ELCOME TO ST PAUL’S. We are glad that you have come to Saturday 16th December worship God with us today. If at 5.30pm Carol service, W Cardinal Freeman Village, you are a visitor from another parish, or Ashfield worshipping with us for the first time, please introduce yourself to our parish Sunday 17th December at 7.00pm– St Paul‘s priest, Fr James Collins, or to anyone Festival of Nine Lessons wearing a name badge, over a cup of tea and Carols or coffee in the parish hall after the Sunday 24th December service. You’ll find the hall behind the Midnight Mass at 11pm church. Christmas Day, Monday Year B – SPRING EDITION Vol. 13 25th December 9am Mass 8.00 am – Sung Eucharist Sunday 11th of February 9.30 am – Litany in Procession & Parish 2018 at 3pm – Eucharist EVENSONG MATER CHORALE conducted by 4.00 pm – Vespers at Cardinal Freeman Fr Michael Deasey in the Village Church Inside this issue … Saturday 24th February 2018 at 6pm– Procession The Blacket House Trustees’ Proposal p.3 and Festival Choral Advent Sunday p.6 Eucharist followed by a Reception and Thank you to Sheryl and the Choir p.9 Refreshments in the Parish Beautiful Gift from a Generous Benefactor p.11 Hall to mark the 30th Anniversary of Fr James Are you a fan of St Paul’s? p.17 Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood People needing wheelchair access can enter St Paul’s most conveniently by the First aid kits are located on the wall of door at the base of the belltower. the kitchen in the Large Hall behind the church and in the choir vestry. Please turn your mobile phone off or on to silent before the service starts. It’ll Name badges help make St Paul’s an save you much embarrassment later on. inclusive community. If you need a new name badge, fill in the form inside the pew sheet, send it to the parish office, and one will be made and left in church for you. Children are welcome in church at any service. There is a selection of children’s books and toys at the back of Toilets are available at the entrance to the church near the font and there are the parish hall, which is located behind also kids’ activity sheets and pencils the church. available at the back of the church where the pew sheets and prayer books are. Children’s Church runs during Term Ask a member of the clergy or anyone Time. Meet at the back of the church at who’s wearing a name badge. We’re the beginning of the 9.30am Eucharist. here to help. Please feel free to bring your children to the altar rail to receive a blessing, or to receive Communion if they have been admitted to the sacrament. As you take your place in your pew, please make yourself aware of the route to the nearest emergency exit. Should Please do not take photos there be a fire, leave quickly, turn right, inside the church or during the services and assemble by the roundabout on of worship without permission. Burwood Road. Purpose The purpose of the meeting is to obtain the consent of the Rector and Congregation for actions proposed by the trustees. Background Clause 20 of the Deed of Declaration of Trust provides: The powers conferred on the trustees by this Deed shall not be exercised except with the consent of the Rector and Congregation, such consent to be sufficient if given by a majority of those members who are present at a meeting convened for the purpose held in the hall or other usual meeting place of the Rector and Congregation by a notice given to the Rector and Congregation on the two Sundays immediately preceding the day of such meeting in the manner in which announcements are usually made to the Rector and Congregation. The trustees understand this clause to mean that, while they have the usual powers of trustees under the general law by virtue of their appointment as trustees (especially so that they may fulfil their duties under the law to administer the trusts and to preserve the trust property), they must obtain the consent of the Rector and Congregation for the exercise of the powers conferred specifically by the Deed, notably in relation to substantial projects and expenditures. The purposes of the trusts established by the Deed may be succinctly summarised as the provision of clergy accommodation and the conduct of meetings and other religious activities for St Paul’s. It is likely that the trustees will incur costs in applying to have them- selves recorded as the owners of Blacket House (item 5 below). The trustees have already paid to the Parish an amount for past services rendered to the Trust in the period from 2012 to 2016 (item 6 below) and have accepted liability for some legal costs incurred in relation to the retirement of the previous trustees (item 7 below). The trustees take the view that these are not matters about which they require the consent of the Rector and Congregation. However, they will be included in the resolution set out below, because they affect the balance sheet of the Trust and form part of the context in which the other expenditures will be made. Proposed Resolution The trustees ask the Rector and Congregation to pass the following resolution: The Rector and Congregation consent to the following actions of the trustees of the Blacket House Trust (“the Trust”): 1. Reserving not less than 30% of the gross revenues derived from letting Blacket House as a sinking fund from which the costs of maintenance, repair, renovation and improvement of the buildings and grounds of Blacket House may be paid from time to time. 2. Payment, either to the Parish or directly to suppliers, of up to $24,000 out of the net income of the Trust in 2017 for the purposes listed in the Schedule below (being purposes for the benefit of the Rector and Congregation of St Paul’s). 3. Subject to the availability of funds, the expenditure of up to 40% of the gross income of the Trust in 2018 on expenditures for the purposes listed in the Schedule below (being purposes for the benefit of the Rector and Congregation of St Paul’s). 4. Expenditure to obtain advice regarding the potential letting of all or part of Blacket House to one or more commercial lessees with a view to increasing the net income of the Trust. 5. Expenditure incurred in relation to the trustees’ applying to have themselves recorded as the owners of Blacket House. 6. Payment to the Parish of the cost of services provided by the Parish to the trustees from time to time (including an amount for services provided from 2012 to 2016). 7. Payment of outstanding legal costs incurred in relation to the retirement of the previous trustees in the sum of $7,682.07 (inclusive of GST). SCHEDULE OF PURPOSES (a) Organist’s fees for regular services (b) Organ repairs and maintenance of the organs (c) Sanctuary & communion supplies (d) Ministry resource materials (e) Playgroup resources (f) Printing of orders of service (g) Worship resources (h) Copyright licences (i) Kneelers (j) Vestments and robes (k) Rectory utilities, repairs and renovations and ground care (l) Payment for the services of the Music Director (m) Choir music supplies for services TODAY is ADVENT SUNDAY which marks the beginning of the new Church (Liturgical) year. We enter into Year B in the lectionary cycle with the Gospel of Saint Mark. Advent is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the coming of Jesus when we celebrate his Holy Nativity at Christmas. The colour for Advent is purple and the ADVENT WREATH is in place with three different coloured candles, there are three purple, one white and one pink (rose). The white candle in the centre is the symbol of Christ’s purity and lit at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve to mark His birth and a pink ( rose) candle which is lit on the Third Sunday known as Gaudate Sunday from the opening words of the Introit - "Rejoice"- which speaks of joy and the move from repentance towards celebration. TODAY the Advent Wreath is blessed then the First Candle is lit. May this Advent be a time for us to truly prepare for the coming of the Lord Jesus in all humility and draw us closer to Himself so that we may be brought to a joyful celebration of His Holy Birth. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Each Sunday during the singing of the introit hymn, as the choir go to their places, the servers, lay assistants and priest move to the advent wreath for the advent wreath liturgy, the hymn pausing before the last verse. Priest As we begin the season of Advent, we acknowledge the symbols of the great mysteries we celebrate at Christmas. From these the Advent wreath has been made. All O God you are our eternal Father, you sent your son to bring us eternal life. Reader We have the evergreens. These evergreens are the sign of eter- nal life. They symbolize the eternal life that Jesus brought to us from God. All O God may your life in our souls always increase and grow stronger. May it always remain in us and may we live in happiness with you forever. Reader We bring candles. These candles remind us that Jesus, the light of the world is coming. He is the light that shows us the way.