RonBlog

SUNDAY 19h December, 2010
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Our Celebrant and preacher today is Warren Huffa

WELCOME to Holy Innocents—we hope you enjoy this time of prayer as we reflect on Scripture together and celebrate the Eucharist. We invite you to join us for breakfast after the 8am service, or morning tea after the 10am service.
Sunday School is in recess until the start of Term 1 2011

COLLECT FOR THE DAY Advent 4 Year A
Gracious God, you chose the virgin Mary, by Your grace, to be the mother of our Lord and Saviour: so fill us with your grace, that with her we may rejoice in your salvation, and in all things embrace your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

From the Ron Blog—Readings for today

You may find this to be a ‘hard hat and seat belt’ area, as I am asking you to step outside the square somewhat, and listen, not to me, but to Scripture itself. There may be few who will find it easy.
It has to be said that the use of Old Testament by some of the authors of the New can not be considered valid these days. A fairly cursory glance at OT quotes will justify such a statement, not only from me but also from commentators far more learned than me. Alternatively, the real position may well be that moderns have misunderstood the ancient useage of quotations, and led people up some garden paths.
Take this Isaiah passage as example. What is the real situation into which Isaiah spoke? And the answer is interesting. (a) It had very little to do with the procreation, gestation and production of a little child. (b) The word translated ‘virgin’ did not have the overtones that have applied subsequently. The Greek word is parthenos, ) which means, quite simply, ‘a young woman of marriageable age,’ which in those days meant a 15- or 16-year old, and had nothing to do with sexual activity or lack of it. What is most important in this context is (c) – the historical fact that Ahaz the king was scared to death of invasion from the north, and the subsequent loss of his kingdom. What Isaiah was stressing to that rather pathetic king was that in the time it takes for a young woman to conceive and bear a child, for that child to develop to the stage of being aware of truth and falsehood, the kings before whom you cower now will be no more.

The reality of the situation in this story was not dependent upon a ‘virgin’ at all, but upon the God Who rescues His people from disaster, real or potential. And that is the real issue: God is a God Who saves His people, often from the brink of disaster.
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TODAY’S READINGS
Isaiah 7: 10—16 and Romans 1: 1—7 read by Marg P
GOSPEL Matthew 1: 18—25

PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Ben Luks
We pray for those in need: Ron Teague, Phyllis Morecroft, Barbara Radbone and Peter Little, the Swaby family and Eddie Baker—
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Jennifer Jeffreys, Sascha Williams
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY –
YEAR’S MIND—Bill Morris (1993), Anne Kernot (1993), Robin Pennock (2005) Bill Mayne (2002), James Arnold (1976) John Furnival (2002)

PREPARATION FOR NEXT WEEK Christmas Day
Readings Isaiah 52: 7—10 and Hebrews 1: 1– 14
GOSPEL John 1: 1 –14
Sunday after Christmas Isaiah 63: 7—9 and Hebrews 2: 10—18
Gospel Matthew 2: 13—23
Fr Ron’s Notes available at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/
POWERPOINT ROSTER –
This Week Barb Capon or Jill Hilbig
Next Week Christmas Craig Deane or Trevor Tregenza
Sunday after Araki family or Cynthia Macintosh
READER- AND INTERCESSOR ROSTER
Next Sunday Reader Paul H Intercessor Don B
Christmas Reader Hal Intercessor Max A
Sunday after Reader Andrae Intercessor Warren
SANCTUARY ROSTER
Next week Flowers Brass Caroline and Sid Sweet
Cleaning Susan Lee

REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE and BIBLE STUDY in recess until February 2010
THURSDAY 9.30am Traditional Communion—please check
Evening gatherings in recess until February

Your attention is drawn to the news that the Anglicare stuffed toy Nativity Scene will be drawn after the 10am service TODAY. Keep your eyes peeled to see if you won!

HELPLINE
Part of being a Christian community is the support offered to each other in times of need. We offer short-term delivery of food where needed, local transport, phone calls, visits and other types of assistance. Call Marlene Dixon on 8278 8568 or Iris Downes on 8278 3260

Christmas Flowers for Church
Anna (82787024) asks if anyone has flowers available to decorate the Church for Christmas. Agapanthus, asparagus fern, jasmine etc., would be lovely. Please leave in the Germein Room in buckets (under the sink) either on Thursday or Friday before Christmas.
There is a suggestion that people may like to provide flowers on occasion to commemorate a family member on a particular date. Kindly contact Anna if this sounds good to you.

This afternoon. The annual Quire St. Nicolas’ Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at St. Peter's Cathedral at 3pm. titled 'Venite Adoramus' (O Come let us Adore Him). All are welcome.

Vanessa Daughtry will be collecting simple games, puzzles and books etc. for refugee children from Bellevue Heights New Arrivals Programme.The children seem to love school which provides them with a safe learning environment, friends and fun. When at home there is little to do but watch TV; as parents have few resources, and have been traumatized by their previous experiences.
Our contributions will give the children something to do over the long school break. The local Messenger ran an article about government cuts to the bus services that bring the children to school from a wide catchment. Without this service many kids attendance, and future education would be affected. Worse than the bus situation is the proposed cut to TRIF (targeted refugee intervention funding). This has been a State govt. initiative but will possibly not continue after the end of 2012

Planned Giving Envelopes Difficulty has been experienced by the sidespeople in opening planned giving envelopes especially containing cheques. Could you please ensure that no part of the cheque is near the "sticky" end. Recently, cheques have been badly mutilated during the opening of the envelope (it is a tight fit!). Also a reminder to write on the outside of the envelope the accurate amount enclosed. This will make processing the envelopes so much easier for recording. Thank you all so much for your regular contributions. Yvonne Caddy

Christmas Services:
Christmas Eve 6.30pm Children’s Service
11.00pm Midnight Mass
Christmas Day 8.00am and 10.00am Communion
Sunday after 8.00am Traditional and 10.00am Contemporary

Items for the Newsletter need to be sent to Fr. Ron at 8298 7160 or ronpkeynes@internode.on.net or 8298 7160 by Monday please