Pilgrimage of Bypassing or Passing By

Saturday 6 January 2018Drysdale Uniting Church

“A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite … But a

Samaritan … took pity on him.”

Luke 10: 31-33 (NIV)

Drysdale Uniting Church—Reaching out with God’s love and care1

One more step

1 One more step along the way I go,One more step along the way I go,From the old things to the new,Keep me travelling along with you.

And it’s from the old I travel to the new.Keep me travelling along with you.

2 Round the corners of the world I turn,More and more about the world I learn.All the new things that I see,You’ll be looking at along with me.

3 As I travel through the bad and good,Keep me travelling the way I should.Where I see no way to go,You’ll be telling me the way I know.

4 Give me courage when the world is rough.Keep me loving though the world is tough.Leap and sing in all I do,Keep me travelling along with you.

© Sydney Carter and Stainer Bell Ltd.Used under license LicenSing # A262

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LITURGY FOR STATION ONE: BYPASSING BUSYNESS TO QUIET

Welcome and Introduction

Call to worship

Leader: We gather here as God’s people of this area, setting out on our pilgrim journey, appreciating as we travel the wonders of this great land provided to us by our God.

Pilgrims: We travel with great wonderment, with an openness to hear God in this open air.

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge today the Wathaurong people, the original custodians of this great land that God has provided for us, and as we start our pilgrimage we pay due respect to their elders, past and present.

Scripture reading: Luke 10: 38-42

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Reflection

Like Jesus disciples, we too journey together with him. Society today, known for its busyness and stressfulness has us acting like robots so to speak. Look at us we are overworked, worried and possibly spiritually undernourished.

Therefore we are not going to add to our stress this morning as we begin our journey, so we are going to by-pass our town through farmland and gain some quiet and rest from our busyness.

We have to be careful not to get caught up in this worldly frenzy, because in Romans 12: 2 we are told “Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him”.

Whether we are aware of it or not, the Bible places high value on rest and peaceful living where we can hear God’s voice, because when we are rushing around we are likely to miss what God is saying to us.

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Probably one of the best examples of busyness is in Luke’s Gospel (10: 30-42) where Jesus and his disciples stopped at Martha’s home. Her sister Mary sat listening to Jesus and remembered how Martha complained to Jesus that she had to do all the work. Jesus did not blame Martha for being concerned about household jobs; he was only asking her to set priorities. Service to Christ can degenerate into mere busy work that is totally devoid of devotion to God. At times do we resemble Martha? When was the last time you sat completely still; Listening… to what God might be saying to you?

Prayer

Lord, we gather here with lives that seem to be running around in circles. We rush from one thing to another as though we are going to run out of time to do everything. Help us to let go of our busyness and to quietly find our rest in You, so that our souls may be refreshed.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Song (v1)

Setting out

Setting out on a pilgrimage is different from just travelling from A to B as commuter or tourist. We are pilgrims. As we walk, consider: what intentions, hopes, goals and, especially, what openness do you bring to this experience? Think about this area becoming the site of the new bypass road. Take notice of the different views as we walk. Let’s go!

LITURGY FOR STATION TWO: BYPASSING WATER

Call to worship

We walk in the footsteps of the first peoples, who cared for the waters of this land on which we walk and know that we are not alone of this journey.We walk in the footsteps of the generations of pilgrimages, who bypassed these waters and know that they go before us.We walk in the footsteps of God Emmanuel, the Living Water; for the feet of God have walked this way.The footsteps of Christ the Living Water, will become for us new life, reshaped life, transformed life through the waters of our baptism.

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Scripture Reading: Isaiah 43:2a

When you pass through the waters,I will be with you;and when you pass through the rivers,they will not sweep over you.

Reflection

Meditate quietly on the image:Lead in breathing meditation

(Act of baptism – the sign of the cross is upon you: remember your baptism and give thanks to God)

Prayer

We thank you God for the gift of creation made known to us in water and word.In Moses’ time, your people Israel passed through the Red Sea waters from slavery to freedom and crossed the flowing Jordan to enter into promised land.

