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St David's Minister's Missive

Dear St David's Church Family💒

This Sunday is Christ the King Sunday and marks the end of the Christian liturgical year before we enter the season of Advent next Sunday. We look forward to being together again either in the church or via our livestream.

21st November 2021 Yr B Christ the King

Just a reminder that the following government rules apply in church:

  • QR code check in (or sign in)

  • wearing masks

  • 1.5 metre distance

  • singing allowed (for vaccinated)

  • unvaccinated and vaccinated are able to attend

If you are feeling unsure or anxious about attending, our live stream will be continuing so there is a choice available to. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me.

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

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

St David is joining with Leichhardt and Balmain UCs in hosting our Carols in the church yard on Sunday 12th December with a BBQ at 5.30pm and Carols starting at 6.30pm. We hope this will be a great celebration now that we can gather again as a community. All are welcome. You will find the flier here:

Please forward to your friends, family and other networks. We need a team to make this even possible - music, sound, food, set up etc so if you are able to be involved, please let me know.

The UCA Assembly is inviting us to join The Growing in Faith Circle. This provides a space for people to be informed about and offer input into this important area, and to share your own faith journey with others. To find out more and/or sign up, follow this link:

Growing in Faith - Uniting Church Australia

Growing as disciples of Christ, equipped to participate in God’s mission, is central to our journey of faith. As described in our founding document, The Basis of Union, (Paragraph 11), the Uniting Church holds a high regard for faithful and scholarly interpreters of Scripture, who reflect deeply upon and act in obedience to God’s living Word.We are also thankful for the learning which ...

Everything in Common Gift Catalogue - Uniting World's Christmas gift catalogue is out now.

Make a difference through your gift giving! Shop online for gifts that fight poverty through health, education, leadership and income opportunities. Each gift card represents a project helping people lead lives of dignity and hope, and your purchase directly supports the work:

https://everythingincommon.com.au/?https://everythingincommon.com.au/&gclid=CjwKCAiA7dKMBhBCEiwAO_crFNOF5MU3_OIG-BxNoQESub282Oa1gKpfqnw2_YxI0kmGEOgEiL8rkhoCLdkQAvD_BwE

Last week I gave information about Common Grace's Advent series. Here is a link to an advent series based on Ignatian Spirituality - there is one resource that offers a reflection through art, which might be helpful to some of you. https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/advent/

Advent Resources - IgnatianSpirituality.com

Ignatian contemplation and reflective prayer encourage us in the season of Advent. Find Advent resources in the tradition of Ignatian spirituality.

With love to the world - the advent booklet is out now. Copies are available from the church. If you need a copy mailed to you, please let me know. The cost is $6 - please pay directly (payment details are inside the back cover). With love to the world is also available in an app.

Kindness Cupboard - This has proved to be an important outreach of our church and has been well used by those in need, especially in lockdown. Now that a number of us are back at church, if you are able, it would be great if we could bring a donation for the cupboard each week. Huge thank you to those of you who have already made this your practice.

This week's photos of hope include:

- Photos from morning tea on Sunday - Roger and me, Christo, Brian and Tui (top)

-carpet of jacaranda flowers outside the manse

-Carols flier

- this week's story book.

Dates for the diary:

  • 5th December - St David's AGM

  • 12th December - baptism of Kaia

  • 12th December at 5.30pm Carols on the lawn at St David's

  • 25th December - Christmas Day service 9.30am

  • 25th December - Open house lunch at the manse 🎄

  • 26th December - Boxing Day Sunday service

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. This will remain on zoom until the beginning of December.

Wednesday night Bible Study Group - are reflecting on the Act2 series looking at the Baisi of Union - where we have come from and where we are going. If you are interested in joining in, please contact David. There is more information here:

The UCA Act2 Project - Uniting Church Australia

As we look to the future, what is God saying to us as the Uniting Church about how we order our life so we can be committed to transforming lives and communities in God’s love?Members of the Uniting Church, our congregations, agencies, schools and Councils, have been invited to engage in a conversation about the […]

Mission of the church - please continue to pray for the people who use our Kindness Cupboard; for the work of The Ella Centre; and for Lenka as she prepares to start a playgroup for children living with a disability. Please also pray for Alice and Peter, who got married on 6th November and Kaia who will be baptised on 12th December.

Prayers for local churches - This week, please pray for the people and mission of the St Joan of Arc Catholic Church.

Joy's day off - Friday

Story-time - Hello to our St David's kids! Dominic, Matilda, Harry, Frank, Sophie, Edie, Ella, Aiden, River, Sacha, Eli, Elise and Naomi. Our story this week is called 'Kookoo Kookaburra'. We'll be watching it on Youtube, read by the author, Gregg Dreise. See you on the story mat in church or on our livestream 😊

This week's prayer is 'A Blessing for learning to hold on and let go' by Kate Bowler:

let go, let it all go
except of course
when you can't.

living in the present is nice in theory
except when you are in pain.

so, let's bless that tension
the push and pull of wanting to let go
sometimes needing to let go
and also needing to hold on.

God, sometimes it
feels like a better person
wouldn't be like this:
tethered to so many hopes
and fears and expectations.

blessed are we
when we yearn, yearn for
connection and love and touch.

blessed are we
when we hunger for the beauty of life itself
and the people to fill it.

blessed are we
when we are unable to say
I'm letting it go

because we feel like we
will be washed away
into an ocean of nothingness.

teach us to hold on to the truths
that enliven our spirits
and fill our souls
and loosed our grip on
the painful untruths -

like that we are alone
or unlovable
or that desire itself is the enemy.

there will be no easy addition and subtraction
we will lose and we will gain
and almost none of it will make
much sense at the time
and it forces our hands open

we look for divine love
in the mystery of it all.

Amen

All are welcome in this place.
In love, hope and peace

Joy💒

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