St Paul’s Anglican Church A caring community of Christ worshipping God, engaging the community and
building connections between people of all ages and cultures.
Animal Blessing Service for St Francis Day
10am 8th of October 2017 St Paul’s Canterbury
Welcome “Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains
unawake”. Anon
Order of Service - We worship with the creatures we love. Welcome: Acknowledgement of the nations:
I would like to acknowledge the Wurundjeri people who are the Traditional Custodians of this Land on which this gathering takes place. I would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present of the Kulin Nation.
Greeting: The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all And also with you. Bless the Lord, all you his creatures and forget not all his benefits.
Hymn: All Things Bright and Beautiful (TIS: 135)
All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful - the Lord God made them all
1. The wildflowers in their beauty, the mountain ranges tall, the billabongs and rivers, and friendly birds that call, Refrain
2. The cold wind in the winter, the bright, life-giving sun, the ripe fruits in the garden - He made them every one. Refrain
3. The coloured walls of gorges, the gum trees green and tall, the rocks, and pools, and palm trees, the sparkling waterfall, Refrain
4. The many-coloured corals, the creatures of the sea, of bushland, field or desert, on farms or roaming free, Refrain
5. He gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might tell how great is God Almighty who has made all things well Refrain
Opening Prayer:
Lord God, we come together to celebrate the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, a Christian who loved you and all your creatures. We gather in the spirit of St Francis to thank you for the gift of your animal creation. We ask you for your blessing on us and all of your creation who bless and magnify you. We pray that all cruelty may cease and thank you for the faithful companionship of our animals.
We ask this through Jesus Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
The Ministry of the Word
A Reading from Genesis, Chapter 1 Verses 26-31
God: And now we will make human beings; they will be like us and resemble us. They will have powers over the fish, the birds, and all animals, domestic and wild, large and small.
Narrator : So God created human being, making them to be like himself, he created them male and female, he blessed them and said:
God: Have many children so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all wild animals. I have provided all kinds of grain and all kinds of fruit for you to eat; but for all the wild animals and all the wild birds I have provided grass and leafy plants for food.
Narrator: And it was done. God looked at everything that he had made, and he was very pleased. Evening passed and morning came - that was the sixth day. And so the whole universe was completed. By the seventh day God finished what he had been doing and stopped working. He blessed the seventh day and set it apart as a special day, because by that day he had completed his creation and stopped working, And that is how the universe was created.
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
(From the Dramatised Bible)
The Gospel According to Matthew, Chapter 6, Verses 25-34
"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about
what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion.
There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your
outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free
and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And
you count far more to him than birds. "Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror
ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion
- do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk
out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you
ever seen colour and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in
the country look shabby alongside them. "If God gives such attention to the
appearance of wildflowers - most of which are never even seen - don't you think he'll
attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to
get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's
giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but
you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative,
God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human
concerns will be met. "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and
don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you
deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
This is the word of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
(from ‘The Message’ translation)
Story time:
Attendees are invited to share special stories about their pets with the congregation.
Poem of Praise
O give thanks to our God who is good: whose love endures forever.
You sun and moon, you stars of the southern sky: give to our God your thanks and praise.
All mountains and valleys, grassland and plain, snowfield, avalanche, mist and rain: Give to our God your thanks and praise.
You gumtree and wattle, mosses and ferns: Give to our God your thanks and praise.
Dolphins and whales, sea-lion and crab, coral, anemone, prawns and scallops: Give to our God your thanks and praise.
Horses and cattle, rabbits and dogs, kookaburra, eagle and hawk: Give to our God your thanks and praise.
You people of many nations, all who inhabit the land of the southern cross: Give to our God your thanks and praise.
All you saints and martyrs of Australasia: Give to our God your thanks and praise.
All children and infants, all people of every ability: Give to our God your thanks and praise.
(Based on A New Zealand Prayer Book. Australian words by Ken Parker)
Offertory
Hymn: Make me a Channel of your Peace (TIS: 607)
1. Make me a channel of your peace. Where there is hatred let me bring your love. Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord And where there's doubt, true faith in you. Refrain: Oh, Master grant that I may never seek So much to be consoled as to console To be understood as to understand To be loved as to love with all my soul. 2. Make me a channel of your peace Where there's despair in life, let me bring hope Where there is darkness, only light And where there's sadness, ever joy. Refrain
3. Make me a channel of your peace It is in pardoning that we are
pardoned In giving to all men that we receive And in dying that we're born to eternal life. Refrain
Prayers:
Loving God, thank you for your call to honour all creation.
