Epping Anglicans Parish of Saint Alban s, Epping

Transcription

1 Our Vision: To be a Worshipping, Recognisably Anglican, Multi-racial, All-age, Gathered, Christian Community - a city on a hill The First Sunday in Lent 10 March 2019 Epping Anglicans Parish of Saint Alban s, Epping with Saint Aidan s, West Epping The hymns, collect and readings can be found in this bulletin on pages 2-5 Please take a hymn book if you wish to follow the melody of the hymns. 7.00am Eucharist Reader: Ruth Shatford Preacher: Bishop Ross Nicholson at St Alban s 8.00am Eucharist Reader: Derek Jones Hymns: 67, 252 TIS, all hymns are printed in the bulletin Preacher: Bishop Ross Nicholson 10.00am Sung Eucharist Reader: Lynette Skeoch Hymns: The Litany, 67, 252 TIS, all hymns are printed in the bulletin Preacher: Bishop Ross Nicholson Annual General Meeting to follow service 6.00pm Prayer with Songs from Taizé The Reverend Paul Weaver at St Aidan s 8.30am Eucharist Reader: Joan Craven Hymns: all hymns are printed in the bulletin Preacher: The Reverend Paul Weaver In Covenant with the communities of the Roman Catholic Parish of Epping & Carlingford, Epping Uniting Church, West Epping Uniting Church, and Epping Baptist Church

2 Welcome to St Alban's and St Aidan's We warmly welcome you today as we join together to worship our Risen Lord. If you are a new parishioner please collect a Welcome Folder and leave the information card with one of the Welcome Group or Parish Staff. Please stay and join us after our morning services at St Alban's and St Aidan's for tea and coffee, or breakfast after the 8.00am service at St Alban's. The Season of Lent Lent is a time of preparation for Easter: forty days of preparation for fifty days of celebration following the Resurrection. Lent means waiting: for the cross, the water and the fire. Lent is not for God s sake, but for our sake. The rhythm of fast and feast taps into some elemental need of ours, where denial creates longings to be satisfied so that we come to a deeper appreciation of God's great gifts. Lent is a time for preparing baptismal candidates for Easter baptism. It has its origins in the fact that preparation of baptismal candidates is a process by which the whole Christian community is renewed. While Sunday is always a festival of the crucified and raised Christ, the omission of the Gloria (Glory to God), along with the addition of the Trisagion (Holy God, holy and mighty) and other Lenten material help set the tone for the Season. The six Sundays of the season are seen as a unity. The usual liturgical colour for the first five Sundays is violet. The only Sunday with any significant differences is Lent 6, the Sunday of the Passion (Palm Sunday) when the colour changes to red, and it is appropriate for red to remain through to Good Friday. On Maundy Thursday we use white as we commemorate the Institution of the Lord s Super. Setting the scene A distinct break in the setting and mood of the liturgy needs to be made from Christmas and the Sundays after Epiphany to the season of Lent. The intention is to create a more intense focus on the principal symbols of God's presence with us. These symbols are: the assembly of Christ's people; the lectern; the Lord s Table; the empty font. This happens in different ways: by removing clutter, by covering up decorative art etc., by changes in lighting. Often there will be no flowers The font is emptied. At Saint Alban's we will use the small wooden cross behind the altar instead of the brass one. During Lent, you are invited to kneel for the Confession, during the Thanksgiving Prayer and to receive the Sacrament. In this way, we reinforce our penitential attitude, so that at Easter we may stand triumphantly with the Risen Christ. However, no one is obliged to be in any posture other than with that which they may be comfortable. Other alterations are: The Lenten invocation is used, page 119 #2 The Two Great Commandments, page 120 #5 The Gloria is omitted, the Trisagion is said (or sung), page 121 #10 The Confession is in the later position, page 126 The Greeting of Peace second form, page 127 #24 Special forms are used for the Invitation to Confession, the Thanksgiving Prayer, and the Prayer after Communion. These can be found on page 151. Instead of the traditional words of the blessing, a series of verse and response liturgies will be inserted each week, before the dismissal. The Litany is said at all services this morning. 2

3 Today s Readings Sentence Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him. Luke 4.8 Prayer of the Day O saving God, who led your people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land: so guide us that, following our Saviour, we may walk through the wilderness of this world and be brought to the glory of the world which is to come; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. First Reading Deuteronomy A reading from the Book of Deuteronomy 1 When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, 2 you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his name. 3 You shall go to the priest who is in office at that time, and say to him, Today I declare to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us. 4 When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the Lord your God, 5 you shall make this response before the Lord your God: A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. 6 When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labour on us, 7 we cried to the Lord, the God of our ancestors; the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. 8 The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; 9 and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. 10 So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O Lord, have given me. You shall set it down before the Lord your God and bow down before the Lord your God. 11 Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house. Hear the word of the Lord, Thanks be to God. Psalm , Those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High: who abide under the shadow of the Al mighty 2 They will say to the Lord 'You are my refuge and my stronghold: my God in whom I trust.' 3

