Newsletter

Sunday 12th February 2012
Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

WELCOME to Holy Innocents—we hope you enjoy this time of prayer as we reflect on Scripture together and celebrate the Eucharist. Breakfast is available in the Hall after the 8 am service and morning tea after the 10 am. All are welcome.
Sunday School has resumed in slightly altered state

Collect for Epiphany
Everliving God, Your Son, Jesus Christ, healed the lepers and brought good news to the despised and outcast: grant us Your gifts of compassion and self-control, that in serving others in their need we may strive for the imperishable wreath that You bestow on all who truly love You; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
TODAY’S READINGS
Readings 2 Kings 5: 1—14 & 1 Cor. 9: 24—27 read by Eric D
Gospel Mark 1: 40—45
Fr Ron’s Notes available at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Hal S-C
We pray for those in need: Ron Teague, Peter Little, Jenny Jeffrey, Dorothy Furnival, the Swaby family , Olive Marston, Lynda Knight, Blake Vause. Ivanka Cosic, Jim (fighting cancer;) Bryan Baker: Jake and Gail. Michelle in NY also. Eddie Barber is battling again.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Liz Davies
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY Barbara and David Corbett, Allan and Kate Jennings
YEAR’S MIND— Arleen Joyce Charlick (2008), Walter Marston (2001) Anne Gladstone Bills (2009), Jack Stauner

PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY Transfiguration
Readings 2 Kings 2: 1—12 & 2 Corinthians 4: 3—12
Gospel Mark 9: 2—9

REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month at 36 Penno Parade North
BIBLE STUDY 10am Wednesdays at Pressley’s
THURSDAY 9.30am Eucharist
SINGING GROUP Meets after the 10am service each Sunday. All singers welcome
MOTHERS’ UNION - next meeting on 16th February at 2.00pm at the Church
The topic is ’travel with Paul Hilbig’ -always enjoyable and informative, and all are welcome. Margaret Pressley 8278 4427
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..

POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Next Sunday Cynthia Macintosh or Don Caddy
Sunday after Jill Hilbig or Joy Campbell
READER- AND INTERCESSOR ROSTER
Next Sunday Reader Iris D Intercessor Max A
Sunday after Reader John F Intercessor Don B
SANCTUARY ROSTER
Next week Flowers Sue D-T Brass Joan Durdin
Cleaning Group 5

Ecumenical Lenten Studies
Every second year the South Australian Council of Churches organises Lenten Studies. The Mitcham Hills Inter-Church Council is co-ordinating groups in this area. This year the title is "Fast, pray, give and receive". Material can be downloaded from the SACC website (www.sacc.asn.au) and Registration Forms are available at church. Interdenominational groups will begin in the week of 27th February. Please consider joining in these Lenten discussions. They provide opportunity for you to meet up with local people from other denominations and learn from each other.
Also Warren is doing studies using ‘Language of Love, a book available at a price either through the Parish or on line. More details available on a paper in the narthex.
No plans are in hand for any Treasure Mart this year.
World Day of Prayer - early notice that this event will take place at 10.00am on Friday 2nd March at the Blackwood Church of Christ. All welcome. More details later
THANK YOU NOTE ......
In the height of summer the church gardens flourish. Trees that have become a fire hazard are gently dealt with. Leaves that choke gutters and drains disappear like magic. Our thanks go to Craig, his good wife, and his other helpers, particularly Wayne and Trevor. Don Baker

Bush Church Aid Society AGM 3 March: Christ Church North Adelaide Lunch at 12 noon. $15 per head Guest Speaker: The new National Director Rev'd Dr. Mark Short
RSVP by 22 Feb to Helen or Vivien 8351 5950 or sa@bushchurchaid .com.au

ST. BARNABAS COLLEGE SUBJECTS
The college offers the opportunity for people to sit in on some of the subjects available. Those auditing receive reading materials, attend lectures and participate in discussion. There is no requirement for written work. This is a great opportunity to broaden one’s mind and deepen one’s faith. Applications close at the end of February. Cost is $175.00 per subject. Discounts for groups or seniors. Flyers available in the Church or phone Jayne Taylor on 8426 8442 or email jtaylor@sbtc.org.au
Matthew Anstey
ABM Information
We draw attention to the following activities in the coming months :
1. Preparation of palm crosses. We have been able to help the diocesan committee of ABM in recent years by making palm crosses in excess of those needed for our own church on Palm Sunday and to St John’s School. For every 100 palm crosses, the diocesan committee receives $30.00. Three parishioners have already volunteered for this crafty activity, and other helpers will be welcome. Instruction is available for newcomers. The effort will take place during the first weeks of Lent (which begins on Ash Wednesday 22 February). If you would like to help, please contact Joan Durdin (8178 0704).
2. Supply of palm fronds to make palm crosses. Joan would be glad to know of sources of good clean palm fronds. One frond usually makes about 50 crosses.
3. The Diocesan Committee has arranged for the sale of Spring Bulbs, which can be ordered on a form on the notice board in the hall. I will collect the money for the bulbs you order, and will send the form back to ABM at the end of February. There is not much time to make your decision about bulbs for your garden but the order form is self explanatory. If you need advice, please contact JD.
4. On the first Sunday in Lent you will be invited to take an envelope for your six weekly Lenten Offerings. You are encouraged to bring the envelope with all weekly offerings to church on Easter Day.
Our Lenten offerings are token of our acknowledgement of the ABM’s commitment to promote love, hope and justice throughout the world.

RONBLOG …… on today’s Readings
I wonder if it is as much a shock to you as it is to me to find that many people who profess and call themselves Christian have little regard for the challenges to which such a profession calls them? So often I have found a clear and deliberate determination to be remarkably self-centred or just as determined to avoid the reality of the Faith. Small wonder that people turn from the Church!
When newly ordained, I was sure that people in congregations would respond with joy and commitment as soon as they understood the dimensions and directions of the Faith. Silly me! Most of the time, the only response from people was that they buried their heads in the sand so to speak.
One should not have been at all surprised at this! First of all, take a close look at the history of Israel and its clear and wilful determination to head in its own direction; this runs right through the story from beginning to end. It drove the prophets up the wall, and must have done much of the same to Israel’s Lord. In more recent times, I remain convinced that part of our more recent problem is that the Faith is presented, far far too often as one’s God-given escape from punishment or perhaps just a safety blanket! In either case they are most impoverished reasons for ‘believing’ anyhow. Very poor theology gushes from far too many pulpits—and hymns! - these days; and what scares me even more, is the way in which that populist rubbish seems to be overtaking even some of the more ‘sensible’ denominations.
Miracle-focus does not help much either. Whiz-bang alakazam is no help to anyone in any situation, now is it! Do you know of quick-fixes that work?

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