Easter 2016

THE SILENCES OF EASTER

“He got up from the meal, poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he had wrapped around him.” John 13:4 & 5

The Silence of their ShameMaundy Thursday

Cool water soothed their weary feet;They sat in silence. He, replete

With basin, water, servants towelOn bended knee, a task so foul

That even slaves, the chore would spurn.So, shamed, the friends, all taciturn.The Master served in muted tonesTill Peter’s loud, protesting groans

Broke silence, and expressed their shame.Christ challenged all to do the same.

The Silence of the LambGood Friday

While accusations flew apace,He stood in silence and disgrace.A word was all that was required

To prove those witnesses had lied.T’would bring release from transferred guilt,

For which His blood would soon be spilt.Yet, He stood silent. Thus, condemned –

Fulfilled with prophesies portend,It would be so, the Great I AM,Defenseless, silent, like a lamb.

The Silence of the GraveEaster Saturday

Dead, buried in the silent grave!Dead, buried – hope that He would save

That awful death on Calv’ry’s hill,The violence through, the voices still.

The fear that silenced their protestThat caused their flight, denied them rest.

The sleepless night gave way to dawn,A silent day, no hope, forlorn

They wait. The grave is muted yet,No word to help them to forget.

The Silence of the TombEaster Sunday

The sun escaped its nightly wombAnd shone upon a silent tomb.

Its silence not the sound of loss,By gruesome death upon a cross,

It is a silence, glorious,For Jesus Christ, victorious,

Has breathed in resurrection breathAnd triumphed over sin and death.

The Easter silences are o’er,Drowned in our song forevermore.

“Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone was moved away.” John 20:1 & 2

What will you give up for Lent?

Lent traces the journey of Jesus to the Cross. It’s a time to reflect on our journey as disciples, to act in solidarity with people within our global church, many of whom live in challenging circumstances. As we prepare for Easter it’s a time to renew and deepen our faith through reflection and prayer, to sacrifice and to put our faith into action.

Lent Event is run by UnitingWorld and supports international development projects with partners in Asia, Africa and the Pacific. Projects focus mainly on enabling marginalised people and communities to live healthy and well-resourced lives, now and in the future.

Envelopes are available at our church or donations can be sent directly to Lent Event.

The Induction of our new Minister

Rev Dr Geoff Dornan

will be on

Friday 18th March at 7.30 pm.

Sunday March 20th at 9.30am is the day Geoff will begin his ministry at our church.

We welcome Geoff and his wife Gilda.

PLEASE JOIN US THIS EASTER

Maundy ThursdayThursday 24th March at 7.30pm

We will gather round the table in stillness to share in the Gospel narrative and the bread and wine.

Good FridayFriday 25th March at 9.30am

We gather round the foot of the Cross to reflect on the self-giving of God in Christ, then and now.

Easter DaySunday 27th March at 9.30am

On the day of the year when Christians see most clearly that hope overcomes loss, we will celebrate new beginnings rising out of endings. We will share Communion and each have the opportunity to place a flower on the Cross, together expressing that in Christ, beauty transcends barrenness.

You will find us on the corner of Mona Vale Rd. and Douglas St.Regular Sunday worship is at 9.30 am.

Communion is on the first Sunday of the month.Church Office: 9144 5795office@stivesuc.com.au

www.stives.unitingchurch.org.au

RESPECT FOR SENIORS

We received advice from Ku-ring-gai Council some ten years or so ago, that Domestic Violence was a problem in Ku-ring-gai. Our church determined to develop a program working towards prevention of Domestic Violence being visited on senior women.The resultant program, Respect for Seniors and inclusive of DVDs and a website was developed in kit form and distributed widely by the State Government and promoted throughout the Uniting Church.Over the years program elements have been used in some other states as well.Our vision has been to expand the program nationally, in a formal way. However we were restrained by a lack of resources. At our February Church Council meeting it was decided to accept an offer from Uniting Ageing to acquire this mission program and promote its distribution throughout the church, in the wider community and, we would hope, nationally.We will continue to organise Wear Purple Day, a positive celebration of ageing, in the St Ives community, in June.To become more informed, you may visit www.respectforseniors.org or speak with Bob Knox.

GARAGE SALE DAYS

The garage sales are a vital source of income for our church. This is a day of great camaraderie as people from the community engage with church members to help sell a variety of goods.

This year sale days will be: Sat 30th April and Sat November 5th

Preparation will be on the Fridays prior to the Saturday.

If you have any queries or are able to give a few hours of your time on either days please talk with Joan Knox on 8086 0494.

THE MAGIC OF MUSIC

continues with

SUNDAY AFTERNOON CONCERTS

May 22nd at 2.30pm Pianist Simon Tedeschi playing jazz with trumpeter Bob Barnard and jazz violinist George Washingmachine.

July 17th at 2.30pm Tango Paradison, seven piece tango group with sensational singer Nadia Piave in “Lady Sings the Tango”.

August 14th at 2.30pm World-famous bass-baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes in concert.

Single ticket price for the above concerts is $45, subscribe to all three for $120, saving $15.

SPECIAL CONCERT ON:June 26th at 2.30pm. Brilliant classical pianist Tonya Lemoh playing a “Romantic Recital” of music by Beethoven, Chopin and Liszt.

The tickets for this special concert are $30 each, but if you subscribe to all concerts $25 each.

No More

No more is the tomb in darknessNo more are there shadows of night

The stone’s rolled awayAnd with the day

Comes Easter morns glorious light.

No more need we grieve and worry,No more do we need to fear.

For now we can cope,For now we have hope

Our Lord and Saviour is near.

He is risen, he is risen indeedDeath has lost its sting.

No more despair,For this news we share

Our Lord lives on as king.

So when things look dark and hopeless,When pain and grief are rife,

In this morning hour,Remember God’s powerTo raise us all to new life.

Praise be to God in his glory,Who has swept death right away.

This God we praise,A God to amaze

Praise him this Easter Day!