1

PARISH WEEKLY NEWSLETTER 4 DECEMBER 2016

International Volunteer Day (IVD) is mandated by the UN General Assembly and is held each year on December 5. It is a day for volunteers and volunteer based organizations to celebrate their efforts, to share their values, and to showcase the difference they make in their communities.

This Sunday we thank everyone who contributes to the life of our Parish through volunteering. Your contributions are much appreciated!

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Reflection from Loyola Press In this week's Gospel Reading and next week's, our Advent preparation for Christmas invites us to consider John the Baptist and his relationship to Jesus. In this week's Gospel, Matthew describes the work and preaching of John the Baptist. John the Baptist appears in the tradition of the great prophets of Israel, preaching repentance and reform to the people of Israel. In fact, the description of John found in this reading is reminiscent of the description of the prophet Elijah (2 Kings 1:8). In this reading, John directs a particularly pointed call to repentance to the Pharisees and Sadducees, parties within the Jewish community of the first century. John marks the conversion of those who seek him out with a baptism of repentance. Other groups in this period are thought to have practiced ritual washings for similar purposes, and John's baptism may have been related to the practices of the Essenes, a Jewish sect of the first century. John's baptism can be understood as an anticipation of Christian baptism.

2

In this passage, John himself alludes to the difference between his baptism and the one yet to come: “I am baptizing you with water, for repentance . . . He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11).

In this reading, John makes very clear that his relationship to the Messiah yet to come (Jesus) is one of service and subservience: “. . . the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals” (Matthew 3:11). In the context of Matthew's Gospel, today's passage is followed by Jesus' baptism by John, an event that is attested to in all four of the Gospels and appears to have been the start of Jesus' public ministry.

John's preaching of the coming of the Lord is a key theme of the Advent season. As John's message prepared the way for Jesus in the first century, we, too, are called to prepare ourselves for Jesus' coming. We respond to John's message by our repentance and reform of our lives. We are also called to be prophets of Christ, who announce by our lives, as John did, the coming of the Lord.

CHRISTMAS DECORATING

The Parish Centre was decorated on Friday 25 November 2016, ready for the first Sunday or Advent. From left to right, Jack McLennan, Maggie McLennan and Luke Ott pose in front of the completed Christmas Tree. Thank you to all who helped on the night!

Archbishop of Canterbury’s “deep concern” over South Sudan

Posted on: November 28, 2016 3:28 PM http://www.anglicannews.org/

South Sudanese church leaders with Archbishop Justin Welby after their meeting last week. Photo Credit: Lambeth Palace ACNS, by Gavin Drake] The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has spoken of his “deep concern” over the situation in South Sudan, after a meeting with a delegation of the country’s church leaders. The ecumenical delegation from the South Sudan Council of Churches called on Archbishop Justin at Lambeth Palace last week, a month after their visit with Pope Francis at the Vatican. South Sudan is the world’s youngest country, having gained its independence in 2011. For most of the country’s five year history, it has suffered from armed conflict verging on civil war. At various times, the Anglican Cathedral in Juba, along with other

3

church buildings and centres, have been a place where thousands of people have sought sanctuary from the violence. Archbishop Justin was joined by a minister from the presbyterian Church of Scotland, the Revd Philip Majcher, in welcoming the delegation to the UK. The Church of Scotland has strong ties with the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan and Sudan.

Archbishop Justin was briefed on the situation in South Sudan and the continuing response of the Churches. The delegation also spoke about the outcome of last month’s meeting with Pope Francis.

They urged the Archbishop of Canterbury – as they did with Pope Francis – to do all in his power to promote peace and reconciliation.

“Archbishop Justin Welby welcomed the delegation and expressed his deep concern for the situation,” a Lambeth Palace spokesperson said. “He informed the delegation of his continued effort in prayer and support through agencies like the Anglican Alliance towards ameliorating the situation.

