The latest Messenger is here

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in Australia
is observed in the week between Ascension and Pentecost - 24 – 31 May 2020
 
Rev Dr John Hoskin this week presents his following reflections on:

Undermining Some Myths of Christian Unity
John 17:1-11
What do you mean myth?
 
myth      noun
1    A popular belief or story that has become associated with a person, institution, or occurrence, especially one considered to illustrate a cultural ideal.
2.  A traditional, typically ancient story that serves as a fundamental type in the worldview of a people, as by explaining aspects of the natural world or delineating the psychology, customs, or ideals of society.
3    A fiction or half-truth, especially one that forms part of an ideology.
 
As a young Christian, verses like this stirred in me a deep desire for Christian unity.
I prayed for it. I longed for it. I leaned into it. I earnestly desired to see it happen.
I loved the taste of the ecumenical hors de oevres that I got.
But I struggle to find where the main course of Christian unity is served.
 
It seems to me that Christian Unity can be seen as a Christian myth – a popular belief – that has become associated with the church, a popular belief illustrating an ideal of what we think the life of God is like.
 
Myth 1
Christian unity is all about words, words and more words. This myth rises from the impression that Christian unity happens in committees and conferences and is mediated through countless useful documents.
I say myth because, there have been many times when I have determined to take words seriously and allow them to shape my actions – only to find no one has any time, enthusiasm, energy for unifying actions.
 
Myth 2
Christian unity takes a lot of time and changes things only very slowly. So, don’t burn up too much energy pursuing Christian Unity – it will happen in God’s good time.
I say myth because I have been taken aside and encouraged to have a very cautious and small view of what is possible in being in partnership with people of different traditions. I have been encouraged by supposedly well-intentioned church people to give Christian unity just a little of my time and none of the church money.
 
Myth 3
Christian unity is an obvious part of the God-given purpose of the church, so much so that we don’t need to keep going on about it.
I say myth because I have been wounded – the fence-sitting label in both Pentecostal and UC circles. … too conservative to some, too left-wing or social justice for others
 
Myth 4
We are making great progress when it comes to Christian unity
I say myth because I see more evidence of schism and division than of unity – and that discourages me.
The splintering of the body of Christ has not stopped.  At the same time as major denominations make some remarkable progress towards seeking a common mind, there have been a plethora of fresh schisms. New denominations like spot fires are leaping up all over the place. We seem to be in a bedevilled era, when if a few people have a disagreement with their church council or their pastor, they rush off and form another congregation or denomination.
 
Therefore, putting it bluntly: at the same time as the ecumenical movement has embraced millions, another spirit is also at work fostering fresh schisms. And each new schism is made with a degree of self-righteousness that must make the old Enemy dance around wildly with self-satisfaction!
 
The division of Christianity into so many denominations is a scandal. The scandal is magnified by the sad fact that many of these separated Christians distrust each other, some push themselves forward with arrogant claims, and others rally their own troops, regularly making caustic attacks on other sections of the church.
 
There is not one shred of doubt within me that Jesus abhors this. He was for reconciliation and living as one body. His “high priestly prayer” still stands: that prayer which John records Jesus praying on the night of his betrayal. He yearned for the loving faithfulness and the unbroken fellowship of his followers.
 
Confronted by immanent death, he prayed earnestly that they would stick together. His words, which millions of Christians will read today, are as valid as they were back then at the beginning.
 
In my heart I hear the prayer of Jesus resounding still:
“Holy Father, keep these whom you have given me, true to your name.
May they be one, as you and I are one.”
 
We dare not avoid this prayer. We cannot push his words aside. They come out of the very heart of the early church’s encounter with the living Christ. Who can presume to ignore them? Who can dare try to negate them by pretending that their own version of “the true Gospel” makes it imperative that they separate from “lesser believers?” Who can refuse to both pray for our fellows Christians and seek the way forward with them in the direction of greater cohesion in worship and service?
 
In this “Week of prayer for Christian unity” we all have the opportunity to do something to undermine the prevailing myths. In small and great actions we can stand against the flow of church fragmentation. We can continue to reach out with actions and words of reconciliation.
 
