Hello church,
In light of the very hot weekend forecast, we’ve cancelled plans for the picnic lunch after church. But rest assured that we’ll have the AC running at church and we’ll have some ice on hand so we can offer iced coffee if you prefer that to a hot cuppa!
In more weighty matters, you may have heard that Thursday 22nd was declared a National Day of Mourning for the victims of the Bondi shooting. You can read more on the Prime Minister’s website here. While it has been sad to see this tragedy politicised in various ways, it is timely to consider how we reflect on these events. I find the concise words of Archbishop Kanishka Raffell to be helpful: “Today we remember, honour and mourn our fellow Australians who were robbed of their lives on December 14 last year, and we express our sympathy and solidarity with all who grieve their loss. We remember that God abhors violence and we commit ourselves to pursuing and protecting the freedom of all Australians to live in peace and safety. We must learn the lessons of this unspeakable tragedy beginning with the determination to reject anti-semitism wherever and whenever we encounter it.” I wonder if you’ve had any conversations with colleagues or families who have wondered what to make of it all? Perhaps we can point them to Jesus, himself a Jew, who knows the sinful state of every heart and yet came to save people from every nation and ethnicity, that we might all rejoice in the life that he gives.
God bless,
Simon