St Paul's
Beaconsfield

Anglican Church near Fremantle, Western Australia

Sunday Thoughts

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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Third Sunday of Lent 7 Mar 2010

My ways are higher than your ways

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My soul thirst for you, for in your Love I find Life
In the wilderness of Lent we may become aware of our thirst.... In the ‘absence’ of Lent – in the place beyond our comfort - we might glimpse the deeper desire of ‘Life’........ a desire that will not be quenched by the many wines that life has to offer....... For our soul’s desire is revealed through Christ as the activity of giving.
The “I thirst” we will experience and echo on Good Friday is satisfied only with the self-giving on the cross.

The torture and testing of crucifixion reveals the difficulty in approaching and accessing our deepest desire, our Lenten journey is the first steps... the wilderness provides the stillness from distraction..... and our thirst impels us toward the water of Life......
God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength
In our Australian landscape we know the times of drought., and we know also the smell of the first rain..... Now we seek to know the same in our eternal landscape.....

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From the fragmented world of our everyday lives
we gather together in search of wholeness.
By many cares and preoccupations
by diverse and separate aims
are we separated from one another
and divided within ourselves
Yet we know that no branch is utterly severed
from the Tree of Life that sustains us all.
Prayers of the St Hilda Community

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Be like a flowing river,
silent in the night.
Be not afraid of the dark.
If there are stars in the sky, reflect them back.
If there are clouds in the sky,
remember, clouds, like the river, are water,
So gladly reflect them back too
in your own tranquil depths.
Manuel Bandeira

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Water: voice of grief,
cry of love
in the flowing tear.
Water: vehicle and idiom
of all the inner voyaging
that keeps us alive.
Blessed be water,
our first mother.
John O'Donohue

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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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