Update 15 August

Good morning, all

We have sunshine- for the moment at least! I’m going to the St John of God Retreat Centre at Shoalwater this afternoon, coming home on Thursday, for my annual retreat. (All clergy are to take an annual retreat). It is close to the beach and I love walking along the beach to a coffee shop that looks out to Penguin Island; but if the weather forecast is right I might be indoors the whole time! Ah well.

Tomorrow morning is Toddler Jam: do you know anyone with a toddler or two who might enjoy it? Let them know! Then the Craft & Chat group meets from 12:30 and all are welcome.

On Wednesday the 9:15am service will be celebrated by the Reverend Cassandra Nixon- please make her welcome.

The Meditation Group meets at 6pm on Thursday

Our monthly Recycling Hub is on Saturday between 9 & 11; please bring along your containers for change, plastic bottle tops, household batteries, small electricals, plastic bread tags (not the cardboard ones please) and medication blister packs; a small donation is requested for blister packs because they are recycled through Terracycle, and it is not free.

If you use Giving Envelopes for your weekly offering, there is a sign-up sheet at church if you would like a new set for the next year; or you can email the parish office on office@stnicolasanglican.org It will help us to know how many sets are required.

The Prayer of the Week – Tenth Sunday After Pentecost

Almighty God,

you have given your only Son

to be for us both a sacrifice for sin

and also an example of godly life:

give us grace

that we may always thankfully receive the benefits of his sacrifice,

and also daily endeavour to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life;

through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today we remember Mary, Mother of Our Lord: and here is her song, the Magnificat

Song of Mary, APBA p 388
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord:

my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,

Who has looked with favour on his lowly servant:

from this day all generations will call me blessed.

The Almighty has done great things for me:

and holy is his name.

God has mercy on those who fear him:

from generation to generation.

The Lord has shown strength with his arm:

and scattered the proud in their conceit,

Casting down the mighty from their thrones:

and lifting up the lowly.

God has filled the hungry with good things:

and sent the rich away empty.

He has come to the aid of his servant Israel:

to remember the promise of mercy,

The promise made to our forebears:

to Abraham and his children for ever.