Wagin Uniting Church in Wagin, Western Australia | Church of God

Wagin Uniting Church

Locality: Wagin, Western Australia

Phone: +61 8 9861 1125

Address: Ranford St 6315 Wagin, WA, Australia

Website: www.unitingchurchwa.org.au/wagin

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25.01.2022 From our Minister, Rev Stephen van Schalkwyk: I would like to say a very big thank you to the whole group of supporters of the Uniting Church in Wagin, Darkan and Dumbleyung. Since the outbreak of the virus in W.A., and especially since the restrictions which began in the last half of March, life has been quite different for most of us. Despite the changes and challenges, our congregations have adapted and done remarkably well. We are extremely grateful that, thus far, we ...have not lost anyone to the virus, and we are very glad for the successful recovery of so many. Our conscientious actions have meant that we have done our part in stopping infections in our neighbourhoods. In complying with the onerous restrictions from contact, we have been faithful examples of Christs love by bearing one anothers burdens- although St. Paul certainly wouldnt have been thinking of the isolation and travel restrictions when he penned those words to the Galatian Christians. Not being able to physically attend worship at churches across the globe has been a first for the Christian Church, and yet we have rediscovered the joys of our spiritual connections through the Spirit and prayer. The services broadcast on YouTube and even our changed Holy Communion celebration have been well received and seem to be connecting us with our Lord and each other in unexpected ways. I am extremely grateful to the Elders and others who diligently phone, message and pop-past members of the congregation. We may not be able to shake hands or give a hug, but the love of Christ hasnt been curtailed and a generosity of spirit has flourished in our communities. Some people have discovered many things in common with people theyve grown closer to in these strange times. Speaking of generosity of spirit, I was delighted to talk to Karen Davies, our Treasurer, who mentioned that the congregations' financial giving over this period has been good. Many of you are continuing your tithing through bank transfers and this has put our congregations in a good position to continue Christs work in this part of the world. I can honestly not express the joy it brings me to serve in such a generous and genuinely committed community! John Wesley famously stated, The last part of a man to be converted is his wallet. Wesley wasnt the first to realise that Jesus taught a great deal on our finances because currency is power. Your giving in service of Jesus grace in our communities is a remarkable testimony to the depth of faith and love that exists here. Thank you, thank you, thank you for serving Christ in such tangible and meaningful ways. Thank you for blessing all of us with the fruit of Gods Spirit; for making the adjustments and facing the challenges; for discovering new ways to do the deeds of Jesus love; and for being an outpost of heaven in these challenging times.

24.01.2022 Some awesome prayers on this site for Refuge week.

21.01.2022 https://youtu.be/zX7HhKqg53w

19.01.2022 https://youtu.be/aq-YZ0leHDk

17.01.2022 From our Minister, Rev Stephen van Schalkwyk: The experience of being out of control is deeply threatening. Certainly, in modern Western society, we are encouraged to take control of our lives, and there is a very real sense in which that is the responsible and mature thing to do. But sooner or later we realise that there are simply some things we have very little or even no control over: the forces of nature, the great cosmic events, and the eventualities of suffering and ...death. The Good News of the Incarnation of God in Christ Jesus means that God really does understand the anxiety and stress brought on by a lack of control. It is in fact Holy Week which shows this to us most clearly. On Sunday, Jesus is literally riding high on the praises and adulation of his followers, but less than five days later the crowds will be shouting crucify, crucify! Sunday is filled with jubilation and waving palm-branches, but Monday Jesus will be throwing over tables of illicit gain and brandishing a whip. The confrontations with the Pharisees and the Temple guards will escalate and his supporters melt away or fall asleep. Jesus is left all alone facing mock-justice and trumped-up charges. He will be gotten-rid-of because his truth is uncomfortable. He himself hinted at the fact that death wouldnt be the end but for normal people suffering and death are too often the end. For most of us the last three weeks have been among the strangest times weve faced- the attacks on the Twin Towers was something which certainly changed life for us, but it happened far away. COVID-19 is happening right here; it is an enemy we cannot see, and it has stopped the world in its tracks. Nothing like this has happened in recorded history and the sheer volume of information we have to process to try to keep up is terrifying. Im sure Im not the only one whos mourning the loss of control. Perhaps this Holy Week we can take comfort in the fact that God always has been inviting us to allow Him control of the things that are beyond us. Perhaps we can find communion with Jesus and the disciples as they walked this uncomfortable journey through Holy Week. The truth is that it is only in honestly facing the realities around a loss of control that we will discover that God is not mocked. If we will be faithful, Gods faithfulness will not let us down. Easter is coming! God is able to breathe life into the places of death, and at the last we will see that God was never out of control. May you and your family walk closely with Jesus in this very holy time.

