Welcome

Welcome to the Document Hub for

Saturday 30 June 2012

Free Concert at Christ's Church tonight at 6pm


MANDURAH CITY CHORAL SOCIETY invite you to a free concert tonight, Saturday 30th June 2012 held in Christ's Church Mandurah and performing FAURÉ’S REQUIEM.   The concert is an hour from 6-7pm.

Wednesday 27 June 2012

Sunday 1st July 2012 - Children's service 10am

This coming Sunday we will be having our children leading the worship service at 10am. The children will be welcomers at the door, readers, do intercessions, lead worship and so on. Please do join us for this incredible acts of worship.

Readings for Sunday 1st July 2012


First Reading:
Lamentations 3: 22-33

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning;   great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’ The Lord is good to those who wait for him,to the soul that seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for one to bear the yoke in youth, to sit alone in silence when the Lord has imposed it, to put one’s mouth to the dust   (there may yet be hope), to give one’s cheek to the smiter, and be filled with insults. For the Lord will not reject for ever. Although he causes grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve anyone.
Hear the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God

Psalm:  30  (page  249 in the green Prayer Book)

Second Reading:
2 Corinthians 8: 7-15
 Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.   I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something— now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have. I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it
is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. As it is written, ‘The one who had much did not have too much, and the one  who had little did not  have too little” 
Hear the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God

Gospel Reading:  Mark 5: 21-43
The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark chapter 5 commencing at verse 21
Glory to you Lord Jesus Christ

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered round him; and he was by the lake. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, ‘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.’ So he went with him. And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, ‘If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.’ Immediately her haemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ And his disciples said to him, ‘You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, “Who touched me?” ’ He looked all round to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’ While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, ‘Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?’ But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, ‘Do not fear, only believe.’ He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, ‘Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha cum’, which means, ‘Little girl, get up!’ And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
This is the Gospel of our Lord
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

Women's Fellowship Service


Australian Church Women Inc are holding a Fellowship Day Service at St Damien’s Catholic Church, Dawesville, on Friday 20th July at 1.00 pm. The theme of this service is “Love Stands the Test”.   All enquiries to Mrs Pauline Brown or Church Office.  Invitation letter on church Notice Board.

Tuesday 26 June 2012

Bulletin Prayer List


As this List is becoming too lengthy and we are not being kept informed of the progress, or otherwise, of the people named thereon, all names will be deleted for the beginning of each new month and we would appreciate parishioners entering names afresh. This will ensure that we are up-to-date with our details.

ALSO WOULD PARISHIONERS NOTIFY OUR PRAYER CHAIN GROUP OF PEOPLE THEY WISH TO GO ON THE PRAYER CHAIN LIST AND KEEP THEM UP-TO-DATE ON PROGRESS.  Contacts: Ruth Arnell and Hilary Kan 

Men's Fellowship meeting - 13 July 2012

The next meeting of our Men’s Fellowship will be on Friday July 13th.  Fr. Darryl will be filling the role of guest speaker.  His topic will be on the future direction of our group, and it's goals within our growing church, and the changes and composition occurring within the congregation, since the original concept of our Men’s Fellowship was adopted. I will be looking for input from all, so please give this matter some thought, and more importantly, pray for guidance. We fulfil an important role within the church, but we have to adapt to changes, and this can best be achieved by everyone contributing.  Remember it is your group and I appeal to ALL male members of our congregation to come along and participate. I will be looking for ideas etc. to re-invigorate our group, and, if need be, feel free to have a chat with me or Fr. Darryl at any time, especially if you do not feel like presenting your thoughts at the meeting, and we will gladly present them for you.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Lionel Cruttenden

Lay Retreat

FRIDAY 14TH—SUNDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER
The theme for this Lay Retreat is “Love and Fear”. Application Forms are available on the table at the back of the Church.   How often do we yearn for a time of quiet?  You are encouraged to attend this Retreat and experience the nourishment and joy of an essentially silent retreat. It would be wise to register early for this due to the limited number of places available at the Retreat Centre.

Download the application form here

Emergency relief needs blankets and food


Last Tuesday I was struggling to fill the much needed bags, when an angel called Shirley Abbott walked through the door with simply loads of food. We thank all of you who give so generously, but we still need your help urgently! Just about everything is required except for beans of any style, including baked beans and tinned fruit. But we ran out of milk, pasta, and pasta sauces, and were very low on the rest. We took 8 blankets we had knitted over To Church of the Way, and they have all gone! But any clean, warm blankets would come in handy, please.
Judy Davis

Cursillo


Ladies, only a few more days for you to book in to attend the Cursillo weekend?  Leaders have been busy preparing for this three-day weekend, and we only have a few participants.   This special three-day weekend is being held at Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School from Thursday 12th July to Sunday 15th July.  

