December 2020, January and February 2021
Marsden
Missive
Marsden
Road Uniting Church Carlingford
---------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Parishioners,
Purpose of Advent.
As we enter the season of Advent and Christmas, I would like us to
reflect on the Purpose of Advent. The first thing I would like to highlight is
that during Advent we prepare for a very important guest. When someone you like
is coming to stay, you may find it hard to wait for that day to arrive. But
there are all kinds of things to do first, in order to be ready for
the
visitor. The Christian Church calls the four weeks before Christmas, 'Advent' and the word means coming. It is the time of
year when we get ready for the coming of the most important Guest of all time –
Jesus Christ.It is also a time when we are reminded of that
coming into our world by God. Advent reminds us of three different 'comings' of
Jesus. The first is in the past. It happened long ago at the first Christmas.
God, who enabled our world to come into being, came to live amongst us as the
baby Jesus and then as a boy and a man so that through him we could come close
to God. The second coming belongs in the present because Jesus is available to
come to every person who is open in the hearts and lives to his presence. The
third coming of Jesus is still in the future. Our hope as Christians is that
one day Jesus will come back to our world, not as a little baby but as king and
judge of all.
This time of the year is also a time of
celebration. So, how can we celebrate the advent of God into human life with
joyous assurance? If we look at the message which God gave to the shepherds
that first Christmas Eve, I believe we can find some help. Christmas is not our
reaching out or up to God but God reaching out to us. Our response is found in
a faith which believes that at the centre of the universe is an undefeated
power of love on which we can rely and to which we are called to join our
efforts. This is the joyous assurance which comes with Christmas.
Yes, this is also a time of sharing. Many will be
able to share with those who are less fortunate but let us also remember that
with our emphasis on family at this time of year those families which for
varying reasons are dysfunctional. Let us offer care, love and support where
families are in mourning through loss, where abuse and violence are still an
issue and where one parent is unable to be with the family. Also let us not
forget those who are left on their own whose number may be greater due to
Covid-19 in our communities.
So, we now have some things to reflect on. We can
make this Advent a time for deep personal renewal, a time for more personal
prayer, a time for scripture reading, a time for the removal of that which is
not of God in our lives and a time for building up the things that are of God.
It could be a time for opening ourselves up to the Lord. It is good to have
things that money can buy, but better to have things like love, self-worth and compassion that money can't buy.
Many people are in favour of going to heaven, but too many are hoping to live
long enough to seeing an easing of entrance requirements. We may face
situations beyond our resources, but never beyond God's reserves.
So, again we have come to that time of preparation
to remember God’s entry into the world as Jesus Christ – God with us – Emmanuel.
Advent is the season for getting ready - ready to understand the true meaning
of Christmas, ready to open ourselves to receive Jesus into our lives and ready
for the day when Jesus will come again. At Advent we need to try the key to our
heart's door. It may have gathered rust. If so, this is the time to oil it, in
order that the heart's door may open more easily when the Lord Jesus wants to
enter at Christmas time.
I pray that you all have a blessed time of
preparation in Advent and a joyous, loving and peaceful celebration of Emmanuel
at Christmas.
Christmas
Bowl Appeal in Covid Pandemic
On Christmas Day 1949, an Australian Reverend named
Frank Byatt placed an empty bowl of remembrance on the table before him. Frank
urged his guests to reflect on their good fortunes and encouraged them to do
something selfless for people around the world who were suffering as a result
of World War II.
This Christmas, we invite
you to place a bowl on your table as a sign of remembrance of our brothers and
sisters around the world in urgent need. If anyone in your congregation would
like to order their own cardboard bowl and giving envelopes to share with their
family and friends, please contact Rev John whitestarhaven@gmail.com or our
Treasurer chrismaddison@optusnet.com.au for details in
regard to giving.
Giving
envelopes –
·
As we did in prior years, we will have the envelopes
with cash/cheque deposits banked.