17.01.2022 From our Minister, Rev Stephen van Schalkwyk: The vast majority of people are born with too little, and yet some have a vast excess. As followers of Jesus, our belief is that there is enough for all people; there is enough provision made by the God of all Creation. How we use and distribute the resources entrusted to our care must be consistent with this belief. As Walter Brueggemann boldly claims: The holiness of the church does not consist in true doctrine that ... everyone accepts. It does not consist in true morality that everyone embraces. We know of course that the church has often specialized in doctrine and morality. But the truth is that the holiness of the baptized community consists in the habits of generosity, grace in speaking, and tenderhearted forgiveness. Imagine such an agenda for the church: generosity, grace, forgiveness. These are the marks of baptism, these are the marks of Jesus, these are the shapes of our new life in Christ. The truth of the church, dramatized in baptism, is that our life is so safe that we can trust ourselves in the world. And when we do that, the world will see our holiness, our righteousness, our life in God. That is who we are. Thats us! And we are not like them, because our life in generosity, grace, and forgiveness is in the image of God. By our life, God is honored and the world is healed. Thats us! (Brueggemann, Walter. A Gospel of Hope (p. 148). Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Kindle Edition.) Just imagine our communitys agenda becoming generosity, grace, forgiveness! In truth, the world has never been fair- we are entrusted with unequal portions, and the only way there can ever be enough is if we are generous in our sharing, gracious in our treatment of others, and forgiving of ourselves, those we love, and even our enemies. Perhaps it would be only then that we would truly be living into Jesus calling.

16.01.2022 From our Minister, Rev Stephen van Schalkwyk: Over the last several years, the Elders have been spending a lot of time thinking about what the church of Jesus looks like in the 21st Century. We have been wondering how God might be wanting Wagin and Darkan and Dumbleyung Uniting churches to witness to the Good News of Jesus in our State. Obviously we want to take seriously Gods call to be a worshipping community who serves the people of our communities; but we also want to b...e responsible with the wonderful inheritance we have been entrusted with. That means that we need to leave our congregations better off than when we received them. The question is: better off how? Better off in what way? In my reading and listening, I have really enjoyed Walter Brueggemanns book, A Gospel of Hope. Professor Brueggemann reminds us that the church worships the Creator, and so the church always has hope- even in the face of disease, natural disaster, and death. Our hope is not that people will find cures, or relief-plans, or a way to extend life indefinitely- our hope is that the Creator will do what God promised: that God will reconcile all of Creation to Himself in Jesus. It is in that context that he shares a hope-filled picture of the church: Let the church be a community of praise. This community has One to praise. We praise the One who made us and makes us and watches over us and cares for us more than we care for ourselves. When this praise is voiced, it is not mere rhetoric or dramatic activity or self-healing through psychology. This praise matters for it acknowledges that heaven and earth are shaped and postured in a certain way. The One praised matters in fact as much as the ones who praise. The One praised is to be trusted with our common life. The One praised is to be trusted with the well-being of the community, with the security of our common life, with the safety of our society. The One praised is faithful to all generations, including this generation. That lets us leave off our despair. Praise turns us from despair to generosity and compassion, and finally to embrace justice and righteousness in the world. (Brueggemann, Walter. A Gospel of Hope (pp. 143-144). Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Kindle Edition.) We are a gathering of people who worship and praise the Creator because God has chosen us to matter. In praise and worship of God we express our gratitude to God for Gods past work, and we remind ourselves that God is faithful to keep the promises which sustain us and future generations. And hope floods in where despair and hopelessness threatened joy and peace. May God build His Kingdom as we worship and praise Him for Jesus, through the Holy Spirit!

