year b sunday 24th december 2017 - st paul's anglican ... · birthday greetings p.7 christmas...

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W ELCOME TO ST PAULS. We are glad that you have come to worship God with us today. If you are a visitor from another parish, or worshipping with us for the first time, please introduce yourself to our parish priest, Fr James Collins, or to anyone wearing a name badge, over a cup of tea or coffee in the parish hall after the service. You’ll find the hall behind the church. A Holy Nativity ( Mary catching p.3 up on some reading) RIP George Harvey p.4 Christmas Blessing to all parishioners p.5 Thank yous p. 6 Birthday Greetings p.7 Christmas 2017– by Barry Brandy p.14 Year B – Sunday 24th December 2017 4th Sunday of Advent The Eve of the Christ mass 8.00 am Sung Eucharist 9.30 am Parish Eucharist 11pm – Blessing of the Crib Prayers and Midnight Mass Sunday 24th December Midnight Mass at 11pm Christmas Day, Monday 25th December 9am Mass Sunday 11th of February 2018 at 3pm EVENSONG MATER CHORALE conducted by Fr Michael Deasey in the Church Saturday 24th February 2018 at 6pm– Procession and Festival Choral Eucharist followed by a Reception and Refreshments in the Parish Hall to mark the 30th Anniversary of Fr James Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood

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Page 1: Year B Sunday 24th December 2017 - St Paul's Anglican ... · Birthday Greetings p.7 Christmas 2017– by Barry Brandy p.14 Year B – Sunday 24th December 2017 Christmas Day, Monday

W ELCOME TO ST PAUL’S. We are

glad that you have come to

worship God with us today. If

you are a visitor from another parish, or

worshipping with us for the first time,

please introduce yourself to our parish

priest, Fr James Collins, or to anyone

wearing a name badge, over a cup of tea

or coffee in the parish hall after the service.

You’ll find the hall behind the church.

A Holy Nativity ( Mary catching p.3

up on some reading)

RIP George Harvey p.4

Christmas Blessing to all parishioners p.5

Thank yous p. 6

Birthday Greetings p.7

Christmas 2017– by Barry Brandy p.14

Year B – Sunday 24th December 2017 4th Sunday of Advent

The Eve of the Christ mass

8.00 am – Sung Eucharist

9.30 am – Parish Eucharist

11pm – Blessing of the Crib Prayers

and Midnight Mass

Sunday 24th December

Midnight Mass at 11pm

Christmas Day, Monday

25th December 9am

Mass

Sunday 11th of February

2018 at 3pm –

EVENSONG MATER

CHORALE conducted by

Fr Michael Deasey in the

Church

Saturday 24th February

2018 at 6pm– Procession

and Festival Choral

Eucharist followed by a

Reception and

Refreshments in the Parish

Hall to mark the 30th

Anniversary of Fr James

Ordination to the Sacred

Priesthood

Page 2: Year B Sunday 24th December 2017 - St Paul's Anglican ... · Birthday Greetings p.7 Christmas 2017– by Barry Brandy p.14 Year B – Sunday 24th December 2017 Christmas Day, Monday

Name badges help make St Paul’s an

inclusive community. If you need a new

name badge, fill in the form inside the

pew sheet, send it to the parish office,

and one will be made and left in church

for you.

Toilets are available at the entrance to

the parish hall, which is located behind

the church.

First aid kits are located on the wall of

the kitchen in the Large Hall behind

the church and in the choir vestry.

Ask a member of the clergy or anyone

who’s wearing a name badge. We’re

here to help.

As you take your place in your pew,

please make yourself aware of the route

to the nearest emergency exit. Should

there be a fire, leave quickly, turn right,

and assemble by the roundabout on

Burwood Road.

People needing wheelchair access can

enter St Paul’s most conveniently by the

door at the base of the belltower.

Please turn your mobile phone off or on

to silent before the service starts. It’ll

save you much embarrassment later on.

Children are welcome in church at any

service. There is a selection of

children’s books and toys at the back of

the church near the font and there are

also kids’ activity sheets and pencils

available at the back of the church

where the pew sheets and prayer books

are.

