A member of the Central Highlands Cluster Ministry St George s, Trentham 9.00am St Mary s, Woodend 11.00am 4 th December, 2016 - Second Sunday of Advent Family Service We acknowledge the Jaara Jaara people, the custodians of this land where we gather. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and pray for reconciliation.
GATHERING IN GOD S NAME Gathering Hymn Christ be our light Longing for light, we wait in darkness, Longing for truth, we turn to you. Make us your own, your holy people, Light for the world to see Christ be our Light Shine in our hearts shine through the darkness Christ be our Light Shine in your church gathered today Longing for peace, our world is troubled. Longing for hope, many despair. Your word alone has power to save us. Make us your living voice Christ be our Light Longing for food, many are hungry. Longing for water, many still thirst. Make us your bread, broken for others, Shared until all are fed Christ be our Light Longing for shelter, many are homeless. Longing for warmth, many are cold. Make us your building, sheltering others, Walls made of living stone.christ be our Light Many the gifts, many the people, Many the hearts that yearn to belong. Let us be servants to one another, Making your kingdom come.christ be our Light In the name of God, Source of all being, Eternal Word and Holy Spirit. Amen
The Lord be with you. And also with you THE ADVENT WREATH. Celebrating past, present and future in one place The advent wreath is sprinkled with holy water and blessed: May this sprinkling of the waters of baptism remind us of our first sharing in grace that we may prepare for the Lord s coming among us today. The second advent candle is lit: See insert for words. The Confession The Lord comes, bringing to light things now hidden in darkness, and disclosing the purposes of the heart. Let us open our hearts and prepare for his coming, confessing our sins in penitence and faith. Holy God, long-suffering, full of grace and truth, You create us from nothing and give us life. You give your faithful people new life in the water of baptism. You do not turn your face from us, nor cast us aside. We confess that we have sinned against you and our neighbour. We have wounded your love and marred your image in us. Restore us for the sake of your Son, and bring us to heavenly joy, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Absolution Lord Jesus, you are mighty God and Prince of Peace: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord Jesus, you are Son of God and Son of Mary:
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord Jesus, you are Word made flesh and splendour of the Father; Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. The Trisagion Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us Let us pray God of all peoples, whose servant John came baptising and calling for repentance: help us to hear his voice, that we may also rejoice in his word of promise, and be found pure and blameless in that glorious Day when Christ comes to rule the earth as Prince of Peace; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. MINISTRY OF THE WORD A reading from the book of Isaiah chapter 11 verses 1-10 A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder s den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious. For the word of the Lord thanks be to God A reading from Paul s letter to the Romans chapter 15 verses 4-13 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm
the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name ; and again he says, Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people ; and again, Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him ; and again Isaiah says, The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. For the word of the Lord thanks be to God Gospel Hymn Prepare the way of the Lord When the faith of God s people was low, No one knew where the spirit would blow In the desert, alone in his cell, God let John know the news he should tell Then he announced the Messiah would come, Saviour of all but a let down for some
Holy John was familiar and strange A voice in the desert, demanding all change Alleluia Alleluia Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Alleluia The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Matthew, chapter 3 beginning at the 1 st verse Glory to you Lord Jesus Christ In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near. This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Now John wore clothing of camel s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our ancestor ; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the
axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. For the Gospel of the Lord praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ The Sermon The Prayers of the People The Greeting of Peace In the tender mercy of our God, the dayspring from on high shall break upon us, to give light to those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace. The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you. Offertory Hymn God Surprises *a collection to assist the mission of God in this parish will be taken up during this hymn Who would think that what was needed To transform and save the earth Might not be a plan or army, Proud in purpose, proved in worth? Who would think, despite derision, That a child should lead the way? God surprises earth with heaven, Coming here on Christmas Day. Shepherds watch and wise men wonder,
Monarchs scorn and angels sing; Such a place as none would reckon Hosts a holy helpless thing; Stable beasts and by-passed strangers Watch a baby laid in hay; God surprises earth with heaven, Coming here on Christmas Day. Centuries of skill and science Span the past from which we move. Yet experience questions whether Which such progress we improve. While the human lot we ponder, Lest our hopes and humour fray God surprises earth with heaven, Coming here on Christmas Day. THE GREAT THANKSGIVING Blessed are you..(we give thanks for the bread and wine) Blessed be God forever Blessed are you..(we give thanks for money and food offerings) Blessed be God forever During the season of Advent we use the preface on page 147 and then return to page 130 to continue the Eucharistic prayer, saying together Holy, holy, holy.. The Breaking of the Bread and the Communion Jesus, wisdom and mighty Lord: You take away the sins of the world. Jesus, true branch of Jesse s tree: You take away the sins of the world.
