8 This Week’s Diary Anglican Parish of Hamilton Monday 4th December — Nicholas Ferrar (d. 1637) Fr Donald’s Day Off 3rd December 2017 Tuesday 5th December — Happy new Church Year! Advent Sunday the Sunday School present the Story of 2.00pm St Peter’s Guild Meeting — “Stirling” Glenthompson begins the countdown to Christmas and the Christmas to help us all prepare for the true 5.30pm Requiem Eucharist for Bishop +Graham Walden celebration of God’s loving plan and purpose meaning of this festive season; and we sing a — Cathedral Church of Christ the King, Ballarat for all humanity in Jesus Christ. few carols (albeit a little soon) to remind us of the joy of this time. Wednesday 6th December — St Nicholas of Myra (d. 342) Advent Fr Donald+ 10.00am Morning Prayer — Christ Church Hamilton Advent is a season of expectation and followed by Morning Tea — Meeting Room preparation, as the Church prepares to Bishop Graham Walden 11.00am Communions — The Birches celebrate the coming (adventus) of Christ in 11.00am Communions — Eventide Homes his incarnation, and also looks ahead to his I am writing to let you know that Bishop Graham Walden died in Dubbo last night. He Home Communions final advent as judge at the end of time. The is survived by his wife Margaret, and their 7.30pm Choir Practice readings and liturgies not only direct us towards Christ’s birth, they also challenge the children and grandchildren. Thursday 7th December — St Ambrose of Milan (d. 397) modern reluctance to confront the theme of Bishop Graham served a substantial part of divine judgement: his long ministry here in Ballarat Diocese. He 9.00am Pew Sheet Preparation — Parish Office ‘Every eye shall now behold him came to the Diocese in 1970 as Archdeacon Friday 8th December — The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary robed in dreadful majesty.’ of Ballarat and Vicar General. In 1981 he was [Charles Wesley] consecrated as an assistant Bishop and he served as Bishop in Hamilton from 1981 to 5.00pm Children’s Carols Event — Botanical Gardens The characteristic note of Advent is therefore 1984. He continued as Assistant Bishop expectation, rather than penitence. Church Saturday 9th December — based in Ballarat until he was elected to be decorations are simple and spare, and purple the second Bishop of The Murray in 1989. He 6.00pm Carols in the Glen — St Peter’s Glenthompson is the traditional liturgical colour. The lighting was the Diocesan Bishop for nearly twelve 6.00pm Vigil Eucharist — Christ Church Hamilton of candles on an Advent wreath is a symbol of us moving from darkness into the light of years before his retirement to Dubbo. Sunday 10th December — Second Sunday in Advent Christ born in Bethlehem. Bishop Graham was a warm and generous man, who was loved by people wherever he Today’s Gospel is a call to be attentive and 9.00am Extended Communion — St Mark’s Cavendish served. His gentle smile, sharp intellect, his ready in faith, to be people who take seriously 9.00am Holy Eucharist — St Peter’s Glenthompson quick wit and his palpable goodness meant Jesus’ call to follow his loving looking forward 10.30am Sung Eucharist — Christ Church Hamilton that he was admired and loved as a servant of to the promise of resurrection, which is the his Master. Daily Prayers in the Lady Chapel at Christ Church Hamilton (Monday to Saturday) fulfilment of his incarnation. His Requiem will be held in the Dubbo 8.30am Morning Prayer Pets, Carols & Nativity Anglican Church on Friday 8 December. 5.00pm Evening Prayer Today at the 10.30am Eucharist we May he rest in peace and rise in glory. celebrate the pets who are our Dates for your Diary  companions in life and bless them, Garry Ballarat Sunday 17th 7.30pm Festival of Nine Lesson & Carols for Christmas thanking God for them. We also hear December — Christ Church Hamilton Christ Church Hamilton St Mary’s St Peter’s St Mark’s All Saints’ Dunkeld Glenthompson Cavendish Penshurst

2 7 Sunday Worship Parish News

Sentence of Scripture: Mark 13.31 ‘Heaven and earth will pass away,’ says the Lord, ‘but my words will not pass away.’ Prayer of the Day

