Author Archives: admin

On the passing of the Queen

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“We knew it was coming, but it was still a shock, and hard to believe”.

That was a sentiment I heard quite a bit in the days after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Then in the fortnight after that I had several similar losses amongst the circles of my family and friends. So in my next week’s diary are three funeral services in two days. I am leading one of them and will be able to attend one of the others. All of them are for people in their late 80s or 90s who were still lively despite their physicality declining. “We knew it was coming, but it was still a shock, and hard to believe”.

So, I got to reflecting again about life and loss.

For most of my life I have tended to think about death and other losses as being intrusive. They break into my life, often unexpected, usually unsettling, sometimes quite discombobulating. Sometimes I have noticed that they led to some positives for me, in terms of personal growth, humility, gratitude, reorienting and reprioritising. But I still tend to think of death and other losses like a shadow. I know this shadow is hanging around, but occasionally will morph into something more than a shadow and impose its darkness on me.

This time around I am trying to think a little differently about death and loss, in a way prompted by a helpful conversation. This other person reminded me that death and loss are not add-ons to life that occasionally push their way in and take over, forcing us to cope as best way we can, till the pain subsides.

Death and other losses are integral to life. Even as we are being creative and growing in all sorts of ways, we are still having little losses. Our losses and deaths provide room and ingredients for new life and growth. Life prepares us for death. The prospect of death helps us to deeply value life in ourselves and others.

So my challenge is to let life and God teach me about death and loss, about how to live with death and loss, now and into the future. My tiny seed of faith in the eternal loving God helps me to contemplate the place of death and other loss.. It allows me to recognize that the learning, growth and renewal from loss are central and essential to life, not just an occasionally shocking intrusion.

May God bless you with life, love and joy that overflows from you to others.

Fresh Eyes

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One of the great things about going away on holiday for a couple of weeks is the possibility of getting freshened up, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
Apart from the benefits of resting the parts of you that are tired, you get to see and do different things. Resting what’s tired and experiencing the new helps you to think about life with more insight and appreciate your life with more awareness. What you might call “fresh eyes”.

I’m feeling that as I return to my role as your Minister, this morning. It was great to walk into the chapel space and see the kite with all its symbolic meaning and prompts for us. Over the next few months we will see how the wind of God’s Spirit wants to uplift and guide the kite which is our faith community. The Holy Spirit is continually refreshing our eyes and hearts for the part we have to play in sharing the good news.

As well as the range of theological reminders that the kite offers, it also uplifted me this morning at the thought of how many different people had contributed their gifts to its conception, design, engineering, detailing and placement. This little kite is a big symbol of how the Spirit enables us to work together creatively and purposefully for God’s purposes. This would be a timely point to express my thanks to all those who contributed to seamlessly continuing the mission and ministry of Coatesville during my absence.

During our holiday, Andrea and I made our first visit to the Northern Territory. We stayed in Darwin for a few days, then Kakadu National Park for a few days, then back to Darwin. There were many highlights for us in enjoying the tourist experiences, including swimming in Berry Springs, picnic dinner at sunset on Casuarina Beach, cruising on Yellow Waters, visiting the Botanical Gardens and the museum and art galleries.

One extra treat for us was to visit our friends James and Michelle, who have worked for the Uniting Church in Cape York and Tasmania. I mentioned them and the support of Frontier Services at last year’s Variety Concert. Michelle is currently the Theology lecturer at Nungalinya College in the northern suburbs. Nungalinay is an ecumenical theological college for the Top End. UCA, Anglicans, Catholics and others work together to train indigenous people in the most appropriate and helpful ways they can. Using the land and employing artistic endeavours are two powerful aspects of that. Michelle and James took us for a tour of the college, including the Garden of Eden with all sorts of appropriate features to tell the early stories of the book of Genesis.
As well as the trees and “rivers” there was indigenous artwork (by the students) beautifully representing different narratives and their symbols. So inspiring in its authenticity and connection to that country.

The body of Christ has many parts working to do their bit in their place in their way.

It was great to have some time away and be refreshed.

It is great to come back to share with you in seeing what God has in store for us next, in our place and time.

On the buses: that button

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I have about twenty different buttons on my dash board. Imagine a jet airliner cockpit. That’s what my bus looks like – well … almost.

As a highly qualified and highly trained driver, I know what all of those buttons do. My favourite one of course is the one you press to open and close the pneumatic door. I press that button and ‘Whoooosh’, the door opens. I press the same button and ‘Whoooosh’, the door closes. I could do that all day. If you’re ever on my bus I’ll make sure that you get a chance to push that button. It’s a very special button!

