Newsletter

Sunday 3rd April, 2011 - Lent IV Mothering Sunday
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. At 10 am everything in the service will be screened on the walls. Sunday School is held at the 10 am service during School Term times.

Collect for Lent IV
Gracious God, in order that we children of earth might discern good from evil You sent Your Son to be the light of the world: as the light of Christ shines upon us, may we learn what pleases You, and live in truth and goodness; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, Who is alive and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
TODAY’S READINGS 1 Sam 16: 1—13 and Ephesians 5: 8—14 read by Iris D
Gospel John 9: 1—41

PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Mary V
We pray for those in need: Ron Teague, Phyllis Morecroft, Peter Little, the Swaby family, Chris Contro, Yvonne Myers, Jenny Jeffrey, Sid Sweet , Dorothy Furnival and others know to us

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Paul Hilbig, Judy Ellis and Don Baker
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY –
YEAR’S MIND—Jeannie Moffatt (2008), Audrey Windram (!999), Ronald Dickson (2010), William Spencer (1996) John Hall (2006)

PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY Lent V
Readings Ezekiel 37: 1—14 and Romans 8: 6—11
Gospel John 11: 1—45
Fr Ron’s Notes available at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/

REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month at 36 Penno Parade North
BIBLE STUDY 10am every Wednesday at 378 Main Road Coromandal Valley
Lenten Studies These will be held on Tuesdays to April 5 at the Rectory from 7.30pm to 9.00pm, and Thursdays at 10.45am, on March 24, 31 and April 7
THURSDAY 9.30am Eucharist

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

Report from St. John’s Chaplains
Clare and I write a blurb for the St John's newsletter which comes out each fortnight of term. We do alternate fortnights—this one from Clare: http://www.stjohns.sa.edu.au/news/the-hope-of-easter

FORTHCOMING EVENTS—
Passover Meal on 21st April, is to be held in a private home or two, starting at 6.00pm. The home groups will have a more intimate feel and better chance for discussion. Then all will move to the Church for the 7.30pm service. Mary asks that those planning to attend to add their names to the list in the foyer.
Flinders Hospital Service -volunteers are reminded that our next turn at Flinders is on Sunday 10th April. Please ensure that you are there before 10am in order to assist patients to the service. For more information, contact Jean Fordham please.

Monday 4th April at St. Barnabas’ College, at 7.30pm Bishop Tom Frame will speak on ’Losing my religion,’ a report on atheism and response to it. Free. Should be a valuable time for questioning people.
ABM Appeal is now on with envelopes in the foyer. Palm Sunday (April 17) will see the distribution of Palm Crosses (is anyone available again to make these for our Church?) and Easter Day will see the return of those ABM envelopes. For further info or offers of help please contact Joan Durdin (8178 0704)

Treasure Market Thank You from Wendy Morecroft
On behalf of Craig, Jocelyn, Marilyn & myself, thank you to all those who donated goods and/or contributed their time to make our Treasure Market such a success. We raised well over $6,000 and although a few people looked very weary, I think we actually enjoyed ourselves. There were many new faces walking through the door all morning and hopefully they will come again. Well done all.


PARISH CAMP Friday 18th—Sunday 20th November
Normanville Jetty Caravan Park—8 cabins and 8 sites have been pre-booked by Wendy – please contact her on 0417 806 943 or awsc@internode.on.net regarding a booking. Also. Saturday night dinner 6pm in the Normanville Beach Cafe (next to jetty) $20/adult $10/child with fun and games in the Surf Life Saving club afterwards. Sunday service on the beach at 11am (a bit later than usual to allow time for day trippers to arrive). For information, powered site $27.00 unpowered site $21.50 En-suite site $33.00 Deluxe Cabins with en-suite (sleeps up to 5) $88.00 Executive Cabins with en-suite (2 bedroom) $102.00 (includes linen on main bed) Extra persons over the age of 5 $9.00 Bunk House no en-suite $55.00 for 4 people

RON-BLOG from today’s readings The Man born blind

John’s Gospel, with its seven signs, is always a source of stunning episodes that present comment on far more than appears on the surface. Here is such a complex plot, answering such a common question from people even to this day, or the refusal of people to respond to what is obviously true, and the determination of ‘little people’ (pardon me) determined to follow the truth wherever it leads – and never to be gainsaid. Light and darkness are the aspects of life, Truth and falsehood – and how often have you been there, either as victim or perhaps even perpetrator?
The tale opens with the blind man being a sort of specimen for debate: why are people born blind? And the traditional answer comes from the Twelve themselves. Sin, obviously, they said, following the well-known but ill-informed theory of the day. And that theory Jesus refuted, and Job of course had come to the same conclusion many centuries before. The blind man needed healing, not discussion nor contempt.
Notice the compassionate approach of Jesus to this man! It may sound strange to you, but what Jesus did and the noises He made, would have indicated quite clearly to the blind person that healing was in the wind. Saliva was regarded as a healing instrument then – and now for many. When was the last time you licked a small would? And ‘Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam.’ Even down to the last thing, Jesus called for a real response from the man, even if it were difficult to find the way. He had to make some contribution to his own healing. Good thinking, Jesus! And he went, and washed and was healed. And that is where the real controversy began.
Locals were very surprised, to see the blind man now sighted. And who wouldn’t be! But they had to take sides as the religious authorities started to make a federal case out of it a.. How stupid of them! Why not simply rejoice in the wonderful thing that had happened. But they saw all this as threat to their authority. What balderdash! So the arguments began, forcing people into one camp or the other, many of them fearful of being ejected from Temple and synagogue. And what a blasphemous action that would have been. Even the man’s parents were forced into being disingenuous about it all.
So the incident of healing turned into a huge debate and argument about who was following the truth and who falsehood. And that is ever a common and evident challenge. Not only in religious matters, but in all others as well. Trace the persistence of the healed man and the insistence of the religious leaders, who refused any vestige of the truth because it weakened their position. What sheer and utter stupidity and evil.
So watch that punch-line at the end—it is so utterly telling. If you were blind you would have no sin; but now that you say ‘We see’ your sin remains. Here is a challenge to us all to retain the search for and obedience to truth wherever we find it, regardless of where it leads.
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ROSTERS
POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Today Cynthia Macintosh or Min Araki
Next Sunday Barb Capon or Joy Campbell
READER- AND INTERCESSOR ROSTER
Next Sunday Reader John F Intercessor Max A
Sunday after Reader Paul H Intercessor Ben L
SANCTUARY ROSTER
Next week Flowers nil Brass Caroline and Sid Sweet
Cleaning Susan Lee
Items for the Newsletter need to be sent to Fr. Ron at 8298 7160 or ronpkeynes@internode.on.net by Tuesday late afternoon please