Soul Investments
1st August 2010

Grace and Peace to you as we share in worship and Christian ministry together. The Alpha course is going well and the shared relationship with the Spanish Congregation is a real blessing. There are a few people who have decided not to continue and a few others who have joined in along the way. It’s great to know that God has called us to share His Good News with the world. What a privilege it is to be sharing in this responsibility together.

We welcome Narelle Collas today as she begins her six month journey with us as a Ministry student at Ashmore. Please take the opportunity to get to know her and encourage her as she trains to be a Minister in the Uniting Church. A Lay Consultation Team will meet with her on a monthly basis and Melissa Lipsett (Newlife Uniting Church – Robina) and I will be her supervisors over the next six months.

The journey of Christian Discipleship is such a wonderful and rewarding experience. Although it isn’t always “easy”, it is always a joy to be in a real and growing relationship with God and with others. A few weeks ago we were reminded that the greatest commandment is to “love God with ALL our heart, mind, soul and strength….and to love our neighbour as we love ourselves” (Luke 10:27) Living a life that encompasses that theme is something that we cannot do on our own. It is something that God does through us in the power of His Spirit. Our focus on a life shaped by prayer, last week, should have given us some insight as to how Jesus wanted us to understand the priorities that He wanted His disciples to have in our growing relationship with God.

Today we will face the challenges of Discipleship from a more pragmatic perspective in the context of the upcoming election and our responsibility as citizens of Australia and as disciples who are also citizens of heaven. Jesus continues to help his disciples explore the meaning of life in God’s reign. In Luke 12:13-21, Jesus declares that accumulating material things cannot control our paths in life or our happiness. The witness in scripture challenges us to invest our souls in living in ways that are “rich towards God”.

The culture in which we live trains us to accumulate and to hoard and to attempt to secure our lives through our possessions and self interest. Our Politicians are trying to win our votes by tapping into that ‘human trait of self interest’. Can we as Christians stand aside from that lure and put some effort into exploring the implications of the gospel for aspects of Australia’s national life? Please use the document Building An Economy For Life – your faith, your vote, your voice which is available in the atrium or go online to The Assembly website.

Grace – filled investing….in God’s Kingdom….this week….Rev Brad Foote

Shaped by Prayer
25th July 2010

Good Morning sisters and brothers in Christ. I have been enjoying this Discipleship journey that has been shaping us over the past few months. If you have been following the readings through Luke’s gospel, you will have been touched by the incredible influence that Jesus had on the community around him and the way that he related to God, His Father, as well as the people around Him…His neighbours. Picking up on the topic of Jesus, the Alpha theme this last week was:- Who is Jesus? It was very well presented and if you really want to do the current Alpha course, this will be your last chance to join this particular course. Please contact me if you want to discuss this matter.

Last week, we sat at the feet of Jesus receiving “spiritual food” (like Mary), while Martha prepared the “physical food”. It was a matter of getting our “priorities in order”, rather than one person being set over and against the other. Luke seemed to be writing in such as way as to ensuring that the disciple balanced their lives with both “doing” (the loving of neighbour like the Good Samaritan :- i.e.”Go and Do the same” Luke 10:37) AND the “being” in the presence of Jesus:- as Mary sat at the feet of the Teacher – Jesus (Luke 10:39).

Today’s reading in Luke 11:1-13, Jesus takes us deeper into the life of Discipleship. At the request of the disciples, Jesus teaches his followers how to pray. Religious teachers at this time, perhaps including John the Baptist, taught formulaic prayers to their followers. In this passage Jesus teaches such a prayer. Since that day, those who pray this prayer are identified as Jesus’ followers. This prayer is known by various names: The Lord’s Prayer, Jesus’ Prayer, The Our Father or The Prayer Jesus Taught. Many consider the prayer as a formula to be followed rather than a piece to be recited verbatim.

I recently read that “Prayer is the work of the people and people will express prayer in as many ways as there are people to express it. For some it will be at the very heart of their acts of faith, for others it will be a difficult balance between words and action.” (Seasons of the Spirit Pentecost 1, p.81) I think that this statement collects up the themes of our previous two week’s worship services. You and I need to take responsibility for developing a personal relationship with God through God’s Spirit as demonstrated by Jesus in his life and actions. Reciting a formulated prayer verbatim seems to lack something until it comes alive for us because we have a relationship with God that is personal and real.

