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St David's Minister's Missive

Dear St David's Church Family💒

This Sunday is the third Sunday in the Season of Creation. In this season we pay particular attention to the world around us and give thanks for the gifts of creation. As we light our Christ candle in church, you might also like to light one at home to remind you that Christ is present with you right where you are and Christ is the one who holds us together in community.

You'll find the liturgy attached here. Please join us this Sunday at 9.30am on livestream through our Facebook page. We look forward to seeing you there!

Pentecost 17 Year B – 19th September 2021

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

Season of Creation - Common Grace have some information and resources here:

Season of Creation 2021 - Common Grace

Join us as we celebrate Season of Creation 2021. During this year’s Season of Creation (1 September - 4 October), we enter a time of renewal and hope, reflecting on the need to acknowledge and renew the beautiful, complex and interconnected relationships of our common home, designed to live and flourish together. In the hope born of grace, we pray that the Lord who is our Creator, Sustainer ...

This week's photos of hope / season of creation include: There are many this week, so thank you!

• Our newest addition to the St David's family - Naomi with her teddy ‘puffles’ from her grandparents and wearing a matinee jacket knitted by her great-great-grandmother. Thank you Emma for this gorgeous photo

• Two photos of early morning fog on the bay by David and Phil

• Flowering peach tree in David and Lara's front garden

• Gymea Lily at Barangaroo by David

• David sporting his beanie gift from Hats For Homeless, given to all those on the Uniting Board

• Adam and Ellen's garden in bloom

• Chris W's drawing of the magpie in St David's grounds

• Yellow flower in the manse garden (if any of you can identify it for me, please let me know)

• Rainbow on the bay

• this week's story book.

Gratitude chart - Last week we mentioned Judith's gratitude chart but forgot to add it in! So, here it is.... This might be something that helps you, particularly during this time.

Kindness Cupboard - Huge thank you to those of you who have donated to the Kindness Cupboard, either by putting food and toiletries in or by donating money to buy them. It is looking empty again so keep those donations coming if you are able. A member of Burwood/Croydon UC congregation recently came with his family to donate and sent me this text: "We dropped off a big bag of stuff at the Kindness Cupboard today. Excellent idea. Thank you and St David's. I loved the banner and the nice area with the park bench where you can rest and thought of this verse while there - "Then Jesus said 'Come to me all who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."

Prayers for the homeless -Please pray especially for the homeless at this time with the escalation of the virus in our inner city and the impact that could have on this section of the community.

Common Grace prayer vigil - for Aboriginal deaths in custody will be held on Sunday 26th September at 7.30pm.

Online Prayer Vigil for Aboriginal Deaths in Custody - Common Grace

Join the Online Prayer Vigil for Aboriginal Deaths in Custody on Sunday September 26th, at 7:30pm - 8:30pm on Zoom. Led by Aboriginal Christian Leaders, it will be a powerful evening of reflection, lament and prayer.

Morning Prayer and Communion Service - 9.30am on Wednesdays. Space to connect with God and each other. If you would like to come along via Zoom, please let me know and I will send you the link. All are welcome.

Wednesday night Bible Study Group Zoom - If you would like to be part of this group, please contact David for the link.

Needing support? There are a number of us available to offer support - over the phone or Zoom, to meet people 1:1 for walks, make meals, and deliver food from the Kindness Cupboard. Please contact me we can offer you some assistance.

Mission of the church - please continue to pray for the people who use our Kindness Cupboard; our work leading the children in Godly Play each Tuesday, during term time at Haberfield Public School (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 Joan of Arc Catholic Church.

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

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 'The Bush Concert' by Helga Visser and Phil will be reading it for us. As we celebrate the season of creation, this story is about a big group of birds who put on a concert. We look forward to having you join us on the story mat via livestream 😊

This week's prayer is a poem called 'The Heavens are Telling' by Steve Garnass-Holmes:

Morning has broken all through Creation;
God has now spoken, “Let there be light.”
Each living thing is God's word of mercy;
all creatures sing and shine with your light.

God, your love flows in every direction,
filling and blessing every dark place.
Even the shadows shine with your blessing,
even the darkness hums with your grace.

Everything moving moves by your Spirit:
flight of the birds and dance of the stars,
migrating whales and flow of the river;
breath of the wind is breath that is ours.

Bless every creature, bright with God’s glory;
bless every feature, fin, fur and wing.
Each is completing God’s wondrous story;
each is God’s greeting; praises they sing.

Amen

All are welcome in this place.

With love, hope and peace

Joy💒

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