Dear Friends,

We have become practised at waiting this year. Waiting for infection numbers to drop, waiting for the opportunity to see those dear to us again. The season of Advent is all about waiting. Waiting for the birth of the Saviour. Waiting for Jesus to return again in glory. We trust this finds you well and enjoying the end of waiting and the blessing of greater freedom of movement and contact with loved ones. What a joy to be able to gather with family and friends! We continue in prayer for you all, for good health, safety, as well as for the continued control of the Covid-19 outbreak in our community.

We are thrilled to be able to welcome congregations back to worship at the Cathedral, albeit congregations of a moderate size. Clear instructions are included below so you are able to safely join us. One detail to remember when you attend is that we are not able to gather and spend time enjoying refreshments together as we usually would. For those attending the cathedral in person, you might like to consider joining the Thursday evening Zoom catch-up, in lieu of the 9.15am Sunday time when you will be likely making your way into town. A particular joy is that we will be able to welcome congregations for three of our Christmas Eve and Day services. The Cathedral will also be open for private prayer from 10am - 3pm from Monday 21 December to Thursday 24 December. 

This Sunday is our verger Dinuka's last Sunday serving in that role. We are pleased to share that he has been offered full-time work in his professional field, but also sad to not have him working at the Cathedral any longer. The good news is that he will continue as a member of the congregation. We wish him every success and God’s rich blessing in his new role! 

As we head into this Advent season, as we wait to celebrate the birth of our Saviour, and look forward to his coming again in glory, we invite you to join us for our Advent Carol service which will be streamed on our Facebook page and YouTube channel this Sunday evening at 6pm. We invite you to join with us in prayer, readings and songs, as we are reminded of the God for whom we wait.

Grace and peace,

Heather.

In line with recent changes to COVID-19 restrictions here in Melbourne, we are now able to meet in person worship. We will also continue to live-stream our Sunday and Weekday services via YouTube, Facebook and our online worship page as well as our congregational gatherings on Zoom.

You can book (a) seat(s) at the following services:

• Sunday BCP Eucharist, 8am (100+ Seats available)
• Sunday Sung Eucharist, 10am (70+ Seats available)
• Sunday Mandarin-English bilingual Eucharist, 1pm (100+ Seats available)
• Wednesday lunchtime Eucharist, 12.15pm (100+ Seats available)

You do have to make a booking in order to attend worship using the Trybooking system.

Book seats for Sunday worship
To book a seat for Sunday worship on Advent Sunday, 29 November or Advent 2, 6 December, follow this link: https://www.trybooking.com/BMXEO

Book seats for Weekday worship
To book a seat for our Wednesday Lunchtime Eucharist, follow this link: https://www.trybooking.com/BMGGK.

Please be aware of the following COVID-19 Safe Worship Practices when attending in person worship at the Cathedral:

• You have to book a seat using the above links and bring your ticket along with you to attend worship. Bookings are mandatory and access to the services will be strictly managed.
• Please do not attend the service if you are unwell or have any symptoms of Cold or Flu. Our staff will take your temperature using contact-less thermometers and will not admit you if you have a high temperature. If you do feel unwell go immediately for a COVID test and isolate at home until you receive the result.
• You will be asked to sanitise your hands when entering the building and prior to receiving communion.
• There will be set seating and you will be directed to a seat on arrival. Please remain in your designated seat and follow the directions of staff for receiving communion and departing at the end of the service.
• Keep 1.5m distance from others at all times, including in the carpark, when you line up, talk with people or sit down.
• Wear your mask at all times and avoid all physical contact with others, including shaking hands. At the Greeting of Peace, please remain in your place and acknowledge those around you.
• The collection is a retiring collection. No plate will be passed around at the offertory, however donation points will be available at the back of the Cathedral. We also encourage you to give via EFT or Online where possible: http://www.cathedral.org.au/donate