Grace – filled PRAYER ….. this week …… Rev. Brad Foote

Word and Work
18th July 2010

REJOICE IN THE LORD. AND AGAIN I SAY REJOICE (Philippians 4:4)

What a wonderful surprise we had on Thursday night when over 60 people flooded the Atrium and shared in a three course meal, followed by our first Alpha video. Our hospitality needs were met by some extraordinary servants from our Congregation. Thank you to those who rose to the occasion and met the challenges of feeding such a large group quickly and efficiently.

The Spanish Congregation and Ashmore Uniting Church have truly entered a partnership with this Alpha Course. There were over 30 people from “The Spanish Connection” and 30 in attendance from the “Uniting Connection”. Please pray for the unity of God’s love to infuse the journey that we have embarked on. There is still the opportunity for others to join if you feel led to do Alpha at this time. (talk to me today)

Last week I picked up the Discipleship Theme of “Loving your neighbour” from Luke 10:25-37. Jesus finished the conversation with the religious leader by saying “go and do the same” (Luke 10:37). I also asked you to go and “do the same”. I thank God that the Alpha Course has opened an avenue of connecting with our “Spanish Neighbours” in a way that makes the Gospel come alive for me.

Today we look at Luke 10:38-42 which is the story of Jesus’ visit to Mary and Martha which immediately follows the parable of The Good Samaritan. The gospel writer positions these two stories to proclaim that there is a variety of responses to the call to follow Jesus. In pairing these two, the gospel writer invites reflection on a disciple’s life of word and work.

Martha and Mary are important to Jesus. Jesus and the disciples are welcomed into their home. In a surprising reversal of societal expectations, Mary does not assume the traditional role of a woman in providing the physical necessities of hospitality. Mary sits at the feet of Jesus; this traditional place for the disciples of a teacher – always male in that day. Jesus affirms this reversal and welcomes Mary’s choice to learn from him. To those travelling with Jesus and to the first readers of Luke’s gospel, Jesus ‘affirmation of Mary counters the norms of the surrounding society and establishes the expectation that women are to be disciples.

Mary’s choice to sit at the feet of Jesus as a student would have sat at the feet of a Rabbi (Teacher) shows us a balance to the words of Jesus to the religious leader (“go and DO the same “in Luke 10:37). Some of us tend to spend more time “Doing” and forget to “Be” in the presence of Jesus – the Word – of God. Luke challenges us with the balance need to be a Disciple of Jesus.

The call to take up the work of discipleship encompasses a call to ground our daily living in the word of God. We are called to listen to God’s word of grace, and then let it shape our lives each day. In spite of the ways we fall short as disciples as we live in God’s reign, it is Christ – and not our own actions – that holds all together.

Grace filled sitting at the feet of Jesus…..this week…. Rev Brad Foote

Caring Neighbours
11th July 2010

WELCOME TO WORSHIP TODAY. We pray that your time with this community of faith at Ashmore Uniting Church strengthens you for the next part of your journey. Our goal as a Christian community is to be “reaching our changing lives”.

Last Tuesday we were able to do that very thing as the Adult Fellowship introduced “The Baroquas” (a recorder ensemble/friends of Ashmore Uniting Church) to our community. A few other surprises emerged on the day and we’d like to thank Pat Francis for her wonderful gift of entertainment that was shared with all who attended. It is great to see our Adult Fellowship growing as opportunities arise for us to invite our neighbours and friends to be part of God’s vibrant community.

Our Theme today of being Caring Neighbours is at the heart of today’s gospel reading from Luke 10:25-37. Ordinary actions of everyday life have great potential for good. An overview of our readings today invite us to consider how love and compassion are the essence of living faithfully in God’s reign. They call us to shape our lives according to God’s justice and mercy, striving for relationships that enable caring community. This is not always an easy thing to achieve as it challenges our sense of security which usually wants us to stay within our comfort zones. Being a Disciple of Jesus will often call us out of our comfort zones, because God’s reign usually challenges the status quo of the world around us.

This year we are on a journey of discovering what being a disciple of Jesus is about. Jesus has called you to be one of his disciples. I know this because you are here in worship or reading these foote-notes. The Holy Spirit has led you this far through your desire for a deeper life, a more authentic faith and a more certain hope in the God Jesus knows. Jesus has invited you to become one of his apprentices. This is the journey of Discipleship, becoming an apprentice to Jesus. It’s learning to “Love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength, and all your mind…And, loving your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27).

It is not because of your strength or skills, but because he knows that if you learn how to think as he thinks and do the kinds of things that he did, you can have an amazing life which leads to eternal life (Luke 10:25). You may not move mountains or walk on water in a literal sense, but I believe that you can begin to learn how to be patient and kind, how to forgive those who have hurt you, and to bless and pray for your enemies. That is just as miraculous as walking on water.