“He emphasized that the peace, reconciliation and healing of South Sudan and its people remain a top priority for him and he promised to do all in his power, through the Grace of God, to support the efforts of the Church, and other people of good will.”

The church leaders spent part of their meeting praying for peace.

Do you have some photographs of the St Mary in the Valley Community Fair to share? Please send to smiv@smiv.org for our next issue!

POSITIONS VACANT

SCHOOL CHAPLAINCY POSITIONS

SC ACT is an interdenominational organisation and major provider of school chaplains in the ACT. We invite applications for the position at Isabella Plains ECS to commence early in Term 1 2017. We also invite applications for a 6 month position at Amaroo P-10 to commence early in Term 1 2017. The incumbent chaplain is taking long service leave. Our chaplaincy positions are approximately two days per week. Applicants need to demonstrate their suitability to provide support & care to young people and be able to work professionally as part of the school staff team. Minimum Qualifications of a Cert. IV in Youth Work or equivalent are required with a commitment to complete the Diploma while in the role. Training & experience in youth work, pastoral care &/or teaching desirable. Chaplains are required to network, build teams, demonstrate initiative and creativity plus engage in building links between the community and local schools to meet the needs of students and their families. For more information contact Di Priest: diannep@schoolchaplaincyact.org.au 0407 118 387

4

Apply online at: apply.su-chaplain.com .

BIBLE SOCIETY FUNDRAISING APPEAL Children in the Holy Lands and neighbouring nations are growing up under the shadow of hate, fear and aggression. They need to hear a different story this Christmas. You can share the message Jesus came to bring – by making a donation today. In Syria, our local Bible Society staff are providing Scripture items including children’s Bibles to families; meeting the Scripture needs of the persecuted Christian community. In the Palestinian Territories they run Christmas plays for children, and give out Bibles. In Lebanon, they use song, puppets and drama to present the good news to 10,000 children a year. In Israel, they run Bible study groups for women. Across the region, they hand out thousands of children’s Bibles and colouring books to refugees. Please help today. Thank you. Please donate: https://donations.biblesociety.org.au/holylands/ Yours in Christ, Greg Clarke CEO Bible Society Australia

CEIS FUNDRAISER Help us keep Christ in the school zone for 2017 by participating in the CEIS fundraiser: ‘Keeping Christ in Christmas’

simple Christmas gifts

local Canberra producers

positive community impact

sustaining CEIS Simply ORDER ONLINE at http://www.trybooking.com/GGRP The 2016 products are:

CEIS Christmas cards featuring local children

Jesus Storybook Bible where every story whispers His name

Canberra Urban honey straight from ACT bees in local backyards

Six8 Coffee Roasters fair-trade tea & coffee from farmers around the world

Kokonut Pacific coconut products from rural populations in tropical countries

Thoughts To Make Your Heart Sing family book with profound thoughts on faith

Thank you for sharing this promotion to help God's work continue through CEIS. Yours in Christ, Karen Baron Coordinator Christian Education in Schools coord@ceis.org.au | 6230 5155

5

FEBC FUNDRAISER FEBC Australia is a member of FEBC International - an interdenominational radio network, which brings the love of God to the world by broadcasting the gospel of Jesus Christ. FEBC 2016 'Use Your Gifts' Catalogue is available online, with a range of gifts that will help reach many listeners in many places by the power of radio, Internet and the grace of God. In His mercy, God keeps using FEBC around the world to express His love and bring untold millions to Himself, equipping you, our supporters, to provide what is needed to help achieve this critical work. Thank you for visiting our website: https://febc.org.au/gift-catalogue/

UPCOMING EVENTS

THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS 19 - 23 December 2016, Venue: The Courtyard Studio, Theatre

This brilliantly funny theatrical adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ classic masterpiece THE

SCREWTAPE LETTERS follows the correspondence between a senior demon, Screwtape, and his nephew, a junior tempter named Wormwood, who must secure the damnation of a young man. A delicious insight into the frailties of human nature that will make you squirm in self-recognition.

