PRAYER FOR LEBANON
One Month After the Explosion of August 4, 2020
A request for everyone to join in anytime and pray with all on Friday the 4th of September, ideally in the evening to be closer to the actual time of explosion.
On Tuesday August 4, 2020 at 6:10 pm a powerful explosion in the port area of Beirut shook the beautiful city. This unprecedented explosion left behind hundreds of dead, thousands injured and over 300,000 people homeless in just a matter of seconds. Many lost loved ones, family members, friends and colleagues. The blast was so powerful that it was felt miles away, leaving behind destruction, devastation and debris.
Lebanon has suffered multiple waves of conflict and disaster in the past. 15 years of civil war and 30 years of political, social and economic turmoil has been compounded by the strain on resources caused by the Syrian war and an influx of refugees. Tuesday’s explosion came at a time when the country is already gripped by an economic crisis and reeling from the impacts of COVID-19. This massive explosion not only shattered buildings, property and hundreds of lives, but took away the hopes of the people, who were struggling to survive and looking for answers for the prevailing crisis. For some, this massive explosion was the final blow.
Today, after a month has passed, the international community responded with generosity and compassion, as many countries, nations, governments, organisations and individuals around the world are offering their help and support. Countless calls for aid and assistance have been given to help the people of Lebanon. Needless to say, that already some aid has arrived, but the pain of the suffering people is still there, who need our care, love and compassion. Our obligation and task is to unite with people around the world, to hold in our hearts and in our prayers the people of Beirut, Lebanon.
Let us pray to the God of compassion who is the strength of those who suffer and comforts those who grieve for the people of Lebanon.
Let us embrace those who have lost loved ones and are grieving in pain and agony.
Let us pray to God to fill us with compassion, so that we reach out with love to those who are broken hearted and anxious. Let us pray to the God of love and refuge as we hold the people of Beirut in our hearts: Loving and gracious God, we pray that Your Spirit of healing and protection be with the suffering people of Beirut and Lebanon at this time as we remember the catastrophe after a month.
May the good news of peace, healing and loving care be with all, especially with those who are suffering as a result of the disaster.
In Your mercy, we pray, bring comfort to those who are still in pain and are in tremendous trauma.
We pray for those who are healing and for those who are homeless and are looking for shelter.
We pray for those who are hungry and looking for sustenance to survive.
We pray for those who are working hard to find the means to rebuild their shattered lives as well as the destroyed buildings.
We pray for the thousands of the volunteers, who offered their services to anyone in need in the days immediately after.
We pray for those who organised and followed up with the cleaning and were there for those who needed their personal touch.
We pray for the medical staff, who did their best to care for the injured.
We pray for all the churches, organisations and institutions, who mobilised to extend a helping hand to reach out in love and care.
We pray for the worldwide efforts for lifting up the spirit of the people of Lebanon.
We pray Lord, please give hope to the hopeless, shelter to those who are homeless, give food and nutrition to those who lack it, give patience to those who have lost everything.
Loving and generous God, You promise that You will never forsake Your people. Be with all who feel shrouded in darkness, fear and anxiety: all who are anxious about what the future holds, whose pain brings them close to despair. May Your light shine in the dark places.
Generous God, You bring hope and new life. Be with the people of Lebanon. May Your hope fill their hearts and give them rest.
Our loving, merciful and compassionate God, we pray all these in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is our only hope and refuge.
To whom is the glory now and forever. Amen! Rev. Dr. Krikor Youmshajekian Minister St. Andrew’s Uniting Church Longueville
Treasurer Middle East National Conference UCA
Fri 11 September: Planning
Fri 18 September: Growing
Fri 25 September: Going
*Two week break*
Fri 16 October: Resourcing
Fri 23 October: Leading
Fri 30 October: Establishing
Fri 6 November: Presenting
*9:30am-4pm each day
For full details on this course, please click here for the flyer
LIVING the CHANGE NEIGHBOURHOOD NIGHT23RD SEPTEMBER @ 7.30PM - 8.45PM
TALKING (A Facebook live event on Epping Uniting's Facebook page)
This Season of Creation, we invite you to be part of our climate themed Neighbourhood Night and join a range of speakers talking about different ways we can take responsibility, and live in a way that supports and sustains our common home -Planet A
Please join Sunny’s Ordination service via Zoom (not in person please). Sunny will be starting a Placement at Warnervale on 1st October and her Induction there will follow later.
Rev James Aaron is concluding his Placement at North Ryde Community Church and a Service of Conclusion will be held on Sunday 20th September.
The Presbytery thanks James for his Ministry!
We will miss you James and wish you all the best in your new Placement.
On behalf of the Centre for Faith and Public Issues, please find attached two flyers for you to consider attending.
Please note that places are limited for the first one to be held at the Centre for Ministry, North Parramatta on 16 September 2020 from 10 am – 1 pm.
The second one will be held via Zoom on the 22nd October. Flyer in person Flyer Zoom
FREE - Church Organ: CONN “Serenade” Organ
Made in USA - Model 6323 Type 201 Style 002 Finish: 033
Serial Number 64 22 35 Volts 240 Hertz 50 Watts 120
Needs wiring repairs.
Available for immediate pick up from Belrose Uniting Church at own cost.
Ph Ian Weeks 0408 308 196
Please expect to see changes for any congregation that resumed face to face worship due to the new restrictions and Synod guidelines. Check with your Church Council if you are unsure.
Please feel free to join in on any of these services
Beecroft-Pennant Hills Uniting Church We invite you to come along with us, as we acknowledge our faith and join in a socially-distant series of events through the week, via the wonders of Zoom. We welcome you to join us as we maintain our witness to our gracious God.
