A caring community of Christ worshipping God, engaging the community and building connections between people of all ages and cultures.

2 Margaret Street, P.O. Box 352, Canterbury Vic 3126 Tel: 9830 0729 Website: www.stpaulscanterbury.org.au Church Office: [email protected]

25 December 2019 Christmas Day

‘Do not be afraid, I bring you good news.’

Collect All glory to you, gracious God, for the gift of your Son, whom you sent to save us. With the angels, let us praise your name, and tell the earth his story, that all may believe, rejoice, and proclaim your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Prayer: A Prayer Book for Australia; Images: Clipart.

Hymns: 304 313 312 303

Psalm: 97 1 Notices of the Day Welcome to worship and our faith community. Prayer Corner: We pray for those in need: “Great Spirit, we remember the land and  Margaret C  Peco its First People with respect and dignity.  Tricia C;  David A; May we live in harmony with all those  Scott F;  Alice A;  Michael A; who share this sacred earth  Julie H;  Olwen H;  Stephanie A; and be thankful. Amen.”  Jean G;  Daniel W;  Andrew;  Ron & Julie W; and We pray for the World:  Marie;  Kellyanne & Chris  For those who mourn loved ones, for the  Jasmyn; injured and distressed, and for all those  Fr. Derek and Liz; committed to the work of peace.  Jonathan & Susanne;  For all refugees and asylum seekers,  Glenn; particularly those who are children. We pray for those in need as a community for  For all those living with the fear and violence. four weeks. If you would like our prayers to continue for another month, please contact Bec  For firefighters and all communities in the office. Thank you. affected by fire.

 For the citizens of New South Wales as A Parish Prayer for St Paul’s: they deal with the fires and smoke. Renew in us, O God, the zeal of your love.  For all who are assisting injured wildlife. Let our parish come alive with the power of  For all those who suffer due to community your Spirit. Where we have failed, forgive us. prejudice or apathy. Where we have persevered, encourage us.  For the appropriate care for our When we are in doubt, direct us. Help us to environment. see new opportunities for witness and  For those who are living with the affects service. For the sake of Jesus Christ our of drought and fires. Lord. Amen.  For those who find this time of year difficult. Parish Council Members for 2020: We pray for the worldwide Parish Council - Suzanne Chapman, John De Araugo, Cathy Hudson, Andrew Church: Ham, Bec Hollingdale, Geoff Hannan, Nick  St Paul’s Kindergarten staff, children and Scott, Joanne Carter, and Stephen Mather. parents; Wardens - Liz Olie (Vicar’s Warden).  Diocese of Sydney (Abp , Please keep our parish councillors and Regional Bps , Michael wardens in your prayers. Stead, , , , , , Clergy We give thanks for the lives of: & People); Susie Andrews 11 December 2019  Anglican Men's Society; June Miriam Morrison 26 December 2016  St Paul's Boronia (Vaughn Spring); and

 Canterbury Baptist

We pray for ourselves and the community: Ever-present God, take care of all who travel by land, water or air; surround them with your loving care; protect them from Notice: Gluten free wafers are every danger; and bring them safely back home. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. available upon request. Amen. 2 Parish Events for the Week

Wednesday 25 The Birth of Our Lord—Christmas Day Office Closed 9am Sung Eucharist, Church

Thursday 26 Stephen, Deacon and First Martyr Office Closed

Friday 27 John, Apostle and Evangelist Rachel’s Day Off - Office Closed

Saturday 28 Holy innocents

This Sunday 29 December: First Sunday after Christmas 9am Eucharist, Church

Monday 30 Josephine Butler, social reformer (d. 1905) Office Closed

Tuesday 31 At Evening Prayer: The Naming and Circumcision of Jesus; John Wyclif, teacher and reformer (d. 1384) Office Closed

Wednesday 1 The Naming and Circumcision of Jesus Office Closed

Next Sunday 5 January: Epiphany 9am Eucharist, Church

Office Hours over Christmas and New Year The office will be closed between Christmas and New Year. After Christmas, the opening hours will be: Monday 9:00am – 12:30pm Tuesday 9:00am – 1:00pm Thursday 9:00am – 1:00pm The office will not be staffed on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Please note the following absences in the office: Margaret Irvine: 4 January 2020—21 January 2020 The Locum during the period of 1 January 2020—17 January will be Jill Renison. Please make her feel welcome. You are welcome to stop by the office at any time it is open, but please make an appointment when possible if you wish to speak with Jill, as she may not be in the office.

3 Readings Isaiah 62.6-12 6 Upon your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted sentinels; all day and all night they shall never be silent. You who remind the Lord, take no rest, 7 and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it renowned throughout the earth. 8 The Lord has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: I will not again give your grain to be food for your enemies, and foreigners shall not drink the wine for which you have laboured; 9 but those who garner it shall eat it and praise the Lord, and those who gather it shall drink it in my holy courts. 10 Go through, go through the gates, prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway, clear it of stones, lift up an ensign over the peoples. 11 The Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to daughter Zion, ‘See, your salvation comes; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.’ 12 They shall be called, ‘The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord’; and you shall be called, ‘Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.’