Eternal God, These are the Community and Church These are the Christmas Services in the through long generations you prepared a way Carols Services that are coming up this Parish his year: for the coming of your Son, month: and by your Spirit Sunday 24th December you still bring light to illumine our paths: Penshurst Community Carols renew us in faith and hope (for 4th Sunday in Advent) that we may welcome Christ to rule our thoughts Tonight at the Penshurst Community Hall 9.00am Extended Communion and claim our love; beginning at 7.30pm. - Glenthompson 10.30am Sung Eucharist - Hamilton to whom be glory for ever. Amen. Carols in the Glen First Reading: Isaiah 64.1-9 (for Christmas Eve) Next Saturday, 9th December, at 5.00pm Children’s Service O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, St Peter’s Glenthompson beginning at - Hamilton so that the mountains would quake at your presence— 6.00pm. 5.00pm Vigil Eucharist - Penshurst as when fire kindles brushwood Nine Lessons & Carols 6.30pm Vigil Eucharist - Dunkeld and the fire causes water to boil— 10.30pm Midnight Mass - Hamilton to make your name known to your adversaries, Traditional Service led by our Choir on so that the nations might tremble at your presence! Sunday 17th December at Christ Church Monday 25th December When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, Hamilton beginning at 7.30pm 8.00am Holy Eucharist - Cavendish you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. 9.30am Sung Eucharist - Hamilton From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, Cavendish Community Carols 11.00am Holy Eucharist no eye has seen any God besides you, Sunday 17th December at the Soldiers - Glenthompson who works for those who wait for him. Memorial Hall beginning at 7.45pm. You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. Parish Directory We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. Parish Website: www.hamiltonanglican.org.au We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls on your name, The Venerable Rector of Hamilton and 03 5571 1317 (Rectory) or attempts to take hold of you; Donald Kirk Archdeacon of the South West 0419 280 838 (Mobile) for you have hidden your face from us, [email protected] and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity. The Reverend Honorary Deacon Assistant 03 5571 1060 (Home) Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; Marjorie Keeble 0408 586 854 (Mobile) we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord, PARISH OFFICE 9.00am-12.00pm 03 5571 1728 and do not remember iniquity for ever. Thursdays & Fridays [email protected] Now consider, we are all your people. Church Gavin Wallis 03 5571 2581 James Burgess 03 5572 1613 Hear the word of the Lord. Wardens Jason Tonissen 03 5573 4540 Thanks be to God. 6 3 For our Prayers this Week Psalm 80.1-7, 17-19 1) Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, you that led Joseph like a flock: For the Sick and in need you that are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine out in glory; Phil Reid, Lorraine Griffiths, Barbara Trimnell, 2) Before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh: Nell, Andrew, Florencia Jenny Peters, Brian Lacy, Stephen stir up your power, and come to save us. Posie Moira Armstrong, Adrian Stephens (priest) 3) Restore us again, O Lord of hosts: Col show us the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved. For those who have died 4) O Lord God of hosts: how long will you be angry at your people’s prayer? Frank Reynolds 5) You have fed them with the bread of tears: For those whose Year’s Mind we remember and given them tears to drink in good measure. Albert White Ralph Henderson Arthur Moon 6) You have made us the victim of our neighbours: Robie McDonald Frank Uren Laurel Mercer and our enemies laugh us to scorn. Stuart Bell Druccilla Forster Kathleen Buchanan Charles Sandison Gary Holmes Clement Hadden 7) Restore us again, O Lord of hosts: Jessie Harris Marjorie Hall Evangeline Wensley show us the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved. Janice Mann Albert Stone Montague Bloomfield 17) Let your power rest on the man at your right hand: Robert Ronen Robert Hall Christopher Rook on that son of man whom you made so strong for yourself. Elizabeth Frank 18) And so we shall not turn back from you: For the wider Church and its ministry give us life, and we will call upon your name. • West Buganda—(Uganda) The Revd Henry Katumba-Tamale 19) Restore us again, O Lord of hosts: • Armidale: Rick Lewers show us the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved. • Bathurst: Ian Palmer Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1.1-9 • St Paul’s Ballarat: Lynton Wade (locum), assisting clergy and parish nominators • Diocesan Missionary Council—Alice Knight Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother • Alome and Ainong Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in • Perpetrators and victims of violence in the home. Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace • Ballan Confirmations. from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Birthdays this week: Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Pat Giles (2nd) Hear the word of the Lord.  