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St David's Minister's Missive

Dear St David's Church Family💒

This Sunday is the 10th Sunday after Pentecost and it is our Communion Sunday. We will be using bread and juice this week so you are invited to have these ready so we can share communion together, even in our apartness.

1st August 2021 Yr B Pentecost 10 Communion

We are very glad to have Prue with us this Sunday and she will be playing the organ before and after the service. Thank you also to David, Phil and John for the support they will be giving as well 🙌

This week we will be thinking about Jesus as the 'Bread of life' and you will find the liturgy attached here. Please join us this Sunday on livestream through our Facebook page. We look forward to seeing you there!

Here are the things that I would like to pass on to you this week:

Bread Drop! - The second bread drop landed at the Kindness Cupboard on Tuesday.

Kindness Cupboard - it is clear that the cupboard is being well used as many of the items are going (we have run out of toothbrushes and shampoo/conditioner again) and many new items have been added (see attached photos of the baby food and pumpkin!) The children's books have been very popular too and I have restocked twice in the last week.

Ellen at the Olympics! - I'm sure most of you are aware that the Australian rowing team has won 2 gold and 2 bronze medals 👏 We are celebrating with you Ellen! 🙏

Weekly devotion during lockdown - The Student Association at United Theological College has put together a weekly devotion, that I thought some of you may find helpful during this time. Please find attached.

National Church Life Survey - we have received information about participating in the NCLS this year. This will be happening in Oct/Nov and we will be sending more info out nearer the time. If you would like to find out more, follow this link:

NCLS Research
Reasons for a 2021 National Church Life Survey. The shape of religion in Australia is undergoing significant change. At an individual level, the experience and engagement with spiritual questions is changing, particularly among the young.

Morning Prayer and Communion Service - 10 of us gathered on Zoom last Wednesday to spend some time praying, meditating to Taize music, having a chat about the gospel passage and sharing in communion. There is also space after the service to have a chat together. Rev Carolyn Thornley will be inviting those in the Rotuman community living alone to join us from next week. If you would like to be part of this, please let me know and I will send you the link as well. All are welcome. 9.30am Wednesday.

Wednesday night Bible Study Group is also via Zoom at the moment. If you would like to be part of that, please contact David or me for more information.

Needing support? As we come to terms with the lockdown being extended for at least another month, please reach out if you are needing support. 1:1 walks and pastoral visits are allowed and it has been great to have a few walks with people over the last few weeks.

Mission of the church - please continue to pray for our work leading the children in Godly Play each Tuesday, during term time at Haberfield Public School (this is on hold during lockdown) ; for the work of The Ella Centre; and for Lenka as she prepares to start a playgroup for children living with a disability.

Prayers for local churches - This week, please pray for the people and mission of St Oswald's Anglican Church

Joy's day off - Friday (if something urgent comes up, please don't hesitate to contact me)

Dates for the diary: -Sunday 1st August - Communion / Church Council meeting

Story-time - Hello to our St David's kids! Dominic, Matilda, Harry, Frank, Sophie, Edie, Ella, Aiden, River, Sacha, Eli and Elise. Our story this week is called 'Sun Bread' by Eliza Kleven. We'll be watching that on Youtube. We look forward to having you join us via livestream 😊

This week's photos include: this week's story book; photos from the Kindness Cupboard and Bread Drop; sunset in Adam and Ellen's garden; Kaye's latest vegan recipe (ratatouille and barley); the morning prayer crew on zoom.

If you have any photos that you would like to share in the missive, please pass them on to me.

This week's prayer by Kate Bowler called 'A blessing for being scared and grateful at the same time':

God, it's been a truly scary time .
I'm grateful for help that has come,
but my body still holds the fear.

God show me how to process all this,
how frail is humanity,
how short is life,
how full of trouble. (Job 14:1)

Blessed are we,
when we decide to make room for all of it,
the fear and the gratitude,
the complexity and the suffering.

Blessed are we,
who pour out to You the whole of it - unedited,
all the terrible truths
and fears and what-ifs.
The gratitude for those beautiful hearts in action
who came willingly into the strange and awkward space that is our need.

Blessed are we,
learning as humans together
that pain is inevitable,
nurses are wonderful,
hospitals are loud,
people are brave.

And we grow and we hurt and we heal,
and then we do it all over again.
Feel all the things,
invite them to tea, and listen.
they might not stay long
but even when I am afraid,
I keep trusting you. (
Psalm56:3)

Amen

Wherever you are and whoever you are, you are welcome here.

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it."

With love, hope, peace and

Joy💒

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