Everywhere and always

By Rev. Dr Katherine Rainger, Senior Chaplain

It is hard to ignore that Christmas has arrived in the shops! On the weekend, my four-year-old niece enthusiastically picked up rolls of wrapping paper that were as tall as her, indicating this was a necessary purchase. My sister exclaimed, “we don’t need those yet!” We all approach Christmas differently. For some of us it’s a case of “not yet!” For others, it can’t come fast enough. A few friends have commented that they have put up their tree earlier this year to spread some cheer. We are conscious of those in our community, and those further afield, who are struggling with floods, grief, and loss.

Waiting and anticipation are central to the Christmas narratives. The people of Israel had been awaiting a Saviour promised long ago by prophets over many centuries. Before we come to the narratives of Jesus’ birth in the Gospels, his parents Mary and Joseph had much to work through in their own lives. Upon accepting the invitation to be the mother of God’s son, Mary quickly leaves her village of Nazareth to go and visit her relatives, Elizabeth and Zachariah, in a Judean town in the hill country. Mary stayed with them for three months (Luke 1).

These two women, Mary and Elizabeth, had both known mysterious encounters with angels and unexpected pregnancies. These extraordinary encounters with divine grace united them in the promises and purposes of God. However, in those three months and in the months and years that followed, as their children grew and led unconventional lives of their own, there would have been many ordinary moments of sharing life together, of being there for one another in solidarity with care and companionship.

Artist Carmelle Beaugelin has created an artwork that captures the bond between Mary and Elizabeth. She writes:

The Golden Cradle expands on the imagery of Mary’s golden “yes” to her call, meeting Elizabeth’s “yes” to a holy birth of her own. In their meeting, the promises they carry leap for joy at this first encounter, offering us a picture of the kind of communal solidarity we often find along the journey of the unfolding story of God in our own lives. Even in moments of isolation, we often encounter surrogates who step in with divine provision when we need it the most.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been fortunate to participate in and witness many encounters between people, on Year 9 and Year 10 camps, at the fete, in classrooms, in staffrooms and on the playground. In out-of-the-ordinary, challenging times and in the everyday times, the relationships that we have with each other shape us in so many ways.

Blessings for the week ahead
Rev. Katherine

Everywhere and Always
by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed

Right here.
That’s where God is.
In the sun that turns our bedroom gold,
in the creaks of this old house, and in birthday candles on
the cake;
in clean sheets, sock feet, and porch-sitting;
in pancakes for breakfast and pancakes for dinner;
in the swell of a lit candle, in fireplace conversations;
in your grandmother’s carrot cake, and the smell of evergreen.
God is in the seed-starters on the porch,
and the space between my bones;
in garlic butter, early mornings, and twinkle lights.
Certainly in dancing and laughing, in cups of coffee,
in the art hung on the fridge, snail mail, long phone calls,
and “oh how I love yous.” God is right here.
God pulled up a seat. God has travelled all the way to the heart.
Tell the next generation.