St Mary s Anglican Church · 2019/6/2  · St Mary’s Anglican Church Sunday 2 June 2019 We acknowledge the Dja Dja Wurrung people, the custodians of this land where we gather. We

St Mary’s Anglican Church Sunday 2 June 2019

We acknowledge the Dja Dja Wurrung people, the custodians of this land where we gather.

We pay our respects to their elders past and present as we pray for reconciliation.

Sentence: Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.

Acts 16:31

Collect: Almighty God, whose blessed Son before his passion prayed

for his disciples that they might be one, as you and he are one: grant

that your Church, being bound together in love and obedience to

you, may be united in one body by the one Spirit, that the world may

believe in him whom you have sent, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord;

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,

now and for ever. Amen.

7th Sunday of Easter

Preacher & Celebrant:

Rev Tracey Wolsley

Regular Services held at

9.00am & 11.00am Sundays

9.00am Hymns

TiS 209 And Can It Be (V1, 4, 5)

TiS 272 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

TiS 422 Come Holy Spirit Come (V1, 2, 4, 5, 6)

TiS 276 There’s A Light Upon The Mountains

Please advise Rev Tracey or Alison by 5.00pm Thursday if you wish to add someone

to the prayer list below. Thank you.

Please hold in your prayers: Julie Abella, Dave Bell, Baby Ella, Lorna Britton, Lauris

Hopkins, Di, John, Pat, Shirley & Ron, Yvonne and Lindsay

Important Dates

9 June—Confirmation Service with Bishop Matt Brain, 9.00am

23 June—Bunnings Fundraising BBQ

26, 27 & 28 July—Winter Art Show, 10.00am to 4.00pm

26 July—Official Opening of Winter Art Show, 7.30pm

Not ices

Confirmation— It would be greatly appreciated if you could bring

a plate of delicious morning tea next Sunday to celebrate this

wonderful occasion and welcome Bishop Matt.

Help Wanted—It is time again to prepare our next roster, for July,

August and September and we need helpers. People willing to:

do the flowers at church

take up the offering

read

be a welcomer

work in the booth

Please consider taking a turn and being a part of the rosters. As

the old saying goes, many hands make light work. Whether it is

praying, reading or doing a behind the scenes thing such as

emptying the bins or washing dishes, it is important. All is ministry in

one form or another. If you are not sure about a particular task or

require more information regarding what is involved, please see

Tracey or Alison or, place your name down on the list in the

Narthex.

Di Hyde Update—Di sends her thanks for your phone calls, cards

and prayers whilst in hospital in Melbourne. She is looking forward

to being transferred back to Bentley’s in Bendigo next week. Our

Joy Harris—3 June Melinda McKay—3 June

ongoing encouragement and prayers go to Di from our

community of faith here at St Mary’s for her continued progression

to better health, along with those named on the first page of the

newsletter and those we hold in our hearts.

Bunnings Fundraising BBQ—Sunday 23 June. Are you able to assist

at this important fundraising event? There will be 2 x 4hr shifts,

8.30am to 12.30pm and 12.00pm to 4.00pm, which allows for a

crossover of shifts. Four people per shift are required so if you are

able to assist please see Colin Clark or list your name on the sheet

in the Narthex.

Parish Council & Pastoral Care—It is my delight to welcome

Margaret Peach on to Parish Council. Margaret is well known to

many at St Mary's and will fill the vacancy left following the death

of our dear sister in Christ, Gayle Worthington. Margaret has a

particular passion for pastoral care and exercises a very important

pastoral ministry to residents at Royal Freemasons and, others in

need. I commend her to you and ask that you pray for Margaret

as she seeks to serve God faithfully. I have also asked Margaret to

take up the role of Pastoral Care Co-ordinator for the Parish and

am equally delighted that she has accepted the challenge. What

does that mean? Well, Margaret and I shall work on that!

However, it will involve Margaret and I conversing over pastoral

concerns to ensure those who may be experiencing a challenging

or difficult time, feel connected, loved and cared for. Stay tuned!

Rev Tracey.

Next Sunday

Sunday 9 June—9.00am CONFIRMATION SERVICE

with Bishop Matt Brain

Please pray for our Confirmees: Chie, Skyla, Lewis, Phoebe, Jo

Special morning tea following service

There will be NO 11.00am service on the day

Offertory Collectors—It would be greatly appreciated if those

who are rostered on to collect the offering each week, if you

could also count how many communicants and non-

communicants are present at the service and record this in the

Service Register. Thank you, your support and ministry is much

appreciated.

Musical Icons Through the Ages—performed by Bendigo & District

Concert Band, Sunday 16 June, 2.00-3.30pm, gold coin donation

includes afternoon tea, at St Mary’s Anglican Church.

