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January 20th, 2012
Am I reluctant to Follow Our Lord???
(Jonah 3:1-10)
Jonah had been so anxious to avoid giving Our Lord’s Message to the citizens of Nineveh that he had at first set off in the opposite direction and hopped on a boat bound for Spain!
It took a perilously close look at death to convince him that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time! Our Lord, firmly insistent and full of patience, gives him a second chance, and this time Jonah obeys straight away.
The outcome of his obedience is that a whole enormous city is rescued. Contrary to Jonah’s expectations, the threat of destruction brings the people to their senses, and they repent of the way they have been behaving.
Every day we can come across instances of grossly unjust, greed, destructive and abusive behaviour in our world, and no doubt they cause us concern. Could it be that such behaviour continues and thrives because there is no one prepared to speak out against it and warn of the effects of such a way of life? Like Jonah, we are tempted to busy ourselves elsewhere, fearing the consequences of speaking out boldly.
As Christ’s Body on earth, despite the circumstances, we are asked to share the “Good News” in order that our Society comes into “newness of life”, enabling the World to become a place of peace and delight.
**And Our Lord will help us!!!
Jonah 3:1-10
1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”
3 Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:
“By the decree of the king and his nobles:
Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”
10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
January 8th, 2012
The Baptism of Our Lord
Today we look at the Baptism of Repentance that was performed by John the Baptiser, and the Holy Spirit Baptism that has come through our Lord Jesus Christ. John was a remarkable man and a great preacher, who knew how to draw a crowd, and always stood up for the truth. He performed a Baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and many were coming to him to be Baptised. He said “That one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thongs of his sandals.” This one was Jesus. The almighty Son of God, the incarnate God in the flesh. Jesus was sinless, and himself had no need to be baptised because he had nothing to repent of. And yet He was baptised by John to identify with the sins of humanity. As he came up out of the water, a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” This Jesus, offers us “Baptism in the Spirit”, a True cleansing of our sin made possible through his sacrifice of himself on the cross! May all of us here today be true followers of Jesus, recipients of his Holy Spirit, and inheritors of eternal life!
Acts 19:1-7, Mark 1:4-11
January 5th, 2012
Lismore Anglicans Bulletin
No services at Dunoon and Wyrallah during January.
Ministry Centre will re-open on Tuesday 3rd January.
Op Shop, Goonellabah will re-open on Monday 9th January.
Parish Council MeetingTuesday 7th February 7.00pm
Parish AGMSunday 26th February 11.30am
Reports to the office by Sunday 12th February
 Lyndon Mulholland
Lyndon will commence duties on 15th January.
A photo of Lyndon Anna & Jack, plus a short biography are at the rear of St. Andrew’s.
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Be Still and Know that I am God
A warm invitation is extended to all Cursillistas and interested parishioners to join the regional Ultreya at Tweed Heads.
Saturday 28th January
9.30 for 10.00am start (NSW time)
St. Cuthbert’s, cnr Florence & Powell Streets, Tweed Heads
BYO Lunch Carpool operating—info Wendy Kilroy 6621 2615
Little Brothers of St. Francis
Christmas newsletter; copies at rear of St. Andrew’s. Please pray for the Brothers, as they pray for us.
Jacaranda Bowls Slow Auction
Highest bid so far $50
Written bids through offertory or to the office.
Education for Ministry (EfM)
Ministry can be anywhere, any time, to anyone.
EfM gives us skills to express our faith in words and actions. In a safe group environment we share our faith journeys and reflect on issues from our studies, our ministries and our lives. The whole EfM programme takes four years to complete: students enrol for one year at a time.
Would you like to join us in our exploration?
Our EfM group will start again in February 2012, meeting weekly during term time. Note that there is an enrolment fee.
For further details contact Cathy Ridd on 6622 3597.
 Help fill the ‘Act for Peace’ Christmas Bowl
Act for Peace empowers war-torn communities to reduce poverty, protect refugees and prevent further conflict. Australians who support Act for Peace’s Christmas Bowl appeal in 2011 will be helping to provide quality doctors and health workers in Kohistan, Pakistan, promote greater awareness of the importance of health care and hygiene and help women access the pre- and post-natal care they need.
The appeal begins 20th November and runs until 8th January.
You can contribute by using the Christmas Bowl envelopes (put in the offertory or send direct to Act for Peace); by any envelope marked ‘Christmas Bowl’ and placed in the offertory; or via a retiring offertory which will be available at some St. Andrew’s services.
Sunday Journal
Gospel Comments; Scripture Insights; Sunday Readings with ideas for reflection.
November—January $12.50
Please contact Ministry Centre if you would like a Journal 6621 3200
Provincial Mission Convention
Canberra January 26-29 2012
Keynote Speaker Canon Phil Potter
See notice at rear of St. Andrew’s.
For further info ring Mary on 6642 4122
Aussie Sunday Lunch - 2012
You are invited to participate in the Aussie Sunday Lunch program in 2012 by hosting 2 new international students for lunch. The dates of the lunch in 2012 are Sunday 26 February and Sunday 17 June. You might like to volunteer for one or both of these days. (More hosts are needed for February than June.) More information is available from your church office and further details will be available in early February.
(The Aussie Sunday Lunch is organized as part of Chaplaincy services by Robert Lingard – Ph 0407 203 390, chaplaincy@scu.edu.au )
Lismore Anglicans Bulletin
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December 22nd, 2011
The Real Heart of Christmas!