4 9 The Lord him self is your refuge: you have made the Most High your stronghold. 10 Therefore no harm will be fall you: nor will any scourge come near your tent. 11 For he will com mand his angels: to keep you in all your ways. 12 They will bear you up in their hands: lest you dash your foot a gainst a stone 13 You will tread on the lion and the adder: the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot. 14 'You have set your love upon me' says the Lord 'and therefore I will de liver you: I will lift you out of danger be cause you have known my name. 15 'When you call upon me I will answer you I will be with you in trouble I will rescue you and bring you to honour. 16 'With long life I will satisfy you: and fill you with my sal vation.' Second Reading Romans A reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans 4 Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. 5 Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that the person who does these things will live by them. 6 But the righteousness that comes from faith says, Do not say in your heart, Who will ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 or Who will descend into the abyss? (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. 11 The scripture says, No one who believes in him will be put to shame. 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. 13 For, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Hear the word of the Lord, Thanks be to God. 67 NEH - St Aidan s tune Forty days and forty nights Thou wast fasting in the wild, Forty days and forty nights Tempted and yet undefiled. 2 Sunbeams scorching all the day, Chilly dewdrops nightly shed, Prowling beasts about thy way, Stones thy pillow, earth thy bed. 3 Let us thine endurance share, And awhile from joys abstain, With thee watching unto prayer, Strong with thee to suffer pain. 4 G H Smyttan ( ) & Francis Pott ( ) - Public domain 4 And if Satan, vexing sore, Flesh or spirit should assail, Thou, his vanquisher before, Grant we may not faint nor fail. 5 So shall we have peace divine, Holier gladness ours shall be, Round us too shall angels shine, Such as ministered to thee. 6 Keep, O keep us, Saviour dear, Ever constant by thy side, That with thee we may appear At the eternal Eastertide.

5 The Gospel Luke Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory! Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory! The Lord be with you and also with you. The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke ( ) Glory to you Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. 3 The devil said to him, If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread. 4 Jesus answered him, It is written, One does not live by bread alone. 5 Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And the devil said to him, To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours. 8 Jesus answered him, It is written, Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him. 9 Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written, He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you, 11 and On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone. 12 Jesus answered him, It is said, Do not put the Lord your God to the test. 13 When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time. 14 Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. 15 He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ Name Tags If you have a name tag, would you kindly wear it to church, as it is helpful for other parishioners to know your name. If you don t have a name tag, please let the office know so that one can be ordered for you. We acknowledge domestic abuse exists, is wrong and must stop. These are the opening words of a new provisional policy on responding to domestic abuse prepared by the Sydney Anglican Diocese. Parish councils have been asked to consider the document and adopt a policy for their parish. It is important that we know how to respond compassionately when we are made aware of such abuse and how to direct people to appropriate services. Over the next few months we will be preparing and publicising clear information on how to respond, who to direct people to for help, and emergency services. We hope to have an article in the parish magazine, material on notice boards and in time a meeting to talk through the issue. In the meantime please speak to the clergy if you have any concerns. 5

6 425 NEH - St Alban s tune 19ii, St Aidan s tune O love, how deep, how broad, how high! How passing thought and fantasy That God, the Son of God, should take Our mortal form for mortals sake. 2 He sent no angel to our race Of higher or of lower place, But wore the robe of human frame, And he himself to this world came. 3 For us baptized, for us he bore His holy fast, and hungered sore; For us temptations sharp he knew; For us the tempter overthrew. 4 For us to wicked men betrayed, Scourged, mocked, in crown of thorns arrayed; For us he bore the cross s death; For us at length gave up his breath. 5 For us he rose from death again, For us he went on high to reign, For us he sent his Spirit here To guide, to strengthen, and to cheer. 6 All honour, laud, and glory be, O Jesu, Virgin-born, to thee, All glory, as is ever meet, To Father and to Paraclete. Amen. Latin, 15th century tr Benjamin Webb Public domain Christ our Saviour draw you to himself, that you may find in him crucified a sure ground for faith, a firm support for hope, and the assurance of sin forgiven. Amen. Let us in this season of Lent, take time, when we can, to be still and ponder the one who gave his life to bring forth the kingdom of God. We will honour Christ by trusting in his grace and following him day by day. We will be like good soil, in which the seeds of love and mercy may grow. God speaks to us in the life of Jesus. Let us hear his word and understand it. We are witnesses to God s transforming power; we go forth as Christ s partners in serving others and showing love to all. Go in the peace of Christ. Thanks be to God. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Parish St Alban's meeting will be held TODAY: following the 10am service St Aidan s next Sunday (17 March)- following the 8.30am service Copies of the financial reports and parish groups can be found at the back of St Alban s. 6

