News from the Field

from June 2024

How to describe the contemporary ecumenical mission field in an age of technology and disparity?

I am fresh off an overnight flight from Singapore to Johannesburg and now I am in Durban. It is lunchtime and I am sitting at an outdoor table overlooking the Indian Ocean, imagining I am home in Australia. It is Saturday afternoon and work starts tomorrow. This could easily be any coastal town in Australia. Yet, I am aware that Umshlange is a well-off beach/surf destination, not easily accessed by the general population. For me, it is not overly expensive, for many it would be prohibitive.

So, I sit waiting for some fishcakes and sip a glass of wine, the first I have ordered in months. For a couple of hours, I am taking a holiday from the mission life. As I pause and reflect, there is much to give thanks for and much to question. On the screen, over the bar, Arsenal are playing - I can almost sense Terry’s presence. Right now he would be yelling: SAKAAAAAA!

Perhaps football helps me gain some perspective. So much mission activity seems to be about survival and justice, but life is more than the next meal or the longing for a secure roof over our heads. Footballers (fans and players) refer to the cup of life. Raising a cup of victory is celebration of joy and teamwork, of hope and of achievement. The cup of life is a cup of thanksgiving for life itself and all the relationships and elements that go with it. Let is raise a cup to the Bride, or the Groom, or the Parents, or the Attendants! Let us rase a cup o the Guest of Honour! Let us raise a cup to new friends! Let us raise a cup to the Creator of this Life!

It is easy to get philosophical with a glass of wine in hand. Yet, I am seated alone at a table for six (because I asked for a view of the waves). I know which of my friends would be enjoying conversation in this setting - yes, I think of you often! I have the privilege of being here. You have the privilege of being able to gather with one another. By the time I get back to the hotel, it will be too late to zoom you. Perhaps I will try to do so before breakfast?

Last time I walked this beach, I had to educate some of my colleagues about blue bottles and where to walk.  

Two New Acknowledgements of Country

Christmas Acknowledgement

Come to live on country, the Spirit came.

The star shone to show the light on land. In this place, the place of the ................................. peoples,

we celebrate the connection between spirit and land.

Today they come together. As Christmas peoples, we see valleys raised and mountains made low. We see love poured out in a child and by those who are children of country. We honour the story of birth, death and resurrection of the first peoples who long to honour the stories of dreaming. We bring ourselves respectfully to the traditional peoples of this land,

praying in wonder and hope, that hope, peace, joy and love may be reborn And become the reality of heaven on earth in this place. May Christ’s gift of peace and presence show us how to live in harmony with this land and with one another.

                    (C) 2024, A.Koh-Butler

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Newcomers' Acknowledgement

Place is sacred. Of earth we are made, yet not all earth is the same.

Today, we pay respect to those of this place, of this earth - the .................... people.

We give thanks for their connection with country.

We give thanks for the skies that watch over this place and the waters that lie below.

We pray for those who care for this land, the oceans and rivers, the creatures that live here.

We pray for the wisdom that is carried from generation to generation.

We pray for the space to listen and appreciate the sacred stories.

We bring our ears and our eyes, our gentle footsteps and our willingness to sit and wait.

We bring stories to share and wonder for the stories we will learn.

We acknowledge the ....................... people, their Elders and kin, 

those who have gone before and those who are yet to come.

                    (C) 2024, A.Koh-Butler

FIVE years - Another Love letter

Hello my darling,

Looking out my window, I see lots and lots of apartments. So many people live on top of each other here, and I grieve for them that none of them ever knew you. They don't know the colours of life that you brought into the world, nor the humour, nor the compassion.  How dull for them!

My eyes drift back into my little living space. I am predictably untidy still. I don't have to allow for trip hazards, as I can pick my way through the creative debris I leave about the place. There are bits and pieces from my last trips to Jamaica and the UK, sewing fancies and jewellery, leads and eye-glasses, ends and odds. The paintings and pictures fill the space with character and colour. 

The pink Kaurna (Adelaide-area) Aboriginal painting keeps my home centred and gives the sense of spiritual home-away-from-home, the Rod Pattendon 'toaster' painting of Nobby's headland in Newcastle, keeps family close, the tourist paintings of Cuba remind me to find music and fruit in the midst of tears, the photo of Ikara (Wilpena), where your ashes drift, give me the promise of homecoming one day, pictures of Spain and California prompt memories of adventures. My favourite photo, though, is the one of you and Cass. He has imitated your blue mohawk by gelling his hair straight up. It was taken in the kitchen in Hamilton when he was a toddler. You held his heart... and mine.

The boys will visit soon and I am looking forward to seeing them. We will do some of the things you would have taken them to. Exploring and adventuring is so much nicer shared. Much of my adventuring these days is on my own, so this will be a refreshing change. You are present and absent constant and surprising. You catch me unawares, even when I am looking for you.

I have two pretty thin fold out mattresses for the boys. I hope they cope! They are teens now and taller than me - can you believe that? We will lego theme the visit a bit. I know they are older, but you never really get too old for lego, do you? 

