Our Vision: We are people sent to share the love,

hope and compassion of Jesus Christ with

all the world

WEST EPPING UNITING CHURCH

SING, CHOIRS OF ANGELS!

Surely one of the best things about this season are the songs we

get to sing together. Unfortunately my dear husband and I are

not in agreement on this, but I so love Christmas carols, which is

why I’m so looking forward to our services today!

It has long been said that Methodists (in particular) learnt their

theology from their hymn books – that lay people could gain a

mature understanding of Christology, Trinitarian theology,

soteriology, eschatology, sacramental theology and so on,

simply by learning the words of well-written hymns. I certainly

agree with this statement, but I wonder what the next step is.

As Christians, we are called to “always be ready to make [our]

defence to anyone who demands from you an accounting for

the hope that is in you”, and many of our hymns exhort us to do

likewise. However, many of us feel that actually naming or

sharing our faith is something we feel ill-equipped or simply shy to

do. Most of us are quite happy to serve strangers, but talking to

them about why we believe? It’s too much!

And so we come back full-circle to Christmas Carols –

wonderfully written poetry that name God’s amazing act of

humility and grace, allowing God’s self to be made known as a

helpless baby born into a poor refugee family, shown first to

young ordinary parents, then to animals, then to shepherds, then

to wise ones, and then to the world. Far from the superficial

niceness of the Christmas story, this is a story of turning the world

upside down.

My encouragement to you all, dear brothers and sisters, today

and when you watch Carols In The Domain at home and when

you listen to carols on Christmas Day and so on, is to not sing

them because they are nice and evoke happy memories for

you. Rather, sing your faith out, aloud and proud. Who knows,

maybe these carols are just the stepping stone you need to

share your faith with others.

On a different note, this is my last Minister’s Message for a while,

as come Christmas Day, I’ll be heading off to twiddle my thumbs

at home (in front of the air conditioning) instead of church,

anticipating the birth of our child. Please keep Adrian and I in

prayer, as we continue to pray for you all. Be kind to one

another, be supportive and hopeful, and remember that God

never demands successfulness, merely faithfulness.

May God’s richest blessings be with you all!

Rev Radhika Sukumar-White

Sunday 17 December 2017

Welcome 환영합니다

സവ്ാഗതം 欢迎

PRAYER POINTS

Pray for the local and international projects we

support, including “Steps With Hope” in

Cambodia-Thailand, the OVC Project in Mwandi,

Zambia, Bidwill Uniting Church and Christian

Community Aid Eastwood. Pray for wisdom in

discerning new projects to support.

Pray for the Uniting Church Parramatta-Nepean

Presbytery and our participation in the Presbytery

Cumberland Zone (including Carlingford, Dundas

-Ermington, Grantham Heights, Greystanes,

Northmead, North Rocks, North Parramatta

Centenary, Parramatta Mission, Wentworthville

and Westmead Uniting Churches). Pray for

effective collaboration and the sharing of

resources as we address important missional

challenges in our area.

Pray for the Epping-Carlingford Ecumenical

Covenant that West Epping participates in.

Celebrate our unity in witness and pray for

member churches, including the Anglican Parish

of Epping, Epping Baptist Church, the Catholic

Parish of Epping and Carlingford and Epping

Uniting Church.

Give thanks and pray for Phil Chapple (Church

Council Chair), Sue Elliott (Church Council

Secretary) and Morris Ross (Church Council

Treasurer), as well as the Ministry Team: John Barr

and Radhika Sukumar-White, and Helen Tattersall,

our Office Administrator.

Pray for those for whom Christmas is a time of

darkness, due to grief over the loss of loved ones.

Pray for those for whom Christmas is a time of

loneliness, due to a lack of friends and family, or

living far away from loved ones. Pray for those for

whom Christmas is a time of sorrow, due to

homelessness, illness, hunger or cold. Pray for

those who are forced to work over the Christmas

season to pay the bills, instead of spending

quality time with loved ones.

Give thanks for all God’s blessings upon you and

upon the church this year. Pray for the year to

come.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

God of music, may we respond to your call to

be prepared to make our defence to anyone

who demands an accounting of the

hope within us. May we sing our faith

and theology loudly and proudly, so

that all who encounter us will know

who and whose we are. Amen.

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land upon which we gather, the Wallumedegal people of the

Eora nation and give thanks for their care of the land over many generations.

CHRISTMAS BOWL ~ EPPING STREET COLLECTION

West Epping Uniting Church again organised a street collection to

raise funds for the Christmas Bowl Appeal. This took place in

Epping over three days from 30th November to

2nd December. The amount of $712 was raised.

A huge thank you to Glennis Endicott who did the

initial organising and to Jan Lintott who made it

all possible on the day. Thank you!

