GORDON UNITING CHURCH ‘Loving wastefully' Notices, 21st December, 2014 We warmly welcome you to worship, ‘Warami’ Meditation: Optimism is the belief that things will get better. Hope is the faith that, together, we can make things better. Optimism is passive, hope is active. It takes a great deal of courage to have hope. - Rabbi Jonathan Saks Minister: Rev Michael Barnes (e: [email protected], ph: 9449-2688) Administrator & Family Worker: Nicola Robinson (e: [email protected], m: 0417-496390) Church Office: 9498-6729 Websites: www.guc.org.au www.gucc.org.au Weekly Church Notices can also be found on our church website http://www.guc.org.au/Mar2013/newsletters Gordon Uniting Church, 9498 6729, 18 Cecil St, Gordon @ GORDON UNITING Happy Christmas and New Year’s greetings to all who will be travelling over the Christmas period! Christmas Grieving Service this afternoon @ 4pm For those who find that Christmas brings sad memories of loved ones or of a difficult year. We are sharing the service, which will be held at our church, with Killara and Pymble Uniting churches this year. Christmas Services This Wednesday, on Christmas Eve, there will be two services, one at 5pm for children (come dressed as your favourite Christmas character), and one at 8pm, a service in which we contemplate the mystery of the Incarnation. Our Christmas morning service will be held at 9.30am. Christmas Lunch at the church, 25th December If you would like to be involved, or if you know someone in our area who would welcome spending a few hours sharing the joys of Christmas, please speak to us. Herb & Jessie Xmas Bowl envelopes Envelopes for Christmas Bowl donations are available in the entrance foyer of the church. Staff leave Rev MB will be on annual leave from 26th December until Thursday 8th January. Rev Colin Bradford will lead worship on 28th December and Rev Steve Reid will lead worship and celebrate Holy Communion on Sunday 4th January. (NB Starting next Sunday, 28th December, worship will be held in the Red Room until the end of January.) Sue Conde is available for any urgent pastoral matters during this time. Nicola will be on annual leave from 26th December until 13th January. Planning Event for 2015, Saturday 21st March A planning event for our congregation will be held on Saturday afternoon, 21st March, 2015 to be followed by a spit roast pig! Please put the date in your diaries Gordon Uniting Church, 9498 6729, 18 Cecil St, Gordon Statement from the UCA: Sydney Siege The Uniting Church in Australia mourns the deaths of those caught up in the hostage-taking incident in a café in Sydney’s Martin Place. Rev. Myung Hwa Park, Moderator of the Uniting Church in NSW, has offered prayers and condolences on behalf of the Church, “We continue to pray for those caught up in the terrible events at Martin Place yesterday and today. Our thoughts are with the families of those who have been lost in this tragic event. We commend and thank our police, emergency services and community leaders for their strength in handling such a difficult situation. We pray for our community, that we will be closer and we will be tolerant. We stand side by side with people of all faiths, upholding cultural diversity and harmony. Together we will continue to pray for peace as our community grieves.” “Our prayers are with all those who have lost loved ones in this awful incident. We are grieving with you,” said Uniting Church in Australia President, Rev. Professor Andrew Dutney. “To those who have been injured and terrorised, we pray that you find the healing you need. As authorities in NSW investigate the circumstances of the siege, we urge Australians to show compassion and understanding to fellow Australians of the Muslim faith. I wholeheartedly endorse the statements by Australian Muslim leaders yesterday when their faith was wrongly associated with this incident.” The UCA Assembly Acting General Secretary responsible for Relations with Other Faiths Rev. Glenda Blakefield has welcomed the response by those already demonstrating compassion, “I am very heartened at the spontaneous response so far through various interfaith services and the I’ll Ride with You campaign on social media. This is the kind of openness and sharing we must work hard to nurture and grow in our country. We now face a crucial test for interfaith solidarity and I urge Uniting Church members and all Australians to reach out to their Muslim neighbours at this time.” The Uniting Church will be coordinating ecumenical chaplaincy supporting workers in the Sydney CBD from today through the NSW Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network, alongside other state agencies. The Uniting Church is looking to schedule an interfaith memorial service in the CBD in coming days. Gordon Uniting Church, 9498 6729, 18 Cecil St, Gordon Thank you to all who have shared in worship this morning: Minister: Rev Michael Barnes (Luke 1:26-38) Vestry Prayers: Andrew Cripwell General Steward: John Bulley Door Stewards: David Brawn, Sue Conde Collection: Margaret Mitchell Reader: Ros Rossettin Morning Tea: Chris and Helen Firbank Prayers: Nicola Robinson Sound Desk: Ros Rossettin Christmas Day Minister: Rev Michael Barnes Vestry Prayers: Andrew Cripwell General Steward: John Bulley Door Stewards: Andrew Cripwell, Ian Bowden Reader: Ailsa Reichardt Prayers: Sue Conde Sound Desk: Bruce and Lyn Kwong Next Sunday: December 28th Minister: Rev. Colin Bradford Vestry Prayers: Andrew Cripwell General Steward: John Bulley Door Stewards: David and Sue Conde, Lois Bowden Collection: David Conde, James Liu Reader: Joan Wilson Morning Tea: Jessie Koh and Herb Schoch Prayers: Judy Pitman Sound Desk: Bruce and Lyn Kwong Please remember in your prayers: Hazel Young, who is recovering well following surgery earlier in the week All those caught up in the hostage crisis in Martin Place, and the grieving families of Peshawar, Pakistan Gordon Uniting Church, 9498 6729, 18 Cecil St, Gordon
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