3rd December Jonathan Krause (ALWS) 1 Advent. Courage to love

Transcription

1 3rd December Advent Welcome to St Petri on this first Sunday of Advent the season of watching and waiting and renewal in faith. There is an urgency of our mission to share the love and hope of Jesus. This morning we are blessed to hear something about how we can share that love and hope in ways that reach far beyond us. Jonathan Krause from Australian Lutheran World Service will be speaking today. Courage to love (How honey biscuits and tin cans built a school in the desert) Do you ever feel like it's harder to be a Christian these days than ever before? Turn on the TV, and if ever a Christian is asked for a comment about the issues of the day, chances are they will be ridiculed, attacked or pitied. No one wants to listen to the words we want to say... so what can we do? In John's first letter, he suggests (commands?) we practice real love. Not just talk about love, but practice it. Good advice... but a bit tricky at Christmas when the world tries to persuade us that love is best measured by the amount we spend on gifts, food, alcohol... rather than the time we give for others. (How much do Australians spend on Christmas? When you hear the amount, you'll be shocked!) So today we'll look at a Christmas built from honey biscuits, fish fillets and old aluminium cans. We'll go into a kindy, a row boat, and a refugee camp. We'll meet a four year old, a fourteen year old and others who have already lived a lifetime. Yet the heroes of this Christmas story are not just the people on the screen, but people like you, giving life to their faith with practical actions through our church's overseas aid agency, Australian Lutheran World Service. When we look at Christmas like this, we'll see what God can build through us when we have the courage to love in actions as well as words... how even honey biscuits and tin cans can turn into a school when love comes to life! Jonathan Krause (ALWS)

2 This Week at St Petri Sunday 3rd December Readings: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13: am Worship with Holy Communion am Worship - Service of the Word Guest Speaker - Jonathan Krause, Australian Lutheran World Service Tuesday 5th December am Coffee & Friendship meet at St Petri Hall and will visit Joan Leahy and Stella Schulz and have lunch at the Willaston Hotel. Wednesday 6th December am Mid Week Holy Communion Friday 8th December 9.30 am HoOt Playgroup am Prayer for Messy Church in the Office Board Room 4.00 pm Messy Church, St Petri Hall Sunday 10th December 8.30 am Worship - Service of the Word am Worship with Holy Communion ** Letterbox drop - please help ** We will be advertising our Christmas services and Nativity on the Green again this year with a letterbox drop. We would really appreciate your help in delivering these around the town and have bundles available to pick up from the back of the church. Thank you Office Rosie & Libby admin@stpetri.org.au 21 Second Street, Nuriootpa Phone Pastor Adrian Kitson Greg Schubert Peter Lange Sue Vogt Sharon Green The Cottage f Website pastor@stpetri.org.au chair@stpetri.org.au businessmanager@stpetri.org.au familycentre@stpetri.org.au childyouthfamily@stpetri.org.au cottage@stpetri.org.au St Petri Lutheran Church stpetri.org.au

3 Nuriootpa Lutheran Parish St Petri, Ebenezer, Neukirch, Holy Trinity (and Strait Gate) PARISH SERVICE TIMES - Sunday 10th December Holy Trinity & Strait Gate 9.00 am Worship - Modern Combined at Strait Gate Ebenezer am Lay Reading Neukirch am Worship with Holy Communion - Modern St Petri 8.30 am Worship - Service of the Word am Worship with Holy Communion PARISH OFFICE Krieg House 21 Second Street Nuriootpa P: F: E: admin@nuriparish.org OFFICE HOURS Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Closed for Lunch pm pm Open Sunday morning 9.30 am am Parish Diary Dates Sunday 3rd December - Ordination to Pastoral Ministry Worship Service 2pm Concordia College Chapel, Unley (Vicar Matt will be ordained) TODAY! Friday 15th December Little Town Production at Loxton (local group departure - see page 6) Sunday 17th December St Petri Christmas on the Green, next to Bank SA, Main St Nuriootpa 7.00 pm Bring chairs or blanket Sunday 17th December Carols by Candlelight, Strait Gate 8.00 pm

4 This Christmas, we can help protect the lives of children in poor communities in Indonesia through ALWS Christmas Action. Christmas Action Offering 2017 The Christmas Eve offering envelope (in your offering packets) goes to Australian Lutheran World Service. You can also use the envelope provided by ALWS (tucked in their pamphlet) or any envelope just mark it Christmas Action Appeal. Please fill in your name and address details if you require a tax deductible receipt. Loose offering on Christmas Eve goes to individual congregations. VINE CONNECT is on Sunday December 10th at 12.30pm at the Vine Inn, Nuriootpa. VINE CONNECT is a Christian Singles group (for 50 plus year olds) which meets on the second Sunday of each month. Come along to enjoy food in the company of like-minded folk! Ring Di on or Helen on for more information or just turn up.