You have come to us through water in the stories of Jesus, who was nurtured in the waters of Mary’s womb, baptised by John in the waters of the Jordan, and became living water to a woman at the Samaritan well.

Jesus washed the feet of the disciples and sent them to baptise with water and spirit.

Remind us again O God of the gift of water, the life it sustains as we bypass these waters. Amen

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Song (v2)

On the way

As we walk together to the next Station, let’s notice where water has been used and give thanks for it.

LITURGY FOR STATION THREE: BYPASSING PRODUCTIVITY/FARMING

Scripture reading: 2 Corinthians 9: 6-11

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Poem: Country Roads - by Marilyn Lott

Many country roads I’ve travelledA lifetime of them to be exactNo better place on earth to beAnd my friend, that’s just a fact

The earthy fresh and sweetWorld of the country roadsMean everything to meThey help to lighten my load

The swirling, twirling clouds aboveSet off the country scene If you drove those country roadsYou would know just what I mean

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There’s hope and fresh acceptanceWhen the country roads you rideA place for families to grow as wellWhere men long to take a bride

So rest assured, my friendIf you’ve some worries to unloadJust live the best life possibleAnd travel those country roads!

Reflection

Our travelling has taken us through residential areas, hobby farms, general farming and specialist farming areas. We notice farm animals used for normal farming or kept as pets. We see farms that produce crops or other items. We will soon see farms producing flowers. The bypass provides opportunities to develop but also create concern for farmers about the effect on their rural outlook and farm operations.

The Corinthians reading is frequently used in respect of financial giving as a church member but it also relates to the giving that we do as members of a community. If we sow seeds bountifully then we have a chance of having valuable results. The help that we give should be freely given; the works of charity should be done with a lot of thought and preparation. Producing results comes from our faith and love.

Our painting to contemplate today is “The Old Cottage, Littleover Lane” by George Turner. What can you see in this famous painting? How does it fit in with out theme of bypassing?

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The Old Cottage, Littleover Lane – George Turner (1841-1910) – Public Collection

Prayer

We thank you, Father, for the rich variety of our food, from many parts of the world. We thank you for the enjoyment and pleasure we find in sharing food in celebration and fellowship. We pray for those who grow, prepare and distribute the food we eat. As they try to achieve the impossible, grant to them a sense of their part in the poise and balance of all life. May they be vigilant for our safety, and for the quality of what they produce.

We remember especially those who take part in the global trade in foodstuffs, linking producers with consumers the world over. We hold before you those who buy, often in ignorance of the hardships facing those who produce. We hold before you those who produce, often receiving scant reward for their labour and their investment in land and equipment. We give you thanks for all who have sought to remind us of our complicity in world poverty, and who have shown us the steps we can take to act justly. Bless their work of peace-making through justice. Amen

Song (v3)

On the wayWe set forth again taking in the views of the olive grove and the paddocks around us providing feed for the horses and animals.

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LITURGY FOR STATION FOUR: BYPASSING CROSSROADS IN LIFE

Gathering and conversation

Call to worship

As we walk on the highways and byways of life, God be with us.When we come to a cross road or T-intersection God be with us.God be with us now on this journey.

Scripture reading: Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,And lean not on your own understanding:In all ways acknowledge Him,And he shall direct your path.

Reflection

When you come to a fork in the road of life, how do you handle it? Do you discuss it with your family? Discuss it with a lawyer? Do you phone a friend? Do you include God in your decision?Our lives have times when we go along in cruise control mode, just coasting along the road not changing direction and not looking for a different route.Sometimes the road will change and we have gone the wrong way leading to a dead end. Think of Moses as he led his people out of Egypt and he comes to the Red Sea. Now he has to decide what to do next. God answered his prayers by parting the waves and the Israelites walked through to safety.Life plans can change in an instant. Joseph expected that after the birth of Jesus, the family would return to Nazareth but due to a dream their plans changed and they went to Egypt. Sometimes we don’t listen to God. Take Jonah as an example, he went the wrong way and ended up in a big fish.God is with us not just in the tough part of our journey, not just when we have a dead end or a fork in the road but also on the smooth road.Think about when you talk to God. Do you forget to talk and listen to God when everything is going well? Sometimes on our journey God may want us to change the way we are heading and go down a bumpy road. Sometimes God may want us to take an unusual turn on this road of life.Listen to the voice of God and he will direct your path.

