Pstoral Letter 239
Dear Members of St. Andrew’s Uniting Church, Friends and Adherents,
Grace and peace to you all in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
Last Sunday we concluded another Church Calander Year and celebrated “Christ the King Sunday”. This Sunday we commence the new Church Calendar Year, which starts with Advent and goes to Christmas, New Year and Epiphany. Advent and Christmas season is one of the most loved and cherished seasons of the year, with lots of things happening around us, in our churches and families. It is time of joy and celebration. Christmas parties and gatherings, with friends and families. I hope and pray that this year will be a special Christmas and a start of good New Year for all of us, though there are some things in our lives we are not sure of or certain, be it personal, family or church. But for now, let us be in the mood of celebration and joy as we go into the last month if the year 2024. This Sunday, at Longueville, we also celebrate St. Andrew’s Day during the Sunday Worship Service followed by our traditional St. Andrew’s Day Lunch with Haggis. We are glad to have a special guest with us Rev. Bill Crews, from the Bill Crews Foundation. He will deliver the message and join us for the St. Andrew’s Day Celebrations.
Last Tuesday we, with the Armenian Missionary Association of Australia, screened the third and the most recent documentary of the Trilogy “Map of Gratitude”, “The Golden Chain of Mercy”. We were glad to have with us the Uniting Church Australia President, Rev. Charissa Suli and some other UCA leaders and members. Though we were expecting many more. There will be other opportunities to see this very interesting film next year. We will let you know the details, once they are finalised.
On Wednesday 27 November we had our second Bus Trip of the year to Mount Annan Botanic Gardens. On a very warm day, we enjoyed the company and strolled in the garden for a couple of hours and had lunch at the Garden’s Café. We were only 15 in the group, as some declined for health issues and cautious of the very warm and hot day. Thanks to Rev. Gaby of Bankstown Uniting Church for providing and driving the bus. If you missed this trip, don’t worry, we will have more Bus Trips next year.
The following Sunday, 8 December, will have our Annual Congregational Meeting after the Sunday Morning Service. Please plan to join us.
On Sunday 15 December we will have our traditional Carols Service during the Morning Service and on Tuesday 24 December, Christmas Eve Service at 7:00 pm, hopefully on the lawn weather permitting, and on Wednesday Morning 25 December Christmas Service at 9:00 am.
We have commenced collecting Christmas gifts and food for the Bill Crews Foundation. All should be in by 15 December 2024. Please be generous and give as much as you can to help the needy and for the glory of God. Thanks in advance.
If you are not able to join us for worship tomorrow, please light a candle and worship with us following the attached Order of Service. Please note that we will have communion next Sunday.
Here are some prayer points for this week:
- Pray for Lebanon, Israel and Palestine, especially for the ceasefire to hold and safety for those who are returning to their homes after a long time, not knowing what to find.
- Pray for the displaced people, the homeless who need shelter and the hungry.
- Pray for the sick, the poor, the less fortunate and those who are recovering from surgery or ill-health.
- Pray for those who are lonely and have nothing, while many have in abundance.
- Pray for Virginia and those who have not been well.
- Pray for our next congregational meeting and the future plans beyond 31 May 2025.
- Pray for a blessed Advent, Christmas and a New Year season full of joy.
In Christ
Krikor