We pray for the beauty of creation and the animals that roam or fly free, like sister possum and brother kookaburra.
Thank you God, for the animals.
We pray for the animals of the bush and plains, rivers and oceans, threatened by cruelty, greed and pollution.
Thank you God, for the animals.
We pray for those animals who provide for our daily needs, cows giving milk, hens giving eggs.
Thank you God, for the animals.
We pray for all who work with …..
Thank you God, for the animals.
We pray for kindness and respect to develop between animals and their handlers.
Thank you God, for the animals.
We pray for the animals that live in our homes, offering their friendship and comfort.
Thank you God, for the animals.
We pray for those who care for animals in distress, the RSPCA, Wildlife Rescue Volunteers, Refuges and Vets.
Thank you God, for the animals.
We remember and thank you for those animals we have loved and who have died.
Thank you God, for the animals.
We pray in the words that 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 for ever.
Amen.
Hymn: Morning has Broken (TIS: 156)
1. Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the world
2. Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass
3. Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day
Blessing of the Animals: (pets are brought forward)
God of creation bless this …………… /creature
for the enrichment of your Kingdom,
and for the joy of its human companions. Amen
Blessing:
Go into the world and see with fresh eyes God’s good and great creation.
And may we find new companions on the way, more love in small things than we
have felt before and the joy of the life of the universe in all its Godly harmonies.
Amen
Hymn: Oh Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder (TIS:
155)
1. O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder
consider all the works thy hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
thy power throughout the universe displayed:
Refrain
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to thee,
How great thou art, how great thou art!
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to thee,
How great thou art, how great thou art!
2. When through the woods and forest glades I wander,
and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
and hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze: Refrain
3. But when I think of God, His Son not sparing;
sent him to die —I scarce can take it in
that on the cross, our burden gladly bearing,
he bled and died to take away our sin: Refrain
4. When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
and take me home —what joy shall fill my heart!
Then shall I bow with humble adoration,
And there proclaim, My God, how great thou art! Refrain
The service has ended. Come and join us for a cuppa.
St Francis’ Day celebrates the Feast of the Patron Saint of Animals, St. Francis of AssisI (1182-1226), who loved life, worshipped God and regarded all animals as his brothers and sisters.
His life’s work is recognised on or about the anniversary of his death on 3rd October. Although born into a wealthy and noble family, Francis discovered the richness of ordinary people and came to share all he had. He brought his love of creation, of God and the life of Jesus to them. For example, he built the fist living Nativity scene with the people and animals of the town of Greccio.
Through his work, he renewed an ancient but neglected stream in Christian tradition that honours all parts of creation. Many people are exploring Francis’ way of life, interpreted for today, to enrich their own lives. In Assisi there is a delightful statue of St. Francis dancing with animals and birds! Like St. Francis, many of us have chosen to live with pets to enhance and enrich our lives. St. Francis challenged us to accept the unconditional love of animals and, from that love, assess the quality of love we give to God and one another.
Notices of the Day Welcome to worship and to our St Paul’s Faith Community.
We thank Rev Roger Williams for his excellent work as Locum Priest. Please join us for a cuppa in the Parish Centre after the 10am service.
Prayer Corner: “Great Spirit, we remember the land and its First People with respect and dignity. May we live in harmony with all those who share this sacred earth and be thankful. Amen.”
We pray for the worldwide Church: Diocese of St Albans, UK (Bp Alan Smith,
Bp Richard Atkinson, Bp Michael Beasley); Diocese of Gippsland (Bp Kay Goldsworthy,
Clergy & People); Archdeaconry of La Trobe (Judi Pollard); Holy Trinity, Bacchus Marsh w. Christ
Church, Myrniong and St George's, Balliang (Richard Litjens);
Diamond Creek Parish – Episcopal visit (Bp Philip Huggins); and
Highfield Uniting — Rev’d Ross Pearce.
