This Week in the Parish

Transcription

1 9 December 2018 Today s Service Second Sunday of Advent 7.30am Sung Eucharist 9.00am Family Eucharist This Week in the Parish Tuesday am Guild Meeting (NO HOY) - Maheno Rm. Thursday am Mah-jong Church Friday am Eucharist Sunday am 9.00am Sung Eucharist Family Eucharist WELCOME! Thank you for joining us in our worship today. We are happy to join with you in fellowship. If you are here for the first time, or would like to be more involved in our parish please make yourself known to one of the welcomers, or clergy. You can also complete one of the green cards on the table near the main door, to give us your contact details if you would like a call, or to be on our parish contact list. You can put the card in the collection plate or hand it to a welcomer. We hope you will join us for coffee after the service. The green cards can also be used for updating your contact details if you are already a part of our parish. Rector: The Reverend John Milburn john.milburn@stjohnsbulimba.org Mobile Church Address: 171 Oxford Street, Bulimba Postal Address: PO Box 271, Bulimba Qld 4171 Telephone: office@stjohnsbulimba.org Website: Follow us on Facebook Or #SBulimba

2 THE SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION Sentence for the Day: By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke Hymns: 7.30am Eucharist:- TIS: 264, 270, 271, 315. Today we relight the candle of HOPE. Second Sunday of Advent Now we light the candle for the second Sunday in Advent. This is the candle of PEACE. As we prepare for the coming of Jesus, we remember that Jesus is our hope and our peace. From the prophet Isaiah: "For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." -- Isaiah 9:6-7 From the Gospel of John: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." -- John 14:27 Let us pray: Gracious God, Grant that we may find peace as we prepare for our Lord s birth. May divisions in ourselves and in our families be peacefully resolved. May there be peace in our cities and in the countries of our world. Help us to see the paths of peace in our lives, and then give to us courage to follow them. Lord, let us remember that you only are the giver of lasting peace and that you are always with us. Amen. The Collect for the Day: God of our salvation, you straighten the winding ways of our hearts and smooth the paths made rough by sin: keep our hearts watchful in holiness, and bring to perfection the good you have begun in us. We ask this through him whose coming is certain, whose Day draws near, your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

3 1st Reading: Malachi Georgina Greenhill Sarah Davies See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner s fire and like fullers soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. Psalm Song of Zechariah (verses said alternately between the reader and congregation) 1.Blessed are you, Lord, the God of Israel: you have come to your people and set them free. 2.You have raised up for us a mighty Saviour: born of the house of your servant David. 3.Through your holy prophets, you promised of old: to save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us, 4.To show mercy to our forebears: and to remember your holy covenant. 5.This was the oath you swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hands of our enemies, 6.Free to worship you without fear: holy and righteous before you, all the days of our life. 7.And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High: for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way, 8.To give God s people knowledge of salvation: by the forgiveness of their sins. 9.In the tender compassion of our God: the dawn from on high shall break upon us, 10. To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death: and to guide our feet into the way of peace. 2nd Reading: Philippians Ruth Southgate O mezie Ekwudu Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel. (Continued over page)

4 Second Reading (continued) For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that on the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. Gospel: Luke In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the highpriesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Carols by Candlelight on the Church lawn. Starting at 6.30pm.

5 The Anglican Cycle of Prayer: Parish Prayers In The World: - Falkland Islands (Extra-Provincial to Canterbury), Timothy Thornton The Diocese of Canberra-Goulburn : Mark Short Bishop Elect, Trevor Edwards - Administrator; Assistant Bishop: Stephen Pickard; Clergy and People In The Diocese: The Parish of Cunnamulla (Maranoa-Warrego Anglican Mission Area): Steffan van Munster Anglicare SQ - Community Aged & Disability - Sunshine Coast (Nambour) St Aidan s Anglican Girls School, Corinda: Principal - Toni Riordan; Chaplain Gillian Moses; Chair of School Council Cecile Wake; School Council members; staff and students Locally: For emergency services personnel, especially State Emergency Services and Rural Fire Service volunteers. Pray for The Sick: Joel, Valmai, Bronwyn, Duncan Family, Steph, Kerrie, John, Roselee, Esther, Linda, Drew, Kerry, Helena, Audrey, Dawn, Chris, Stephanie, Andrew, Sue. (NOTE: under the Federal Privacy Act, consent of the person you wish to pray for must be obtained. No details of need / illness can be published without consent) The Second Sunday of Advent Sunday 9 December 2018 Malachi 3.1-4; For the Psalm: Song of Zechariah (Benedictus es, Luke ); Philippians ; Luke As we watch and wait with eager anticipation, we must also prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord. As we venture into the spiritual wilderness of our lives, we need to remind ourselves that our hearts cannot receive the Lord unless we, like John the Baptist prepare his way. This is a time for inner cleansing so that we might make room to receive Him and experience the joy of his coming. Pray that we might simplify our lives, curtail our appetites for things material, and open our hearts and minds to new ways of living in harmony with God s creation. Pray for the Church of South India, giving thanks for the work they do to further God s mission in the world. Text: The Rev Laurette Glasgow, Special Advisor for Government Relations for the Anglican Church of Canada and the Diocese of Ottawa. Anglican Board of Mission, 2018

