St Paul's
Beaconsfield

Anglican Church near Fremantle, Western Australia

2 May Fifth Sunday of Easter

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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‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified’

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By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
everyone
Religious fundamentalism of all kinds is creative of division, and in the Bible we can readily find a ‘proof text’ to support divisions of many different kinds…… However, it is also (equally) clear that the Bible is a voice for unity and an honouring voice for diversity.
As we continue to follow ‘the early Church’ in the reading from Acts we find an insight into the movement from the exclusive “chosen ones” religion (still a contemporary theology in many churches) to the inclusive spirituality of the cosmic Christ - a cosmology reflected in today’s psalm and the book of Revelation.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. She will dwell with them as their God; they will be her peoples, and God herself will be with them;

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A Liturgical Note…….
we use the Greek language form for the Prayer for Divine Mercy….
Kyrie Eleison (Κψριε Ελεισον − Lord have Mercy)
Christe Eleison (Χηριστε Ελεισον − Christ have Mercy)
Kyrie Eleison (Κψριε Ελεισον − Lord have Mercy)

This ancient prayer is documented in Christian liturgy from 4th Century and gives us an opportunity to experience the ancient language from which much of our liturgy has grown.

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The disturbance of Easter
We have experienced some changes to the church furnishings, the layout of the sanctuary and the administration of the sacraments... and we have been reading of the changes experienced by the first post-Easter community in the “Acts f the Apostles”. There is an opportunity for us in both of these contexts to consider the ‘disturbance’ of change and to reflect on the forces that hold us and the forces that move us...... In the season of Easter we are confronted by change....... and in that confrontation we find a newness of life.

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We seldom notice how each day is a holy place
where the Eucharist of the ordinary happens,
transforming our broken fragments
into an eternal continuity that keeps us.
John O’Donohue

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God is both other than I am and also the same .... the source from which I continually flow. In my deep union with the mystery of another person and in the mystery of my own being, what I find is God.
Harry Williams

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You, neighbour God, if sometimes in the night
I rouse you with loud knocking, I do so
only because I seldom hear you breathe
and know: you are alone.
And should you need a drink, no one is there
to reach it to you, groping in the dark.
Always I hearken. Give but a small sign.
I am quite near.
Rainer Maria Rilke

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St Paul’s
One Baptism, two funerals and a wedding and a Concert.......Another week in the life of our community.

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“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
everyone

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

For to the bee a flower is a fountain of life
And to the flower a bee is a messenger of love
And to both, bee and flower, the giving and the
receiving of pleasure are a need and an ecstasy.
Kahlil Gibran

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It is in Giving that We Receive
Slowly we are creating a support resource for the Snowlands School in Nepal..... A bank account has been established (with Anglican Community Fund) for donations...
Account: IGWR – Nepal - BSB: 706-001 - Account No: 30006088

Pilgrim’s Prayer…….
God of the nomad and the pilgrim,
May we find our security in you
and not in our possessions.
May our homes be open to guests
and our hearts to one another
So that all our travelling is lighter
and together we reach our goal.
~Celtic~

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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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