Ethel Murray (3rd) Thanks be to God. With blessings and prayers from the whole Parish family! 4 5 Gospel Acclamation Rejoicing in God’s Saints Alleluia! Alleluia! Show us your love, O Lord, Many of them concern his love and care for and grant us your salvation! Nicholas Ferrar children, how he fed the hungry, healed the Alleluia! Born in London in 1592, sick and cared for the oppressed. He saved Nicholas Ferrar was three girls from a life of prostitution by The Holy Gospel: Mark 13.24-37 educated at Clare Hall, providing them with dowries and so developed the tradition of bearing gifts to children on his The Lord be with you Cambridge and elected a Fellow there in 1610. feast day, a practice appropriated by the Christmas celebrations. Nicholas is also one And also with you. From 1613, he travelled extensively on the of the patron saints of Russia. The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark continent for five years, trying his hand as a St Ambrose of Milan Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ. businessman and then Born in Trier in Jesus said: ‘But in those days, after that suffering, as a parliamentarian on his return. In 1625, he moved to Little Gidding 339, Ambrose was the sun will be darkened, of an aristocratic and the moon will not give its light, in Huntingdonshire, then a derelict manor- house with a chapel which was being used as family and in the and the stars will be falling from heaven, a hay barn. He was joined by his brother and year 374 was and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. sister and their families and by his mother, governor of Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory. and they established together a community northern Italy, with Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the life of prayer, using The Book of Common his headquarters ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. ‘From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon Prayer, and a life of charitable works in the in Milan. Whilst as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is locality. He was ordained to the diaconate by trying to bring peace to the near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at William Laud the year after they arrived. He wrote to his niece in 1631, "I purpose and Christian the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things community, with have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. hope by God's grace to be to you not as a master but as a partner and fellow student." Arianism and ‘But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, This indicates the depth and feeling of the orthodoxy each trying to gain the election of but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. community life Nicholas and his family strove its man as bishop, Ambrose, known and It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in to maintain. After the death of Nicholas on respected by all, though not yet baptised, charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. this day in 1637, the community was broken found himself being urged to accept the rôle Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will up in 1646 by the Puritans, who were of bishop, the gathered Christian populace come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find suspicious of it and referred to it as the taking up the cry, "Ambrose for bishop". He finally accepted and was baptised and you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.’ Arminian Nunnery. They feared it promoting the return of Romish practices into England, consecrated. Ambrose proved his worth, This is the gospel of the Lord. and so all Nicholas's manuscripts were becoming a teacher and preacher of great renown, promoting the essential divinity of Today’s Hymns burned. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Christ as being at the centre of Christian faith. 307 — 217 — 143 — 669 He wrote hymns which gave a clear and St Nicholas of Myra comprehendable understanding of orthodox Nicholas was a fourth- teaching, ensuring that what the people century bishop of Myra prayed was what they believed, and vice in Asia Minor (southern versa. He came up against the imperial Requiem Eucharist Turkey). His reputation powers and, with the support of the whole For Bishop Graham Walden as a worker of wonders community, stood firm against the interference of the state in church and faith 5.30pm Tuesday 5th December was enhanced by a ninth-century author of matters. Ambrose died on this day in the year Cathedral Church of Christ the King his hagiography and he 397. Ballarat is now best known through these stories.