15.01.2022 https://youtu.be/E1CPQ3Hxm-M

14.01.2022 From our Minister, Rev Stephen van Schalkwyk: By the time you read this 9 youngsters would have enjoyed the first Holiday Hobby Club for 2020. Calista and 7 dedicated helpers have put on a wonderful two days with fun songs, interesting chats, ice cream making, puzzle-building, Chinese-checkers board building (with painted quandong seed pieces), waffle making, and amazing activities to keep young and not-so-young entertained and enthralled!... I have been very impressed with the way the slightly older kids just jumped in to help the younger ones. There was some ribbing and horse-play, but that really didnt last at all long and they were back into genuine fun and laughter. One of the younger girls got a ball to the face - it really was an accident- and the whole group stopped to gather around her and gently encouraged her to try again. Within a minute she was back at it and the laughter continued. I even spotted an older brother with his arm around his youngest brothers shoulders and they were both sharing a genuine laugh. Something about the way they got on so well, sharing stuff, waiting their turn patiently, helping the ones who were battling a bit and taking it all in their stride made me think that this might have been what Jesus meant when he said, unless you become like little children you cannot receive the Kingdom of God (Matthew 18:2). Life is far from perfect. The truth is that there were times when frustrations flared and jealousies surfaced, but they were able to put it behind them and get on with getting on. For me it was a picture of what heaven must be like. Isnt it so very strange that the more mature we get, and the more experience we accrue, the less like those youngsters we become? Surely it should be the other way around, dont you think? Surely we should find better ways to get on with those who are different from us. Surely the older we grow, the more we should realise that most people are doing the best they can. And even when hearts get broken and dreams dont work out, we should really have developed a deeper understanding and tolerance. How is it that we lose compassion instead of treasuring and shoring it up? I pray that right here in the beginning months of 2020, we might take a leaf out of the youngsters book. May we have the grace of large emotional spaces, deep tolerances, high ideals coupled with short memories for the things that anger and irritate, and deep wells of Gods love springing up to joy.

13.01.2022 From our Minister, Rev Stephen van Schalkwyk: Almost 6 months ago I wrote in the back page piece about, the joy of the Lord is your strength (18 August 2019). Joy as a gift of Gods Spirit is sometimes accompanied by happiness; but it certainly is not the same as happiness! Joy is that deep realisation that this is rightthis is good this is bigger than me and us: its from God. Joy is not always comfortable, but it is comforting; it is seldom easy, but the burden tends t...o be light; it is always inspiring and energising; and it often accompanies tough decisions to do things Gods way. Joy comes from a deep experience of the fact that the Creator undergirds us in all of life. It is a natural fruit of living Gods love. Strangely it is most evident when the circumstances of our days are in turmoil and conflict. The produce of Gods joy sprout in the soil of adversity and challenge, and so the fruit of the Spirit that is joy, is a powerful witness to the Jesus-way-of-life. There is no worldly explanation for its presence - other than perhaps the accusation of insanity! And that is what lends it so much force of character. If you are facing rough seas and your joy is failing, there are some things you can do: Spend some time checking with the Lord that you are on the correct course. If not, say sorry, set the new heading, and move on. (Sometimes we need a trusted follower of Jesus to help with this one.) Bring the storms to God asking for discernment and Gods Spirit of Truth. Knowing whats right makes doing whats right right! Begin thanking God for Who God is. Youll probably not feel like it, and it might even feel a bit false, but just do it youll soon see why! Go and do the hard things. As you DO the stuff, the praise songs will suggest themselves to your spirit. Sing with all your spirit - even if its just in your head - and youll suddenly realise that The Everlasting Arms supported you all along. May the Joy of the Lord be your strength!

