HOUSE OF HOSPITALITY – 7 EAST TERRACE, STRATHALBYN
DIOCESE OF THE MURRAY
Website: https://strathalbynanglicans.org.au/category/community-house/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StrathalbynAnglicanParish/
Email: hospitalityhouse@murray.anglican.org
Our first House of Hospitality in the Diocese:
7 East Terrace, Strathalbyn:
“What I dream of secretly is something very simple and very small, something like the very simple first communities of the early days of the church… ” (Charles de Foucauld)
Let us pray for our first house of hospitality – that our doors may always be open to all without judgement, our hands open to help the needy and our hearts open with the love of God.
Dear friends from around the Diocese,
Thank you for your prayers over this House of Hospitality and those who have been coming here these last couple of months. There is a lot happening and a lot being planned so I would ask you gratefully to continue to hold us all in prayer before the Father.
There is a continual cycle of prayer at the Rectory House of Hospitality and anyone is welcome to join with us in one of the daily prayer times. Morning prayer is 8am and Evening Prayer 5pm. There are a couple of regular people who come to say Evening prayer 2 or 3 times a week and it is always a great blessing to pray together even if there is only two of us! I have a great sense of joy and Jesus’ presence with us as we pray together and intercede daily for the Diocese, our community and the needs of those around us.
If you would like us to pray regularly for anyone or anything happening in your church, in your community or your own life then please send your prayer requests through to us. Names are not necessary unless you are happy to give them to us. We now have an email account attached to the House: hospitalityhouse@murray.anglican.org
There has already been a couple of people come to stay here at the House for retreat and be part of the daily office of prayer. Please pray for those who come to retreat and spend quiet time with the Lord here that he will draw them close to his heart and bless them as they seek his face.
Anyone is welcome to come and spend quiet time either for a day or for a few days. There is also a house in Milang which can be used for retreats. Please contact us for more information or to book.
Holy Eucharist will be celebrated by Bishop John or Fr Peter Carlsson at the House on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 11am:
The next Eucharist is 24th May 11am. You are welcome to join us for soup and toast afterwards especially during the cold months ahead!
The Southern Area of the Third Order of St Francis (TSSF South Australian Region) is also gathered around the Rectory House in Strath so anyone who is interested in Franciscan Spirituality or indeed anything Franciscan is welcome to come to those meetings! Our first meeting as the southern group is this Saturday 14th May at 10am in the House. We will have the Eucharist together and then discuss how we would like to proceed in the months ahead. The meetings generally will be bimonthly.
A provisional timetable is:
May: Saturday 14th May at 10am – meeting of the TSSF SA Southern region.
Tuesday 24th May at 11am – Eucharist with Fr Peter and lunch afterwards.
June: 6th June – 5 July is Ramadan, the fasting month of the Muslim World. Please keep the Muslim people and our Christian brothers and sisters in your prayers at this time.
Saturday 11th June – from 10am; Quiet Day in the Hospitality House for the local community and any others who would like to come of course! Poster and details to follow.
Sunday 19th June – 5pm. There will be a Taize service in one of the local churches which we are planning at the moment. It is Ramadan at this time and also the beginning of Refugee Week so we will especially keep the Muslim World, persecuted Christians and refugees in our hearts and prayers during this service. Poster and details to follow.
Tuesday 28th June, 11am – Eucharist with Bishop John and lunch afterwards.
July: TSSF SA Southern Franciscans meeting – date to be fixed.
Tuesday 26th July, 11am – Eucharist with Bishop John and lunch afterwards.
During July or August we are planning a Diocesan Quiet Day at the House for which we will give you dates and information when we have them locked in!
May the Lord show us the way in all we undertake, and please pray for us to listen and follow with humility, love and joy…
Pax et bonum (peace and good),
Marg (Margo) TSSF
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5)
We should seek not so much to pray but to become prayer… (St Francis)
unday of the month the various congregations of the Parish usually join together for a combined service. On Sunday 29 January, instead of being at one of the churches in Strathalbyn, Meadows, Langhorne Creek or Milang, the service was held at the Blackwell’s home in Lake Plains and followed by a barbecue lunch in very pleasant surroundings.
On Sunday 30th October, parishioners from all the parish centres gathered in Barry Potts’ shed for the quarterly combined Eucharist. Not only was the setting unusual, surrounded by Barry’s collection of farm tractors, but the intention of the Eucharist was the Blessing of the Vines in the Langhorne Creek Wine Region. We gave thanks to God for the wonderful area in which we live and prayed for the coming vintage and those involved in the work of the vineyards and wineries. We also remembered those in other parts of the world who need our prayers and help.
