"Come and see," said Philip Welcome to St Philip's O'Connor! Sunday 20 December 2009 Fourth Sunday of Advent 8.00am & 10am Eucharist The service begins on page 119 of the (Green) Prayer Book. Readings: Micah 5.2-5; Song of Mary - page 425; Hebrews 10.5-10; Luke 1.39-45 10am Music: Hymns: TiS: 265, 161, 599 tune II, 179 Advent Wreath: TiS 286 Presiding & Preaching: Rev'd Rebecca Newland Flowers: The Flower Team 8am: Sidespeople: Tim Woodburn Reader: Eloise Wright 10am: Children's Leader: Rebecca Palethorpe Lay Minister: Brian McKinlay Organist/Pianist: Colin Forbes Sidespeople: Peter Andersson & Grace Barnes Bible Readers: 1st Ann Munro, 2nd Ashton Robinson Chalice Servers: Grace B, James Kim & Linda Anchell Morning Tea: James K & Roger Sharp Visitors are welcome to receive Holy Communion. At 10.00am Communion bread is administered first, then the small cup for intinction (dipping). The two common cups for sipping follow. Items for the Pewsheet and names for the Prayer list (add or remove), please forward to Leighton by Thursday 12 noon. leighton.ruth@grapevine.com.au or 61617133 Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Christmas feels like it has come a little early for me this year. I know it is not my car but the new parish car arrived on Wednesday and I have been enjoying driving it around the neighbourhood. It is a Hyundai i30 Hatch, diesel, automatic with cruise control. It is also bright red Ð very Christmasy Ð in fact it is so red that when it is parked in the driveway it casts a ghostly red haze into the rectory dining room. Truly it does. On top of this very fun addition to my life there is also a work mobile phone. The number is 0450 960089. Please call me on this number if you cannot reach me on the parish number, 61617334. I check the answering machine once a day, sometimes less, so please use the mobile number if I have not returned your call. If all else fails and you need to contact me as soon as possible then ask Ruth McGorman-Mann, my Rector's warden to contact me. As a follower of Christ, and particularly at this time of Christmas where materialism and consumerism are the new gods (and I am driving around in a brand new car) I ask myself those tough questions about living a life according to the values of God' Kingdom. I would like to tell you I have it all worked out Ð but I don't. The only thing I know is that the blessings we are graced with are ultimately for the highest good of others. I believe God yearns for all of creation to rejoice and to find freedom, joy, peace and fulfilment. To honour God we can give thanks for his blessings and make the most of the wonder of this life, and the generosity of others, but we must also keep before us the part we are called to play in God's vision Ð rejoicing, sharing, serving and caring for all of creation. It is a balancing act, that is reconciling our wants and needs and God's call in our life, but it is a task that is of ultimate value. I hope in this season we may all walk that path. Peace and blessings, Rebecca St Philip's Dolls House raffle: Last chance to buy tickets today! The raffle will be drawn at the supper following the Carol Service tonight. The Anglicord Calendars have arrived. If you placed an order please see Fred. St Philip's Cookbooks The St. Philip's recipe book is the perfect gift for friends and loved ones this Christmas. Printed on 100% recycled paper this collection of Our Family Recipes offers a wide variety of dishes, both sweet and savoury, from around the globe. Great value at $10 each. Please contact Sarah Gowty 62552467, sarahgowty@gmail.com or after the 10am service. Seasons Greeting to our St Philips Friends, We have settled happily into Alstonville and found a beautiful little church and congregation with a St Philipian feel about it. All Souls is in Bangalow, about 25 minutes from Alstonville. Love and Peace to all of you, Anne and Doug Bannerman. WHAT'S ON @ ST PHILIP'S Fourth Sunday of Advent Today Service of Lessons and Carols, followed by supper 7.30pm Please bring a plate of Christmas food to share, drinks by donation. Christmas Eve Thursday 24 December Family Christmas Pageant 7pm Carol Singing 11pm / Sung Eucharist 11.30pm Christmas Day Friday 25 December / Eucharist (with incense) 9am Denise's 60th Sunday 27 December, 5pm An invitation to Denise's 60th birthday party, in the Kindergarten (no gifts please). Drinks and nibbles to start, followed by a buffet dinner. All parishioners are warmly invited to come and join us in a relaxing, fun celebration. RSVP: Leith Dudfield 0428 492 344 or leith.dudfield@live.com.au by 23 December. Holy Communion - will not be held Wednesday 30 December, 10am New Year's Eve Party @ the Mann's Thursday 31 December, from 8pm It's on again, come join us for a cocktail or two! Please bring a plate of finger food to share. 