Committed to Sharing Jesuswodongalutheranparish.org.au/Documents/Bulletin... · preparing, and waiting for the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament God

Wodonga Lutheran Parish

St John’s – St Mark’s Yackandandah – Victory Lutheran College

24th

/25th

December 2017

Welcome to members, friends & visitors

Great, you could join us today! We hope you feel at home as you worship

with us. Christmas is a time of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. We pray that, as

you receive God’s gift to the world – Jesus Christ your faith journey is

empowered. Our Lord’s love and peace be with you.

Congregation Pastor: Jaswanth Kukatlapalli College Principal: John Thompson 14 Havelock St, Wodonga College Pastor: VACANT Ph: (02) 6024 7072 28 Drage Rd, Wodonga [email protected] Ph: (02) 6057 5859 [email protected] [email protected] www.wodongalutheranparish.org.au www.vlc.vic.edu.au

Committed to Sharing Jesus

WELCOME – A note for any visitors among us. We are glad you are here with us! A quick note about the Lutheran Divine service and what we believe about worship. To us worship isn’t so much about what we do, but about what God does. Lutherans believe God is present with us through the Word and Sacraments we receive. In fact, we teach that in the Lutheran Service, God comes to forgive us, to feed us and bless us. As we receive God’s ministry to us through the Word and the sacraments we in turn respond to God in prayer, thanksgiving and praise.

Wodonga Lutheran Parish (WLP) Journey to Christmas 2017.

The Advent Display Tells Us The 2017 Advent journey at WLP is a time of preparing, and waiting for the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

In the Old Testament God spoke to prophets announcing that HE will intervene in the human history to address the issue of sin, slavery and death once and for all through the Messiah. This year’s Advent meditations at WLP looked at four prophets: Isaiah, Micah, Habakkuk and Zechariah, who prepared us to receive Jesus Christ as God’s sent Saviour for us.

The beauty of Christmas story is this: Christ is born for us. God is now ‘with us’ – Emmanuel. God is with us not just in a manger but also on the cross. He died for us, to redeem us from sin. Through Baptism and the Word

and Sacraments we receive God’s pardon and fellowship – God with us!

The arrival of Jesus in human flesh (as foretold by the prophets) once brought shepherds and the wise men to worship God. Now we gather to worship God as we sing, receive His Word and all His promises for us to life eternal. We now live in hope, knowing fully since Christ has promised to return, He will come

again to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. Our hope hinges on this scripture:

'For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever

believes in Him, will not perish, but have eternal life'. John 3: 16.

This year’s Advent and Christmas stage display is done by Jenny Simboras, A member of the WLP.

Jenny also serves as a leader on College and Parish Council's. We give thanks to God for her

gifts and service!

SERVICE TIMES: FOURTH OF ADVENT St John’s Wod Sat 6:00pm NO Service St Mark’s Yack Sun 8:30am Simplified HC Service St John’s Wod Sun 7:00pm Christmas Eve Carols & Readings

CHRISTMAS DAY St Mark’s Yack Mon 8:30am Christmas Day HC Service St John’s Wod Mon 10:30am Christmas Day HC Service HYMNS: Yack: 4

th of Advent:- LH 2; LH 465; LH 45; LH 17

Christmas Day: - LH34; LH33; LHS633; TAC7; LHS626; AT77; LH627

READINGS – 4th of Advent 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 God’s promise to David

Romans 16:25-27 God reveals his age-long purpose in Jesus Luke 1:26-28 God’s call to Mary

CHRISTMAS DAY Isaiah 52:7-10 The salvation of our God Hebrews 1:1-12 God speaks to us through his Son John 1:1-14 The eternal Word has become a human being

PRAYERS

In our prayers this week:

We pray for the following who are in need at this time: Gregory & Kerryn JENNINGS; Merv KELLER; Frank & Noreen KELLY; Bill SCHMIDT; Laurel McRAE; Myrna SMITH; Phyllis HEINER.

We also remember Confirmation Students.

Our Parish and Church Council and Ministry Teams.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS Sunday Luke 1:26-28 Thursday Colossians 1:24—2:7

Monday John 1:1-14 Friday Colossians 2:8-23

Tuesday Colossians 1:1-14 Saturday Psalm: 148

Wednesday Colossians 1:15-23

ANNOUNCEMENTS

THANK YOU Wodonga Lutheran Parish offers a huge thank you to all volunteers who helped out with running the Carols and Reading service at Yackandandah, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day services. A special thanks to Music Coordinator and the band, ushers, volunteers for many different roles at all WLP services this busy period. May God’s peace and blessing be with you as you celebrate Christmas and welcome a New Year.

