15 DECEMBER 2019 - Today’s Services

Third Sunday in Advent

7.30am—Sung Eucharist

9.00am—Family Eucharist

This Week in the Parish

Friday 20 10.00am Eucharist

Sunday

22 7.30am

9.00am

Sung Eucharist

Family Eucharist

Welcome!

We are glad you are with us!

Before the service, speak to the Lord in prayer.

During the service, let the Lord speak to you.

After the service, speak to one another.

Please take this pew sheet and the notice sheet home with you for your prayers in the week.

Locum: The Reverend Lindsay Howie

Urgent calls only while office is closed for Christmas/New Year 0490950893

Email: office@stjohnsbulimba.org

Phone: 33991508 (use this number only)

Church Address: 171 Oxford Street, Bulimba Postal Address: PO Box 271, Bulimba Qld 4171

Telephone: 3399 1508 Email: office@stjohnsbulimba.org

Website: www.stjohnsbulimba.org

To arrange direct debit for your regular givings, please use the account details:

BSB 704 901 Account number 00014573. Account name Bulimba Anglican Parish

THE SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION

Sentence for the Day:

Strengthen the weak hands and make firm feeble knees. Say to those who are of a

fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God!” Isaiah 34. 3-4

Hymns: 7.30am Eucharist:- TIS : 616, 264, 271, 273.

The Collect for the Day:

Sustain us O God with the power of your love on our journey to meet the one who is

coming: strengthen our weak hands, make firm our feeble knees, and open blind

eyes to the dawning of your kingdom, that our hearts may rejoice as we behold the

majesty of our God. We ask this through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives

and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

1st Reading: Isaiah 35. 1-10 DON HANN , CARMEL COLBERT

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.’ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveller, not even fools, shall go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

The Song of Mary (Luke 1 46-55) (verses will be said alternately with the reader and the congregation)

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,

for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on

all generations will call me blessed;

for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of

their hearts.

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;

he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,

according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his

descendants for ever.’

2nd Reading James 5. 7-10 MARGARET SALTER, MICHAEL SMIT

Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Prayer for our New Rector

Bountiful God, give to this parish a faithful pastor who will faithfully speak your word and minister your sacraments;

an encourager who will equip your people for ministry and enable us to

fulfil our calling.

Give to those who will choose, wisdom, discernment and

patience, and to us give warm and generous hearts, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

Gospel: Matthew 11. 2-11 When John the Baptist heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word

by his disciples and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait

for another?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: the

blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the

dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is any-

one who takes no offence at me.’

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: ‘What did you

go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did

you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes

are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and

more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written,

“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way

before you.” Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater

than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

.SELECTION PROCESS FOR APPOINTMENT OF A NEW PARISH PRIEST

The Parish Nominators, Allan Thomson, Dianne Coffey and Sarah Davies, are continuing the discernment process to identify and appoint a new Rector for our Parish. We are not permitted to discuss the progress of our investigations, or the names which we are considering but be assured that we are seeking a Rector who will be a good fit for our Parish; someone who will lead, nurture and grow our congregation and our mission. As you can see this may well be a lengthy process taking many months to find the right person for our Parish.

We welcome your suggestions of names, which we can consider, and ask for your prayers to uphold us in this vital search. Please pray the prayer in the Pew Bulletin as part of your daily prayers. In the meantime Father Lindsay Howie will be our locum and will perform the usual duties of our Rector but will not commence any major projects or initiatives. That will be part of the role of our future parish priest.

If you have any questions about the discernment and selection process please approach one of the

Nominators. In the meantime, and during the process, please hold us, all the members of our Parish, and our locum Father Lindsay in your prayers.

Allan, Dianne and Sarah

Parish Prayers The Anglican Cycle of Prayer: In The World: - The Dioceses of Sokoto (Nigeria): †Augustin Omole; El Salvador (Central

America): †Juan David Alvarado Melgar The Diocese of Melbourne: †Philip Freier; Regional Bishops: †Genieve Black-

well, †Bradly Billings, †Paul Barker, †Kate Prowd; Clergy and People In The Diocese: The Parish of Wynnum: Donna Petersen, Jamee-lee Callard MU Australia St Paul’s School, Bald Hills: Headmaster – Paul Browning; Chaplain – Mark

Leam; Acting Chair of School Council – Lynda Johnson; members of School Council; staff & students

