Anglican Parish of Woy Woy Weekly Bulletin 16 July 2017 Sixth Sunday after Pentecost In the coming week Today 4.30pm Messy Church-St Andrew's Monday 17 July 7.00pm Choir Practice-St Luke's Tuesday 18 July 9.00am Cottage Crafters-The Cottage 1.30pm Bible Study-104 Gallipoli Ave Wednesday 19 July 10.00am Communion-Peninsula Village 7.30pm Bible Study-Rosemary Bond Thursday 20 July 8.30am Communion-St Luke s 10.00am Little Pelicans-St Andrew's 10.30am Coffee and Chat-Ruby's, Umina 4.00pm Messy Church Team-The Cottage Saturday 22 July 9.00am Op Shop Open Next Sunday 8.00am Communion-St Andrew's 10.00am Eucharist-St Luke's 5.00pm Sunday Night Live-St Andrew's Welcome to everyone visiting our churches! Our services are all slightly different, but each offers a friendly space in which you can worship God and be part of God s community. St Andrew s at 8am: Holy Communion is a less formal worship service. St Luke s at 10am: Holy Eucharist has a more formal style of worship. The Eucharist is also celebrated at St Luke s on Thursdays at 8:30am. St Andrew s at 5pm: Sunday Night Live or 4:30pm: Messy Church (3rd Sunday of each month) is a space for families with children and the young at heart to join in informal and fun worship, discussion and activities. At our Sunday morning services you will need the middle pages of this booklet to join in the prayers and the Psalm that we read together. If you need a gluten-free wafer at Communion, please tell the person who welcomed you at the front door before the service. We pray in silence before worship Before worship speak to God. During worship let God speak to you. After Worship speak to each other. Both of our churches are equipped with an audio loop. If you use a hearing aid, use the T switch to connect. 1
From the Parish Rector's Reflection Dear friends The story of Jacob and Esau is somewhat reminiscent of Isaac and Ishmael, both share a similar pattern of role-reversal, whereby the younger brother assumes the position of firstborn son and heir. Whereas Ishmael was denied his birthright in favour of Isaac; Esau sells his to Jacob for bread and stew. Rebekah s preference for the younger of her twins seems to suggest her realisation that the families good fortune resides with Jacob, hence her resolve to secure Isaac s blessing for him and not Esau. From the very beginning, God said the descendants of Jacob and Esau would become separate nations that would come to be known as Israel and Edom respectively. What began with competition in the womb and sibling rivalry in youth, ended in conflict and war between two peoples. Esau s flippant attitude to his own birthright is indicative that he didn't deserve it to begin with. We may question Jacob s motives in appealing to his brother s appetite in order to secure the birthright for himself, but at least Jacob appreciated its significance. In placing his immediate and personal needs over that of duty to his father, and thus God, Esau is guilty of that which many of us are at times in life, namely skewed priorities. Like Esau, the human condition tends to put its immediate concerns above God s; all too often there is an inability or an unwillingness to appreciate our birthright as sons and daughters of God. As Christians, we have an inherited birthright through Jesus Christ - the firstborn Son of God. Jesus inherited the kingdom from his Father, promising to share it with us as co-inheritors. We need be vigilant that we don't imitate the impulsive Esau and cast aside that which matters most for the sake of that which provides only temporary relief. we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.. Romans 8.17 God bless the week that awaits us Fr Michael 2
From the Parish Visit to Muslim Women s Centre Thursday 27th July. We will also visit the mosque in Auburn. Transport will be train and bus - the 9.11am train from Woy Woy returning to Woy Woy at 4.44pm. For more info ring Rosemary 0408416181. St Andrew's Morning Tea A volunteer is needed to provide morning tea after the 8am service on the third Sunday of each month. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Geraldine Andrews 4343 1548. The Australian Church Women Fellowship Day The Australian Church Women Fellowship Day for 2017 will be held at the Salvation Army, 9 Sydney Avenue, Umina at 10am on Friday, 28th July, 2017. The theme is "Women Empowered to Lead". The service will be followed by morning tea. Transport enquiries - please contact Penny Wheeler 4341 8510. Finances Parish Service - Fifth Sunday Following the Parish Service at St Andrew's at 10am on 30 July there will be a lunch. Cost is $5 for adults, children free. For catering purposes could you please add your name to the Sign-Up Sheet if you will be attending the lunch. Op-Shop Volunteers We are looking to fill vacancies on Wednesday and Thursday mornings as well as relief volunteers who are willing to stand in when regular volunteers are not available. If you are available for any of these positions please leave your name and phone number at the office or contact Judy Campbell 4344 5040. Diocesan Convention Saturday, 12th August - 9.30am - 4pm Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College- Speaker: Bishop Jeffrey Driver, the former Archbishop of Adelaide. Please add your name to the sign-up sheet by Sunday 30 July and advise if you require a Gluten Free or Vegetarian lunch. We will organise car-pooling prior to the day. 3
