St Paul's
Beaconsfield

Anglican Church near Fremantle, Western Australia

First Sunday of Lent 21 February 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

_______________________________________

One does not live by bread alone

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Liturgical Changes in LENT
The crosses will be covered, removed or veiled. There will be fewer candles in the church, and no flowers in the sanctuary. We will omit the singing of the Gloria from our Sunday liturgy. We are quieter – more reflective…..
We still give thanks and celebrate our Lord’s living presence in the sacrament of the Eucharist - And at the same time we listen in our deepest prayers for that which is asked of us. The gift that was given at Christmas desires and seeks the divine – that which is birthed in us seeks to find rest in God.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Create in me a clean heart, O God

Temptations
These “temptations” once seemed too archaic for my modern mind, but as I’ve thought about them over the years, they have come to represent things all too familiar. Satan’s temptations represent magic, rescue, fame and power—they beckon me every day of my life. Just around the corner lies happiness, a new lover will provide lasting bliss; if I had what she has,
then I would be. . .
These are the fantasies, the illusions, that suck out my vitality, that keep me from discovering my own rich reality. To come to terms with illusion is one of the great jobs of our lives: to discern what is fantasy and what is reality, what is dead and what is alive, what is a narcotic and what is food, what are stones and what is bread. It is dangerous, wrenching and unavoidable. In the desert, Jesus fought for his life.
What was asked of Jesus is what is asked of us, that we give up illusion, its false promises and its addicting inertia, and “come to our senses,”
come to living bread. Nora Gallager

Temptations…….. More than just Chocolate!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Today we welcome Kieran as our Preacher. Kieran is well placed to preach on this the first Sunday of Lent, having been ‘tempted’ from the wilderness of the Church by the Divine gift of Love....

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The word is near you
Our land abounds in nature’s gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
a land flowing with milk and honey

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Finding the Sacred
Last Sunday’s service and our two Ash Wednesday services used the spaces ‘outside’ the Church. In the dust and mess of the building works we are discovering that the sacred space is to be around us as well as within. What a delight to discover – as we build – that we have more than we ever imagined........

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Excitement of LENT
A looking forward to exploring and sharing our reflections, to seeking that which will lead us to new life, to meals shared in communion as we share the fruits of our tables together..... Lent Programme doc pdf

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

LENT Materials
The Lent readings are available today in the Hall from Gabby. As usual, we are asking for a donation of $10 for the materials. You will notice that this year for most weeks the reflections are shorter - excerpts from poems and prayers, rather than articles. Hopefully this will give space for silence and contemplation of the season. The book on which the reflections are based is One Foot in Eden, by J. Philip Newell, one time warden of the Iona Community, and whose prayers we frequently feature in the service sheet.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Lent is a time for clarity, as when the bare boughs of winter
show us the shape of the tree in austere beauty. Let us clear
away the clutter of our lives in order to see the underlying pattern.
The St Hilda Community

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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

********************

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.

+++++++++++++++++++

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

+++++++++++++++++++

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.

+++++++++++++++++++

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.

_________________________________________

Peace
Om Shanthi Shanthi Shanthi

)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

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!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++