MAINLY MUSIC Mainly music is a vital ministry and

we have been so blessed to have

Emma and Juliane lead our

mainly music sessions each week. After six years

they both have to be released from this work.

We are now looking for people to step into this

role as up-front leaders. They will work closely with

a wonderful group of supportive volunteers in

what is a very rewarding and most worthwhile

experience.

Mainly music meets every Wednesday morning

during school term in the church. Please see Rev

Radhika Sukumar-White or Margaret Gibbons if

you are able to assist.

CHRISTMAS DINNER ~ All ladies are warmly

invited to attend the LADIES FELLOWSHIP CHRISTMAS

DINNER on Tuesday 19 December, 6.45 for

7.00pm. A fun night of fellowship, good food

and Christmas spirit.

RSVP 17 December to Barbara Newton 9876

1890, Lyn MacGregor 9871 5701 or write your

name on the sign up sheet in the foyer.

A donation of tinned food for Eastwood

Community Aid would be appreciated.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Introducing our new Ministry Student

Tau’alofa Anga’aelangi (Lofa)

My name is Tau’alofa Anga’aelangi. I grew up in the Free

Wesleyan Church of Tonga. In 1992, I migrated to Australia with

my family.

The continuous movement and

relocations of our world has been a part

of me; as well as my strong Methodist

and Tongan background. These three

things are vital to my journey and they

continue to shape the person I am in the

place that I now call home.

My passion is in the realm of social

justice, migration, refugees and the

Hebrew Bible. I’m a candidate to the

ministry of Deacon, and I am so excited

to bring my passion and gifts to the

community of West Epping Uniting Church.

Lofa will commence her part-time placement in West Epping on

Sunday 21 January for six months, and will work with John Barr as a

member of the Ministry Team.

FLOWER POWER! ~ Do you know how lucky we

are at WEUC? Each week we enjoy a beautiful

flower arrangement by one of our team of

talented and dedicated ladies – many thanks to

them. WE ARE NOW NEEDING SOME EXTRA

HELPERS – no experience necessary, just a love

of flowers. Please consider joining this roster. The

more people we have the less times per

year you are needed – twice or three

times at the most.

I would love to hear from you.

Enquiries: Carolyn Button 9871 2661

Christmas Eve Sunday 24 December

Worship 8am

Christmas Festival from 4pm

Family Carols 6.30pm

Service of Carols & Communion 9pm

Christmas Day Monday 25 December Worship 7.30am and 9.00am

Epiphany Sunday 31 December

Worship 9am

MORNING TEA ~ 8am Service 2018

Time to prepare for next years roster!! Please

consider how important this outreach is, and be

in touch with me if you are willing to continue, or

unfortunately if you are unable to continue,

providing this service.

It would be wonderful if we could have some

others to join. It is not too onerous, just set up the

urns, mugs, tea/coffee, sugar and provide

biscuits and milk. The more folk who are on this

roster, the less often you will be called upon. Wife

& husband teams, singles (pairing up with

someone is possible) are very welcome.

Enquiries: Margaret Wilson 9871 5649

Dear friends,

Thank you for all your kind expressions of

sympathy and support during this time of our sad

loss of Brian. Your love and kindness has touched

our hearts and offered us much peace.

Lovingly, Bev Walton & family.

WEUC is committed to protecting children, young people and vulnerable adults from harm and abuse.

Third Sunday in Advent

Lessons and Carols

Reading 1: Genesis 3:8-15, 17-19

Reading 2: Genesis 22:15-18

Reading 3: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7

Reading 4: Micah 5:2-5a

Reading 5: Luke 1:26-35, 38

Reading 6: Luke 2:1-7

Reading 7: Luke 2:8-16

Reading 8: Matthew 2:1-12

Reading 9: John 1:1-14

ROHINGYA FAMILIES NEED OUR HELP!

The Christmas Bowl is needed now more than ever, with

unprecedented numbers of people displaced around the

world and millions more suffering from severe hunger.

Supporting the Christmas Bowl is a powerful act of faith and

love as well as a tangible act of solidarity.

By taking part, we’re affirming that every displaced or

hungry person is an individual worthy of empathy and

compassion.

By supporting the Christmas Bowl this year, your act

of compassion will help make a life-changing difference to

the Rohingya Crisis.

Family homes, neighbourhoods and entire villages have

been torched to the ground. People are being killed as

they desperately try to flee for safety. More than 600,000

Rohingya people have fled violence in Myanmar and are

living in makeshift camps in Bangladesh. Family homes

have been torched to the ground. People are being killed

as they flee for safety. Children’s educations have come

to a halt.

Those who have made it to Bangladesh are struggling to

survive in extremely poor conditions, lacking access to

even the most basic necessities.

