Good afternoon friends,

I hope all is well with you and yours.

As you know the Annual Meeting of Parishioners will take place on Sunday, following the 9:30am service and a quick cuppa- so at around 11am. There will be no 7:30am service this Sunday.

I have emailed the Enrolment Form in case you haven’t done one yet- it’s not too late to bring it with you tomorrow (service at 9:15am) or on Sunday. I have also sent some information from the Parish Governance Statute which outlines the responsibilities of Parish Councillors, Wardens etc.- I hope you find it interesting! All the Statutes and Policies are on the Diocesan website https://www.perth.anglican.org/

‘People’s Choice’: As I’ve mentioned we would like to give everyone the opportunity to choose a favourite hymn for the services in the weeks after Pentecost; there is a sign-up sheet at church or you can email the office or me.

Please remember in your prayers the people of Nigeria, where more than 50 people were shot dead and many more wounded as they attended Mass in Owo on Pentecost Sunday.  Owo, a relatively peaceful town, is now the latest site of a mass killing or major attack – such events are occurring frequently, as multiple security crises overwhelm the country’s security agencies. About 3,000 people were killed by armed groups in Nigeria in the first three months of 2022, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. From The Guardian

This prayer can be for them, for the people of Ukraine and all places where war and violence are present:

God, our redeemer and sustainer,

                we pray for survivors of violence, abuse and neglect.

Give your power to the powerless,

your fulness to the empty of spirit.

Heal their wounds, free them from fear,

And restore them to true health.

Grant this through Jesus Christ,

the crucified and risen Saviour,

who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Collect Prayer for this week:

                O Lord, from whom alone all good things come:

                grant that by your holy inspiration

                we may think those things that are good,

                and by your merciful guiding may perform them;

                through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God bless,

Lorna

The Reverend Lorna A M Green

Good afternoon Friends

Another crisp but beautiful day! And tomorrow we celebrate Pentecost, the birthday of the church.  Don’t forget to wear something red! Look at these beautiful Pentecost flowers- ready for tomorrow’s celebration. We have some talented flower-arrangers in our midst- what a blessing they are.

The new Messenger is out and you can find it here. There are some good, interesting articles this month which I recommend and hope you will enjoy.

I have sent out the Reports booklet and there are some printed copies available at church. Please let me know if you would like a copy. I have attached the Application for Enrolment form– thank you to everyone who has returned theirs. There are still quite a number of people who haven’t yet; the Annual Meeting of Parishioners is a week tomorrow (Sunday 12^th) so please get your form in.

I have also attached a Nomination Form because we have some roles with no nominations as yet. As you prayerfully consider whether the Spirit is prompting you to nominate for a role please bear in mind that it is only for a year. You are not promising your life away! The only 3-year commitment is for our two Members of Synod; every other role is just for one year, and resignation if circumstances demand is also a possibility.

Our Formation Student, Grahame, will be going on leave in July so there will be no Meditation Group in July– unless someone else would like to facilitate the group while he’s away?

Archbishop Kay has notified the clergy that from June 16^th (Thanksgiving for the Holy Communion) we will once again be able to offer the wine as well as the bread at communion. This is what she wrote:

“Recently I wrote of my intention to allow for the reinstatement of the Common Cup sometime this month. Given the rise in COVID cases over the past months I had thought to revise this, however, after consultation, wide discussion and in the light of high vaccination rates, and the State relaxing of COVID regulations I have decided to stay with the intention of allowing the Common Cup to be offered at Holy Communion from 16 June, Thanksgiving for the Holy Communion. This is not permission for intinction. Permission for the use of the individual Communion Cups will also end from that date. Most dioceses around the country have now returned to Communion in both kinds. No doubt there will be people who do not yet feel able to share the Common Cup, and will choose to continue receiving in one kind. I know there will be much celebration and relief as we return to the Communion practice which speaks so eloquently of our common life in Christ.”

Archbishop Kay Goldsworthy

This means that from the 16^th you will have the choice of taking the wine from the Common Cup; and if you choose not to, that is also fine. Intinction (dipping your wafer into the cup) is not permitted. There is an excellent article in this month’s Messenger written by the Reverend Joseph Legarda, who is Archbishop’s Chaplain, which explains all this clearly and well.

Please keep in prayer those who are unwell, those in isolation, anyone with Covid and all who are vulnerable. Our Admirable Admin Assistant, Alex, is currently out of action so please pray that I can keep up until she is well again!

God bless,

Lorna The Reverend Lorna A M Green

Good afternoon all,

It’s another beautiful day! It is also Ascension Day, and National Sorry Day.

Every year on 26 May, National Sorry Day remembers and acknowledges the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities, which we now know as ‘The Stolen Generations’.

National Sorry Day is a day to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generations Survivors and reflect on how we can all play a part in the healing process for our people and nation. While this date carries great significance for the Stolen Generations and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, it is also commemorated by Australians right around the country.

https://theconversation.com/national-sorry-day-is-a-day-to-commemorate-those-taken-but-sorry-is-not-enough-we-need-action-183618

Here is the Collect Prayer for Ascension Day:

Eternal God,

by raising Jesus from the dead

you proclaimed his victory,

and by his ascension,

you declared him Lord of all:

lift up our hearts to heaven,

where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

I have attached some thoughts about Ascension which I hope you will find interesting:

Do you know anyone who has eggs to spare? Balga Breakfast Club would like some, and also lemons.

Don’t forget our stall at Poynter Community Market on Saturday; we could do with more story-tellers and kid’s craft helpers. One person who offered has laryngitis… ☹ You don’t need to bring anything, we have all we need- except for people! Come along and show our neighbours that St Nic’s parish community is there for them.

And don’t forget the Annual Meeting of Parishioners on Sunday 12^th June- it’s important you are there. I hope people are giving prayerful consideration to nominating for a role on Parish Council or as a Synod member: no experience is necessary!

There are many people who are not attending church these days- our Sunday numbers have halved since the beginning of the year. If you are someone who is staying home to avoid Covid- well done for taking care of yourself, but we miss you! Many of those who are coming on Sundays are continuing to wear a mask (including me) and we are doing our best to protect and care for one another. Please get in touch and let me know you are ok; just a quick email would be lovely.

God bless,

Lorna

The Reverend Lorna A M Green

Good afternoon everyone,

Ian & Leonie Evan’s son, Dean, for whom we were praying, sadly died on Saturday. The funeral is likely to be held in Narrogin, where he lived and belonged to a local church; Ian has asked that we have a memorial service for Dean at St Nic’s, which we will arrange at an appropriate time. Please hold the Evans family in your prayers at this sad time.

Toddler Jam meets tomorrow morning, and we would still like a few more people to come along and lend a hand. Please talk to Alex or to me for information.

Meditation continues on Thursday at 6pm in the church

Men’s Breakfast is this Saturday at 7:30am: talk to Don Rock on 0457452961 for more information.

The Friendship Group will meet on Monday the 9th May at 7.30 pm in the Parish Hall, with Guest Speaker Tina Hollis from The Stroke Foundation. All are welcome- bring a friend if you’d like to, because this will be an interesting topic. Call Sandra Boylan on 0408106604 for further information.

Have you had a look at our online services yet? Sunday’s 9:30am services are being live-streamed and are also available to view later. You will find the recordings on the parish website https://stnicolasanglican.wordpress.com/ . We are in the process of training people who are willing to operate the system, and refining techniques- it is certainly a big learning curve!

You may find when you click on a video that the service does not actually start until 8-10 minutes into the recording; you can scroll forwards. This is to ensure the live-stream starts on time.

Some things have become noticeable as we have watched recordings, so some small changes will make a big difference to the ‘end product’.

• Those joining us online can only hear what is spoken into a microphone. This means that all notices must be given from the lectern (or nobody can hear them)
• When I ask for birthdays, anniversaries etc., again the responses can’t be heard. We will trial having a list (kept next to the book for prayers at the entrance) on which people can write the names of those for whom they would like prayer for their birthday / anniversary etc. Then I can read them out- so please write clearly for me!
• If you are doing one of the Bible readings please leave your seat in time to arrive at the lectern as soon as your reading is due: so for the first reading that will mean starting to move during the Collect Prayer of the day, and for the second reading, towards the end of the psalm. This will help the service to run more smoothly, with fewer ‘dead’ spaces.

