Golden Gaytimes and other good things
We’re a week into Lent 2022. Unpredictability still hangs heavily in the air. How are you travelling with that?
For people affected by floods and war and domestic violence, it’s been another gruelling week. Let’s not become tired of holding these people in prayer as they come to terms with their reality, and the uncertainty of how life will be moving forward. And where opportunities arise to offer support in practical and meaningful ways, let’s do that too.
During the week, the best of human behaviour has also been powerfully evident. Countless heartening expressions of goodness, like people selflessly helping bereft neighbours and strangers, providing the basics of life – food, shelter, love – in dire circumstances, and people around the world embracing the simple rendition of ‘Let it go’ (from Frozen) sung by a young girl in a Ukrainian shelter. Solidarity. Humanity. Compassion.
Right here in our church community, I’ve encountered extraordinary expressions of goodness too.
Our 7.30am choir are great champions of peace in our world, believing God calls us all to be peacemakers, wherever we are. They found a song about that and practiced it so we can sing it together on Sunday. Enjoy singing with them!
A Rainbow Town teacher found somebody’s wallet in a shopping trolley today. When they put a message out on social media, a friend of the wallet’s owner saw it. The owner came to the church office to collect it and was so very grateful, wanting to thank the teacher personally and take her chocolates for her kindness.
On Monday a man came to the office and asked if we could put him in touch with someone who might know who could use half a container of good quality household furniture and goods. He wanted to give them away to someone who had lost everything. I put him in touch with Anglicare and a few parishes in Brisbane.
The mum of 2 girls who I baptised last Sunday (they are a family who join us online and at Christmas and Easter) had been in Tumbulgum all day on Saturday helping with the clean- up. Exhausted, she joined her daughters and husband for our pre-baptism conversation late Saturday afternoon – with a smile!
Someone had their first experience at Merrimac State School as a Kids Hope mentor. Working previously in an executive role internationally, this person will give an hour each week to simply be with a vulnerable student as a way of encouraging and reassuring them. This is a beautiful act of goodness and service to Christ.
To celebrate International Women’s Day, I joined the women from Elroy’s Bible study group for coffee. Their wealth of experience and insights about what’s happening in the world were rich and wise and so very good. Thank you ladies!
On Thursday Stewart returned to the office after lunch with a bag of Golden Gaytime bites and shared them around. That was definitely goodness . Thanks Stewart!
On Tuesday, I met with our missions advocate, Glynda Hoogsteden, to plan further events for 2022, including a dinner for our whole church family in May. We’re calling it a ‘hello’ dinner. Its purpose is for you to connect with others and get to know (or get to know again!) your church family. Through the gift of story-telling and story-listening, we’ll be able to share our cultural background – including food from our cultural heritage. When we truly hear another person we are better placed to understand them.
I’m amazed by the nationalities represented even in the people I’ve spoken with this last week! including Hungarian, Lebanese, Bosnian, Serbian, Sri Lankan, South African, Taiwanese, New Zealander, English, Irish, Welsh, Scottish, French, Mauritian, Ukrainian, German, Dutch …
Stay tuned for event dates and more information next week! There’s lots to look forward to.
My final example of goodness is the tireless work of our op shop volunteers and their outreach in the community. The Kids Op Shop ministry is an extraordinary web of support and outreach. More on that in the weeks ahead.
Our Markeri Street op shop liaison officer regularly attends our Wednesday morning service. Bill has faithfully led and cared for the team of op shop volunteers for years. His motive is simple. “I do it for God.” For Bill, that means honouring God in all things and serving people in a good Samaritan kind of way. He is kind and a great listener, generous with his time and resources. (Bill and I met this week. While he is happy to continue in the role for now, we’re wondering who might feel called to volunteer for this ministry. If that could be you, we’d love to hear from you.) Bill faces challenges graciously, and genuinely wants the best outcome for everyone involved. That’s goodness.
So I’ve glimpsed goodness in many people and places this week. Where have you experienced goodness? And how have you been encouraged to let go of some things to make room for things that matter more during Lent? Good things.
The apostle Paul encouraged the early Galatian Christians (Gal 6:9-10):
Let us not grow weary in doing what is right … whenever we have an opportunity let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.
Grace and peace,
Mary-Anne