Children’s Church runs during Term

Time. Meet at the back of the church at

the beginning of the 9.30am Eucharist.

Please feel free to bring your children to

the altar rail to receive a blessing, or to

receive Communion if they have been

admitted to the sacrament.

Please do not take photos

inside the church or during the services

of worship without permission.

Page 3: Year B Sunday 24th December 2017 - St Paul's Anglican ... · Birthday Greetings p.7 Christmas 2017– by Barry Brandy p.14 Year B – Sunday 24th December 2017 Christmas Day, Monday

A Holy Nativity ( Mary catching up on some reading)

Page 4: Year B Sunday 24th December 2017 - St Paul's Anglican ... · Birthday Greetings p.7 Christmas 2017– by Barry Brandy p.14 Year B – Sunday 24th December 2017 Christmas Day, Monday

Well done, good and faithful servant: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.

It is my sad duty to advise you that George Harvey died last Sunday 17

December. George was 102 years old.

We give thanks to Almighty God for George's life and we pray for all

those who mourn his death, especially for his daughter, Carole, who has

cared so beautifully for George over the last while.

George’s requiem was held at St. Paul's, Burwood, on Friday the 22nd of

December.

In the midst of our sadness, we have the sure and certain hope that as

Jesus died and rose again so too shall we because of Jesus' triumph

over death and, because of this, we know that there is nothing that can

separate us from the love of God, not even death itself.

Rest eternal grant unto George O Lord,

and let light perpetual shine upon him. Amen.

Page 5: Year B Sunday 24th December 2017 - St Paul's Anglican ... · Birthday Greetings p.7 Christmas 2017– by Barry Brandy p.14 Year B – Sunday 24th December 2017 Christmas Day, Monday

The Rector, Fr. James, and Dr. Helen Collins, along with Fr. Michael and

Mrs. Antonia Deasey, together with the Church Wardens and Parish

Councillors and the Parish Staff and Ministry Team, Fr. Jim Pettigrew,

Mrs. Sheryl Southwood, Mrs. Judith Laurence, Ms. Rosemary King, Mr.

Graham Norman, Mrs. Caroline Badra, and Ms. Sophie Sun extend to all

Parishioners and to their families and to all friends of St. Paul's every

blessing for a Holy Christmas. May the love of God enfold you.

I pray that, at this Christmas-tide and through the coming year, you will

experience the love of Jesus Christ, the One who comes to us in such hu-

mility, and that the tenderness and gentleness of Mary, Jesus' Mother,

will fill your lives, and that you will know the peace of God, Jesus' Father

and our Heavenly Father, and that God's peace will strengthen and

sustain you both now and forever more. Amen.

With every blessing to you and your family for a holy Christmas and a

peaceful new year.

– Fr James

Each year we make up Advents Pack for our children. When you have

finished reading your cards we would love to have them to cut up for

next Christmas.

If you have any part rolls of leftover wrapping paper that you don’t feel

like storing we would love to have this as well.

Please leave them in the box at the back of the church.

Thank you.

Page 6: Year B Sunday 24th December 2017 - St Paul's Anglican ... · Birthday Greetings p.7 Christmas 2017– by Barry Brandy p.14 Year B – Sunday 24th December 2017 Christmas Day, Monday

Fr James, our Rector will be on

leave from 26th of December until

8th of January 2018.

Caroline, Our Office Secretary will

be on leave from 26th of December

until Wednesday 3rd of January

2018.

Fr James, Fr Michael, Rosemary

and Caroline take this opportunity

to wish you all a very Blessed

Christmas and a Happy and

Prosperous New Year 2018!

Thank you to Sheryl, Edwin,

and the Choir for the time and

effort that you have devoted to

preparing for our Services of

Lessons and Carols on Saturday

and Sunday as well as for our

Services for Christmas.

I am grateful to each of our Choir

Members for your devotion to God

and for your help in leading our

beautiful worship each week.

Sheryl is such a blessing to us and I

thank you, Sheryl, for all that you

do to nurture the offering of such

fine music in praise of God each

week.

Sheryl, Edwin, and our wonderful

Choir are a great blessing and I

thank each of you for your

contribution to our community of

faith. It is greatly appreciated.