Jesus begins to address these very issues in our Gospel reading from Luke 10:25-37 where Jesus’ “answer” to the question “Who is my neighbour” is a parable that traps the ‘religious person’ who is trying to justify their own position (Luke 10:29). I hope that today you are willing to be the “religious leader” who is challenged by Jesus to “go and do the same” Luke 10:37).

Grace – full finding the heart of faithful discipleship – justice, love, mercy, and compassion…this week…..Rev Brad Foote.

Xtreme Funday Celebration Service
4th July 2010

A BIG WELCOME TO EVERYONE AT WORSHIP TODAY.

All Glory to God for the incredible experience that we had at the Xtreme Funday on Tuesday 29th June here at Ashmore Uniting Church. Our leaders arrived at 8am to pray for the children and began to get ready. We had 37 leaders throughout the day which is a wonderful testimony to the commitment of our church to the children in our community.

Then the children began to arrive. First a trickle…., then a flood of children and parents were swarming around the registration table. We ended up with over 80 children who came and shared in this one day experience. They came from a very diverse range of backgrounds and cultural experiences. Many children came from Ashmore State School, thanks to the support of their Chaplain, Margaret Potter. We had friends from our Spanish Church and from Newlife Uniting Church and some playgroup families. Some were very shy and apprehensive, others were confident and excited. As the day developed, every child found their place within a loving and caring community.

The themes of Jesus’ saying “I Am….” were the springboard for all our craft and stories and songs. Our main focus was I am the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:1-7), I am the light of the world (John 8:12-18), I am the bread that gives life (John 6:1-15, 26-35). These themes were acted out, sung about and used to make craft and games. The children were divided into age appropriate groups which were led by caring capable leaders and each activity was supervised by loving and enthusiastic leaders.

We had two jumping castles (smaller one and larger one), face painting, games in the park, craft in the halls and teaching and drama in the church. A smorgasbord of fruit and biscuits was on offer for morning tea and lunch was a simple sausage sizzle and more interaction with each other. When the parents came to collect their children at 3pm, the apprehensions of the morning has disappeared and had been replaced by laughter and joy.

I want to thank Sharon Moritz for the effort and energy that she has put into driving the themes and program for both JAM Club and this Holiday program. The Mission statement that she has presented for the Xtreme Funday has been achieved. It is as follows:-

“The Mission of Ashmore Uniting Church ministry with children and their families is to embed Christ’s love and teachings into the hearts of children and their families to empower and equip them as they go into the world”

There were many people who made the holiday program a success. THANK YOU for all those young and old who contributed in any way to the efforts of this day. Thank you to those members of the congregation who took time on Tuesday to pray for the children and their families as they came to the Funday.

More Xtreme Grace through Xtreme Jesus…this week…Rev. Brad Foote

Discipleship Demands….
27th June 2010

This week is an X-citing week for our Church as we live out some of our Ashmore Uniting Church’s “Vision Values and Faith Goals” in our Children’s outreach ministry. Our values of Creative – outreach, Welcoming – friendship, Empowering – leadership, Spirit-led – serving, Transforming – people will be on display. On Tuesday 29th June our Church will be turned Upside down (or maybe…right side up…) as we reach into the community with our Xtreme Funday. I’m believing for 80 children to attend!!! At the time of printing, our registrations were ‘scant’.

We are partnering with The Ashmore State School Chaplain, Margaret Potter and some of our YWAM friends. This is why we are called “Uniting”, because we are always partnering with different people and groups as God leads us forward together on the Way – enriching community. (last week’s theme).

The Mission of Ashmore Uniting Church ministry with children and their families is to embed Christ’s love and teachings into the hearts of children and their families to empower and equip them as they go into the world. That’s a pretty ambitious task isn’t it? Each time we offer a holiday program to the community we are trying to make bridges and connections with people in our sphere of influence.

The Funday seeks to use the gifts of many people in our congregation working together to serve God by serving the children and their families who live in the local community and attend this local church.

There are many people who have offered to share in this great opportunity. It’s great to see so many NEW FACES stepping up to be involved. Some people who are not able to be here on the day of the event can help by cooking biscuits for morning tea, donating some money to assist families who can’t afford the cost. More importantly I’d urge EVERYONE to spend some time in PRAYER for the ‘ins and outs and the ups and downs of the day”. Pray that our Theme: eXtreme fun through eXtreme Jesus is experienced by all – leaders, kids, helpers and parents . Sharon Moritz (0407 649502) and I (Brad – 0409 261337) will be very happy to receive any calls or questions about the funday.

