Welcome to The Anglican parish of St

John the Evangelist 86 Clendon Rd

Toorak VIC 3142 PH 98261765

Locum Vicar

The Revd Canon Dr Ray Cleary

our mission statement

What we have seen and heard we announce to you also, so that you will join us in the fellowship that we have with the Father and with his son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1.3

St John’s Anglican Church

Toorak with All Saints’ Kooyong

24th December 2015

25th December 2015

27th December 2015

3rd January 2016

10th January 2016

Season of Christmas

www.saintjohnstoorak.org

Christmas Locum Vicar’s letter Christmas I know it is a cliché but Christmas seems to roll around more quickly each year. Perhaps age has something to do with it, or the fact that our lives are so busy that we feel this way. Christmas is also so familiar to us that it’s hard to imagine our world without it, even though the religious observance in many parts of the Western world appears on the decline.

Christmas as we know it began with the appropriation of a 3rd century pagan mid winter solstice festival celebrating “the sun”, whereas the Christian celebration is of “the son”. This suggest that perhaps we should not be too surprised that now we see other philosophies or religious expressions of the Christmas season. In our post modern and secular society, the Christian celebration of Christmas is not the only way our society celebrates the season. In fact we have to jostle for a place to be heard at times along-side the worship of the commercial gurus, the celebrities of the day, sport, family and in Australia the Boxing Day Test and the holidays to follow. In many parts of Europe the twelve days of Christmas are observed ending with the three wise men visiting the Christ Child on the 6th January the Feast of the Epiphany.

They acknowledge him as the promised Messiah, as foretold by the prophets. I think it is sad that we cram Christmas into one day here in Australia and do not appreciate that Christmas has a deeper meaning than family and gift giving.

Christians at Christmas time do not just commemorate an historical event but rather an eternal life changing mystery. In the birth of the Christ Child God enters into the fullness of human life and calls us to a new way of being human. Humanity that is generous, open, hospitable, forgiving and offered liberation from the shackles of sin and brokenness. The child who was born for our redemption continues to challenge those who seek naked political power, exploit or abuse their neighbour and reject the call to become God bearers.

At Christmas we pray that the light of Christ will shine into the dark places of our troubled and broken world and in our own lives, homes, city and nation .

Blessings and peace to all for this Christmas . Ray

NOTICES

NOTICES

Christmas and New Year arrangements Office closure. The parish office will close from Christmas Eve at 12pm noon (December 24th) re-opening on Monday 4th January 2016. For emergencies contact the locum vicar 0419 371 613.

Sunday 27th December St John’s normal service times.

New Year’s Day 11.00am service at All Saints’ Kooyong.

Choir The choir will be in recess from Sunday 27 December 2015 until the induction service on 5 February.

Service times during January / February 2016 Each Sunday 8.00am and 10.00am at St John’s Each Sunday 9.00am at All Saints’ Kooyong. Each Thursday 11.00am at St John’s. 5 February 7.30pm Induction service of The Reverend Dr Peter French. 7 February 9.30am Combined Parish service at St John’s. 10 February 7.30pm Ash Wednesday service.

Induction Dr Peter French. The celebration of a new ministry at St Johns with All Saints to welcome Dr Peter French is to be held on the 5th February 2016 at 7.30pm. The Induction service will be followed by a reception in the Parish hall. Please mark the date in your diary now and be present to welcome Peter and his wife Robyn. On the following Sunday the 7th February only one service will be held at 9.30am to welcome Peter into the worship-ing life of St Johns. There will be no service at All Saints on this morning. It is planned that a parish barbecue will follow in the grounds of St Johns.

Annual leave The Reverend Hilary Roath will be on leave from 21 January until 12 February.

Gluten free wafers Are available for communion on Sunday morning. Please let the clergy know in advance.

Sunday School Meets every second, fourth and fifth Sundays during term time. Children gather in the kinder after the Collect/short prayer in church. For further information please talk to Jane, Clive or the Clergy.

WORSHIP at St John’s

24 December Christmas Eve (white)

6.00pm - Children’s Christmas service, Nativity play and carols

Printed order of service

25 December

Christmas Day (white)

8.00am - Service of Holy Communion and carols.

Printed order of service

This Sunday: 27 December John Apostle and Evangelist (white)

8.00am - Holy Communion

Hymns: 319, 309, 305 Proverbs 8.22-31 (G Horwood) Ps 97 1 John 1.1-5 (T Craddock) John 20.2-8 Celebrant: Canon Ray Cleary Preacher: Canon Ray Cleary Intercessor: Volunteer required

10.00am - Sung Eucharist

Hymns: 319, 317, 309, 305 Proverbs 8.22-31 (K Beecher) Ps 97 1 John 1.1-5 (C Beecher) John 20.2-8 Prelude: Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her [Variations] Joh Seb Bach Postlude: Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her [Variations] Joh Seb Bach

Celebrant: Canon Ray Cleary Preacher: Canon Ray Cleary Intercessor: James Griffith

Director of Music – Mr Christopher Cook

24 December Christmas Eve (white)

11.30pm - Midnight Eucharist (Holy Communion) with carol

singing from 11.00pm

Printed order of service

25 December

Christmas Day (white)

10.00am - Service of Holy Communion and carols.