Other buttons I have at my disposal include buttons to demist, turn on the drivers light, turn on the driver’s fan, and the saloon lights button. I have buttons to turn on the air conditioner when it’s hot and the heater when it’s cold. There are buttons to activate the headlights, the hazard lights, the flashing school lights and, another one of my favourites, (and a must-have for all bus drivers), the button to turn on the radio.

There is one button on my dash though, that if I pressed it, I’m not quite sure what would happen. Putting it simply, it’s a mystery button. I don’t know what it does. Here’s a picture of it:

If you look closely at the image on the button it depicts a bus sort of quaking and shaking, rocking and rolling. I don’t know what it does?? Should I press that button to find out or should I just leave it alone? If I press it, will the bus go into an uncontrollable ‘shake and quake’? Will the wheels fall off? Will the vehicle slam onto its side or will the driver be ejected into the air? I simply don’t know, so I feel safer simply leaving it alone.

This mystery button presents various issues for me. You’re probably asking, why don’t you ask someone else what it does? An immediate (though quite sad) answer to that is that now I’ve been driving this bus for a year, I should know what it does. If I ask, I may look like an idiot. It also introduces issues of risk and facing the unknown.

As I approach the question of risk I am reminded of one of my favourite episodes in the New Testament, in Matthew 14:29 Peter (no relation) is commanded by Jesus to ‘come out of the boat and walk upon the water’. This is about taking risks – pressing that ‘mystery button’. Maybe I should remember the words from a song I wrote a while back about his very episode and apply it to my bus driving?

“I am Peter in the boat, I live a life of things that float,
now it feels like I’m all alone, my vessel sinking like a stone.
Nervous feet now in the waves, nervous footsteps of the brave,
sinking only when I trace my steps without seeking your face”.
Then….
”you call me, you call me, you call me – to walk upon the water”.

This is risk!

The message in Matthew is clear. If we lose sight of Jesus in mind, heart and spirit, we’ll sink. If we keep focus on the face’ of Jesus we have the capacity even to walk on water. Focus through faith can enable us to do things that involve risk, if we know they are right.

There’s also the issue of facing the unknown – something we all do each and every day. Every day, we are faced with buttons we’re not familiar with. We may be quite unsure what will happen if we press them.

So, let’s go straight to the words of the prophet Isaiah who, always seems to make sense to me and inspire me with his words of wisdom and encouragement:

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

Equally, we could visit the words of St Paul in his letter to the people of Philippi:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Taking risks.

Facing the unknown.

Unfamiliar buttons.

These are things that challenge all of us – not only bus drivers. Should I press that button? Should I ask someone what that button does?

Maybe I will, maybe I won’t.

I sort of like having the mystery button there, and leaving it alone, as a reminder that there is risk and uncertainty in many things we do in life and as a reminder of the promise that whether I press it or not, God sits with me and guides me on the journey.

If I do eventually press it, I’ll let you know what happens. If the result is good, that’s good. If the result is not good, remember I love you all!

Peter Heazlewood
Bus Driver

 

Are you ready for Easter?

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I’m not talking about your supply of Easter eggs, (though I am still on the alert for those larger Red Tulip eggs that Andrea and I like to give to immediate family members).

I am talking about the thing we try to do during the season of Lent, (the 40 days plus Sundays before Easter). Get yourself ready for Easter, spiritually.

Ironically, you do this spiritual work practically and actively, not by just navel gazing. It takes a bit of effort.

Traditionally, people focussed on prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

We haven’t really talked about fasting this year, but we have offered some ideas on prayer and a little on giving. Prayer is not navel gazing. Prayer is active, paying attention to God, giving time to learning a bit more or listening a bit more from God.
One of the suggestions I offered for consideration was the use of a daily Bible reading guide called “With Love to the World”.

If you don’t already have a daily practice of dedicating a period of time to God for reflection and prayer, then this guide could be a helpful resource for you. This season of Lent would be an especially appropriate time to give it a try. You can find out more about the guide and how to access it at With Love to the World.

Another suggestion was to read some verses from the gospel of Luke each day. Just start at the beginning, read a section, then prayerfully consider what your questions and insights are from that passage that day. It’s partly about building your knowledge and understanding of what is in the Bible, and partly about handing over some of your time and self to God, and seeing what happens.

For some of us this kind of practice is familiar territory. For others it could be something new and nourishing. Whichever boat you are in, I encourage you to consider beginning or renewing this spiritual discipline for yourself, in this season of Lent.