13.01.2022 Let's judge less and make time to understand...Jesus did.

13.01.2022 From our Minister, Rev Stephen van Schalkwyk: A couple of years ago we visited Denmark in the winter and I was tasked with building the fire. It should have been an easy thing but not this time. I was in a hurry. We were very cold and a bit damp from bringing the stuff in from the car. We were also hungry and the sun had set an hour-and-a-half ago. It probably goes without saying that I was decidedly grumpy. So instead of carefully preparing things, I threw it all together... and expected it to do its own thing. Combustion is a process which requires heat, fuel and air. I had matches for the heat, newspaper and timber for the fuel and plenty of fresh air but all I got was smoke and choice language for a further hour-and-a-half. When Calista enquired if everything was ok, she got the usual male sarcasm, and tensions escalated. It was only when I deliberately stopped and accepted that Id failed at my first attempt, then removed the mess, and started again - this time properly - that we began getting somewhere. It turns out that the heat of a match needs to be coaxed into life by dry kindling. Once the kindling has caught, then comes just four or five thin sticks, the size of your pinky finger. When those have taken a flame, you can move on to several thicker pieces of wood, about double the girth of the previous ones. When they have taken there will be some coals from the first set and good flame from the second bunch. Then it is time to get some chunkier pieces over the glowing coals, this needs to be watched carefully and gentle blowing can keep things on track. After that it is just a matter of sizing up appropriately and in less than 5 minutes you have warmth and light and energy to face the dark night. Our spiritual life is much the same. St. Paul reminded Timothy of the faith which Timothy caught from his granny, Eunice. Paul said, rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:6 & 7, NRSV). Other translations have the words fan into flame the gift (NIV etc.) When last were you called on to build a fire? Have you been fanning into flame the gifts God has given you? Is your spirit in need of some rekindling? It is especially when we are cold, hungry, and grumpy that we might be tempted to rush the process. Please remember theres no shame in stopping to clear out the mess, and starting again, and taking it mindfully and care - fully. And when the coals are glowing hot, you might be surprised at how easy it is to give away the good gifts of God so that someone else can have a go.

13.01.2022 From our Minister, Rev Stephen van Schalkwyk: Way back, at the first service of the year, I preached on Goals. Perhaps you remember the commitment sheet we filled out at the service which argued that good goals are specific, measurable, audacious, realistic, and have a timetable. The congregation members were then encouraged to write down two specific things you want to achieve this year, and what you will do to achieve those goals by 31 March, by 30 June, and by 30 Septemb...er. It was a BIG challenge, and I want to do my bit: how are you tracking with your two goals? The half-way point is drawing closer and I was wondering if Covid-19 has derailed your plans or helped you to find the time to get cracking with doing the hard work to actually achieve those, specific, measurable, audacious, realistic goals? If the timetable is off, what might you have to do to get back on track? One of my goals came out of the work which the Council and Elders have been doing for three years now. We have carefully been praying about what Wagin could achieve in future generations. My goal was to bring that work together around a medium- and- long-term strategic plan. Part of that work was the survey you filled out of what you think God may be calling us to. In February we spent time looking again at our Vision as a Cluster of Congregations here in the South West. We had a close look at our prayer life and assessed our vital connection with God, and then we started to look carefully at each of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Over the last 6 months, we have been figuring out how God grows and uses the fruit of the Spirit to bless our families, friends, and communities. With our vision, and the fruit of the Spirit, we have both the goal we are aiming at and the road-map of actions to get there; we have Gods picture of our future in Darkan, Dumbleyung, and Wagin, and we also have Gods preferred actions to make it happen. In the middle of it all we celebrated Easter:- the pinnacle of Gods goal for the world, and the actions necessary to get there. And, of course, the world was turned upside-down by the virus! The next step for the Elders is to get all of the work weve done down on paper and we will be coached by Rev Matt Harry, who is a Presbytery-wide co-ordinator of planning and mission. The Elders will be spending the morning of 7 July collating our work and preparing for the next steps with Matt. Thank you for your input through the survey and other conversations, and please keep chatting to Church Council members as we progress. Please pray for the Church Council and the Elders as we do this important work?

11.01.2022 From our Minister, Rev Stephen van Schalkwyk: On 17 March the Elders of the congregation met and discussed careful, calm action in the face of the Corona Virus. While much of the world seems to be reeling from the social and economic impacts we have chosen to follow the government and UCA recommendations to: cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or in the inner elbow;...Continue reading

09.01.2022 We have recently changed our vision statement replacing the word welcoming with affirming. This has been done because we felt that affirming people can be done on every day of the week and not just on Sundays. The statement reads... To be a prayerful, Spirit-filled people, encouraging one another to Christ- like maturity, reaching out and affirming all people with the love of God.