This is a very spiritual and uplifting weekend which can give you a fresh outlook on your ministry, and also enable you to make new friends throughout the Diocese.


For more information please contact Lyn Pushong or Irene Weber 

also

There will be a get-together of Cursillistas in the new Canon Ken Barrett Activity Room, Sunday 1st July commencing at noon.   Anyone in the congregation who wishes to join us is most welcome.

Monday 25 June 2012

LLM training Day


Please be advised that we will be holding two further Diocesan Lay Ministers (LLM) Training days for those who are licensed as “Liturgical Ministers” and we encourage you to attend as the subject to be covered (see below) are important.  The first is to be held in Christ’s Church Mandurah on Saturday 21st July, while the second is to be held at the Church of Living Water in Oyster Harbour on Saturday 28th July 2012.  Those who attended the training day at the Cathedral Grammar School on the 21st April need not attend these, as the material covered at all three will be the same.  However it is important that you attend one of the three.

The programme for the day will be as follows:

  9.00 am    Gather for a cuppa
  9.30 am    Eucharist by Bishop Allan Ewing
10.30 am    The Extended Communion (booklet) by Bishop Allan Ewing
11.30 am    Feedback and Parish implications by Fr Joe Hopkins
12.00 noon Sermon Appreciation by Bishop Allan Ewing
12.30 pm    Lunch
  1.15 pm    Resources within the Prayer Book by Fr Joe Hopkins
  2.15 pm    Closing Prayers by Bishop Allan Ewing
  2.30 pm    Finish

It is important that both the Clergy and Licensed Lay Assistants attend these training days so that we can all be properly informed about the changes to the way that the Extended Communion service will be led throughout the Diocese.  This new “order of service” will replace all other orders of service currently being used throughout the Diocese.

Those attending are asked to bring their own lunch:  tea and coffee will be supplied.  Would you also please bring a copy of the Red Prayer Book from your Parish for the session titled “Resources within the Prayer Book”.

Please put which ever day is more convenient to you into your diary now to ensure your participation.  We hope to see you there.

Vacancy - Mission to Seafarers Bunbury


The Bunbury Mission to Seafarers Committee is looking for a new Manager to join their leadership team.  This challenging position involves working with the Committee and managing the day to day affairs of the Mission.  The person appointed will have administrative skills, but more importantly will be able to work as part of a team and have good people skills.  This person will be ministering to Seafarers from all over the world, who have a different cultural, religious and language base, to our own.  A small salary and accommodation on site are provided for this position. 

The ministry of the Mission to Seafarers is an outreach ministry from the Anglican Church worldwide.  Therefore the person appointed will be one who supports the Christian ethos of the organisation, is a good communicator and has interpersonal skills in order to work effectively with a variety of people. 

How to apply

If you feel a calling to this ministry position and are able to work well with and encourage other members of the ministry team, we would like to hear from you.  Your application should be in writing and have your CV attached and be sent to -

                   Fr Joe Hopkins
                   Chair – Bunbury Mission to Seafarers
                   P O Box 15
                   BUNBURY    WA    6231

or email      amdo@bunbury.org.au

Please feel free to phone Fr Joe Hopkins – 9721 5010 if you have any questions.  Upon receiving expressions of interest, two documents will be forwarded to you.
                  
·        Duty Statement and Job Description
·        Terms and Conditions of Employment

Closing date for applications will be Friday 20th July 2012.

Fete Coordinator required

We require a parishioner to coordinate our upcoming fete in October. There is a complete explanatory manual available that has been put together by the previous few coordinators. If you would like to undertake this important role in our parish please give the church office a ring.

Sermon for Sunday 24th June 2012


Sermon delivered by the Revd Darryl Cotton
At Christ’s Church Mandurah
On 24th June 2012
Our redeeming God
Psalm 107

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of all our hearts, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord God our strength and Redeemer. Amen

Very seldom do I  preach on the Psalms but this morning I thought I would preach on our Psalm for today, Psalm 107[i]. So would you please open your prayer books to Psalm 107, (page 337) which is a remarkable Psalm telling us of the saving nature of our God.