·
Those wishing to give by EFT to our church account, the
Treasurer will organise the bulk transfer to Christmas Bowl and a receipt to be
issued directly by Act for Peace.
Advent
and Christmas Services 2020
All
Services will be On-line by Zoom – See Marsden Road Website - http://www.marsdenroadunitingchurch.org.au/
for
Zoom Addresses for Services
November
29 9.30am – Advent 1
December
6 9.30am – Advent 2
December
13 9.30am – Advent 3
December
20 9.30am – Advent 4
December
24, 2020, 7.00pm – Family Christmas Eve Worship
December 25,
2020, 8.30am - Christmas Day
Humour
The Happy, Funny, Silly Snake
Browse the children’s section at any bookstore, and you will find
dozens of titles about fuzzy bunnies, fluffy bears, hungry caterpillars,
naughty puppies, happy duckies, runaway kitties, talking trains, trucks,
cars, and airplanes, but a noticeable lack of cute, charming, and sentimental
books about snakes. Look through the stuffed animals of most toddlers and
you’ll find bears, bunnies, and the like, but few stuffed snakes. There is a
reason for this. Snakes are yucky. Yucky is a technical term, meaning
“unbelievably cold, slimy, scaly, and slithery, with spooky eyes and lethal
looking fangs.”
It has been well documented by behavioural psychologists that the vast
majority of people on the planet have an innate aversion to snakes and
snakelike animals. This isn’t hard to believe. It is more than a little
difficult to develop warm feelings for a creature that can hide almost
anywhere, climb almost anything, wait indefinitely, and then either bite and
poison you or squeeze you to death. Certainly, not all snakes can do this, but
how many do we actually need? Given this deep and widespread aversion, it is
truly remarkable that human beings also have an irresistible fascination with
snakes.
From the movie Snakes on a Plane back to the creation story in
Genesis, the snake has held human beings in its thrall. There is no simple
explanation for this ambivalence—fear and fascination often go hand in hand—but
perhaps more than snakes themselves, the human preoccupation with snakes has more
to do with what they symbolise. In the most ancient of civilizations the snake
was a representation of fertility and life. The shedding of the snake’s skin
was viewed as a sign of rebirth and transformation, of resurrection from death
to new life.
In the ancient Far East, the snake was associated
with guardianship and protection. Snakes are fierce and effective fighters.
There is little evidence of fear in a snake’s awful countenance. Snake venom—a
powerful poison and, in derivative form, sometimes a Medicine — was viewed
variously as divine judgment, a powerful chemical, and a mystical life force.
Because snakes so closely resemble both roots and tree limbs, many believed
snakes to be plants come to life, and because snakes possessed such powerful venom,
healers extracted venoms just as they collected roots and saps.
The attitudes about deceitfulness, deception, and craftiness seem to
have developed later; the snake as a source of wisdom, however, is one of the
oldest known beliefs. The hypnotic gaze of pythons and cobras, the hooded eyes
of many types of snakes, and their almost Buddha-like ability to lie in silence
for hours contributed to this belief. Whether the basic belief was one of
reverence and respect or fear and revulsion, it is noteworthy that almost every
major culture of the ancient world left evidence of cultic and religious
veneration of snakes and serpents.
Our own Scriptures evidence a strong ambivalence toward snakes and
serpents. Throughout our shared Hebrew and Christian history, snakes have been
both heroes and villains in some of our most beloved stories. We could look at
the villainous serpent in the Garden of Eden, but I would like to look at Moses
and Aaron as they invoked God’s power to turn a staff into a snake. The confrontation
scenes between Moses and Pharaoh are truly epic battles of will—the
representative of God and his prophet Aaron facing off against unquestionably
the most powerful man in the world at the time. The beauty of these stories is
that they are so completely scripted by God—God tells Moses what to do, but he
also tells him what the result will be ahead of time.
Moses enters the contest knowing that Pharaoh will have his heart
hardened and refuse to let the Hebrew people go. So why even try? At its most simple
and basic, this is a classic my-God-can-beat-up-your- God story, so popular in
the Hebrew Bible, the Old Testament (remember Elijah and the prophets of Baal).