We pray for those in need:
Joan Harrington-Johnson (Charles’ mum); Anne Shaw (Helen’s mum); Margaret Clausen; Iris Mather; Tricia Cain; Gwen Towart; Diana Barclay (Henrietta’s mum); David Bishop (Jeremy’s dad); Marion Carr; Nora Fortune; Paul and Peggy; Yvonne Foster; Gillian and Pamela; Megan; Farmer John; Jan Hannan; Dean Fleming (Nick’s dad); John Anderson; Scott Findlay; Anne Coysh; Lynne Sullivan; Laurie David and family (giving thanks for
the birth of her first grandson; Brendan Paul Stevens);
Rev Susanne Chambers and family.
We pray for the World:
For those who mourn loved ones, for the injured and distressed, and for all those committed to the work of peace.
We pray for ourselves and the community:
Ever-present God, take care of all who travel by land, water or air; surround them with your loving care; protect them from every danger; and bring them safely back home. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Parish Prayer for St Paul’s: Renew in us, O God, the zeal of your love. Let our parish come alive with the power of your Spirit. Where we have failed, forgive us. Where we have persevered, encourage us. When we are in doubt, direct us. Help us to see new opportunities for witness and service. For the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Parish Council Members for 2017: Please keep our parish councillors in your prayers: Andrew Flint (warden), Jeremy Bishop (warden), Liz Olie (warden), Todd Reichmann (treasurer), Caroline Cox, Rose O’Shea, Rosemary Miller, Alex Murray, John De Araugo and Nick Scott.
Notice Gluten free wafers are available upon request.
We give thanks for the lives of: Lindsay Shaw 8 October 2013 Lorna Mole 8 October 2015 Harry Reginald Hughes 10 October 1999 Pauline Ella Murray 11 October 2014 Ed Garing 12 October 2016 Zelma Ross 13 October 2012
Parish Events for the Week
This Sunday 8th
of October: Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost 8am Eucharist 10am Blessing of the Pets Service; followed by morning tea in the Parish Centre 3-5pm Musical Society of Victoria Afternoon Tea, Church and Parish Centre Monday 9
th
3:30-9pm Ceberano Martial Arts, Hall Tuesday 10
th
8:45-9:15am Morning Ecumenical Prayer 5-6pm Ballet, Hall 7:30-10pm Parish Council Meeting, Parish Centre Wednesday 11
th
10-10:30am Wednesday Eucharist, Church 1:30-2:30pm Kinder Sports, Hall 5-6pm Meditation, Church 7-8:30pm Tae Kwon Do, Hall Thursday 12
th
Elizabeth Fry, prison reformer, England (d. 1845)
1:30-2:30pm Kinder Sports, Hall 3:30-9pm Ceberano Martial Arts, Hall 7:30-8:30pm Choir Practice, Parish Centre Friday 13
th
8:45-11am Tiny Tutus, Hall 11am-12pm Kinder Dance, Hall 6-8pm National Youth Choir, Parish Centre Saturday 14
th
9-11am Ceberano Martial Arts, Hall 9am-4pm New Arts Studio, Parish Centre —Upper Room. 12:30-4:30pm Ballet, Hall Next Sunday 15
th of October: Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost
We welcome back Rev Susanne Chambers! 8am Eucharist 10am Sung Eucharist; followed by morning tea in the Parish Centre
Pew Sheet Deadline: Please ensure notices for the pew sheet are in the office by 5pm on Wednesday. Thank you! Cassandra
Child Safe: We take children’s safety seriously at St Paul’s. If you have any concerns as to the safety of a child in the parish please see Susanne or one of the wardens; Andrew Flint, Jeremy Bishop and Liz Olie.
Notices and Parish News: Coming up: October 9 School & Sunday School resumes 13 Susanne back!!!! 19 AGM reports due 29 Hospital Chaplain Sunday. Guest preacher: Rev Dawn Treloar,
Chaplain at Royal Melbourne hospital, Supervisor of Supervised Theological Field Education and Examining Chaplain.
AGM Reports Due —October 19 Please prepare and send your AGM reports to Cassandra by the 19
th of October so
that they can be collated for presentation the week before our AGM on November 12
th. If you are unsure if you should be reporting this year feel free to check with
Cassandra.
