(Devotion by Graeme Harrison)
Prayer: God who becomes small
Whom have we, Lord, like you –
the Great One who became small, the Wakeful who slept,
the Pure One who was baptised, the Living One who died,
the King who abased himself to ensure honour for all.
Blessed is your honour!
It is right that we should acknowledge your divinity,
it is right for heavenly beings to worship your humanity.
The heavenly beings were amazed to see how small you became,
and earthly ones to see how exalted. Amen.
St Ephrem the Syrian, c. 306-373
(Sourced from A Treasury of Prayers in Uniting in Worship, copyright 1988 Uniting Church in Australia)
Read:
Luke 24:13-32. Read this 3 times, each time asking God’s help and thinking about those words or phrases that leap out at you.
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
(Lk 24:13-32 NIV)
Thought for the Day:
“What would you ask God when you get to heaven?” This is a well-known question by people (including me) who are confused by things that happen in this world. The question becomes less adversarial when we imagine ourselves going for a walk with God and asking an honest question as we go. There is a sense of warmth surrounding going for a walk together. What question you would ask God in these circumstances?
The Luke passage appears to be just like this except for one detail; it is the newly risen Jesus who asks the question of his two companions on the road to Emmaus not the other way around. So let us re-imagine our earlier walk with God. What do you think God might ask of you in your friendly walk along the path?
"Faith Over Fear"
These words have been sitting in my mind for a while now after I read them on a T-shirt.
At first glance all you see is “Faith Over Fear”. Three words in a line. No context, no images. Just 3 simple words, that give the impression of a determination to let nothing stand in the way of our faith. To stand on the side of what our faith teaches us rather than bowing to the demands and fears of others. But then on the back of the T-shirt they repeat the words. Big and bold. We then see the finer print beneath and learn there is more to these 3 simple words.
Psalm 118:6 - The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
The meaning of these words alters how we see and perceive Faith over Fear. It is not a challenge to stand against our fears. But a call to not be afraid, for no matter what is thrown at us, we are not on our own. God is with us and through him we are given the strength to face any and all challenges. We have strength and hope because we are not alone. Christ is with us and with him we can triumph over our fears. He is our strength, our shield, our future. The trials we face may seem large and scare us but they are nothing compared to God.
Our Faith is stronger than our fear.
During our sermon series "Stories that Matter", a common thread that emerged in conversations with different members of our church, was that at the darkest moments when our fears crippled us and threatened to tear us down, that is when our Faith shone the brightest. Faith stood against fear. Moments of faith cutting through the darkness. Simple moments shone brightly, not grand statements from the heavens or signs no one can believe. Kindness from a stranger. Words of encouragement we needed to hear. A feeling like a warm hug around us when we were alone. Moments of peace amongst the chaos of our lives.
Each of these moments is a quiet reflection of faith over fear. A moment where our faith allowed us to break through our fears. One member of our church put it like this, “because of my faith, I felt triumph and joy instead of afraid…”
I can overcome all fears because I am not alone.
Christ is with me!
My Faith will stand over my Fear.
-LFC team member
Be with God at the Margins
A devotional written about our recent March to the Margins Event by a member of Living Faith Church.
"The Lord walks among the pots and pans" - Saint Teresa of Avila
Saint Teresa reminds us God is found in many places. Often, God is found within silence, or silent places, meeting us, waiting for us, deeply and moving. In this respect we may find God in prayer, in our heartfelt outpourings of praise and thanksgiving, in confession, and in our prayers for ourselves and others. Often God is found in our songs, our hymms, our choruses. Of course, we could say that these are simply another form of prayer, praise with a musical accompaniment. Audible prayers, soft, loud, calming, rousing and sung with others in our congregation. Musical prayer, out loud, but expressing many of the same attributes as our prayers.
St Teresa noted these were intimate moments when we might, could, would find God and engage in a life enriching dialogue, life changing listening times with God.
She suggested that as we go about our daily lives, with its myriad of tasks such as preparing meals making beds, sweeping floors, washing clothes, ironing, an endless list of necessary activities, that God would recognize these as not denying God, but including God in our daily lives. These important responsibilities which we accept, and which form an important part of our day. They are done in the sanctuary of our homes, unseen by most, but a loving and serving expression of faith to those we love, including God.
On Sunday the 26th of April 2026, we have taken our expression of faith out of our homes, out from the safety-net of our church building and away from being private. We have stepped away to get closer to God, and to express our faith in practical ways.
Throughout our Living Faith Church community we have people cleaning up an area of Diamond Creek because as people of faith we care for our environment, God's World. Some are donating blood, a reservoir of support for future use to aid those in need of life-giving blood. As people of faith we care about the sick.
Letters are being written to our leaders advocating change on matters of justice and equity. Some other people are visiting an aged care facility to sing and bring God's message to those in their loneliness and infirmity. Cards are being made through which words of encouragement, support, joy and love are offered. Beanies, scarves and blankets are being knitted for the homeless with winter in mind and for the many who need comfort as they face a bleak time in their lives.
Our driveway is being brightened with messages and "laneway smiley's". Visible expressions of God's happiness and love. And then cozy nesting offering a quieter more reflective time in our chapel, for prayer, meditation, a more intimate time with God.
Why? Why do we do this?
Well, the Lord walks amongst the pots and pans. Amongst the everyday aspects of our live in the environment, everywhere. God is seeking us to be at the margins, to be with God as God meet needs. To be with God to show love, care, grace, mercy ,justice and friendship, in practical ways. To show love to neighbours in our world, and importantly to those around us in our community.
People, our community, will know of our faith in God, by love expressed in our actions.
-William (23 April, 2026)
Remembrance Candle
A devotional written by one of the members of Living Faith Church.
We gathered around the table with the sand-filled glass awaiting, if you like, the Christ candle, and the innumerable tapers. These tapers were to be placed in the sand in the glass, lit from the central candle, as a light of remembrance for passed loved ones.
The single candle in remembrance was perhaps the Christ candle, and its light shone brightly and was clearly visible throughout the chapel. Its effect was to bring light and warmth to the near areas of the container. By itself its effect was minimal.
We started to add tapers, our symbol of remembrance, for those who have gone before us. Many were added until a bonfire of heat and light emanated from this small, sand-filled, glass container. It was only after the tapers had burnt down and gone out that we noticed the crack in the side of the container. A chip of glass had broken from the rim.
The single candle did not do this. The combined strength of the tapers and the larger candle caused the intense heat to crack and break the glass.
I wondered about the candle, the Christ candle. Christ by himself was seen, and heard, and his effect was dramatic. But the work of light, love, warmth, grace, mercy, forgiveness needed others to help. So, Christ was supported and assisted by his disciples, disciples who he had educated.
The word spread like wildfire, its effect shattered empires, caused kings and emperors to acknowledge and bow to Christ as Lord.
Christ is an awesome God and becomes more awesome when combined with the smaller flickering flames of countless millions of disciples across the world. Christ’s message isn’t breaking bowls. Christ’s message is changing lives, turning worldly understandings on their head. It’s creating a new world order.
Christ alone is strength.
We as flaming disciples are strength.
Together, anything and everything is possible with unified strength.
-William (28th Dec 2025)