Moses requests the release of the Hebrew slaves, and Pharaoh says, in effect,
“Prove to me why I should” (Perform a wonder!), and Aaron tosses his staff on
the ground and it turns into a snake. Pharaoh was smug and arrogant and summons
his sorcerers and magicians; they toss down three of their own rods, which also
turn into snakes. Probably thinking, Whatever you can do, my people can do
better, Pharaoh is ready to call the contest a draw, but then Aaron’s staff
consumes the other three snakes—game, set, but not match. The pharaoh’s heart
stays hard.
It is easy to miss the meaning of this simple passage for the miraculous
event it describes. Far beyond the ability to do magic tricks rests a much
greater power. It is the power that comes from deep trust and assurance that
God is in control. This assurance allows even the most timid and unsure to
stand before the most powerful people on earth with courage and confidence.
This power reminds us that no matter what we might see with our eyes, the
wisdom of our hearts convinces us that we will prevail.
As a congregation we have faced and are facing much in the way of
uncertainty and need to remind ourselves of the promises of this God of ours. The
Pandemic has bought about change with the uncertainty how things will return to
what we felt was normal if they return at all. We don’t need a happy, funny,
silly symbol, but a symbol of strength and promise. We need symbol to enable us
to find strength and courage to continue on the journey God has called each one
of us to. For those in the time of Moses as well as God’s people today, the
promise endures: true faith swallows up fear, and trust in God is the greatest
power of all.
Again, as we face changes, difficulties and setbacks as the Body of
Christ here may we remember Gods enduring promise and have our fears swallowed
up by faith and trust in God as the greatest power of all.
December 2020, January 2021, February 2021
|
Date
|
Sunday
|
Hebrew Scripture
|
Epistle
|
Gospel
|
|
Dec 06
|
Advent 2
|
Isaiah 40:1-11
|
2 Peter 3:8-15a
|
Mark 1:1-8
|
|
Dec 13
|
Advent 3
|
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
|
1 Thess 5:16-24
|
Jn 1:6-8, 19-28
|
|
Dec 20
|
Advent 4
|
2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
|
Rom. 16:25-27
|
Luke 1:26-38
|
|
Dec 24
|
Xmas Eve
|
Isaiah 9.2-7
|
Titus 2:11-14
|
Luke 2:1-14
|
|
Dec 25
|
Xmas Day
|
Isaiah 62:6-12
|
Titus 3:4-7
|
Luke 2:8-20
|
|
Dec 27
|
Xmas 1
|
Isaiah 61:10-62:3
|
Galatians 4:4-7
|
Luke 2:22-40
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jan 03
|
Epiphany
|
Isaiah 60:1-6
|
Eph. 3:1-12
|
Matthew 2:1-12
|
|
Jan 10
|
Epiphany1
|
Genesis 1:1-5
|
Acts 19:1-7
|
Mark 1:4-11
|
|
Jan 17
|
Epiphany2
|
1 Samuel 3:1-20
|
1 Cor. 6:12-20
|
John 1:43-51
|
|
Jan 24
|
Epiphany3
|
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
|
1 Cor. 7:29-31
|
Mark 1:14-20
|
|
Jan 31
|
Epiphany4
|
Deut. 18:15-20
|
1 Cor. 8:1-13
|
Mark 1:21-28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 07
|
Epiphany5
|
Isaiah 40:21-31
|
1 Cori. 9:16-23
|
Mark 1:29-39
|
|
Feb 14
|
Transfig.
|
2 Kings 2:1-12
|
2 Cor. 4:3-6
|
Mark 9:2-9
|
|
Feb 17
|
Ash Wed
|
Joel 2:1-2,12-17
|
2Cor 5:20-6:10
|
Mat 6:1-6,16-21
|
|
Feb 21
|
Lent 1
|
Genesis 9:8-17
|
1 Peter 3:18-22
|
Mark 1:9-15
|
|
Feb 28
|
Lent 2
|
Gen 17:1-7,
15-16
|
Roman 4:13-25
|
Mark 8:31-38
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Worship will
be by Zoom On-line, Website, Facebook and Post until the UCA Synod of NSW and
ACT under Government and Health guidance decide that it is safe to worship face
to face in the Church again.
