Pew Bulletin for 29th July 2012

The Pew Bulletin for 29th July 2012 is now available
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A Service of Thanksgiving for The Ven Ken Drayton

Dear Friends at Christ's Church,

The funeral service for the The Ven Ken Drayton will take place at the Anglican Parish of Cottesloe on Friday 27th July 2012 at 10am. Then for those unable to attend in Perth, a service of Holy Communion will be held at Christ's Church on Friday 3rd August 2012 at 10am. The service at Christ's Church will not be a second funeral or memorial service but rather an opportunity for parishioners to come together to give thanks to God for the life of Ken with Holy Communion and for special prayers of thanksgiving and praise. Please would you continue to uphold the Drayton family in your prayers.

God Bless

Fr. Darryl Cotton

Funeral service: The Revd. Ken Drayton

The funeral service for the Revd. Ken Drayton will take place at the Anglican Parish of Cottesloe on Friday 27th July 2012 at 10am. 

Then for those unable to attend in Perth, a service of Holy Communion will be held at Christ's Church on Friday 3rd August 2012 at 10am. The service at Christ's Church will not be a second funeral or memorial service but rather an opportunity for parishioners to come together to give thanks to God for the life of Ken with Holy Communion and for special prayers of thanksgiving and praise. Please would you continue to uphold the Drayton family in your prayers.

A Farmer's Prayer

The Farmers of Western Australia have asked for our prayers this coming Sunday 29th July 2012. They have written to Bishop Allan Ewing who has given his endorsement for use of the prayer found here

Wearne House Auxiliary Volunteer wanted

Join a unique group. Anglican Amana Living has 14 Aged Care Residences in WA but only Mandurah has a body of people giving love and support. We do a little fund raising to provide special treat or extras for the resident but the main need now is to provide social contact for the residents.We meet @ Wearne House 2^nd Friday of each month @ 9.30 Please join us at our next meeting 10^th August 2012  9.30am. Ring Judy Rule for any further information

Blessing of the Fleece - 1st September 2012

A visit is planned to the Parish of Kondinin/Corrigin for Saturday 1st September. The plan is take a coach to Kondinin and back on the Saturday for those who can only spare a day,  however there is the option for people to go and stay for the weekend. More details will be given in the Bulletin next week. It is proposed to hold a Eucharist in the Karingal shearing shed which will include shearing of a sheep. The cost for the one day trip will be $20.00 per person.  Booking sheet is on the table at the back of the Church.  Enquiries to Jim or Dorothy Boxall MAP

Sung Evensong - 29th July 2012

EVENSONG

WILL BE SUNG AT

CHRIST’S CHURCH

SUNDAY 29^th JULY at 5.00pm

Introit: “ Blessed Are the Pure in Heart” (H. Walford Davies )

Anthem:  “The Lord Bless You and Keep You” (John Rutter)

Blessing:   Dresden “Amen”

Come and enjoy this beautiful service

and the wine and nibbles to follow

Pew Bulletin - 22nd July 2012

The Pew Bulletin can be downloaded here

Sermon - 15th July 2012

The Sermon for Sunday 15th July 2012 can be downloaded here

Pew Bulletin - 15th July 2012

The Pew Bulletin can be downloaded here

Sermon - Sunday 8th July 2012

The Sermon for Sunday 8th July 2012 can be downloaded here 

Pew Bulletin 8th July 2012

The Bulletin for Sunday 8th July 2012 is available for download at the following link.
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Sermon - 1st July 2012

Sermon delivered

by The Revd. Jeanie Hands

at Christ’s Church Anglican Church Mandurah

Sunday 1^st July 2012 on Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Mark 5:21-43

In the name of God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

Introduction

Pentecost is the season when we focus on the gift of God’s Holy Spirit with us, in our lives. Last week we learned that when the disciples were troubled by storms at sea, they called out to Jesus to save them and he stilled their storm. So Jesus revealed his power is greater than any storm or calamity in life. This week the narrative continues and we learn that even when complete strangers, like this woman or Jairus reach out to Jesus in their time of need, that God cares and makes them well again. Jesus reveals that his power is greater than any sickness or disease in life, even greater than death itself.

Many have cried to God for help

This made me think about the many people who’ve cried out to God in times of need, when they or someone they know, need help or healing. Most of us know how it feels when someone we love is injured or unwell, when someone close to us is facing serious or terminal illness. It can be overwhelming and so debilitating. The sense of powerless we feel when our loved one needs comfort, pain relief or intervention, but it’s beyond our ability to help.

I remember one sunny afternoon when our youngest daughter was playing as children do, hand stands and cart wheels, laughing and having fun… Then the air was filled with the sound of something like a twig breaking. Daniella was no longer laughing; that sound was not a twig but her arm, now badly broken. Philip was aghast at the sight of his daughter with her arm so disfigured; he was alarmed, as any father would be. My immediate reaction was to pray, pray and ask God to help us in our time of need. So praying, I resolved to be as calm as possible and drove us to hospital.

