I worship and adore the true and living God who created all things. St Alban s prayer

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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: stalban@bigpond.net.au Web: We acknowledge the Awabakal people who are the traditional custodians of this land we worship on today. 18 th June, 2017 Second Sunday after Pentecost Welcome to all those who are visiting us today. Please join us for refreshments after the service Readings: Genesis (21.1-7) Psalm , Romans Matthew (9-23) I worship and adore the true and living God who created all things. St Alban s prayer Prayer for the week; Lord, We beseech you to keep your family, the Church, in continual Godliness, that through your protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve you in good works, to the glory of your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen. MESSY CHURCH - Party Time TONIGHT 4pm BZZZZ! PARISH DINNER MONDAY 19 JUNE Join us 6.30pm for 7pm. Taste some honey and join in the buzz! RSVP Sunday 18 June to Ruth Bath Intercessions: In our Newcastle Diocese, we pray for: Bishop Peter Stuart and Nicki Arthur Copeman and Anabelle (Archdeacon for Ministry Support) Amanda Zaicos, Debbie Torok and Jane Mowbray (Parish and Admin Support) In the national church we pray for; Diocese of North West Australia (Bp Gary Nelson) In the wider Church, we pray for: The Diocese of Guadalcanal (Bp Nathan Tome & Selena)

2 The Revd. David and Priya Morgan, Paraburdoo Sue Prosser (Paid SRE teacher) In the wider community we pray for; Organisations working Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders The First Peoples of the Diocese especially the Awabakal, Biripi, Darkinjung, Geawegal, Kamilaroi, Worimi and Wonnarua peoples. In Our Church we pray for; We pray for Archdeacon Wendy, Lu Piper, Ruth and Bob, the parish council, David Hesketh and Kim. We give thanks and pray for the faithful departed: (connected to our parish) Millicent Sketchley, Ellen Privett We pray for those in our parish who need support or have experienced loss recently: We pray for Strength, peace and healing: Greg Thompson and Kerry, Doug and Julia Roberts, Carrie Neale, Brian and Glenys Conway, Clare, Luke and Glenda, Debbie Bell, Ruth Boundy, Rebecca Ferguson, Frank and Helen Firken, Anne Preston, Pryer family. This week at St Alban s Sunday 8.30am Eucharist 4.00pm Messy Church Monday 8.30am Silent Meditation 9.30am Play Group 6.30pm Parish Dinner Wednesday 8.30am Morning Prayer 10.00am GAPS Read the Bible & Pray during the week (Monday) Psalm 110, 111 Sirach (Tuesday) Psalm 114,115 Sirach (Wednesday) Psalm 121, 122, 123 Sirach Thursday) Psalm Sirach (Friday) Psalm 124, 25, 126 Sirach (Saturday) Psalm 130, 131,133 Sirach St Alban s story takes us back to the beginning of the Christian faith in Britain. Alban is believed to have been a Romano-British citizen of the third century in the Roman city of Verulamium. The earliest versions of his history say that he gave shelter to a stranger fleeing from persecution. This was a Christian priest, originally un-named but later called Amphibalus. Alban was so moved by the priest s faith and courage that he asked to be taught more about Christianity, then still a forbidden religion. Before long the authorities came to arrest the fugitive priest. But Alban, inspired by his new-found faith, exchanged clothes with Amphibalus, allowing him to escape. Instead Alban was arrested and brought before the city magistrate. When asked to identify himself he declared: I am called Alban and I worship and adore the true and living God, who created all things. The magistrate ordered that Alban should receive the punishment due to the priest. He was brought out of the town and up the hillside to the site of execution where he was beheaded. Despite escaping, Amphibalus too was later arrested and martyred at Redbourn, a few miles away. Alban is honoured as the first British martyr, and his grave quickly became a place of pilgrimage. The first churches here were probably simple structures over Alban s grave, making this the oldest continuous site of Christian worship in Great Britain. In the early eighth century the historian Bede told the story of St Alban and described a beautiful church, worthy of his martyrdom.