Returning
to Face to Face Worship
Marsden Road Uniting Church Council has taken note
of the relaxing health regulations in NSW and proposes to start Face to Face
worship on the second Sunday in February 2021. However, there is some planning
details to get in place before then and as these are worked out more details
will come out.
Under the current regulations:
· Have a Covid-19 safety plan. Your Council already has this in place
ready to go.
· We need to record the details of all who attend in case there is a need
for tracing.
· We are only allowed 1 person per 4 square metres at 1.5 metres from the
next person. This means that a maximum of 20 congregation members can worship
in the Church at one service at a time and we can have up to 24 more in the
hall.
· This raises two problems to overcome. If we only use the Church, then we
must limit who can attend or find the means of transmitting the service to the
Hall as well.
· Sunday Kids would be able to use one of the other rooms in our
buildings.
· Holy Communion would have to follow the requirements of the health
regulations which would have bread and wine dispensed individually and
separately with no touch etc.
· Cleaning will need to be done after the service.
· There will be organ and music but no singing or chanting or anything
like that.
· Fellowship could only take place after the Service if all health
regulations including individually wrapped and sealed food, maintaining social
distancing, mask wearing and hand washing.
· Due to the risk and vulnerability of congregation members masks would
always need to be worn.
As you can
see your Church Council has some important issues to sort out before we do
start face to face worship but please keep this date in mind and watch for more
details to come.
Humour
10 ways the Bible would be different had it
been written by college students
1. The Last Supper would have been eaten the
next morning -- cold.
2. The Ten Commandments would have been only
five. They would have been double-spaced and written in a large font.
3. The Bible would have come out in a new
edition every two years in order to limit re- selling.
4. The reason the forbidden fruit would have
been eaten was because it wasn't cafeteria food.
5. Paul's letter to the Romans would become
Paul's e-mail to abuse@romans.gov.
6. The reason Cain would have killed Abel:
They were roommates.
7. The place where the end of the world
occurs: Finals, not Armageddon.
8. Out go the mules, in come the mountain
bikes.
9. Reason why Moses and followers would have
wandered in the desert for 40 years: They didn't want to ask directions and
look like freshmen.
10.
Instead of God
creating the world in six days and resting on the seventh, He would have put it
off until the night before it was due and then pulled an all-nighter.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Most Meetings
and Worship will Continue Virtually by Zoom, or other Methods until the
Covid-19 Pandemic is Controlled, and it is safe for us to meet again.
December 2020
2 10.00am SCCP Presbytery Standing Committee Meeting
3 10.00am SCCP Presbytery Life and Witness Executive Meeting
6 9.30am Advent 2
Service Virtual Holy Communion (Zoom)
9 7pm Last MRUC
Advent Study
13 9.30am Advent 3 Sunday
Service (Zoom)
17 10.00am SCCP Presbytery Life and Witness Executive Meeting
20 9.30am Advent 4
Sunday Service (Zoom)
24 Christmas Eve
7.00pm Christmas Eve Service (Zoom)
25 Christmas Day
8.30am Christmas Day Service Service
(Zoom or in Mobbs Lane Park which is to be confirmed still)
27 9.30am Christmas 1 Sunday Service
(Zoom)
31 10am PYPP Team
Meeting
(Zoom)
January 2021
1 New Year’s Day
3 9.30am Epiphany Service
(Zoom)
10 9.30am Baptism
of the Lord Sunday Service (Zoom)
17 9.30am Epiphany 2 Sunday Service (Zoom)
24 9.30am Epiphany 3 Sunday Service (Zoom)
February 2021
7 9.30am Epiphany 4 Sunday Service Holy Communion
(Zoom)
13 Chinese
New Year
14 9.30am Epiphany 5 Sunday Service
(Zoom or face to
face)
17 7.30pm Ash Wednesday – Epping Uniting Church
21 9.30am Lent 1 Sunday Service (Zoom or face to face)
24 7pm MRUC Lent Study Through the Eyes of Love
28 9.30am Lent 2 Sunday Service (Zoom or face to
face)
Congregation
2020 Annual General Meeting – to be
Confirmed.