Thank you to the kind

Parishioner who purchased a new

Sanctuary Lamp for St. Paul’s. This

is most kind of them. We are most

grateful.

We are also very grateful to the

Cardinal Freeman Village for

giving a Sanctuary Lamp which has

been dedicated in loving memory

of Peter McMillan.

Thank you to those who

polished, dusted, cleaned, and

gardened, We are deeply grateful

to all those who came to our busy

bee to clean, polish, dust, and

garden to make our Church and

grounds so beautiful as we

celebrate the birth of our Lord and

Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Thank you to our wonderful Bell

Ringers for calling us to worship

every week and especially

Page 7: Year B Sunday 24th December 2017 - St Paul's Anglican ... · Birthday Greetings p.7 Christmas 2017– by Barry Brandy p.14 Year B – Sunday 24th December 2017 Christmas Day, Monday

for ringing prior to the Service of

Lessons and Carols.

Thank you for the beautiful

supper last Sunday, We would like

to thank the parishioner who set up

and provided the most successful

and very much appreciated

refreshments after the magnificent

Service of Lessons and Carols last

Sunday. Your kindness and

generosity is very much

appreciated.

Thank you to all who were

involved in any way at all in

preparing the Church grounds

and the Parish Church for

Christmas, this includes: the care

of the grounds, preparing the

fantastic children's Advent Pack,

doing odd jobs, gold, silver and

brass cleaning, arranging of the

flowers, dusting/cleaning/

polishing, all involved in providing

the glorious music and readings

and intercessions, morning teas,

preparing altar linen, serving,

sidespeople, bell ringing, and so

much else both seen and unseen.

Thank you for the encouragement

of your presence throughout

Advent and today.

There will be no mid-week Eucha-

rist on the 27th of December and

the 3rd of January.

The first mid-week Eucharist for

2018 will be held on Wednesday

the 10th of January.

Thank you to everyone who

donated prizes, sold tickets, bought

tickets or helped in any way.

We raised $571.

Prize winners were:

Katrina, Raine & Horne,

Elizabeth Griffiths, Jim Foster,

Chris Susilo, Helen belgum, Pam

Richardson, Vanessa McNeill, Clyde

Livingstone, Shirley Gregory, Kelly

Chu, Nicole Smeulders, Warwick

Sinclair, Pip Rickards, Wei, Allan

Heasman, Keith Lane, Joy Brandy

Our warmest best wishes to Sheryl

Southwood, Joy Brandy, Warwick

Sinclair and Jessica Proctor who are

celebrating their birthdays this

month. We wish them all every

blessing and much happiness and

many happy returns.

Page 8: Year B Sunday 24th December 2017 - St Paul's Anglican ... · Birthday Greetings p.7 Christmas 2017– by Barry Brandy p.14 Year B – Sunday 24th December 2017 Christmas Day, Monday

On behalf of our choir and Edwin, may I thank you all, most sincerely,

for your kindness to us all, your appreciation of our music and contin-

ued support. We wish you every joy and happiness of this Christmas, as

we celebrate the birth of our Lord. May 2018 be a year filled with peace

for you, your family and friends.

Feeling a bit warm? Or just want to make a fashion statement?

Then why not purchase one of our gorgeous new boutique fans espe-

cially made for St. Paul’s.

Why not become a fan of St. Paul’s? Then you really will be cool.

Our beautiful fans can be purchased for $3.00 each or two fans for

$5.00

Over the years the parish has benefitted from the generosity of

parishioners, not only when they have been active members of the

parish, but also at the time of their death. Parishioners are invited to

remember the parish in their wills by making a bequest as a thank

offering to God and to ensure that generations to come will enjoy

worship and fellowship in well maintained buildings.

Those wishing to make a bequest are invited to do so using these or a

similar form of words: "I bequeath the sum of $............ to the Rector

and Wardens of the Anglican Parish of St Paul, Burwood, to be used at

their absolute discretion for the charitable purposes of the parish."

Please continue to leave your used stamps for missions in the box at the

back of the Church. Leave at least a 2cm border around the stamps.

Thank you.