5 Employment Positions Available St Petri Lutheran Church is a well-established congregation in the Barossa Valley, committed to the mission of sharing the love and hope of Jesus in the community. We are currently seeking applications for the following position. Hand in Hand Co-ordinator Hand in Hand Family Centre (HHFC), St Petri Nuriootpa. Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA), Level hours per week. Salary Packaging is available A prime focus in the co-ordination of the HHFC is the planning and administering of programmes for strengthening of families. To achieve this requires recruitment, training, supervision and support of volunteers to fulfil the vision of the ministry, and reflect the love and hope of Jesus Christ. For a role description and further information: admin@stpetri.org.au Tel: Rosie or Libby Applications to: Jacqui Will, Secretary Hand in Hand Management Team via to: fallwill8@bigpond.com Applications close: 5pm, December 8 th Spin Camp registrations now open 9-12 January for young people in years 4-6 (in 2017) at Camp Kedron, Barmera. Registrations close 17th December. Lutheran Camp - Young Adults aged 18+ (LSF) January 6-12 at TocH, Victor Harbor youngadultsnationa.wixsite.com/retreat register by 6th December. Friday 2nd February Shed Happens Venue to be advised 6.30 pm pm BBQ Cost $10 BYO drinks & chairs Bring your mates for a great night out! More info: Wayne Rohrlach Greg Schubert or Viv Fiebiger Ministry of St Petri Lutheran Church, Nuriootpa Men s night out

6 UNEXPECTED MOMENTS - Renowned and award-wining Little Town returns 2017, A new one-hour production Friday 15 December 7pm & 8.30 pm Saturday 16 Dec 7pm & 8.30 pm Sunday 17 December 3pm matinee Friday 22 Dec 7pm & 8.30 pm Saturday 23 December 3pm matinee 7pm & 8.30 pm Adults $7 Children (116) $4 Family $18 ST PETER S LUTHERAN CHURCH LOXTON SA Tickets available online at Catch the bus! and travel up with friends On Friday 15th December, Les Hampel is happy to take a bus (18 seater) load of people with him to see the amazing Little Town production Unexpected Moments at Loxton. Leaving Nuriootpa (St Petri Church) at 4pm for the 7pm show. Food available prior to the show at own cost. Cost inclusive of travel and show $35 Contact Les if you would like to join him The organic flavours of Christmas - Wednesday 6th December Barossa Regional Gallery Join us for a feast of beautiful music, including some community carol singing as we celebrate St Nicholas Day with the Hill & Son Grand Organ. Angaston Carols Angaston Town Hall Sunday 10th December 7.00 pm Valley Voices Choir Marananga Band Offering to Angaston Centre Barossa Health & School Chaplaincy Programme MOCULTA LIVE NATIVITY - Follow the Star Monday 18 th Sherwood s, Albert Presser Road, Moculta Follow signs from Moculta Hall 8.00pm for 8.30pm start. BYO chairs, torch. Port & kuchen served after the program. All children receive a honey biscuit Community event organised by members of Gnadenberg and Gruenberg Lutheran churches. A Festival of Readings and Carols - Candlelight Service - Sunday 17th Dec The Light Pass Combined Choir and Friends Organist - Avis Stapleton Conductor - Elaine Schmidt Violinists - Daniella Vozzo and Ebony Doering Cellist - Shae Grieger Sunday 17th December - 8 pm at Strait Gate Lutheran Church Light Pass

7 Lessons & Carols Worship Service - Sunday 3rd December at 3pm At the Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Lyndoch With the special musical talents of the quire of St Nicolas All Welcome! Wonderful Christmas Hampers for sale produced by our school Parents & Friends Group of Angaston Good Shepherd Lutheran School. This is their fundraising efforts toward the Year 6/7 students biannual Canberra Camps. They make wonderful gifts and take the headache out of what to buy when your family/friends have everything! Included in your hamper: Christmas Cake Honey Biscuits Almond Bread Jam Rocky road Salted Bark Infused Olive Oil Quince Paste Cost $40 payment is required when ordering Collection December between 2-4pm. To order your hamper: gsls@goodsheperd.sa.edu.au. Orders and payment is available by phone to the school with credit card/eftpos details, or contact Sarah Gripton sawgrip@beagle.com.au Residential accommodation at ALC Available for 2018 In addition to ALC s educational programs, we also provide excellent, reasonably priced facilities which can accommodate up to 78 private residential students in their own room. Our facilities are conveniently located in North Adelaide, and are close to public transport. All residential students must be full-time tertiary students, studying either on campus at ALC or at government universities, TAFE colleges or private educational institutions. Applications for residential accommodation can be found at GIFTS OF GRACE The 2017 catalogue of Australia Lutheran World Service is now available. When you purchase a gift, or give one for Christmas, you are supporting the vital work of ALWS. Gifts of Grace are tax deductible, and range from $6-$597 Australian Lutheran World Service

