15th December 2002
THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT
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.
MUSIC
The organist at 9.30am is Marjorie Glanville. The Postlude is Bach's great Chorale Prelude "Watchet Auf" that is, "Sleepers Wake"
Hymns at 9.30am
194 204 193 201
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Scientists may go much further in plumbing nature's secrets. They may decipher the neural code, the secret language of the brain. They may arrive at a plausible explanation of how life emerged on earth, and they may discover life elsewhere in the cosmos. They may find and verify a unified theory of physics, which will provide a more precise picture of the origin and history of the universe. Although there are good reasons for doubting the likelihood of such scientific advances, they cannot be ruled out. What can be ruled out is that science will answer the ultimate question: How did something come from nothing? Neither superstring theory nor any other of science's so-called theories of everything can resolve that mystery, any more than our supernatural theologies can. John Horgan
PRAYER OF THE WEEK
Source of love, let your love go out to all created beings, to those I love and to those who love me, to the few I know and to the many I do not know, to all of every race, to all the living in this world and to all the living dead in the next world: may all be free from evil and from harm, may all come to know your love and to find the happiness of loving you and their fellows. Let the small love of my heart go out with your all-embracing love for the sake of him who first loved us and taught us love, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Saturday 21st December
7.00pm Carol Service followed by wine and Cheese - St John's,
5.30pm Children's Blessing of Crib & 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,
Reading the Bible at Sunday Eucharist
Sunday 22 December 2002: Advent 4
Please try to prepare your readings. Take it easy, go slow enough for people to pick up the tiniest word or syllable. Don't drop your voice at the end of sentences or phrases/clauses, but instead, pronounce clearly last letters of words, for if you don't, people will hear something else or nothing, no matter how high we turn up the P.A. And when you come across one of those foreign words, respect its foreignness by giving it proper accent and character.
Let's give the pronunciations our best shot.
The Second Book of Samuel Chapter 7 verses 1-11 and 16.......This reading is about David's desire to build a temple for Yahweh God. God's response is put into the mouth of that fabulous court prophet Nathan. The upshot is that David was too much of a man of war to build a temple or house for God. His son Solomon would do this. Solomon is a name conveying Peace, from Hebrew shalom and similar to Arabic Salaam. E.g. the African city Dar es Salaam means "Harbour of Peace, " (though it suffered in a naval battle in the 2nd World War.) But then, the name of the city Jerusalem contains the same word Salem and it means "Possession of peace." But it has known little peace in all its history. We of the Church must allow Nathan's prophecy to have a life of its own as part of David's life and influence in the10th Century BC. But it also looks forward to a spiritual Temple or House, the Church created and ruled by David's true successor Jesus Christ. So emphasise "House" in the second half of verse 11, and in all of Verse 16.
The Letter of Paul to the Romans Chapter 16 verses 25-27......This is called the Final Doxology of Paul's big letter to people he didn't know. It combines his faith in his old Jewish religion with his wonderful vision that all the great insights of that faith must be available to Gentiles and all people. Observe all the pauses and commas.
Take a glance at the Gospel for the day, Luke Chapter 1 verses 26-38......The Angel's statements to Mary are comparable to the Prophet Nathan's statements to David. Understanding this will better enable you to deliver Nathan's Prophecy in the first lesson.
We present you with this Book, the most valuable thing that this world affords. Here is wisdom, this is the royal Law; these are the lively Oracles of God. (From the Coronation Service) Please treat it well when given the privilege of reading it in public. Fr Ellis
THE WEEK THAT WAS
My week was filleted. Two days taken out of it by extra parochial duties. On Tuesday I travelled up to Corryong for a Rural Deanery meeting. I went with Fr Bruce, good company on a beautiful drive. Our Deanery meetings are held every second month and in a different parish each time. Because Corryong is so isolated it is considered important to make an effort to get out there to a Rectory that doesn't often have fellow clergy dropping in. On the way back I had to keep stopping to run around the car in order to keep myself awake, Fr Bruce didn't seem to mind as it helped preserve his life.
On Thursday I had a Bishop in Council meeting in Wangaratta. These meetings are held once a month and are a sort of Standing Committee of Synod, assisting the Bishop in the day to day running of the diocese. Often very dull they do have moments of interest and humour. This was followed by a very pleasant end of year luncheon at Bishop's Lodge, which was served for us not only by Mrs Farrer, but also by Margaret, who came down with me and returned with David Mitchell, as I had to take part in a Patronage Board meeting at 4.00pm to select a new priest for the parish of Shepparton. In between meetings I had a coffee with Peter and Robyn French, they move to Melbourne next year, sadly.
