Local church connecting with local community

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1 7 December 2014 Second Sunday in Advent 8.00am 10.00am Choral Eucharist Family Communion Liturgy Prayer Book (p 119) Special service sheet Presider Revd Peter Greenwood Revd Peter Greenwood Preacher Revd Peter Greenwood Revd Peter Greenwood Intercessor Marty Golding Revd Peter Greenwood December notices Alan Little Alan Little Isaiah Pauline Matthews Sandra Scott Psalm ,8-13 Anglican Chant 2 Peter a Barbara Falloon Mark Assistant Assistant Introit Wait for the Lord Setting Billington Anthem Look at the World: Rutter When Peace shall come Organ Postlude Prelude on in dulci jubilo : Bach Hymns / songs 269(t274), 647, 494, , 342, am 3.00pm Prayer Circle for those in need and other concerns Remembering Service Mater Dei Church Reflection Praise God for the joy of Advent that we celebrated in our combined service last week. Thank you to all those who made both the service and the luncheon afterwards such a wonderful occasion. Many people from both 8am and 10am commented to me about how much they were encouraged by our time together as a whole parish in our combined service. Furthermore, having over 70 people at lunch, sharing lives, fellowship and food together was simply delightful. As we explore the different prophecies over the coming weeks of Advent, we deepen our own understanding of the very profound heart of Advent that God s messiah would come into the world, bringing the light of salvation to a world lost in darkness, and to a nation that was desperately longing for God s promises to find their fulfilment. Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus! Peter Greenwood Local church connecting with local community We at St Mark's aim to grow in our relationship with God through Jesus Christ, and to welcome others into an open Christian community where we can experience and explore the reality of God in an atmosphere of acceptance and trust 1

2 A warm welcome to visitors All are invited to morning tea in the adjacent St Mark's Hall after the service. Floral memorial Flowers in the Advent Wreath are a gift of the Ridgeway family in memory of Elva & Stan Ridgeway. Flowers in the sanctuary are in memory of Max Harpley from Dorothy. Christmas celebrations 12 December 7.30pm Christmas Carols at Connells Point Public School 14 December 8.00pm Christmas Readings and Carols followed by supper 24 December 5.30pm Family Christmas Service 11.00pm Christmas Sung Eucharist 25 December 8.00am Christmas Choral Eucharist (with choir) Note: there is no 10am service on Christmas Day Advent wreath The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lord prepare us for your coming. Lord prepare our way. Lord, tune our ears to your call. We hear you calling us. Lord, prepare the hearts of your people Your righteousness goes before us and prepares a way. Lord prepare us to receive Good News. May we bear witness to your righteousness Lord prepare us for your coming. Holy Spirit we welcome you among us. The second candle is lit by a member of the congregation As we prepare for his coming, we light this second candle to remind us of the prophets who foretold the birth of the Messiah. Presider Blessed are you, Sovereign Lord, just and true, to you be all praise and glory for ever! Of old you spoke by the mouth of your prophets but in our days you speak through your Son whom you have appointed the heir of all things. Grant us, your people, to walk in his light that we may be found ready and watching when he comes again in glory and judgement; for you are our light and our salvation. Blessed be God for ever. 2

3 Advent wreath song Christ, be our light 3

4 News & Events Christian Christmas Cards There are Mothers Union Christmas cards for sale in the foyer all proceeds to the work of MU Sydney. Also pick up some literature about the work of MU. Pauline Burdon Annual Remembering Service today at 3pm Come and remember those we have loved and lost. All invited to share in this Ecumenical gathering of local Uniting, Catholic and Anglican churches at Mater Dei Church, King Georges Rd, Blakehurst. Christmas Bowl Envelopes are available for your special Advent offerings to National Council of Churches projects St Mark's walkers wanted this week to deliver postcards to residents, advertising Christmas carols and services. Please take bundles of 100 and mark each side of streets you will cover. Christmas Readings and Carols supper St Mark's annual carol service is a significant event in the local community calendar. The socialites ask if St Mark's members can provide a plate for supper, in order to provide generous hospitality to visitors. Please add your name to the foyer list. Friday@Home Friday@Home was postponed last Friday due to Helen Taylor being ill. It will now be next Friday 12 December at the home of Helen and Rob Taylor. This is a great opportunity to get together over some good food and drinks, and just get to know each other. Everyone is welcome. Last month's offerings In order to meet St Mark's annual ministry and other operational expenses, the budgeted total general plate offerings for the 2014 calendar year are $95,167. The figures below indicate how we are travelling against that target. Church wardens Monthly budget offerings Last month actual Year to date budget Year to date actual $7,154 $9,190 (5 Sundays) $85,281 $83,186 4

