Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

June 24, 2018 We acknowledge the Jaara Jaara people, of Dja Dja Wurrung language group,

the custodians of this land where we gather. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and pray for reconciliation.

GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME

Gathering Hymn – 613 Lord of all Hopefullness

Sentence of the day Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? Mark 4.41

The Lord be with you. And also with you

We pray the Prayer of preparation

(page 119 of the prayer book)

Almighty God….

The Shema (page 120 of the prayer book) Hear, O Israel….

The Confession and absolution (page 120 of the prayer book)

Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith, confident in God’s forgiveness.

We take a moment of silent reflection Merciful God…

We sing The Gloria (page 121 of the prayer book)

Glory to God in the highest…

Let us pray O God our defender, storms rage about us and cause us to be afraid: rescue your people from despair, deliver your sons and daughters from fear, and preserve us all from unbelief; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Amen

MINISTRY OF THE WORD A reading from the first book of Samuel chapter 17, verse 57 to chapter 18 verse 16

On David’s return from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with the head of the Philistine in his hand. Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?” And David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”

When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he was wearing, and gave it to David, and his armour, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him; as a result, Saul set him over the army. And all the people, even the servants of Saul, approved.

As they were coming home, when David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the towns of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. And the women sang to one another as they made merry,

“Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”

Saul was very angry, for this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands; what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 So Saul eyed David from that day on.

The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand; and Saul threw the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.

Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul. So Saul removed him from his presence, and made him a commander of a thousand; and David marched out and came in, leading the army. David had success in all his undertakings; for the LORD was with him. When Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David; for it was he who marched out and came in leading them.

For the word of the Lord thanks be to God

Psalm 133

Behold how good and how lovely it is:

when families live together in unity.

It is fragrant as oil upon the head,

that runs down over the beard:

fragrant as oil upon the beard of Aaron,

that ran down over the collar of his robe.

It is like a dew of Hermon:

like the dew that falls upon the hill of Zion.

For there the Lord has commanded his blessing:

which is life for evermore.

A reading from the second letter to the Corinthians chapter 6 verses 1 to 13

As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says,

“At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.”

See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labours, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honour and dishonour, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. In return—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also.

For the word of the Lord thanks be to God Gospel Hymn – 134 Praise my Soul Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Alleluia

The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Mark, chapter 4 beginning at the 35th verse Glory to you Lord Jesus Christ On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” For the Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

The Sermon

Let us together affirm the faith of the church

Let us pray for the world, the church, and each other

The Greeting of Peace We are the body of Christ His Spirit is with us. The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you.

Offertory Hymn – 178 Praise the God who changes

We give thanks for the offered gifts God our sustainer, receive the gifts we bring before you, and feed us continually with that bread which satisfies all hunger, and the wine that quenches all thirst, your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Great Thanksgiving

We turn to page 128

….for ever praising you and singing

Holy, holy, holy Lord

God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the Highest Blessed is he who comes in the Lord’s name

Hosanna in the Highest …we say together

Christ has died. Christ is risen.

Christ will come again.

…in songs of never-ending praise

Blessing and honour and glory and power Are yours for ever and ever. Amen.

With our hearts set on the kingdom and our hands open to serve, we

pray as Jesus taught us…

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen

Everyone is welcome to the table of the Lord.

The Sending out of God’s people

Prayer after communion... Lord God, the source of truth and love, keep us faithful to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, united in prayer and the breaking of bread, and one in joy and simplicity of heart, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Notices

Final Hymn – 595 O Jesus I have Promised

The Blessing and Dismissal

God of this ancient land, through baptism you have given us an inheritance into one family, give us grace to walk together in the unity of Christ Jesus; and the blessing of God almighty, the One who loves you,

the One who calls you, and the One who makes you holy, be upon you and remain with you always Amen Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. In the name of Christ. Amen.

***some thoughts from Rev. Mel.. As many of you know, last weekend my step-son Ryan had an accident in my car while driving back to his mum’s house. As he is a learner driver, Ray was with him, and thank fully they’re both fine. I received so many offers of help with transportation and messages of care for us when the news got out – it was quite overwhelming. I want to thank you all for your love and concern for us. Delilah, the zippy green Honda Jazz (who took me more than 80,000kms in two and half years!), is being repaired and will be back in the driveway in a few weeks. It was almost time for an upgrade though, so we made the decision to buy a new car, and so on Thursday I picked up my new, bright yellow Jazz. I name my cars, like people name boats, and so this car is named Jezebel. There is a theme beginning to emerge with my car names it would seem. Women in scripture, like Delilah and Jezebel, often get a really bad rap and I think we need to look carefully at the stories about them before we fall into the trap of judging them.