Please will you help provide emergency shelter, food, medication and medical care for families who desperately need it?

With the number of people seeking sanctuary in

Bangladesh continuing to rise, your support is needed

more than ever. Together, let’s show the Rohingya people

that we are with them.

Place your gift in a marked envelope and put it in the

offering plate today or on any Sunday until 14th January.

Marriage Equality and the UCA

This last week, the Australian Parliament passed legislation

to amend the Marriage Act to make same-gender

marriages legal in Australia.

The President of the Assembly, Pastor Stuart MacMillan, has

issued a pastoral letter in response to this news, in which he

says: "some members of our Church will greet this

legislative change, whilst others will be deeply concerned

about what they see as the consequences of this change."

John and Radhika, along with all Uniting Church ministers,

have also received a letter from the Assembly General

Secretary, Colleen Geyer, reminding us that "the authorised

marriage service of the Uniting Church is a liturgical

standard required of Uniting Church marriage celebrants

who perform marriage services. Therefore, Uniting Church

ministers who are recognised as marriage celebrants will

not be able to perform marriages for same-gender

couples, unless the Assembly determines otherwise."

Both Stuart and Colleen name that the Assembly meeting

in July 2018 in Melbourne will receive recommendations

concerning the Uniting Church's understanding of marriage

and same-gender relationships. This could lead to further

discussion about same-gender marriage. They both

appeal to the church to be respectful of our diverse voices,

and open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. They ask that

Uniting Churches pray for wisdom and discernment for the

members of Assembly who will gather and discern

together.

In any case, the Uniting Church in Australia affirms the

embrace of LGBTIQ people as full members of its

community.

Tuesday 19 Dec 6.45pm Ladies Fellowship Christmas Dinner

Sunday 24 Dec Christmas Eve

8.00am 4.00pm 6.30pm 9.00pm 10.30pm

Worship Christmas Festival Family Carols Service of Carols & Communion CSI

Monday 25 Dec Christmas Day

7.30am 9.00am

Worship Worship

Ministry Team Rev John Barr 0457 879 099 Rev Radhika Sukumar-White 0423 823 363

Office Administrator Helen Tattersall 9868 3574 Safe Church Contact Person Erica Harrison 9873 3989

Church Office 35 Orchard St Epping 2121 p: 9868 3574

Office Hours Monday to Thursday 8.30am—3.00pm Friday 8.30am—12.30pm Email weppinguca@gmail.com Website weppinguca.org.au Facebook facebook.com/weppinguniting WEUC Bank Account Westpac BSB 032 081 Account 961263

What’s on this week!

Serving Next Sunday 24 December 2017

West Epping Uniting Church uses information and news provided by its members, adherents and officers for the

purposes of conducting its pastoral ministry. In the course of that ministry, material published in this bulletin may reach an audience wider than the membership of

the congregation.

Sunday 17 December ~ Advent 3, Service of

Lessons & Carols

Sunday 24 December ~ Christmas Eve

Worship 8am, 4pm Christmas Festival,

6.30pm Family Carols, 9pm Carols & Communion

Monday 25 December ~ Christmas Day

Worship 7.30am & 9am

Sunday 31 December ~ Worship 9am Epiphany

Sunday 7, 14 & 21 January ~ Worship 9am

Tuesday 16 January ~ Mid-week Communion,

10am

Friday 19 January ~ Friday Discovery, 10am

Sunday 28 January ~ Worship 8am & 10am

Saturday 3 February ~ Ladies Breakfast, 7.30am

Saturday 24 March 2018 ~ Mystery Bus Tour

Diary Dates

West Epping Uniting Church is a member of an Ecumenical Covenant

with the Anglican Parish of Epping,

the Catholic Parish of Epping and

Carlingford, Epping Baptist Church and

Epping Uniting Church.

MINISTRY TEAM NEWS

Rev Radhika will be going on 6 months

Maternity Leave from 26 December.

Rev John Barr will be on leave on the

27 and 28 December.

Note: Church Office will be closed from

22 December to 5 January.

Helen Tattersall is on leave from Friday

22 December until Friday 5 January.

For Pastoral Care needs

please contact:

Rev John Barr 0457 879 099

or

Rev Radhika Sukumar-White

0423 823 363

8.00am

Welcomers Jan Watson, Lorraine Jones

Stewards Carolyn Button, Ian Tredinnick

Ministers Assistant Anne Symons

Reader Helen Aiton

Prayer Ministry Betty Taylor

Computer Jan Venn-Brown

Flowers Carolyn Button

9.00pm

Stewards Doug Blunden, Morris Ross

WORSHIP IN JANUARY

Sundays 7, 14, & 21 January

9am

Tuesday 16 January Mid-week Communion, 10am

Sunday 28 January 8am & 10am