5 Thanks to all who contributed to last week's luncheon following the Combined Advent Eucharist. $740 was raised for children's ministry, and $850 for Swahili bibles. New 8am worship rosters for December 2014 March 2015 are available on the 'members' page on the website. Some hardcopies are also available in the foyer. Singers wanted Two of the nursing homes we minister to have requested we include a few carols in the monthly communion near Christmas. Lois and Robert have spent several hours recording the music for six carols; the word sheets are printed; now we would like a few people to join us at each service to help lead the singing. The dates are: Thursday 18 December 2.30pm Blakehurst Aged Care, Cheddar St Wednesday 24 December 10.30am 394 Princes Hwy, Blakehurst If you can give an hour to help bring more Christmas cheer to the residents, please meet outside the front door of each nursing home 15 minutes before the scheduled time of the service, to go through security together. Fay Sprague has generously bought and written out Christmas cards for each member of our congregations, and we will hand these out at each service. Douglas Golding Southern Cross and Anglicans Together December magazines are available in the foyer. New chair of ABM The Rt Revd Garry Weatherill has been appointed as the new Chair of the Board of Directors for the Anglican Board of Mission Australia (ABM). Bishop Garry is currently Bishop of the Diocese of Ballarat in Victoria. He has been a member of the ABM Board for the past six years recently as the House of Bishops Representative. Christmas Home Communions If any St Mark's members are unable to attend either the 11pm or 8am Christmas Eucharist due to ill health, please contact Fr Andre Jacobs who will arrange a home communion assistant@southhurstville.anglican.asn.au St Mark s rosters... are available on the website On-line offertories and donations are welcome BSB ; St Marks Anglican Church South Hurstville; Account no Description 'Offertory8am' or 'Offertory10am'. Donation example 'DonationFlowers'. 5

6 Sermon notes: Isaiah 40:1-11 'Comfort, O Comfort' 1. Voices of consolation 2. The commissioning of the heralds (vv. 1-2) 3. The first voice: the glory of the Lord (vv. 3-5) 4. The second voice: the word of our God (vv. 6-8) 5. The third voice: the arm of the Lord (vv. 9-11) 6. The voices, Jesus & Us a. John the Baptist (Mark 1:1-8) b. Pilate (John 19:14) c. Jesus (Revelation 1:1-8) 6

7 Meet Alison Collins (our new children s minister) Commencing in 2015 Alison is a trained primary school teacher having finished the Advanced Diploma of Ministry at Youthworks College in Having worked at both Blakehurst and Padstow Anglican over the past number of years, in 2015 she takes on the role of St Mark's children s minister involved in School Scripture, re-launching our Friday afternoon program (formerly SMACKS) and coordinating Sunday Club on Sunday mornings. Alison is passionate about teaching the gospel to children and seeing them grow in their relationship with Christ. In her spare time Alison enjoys reading, walks on the beach, spending time with friends and friends especially her little niece Sophie. Christian Life Alison doesn t have a specific point of conversion in my life. She has had the great blessing and privilege of growing up in a Christian family where her parents faithfully taught her the gospel always ensured that she knew the importance of Christ s death and resurrection in her life. As she grew in knowledge of what Christ had done on the cross she took personal ownership and asked Christ to be in control of her life. 7

8 Prayers For those in need Clem (Honda Kaheba); Annette & Marj Collier; Leonie Griffiths; Jennifer King; Jennifer Edwards; Jeff Aplin; John Stone; Shirley Denyer; Baby Gloria (and her parents Jess & Mark); Marjorie Collier; Shirley M; Enid Kennedy; Marie Worsley; Fay Dempsey; Jean Hill; Gabrielle Hobbs; Betty Allan; Alan Cook; Tony Platfoot. Concerns of the church Forthcoming Advent and Christmas celebrations; Children's minister, Alison Collins and ministry to children and families. Life and witness Richard Baxter (pastor and spiritual writer); Lucy (martyr and virgin); those who are remembered by flowers today. This Week at St Mark s Mon 8/ am Mini Musicians (Grace Kennedy ) 10.00am StoryTime in recess 7.30pm Parish Council (Rector) Tue 9/ pm Choir rehearsal (Deb Mulcair ) Wed 10/ am Holy Communion & Carinya Day Club (Joy Martin ) 8.00pm Bible Study in the Rectory in recess Thu 11/ am Needle & Thread (Dorothy Harpley ) 9.30am St Mark s Art (Lorraine Sweeny ) Fri 12/ am Tai Chi (Gabrielle Merten ) 7.30pm Friday@Home at the home of Helen & Rob Taylor Sat 13/ am Buzy Bees (Wesley Fairhall ) Next Sunday 14 December 2014 Third Sunday of Advent 8.00am Choral Eucharist 10.00am Family Worship Readings Isaiah 61:1-4; 8-11 Lorraine Sweeny Vic Playford 1 Thess.5:12-28 Barbara Falloon John 1:6-8, Assistant Presider Intercessions Wesley Fairhall Wesley Fairhall Appropriate notices for Connections are welcome. Please the parish office by 10am Thursday mornings Rector The Revd Peter Greenwood rector@southhurstville.anglican.asn.au Associate Priest The Revd Andre Jacobs assistant@southhurstville.anglican.asn.au Parish Office Grosvenor Road office@southhurstville.anglican.asn.au Website Wardens Marty Golding ; Robert Nelson ; Bruce Cooke Choir Director Deborah Mulcair Organist Lois Little Sunday Club Coordinator John Kennedy Safe Ministry Coordinator Sandra Scott