St Christopher’s Anglican Church

120 Waddell Rd, Bicton Parish Bulletin

22 DECEMBER 2019

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS

Newcomers, Visitors, Regulars – All are welcome

Please join us in the Hall after the Sunday services for Morning Tea.

22 December: 8.30am Eucharist

10.15am Family Service Christmas Eve 5.00pm:

Children’s and Adults Christmas Service, Followed by short Eucharist

Christmas Day 9.00am Holy Communion

Rector: Revd Melanie Simms 9317 1251 mob: 0457 888 589

Email: priest@bicton.perth.anglican.org Wardens: Mrs Fran Sagar 9339 5928 mob: 0438 917 093 Email: fransagar@y7mail.com Mrs Samantha Cullen mob: 0407 195 355 Email: cullenfamily@iinet.net.au Parish Website - www.bicton.perth.anglican.org Facebook Page – St Christopher's Anglican Church Bicton-Attadale

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REFLECTION

A Christmas Letter from Jesus When you look for me at Christmas, You won’t need a special star. I’m no longer just in Bethlehem. I’m right here where you are. You may not be aware of me Amid the celebrations, You’ll have to look beyond the stores, And all the decorations. But if you take a moment From your list of things to do, To close your eyes and say a prayer, I’m waiting here for you. You’re the one I want to be with You’re the reason that I came! And you’ll find me in the stillness Where I’m whispering your name. If you know who wrote this poem, please let me know and I will be happy to attribute it. I saw this on Facebook the other day, and thought it really spoke to the heart of our modern Christmas celebrations. We are very busy at Christmas. So busy, that lots of us forget the reason why we celebrate in the first place. Jesus is the reason for the season, of course, but so are we! If humanity weren’t here in the first place, Jesus wouldn’t have needed to come to Earth. You are the reason He came. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas celebration. But I also hope you find a moment or two in your day when you can have a quiet moment with God, to say “thank you”.

Eucharist: 8.30am Sunday 22 December

Ngaal kaaditj Noongar moort keyen kaadak nidja boodja We acknowledge the Noongar people as the original custodians of this

land.

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The service begins on page 119 of the Prayer Book

HYMNS:

306 Christians awake 292 Infant holy 464 Seek, O seek the Lord 268 Joy to the world! Recessional: 768 Praise God

PSALM: 80.1-7, 17-19 (Page 307) Advent Candle Lighting: The Fourth Sunday Of Advent: Love

Reader: Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of Love. Jesus shows us God's perfect love. He is God's perfect love in human form. Those who believe in him and live in him, live in love. Love transforms and perfects all things. It never ends. We light this candle today to remind us that God is love. We thank God for hope he gives us, for the peace he bestows, for the joy he pours into our hearts, and for the love that redeems us and shows us the way. Light the First, Second, Third and Fourth Candle Let us pray. O God of Love, Emmanuel, send your light into our hearts at this time. Help us to be ready for the time of Christ's appearing. Grant that we may so dwell in him that his perfect love fills our entire being. Make our worship a time in which we celebrate your love and are made ready to show that love to the whole world - both today - and forevermore. Amen.

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PRAYER OF THE DAY Gracious God, You chose the virgin Mary, by your grace, to be the mother of our Lord and Saviour: so fill us with your grace, that with her we may rejoice in your salvation, and in all things embrace your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (The Advent Candle Lighting Liturgy is copyright - Rev. Richard J. Fairchild - Spirit

Networks, 1994- 2006)

If you would like special prayers for yourself or someone else we invite you to remain at the altar rail after Communion.

MISSION PLAN PRAYER Come, Holy Spirit! Give us new confidence in your grace, new words for the mission we share, new strength to go where you send us, new spring in our step, as we set out to spread our faith in changing times, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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FIRST READING: Isaiah 7.10-16 10Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, 11Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. 12But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test. 13Then Isaiah said: “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? 14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. 15He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. For the Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God SECOND READING: Romans 1.1-7 1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, 3the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, 6including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. For the Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God

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THE GOSPEL of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Matthew (Matthew 1.18-25) Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ

18Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” 24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

For the Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

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Notices in inverted commas are copied from other publications.

Seasonal Thanks: Advent is a perfect opportunity to reflect on all the many wonderful, generous people who enrich our parish community. Everyone within the community has wonderful special gifts. Thank you to every person within St Christopher’s community for all the big and small things that you do to make this community so enjoyable. (Fran) Thank you to our gifted musicians who enrich our worship. Thank you, Helen Edinger, Jacqui Garbett and Sheila Lange, our wonderful ‘extra’ musician, who fills in at very short notice if someone is away.

Thank you to the gardening team who maintain the garden and grounds of St Christopher’s. Thank you to Pat Goodridge and helpers. Pat is also responsible for many of our floral displays and she also draws up the brass roster.

Thank you to Anneliese Hochwald-Jones who also helps with some of the floral displays. Anneliese is responsible for the gold display in the foyer and the Advent Candle display.

Thank you to our Children’s Ministry team who encourage children and young people to increase their understanding of the scriptures. Our young people are a credit to their parents and their fantastic scripture teachers, Samantha Cullen and Tina Elsegood. Well done!

