PEW SHEET 8th March

Harvest Festival NEXT Sunday 15^th March

at St John’s Port Albert 10.30am followed by a picnic in the grounds

Please bring along home grown or homemade produce to decorate the church and/or for our trading table.

Message about the Ten Commandments – Reverend Jo

The notion of trying to be a “good person” conjures up all sorts associations: of piety, solemnity, bloodlessness and self-denial. If we let others know that we are on fitness program or a diet to improve our health we can expect to attract encouragement and respect. Declare that we are working on our character and many will think this rather odd. It’s an indication of just how far out of favour the project of being good has fallen that “wicked” has become a word used in praise.

During Lent our project is the improvement of our character; a kind of spiritual make-over. The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) are important helps to us in our project of self-examination and improvement of character.

We constantly need reminders to be sympathetic, just, kind, honest, respectful, grateful and loving. The Commandments were given by God in the context of love and commitment between God and his people. They were given as a guide to living in freedom from slavery and freedom to love God and neighbour.

 

 LENTEN STUDY GROUPS –

Our Bible Study Groups are using a special study for Lent entitled The God of Life by Bishop John Harrower. God of Life is a five part study based on the readings used in church each week of Lent. You may join a group at any time and even swap between groups as your calendar dictates.

Won Wron Group meets weekly during Lent Tuesdays 6pm dinner; 7pm study (leader Elaine Wright)

Port Albert Group meets weekly at St John’s Raglan St Port Albert Wednesdays 4pm (leader Phil Tracey)

Yarram mid-week Group will meet at Holy Trinity Yarram following our mid-week service on Wednesdays; Holy Communion at 10.30am Bible Study in the vestry at 11.00am (leader Rev. Jo)

Yarram Evening Group will meet each Wednesday 7.30pm commencing 18^th February at the Rectory 104 Commercial Rd Yarram. (led by Rev. Jo and Ken White)

BIBLE STUDY GROUP –

Yarram Coffee Connect Group meets at Coffee Palace currently studying the Book of Jonah Wednesdays 3.45pm (leader Linda Bowden)

NEW TO MISSION TABLE

BCA Bush Church Aid Prayer Notes for Autumn and The Real Australian magazine Autumn edition. You are encouraged to read about the work of BCA because as a Parish we have chosen to support them with our mission giving this year.

CBM Christian Blind Mission – read a truly moving personal story from a women who suffered from fistula and how CBM has been able to help.

Calendar –

INSTALLATION OF BISHOP KAY GOLDSWORTHY
Saturday 21^st March 10.00am St Paul’s Cathedral Sale

MU Lady Day Wednesday 25^th March at St Paul’s Cathedral, Sale 10.00am (see notice board for details)

 

 

Palm Sunday Sunday 29^th March celebrated at Holy Trinity Yarrram 9.00am
 (During Holy Week Reverend Jo will say Morning Prayer daily 9.00am at Holy Trinity Yarram)

Monday 30^th March – Morning Prayer begins 9.00am Holy Trinity Yarram



Stations of the Cross April 1 7.30pm

Wednesday 1^st April – Stations of the Cross, Holy Trinity Hall 7.30pm

Maundy Thursday 2^nd April – Foot washing and fellowship meal 6.00pm Holy Trinity Hall

Good Friday 3^rd April– Combined Churches 11.00am Christ Church Tarraville. Cuppa and Hot Cross Buns at the Tarraville School hall following the service

Holy Saturday 4^th April – Tarra Festival Parade:

1.      Holy Trinity Hall open for float participants from 9.00am

2.      Stations of the Cross, Holy Trinity Hall open following Tarra Festival Parade

3.      Lighting of the New Fire & Renewal of Baptismal Vows 8.00pm Holy Trinity

 Sunday 5^th April Easter Celebration –
6.30am Combined Churches Dawn Service in the grounds of St Andrew’s Uniting Church Yarram
9.00am Holy Trinity
10.30am St John’s followed by an Easter Egg Hunt in the grounds.

 

Pastor's Perspective

Father’s Day – a message from Jo

Today is an occasion to honour and remember fathers and those who have acted as fathers in our lives. For some of us our fathers have since passed away. Let today be an occasion to remember them, to utter their name in prayer and to sit quietly and reflect on what we may have learned from them.

Our fathers have passed on skills, traits, wisdoms and all manner of things we carry with us each day, things that we can pass on to the next generation. There are some among us who are now grandparents and we watch proudly as our children become parents. Today let’s purposefully consider our role as grandparents and particularly as grandfathers. Let us also give thanks for fathers, especially the fathers of our grandchildren and promise ourselves to be even more supportive of them.

Parenting in never simple and sometimes it goes horribly wrong. Today you might like to take a moment to reflect and pray about those hurts you carry or even the hurts you have caused. Let God the Father take your hurts, carry them and lighten your burden.

Almighty God and heavenly Father, your Son Jesus shared in family life and an earthly home with Joseph and Mary. Bless our homes; we pray that parents and children may be bound to each other by mutual love and honour, and come to a full knowledge of your love for them. Heal the broken-hearted and bind up the wounded, comfort and sustain those in need. Give to them wise and faithful friends and the grace to forgive and be forgiven. AMEN

 

Pastor's Perspective with Reverend Jo White

Children are sometimes our best teachers. I’m sure you’ve noticed that when the window has been broken how quickly some children want to find out who did it, to point the finger of blame; to see the culprits squirm and get a really good punishment. Some adults can be like this too. They want those responsible hunted down. (If they have done wrong in the eyes of the law they should be apprehended.) Revenge prompts them to want those responsible to feel the full weight of the law. I do wonder sometimes if these folk would be happier if we went back to an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

Pastor's Perspective

Pastor’s Perspective with The Reverend Jo White

Grief is something we all live with. It is something that ebbs and flows in our lives. Sometime we can be worried about the feelings that grief brings to the surface and ask ourselves; ‘When will this go away?’ We may even be told by family members or close friends to get over it and move on. I like to think that when someone we love dies that we change and because of that change we don’t get over grief we get used to it. There is a preciousness about remembering our departed loved one. There can be peace and even joy in cherished memories.

It is only ten days since Bishop John McIntyre; the spiritual leader and friend of the Anglican Diocese of Gippsland died. On Friday we will gather in Sale for a Memorial Service to celebrate and remember his life of service to the community and to the church. Personally, these events have brought up feelings of grief. I’ve noticed, as I’m sure you have, that the loss of someone who has had a profound influence on our lives stirs up all sorts of feelings.

In experiencing again a sense of loss I’ve found myself having trouble sleeping, being a bit grumpier than usual, making little mistakes, feeling heavy, laughing and crying. I’ve been listening to a song and found myself thinking of him. I’ve found myself reading an article written by Bishop John and thinking I will not hear from this wise and courageous man again.

I offer these thoughts not to expose myself but to share with you that grief is normal, it is part of life. We don’t need to be scared of grief or think we must rid ourselves of it. Grief can be good. 


The Reverend Jo White
Priest in Charge Anglican Parish of Yarram