Good Friday

10 April 2020

“Grief and Hope Entwined”

Minister: Rev Dr Margaret Mayman

Music: Rose Riebl (Piano) & Rhys Boak (Organ)Christopher Watson & James Emerson (Cantors)

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Welcome to St Michael’s

StMichael’sisauniquechurch.Weareproudofourindependentspirit;seekingcontinuallytodiscovernewwaystounderstandfaithandtodemonstrateitinourlives,andintheheartofthecity.

AspartoftheUnitingChurchinAustralia,StMichael’siscommittedtoinvolvementinsocialandnationalaffairs.WeholdfoundationalChristianvaluesoftheimportanceofeveryhumanbeing,theneedforintegrityinpubliclifeandconcernforthewelfareofthewholehumanraceirrespectiveofrace,creed,gender,sexuality,statusorage.

Office Bearers

ChairofCongregation:IanSmithChurchCouncilChair:LauraBeckett

DeaneryI:HouseholdDean:PeterAnderson

DeputyDean:JackMorgan

DeaneryII:ChurchServicesDean:GraemeAdamson

DeputyDean:AlbertPhillips

Organist&ManagerofMusicRhysBoak

Treasurer:IanCoxSecretary:MareeMcDonald

DeaneryIII:ContactandCareDean:LyndellO’BrienDeputyDean:JoyArnot

DeaneryIV:ProgramsDean:LorraineWoolleyDeputyDean:ValGill

CultureofSafetyContactPerson(KeepingChildrenSafe)

ValGill

St Michael’s Uniting Church Office

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MEDITATIONS StMichael’sisavibrant,progressive,inclusivechurchwithalongtraditionofnurturingthespiritualwell-beingofthehumanpersonandworkingforthecommongoodinsociety.

♥ Ourbuildingsmaybeclosed,butourheartsareopen. ♥ DuringtheCOVID-19viruspandemic,weareofferingSundayGatheringsonline–ReflectionsbyourministerRevDrMargaretMayman;biblicalandcontemporaryreadingsfromcongregationmembers;beautifulmusicbyorganist,RhysBoakandguestmusicians;andprayersforthesechallengingtimes.

AvideoofthisservicewillbeavailableonthewebsiteandYouTubeonSunday.http://www.stmichaels.org.au/

https://www.youtube.com/user/StMichaelsChurch/videos

Jesus’self-understandingdidnotincludethinkingandspeakingofhimselfastheSonofGodwhosehistoricalintentionwastodieforthesinsoftheworld,andhismessagewasnotaboutbelievinginhim.Ratherhewasaspiritperson,subversivesage,socialprophet,andmovementfounderwhoinvitedhisfollowersandhearersintoatransformingrelationshipwiththesameSpirithehimselfknew,andintoacommunitywhosesocialvisionwasshapedbythecorevalueofcompassion. MarcusBorg

Pieta,VasiliyMyazin

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GATHERING AS PEOPLE OF EARTH AND SPIRIT

WELCOME & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY REV DR MARGARET MAYMAN

WelcometoStMichaelsUnitingChurchandtothisonlineGoodFridaygathering.MynameisMargaretMayman,andIamtheministeratStMichael’s.Whereveryouhavecomefrom,whereveryouaregoingto;whateveryoubelieve,whateveryoudonotbelieve;youarewelcomehere.

WeacknowledgetheWurundjeripeopleoftheKulinNation,andotherFirstPeoplesonwhoselandthoseparticipatinginthisgatheringlive.Wehonourtheirelderspastandpresentandtheiryouthwhocarryhopeforthefuture.

