Mothers Union Wave of Prayer

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Phyll Schneider cuts her birthday cake.

At the MU meeting on November 10th 2015 President Eileen Smith lead a Wave of Prayer service when members remembered the MU members in five Dioceses around the world that the MU in this Diocese is linked with. 

Nell Endersby told us about the Diocese of Lui in South Sudan which has 53,290 MU members; Jan Payne included thanks for the work the members in Embu in Kenya take part in;  Pat Mold asked for prayers for Orlu in Nigeria where there is still a threat from Boko Haram to Christians in the region;  Margaret Shoesmith told us about the tribe in Awori in Nigeria who are friendly and welcoming people;  Jeanne Merchant welcomed news from the women of Medak in India where members of MU are known as Women’s Fellowship of Christian Service;  and Beryl Merrick gave thanks for the Bishop and members of the MU in The Murray Diocese.

During the afternoon meeting congratulations were made to Phyll Schneider who celebrates her 90th birthday this month.  At afternoon tea she cut a birthday cake while members sang Happy Birthday.

Fifty Years Recognized

Beryl Merrick receives her Mothers' Union 50 year badge and certificate.
Beryl Merrick receives her Mothers’ Union fifty year badge and certificate.

This year Beryl Merrick has been a member of Mothers’ Union for fifty years and she was presented with a Certificate and fifty year badge by Diocesan President Eileen Smith during the MU service in Christchurch in October 2015.

Pastoral Care at EFS

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Kaye Gayle with Marg Holt and Fr David Smith following the service.

We at Christ Church were delighted to welcome Kaye Gale to our Sunday morning service on the 8th November. She was able to tell us about her ministry as a Pastoral Care Worker at the R – 6 Campus of the Eastern Fleurieu School in Strathalbyn.

Although she is only at the school for about two days each week she is able to provide valuable support for students and their families as well as staff members.

It was also good to hear that she is helped by a number of members of our congregation.

Alex

Pregnancy and Infant Loss

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Candlelight Prayer Vigil

Sunday 18 October, 7.00 pm

Christ Church Anglican Church, 24 East Terrace, Strathalbyn

The International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is held each year on the 15th October and we would like to provide an opportunity for families who have had such a loss in their lives to remember their little one in this Service of Remembrance.

The Candlelight Prayer Vigil is a remembrance service for people who have lost a child at any stage of pregnancy, at birth or in infancy, whether last week or 80-years ago.

The service is open to anyone of any faith or no faith.

The service is for women and men who have suffered loss, their children and their extended family and friends, whether the loss is recent or historic.

It should also be noted that all are welcome regardless of the type of loss they have experienced, so whether they have been through early or late miscarriage, an ectopic or molar pregnancy, still birth, early infant loss or any other type of baby or child loss.

If you need to say goodbye to a baby or to grief, or you want to come along with a friend who needs to say goodbye, you are welcome at the service.

Loss at any stage is traumatic. Early loss is often not acknowledged or discussed, with commemorative services seldom taking place, whilst services for babies who are stillborn or lost in early years, are usually conducted while parents are in a fog of grief and pain.

The service will give you the opportunity to stand with other people who understand the pain of losing a child.

Come and grieve, remember and formally say goodbye.

You are invited to bring a symbol of your loss eg photograph, flower, poem etc, to place upon the altar during the service.

For further information contact Jeannie Minnis

jminnis4@gmail.com Telephone 0427 478 069 8538 5514

Blessing of the Animals – Oct 4 St Francis Day

The blessing of the Animals – St Francis Day 4 October 2015 Matt 11: 25-30  Marg Holt TSSF
One day I was visiting with a friend who is terrified of spiders when she noticed a huntsman spider and was about to flatten it when I screamed ‘don’t kill it! I’ll take it outside’…and Di is not au fait really with saints of the church but she groaned ‘ok, ok, St Francis of Assisi!…’ It is not by coincidence that World Animal Day is Oct 4th – the feast day of St Francis of Assisi.

You can read the rest of Marg’s Sermon here.

Blessing of the Animals – Franciscan intercessions

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

With confidence and trust let us pray to our Father God:

We thank you, Father, for all animals and creatures on the Earth who teach us how to rely on you with simplicity and humility. Thank you for how they teach us how to worship and praise you every day for all that we receive from you. Bless their habitats and environment, their health and well-being, that they may continue to teach us of Your wisdom, goodness and grace:

Father, our Creator, hear us.