7 Ecumenical Lenten Services at 7.45pm Please make every effort to attend as many as possible as part of our joint Lenten discipline. Tuesday 12March 7:45pm St Albans Anglican Church (Speaker: Father Peter Dowd) Tuesday 19March 7:45pm St Gerard s Catholic Church (Speaker: Rev Greg Woolnough) Tuesday 26March 7:45pm Epping Baptist Church (Speaker: Bishop Ross Nicholson) Tuesday 2April 7:45pm West Epping Uniting Church (Speaker: Rev Paul Weaver) Tuesday 9April 7:45pm Epping Uniting Church (Speaker: Epping Baptist Church pastor) St Alban's will be hosting the ecumenical service this Tuesday, 12 March, where there will be a supper afterwards. We are in need of assistance with plates of food and serving in the kitchen. Help would be greatly appreciated. Lenten Bible Study- Jeremiah Wednesday 13 March to 24 April- 7.45pm in The Loft Throughout Lent we will be running a Lenten Bible Study series on Jeremiah by Dr Gary Millar. Over seven weeks Dr Millar will overview the majestic work of the prophet Jeremiah. These videos are the keynote studies from this year s CMS Summer School. Dr Millar says, No book in the Bible gives us a greater insight into the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Join us in the Loft throughout Lent and have your heart expanded by a vision of the grace and mercy of God in times of trouble Mothers Union - MU C E Held in The Loft at St Alban s Sundays from 4pm to 5.30pm 'Christianity Explored is a course which does as its title says. This will be run every Sunday till April 7th. Everyone is very welcome to join us for our next meeting on this Tuesday, 12 March, at 1.30pm in the Seminar Room. The Reverend Val Tibbey will lead our first bible study on the Prayers of Jesus. A reminder to members to read the background to the studies and study No 1 (up to P 23) beforehand. Any enquiries please ring Jane Bryant

8 For your Prayers Church: Ryde - St Anne; West Ryde - St Columb; Chaplains at Macquarie Hospital, North Ryde; The Cathedral Parish of St Alban's Griffith The Bishop of Bathurst and his Diocese Anglican Board of Mission (Mission of the Month) In our World and our Parish: Pray for the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church throughout the world in their response to sexual abuse of children. Pray also for other churches, including the Anglican Church, that they will respond in a way that takes this evil with true seriousness, humbly acknowledges the wrong, deals in a godly way with victims, and finds the best way to ensure that such abuse is prevented in the future. Pray for those who have been experiencing flood, fire and drought, especially those who have lost their home or livelihood. Pray also for those who serve in our Emergency and Bush Fire Services and other disaster relief organisations. Pray for God s guidance and blessing on our Parish especially as our Annual Meetings take place. Ask God to give wisdom to Bishop Ross in his leadership, and to all involved in the various ministries of the Parish. As the elections draw near, pray that party leaders will speak so that people can clarify important issues and vote in an informed way. Anniversary of Death: Gertrude Howe 10/3; Marjorie Nicholas 10/3; Gertrude Nyholm 13/3; Robert Carson 13/3; Eleanor Hogan 14/3; Clarice Armstead 15/3; Marshall D Souza 15/3; Walter Munn 15/3; Cliff Snyman 15/3 Children s Ministry Worker Amy Taylor has been appointed as our Children s Ministry Worker. It is a great blessing to have one of our own young people rise up to take on this part time position which is so important to the future of our church. Please pray for her as she ministers to our little folk. This adds a new expense line to our Budget which will be presented at the AGM so we are asking members of the congregation to prayerfully consider making a lump sum or ongoing increase in your weekly offertory to cover the $10,000 cost. Sunday School is on today! 10am in the Sunday School Room (behind the Parish Office) which is led by Amy Taylor, our Children s Ministry Worker. Breakfast Club is on in the Loft for those in High School and University. It is led by Christopher Lawn, our Youth Leader! 8