We pray in silence before worship As you prepare for this morning s service please pray for yourself and those around you. You might like to reflect on this thought for the week: The words you have spoken are spirit and life, O Lord; you have the words of eternal life. The prayer of the day Bountiful God, John 6.63, 68 we thank you for planting in us the seed of your word: by your Holy Spirit, help us to receive it with joy, and to live according to it, that we may grow in faith and hope and love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.. Today s readings Genesis 25.19-34 Psalm 119.105-112 Romans 8.1-11 Matthew 13.1-9, 18-23 8.00am Jacky King Keith King 10.00am Meryl Schofield Terry Steward This morning s hymns 111 Praise to the Lord, 245 We have a gospel to proclaim 415 Praise the Spirit in creation 390 Alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord 349 In the cross of Christ I glory For our prayers this week Please pray for: Mentors at the Wickham student accommodation. Wider Community: The First Peoples of the Diocese. Organisations working for environmental awareness. Anglican Cycle of Prayer The Diocese of Guadalcanal. The Anglican Episcopal Church in Japan. Orthodox Churches. In the Diocese of Newcastle: Our Bishop, Peter. The Bishop Nomination Board. The priests and people of Beresfield and Thornton and Braxton, Greta and Lochinvar. In the Parish of Woy Woy: We pray for our ministry team, Fr Michael, Fr Peter and Anthea, and we pray for ourselves and the work we do in the mission of this parish. For those seeking God s help: Margaret Allen, Helen Baker, Gabriella Bulloch, Clare, Allen Collison, Rex Crisp, Desmond, Brett Donnelly, Carol Fraser, Jenny, Val Hampson, Fr Ken Munns, Cecily Prentice, Elaine Rand, Lucy Roy, Mary, Heather Woodward, Leith Woodward. Would those who wish to include names in the above list, please ensure that permission has been obtained from the person or their carer. 4
Readings for this week Genesis 25.19-34 These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham s son: Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddanaram, sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. The children struggled together within her; and she said, If it is to be this way, why do I live? So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her, Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples born of you shall be divided; one shall be stronger than the other, the elder shall serve the younger. When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau. Afterwards his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. When the boys grew up, Esau was a skilful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. Isaac loved Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah loved Jacob. Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. Esau said to Jacob, Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished! (Therefore he was called Edom.) Jacob said, First sell me your birthright. Esau said, I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me? Jacob said, Swear to me first. So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. Psalm 119.105-112 105 Your word is a lantern to my feet: and a light to my path. 106 I have vowed and sworn an oath: to keep your righteous judgements. 107 I have been afflicted beyond measure: Lord, give me life according to your word. 108 Accept, O Lord, the freewill offerings of my mouth: and teach me your judgements. 109 I take my life in my hands continually: yet I do not forget your law. 110 The wicked have laid a snare for me: but I have not strayed from your precepts. 111 Your commands are my inheritance for ever: they are the joy of my heart. 112 I have set my heart to fulfil your statutes: always, even to the end. and, after her, the virgins that are with her. 5
6 Romans 8.1-11 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God s law indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved The Gospel: Matthew 13.1-9, 18-23 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen! Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.
For next week Seventh Sunday after Pentecost Genesis 28.10-19a Psalm 139.1-11,23-24 Romans 8.12-25 Matthew 13.24-30,36-43 Hymns 153 God is love, let heaven adore him 427 Lord, your word abiding 636 God has spoken to his people 502 Soul of my Saviour 106 Now thank we all our God Notices Spirituality in the Pub Tuesday 1st August - 7.30-9pm The Grange Hotel Function Room Cnr. Renwick St and Pacific Hwy, Wyoming Bistro opens at 5.30pm Speakers: Darryl Neve: Born in NZ to a committed Christian family. Darryl became a Baha'i at age 18 and has worked in Aged Care and a a musician. Sally Longley: An experienced spiritual director and retreat leader with extensive cross-cultural experiences. 7
Generosity Thank you This week we say thank you to Derek C, for Power points, Derek B and Marion R, for their gift of music. Thanks you for all you do to enhance our gathered worship. Samaritans Please remember to bring non-perishable food items and place them in the baskets provided near the door of the church for the work of the Samaritans organisation in our diocese. Direct giving Thank you for your generous financial giving to the mission of our parish. We encourage parishioners to give directly to the Anglican Parish of Woy Woy account: BSB 032-527 ACCOUNT 228059. Reminder If you would like a notice in the bulletin please give information to office staff by Thursday for inclusion in the bulletin the following Sunday. Parish Churches St Luke's: 151 Blackwall Rd, Woy Woy(opposite Park Rd) St Andrew's 360 Ocean Beach Rd,Umina(near Albion St) Ministry Team Parish Priest: Fr Michael Davies Mobile phone: 0417 650 805 Email: mdavies0968@gmail.com Day off Monday. Associate Priest: Fr Peter Mumford Phone: (02) 4322 9121 Email: ptierm@gmail.com Normally available Sundays and Wednesdays Children & Family Worker: Anthea Haughain Mobile phone: 0421 779 305 Email: ahaughain@gmail.com The Cottage: parish office, op-shop and community space 151 Blackwall Road, Woy Woy 2256 PO Box 709, Woy Woy 2256 Phone: (02) 4344 1347 Website: www.woywoyanglican.org E-mail: woywoyanglican@gmail.com 9.00 am to 4.00 pm Tuesday to Friday Refreshments are served after each of the services. We would love you to join us! At St Andrew s, refreshments are served in the foyer, and at St Lukes in the church hall. At the end of the service, please introduce yourself so that we can welcome you properly. Ask for our Welcome Pack, which offers more information about who we are and what we do. The Collect is from A Prayer Book for Australia 1995 Anglican Church of Australia Trust Corporation, published under the imprint Broughton Books. 8