At the moment most people in the congregation cannot be seen by those watching online, but there may be occasions when they will be seen. If you would rather NOT be visible, will you please let me know? There are places you can sit that are not in view of the camera.

If you have any feedback that might help us to improve our live-streaming we will gratefully receive it.

Here is the Collect Prayer for this week:

Gracious Father,

who in your great mercy made glad the disciples

with the sight of the risen Lord:

give us such awareness of his presence with us

that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life,

and serve you continually in righteousness and truth;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God bless,

Lorna

The Reverend Lorna A M Green

Good afternoon all,

This is the latest directive from the State Government regarding coronavirus:

From 12.01am on Friday 29 April 2022 the following will take effect:

Masks

• No longer mandatory, except in the following settings:

• on public transport, in taxis and rideshare vehicles and other passenger transport
• airports
• hospitals, residential aged care and disability service facilities, and correctional facilities
•  Masks are encouraged where physical distancing is not possible

Density and capacity limits

• The 2sqm rule is removed
• Capacity limits removed for all entertainment venues, stadiums and events

Proof of COVID-19 vaccinations

• No longer required to enter venues and businesses
• Still required to visit hospitals and residential aged care facilities
• Mandatory workplace vaccination requirements remain in place

Hospitals

• Two visitors permitted per patient per day
• Essential visitors are also allowed at hospitals for compassionate reasons
• Visitors are required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccinations and wear a mask

Residential aged care and disability care facilities

• Two visitors permitted per resident per day
• Masks must be worn by staff and visitors indoors and outdoors
• Visitors are required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccinations

Close contacts

• Close contacts with no symptoms are not required to isolate for seven (7) days, but must:

• undertake a daily Rapid Antigen Test
• wear a mask when leaving the house
• avoid high-risk settings, including hospitals, healthcare settings, disability and aged care facilities, and correctional facilities
• work from home, where possible
• avoid non-essential gatherings and contact with people at risk of severe illness

• Should also notify their employer/educational facility of their close contact status
• Close contacts with symptoms must continue to isolate until symptoms resolve and get tested as per existing protocols
• If a close contact tests positive, they must isolate for a further seven (7) days as per arrangements for positive COVID-19 cases

What difference does this make to the parish?

• No more capacity limits, which means we could have larger gatherings (eg funerals, weddings etc.) but on normal Sundays- no difference, as our numbers are way down at the moment
• Masks are no longer mandatory

My personal preference is to continue wearing a mask; I know that I am in the ‘vulnerable’ cohort, so I will continue to wear a mask in church, at the shops etc., and I will continue to have to be masked at the two Aged Care facilities where I conduct monthly services. I will wear a mask to protect myself and my family but also to protect others.

So next Sunday it will be your decision whether to wear a mask in church or not. I know some have found wearing a mask difficult as it can affect breathing, so for them this may come as a relief; others may be concerned that there may be added risk; and some may not be bothered either way. We live in difficult, stressful times and the pandemic is not over…. So I ask you to take care of yourself as well as considering others.

Changing the subject, it will soon be time for the Annual Meeting of Parishioners- and if you’re thinking, ‘it can’t possibly be a year since the last one’ you are not alone!

The date will be Sunday 12^th June following a single, combined service at 9:30am: please put it in your diary. The questionnaire circulated after last year’s annual meeting was helpful and some changes will be made accordingly- thank you to those who completed and returned it. Every parishioner is invited to attend the annual meeting, which is an opportunity to hear how our parish is travelling in all sorts of ways, and to ask questions.

Every three years it is a requirement that parishioners complete an Application for Enrolment Form- and this is the year, and a form is attached which can be completed online and then returned to the parish office by email. Alternatively there will be paper copies of the form available at church. If you have previously filled in one of these forms, you still need to complete a new one. Enrolment on the Parish Roll means that you can

• Vote at the annual meeting
• Nominate or be nominated for a position on Parish Council

This form is NOT the same as the Parish Contact Form, which is purely for parish information.