I often see things that prompt me to listen for your commentary. You were so opinionated and entertaining. Sometimes, as I am walking along, I find myself having a little giggle at your comment. I can still hear you, even if no-one else can. When I get tired, I can hear your encouragement. When I get lonely, I close my eyes and feel you close. When I gat sad, I remember your devotion. When I get isolated, I look at swing dancing and remember your lead.

I occasionally watch soccer or cricket without you. I suspect you keep yourself busy playing, rather than just watching. Incarnation suited you so well - I can't really imagine you as disembodied. I suspect that teaches me something about thinking about the concept of Heaven. God liked creation and said it was good - and the whole thing with people was very good. Yes - I think there will be some kind of embodiment to come. We may be spiritual beings, but there is more, isn't there.

Life is filled with travel and projects, but much of it feels like waiting for you and what is yet to come. I throw myself into the present, but eternity never feels far away - and then, again, it feels an eternity away. I have grown accustomed to missing you. Days like today may be a bit tearier, but many days have laughter and smiles.

What makes home are the quilts I have. The one Margaret made me to describe the Trinity is always close on the lounge. The one Vivianne made is in the heart of the living space, reminding me of supportive friends. The one Tony and Shirley passed on remains on my bed, cloaking me in prayer. My life is a bit like a quilt, made up of many pieces, put together in new ways, yet you remain the backing and the pattern. People rarely see you in ways they could name, but whenever they see me, they see your life in me.

Stay close, my love.

A 

Prayer near the end

Prayer for a friend and her sister…. 

In the in between, o God,

May our forever ties stay strong. 

In the companioning, may we bathe in love. 

Bless our moments and grant that sleep is calm and breaths are comforting. 

Send your angels to tend to our spirits, pave the way for peace, and share our tears and laughter. 

Grant moments of lightness and promise. 

We pray in the name of the one who knew both tears and life beyond life. 

Amen

On the move

Move our feet to join the path

Teach us steps to share the dance

Fear has partnered our past moves

Yet our lives are filled with loves

Love of partner and of friend

Sacred loves that never end

Love sustains and fills the heart

With courage so we play our part.

Move our voice to sing your song

Raise our arms to hold the throng

Guide our words in singing truth

May the depths of good take root

Respect first peoples and terrains

May grace fill our joint refrains

May Christ’s heart become our choice

As confession finds its voice.

Ideas emerge and some confuse

Preachers argue or amuse

Help us leave the powered place

Seek instead the need for grace

Find our home in cells and camps

Offer silence, light a lamp 

Live with questions without answer

Witness lame become the dancer.

Faith in Christ opens the shutter

Shares resources, slows the clutter

Without God, nothing matters

For nothing is all that’s left

Without God, all hope shatters

Hearts are broken, souls bereft

Find belonging without merit

Measure instead Spirit-credit

Depart oppressive moralism

Find a spiritual optimism

Seek the God who recognizes

Receive the gifts that blessing prizes

Turn-resist perfectionism

Longing prompts aestheticism

Reject abusive spiritual grooming

Rather integrate life’s blooming 

Challenge fixtures, find the place

For conversation - people space

Guiding lights illuminate

Pray and read of love and hate

Do not shy away from sorrow

Hope comes with dawning of the morrow

Service of all kinds has need

Action sits alongside creed.

The Church's One Foundation - contemporary reworking of Samuel John Stone's hymn text

The Church's one foundation

Is Jesus Christ our God;

Become God’s new creation

By water and the Word.

God, give to us your vision

of healing from all strife

God, send us on your mission

To witness transformed life.

 

Now called from every nation,

As one throughout all the earth,

Our task is shared salvation,

One God, one faith, one birth;

One holy Name in blessing,

Share in one holy food,

And to one hope we’re pressing,

The mission of God’s good.

 

‘Mid scenes of war and dying

and climate’s groaning loud,

we pray to Spirit, crying

for life beyond the shroud;

As Church we rise to nourish,

communities to bless.

We long for heav’n to flourish.

We long for peace and rest.

 

Here, in this place, find union

With God, the Three-in-One,

Come, enter this communion

with those whose rest is won.

We seek the coming Kin-dom,

for justice to increase,

so all will live in freedom,

and all will know God’s peace.

Easter acknowledgement

EASTER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

Co-developed with Rev Ellie Elia

——-

 

Earth and stars, waters and breeze

In this place, the place of the Dharug and Gundungurra peoples, we celebrate the connection between 

embodied life and spiritual fulfilment. 

As Easter people, we look upon the hills and valleys,

we see the love poured out upon this Land

by those who have cared for this place

since time beyond measure. 

As Easter people we honour the story 

of life, death and resurrection of the first peoples 

who long to honour the stories of dreaming. 

We bring ourselves respectfully to the traditional peoples of this land, praying in wonder and hope, 

that restoration and resurrection 

will become the reality of heaven in this place.

May Christ’s way of reconciliation and peace

show us how to walk gently upon this land

and with one another.