Page 9: Year B Sunday 24th December 2017 - St Paul's Anglican ... · Birthday Greetings p.7 Christmas 2017– by Barry Brandy p.14 Year B – Sunday 24th December 2017 Christmas Day, Monday

Lawn Mowing

If you can volunteer to help please

give your name to Rosemary.

A roster has been drawn up but more

volunteers would be good, especially

if you can help in January.

We may need to have someone else

rostered to do the edges but we can

wait and see how that goes.

We have been offering to ring quarter

peals as a fundraiser for the parish for

anyone who has a special occasion

they would like to mark. If you are in-

terested in a special occasion being recognized we can organize a

time, which is convenient, so you are able to come and listen to the

ringing.

Collection given at St Paul’s on

Sunday 17th December: $3108

Other collection given:

Parish Pantry: $130

Donation gift to Fr Michael Sutton:

$100

Total: $3338

Thank you for responding to God’s

generous love.

Page 10: Year B Sunday 24th December 2017 - St Paul's Anglican ... · Birthday Greetings p.7 Christmas 2017– by Barry Brandy p.14 Year B – Sunday 24th December 2017 Christmas Day, Monday

There is assistance needed to maintain the church and Rectory

gardens, flower arranging, choir, bell ringing, morning tea assistance,

greeting and welcoming roster, assistance at special functions e.g.

fetes, Sunday trading table, selling raffle tickets, making jams & pickles

to sell, collecting bread, to name a few.

Please speak to the Sheryl (regarding choir) Wardens or the Church

Office so we can direct your efforts.

Monthly birthday celebrations

As there are so many more birthday celebrations being acknowledged

week by week this has now become a very important part of our life

together as a community of faith but they place a significant burden on

those who make our birthday cakes.

To help with this situation, we are now going to try and acknowledge

birthdays on a monthly basis with all birthdays occurring during the

month being celebrated together on the last Sunday of the month.

We thank Joy for her kindness in making such beautiful cakes for all in

the Parish who have birthdays. Another two Parishioners have offered to

help make birthday cakes too and this is very kind of them.

You can join us on our Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/7441384898/

Forthcoming events and other interesting news will be posted there!

Thank you Margaret Whittaker for your care in administrating our

Facebook page.

Page 11: Year B Sunday 24th December 2017 - St Paul's Anglican ... · Birthday Greetings p.7 Christmas 2017– by Barry Brandy p.14 Year B – Sunday 24th December 2017 Christmas Day, Monday

A special thank you to those who

are bringing food every week. You

are the life blood of this project.

More and more people are needing

your help; from the elderly, to the

young, the retrenched and the casu-

al workers, those out of work and

the homeless. Poverty is no

discriminator. We now have nearly

as many women coming in as men,

and several with small children.

Thank you for your help.

Here is the list of items most needed

for the parish pantry:

Sun Rice Meals e.g. Butter

chicken, Green chicken curry,

Chicken satay, etc

Tins of corned beef;

Tins of spam;

Tins of ham;

Instant Coffee;

Sugar;

Boxes of Cereals

Tea;

All Day Breakfast by Heinz;

Chunky soups – Heinz &

Campbells;

Tinned tuna;

Tins of sardines;

Tins of salmon;

Rice

Savoury biscuits;

Sweet biscuits;

Long life Milk;

Up & Go – All flavours;

Tinned fruit

Rice Cream

Drinks

Pasta & Spaghetti;

Instant potato, cuscus

Safety razors

Toothpaste

Toilet Paper

Shampoo and conditioner

Deodorant for both men and

women

(• we run out of these items very

quickly)

The Parish Pantry is now closed

and will reopen on Tuesday 9th of

January.

Page 12: Year B Sunday 24th December 2017 - St Paul's Anglican ... · Birthday Greetings p.7 Christmas 2017– by Barry Brandy p.14 Year B – Sunday 24th December 2017 Christmas Day, Monday

Thank you for coming to our playgroup this year.

Playgroup will recommence on Monday 12th of February 2018.

We hope you have a joyous Christmas filled with many blessings!

The Playgroup Team

We have been blessed to have such an engaged and lively group

attending our studies through the year. Thank you to everyone who

participated in any way.