Jezebel is described in 1 Kings 16:31 as a queen who wore fine clothes. She was the wife of Ahab, King of Israel and she encouraged her husband to abandon the worship of Yahweh and instead worship Baal

and Asherah. Jezebel met a gruesome death—thrown out of a window by members of her own court, and the flesh of her corpse eaten by stray dogs.

Through the centuries, the name Jezebel came to be associated with false prophets and by the early 20th century, it was also associated with ‘fallen’ women. A comparison to Jezebel suggested that a woman was promiscuous and could, by manipulation and seduction, ‘mislead men into sins of idolatry and sexual immorality’.

Jezebel may well have been a person who didn’t do the right thing according to God’s law, but I have a problem with a woman being blamed for ‘misleading men into sin’. We all have control of our reactions to others and to claim that a man cannot help himself when faced with a temptation, is to do no justice to men or women. It is this sort of language that continues today when we warn women not to dress in a certain way, walk through a dark park, wear too much make up, etc etc because men may be ‘mislead’. It is language that needs to change, and so, my little car with the interesting name hopefully goes someway to that. It has certainly proven to be a conversation starter in the last day or two! Peace, Mel

************************** Pew Bulletin

Meditation Group We meet every Monday at 5pm in St Mary’s – all are welcome Conversation/Australis Group We are taking a few weeks break and will resume on July 17th at 7pm in the rectory Mid Week Eucharist Our mid-week Eucharist at 10am is at St Mary’s every Wednesday.

Youth Ministry Group Our Youth Ministry Group meets on the first Wednesday of the month from 5-7pm in the hall. Afternoon Tea at St Paul's Kyneton A scrumptious Afternoon Tea is being prepared at St Paul's Anglican Church Hall on Friday 29th June at 2pm and you are invited to attend. Kerry Sapsed from Thyme for Tea will also be there with specialty teas to try and buy. Cost: $10 RSVP: Ruth 5423 5253 or Allison 5422 2500 Safe Church Can you please let Rev Mel know if you have done a Safe Church Workshop, or if you have a Working With Children Check, or Police Check. We will keep a parish register so that no one slips through the cracks. Thank you to everyone who has been working on their checks this past week. Also, for insurance purposes we need to update our key register. If you have a key to any of the church buildings, can you please let Rev Mel know ASAP. News from the Guilds St Mary’s Guild: The next guild meeting is on Wednesday morning after the 10am Mass. Pie Drive Kevin and Beth are co-ordinating the pie drive again this year. Order forms are available as of today and are due back, with payment, by July 15th. Book Sale St Peter’s Bookroom are holding a ‘pop up book shop’ in our hall on July 22nd after church until 2pm. This amazing little shop, attached to St Peter’s Eastern Hill, is a very big reason for Rev Mel’s groaning bookshelves. Carol, the manager, will be bringing theology and spirituality books, as well as cards and gifts.

‘Day for Girls’ Workshop There will be a workshop to cut, sew and pack sanitary items for girls overseas in the hall on July 21st from 10am-2pm. Girls in developing countries often avoid school and society when they have their periods because they don’t have means to purchase sanitary products. This can lead to poorer education outcomes, and unclean home environments. If you can help please contact Melissa Hocking on 0417 254 579 before July 17 for catering purposes. Intercessions – our prayers are asked for: John, Sam, Jim, Andrea, Alison, Ethan, Kirsten, Carole, Wendy, Judy, Jeanette, Trevor, Rudi, Trish, Hugh, Joshua and family, Alan, Faye, Lynne, Kay, Don, Norm, Kristina and John, Linda, Carmela, Heath, Helen, and Greg. Birthdays and Anniversaries Happy birthday this week to Maggie Clune (Thursday) and Heather Vander Reest (Saturday). Years Mind and those who have died recently We pray for the family and friends Eurydice Dixon, and all victims of violence. Readings for next week – 2 Samuel 1.1, 17-27 Psalm 130 2 Corinthians 8.7-15 Mark 5.21-43

PO Box 699, Woodend, VIC 3442 | www.woodendanglican.org.au Priest: Rev’d Melissa Clark 0411 722 718 Warden: Derek Shepherd 0417 252 222

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