Thank you to the Mainly Music and Play Group team providing care and support for young families. Thank you, Diana Ryan, Tina Elsegood, Julie Maher and Moira Cullen!

Thank you to our many energetic morning tea makers who provide refreshments after each service, often providing home-made delicious food to share.

PARISH INFORMATION

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Thank you to Tony Ingram for organising the various rosters and for delivering the Food Bank food.

Thank you to the brass cleaners; the people who organise the Ladies Breakfasts; those who organise the Men’s Breakfasts; the people who organise the various social activities such as the table tennis and the card games; as well as the many other volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure the parish runs smoothly.

Thank you to our handy people who gift their practical skills for all sorts of odd handy person needs around the church and rectory. Awesome work!

Thank you to our rector, Rev Melanie Simms, for your encouragement and ministry within the parish. Thank you for your leadership over the year.

If anyone has been missed due to the poor memory or lack of observation skills of this particular writer, then please accept my apologies, although please refer to the first paragraph, where a thank-you is extended to every single member of the community for your contribution to this joyful and busy community of St Christopher’s.

“World Day of Prayer 2020: 6th March at St Joseph’s Pignatelli. This world-wide project theme will be ‘Empowering Mothers of Children with a Disability’. The service has been prepared by the women from Zimbabwe. Save the date and come and be part of this amazing project.” Prayer Requests for the sick – the three-month period of the current prayer list will end next Sunday and so if there is someone you have listed on the prayer list and you feel their name should continue to be there – please enter their name into the book in the Foyer again. Please see Fran if you have any queries.

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Our bank account is with the Anglican Community Fund and the Agent for the ACF is located at Westpac. Details are: Bank: Westpac Account name: Anglican Parish Bicton-Attadale BSB: 036 810 Account Number: 3000304

Tuesday 24th December 5pm Children’s Service Christmas Day 9.00am Christmas Day Eucharist Sunday 29th December 9.30 am – only one service

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Readings and Readers Next Two Weeks

Christmas Readings and Readers

Readings Readers

Christmas Day 9.00am

Isaiah 62.6-12 Volunteer

Luke 2.8-20 LPM

DURING THIS WEEK: Tuesday 5.00pm Children’s Service

Wednesday 9.00am Christmas Day Eucharist

NEXT SUNDAY (29 DECEMBER)

FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS 9.30am Eucharist

Readings Readers

Next Week 29 December 9.30am

Isaiah 63.7-9 Anneliese Hochwald-Jones

Hebrews 2.10-18 Charles Goodridge -

Matthew 2.13-23 LPM

8.30am 10.15am

Fortnight 5 January

Isaiah 60.1-6 Liz Lewis Anneliese Hochwald-Jones

Ephesians 3.1-12 Chris Hughes -

Matthew 2.1-12 LPM LPM

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Prayer Points

Give thanks for each member of our parish community.

Give thanks for first responders who risk their own lives to save victims of natural disasters such as the bush fires in many parts of Australia.

Pray for all who are experiencing hardship as a result of bush fires, floods or drought conditions.

Pray for all who have suffered from the aftermath of the volcano eruption in New Zealand.

Pray that all who are suffering from any form of illness. May they find comfort and ease from their pain.

Pray for people who will spend their first Christmas following the death of a loved one - may happy memories sustain them as they come to terms with their loss.

Pray for safety on the roads for people travelling during the holiday season.

In the Diocese we pray for: • Archbishop Kay Goldsworthy; Bishop Jeremy James and Bishop Kate Wilmot.

In the Diocese we pray for: • Parish of Maylands, • Meath Care• Parish of Melville.

In the Province we pray for: • Parish of Newman, clergy and people • Parish of Lake Grace, clergy and people

(Parish Prayer Cycle): Betty & Len Culverhouse and Jenny & Peter Curnow.

Pray for residents of Dandenong & Ince Roads, Attadale.

On Christmas Day, pray for all of the parish of Bicton and Attadale

Pray for those on our prayer list: Justine Morton, Darren Croxton, Keith Jones, Kevin Salmon, David, Carol, Andy and Gwen Aberle and Ken Phillips , Sam, John, Alison and Rona.

We remember the anniversary of death this week of: Joan Hammond, Kevin Salmon Jnr, Alf Doyle, Alfred Tryon and Dorothy Quick.

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Parish Rosters Today 8.30am Next Sunday

9.30am

Lay Pastoral Minister Tina Elsegood Fran Sagar

2nd Chalice Stuart Collins Diana Ryan

Intercessions Geoffrey Croxton Fran Sagar

Sidespersons: Margaret Philpott Sue Tuana

Pat Goodridge Denise Pruim

First Reading Stuart Collins Anneliese Hochwald-Jones

Second Reading Charles Goodridge

Charles Goodridge

Morning Tea Jenny Patterson

Sheila Lange

Patricia Goodridge

Sharyn Walter

Today 10.15am Next Sunday

Lay Pastoral Minister Fran Sagar See above -

Intercessions Paul & Jacqui Garbett

Only one service

Sidesperson/welcomer Paul & Jacqui Garbett

Reading Meredith Robinson

Morning Tea Meredith Robinson

‘He who is filled with love is filled with God himself’.

Saint Augustine

(www.wiseoldsayings.com/spiritual-love-quotes/)