LUCULIA 

Luculia can be temperamental and hard to establish,

but once it settles in,

it makes a superb shrub with generous trusses of slender-tubed,

rosy pink flowers with the most powerful perfume.

Photo: Scott Hawkins

(From website "12 Best Winter Flowers")

 

 

An important announcement 

 

Dear Church Family

 

On behalf of our Church Council, I need to tell you that we are delaying the planned reopening for face to face worship at Boronia Park. At this stage, this is for the foreseeable future.

 

This means our planned services in the church on Sunday 9 and Sunday 16 August will not go ahead.Our familiar online form of worship as a church family at Boronia Park will continue.

 

The reason for halting our plans is that we have received this week strong guidance from the NSW-ACT Synod of the Uniting Church not to reopen for worship if at all possible.

This is to support the NSW Premier’s strong recommendation that places of worship refrain from gathering face to face wherever possible. This is to keep people safe and minimise the risk of further outbreaks.

We are all keenly aware of the situation in Victoria. As Synod has written,

 

It is vital that each of us do what we can to protect the people in our care and communities. Please pray for one another as we look forward to the day when we will be together again – healthy and safe.

Source: NSW-ACT Synod Covid 19- Guidance Note No.14.

 

Please keep each other in your thoughts and prayers – and if you feel comfortable, you can use our BPUC Congregation Directory 2020 to help keep in touch with each other.

If you can’t put your hand on your copy, please let your Elder know and they will provide one to you.

If you have other ideas to help us all keep in touch, please share with your elder (and me) and we’ll see how creative we can be as a very warm and caring church family – especially while we have to be apart.

If you want to discuss this decision by the Church Council, you are welcome to contact me on 0403 527 541, preferably during business hours.

On behalf of the Church Council, may you stay well; may you feel God’s deep blessings; and may you continue your loving care for your family, friends, neighbours and others who need your care and prayers.

Sincerely,

 

Rosemary Brook

Chair, Boronia Park Church Council

6 August 2020

0403 527 541

 

Preparing for Worship

Welcome to Boronia Park Uniting Church and our weekly worship resources. We were going to gather to worship face to face this Sunday but did not go head which made us disappointed. But we now show our respect to the Synod of NSW and the ACT and support to the NSW state government.

 

Nothing stops us to worship God together. Thus, this moment, we celebrate God willing and His powerful hope in life in the holy name of Jesus Christ. We can hope though we are facing challenges in current pandemic. We can worship though we are all scattered. We are in the One who comes dwell among us.

 

 

Acknowledgement for the First Peoples

 

I/We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, Elders past, present and emerging, on which we gather this day. I/We recognize their special relationship with the land and all creation. And thank them.

 

 

Opening Responses

 

The response is in bold font.

 

WE come in this service to God, in our need,

and bringing with us the needs of the world.

 

WE come to God, who has come to us in Jesus,

and who walks with us

the road of our world’s suffering.

 

WE come with our faith and with our doubts;

we come with our hopes and with our fears.

 

WE come as we are, because it is God who invites us to come,

and God has promised never to turn us away.

 

 

Song      ‘I Will Give Thanks to You’

 

 

First time

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples.

I will sing praises to you among the nations.

For your steadfast love is great, is great to the heavens,

and your faithfulness, your faithfulness to the clouds.

 

Refrain

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.

Let your glory be over all the earth.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.

Let your glory be over all the earth.

 

Second time

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples.

I will sing praises to you among the nations.

For your steadfast love is great, is great to the heavens,

and your faithfulness, your faithfulness to the clouds.

 

Refrain

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.

Let your glory be over all the earth.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.

Let your glory, let your glory,

let your glory be over all the earth.

 

Words and music © Brent Chambers

CCLI #260394

 

 

Responsive Psalm Reading

  

Go ahead and give God thanks

for all the glorious things he has done!

Go ahead and worship him!

Tell everyone about his wonders!

 

Let’s sing his praises!

Sing, and put all of his miracles to music!

 

Shine and make your joyful boast in him, you lovers of God.

Let’s be happy and keep rejoicing no matter what.

 

Seek more of his strength! Seek more of him!

Let’s always be seeking the light of his face.

 

His promises have become an everlasting covenant to Jacob,

as a decree to Jacob.