Country life can be tough enough but more so when you’re waiting at hospital in Emergency. When they finally saw us, they couldn’t actually help but offered kid’s pain killers and sent us home again. We were told to go the next day to the other hospital which is further away! It wasn’t going well but I just kept praying and believing that somehow it would be alright despite our powerlessness and the intensity of our desperation. Sure enough, eventually it was and what became apparent was that our faith in God really helped bring comfort and peace to the situation.

The unnamed woman reaches out to Jesus in faith

Faith is such a powerful and understated thing in life. In Mark’s gospel we’re introduced to a woman who is nameless except for her display of character and determination. She goes way beyond the social expectations in reaching out to Jesus. She, who would otherwise be quarantined, boldly pursues Jesus, realising he’s the source of her needs. She says to herself (v28), “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” and with remarkable faith she does the unthinkable, ignoring the quarantine she touches him. Yet this touch of faith, transforms her from isolated and vulnerable to healed and whole.

Jesus then says to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace”. This is where we learn how profound faith can be. Jesus says the healing occurred because of her expectancy, that it was her faith that started the chain of events. Without her boldness and faith filled action in reaching out and touching Jesus, the healing wouldn’t have occurred. Jesus affirms her faith and the transforming power it brings, he assures her that her hopes and desires have come to pass with a parting blessing of peace.

Jairus reaches out to Jesus in faith

This is inspirational… and just in case the sceptical voice inside us wants to somehow discount the oomph of what’s just happened or rationalise away the transformational healing that’s just occurred, Mark provides another narrative to reinforce it. We’ve been introduced to Jairus, the man who reaches out to Jesus, asking for healing on behalf of his daughter. He says (v23), “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.”

But now this story takes a rather unexpected turn of events. Jairus learns that he’s acted too late, and his daughter has died, yet knowing this, Jesus says (v36), “don’t fear, just believe”. You can almost imagine how frustrated and upset this dad would be feeling. He’s come all this way and now he’s too late. It’s understandable to imagine that he’d feel that all’s lost and that there’s no hope for his child. Yet Jesus is unwavering, he said, “don’t fear, just believe”.

What does it mean to reach out to God in faith?

Sometimes in life it can be hard to know what to believe, yet faith means to believe the incredible, to see the invisible, to accept and receive the impossible. Jairus needed to let go of what he might think was about to happen, to release the fear, to turn from doubt and embrace this kind of faith which could transform his daughter’s situation. It was a big ask, in anyone’s language, yet Jesus had said, “don’t fear, just believe”. The criteria are simple enough, and as Jesus leads Jairus back to his daughter, we learn she’s restored back to perfect health.

The simplicity of faith in action, and the gift of transformation which results, is evident here. Jesus shows his power is greater than any sickness or disease in life, even greater than death itself. In this case, it was God’s will for Jairus’ daughter to be restored to health, but sometimes people to pass from this life and their return to God is the final healing. As we’re sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading and guidance in life, we’re able to understand that somehow, sometimes healing miracles don’t just happen but that people receive grace to endure their circumstances.

God doesn’t show partiality to those who reach out

It’s interesting to note, Jesus doesn’t cater to the demands of the socially privileged at the expense of the destitute. No-one is greater or more privileged than the other, whether beloved disciple or mere stranger, whether church man or unnamed woman, all are equal in God’s economy. Jesus reveals there’s sufficient time for all to find healing - that in their time of need, God cares and will make them well again. This is the good news which we hear this week, God’s grace is impartial and everyone can receive, we’re all invited to have faith; don’t fear, just believe.

We are called to have such faith

In the same way that Jesus told Jairus, “just believe” we’re encouraged to do the same, to look past the obstacles and hindrances in life and have faith. Have faith in God, who’s already proven to be more powerful than the forces of nature and any sickness or disease in life. Have faith in God who’s Son Jesus, revealed God’s power to be mightier than death itself. Have faith in our awesome God who’s given each of us the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us grow in our faith journey.

We aren’t alone, we’re never alone, no matter what the circumstances look like, not matter how devastating our situation might seem. God promises to be with us, God’s Holy Spirit will lead and guide us in the way we’re to go. As we exercise our faith, God will meet us in our times of need and deliver us from every set back - so we can proclaim God’s everlasting grace and goodness, to all people in the world.

Conclusion

In closing, I offer these words of encouragement:

Doubt sees the obstacles. Faith sees the way!

Doubt sees the darkest night, Faith sees the day!

Doubt dreads to take a step. Faith soars on high!

Doubt questions, “Who believes?” Faith answers, “I”

It’s natural to wonder when obstacles and challenges in life arise making it hard to see the way. Yet our gospel passage today urges us to be aware of the Holy Spirit’s leading, to have faith and just believe. So let’s invite the Holy Spirit to come again into our hearts and lives, and respond together with the simple and yet profound prayer, “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief”

Amen.

Pew Bulletin 1st July 2012

The Bulletin for Sunday 3rd July 2012 is available for download at the following link.
Click here for Pew Bulletin

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