Choir practice on Thursday night was heartening as I think we are on top of everything for the Carol Service. There is only one fiendishly difficult piece. Do try to persuade folk to come along with you to this service, it will be well worth it. The music and Christmas story will be augmented by pieces of verse of a Christmas variety.
One of the week's highlights was to read a couple of truly brilliant sermons by Rowan Williams. Sandra Temple has lent me a book of his sermons and it is a real treasure. One was a Christmas sermon, the other was on T.S. Eliot. How good it is to have as Archbishop a man with so wide and acute a mind and so obviously an authentic spirituality. Fr Andrew
NATIVITY PLAY
As part of our worship today at 9.30 in St John's the children from the Thursday Club will be putting on a Nativity Play. This is not going to be a polished Royal Shakespeare Company type performance, indeed, anything could happen and Fr Ellis suspects that it will! We are asked simply to delight in a sanctuary filled with children and to reflect how good it is that we have so many youngsters coming to St John's on Thursdays and on the third Sunday of each month to Children's Church.
DRAMA ON THE ROAD
A highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding Nissan on the freeway. Glancing at the car, he was astounded to see that the blonde behind the wheel was knitting! Realising that she was oblivious to his flashing lights and siren, the officer cranked down his window, turned on his bullhorn and yelled, "PULL OVER!" "No," the blonde yelled back, "it's a scarf!"
SACKAN
The sewing group will meet in the Narthex on Thursday from 9.00am. As it will be the final meeting for the year we will be having a shared lunch.
CAROL SERVICE
The St John's Carol Service, is on Saturday night, the 21st, at 7.00pm. For heavens sake bring along friends and support what will be a delightful evening, there will be a glass and nibble afterwards. There are still spare posters to be displayed anywhere you can think of. Please take one!
Congratulations to Josh Dicker who celebrates his birthday on Monday the 16th, also to Peter Young who celebrates his on Tuesday the 17th. Roger and Cheryl Cobcroft celebrate their Wedding Anniversary on Tuesday the 17th, congratulations. 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.
YOUTH SUICIDE
After the 9.30am Eucharist today, the15th of December there will be a showing of a video on youth suicide. It is all about a scheme to help those contemplating suicide and is sponsored by the Mothers' Union. Anyone who would like to stay on and watch is welcome to and as many MU members as are able should.
PARISH COUNCIL
The last meeting of the Parish Council takes place on Wednesday at 7.30pm. We hope that this will be a short crisp meeting, after which there will be time for a drink and a nibble if the wherewithal is brought.
A LOVELY CALENDAR
The beautifully photographed Anglican Church Calendar is an excellent buy at only $10. It can be an aid to your daily worship and Christian meditation or would make a tasteful gift, see the Trading and M.U Table in the narthex or contact Margaret Andrews.
CHRISTMAS GIFT WRAPPING AT MYER - ALBURY
In conjunction with Vison Australia, from Friday 13th to Christmas Eve, an enjoyable way to raise funds for the Memorial Hall has come our way. We need people to offer their services to gift wrap in three hourly shifts. Shifts are 9.00am to 12 noon, 12 noon to 3.00pm, 3.00pm to 6.00pm daily, including Saturdays and Sundays. Workers work in pairs, maybe you have a friend, granddaughter or school leaver who could work with you. We need to fill at least thirty six shifts, so please don't be afraid to offer for more than one shift. For further details see or contact Dorothy Heiner on 60289344.
THANK YOU
Thank you to the people of St John's Church who have diligently prayed for the return to health of my sister Audrey Kennedy, and for their support for me over the past six months. Once again the power of prayer has triumphed over death. Audrey has now left the Albury Base Hospital and is a resident of "Amaroo" in Yackandandah, her return to good health is truly miraculous. Thank you and God bless you. Georgina Edgar
THANK YOU AGAIN
Jan Sterling, the Co-ordinator of the Creative Learning for Over 50's Program, writes as follows: "On behalf of the program and Creative learning Committee of Management I would like to thank you and your team of great workers very much for doing such a wonderful job. The lunch was delicious and the attendees were served by you all in a very friendly manner, which complemented the comfortable and happy atmosphere of the day. Feed back from members was that the whole celebration was overwhelmingly successful and enjoyed by all. Once again, thank you very much.