Safe Church Workshop—the next safe church awareness

workshop is to be held at Holy Trinity Flora Hill on Saturday 15

June. It will commence at 9.30am and conclude at 4.00pm.

Please bring your own lunch. Cost is $34.70 per person, includes

morning and afternoon tea. Registration is through the diocesan

website. Please go to http://www.bendigoanglican.org.au/safe-

church-awareness-workshops/ to register. A credit card is needed

to complete registration.

ABMA Auxiliary Gathering—you are invited to St Luke’s White

Hills parish centre, parking available behind the church or in

Plumridge St between Napier & Dundas St (Railway line) on

Tuesday 11 June 2019 from 1.00-3.00pm. Focus on how we are

helping those in Papua New Guinea to read. Afternoon Tea

supplied. Please bring item for trading table and $5 donation for

National Auxiliary. RSVP Wed 5 June for catering purposes to: Rev

Barry Rainsford 5448 3912, or email: [email protected]

Baptist Auditorium Opening—Sunday 14 July, 2.00pm, Kangaroo

Flat Baptist Church, 32-38 Church Street, We invite you to a

Celebration Service for the opening of our New Auditorium on

July 14, 2019 at 2 p.m. Guest Speaker: Rev Daniel Bullock, Director

of Ministries, Baptist Union of Victoria, Chaplain at the Western

Bulldogs AFL team. Light refreshments to follow the service.

Chaplaincy Thanksgiving Service— Sunday 23 June, 2.30pm, Holy

Trinity Anglican Church, Flora Hill. Afternoon Tea will follow the

service. The guest speaker will be Dawn Penney, Chief Executive

Officer of Korus Connect.

Chaplaincy Annual Dinner— Saturday 31 August, 6.00pm, Holy

Trinity Anglican Church, Flora Hill. Doctor Skye kinder will be the

guest speaker.

Chaplaincy Chortle and Converchino— Friday 27 September,

2.00pm, St Mary’s Anglican Church, Kangaroo Flat. Meet current

and former Chaplains. Enjoy some time reminiscing and

socialising over afternoon tea. Our own Megan Haddon will

address the gathering, She is Chaplain at Big Hill and Lockwood

South Primary Schools. We look forward to your support.

Message f rom the Bishop

Ascension Day – A word for your encouragement from Bishop Matt

Thursday was the day we call Ascension Day. Let me give you five

reasons why Jesus’ ‘leaving’ this earth is the greatest thing that

could have happened for a people made alive by his resurrection:

1 Jesus has taken my body into God’s realm with his!

Really spiritual people back in Jesus’ day would deny the role of our

body with all of its possibilities (and embarrassing realities). This would

cause either ascetism where the beauty of bodily life is needlessly

denied, or hedonism when revelling in pleasure reduced people to

something like pigs rolling in mud. Jesus showed us that to be truly

human means for us to be embodied: able to feel pleasure, delight

in beauty, do things and create, weep and ache and hope for a

fulfilled future. He took his wholeness back to the father…he will also

take mine.

2 Jesus has taken my frailties into God’s heart with him!

While I yearn for the fullness that God’s New Kingdom will bring, I am

currently a bag of bones and nervous tics. As Jesus ascended,

wounds in his hands, feet and all, he knows our suffering and

advocates for our needs before God. No-one can accuse God –

Father, Son, and Spirit, of being insensitive to our limitations and hurts

because Jesus is there, still with his wounded side, saying within the

perfect relationship of the trinity – ‘Yes, that one with the nervous tics

and all, is with me. See Father, see my hands and side, I know that

pain.’

3 Jesus has taken my hopes and aspirations into God’s kingdom

with him!

But my life is not solely one of frailty and pain. I have hopes and

dreams. Jesus’ ascension as a whole person assures me that my

hopes and dreams have a place in God’s New Kingdom. Just as he

took all of who he was and what he learned as a human being back

into the God-head, so my being is not only permissible, but part of

the fabric of what God is preparing. Yet it is not me unconstrained.

Suddenly I have a canvas upon which to paint, a field in which to

play, for I want my hopes and dreams to be fitting in this place that

Jesus has gone to prepare.

4 Jesus is sending blessings that belong in God’s fulfilled kingdom

back for me to enjoy!

Some describe our hope as being simply ‘pie in the sky when you

die’, a cynical ploy to get us to put up with bad stuff now. Nothing

could be further from the truth! In returning to the Father’s side Jesus

effectively tag-teamed with the Spirit so that the reality that belongs

to the fulfilled Kingdom of God can begin to grow even now. So as

we find that our trust in God is vindicated by his faithfulness…then

we experience the kingdom! As we discover joy in working with

other Christians to share the material blessings we have with others…

then we experience the kingdom! As we have our hearts lifted to

God in response to worship…then we experience the kingdom!

