Collects in a Time of Virus – I

The Melbourne-based writer Julie Perrin, a regular contributor to the ATA site, has been writing a series of collects during and for this time. Julie has given us permission to repost them here, and we will do so throughout Holy Week.

These will be accompanied by some wonderful photography by Ian Ferguson, photos taken over the past 6 weeks while he has been in East Gippsland. Images are used with permission.

Those interested in audio/video recordings of the collects, as well as other COVID-19 worship resources, can access these via the Uniting Church Synod of Victoria and Tasmania website.

ℑℑℑℑ

God of those who are numbed,
stunned by loss,
enfold us in a gentle darkness,
a hidden sleep, a long stillness.
Re-member us to ourselves
awaken the courage we’d forgotten we had.

God who knows chaos
Who creates in darkness,
makes life from mud.
Give us back to ourselves
dissolved and helpless
may we feel ourselves forming
know our own shape.

Fierce Lover of life,
give strength to our arms and our resolve.
Critical is this time for cleaning, swabbing, scrubbing
and washing our hands again.
And again, and again.
Let us join ourselves to the task
with readiness, steadiness, clarity.
Because we too love life,
our own and our neighbour’s.

JULIE PERRIN IS A MELBOURNE WRITER, ORAL STORYTELLER, AND ASSOCIATE TEACHER AT PILGRIM THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF DIVINITY. SHE KEEPS A WEBSITE, AND HER MOST RECENT BOOK IS TENDER. SHE LIVES AND WORKS ON WURUNDJERI LAND.

IAN FERGUSON IS MINISTER OF THE WORD AT BRUNSWICK UNITING CHURCH. HE TOO LIVES AND WORKS ON WURUNDJERI LAND.