Weekly for 18 June (Pentecost 3, Trinity 2, Ordinary Sunday 11)

Dear People of God

Grace and Peace to you all

The Greta bus crash has left us all stunned. Like the Kempsey bus crash of years ago it happened at a time of festivity and anticipation (the Kempsey crash happened at Christmas) and the tragedy is compounded by the impact that it has not only on those maimed and injured, those bereaved, and those who were first on the scene and the rescuers but also on our reasonable expectation that people will drive to conditions, although we realise that this latter expectation is often sadly ignored. Our prayers are with all who are affected in any way.

When the Kempsey crash happened I remember one pastor who publicly thanked God that although they were booked on the crash bus he had arranged their transfer to the second bus thus sparing their lives. He was, by implication, saying was that God had chosen to send all those other people to their deaths, which is a theological obscenity. Where was God in all of this tragedy? One the side of the road with the dead and dying, with the rescuers, with the bereaved. Where was God at Greta? Same answer.

I do not know the particular circumstances that led to this tragedy, but we are constantly reminded that safety on the roads is the responsibility of all of us; drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians alike. You may have heard the story of the speeding driver who assured his priestly passenger that “we’re OK: St Christopher (the patron saint of travellers) is looking after us”, to which the priest replied “but surely you know that St Christopher gets out of the car when you go over the limit.)

The new email server is up and running: the addresses are priest@btanglican.org.au, deacon@bt..., secretary@.... treasurer@..... and office@..... However this techno-dinosaur hasn’t yet managed to access his and will have to wait for his 10yo grandson to come and help him out! Many of us still regret the passing of the fays of quills, parchments and scribes!

What passes for “political debate” in this country (and many others) all too often degenerates into personal abuse and the casting of aspersions on someone else’s integrity. It seems to be increasingly the case with the “debate” on the Voice referendum. Whatever your convictions are on this matter, please respect the honesty of other people’s opinions. My advice is the same as before any election: read the Gospel, read it again, reflect on it, and pray, then go and cast your vote.

The Lord be with you.

Fr George

gmainprize@bigpond.com 0410 586 119

COLLECT and READINGS

Sentence

The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; ask therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. (Mt 9:37-38)

Collect

All-powerful God, in Jesus Christ you turned death into life, and defeat into victory: increase our faith and trust in him, that we may triumph over evil, in the strength of the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one G0d, for ever and ever. Amen

Readings

Genesis 18:1-15 A son promised to Abraham and Sarah

Psalm 116:1-2, 11-18 Thanksgiving for deliverance

Intercessions (APBA with local insertions)

Romans 5:1-11 Results of justification

Matthew 9:35-10:8 The harvest is great, the labourers few

Sermon: Bishop Peter will be preaching at both services

INTERCESSIONS (APBA with local insertions)

Let us pray for the preservation of the earth

silence

Lord, you have given us this earth to care for and delight in and with its bounty you preserve our life. Give us grace to be wise stewards of your creation and an openness to learn from those who have cared for it since time immemorial

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer

Let us pray for peace and shared prosperity

For reconciliation, justice and toleration in and between the nations of the world; God’s blessing on those who work for peace; for the people of Ukraine, the Land of the Holy One, and for all refugees

Lord, you have created all humanity of the one flesh; open our eyes to see your image in all people; fill us with compassion in all our dealings one with another

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer

Let us pray for our nation

For reconciliation and justice between all the people of this land; prosper the referendum on the Voice to Parliament; instil with a sense of dignity those who hold high office in government, public administration and justice; fill us with a thirst for equity and not sectional privilege

We give thanks for this land and the diversity of its peoples. Grant that we may so honour one anther that all may be enriched by our common heritage and freed from despair, poverty and exclusion.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer

Let us pray for the Church and its mission

For the unity for which Christ prayed, that we may be one as God is One; for the healing of divisions between the denominations and especially within the Anglican Communion; for Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury; for our sister diocese of Guadalcanal; for the Episcopal Church of Brazil and the Church of the Province of Southern Africa; in Australia for the Diocese of Bendigo; in this Diocese for the Synod which meets next week; for Peter our Bishop and for the Bishops Assisting, Sonia and Charlie; for Scone Grammar School, the Anglican Men’s Network, the Justice Ministries and Chaplaincy; for the parishes of Bateau Bay and Gosford; in this parish for our clergy George and Gail, our Home Groups and Study Groups; for each one of us in our personal spiritual growth; and for our partners in faith in the Salvation Army

We give thanks for the good news of salvation for all people. Strengthen us for our work in the world, empower your Church to proclaim the gospel I service, word and sacrament. Unite in the truth all who confess your name, that we may live together in love to your glory

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer

Let us pray for ourselves and our community

For businesses and commerce, for the schools and professional services; for the people with whom we work or socialise; for the people who attend the OpShop as customers or in need of any sort

We give thanks for the fellowship of the communities in which we live and work. We commend to your keeping ourselves and each other, our families, our neighbours and our friends. Enable us by your Spirit to live in love for you and for one another.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer

Let us pray for those in need

For all the victims of the Greta bus crash; for those whom our prayers are sought: Jenny, Indi, Barbara D, Val Frazer, Lynn, Betty, Les, Jill, Ann, Daphne, Bruce, Debbie M, Samuel, John J, Merv T, Nicole M, Jenny H, Didi, Margaret, Peter McC, Susan, Eizabeth, Dawn A, Heidi, Wendy F, Peter, Peter, Vicki L, Jenny M, Val D, Ben, Keith, Sammy Jo and Noah, Derek, Zoe Janet R, Paul and Katrina H, Levi, Arloa, Grace, Michael, Roslyn, Lisa, Peggy; those who will seek Holy Unction at today’s services; those who are known to us and those who are known to you alone.

We give thanks that you are the God who brings mercy and wholeness. Comfort and heal, we pray, all who are in sorrow, need, sickness of any other trouble. Give to those who care for them wisdom, patience and gentleness and, to us all, your peace.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer

Let us give thanks for the departed

Rejoicing in the fellowship to which you have called us with Mary, the Blessed Mother, with Paul our Patron, and Alban; we commend into your loving care those who have died recently in the bus crash; those whom we have loved and see no more; and at the anniversary of their death we remember before you Charlotte Moore, May Bielefield, Francis Harwood, and Pat Sutton.

We give you thanks for your faithful servants in every age. Grant that we, with all your saints, may be brought to a joyful resurrection and the fulfilment of your kingdom.

Holy God, you have promised that you will hear us: grant that what we have asked in faith we may by your grace, receive, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

SAINTS and Commemorations of the week (18-25 June)

18 Bernard Mizecki, Apostle of the MaShona, Martyr (1896) C of E)

19 Sundat Singh of India, Sanhu, Evangelist (1929) (C of E)

22 Alban, the first British martyr (209)

23 Etheldreda, Abbess of Ely (678) (C of E)

24 Birth of John the Baptist