THE LINK 30th December 2018 First Sunday after Christmas THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA PARISH OF PORT LINCOLN Parish Clergy: The Reverend Martin Bleby - Locum Priest phone: 0467 485 284 email: martin.bleby@gmail.com The Reverend Ruth Buxton phone: 0467 179 226 The Reverend Brian Bascombe phone: 0427 313 112 The Reverend Sonja Nugent phone: 0407 728 512 Office is open Wednesday & Thursday 10:00am to 1:00pm Parish Office phone: 8683 0036 website: www.anglicanportlincoln.com.au e-mail: angparlincoln@bigpond.com Facebook: Anglican Church Port Lincoln Issue No: 1716 1
Introit Tis 268 First Sunday after Christmas Year C 30 th December 2018 White Prayer of the Day God of community, whose call is more insistent than ties of family or blood: may we so respect and love those whose lives are linked with ours that we fail not in loyalty to you, but make choices according to your will; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. A reading from the first letter of Samuel Chapter 2 beginning at Verse 18 Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy wearing a linen ephod. His mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year, when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, May the Lord repay you with children by this woman for the gift that she made to the Lord ; and then they would return to their home. Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and with the people. [NRSV 1 Samuel 2:18-20;26] Hear the word of the Lord thanks be to God 2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Psalm 148 Praise the Lord, praise the Lord from heaven: O praise him in the heights. Praise him, all his angels: O praise him, all his host. Praise him, sun and moon: praise him, all you stars of light. Praise him, you highest heaven: and you waters that are above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded and they were made. He established them for ever and ever: he made an ordinance which shall not pass away. O praise the Lord from the earth: praise him, you sea-monsters and all deeps; Fire and hail, mist and snow: and storm-wind fulfilling his command; Mountains and all hills: fruit trees and all cedars; Beasts of the wild, and all cattle: creeping things and winged birds; 3
11 12 13 Kings of the earth, and all peoples: princes, and all rulers of the world; Young men and maidens: old folk and children together. Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is exalted. 14 15 His glory is above earth and heaven: and he has lifted high the horn of his people. Therefore he is the praise of all his servants: of the children of Israel, a people that is near him. Praise the Lord. A reading from the letter of Paul to the Colossians Chapter 3 beginning at Verse 12 As God s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and 4
admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. [NRSV Colossians 3:12-17] Hear the word of the Lord, thanks be to God. Gradual: Tis 279 v 1,3 & 5 The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke, Chapter 2 beginning at verse 41 Glory to you Lord Jesus Christ. Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, Child, why 5
have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety. He said to them, Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father s house? But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favour. [NRSV Luke 2:41-52] This is the Gospel of the Lord, praise to you Lord Jesus Christ. Offertory: Tis 319 Final: Tis 313 A Prayer for the Parish of Port Lincoln Father help us to be a Church that is a welcoming, caring, and meaningful community. A community which enjoys the celebration of the sacraments and has a passion to proclaim the Gospel of Christ. A community which reaches out to others, sharing the love of God with them. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 6
Prayer for the Appointment of a Parish Priest Bountiful God, give to this parish a faithful pastor who will faithfully speak your word and minister your sacraments; an encourager who will equip your people for ministry and enable us to fulful our calling. Give to those who will choose, wisdom, discernment and patience, and to us give warm and generous hearts, for Jesus Christ s sake. Amen Prayer of the Week Almighty God, you have shed upon us the light of your incarnate Word: may this light, kindled in our hearts, shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen For those with an ongoing need: Peter Linn, Darren & Rachel, Arthur R, Joyce H, Brian L, Brooke, Ryan, David R, Donna, Kelly, Jan, Helen and Kimberly. Remembering those who have joined God in the eternal life: Bob Whittaker, Judy McFarlane 7
From A Worship and Prayer Book for MU Australia 2009: Travel and Holidays God, you go with us on all our travels and all our holidays; you are the stranger on the Emmaus Road, and yet at home you wait eagerly for us, your arms open in welcome and delight. Help us to meet you wherever we go. Amen This Week s Events Wednesday: 12-30pm - Prayers for the Community Thursday: 10.30 am - APBA Healing Eucharist Service Friday 9 am to 3 pm - Op Shop open in the Parish Hall. Friday 4pm to 5 pm - Meditation in the church OP SHOP IN PARISH HALL Friday 9am to 3pm Fresh fruit and vegetables are welcome early in the day. Clean shopping bags, clean clothes, and household utensils, knickknacks etc welcome. For safety, please do not bring in electrical items. Offers to help in the shop on the roster, and to set out and put away, are always welcome. NEXT SUNDAY 6 th January 2019, The Epiphany of our Lord 9am St Thomas 8
Notices Times when Martin will be in Port Lincoln: Jan 6 Jan 13 2019 Church office reopens on January 9 th at 10am. Anglican Board of Mission envelopes are still available at the back of the church if you wish to donate. The Link After the Christmas break - Submissions for the link accepted until 12:00 Wednesday. Thank you BUSH CHURCH AID Intercontinental Church Society The Revd Richard Bromley Mission Director Unit 11 Ensign Business Centre, Westwood Way Westwood Business Park COVENTRY VC4 8JA enquiries@ics-uk.org Website ics-uk.org Pray for the seasonal chaplains who will be ministering at St Peter s Zermatt and St Bernard s Wengen, in Switzerland. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of people attending services. 9
The First Sunday after Christmas Sunday 30 December 2018 1 Samuel 2.18-20, 26; Psalm 148; Colossians 3.12-17; Luke 2.41-52 As New Year s Eve draws near, we would do well to heed the wise advice St Paul offers in his letter to the Colossians. We could do worse than clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. We also need to learn to forgive if we are to taste of the true goodness of this life. And we need to place love at the heart of our being. New Year s resolutions? Think we know what needs to be done or undone! Pray that we may clothe ourselves with these virtues, learn how to forgive, and act always with the same love that Jesus modelled for us so graciously and generously. Pray for the Daehan Seong Gong Hoe, the Anglican Church of Korea, 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 10