Psalm 107 opens with the words:
1O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good :
 for his loving mercy is forever.
2Let the Lord’s redeemed say so :
 whom he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
3And gathered in from every land,
   from the east and from the west :
 from the north and from the south.
 (Psalm 107:1-3)

To begin then, it is thought that Psalm 107 is a community hymn of praise and was most likely a liturgy of thanks offered by worshipers at a festival at the temple in Jerusalem. These first three verses give the message of the Psalm and tells us to give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;... Let the redeemed of the LORD (or those who have been saved by God) say so, for he has redeemed them from trouble.

Verse 3 tells us that there are four groups of people who have been saved by God. The Psalmist refers to them as those from the east, the west, the north and the south. So four groups of people appear in the following verses, together representing, perhaps all of the earth.

Group 1: Those lost in the desert are directed
The first group, those from the East, are found in Verses 4-9 which tell us of a group of wanderers who are lost in the desert, but who finally arrive at their destination. The historical setting for this is that to the East of Palestine there was a massive desert which separated Palestine from the Fertile Crescent of Mesopotamia. Very few travellers in the ancient Near East dared any attempt to travel through this terrain and it was common for those who tried, to get lost in the desert.

Group 2: Those imprisoned are set free
The second group, those from the West, are found in Verses 10-16 which tell us the story of prisoners who are set free. Now why the west? Well, the West is the place where the sun sets and because of this the ancient mind understood the west to be a deathly place of darkness. It is also easy to see the connection between darkness and imprisonment. Those who are imprisoned are unable to free themselves, just like those in darkness are unable to find a way out of the darkness.

Group 3: Those suffering from sickness are healed
The third group, those from the north, are found in verses 17-22, which tell us of “sick” people who are healed. Once again, the historical context for this is that in Jewish thinking all sickness was a direct result of a person’s sin. So it is no coincidence that the Hebrew word for “sick” and the Hebrew word for “foolish one” are exactly the same word. You see the Jewish people associated sickness with foolishness because they understood sickness as God's punishment for sin (see Psalms 32:1-5 and 38:3, 5). This makes sense doesn’t it? If you know sin make you sick, then you must be foolish to sin. To put this in a modern context – if you know smoking gives you cancer, then when get lung cancer from smoking, you must be foolish.

Now why are they referred to as the North? Well, the Jewish people understood that all of God’s punishment came from the North. This was probably because the Babylonians were in the north, and in the Old Testament books of the prophets, the North was often depicted as the direction from which the punishment of God came to the ancient Israelites. 

Group 4: Those caught in a storm of life are saved
The fourth group, those from the south, are found in Verses 23-32, which tell us the story of a group of sailors who are saved from shipwreck. It begins, in verse 23 which says, “Those who go down to the sea in ships, and follow their trade on the great waters”, and continues in verse 26 describing the experience of being in a storm saying, “They go up the sky, and again down to the depths, their courage melts away in the face of disaster. They stagger like drunken men..”

Now why are they called the group from the south. Well, the Hebrew word for “sea” and the Hebrew word for “South” and again one and the same. 

Four groups representing life’s troubles
So Psalm 107 gives us four groups of people who find themselves in four different kinds of trouble: We have those who are lost in life, wandering around without direction; we have those imprisoned and unable to free themselves, feeling like they are trapped in utter darkness; we have those who sick and in need of healing, suffering because of their own sins; and then we have those caught in the storms of life, feeling like they are about to go under at any moment.

Perhaps you might identify with one of these four situations. Are you perhaps feeling directionless in life, not knowing which way to turn next? Are perhaps feeling imprisoned by an addiction that has you in its grips or perhaps do you feel like you are stuck in darkness? Are you perhaps feeling like sin is making you sick? Are you perhaps feeling like a boat battered by the waves caused by the storms of life? If so learn from these four groups of people.

Each group has one thing in common. They cry out to God for help. In verses 6, 13, 19, 28 we are told, “Then they cried to the LORD in their distress, and God took them out of their trouble.” So each group is saved, redeemed, and finds their salvation; and the Psalmist encourages them to recognise the source of their salvation and so he says, “Let them thank the Lord for his goodness : and for the wonders that he does for the children of Adam.”

This theme of God saving people from times of distress is what we find, of course, in our Gospel reading as well. Mark tells us Jesus and his disciples are in a boat and a great storm rose up. We are told Jesus is sleeping when this happens and so the disciples woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ Jesus woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm.

