North Rocks Community Church

22/06/2026

21/06/2026

https://youtu.be/tAdinxajD-4

Preacher: Rev Dr Rod Benson

21/06/2026

𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿
𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟵: 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵

In the name of the Triune God,
Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer.

God of the first breath,
God of deep waters, open shores, and the table with room for all,
we come in this season of Pentecost
asking again for the renewal of your Spirit.

We give thanks for the Uniting Church in Australia,
for its journey of courage, covenant, repentance, and hope;
for its calling to seek unity without demanding uniformity;
and for its witness to reconciliation, justice, and love.

On the land now called Australia,
we honour the First Peoples,
the oldest continuing peoples of our Blue Pacific Continent,
custodians of land, waters, story, song, memory, and sacred belonging.
May the Church listen with humility, walk with truth,
and make justice visible in relationship.

We give thanks for the deep bonds
between the Uniting Church,
the Pacific Conference of Churches,
and the wider household of God:
a communion deeper than distance,
held by grace, baptism, bread, Spirit, and shared calling.

Lord Jesus Christ,
you prayed that your disciples may be one:
not the same,
not without wounds,
not without hard conversations,
but one so the world may believe,
one so love may be seen,
one so your household may have many rooms,
space for all, dignity for all, love for all.

Holy Spirit, come again.
Come as wind where we have become still,
as fire where our witness has grown cold,
as breath where we are weary,
as courage where fear has taught us silence.

Send us as one Church
to stand with those pushed to the edge,
to protect children, honour elders, uphold women,
listen to young people,
and care for creation where the ocean rises and the land groans.

God of the mat, the basket, and the sail,
weave us again:
a mat for community,
a basket for abundance, hospitality, and service,
a sail wide enough to catch the Spirit
who blows where it will.
Come, Holy Spirit.
Reweave us in love.
Send us as one Church.
Amen.

𝗥𝗲𝘃 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗵𝗮𝗴𝘄𝗮𝗻
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 - 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝘁
𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗷𝗶

20/06/2026

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗴𝗲𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆.

Across the world, there are currently 41.6 million refugees living under the mandates of UNHCR and UNRWA, alongside 9 million asylum seekers, more than 68 million people displaced by conflict within their own countries, and 4.5 million individuals who have been denied a nationality and the basic rights that come with it.

We cry out to God and pray for their safety, dignity and hope.

May our hearts, churches and communities be places of hospitality, compassion and justice, reflecting God's love for all people.

20/06/2026

𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿
𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟴: 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵, 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁

As you begin today’s prayer, take a moment to be still, to be silent, and to simply breathe. As you breathe in, interiorly say the words: “𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩”. As you breathe out, interiorly say the words: “𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵”.

Do this for about three to five breaths. Feel yourself entering a space of peaceful gratitude born of a deep sense of belonging and connectedness to the body in Christ.

Now, hold these intentions from Jesus’ prayer in John 17: “… 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦… 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦… 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦.” (NRSVUE).

Use the following prayer prompt, adapting it as you feel led:

𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘉𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘌𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘓𝘰𝘨𝘰𝘴, 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺: 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘶𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘥𝘰𝘮, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘶𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴.

𝘈𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘨𝘰, 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘖𝘯𝘦, 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘶𝘴, 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘳, 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘺, 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥.

Now, sit in simplicity, stillness and silence, coming back to your breathing. Finish with these three breath-prayers: breathing in, interiorly say, “𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵”, and breathing out, interiorly say, “𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵”.

Go into your day looking for opportunities to share wisdom, presence, and love with those who come across your path.

𝗥𝗲𝘃 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗴 𝗕𝗼𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻
𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮

20/06/2026

𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿
𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟳: 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆, 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀

Lord Jesus, thank you that we are united around our new life in you, which gives us our identity as the body of Christ.

Thank you that we are united around our common mission to make disciples who make disciples, which gives us our purpose.

Thank you for your word in the Bible that teaches us how to function in unity, on mission, as your body in the world.

Father, forgive us where we have disengaged from your mission of making disciples who make disciples because personal preference, the love of control, being married to the method rather than the mission, was more important to us than adapting to reach the next generation. Father, forgive us that the UCA we steward today is so much smaller than what you gave us in 1977.

Father, renew the heart of your body collectively and of its members individually with your love for the lost. May your love be our motivation and what sustains us in your mission in our day.

Holy Spirit, enliven and empower every member across all your local churches as you empowered Jesus Christ.

Enable each member to use their spiritual gifts to love and serve others, so that together we can do all the things Jesus did as he promised us.

Lead us to those people far from God and guide us in our interactions so that they will experience Jesus' saving love, power and grace through us.

Gift and call leaders and teams who can lead the local church in its mission and plant new churches.

Amen.

𝗥𝗲𝘃 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗻
𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿, 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗯𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆
𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮

18/06/2026

𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿
𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟲: 𝗪𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀

Loving God, Heavenly Kupa (Father),

We come before you with open hearts, carrying the pain of a scarred world, and wounded peoples, longing for peace and reconciliation, through the living hope found within your grace.