5 Jesus is shaping us to fit the world as God is re-forming it so that

I may be fully human!

I am not only formed to be like Jesus, but share in the benefits of

being with him. I am never more truly human than when I am

dwelling in close proximity with Jesus. I am never more fulfilled than

when I am living a life given energy and motive force by Jesus. I am

never more at rest, useful, energised and capable than when a

reflection of the ‘firstborn’ out of death…Jesus.

And the ascension has made this possible.

Your servant in Christ, Bishop Matt Brain

The Rector Wri tes

The Greatest Invitation Ever

At first glance, the readings this week seem completely

unconnected. But a closer look reveals the simple theme of

invitation. In Acts, Paul and Silas are given a unique opportunity to

invite a jailer into Christ’s life. In the Psalm, God’s glory and power

are the context for an invitation to those who are ‘godly’ to find

refuge in God. In Revelation the invitation to all who would ‘drink of

the waters of life’ is proclaimed, along with the assurance of Christ’s

return to love and welcome those who respond to the invitation. In

John Jesus prays for unity and love among believers so that others

may see this, know the truth about Jesus, and be drawn (invited) into

the life of Christ, and of the loving, beloved community of faith. At

the heart of the Gospel is divine invitation. An extravagant invitation

to all people to come and know the wonderful grace and love of

God which is embodied and offered in the person of Jesus.

Again and again in the Bible we see people are graciously invited to

enter into personal fellowship with God. Someone has said that the

Bible is a book of invitations from God, urging us to become partners

with God in redeeming the world. As I think of God’s invitations,

three in particular come to mind. One can be found in Matthews

Gospel (11:28) where we hear Jesus say, Come to Me, all you who

labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. A second

invitation is the call to discipleship. In Mark 1:17 we hear Jesus say,

‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men'” (Mark 1:17). And a

third is the invitation to live in the realm of God. Jesus said, “Abide in

Me, and I will abide in you” (John 15:4). What better invitations could

there be. Jesus invites us into a relationship with himself, a

relationship that offers us peace, purpose and promise.

Next Sunday we will hear Jo, James, Phoebe, Lewis, Chie and Skyla

all publicly say yes to the invitation to live as disciples of Jesus and

follow him in their lives. Please come along and support them in their

calling and celebrate this significant occasion with them and, invite

a friend along. Invite your neighbour. Invite your friend. Invite a

family member. Bishop Matt will be joining us and there will be a

special morning tea after the service.

Blessings. Yours In Christ Rev Tracey

P a r i s h C o n t a c t D e t a i l s

Rector: Rev Tracey Wolsley, Ph 0423 267 405

Email: [email protected]

Rector’s Warden: Colin Clark Ph 5447 9783

People’s Wardens: Dennis Robinson Ph 5447 4035

Shirley Austin Ph 0417 523 068

Postal Address: PO Box 1369, Kangaroo Flat VIC 3555

Street Address: 193-195 High Street, Kangaroo Flat

Office email: [email protected]

Website: www.stmaryskangarooflat.com

Parish Office: Ph 5447 7427

Parish Secretary: Alison Niven Ph 0409 326 495

PEW SHEET—If you have an item for the Pew sheet please forward by 12 noon

Thursday to Alison Niven on 0409 326 495 or Email [email protected]

Sunday Roster To volunteer for a task, please contact Alison Niven on 0409 326 495. All swaps to be arranged amongst yourselves and advised to Alison for amendment in Pew sheet.

Time 02/06 09/06 16/06 23/06

Welcomers 9.00am

D Addlem J Scott

T & G Woods N & S Austin B & I Guest

11.00am A Niven Nil A Niven A Niven

Eucharistic Assistants

9.00am E Young G Turpie

C Clark L Waasdorp

C Clark J Clark

G Turpie W Stewart

11.00am J Prior Nil G Turpie E Young

Offertory 9.00am

J Scott D Robinson

M Stewart B Guest

N Austin M Fryer

B Guest D Robinson

11.00am A Niven Nil A Niven A Niven

Booth 9.00am W Stewart A Niven D Robinson A Niven

11.00am A Niven Nil A Niven A Niven

Reader 9.00am G Turpie E Dunnicliff S Davey L Corrie

Intercessor 9.00am E Young R Stone C Clark G Turpie

Morning Host 9.00am J Clark B Austin J Leech D Carlson

Flowers E Dunnicliff L Pearce M Shay J Phelps