Advent 2 - Peace

On the back wall of the church building at Gambier East there are three paintings done by a local artist. They are not the sort of thing we are used to seeing hanging on the walls of Uniting Church buildings and I was somewhat shocked when I first saw them. When they were commissioned some years ago, the artist was given instructions to paint where he saw God in the local area. The paintings are good although they were nothing like what most of the congregation were expecting.

They hung for some years at the front of the church. I was glad that, by the time I arrived, they had been moved to the back of the worship space as I think people would have been tempted to meditate on the paintings rather than listen to the sermons. Most people had grown to love them and respected them as aids to worship. They act rather like banners do in other churches or the stained glass windows in others. It was interesting to hear various people telling what they saw in them and how this had helped them to see God in their everyday lives.

The background of each painting is a familiar local spot. One is of a child playing with a boat in the vicinity of the Blue Lake.  Another was of a draught horse in fog, the rich brown-black, volcanic soil under its feet. The third one was of a small bird sitting in the middle of a patch of blackberry canes, leafless and with the apparent lifelessness of winter. The bird has its feathers fluffed up against the cold and wind, but it looks totally at peace, protected, secure and calm in the middle of the storm surrounding it.

All three paintings are comforting. They depict the peace of God in distinct ways and I also grew to love them as I contemplated this mystery within them. The building was small enough for me to see them clearly through the worship services.

Some Christians believe that it was at his baptism by John that Jesus was adopted by God as his Son.

People are often hungry for words of comfort and longing to be spoken to tenderly. Tender words come from the place of inner peace.

It is interesting that Isaiah depicts God approaching through the mountainous wilderness areas of our lives where travelling is difficult and isolation is easy, not across the plains. The glory of God is seen in people making these places easier for others as well as for God, ironing out the difficulties many face. May we bring comfort to those who are suffering by our words, attitudes and actions in Christ’s name. Amen.

Rev Julianne Parker

(for full sermon see sermons page)