Transfiguration

Lat weekend we had our Annual General Meeting and I wondered if I should 'blog' my report because it talks about what has been and looks forward to what lies ahead. It's been uploaded to the Parish website so interested folk can read it there unless I get a request to post it here. For this week I'll share the reflection that was in the pew sheet...

In the Gospel today Jesus is described taking three close friends for some ‘time out’ on a mountain. While they were up on the mountain Jesus was transformed somehow, and the three friends were given a new insight into the relationship that Jesus had with God.

In the story Peter was so moved by the experience that he wanted to build three shelters on the holy ground where that encounter took place.

There are at least two things I’d want to draw from this account known as ‘the transfiguration’.

The first is that if Jesus made time in the midst of a busy life for reflection and prayer, should we not also do the same? We may not be physically able to get up Mount Archer but we could go for a walk on flatter ground! We could create other spaces in which reflection and physical exercise are possible eg weeding the flower beds, mowing the yard, walking the dog, riding the bike.
It is wonderful to be presented with this reading just before the journey of Lent. There is an opportunity for each of us to prioritise our time so that for a few weeks at least this practice becomes part of who we are, and how we operate. I’m not going to ask what you gave up for Lent – I’m going to ask what you took on!

Are you planning to be part of a Lent group? Are you planning to read a devotional book, or a portion of the Bible? Are you planning to keep a journal, or sit quietly in front of a candle at the end of each day?

Whatever we do there is a good chance that we will find ourselves in Peter’s shoes. Awed by the reality of Jesus in the ‘holy ground’ of our lives.

Anglican News from the Bush Fires

In a letter to all Victorian clergy the Archbishop of Melbourne Dr Philip Freier has written of his sense of disbelief “about the enormity of the devastation in Victoria”:

“We think of those who have lost their lives, those under care in hospitals, of those waiting for news of family and friends, those now homeless and the many still threatened by fire. The loss of property, while secondary, is beyond imagination, with homes, businesses and even whole townships destroyed,” he said.

“Our hearts go out to all affected, now and in the coming weeks, and we pray that in the midst of the blackness and grief, God’s healing presence will sustain those caught up in the firefighting, the recovery, the identification, all emergency services personnel – from front line firefighters to the police, paramedics, ambulance and medical staff, volunteers, aid agencies and chaplains - all of whom have given so courageously and self sacrificially.”

Their bravery and compassion are a great example to us all, he said.
“We acknowledge the community spirit which is binding and supporting the thousands whose lives have been changed by the events of these last days.”
“I pray for all who minister in the Diocese and for the community at large, all confronted by the immensity of this tragedy. Never forget that God is with us in our grief, our pain and our despair.”

Here in Rockhampton we are collecting money through the Parish to send to the Melbourne Diocesan Appeal which will be used to help people on the ground through the work of Anglicare Victoria.

Weekly Reflection

I will put up an article each week and invite people to respond - I will write a 300 word reflection - hopefully that can stimulate discussion and in the midst of the dialogue we could develop some sense of cyber community?

On Tuesday 20th January 2009 Barak Hussein Obama was formally sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America. Two million people came out onto the streets of Washington to cheer him, there were joyful gatherings across the USA, and in many other parts of the world.

In the midst of a global economic crisis, intractable conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and fears about the future of our planet… people are looking for hope. Obama seems to embody hope with his vision of change in so many areas of human enterprise, made possible he suggests through collaborative effort.

I wonder if there was a similar sense of excitement among the communities of Galilee as Jesus shared his vision of hope… as he spent time with people who were excluded in his society and explained that they were important to God and worthy of love.
When we hear this week’s Gospel describe Jesus calling James and John we might imagine that his message and his miracles would have been the topic of conversations all over the region. So when Jesus said to James and John, ‘Do you want to be a part of this?’ They’d already had time to think about it and they joined the team we’ve come to know as ‘the disciples’.

In some ways two thousand years later we are also part of that same ‘team’ because of the promises that were made at our Baptism and Confirmation. As we celebrated Australia Day this week we might remember some of the needs in our country, in our local community, and in our Church community? We might then ask ourselves what it is we’re planning to do as part of the ‘team’ this year in response to those needs.

Let's talk!
*posted on behalf of Cameron Venables

Welcome to the new blog for our All Saints Community, North Rockhampton. You may post your comments here, and come back for weekly thoughts and sermons. Have fun!