Anna's Page

Rev Anna Gilkison is Johnsonville Uniting Church’s ordained minister. The partnership in ministry between Anna and JUC began in 2008, under the oversight of the Methodist Church. Anna’s ministry is strongly concerned with spirituality and worship. It takes for granted justice, compassion, kindness and openmindedness as the defining values of a rich and living Christian community.

Anna supports the congregation’s strong commitment to its home community, Wellington’s Northern Suburbs. JUC shares the area’s history, contributes to its services, invests time, imagination and resources in its unfolding future.

An interest in prayer and creative writing led to Anna’s involvement in editing and publishing a book called ‘Oh Light’. This anthology of inspirational writing prepared by the Disability, Spirituality and Faith Network of Aotearoa/NZ is available through Epworth Books or through the Network’s website.

Thought for the month

The quality of mercy.

What does mercy have to do with us? We associate it with overlords and kings and judges. We associate it, I suppose, with people who have extraordinary powers over others to forgive or to punish, to be lenient or harsh in their treatment. The need for mercy implies being caught in a situation where someone else has those powers over you  or you over them. Most of us don't lose sleep over whether or not to be merciful in our dealings because we don't see ourselves as having that sort of power.

But, in fact, all sorts of people could benefit from examining their capacity for mercy. There are merciless judges and juries but there are also merciless midwives and traffic wardens. There are merciless caregivers, merciless employers, and merciless institutions. And there are people in these positions and institutions who are merciful. Any of us, on any day, may be called upon to exercise mercy - to give someone who has hurt us a second chance, to refrain from exercising the whip hand when we have it, to let someone off lightly when we could make them suffer. It could be a friend or a family member or a stranger.

Sometimes it's easier than you think to be merciless and harder then you think to be merciful. mercy is a quality worth cultivating.

Anna 

Prayers for the month

I have a wedding and two baptisms this month, not to mention Pentecost. The prayers reflect these events.

Week Four:

Spirit of the Living God, anoint our creativity, ideas and energy

so that even the smallest tasks

may bring you honour.

When I am confused,

guide me;

When I am weary,

energise me;

When I am burned out,

infuse me.

Release in us the power of your Spirit

that our souls may be free

to roam your boundless stretches of space.

May we soar high like the eagle,

glow like the fire,

flow like a river.