Sunday 21st December 2008 – 4th Sunday of Advent
Today’s Officiant is Rev’d Dr Warren Huffa
WELCOME Please join us for breakfast in the hall after the 8am service or for morning tea after the 10am service. At 10am please find all prayers and hymns projected onto the sanctuary walls.
THE PRAYER FOR TODAY Gracious God, whose eternal Word took flesh among us when Mary placed her life at the service of your will: prepare our hearts for his coming again and keep us steadfast in hope, that we may be ready for the coming of his kingdom; for his sake, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
TODAY’S READINGS 2 Samuel 7:1-11,16 Psalm 89:1-4,19-27 Romans 16:25-27 to be read by Evelyn GOSPEL Luke 1:26-38
NOTES ON WARREN’S SERMON
It is only in the light of faith in Christ that the continuity between Jesus and what went before him in the Old Testament can be glimpsed. And it is not a nice, neat, simple, linear progression from one to the other. Jesus was a surprise. Those who like the linear approach seem to think that this 'proves' that Jesus is the messiah. (And provides a handy ground for condemning those who have missed what should be obvious.) But it is the surprise that Jesus is the messiah that strikes me. And it is this surprise, the way in which Jesus does not fit the expectations of his day (or the Old Testament), that lends credibility to the claims of faith. Where did the strange claims come from? Were they just made up? (Because, without the claims themselves, it is difficult to see how Jesus is the fulfilment of the expectations of the Old Testament.) And if a non-believer were to assert that the claims about Jesus (e.g. his resurrection) are made up, where did they come from? There were plenty of other claims to fabricate that would have met the expectations of the day, been more believable, and therefore more attractive to a Jewish audience. The lack of fit between Jesus and the expectations of the Jews demands explanation.
In all of this there is an excess in the Old Testament that allows for the strange twist that leads from the Old Testament to Jesus, but the excess is only accessed through a prior faith that sees Jesus, the crucified, risen Lord, as the true messiah. With the light of this faith, the Old Testament and its expectations can be read in a new and surprising way.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE by Margaret .
PREPARATION FOR NEXT WEEK Isa 61.10-62.3 Ps 148, Gal 4.4-7
SAFER MINISTRY The details of courses and dates for 2009 are now available. Those needing to complete courses should check the sheets on the table or notice board, plan your year, and book as soon as possible as the courses fill up very quickly.
PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month
BIBLE STUDY 10am every Wednesday
HOLY COMMUNION 9.30am every Thursday followed by morning tea in the hall.
HELPLINE
Part of being a Christian community is supporting each other in times of need. We offer short-term delivery of food when required, local transport, phone calls, visits and numerous other types of assistance. It is our way of helping one another quietly and confidentially.
Call Caroline or Christie
EVENTS
CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Christmas Eve 11.00pm Holy Communion
Christmas Day 8.00am Traditional Holy Communion 10.00am Contemporary Holy Communion
QUIRE ST NICOLAS CAROL SERVICE (O Nata Lux de lumine). will be held at St. Peter's Cathedral Sunday 21st December at 3pm. Three members of Holy Innocent's congregation (Max, Lois and David) sing in this choir.
BRAD’S FIRST SERVICE is set for 8am & 10am on January 25 and will be followed by an AUSTRALIA DAY BBQ LUNCH. There will be a wedding in the Church later in the afternoon.
LAY PEOPLE’S MEETINGS
Lesson Readers and Lay Assistants: Sunday, February 8
Readers: Sunday, February 15
Intercessors: Sunday, February 22
All meeting at 11:30am for 45 minutes duration.
SPRING CLEANING.......remember our 2009 Church Treasure Market is only months away!
Yes..... when cleaning and tidying up around your home or out in the shed, remember
to put aside those items you think would be suitable for our next Treasure Market Planned for
March 2009. For more details please speak to Marilyn
PICNIC IN THE NATIONAL PARK May 17 2009
PARISH CAMP October 16-18 2009
OUTREACH
ANGLICARE CHRISTMAS CARDS
There is a chart pinned up in the foyer on which you can write your name if you wish to order any of Anglicare's cards, which come in packs of ten. Prices $5, $6, $7, $8 and $10 per pack. Pay when you collect. Any queries phone Barbara Corbett 8278 1851.
ABM Joan Durdin still has a few packets of Christmas cards (10 per pack) for sale. They will be available at church after the 8.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m. services.
DONATIONS TO THE INTER-CHURCH COUNCIL TRANSITION BAGS
A total of $170.00 was received and has been forwarded to the Inter-Church Council ($165 received on the Sunday and forwarded by cheque and a later cash donation of $5). Our thanks to everyone who helped raise this wonderful contribution.
SPONSORSHIP OF WALKERS FOR THE ADDIS ABABA FISTULA HOSPITAL
Thank you everyone including friends, workmates and relations for your marvellous support of the important work of this special hospital in Ethiopia. A total of $674 was raised by the following sponsored walkers from our Parish - Robyn Keynes $165.00 Cynthia MacIntosh $100.00 Jean Fordham $226.00 Yvonne Caddy $183.00
We all enjoyed our Walk in National Park on a beautiful summer afternoon. The money has been forwarded to Church Office to be handed direct to the hospital when the contingent of youth from our Diocese visit early in January 2009.
ANGLICARE ENVELOPES on the table in foyer for donation toward their important work.
ITEMS FOR NEXT WEEK’S PEW SHEET
Forward to Wendy by 5pm Tuesdays
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