I encourage every adult who attends St Nic’s to fill in an enrolment form and attend the Annual Meeting. I will send more information in the weeks before 12^th June and hope you will ask me, a Warden or a Parish Councillor if you have any questions.

Tonight Parish Council meets; please keep Marian Green and Sandra Boylan (Wardens), Ed Scott and Karen Chapman (Synod representatives) Sam Chua (Treasurer), Andrew Lucas (Secretary) Margaret Cristiano and Greg Williams and me in your prayers as we make decisions on your behalf.

Here is the Collect Prayer for this week:

Almighty God,

whose Son Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life

of all who put their trust in him:

raise us, we pray, from the death of sin

to the life of righteousness;

that we may ever seek the things which are above,

where he reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

God bless,

Lorna

The Reverend Lorna A M Green

Good morning everyone,

It looks as though summer is really over today- dark and wet, but the gardens and parks are loving it!

I was due to conduct a Holy Communion service at Lady McCusker Home in Duncraig this morning but they have had an outbreak of Covid so they are in lockdown; the residents are confined to their houses. Please remember the residents, caregivers and Chaplains at Amana Living  and other aged-care facilities, for whom coronavirus is a real and present danger; and the threat is not only to physical health but to mental health as well, as people are isolated from family and friends.

The Meditation group reconvenes tonight at St Nic’s at 6pm and all are welcome. Contact Grahame Bowland for details Grahame Bowland grahame@oreamnos.com.au

Anglicare Australia has issued a call to the political  parties with an open letter and a media release (attached),  which you may want to use if you have an opportunity to have a good conversation with your local candidates and ask them about housing, poverty and inequality and climate change. The material is also available on the Anglicare Australia website which is https://www.anglicare.asn.au/  

As the federal election approaches we need prayerfully to consider what we expect from government, what questions we may have, and how we will use the privilege of our vote.

We have booked a stall at Poynter Market for Saturday May 28^th– a month today. We would like this to be a stall offering activities for children, such as crafts and story-telling. We will need a team to set-up and pack away, as well as people to take part in the activities. Is this something you’d like to be part of? Please let me know.

Have you checked out our website lately? You can find all sorts of information as well as view videos of previously live-streamed services. https://stnicolasanglican.wordpress.com/

Your feedback is welcome and helpful.

If you are staying home and not attending church because of the covid situation please get in touch- I’d love to hear from you. If you are missing having Communion we may be able to arrange a visit, if that would work for you; and let’s hope and pray that soon, when it feels safe enough, we can be together in person again.

A prayer for today

                        God of love,

                        we pray for everyone affected by this global pandemic.

                        We pray for those separated from family, giving thanks that travel is becoming easier;

                        for people experiencing isolation;

                        for people working from home, and learning new ways to work.

                        We pray for all whose work puts them at risk, particularly health and aged care staff members;

                        for people working in schools, customer service and hospitality.

                        We pray for everyone who is  missing the community of the church,

                        and give thanks for the technology and expertise enabling us to live-stream worship services.

                        Bring healing, we pray, to those who are sick;

                        comfort to all who are lonely;

                        and by your grace, enable us to continue in fellowship with you and one another.

                        We ask these things in the name of our risen Lord Jesus, Amen.

God bless,

Lorna

The Reverend Lorna A M Green

Good afternoon friends,

Another beautiful day- sunny and cool, absolutely lovely. I hope you are able to get out and enjoy it!

Toddler Jam starts again on Tuesday at 9:30 – 11am and we are looking for people who can help out. We need people who can set up the hall; prepare & serve tea & coffee; join in with the fun and chat to the parents (Working with Children card required for this) and help pack away at the end. There is a roster so you do not need to commit to every week, but every bit helps. Toddler Jam is a lovely outreach of our parish and it’s so good to have as many parishioners involved as possible. Contact Alex in the office or me. office@stnicolasanglican.org

We do have some areas in the parish that are in need of more people; one is the Morning Tea roster, monthly after the 7:30am service and weekly after 9:30am. Three people are needed each time, and it should be a pleasurable duty rather than a chore! One of the joys of serving in the kitchen is that you get to say hello to everyone. All that is needed is a cuppa and some biscuits and / or cake; we keep a supply of biscuits in the pantry and milk is supplied. Please consider offering your help every now and then, because it isn’t fair to expect the same few people to carry the load.