We give thanks for these lands, for Country entrusted to us. Country, which holds a multitude of stories, memories, and the generational wisdom of First Peoples; alongside a modern shared story of who we are, and who we are yet to become, renewed through your love.

Help us to raise courage and dignity through respectful listening, so that we may knit our hearts back to you, and to each other. Teach us to rest, renew through prayer, let go of what not longer serves, and turn towards injustice with clear minds, knowing we are not alone.

Where there is brokenness, bring healing. Comfort communities carrying grief and guide leaders to seek peace with integrity. When despair threatens to take root, remind us that we are bound together by threads of hope, woven through your love, and strengthened through the presence of your Holy Spirit, and by our practice of your many teachings.

LORD, we pray that hope rises like dawn over Country, steady and faithful. Restore our spirits and make us bearers of new reconciling movements. May justice flow like living waters, bringing freedom, restoration, and new beginnings for all peoples. We place ourselves humbly in your hands.

Amen.

𝗞𝘆𝗺 𝗞𝗼𝗿𝗯𝗲, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗞𝗼𝗮, 𝗞𝘂𝗸𝘂 𝗬𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗷𝗶 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻
𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿, 𝗨𝗔𝗜𝗖𝗖 & 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱

17/06/2026

As we mark Refugee Week, we stand in prayer and solidarity with refugees, asylum seekers, and displaced people around the world. May we be a community that welcomes, listens, and advocates for justice, peace, and belonging for all.

🌏🤝

17/06/2026

𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿
𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟱: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲

God of justice and mercy,
Before we were one Church,
before our stories were woven together,
your Spirit was already at work,
stitching grace through this ancient land,
breathing hope into fragile hearts,
calling your people to walk in the way of Christ.

We thank you for the threads entrusted to us.

Threads of courage,
woven by those who dreamed of a Church
that would serve rather than be served.

Threads of justice,
carried by those who challenged inequality,
spoke truth in difficult times,
and stood alongside those pushed to the margins.

Threads of reconciliation,
woven through encounters of listening and learning,
through truth-telling and repentance,
through the long and holy work
of walking together with First Peoples.

Threads of welcome,
stretching across oceans and generations,
gathering many cultures, languages and traditions
into one household of faith.

And threads of compassion,
quietly woven every day:
in prayers whispered beside hospital beds,
in meals shared, in hands extended,
in communities rebuilt,
in strangers welcomed as neighbours.

Yet still the weaving continues.
Where the fabric of our common life is torn,
teach us the art of mending.
Where fear would unravel hope,
strengthen our resolve.

Where injustice scars your creation,
make us bearers of your healing.
Where division hardens hearts,
teach us again the pattern of your peace.

Keep us faithful to the vision you have set before us:
to live as a fellowship of reconciliation,
to seek justice, to embody Christ's love,
and to join your work in the world.

For we are not the makers of the tapestry,
but threads held in your hands.

And so we place ourselves once more
into the weaving of your grace;
through Jesus Christ, whose love binds us together,
and through the Spirit,
who never ceases to create, renew and restore.

Amen.

𝗥𝗲𝘃 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘆 𝗕𝗼𝘆𝗰𝗲
𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱
𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀

16/06/2026

𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿
𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟯: 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄

A Prayer in Yolŋu Matha (Gupapuyŋu)

Godthu ŋuli ga djäma bukmak nhä malanha yuṯakumana.

God-Waŋarr Bäpa,
Dhuwala napurru ga ŋäŋ’thun nhuna
nhakuna buku-gurrpan dhiyaku ŋarakawa wäŋawa buku-ḻiw’marama,
ga yolŋuwa mala.

Märr ga walala dhu ga nhina mägayaŋura romŋura
nhokalaŋuwurru yan djälkurru ga romgurru, ga djägaŋura.

Gurrupulu yolŋuwala mala ŋunhi ŋayi ga dhuwala nhina
bawalamirriŋura wäŋaŋura nhuŋu mägaya rom,
ga dharaŋanawuy, ga gatjpu’yunawuy rom
dhuwalaŋuwuydhi yana nhokuŋu God Garray djiwarr’puy.

Dhiyaku napurru nhuna ga ŋäŋ’thundja dhiyaŋuwurruy bukmakthu yana.

Djesuwalaŋawurru yäkukurru napurru ga ŋaŋ’thundja.

Yow yow.

A communal prayer compiled by Ramingiṉiŋ church elders:
𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗮 𝗚𝗮𝘆𝗸𝗮𝗺𝗮ŋ𝘂, 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗚𝗮𝘆𝗸𝗮𝗺𝗮ŋ𝘂, 𝗗𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗻𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮, 𝗟𝗶𝘇𝘇𝘆 Ḏ𝘂𝗿𝗿𝘂𝗿𝗿ŋ𝗮, 𝗚𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗕𝘂𝗹𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗿ŋ𝘂, 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗶, 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗬𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿’ŋ𝘂, 𝗝𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗿𝗲𝘆 𝗬𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗿-𝟭, 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗿𝗿, 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗥𝗮𝘄𝘂𝗿𝗿𝘂𝘄𝘂𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠ä𝘁𝗷𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘄𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗮.