As you may have heard, Nance Jones died recently and her funeral will be at St Nics on Tuesday, 10 January at 2pm. Nance was a regular worshipper at St Nics for over 20 years, however in the last few years was unable to attend due to health issues. All are welcome at attend her funeral, and take the opportunity to remember Nance and give thanks for her life and her contribution to our Parish.
Pastoral Care
A few people from the Parish are either in hospital at the moment or recovering at home from illness or other health issues. If you are not well at the moment, or you know of someone who is struggling, please contact the office by either leaving a message (9448 1421) or email office@stnicolasanglican.org and we can arrange someone to visit, Home Communion, or just a phone call to keep in touch. Alternatively, you can email or call me (0403 026 717).
Recycling Hub
Attached is the new and expanded list of recyclables that we will be accepting in 2023. The Hub is growing in size and the word is spreading about what we are doing. As a result, the workload has increased and so it will no longer be possible to have the mini-Hub on the Sunday.
If you have recyclables, please bring them on the designated Saturdays between 9 & 11am (next one is 21 January). Most people save them up and come every few months so it doesn’t eat into their weekends very often. Please do not leave bags of recyclables in the hall or the mail centre. There are many groups that hire the hall during the week and it is not fair on them to have to work around the bags left there.
January Services
As per usual, Wednesday services are in recess in January. Sunday services for the next few weeks will be taken by either Chris Albany or Liz Flanagan and we are blessed to have them in the Parish!
Prayer for a New Incumbent
Please continue to pray for the Nominators and the new Priest that God is preparing for us.
Bountiful God,
give to this parish a faithful pastor
who will faithfully speak your word
and minister your sacraments;
an encourager who will equip your people for ministry
I was so sad to miss last Sunday with Bishop Jeremy, but you wouldn’t have wanted me there, coughing and wheezing; it turns out I don’t have Covid but do have bronchitis, and I hope (and ask you to pray) that I will be well enough for Sunday. Chris Albany has once again stepped into the breach and will take tomorrow morning’s service and the Advent Study Groups- I am deeply grateful to him.
Covid is once again spreading rapidly through the community, so I urge you to take care. I hope the fear of contagion won’t stop too many people from attending church over the Christmas Season; we can always wear a mask, hand sanitiser is available, and the air-conditioning in the church brings in fresh air, so it is as safe as it can be- and probably safer than the crowded shopping centres!
This Sunday evening at 7pm is our Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, and we are still in need of readers. Please contact the office if you would like to do a reading office@stnicolasanglican.org
This is a lovely service of listening to the Christmas story and singing our favourite Christmas Carols; it isn’t a communion service, so it’s an easy service to invite family and friends to come with you. I hope lots of people come along and make a joyful noise.
Today is St Nicolas (Nicholas) of Myrna’s Day, and is also the 18th anniversary of my ordination as a deacon. Here is the Collect Prayer for him:
Nicholas of Myra, bishop and philanthropist (d. c. 342)
O God, our heavenly Father, who raised up your faithful servant Nicholas to be a bishop in your Church and to feed your flock: give abundantly to all bishops and other pastors the gifts of your Holy Spirit, so that they may minister in your household as true servants of Christ and stewards of your holy mysteries; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
I wanted to let you know that our former Formation Student, Grahame, has just been informed that he will be ordained Deacon on February 23rd next year at the cathedral. Praise the Lord! His placement for next year hasn’t been finalised so he doesn’t know yet which parish he will be at, but I’m sure you agree that he will be a blessing to them.
Here is a prayer from the Ordinal:
Almighty God, giver of all that is good, by your Holy Spirit you have appointed various orders of ministry in your church. Bless Grahame now called to the order of deacons. So fill him with your truth, and clothe him with holiness, that he may faithfully serve to the glory of your name and the benefit of your Church. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
More good news: ten beautiful bags packed to the brim with toiletries, sanitary products, treats and love from the parish have been delivered to ‘Share the Dignity’: well done, everyone who donated!
Are you going to be alone on Christmas Day, or do you know someone who is- or someone who is struggling financially? This email came today:
The Joondalup Christmas Lunch provides a safe, welcoming and festive place to be on Christmas Day for those who are isolated or find themselves in financial stress. Set amongst beautiful Central Park, guests are treated to a delicious lunch with dessert, live entertainment and fellowship with local volunteers. The event is free and bookings encouraged, though walk ins on the day are welcome. The event is smoke and alcohol free, wheelchair accessible and guide dogs welcome. Information and Bookings – Joondalup Christmas Lunch or 0466 252 076 December 25 / Central Park – Corner Grand Boulevard & Collier Pass, Joondalup / 11.30am The Joondalup Christmas Lunch currently has a committee member volunteer role vacancy, please be in touch if you are interested. Please pass on this information to anyone who may be interested.
Anouck Van Dyck Chairperson Joondalup Christmas Lunch 2012 & 2022 Recipient, Australia Day Active Citizenship Award – Community Event
And isn’t it a beautiful sunny morning! We will be having a taste of summer today.
This evening at 7:30pm the Friendship Group will meet in the hall and everyone is invited. Sandra Boylan will have some of her paintings to show and will talk about them, so come along.
On Wednesday, after the 9:15am Eucharist, our first Advent Study will convene at 10:30 in the church; and again at 7pm in the hall. Everyone is welcome. I have attached a copy of the material we’ll be using; there are daily reflections so you can use it at home. If you’d like a printed copy just let me know.
In recent years we have collected money and goods for Christmas Hampers for both Balga Snr High School and Roseworth Primary School; both schools have students from disadvantaged families, and both have written to ask if we can help again. Following discussion at Parish Council last week we decided just to collect cash this year, so the schools can purchase what is most needed for the hampers. If you would like to give a donation, please put it in an envelope marked ‘Christmas Hampers’; if you wish to specify which school write that on the envelope too, otherwise we will divide the donated money between the two schools.
We also discussed the planned parish dinner / St Nic’s celebration at parish council. Very few people had signed up or expressed interest in attending, and we concluded that it would be better to cancel the dinner and look at planning one in the new year. It may be that people are hesitant because Covid infection numbers are rising again- I don’t know. It is disappointing but it really did not seem worthwhile for so few people.
Sunday 4th December is the closest Sunday to St Nicolas’ Day and Bishop Jeremy is coming to both services to celebrate and preach. Let’s bring lots of goodies for morning tea following each service and make that into our celebration! As you may know Bishop Jeremy is taking up the role of Bishop of Willochra in February; he has been a good friend to this parish so it will be lovely to wish him well.
I would like to put up the Christmas Tree in the church next week; anyone like to help me? Someone strong to get it out of the shed and maybe some small people to decorate it?
Here is the Collect Prayer for the week before Advent:
Stir up, we pray you, O Lord,
the wills of your faithful people,
that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works,
may by you be plenteously rewarded;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Have you ‘stirred up’ your Christmas cakes and puddings??
This morning I’m off to Opal Carine Aged Care, where hopefully I will see Mary Bannister and Rose (Cindy’s mum). It is a pleasure to bring worship to residents in aged care; and it is so important that we don’t forget those who have given so much to the church in their younger years.
Tomorrow is our usual 9:15am Eucharist, and on Thursday Toddler Jam is in the hall. Please consider whether you can help out occasionally; this is a lovely outreach to the community and a joy to be a part of, but people are needed to make it happen.
I have attached a notice about the Advent Study we’re offering; you can choose to attend on Wednesday mornings or evenings, or use the resource at home. There is a sign-up sheet in church or you can just let me know if you’d like to come.
Attached is a flyer for ourChristmas services so you can put them in your diary or tell your friends. My final service at St Nic’s will be at 9:30am on Sunday January 1st– a combined service to be followed by morning tea. If you are not away on holiday, tired and / or hungover from New Year’s Eve (!) Allan & I would love to see you.
We need to get planning for our St Nic’s Day Celebration; I have attached the flyer. I know some people have a long-standing booking to attend on that night so we would like to know if moving it to Sunday evening (4th December) would suit more people. PLEASE let me know your thoughts as soon as you can; it would be awful to have to cancel because of lack of interest.
On Thursday 17th November we have the opportunity to hear the whole of St Luke’s Gospel read aloud. This will be an experience not to be missed; if you would like to read a section on the night, there is a sign-up sheet or you can reply to this email.
Lots of news today! It’s a beautiful sunny morning- isn’t spring lovely? The weeds think so…
Tomorrow we celebrate All Souls, which gives an opportunity to remember people we love who have died. The Wednesday morning Eucharist will focus on All Souls and at 7pm there is a service of Prayer at the End of the Day. Come along, write their names in the memorial book, light a candle and pray.
Thursday: Toddler Jam in the morning at 9:30; Meditation (final session with Grahame) at 6pm
Saturday: Men’s Breakfast at 7:30am, with a speaker from the RAC who will talk about seniors and driving
Sunday: All Saints, and Grahame’s final Sunday as Formation Student here at St Nic’s. Please stay for morning tea (after both services) if you can.
Coming up:
Sunday 13th November, 3pm: Parish Consultation with Bishop Jeremy James. This is an important opportunity to discuss your vision for the parish and its future Rector so please put the date in your diary.
Thursday 17th November, 7pm: reading of St Luke’s Gospel. This has been the Year of Luke in the 3-year cycle; the new year begins on the First Sunday of Advent, and will be the Year of Matthew. Hearing the entire Gospel read aloud is a moving experience, not to be missed. There is a sign-up sheet at church or you can book here: bit.ly/lukereading.
New Lectionaries are on order and should arrive soon.
Advent Studies: will begin on Wednesday 23rd November, for 4 weeks, at 10:45am and 7pm.
St Nic’s Celebration, Saturday December 3rd: this will be an International Food Night and everyone is invited! You may like to bring a dish to share from your heritage or just whatever is your favourite. Sign up at church or online https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=975136&or call Lynn 0409542973
WANTED: Our volunteer gardeners are requesting old newspapers (no glossy inserts please). If you have any, please bring this this Sunday, 6 November. This is a one-time only request, not an ongoing requirement!
Here is the Collect Prayer for All Saints, which is always on November 1 but celebrated on the first Sunday after that:
Eternal God, neither death nor life can separate us from your love: grant that we may serve you faithfully here on earth, and in heaven rejoice with all your saints who ceaselessly proclaim your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
It’s been a long and eventful three weeks! I am looking forward to being back with you, and I start work on Monday.
As you may remember, I had two weeks of annual leave (booked back in February) to begin straight after Synod (9-10 October). We planned to celebrate our Golden Wedding Anniversary and then spend some time in Albany. The best laid plans….. Suffice it to say that on the second day of my leave Allan was taken to hospital by ambulance and his gallbladder removed the following day. After 5 days in hospital he came home feeling sore but very much better, but all our plans had to be cancelled. That’s why I asked for another week of leave- so we could do something nice at least! Thank you to Mothers Union for the Joy Bag for Allan- such a nice thought.
Thank you particularly to Chris Albany for stepping in; he is truly a gift to this parish.
The process of discernment and search for a new Rector is beginning. Please remember that this process must remain confidential, for good reasons; just as you wouldn’t want someone to tell your employer that you have interviewed for another position, so the nomination board must keep their deliberations in confidence. Our nominators can only speak in general about how it’s going so please don’t ask them for details.
This week has an assortment of things happening: Halloween is on Monday, so we might see children in costumes roaming the streets- hopefully with a responsible adult! All Saints is observed on November 1st; it was once known as All Hallows (=holy) hence Halloween, the evening/ night before. We will celebrate All Saints on Sunday 6th at church. On Wednesday we commemorate All Souls, when we remember those who have died. Our Wednesday morning Eucharist will focus on All Souls and there will also be a service at 7pm for those who can’t come in the morning but would like to come and say a prayer and light a candle for their loved ones.
On Thursday at 6pm the meditation group will meet with Grahame as leader for the final time; and Sunday 6th will be the last day of Grahame’s placement as formation student with us. Grahame will preach on All Saints, which I look forward to very much. I’m sure you will agree that Grahame has been a blessing to us this year and we will keep him in prayer as he waits to know whether he will be ordained Deacon in the new year. There will be opportunities to farewell Grahame at morning tea after each service.
Here is the Collect Prayer of the Week until Sunday:
We had a great time at our first ever Families@5 on Sunday; 24 people including children came and all enjoyed themselves. I played 2 games of chess, won one and lost one, and there were carpet bowls, battleships, craft activities and all kinds of good things happening. One family brought lovely chocolate cake- made by the young ones- and we had a good supper. Come along next time– date to be confirmed.
Yesterday, members of Mothers’ Union and the Friendship Group went to Araluen and in spite of patchy weather had a lovely time, tiptoeing through the tulips.
This morning was the final Toddler Jam for this term and lots of toddlers & parents were there. Nikki is doing a superb job! Next term it will be on Thursdays and we’d love a few more volunteers to help out and share the fun.
Don’t forget that Thursday is a public holiday, so the Meditation group will not be meeting.
If you read this email today, our daughter Sarah has asked for your prayers; she has an important appointment with a new specialist this afternoon. Thank you.
I have attached a copy of the sermon given by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, at the funeral for her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth, for your interest.
In case you are wondering what happens next in terms of the next Rector of the Parish, I’m meeting with Bishop Jeremy today and will clarify a few things and let you know how the process will begin and work out.
Prayer of the Week following the Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost
Loving Father,
whose Son Jesus Christ has taught us
that what we do for the least of our brothers and sisters
we do also for him:
give us the will to be the servant of others as he was the servant of all,
who gave up his life and died for us,
and yet lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
Bit of a damp day here in (usually sunny) Perth- but the gardens are loving it. I can see a magpie wandering around looking for bugs and worms in the front garden as I type.
Today I’m off to Canberra along with Archdeacon Angela Webb, joining with Christian Women leaders from different denominations and organisations around Australia, to speak to politicians about the global food crisis and foreign aid. You can read about Micah Australia, who organise this event, here: https://www.micahaustralia.org/ And I’ve attached some information for your interest.
I will be back on Thursday evening; the Wednesday 9:15am service will be conducted by the Revd. Chris Albany. Please pray for us as we meet with members of parliament on Wednesday, that they will be open to listen and- more importantly- to take action.
I have also attached yesterday’s sermon if you’d like to read it; it was a difficult and challenging gospel reading, about the cost of discipleship and the choices we make. And if you are in the mood for reading, I’ve attached an article by renowned Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggeman about what the Bible actually says about homosexuality. It’s long but easy to read and I think very good.
Here is the Collect Prayer of the Week for the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
St Nicolas Anglican Church 