Marsden Road Uniting
Church
203 Marsden Road
Carlingford
Sunday 28th June 2020
Our mission: to reflect Christ alive in the Community
Greetings to you out there in your homes. As we worship in our homes in the homelands of the Wallumedegal people. We
acknowledge their Elders, past and present.
We hope that
you will experience the presence of God in and through the Service, privately
or as a Family joining with the people of God who continue to gather in Spirit
although not physically.
LECTIONARY
BIBLE READINGS
Genesis 22:1-14, Psalm 13, Romans 6:12-23, Matthew
10:40-42
PRAYER
O God, your
Son has taught us that those who give a cup of water in his name will not lose
their reward: open our hearts to the needs of your children, and in all things
make us obedient to your will, so that in faith we may receive your gracious
gift, eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
CHURCH SERVICES
Worship which is found On-line and Delivered by
Hand to people. How you can access these services, Newssheet and Rev John’
weekly Blog:
- Through Zoom on
the Internet on Sunday at 9.30am
- On Marsden Road
Uniting Website:
- On Marsden Road
Facebook Page:
- Receiving as a
PDF Attachment by Email.
- Receiving as
printed Documents in Mailbox.
Offerings
- Please consider offering via EFT – Direct Credit can be done
anonymously and scheduled to occur automatically at whatever frequency you
choose - weekly, monthly etc. See details of Church Bank Account below.
- By stewardship envelopes - set aside the money in them & bring
to Church at the next service at MRUC
- A/C Name: Marsden Road Uniting Church
BSB: 634 634 A/C: 100049856
Pentecost 4 Reflection by Elizabeth Raine
It is clear in Matthew 10:40-42 sees his
community as a church that is “sent”, a church that
goes out into the wider community to proclaim the good news. Through
programs like Mission Shaped Ministry with its growing Fresh Expressions of
church, we are beginning to understand that mission is not just a
program offered by the church (though these are important); rather it
is the defining reason for what actually makes us the church.
What it means to be sent for your
congregation? While we are not all sent to be wandering
missionaries in the way Matthew describes, that doesn’t mean
we should placidly sit and wait in our churches for people to come through
our doors. Jesus later commands that all who are baptised are
sent into the world, both to tell and embody the good news of
Jesus through their words and deeds.
Instead of expecting people to come on through our
church doors, what would happen if we took seriously our calling
to take the gospel to them? What would it look like if we
truly believed that we are the face of Christ to every person
we encounter in our neighbourhoods? What would be the
result if we saw every encounter as an opportunity to love our neighbour?
Returning to Worship
Presbytery and Synod leaders have been working together
to support the church through COVID-19. They have reconfirmed a commitment to
prioritise the health and well-being of all people. This means all decisions are weighed against
the potential harm that could come from second wave infection.
Even though restrictions are easing, it does not make
returning to face to face worship automatically safe or wise. A lot of careful
planning and thought needs to accompany every group that wishes to meet. For
example, who will record the name and contact details of every person, who
steps on to church property? For us to meet in person, who will disinfect every
surface touched and clean all areas in use. In many cases the usual people
would be our members. However, for MRUC most are in the high-risk and
vulnerable category requiring specific COVID-19 risk management.
High Risk & Vulnerable people are those:
·
People aged 70 years and over
·
People aged 65 years and over with chronic
medical conditions
·
People with a compromised immune system
·
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples 50 years and older with one or more chronic medical conditions
The current advice is not to gather for worship if we
are High Risk or Vulnerable.
The Government has said a risk management plan is essential.
Failure to comply brings heavy penalties. The initial fine is $11,000.00 and/or
six months imprisonment, with possible further fines of $5,500.00 for each day
the offence continues.
Your Church Council
is working through all these issues with the help of Synod and Presbytery.
Although those who Hire our premises may be able to fulfil the requirements of
the regulations soon our MRUC may take longer than them to be able to meet.
CONTACTS
Minister of the Word
Rev
John Candy 0411
267 639 or 98681658.
or
whitestarhaven@gmail.com
Church Council Chairperson: Ruth Henderson 9875 2194
Church Council Secretary: Susan Halgren 9858 1409
Elders’ Chairperson: Alan Craymer 9874 0531
Elders’ Secretary: Elaine Forrest 9874 7231
Congregation Meeting Chair: Warwick Roden 9874 7584
Property bookings/enquiries: Warwick Roden 9874 7584
Website: www.marsdenroadunitingchurch.org.au
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MRUCC082016/
Rev Johns’ Weekly Blog: http://whitestarhaven.blogspot.com/
Weekly Blog on the
Sunday Service:
margaretssundayreflections.blogspot.com
Please send messages & items
to share to Rev John by Tuesday night. Phone: 9868 1658 or email: whitestarhaven@gmail.com
EASTWOOD CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY AID
Did you notice the dip in the temperature during
the week? Your help is very welcome in building stocks of canned, warming foods
which will help those less fortunate than ourselves. Also remember that many
lonely people depend on their four-footed or bird friends for company and those
need feeding too.
Those who would prefer to make a financial donation to
Community Aid (amounts of $2.00 or more are tax deductible) can be made using
their website https://ccas.org.au/ or the
form attached to this week’s Email of Services
Leave
Break
Rev John will be
unavailable and on leave from the afternoon 28 June 2020 until Saturday 4 July
2020