Lent Study
Groups
We have selected Through
the Eyes of Love - Five Studies consisting of voices helping to shape the life
of faith, voices that speak out of personal experiences, communities and passions.written by Ian Price as our Lenten study
Due to a kind donation most of the cost of Study Guides
has been covered and therefore will only be $10 each.
The study titles are: Through the eyes of Peter, Through
the eyes of John, Through the eyes of Mary Magdalene, Through the eyes of Luke
and Through the eyes of Paul.
If we are face to Face the Night Group- Wednesday
night’s 7.30pm - 9.00pm – 24 February, and 03, 10, 17, 24 March 2021, or .700pm to 8.30pm if we are still on
Zoom - Venue: by Zoom or Rev John and Wendy’s home.
The morning group will be take place if circumstances
allow it.
NOTES FROM COUNCIL
and COMMITTEES
Church
Council
Covid19
Safety Plans:
1. The Congregation
has a Safety Plan and is registered with the State Government as a Safe
Business ready for when it is practical for our Congregation at MRUC can open
for face to face meetings and worship.
2. This Safety Plan
is being updated as the NSW Government Health regulations change and as advised
by the NSW Uniting Church Synod.
Finances:
1. Jobkeeper and
other Government support has been of great assistance in boosting our finances
for now – see the Finance
2. It was agreed
that term deposit arrangements be continued
3. The statements
as at end October 2020 were received and accepted.
Postponing
of Congregational Annual General Meeting:
1. It was proposed
that we seek to have the 2020 AGM on Sunday the 28th of February
2021 subject to Covid-19 and any regulations in place. It is hoped that this
will be a Face to Face meeting.
Zoom
Meetings:
1. Zoom meetings
and Worship continue with both the Rev John having a Zoom app and the
Congregation having one.
2. This has enabled
the worship pattern that we normally had to continue on-line. It has also been
positive to have members join in worship via their phone lines.
3. An added
advantage for the 25-30 who attend the Zoom worship is to enable members to be
aware of the needs of many who are sick or facing difficulty and enable
pastoral care and prayer for them.
Donation
Envelopes:
1. Elaine Forrest has
20 envelops and any who have run out can get these from her.
2. The Church
Council instead of the usual stewardship letter asks that the members make
their commitment and continue with this.
Other
Business:
1. Parramatta
Mission representative was able to share with us on Sunday November 22nd
to update us on their work, especially during this Covid-19 Pandemic.
Reports:
1. Reports were
received and accepted from the Minister, Treasurer, and the Property
Subcommittee.
2. The Property
Subcommittee reported that most things were on hold, but they were awaiting
quotes from Contractors to carry out the work the City of Parramatta Council
required.
3. Remember that a
Building Information Certificate – Notice of Determination was issued by the
City of Parramatta Council (CPC). We are now seeking to begin to enact the
Landscape Schedule that formed part of the application.
Presbytery:
1.
There was no meeting in August and like much during
this Pandemic it was postponed.
2.
The next meeting was Wednesday the 11th
of November 2020 and much time was ta ken up with Elections which had been
postponed.
Finance
Position
The
Chart below shows our income and expenditure over the last twelve months. It
must be noted that the closure of the Church for worship and other uses during
the Covid-19 Pandemic has reduced our income from offerings, but we have
received grants from the Government to help with the loss of rent and will
receive support for wages also.
