Sunday 27 September, 2020

Reflection:

“Saltbush”

Message from the Saltbush Team

Exodus 17:1-7
 
Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16
 
Matthew 21:23-32
 
Philippians 2:1-13

When I (Rev. Tim Jensen) played club rugby, my first coach had a saying ‘perfect practise makes perfect.’
So all our drills were done repeatedly until we completed five in a row…. perfectly.
The only problem was that our perfect drills had no opposition. 
The opposition would often cause chaos and confusion to the perfect drill in a game. 
A few years later we had different coaches who were also players. 
The saying was “be free to try something different if what we practise isn’t working”.
It was a long saying, but it worked and it respected the skills and the intelligence (yes! I know rugby players can think) of the team. 
It meant that we allowed ourselves the freedom to change according to the challenges we faced in a difficult game.
Being adaptable was our new practice. It was not about being perfect but being wise and making the most of a challenge.
As we heard said a lot these days, never let a crisis go to waste or turn a crisis into an opportunity also known as a ‘crisitunity’. (attributed to Homer Simpson, from the cartoon series, The Simpsons.)

Saltbush has been exploring ways that we can make the most of this time while keeping with the practice of being faithful as a Christian community. 
It has meant that we rely heavily on our online platforms and Zoom, a lot of Zoom.
However, we believe that it has not diminished our traditions or engagement with each other, it has just rearranged how they happen. 
One of the clearest examples of this is our celebration of Holy Communion.

For many as we participate together in this profound act of thanksgiving, communion and community there is a sense of connection and oneness that moves us beyond our local gatherings to people from all over the land. 
It has also emphasised for some, the importance of the ritual of preparing for communion: setting aside the wine or juice and finding the bread.
While it might not be a common cup that is shared or loaf that is broken, it is a sharing what we all have in common, a deep sense of communion and belonging to the One who is present in all of our lives.

As churches are slowly returning to be together within the new ways of meeting, we have changed our Saltbush@9 to Saltbush@4 every 1st and 3rd Sunday. 
We want to encourage communities to keep gathering face to face and have the 4pm service as a time to gather with the Saltbush community. 
As always, these services are found on the Saltbush Community website at  https://saltbushcommunity.uca.org.au

The Saltbush website is a great source of all that is happening with Saltbush along with our Facebook and Instagram posts, our digital presence is ever widening.

Saltbush will soon be available on podcast.
There are a number of interviews with people from all the different aspects of church life, keep a look out on our website when these will be posted.  

This and all our past issues of our quarterly magazine, “Ruminations”, are also available on the website as a flip book.

Our Cafés continue to offer a space of connection for those exploring the more nuanced aspects of our faith journey. 
We have had Cafés on the Gospel of Matthew, guest speakers, lectionary readings and at the moment Mark is hosting a five-week Café called “Water for the Journey”. 
The Cafés are an excellent way to engage with those whose experiences and stories of faith are so different and varied to our own.

Due to Covid19, our gatherings have gone digital for the moment.
Our ‘Dubbo’ Gathering (September 12th) was Zoomed, but has the same format as if we were together. 
At this Gathering we were joined by Rev. Dr. John Squires and Rev. Elizabeth Raine as they presented the Gospel of Matthew. 
John was a New Testament lecturer at UTC and is an avid blogger and Elizabeth is fascinated by the Gospel of Matthew and is self-proclaimed nerd for translating all things from the Greek. 

Alongside all these events we have regular Zoom meetings, connecting on the ground with individuals and congregations (where we can), being involved in supportive ways with the wider church and always exploring new ways of mission and ministry in this new era of being community. 
Our practice is to continue to encourage and connect Uniting Christian communities with a clear theological foundation which respects our journeys of faith with the Creator, the Christ and the Holy Spirit. 


(Note: Saltbush is one of the projects that the Lane Cove Uniting Church assists by providing funding towards their ongoing costs).

Rev. Mark Faulkner, Rev. Tim Jensen & Pastor Geoff Wellington