be channels of your peace and instruments of your love.
Lord, where there is love, we know you are there. Help us to recognise you.
Lord, hear us. Hear our prayer.
And now let us join in the prayer Jesus taught:
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: “Come to be our hope, O Jesus” – (Click on this link and skip the ads – TiS words below)
Blessing:
Your challenge this week is to say ‘no’.
If it is not life giving or love giving
allow yourself the courage to say a firm ‘no’.
And when you do
be in the reassuring knowledge
that God is okay with that.
And go into your ‘no’ week
with God’s blessing.
May the blessing of God the Father,
God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
the One who Mother’s us all,
be with you each and every day.
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 46) and The Women’s Lectionary: Preaching The Women Of The Bible Throughout The Year (Ashley M Wilcox) and Fig Tree Worship.