19 th February 2017 Seventh Sunday after Epiphany. Messy Church Tonight

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1 Anglican Parish of Charlestown St Alban s Charlestown, St Martin s Kahibah A place for everyone, serving the Kingdom of God, following Jesus Christ. Rectory: 4 St Alban s Close, Charlestown, NSW 2290 Ph: (02) stalban@bigpond.net.au Web: We acknowledge the Awabakal people who are the traditional custodians of this land we worship on today. 19 th February 2017 Seventh Sunday after Epiphany Welcome back Wendy and all those who are visiting us today. Please join us for refreshments after the service at St Albans Readings: Leviticus , 9-18 Psalm Corinthians Matthew Your Father in heaven makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. Be merciful just as your Father is merciful. Matthew 5.45 Luke6.36 Messy Church Tonight If you have never been, then now is the time to come and share the fun, food and faith. If you have no children just come and enjoy the fellowship. The Elements for Sunday have been donated by John and Robyn Ross in memory of the following family members. Laurence Campbell Ross & Ian James Ross Prayer for the week; Almighty God, you have taught us through your Son

2 that love is the fulfilling of the law; grant that we may love you with our whole heart, and our neighbours as ourselves; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Read the Bible & Pray during the week (Monday) Psalm 114;115 2 Timothy (Tuesday) Psalm 121; 122;123 2 Timothy (Wednesday) Psalm Timothy (Thursday) Psalm 124; 125; Timothy (Friday) Psalm 130; 131;133 2 Timothy (Saturday) Psalm Timothy 4 In the Epistle reading, Paul is charging the Church in Corinth to ensure that they build on the one and only foundation, Jesus Christ (v. 11). In building on the very foundation, care must be exercised by all means. The Church is invited to continue firming her commitment to the very foundation. In the contemporary society, the context from where we operate in proclaiming the gospel, there are so many things which include but are not limited to: secularism, materialism, atheism etc, that seek to shake and if possible replace the very foundation. God forbid! Therefore, let us work out our salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2.12) This week at St Alban s Sunday 8.30am Eucharist Charlestown 4.30pm Messy Church Monday 8.30am Silent Meditation 9.30am Play Group 1.0pm Caritas lunch and AGM at Kahibah Sports Club 5.30pm Study Group at the Rigby s Tuesday 7.30pm Resource Team Wednesday 10.00am GAPS Intercessions: In our Newcastle Diocese, we pray for: Our Bishop Greg Thompson and Kerry, Assistant Bishop Peter Stuart and Nicki, In the national church we pray for; Diocese of Rockhampton (Bishop David Robinson) In the wider Church, we pray for: The Anglican Church of Melanesia The Baptist Church The Diocese of Guadalcanal (Bp Nathan Tome & Selena) The Revd. David and Priya Morgan, Paraburdoo Sue Prosser (Paid SRE teacher) In the wider community we pray for; The families who have lost their homes, livestock and possessions in the recent bushfires. Also all the SES volunteers and members of the Rural Fire Service The Samaritans Foundation The First Peoples of the Diocese especially the Awabakal, Biripi, Darkinjung, Geawegal, Kamilaroi, Worimi and Wonnarua peoples.

3 In Our Church we pray for; We pray for Father John Southerden, Archdeacon Wendy, Rosemary, Ruth and Bob the parish council, David Hesketh and Kim. We give thanks and pray for the faithful departed: (connected to our parish) John Doyle, Charles Price, Niall Livingstone, George Edward Brand, Joyce Rawle, Ian James Ross, Lawrence Campbell Ross, Arthur Robert Dolman, Lockie and Eileen Lilburn, David Lilburn, Jenny Lilburn, Marion Dick, We pray for those in our parish who need support or have experienced loss recently: We pray for Strength, peace and healing: Doug and Julia Roberts, Carrie Neale, Brian and Glenys Conway, Clare, Luke and Glenda, Debbie Bell, Bill Storer, Ruth Boundy, Marie Lott, Rebecca Ferguson. Caritas AGM and Lunch Caritas will meet for lunch tomorrow Monday 20 February at 1 pm at Kahibah Sports Club. This will be followed with our AGM. Caritas fees due $20.00 All welcome. Enquiries phone Jane Conway Lenten Silent Retreat at Kincumber If you were thinking about attending the Retreat and haven't yet made a commitment, you will be interested to know that only the weekend Retreat will be held, not the mid-week. The Retreat will take place at St Joseph's Spiritual Centre, 8 Humphreys Road, Kincumber South commencing Friday 3 March at 4pm through to Sunday 5 March. The cost is $325. If you intend to visit for one day, Saturday 4th is available - 9am to 4pm - with the cost being $60. If you are interested, this is your last opportunity as the bookings will be closing this coming week. Please contact Marion Willey on or marion.willey@iinet.net.au who will be happy to take your booking. Paul writes: We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. Jars of clay refers to cups, bowls, pots, etc., and what really matters is what s in them. A vessel may be chipped and flawed, but once it s washed and cleaned it can be used again. So don t quit because someone discovered you re a jar of clay with chips and flaws. Unless you re willing to risk getting involved, you ll never know what you re good at. Sure you ll make mistakes and some of them may be so discouraging you ll want to give up and not try again. But if you turn your mistakes into learning experiences you ll not only discover what God has called you to do, you ll grow and become proficient at it. Do you doubt that one person can make a difference? Winston Churchill convinced England they could survive the Nazi war machine. Lee Iacocca turned Chrysler around and saved the company. Florence Nightingale transformed the care of patients by emphasising sanitary design and hygiene in hospitals, practices that carry over to this day. Rosa Parks, a lone black woman, overturned two centuries of racial discrimination. But you don t have to be a George Washington, an Abraham Lincoln, or a Mother Teresa to make a difference. Your influence may not be as far-reaching as theirs, but charity begins at home, which means you can grow and thrive where you re planted. In A Psalm of Life Henry Wadsworth Longfellow writes, Lives of great men all remind us, we can make

