22nd December 2002
FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT
CHRISTMAS SERVICES
7.00pm Carol Service followed by wine and Cheese - St John's,
5.30pm Children's Blessing of Crib and Eucharist - St John's,
8.00pm Christmas Eucharist with Carols - Emmanuel,
11.00pm Carol Singing - St John's,
11.30pm Midnight Mass - St John's
7.30am Eucharist and Carols - Talgarno
7.30am Eucharist and Carols - St John's,
9.00am Eucharist and Carols - Emmanuel
9.30am Eucharist and Carols - St John's,
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
In New Zealand egalitarianism means treating everyone else as an equal. In Australia it means treating them as in inferior. Quoted by Michael White.
The ability of dandelions to tell the time is somewhat exaggerated, owing to the fact that there is always one seed that refuses to be blown off; the time usually turns out to be 37 o'clock. Miles Kington
Never take a reference from a clergyman. They always want to give someone a second chance. Lady Selborne
It reminds me of the small boy who jumbled his biblical quotations and said: "A lie is an abomination unto the Lord, and a very present help in trouble. Adlai Stevenson
WELCOME
Welcome to our services. The order of the Eucharist is from "A Prayer Book for Australia". We like our worship to flow, so there are few directions given during the service. Page numbers are printed in this pew sheet as are the Prayer of the Day, Readings, Psalm and Hymn Numbers.
Help me, O Lord, to descend into the depths of my being, below my conscious and sub-conscious life until I discover my real self, that which is given me from you, the divine likeness in which I am made and into which I am to grow, the place where your spirit communes with mine, the spring from which all my life rises.
A big fellow from the bush was trying out for a Sydney Rugby team. "Can you tackle?" asked the coach. "Watch this!" said the boy from the bush, and he proceeded to run full-speed into a telephone pole. He shattered it into splinters. "Pretty good," said the coach. "I'm impressed. But can you run?" "Of course I can run," replied the boy from the bush. And he dashed off like a shot. In just over nine seconds he had done a 100 yard dash. "Bewdy," said the coach. "But can you pass a football?" The young man hesitated for a few seconds. "Well," he said, "if I can swallow it, I can probably pass it."
INCARNATION
Fr Andrew Neaum
A buffoon in a regional paper recently maintained that Christianity has nothing to offer a troubled world except a collection of fairytales.
Fairy tales are often, of course, the vehicles of great insight, profundity and truth, but the buffoon I refer to used the word "fairytale" pejoratively, as an insult. And so although I know that no buffoons ever read this pew sheet, but only perceptive, intelligent, lovers of the Christ, I will resist any temptation to delve into the beauties and truths of tales, stories and narratives, be they historical, imaginative or away with the fairies, and instead, as a man who loves, lives and breathes the Christian faith, and who hates baloney babbling, buffoons, will ask what it is we are really celebrating at Christmas.
We are celebrating not merely a birthday, but rather, the most distinctive of all Christian doctrines, the Incarnation. The Incarnation! It means literally, the enfleshment of God. We are celebrating the coming together of God and man. God present in time and space, in Jesus of Nazareth. We celebrate, the meeting of eternity and time, of finitude and infinitude. We celebrate the fact that our world, our matter, our flesh, and our mind, are able to contain, mediate and be the divine.
The manifestation of this truth in first century Palestine, constitutes so remarkable an event, so strange an occurrence, so singular a happening that no story, no history, no philosophy, no poem, can come anywhere near to containing it.
We possess wonderful, wonderful tales that mingle historical fact, with profound, truth-bearing myth, in both St Luke and St Matthew's gospels, stories that do their best to give us a glimpse of the great Incarnation mystery and truth. Stories which still move us beyond telling, but which cannot come anywhere near to containing the fullness, the strangeness, the wonder, of what happened.
We also possess a wonderful combination of poetry and philosophy in the first chapter of St John's Gospel. This too provides insights into what Incarnation is all about, but no final word, for it cannot contain so remarkable an event, it cannot fully explicate so strange an occurrence, it cannot come anywhere near to defining so singular a happening.
No story, no history, no philosophy, no poem, can possibly do so.
The Incarnation tells us that the gap between God and humankind is crossed from the side of God, and God has made himself known within the human world in a life of dedicated and lovely and moving, self-sacrificial love. At a stroke, therefore, all the woolliness, the vagueness that charac-terises religious awareness generally is done away with, is now focussed in a person, in history, in actuality.
To start with, a much more personal and intimate knowledge and experience of God is made possible for believers. We relate to Jesus of Nazareth.
As well the problem of evil and suffering, is made more sense of and a lot more bear-able, because the readiness of God to subject himself to the conditions of mortal life and to take suffering and evil and crucifixion onto himself reveals to us a more morally credible God. Although evil and suffering, it seems, have still to be a part of existence, God is re-vealed as alongside us, in it all. He has shared and shares the suffering and evil with us.
