COCU47C

Readings:
Amos 7:7-17;
Psalm 82
Colossians 1:1-14;
Luke 10: 25-37

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COCU46C

2 Kings 5:1-14 –
Psalm 30
Galatians 6:(1-6), 7-16
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 – Jesus sends out the disciples….

feet

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NAIDOC Week

(see also resources on Reconciliation Week on this website)


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COCU45C

Readings: 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14, Psalm 77: 1-2, 11-20, Galatians 5: 1, 13-25, Luke 9: 51-62.

West Epping Uniting Church used the reading focused upon the mantle passed from Elijah to Elisha in an intergenerational service. They talked about our heroes, and what mantles God might be calling them to take up. They then created and put on their own mantles. Very creative.

west e 1 west e2

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UCA Anniversary.22 June1977 (celebrated on the closest Sunday)

The Uniting Church in Australia celebrated the formal union of the Congregational, Methodist and Presbyterian Church on June 22nd, 1977.

This year the UCA celebrates 45 years. 

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Refugee Week (World Refugee Day June 20)

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COCU44C

Readings
1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a: God instructs Elijah to go to Mount Sinai, and comes to him there. At Elijah’s cave he experiences wind, earthquake and fire, but God’s voice is only heard in the whisper that follows. In spite of his fear at the threats against his life, God leads him back into ministry.
Psalms 42 and 43: A song of lament, with a commitment to praise God in the face of persecution of suffering.
Galatians 3:23-29: Now that the way of faith in Christ has come, the law is no longer needed. Those who trust in Christ are God’s children, and we are all equal in God’s family.
Luke 8:26-39: Jesus liberates the Gerasene demonaic, who begs to go with Jesus once he has been healed. But Jesus sends him home to tell of what God did for him.
(summaries by John van de Laar on his Sacredise website. His weekly reflections on the themes of the RCL readings, and global and local applications are always really helpful. )

(Contemporary versions of the lectionary readings by Nathan Nettleton)

Resources:
Church of Scotland starters

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COCU40C.TrinitySundayC

See also Trinity Sunday Year A and Year B.

Readings
Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31: Wisdom sings of being with God at the creation of the world, and of humanity.

Psalm 8: A song of God’s majesty, and the honour God has given to humanity.

Romans 5:1-5: In Christ God has given us peace and a place of privilege, and has also strengthened us by giving us the Spirit.

John 16:12-15: Jesus promises the Spirit who will lead us into truth, and teach us all that belongs to Jesus and the Father.
(Bible readings summary by John van de Laar, Sacredise)

Resources:
Life in Liturgy
Singing from the Lectionary
Textweek

A Trinity Preparation
I bind unto myself this day the strong name of the Trinity.
The Creator’s gifts of earth and sky,
the flowing creeks and fertile land,
the winter sun and summer moon,
the roaring sea and golden sand.
I bind unto myself this day the Christ who wears our human clay.
The Baby sleeping in a stall,
the Healer touching our disease,
the Man of love upon the Cross,
the risen Friend who hears our pleas.
I bind unto myself this day the Spirit who is here to stay.
The Breath that makes the broken whole,
the Truth that flows like liquid light,
the Wind that sweeps my dusty soul,
the Fire that warms the darkest night.
From now unto infinity,
The strong name of the Trinity.
(Source: Bruce Prewer)

Call to worship
We gather in the name of the living Christ to worship God.
Surely, God is in this place and calls us to worship in spirit and in truth.
God’s love is for you and for all people everywhere.
May we be renewed in the refreshing Spirit of the living Christ, that we may share God’s love and life.
The living Christ is with us.
Praise the Lord!

Gift of Faith (a prayer inspired by Romans 5:1–5)
You give us faith
to make us right
with You again.

You give us peace
to bring us home
to You again.

You give us grace
in which we stand,
in Your presence,
in Your love,
in Your honour.

Thus we withstand
our suffering,
and we endure;
we find resilience,
and we grow;
we develop character,
and we hope –
we hope, for Your love,
our faithful Holy One,
is poured into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit that has
been given to us.

You give us Your Spirit,
breath of life,
wind of flight.

You give us Your Wisdom,
welcoming light,
path of right relationship.

You give us Your Love,
source of life,
home each night of sorrow
and day of quite exquisite joy.

We stand in awe,
grateful for such gifts, inspired
to fly, to love, to shine light
in the world.

May it be so. Amen.
(Sarah Agnew)
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COCU39C.PentecostC

See also Pentecost A and Pentecost B

Readings
Acts 2:1-21: The believers are filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, and they start to praise God in various languages.
Or Genesis 11:1-9: Humanity seeks to build a tower that reaches the heavens, but God confuses their language and they scatter over the earth.
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b: The world and all its creatures depend on God for provision and breath – which leads the Psalmist to commit to praise God.
Romans 8:14-17: God has given us God’s Spirit by which we know we are God’s children, sharing both in God’s glory and God’s suffering.
OR Acts 2:1-21: See above.
John 14:8-17, (25-27): Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to be an advocate for his followers, and to lead them into truth.

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COCU38C.Easter7C

Readings 
Acts 16: 16-34
Paul and Silas are imprisoned after they cast out a demon from the fortune-telling slave girl. Even in jail they continue to worship, and Paul leads the prison jailer to faith in Christ.
Psalm 97
God’s greatness and power extends over all, even gods and idols. The earth itself trembles. God’s protection extends towards God’s people.
Rev 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21
Christ is the one who will come to set things right. The Holy City will be home to all those who respond to God’s invitation to life in Christ.
John 17:20-26
Jesus prays for those who believe in him, that they may find unity, and that their love will be a witness to the world, that others may believe in Jesus.

RCLReadings.COCU38C.Easter7C.NN (Nathan Nettleton paraphrase)

Resources
textweek.com
Sacredise (John van de Laar)
Singing from the Lectionary (Natalie Sims)
re-Worship (Christine Longhurst)
Reflection on the Epistle reading on the UCC website
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