Welcome to Church this Christmas!
The real heart of Christmas is Jesus, and it’s great to have you with us to celebrate the birth of Jesus our Saviour around 2000 years ago!
We’ve read a lot in the paper about ‘Lismore; Come to the Heart’! It’s a great advertising campaign, encouraging customers to support the Businesses in the CBD by returning to the heart of the town!
For followers of Jesus, Christmas is all about coming to the Real Heart! It’s all about returning to the heart of Christmas; Jesus’ birth, which shows how much God loves us! Just as some people have been enticed away great shopping in the CBD, some people have been enticed away from following Jesus to lesser things, when Jesus is the best! Jesus is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, and He became a human being to enable us to become friends with God. He died on a cross and rose from the dead to make this possible. What a loving heart God has for all of us!
So thank you for celebrating with us, the heart of Christmas; the Greatest Gift of all – Jesus!
From Rev. Mark & Trisha Harris, the staff, and all of the ‘Lismore Anglicans’; we wish you and your families a truly Happy Christmas and new year!
December 12th, 2011
Dunoon Christmas Services
 light of the world St. Matthew’s, Sunday 18th, 7pm— Carols in church
Christmas Eve, Saturday 24th
St. Matthew’s, 7pm Eucharist
December 8th, 2011
Keep Awake! Mark 13: 24-37
 As workers for Christ our challenge is to be ready to face him at any and every turn. This is a hard thing for our battle is not so much with sin or difficulties or circumstances, but by being so absorbed in the kingdom work that we lose sight of the One in whose name we labour.
It’s easy for us to think our efforts are so important, so crucial, that everything must be done just so, that our pride becomes subtly entwined in the task.
Jesus rarely appears when we expect him. He is usually the surprise visitor in the most ordinary and inconvenient situations.
If we are to be prepared for Christ we must be aware of our love of ritual and predictability, and strive to be spiritually real in the here and now.
It’s not our service or achievement that matters, rather that we connect with Jesus in every thought, word and deed.
Advent marks the beginning of the season of preparing and waiting. And the incredible event for which we wait is the coming of our God who chose to enter into all that decays and dies, and to know it with us.
No longer in the heavens or hidden behind a curtain high up on a hill, God becomes us to bring a new heaven and a new earth to the moments when the sufferings and despair of our earthly life is more than we can bear.
Advent gives us the time and space once again to believe in and live out the reality of life in the shadow of eternity. Christ is Emmanuel: God with us – now.
‘And what I say to you I say to all: keep awake.’ [Mark 13:37 NRSV]
December 1st, 2011
Carols in the Church Dunoon
The Congregation of St Matthew’s Anglican Church, Dunoon would like to invite you to our annual carols in the Church on Sunday, 18th December at 7pm. This is NOT a Church Service. This is simply a gathering of village folk to sing Carols in our beautiful new building. A time of community fellowship and social interaction. SUPPER (Christmas Cake and a cuppa).
Do come along!!
October 27th, 2011
Re-dedication of Honour Rolls
St. Matthew’s, Dunoon
11.30am Sunday 13th November
Special service honouring those who served in WW1 & WW2 from the Dunoon district. Honour Rolls from deconsecrated churches to be installed in St. Matthew’s. All welcome. Refreshments afterwards r.s.v.p. 6689 5104 or 6628 4228 by 5th November.
October 13th, 2011
THANKSGIVING FOR FAITH
Paul had founded the church at Thessalonica on his second journey enroute from Philippi to Achaia. His preaching of Jesus as the Messiah aroused anger and controversy which caused Paul to leave. Sometime later while at Corinth Timothy arrived with news of the growth of the Thessalonian Church.
Paul and his friends write to express their joy to the people who had endured persecution , giving thanks for their faith and steadfastness. The facts were known widespread and spoke for themselves, their work produced by faith, their labour prompted by love and their endurance inspired by hope.
FAITH HOPE & LOVE.
A triad of graces found often in the N.T. Paul and his friends rejoice in the knowledge that these graces are manifested in the life and activity of the Thessalonians. They had recognised the genuineness of the Thessalonians’ Christianity by the way in which they had received the Gospel in the beginning and this was confirmed by the news Timothy had brought back.
This conduct and witness bore undeniable witness to their
being truly chosen by God and that it was the work of the Holy Spirit which enabled them to believe the truth of the Gospel and embrace it and live it out in their lives.
Paul states that Faith is trust in the person of Jesus, the truth of his teaching and the redemptive work he accomplished at Calvary. Hope is the gift of Holy Spirit, that with faith and love is an essential characteristic of the Christian. Hope includes trust, confidence and refuge in the God of Hope. Love is presented in the Gospel as the very nature of God and the greatest of the Christian virtues as Paul wrote (1Cor.13:13) It lies at the very heart of Christianity being essential to our relationship to God and people. Love is vitally related to faith, faith is basic, but a faith that does not manifest itself in love both towards God and people is dead and worthless.
The Thessalonians built the church on FAITH HOPE AND LOVE the outcome bringing joy and thanksgiving to Paul, Silas, Timothy and to God.
The witness of the people of Thessalonica should give us encouragement and perseverance to do the same.
September 14th, 2011
The Glory of God
CMS Summer School
6 to 11 January 2012
Mt Tambourine Convention Centre, Queensland
more information
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