Perhaps best of all though, love, sacrificing, lovely love, is revealed, both credibly and incredibly to be the ultimate virtue, and is given ultimate validity. Because if God is incarnate in time and space as Son, yet remains too, our Father, the Creator of time and space, and so beyond time and space, but in a relationship of love with the Son, in the Spirit, then that other great Christian doctrine, the Trinity, becomes an inescapable corollary, and we see that a relationship of love exists in the very godhead, within God himself...... God is not, absurdly, dependent on creation for an object of his love. God really is Love within himself, and as Dante says.... It is love that moves the heavenly spheres.
Finally, God's own self involvement in the world of human suffering and sin, his love of the outcast, the publicans and sinners, his love of prisoners, down-trodden women, the sick and the dying, becomes the pattern, blue print and inspiration for Christian good works and ethical commitment at every level of individual, social and political life.
Christianity has far more to offer our troubled world then, than a collection of fairytales, it offers the most credible, compelling and moving portrait of God imaginable. A portrait that is drawn from the doctrine of the Incarnation which we celebrate at Christmas.
Down through the ages great art, great music, great poetry, great philosophy have attempted to express the Incarnation, have hinted at and shown glorious intimations of it, but have never been able fully to convey or express it, because no story, history, poetry or philosophy can possibly do so.
If Dante, Milton and T S Elliot have proved incapable of doing so, likewise J S Bach, Handel and Mozart, also Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Graham Sutherland, and even Peter Abelard, Thomas Aquinas and Karl Barth, then a footling little pew-sheet prattler like me, in a footling little article like this, can't possibly either. So it is time for me to stop, and simply remind all my readers that every Christian should be at the altar on Christmas day, for it is at the altar that the Incarnation extends itself, and mere matter (mere bread and wine) once more, through God's grace, contains, mediates, and in some strange but real sense becomes the divine!
Midnight: Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-14
Christmas Day: Isaiah 62:6-12, Titus 3:4-8, Luke 2:1-14
Both the Christmas Gospel readings will be the old King James Authorised Version. All other readings from the New Revised Standard Version.
December 29th: Isaiah 61:10-62:3, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:22-40
Congratulations to Ida Smith who celebrates her birthday, today, Sunday. Also to Anne Melton who celebrates hers on Friday the 27th. Joan and Alex Johnstone celebrate their wedding anniversary on the 26th, Boxing Day, congratulations to them. There is a sheet on the narthex table, or in the porch of each of our parish churches for the names of those who would like their birthday or wedding anniversary noted in this pew sheet.
Groups that use the Narthex for any purpose and so need to book it or part of it, please advise the Church Office of dates for 2003.
On behalf of my fellow members of M.U. I would like to thank everyone who purchased our Christmas Cards and Diaries. Your support was greatly appreciated. S. Gillard
On the Board and on the Table in the Narthex is news of a summer Camp for young people aged between 12 and 15. It sounds great, so do have a look at it if you are in that age group or have children who are. It takes place from the 17th to 19th of January at Wandiligong.
Beryl and Peter Nugent sincerely thank St John's fellow members for their prayers, good wishes, kind words and generous gifts of flowers and food during the last twelve months of Peter's illness. All this has been wonderful support and with further ongoing treatment continued prayers will be gratefully appreciated. Every blessing for a happy and safe Christmas.
We are now in recess until February, but members' knitting needles may not be. Weather permitting, bootees and teddies will probably still come off the production line. With the bootees, new Mums visited receive a pamphlet about Baptism. When parents come for Baptism preparation, they are given an MU promotional card and, following the actual Baptism, a leaflet of Prayers for Children. Trauma Teddy has comforted many a child in a crisis situation. M.U. members at the southern end of the Diocese made Teddies for the Kosovar children when they were at Puckapunyal. At a recent meeting, we received letters of thanks from Wodonga Hospital and Women's Refuge. There is a small box of promotional cards on one of our notice boards. Ladies, do take one and learn more about us. Remember, you are always welcome to attend any of our meetings. The Quiet Day in Lent is not just for members, it is our offering to the whole parish. J. Mc.Dougall
Stan Windley continues to welcome used stamps for sorting and sending off to ABM. There should be a good swag from our Christmas mail, so don't forget him please.
The calendars featuring lovely photographs of Australian parish churches have not yet all been sold. They make an ideal last minute Christmas present. See Margaret Andrews.
MEETING PLACE OPENING CELEBRATION
Emmanuel is at the point of opening its new Community Centre at the church, and commencing a ministry to the local community based around sharing of their premises with the Neighbourhood House, relocation of the Community Shop from High Street to Wodonga West, and provision of courses and services to the community.
The Emmanuel Congregation and Birallee Park Neighbourhood House invite all members of St John's to join with us in celebrating the completion of the Community Centre and the start of a new ministry in the neighbourhood.
