Newsletter

Sunday 13th November, 2011

Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost—
WELCOME to Holy Innocents—we hope you enjoy this time of prayer as we reflect on Scripture together and celebrate the Eucharist. After the 8am service breakfast is served and morning tea after the 10am service. At 10 am everything in the service will be screened on the walls. Sunday School is on the go!

COLLECT FOR TODAY
Everliving God, before the earth was formed, and even after it shall cease to be, You are God. Break into our short span of life and show us those things that are eternal, that we may serve Your purpose in all we do; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You in unity with the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
TODAY’S READINGS
Readings: Judges 4: 1—10 and 1 Thess 5: 1—11 read by Eric D
GOSPEL Matthew 25: 14—30
Fr Ron’s Notes available at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/

PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Max A
We pray for those in need: Ron Teague, Peter Little, the Swaby family, Jenny Jeffrey, Dorothy Furnival, Aileen Shepherd, Olive Marston—doing rather getter, , Kate Jennings. Genevieve Forster, and Blake Vause. Also Ivanka Cosic, Jim and Geoff (fighting cancer) and Eddie Barber.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Pip Bruce, Pat Pater, Sue Daw-Thomas
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
YEAR’S MIND— Jane Matthews (1996), Audrey Crouch (2002)

PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY Christ the King—Sunday next before Advent
Readings Ezek. 34:11=16 & 20-24 and Ephesians 1: 15—23
GOSPEL Matthew 25:31—46

YOUR ATTENTION IS DRAWN to the Mission Action Plan Meeting to be held after Church at 11.30am on Sunday 4th December. This is to help set goals for the year or so ahead. All welcome to contribute ideas.
Ven. Timothy Harris is to be consecrated Assistant Bishop in St. Peter’s Cathedral at 4.00pmon 20th November. Warren has tickets ….. The great news is that Stephen Daughtry is to be made Deacon at St. Peter’s Cathedral on 26th November. …. And all are welcome to support him at this service.

REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month at 36 Penno Parade North
BIBLE STUDY 10am at Pressley’s
THURSDAY 9.30am Eucharist
SINGING GROUP Meets after the 10am service each Sunday. All singers welcome.
MOTHERS’ UNION Members are reminded of the End-of-year lunch at the Edinburgh Hotel, Mitcham, on Thursday 17th November at 12 noon. Any queries to Margaret Pressley or Joan Fordham.
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, and other types of assistance. Call Iris Downes on 8278 3260 and Marlene Dixon on 8278 8568..

St. John’s Grammar will be using the Hall for exams from 31st October. From 8.30am to 5.00pm A list of dates and times is available in the foyer. There is also a School Concert to be held in the Church on 25th November. The School will need access to the Church all that day—and evening.

CHURCH CAMP AT NORMANVILLE – November 18,19,20
This fantastic weekend is fast approaching. Please check the list of names for sites or cabins booked at the Normanville Caravan Park. Deposits are urgently required to ensure the managers keep our cabins and campsites! If you have registered, please pay your deposit ASAP, or you may miss out. If you would like to If Deposits are urgently required to ensure the managers keep our cabins and campsites! If you have registered, please pay your deposit ASAP, or you may miss out. If you would like to attend the Sunday Beach service at 10:30 am and would like us to order the fish and chip lunch, please add your name to the Sunday lunch list. Jan Tregenza
Your attention is drawn to the notices from the Mitcham Hills Inter-Church Council re the Focus Day event on 20th November and the Pantry Christmas Hampers programme. Too much detail for here, but check the notice board please.

POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Today Craig Deane or Don Caddy
Next Sunday Trevor Tregenza or Joy Campbell

READER- AND INTERCESSOR ROSTER
Next Sunday Reader Iris D Intercessor Vanessa D
Sunday after Reader John F Intercessor Sue D-T

SANCTUARY ROSTER
Next week Flowers Jan Tregenza Brass Margaret Carruthers
Cleaning Susan Lee

RONBLOG .... On today’s Old Testament Reading—
Have you noticed how often in Scripture, Old Testament in particular, those who delighted in retaining patriarchy often had their pretensions smothered? There is a delightful constant if you keep your eyes open. Here is one of the Judges, another situation occurs as well; then there is Ruth and Naomi (Gentile as well as female) and Esther some time later. And as I have often commented, that picture in Genesis 2 is describing such a view of humanity removes any possibility of assuming any lower nature of woman. Yes, ‘bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh’ is comment enough, but if you are not aware of Hebrew, here is something else to ponder.
‘Adam’ is a generic, not a personal name. And Adam consists, not of the male, but of ‘ish’ and ‘ishshah’ – male and female. And there is no ‘adam’ until there is ish and ishshah together. That ancient author knew exactly what he was saying and exactly how impactful it all is. And it has taken Christians most of 2,000 years to catch up with the vision of one of the authors of the Creation stories. (And there is a great deal more in them than most people are aware.)
One of the tragedies of human existence is our sad capacity to hang on to our bigotry, our unwillingness to see past our comfort zone or our narrow-mindedness. Perhaps the saddest part is that whatever we are afraid of, we tend to demonize. Back-door immigrants, people of other nations or cultures, different colour or different views. Even amongst ourselves, I have encountered sad chasms between those who understand the Bible literally, and those who do not. High Church or Evangelical. The list goes on and on.
I often wonder if that passage from Judges creates a lot of squirming as the story of Deborah is read in synagogues and Churches. Barak comes across as a great wimp; Deborah as a very strong lady. And the former will not do as commanded unless he has some skirt behind which to hide. It is almost a caricature, is it not? But whatever the truth or strength of the tale, it really does underline the fact that there was no reason why Deborah should be disqualified from the role of Judge. She had the skills, the gifts, the vision, and was prepared to respond to the crisis, and who can complain about that? ****************************************************************
Money matters – clearing the air.
A few people have expressed a level of confusion about the correct procedure needed to follow up pledges to the Regenerate Dinner’s ‘Archbishop’s Gift’ and also the renewal/commencement of pledges to the Planned Giving program for the parish. I hope the following will clear this up but if it doesn’t please speak to Yvonne, Warren or Stephen to make sure that you’re comfortable with what needs to happen.
1. Pledges to the Archbishop’s Gift
If you have promised a donation to help match the Archbishop’s gift to the parish please place it in an envelope marked ‘Archbishop’s Gift donation’ and put it directly in the offering plate. Alternatively hand it to Warren, Yvonne or Stephen.
2. Renewal or commencement of Planned Giving pledges.
•If you have committed to the planned giving program for next year please make sure you adjust the amount at the beginning of 2012. Some people have already made the adjustment and you are welcome to do so if you wish. Direct debit or envelopes in the plate are equally welcome.
• If you need envelopes or instructions for direct debit please speak to Min or Yvonne.
• If you have yet to commit to the planned giving program for next year please check if there is an letter for you on the tables in the foyer. If you wish to commence, continue or increase your financial commitment to the parish and you haven’t filled in a form or received a letter please speak to Warren or Stephen.
Thank you to everyone who supports the parish for the fantastic response to the Regenerate Dinner and the parish financial situation. Things are certainly looking up.

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