Newsletter

Sunday 9th December, 2012 Second Sunday in Advent 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. Collect for the day God of our salvation, You straighten the winding ways of our hearts and smooth the paths made rough by sin; keep our hearts watchful in holiness, and bring to completion the good You have begun in us. We ask this through Him Whose coming is certain, Whose day draws near Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen Today’s Readings Second Sunday in Advent read by Iris D Readings Malachi 3: 1—14 and Philippians 1: 1—11 GOSPEL Luke 3: 1—6 PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Wendy M We pray for those in need: Ron Teague, Peter Little, Dorothy Furnival, the Swaby family , Dianne Cordes. Tommy Ferguson, Bob Arnold, Ann Daughtry, Pat Pater, Susan Daulby, Bonney Tomlinson, Janet Phillips., Jan and Mollie HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ray Wilkins HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY Pat and Graham Pater YEAR’S MIND— Walter Betson (2008), Christabel Dolan (2000) Hazel Ashworth (1992) PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY Third Sunday in Advent Readings Zephaniah 3: 14—20 and Philippians 4: 4—7 GOSPEL Luke 3: 7 - 18 REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS ( most activities will close over Christmas and January)_ 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 5.30pm Evening Prayer with Wendy YOUNG PEOPLE’S GROUP 5pm every second Sunday 14th at Daughtry’s home MOTHERS’ UNION - meets third Thursdays each month at 2.00pm—next meeting February WALKING CHURCH First Saturday of each month at 5.00pm at Belair National Park gates near railway Station Bridge. Again, not till February Friday morning tea in the Hall has recommenced All are welcome. And bring a friend. WORLD DAY OF PRAYER 1st March 2013 With our Parish hosting the Day of Prayer next year, we need to be ready for all the duties involved. The focus next time is France. We need to be ready for speaker, publicity, in the kitchen, and other matters. Please be ready to play your parts in this important event. Yvonne Myers. 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 Stephanie Lloyd 8278 4260 and Lucinda Hale 8278 8814 POWERPOINT ROSTER – please note some variations to the roster Next Sunday Trevor Tregenza or Joy Campbell Sunday after Barb Capon or Cynthia Macintosh READER AND INTERCESSOR ROSTER Next Sunday Reader John F Intercessor Sue D-T Sunday after Reader Arndrae L Intercessor Mary V SANCTUARY ROSTER Next week Flowers No flowers Brass Joan Durdin Cleaning Group 2 Bonney Tomlinson would like to thank the many people in the parish who helped during her recent illness—with transport, phone calls, food etc. It was very much appreciated. The Quire St. Nicholas will be singing their Annual Lessons and Carols at the Cathedral at 3.00 pm on Sunday 23rd December. You may well need to make your plans early ….. Spies tell us that Sue Parham received her Diploma in Early Childhood Development recently. Congrats to Sue!!! SUNDAY AFTERNOON FAMILY FUN DAY Our first Family Fun Day Sunday on Advent Sunday was a HUGE success! 45 children attended! Families enjoyed the mild summer weather with afternoon tea and games outside, followed by inside activities, and finishing with a short child friendly worship in the church. The Mother's Union members laid on a scrumptious afternoon tea, and the Ready, Set, Go! Team was sensational. Josh's amazing balloon twisting was unsurpassed! Thank you to our large band of helpers-you know who you are! On that subject, as many as possible of the Ready, Set, Go team hope to have a de-brief meeting after Church today, to discuss last Sunday evening’s event. This will be valuable for planning the next RSG event in March next year. Family Fun Day Sunday From Yvonne Caddy The children and families were invited to donate to the Christmas Bowl and $248.90 was given. That is a wonderful effort, reflecting a wonderful afternoon! Well done and thanks to the Ready Set Go Team for a marvellous event. RONBLOG on today’s Old Testament Reading People familiar with Handel’s Messiah will know the words, quoted from this last book of the Old Testament although it must be said that words to songs, even ‘religious’ songs, are often not listened to with any care. But please stop and have a look. Old Testament prophets were reputed for their emphasis on doom, gloom and judgement; but I ask you to look again. In fact much of this passage in particular could be levelled at our own day and age, looking not at ‘judgement’ in the clinical sense, but presenting seriously the need to act with fairness and consideration of those around about us. Those ancient prophets railed against the refusal of Israel to live with justice, integrity and truth – for the simple reason that failure to do so reduced life into mediocrity and damage – especially for the poor. If that is judgemental or even ‘religious,’ I have to say that I am quite happy to be associated with it. In fact it is another rarity today—common sense.’ Something of an oxymoron in this day and age. It may help to comment also on the tirade against sorcerers and idolaters. On the surface, we might laugh in our beer at trying to find those sorts of people these days; but stop a while. The issue for Old Testament prophets and for John in the New, was the awful capacity of people to distort the image and nature of God into something that they feel they could manipulate to their own advantage. Modern-day idols do exactly that as they have the tendency from truth to a self-serving distortion of it. In fact, the disease spreads rather wider than sports or entertainment gurus. In Hebrew imagery, idolatry was equated with prostitution – turning something important into rubbish! The connection is clear is it not? Now do you note the emphasis on those who live and act unjustly against ordinary people: workers, widows and orphans and even the aliens - a significant issue for Australians with the continuation of the boat people ‘invasion.’ There is not a lot of comfort to be drawn from this passage, and rather a considerable challenge. Never let it be said that the faith, Hebrew or Christian, is a comfortable easy path to travel. However it is remarkably redemptive and re-creative.