Friday 7th February - afternoon
2:00 p.m. Inspection of Community Centre. See a Neighbourhood House class in action.
2:45 p.m. Official opening by politicians and the Uniting Church Moderator, Rev. Alistair Macrae. 3:30 p.m. Afternoon tea
Friday 7th February - evening
7:00 p.m. Dinner with guest speaker and musical entertainment. Cost $20 per head.
Sunday 9th February - evening
7:30 p.m. Service of dedication. Guest preacher Rev. Gregor Henderson
RSVP for catering purposes by Friday 24th January to Dos (60594281),or Ted (60592244)
IMPORTANT DATES
Feb 7th Meeting Place Opening and Dinner
Feb 9th Meeting Place Opening Service
Feb 13th Induction of the Dianne Watson - Emmanuel
Feb 19th Pastoral Care Committee 2.00pm
Feb 26th Pastoral Care Group Meeting 2.00pm
Mar 2nd AGM St John's
Mar 4th Pancake Party
Mar 7th World Day of Prayer ( Sacred Heart)
Mar 13th Street Stall
Mar 19th Friends of our Lady Eucharist & Coffee Morn
May 4th Patronal Festival
Jun 16th Friends of our Lady Eucharist & Coffee Morn
May 31st Synod
July 23rd Fish and Chip night
Aug 14th-16th Choral Festival
Sep 17th Friends of our Lady Eucharist & Coffee Morn
Aug 17th Possibly Confirmation Day
Oct 5th St Francistide Pet Service
Oct 25th Flower Show and Fete
Dec 3rd Combined Friends of our Lady & Pastoral Care
DUTIES up to & including 25th December
Midnight
Servers Liz, Catherine, Margaret, Howard
Readers Anne Young, Catherine Hayes
Euch Assistant Chris Filby
Door Doug Heiner, John Skilton
Christmas Day
Servers Tabitha, Aimee, Candice, Rose, Liz
Readers Gaye Petzke, Elisabeth Neaum, Judith Dicker
Euch Assistant Hugh Elford
Door Gaye Petzke, Melissa Watson, Jenny Schubert
DUTIES up to & including 29th December
Cleaning & Tea Team 3
Vestry Peter Young
Mowing Jordan & Ryan Cook
Narthex Jean de Kruiff
Linen Ethel Elkington
Welcome Table Betty Dahl, Shirley Boyton
Door Jean Ardern, Daniel Saunders, Stephen Watson
Readers Beryl Anson, Dianne Smith, Julie Skilton
Euch Assistant Mary Nicholson
Intercessor Clare Russell
Servers Caldwell, Jess, Travis, Daniel
FOR PRAYER
The Sick
Ed Baumgarten, Jean Burns, Sally Craven, Gwen Goldsworthy, Maimee Haines, Lyla Hair, Joyce Hall, Julie Howe, Robert Jones, Gail Mahney, Jean Miles, Anja Mosse, Janet Murray, Peter Nugent, Thora Pyke, Val Saunders, Grant Savage, Ray Schmidt, Jack Skilton, Dawn Smallpage, William, Pam Willoughby.
Rest in Peace
Olive Riddington, Ron Rapsey, John Willoughby
Anniversary of Death
Lena Welch, Michelle Holland 22nd, William Hall, Reginald Hadley 23rd, Iris Neilson 24th, Daniel Kennedy, Janis Carroll 26th, Dorothy Thodey, Ethel Hunter 27th, Anna Korneluk, David Neaum (priest) 28th.
THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Monday 23rd December
7.15am Mattins & Eucharist - St John's
5.00pm Evening Prayer - St John's
7.00pm Choir Practice - St John's
Tues 24th Christmas Eve
7.15am Mattins & Eucharist - St John's
5.30pm Kid's Christmas Eucharist St John's
8.00pm Christmas Eucharist - Emmanuel
11.00pm Congregational Carols - St John's
11.30pm Midnight Mass - St John's
Wed 25th Christmas Day
7.30am Eucharist - Talgarno
7.30am Eucharist - St John's
9.00am Sung Eucharist - Emmanuel
9.30am Sung Eucharist - St John's
5.00pm Evening Prayer (said) - St John's
Thursday 26th December St Stephen
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - St John's
5.00pm Evening Prayer - St John's
Friday 27th December St John
Fr Ellis' Day off
7.15am Mattins & Eucharist (Trad) - St John's
5.00pm Evening Prayer - St John's
7.30pm Scottish Country Dancing - Narthex
Sat 28th December Holy Innocents
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - St John's
10.00am Baptism - Talgarno
6.00pm Vigil Eucharist - St John's
29th December "The Holy Family"
7.30am Said Eucharist - St John's
9.00am Eucharist - Emmanuel
9.30am Sung Eucharist - St John's
7.00pm Evening Prayer - St John's