Tidings - 1st December 2019
Welcome & Gathering
A very warm welcome to you, and especially to any visitors, as we gather to praise and worship God this morning.
Advent Week One
Lighting the Advent Candle of Peace
God in our history and with us today, we pray for your peace to come into our lives, our community and our world. Guide us and equip us to do all we can to resolve conflicts and to lay the pathways towards your justice and freedom for all. Help us to know the companionship of Jesus, whose birth we will soon celebrate and whose life calls us into your peace. Amen.
Theme
Prophets of Peace
Today’s service can be found in the Family Service booklet.
Sentence of the Day
Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. Isaiah 2: 3a
Prayer of the Day
Almighty God,
you give us this season to make ourselves ready for the coming of your Son.
In this time of waiting and hoping,
assist us to order our lives
so that we may be ready to welcome Jesus in the flesh.
Through Jesus Christ our Liberator,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Celebrating Common Prayer: A Version for Aotearoa, New Zealand, & Polynesia
Readings: Isaiah 2: 1-5; Romans 13: 11-14; Matthew 24: 36-44
Reflection
This Sunday is the start of the Church’s season of Advent – a time when we prepare ourselves and our Church community for the forthcoming celebration of the birth of Jesus at Christmas time. The invitation of Advent is to open ourselves more and more to the reality of God’s love coming into our world through the living presence of Jesus and his work and word of love, joy, honesty, hope and peace. This Sunday is also our final young people’s programme for the year and the young one’s will guide us through our entry into the celebration of Advent and Christmas. We will offer the young people gifts to acknowledge their association with and contribution to our Church community through the year. We will also be honouring Martha Hosick who, after many many years of working Janet McRobbie on our family Services and young people’s programme, is stepping back from that task at St. Peter’s. Martha will continue with the programme at St. Mary’s and I hope to be able to soon notify of a new team to take on the task at St. Peter’s in 2020.
Every blessing,
Andrew
Prayers Bidding: O come:
Response: let us walk in the light of the Lord.
The congregation are invited to sit after the offertory hymn for the Great Thanksgiving Prayer.
During the week please remember in your prayers – In our intercessions we pray for our three Tikanga Church and our Bishops, Bishop Ross and Assistant Bishop Jim, and Bishops Kito and Fereimi. We pray for all ministry units and chaplaincies in our Diocese. We pray for our country and for those who hold leadership roles and positions of responsibility. In particular we pray for those who are unwell or in need and for those who provide support to them. We pray too, for the faithful departed and for those who grieve.
Goodwill Offerings – Your contribution for the work of our church will be collected during the Offertory Hymn. Our regular parishioners contribute by envelope or by automatic payment. One off or regular payments can be made online. Our bank account is Bombay Pokeno Parish 02-0404-0013078-00. Include your initials and name to be eligible for tax deductions. It costs our parish about $1600 per week to run.
The Manurewa Anglican Parish Foodbank Programme continues to welcome your contributions of food to support families in need.
NOTICES & COMING EVENTS
SUMMER SERIES Advent & Christmas with St Matthew’s Gospel on the Wednesday evenings of November 20/27 and December 4/11 at 7pm at St. Peter’s Bombay all are invited and welcome to Bible Study and discussion sessions on St. Matthew’s Gospel the themes will cover: Who is the Gospel writer Matthew? Matthew’s portrayal of Jesus. Matthew’s gifts to us for Advent and Christmas. Matthew’s message for us today. Contact: Andrew Beyer 027 450 8389 apbeyer49@gmail.com
Choir Preparation for Christmas Events – all are welcome and encouraged to join our Choir to prepare for Christmas events – especially the Pokeno Christmas Parade on 13 December and our Carol Service at St Mary’s on 15 December. Choir practices will be held at St. Mary’s at 4.15pm on Thursdays up to December 12th
Gold Card Wanderers Wednesday 11th December for our end of year GCW lunch at the Esplanade Hotel, Devonport. Meet at the Papakura Station at 9.45am for the 9.54am train to Britomart.
End of Year Parish Pot Luck Dinner, Friday 20th December from 6.00pm at Bruce and Diana’s place, 13 Lawrence Carter Drive, Bombay. Bring your own choice of meat or fish or salad dish or dessert, and BYO drink.
THIS WEEK 1-8 December
Sunday 8 December
9:30am Family Service at St Mary’s followed by morning tea
Readings: Isaiah 11: 1-10; Romans 15: 4-13; Matthew 3: 1-12
Contacts
Priest in Charge: The Revd Andrew Beyer ph. 09-236 0870
Mobile 0274 508 389, email apbeyer49@gmail.com
Assistant Priest: The Revd Bruce Owen ph. 09-294 6629
Mobile 021 681962, email brucebowen64@outlook.com
Wardens: Marcia & John Anderson ph. 09-294 8268
Vestry Sec. Beverley Berwick ph. 07-826 3730
Vestry Treas. Margaret Overdevest ph. 09-238 1877
Parish Admin. Diana O’Brien ph. 09-236 0199
St Peter's in the Forest, Bombay – St Mary on the Hill, Pokeno – St Jude’s, Mercer
Maramarua – Mangatangi/Miranda – Kaiaua