3 Alban is a saint of the undivided church, a saint for all Christians. His welcome to a persecuted stranger was a powerful example of courage, compassion and hospitality. St Alban is still with us in the Communion of Saints, we worship God with him and ask his prayers. For over 1700 years, pilgrims have prayed, many on or near St Alban s Day, 22 June, when his story is celebrated and re-enacted. Jesus shows us that God s mission is to claim the priority in our lives, even above family loyalty: I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, he says. He then goes on to say that our lives can only find their ultimate meaning in him because those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. May we never be afraid of dying to self so that we may be born anew, taking our part in the mystery of God s mission to the world. Pray that nothing will deter us from making God our first priority. Give thanks for those who engage in the mystery of God s mission both here and overseas. St Albans Day Lunch Sunday 25 June at 11:30 / 12:00 Let us all celebrate St Albans Day with a great Sunday Roast with fellowship, food and fun. Come yourself, or bring your family and friends. Please keep the day free - more information this Sunday. RSVP Sue or Neville or suzanne_thomas@live.com.au or on the list in the Narthex The godly care for their animals. Proverbs 12:10 NLT A man wrote to a hotel where he wanted to go for holiday and asked, Could I bring my dog? He s very well behaved. The hotel owner replied, I ve been operating this hotel for thirty years and in all that time I ve never had a dog steal towels, bedclothes, silverware, or pictures off the walls. I ve never had to evict a dog in the middle of the night for being drunk and disorderly, and I ve never had one run out without paying the bill. Yes, your dog is welcome. And furthermore, if your dog will vouch for you, you re welcome too. Solomon writes, The godly care for their animals. Ever consider godliness from that perspective? Maybe you re thinking, This doesn t sound too spiritual. Think again! Every good gift is from above, coming down from the Father (James 1:17 ESV) Many a grieving heart is comforted by a pet whose love and loyalty makes their loss more bearable and helps them to go on.

4 Did you know people with pets live longer, stay healthier, recover faster, and experience less depression? Who will ever forget the dogs on 9/11 as they searched through the carnage of the World Trade Center, howling in distress because they couldn t rescue those who perished? And how about the skilled dogs that give sight to the blind and visually impaired? That sounds pretty spiritual, right? When God created our pets He said, It [was] good. Why did He say that? Because so many have the virtues of mankind without its vices. So let s recognise them as a gift from God, be grateful for them, and take good care of them! The Four Freedoms We look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want, economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peace-time life for its inhabitants everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear, which refers to a worldwide reduction in armaments to such a point that no nation will be able to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbour - anywhere in the world. These freedoms are not visions of a distant millennium. They are the basis for a kind of world attainable in our own generation. That kind of world is the very opposite of the so-called new order of tyranny which the dictators seek to create with the crash of a bomb. Franklin D. Roosevelt Important Request If you are the last person to leave on Sunday could you please be sure that all is locked and put the rope across the entrance to the carpark. Monday morning Playgroup (with strollers etc) have been unable to park in our carpark.

5 Next Garage Sale at Windale - Saturday 29th July at 8am Next Sunday 25 th June, 2017 Birth of John the Baptist Readings: Genesis Psalm , Romans Matthew St Albans am Eucharist Prayers: H. Hughes Reading: B. Taylor Sacristan: R. Reed Sanctuary: B. Taylor, K. Kear L.L. Ass: L. Adams Music: Robert Sound: Anthony Welcomers: H. Firkin Morning Tea: B. Taylor/ J. Campbell St Martins am Marriage is like a long trip in a rowboat. If one passenger starts to rock the boat, the other needs to steady it; otherwise they will both go to the bottom together. David Reuben The wedding was over and the minister was standing at the church door in his white alb and stole, black hair and beard. A little girl at her first wedding was saying goodbye. Bye Nanna, bye Papa and with a wave at the minister, See you later, Jesus. 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