We will re-commence our studies on Tuesday the 20th of February,

2018, being the first Tuesday after Ash Wednesday as we begin our

journey through Lent.

There will be more information about the studies closer to the time but

we have an interesting and informative series of studies lined up for next

year.

All are very welcome to come and engage with God and with all those

who attend our wonderful study group.

will be

singing Evensong on Sunday 11th of February 2018 at 3pm in the

Church.

“We must restore hope to young people, help the old, be open to the

future, spread love. Be poor among the poor. We need to include the

excluded and preach peace.”

– Pope Francis

Page 13: Year B Sunday 24th December 2017 - St Paul's Anglican ... · Birthday Greetings p.7 Christmas 2017– by Barry Brandy p.14 Year B – Sunday 24th December 2017 Christmas Day, Monday

A JOYOUS CELEBRATION

RECTOR HITS THIRTY

On the Feast of Saint Matthias, Saturday, 24 February 2018, our Rector,

Fr James Collins, will celebrate the 30th anniversary of his ordination

to the sacred priesthood – a significant milestone - and it is

planned to hold a celebration of thanksgiving to God to mark this important

occasion and all parishioners and friends of St Paul’s are warmly invited.

6.00 pm PROCESSION AND

SOLEMN SUNG EUCHARIST

Occasional Preacher: Fr Daniel Dries, Rector and Parish

Priest of Christ Church S. Laurence in the City.

followed by a Reception and Refreshments in the Parish Hall.

Please mark this date in your Diaries now so you

and your family and the friends of S. Pauls may be present.

(For further details speak to Graham Norman)

R S V P

There are sheets at the back of the Church for you to give your RSVP if

you plan to be present at the Anniversary Celebration for

The Rector on Saturday, 24 February 2018 at 6 pm – please feel free to

invite other friends of S. Paul’s to be present.

Complete your RSVP today.

Page 14: Year B Sunday 24th December 2017 - St Paul's Anglican ... · Birthday Greetings p.7 Christmas 2017– by Barry Brandy p.14 Year B – Sunday 24th December 2017 Christmas Day, Monday

On Christmas Day when we open our presents and sit down to our

Christmas Lunch. Apart from the significance of Christmas day, do we

ever wonder why we celebrate Christ’s birth on the 25th of

December?

It’s time when people give thanks for all the things that went right

during the year, the gifting of presents to loved ones, the excitement

and happiness of watching children open their presents, and people

making promises of what they intend to do in the coming year.

Sometimes the promises they make are kept, buy mostly they are

pushed into the background as situations arise and take precedence.

Henry Van Dyke, in his book, ‘The Days of the Week’ had a chapter

titled Can You Keep Christmas? In it, he talks about if you are willing

to forget what you have done for other people and remember what

other people have done for you. To ignore what the world owes you

and to think what you owe to the world. To put your rights in the

background and put your duties in the middle distance and the

chances to do a little more in the foreground and to see that your

fellow men are just as real as you are. Probably the only reason for

your existence is not what you are going to get out of life, but to close

your book of complaints against God the ruler and sustainer of the

universe, to look around you for a place where you can sow a few

seeds of happiness. Are you willing to do this for a day?

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2 Samuel 7.1-11, 16; Psalm 89.1-4, 19-27 or the

Song of Mary; Romans 16.25-27; Luke 1.26-38

Those who attend worship this morning will

experience a nine months’ time shift between this

and the Christmas Eucharist. Let the

reverberation of Mary’s words carry you through

the rest of this day as you make ready for your

celebration of Christmas. ‘Here am I, the servant

of the Lord; let it be with me according to your

word.’

Take a deliberate time out to pray this afternoon – seek out a quiet

space.

Give thanks for the work and witness of the Church of the Province

of Central Africa.

Give thanks for the work and witness of the Church of the

Annunciation in Nazareth.

Text: Fr Atsushi Shibaoka © Anglican Board of Mission, 2017

If so, then you can keep and enjoy Christmas. Simple words, easy to un-

derstand and to think about - even if you can only carry out some of

these thoughts. It should make your time over the Christmas period

more enjoyable, happy, enable more ‘more time’ with family and

friends, and bring pleasure to theirs.