4 Psalm

Response: Today is born a Saviour Christ the Lord. 1. O Sing a new song to the Lord, sing to the Lord all the earth. O sing to the Lord, bless the Lord’s name. Response

2. Proclaim God’s mercy day by day. Tell the Lord’s glory among the nations, and wonders among the peoples. Response

3. Let heaven and earth rejoice and be glad, the sea and its creatures thunder praise, the land and its fruit show forth their joy. Response

4. Let trees and forests shout for joy at the presence of God, for the Lord is come, at the presence of God who rules the earth. Response

Titus 3.4-8a 4 But when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Saviour appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is sure. I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works; these things are excellent and profitable to everyone.

5 Luke 2.8-20 8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah,*the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,* praising God and saying, 14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’ 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Next Week’s Readings: First Sunday after Advent Isaiah 63.7-9 Psalm 148 Hebrews 2.10-18 Matthew 2.13-23

Notices and Parish News

Host family required for theological student for 1 week in February 2020. At St Paul’s, we tutor a number of international theological students studying for the Catholic priesthood. As part of their introduction to Australian life, they live with an Australian family for a week. We have been asked to assist, if possible. If you are interested, or know of someone who might be, please speak with Andrew Flint.

Calm us to wait for the gift of Christ. Cleanse us to prepare the way for Christ. Teach us to contemplate the wonder of Christ. Anoint us to bear the life of Christ.

6 Christmas Bowl It was 1949. Millions of refugees were starving in war-ravaged Europe. And as Rev Frank Byatt, a Methodist Minister from Victoria, looked at his heavily-laden Christmas dinner table, the contrast between our abundance in Australia and the needs of others around the world could not have been more stark. As a Christian, he felt that he had to do something. After all, it was Christmas, the one great day of sharing! So he called on his congregation to “get a bowl to put on your Christmas dinner table as a Bowl of Remembrance and see if you can get everybody round the table to make a generous gift so that you can share your good dinner with hungry children in other lands.” Each year, gifts to the Christmas Bowl support local partners around the world to both meet urgent need and create change that lasts; equipping communities affected by conflict and disaster with the skills they need to solve their own problems and get back on their feet.

We will have a Christmas Bowl in the Narthex after Church today, and the envelopes are in the pews if you would like to donate.

Child Safe: We take children’s safety seriously at St Paul’s. If you have any concerns as to the safety of a child in the parish please see the vicar or one of the wardens; Liz Olie.

St Paul’s Direct Debit: St Paul’s Anglican Church Canterbury BSB 633 000 A/C 1191 99941.

Pew Sheet Notices: Please ensure notices for the pew sheet are in the office by 5pm on Tuesday, it helps me keep things running smoothly. Thank you! Bec

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This Week’s Ministry Team Next Week’s Ministry Team 25 December: The Birth of 29 December: First Sunday Our Lord—Christmas Day after Christmas

8am Sidesperson N/A N/A Reader N/A N/A Liturgical Asst N/A N/A Flowers Anne Harding N/A Leigh Etheridge N/A Brass Barbara Alderton N/A

9am Margaret Irvine Jo-Anne Carter Sidespersons David Irvine Graham Scott Children’s Talk N/A N/A N/A N/A Sunday School N/A N/A J2A N/A N/A Reader Alicenne Stevens Ross Fishburn Intercessor Ross Fishburn Rowan Litchfield Welcomer All N/A Liturgical Asst Debbie Riley N/A Server N/A N/A N/A Sung-Hee Moon Refreshments N/A Gwenda Harding Collection Liz Olie Tom Lambert Counters Graham Scott Stuart Bales

This rite of Holy Eucharist is from A Prayer Book for Australia (APBA), © 1995 The Anglican Church of Australia Trust Corporation, published under the imprint of Broughton Books. Hymns are from the Australian Hymn Book (AHB) and Together in Song (TiS), © 1977, 1999 The Australian Hymn Book Pty Ltd unless otherwise specified. Scripture texts are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible – Catholic Edition (NRSV), © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. Copyright material is used with permission. One License: 729 697-A

Priest: Reverend Rachel McDougall 9830 0729 [email protected] 0424 413 761 Director of Music/Organist: Dylan Quinlan-Baskett 0490 371 924 [email protected] Pastoral Lay Coordinators: Rowan Litchfield 0419 547 088 Sue Flint 0419 316 931 Vicar’s Warden: Liz Olie 0402 756 660

Office: 9am-12:30pm Mon/Tues/Wed/Thursday 9830 0729 Office Coordinator: Bec Hollingdale (Available on Tuesday8 and Thursday mornings )