So may we approach this Easter intentionally, having prepared ourselves to remember and celebrate again the greatest story ever told. And may God help us to find more deeply our place and our role as children of God in God’s world.

Graham Bartley

Graham Bartley Welcomed to Coatesville

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Rev. Graham Bartley was inducted as Minister of the Word at Coatesville on 10th January, 2021 by the Chair of Port Phillip East Presbytery, Dr Tom Spurling and the Presbytery Secretary, Ian Firth.

Rev Graham Bartley and Dr Tom Spurling

Dr Tom Spurling inducts Rev Graham Bartley.

The Minister from Murrumbeena Uniting Church, Rev. Jay Robinson, provided an inspiring message of welcome and a reminder that churches flourish as the minister and congregation work together to be God’s people in this place.

The Homecoming

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The Homecoming – a song that has emerged out of the global COVID-19 crisis. We currently live in a community required to socially isolate. In this situation it’s easy to imagine that there is no capacity to join together to do creative things to glorify God. We are firm though, in our belief that God is God of grace and mercy. The song reflects the assurance that through God’s grace and mercy, this time of separation will pass and the gift of reconnecting with community shall be made all the more joyful through ‘the homecoming’.

The recording of the song was done remotely. Using a guide track, each player recorded his/her part in their own home – including the flute part recorded on a farm in northern Victoria. Recordings were then returned via email to a central point for mixing and production. The result we hope not only proves our capacity to worship God as a community even though we are apart, but also demonstrates that the worship of God can take on many forms.

We hope you are you remain safe and well and that you enjoy ‘The Homecoming’ – a celebration of the grace and mercy of God.

– Peter Heazlewood

The Homecoming is featured on our Resources page.

Music and worship in a global pandemic

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In case you hadn’t noticed, we’re currently in the middle of a global pandemic – a situation that has presented to the world significant challenges. Despite changed and challenging times, the worship of God continues – and always will – and part of that worship of course is through music. Like many other congregations, we have successfully established live, weekly worship using Zoom. We chose this, in preference to the more common pre-recorded mode, because the congregation has traditionally been very interactive in worship, and we didn’t want to lose this element.

But what do we do about music? Like most places of Christian worship, music plays a huge role in our community. We are passionate about praising God through music of substance and do so with piano, guitar, strings, flute, organ, drums and voice. Fairly early in the piece (prior to Stage 4 restrictions in Victoria) we did quite a bit of work recording our band (including our organist) capturing contemporary, traditional and locally written songs we use as part of worship. These recordings are incorporated into our weekly online worship, complemented by words and visuals. Those who can’t connect online can participate in worship via phone, and are provided with weekly mail outs of song words for the upcoming week and other materials to ensure they don’t miss out.

We’ve been extremely lucky to get ahead of the game in this regard and post-Covid, it will be interesting to consider possibilities to continue using enhanced media and streaming to enhance the life of the church.

Beyond our congregation though, we join with many, rejoicing in the singing of songs and the writing and playing of words and music that glorifies God. This time of separation will come to a close and with it I expect an enriched, thankful, highly resilient and blessed community of Christ.

A final comment in relation to music – the worship of God through music doesn’t depend on huge technologies, Sunday mornings, smart techies or hours of work from week to week. It doesn’t rely on choirs, musicians and teams. The worship of God through music and song is as close as the songs in your heart or the whispered fragments of praise and reflection that we may find ourselves consciously or unconsciously offering to glorify God at any time or in any place.

The band at work in less-isolated times.

Online worship

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Church Online

During the COVID lockdowns, Coatesville worshipped exclusively online to retain our fellowship through those difficult times. Since the easing of restrictions we are continuing to broadcast worship on Sunday mornings.

  • Live worship is broadcast at 10am Sunday and instructions on how to access it on a computer or telephone are below.
  • There is an interactive component mid-service where those online and in the chapel can share their Joys and Concerns.
  • The weekly news sheet is delivered by email mid-week, including Notices and Joys and Concerns from the previous week.
  • The Church monthly newsletter, Shuttle, is also available by email.
  • If you are interested in receiving either of these publications, please use the Contact Us link at the top of the page.
  • Services are also recorded and made available on our Coatesville Church YouTube channel.

Online Worship

Our services on Sunday (10am AEST) will be broadcast using the Zoom service in a format suitable for viewing on a computer, smartphone or tablet and is available (audio only) on the telephone.

https://zoom.us/j/605768711
Password:135

A more detailed set of instructions, including telephone dial-in information, is available on the Resources page.