Have a happy, peaceful, joyous time and a happy Christmas to you and

your loved ones.

God bless,

Barry Brandy

12 December 2017

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Last week was a momentous week in the history of Australia. The report

from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual

Abuse was released after a five year long investigation into institutional

(non) responses to historic cases of child sexual abuse.

The report is horrific as it details the enormous tragedy of massive insti-

tutional sexual abuse of children by most institutions that were responsi-

ble for caring for children.

The extend of the abuse is massive, affecting enormous numbers of

people, over decade after decade.

It is a national tragedy of enormous proportions – but most of all it is a

tragedy for the tens of thousands of people who have been and still are

being abused.

The report is extensive and here is one link that gives some back-

ground:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-12/undeniable-the-people-

behind-the-child-abuse-royal-commission/9222566

The link at the end of the above link is to a documentary which is heart

wrenching and tear jerking.

I hope that you can watch the documentary.

But there are many links to the report in the above link.

In the light of such abuse one can only pray to God to have mercy and

that we will work for a better world where all children are nurtured and

cared for.

Words fail.

Lord have mercy

Christ have mercy

Lord have mercy

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May God the Son, come

among us in power and reveal

in our midst the promise of His

glory. Amen

I have to admit that I am both

delighted and slightly terrified

at being nominated to the See

of London. I have lived and

worked for over 32 years in

London (although I have to

confess for some of that it was

south of the river so I hope you

will forgive me). So returning

to London is for me returning

home.

Having made a commitment to

follow Jesus Christ as a teenag-

er, in the words of the hymn by Horatio Bonnar, I have

found in Jesus Christ my Star and Sun. Jesus Christ has been good news

for me and I look forward to sharing that with others as I come to

London.

I am often asked ‘What is it like to have had two careers?’ First as nurse

and the Government’s Chief Nursing Officer for England, then as priest

and Bishop. I respond by saying, ‘Rather than having two careers I have

had one vocation – to follow Jesus Christ, to know him and to make him

known.’ I have always sought to live in the service of others. Washing feet

is a powerful image which has shaped my vocation. As a nurse the way

we wash feet affords dignity, respect and value. As a priest I am called to

model Jesus Christ, who took off his outer garments and washed his

disciples’ feet. As Bishop consecrated to be the shepherd of the flock

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and committed to those in my care I keep that model of service before

me, seeking to serve others and value them. To be able to do that here

in London is a wonderful privilege.

London is a world-facing city which is multi-cultural and multi-faith. It is

both cosmopolitan and suburban, economically successful and

confident. It is a city of energy and diversity: London is open to all.

But it is also a city of inequality and deprivation; where women are more

likely to live in poverty and less likely to be employed than a man;

where a woman in Tower Hamlets will live 30 years in poor health and a

man in Enfield only 12 years. It is a city where the number of people liv-

ing alone will rise by over 50% in the next 25 years.

It is also a city where people feel ignored, marginalised and angry.

These emotions, among many others, were present here in St Paul’s last

week for the Grenfell National Memorial Service. People of all faiths

and of none stood together to remember those who had died, to

support the bereaved families and to offer a way forward for those who

survived. But the unity we witnessed doesn’t mean the issues that so

urgently need addressing have been resolved.

Though the time when people default to claiming adherence to the

Church of England, or Christianity, may be over, there is a huge hunger

for spirituality and for new ways of being Church. Nowhere in the

country is that more evident than here in London, where we have seen a

strong record of growth. The vision for the Church of England is to a

Christian presence in every community – churches confident in prayer,

confident in speaking about and living out their faith in Jesus Christ

with a generosity of spirit and compassion, creatively working in

partnership with their communities.

This aspiration is resulting in creating new worship centres which are

relevant and reflect their communities. In London, the Diocese is half-

way towards its target of creating 100 new worshipping communities by

2020. Churches such as Holy Trinity Brompton and St Helen’s

Bishopsgate are growing and planting, while, just last month, London’s

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first new parish church for 40 years, St Francis, opened in Tottenham.

