breathe

breathe!

no, not that fast,

slowly

breathe in the Spirit

drink it in

the gentle refreshment

the empowering

the peacefulness

slow down

breathe 

Walking on Country

Nunga! Last week I had a wonderful experience, walking on country.  Uniting College has developed this immersion experience for candidates for ministry and others. 

I just blogged about it for the Burnside City Uniting Church newsletter.  Read more here:

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=681546955306494&id=21790802167039

Where have I been?

Since I joined the team at Burnside City Uniting Church I've been blogging fortnightly for the church newsletter. Posts are shared on the BCUC Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/BurnsideCityUnitingChurch

Blessings,

Linda 

a special, exhausting, weird time

8 workdays left at Uniting College. Yes, I'm counting...
Counting down to the end of 4.5 years as part of a wonderful team.

Then there are the milestones..

1. Saying goodbye last weekend to loved church family and friends at Tea Tree Gully Uniting Church.
I read the huge card they signed for Paul and I: message after message of love, affirmation, encouragement and blessing

2. Writing the resignation letter from Uniting College

3. The announcement yesterday that a replacement admin assistant has been found for me
(really happy with the interview panel's decision)

4. The farewells
There are 3 planned at Uniting College and the ACD over the next week and a half

8 workdays left to finish well.


3 weeks and 5 days until I commence my contract at Burnside City Uniting Church.
A new life, new ministry, new church family and friends, new 'hats'.


My prayers reflect my emotions: lament, thankfulness, praise, grief,  hope

Such a special, exhausting, weird time. 

My heart is full

Yesterday, my son Matt married the lovely Bec. What an amazing day!

The weather was perfect, things ran smoothly, we all scrubbed up well, the church looked beautiful, the service was wonderful and the reception, a great celebration.

Matt and Bec along with Rev Ian Lohmeyer planned a wedding service that placed God at the centre. It was such a celebration and witness of their faith and of their love for each other. They had written their own vows - after saying them to each other, there was hardly a dry eye in the place!

At the reception, a theme that stood out through all the speeches was the importance of family and friends in Matt and Bec's lives.

Here is a copy of Paul and my (short) speech:

Hello! Isn’t it wonderful to be able to celebrate this happy occasion together … family and friends! There’s something about a wedding that brings out the best in us all … don’t we all look magnificent? If you don’t believe me, have a look around you! ….Scrub up well, don’t we all!?

Then of course there’s the bride and groom.. Aren’t they both gorgeous?

I think at occasions like this there is a collective sense of pride in both the bride and groom.. it’s not just their dashing good looks of course… it’s who they are, their characters, the memories we share, the way we have seen them grow and mature, and the way we have seen their relationship develop and grow into what we are celebrating today.

Matt and Bec, we want to say that we are very proud of you.

They say it takes a village to raise a child: have a look around this room – here is a significant part of your village – family and friends – past, present and future. And we also think of those who couldn’t make it today.

Our relationship and responsibilities change as of today but we still want to say that we love you and will stand by you in your life together. Congratulations! 

Over the last few months my son has moved out; he has publicly declared his faith at his baptism; and married the beautiful Bec before family and friends.
Our other son, Jeremy was a great support as groomsman - and looked so handsome! (I'm a little biased!)

My heart is full.

God smile on you

I just discovered The Message translation's version of The Aaronic Blessing:

God bless you and keep you,

God smile on you and gift you,

God look you full in the face
    and make you prosper.

A lovely way to end the day... imagining God smiling on me.

May he smile on you too 

I can choose...

This has been a challenging semester: some health issues, the death of a close friend, my son moving out of home for the first time, the deterioration and death of a loved pet, lots of study to do, and the list goes on.
It is easy to be self absorbed and whinge about my lot in life.
Yet...
I keep being reminded in so many ways that
I am not alone in my 'suffering' - there are many around me who are struggling with their own issues, big and small (probably way bigger than mine) and
I am so blessed - I have a wonderful family, job, friends, church family, home, ministry opportunities..

So here are words that I need to reflect on, and maybe they will be helpful to you too...

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:4-9 NIV

 ¹ Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
²     Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
³ Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his^[a];
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100 (NIV)

I can choose my attitude and tonight I choose to be thankful.