A copy of our COVID-19 Worship Practices can be found here.
https://cathedral.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/COVID-19-Safe-Worship-Guidelines-Fact-Sheet-V1.2.pdf

Tips for joining in Worship at home:

• Be ready to go 10 minutes before the service is starting with your computer, iPad or TV set up and connected and volume turned up. The livestream will appear a few minutes before the service is scheduled to begin.
• If you have a printer, you may want to print the Order of Service in advance and have it ready for Sunday Morning, otherwise you can follow along on another device. Do join in the responses and hymns as you normally would.
• If there is problem with the Livestream technology, don't worry! We will record all our services and make them available as soon as possible after.
• You can contribute as part of the offertory by giving online via www.cathedral.org.au/donate

Tips for joining our Zoom Gatherings

• To access the Zoom meetings/gatherings just click the links around the time the session is to begin (9.15 and 11.15am)
• Make sure your volume is turned up on your computer so you can hear everyone.

1. Dail 7018 2005 on your phone
2. You will be prompted to enter the meeting ID, which is:
   9.00am Sunday Morning Tea: 876 1470 2151
   11.15am Sunday Bible Study: 861 8486 5813
   7.00pm Thursday Gathering: 848 4600 1829
3. If the meeting has not already started, press # to wait.
4. You will be prompted to enter your unique participant ID. Press # to skip.

The following commands can be entered via using your phone's dial pad while in a Zoom meeting:

• * 6 - Toggle mute/unmute
• * 9 - Raise hand

Online Resources

Read the Bible With Us

The ministry team of St Paul’s Cathedral has been meeting electronically for morning prayer, during which they remember each member of our electoral roll and other parishioners by name over the course of the week. Know that we are holding each and every one of you in our prayers.

Share your prayer requests with us by emailing 
parishprayer@stpaulscathedral.org.au. Prayers submitted will be offered during our 12.15pm Lunchtime Eucharist on Wednesdays.

Prayer Points for the Week

The World
Peace in Mozambique, Ethiopia, Syria, Afghanistan, Belarus, Hong Kong, Peru, Armenia and Azerbaijan; for the safety of children, for protection against those who would exploit them; safety for those in Covid-19 hotspots around the world, for effective public health policy to protect populations; safety of families and a commitment from our community to preventing family violence. 

Our City and State
Give thanks for our increasing freedom; for wisdom for our Premier Dan Andrews and CHO Brett Sutton; strength, energy and protection for health care workers; for those still unable to be in contact with family and friends; provision of work and assistance for those now without employment; care of the aged, vulnerable and homeless. 

The Anglican Communion
Pray for the Lusitanian Church (Bp Jorge Pina Cabral)

The Australian Anglican Church
Ministry to the Defence Force (Bishop Grant Dibden, Chaplains & Members of the Defence Forces)

The Diocese of Melbourne
Archdeaconry of Dandenong (Johnsan David); St Luke's Sydenham (Robert Koren).

Those in Sickness or Need
Joan Woodhouse, Simon, Beryl Coombe, Robyn & David Forbes, Judy Clift, Andrew, Lucilia & Carlota Soares, Janet Marsden, Pam Sullivan, Patsy King, Martin Devine, John, Mark Rostoks, Henri-Felix Vinson, Sum Vita, Maria Vonn, Brian, Rose, Kathleen & Samuel Hodgson, Nancy Paterson, Paul Jeya Sorga Kumar, David Ormerod, Helen, Graeme Giles, Murray Seiffert, Jennie Carolane-Balks, Helena Pope, Dorothy Willshire, Farah Le Dupont, Christopher Carolane.

Year’s Minds
29      Sarah McLagan (Congregation) 1981
29      Frank Woods (Archbishop) 1994
Dec 2 Charles Perry (First Bishop of Melbourne) 1891        
         Frances Perry (Founder Royal Women’s Hospital) 1892        
         George Langford (Builder and Lay Canon) 1942
5       Elisabeth Murdoch DBE (Benefactor) 2012