Relevant church communities means increased numbers of church

leaders who are women and come from Black and Asian and Minority

Ethnic groups. It means churches at the heart of their community asking,

‘What can we do together to be stronger?’ It means working together for

the community’s wellbeing, looking for solutions to the challenges

which face them – creating strong resilient communities. Churches

confident in faith, compassionate in action and creative in partnership

come about when local ministers are supported to be the best they can

and members of their congregations are encouraged to flourish and be

ambassadors for their faith. We speak of the Church being compassion-

ate in action but we also need to be compassionate to each other, and

central to this is how we support local ministers to maintain their

wellbeing. I look forward to enabling this to happen along with the Area

Bishops, the Bishop of Fulham, the Bishop of Islington and the Assistant

Bishop Rod Thomas.

The Church is called to reflect the nature of Jesus Christ, the nature of

God and I believe that we are called to be places of safety – places in

which people can take refuge. This is why I believe that safeguarding is

at the heart of the gospel and I will seek not only to exercise

responsibility for safeguarding but I will continue to ensure a safe

culture in which abuse has no place, and where those who have survived

abuse can flourish.

I know that there are some who will find the appointment of a bishop

who is a woman difficult. I fully respect those who for theological

reasons cannot accept my ministry as a priest or bishop. In a diverse

city like London, it is right that the Church reflects the diversity of the

tradition of the Church of England. I would hope that everyone can find a

spiritual home within this diversity and working in partnership with the

College of Bishops, I hope that this diversity will flourish and we can be

a model to the rest of the Church of England of unity. We speak about

being a compassionate church and we need to show that compassion to

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one another, even when we may disagree.

I look forward to meeting with those who reflect the diversity of the

church in London over the coming weeks to speak of how we can work

alongside each other for the gospel and how I can support them in their

ministry.

In coming to London, I leave the Diocese of Exeter, and I am grateful for

the privilege of having worked alongside wonderful people as we shared

the good news of the gospel, where over the past two years, the Church

has also grown in number. I am particularly grateful for the support of

Bishop Robert.

In London, it is a privilege to follow Richard Chartres. Under his oversight

for over 20 years, London has seen confidence return and church life re-

vived. I am also excited by joining such a strong College of Bishops who

are inspiring partners in the gospel – I am grateful for their welcome and

support.

The Church of England in the Diocese of London is in good heart – a

Christian presence at the heart of every community, churches confident

to speak and live out their faith in Jesus Christ, compassionate in action

and creatively working in partnership with others to build strong and

diverse communities – I look forward to serving the people of London

with joy.

About Sarah Mullally:

Bishop Sarah will become the 133rd Bishop of London in 2018. In 2012

she was installed as Canon Treasurer at Salisbury Cathedral, before be-

coming Bishop of Crediton in the Diocese of Exeter in 2015, primarily

serving North and East Devon. She is a member of the Church of Eng-

land’s National Safeguarding Steering Group. Bishop Sarah was a senior

civil servant in the Department of Health before ordination. A trained

nurse, she became Chief Nursing Officer for England in 1999, the young-

est person to be appointed to the post.

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Page 22: Year B Sunday 24th December 2017 - St Paul's Anglican ... · Birthday Greetings p.7 Christmas 2017– by Barry Brandy p.14 Year B – Sunday 24th December 2017 Christmas Day, Monday

Pray for the Anglican Church –

for Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury;

Phillip, Primate of Australia; Glenn,

Archbishop of Sydney; Michael Stead,

our Regional Bishop; and for all the

bishops, priests, deacons and

Religious of the Anglican Communion.

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer we

are asked to pray today for the

Diocese Yola - (Jos, Nigeria), for its

Bishop, The Rt Revd Markus Ibrahm

and for all his clergy and people.

Pray for Fr James and for Fr

Michael as well as for Helen and

Antonia. May God bless them

and their ministries and may we

support them as they work among us

in Christ’s name.