Key of David and Dayspring from on high You take away the sins of the world. Desire of nations, our Emmanuel You take away the sins of the world. Everyone is welcome to share God s great feast The Sending out of God s people God for whom we wait, we thank you that you have fed us with the bread of life and the cup of salvation. As we joyfully await your Son, keep us ever watchful that we may be ready to stand before him on the day of his coming. Most loving God... you send us into the world you love. Give us grace to go thankfully and with courage in the power of your Spirit. Final Hymn The Giving Song The Notices At this time of giving, gladly now we bring Gifts of goodness and mercy from our heavenly King. Earth could not contain the treasures heaven holds for you, Perfect joy and lasting pleasures, love so strong and true. At this time of giving, gladly now we bring Gifts of goodness and mercy from our heavenly King. May his tender love surround you at the Christmastime; May you see His smiling face the in the darkness shines. At this time of giving, gladly now we bring
Gifts of goodness and mercy from our heavenly King. But the many gifts he gives are all poured out from one; Come receive the greatest gift, the gift of God s own Son The last two choruses and verses - Lai, lai, lai, lai.. The Blessing and Dismissal Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you, scatter the darkness from before your path, and make you ready to meet him when he comes in glory; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen Go in the peace Christ Thanks be to God. ***some thoughts from Rev. Mel On Sunday night last week, from the comfort of my couch in Woodend, I watched one of my favourite bands play a concert on the steps of the Sydney Opera House. Crowded House, a band whose music has been woven through my entire life it feels, haven t played a big gig for 20 years and so the fans were well and truly ready to hear them once again. The people who were there to see them in the flesh sang along (I admit to doing the same!) and the pictures of the crowd shown on TV showed so much joy it really was a sea of happiness. Even if you didn t enjoy the music you would have enjoyed the pictures of joy. Music evokes in us such emotions. It holds a power that can make us soar and can make us cry. Advent music is special and assists us in telling the story of the waiting of the birth of Jesus; the waiting for God to come among us in the form of a tiny baby who will grow to change the world. Today we sing particularly about the story of walking in darkness, preparing for God to come among
us, and the generosity of God. Advent and Christmas are seasons in which music plays a big part of the celebration that we share in church, but it also translates very well to those who don t go to church it would be a rare thing to discover someone who didn t know Joy To The World for example. It is due to the joy that we feel when sing that music transcends so well. So, this advent season, invite your neighbours to come with you to sing carols either on the 10 th in Woodend or the 18 th in Trentham, and share the joy of the birth of our saviour through song. In joy as we wait, Mel. A prayer for the second week of Advent All the ends of the earth have seen The victory of our God. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; Break forth into joyous song and sing praises. Advent with St Francis: Daily reflections. Diane M. Houdek
************************** Pew Bulletin Every week! Conversations Tuesday evenings from 7pm in the rectory Meditation Group Wednesday evenings from 6pm in St Mary s Garden party and picnic Leonie and Andrew McLaren have generously offered to provide their garden as the setting for a picnic next Sunday afternoon from 5pm. There will be a raffle of a hamper on the day. $10 entry and all monies raised will go towards the St Mary s floor fund. Calendars Carol Barker is still selling the Anglican calendars for next year. They re $15 each and depict some really lovely churches throughout Australia. This is also a mission fund raiser for the parish. Street Stall The street stall will be on in Woodend on Saturday. Please come along and support that final stall for the year. Trentham Guild Trentham Guild will meet at 1.30pm at St George s on Wednesday. Please bring a plate to share for afternoon tea Macedon Ranges Toy Shop We are now collecting toys for the Macedon Ranges Toy Shop. Please leave your donations near the Christmas tree before December 16 th.
Christmas Services Please keep these dates free so that you can come along to our celebration of the birth of our Lord. Woodend December 10 Carols from 7pm Trentham December 18 Carols at St Andrews from 7.30pm Woodend December 24 Family Service at 6pm Woodend December 24 Midnight Mass at 10pm Trentham December 25 Christmas Morning 9am Woodend December 25 Christmas Morning 11am Intercessions our prayers are asked for: Penny and Keith, John, Sam, Jim, Andrea, Alison, Ethan, Kirsten, Claire, Christine, Barbara, Bernice, Joyce, Les, Carole, Wendy, Judy, Dustin, Jonathan, Jeanette, Susie, Lynne, Jeanette, Trevor, Helen, Rudi and Kelly. Please let Rev d Mel know if there is someone who is in need of prayer. Birthdays! On Thursday we celebrate three birthdays in the parish Sylvia Matthews, Sophie Clune and Anne Walker. On Friday Jacob Hemphill and Mark Horner celebrate their special days. Years Mind and those who have died recently We give thanks for Joyce Bedson, and pray for Trudy, Derek, Jack & Zoe.
Readings and Clergy for next week Rev. Mel will be looking after Trentham - Woodend Along with Rev. Charles in Trentham and Rev. Wendy in Woodend. Isaiah 35.1-10 Song of Mary James 5.7-10 Matthew 11.2-11 Can you find all of the Christmas words in the puzzle?
PO Box 699, Woodend, VIC 3442 www.woodendanglican.org.au Rector: Rev d. Ian Howarth 5422 2500/0437 655 702 Assistant Curate: Rev d Melissa Clark 0411 722 718 Deacon: Rev d Neil Fitzgerald 0439 337 252 Hon. Assoc. Priest: Rev d Dr. Charles Sherlock 0423 020 699 Wardens: Derek 0417 252 222; John 5424 1127 Friday is Rev Mel s day off. If you need a priest on Fridays please contact Rev. Ian. www.facebook.com/woodendanglican/