St Paul's
Beaconsfield

Anglican Church near Fremantle, Western Australia

Third Sunday after Epiphany 24th January 2010

Our parish is a community that seeks God and the fullness of creation by finding ourselves in relation to others. Our giving to the common, to the other, our sharing of ourselves is our commitment to this endeavour.

Year B

Sunday, 9.15am Holy Communion see also Readings

Regular Services

Lectionary

The full text of the readings for Sunday are available in our Sunday's Readings section.

Other Resources

Textweek The Text This Week - Revised Common Lectionary, Scripture Study and Worship Links

Online Revised Common Lectionary Vanderbilt Divinity Library

Earlier Thoughts      Year B 0506      Year C 0607      Year A 0708

Sunday, 9.15am Holy Communion

LITURGICAL NOTE: From the start of Advent we follow the YEAR C readings in the three-year lectionary cycle. See the inside back cover for more about the liturgical year.

Before entering the sanctuary or the vestry…
Please allow the Choir to complete the ‘postlude’ and any additional songs that are part of our offering in worship – Our holding the sacred space is part of our common union - our being together in communion

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The joy of the LORD is your strength

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In the one Spirit we were all baptised into one body

This is not a mark of Christian identity... rather it is revealed by St Paul as a universal truth [Jews or Greeks, slaves or free].....
What might mark our true identity is our living in, and from, that same truth.

Our becoming “The Body of Christ” is a Christian understanding of an eternal and universal truth……
All is created in and through the Divine…..

And we must look beyond ourselves to find, and make real, our encounter with our Christ-likeness. In each and every relationship we experience and/or glimpse ‘Community’, and as we “strive for the greater gifts”, we have the opportunity and the capacity to shape the community that is the world in which we live, and the world we will give to our children…..

Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.

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Be Blessed
Go as far as your courage takes you,
for you cannot go beyond the reach of God.
Give as extravagantly as you may,
for you cannot spend all the riches of God.
Care as lavishly as you are able,
for you cannot exhaust the love of God.
Keep journeying as a friend,
for God will always be with you.
(Brian Hughes)

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Keep us in mind of the responsibilities of being human.
Give us the strength to endure,
but more, help us to bring strength to each other.
May we exclude no one intentionally,
but may our church be inclusive as we say it is.
May our coming and our going be blessed,
this day and forever more.
Amen.
Rexaehunt progressive

From last week’s sermon: The focal point of the gospel narrative is the ‘six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification’ - the very waters of baptism. [This also] is the focal point of our baptism. And in transforming the water of religious rites into the wine of festive celebration, Jesus transforms the old order into a new order. Jesus transforms an order supported both religiously and culturally, with the new order that’s brought into focus through the blood of Christ, the wine of abundance.

Our birth and our baptism, our very being has a common orientation that we share with the whole of creation. As the Body of Christ we are called to and promised into, a future in which,
All people may take refuge in the shadow of our wings. And... feast on the abundance of our house, and.... drink from the river of our delights: the promise of our birth, the promise of our baptism.

Last week's sermon

Thank You - For being here today - and for your generous giving that enables us to be here tomorrow.

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The Elm Dance

After the choir sings the postlude on Sunday morning, those who wish to join in “The Elm Dance” gather in the circle dance area outside the church before going up to coffee in the hall. The Elm Dance

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The Divine Gift of Life, Light and Love
Our offering - a reflection of the gifts we have received
and an orientation of our giving to the life of this community.

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There is nothing in all the Universe so much like God as silence.
Meister Eckhart

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Sacred Space, Liturgy & our Community @ Worship
As we seek to offer our best in worship these guidelines may be helpful.

1. Silence before worship enables us to be ‘gathered’ into the introit sung by the choir
2. Conversations with others are often our way of avoiding those more divine words that search for us.
3. The sanctuary ‘space’ is ‘held’ by those who lead our worship, please keep to a minimum any movement in this ‘space’ and, at the end of our service, please wait until the choir have finished singing before entering.
4. NOTICES are an important part of our community story… however please use the service sheet to convey notices so that we can minimise the number that have to be given in church.

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We meditate on the glory of the Creator;
Who has created the Universe;
Who is worthy of Worship;
Who is the embodiment of Knowledge and Light;
Who is the remover of all Sin and Ignorance;
May The Divine enlighten our Intellect.

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Peace
Om Shanthi Shanthi Shanthi

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May creatures all abound in wealth and peace;
May all be blessed with peace always;
All creatures weak or strong,
All creatures great and small;
Creatures seen or unseen,
Dwelling afar or near.
born or awaiting birth,
May all be blessed with peace!
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Giving made easy
Direct debit forms are available from the back of the church and the hall for anyone who wants to use this facility. 
St Paul’s bank account details are:
30004913 Beaconsfield - for the East End account
30003006 Beaconsfield - for regular giving
For Internet or other bank transfers you will also need the BSB which is the same for each account – 706-001
Please contact Bob Matthews if you have any questions.

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