A Contemplative Prayer Gathering for those who wish to meet the
Beloved in their home sacred space.
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Each week on Wednesdays at 6pm we invite you to light a candle, sit in your sacred space, and meditate with us via Facebook.
This week, our meditation is adapted from Jan Johnson's book, "Meeting God in Scripture: A Hands-On Guide to Lectio Divina"
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To access this week's meditation (and those from previous weeks) please click the link below. You can also find these on our Facebook page and YouTube channel.
If you would like to be emailed the guided meditation, in advance, to accompany your contemplative practice, email Debbie at office@mruca.org.au Meditations from previous weeks can be viewed on our YouTube channel. Click the button below for access.
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If you would like to receive a pastoral visit, please contact with the Debbie in the church office via phone 3358 6945 or email office@mruca.org.au
In cases of an emergency, please get in touch with Murray directly, 0421 234 541.
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Giving to the work of the church
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If you would like to give to the work of the church, you are encouraged to give via a direct credit. This can be set up through your internet banking. If you need any help to set this up, please speak with Anne Copeland.
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The account details are:
BSB: 034-065
Account Number: 264-563
Account Name: Merthyr Road Uniting Church
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On-line church resources for children
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In our transition to online services there has been one really important thing that has been missing... age appropriate content for our children. Children are just as much a part of our community as any of us. Here are some resources generously offered by Saddleback Church in California called Saddleback Kids. Click on the links below to access these resources.
Each week Saddleback Kids uploads new videos to their youtube channel. There are videos for early childhood and primary aged children. These resources are a tool for the whole family and can be a starting point for some great conversations. We recommend watching them together with your children, encouraging them to ask questions and to talk about what they have learnt. If there are parts of these resources that approach Christianity differently to you and your family take that as an opportunity to discuss with your children why you believe different.
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Please pray for Amber, Claire, Daphne K, Eugenie, Glen, Lisa Neill, Lindsay, Luke, Margaret G, Mervyn Thomas, Richard, Robyn, Rosemary H, Stewart, Vonda and the Bunting family.
We continue to pray for our parishioners each week. This week we pray for Murray, Wendi, Vonda, Una and Phil.
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If you, or anyone you know, would appreciate our prayers or pastoral care, please contact
Murray on 0421 234 541 or Debbie in the church office on 3358 6945 or office@mruca.org.au
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To read the Uniting Church Qld Synod newsletter and the Moreton Rivers Presbytery newsletter, click on the buttons below.
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Day Camp prep is in full swing now and we would like to invite congregations to bake some tasty goodies for our wonderful leaders! If you would like to send some bake goods. Drop off points will be the MRP Office (22 Ashgrove Ave, Ashgrove) or the Bus Stops: Bulimba UC, Albany Creek UC, Samford Valley Community Church, The Gap UC.
Please ensure that the containers are clearly labelled with the name of the congregation the name of the owner so we can safely return it. Otherwise, you can send them in a disposable container.
To ensure the maximum yumminess we ask that the goodies are baked and delivered on Monday or Tuesday of Camp.
Kind Regards,
Youth Ministry Team, Moreton Rivers Presbytery
Phone: Ph: (07) 3366 0236 email: adminsupport@mrpres.org.au
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Reading
Mark 5:21-43
A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed
21When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. 22Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet 23and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” 24So he went with him.
And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. 25Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. 26She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. 27She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” 29Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” 31And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32He looked all around to see who had done it. 33But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
35While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” 36But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”
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37He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” 42And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. 43He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Reflection
Truth-telling is hard, in Australia we struggle to tell the truth about our colonial history, and strangely, the Church has been a hard place in which to tell the truth as legalism, tradition, doctrine, and rules of behaviour can intimidate and make people tongue-tied. It takes bravery to speak out about suffering, oppression, and the abusive and damaging practices that some people endure, especially when it is the Church that is doing the damage. In today’s reading, as two people bravely abandon the regulations and regimentation of religion, we see what faith can be when it becomes a vehicle for compassion, healing, and restoration to dignity and wholeness. How might the word ‘daughter’ have rung in the ears of the haemorrhaging woman as she knelt before Jesus in fear, yet still willing to tell the truth? What did the call ‘little girl’ awaken in Jairus’ daughter as she lay there seemingly dead? Words of peace and acts of love prove more powerful than condemnation and exclusion.
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