CHRIST Joyfully Serious and Seriously Joyful

By Moderator Elect Rev Peter Morel

It should come as no surprise that I am going through a significant transition in my life. As I do so, I am mindful of the many transitions we navigate from birth to our final breath.

I grew up in Western Australia, being born in Kalgoorlie. My primary school years were mostly in Wagin, and then high school in Albany.

One of the greatest changes/transitions in my early life was enlisting in the Australian Army as an Apprentice Musician at the age of sixteen. I was quickly informed that I was no longer a boy, but a man and that real men don’t cry! During my twelve years of army life, I was posted to Melbourne, Townsville, Perth and Canberra. During these years, I married Gill and we welcomed our first child. So many changes, so many challenges.

My decision to candidate for ordained ministry saw us move to Adelaide for six years of study. As we made this transition, Gill was seven months pregnant, and our son was just two years old. We arrived in Adelaide, with our extended families back in Western Australia, and no immediate friendships or even a place to live. Student life and the world of theological study was indeed a challenge to the certainty I had had in my ‘regimented’ army life.

I was ordained in December of 1995 and my first parish included Tumby Bay, Lipson and Port Neil. This was followed by almost nine years at Balhannah, and I have just farewelled the St Andrew’s Hospital community after fourteen and a half years as their Coordinating Chaplain.

Throughout my life, I recognise the changes/ transitions in which there have been costs and challenges, as well as joy and hope. As Rev Dr Peter Ryan would often say, ‘Every transition costs … even the good ones.’

In each transition, there is a ‘threshold moment’ where we cross over into things we may never have anticipated. Yet these moments are imbued with hope and possibility. Irish poet, philosopher, author, and priest, John O’Donoghue challenges us to ask:

At which threshold am I now standing? At this time in my life, what am I leaving? Where am I about to enter? What is preventing me from crossing my next threshold? What gift would enable me to do it? … At this threshold a great complexity of emotions comes alive: confusion, fear, excitement, sadness, hope. This is one of the reasons such vital crossings were always clothed in ritual.

I have had the ritual of ‘Cutting of Pastoral ties’ at St Andrew’s Hospital, and the next ritual will be the Installation Service on 21st June 2023 as Moderator. With these rituals, there is a ‘letting go and leaving behind’ as well as a movement into a ‘new territory.’

As I move into this new phase of ministry there are many hopes and possibilities. I am aware that our Uniting Church continues to face challenges and indeed ‘threshold moments’ where we need to make decisions about our future. In doing so, I want us to, first and foremost, embrace our challenges from the perspective of ‘living in Christ.’ From this relationship we can live out the promise of Jesus’ joy being within us (John 15:11).

As Moderator, I will challenge myself and the Church to be ‘Joyfully serious and seriously Joyful,’ as we live in Christ. May this be the joy that resists despair, and enables us to live with compassion, justice, and creativity.

Reference: John O’Donoghue, https://www.johnodonohue.com/

Trasna – The Crossing Place …

The Pilgrims paused on the ancient stones in the mountain gap.

Behind them stretched the roadway they had travelled, Already a far journey-was it a lifetime?

Ahead, mist hid the track.

Unspoken, the question hovered: Why go on? Is life not short enough?

Why seek to pierce its mystery?

Why venture further on strange paths, risking all? Surely that is a gamble for fools-or lovers. Why be a pilgrim still?

A voice they knew called to them, saying: Choose!

Go back if you must, you will find your way easily by yesterday’s roads, you can pitch your tents by yesterday’s fires, there may be life in the embers yet.

If that is not your deep desire, Stand still.

Lay down your load, Take your life firmly in your two hands-gently ... you are trusted with something preciousWhile you search your hearts yearnings: What am I seeking? What is my quest?

When your star rises deep within, Trust yourself to its leading. You will have light for your first steps. This is Trasna, the crossing place ... Choose!

Raphael Consendine PVBM