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9 Movie Night - Christmas with a Capital C (putting Christ back in Christmas) Christmas has always been an exceptional time of love and tradition in the small town of Trapper Falls, Alaska. When Dan s old high school rival Mitch Bright returns home after 20 years, he takes offense to what he sees as the town s violation of his rights. Mitch wants the Nativity scene removed from the front of City Hall and the word Christmas switched to Happy Holidays. Christmas with a Capital C is launched as an effort to keep the town together. Sunday 10th December 7pm Holy Trinity Hall, Nuriootpa Gifts for Children for Christmas St Petri members are privileged to be able to give to needy children this Christmas. You may purchase a NEW gift and place it in the trolley in the church foyer for this purpose. Collected gifts will be given to Hand in Hand and Lutheran Community Care. Share His Love! In by Wednesday 6th December please at latest. Thank you. LLL Calendars The 2018 calendars for LLL account holders have now arrived and you can pop into the office and pick up a copy. St Petri History DVD available Contains the footage which was shown on the Saturday night of the 150 Celebration weekend as well as the re-enactment movie. Cost $15 John Krahling is copying these off for us, but please place your order at the office. Building on the Rock To commemorate St Petri s 150th birthday, Libby Krahling has written a history of the church Building on the Rock Celebrating 150 years of sharing the love and hope of Jesus in Nuriootpa. $15 per copy (available from the office) Commemorative Wine glasses $7.50 per glass $42 for a set of 6

10 Building redevelopment Planning The concept plan for redevelopment of our current church building in ways that will take us into the future and to meet current and future ministry needs was presented to the congregation for recent voting. It was supported by almost 2/3 of the large number who voted. However, this was just short of the required level of support to make such a commitment. We understand that there are a number of issues on which people seek further clarification and information. We want to hear more about these in a number of specific areas so that we can reassess the proposed concept plan and provide more information that will assist our continuing discussions and future decisions. In the coming weeks we will be providing a framework so that members can give further feedback on these issues of concern. Then we can assess the concept further and work out ways to keep sharing information and to help any further decision making. Our aim is to explore these issues as far as we can and present a clear concept for decision before we commit further resources to the final details of design and ongoing consultation with users of all areas. Ruth Prescott for the Redevelopment Planning Committee Messy Church We invite you to join us in prayer for our next Messy Church on Friday Dec 8 th. Prayer time will be in the office Board Room at 11am on Dec 8, OR you are welcome to pray with us at 11am wherever you may be. (or any time if it suits better) Take a moment and pray for His Spirit to move in the hearts of every soul coming to Messy Church, and to bless us so that we may be a blessing to others. Thank you. Christmas on the Green Sunday 17th December 7pm Town green next to Bank SA, Murray Street Nuriootpa Sing carols hear the story Bring chairs or blanket to sit on. Come and join us!

11 We pray... We ask that God be with those who live without hope - that they would hear God s word and put their trust in the one who is faithful to all his promises. We ask for God s Blessing on our Seniors Visitation team: Lawrence & Diane Linke, Yvonne Angove, Sadie Voigt, Aileen Auld, Jenny Wood, Gayle Gerhardy, Janet Harris and Val Petering. May the love and joy of knowing God flow through their care for our church community and beyond. Thank you God for our special ministry of Messy Church. Last one for the year coming up next week. May the message of hope in our saviour be shared in this fun, messy and joyful environment. We pray for God s healing and peace for those of our church family who are ill, facing medical treatment or recovering from surgery - and those who care for them: Pastor Robert Voigt, Barb Alexander, David Whitehead, Margaret Pfeiffer, Janet Harris, Audrey Gersch (Barossa Village now), Ewen McLean (Wheatfields), Norm Rosenzweig, Mary Hampel, Rosemary Lange, Stella Schulz, Rosemary Angel and Joan Leahy. We pray for members of our church family: Trevor, Julie, Jake, Bradley & Dylan HOLLITT, Arthur & Janet RADKE, Zac, Jessica & Ezekiel OSBORNE, Wes SCHILLILNG, Les SCHMAAL and John & Heather HANNATH. Bookings for St Petri Ministry Groups for Next Year Please contact the office with new dates for booking rooms for next year as soon as you have planned these to ensure availability. Thank you Lutheran Women Subscription $10 for 6 publications - due again. Payment to Elva Falland or leave at the office. Please let us know if you aren t already subscribed and wish to have this magazine. Help St Petri Meet the Target - Pasta, Rice, Family Sized Tinned Ham or Tuna LUTHERAN COMMUNITY CARE Christmas Hampers If you are able to donate, just pop them in the trolley in the church foyer or bring into the office please! Well over 300 hampers were packed by LCC - we don t expect we can donate that many, but let s see how many we can! Donations in by Wednesday 6th December please TOTAL 178

12 The Cottage Christian Book & Gifts Shop 47 Murray Street Nuriootpa SA 5355 PH: Christmas is here! Starting 4th December until Christmas 20% off all NATIVITIES and other selected Christmas items EXTENDED TRADING HOURS 1 DAY ONLY Saturday 9th December We will be open all day 9.30am - 5pm Gift wrapping included with any gift purchase Spend $30 or more this December and go into the draw to win one of these fabulous prizes. 2nd Prize: the Legendary Magic Cave and Christmas Pageant book 1st Prize: valued at over $110 2nd Prize: valued at over $70 3rd Prize: valued at over $30 1st Prize: Large Christmas Bear 3rd Prize: Children s nativity Advent Sunday 10 December 8.30 am & am HC Sunday 17 December 8.30 am HC & am Sunday 24 December 9.30 am Holy Communion Combined worship