Prayer

We thank you God for being with us on our life journey. We are sorry if we have sometimes not listened to your call for us to change directions.Give us the courage and strength for whatever lies ahead of us.We pray and listen for your guidance as we continue this journey here on earth.

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Song (v4)

Moving on

As we travel to our last station we think about the similarities of our track to our journey through life.

LITURGY FOR STATION FIVE: BYPASSING ACTIVITY

Scripture Reading: Genesis 2: 1-3

And so the whole universe was completed. By the seventh day God finished what he had been doing and stopped working. God blessed the seventh day and set it apart as a special day, because by that day God had completed his creation and stopped working.

Reflection

Resting leads to renewal of body, mind and Spirit.

Life today is lived at a hectic pace and it’s never easy to break away from the pressures of everyday living activities and escape from all the changes going on around us. The Oxford dictionary defines the word ”rest” , as to cease work or movement in order to relax , sleep or recover strength” Sometimes doctors will suggest to people to rest up for a few days to renew their strength before engaging in work once more . Meditation is known to not only rest the mind but refresh the body and human spirit. Imagine having a day every week to avoid work ,just relaxing doing nothing and not feeling guilty about it; just enjoying nature, listening to music , meditating, relaxing , turning off our digital technology appliances and bypassing the busy activities of each day going on in the world around us.

God however has designed such a time and built it into the very fabric of our nature, in the ancient Genesis story of creation. We are told that the whole universe was completed in six days and on the seventh day God stopped working and set that day apart as a special day , to be called the “Sabbath” (In Hebrew Sabbath means “to cease “ work and bathe in God’s presence ) It seems it was God’s good intention that we are as an act of faith to rest regularly from our day to day occupations and refocus on what is really important so we can push the reset button for the week to come. Sometimes even our church life can put us into overdrive and maybe this is why we struggle to stay in the silence in the liturgy and prayers in worship.

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Learning to rest and be still is a healthy process to be practiced. Spiritual growth stems from according to the psalmist withdrawing from our daily activities and becoming still before God.(Ps 46v10) The Gospels remind us many times that our Lord often bypassed the crowds to find a lonely spot where he would withdraw from his work and rest and be found in prayer before God .

The road signs on our busy highways encourage us to take the bypass road to find a provided resting place to avoid fatigue from long driving and rest before driving on. This is why in our daily journey of life sleep and rest plays such an important part in bringing about a healthy life style. Finding our special space, our lonely spot and learning to cease from pursuing our material goals for a moment can bring us an inner peace and calm of mind that not only will sustain our faith but renew our strength and uplift our spirit. Yes we need to be still and refocus on things of eternal purpose to keep our faith in God alive. And maybe this is why one of the last things spoken over us; is ‘Rest in Peace’.

Prayer

May the silence of the Most High flow around us and within us. Above the electronic babel of this new era, may the Holy Spirit fall upon us. May the silence of the Most High inform and teach us.May the silence of the Most High calm and heal us. May the silence of the Most High lead us to the incarnate Word, fill us with wisdom and courage, and direct our feet in the way of peace. Amen.

Song (v1)

Moving on

Let us embrace the silence as we walk; to receive not only the sounds of nature going on around us but to hear the whispers of the Spirit coming into our minds and hearts of the joy in belonging to the Body of Christ together.

LITURGY FOR STATION SIX: BYPASSING THE END

Prayer

Life is but a stopping place,A pause in what’s to be,A resting place along the road

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To sweet eternity.We all have different journeys, Different paths along the way,We all were meant to learnSome things,But never meant to stay.Our destination is a placeFar greater than we know,For some, the journey’s quicker,For some the journey’s slow.And when the journey finally ends, We’ll claim a great reward,And find an everlasting peace, Together with the Lord. Amen.