Finally Jesus says to them, “‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?’ 41And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’”

Conclusion
Now we may never find ourselves literally wandering lost in a desert wasteland, or literally forced to dwell in a place of deep darkness; we may never find ourselves sick to the point of death, or caught in a tumultuous storm at sea, but each of us have or will face those times when we desperately need the redeeming hand of God. Psalm 107 provides a model for us on how to handle those times.

Firstly, recognize and acknowledge the situation you are in; secondly cry out in faith to God for help; thirdly accept the deliverance that God brings; and then give thanks to God.

Psalm 107 finishes with these words, “They are weakened and brought low: through stress of adversity and sorrow. But he lifts the poor out of misery:  and increases their families like flocks of sheep. The upright shall see it and rejoice: and all wickedness shall shut its mouth. Whoever is wise, let them observe these things: and consider the loving-kindness of the Lord.”

Amen.

Psalm 107
Introduction
1O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good :
 for his loving mercy is for ever.
2Let the Lord’s redeemed say so :
 whom he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
3And gathered in from every land,
   from the east and from the west :
 from the north and from the south.

Those lost in life
4Some went astray in the wilderness and in the desert :
 and found no path to an inhabited city;
5They were hungry and thirsty :
 and their heart fainted within them.
6Then they cried to the Lord in their distress :
 and he took them out of their trouble.
7He led them by the right path :
 till they came to an inhabited city.
8Let them thank the Lord for his goodness :
 and for the wonders that he does for the children of Adam;
9For he satisfies the thirsty :
 and fills the hungry with good things.

Those imprisoned
10Some sat in darkness and in deadly shadow :
 bound fast in affliction and iron,
11Because they had rebelled against the words of God :
 and scorned the purposes of the Most High.
12So he bowed down their hearts with affliction :
 they tripped headlong, with none to help them.
13Then they cried to the Lord in their distress :
 and he took them out of their trouble.

14He brought them out from darkness and deadly shadow :
 and broke their chains in two.
15Let them thank the Lord for his goodness :
 and for the wonders that he does for the children of Adam;
16For he shatters the doors of bronze :
 and cleaves the bars of iron.

Those suffering from sickness
17Fools were far gone in transgression :
 and because of their sins were afflicted.
18They sickened at any food :
 and had come to the gates of death.
19Then they cried to the Lord in their distress :
 and he took them out of their trouble.
20He sent his word and healed them :
 and saved their life from the Pit.
21Let them thank the Lord for his goodness :
 and for the wonders that he does for the children of Adam;
22Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving :
 and tell what he has done with shouts of joy.

Those caught in a storm
23Those who go down to the sea in ships :
 and follow their trade on great waters,
24These men have seen the works of God :
 and his wonders in the deep.
25For he spoke, and raised the storm-wind :
 and it lifted high the waves of the sea.
26They go up to the sky, and down again to the depths :
 their courage melts away in the face of disaster.
27They reel and stagger like drunken men :
 and are at their wits’ end.
28Then they cried to the Lord in their distress :
 and he took them out of their trouble.
29He calmed the storm to a silence :
 and the waves of the sea were stilled.
30Then they were glad because they were quiet :
 and he brought them to the haven they longed for.
31Let them thank the Lord for his goodness :
 and for the wonders that he does for the children of Adam;
32Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people :
 and praise him in the council of elders.

Summary of God’s goodness
33He turns the rivers into desert :
 and springs of water into thirsty ground.
34He makes of a fruitful land a salty waste :
 because its inhabitants are evil.
35He turns the wilderness into a pool of water :
 and parched ground into flowing springs.
36And there he settles the hungry :
 and they build a city to live in.
37They sow fields and plant vineyards :
 which give them fruitful harvest.
38He blesses them, and they multiply greatly :
 he does not let their cattle diminish.
39But he pours contempt upon princes :
 and makes them stray in the pathless desert;
40They are weakened and brought low :
 through stress of adversity and sorrow.
41But he lifts the poor out of misery :
 and increases their families like flocks of sheep.
42The upright shall see it and rejoice :
 and all wickedness shall shut its mouth.
43Whoever is wise, let him observe these things :
 and consider the loving-kindness of the Lord.




[i] Based on a commentary on Psalm 107 by Nancy deClaissé-Walford, Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Languages, McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University, Atlanta, GA