Offertory Envelopes: Now available in the narthex. St Paul’s Direct Debit: St Paul’s Anglican Church Canterbury - BSB 633 000 A/C 1191 99941.
Next Week’s Readings: Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost
Exodus 32.1-14 Psalm 106.1-6, 20-24 Philippians 4 or 4.1-9 Matthew 22.1-14
Spring Fair Thank you again to everyone who helped with the fair, especially Laurie, Laura and Elaine. Not only was it a great outreach project but it was also a great financial success; raising over $8000 for the parish.
2017 St Paul Fair Proceeds (net of expenses)
Retail Cakes 1,447
Books 1,122
Plants 485
Thai Fabric 134
Food Devonshire Tea 696
Sausage Sizzle 254
Kids Animal farm 185
Choc toss 198
Face painting / lucky dip
152
Other Raffle 1,678
Silent auction 1,329
Busking 56
Rent from external stallholders 956
TOTAL 8,693
Soulmates Lunch
Our next Soulmates lunch will be held on Thursday 19th Octo-
ber at 12:00pm. Please come and enjoy good company, deli-cious food, a glass of wine and a fascinating speaker. We are very privileged to have as our guest speaker, Dr Guy Churchman, who will be speaking about his collection of an-tique vestments. Dr Churchman has been a parishioner and server at St Pe-ter’s Eastern Hill for some 27 years. The Anglo-Catholic liturgy and related vestments draws him, and St Peter’s has a num-ber of beautiful vestments of historic importance. For about 20 years he has been collecting antique vestments himself. The skills and hours of work that have gone into their making are mesmerising. He feels that in preserving them he is, in some way, preserving the tradition of which they are a part. Most are from the early 20
th century, a time when religion
played a bigger part in people’s lives and was considered more worthy of investing time and money. The Embroiders’ Guild of Victoria has provided many hours of skilled help in restoring and preserving the collection. Dr Churchman’s talk on the 19
th will be about the development
of the vestments of the western church. This history will be il-lustrated by a number of vestments from his collection.
For catering purposes, please contact Margaret Irvine or Lo-raine Permezel.
Cost: $10 per person.
Next Week’s Ministry Team 15
th of October: Nineteenth Sunday
After Pentecost
8am
10am
St Paul’s Ministry Teams: This Week’s Ministry Team 8
th of October: St Francis Day –Pet
Blessing Service
8am
10am
Locum Priest: Roger Williams 0431 013 873 [email protected]
Director of Music: Trevor Henley 9889 8887 Organist: Greg Ellsmore 0411 383 551 Pastoral Lay Coordinators: Rowan Litchfield 0419 54 70 88 Sue Flint 0419 316 931 Vicar’s Warden: Liz Olie 0402 756 660 Church Warden: Andrew Flint 0419 313 047 Jeremy Bishop 0413 313 948
Sidespersons Jill Bales
Stuart Bales
Children’s Talk Kesta Fleming
Sunday School Leanne Reichmann
Assistant Kelly Murray
J2A Hamish Lord
Bec Hollingdale
Reader Margaret Irvine
Intercessor Jonathan Chambers
Welcomer All
Liturgical Asst Hamish White
Server Rowan Litchfield
Refreshments Lee Rough
Gwenda Harding
Collection Charles Harrington-Johnson
Counters Jennifer McKenzie
Sidesperson Rosie O'Shea
Reader Rosie O'Shea
Liturgical Asst Bert Lillywhite
Flowers Gillian Jensen
Brass Beryl Byrne
Sidesperson Rosie O'Shea
Reader Rosie O'Shea
Liturgical Asst Bert Lillywhite
Flowers Gillian Jensen
Brass Beryl Byrne
Sidespersons Liz Olie
Christine Ruggles-Brise
Children’s Talk N/A –school holidays
Sunday School N/A –school holidays
Assistant N/A –school holidays
J2A N/A –school holidays
Reader Gillian Jensen
Intercessor Henrietta Barclay
Welcomer All
Liturgical Asst Debbie Riley
Server N/A – Pet Service
Refreshments Henrietta Barclay
Anne Harding
Collection Kaye Rands
Counters Debbie Riley
