St Paul's
Beaconsfield

Anglican Church near Fremantle, Western Australia

16 May Seventeenth 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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You loved me before the foundation of the world

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The Final word is often the most important thing that is said....... Today we have the final ‘words’ from the last book of the bible... and among them we hear
The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let everyone who hears say, "Come." And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.
It is a book, a Divine Word, for anyone and everyone. Sacred scriptures are a gift for all of humanity – It is only religious traditions that make them exclusive. The “Bright Morning Star” is there for all to see and when seen can open us to a new understanding and acceptance of who we are (I AM).
Is this the glimpse we find in communion - one with each other as we feed on the sacrament that enables us to know the divine in each and everyone.
Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.

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Come Holy Spirit
Today is the Sunday following the Ascension (last Thursday was Ascension Day); it is still part of the Easter season, and gives us, like the early disciples, an opportunity to wonder what we’re left with now that Jesus has returned to Divine creator. As we reflect on the words of the Gospel, our wonder might well become expectation as we hear Jesus in prayer… perhaps this is more correctly “The Lord’s prayer”…. In this intimate prayer we find a One-derful promise… that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us… the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them… It is this in-dwelling of Creative-Divine Love that is made manifest in the gift of Pentecost… pray that we might realise the enormity of such a gift.

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What brings us to church today?
We come to re-weave the unravelling fabric of community
To re-connect once more with the larger human family
To find once more that place of calm.
To remind ourselves that we belong.
And to remember what it is we belong to.
We come to centre ourselves, to open ourselves,
to remember ourselves. And to celebrate the life we share together.

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Prayer
We come to be opened by visions that can enlist us
in larger causes and more caring actions.
We come to hear stories that might take us
into a deeper kind of integrity, and reconnect us
with our better selves.
So may the warmer fullness that we seek
fill our hearts, our minds and our souls. Amen.
© Some of the prayers and reflections used in today’s sheet are taken from Rexaehuntprogressive.com

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The sounds of Earth are melted into rest,
  While strikes the hour of expectation deep;
Earth's waters heave, against each other pressed,
  And breathless listening, all their vigils keep.
Decked out like lovely brides stand all the flowers;
  With nuptial joy the forests trembling wait:
Until Heaven's blessing falls in sacred showers,
  And whispering softly, each may clasp its mate.

(From “The Eve of Ascension Day”, Derenik Demirjian. In Armenian myth, the eve of Ascension Day is the time when betrothals are arranged and destinies decided.)

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From last week’s sermon: We are, each and every one, mothers bringing tomorrow to birth. As we look towards tomorrow, think of it as a precious child that has been gifted into our hands, to nurture, to hold, to teach, to bring to life.

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Blessing
The blessing of God
The shalom of God
The light of God
be among us and between us, now and always.

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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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