St Christopher’s Anglican Church

120 Waddell Rd, Bicton Parish Bulletin

8 MARCH 2020

SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT

Newcomers, Visitors, Regulars – All are welcome Please join us in the Hall after the Sunday services

for Morning Tea.

8.30am Eucharist, including Women’s Fellowship Communion

10.15 Family Service

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

2

REFLECTION: Sometimes the topic for this reflection comes very quickly and easily. Sometimes I see something on the internet that I know I must share here. Sometimes the topic for this reflection is like pulling teeth. Today is like that. But in pausing to take a moment I usually find something to say. And this is the space that Lent gives us: space to pause for a moment and regroup. We’ve just had the big festivals of Christmas and Epiphany, and without wanting to rush through the year we are looking towards the big festival of Easter. But in the meantime we have Lent and the dedicated space these weeks give us. How are you going with your Lenten discipline? I confess to having had to restart a couple of times already. But I’m learning not to beat myself up over this: God himself knows how busy I am and all the burdens I carry. So I rededicate myself to spending time with Him each day, and persevere in my discipline. Don’t give up if you find you’ve been distracted, or have gone off course. Pause, rededicate yourself or your time to Him and start afresh. The weeks of Lent give us time to spend with God. This was always the case, and is even more important with how busy our lives are in 2020. Spending any extra time with God is good, but having the discipline to spend 30-60 minutes with Him a day can only benefit your life, your mental health, your spiritual health, and your soul. There are no down sides to spending time with God. This time is never wasted. You don’t have to spend that time in silence, although some people do spend it this way. You can have beautiful music playing; you can be gardening, ironing or doing just about any activity. You can also sit on the couch for that time and soak in His presence. Find out how you best like spending time with God, and do more of it. The season of Lent is a gift to us, to take time out of our busy, busy lives and spend it with One who loves us beyond measure. May your Lent be holy and life-giving. Eucharist: 8.30am

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

land.

3

The service begins on page 119 of the Prayer Book HYMNS: 453 We limit not the truth of God 164 The great love of God 140 Firmly I believe and truly 536 An upper room did our Lord prepare Recessional: 768 Praise God

PSALM: 121 (Page 360) PRAYER OF THE DAY God of mercy, you are full of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in mercy, and always ready to forgive: grant us grace to renounce all evil and to cling to Christ, that in every way we may prove to be your loving children; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. PRAYER FOR THE WOMEN OF THE PARISH: (used during Intercessions) Lord Jesus Christ, bless all who worship in this our church of St Christopher’s grant that we may delight to serve you in our hearts and in our lives. With your love inspire us; by your spirit guide us; in your mercy keep us now and always Amen. If you would like special prayers for yourself or someone else we invite you to remain at the altar rail after Communion.

4

FIRST READING: Genesis 12.1-4a 1Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 4So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. For the Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God SECOND READING: Romans 4.1-5, 13-17 1What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3For what does the scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.’ 4Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. 5But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness. 13For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. 16For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us,

5

17as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. For the Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God THE GOSPEL of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. John (John 3.1-17) Glory to you Lord Jesus Christ 1Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ 3Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ 4Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ 5Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” 8The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ 9Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ 10Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven except the one

6

who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.’

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

7

Notices in inverted commas are copied from other publications.

St Christopher’s Fundraiser – Bunnings Sausage Sizzle

Saturday 21 March 2020 at Bunnings, corner Leach Highway and North Lake Road from 8am to 4pm. Volunteers needed! Please write your name on the sign-up sheet in the church foyer.

Lent Groups - This Lent our study is Light from Within by Maeve Louise Heaney VDMF. Sheila Lange is happy to lead one group on an afternoon, and I’m happy to lead an evening group, if there is enough interest. Sign-up sheets are in the foyer. Books are $9 each. Our Garage Sale is changing! After a lot of prayer and discussion we have decided it’s time to change our Garage Sale. A 2-day event is becoming too much for our volunteers, and so we have decided to reduce this to one day, and remove the “garage sale” element from the day, changing it more into a church fair type event. Please keep posted for more information about this. Please also continue to pray about this, as I know our changes will take a few years to get out into the community, and lots of people find change difficult. Please pray that God blesses this initiative as it is still our main fundraiser. Books: Please help yourself to books on the jarrah bookcase in the hall outside the Vestry and Rector’s office. Please do not take books from the pigeonhole with Fran’s name on it, as these are hers. No donation is necessary, but if you feel you must, please just put a little extra in the plate.

PARISH INFORMATION

8

Our Little Angels playgroup has room for more families this term. 10am to 11.30 on Fridays during school term in the Church Hall. Please ring Julie on 0418 915 975 for more details. $5 per family.

