Welcome! A warm welcome to worship this morning.You are invited to stay for tea or coffee after the service.

Welcome to worship in the ANGLICAN PARISH OF SWANSEA

'A place to belong'Caring for locals in Blacksmiths, Cams Wharf,

Catherine Hill Bay, Caves beach, Chain Valley Bay,Gwandalan, Murrays Beach, Nords Wharf, Pelican,

Summerland Point & Swansea. Our Mission: In faith and prayer, to show God’s love to all

through our woship, witness and care Services are held at St Peter's Church, 28 Josephson Street, Swansea. Our ‘Hub’ comprises Swansea, Belmont, Belmont North/ Redhead &

Windale Parishes.

Easter Day, Sunday 16 April 2017

Jeremiah 31.1-6;

15th December 2019 -Advent 3Please take this Pewsheet with you, It can help you to review the readings, collect prayers & parish news or you can share it with other parishioners or friends not able to attend this Service.

Contacts & Who’s WhoParish phone:4971 1300; The Revd Lu Piper ph: 8376 8417, mob. 0439 508 658 email: lupiper@icloud.com

Supervising Priest: Canon Janet Killen,ph: 4945 9993, email: priest@belmontanglican.org.au Wardens:Bill Plumridge :ph:4976 2144 Warrren Burkett: ph:4971 2593June Howard: ph:4976 1642 Secretary, Mission, Anglican Savings & Dev.Fund: Trevor Smith mob:: 0413 719 329

trevorsmith001@bigpond.com Treasurer: Pam Tucker (Lyn Taylor asst.)

Pew Bulletin: Pam Schillert Mob. 0421 461 833 email: pamschillert@bigpond.com

Mothers’ Union: President: Lyn Taylor 4971 2015 Secretary: Carol Leist 4976 1809 Vice Presidents: June Howard 4976 1642 & Jackie Williams 4972 2212

See Parish website for Pew Sheets, photos, & reports stpetersswansea.org.au

To report misconduct & abuse contact the Director of Professionals Standards: 1800 774 945 ; dps@newcastleanglican.org.au, or PO Box 494 Newcastle 2300

Parish Library: Please feel free to borrow any time the hall is open

Readings for 22nd DecemberIsaiah 7 : 10 - 16Psalm 80 : 1 - 7, 17 - 19Romans 1 : 1 - 7Matthew 1 : 18 - 25

Caring for each otherIf you or someone you know is not well, in hospital, or would like Home Communion contact the following;

Northern Parish Area: Julie & Merv Hammond 4971 4993, mob. 0467 570 947, Marion Willey 4971 2205, Lyn Taylor 4971 2015, Bill Plumridge 4976 2144, Vicki Williamson 4947 9214

Southern Parish Area; June Howard 4976 1642, Jan Kelly 4972 5854, Carol Leist 4976 1809.

A DAILY PRAYER for ADVENT God of hope, who brought love into this world, be the love that dwells between us. God of hope, who brought peace into this world, be the peace that dwells between us. God of hope, who brought joy into this world, be the joy that dwells between us. God of hope, the rock we stand upon, be the centre, the focus of our lives always, and particularly at this Advent time.

OCTOBER

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OCTOBER

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OCTOBER

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OCTOBER

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VARIOUS DATES TO REMEMBER - PLEASE PUT THEM INTO YOUR NEW 2020 DIARIES

* The Friendship Group starts off again on Tuesday 7th January, 2020.* The Bible Study Group meets this Thursday, 19th Dec. at 10am to 11.30am, and then

is in recess until Thursday, 6th Feb, 2020* Mothers’ Union starts off again on Friday, 14th February, 2020.* The Healing Service continues each Friday morning at 9.30am to 10.30am, except for

Friday, 27th December.* The Parish Council meets next on Wednesday, 15th January, 2020.* The Parish AGM will be on Sunday, 23rd February, 2020 at 11.15am.

