Weekly for 6 August (Transfiguration)

Dear People of God

Grace and Peace to you all

Welcome today to The Rev’d Narelle Riley, from the Parish of Morpeth, where she is a priest in local mission. Fr George is preaching at Morpeth today.

If you are reading this on Sunday, it’s too late to remind you that there is a Saturday evening service, (that’s Saturday 5 August) at 5:30pm at St Michael’s Thornton

The August edition of the Parish News is ready for collection today. I draw your attention to the notice on page 2 concerning the Christmas Fair: we want to make this event a real “whizz-banger” so get your thinking caps on for some new ideas to contribute to its success. These events give us a real opportunity to make some new connections in the community: it may not seem like “real evangelism” but you’d probably be surprised at some of the conversations and connection that can take place.

Deacon Gail is in South Africa as part of the Australian Delegation to the GFS international conference. With the general demise of Anglican (and Roman Catholic and Uniting) Youth Groups over the last generation there are very few GFS branches remaining in Australia but the central office still has funded programs offering support to those countries offering real support to laces where there is real community need for mother and child support as well as youth formation. Gail has herself been a part of establishing work in the Solomon Islands and still has connections with it.

It was a great pleasure to welcome three new faces to our congregations last week. Please continue to make them welcome.

It’s a brief edition this week.

The Lord be with you

Fr George

gmainprize@bigpond.com 0410 586 119

COLLECT and READINGS

Sentence

It is the God who said ‘Let light shine out of darkness’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor 4:6)

COLLECT

Eternal God, our glorious King, whose Son Jesus Christ was transfigured on the holy mountain and seen in splendour by his chosen witnesses: give us, his followers, faith to perceive his glory, and to listen to him, and to walk in his way; that we may be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory; for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for every and ever. Amen

READINGS

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 Judgement before the Ancient One

Psalm 97 The greatness of God

2 Peter 1:16-19 Eyewitnesses of God’s glory

Mark 9:2-10 The Transfiguration

SERMON

I’ll leave the sermon to Mthr Narelle today, but I will leave you with a hymn by Michael Hewlett, which is found in “English Praise” a supplement to the English Hymnal.

Once upon a mountain top Yet men have lived and died

There stood three frightened men And found of him no trace

And watched the wheels of nature stop ‘Thou art a God ‘ (the prophet cried)

And heaven break in. ‘Who hidest they face.’

Their friend of every day The earth lies all explored,

The face they knew for his, The heavens are ours to climb,

They saw for one half-hour the way And still no man has seen his God

He always is. At any time.

And minds that learn to scan

Creation like a book

Know nothing lies outside their plan,

So never look.

O Lord of hidden light,

Forgive us who despise

The things that lie beyond our sight,

And give us eyes.

INTERCESSIONS (Church of England: Common Worship, with local inclusions)

In peace, let us pray to Jesus our Lord, who ever lives to make intercession for us

For the people of Ukraine and all other areas of oppression, violence and discrimination and to us give sensitivity and discrimination to bring hope and reconciliation where we are able in our various ways

Saviour of the world, be present in all places if suffering, violence, and pain, and bring hope, even in the darkest night. Inspire us to continue your work of reconciliation today.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

For the Church throughout the world, that you will draw it closer into that unity which is your will, and especially for the Anglican Communion throughout the world: for Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury; for the Diocese of Guadalcanal, the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hiui, and the Province of West Africa; for the Australian Diocese of Melbourne

Lord of the Church, empower by your Spirit all Christian people and the work of your Church in every land. Give s grace to proclaim the Gospel joyfully in word and deed.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer

For the Church in this region and this community: Peter our Bishop, Sonia our Regional Bishop, and Charlie, Bishop for the Coastal Episcopal area; for the parish of Morpeth; for Lakes Anglican Grammar School and the parishes of Glenrock and Cameron Park; for the grace and peace of this parish and for or clergy, George and Gail and for our Parish Councillors and our community of faith, especially for people preparing for Baptism and Confirmation and for our fellow-Christians in the Salvation Army Corps

Shepherd and Guardian of our souls, guide and enable all who lead and serve in this community and those upon whom we depend for our daily needs. Grant that we may seek the peace and welfare of this place.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer

For the sick in body or minds; for the homeless, for people who live with violence or deprivation; for those who are approaching the end of their mortal lives and those who care for them; for those who seek the Sacrament of Unction at our services today; for those victim of domestic violence or coercive control; for those who have sought our prayers: Jenny, Indi, Barbara D, Val Fraser, Lynn, Betty, Les, Ann, Daphne, Bruce Debbie M, Samuel, John J, Nicole M, Jenny H, Didi, Peter McC, Susan, Elizabeth, Dawn A, Heidi, Wendy F, Peter, Vicki L, Jenny M, Val D, Ben, Keith, Sammy Jo and Noah, Stuart McInnes, Sue T, Derek, Zoe, Janet R, Paul and Katrina, Levi, Arlo, Grace, Roslyn, Lisa; those whom we name in our hearts; and for the Cussen family in their grief

Great Physician, stretch out your hand to bring comfort, wholeness and peace to all who suffer in body, mind or spirit. Fill us with compassion that we may be channels of tour healing love.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer

Rejoicing in our fellowship with our Patrons St Paul and St Michael, and the Blessed Virgin Mary, and giving thanks for all we have loved and who have passed from this life, especially at the anniversary of their death for Ella Fenly, Grace Avard, Ena Bridge and Joan Davies; and for those Holy Men and Women whom we commemorate this week: Dominic, Mary Sumner, Laurence, Clare of Assisi, John Henry Newman

Conqueror of death, remember for good those whom we love and see no longer. Help us to live this day in the sure and certain hope of your eternal victory.

Let us commend ourselves and all for whom we pray to the mercy and protection of God, who has promised to hear our prayer: grant that what we have asked in faith we may, by your grace, receive. Amen

SAINTS and COMMEMORATIONS of the Week 4-11 August

7 John Mason Neale, priest and hymn writer (1866) (England)

8 Dominic, priest and friar founder of the Order of Preachers(1221)

9 Mary Sumner, founder of the Mothers’ Union (1921)

10 Laurence, deacon and martyr at Rome (258)

11 Clare of Assisi (1252) founder of the Minoresses (Poor Clares)

John Henry Newman, Tractarian.cardinal and theologian (1890)