09.01.2022 From our Minister, Rev Stephen van Schalkwyk: This week, the Christian Church makes the transition from Christmas to Epiphany. We have journeyed with the prophets of old, anxiously waiting for God to unveil the agent of reconciliation, healing and salvation. We have been dazzled with the shepherds and wise-men by Jesus mysterious birth. We are just scratching the surface of what this child might mean and our spirits are wrestling with the idea of God-with-us. If God really i...s with us, then the darkness is being pushed back and great things are on the horizon. If God is here, surely things will change? But what will change? How will they change, and do we really want more change? Yes, we do want justice and righteousness, but at what price? What if we are judged against the standards of Gods justice and righteousness? What if the demands of love are required of us. What if the Day of the Lord is more onerous than we once thought? What if Emanuel is more than we bargained for? What if The Light of the World unveils our own private darkness and exposes our terrible shame? What if, rather than coming to save them, Jesus is here to point that terrible swift-sword at me? Epiphany is a coming-to-grips with the fact that the world is not yet saved, and I am not yet sanctified. Yes God has done marvellous things by visiting, but God plans to stay that means that God will be here when I cant pretend, when the honeymoon fades and the infatuation tarnishes. God will notice my bad habits, and confront me with the uncomfortable patterns. And then I will need to make some tough choices They all had to do it: Herod, the Magi, the shepherds and farmers, the fishermen and tax collectors, the common folk, the religious, the soldiers, and the politicians: they ALL had to deal with the fact that God showed up and wouldnt go away. God is here among us at the beginning of 2020 and God isnt going anywhere. Perhaps the best thing we can do is fall at the feet of this mysterious Jesus and ask for His mercy as we take our turn dealing with the fact that God loves us too much to let us wallow in sin. Its Gods express mission to love us into the transformation of salvation. May our Epiphany realise Gods Loving purposes for us and our world this year!

08.01.2022 Richard Lock what we said

08.01.2022 From our Minister, Rev Stephen van Schalkwyk: This last week I had the opportunity to laugh. I know that not everyone is a cat person, but Calista certainly is. Between her and a wonderful congregation member, our family is now expanded by one gorgeous Blue Lynx Point Ragdoll kitten. The kitten is a ball of playful energy - very unlike Odin, our older ginger tom. The Ragdoll got hold of one of Calistas hairbands and was somersaulting and batting and rearing up on two legs... - and Calista started laughing. She started laughing that proper belly laugh. I knew I was missing out, so I came in to see what was going on. The kitten stopped mid roll, with the hairband dangling from its chin, and stared with piercing-blue eyes. In a flash he pounced and took off again like a firecracker! The next thing I knew I was also laughing and Jason had joined the game All of us caught up in in the moment. And suddenly I caught myself amid all this romping and clowning around. I realised it has been a while since I laughed - really laughed! Three months ago we were hearing bits and pieces about a virus causing a stir far away. Then the world was suddenly turned upside down as cases spread and borders were shut. Hospitals struggled to find enough ventilators and fear drove people into isolation. All physical contact stopped and so did whole economies. For the first time in recorded history, the world came to a stand-still. or so it seemed. And amid all the crazy chaos and speculation a mummy cat gave birth to beautiful kittens, and loving people cared and fed and warmed and welcomed. Despite the distancing and the threat, relationships were holding us together and slowly joy and life bubbled up. Its interesting to me that the global chaos has happened over a defining festival of the Christian Church: Easter. Festivals are supposed to help us remember the most important lessons of life, and Easter reminds us that no matter how much chaos and darkness and death there is, God will find a way to bring order and light and life. When last did you laugh the kind of laugh that starts deep down in your belly and shakes your whole being? Laughing like that is good for us. Psalm 126 reminds us: When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, The Lord has done great things for them. The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced. (Ps 126:1-3, NRSV) I pray that we might all have moments of laughter and joy even amid the brokenness and concern of our world.