DuringtheCOVID-19pandemic,wecannotgatherinphysicalproximitytooneanother,butwecanbeencouragedinknowingthatthroughthisvirtualgatheringwearereachingbeyondourusualcommunitytoincludepeoplefromotherUnitingChurches,fromotherdenominations,peopleofSpiritinMelbourne,acrossAustraliaandaroundtheworld.Thereisvulnerabilityinthisphysicalseparation.Iamgratefulthatwecanconnectwithoneanotherviatheinternet,butIamconsciousthatbecauseoflimitedaccesstotechnology,noteveryonehasthatprivilege.Inourcongregation,wearekeepingintouchwithmemberswhocannotjoinusonline.Weholdthosepeopleinourheartsalsoasweaffirmthat:

“Wearenotalone.EveryoneisheldintheCircleofCommunityandintheLoveoftheSacred.”

Whereverweare,beingchurchhappensaswereflectonoursacredstoriesofHolyWeek,storiesthatformandreformusthroughourlives.Ingatheringapart,inbeingtogether,thestoriesofJesus’death,andthestoriesofthepeoplewhoseliveshetouched,nourishourspiritsandsustainourlivinginthischallengingtime.Inoursearchformeaning,forwaystolivewellascreatorsofcompassionandpeace,forwaystokeepourselvesandotherssafe;theSpiritiswithinus,betweenus,andbeyondus.Maywetransformthenecessityofsocialdistancingintothegraceofspaciousconnecting,inwhichloveandcompassionareshared.

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GATHERING WecometodaytorememberJesustheHumanOne… whohaddreams, whohadthosedreamsshattered,whotooktimetothinkandprayandweep,whounderstoodtherisksofpropheticspeakingtruthtopower…

WerememberJesusapersonofextraordinaryspiritualinsight,whodiedacrueldeath.

Wegatherinthestillness,onthissolemnday,torememberthecapacityofhumanbeings,ourselvesandothers,bothtosufferrejectionandpainandtobetheoneswhocauseit.

HYMN CHRISTOPHER WATSON

Amanofancienttimeandplacewithforeignspeechandforeignface,revealstheglory,powerandgraceofcostly,unexpectedlove.

Arabbi,schooledinMoses’Law,amale,amendingHerod’sflaw,arouseswonder,rageandawewithcostly,unexpectedlove.

Byteasingwordandhealingdeed,alepertouched,anoutcastfreed,hebearsthefruitandplantstheseedofcostly,unexpectedlove.

Thecostwebarelycansurmisewhen,liftedupbeforeoureyes,thefaceofGodwerecogniseincrucified,unfathomedlove.

Mayfaithandhopewithinusgrow,thewayofChristtotellandshow,andmaytheSpiritbreatheandflowincostly,unexpectedlove.

Words:BrianWren(1936-)Tune:TallisCanon

ShortenedformofmelodybyThomasTallisc.1505-85FromThomasRavencroft’s‘Psalmes’,1621

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CONTEMPORARY READING REV CLARE BROCKETT

Whatmakesthisdaygood?byCherylLawrie Ifyouhaveeverbelievedthatloveinevitablyleadstobetrayal,thisdaysaysitdoesn’t.

Ifyouhaveeverbelievedthatsomepeopleareunlovable,irredeemable,thisdaysaystheyaren’t.

Ifyouhaveeverbelievedthatthereisalimittoforgiveness,thisdaysaysthereisn’t.

Ifyouhaveeverbelievedyouaren’tworthsaving,thisdaysaysyouare.

Ifyouhaveeverbelievedthatyoudon’tdeservefreedom,thisdaysaysyoudo.

Ifyouhaveeverbelievedthatfear,anger,hateanddespairwillalwayswin,thisdaysaystheywon’t.

Andthisdayisgoodforyou.

FIRST BIBLE READING: MATTHEW 27:27-36 IAN COX

ThenthesoldiersofthegovernortookJesusintothegovernor’sheadquarters,andtheygatheredthewholecohortaroundhim.Theystrippedhimandputascarletrobeonhim,andaftertwistingsomethornsintoacrown,theyputitonhishead.Theyputareedinhisrighthandandkneltbeforehimandmockedhim,saying,‘Hail,KingoftheJews!’Theyspatonhim,andtookthereedandstruckhimonthehead.Aftermockinghim,theystrippedhimoftherobeandputhisownclothesonhim.Thentheyledhimawaytocrucifyhim.Astheywentout,theycameuponapersonfromCyrenenamedSimon;whomtheycompelledtocarrythecross.AndwhentheycametoaplacecalledGolgotha(whichmeansPlaceofaSkull),theyofferedhimwinetodrink,mixedwithgall;butwhenhetastedit,hewouldnotdrinkit.Andwhentheyhadcrucifiedhim,theydividedhisclothesamongthemselvesbycastinglots;thentheysatdownthereandkeptwatchoverhim.

