Waranga Uniting Churches
Colbinabbin, Murchison, Rushworth, Tatura
FAITH | HOPE | MEANING | GRACE | COMMUNITY
You’ve got a friend
Sunday 5th May: Streaming from Colbinabbin and online at Murchison, Rushworth, Tatura, and for folk at home.
We need to take back the word “friend” and fill it with value again! By now I’m sure everyone is aware that Facebook has taken ownership of the word “friend”. The problem is that in doing so they have devalued the word. The way Facebook uses the word it really means a more old fashioned word “acquaintance”.
How many times do you use “air quotes” when you say so-and-so is your Facebook “friend”. The word now, more often than not, just means that you are happy to see their public posts and for them to see your public posts. The reality is I call a lot of people Facebook friends who aren’t my friends. I believe that they are nice people, I like them, I think – if I ever met them all.
But friend is too precious a word to throw around so loosely.
Our gospel reading this week has Jesus saying to his disciples that they are his friends.
“I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.” (John 15:15)
The friendly love of Jesus is not stingy. It is generous and lavish without being pretentious. It has the power to heal and renew. It is magnanimous and steadfast.
It is pleasing, true, and beautiful, not cheap or superficial. It is strong, honest, and pure. And that’s what makes it so very attractive.
Oh, what a friend we have in Jesus.
Join us as we share, sing, pray and reflect together. And remember the most important things in the world are not things at all; they are love, hope, joy, grace, faith, peace, perseverance, and friendship!
The live Zoom “room” will be open for you to log-in to from 9.00am. Log-in, chat to others, be the church!
Watch on Facebook Live Streaming
Watch the service here on Facebook
Watch the recorded service later
Facebook records the service and it will be available to watch later or share with others in your family and friendship circle.
Rather stay anonymous?
We understand that you may prefer to remain anonymous. It may have been a while since you went to church, maybe you’ve never been to church and are just curious. We understand that you don’t want to be hassled just because you were curious.
If you want to remain anonymous there are four ways you can do it.
- Choose the “Join without video” option. You will be able to see, hear (and talk if you want to)
- Your name also appears in the bottom left of their picture in Zoom. This name will be the one you entered at sign-up. At any time in the meeting you can right-mouse click on your name and change or delete it.
- You can choose to attend via the Livestream option.
- You can watch the recorded service later on the website
Our church needs your support.
Please consider donating your offering online via the button below
or by direct bank transfer:
Account name:
Waranga Uniting Churches.
Bendigo Bank:
BSB 633-000
Account No:162 446 371.
ABC Radio Shepparton
Matt Dowling interviews Brian Spencer. Monday 5th July.
About us
The Waranga Uniting Churches comprise congregations from the towns of Colbinabbin, Murchison, Rushworth, and Tatura.
You are welcome to join us at any of our worship services or activities.
Many faces… Many places… Many forms
Our congregations throughout the district are caring communities to which all people can belong.
Some of our congregations may be a tiny community of a dozen people, but they are warm vibrant and alive.
They have many faces. There are older people and young, families and single people, people of one culture or many.
While our congregations can be different, each aims to embrace all people… to unite them with each other and with God. This is expressed in part by our having an open table for Holy Communion, to which all baptised people are invited, welcoming children for baptism and being willing to marry those who are divorced.
We are by no means perfect, but we know that God loves us as we are and as we grow. Our congregations are communities in which people seek to follow Jesus, learn about God, share their faith, care for each other, serve the local community, and seek to live faithfully and with real joy. This is the kind of engaging church to which we belong.
Quixote Thinking Blog
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