CHRISTMAS BOWL and ABM ENVELOPESThese are all available on the table in the

church porch. Please take them for your special mission giving, then return them on a

Sunday and place them in the offertory plate with your church giving (or use directions on the

envelopes to post direct). This is what the envelopes support:

* ABM Advent Appeal: This envelope supports Wontulp-Bi Buya College and Numngalinya

College where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are trained to be future leaders,

as well as the Livelihood Improvement Project which builds up drought-affected communities

in semi-arid areas of Kenya.

* ABM Christmas Gift: This envelope focuses on work of St John’s Seminary which is the

Anglican Church’s clergy training college in Kitwe, Zambia.

* The Christmas Bowl Envelope: This is the Christmas appeal of Act for Peace, the

international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia. It works with local

organisations around the world, saving lives when disaster strikes and helping to build long-

term change that lasts.

Morning Tea Roster for December: Today: Instead of morning tea, lunch will be provided

for everybody (see above). Next Sunday, 22nd Dec: Northern Parish Area; Christmas Day

can those of us staying for morning tea bring along something to share? 29th Dec:

Friendship Group.

NEEDED - CHRISTMAS BUSH If you have Christmas Bush growing that could be used

for our church flowers for the Christmas Services, could you please let Shirley Vine know?

Also if there is anyone who could assist Shirley with the flowers at church she would very

glad of your company - we are concerned that she is on her own with this ministry at present.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES AT ST PETER’S

CHRISTMAS EVE: 5pm FAMILY SERVICE WITH HOLY COMMUNIONCHRISTMAS DAY: 9.30am HOLY COMMUNION

Please include in your daily prayers:-For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened [Luke 11:10 ]

For Healing: Jeff E, Jackie W, Nomad, Pat W, Helen A, Pam E, Dorothy and John (junior) McE, Lionel G, Shirley L, Rhys, Brian, Faye C, Jill, Peggy E, Audrey H, Jim & Audrey D, Don & Val K, Roma & Ian B, Sheila S, Pat, Peter, Alex, Sharon, Meagan B, John P, Wayne C, Kim N, baby Rose W, Vida G, Grace, Robyn S, Sue F, Doug W,John W. John B, Olivia, Sophie, and Bess B. Reflection on this Sunday’s Readings Today the readings remind us that we are to have a resolute trust that the nature of God is to bring forth life from death, light from darkness. For instance, even in the circumstances of exile, Isaiah magnificently expresses his confidence that there will be a way forward. Likewise, even before her child is born, Mary in her song (The Magnificat - Luke 1:47-55) sees that her humble life reveals God’s way of dealing with weakness and power in the world. James in his letter, is writing to a generation that is having to come to terms with living in a continuing history rather than at the end of history; while in Matthew 11 we read of Jesus vindicating the courage and the steadfast trust in himself and his ministry, that John the Baptist has shown. Jesus, like Isaiah, Mary and James, chose to hope in the future rather than wallow in the difficulties of the present. Do we?

The ABM Reflection for this Sunday Jesus says of John the Baptist that he is the one who has been sent to prepare the way for Jesus himself. The Greek Church calls John the Baptist - Prodromos - the Forerunner. This week, pray that like John the Baptist you can prepare the way for Jesus himself in whatever circumstance you find yourself.* Pray this week for the chance to prepare the way for Jesus to enter the world.* Give thanks for the Church of the Province of Central Africa, remembering

especially the work of the Zambia Anglican Council. Text: Robert McLean, Partnerships Missioner ABM 2019

TODAY IS OUR MUSICAL SUNDAYWe have a wonderful Christmas programme of music lined up for this afternoon. Everyone, please come over to the hall straight after this service and instead of morning tea, a light lunch will be served. We are sure there will be enough food for us all, so please come! Then we will come back to the church to be ready for the musical programme commencing at 12.30pm. It will be $10 entry. At 2pm we will all enjoy afternoon tea together. WEAR YOUR NAME BADGES TODAY and at each service, especially through December and January as it helps visitors get to know us.