Next Sunday we will be inviting all who attended the Funday to come and share in Worship and a Sausage Sizzle after Church. Please come ready to CELEBRATE TOGETHER.

Our Gospel reading from Luke 9:51-62 is very challenging as it brings the stark reality of Christian Discipleship before us. On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus reminds his followers of the exacting demands of Discipleship. Jesus warns that to walk with him we must walk a narrow demanding way and be prepared for resistance and rejection. This is a sobering message as we reflect on our past week in politics and prepare for the responsibility of sharing the Gospel with the Kids and families in our midst this week.

eXtreme Grace through eXtreme Jesus…..this week….Rev. Brad Foote

Together on the Way – enriching community
20th June 2010

Today we celebrate 33 years of ministry, mission and witness as The Uniting Church in Australia. 33 years?? Hmm…that’s the age that Jesus was when he gave his life for the world. Maybe there’s something in that thought that bears reflecting on……..

At our recent Queensland Synod, we endorsed an eighteen month process of the whole Church in Queensland, discerning a shared direction that will shape our church for the next 10 years. The outcome is expected to ensure that the Uniting Church in Queensland enriches community, local, state, national and global. The process will revitalize the Church, provide an optimistic view of where the Church is heading and enable people to identify with and participate in bringing about the shared direction.

The theme that has emerged as a staring point and guide is:- together on the Way – enriching community.

Because this Sunday is closest to the Anniversary of the formation of The Uniting Church in Australia, it is a great opportunity for us to celebrate all that God has done with us in the past and renew our commitment to discovering the new ways God is asking us to serve into the future. The following statement was agreed upon at the recent 28th Synod as the basis of our “call statement”

The Church’s Call at this Time

“… in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their sins against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)

As part of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic church, we acknowledge God’s mission to the world in Jesus Christ and share its commitment to serve the world for which Christ died.

As a fellowship of the Holy Spirit confessing Jesus as Lord through worship witness and service we journey as a pilgrim people towards God’s reconciliation and renewal of the whole creation.

In response to God’s call at this time, the Uniting Church in Queensland is committed to:

Uniting in Christ
acting with love
living with hope
witnessing in faith
working for justice

The latest Together on the Way Enriching Community newsletter can be read at or downloaded here. I hope that we can see that our Ashmore Uniting Church Vision complements this theme and direction.

Grace – Full Celebrating God’s Call on your life…..this week…..Rev. Brad Foote

Seeing Through the Eyes of Jesus
Sunday 13th June 2010

Welcome to worship today. I was reading our Ashmore Uniting Church “Vision, Values & Faith Goals” this week looking to see how we have embraced the call to “Discipleship” in the DNA of our Church. I did not find the word “discipleship” in any of the document, but the action of “discipleship” was clear throughout the whole document. Our Vision says that we are to be…..

A loving church, focused on the Gospel of Christ:

• reaching out
• meeting needs
• equipping people for service

We can only embrace this vision by being “disciples of Jesus”. Even the “Faith Goals” pick up this important theme of “discipleship” without using the specific word “discipleship”. Have a look for yourself:-

1. Welcome people of all ages and backgrounds into a caring Christian Community
2. Invite people into relationship with Jesus Christ and encourage active participation in the life of the church
3. Support and nurture people to know, understand and become more like Christ
4. Worship God faithfully through celebration, prayer, and study of the Bible
5. Teach, encourage and empower people to use their gifts and resources for ministry
6. Call, equip and support Christians to be leaders in the church and in the community
7. Take Christ’s message of hope, acceptance and new life into the community through word and action

Now these are great words on a page aren’t they? The real Goal of us as the Body of Christ, is to live out our discipleship so that we see people as God sees them. We’ve got to learn to view life through God’s eyes.

This passage from Luke 7: 36 – 8:3 gives us an awesome look into the way Jesus sees people. Jesus asks Simon the Pharisee, “Do you see this woman?” (v44). It is a revealing question. No, the Pharisee doesn’t really see the woman. He sees her only as a “sinner” (v.39). He ignores the rest of her. Jesus sees her otherwise…as a person of worth, forgiven and created in God’s image…broken but now restored…”Your sins are forgiven”(48), “Your faith has saved you; go in peace”(v.50).

Jesus gives us many gifts, in order that we are equipped to be his disciples. One of those gifts is the gift of sight (“I have come to give sight to the blind..” – Luke 4:18)

Jesus becomes the lens through which we look at the world. Looking through him, to the world, we see things that the world does not see. We notice things that the world tends to overlook. Such is his grace.