48 Lachlan St Macquarie. ADVENT WREATH Ð Fourth Sunday of Advent We have lit three candlesÑfor hope, for peace, and for joy. Today we light the fourth candleÑthe candle of love. With this flame we signify the love of God that surrounds and fills us at all times, but that we recognize in a special way in the Christmas story. There is no greater power than love. It is stronger than rulers and empires, stronger than grief or despair, stronger even than death. We love, because God loves us. All: Loving God, we open ourselves to you this Christmas season. As these candles are lit, light our lives with your imagination. Show us the creative power of hope. Teach us the peace that comes from justice. Fill us with the kind of joy that cannot be contained, but must be shared. Magnify your love within us. Prepare our hearts to be transformed by you, That we may walk in the light of Christ. Amen. Benediction/Commission and Blessing Depart in peace, and take with you the certain knowledge that God is always coming into the world. All: We will seek God, not in a long ago stable or ancient manger, but in the people we meet and the depths of our own hearts. May the blessing of Christmas make you a blessing to others; may the peace of the season pervade all that you do. All: We will welcome the challenge of discipleship. We will offer ourselves as God's ministers. We will go forth in hope, peace, joy, and love. PLEASE PRAY FOR: Ecumenical Cycle: Ghana, Nigeria. Give thanks for Christians and Muslims who take risks to work for dialogue and reconciliation between the two faith communities. Pray for an end to deforestation. Anglican Communion: The Most Rev'd Stephen Than Myint Oo Archbishop of Myanmar and Bishop of Yangon; Suffragan Bishop of Yangon - (Myanmar) The Rt Rev'd Joseph Than Pe The Diocesan Cycle: Diocese of Riverina: Bishop Douglas Stevens, Clergy and People Cootamundra: David Ruthven, Colleen Close, Lyn Forsyth; Temora: Michael Faragher; Junee: Junee Correctional Centre: Pray for: Cursillo Movement Lay Director, Rob Barrett; Spiritual Director Caroline Campbell; Secretariat; Servant Communities. Those in need: Shirley Barrett, Stewart Barrett, David Marsden, Mervyn McInnes, Helen Gorrell, Paul & Elissa, Melissa & Samuel, Joyce Braithwaite, Myrle Bovis. Those who mourn: Conrad and Shelby Canterford and family. The Departed: Alice Isabel Saylor (20/12/88) The Saints: Thomas, Apostle and martyr.Stephen, Apostle and Martyr From the Ecumenical Cycle: We offer you, O Ruler of men and women and of heavenly beings, the gold of our costly service. Take the labour of our hands, the skill of our minds, the power of our organization. Purge us of pride, and stir us from sloth, that we, being refined by your grace, may become better servants of your kingdom, now and hereafter. Amen. We offer to you, our Lord and our God, the incense of our worship and our prayer. By the gift of your Holy Spirit, you have hung forth a star in the lowly heaven of every Christian soul; grant us eager feet to follow wherever it leads, until our searching souls are blessed with the vision of yourself, who are our heaven and our home, forever. Amen. We offer to you, O Man of sorrows, the myrrh of your church's sufferings. When we have nothing else to give, this offering remains. Where you are on the cross, there also may your servants be. May your perfect sacrifice avail to make our light affliction redemptive in the world, that sharing the fellowship of your sufferings we may rejoice in the power of your resurrection, now and forever. Amen. Weekly Offering/income needed to operate our Parish $2090 per week (excludes rental income). Offerings received 9 & 13 December $732 + EFT $508 = $1240. Shortfall $850 Pandora's $474 Donation $30.00 Trading Table $24.00 Anglicare Christmas Cards $100.00 Cookbooks $160.00 THIS WEEK Wednesday 10am: Holy Communion Friday 10am-1pm: Pandora's CLOSED Ð Re-open Friday 8 Jan. Saturday 10am-1pm: Pandora's CLOSED NEXT SUNDAY 8am & 10am Eucharist Readings: Micah 5.2-5 Song of Mary Hebrews 10.5-10 Luke 1.39-45 Rosters: Cleaning: Volunteers please Flowers: Philida Sturgiss-Hoy 8am: Sidespeople: volunteer Reader: Shane Woodburn 10am: Sidespeople: Helen Palethorpe, James Kim & Brian McKinlay Bible Readers: 1st Brian McKinlay, 2nd Helen Palethorpe Chalice Servers: Doreen Sengati-Odom & Leighton Mann www.stphilipsoconnor.org.au Parish Office: P. 6161 7334 F. 6161 7322 M. 0450 960089 E. stphil@grapevine.com.au P.O. Box 6022 O'CONNOR, A.C.T. 2602 Rector : Rev'd Rebecca Newland Hon. Deacons: Rev'd Linda Anchell, Rev'd Robin Moore (St Philip's Care) Hon. Priests: Rev'd. Jeannette McHugh. Wardens: Ruth McGorman-Mann, Denise Manley J.P. & Roger Sharp