“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.

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.

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.

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.