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HYMN JAMES EMERSON HowcouldaGodwhosenameislove seekbloodtopaysin’sprice?Aretorture,shame,andsenselessdeath aholysacrifice?Eachviolentcrimeistragicloss;howcoulditbeGod’swill?Howcanweglorifythecrosswhenvictimssufferstill?

DidJesuscomeasGod’sownchild toshareeachhumantear?DidJesusdieinspeakingtruth thatrulerswillnothear?IfWisdomhangsuponatree,what,then,arewetodo?Mustwe,likeJesus,riskourlivesforwhatisjustandtrue?InJesusChristwemeetaGod whoseloveembracesall, whoweepswhenchildrenareabused, whohearseachsparrowfall.Whengraceisancientastheearth,weneednotworshipdeath.SoletusliveintendercareforallwhomLovegivesbreath.

Words:RuthDuck(1947-)Tune:KingsfoldfromanEnglishandIrishtraditionalmelody

Coll.LucyBroadwood(1858-1929)Harm.andarr.RalphVaughanWilliams(1872-1958)

CONTEMPORARY REFLECTION MARGARET MAYMAN WhathappenedonthatFridaythatwenowcallgood?Itwasnotaheavenlytransactionbeyondourworldlyreality.Itwasnotthesacrificeofaninnocentvictimtosatisfyacapriciousdeitywithatasteforblood.No.Herearerealpeoplestrugglingwithrealpower.Herethemoralqualityofrealityisrevealed,inadisclosingthatdestabilisesthepowerofmoneyandviolenceandoppression.Jesusisthelensthroughwhichweunderstandpowernow;inhimweencounterthepowersoftheweak.ThroughthelensofJesus’lifeanddeathweassessthepracticeofpowerintheworld–powerexpressedinoursocialrelationsandinthepoliciesofthestate.Jesusexposesandthreatensthepowersthatbe:thepowersofwealthandmilitarydomination.NowonderhemadePilatenervousandthecrowdfrenzied.Inlifeanddeathandlifebeyonddeath,JesusrevealedtheDivine,theholyOne,standingwiththepoorandtheoutcast.Onthisdaywerememberthecrueltyandviolencewithwhichsuchchallengesaremet.

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Inthistimeofpandemic,wewatchingriefattheplacesintheworldwherepeoplearemostvulnerabletothevirusbecausetheylackresourcesnecessarytomaintainphysicaldistancing,andtheresourcestoaccessadequatehealthcare.Wewatchhelpless,asdespotsinrichcountriesandpoorcountries,denythetruththatcouldsavelives.ThedeathandhellofJesus’storyencountertherealitiesofourworldthisEaster.Wewonderwhatcanberesurrectedfromthis.Ittakesstrengthtostaywiththisstoryasweseekforhealing,notjustfromthediseaseofCOVID-19butfromtheinjusticesthatdivideourworld,anddamageearth.Wewanttolookaway,butthisyear,morethanever,thereseemsnootherwaytoturn.Yetifwestaywiththestory,wemaydiscoverthatintertwinedwiththeviolenceandthebrokenness,thesufferingandthegrief,thereareresilientthreadsofhope.Inthecompanyofhope,wefindthecouragetoremainatthecrossandthereencounterthedepthsofgriefandloss.Hopeisnotunjustifiedoptimismthateverythingwillbealright.Itdoesnotsuppressourlamentandourhelplesstears.Inthemidstofgrief,wegathertore-memberallthatthelifeofJesushastaughtusaboutthenatureofexistence–thatonlylovehasthepowertomendwhatisbrokeninusandinourworld.