9 Mission of the Month Lent 2019 Anglican Board of Mission Australia Each year during Lent our parish supports the work of the Anglican Board of Mission Australia, which helps communities in need, both within Australia and overseas. This year the following three projects are to be supported through the ABM Lent Appeal. S J ' A S St John s is the national seminary of the Anglican Church in Zambia, training ordinands and clergy from all five Anglican dioceses across Zambia. The training prepares them to minister in fast-growing urban and rural congregations of the Church. In 2019, the seminary will introduce its own local diploma and degree courses in Theology. Please give generously to support clergy training and formation in the Anglican Church in Zambia. T A T S I M F nd ABM makes small grants available to projects which express the marks of mission and benefit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Last year, grants were used to strengthen youth ministry in Cape York, establish a new Aboriginal church, support young expectant mothers, and host a reconciliation art exhibition. Your gift will support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican church in work that seeks to build flourishing communities of love, hope and justice. G G I Z ABM works with the Zambia Anglican Council Outreach Program (ZACOP) to end child marriage and to end the conditions of poverty and ignorance, and the low status of women that sustain it. ZACOP is educating people about the rights of women and children, helping them to claim these rights, and providing services to support victims of gender-based violence. Please support this project and make a difference to the lives of women and their children in Zambia, by helping ABM s partner continue its programs in the Eastern Province. For further details, please refer to the Missions display on the Narthex board, or visit website To donate to the Anglican Board of Mission, please place your gift in the Beyond the Parish side of your offertory envelope, or in a plain envelope marked ABM. For those who electronically transfer their offertory, please consider making a separate EFT for mission giving. Mission of the Month giving received for: E H Parsons (January) = $100 Bush Church Aid (February) = $430 Don t forget to write the name of the Mission on your envelope! (see Missions notice) 9

10 Music of Faith, Hope and Love A Concert of Music for Baritone and Piano with Lachlan Roots and Paul Weaver Next Sunday 17 March at 2.00pm St Alban s Parish Hall The Holy City Jesus, Joy of Man s Desiring Because The Lord s Prayer Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes Liebestraum I ll Walk with God and more Suggested Donation: $15 all donations welcome Proceeds to the work of Christian Community Aid, Eastwood Flyers are available to pass on to people who might be interested. Anglicans Together Dinner Tuesday 19 March for 7:30 pm at the Gadigal Room, City Tattersalls Club, Pitt Street, Sydney Speaker: Archbishop Philip Freier Primate of the Anglican Church & Archbishop of Melbourne Cost: $75 pp ($70 conc) BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL at: Remembrance Sunday 10 November 2019 For this year s Remembrance Sunday we are planning to have a service with a special focus on the families of parishioners with a link to World War I. If you have a parent, grandparent, great grandparent, great great grandparent or perhaps a great uncle or great aunt who served in World War I and you would like to be a part of this year's commemorative service, please contact James von Stieglitz. Perhaps you would also like to share their story for publication in the Parish Magazine. James.vs@optusnet.com.au or Stamps Stamps for mission organisations can now be placed in a Bright Orange Box found on a shelf in the foyer. ABM and BCA welcome the stamps as a regular source of income. MORE INFORMATION on the Parish can be found on our website, including links to our Parish Magazine and Thought for Prayer. 10

11 Next Sunday's Services Monday 11 March Parish Office Closed Tuesday 12 March 9-11am Staff meeting 10.00am English Conversation Group 10.00am Ladies Bible Study at the Rectory 11.00am Meditation Group 1.30pm MU meeting 7.45pm Bible Study at the Rectory Wednesday 13 March 7.00am Eucharist 7.45pm Choir practice 7.45pm Jeremiah Bible Study in the Loft Thursday 14 March 10.30am Healing Eucharist Friday 15 March Rector s day-off Second Sunday in Lent 17 March 2019 At ST ALBAN'S 7.00am Eucharist Preacher: The Reverend Paul Weaver 8.00am Eucharist Preacher: The Reverend Paul Weaver 10.00am Choral Eucharist & baptism Preacher: The Reverend Paul Weaver No evening service at St Aidan's 8.30am Eucharist Preacher: Bishop Ross Nicholson AGM to follow the service BCA Boxes It is BCA box opening time again. Please bring in your BCA boxes ready for the March count. They may be left at the church office or placed in the offertory plate at any service. If you would like to become a supporter of BCA please contact the parish office and a collection box will be sent to you. Boxes are opened and proceeds forwarded to BCA half yearly. Cleared boxes are returned to the pigeon holes, in the church porch, for reuse. St Alban s is open every day for reflection and prayer. Please consider paying your offertory directly into the church account. The details are:- St Alban s Ac: BSB No: A/c: St Aidan s Ac: BSB No: A/c: Please indicate which service you attend. If you wish some of your giving to go to the Mission of the Month or any other specific cause, please indicate it on your direct transfer. During the blessing of the gifts, we acknowledge the offertory made to the Parish by direct transfer. 11

12 Parish Directory Parish Office (at St Alban s) is open Tuesday to Friday 9am to 1pm during school term Address - 3 Pembroke Street Epping 2121 (PO Box 79 Epping 1710) Phone St Aidan's Church - 30 Downing Street, West Epping Rector Associate Priest Parish Administrator Choir Director Organist Youth Leader Bishop Ross Nicholson rossnicholson@eppinganglicans.org.au The Reverend Paul Weaver paul@eppinganglicans.org.au Mrs Denise Pigot office@eppinganglicans.org.au Mrs Michelle Lee Dr Neil Cameron Christopher Lawn Children s Ministry Worker Amy Taylor Honorary Clergy The Reverend Jane Chapman The Reverend Val Tibbey Website