Other
Notes:
- Our
electronic offerings in October was $2,600 (53%) of the total offerings $4905.00
- United
Financial Services have informed us that due to a delay in completing the
printing of the new deposit books, they have got agreement with Westpac we
can continue depositing cash/cheque deposits at Westpac until the end of
December 2020. As soon as we receive the new deposit book, we can start
transacting with Australia Post.
- At the
church level the surplus for the period is $22,732.14 - but if we excluded
the $23,500 in COVID-19 grants, the deficit is $767.86.
Humour
EASTWOOD
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY AID
Christian Community Aid (CCA) provides a diverse range of support
services to people living, working and studying in the Ryde, Parramatta and
Hornsby Local Government Areas.
Their
vision is to engage with the community to enable better lives. For 50 years they
have been working to provide personalised, timely and innovative support that
addresses the existing and emerging needs of people. CCA aims to develop
resources and capacity that will contribute to strong, inclusive and resilient
communities.
Thank you
to all who support this very worthy cause including bringing to Marsden Road
Church non-perishable food items. Please remember that even the smallest
contribution helps.
Funny Church Sign
CONGREGATION
Our mission: to reflect Christ
alive in the Community
You are Welcome to join us at Marsden Road Uniting!
We gather to worship together at 9.30am
every Sunday morning, with Sunday kids and Minis for our younger members, during
school terms. We hope that you will experience the presence of God in this place and
among the people of God here. All are welcome.
CONGREGATION CONTACTS
Minister of the Word: Rev John Candy 0411 267 639 or 98681658 or whitestarhaven@bigpond.com
Available: Tuesday, (Wednesday Morning), Thursday, Saturday Morning and
Sunday’s.
Church Council Chairperson: Ruth Henderson 9875 2194
Church Council Secretary: Susan Halgren 9858 1409
Education & Social Sub-committee Convener:
Lynette
Colless 043602310
Elders’ Chairperson: Alan Craymer 9874 0531
Elders’ Secretary: Elaine Forrest 9874 7231
Congregation Chair: Warwick Roden 9874 7584
Congregation Secretary: Stephen Halgren 9858 1409
Property Sub-Committee Chair: Phil Bendrey 9484 5786
Nurture Group: Elaine Forrest 9874 7231
Safe Churches Convenor: Rev John Candy 98681658
Property bookings/enquiries: Warwick Roden 9874 7584
Church Flowers: Kaye Baker 9871 6685
AWV Bus Driver Team: Terry Baker 9871 6685
Website: www.marsdenroadunitingchurch.org.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MRUCC082016/
Weekly Blog on the Sunday Service:
margaretssundayreflections.blogspot.com
Margaret Johnston. Phone: 9872 7848 or email: mavidjohnston@gmail.com
Marsden Missive
Please send articles, information and reports to Rev John Phone: 9868
1658 or email: whitestarhaven@bigpond.com
Parramatta Mission amid COVID-19
10 DAYS OF GIVING, CELEBRATING,PREPARATION AND PAMPERING AT
MEALS PLUS
WEEKDAYS MONDAY DECEMBER 7TH - FRIDAY 18TH
At Parramatta
Mission, Christmas would normally be a sit-down Christmas lunch on December
25th, welcoming all those who may be experiencing homelessness, hardship or
isolation. This year (as with everything) we have had to think differently due
to COVID and so we are holding a two weeklong Festival of Christmas!
From 7th – 18th
December we will be hosting services, giving gifts and providing pampering for
people through our Meals Plus program in Parramatta, with the idea
being that everyone deserves to enjoy the season of Christmas – even during a
pandemic… Services and experiences we will be providing include:
Meals, Food Hampers, Haircuts, Shoes,
Clothing, Bra Fittings, Gift bags, Vouchers, Medical Services, Financial
Services, Legal Services, Migrant Services, Carolling.
If you can
assist with services, or would like to partner with us for this event in any
way please contact christmas@parramattamission.org.au
We are also
looking for volunteers to assist with welcoming guests, COVID marshalling and
spreading the Christmas cheer! Enquire at volunteer@parramattamission.org.au
Humour
Children’s Puzzle