07.01.2022 https://youtu.be/4CO6bIouJw8

06.01.2022 From our Minister, Rev Stephen van Schalkwyk: In his book, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander, Thomas Merton the Trappist monk, theologian, and poet wrote: You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.... Merton was, of course, writing from the perspective that we and our world are securely held in the eternal love and good-will of the Creator. His words seem especially prophetic in the light of the series of crises brought about through the Covid-19 pandemic. As the number of confirmed cases across the world exceeds 40.6 million and the number of deaths exceeds 1.12 million people, we are seeing rich and poor, educated and uneducated, first-and-second-peoples all affected. Economies are being propped up by mounting debt, health systems are strained, and politicians are scrambling to put a brave face on the fact that there’s no play-book for something like this. In the face of the uncertainties and the fear, it is common for people to dumb-down and look for strong, bold leaders who promise to either take us back to what we once knew or take us into a better future. Unfortunately, it is becoming clear that there is no going back, and no one honestly knows what a ‘better future’ might look like yet. It seems to me that Merton’s wisdom, rooted in the reality of Jesus Christ, is the only way forward. The One whom Jesus called Abba already has a good track-record when it comes to these ‘in-between-spaces’. For the wandering families of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, God made a promise and brought life. That life was confirmed when the Creator heard the people’s cry in Egypt, and God moved to rescue Abraham’s descendants through Moses. Neither Moses, nor the people knew precisely what was happening, or exactly where it was all going, and yet God brought them to a land flowing with milk and honey. The journey was not without its dangers, but it was chock full of God’s presence and provision. In light of the love and power of our Creator the key question seems to be, Where is your courage, faith and hope to be found? Or better still, In whom will you find courage, faith and hope? The writer to the Hebrews answers, brothers and sisters Jesus is worthy of more glory than Moses, just as a builder of a house has more honour than the house itself (Hebrews 31-4). As the human face of the Creator, Christ is greater than Moses and fully deserving of our trust. After all, Jesus has walked unpredictable paths before, and he conquers even death. May we all recognise the possibilities and challenges in Christ for our time!

05.01.2022 From our Minister, Rev Stephen van Schalkwyk: With the restrictions on places of worship which came into effect this week, we are sad that we will no longer be able to meet publicly for the time being. The gathering of believers goes back to Jesus himself, and so it is no surprise to feel a deep sense of loss as we approach Sunday morning. For thousands of years, Gods Holy Spirit has been working beautiful miracles as we gather in worship. As the prophet said, Surely the ...arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear (Isaiah 59:1). And even if our sins separate us from God, God has made The Way in Jesus: forgiveness and reconciliation, so that the chasm is bridged and we can live in union with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And even more: in God we find a spiritual union with all who are in Christ. Physical distancing may change our experience of worship, but it does not change the reality of communion-in-Christ! The grieving over loss will still be there. Loss of routine, loss of expectations, loss of the hoped-for smile, handshake, hug, and catch-up around a cuppa. The loss of hearing one anothers voice in singing, and even some of the shared agreement and giggles during the sermons or prayers. To help with some of that grief, the Council have worked tirelessly to bring you a service of worship on the Wagin Uniting Church YouTube channel. On Saturday, those whos email addresses we have will receive a link to the worship service. Click on it and it should bring up the YouTube video. If you click the play/pause button you can even grab a cuppa while you join in! As this will be the first time any of us are doing this, please be gentle and patient- well do our best, but we are by no means experts in digital communications. The Elders and I will also be getting in touch with all of you within the next week, if you havent received a call from an Elder or me by Friday 3 April, please call me on 0417649030 so that we can make sure we have your correct mobile number? We are committed to standing together and making sure that no one is left out, even if that means a quick, How ya going? If you think we can help in any way, please contact an Elder or me, and we will do our level best to help out? Just because we are restricted in our travels and gatherings, does not mean we are alone or diminished in the way we can love! Thank you for shining the Light of Jesus where you are. Love your family and friends, pray together (over the phone/Skype/FaceTime), read the scriptures and worship, because God is going to do new things of wonder among us.