PRAYER Godofthepoorandpowerless,youhavetaughtushowtospeakinthefaceofinhumanity—youcallustotellthetruthandexposethefalseorderingsofpowerthatoppressandkill.MakeusboldtofollowtheexampleofJesusandtospeakyourword,trustinginjusticeandfreedomreconciliationandlove.Amen.

SECOND BIBLE READING: MATTHEW 27: 45-51 IAN COX Fromnoonon,darknesscameoverthewholelanduntilthreeintheafternoon.Andaboutthreeo’clockJesuscriedwithaloudvoice,‘Eli,Eli,lemasabachthani?’thatis,‘MyGod,myGod,whyhaveyouforsakenme?’Whensomeofthebystandersheardit,theysaid,‘ThismaniscallingforElijah.’Atonceoneofthemranandgotasponge,filleditwithsourwine,putitonastick,andgaveittohimtodrink.Buttheotherssaid,‘Wait,letusseewhetherElijahwillcometosavehim.’ThenJesuscriedagainwithaloudvoiceandbreathedhislast.Atthatmoment,thecurtainofthetemplewastornintwo,fromtoptobottom.Theearthshook,andtherocksweresplit.

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PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE CLARE BROCKETT

Ameditation“AttheCross”byChrisPolhill

IseeChristcrucifiedstill–today:wherethehungrycryforfood,dieforfood,thoughthere’splenty.Wherepeopleareyelledat,jeeredat–bricksthroughtheirwindowsbecausetheirskinisn’twhite,isn’tright. Whereabuseandrapeoccur,wherequeerpeoplearebeatenup,wherelustkillslove-IseeChristcrucifiedstill.

IseeChristcrucifiedstill–today:wherewarsscarpeople,lands,God’shands–theendless,killingpoliticsofhate.Wherethecryforjusticeisunheard,oppressed,beatendownbycold,worldsystems. Wherepowercomesfirst,wherereligiontwistsfaith,wherefearkillstrust–IseeChristcrucifiedstill.

IseeChristcrucifiedstill–today:wherecreation’sfabricshreds,isbled,by‘musthavenow’,‘mustuse’.Whereearth’sbeautyisdestroyed. Wheretreesburn,wherewaterpoisons,wheregreedkillsneed– IseeChristcrucifiedstiIl.

AndItry–alittle–tostemthedeadlytideasIgive-alittle,writetothoseinpower–alittle,takemyrubbishforrecycling,andtrytoloveasJesussaid;trytoloveandchange–alittle.

AmomentofsilenceOGod,forallthesecrucifixions,namedandunnamed,maythereonedayberesurrection.Amen.

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MUSIC FOR REFLECTION Walk-LudovicoEinaudi(1955-)LudovicoEinaudiisanItalianpianistandcomposer.ThegrandsonofanItalianpresidentandsonofapublisher,hebegancomposingasateenagerandreceivedadiplomaincompositionfromtheConservatorioVerdiinMilan.Hegarneredinternationalrecognitionforhisworkcomposingforfilm(ThisisEngland,TheIntouchables,I’mStillHere)andsincethen,hasbeentouringasaperformingartist.

RoseRiebel(piano)

CONTEMPORARY READING CLARE BROCKETT “Allmystars,”byAnnePowell

WomanoftheUpperRoom,whatdidyoutellthemofyourboydeadtoosoon?

Thathewasmobbedandrobbedbybanditsforenrichingothers?

Thathewasstonedandbrokenformendinglives?

WomanoftheUpperRoom,whatdidyoutellthemofyourboydeadtoosoon?

Alumpasbigastheearthquakesyoursoul.They’vekilledmysunmymoonandallmystars.