6 Cake Stall: (A major fundraiser for the Parish) Next stall is on today Sunday 9th December, in the morning and in conjunction with the Christmas Fair in the afternoon. This will be our Christmas Cake Stall so donations of Christmas goodies such as small Christmas Cakes, Christmas puddings, mince pies, jams and sweets are popular. We will also be taking orders for cakes, puddings etc from the congregation so please contact the Parish Office if you would like to reserve an item. CHRISTMAS SERVICES December 24th Christmas Eve 6.00pm Christingle Service, a very special way to celebrate the coming of Jesus. Very family orientated. (the children love it.) 11.30pm Mid-night Eucharist December 25th Christmas Day 7.30am Sung Eucharist 9.00am Family Eucharist December 30th 8.30am- Eucharist January 6th 8.30am- Eucharist No Friday Eucharist until 11 th January January 13 th 7.30am Sung Eucharist 9.00am Family Eucharist

7 WHAT WE DO Knitting Circle: The knitting circle which meets once a month in the Maheno room, knitting squares which are then joined and made into rugs, beanies, and crocheting tea towels, will not meet in December and will be in recess until March. The next one is on Wednesday 20th March, at 9.30am. St. John s Guild: The final Guild meeting (no Hoy) will be on Tuesday 11th December in the Maheno Room at 10.00am Mah-jong Group: The Mah-jong Group meets Thursday morning from 9.30am 12.30pm in the Church. If you can play mah-jong, or would like to learn, please join us. Tea and coffee is supplied. Little Children s Church: Little Children s Church happens each Sunday in term-time, during the 9:00am service. We have stories and activities for children aged 3-years to Year 2, and younger children are also very welcome to attend with a parent. If you are visiting or here for the first time, your children are very welcome to join us. Teen Church: Teen Church is an exciting youth programme offered during School term time at St John s. Each term the teens are invited to participate in 3 sessions exploring the Bible and their faith as well as In Service services at the 9am Family service. They engage in ministry tasks and liturgical roles in the In Service services which encourage their growth as Anglicans serving the community. Occasional group outings and fundraising events also form part of the Teen Church programme. Contact Caroline Daunton through the Parish Office for details.. Food Donation for Giving Tree We are collecting non-perishable food (no fresh food please) for donation to the Smith Family to help those in need this Christmas; the lonely, families in crisis and those experiencing homelessness. Please leave your donations of groceries and toiletries under the Christmas tree in church by Sunday 16th December so that they can be donated in time for pre-christmas distribution. Christmas Bowl Donations are invited for an annual Christmas Bowl appeal (envelopes are available at the back of the church) to assist Syrian refugees, food programs around the world and education for girls in developing countries. Please drop the envelope in the collection or post it direct.

8 Next Weeks Readings The Third Sunday of Advent Sunday 16 December 2018 Zephaniah For the Psalm: A Song of Isaiah (Isaiah ) Philippians Luke Rostered Duties 7.30am 9.00am L.A. s Readers Door Tea / Coffee Offertory Vanessa Hanlon Robert Bland Ros Thomson Ann Winfield Lionel Rowe Stuart Winfield Dorothy Cameron Anne & Peter Thurecht Sarah Davies Roland Sowerby Judith Hancock Brian Roy Stephen Jones Jenny Franklin Children s Church Bjorn & Lauren Holdt Counter Flowers No flowers during Advent Weekly Giving : Budget $1775/Week; Last Week $ Yearly giving is $35, under budget