Blessed to be Blessed
We acknowledge that God is the giver of all good things. And that he has called us to travel on his ‘bus’, in his Church, together. We travel to a common destination, one people in Christ, under the Fatherhood of God.
It is with these words the essence of the message delivered during worship on Sunday July 11 can be summarised. The occasion? The NAIDOC Service, celebrated by the SA Lutheran parishes of Ferryden Park, Semaphore and Albert Park during the combined service to dedicate St Paul’s, Ferryden Park bus.
The Adelaide Aboriginal Lutheran Fellowship at St Paul’s, Ferryden Park, in support of its ongoing ministry with Aboriginal peoples, was gifted in 2019 a substantial donation from the Semaphore (SA) parish. This donation was used for the purchase of a replacement bus.
This bus ministry is an important link for local and visiting Aboriginal people to access worship on a weekly basis.
The special dedication service, at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Semaphore was an occasion for members of the three parishes to gather in thankfulness and praise to God for the kindness, generosity and opportunities of such a gift. Pastor Leon Rosenberg, supported by Pastor Sam Davis led the service. The message, entitled ‘Our Union with Christ’ was delivered by Pastor Malcolm Pech based on Ephesians 1:4-6 and 10. Using the imagery of the ‘Play School Bus’, which clearly depicts children from many differing cultures on board, makes the point, that both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples equally as one, are travelling together on our life journey aboard ‘God’s bus’; travelling towards our undeserved inheritance of eternal life.
St Paul’s is further blessed by the service of a number of volunteer bus drivers from the Semaphore and other parishes who have put up their hand to be on a regular driver roster. This service is invaluable and a huge contribution to the ministry.
The original bus used in the Adelaide Lutheran Aboriginal Ministry, based at Ferryden Park was in turn gifted in a ‘pay it forward’ gesture to the Alice Springs Lutheran Congregation to assist in transportation to worship activities. For many Aboriginal people, especially in rural communities, limited access to regular and reliable ‘public’ transport is a major barrier to gathering in community ministry spaces for the purpose of worship.
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. Ephesians 1:4-6
Access to Pastor Malcolm’s Sermon
Transcript
Audio version