THIRD BIBLE READING: MATTHEW 27: 55-61 IAN COX

Manywomenwerealsothere,lookingonfromadistance;theyhadfollowedJesusfromGalileeandhadprovidedforhim.AmongthemwereMaryMagdalene,andMarythemotherofJamesandJoseph,andthemotherofthesonsofZebedee.Whenitwasevening,therecamearichmanfromArimathea,namedJoseph,whowasalsoadiscipleofJesus.HewenttoPilateandaskedforthebodyofJesus;thenPilateorderedittobegiventohim.So,Josephtookthebodyandwrappeditinacleanlinenclothandlaiditinhisownnewtomb,whichhehadhewnintherock.Hethenrolledagreatstonetothedoorofthetombandwentaway.MaryMagdaleneandtheotherMarywerethere,sittingoppositethetomb.

MaryofBethany,KerryMartin

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HYMN CHRISTOPHER WATSON

Herehangsamandiscarded,ascarecrowhoistedhigh,anonsensepointingnowheretoallwhohurryby.Cansuchaclownofsorrowsstillbringausefulwordwherefaithandloveseemphantomsandeveryhopeabsurd.

Canhegivehelporcomforttolivesbycomfortboundwhendrumsofdazzlingprogressgivestrangelyhollowsound?Lifeemptiedofallmeaning,drainedoutinbleakdistress,canshareinbrokensilencemydeepestemptiness:

Andlovethatfreelyenteredthepitoflife'sdespaircannameourhiddendarknessandsufferwithusthere.Christ,ifyounowarerisen,helpallwholongforlighttoholdthehandofpromiseandwalkintothenight.

Words:BrianWren(1936-)Tune:Aurelia,S.S.Wesley(1810-1876)

CONTEMPORARY READING “TheCureforSorrow”byJanRichardson.

BecauseIdonotknowanymedicineforgriefbuttoletourselvesgrieve.

BecauseIdonotknowanycureforsorrowbuttoletourselvessorrow.

BecauseIdonotknowanyremedybuttolettheheartbreak,toletitfallopen,thentoletitfallopenstillmore.

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BecauseIdonotknowhowtomendtheunmendable,unfixable,unhealablewoundthatkeepsfindingitselfhealedaswetendit,aswefollowthelineofit,asweletitleadusonthepathitknows.

BecauseIdonotknowanysolacebuttogiveourselvesintothelovethatwillneverceasetofindus,thatwillneverlooseitsholdonus,thatwillneverabandonustothesorrowforwhichitholdsthecure.

HYMN CHRISTOPHER WATSON

Something’sdeadinsideme,someyesterdayisslain,myheartishunguponacross,mythoughtsarefilledwithpainandyetthereiswithinmeahopeIcan’texplainforinthedarknessIcanseeGoddancingintherain…Isurrendertothemysteryoflossthatturnstogain,thelittleseedofwheatmustdietobecomeafieldofgrain,andIknowit’sinthistimeofgriefthatChristisrisenagain,forinthedarknessIcanseeGoddancingintherain…

Words:JoyCowleyMusic:RainDance

ColinGibson(1933-)

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BLESSING MayyouliveintheworldinthepoweroftheSpiritofChristasyouwalkthroughdarknessanduncertaintytowardsthelightofEasterDay.Goinpeace.Sharepeacewhereveryoumaybe.

POSTLUDE AdagiofromtheToccata,AdagioandFugueinCBWV564–J.S.Bach(1685-1750)RhysBoak(organ)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CherylLawrie’sreflectionsarefromHoldThisSpace:PocketLiturgies.Published2008byProostwww.proost.co.uk“AttheCross”byChrisPohillfromEggsandAshes:PracticalandliturgicalresourcesforLentandHolyWeek,ed.ChrisPolhillandRuthBurgess,p.203.JanRichardson,“TheCureforSorrow”ablessinginTheCureforSorrow:ABookofBlessingsforTimesofGrief,p.122.Hymnsareprintedandstreamedwithpermission.ChurchCopyrightLicense(CCL):261070andChurchStreamingLicense(CSL):569311