We are also in need of some gardeners to help keep the church grounds looking lovely and welcoming. Some of our gardeners have retired after years of great work so we have some gaps. If you’d like to exercise your green thumbs you can chat to Veronica, our gardening coordinator, or me. vamajor.vam@gmail.com

And finally- now that we have started live-streaming we would like to train a few more people to operate the equipment, again so the load does not fall on too few people. If this is something you think you might be interested in, talk to Marian Green; no prior experience required! marian.green@live.com.au

God bless,

Lorna

The Reverend Lorna A M Green

Good afternoon friends.

Tonight’s service for Maundy Thursday at 7pm will be live-streamed;
so will the Good Friday service at 9:30am tomorrow
AND the 9:30am Easter service!

Find us on YouTube (St Nicolas Carine Duncraig) to join in online if you are unable to join us in person.

Blessings to you and yours,

Lorna

The Reverend Lorna A M Green

Dear Friends,

I hope you are well, and enjoying the cooler weather.

Today at midday I went to St George’s Cathedral for the Chrism Eucharist; this service was traditionally held on Maundy Thursday, but that was very difficult for country clergy who had to get back to their parishes in time for Maundy Thursday evening services which- as you can imagine- would be  tricky for those living in Esperance or Kalgoorlie! So some years ago it was changed to Tuesday in Holy Week. There is a time for all present to re-commit themselves to God, and for clergy to renew the vows we made at ordination. The Archbishop blesses the oils that will be used for baptisms and healing through the coming year; and it is a very special service.

Tomorrow Holy Week continues with our Wednesday 9:15am Eucharist, followed at 10:30 by the final (daytime) Lenten study, and at 7:30pm the final evening Lenten study group. The study book has been thought-provoking and we have enjoyed good conversations together.

In the evening of Maundy Thursday we gather at 7pm to remember our Lord’s Last Supper with his friends, when he washed their feet and commanded them to love one another. That’s where ‘Maundy’ comes from: from the Latin ‘mandatum’ or commandment.

Last year we were advised not to do foot-washing, but this year we may go ahead with suitable precautions. In practice this will mean we remain masked;  those who wish to come forward will sit, remove one shoe / sock, and hold it above a bowl; water will be poured over the foot; and each person is given a new towel to dry themselves.

Washing feet is what Jesus told us to do, and is a powerful reminder to us of humility- our own, in allowing our feet to be washed, and that of Jesus, who washed his disciples’ feet. I invite you to prayerfully consider whether you will take part in this traditional ritual.

On Good Friday our service begins at 9:30am– in silence. We enter in silence, and will leave in silence, reflecting the solemn nature of the day. We will have an opportunity to kneel or stand before the cross in prayer and contemplation; and we share Holy Communion using the sacrament that was consecrated the night before.

On Holy Saturday our Recycling Hub is open between 9 and 11am to receive your recyclables as we do what we can to safeguard God’s wonderful creation.

As we think about recycling, our friends at Grandparents Rearing Grandchildren WA are in need of bed linen – particularly quilt covers etc. suitable for boys, and also pillow cases and sheets. Details here: https://www.grandparentsrearinggrandchildren.org.au/contact/

Here is the Collect Prayer for this week:

Almighty and everlasting God,

of your tender love towards us

you sent your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ,

to take upon him our flesh,

and to suffer death upon the cross,

that all should follow the example of his great humility:

mercifully grant

that we may both follow the example of his patience,

and also be made partakers of his resurrection;

through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God bless,

Lorna

The Reverend Lorna A M Green

Good afternoon friends,

I hope all is well with you and yours.