Scripture Reading: Revelation 21: 1-6a

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End”.

Reflection

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Our life is a journey; hopefully a long journey. As the quote says some tunnels are longer than others when we have to face the unknown and travel in the dark, although there may be some light that indicates the end is coming near. We cannot bypass the end in our life – we all will die at some point, we just want that time to be a long way off.

Pastor Rick Godwin says, “When you come to a roadblock take the detour. A detour could be an interstate highway to your dream. It’s not the end of the road; it’s a bend in the road.” For all of us we will have times when there seems to be a detour and what we thought would be our best approach is changed around. Do not be concerned when God takes you on His detours because you will always arrive at the correct location. God has plans for us; as it says in Jeremiah 29: 11 ““For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord.”

The Revelation reading says “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End”. John is referring to the kingdom that God is creating for us – the New Jerusalem. It will be a place where we have the opportunity to review our life and see our good works for God. This is an end that we do not want to bypass.

Our pilgrimage today has provided chances for us to see how we can pass by without taking notice; how we can pass by and not become involved; how we can bypass and allow life to let us not witness to others about Jesus Christ; or we can use bypasses as opportunities to let God direct us

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Thanks

Blessing

At this ending of our pilgrimage we give thanks to God for – The meaning behind our theme of Bypassing and passing by The weather that has allowed us to be together Those who prepared the liturgy Those who have participated in walking and driving, sharing and taking part.

Above all God we are grateful that we have been able to share with you our thoughts, spoken or unspoken, about the value and beauty of your world. To you we pray, Amen.

Grace before lunch

Leader: As we pause for lunch in this place, may we be nourished with this food, and the food and fellowship God provides.

Pilgrims: Thanks be to God for food and fellowship enjoyed. Amen.

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Acknowledgements:

This resource was developed at the initiative of the Drysdale Uniting Church, following the success of the Pilgrimage to Living Water developed by the Uniting Church in Australia, Assembly Spirituality Network in 2011, and the development of following Pilgrimages by Drysdale Uniting Church as the Pilgrimage to Living Stones in 2012, the Pilgrimage to Trees of Life in 2013, the Pilgrimage to Sea of Life in 2014/15, the Pilgrimage to Living Land in 2016, and the Pilgrimage of Sky and Air in 2017. This has been written by Rev Temukisa Amituana’i-Vaeluaga, Graeme Dryden, Denise McLaverty, Wayne Myers and Irene and Robert Stevenson. Use of this material in other places is welcomed with acknowledgement given to Drysdale Uniting Church for its production.

The painting used during the Liturgy for Bypassing productivity/farming is “The Old Cottage, Littleover Lane” by George Turner (1841-1910) in the Public Collection. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:George_Turner_-_The_Old_Cottage_Littleover_Lane.jpg The poem of Country Roads by Marilyn Lott is from https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/country-roads/ The prayer is “A prayer for food producers” from https://www.aftersunday.org.uk/prayer/for-work/prayers-farming-agriculture

The prayer used in Liturgy for Bypassing activity is “Jesus our Future” from Prayers for the 21st century by Bruce Prewer, page 83.

The prayer used in the Liturgy for Bypassing the end is Prayer 134 from http://www.memorialprint.com/prayers/popularprayers_3.htm, the quotation by Ada Adams comes from https://quotefancy.com/quote/64289/Ada-Adams-There-is-a-light-at-the-end-of-every-tunnel-Some-tunnels-just-happen-to-be and the reference to Pastor Godwin is from Roadblocks by Byron Bohnert at http://www1.cbn.com/devotions/roadblocks.

The words for the song, “One more step” are by © Sydney Carter and Stainer Bell Ltd. and used under license LicenSing # A262

© Drysdale Uniting Church, PO Box 240, Drysdale, Victoria

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