Newsletter

Sunday 26th February, 2012
First Sunday in Lent

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 Lent I
God of the new and eternal covenant, as the forty days of the great flood swept away the world's corruption and watered new beginnings of righteousness and life: grant to us, who are washed clean and born again in the saving flood of baptism, the wellspring of Your grace, that Your gift of new life may flourish once again; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
TODAY’S READINGS read by John F
Readings Genesis 9:8—17 and 1 Peter 3:18—22
GOSPEL Mark 1: 9—15
Fr Ron’s Notes available at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/

PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Don B
We pray for those in need: Ron Teague, Peter Little, Jenny Jeffrey, Dorothy Furnival, the Swaby family , Lynda Knight, Dianne Cordes. Blake Vause. Ivanka Cosic, Jim (fighting cancer;) Bryan Baker: Jake and Gail. Michelle in NY and Eddie Barber.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Stuart Vandepeer. Racquel Williams, Eddie Barber
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY Lois and David Hall
YEAR’S MIND— Laurie Castanelli (2006) Marjorie Dickson (2010)

PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY Lent II
Readings Genesis 17: 1—7 & 15-15 and Romans 4: 13—25
GOSPEL Mark 8: 31—38

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 - meets second Thursdays each month

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 Barb Capon or Jill Hilbig
Sunday after Craig Deane or Trevor Tregenza
READER- AND INTERCESSOR ROSTER
Next Sunday Reader Paul H Intercessor Vanessa D
Sunday after Reader Arndrae L Intercessor Ben L
SANCTUARY ROSTER
Next week Flowers Audrey & Graham Bains (no flowers)
Brass Caroline & Sid Sweet Cleaning Group 1
ST. BARNABAS COLLEGE
The college offers the chance for people to sit in on some of the subjects available. 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

Mark your diary please ......
(a) The Parish Annual Vestry Meeting on 25th March and
(b) A Flea Market in May .......... May 19th
(c)Wedding May 5 Private function in hall may 6
(d) St John's drama production in hall afternoon and evening of May 31 and June 1
(e) St John's Exams 17-20 July and 29/10-14/11

Details of Lenten Studies with Warren
Thursday mornings 10.30am to 11.45am From 23rd Feb to 29 Mar (but not 15 Mar)
Sunday mornings 11.45am to 12.30pm in the Church starting 26 Feb
Monday evenings 7.45pm – 9.15pm at the Rectory, 12 Gulfview Road, Blackwood. Starts 27 Feb

World Day of Prayer - at 10.00am on Friday 2nd March at the Blackwood Church of Christ. All welcome. See poster in Church narthex

Walking Church
Saturday the 3rd of March at 5pm will see the first meeting of ‘Walking Church’, a fresh expression of church led by Jan Tregenza and Vanessa Daughtry, and will happen in Belair National Park on the first Saturday of each month. This is designed to be a form of worship and spiritual exploration that is more approachable for those who don’t walk through our doors. This is a way of meeting people ‘where they are at’. Rather than doing any sort of mass publicity, the group will grow by invitation only – through relationship. This is an exciting initiative for the parish as we find new ways of being church for our community. There will be information at church this Sunday for those interested in the new idea. Speak to Vanessa, Jan and the Rev’d Steve for more information.

Faith of the Elders
The ‘Faith of the Elders’ Exhibition will happen on Sunday the 25th of March at 5pm with wine and nibbles and Bishop Tim Harris opening the event. The church will become a gallery for the evening as we display photographic portraits of 12 of our ‘elders’ alongside their stories of faith and connection with the church. It’ll be a combination of faith, art, local history and celebration. Another Holy Innocents activity designed to open our doors to the wider community.

Bible study/discussion for young adults.
This week (hopefully) Stephen will be beginning a Bible Study/discussion group for the young adults in our congregation. We’re wanting to support these fantastic young people as they grow in faith. Please pray for the group as they meet on Sunday evenings.

RONBLOG …… on today’s Readings
Recently I was saddened enormously when I heard a member of our congregation comment that ‘how could our children understand the Faith, when we parents do not?’ One wonders from what direction such a comment came, and then one goes on to see that if this is the faith being offered, then it is small wonder that so many today reject the convictions of Christians. While today’s readings, to my mind at least, offer a choice to follow or refuse to follow, the direction offered is certainly not to some sort of cloud-cuckoo land.
It must have been something like 40 years ago that I suggested to congregations when I preached about the Temptations of Jesus that the complete reality of choice had to lie in front of our Lord. In other words, that there was always the possibility that He would, like most of His human colleagues, surrender to the pressure and give in. More important was the fact that the very nature of the temptations, described by Matthew and Luke, indicate that He was facing a choice of leadership styles, how to gain a following. And where would we be if Jesus has succumbed to the invidious pressure?
Our Lord rejected each of those other paths – miracle, bread and circuses, and falling down and worshipping Satan. Obviously that latter path (understand what is being said!) towards leadership is one still used often – turning the truth into a lie and vice versa. Here was no ‘spiritual’ test of direction, but one that should be the test of anyone human particularly those in leadership roles. Caring, not control is the issue; self-giving, not egotism is the aim. Had Jesus failed in this, the Gospel would have been emasculated or even destroyed, as rather too often it is by preachers who do not know of what they speak. Once one begins to see that the faith once delivered has far more to offer in terms of life here and now rather than the life to come, then a far wider context and relevance of the Faith emerges. And once that happens, the baloney that passes for information today will be seen for the rubbish that it is.

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