We thank you, Father, for veterinarians and all those working in the world to protect endangered and suffering animals and creatures. We thank you for those who support and care for bird and animal sanctuaries. As we hold before you all people who are suffering in violent and war torn areas of the world we pray that we may honour all life and work to protect and rescue our animal brethren from the suffering of poaching, hunting and blood sports.

Father, our Creator, hear us.

Father, you gave us responsibility to care for and nurture all that you have made with humility and respect. We grieve for all the damage we have done to the homes and habitats of both people and our animal friends on the earth, in the oceans, forests and mountains. Help us to restore the environment for all of us to live together in joy, love and peace.

Father, our Creator, hear us.

We thank you, Father, for all the good things we receive from our animal friends – clothing, protection, transport and food. We thank you for our special companions who enrich our lives every day – for their love, friendship and devotion. May we see reflected in them the goodness and love of God.
Forgive us, Lord, when animals die or suffer needlessly at our hands. Forgive us, Father that we often see their lives as so very cheap compared to ours. Thank you for the example of Brother Francis of Assisi who showed us what living in community in God’s Kingdom of Love should be.

Father, our Creator, hear us.

Father, we hold before you all those who are in need in our families, among our friends and in our community. We ask for your blessing, provision and healing for our human and animal friends whom we bring before you now…

Father, our Creator, hear us.

Operation Christmas Child

OPCristmasChThe Ladies Guild have  filled 45 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.

The Guild have also raised over $400 to pay for delivery costs to needy children throughout the world, each one personally delivered.

Thanks to the Ladies Guild for this magnificent effort and for  the joy that these boxes will give to many children.
Thank you.
Rev. David L Smith

Animal Blessing Service: Pictures

On Sunday 4 October we celebrated St Francis’ Day and World Animal Day with an outdoor Eucharist at Christ Church, Strathalbyn at which special prayers were offered for our fellow creatures. The celebrant was Fr Adrian Stephens and the preacher was Marg Holt who is a member of the Third Order of the Society of St Francis.

Most of the extra members of the congregation were dogs of various kinds but there was also a bird and a snake together with an avian chorus in the trees around us.

 

Pastoral Support Workers (School Chaplains)

This year’s AGM of the Chaplaincy Support Committee was held on 16th September in the Church of Christ Hall, and a goodly gathering from Strathalbyn Churches was in attendance with yours truly representing our Anglican Church..

Our Chaplains do a fantastic job throughout the year, and are supported through the ICC (Inter Church Council). Their individual Reports were presented to the AGM of the Chaplaincy Support Committee under the Chairmanship of retired Church of Christ Minister, Grahame Daniel. The Reports gave a detailed account of the work they do with the schoolchildren and staff at Callington School, Strathalbyn Yr 7-12 Campus, Strathalbyn R-6 Campus, Milang and Ashbourne Campuses.

There is a certain amount of Federal funding which is annually reviewed, and has in fact been reduced in recent years, and the Fundraising of all our Churches is vital to continue to finance this work, and is very much appreciated.

I have full copies of each Chaplains Report for anyone interested, and I have to say I was very impressed with the scope of work undertaken, and the obvious commitment that our Chaplains have on our behalf. I am more convinced than ever that although our PSWs are now not allowed to evangelise as such, our Lord is certainly working through them to reach our ‘Future Church’ with love.

I have to say that the contacts that all of the PSWs have made at all the schools are appreciated and without exception are well received from the feedback from the School Staff and others. Individual Pastoral support where appropriate, helping in some classroom activities, and many examples of Breakfast Clubs and Lunchtime help, as well as some extra-curricular all figure in their weekly workload.

Please continue to pray for Andrew, Jacqui, Kaye, Arthur and Kerry, and on behalf of Chairman Grahame, the Chaplains and the whole Support Committee, I pass on thanks to all in our Church Community who continue to give financial support.

I hope and pray that not only will this vital work continue, but perhaps we can, with God’s help, think of expanding and increasing the hours for our Chaplains.

Rev. David Smith

Christian Care and Share

Eileen and Jeanne getting ready to deliver food to Care and Share.
Eileen and Jeanne getting ready to deliver food to Care and Share.

Eileen and Jeanne recently delivered several cartons of tinned and packet food to Christian Care and Share in Mt Barker. This wonderful collection had been gathered together by the Mothers’ Union members with the help of the wider congregation.

Christian Care and Share at their Centre in Hutchinson Street, Mt Barker supply food and financial assistance to people in need and are always grateful for help in support of their work and acknowledge that without such support “we would not be able to continue providing this help to those in our community who need it most”.

We have already started building up the pantry again and welcome your support in continuing to assist this important programme.

Alex