“My dear Wormwood,” the letters begin, as we meet the spine-tingling and charming Screwtape, who signs off, “Your affectionate Uncle.” Screwtape likes philosophy, admires history, and disdains science; he is so cultured that in one letter he talks about reading in the British Museum, so hip that in another he says how helpful it will be to make use of “the ‘Life Force’, the worship of sex, and some aspects of Psychoanalysis.”

Five years after publishing The Screwtape Letters, Lewis appeared on the cover of Time with a devil on his shoulder. The novel was already one of his most popular works. Despite decades of expounding the same themes in lectures, radio addresses, sermons, and theological treatises, Lewis was never livelier than when he wrote of demons. No matter how many other ways he tried to write of faith, we still like hearing from the Devil best.

MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMP PELICAN 3-7 JAN

Treasure Island 1617. Pirates, peg legs and landlubbers, get along to Camp Pelican 5/6 for beach activities, swimming, games, craft, music, delicious meals, and more. Uncover buried treasure in the bible and

6

enjoy an amazing beach environment with friends old and new. Our camp has awesome, approved and well trained leaders who make sure everyone is welcome, accepted, safe and included.

JUNIOR HIGH CAMP PELICAN

9-14 JAN Junior High Camp Pelican is a week of fun in the sun! Spend a week having fun, getting to know each other and our God better. Our aim is to provide a space for God to work and to create a Christian community that is welcoming and loves all people with the love of Christ.

SENIOR HIGH CAMP PELICAN

16-21 JAN What Are You Here For? On senior camp we’ll be discovering how our own unique stories relate to God’s plan to renew all of creation. Come and join us to find out who we are made to be and how we can make a difference in the world today. Understand more about yourself and God through story-telling, art, music and reflection.

REGISTER FOR CAMPS AT http://www.synergy.org.au/summercamp/

We would like to warmly invite you and your congregations to join us at the annual CMS Canberra Mission Focus (CMF) on 17-18 February 2017 at Radford College (1 College Street, Bruce).

Canberra Mission Focus is a unique event with the opportunity to focus on both God’s word and God’s world. Be encouraged and challenged by CMS missionaries as they share what God is doing in different parts of the world.

Richard Chin, the National Director of the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (AFES), will be unpacking Psalm 98 on Friday night and the book of Habakkuk on Saturday, to explore what it means to “Experience God”. Richard also serves as the South Pacific Regional Secretary for the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES), and is based at Wollongong University.

This is a family friendly event, with a crèche, primary school (Kindergarten - Year 5) and Middle School (Year 6 - 9) program. Registration before the event is essential.

The missionaries joining us this year will be:

Glen and Dominique Turner serving in Tanzania

Paul and Cathy Sampson serving in Kenya

Chris and Karen Webb serving in Northern Australia

Caroline Evenden serving in France Registrations are now open at http://www.cms.org.au/cmf. If you have any questions, please contact the CMS Partnership Support Team at partnership@cms.org.au or on (02) 9284 6734. We are looking forward to CMS Canberra Mission Focus 2017! Hope you can join us as we consider our part in God’s mission for the world. Warm regards, Mark Fairhurst Partnership Support Coordinator

7

ST MARY IN THE VALLEY EVENTS RECENT UPDATES INCLUDED FOR YOUR DIARY:

Gingerbread House creating event, Friday 9 December 2016

Sunday Kid’s Club presentations Sunday 11 December 2016

Calwell Community Carols Friday 16 December 2016

Parish Centre Anniversary BBQ and Christmas Carols Service Sunday 18 December 2016

ALSO CHECK REGULAR SCHEDULED EVENTS (SEE PEW SHEET) Would you like to book in an event? Please fill out an Event Risk Management Declaration Form (to be found under the health & safety notice board) & it will go to Parish Council for approval

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15