St Christopher’s Anglican Church 120 Waddell Rd, Bicton Parish Bulletin 2 FEBRARY 2020 FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE Newcomers, Visitors, Regulars – All are welcome Please join us in the Hall after the Sunday services for Morning Tea. Preacher: Tony Ingram 8.30am Eucharist 10.15 Family Service My eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people. Rector: Revd Melanie Simms 9317 1251 mob: 0457 888 589 Email: priest@bicton.perth.anglican.org Wardens: Mrs Fran Sagar 9339 5928 mob: 0438 917 093 Email: fransagar@y7mail.com Mrs Samantha Cullen mob: 0407 195 355 Email: cullenfamily@iinet.net.au Parish Website - www.bicton.perth.anglican.org Facebook Page – St Christopher's Anglican Church Bicton-Attadale
REFLECTION The Son of God, by Jeffrey Archer He was born in a barn, his father a carpenter, and his mother a decent woman, but they were of no significance, and certainly couldn’t have afforded to give the boy a private education. And yet, as a teenager, he was arguing the toss with his elders and betters in the council chambers. He never got a proper job, just roamed around the countryside, unshaven, and living off bread and water and the occasional fish, while offering his opinions to those who cared to listen. He became the manager of a football team known as The Disciples, not one of them a star, in fact the twelfth man rather let the side down by accepting a transfer fee of thirty pieces of silver to play for the opposition. The authorities eventually arrested him as a rabble-rouser, but couldn’t decide what to charge him with, other than the fact he claimed he was the Son of God. They strung him up with a couple of criminals, and when he finally gave up the ghost, rather assumed that would be the last they’d hear of him. The Disciples were relegated at the end of the season, in fact the captain claimed on more than one occasion that he’d never been a member of His team. When He died at the age of 33, there were no obituaries in the local press reporting his achievements, no glossy supplements highlighting his colourful career, no radio programmes to discuss his legacy, and no box sets recording any of his miracles. But then, He’d never relied on focus groups to advise him on current trends, or advertising gurus to spend millions promoting his brand, or spin doctors to sharpen his image, and he didn’t require social media to keep his followers up to date, so you could be forgiven for assuming he’ d be forgotten in a few days. So how can one explain that over 2000 years later, Jesus Christ is still the best-known celebrity on earth? Could it just be that He was the Son of God? Ngaal kaaditj Noongar moort keyen kaadak nidja boodja We acknowledge the Noongar people as the original custodians of this land. 2
Eucharist: 8.30am The service begins on page 119 of the Prayer Book HYMNS: 107 Sing praise and thanksgiving 716 Father, we adore you 516 Here, gracious Lord, we see you face to face 449 Stand up and bless the Lord Recessional: 768 Praise God PSALM: 24 (Page 244) PRAYER OF THE DAY Almighty and everliving God, we humbly pray that, as your only Son was presented in the temple in accordance with the law, so we may be dedicated to you with pure and clean hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. If you would like special prayers for yourself or someone else we invite you to remain at the altar rail after Communion. 3
FIRST READING: Malachi 3.1-4 1 See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight — indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner ’s fire and like fullers’ soap; 3 he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. For the Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God SECOND READING: Hebrews 2.14-18 14 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. 16 For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested. For the Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God 4
THE GOSPEL of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Luke (Luke 2.22-40) Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ 22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, 29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” 33 And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed —and a sword will pierce your own soul too.” 36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the 5
redemption of Jerusalem. 39 When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. For the Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ MISSION PLAN PRAYER Come, Holy Spirit! Give us new confidence in your grace, new words for the mission we share, new strength to go where you send us, new spring in our step, as we set out to spread our faith in changing times, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 6
PARISH INFORMATION Notices in inverted commas are copied from other publications. Huge Thank You – to all the people who were involved in helping Carol Hector’s family celebrate her life and mourn her loss. The family was overwhelmed with the outpouring of sympathy and support offered by the St Christopher’s community. Huge thankyou to our musician; to all who helped with the floral displays; to the people who helped set up and clear the hall up at the end of the day; the people who did cleaning; to those who helped bring out the chairs to accommodate the huge number of people who attended and also to those involved with crowd control and directing parking. Everything went smoothly on the day and the family were very appreciative of all the love and prayers that have come their way during this difficult period of time. Awesome work St Christopher’s. (Fran) Movie Afternoon Today Feb 2 nd 2pm : Adam’s Family and All That Jazz- there are still some tickets left for this fun afternoon. The story of the Old Testament from Adam to King Solomon, told in a jazz style. Tickets $10, and this includes afternoon tea at the intermission. Tickets available from Karen McAuliffe or Denise Pruim. “ World Day of Prayer 2020: 6 th March at St Joseph’s Pignatelli - This world- wide project theme will be ‘Empowering Mothers of Children with a Disability’. All are encouraged to attend this service which has been prepared by the women from Zimbabwe. Save the date and come and be part of this amazing project. ” 7
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