So how might we undermine the myths of Christian unity and make a stronger effective unity.
Undermine the myth of words (being the primary vehicle of Christian unity) by action.
Undermine the myth of unity only happening slowly by acting now.
Undermine the myth of obvious unity by determined and sustained ecumenical action: telling the stories of combined witness, developing relationship with sisters and brothers in other Christian traditions, planning and engaging in actions of shared witness.
Undermine the myth of great progress (in the face of evidence of the contrary) by refusing to feed the self-interested fragmentation of God’s church.
 
It is God’s church – how can we in a time when there has never been such strong theological convergence choose to divide God’s People, Christ’s Body, the Spirit’s Community, into ever smaller pieces.
 
“Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.”
 
Rev Dr John Hoskin
 
 

Church morning tea remotely
Because we do not have a resident minister, the Zoom inter-active meeting is for the morning tea only. Church services are available at various remote sites, including the Presbytery one, Hilary’s son in Newcastle, various Uniting Church sites around the country, and Gloucester’s own Anglican Church.
 
For those that do not have internet there is a phone option for our remote Uniting Church morning tea. All you do is dial the number listed below, enter the Meeting ID and follow the prompts. While there were 14 church members showing their happy faces on-line last Sunday, Ray Creek used the phone and dialled in to be part of the morning tea, although we couldn’t see him we could hear him (and several of his jokes).
 
Topic: Church Morning Tea
Time: May 24, 2020 10:30 AM Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Join Zoom Meeting
 
https://uca-nswact.zoom.us/j/93949445759
 
Meeting ID: 939 4944 5759
Dial by telephone  Ph : 8015 6011
Meeting ID: 939 4944 5759

Covid-19 restrictions continue in churches
The Leadership of the Uniting Church Synod of NSW and ACT and leaders from the Presbyteries and Ministers, met this week to review restrictions on gatherings for worship and meetings for groups in church facilities following the easing of restrictions in NSW and ACT.
With the safety and well-being of our community in mind, the Synod agreed on a strong recommendation that church members should not meet in person for services of worship or face to face meetings in churches.
The recommendation to congregations was laid out in an Information Update signed by the General Secretary, Rev. Jane Fry, and Moderator Rev. Simon Hansford.
“It is anticipated that the effects of COVID-19 will continue to impact our lives for the foreseeable future.”
"In the coming months we will be asked to make difficult choices between conflicting needs and imperatives.  We must avoid framing our situation in terms of a false choice between reviving the economy — or our churches — and saving lives,” the guidance said.
The note was clear in its concern for premature easing of restrictions in vulnerable communities, “If we don’t continue our efforts to contain the virus, a new wave of infections and deaths will cause further pain.  All that we have gained in this time of isolation could be quickly lost.”
The guidance confirmed that weddings and funerals were still permissible “adhering to the numbers set by the ACT and NSW Government”.
Additionally, it affirmed that Pastoral Visits are permissible if “no one is considered at risk.”
The notice made special reference of Ministers or Pastoral Visitors. It recommended a check on health status before visiting community members, and that visitors in a vulnerable category, make alternative arrangements.
 
Further recommendations advise Uniting Church congregations to: 
* continue to suspend face to face worship,
* encourage and affirm the continued delivery of worship via alternate means,
* reaffirm the provision of essential services and activities that support vulnerable people in communities, practicing strict social distancing and hygiene,
* encourage Ministers and leadership teams in their continued efforts to;
* foster social contact amongst their people in safe ways,
* encourage people to maintain fellowship and pastoral care by other means, Australia Post, telephone, internet, online resources including on the Synod COVID-19 Hub for online church activities,
 
* Continue to encourage people to use this time as an opportunity for personal retreat and reflection, for enriching and renewing their life of faith, for discovering new ways of reaching out in friendship and support to others in faith, even in the midst of the challenges being experienced.”
The Presbytery and Synod leaders will continue to meet each week to monitor future developments.
 

Mission

Our mission is to be a living presence of God in the Gloucester community and to
follow the example of Jesus Christ so God's transforming love may be experienced by all.

The Gloucester Congregation supports local, national and international groups, such as:

• SRE programme in the local high school
• Christian & Life Education in local primary schools
• Wauchope Aboriginal Youth Group
• Nungalinga College
• Broken Hill Outback Patrol
• Leprosy Australia
• Samburu Sponsorship, Kenya
• Lausanne Australia, St Andrew's School in India