Tomorrow is Palm / Passion Sunday. Why do we combine the two? The tradition began at least partly because so many people are away around the time of Holy Week and
Easter; and because those who don’t come to church on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday would otherwise not hear the story of our Lord’s Passion- the arrest, suffering and crucifixion of Jesus.

The great celebration of Easter makes no sense without the events of Holy Week- particularly the Great Three Days; the Last Supper Jesus shared with his friends, when he washed their feet, told them to love one another, and enacted the first Holy Communion; his anguished prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane; his betrayal and arrest, all happening on the evening of Maundy Thursday. On Good Friday he is ‘tried’ and, although found innocent of any crime, sentenced to death- the hideous, humiliating death by crucifixion. He is laid in a tomb and the world is silent on Holy Saturday.

Then on Easter Day, the women make the amazing discovery of the empty tomb and meet the risen Lord; the world can breathe again, and we cry ‘Alleluia’!

So tomorrow at the 7:30 service we gather outside the church door; at 9:30 we gather at the Cross at the edge of the carpark. We will hear the story of Jesus entering Jerusalem to loud cries and praise; we receive our crosses of palm; and we process into the church. Children will be given percussion instruments to make a joyful noise!

I hope you are able to come in person, but if not then please join us online at this link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC07_Yk9-h5ppfXAnltGEVGg at 9:30am.

I will leave leftover palm crosses outside the church door if you would like to collect one, or let me know if you would like one to be dropped off or posted to you.

If you are staying at home because of health reasons, please keep in touch so we know you are ok, or if you would like to be added to the prayer list. We are doing everything we can to be as covid-safe as possible, with good ventilation etc. If you would feel more comfortable in a smaller congregation you could try Wednesdays at 9:15, when there are usually fewer than 20 people so everyone can spread out.

On Maundy Thursday we will practice covid-safe foot-washing- which is, of course, optional.

On Easter Sunday breakfast is offered following the Dawn (6am) service; there is a sign-up sheet in the church if you’d like to stay, or please let us know by email for catering purposes.

This week:

• Tuesday in Holy Week: at midday in St George’s Cathedral will be the Chrism Eucharist, when our Archbishop blesses the oils for baptism and healing, and we can re-affirm our ordination vows and commitment to Christ. Everyone is welcome.
• Wednesday in Holy Week: Eucharist at 9:15am and the final Lent Study groups at 10:30am and 7:30pm.
• Maundy Thursday: Eucharist 7pm, as we remember the Last Supper
• Good Friday: Solemn Eucharist and Veneration of the Cross at 9:30am; we us the Sacrament that was blessed the evening before, because there is no celebration on this day.
• Good Friday: Stations of the Cross, 2-3pm. This is a prayerful contemplation, with prayer and Bible readings at each Station around the church.
• Holy Saturday: the church is liturgically silent.
  • On Saturday between 9 & 11am St Nic’s Recycling Hub will be out the front of the church. Bring along your plastic lids; Containers for Change; household batteries; e-waste; plastic plant pots; old toothbrushes & floss containers; printer cartridges; blister packs (from medications); plastic beer clips; bread tags and light globes.
• Easter Day: at 6am our celebration begins as the first rays of the sun lighten the sky. A fire is lit, on the lawn at the side of the church; the new Paschal Candle is lit, from which everyone lights a candle; and we bring this new light into the darkened church, rejoicing. At 9:30am the celebrations continue. On this day there will be flowers in church and we sing the Gloria, the Hymn of Praise, for the first time since Lent began. We renew our Baptismal vows as we begin a new year in the life of the Christian church.

For those using the Lent study book, ‘Repairing the breach’, this is the link to the article mentioned in study 6: https://www.religion-online.org/article/the-liturgy-of-abundance-the-myth-of-scarcity/

It is well worth a read- for everyone.

Here is a Collect Prayer for tomorrow:

Everlasting God,

in your tender love for the human race

you sent your Son to take our nature,

and to suffer death upon the cross:

in your mercy enable us to share in his obedience to your will

and in the glorious victory of his resurrection;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

God bless,

Lorna

The Reverend Lorna A M Green