DEVOTION BOOK “Time Out – food for each day” now available from Marie Hill for $ 23:00 TBA.

LUTHERAN WOMEN and GUILD SUBSCRIPTION As the year comes to a close those wishing to subscribe to the “Lutheran Women” magazine and/or the Wodonga Lutheran Women’s Fellowship, subscriptions are now due. Lutheran Women $10 Guild Fees $15 Total $25 Please pay Wilma Trabant BEFORE 31

st December 2017 as subs for “Lutheran

Women” need to be forwarded early in January 2018. Thank you.

ALWS GIFTS OF GRACE CATALOGUES – OUT NOW Please pick up a catalogue and prayerfully consider is you are able to help those less fortunate than yourself this Christmas.

GETTING TOGETHER Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let

us ENCOURAGE one another (and all the more as you see the day approaching). Hebrews 10:25

Getting Together groups will gradually begin to take place as hosts become available. (especially after the Martin Luther 3 series) Time out for busy mums: Sheryl Parsons Knitting/craft: Wilma Trabant Screen time for people: Ps Jaswanth Kukatlapalli Cuppa and Chat: Phill and Susan Edwards Dates, times and phone numbers will be advertised in the weekly bulletin and on the Website, however addresses will be provided upon contacting the host. The aim is to provide opportunities for members and friends to get together, to maintain relationships and to provide encouragement especially once we have moved from the current church location. If you have ideas for groups or would like to host a group, please contact me on 0429 166161. Susan Edwards (Getting Together Coordinator)

STAMPS FOR MISSION Thanks to all the people who have been giving stamps to Ingrid Harder for ‘Stamps for Mission’. Please keep them coming especially now that Christmas is getting closer. You can hand them to Ingrid at church or leave them in her pigeon hole. Many thanks.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

Sunday 24 Dec 2017 @ 8:30am at St Mark’s Yack – Simplified HC Service ONLY

NO REGULAR SERVICE AT ST JOHN’S

Sunday 24 Dec 2017 @ 7:00pm at St John’s - Christmas Eve Carols Service

Monday 25 Dec 2017 @ 8:30am at St Mark’s Yackandandah - Christmas Day HC

Monday 25 Dec 2017 @ 10:30am at St John’s - Christmas Day HC Service

THIS WEEK: Sunday 24 Dec 8:30am Normal Service at St Mark’s Yackandandah 7:00pm Christmas Eve Carols at St John’s Wodonga Monday 25 Dec 8:30am Christmas Day Service at St Mark’s Yack 10:30am Christmas Day Service at St John’s Wodonga Tuesday 26

Dec 11am-3pm Church Office CLOSED

Wednesday 27 Dec 9am-1pm Church Office OPEN Thursday 28 Dec 11am-3pm Church Office OPEN Sat & Sun 30/31 Dec Normal weekend services @ Wod & Yack

LAST WEEK: Attendance Communion Total Offering St John’s 37 35 $ 2,841.60 St Mark’s 27 -- $ 2,700 needed to St John’s (SAT EVE) 19 18 meet budget)

Offerings Year to date: 51 weeks to 17/12/17 @ actual 2,700 pw $ 137,700.00 Offerings to 17/12/17 $ 109,960.85 SHORTFALL $ 27,739.15

NEXT WEEKEND: FIRST AFTER CHRISTMAS READINGS Sat 6:00pm Wod Trad HC Service Isaiah 61:10—62:3 Sun 8:30am Yack Trad HC Service Galatians 4:4-7 Sun 10:30am Wod Trad HC Service Luke 2:22-40

ROSTER FOR THIS COMING WEEKEKND Communion Server/ WodS 30

th Dec Pastor Ernie Kiss

Wod 31st Dec Pastor Graham Zweck

Altar Guild WodS 30th Dec Phill Edwards

Wod 31st Dec Marie Hill/Kaye Walsh

Reader WodS 30th Dec Edwards Family

Wod 31st Dec Jason Zweck

Children’s Address WodS 30th Dec Pastor Jaswanth

Wod 31st Dec Pastor Jaswanth

PowerPoint WodS 30th Dec Carla Vogelsang

Wod 31st Dec Volunteer please

Usher/Counters WodS 30th Dec Vogelsang Family

Wod 31st Dec Sue Housego

Church Cleaning Dec 25th - Dec 31

st L de Garis

Mowers Dec 18th - Dec 31

st Andrew Keller Ralph Behrends