Pray for St Paul’s: God of mercy,

strengthen us to help shape a parish

where diversity is a source of

enrichment, compassion is common,

life’s poetry realized, suffering

lightened through sharing, justice

attended, joy pervasive, hope lived,

the hum of the universe heard, and

together with you and each other we

build what is beautiful, true, worthy

of your generosity to us, an echo of

your kingdom. Amen. (Ted Loder)

Pray for, St Matthew’s, Zababdeh,

(West Bank, Palestinian

Territorries), our Anglican

Communion Partner: We remember

especially their Parish Priest, Fr

Saleem Dawani, and his ministry in

the parish. We remember also Jameel

Maher, who acts as the St Matthew’s

partnership link person with us. May

both our parishes be blessed by the

link we are establishing.

Pray for the Church’s mission:

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out

your arms of love on the hard wood of

the cross that everyone might come

within the reach of your saving

embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit

that we, reaching forth our hands in

love, may bring those who do not

know you to the knowledge and love

of you; for the honour of your name.

Amen. (Author unknown)

Pray for our Children’s Church:

The Lord said, ‘Let the little children

come to me and do not forbid them

for such is the kingdom of heaven’.

Bless, Lord, your children who now

stand before you in prayer. Help them

to understand the depth of your love.

O Lord, bless our Children's Church

and all its future endeavours, that

through it we may glorify you with

your Father and the Holy Spirit, now,

always and forever. Amen.

Page 23: Year B Sunday 24th December 2017 - St Paul's Anglican ... · Birthday Greetings p.7 Christmas 2017– by Barry Brandy p.14 Year B – Sunday 24th December 2017 Christmas Day, Monday

Pray for peace: Lead me from death to life, from

falsehood to truth; lead me from despair to hope,

from fear to trust; lead me from hate to love, from

war to peace.

Let peace fill our hearts, our world, our universe.

Pray for all in need, remembering especially this

week all those who are lonely during this Christmas

season. May the Lord God enlighten their burden with a friend, companion

or someone who cares.

Pray for the sick and their carers: Andrew; Joyce Bannister; Margaret

Baseley; Barry Brandy; John Burns; June Cameron; Scott Cameron;

(Sir) John Carrick; (Lady) Angela Carrick; Rodney Chesham; Margaret

Hayes; Heather; Jan Morgan; Brian Muir; Narelle; Alister & Sally Palmer; Paul

Phillips; Nancy Thompson; Margaret Wheatley; Bill Whittle, David Windsor;

Bob Woods;

In love and charity please remember the recently departed,especially

George Harvey, Colin Clyde Frakes, Nan Bradley & Valerie Perrin that God

may grant them a place of refreshment, light and peace.

Pray, too, for, Karina Venteman, Rosina Raisbeck, Harry Salisbury, Audrey

Elaine Darke, Trevor Herbert Curtis, Ivia Walker & Fr Tony Wood and for any

others whose year’s mind falls around this time.

Rest eternal grant unto them O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them!

There will be no midweek communion on Wednesday 27th of

December and Wednesday 3rd of January.

Commemorations noted by the lectionary this week –

Tuesday 26 December – Stephen, Deacon & First Martyr

Wednesday 27 December – John, Apostle & Evangelist

Page 24: Year B Sunday 24th December 2017 - St Paul's Anglican ... · Birthday Greetings p.7 Christmas 2017– by Barry Brandy p.14 Year B – Sunday 24th December 2017 Christmas Day, Monday

Phone 9747 4327

Fax 9747 0513

Post PO Box 530, Burwood, NSW 1805

Website www.stpaulsburwood.org.au

Rector Fr James Collins

[email protected]

Senior Assistant Priest Fr Michael Deasey, OAM

Honorary Priest Fr Jim Pettigrew

Office Secretary Mrs Caroline Badra

(9.30am to 2.30pm, Tuesday to Friday)

[email protected]

Lay Minister Ms Rosemary King

Rector’s Warden Dr Jane Carrick – 0418 399 664

People’s Wardens Mrs Elizabeth Griffiths – 8033 3113

Mrs Pam Brock – 9747 3619

Director of Music Mrs Sheryl Southwood

Organist Mr Edwin Taylor

9747 4000 24 HOURS 7 DAYS www.unityfunerals.com.au

INDEPENDENT, AUSTRALIAN OWNED FUNERAL SERVICE