L i n k e d C o n g r e g a t i o n s o f t h e B e l l a r i n e

Uniting Church in Australia St Leonards Portarlington Drysdale

News sheet for Sunday, 23 December, 2018

THIS WEEK IN OUR CONGREGATIONSSunday, 23 DecemberPortarlington9.00 am Lay Team - BertramDrysdale9.00 am Rev Temukisa10.45 am Rev TemukisaSt Leopards7.00 pm Lay Team - Bertram

Monday, 24 December – Christmas EveDrysdale11.30 pm Rev Temukisa

Tuesday, 25 December – Christmas DayPortarlington9.00 am Rev TemukisaDrysdale8.00 am Rev Temukisa

Sunday, 30 December (Minister on Study Leave)Portarlington9.00 am Rev Margaret ManningDrysdale10.15 am Joint Service, Lay Teams

Monday, 31 December – New Year’s Eve7.00 pm Drysdale NYE Celebration

PREACHING PLAN FOR JANUARY

Sunday, 6 JanuaryPortarlington9.00 am Rev Temukisa (HC)Drysdale9.00 am Wayne’s Lay Team10. 45 am Wayne’s Lay TeamSt LeonardsRev Temukisa (HC, FB & LC)

Sunday, 13 JanuaryPortarlington9.00 am Rev Helen Robinson

Drysdale9.00 am Rev Temukisa (HC, LC) Wayne’s Team assisting10.45 am Rev Temukisa (HC, LC)

St Leonards7.00 am Anglican led

Sunday, 20 January (Minister on Annual Leave)Portarlington9.00 am Rev Margaret ManningDrysdale9.00 am Graeme’s Lay Team10.45 am Graeme’s Lay TeamSt Leonards7.00 am Anglican led

Sunday, 27 January (Minister on Annual Leave)Portarlington9.00 am Lay Team - PigdonDrysdale9.00 am Rev Helen Robinson, Denise’s Team Assisting10.45 am Rev Helen RobinsonSt Leonards7.00 am Lay Team - Pigdon

LECTIONARY READINGS23 December Micah 5:2-5aAdvent 4 Luke 1:47-55 or Psalms 80: 1-7

Hebrews 10:5-10Luke 1:39- 45, (46-55)

Comments on today's lectionary from Abingdon Worship AnnualThe world is turned upside down. Just as we are settling in for a nice Christmas celebration of the Babe of Bethlehem, our world is shaken. What was and is will be no longer. This is revolution! Small towns will house messiahs; a young woman prophesies with power; the poor will be filled while the rich are sent away empty; the first order is abolished and a new order is established. How can we sleep in heavenly peace with all this going on? Jesus comes, to bring not only peace and joy but radical transformation—ours, and the world’s. Because of faithful women like Elizabeth and Mary, this revolution is birthed into this world and we experience birth quakes. Nothing will be the same again.

ALL CONGREGATIONS

News SheetThis is the last news sheet for a while. The next news sheet will be produced on Sunday, 27 January. Please email any items for the news sheet to the Church Office on drysdaleuc@yahoo.com.au by Tuesday, 22 January 2019.

Minister: Office, Drysdale Church Centre: UNITING Op Shop:Rev. Temukisa Amituana'i-Vaeluaga High Street DRYSDALE Village Walk DRYSDALE

Email: temukisa.av@gmail.com drysdaleuc@yahoo.com.au Mon-Fri (10am-4pm), Sat (9.30am-12noon)Phone: 0400 664 991 (Mobile) 03 5253 1336 (Office) 03 5251 3640Web: http://drysdale.unitingchurch.org.au

Thanks to our small team of compositors this year: Norm Cheale, Denise McLaverty, Val Lestrange and Joan Kelly, and especially Jonnie Mander for her work in editing and photocopying every week.

Next year we will not have Norm but are grateful to Marie Harris who will join our team. More volunteers welcome!

Book SwapSt Andrew’s Justice and Mission team will host a book swap at the Portarlington Neighbourhood House(PNH ) in the 2019 April school holidays, to raise money for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

The child’s book swap will take place on Wednesdays 10 & 17 April and children attending the PNH that day will be invited to bring a book and swap it for another one and donate $2 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF)

We therefore need a very good selection of books to begin with and invite members of the Linked Congregation to donate children’s books for children aged 2 – 10. If you are cleaning out your book shelves this summer keep our children’s book swap in mind. Mention to your families too who may be having a summer sort out!

We need lots of books in good condition to begin the swap! There will be a box in the St Andrew’s church narthex for your donations or you can phone Joy or Marg to arrange collection: Joy 5291 8177 Marg 0409 334 480

All the money raised will be sent to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, to buy and distribute new books to children in remote communities. It is hoped for the future to vastly improve the current adult literacy rate of 15% in remote communities, by providing reading opportunities for aboriginal children. The books purchased will hopefully stimulate both reading enjoyment and literacy.

DRYSDALE

Congregation Annual MeetingThe Congregation Annual meeting will be held on Sunday, 3 February commencing at 2.00 pm in the Hall and followed by afternoon tea. All are invited to attend.

At the meeting there will an election for elders. Denise and Ian McLaverty's term concludes but they are eligible for re-election. We can also appoint a new elder. Nominations will be required by 20 January. Forms are available in the foyer and any elder would be happy to explain the elder role.Web SiteOur new image web site is now operational with thanks to staff from the IT and Communications groups at Synod. Please check it out and tell us what you think. Updating will continue as we learn how to use it https://drysdale.unitingchurch.org.au/

Pilgrimage

Mark your calendar now for the 2019 Pilgrimage to be held on Saturday, 9 February. The theme for it will be "Living History". We walk in short sections with a liturgy at each stop, starting at Coriyule in McDermotts Rd and finishing at Clifton Springs Harbour with lunch. There is no cost and transport is available if you need a rest along the way.