TODAY – 8.30AM WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP COMMUNION AFTER THE SERVICE – BREAKFAST

ALL LADIES ARE WARMLY INVITED

LAY PASTORAL MINISTER (LPM) TRAINING: MISSION 2020+ Saturday 21 March 9am - 3.30pm Registration opens at 8.30am Wollaston Conference Centre 5 Wollaston Road Mt Claremont $50 (includes morning tea and lunch) The first LPM Training Session for 2020 will have as its focus a practical Introduction to Mission 2020+. We will explore the theological thinking behind the plan, and how that will assist in implementing it. The chief focus however will be on equipping lay leaders to ‘map’ the vision onto what is already happening in various places, and how we begin to work together in this new season. At Synod last year the new Diocesan Mission Plan was introduced. The Archbishop sees the importance of ensuring lay leaders, as well as clergy, in the Diocese of Perth are aware of how the new vision for the Diocese - Mission 2020+ will begin to work in all parishes and agencies across the Diocese. lbok@perth.anglican.org; perth.anglican.org/events A Chaplaincy Fundraiser Movie Matinee is happening on Sunday 29th March 2020 at the Cygnet Theatre in Como. The movie is Military Wives and is a mix of drama & comedy that celebrates a band of misfit women who form a choir at a military base to fill in the time while their military husbands are away at war.

9

Movie starts at 3.45pm but attenders are asked please to arrive before 3.30pm. Tickets are $20 for adults & $15 for students and can be obtained from me as of today. (Glenys) I visited Flo and Gordon Hull this week, and they asked me to send the congregation their love. I felt sure I could speak on your behalf and tell them you missed them, and hope they are well. They are. They miss coming to church and seeing all their friends. They may be able to come to a Wednesday service in the next few weeks, but this remains to be seen. Choir Practice - We are trying to have the Choir perform a bit more often throughout the year, other than just at Christmas and I am hoping that we can perform at both services on Easter Sunday. We will lead the regular hymns and will then perform one or two Choir solos. I am hoping that later in the year we will sing at occasions where we have a combined service. I am away on holiday until 18th March so we will just have time for three rehearsals prior to Easter Sunday on Sunday 22 March, 29 March, and 5 April at 11.45am following the family service. I do hope everyone that joined us at Christmas can come along and any new comers will be more than welcome. (Jacqui) ** PLEASE NOTE the time of the practice on 29th March is To Be Confirmed 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: 300030489

21st March - Bunnings Sausage sizzle 29th March – 11.30am Church Bazaar meeting

10

Readings and Readers Next Two Weeks

DURING THIS WEEK: Monday 1.00-4.00pm Parish Card Club

Tuesday 11.00am – 1.00pm Born to Sing

3.30-6.00pm Cheer Dance & Acro

Wednesday 10.00am Eucharist

Thursday 9.30-11.00am mainly music

1.30-4.30pm Parish Table Tennis Club

Friday 8.00am Parish Gardeners

10.00-11.30am Little Angels Playgroup

NEXT SUNDAY (15 MARCH)

THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT 8.30am Eucharist,

including Men’s Fellowship Communion 10.15am Family Service

Readings 8.30am 10.15am

Next week 15 March

Exodus 17.1-7 Ken Phillips Anneliese Hochwald-Jones

Romans 5.1-11 Stuart Collins -

John 4.5-42 LPM LPM

Fortnight 22 March

1 Samuel 16.1-13 Neville Page Meredith Robinson

Ephesians 5.8-14 Charles Goodridge

-

John 9.1-41 LPM LPM

11

Prayer Points

Give thanks for the care and voluntary support given by the emergency services and many varied organisations who help those in need after natural disasters.

Give thanks for the many social activities in our parish community, providing opportunities for conversation and friendship.

Give thanks for the various ministries within the parish, bringing people together to share God’s love.

Pray that those who are in positions of authority and leadership, will nourish and care for our natural world.

Pray that our Lenten journey in 2020 will re-ignite our passion to follow the path that Jesus showed us.

Pray for all who are burdened by pain and worry. May God’s healing touch bring some relief from their pain.

Pray for much needed rain to help our crops to grow.

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

Parish Prayer Cycle: Tony, Charlotte & Georgia Ingram and Richard Jahn.

Pray for residents of Kent Street and Crewe Street, Bicton.

Pray for those on our prayer list: Justine Morton, David Croxton, Keith Jones, Kevin Salmon, David, Andy and Gwen Aberle, Sam, John, Alison, Rona, Don, Monica Page, Julie and Margaret Philpott.

We remember the anniversary of death this week of: Stephen Salmon, Bryan George, Sue Chambers and Pixie Marsden

12

Parish Rosters 8.30am Today Next Sunday

Lay Pastoral Minister Stuart Collins Diana Ryan

2nd Chalice Fran Sagar Neville Page

Intercessions Fran Sagar Glenys Salmon

Sidespersons: Sharyn Walter Denise Pruim

Ken & Marie Phillips

First Reading Brenda Pocock Ken Phillips

Second Reading Glenys Salmon Stuart Collins

Morning Tea Noel Ryan

Tony Ingram

Jill Binning

Liz Wallis-Long

10.15am Today Next Sunday

Lay Pastoral Minister Tina Elsegood Catriona Smallbone

Intercessions Sam Cullen & Children

Fran Sagar

Sidesperson/welcomer Catriona Smallbone Anneliese Hochwald-Jones

Reading Paul Garbett Anneliese Hochwald-Jones

Morning Tea Paul & Jacqui Garbett

Fran Sagar & Helper

This Wed Eucharist Reader Intercessions

Sheila Julie