CHOIR PRACTICE
Choir Practice next week starts at 7.00pm on Thursday. Please all choristers be present. There will also be a short choir practice on Monday the 23rd at 7.00pm to look at music for the Christmas services.
CHRISTMAS BOWL
There are envelopes available for donations to the Christmas Bowl 2002. The money will go towards World Council of Churches projects, to people such as Gatluak from Sudan, who wonders if he will ever see his wife and little boy again. Or to Luis from Timor who works toward rebuilding his community, or to Hussein from Lebanon, who is now farming land that has been ravaged by civil war, to children all over the world who continue to dream and hope for their own lives.
NARTHEX USE
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.
A MARVELLOUS EFFORT
To the customers, suppliers and donors of "the Trading Table", we are happy to announce that the proceeds for this year are in excess of $2,200. Thank your for supporting this effort. Georgina Edgar
SUMMER CAMP
On the Board and on the Table in the Narthex is news of a summer Camp for children 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.
THE REV DIANE WATSON
The new Uniting Church minister who will have responsibility for Emmanuel is the Rev. Diane Watson. She was ordained in December 2000 and is currently working in full-time supply, she will take up her ministry in Wodonga during February 2003. She is single, aged in her early fifties, has two adult children, a daughter and a son and also two young grand children. She is a woman of many talents and among other things has been an art/craft teacher, primary and secondary; a welfare officer; a consultant, counsellor and manager in occupational assistance. We Anglicans look forward to getting to know her and to working with her.
MORE CONGRATULATIONS
Fr Ed and Lyn Richardson are now grand-parents. Jocelyn and Adam are the parents of a little girl called Hannah, born of Thursday 12th of December in Wodonga. Congrat-ulations to both parents and grandparents.
IMPORTANT DATES
Dec 21st Carol Service
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 22nd December
Cleaning & Tea Team 2
Vestry Bill Elkington
Mowing Martin Morse
Narthex Anne & Peter Young
Linen Margaret Barkley
Welcome Table Margaret Neaum, Val Hill
Door Marie Draper, Betty Dahl, Georgina Edgar
Readers Jean Ardern, Roger & Cheryl Cobcroft
Euch Assistant Margaret Barkley
Intercessor Georgina Edgar
Servers Jess, Caldwell, Candice, Catherine
FOR PRAYER
The Sick
Ed Baumgarten, Sally Craven, Gwen Goldsworthy, Maimee Haines, Lyla Hair, Joyce Hall, Julie Howe, Robert Jones, Gail Mahney, Jean Miles, Anja Mosse, Janet Murray, Peter Nugent, Christopher Pearson, Thora Pyke, Val Saunders, Grant Savage, Ray Schmidt, Jack Skilton, Dawn Smallpage, William, John Willoughby.
Anniversary of Death
Hilda Lord, Gwenda Tuson, Mavis Hinchcliffe, Eileen Barret 15th, Marcel Wolters, Roy Chapple 16th, Jean Boyd 17th, Donald Burrows, Douglas Benstead, Noel Scammell 18th, Bill Hervin 19th, Michael Morley 20th, Charles Brown 21st.
THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Monday 16th December
Fr Andrew's Day off
7.15am Mattins & Eucharist - St John's
5.00pm Evening Prayer - St John's
Tuesday 17th December
7.15am Mattins & Eucharist - St John's
Clergy Hospital Visits
5.00pm Evening Prayer - St John's
8.00pm Baptism preparation - Narthex
Wednesday 18th December Ember Day
7.15am Mattins only - Emmanuel
9.00am Meditation - Narthex
10.00am Eucharist - St John's
10.30am Combined Service - Vermont Court
10.00am Home Communions
5.00pm Evening Prayer - St John's
7.30pm St John's Parish Council - Narthex
Thursday 19th December
7.15am Mattins & Eucharist - St John's
9.00am SACKAN - Narthex
11.00am Combined Service - Westlands
1.30pm Combined Service - Osburn Lodge
5.00pm Evening Prayer - St John's
7.30pm Choir Practice - St John's
Friday 20th December Ember Day
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
Saturday 21st December St Thomas
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - St John's
6.00pm Vigil Eucharist - St John's
22nd December 4th Sunday in Advent
7.30am Said Eucharist - St John's
9.00am Eucharist - Emmanuel
9.30am Sung Eucharist - St John's
11.00am Morning Prayer - Bethanga
7.00pm Evening Prayer - St John's