New Year’s Eve CelebrationDon’t spend New Year’s Eve home alone, come along to the church for a fun night of games (not too active) and of course food. We will start at 7.00 pm and celebrate new year at 9.00 pm and be all finished by 9.30 pm.

Please indicate your attendance on the sheet in the foyer. A small plate of food is the cost! Transport can be provided. Flower Roster for 2019A draft flower roster for 2019 is in the foyer. Please cross off your name if you no longer wish to be involved in preparing flowers, or if the designated week doesn't suit.

If you would like to help in this service, please add your name, there are a few vacant spots on the roster to fill!

mainly music 2018We enjoyed our final mainly music Christmas celebration last Wednesday with fun, food, songs, instruments, a short nativity play, laughter and tears.

One parent cried as she thanked us for being 'a real community' as her child heads off to school next year. Each child going off to school is given 'The Jesus Storybook Bible' as our parting gift.

One great joy is that families intend to return next year, some having a year off then returning the following year.On behalf of the team I say thank you to our church community for your prayerful and practical concern for mainly music throughout 2018.

We step out each Wednesday morning in God's name with willing hands, willing hearts and minds.

Lynda Smith Team Leader mainly music

Coffee and Chat – will recommence on Thursday, 10 January, 10.30am at Drysdale Zoo Café. All welcome to come along to this hour of informal fellowship.Drysdale Choir- will be in recess until 30 January 2019.mainly music – will recommence on Wednesday, 6 February 2019.

PORTARLINGTON

St Andrews UCAFThe Commitment Meeting on 11 February; the first for 2019, will be followed by a Sammy Stamp Trimming session. Do save your stamps over Christmas and bring them and a pair of scissors on 11 February. All welcome. Regards Dorothy Knights

ST LEONARDS

The Portarlington Church Choir will be at St Leonards Service on 23 December at 7.00 pm to bring special

Christmas music. Everyone welcome, light refreshments afterwards.

Book SwapPlease support this initiative of the J&M Team (see earlier article).

Christmas Bowl – Act for PeaceThis Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of Advent and the theme for this week is Joy. But, how can a family embrace joy when extreme drought has wiped out their crops and left them struggling to eat?

By supporting the Christmas Bowl, we can help mothers in Zimbabwe to become conservation farmers, support their children and harvest joy during their toughest seasons.

Our partner on the ground in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, has offered this blessing and they invite you tp pray it with them:

"Gracious God, we are thankful that in spite of the many challenges in 2018, we saw your grace and protection over us. We pray that we may carry out our mission in 2019 with courage and confidence in your continual presence with us."

With blessings and gratitude, Janet Cousens, CEO, Act for Peace

Christmas Message from our Minister

Angel Gabriel said to Mary: "Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you."

The Christmas message is simple, majestic and profound, as recorded in the gospels of Matthew and Luke.

The Christmas message is an affirmation of the Good News: God is with us! This was the angel’s message to Mary and Joseph - “Fear not!”

The Christmas message embodies JOYFULNESS for all who heard, saw, and gathered around baby Jesus in the manger. This joyous message continues to be the message of HOPE for all generations.

The Christmas message is to be proclaimed/shared in word and actions; as the Shepherds did.

My prayer is:Be still and know that I am God!Be still and remember that God is with us!Be still and rejoice in the prophet message of renewalBe still and know that God chose insignificant mothers to bear new lifeBe still and remember God is Hope, Peace, Joy, and LoveBe still and rejoice in the Christmas message: “Emmanuel” - in our place and space.Hosanna! Hallelujah! Amen!

Have a blessed Christmas and experience afresh Christ in your life.Manuia le Kirisimasi ma le tausaga fou!

Rev. Temukisa Amituana'i-Vaeluaga

LECTIONARY DEC 2018/JAN 2019

Date Day 1st Reading Psalm 2nd Reading Gospel

The Christmas-Epiphany season includes Christmas Eve/Day and the twelve days of Christmas. It recalls the stories of the birth and infancy of Christ. The Church in this time celebrates the wonder of the incarnation; the season concludes with Epiphany.

Dec 24/25 Christmas Day 1 Is 9:2-7 96 Tit 2:11-14 Lk 2: 1-14, (15-20)

Christmas Day 2 Is 62: 6-12 97 Tit 3:4-7 Lk 2: (1-7), 8-20

Christmas Day 3 Is 52:7-10 98 Heb 1:1-4, (5-12) Jn 1:1-14

Dec 30 Christmas 1 1 Sm 2:18-20, 26 148 Col 3: 12-17 Lk 2:41-52

Jan 1 New Year’s Day Eccl 3:1-13 8 Rev 21:1-6a Mt 25:31-46

Jan 1 Holy Name of Jesus Num 6:22-27 8 Gal 4:4-7 or Phil 2:5-11 Lk 2:15-21

Jan 6 Epiphany of the Lord

Is 60: 1-6 72: 1-7, 10-14 Eph 3: 1-12 Mt 2: 1-12

After Epiphany - a period in which the church reflects on the manifestation of Christ to all people. The Baptism of the Lord is the first Sunday of this period. The Transfiguration of the Lord is the last Sunday. . The length of this period varies depending on the date of Easter.

Jan 13 Baptism of Jesus Is 43: 1-7 29 Acts 8: 14-17 Lk 3:15-17, 21-22

Jan 20 Epiphany 2 Is 62:1-5 36:5-10 1 Cor 12:1-11 Jn 2: 1-11

Jan 27 Epiphany 3 Neh 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 19 1 Cor 12:12-31a Lk 4:14-21

Feb 3 Epiphany 4 Jer 1:4-10 71:1-6 1 Cor 13:1-13 Lk 4:21-30