May you see things differently this week as you look through the eyes of Jesus…..Rev. Brad Foote

Generous Compassion
Sunday 6th June 2010

Welcome to worship today. It is wonderful to gather around the Communion table as a family who have been called by God to share this journey of life together. As we meet together, sharing Communion, let’s be mindful of those who have eaten at the table in days past and in times yet to come. We are sharing in a great mystery and feast that Christ has encouraged his followers to “remember him” as we partake in the “bread and wine”.

I am always conscious of people in the community who for whatever reasons feel that The Church is not a place where they might feel welcome, where the table is not a place where they can sit and be fed. God’s presence and care are often given form through the actions of God’s people. If we practise Generous Compassion in our lives as individuals AND as a Church, this perception of exclusion can be changed, I’m sure. This is some thing that we are trying to focus on as a congregation through our Op Shop ministry and in the Playgroup ministry as well as the Kids Hope Aus program at the School. Of course there are many individual relationships and regular connections that we all make that try to foster generous compassion in our daily lives.

In the readings for today from 1 Kings 17:8-24 and Luke 7:11-17 we find both Elijah and Jesus showing compassion as they minister to those considered by many to be on the fringes of society. Elijah is hungry when he arrives at Zarephath, and asks a widow for bread and water. Widows in biblical times were in a very precarious position, without secure means of support and without standing in society. This particular widow is gathering wood for the fire to cook all her remaining food, expecting that she and her son will then die. In spite of such incredible scarcity, the widow responds with what she has. She is generous despite her limitations and God provides abundantly.

Just as God fed Elijah through the ravens in the wilderness, so God provides for Elijah, the widow, and her son through the widows generosity. The widow’s small portion is transformed into an unlimited supply of flour and oil. Ordinary things become life-giving.

The readings today invite us to wonder about God’s power to save at work among us, even when we can not perceive it. God’s presence and care needs to inform our own ministry and discipleship as we demonstrate generous compassion for the people whom God brings into our realm of influence:- whether that is people in our families, people in our neighbourhood or those who come to the Op Shop or seeking food through our Hamper ministry or those whose Spirits are Hungry for God and find themselves sitting around the Communion Table today. Welcome…be fed and filled. Hmmm….my spirit is hungry for God today too.

Grace-Full feasting and sharing God’s resources this week…Rev Brad Foote

Trinity Sunday
Sunday 30th May 2010

Well It’s great to be back at Worship with everyone today. I’d like to thank Bryan Gilmour and Jim Barratt for conducting the services over these past two Sundays. It’s always good to have a range of different people preaching throughout the year, sharing their gifts and presenting the Good News of God in different ways. I love the way God has made us all unique and different.

Today we enter the Season after Pentecost and we begin this time, called ordinary time” with Trinity Sunday. This is the day Christians around the world take time to consider one of the greatest doctrines of our faith: the magnificence and mystery of divinity that is three-in-one — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 
If you know your church history, you realise that the Trinity has been one of the thorniest thickets, one of the trickiest subjects in the history of Christianity. Some have said that The Trinity is the greatest intellectual achievement of the church, whilst unbelievers can’t accept it in any form. Its elaboration has been complex, a theological construct hashed out by theologians and church elders centuries ago and yet still argued over every few decades. The idea of “the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit” being one God and not three separate gods deserves some form of explanation because it isn’t really a straightforward concept to easily grasp.

God came to us in Jesus Christ, not as an idea, a philosophy, but rather as a person. The triune nature of the Godhead isn’t something too many of us consider as part of the daily expression of our faith.
But it is. At least it should be. For that’s the kind of faith, hope and love this world is hungering for. Experiencing God as Father, God as Son, and God as Holy Spirit, is what keeps our faith fresh and makes it possible to rebirth Christ into the world every day. God has determined not to remain vague and ethereal. God becomes flesh, God gets personal, speaks. The Trinity, in the Incarnation of Christ, is and should be the very basis for Christian preaching, and Christian life.

This week Duncan and I were at the Uniting Church’s Queensland Synod held at Alexandra Heads. Along with 350 other Christian people, we have experienced the reality of God in the flesh, through times of worship and Bible Study, times of debate and confusion, times laughter and amusement as well as times of disappointment and frustration. God has been faithful to the Church throughout the ages. Let us then be faithful to God as His Church as we ponder the mysteries of God in the experience of “The Trinity” and take up the challenge to make disciples of all people through the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

Grace – Full experiencing the personality of God this week..Rev. Brad Foote.