Locally: We pray for those who are caring for family members and loved ones at home, for support and comfort. Pray for The Sick: Bronwyn, Duncan Family, Kerrie, Roselee, Steph and Chris, Kerry, Gloria, Andrew, Joseph, Elizabeth, Bernie, Val. (NOTE: under the Federal Privacy Act, consent of the person you wish to pray for must be obtained. No details of

need / illness can be published without consent)

IN MEMORY, DECEMBER 15– DECEMBER 21

PIXIE SMITH, 2011

The Third Sunday of Advent– Sunday 15 December 2019

Isaiah 35.1-10; Song of Mary (APBA, pp 31, 435); James 5.7-10; Matthew 11.2-11

Jesus says of John the Baptist that he is the one who has been sent to prepare the way for Jesus himself. The Greek Church calls John the Baptist the Πρόδρομος – Prodromos – the Forerunner. This week, pray that like John the Baptist you can prepare the way for Jesus himself in whatever circumstance you find yourself.

Pray this week for the chance to prepare the way for Jesus to enter the world. Give thanks for the Church of the Province of Central Africa, remembering especially the work of the Zambia Anglican Council.

Text:: Robert McLean, Partnerships Missioner © Anglican Board of Mission, 2019

CHRISTMAS and JANUARY SERVICES

December 24th Christmas Eve

6.00pm—Christingle Service, a very special way to celebrate the

coming of Jesus. Very family orientated. (the children love it.)

11.30pm—Midnight Eucharist

December 25th Christmas Day

7.30am—Sung Eucharist

9.00am—Family Eucharist

December 29th

8.30am– Combined Parish Eucharist

January 5th

8.30am– Combined Parish Eucharist

No Friday Eucharist on 27th December, 3rd or10th of January

January 12th

7.30am – Sung Eucharist

9.00am –Family Eucharist

PARISH OFFICE CLOSED

Please note that the Parish Office will close on Friday 20th December at 12.30 pm and

will not re-open until Wednesday 8th January. For urgent matters please call Fr Lindsay

Howie on his mobile during that period.

Food Donation for Giving Tree

We are collecting non-perishable food (no fresh food please) for donation to the

Goodna Parish to help those in need in their Parish this Christmas:

Please leave your donations of groceries and toiletries under the Christmas tree in

church by Sunday 15th December so Father Lindsay can deliver them in time for

pre-Christmas distribution.

They have 500 needy families in their parish and are making up as many

hampers of food as possible for Christmas.

Last day for donations this Sunday 15th December

Have spare old spectacles and don’t know what to do with them?

Spare pairs of spectacles, in their case if possible, will be collected

(a basket in church under the small table at the back)

and taken to the Philippines.

Caroline, Samuel and Lydia will be going in January 2020 and will take any

donations with them.

HELP WANTED

Christingle Making: On Christmas Eve, at 10.00am in the Maheno Room, we will be

making Christingles for the evening service. Please come along and help in this fun

event. All materials supplied.

Church Cleaning: We have a small, and diminishing, band of volunteers who clean the

church building each week. We really need more volunteers to help monthly, or less

frequently if we have more volunteers. You will dust, vacuum (we have a Vacuumaid)

and maybe a little light polishing. If you can spare an hour or so once every 4-6 weeks

(Friday afternoon or Saturday morning), please contact Ann Winfield on

0422931726. She will be very happy to hear from you and arrange some simple

instruction.

Next Weeks Readings

The Fourth Sunday in Advent 22nd December 2019

Isaiah 7. 10-16 Psalm 80 1-7 and 17-19

Romans 1. 1-7 Matthew 1. 18-25

Rostered Duties 7.30am 9.00am

L.A.’s Allan Thomson

Roslyn Thomson

Sarah Davies

Roland Sowerby

Readers Linda Mitchell

Ann Winfield

Brian Roy

Rowland Sowerby

Intercessors Roslyn Thomson Sarah Davies

Door Stuart Winfield

Volunteer

Laurie Thomson

Michael Smit

Tea / Coffee Margaret Salter

Volunteer

Andrea Findlay

Michael Findlay

Flowers No flowers during Advent

WELCOME!

Thank you for joining us in our worship today.

We are happy to join with you in fellowship. If you are here for the first time, or would like to be more involved in our parish please make yourself known to one of the welcomers, or clergy.

You can also complete one of the green cards on the table near the main door, to give us your contact details if you would like a call, or to be on our parish contact list.

You can put the card in the collection plate or hand it to a welcomer.

We hope you will join us for coffee after the service.

The green cards can also be used for updating your contact details if you are already a part of our parish.

Don’t forget to register your vehicle to be exempt as a Parishioner to park in

the car park or you will receive a fine.