Newsletter for St Paul's Anglican Parish Beaconsfield 27th January 2019

1. TODAYS READINGS
To prepare us for the remarkable story of Jesus' return to his home town of Nazareth,
the Hebrew Scriptures describe the priest Ezra reading to the people from "daybreak
till midday." Once again the context is the end of the terrible Babylonian exile. The
people are exhorted "not to be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the Lord must be
your strength."
Luke's gospel then portrays Jesus in his epiphany at the synagogue of Nazareth,
selecting Isaiah for the reading and applying the text to himself: "Today this scripture
passage is fulfilled in your hearing." It is the Lord's Magna Carta. He is the one sent to
bring glad tidings to the poor, liberty to captives, sight to the blind, and release to
prisoners. He will "announce a year of favor from the Lord," a clear reference to the
Jubilee year mandated long ago in the levitical texts (Leviticus 25). He is the one sent to
bring justice.
One cannot read this text without remembering its modern application—the gospel
call to the church for a preferential option for the poor. We find Christ infallibly in and
among the poor; we experience in the poor what Jesus meant when he said "as often as
you did it to one of these the least of my brothers and sisters you did it to me"
(Matthew 25:40). After listening with our hearts to Luke's gospel passage of this day, we
have to view religion and religious acts in a wholly new way.
Today's middle reading from Paul places before us the beautiful figure of the body and
its members as an image of Christ and his followers. "It was in one Spirit that all of us,
whether Jew or Greek, slave or free, were baptized into one body."
Joe Nangle, OFM, https://sojo.net/preaching-the-word/
J A N U A R Y 2 7 - 2 0 1 9
ST PAUL'S ANGLICAN CHURCH
NEWSLETTER

2. J A N U A R Y 2 7 - 2 0 1 9
The beautiful grounds of the St Paul’s precinct offer shade and tranquillity, inspiration
and nurturance, and places to play, to parishioners, local residents and visitors. Our
gift of this space to our neighbours and friends is one of our most cherished services.
The small team of volunteers who maintain the gardens work alongside each other on
Wednesday mornings. Morning tea is provided. They would greatly appreciate some
extra help for any amount of time between 8 am and 12 pm. Is this the New Year
involvement you’re looking for?
Tasks will be found for all ages and abilities.
Please consider joining this important ministry.
Contact gardening team coordinator Debbie Gwynne on 0417 985 116.
THE ST PAUL’S GARDEN NEEDS YOU…
and its helpers would appreciate a hand, too.
David Hawkes interviews Tim about his latest book The Shepherd's Hut.
Sunday 17th February, 4pm at St. Paul's Church.
$15 waged, $10 unwaged. Light refreshment included.
Copies of the book will be available from a stall run by New Edition
Tickets at the door.
Proceeds to St. Paul's and its ministries.
AN EVENING WITH TIM WINTON

3. J A N U A R Y 2 7 - 2 0 1 9
Daily, in the Chapel
Mon-Sat, 6:30 am
Morning Prayer
Mon-Fri, 12 Noon
Midday Meditation
Mon-Thur, 6.30 pm
Evening Prayer
Morning Tea:
10.30am Mon & Thurs
Meeting Room
Friday Drinks
5.30 pm at the
Firepit
Saturday Morning Breakfast
8.15am at the hall
ALL WELCOME
WEEKLY FELLOWSHIP
ELECTRONIC GIVING DETAILS
Anglican Parish of Beaconsfield
BSB: 706 001
Account No. 30003006
SAVE THE DATE
All are welcome 3pm Friday 15 February for a wonderful afternoon tea with our
Muslim Juma prayer group and young women Uni students
visiting from Malaysia who are planning a graffitti wall project in the morning
and a social gathering in the afternoon to meet with St Paul's members.
Please RSVP on the sheet in the Hall is you are planning to come. All welcome.
CHILD CARE REQUEST
Could you help out one of our young
families?
Josie and Daniel's regular nanny is going on
maternity leave. In March, May and June,
they need a babysitter to pick them up
from kindy/school on a Monday and
Tuesday and look after them until 5.30.
They are happy to pay the going rate
courtesy of the bank of mum and dad
If you are interested, please speak to Liz,
0478114966
QUANTAM COLLECTS
Copies of Peter Himphris' new book of prayers and reflections are available at
St. John's books. Cost is $25 all profits go to In Giving We Receive and their
wonderful work in Nepal. Head down and grab your copy today!

4. Office: parish.stpauls@gmail.com ph:9335 2242
Priest: Rev'd Stuart Fenner. stuart.stpauls@gmail.com ph: 0407 992 397
Deacon: Rev'd Michael Jessup. michael.stpauls@gmail.com
EFM "TASTER" PROGRAM
Part of our responsibility as a church is to ensure we comply with Churchsafe and
Childsafe practices to reassure our members and the public that we take these issues
seriously.
If you are in a leadership position or perform regular volunteer duties please talk to John
Daniel to see if you need to fill out any forms or documentation. If you already have
evidence of documentation (Working With Children Checks etc) to submit these can be
sent directly to Mark at the office parish.stpauls@gmail.com Thank you for supporting
our church community in this way.
CHURCH SAFETY & ACCOUNTABILITY
Mentors: David Lord and Jan McNamara Cost: $20.00
February 6, 13, 20, 27 (4 sessions) on Wednesday Evenings 6.30pm to 9.00pm
St. Brendan’s Cnr of Currie St & Parkland Ave, Warnbro
This is an introduction to the EfM programme. EfM can be summed up as Exploring
Faith Matters.
EfM helps us to interpret the richness of the church’s faith in our complex world and to
express it with confidence, in both words and actions, in our day-to-day lives and in
our own communities. Many people come to EfM wanting more understanding of the
Bible and the Church, as well as support in day-to-day ministry. Some want skills
training to be better listeners, or to help others to faith or to support those in need.
Some want to make connections between their faith and their everyday experience.
Visit the EfM National Website for a comprehensive overview www.efmaustralia.org
At the end of this short program there will be an opportunity to sign up for EfM Year
One which will commence at our parish on Wednesday Evenings from March 20 -
6.30pm to 9.00pm
For further information please contact The Reverend David Lord
E: rector@stbrendans.com.au T: 0427 921 342
22 - 24 February, 31 May - 2 June, 23 - 25 August & 22 - 24 November
St John of God Retreat Centre, Gloucester Crescent, Shoalwater
The programme consists of four residential weekends each year for four years. Each
weekend consists of lectures/presentations, reflections, discussions, case studies,
sharing groups, practicum in Spiritual Direction and Spiritual Formation, as well as
prayer and regular worship in the Anglican Tradition.
Applications are invited for the 10 positions available for first year participants in 2019.
Enquiries to the Programme Director Archdeacon Michael Pennington.
9332 7221 or 0409 372 029 michael@mpenn.net
TREE OF LIFE WEEKENDS PROGRAMME