4 our lives sublime; and departing, leave behind us, footprints on the sands of time. Like Gideon, you may not be able to change your family history or undo your past mistakes. But you can learn from them, grow, and create a legacy that outshines your heritage. Not sure where to start? Commit your life to Christ and start following in His footsteps. World Day of Prayer Friday 3 rd March at St Albans Charlestown, 10am As we are the hosts, it would be great if we could have: * Lots of people to come and enjoy worshiping with the other Churches in Charlestown. * Some people to be welcomers at the door. * Some people to take up the collection and present it at the altar. * A person to read the bible: Matthew 20: * And plates of goodies for morning tea please. The women of the Philippines have compiled the service: Theme: Am I being unfair to you? Contact: Janet Storer new number wjstorer@oz .com.au The Church Year in our Parishes in Collaboration Lent is the period of 40 days before Easter, excluding Sundays. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Saturday, the evening before Easter. During Lent, we enter into a season of preparation, self-reflection and repentance when we seek to literally turn around and realign our lives and focus toward God. It is a time perhaps to give up things as well as take on new life-giving practices, helping us rid ourselves of distractions and our own selfish desires. When we do these things, we seek to live and love as more faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.

5 The Easter Season, also known as Eastertide or the Great Fifty Days, begins on Easter Day and ends on Pentecost. Focusing on Christ's resurrection and ascension and the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Eastertide is the most joyous and celebrative season of the Christian year. We celebrate the good news that in Christ s death and resurrection we, and all creation, are continually being made new by God s love and saving grace. Shrove Tuesday marks the last day before Lent. For Christians Lent is traditionally a period of abstinence, associated with clearing your cupboards of goods such as sugar, fats and eggs. Traditionally, pancakes were eaten on this day to use up these foods before the 40-day fasting season of Lent began. Although the day is important in Christian tradition, Pancake Day is widely celebrated by those outside of the faith. What does Shrove Tuesday mean? The word 'shrove' derives from the English word shrive, which means to obtain absolution for one's sins by way of confession and penance. The day gets its unique name from the custom for Christians to be "shriven" before the start of Lent. Mardi Gras (/ˈmɑːrdiɡrɑː/), also called Shrove Tuesday, or Fat Tuesday, in English, refers to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after the Christian feasts of the Epiphany (Three Kings Day) and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday. It is significant as a celebration period before fasting. It is also called Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday. There are many different celebrations around the world including parades, parties, pancake feasts. The date this year is February 28. Lenten Studies In our Parishes in Collaboration in 2017 there will be a number of opportunities for Lenten Study. Lent is an ideal season to be intentional about learning and reflecting on aspects of our faith. We have sourced many options in order that everyone can participate in a Lenten Discipline this year. Please think about how you can do Lent this year. Group study five or six weeks Individual study for five or six weeks Studying as a couple for five or six weeks Bible study focussing on Lent five weeks Studies which focus on a particular hymn for 5 weeks A Study for the 40 days of Lent A Study during Holy Week open to everyone in the collaboration News of our parishes celebrations will be published closer to the dates. The significant dates this year are: Shrove Tuesday February 28 Ash Wednesday March 1 The Annunciation to Mary, mother of Jesus March 25 Mothering Sunday March 26 Palm Sunday April 9 Maundy Thursday April 13 Good Friday April 14 Holy Saturday April 15 Easter Day April 16

6 Dates for your 2017 diary: The AGM will be on Sunday 5th of March 2017 at 11am, All reports to Diana by Monday 20 th February 2017 CARITAS Monday 20 February at 1 pm at Kahibah Sports Club World day of Prayer at St Albans 3 rd March Friday Lenten Silent Retreat for Women: 3-5 March (weekend) or 7-9 March (week days) at Kincumber Next Sunday 26 th February Transfiguration Readings: Exodus (TBC) Psalm 2 2 Peter Matthew St Alban s am Eucharist Prayers: S. Brandon Reading: B. Taylor Sacristan: B. Rigby Sanctuary: B. Taylor, L. Adams L.L. Ass: B. Rigby Music: Robert Sound: Helen Joice Welcomers: D. Keatinge/ R. Freeman Morning Tea: K. Watson/B. Rounsley St Martin s am Understand this: the Christian life is a race, and you must run on your own track. You ll never enjoy the fullness of God s blessing until you commit to being the person He created you Parish Ministry Team: Archdeacon Wendy Dubojski: Priest Sharon Butler: Building a new Faith Community Neville Thomas: Working for a Better Community The Rev. Ruth Brand & Brian Taylor: Christian Formation and Discipleship The Rev. Robert Peattie: Community Chaplain for Carers Wardens John Francis jfr56202@bigpond.net.au Anthony Butler anthonybutler1@bigpond.com Sue Thomas suzanne_thomas@live.com.au