He said to them,

“I will give you all the land of Canaan

as your inheritance.”

 

They were very few in number

when God gave them that promise,

and they were all foreigners to that land.

 

They were wandering from one land to another

and from one kingdom to another.

Yet God would not permit anyone to touch them,

punishing even kings who came against them.

 

He said to them,

“Don’t you dare lay a hand on my anointed ones,

and don’t do a thing to hurt my prophets!”

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

 

(Psalm 105: 1-4, 10-15, 45b The Passion Translation)

 

 

The Sign of Welcome

 

May Christ be in our midst this moment and throughout the week.

 

Let us greet one another with a word of welcome.

 

Texting or making phone call to your friends or those whom you are now thinking of if appropriate.

 

 

Prayer of the Day

 

Let us pray:

 

O Christ,

we bow before you in this space of prayer

once more to give thanks.

 

Today we gather in the Spirit,

celebrating your presence in creation around us,

in the flowing air, in the fertile earth,

and in the swift changing

local community of [Name of your suburb].

 

Today we gather in the Spirit,

glad of these strong walls

which have given refuge to me/us through the years,

aware of the countless prayers of joy and of suffering

that have been uttered

in this place [Your home or Your room].

 

O Christ,

you have inspired the journeying of your people

from all over the world to this country

and to this congregation of love and care.

Grace us with your continued presence

wherever we are today and inspire us

to be a people of hospitality and of growing faith

no matter how little it looks like.

 

Christ, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

 

O Jesus,

you sat at the table with the betrayed and rejected,

we pray for those today

who do not feel welcomed in their daily lives.

 

Christ, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

 

O Jesus,

you identified with the naked and with those

who had no place to lay their heads.

We pray for the thousands of homeless man and women,

old and young, in our cities.

 

Christ, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

 

O Jesus,

you belonged to a refugee family.

 

We pray for the millions of displaced people in our world,

and for the opening of borders to the nationless.

 

Christ, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

 

O Jesus,

you cared for your companions

and for the little ones who surrounded you.

We pray for the ones

whom we have worshipped you from home,

for the emerging adults whom God has given us

to journey with.

 

Christ, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

 

O Jesus,

you prayed that we might be one

as you and the Father are one.

We pray that during this pandemic

we may feel safe and secure with one another

and with you in our midst.

 

Christ, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

 

We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

 

Scripture Reading: Matthew 14:22-33 (NRSV) led by Isabella Lee

 

 

Jesus Walks on the Water

 

²² Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. ²³ And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, ²⁴ but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. ²⁵ And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. ²⁶ But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. ²⁷ But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

 

²⁸ Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” ²⁹ He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” ³¹ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³² When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³ And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

 

This is the Word of the Lord,

Thanks be to God.

 

 

Reflection on the Scripture       Seung Jae Yeon

 

 

Dear my beloved ones in Christ,

 

It is with sadness that we had that heart-breaking news from Beirut, Lebanon that there was a massive explosion rocking the city and its citizens last Tuesday. I have no other words to describe the aftermath of it when I listened to radio about the news.   

 

I would like to call upon all of us, and readers of this writing to hold a few second for prayers of the people in Beirut, those whose families would have been involved in the explosion, and all Lebanese communities in Australia. I want to see all of us holding those who are mourning at the moment for their children, parents, siblings, friends and neighbours who died or were injured because of the explosion, in our prayers and thoughts. It is not about religion but about life. I appreciate the time you will take to pray and think.

 

Tuesday 8 August, in Beirut, thousands of citizens were carrying out their daily tasks, but more than 135 citizens never came back home, 5,000 not able to be back to their ordinary days anymore. I am deeply concerned for all of our global communities that are being impacted by the growing number of COVID cases. And on top of that number, a huge number of death toll were added, causing panicking in Lebanon. Again, no words to describe the life-taking event, just praying to God for coming and touching their lives and our lives too. We are desperate for God’s life-giving presence among all human beings.

 

 

George, the new-born baby cared by his doctor

at St. George Hospital, Beirut. (Instagram/BeirutPost)

 

My friends in Christ, life is strong, it is so strong. Love is great, it is greater than other words and deeds on this planet. At the exact moment that the explosion rocked Beirut, there was a woman in labour. Her name was Emmanuelle and she was ready to give birth to her child. Edmond, her husband captured the terrifying moment on camera. The mother was taken to another ward after removing all small pieces of window glasses from her body. Their son, George, arrived shortly after. Mum and baby were both doing well. The life given to Edmond, Emmanuelle, George and other medical staff in that ward was so strong. Especially for the new-born baby George, his very first encounter with the world was threatening and horrifying the life given. But it was strong. For Emmanuelle, the aftermath of massive explosion was going to kill them all but she could not have given up her love for George. Both mum and baby tell us how much life is strong and love is greater for all human beings. I am not diminishing how I was saddened by the explosion and the huge death toll. I am only holding a hope that may loving and life-giving God be with all of human communities around the world as we are struggling with the shadow of death caused by the current pandemic and the explosion in Beirut.

 

Jesus, in Matthew’s witness, walks on the water. He was walking on the lake in order to reach out to his friends and followers though the water was raging and roaring. Jesus was going through life-taking threats in the nature, and all the challenges and inhuman treatments in the life of all followers. In his walking on the water, Jesus stressed out how much life is strong and important, and love is greater than other things in their lives. Because Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life where all human become the people of God thru Him. Jesus spoke to them a powerful and life-giving word, saying, “Take courage! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.”

 

No one had ever focused on the importance of life and love before. Jesus was and is the only One who gives birth of life to all human beings so that He died on a cross, was buried but rose again after three days. The difference between death and live would have been simple – Jesus was truly as God with his people whenever they needed Him. He comes and saves no matter what circumstances he faces. As Emmanuelle (mother) gave the birth to George (son), as George went out to the world, the Life and the Love of Jesus Christ come to us without boundaries and limitation. So what we need to do is to believe in Him with all our heart and mind this moment.

 

As the Church, we are always called to go into space and time that we were not expected. The current pandemic on top of the crises caused by illness, ageing, financial challenge, raising teenager children, cultural and linguistic barriers, has called us to deeply consider and reconsider how we might be bearers of God’s love and life eternal in those challenging times. I am this moment encouraged and inspired by the elders and church council members who are faithful and committed to serve, by the mothers and fathers who look after their kids and family day after day with their prayerful life attitude, and by the emerging adults who increase their kingdom every day, no matter how little it is. As I doubt, all in our congregation have responded with such grace, generosity, kindness and hope, that teaches me how to live life and how to love others. Dear my friends in Christ, who walks on the water to come to us, thank you for being the people of God, pilgrims on the way with Christ who continues to be our Light, our Hope and our Risen, Crucified Lord.

 

You are now giving me life, a life that I have to live this moment for God and His people. You are now loving each and everyone of us so that we may feel how much God loves us today and days ahead. Life is strong. Love is greater than other things on this planet. Let us be the people of God who let the world know God’s love and life is always with all of us.

 

Amen.

 

 

Prayers of the people     Robyn Harvey

 

 

Let us pray:

 

As ever this week we have been bombarded with news –

home and overseas, political and personal, tragic and trivial. 

Our minds easily close down ,

resisting  the assault of so much news.

 

But some images, stories and issues get through

our defences and linger in the mind.

 

We can take this as God’s call to us to pray for these issues. 

 

Let us think what news stories are on our minds this morning.

 

Pray for them now in the silence,

asking God to be fully present there,

in judgement, mercy or grace.

 

Pray for the people of Beirut

in their suffering from the tragic disaster in their city,

for the people killed and injured and their families

both in Beirut and here in Australia.

 

Lord in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

 

 

Last week there was other news;

some earlier chapters of long running stories,

some one-day wonders, some tragedies,

easily forgotten by us,

but just as sharp and painful

for the sufferers now as then.

 

Let us try to remember

what stories were on our minds last week.

 

The needs go on,

and so should our prayers.

 

Let us pray now that God’s grace may continue

to be at work there, healing and renewing.

 

Let us pray for all the people

not just in Australia but in throughout the world 

who have died from the corona virus

and for their families who have not been

able to celebrate their loved ones lives in the cultural way

that has so meaning for them.

 

For the scientists who are working very hard

to find a vaccine for the virus.

 

Lord in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

 

This time next week the papers

will be full of ne stories the TV giving us new images.

New faces will be looking out at us,

there will be new incidents for the pundits to debate.

 

Let us pray now for one such area of concern 

or one section of society

that is likely to crop us in next week’s news –

the Government, our church leaders,

countries in difficulties, people in trouble.

 

Pray for whatever God gives you to pray about

as you look ahead to next week. 

 

Pray for the increasing number of homeless people in our country,

for families affected by domestic violence.

 

Lord in your mercy hear our prayer

In our World cycle of prayer, we pray for the people of

Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger

and the Romanian Orthodox Church.

 

 

In our local cycle we pray for

the GladesHill Presbyterian Church

and the Kalos Korean Congregation.

 

And in our UCA cycle of prayer we pray for

all the ministers and congregations of the Uniting churches

that are going back to online worship as well as those

who have not even started worship back in their church.

 

As we have three young people sitting for their HSC

we pray for Joshua Yeon, Daniel Bolton and Lily Dummett

as they study and sit for these exams.

 

O God,

set your blessing on us all

as we begin this week together –

on our world, our church our community,

our family and friends.

 

Heal your suffering ones,

raise up your broken ones,

inspire your joyful ones.

 

And give yourself afresh to us,

as with all our sisters and brothers,

we stand before you in hope.

 

For Jesus’ sake.

Amen.

 

 

The Lord’s Prayer

 

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven. 

 

Give us today our daily bread.

 

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.

 

Hymn             Shout to the Lord

 

 

First time

My Jesus, my Saviour,

Lord, there is none like you;

all of my days I want to praise

the wonders of your mighty love.

My comfort, my shelter,

tower of refuge and strength,

let every breath, all that I am,

never cease to worship you.

 

Refrain

Shout to the Lord, all the earth; let us sing

power and majesty, praise the King.

Mountains bow down and the seas will roar

at the sound of your name.

I sing for joy at the work of your hands;

for ever I’ll love you, for ever I’ll stand.

Nothing compares to the promise I have in you!

 

Second time

My Jesus, my Saviour,

Lord, there is none like you;

all of my days I want to praise

the wonders of your mighty love.

My comfort, my shelter,

tower of refuge and strength,

let every breath, all that I am,

never cease to worship you.

 

Refrain

Shout to the Lord, all the earth; let us sing

power and majesty, praise the King.

Mountains bow down and the seas will roar

at the sound of your name.

I sing for joy at the work of your hands;

for ever I’ll love you, for ever I’ll stand.

Nothing compares to the promise I have,

nothing compares to the promise I have,

nothing compares to the promise I have in you!

 

Words and music © 1993 D. Zschech/Hillsong Music, Australia

CCLI #260394

 

 

Offering

 

Let us pray:

 

O Lord our God of giving and forgiving,

we now give you all from the bottom of our hearts,

confessing that all that we have are from your mighty hand.

 

We may ask you Lord to bless upon our hands

as we work for your kingdom

and as your kingdom for many.

 

Also may many people around us be comforted

by the words and deeds demonstrated by your Son Jesus,

thru each and all of us in life.

 

We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

The offering will be used for the congregation’s continuing mission and ministry in these changing times. Please make your offering through a Bank Deposit or a personal cheque whichever is convenient to you.

 

Account Name: Boronia Park Uniting Church

BSB: 634-634              

Account: 100023784

Reference: Offering  

 

Please contact Robyn Harvey, Treasurer on 0418 783 290 or robyn.49@bigpond.net.au for more information about how to make Direct Debit.

 

If you are in a position to help others, Sydney Community Services, where we have donated foods and goods to support the need in our local community, may ask us to donate ANY pasta sauce or chunk soup cans. SCS has passed their appreciation for our donation. If needed to pick up donations from your home, let Robyn or Seung Jae know.

 

And many thank those who have donated for your sharing love and generosity.

 

 

Closing Prayer and Blessing

 

Let us pray:

 

Stay with us Lord,

since the old good days are far gone

and the harsh season is coming;

kindle our hearts on the way,

that we may recognise you in the scriptures,

in the breaking of the bread,

and in each other,

for you live and guide us for ever.

 

Amen.

 

And now may the grace of Jesus Christ,

the love of God,

and the communion of the Holy Spirit

be with us all,

this moment and place and always.

 

Amen.

 

KidsLife Episode 12