GUEST MUSICIAN Rose Riebl RoseRieblisaMelbournebasedpianist,composerandproducer.Shebeganlearningpianoatfive,andwascompetingandperformingafewyearslater,whileherlegswerestilltooshorttotouchtheground.At14shemovedtoViennatoacceptaplaceatViennaConservatorium:hereshespenttimeperforming,competingandexploringherEuropeanroots.FollowingherreturntoAustraliaRosecontinuedperformingandstudyingattheAustralianNationalAcademyofMusic,andintheyearsfollowingcontinuedtostudyandliveinNewYork,LondonandSydney;usingthetimeabroadtotravelwide.WhileinLondonshecompletedaliteraturedegree:booksandstorieshavebeenamajorinfluenceoncurrentworkincomposingformovingimageandsoloprojects.RosehasperformedthroughoutEuropeandAsian,performinginsomeoftheleadingconcerthallsofChina.Herself-producedshowsIndigoAtlasandAntigoneReimaginedbothsoldoutatMelbourneMusicWeek(2017and2018)andherimmersiveperformanceNightsong,whichpremieredatMelbourneFringeFestival(2017)wasawarded‘BestMusicPerformance’ofthefestival.ShehascomposedforshortfilmswhichhavepremieredatSydneyFilmFestival,SouthbySouthwest,aswellasafeaturedocumentarywhichpremieredatRotterdamInternationalFilmFestivalin2018.Whilestillregularlyperformingclassicalrepertoire,Rose’smajorfocusisoncomposingformovingimageandherrecordingsandliveperformancesofminimalist,ambientpianomusic

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NOTICES

CONTACT AND CARE TEAM

ThemembersoftheContactandCareTeamareavailabletotalkwith,orassistpeople,whoareexperiencingdifficulttimesduringtheCOVID-19pandemic(orforanyotherreason).IfyouwouldliketospeakwithamemberofContactandCare,pleasecontacttheofficeandleaveyourphonenumberoremailaddress.Allmattersremainconfidential.LyndellO’Brien-DeanofContactandCareJoyArnot-DeputyDean

PRAYER TREE

Weareasmallgroupofcaringpeople,committedtosharingtheload,withthosegoingthroughdifficulttimes.Wehavewelcomedthepositiveoutcome,experiencedbythosewhomwehavesupported.Allpersonalinformationistreatedwithrespectandconfidentiality.Ifyouwouldlikeyourownnameputonour'PrayerTree'pleasespeakwithCatherineJonesdirectly,orcontacttheStMichael'sofficeandaskforamessagetobeforwarded.Ifthisrequestinvolvesanotherperson,pleaseseektheirpermissionfirst.‘Aprayermaybeawordlessinnerlonging,asuddenoutpouringoflove,acryinthedarknessforhelp,whenallseemslost.’(PaulGallico)CatherineJones,PrayerTreeLeader

PASTORAL CARE

Ourminister,RevDrMargaretisavailableforpastoralcaremeetingsbyphone.Pleasecalltheofficetoarrangethisoremailoffice@stmichaels.org.au

ST MICHAEL’S SOCIAL MEDIA

https://www.facebook.com/stmichaelsmelbourne/

https://www.youtube.com/user/StMichaelsChurch/videos

Podcastwww.soundcloud.com/stmichaelsunitingchurch

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PROGRAMS & EVENTS

EASTER AND HOLY WEEK @ ST MICHAEL’S – ONLINE

“ResurrectionHopeforaWorldReborn”

Videosoftheservicesareonourwebsite: https://stmichaels.org.au/the-church/gatherings-reflections/

GoodFriday10April9am EasterSunday12April10am

PROGRAMS & EVENTS atStMichael’sarepostponeduntilfurthernotice.THE MINGARY COUNSELLING SERVICEiscurrentlysuspended.Mingaryclientsarebeingcontactedtodetermineiftheyneedreferralstootherservices.DiscussionsareunderwaywiththeCairnmillerInstituteregardingtheongoingmanagementoftheMingaryInterns.Ifyourequirecounselling,pleasecontacttheofficeandwewillgetbacktoyouassoonaspossible.