Note that the dial-up FOR ALL EVENTS starts with this: https://uca-nswact.zoom.us/j/
Then, just add the numbers which follow your chosen event below: SUNDAY MORNING 9:30 a.m. SERVICE: 98841125317 SUNDAY EVENING 6:00 p.m. SERVICE: 98508192339 MONDAY EXPLORING FAITH 10:30 a.m.: 441675524 TUESDAY Acts of Apostles BIBLE STUDY 7:30 p.m.: 644528202 WEDNESDAY MIDWEEK "Top-Up" SERVICE 1:00p.m.: 92361090134 THURSDAY "Coffee and Chat": 95652231113 FRIDAY Acts of Apostles BIBLE STUDY 10:30 a.m.: 94636166810
Any further details: <office@bphuniting.org OR 9875 3436
Boronia Park Uniting Church All are welcome to join our Sunday Service at 9.30 am.
We provide our worship resources on our website at boroniapark.uca.org.au and Facebook at Boronia Park Uniting Church.
Songs are provided as part of the resources website. All resources are accessible and downloadable.
Past services are available through the website.
Cherrybrook Uniting Church Cherrybrook Uniting Church is again holding its Sunday church services interactively online and will continue to do so while we are in lockdown with the Corona Virus. You are welcome to watch our past online services: http://www.cherrybrookuc.org.au/church-services
If you would like to join our new “Alpha” Bible Study via Zoom on either Wednesday AM or Thursday PM, please email Rev. Peter Chung at minister@cherrybrookuc.org.au
Epping Uniting Church Epping UC is conducting worship via zoom which is uploaded to our website Epping Uniting Church.org.au, our Facebook page and our YouTube channel.
Gosford Uniting Church Gosford UC are offering online worship services led by Rev Lorna Martin and other ordained and lay leaders for each Sunday. Prayer and praise, liturgy and Bible readings, sermons and reflections as well as music and children's stories are included. All these are available on their Facebook page and website www.gosforduniting.net.au
Tell Me A Story - are short 3 to 5 minutes videos created by Roxy Young for young children, but can be enjoyed by their parents, friends, neighbours - everyone!
Each story has a subtle message of God's Love and are especially for those who are yet to see themselves as part of God's Family. Godly Play is a form of Christian storytelling developed by Jerome Berryman. (For more information see www.godlyplay.org.au) Judyth Roberts has shared some stories in the style of Godly Play for this season. Watch the story then wonder about it ... Hornsby Uniting Church Our online video of the weekly service will continue, at http://hornsby.unitingchurch.org.au/churchathome/home-page.html
Killara Uniting Church Our Sunday Services are now online and can be accessed from our website: https://killara.uca.org.au
Also, we have a greatly appreciated Bible Study via Zoom on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9.30 am during the school term–based on the lectionary readings and With Love to the World. Past Bible studies can be accessed on our website.
Marsden Road Uniting Church Changes to services from the end of August and in operation from September 2020 onwards:
Live Stream through Zoom on the Internet on Sunday at 9.30 am except the third and fifth Sundays.
On the third and fifth Sundays please access worship through any of the other congregations listed by Synod and/or SCCP Presbytery .
Details of Worship for first three Sundays each month:
On Marsden Road Uniting Website:
http://www.marsdenroadunitingchurch.org.au/
On Marsden Road Uniting Website: http://www.marsdenroadunitingchurch.org.au/
On Marsden Road Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MRUCC082016/
Receive as a PDF Attachment by Email.
Receive as printed Documents in Mailbox
By accessing the Rev John’s Blogsites for Services, Newssheet and Blog
whitestarhavent.blogspot.com – for services
whitestarhavenm.blogspot.com – for Newssheet
whitestarhaven.blogspot.com – for weekly Blog
Neutral Bay Uniting Church
Join us for worship online this Sunday from 9:20am Zoom Link
Zoom Meeting ID: 910 3436 5914
Normanhurst Uniting Church We send an email with a YouTube link of our pre-recorded service each week.
Please contact Rev Dr David Reichardt dcreichardt@gmail.com to receive the link details.
Northern Beaches All are welcome to join any of our regular online services and activities: Sunday’s
NBUC On-line Worship Service @ 9.30am via www.nbuniting.org.au Monday’s
Little Footsteps story and Activity from 9.30am via Little Footsteps Facebook Page Tuesday’s
TunesTuesday after 1pm via Salt & Light Ministry Facebook Page
Christian Meditation @ 7pm via Zoom
Bible Study Group @ 7pm via Zoom Saturday’s
Monthly Easter Retreat @ 9.30am via Zoom
If you would like to join any of these activities please email comms.nbuc@gmail.com and we will send you a link.
Roseville Uniting Church Check with your Church Council for the latest updates.
On Facebook at facebook.com/rosevilleuniting or by Zoom. Several small groups are operating through Zoom, as well as a number of social activities including Bridge, Ruckus Kids Club and Spark Youth Group. Contact chris.goringe@roseville.unitingchurch.org.au for zoom or other details.
Willoughby & Northbridge Uniting Church Check with your Church Council for latest update.
Join us via Facebook Live
Watch our video stream live on Facebook – we are a public page so you won’t even need a Facebook account to view it. Stream starts just after 10am. Link: https://www.facebook.com/willoughbyuniting/
Join us via Zoom from your computer, tablet or smartphone
Connect through the Zoom app or in your browser by using the link below. https://zoom.us/j/7125208222 Click here for more info and instructions
On Tuesday August 4, 2020 at 6:10 pm a powerful explosion in the port area of Beirut shook the beautiful city. This unprecedented explosion left behind hundreds of dead, thousands injured and over 300,000 people homeless in just a matter of seconds. Many lost loved ones, family members, friends and colleagues. The blast was so powerful that it was felt miles away, leaving behind destruction, devastation and debris.