04.01.2022 From our Minister, Rev Stephen van Schalkwyk: Calista and I enjoyed two weeks’ leave and have returned refreshed. Perhaps it is because of the refreshing that the Old Testament reading for this week jumped out at me. It is late in the book of Exodus, more than three quarters of the way through, and Moses is at prayer. The Hebrew people have made it to Mount Sinai and now they are being prepared to push through the desert to the Land of Promise. Moses is concerned about the j...ourney and asks God, if I have found favour in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you (Ex 33:13). To this request, God answers, My presence will go with you and I will give you rest (v14). It seems a strange conversation. Why would Moses think that God was not with him and the people? There had been the pillars of cloud and fire, the miraculous provision of food, water and escape. Time and time again God and Moses had conversed and solved problems - so what was going on? Well, God was leading Moses and the people into a deeper, fuller, and more demanding relationship with Himself. The Law had just been given to call the people to greater fidelity. The human predilection for idol worship had been exposed with the episode of the Golden Calf. And the wandering band of slaves were only half-way to the place God was taking them too - their journey was not over by a LONG way! This is the adult version of the nagging question: are we there yet? It is the terrified realisation that there is so very much more to do and we really just want to curl up in a ball and hide away. It is that paralysing reaction to the greatest challenges which tempts us to settle for mediocre. So God reminds Moses and the people that God can see a better future. And God promises the one thing that can deal with the scarcity and death of the desert: God’s own Self! I will go with you; my presence is present with you - all of God right here - and in that we can rest. May we all find the rest-oration which is a natural and real outcome of doing life’s pathways in the full presence of the Creator!

04.01.2022 https://youtu.be/n0FBb6hnwTo

03.01.2022 From our Minister, Rev Stephen van Schalkwyk: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases (Lamentations 3:22). This is the pronouncement of the great sage - probably Jeremiah- of ancient Israel. It might come as a surprise to realise that this comes to us in a book called Lamentations- especially seeing as we usually lament things that are so broken and beyond our fixing that God is the only One who can make a difference. Our world is full of lamentable realities: the to...ll that the Covid-19 virus has taken and continues to take, a shattered global economy and its polarising effects on those who have enough and those who do not, rampant self-interest in international politics, and the many struggles for justice and a sense of fairness in all of our lives. The trick is to be able to see and even feel some of the depth of those realities without losing ourselves to hopelessness. It is helpful to remember that the writer of Lamentations had watched the whole world turn against his nation and family; the book describes horrors we cannot imagine, and yet the prophet holds the line that God gives steadfast love; that Gods, mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning (Lam 3:22 & 23). In the face of the things which burden us and the things which cause us to fear, may we be reminded by this hope-filled prophet: great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him (Lam. 3:23 & 24). This brave Truth-teller reminds us that we do not need to be in the depths of despair before God will be merciful, nor do we need to be perfect or saintly or anything other than what we really are. God is the truly faithful One, God is the truly loving One, God is the merciful and creative One, and it is only in the deep assurance of Gods provision that we will find a sure and certain hope. My the faithfulness of Jesus inspire faithfulness, courage and God-centred hope in all of us!

03.01.2022 From our Minister, Rev Stephen van Schalkwyk: One of the things that was striking when we landed from Africa was just how clean and tidy Western Australian towns are. Littering is a sign of disrespect for neighbours and creation; I believe littering is a sign of disrespect for the Creator. It is also something that can creep into a society far too quickly. So, when Ann-Britt raised the idea of putting together a group from Wagin UCA to participate in Clean up Australia Day o...n 1 March, I jumped at the opportunity to be involved. We have a bit of time to get things organised and I would dearly like you to come along and get involved. Even if you cant stand or walk for long, come along to encourage those who will be cleaning up our wonderful town. Heres my appeal thats going out from Clean Up Australia: Hi there! I'm participating in Clean Up Australia Day! Our beautiful environment is no place for rubbish and debris so we're teaming up to clean up Wagin Ram Park and surrounds We'd love your help on the day if you would like to sign up to be a volunteer at my site! https://www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au//stephenvanschalkwyk this is my volunteer page! Want to get in touch or have a question about the Clean Up? You can send me an email here: [email protected] Got a question for Clean Up Australia? You can send an enquiry to [email protected] or give them a call on 1800 CUA DAY ( 1800 282 329 ) Thank you for your support! Remember - change starts with you! Best wishes, Go to www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au click on the JOIN A CLEAN UP block at the top right hand side, put 6315 in the postcode search block on the right of the map, click on blue Wagin surrounds that comes up under the post code box, click the JOIN THIS SITE, and register your details. Youll be making a difference to the families of Wagin and you will also be sending a strong message about care and respect for Gods amazing gift of creation!