REFLECTION - Bridging Now to Next

by Kym Korbe, Koa Kuku Yalanji woman and UAICC RCQ member

All praise to our Lord for the miracles of faith performed in our lives.  We seek to be a church of peoples who are continually on the way to knowing, being and doing better, as apprentices of Jesus.

I write this reflection with a full heart after Synod in Session and I prepare to visit students at Scots PGC, to talk with them about what the National Reconciliation Week theme, Bridging Now to Next means to them.

The bible teaches in Job 12: 12-13 NLT, that “Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old. But true wisdom and power are found in God”

In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, like many other cultures, our Elders are rightfully respected and honoured for their knowledge shared, both spiritually and culturally.  We must also act in ways that God would have us; not relying simply on our own knowledge, but seeking to discern true wisdom, when we step out to do the work of equipping the next generation to be God’s leading people in the world.

Psalm 78 :4-6 NLT tells us, “We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders.  For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them, even the children not yet born, and they in turn will teach their own children.”

Earlier I mentioned having a full heart.  This is because during Synod in Session, we experienced the joy of watching young adult members of our church provide insightfully stirring bible studies, we had young people participating fully in Youth at Synod.  They connected with each other, God and older members of the church, in authentic ways and shared their knowledge in yarning circles.  This followed vibrant attendance by youth at Easter Madness, with some of our UAICC youth coming to know Jesus for the first time and continuing to come and rejoice in fortnightly Youth worship.

All of this done through the hope of renewing and building God’s church together.

The long-faithful members of the UAICC are grateful that we as a church have discerned together, and affirmed the establishment of the Covenanting Ministry Fund.  This fund is part of what we see as our Ministry of Administration and Governance, and will be this generation’s sapling to be planted in rich soil and tended to bear fruit for the generations to come.

Practical acts of acknowledgment and reconciliation are what is required to live out our Covenant as First and Second peoples of our church, and it is wonderful to see the close relationships we are building, as we continue to awaken in ways of being together.

God is stirring in a new hopeful story to be written; the next justice seeking generations of Gen Z and Alpha, are thirsty for the connection, spiritual understanding, and wish to take their rightful place as Christ’s new generation of followers and leaders.

The  questions we must ask ourselves at this time are; How do we affirm the next generations and not smother the flames of renewal? and where do we cut new paths for the living waters to flow?

For me, I will do my best to continue to step out faithfully, listening deeply to others, reflecting in prayer together and dutifully acting to equip those who are ready to take their place in God’s kingdom.  Not as I would have them do, but as God’s will continues to transform our hearts and minds.

Prayer offered by Kym Korbe:

Awaken (in us) a new spirit of hopefulness

Gracious Creator God, giver of life through
redeeming love and your son Jesus Christ.
You knew us before we knew ourselves,
You made us to be bearers of your light.
Alongside all our efforts and good intentions,
we will fail in what you have called us to be.
But we know through you all things are possible,
if we are humbled in serving your will.
We thank you for the gift of this creation we inhabit.
You created peoples who were original custodians,
and peoples who came after.
We these peoples are yet to know each other well,
as neighbours under your name.
Help us to become what you call us to be,
through daily reconciling acts.
Teach us to be careful and protect the gates of our eyes,
the gates of our ears and the gates of our mouths.
Help us to be more open to receiving with grace
what we do not understand about each other,
and to become your peoples of these lands.
Let us become a new, hopeful and
flourishing story of your church,
written together in many languages.

Blessings for a wonderful National Reconciliation Week!