ANGLICAN
THIS Sunday, due to it being the fifth of the month, Swan Hill’s Anglican Parish would usually be gathering for a combined service at a different time and venue than usual, before a picnic lunch.
With the uncertainty caused by COVID 19 it has been decided to have the usual Eucharist at 9.30am followed by a cuppa, unmasked but socially distancing and only 20 permitted. (Go figure).
Hopefully by November 7 we can joyfully celebrate All Saints Day, and on November 21 our name day, “Christ the King”.
There’s great music for both of these festivals, so let’s pray we can really give voice without masks by then, and be grateful that we are free to worship in Swan Hill.
Two years ago Café Church was a happy family time with activities, games and singing, followed by a simple meal.
Future plans for Café Church are a work in progress, but a small group gathered for a preliminary try out last Sunday at 3pm.
The theme was the parable of the lost sheep, and river pebbles were then decorated to represent fleece, to create a flock.
Earlier that day the gospel at the 9.30am service told of blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10: 46-52) shouting out “Son of David, have pity on me!”
Jesus asks “What do you want me to do for you?” and the blind man answers, “I want to see!”
We all want to see some light at the end of the tunnel, with many so desperate they have drifted into depression.
Christians too are feeling the isolation contrary to their “love your neighbour as yourself” commandment.
Yet underneath the sensation of loss there is the power of the underlying faith that this will pass, and Christ is still present.
Give thanks and pray for all who are working selflessly to heal the sick and comfort the dying.
GRAIN SHED
KEEPING our eyes close to home, be encouraged to pray for our frontline workers, their families, our community and our leaders, who have really been put to the test these last few weeks.
What a fantastic job they are doing.
Our thoughts and prayers also go out to all the VCE students as they prepare for their final year exams.
As it says in 1 John 4:7-8 NIV:
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.
“Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
At this present time our church gathering numbers remain at 20 indoors, and we are now offering three services open to all, but bookings are necessary.
Services are Friday nights at 5pm with a viewing of our online recorded service, followed by Sunday at 9.30am and 11am.
Call reception on 5032 9449 or email reception@thegrainshed.org.au
Tonight our Grain Shed youth meet here at 7pm for some water game fun, and being able to connect while learning more about Jesus.
Contact Liz for more information, youth@thegrainshed.org.au
Craft is on Thursdays at 10am.
And a big thank you to all who have participated in the Operation Christmas Child.
For those who still have shoeboxes, the cut off date is now, so please return them to the Grain Shed this week.
A reminder as well that Christmas is coming, and we are starting to prepare for our Christmas Hamper appeal.
Donations of food, goods and monetary gifts are welcomed.
If you require more information please do not hesitate to contact us at the Grain Shed or email reception@thegrainshed.org.au
UNITING
THIS week we are introduced to Naomi, Ruth and Orpah.
These three women are found in the Old Testament in the book called Ruth.
It is a story of belonging.
Naomi is the mother-in-law of Ruth and Orpah and they have all become widows.
In the time this account is written, women were left without any means of income or safety if they were not married, or had sons to care for them.
Naomi speaks with her two daughters-in-law and encourages them to return to their families in their own homeland as she has no other sons to marry them and she herself feels she is too old to remarry.
The relationship between these women is one of deep respect and care and Ruth and Orpah resist Naomi’s suggestion.
They must decide where they now belong.
Both Ruth and Orpah came from a different culture and country than Naomi, who was an Israelite.
We all have a need to belong.
Our sense of worth and purpose grow in an environment where we feel we belong.
This environment is unique for each person yet is dependent upon a relationship with or within a community to be realised.
In her article, ‘Making sense of belonging’, published in the Australian Psychological Society publication InPsych, (June 2019 edition issue 3), 2019, Dr Kelly-Ann Allen writes:
“A sense of belonging does not depend on participation with, or proximity to, others or groups.
“Rather belonging comes from a perception of quality, meaning and satisfaction with social connections.”
For Orpah, the call to return to her family in Moab was strong, her sense of belonging among the Israelite people had been lost when her husband died.
Orpah felt her connection and life meaning had remained with her family and culture of origin and so returned to them so chooses to return.
Ruth stays with her mother-in-law.
Over the time of her marriage, she had come to understand the faith of the Israelite people and felt her place of belonging among them having found a new perception of quality, meaning and satisfaction with the community and so chose to stay with Naomi.
Neither made a better decision than the other for both honoured their place of belonging.
What helps you to feel you belong?