Printed order of service

Next Sunday: 3 January Second Sunday after

Christmas (white) 8.00am - Holy Communion

Hymns: 268, 319, 293 Jeremiah 31.7-14 (S Kincaid) Ps 147.12-20 Ephesians 1.3-14 (B Mouritz) John 1.10-18 Celebrant: Canon Ray Cleary Preacher: Canon Ray Cleary Intercessor: Ted Mouritz

Next Sunday: 10 January Sunday the Baptism of our Lord

(white) 8.00am - Holy Communion

Hymns: 291, 454, 314 Isaiah 43.1-7 (volunteer required) Ps 29 Acts 8.14-17 (T Mouritz) Luke 3.15-22 Celebrant: Canon Ray Cleary Preacher: Canon Ray Cleary Intercessor: Carmen Papageorge

10.00am - Sung Eucharist

Hymns: 268, 268, 319, 293 Jeremiah 31.7-14 (E Beecher) Ps 147.12-20 Ephesians 1.3-14 (J Griffith) John 1.10-18 Prelude: Gloria [verset, Parish Mass] (François Couperin) Postlude: Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her [Variations] (Joh Seb Bach)

Celebrant: Canon Ray Cleary Preacher: Canon Ray Cleary Intercessor: Claire Beecher

10.00am - Sung Eucharist

Hymns: 291, 309, 454, 314 Isaiah 43.1-7 (L Hawthorne) Ps 29 Acts 8.14-17 (C Beecher) Luke 3.15-22 Prelude: Douze Pièces - Marche des Rois Mages (Théodore Dubois) Communion: The Three Kings (Peter Cornelius) Postlude: Hornpipe [water music suite] (G F Handel)

Celebrant: Canon Ray Cleary Preacher: Canon Ray Cleary Intercessor: Keith Beecher

WORSHIP at St John’s

Director of Music – Mr Christopher Cook

25 December Christmas Day

(white)

10.00am - Festival Eucharist for Christmas, followed by lunch

Next Sunday: 27 December

No service at All Saints’ Kooyong today

Next Sunday: 3 January Second Sunday after

Christmas (white) 9.00am - Holy Communion

Jeremiah 31.7-14 (S Khan) Ps 147.12-20 Ephesians 1.3-14 (A Prentice) John 1.10-18 Celebrant: The Revd Hilary Roath Preacher: The Revd Hilary Roath Intercessor: A Prentice

Next Sunday: 10 January Sunday the Baptism of our Lord

(white) 9.00am - Holy Communion

Isaiah 43.1-7 (J Lall) Ps 29 Acts 8.14-17 (S Khan) Luke 3.15-22 Celebrant: The Revd Hilary Roath Preacher: The Revd Hilary Roath Intercessor: S Khan

WORSHIP at All Saints’ Kooyong

Organist – Margaret Orr

1 January New Year service

(English/Urdu/Hindi)

11.00am - service followed by b.b.q.

PRAYER NOTES World & Nation: We pray for Anglican Christians working for peace in so many troubled parts of the world. Diocese of Zaki-Biam (Bp Benjamin Vager); Diocese of Gippsland (Bp Kay Goldsworthy, Clergy & People); Melbourne Girls Grammar School (Catherine Misson, Principal; Denise Nicholls, Chaplain); St Alban’s Hamlyn Heights.

Those celebrating birthdays: Diana Morgan (2 Jan); Annette Wilson (3 Jan); Michael Morgan (4 Jan); John Morgan (7 Jan); Sophia Stokes (13 Jan).

Those who mourn: The family of: Francene Shearman.

Those being married: Yanni Papadopoulos and Molly Rojas; Hendrix Howman and Katherine Rento.

For schools in the community: Geelong Grammar School Toorak Campus (Glamorgan), Head of Campus Garry Pierson; St Catherine's School, Principal Michelle Carroll; Toorak Primary School, Principal Julie Manallack. Scotch College, Principal Tom Batty.

For those who lead us in the Anglican Church: The Most Revd Philip Freier, Archbishop of Melbourne. The Right Revd Genieve Blackwell.

The Toorak Ecumenical Movement: Pray for our partner churches: St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, Toorak Uniting Church, The Swedish Church.

For Those In Mission Work: CMS Link Missionaries; Andrew, Helen, Jacqueline and Alyssa. Liz Hawthorne.

For the sick and all in need: Matthew; John Saunders; Susan; Alan; Paul Dalton; Samuel; Robert John; Peter Leeton; Julia Hyde; Mark Lincoln; Kate; Michael Collins Persse; Geoffrey Clinton; Philip Trealor; Marie Dieni; Michael Morgan; Karen Lammers; Chresley Robson; Grace.

For those in nursing homes and those who are house bound: Nan Milner; Randall Watt; Lorna Mirfield; Dorothy Hughes; Michael Moore; Don Sawers; Thelma Freeman.

Give thanks for those whose Anniversary of death is this week: Briar Webb; Anthony Avery; Lydia Gedge; James Wilson; Helen Rumley; Elizabeth Joyce; Joan Dale; Iris Williams; Mary Clapp; Pamela Bourne; Jean Parker; Isabel Coupee; Leslie Saker; Sally Nixon.

December / January

Thursday 31 December 11.00am - Holy Communion. Friday 1 January 11.00am - New Year service at All Saints’ Kooyong (English/Urdu/Hindi) followed by b.b.q. Sunday 10 January 2.00pm - Wedding of Yanni Papadopoulos and Molly Rojas. Thursday 14 January 11.00am - Holy Communion. Saturday 16 January 2.00pm - Wedding of Hendrix Howman and Katherine Rento.

Saint John’s Anglican Church, Toorak 86 Clendon Road Toorak 3142 Telephone: 9826 1765 Fax: 9826 4395 enquiries@saintjohnstoorak.org

Locum Vicar the Revd Canon Dr Ray Cleary rcleary@trinity.unimelb.edu.au

The Associate Priest Revd Hilary Roath associate@saintjohnstoorak.org

Director of Music & Organist Mr Christopher Cook accook2001@yahoo.com.au

Administration Mrs Sally Robertson

Prayer Chain Co-ordinator Mrs Annette Wilson 9822 8968

St John’s on-line Website: www.saintjohnstoorak.org