Sunday 2nd December 2018
Greetings and welcome to this week’s newsletter
A Note from Linda
Happy New Year! Yes, already! This week we begin a new year in the church calendar with the season of Advent. Our theme for this season is ‘Angels Among Us’.
In this series, when we talk about angels, our understanding is of ‘one who has a message’, ‘an envoy’ or ‘one that announces.’ Angels are the symbols of messages that we need to hear – that we need to wake up to. The idea is that by taking in and taking on the message, we become the “angels among us” getting this message out to multiply it in our spheres of influence.
An angel from the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and overcome with fear. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayers have been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to your son and you must name him John… He will make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1: 5-25, 57-80
It was just another day at the temple for Zechariah. It was his priestly turn to make sure everything was done properly and in good order. But it turned into something quite different when an angel showed up at the altar. Have you ever had a moment in your life after which you knew nothing would ever be the same? In the midst of great change, hope is always a welcome thing. Advent can remind us that God makes us ready for whatever unknown may come our way and calls us to be messengers of #morehope in an ever-changing world.
Please note that there is a small group resource available which could be adapted for personal use.
Copies available from Linda.
We look forward to seeing you this Sunday as we begin our #AngelsAmongUs series for Advent and Christmas.
Blessings, Linda
Sunday Evenings
2 Dec: Parade then Carols at Thorndon Park (see below)
9 Dec: Messy Christmas at 4pm
16 Dec: Spirited Sunday at the Rezz (from 6.30pm) – with guest presenter, Gerald Pederick
23 Dec: Prayer Walk
Christmas Parade and Carols – note change of meeting time for Parade
This Sunday December 2nd the City of Campbelltown will once again have a Christmas Parade follow by Carols at Thorndon Park. See their website for more information: http://www.campbelltown.sa.gov.au/christmasparade
We will to march together with Campbelltown Uniting Church. The Parade will start at 5:15pm from Whites Lane, Newton, and proceed along Stradbroke Road to Thorndon Park. Meet us at the Steve Woodcock Sports Ground car park on the corner of Whites Road and Stradbroke Road by 4.30pm so that we can all march together. We encourage you to wear something angelic – even a tinselly halo will look great! Look out for Linda and Rebecca Purling – and hopefully a small crowd of Christmas angels!
Note re parking for the parade: there will be road closures from 4.30pm. Some parking will be available in the Steve Woodcock Sports Ground or Monaro Court and in nearby streets at either end of the parade.
We will also have a segment at the Carols evening which starts at 6:15pm – come along and join in the singing!
Blue Christmas
We will once again hold a Blue Christmas service – a service of remembrance and hope – with Campbelltown Uniting Church, Dernancourt Uniting Church and Resthaven.
To be held on Wednesday 19th December at 7.30pm at Campbelltown Uniting Church. All welcome, especially those who find the festivities and joy of Christmas difficult as they remember loved ones sadly missed or are lonely.
Christmas Angels Project
This Advent we’ll be sharing God’s love and extravagant generosity with our community in public places and community spaces with a Christmas message. This message will be in the form of a surprise free gift of an angel.
This has been inspired by the Christmas Angels project taken on by a number of churches in the UK in recent years.
Everyone is invited to join in by knitting or crocheting angels, donating wool, or recruiting other knitters! Patterns and wool are available through the church office. And no, this does not need to be a ‘girl’ thing! Anyone can learn to knit!
The angels need to be ready by the 16th of December. In our morning service we will have them all out for us to see and will pray for them and commission them. The distribution of angels will take place in the week following.
If you have any questions, ask Linda. Let’s get knitting! (and crocheting!)
Thank you and Christmas is coming
With Christmas now approaching, it is a time to remember those members of our community who are less fortunate. To assist them at this time of the year, the Uniting Communities Eastern Services is seeking ongoing support of its annual Christmas Appeal. To prepare 150 Christmas Hampers, food items with a “Christmas theme” are being sought. These items for the hampers may include Christmas puddings, cakes, fruit mince pies, long life custard, canned ham etc. Monetary donations will also be greatly accepted and used to purchase such items.
For more information contact Brenton Summers
Wider Mission Advent/Christmas Focus
Members of our congregation are invited to two innovative ways of sharing the generous love of God experienced through Jesus during this Advent/Christmas season: donating to the Christmas Bowl Appeal or buying a gift of love for our global neighbours through the Tear Fund’s Useful Gifts catalogue.
By sharing God’s love through the Christmas Bowl we are helping to provide food, shelter and support to families in need in some of the most impoverished circumstances.
From next Sunday special envelopes will be available in the porch in which you may place your gift and send it to Act for Peace or place it in the offering bag between now and the end of December and it will be forwarded on.
Alternatively there will be opportunities to give to the Bowl at Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services.
Tear’s Useful Gifts Catalogue is built upon the belief that we can all practice generosity as an act of love to our global neighbours. Don & Brian will be available at the Tear Fund desk with catalogues and gift cards from December 2.
Housekeeping
Of late… there have been some “gremlins in the facility” so we are returning to the “old ways” this means if you need to get into the admin area for any reason after hours you will need to remember to bring your keys. All doors will be dead locked for security purposes… if you unlock a door, please remember to lock it again as you leave.
When you visit the facility, please be careful re-alarming the property… make sure no one else is around in either the main building or top hall before you set the alarm on your way out.
- If you use the small under counter bins for food and other scraps please empty them before you leave as well as emptying the larger rubbish bin after every event.
- When using the dishwasher, please follow the directions posted on the wall and don’t forget to clean it out. If you are not sure, let me know and I will organise a quick “how to” for you.
Stay and Play
Term 4 (4th December) & Stocktake Day (22nd January 2019)
Our last gathering for the year will be held at Lovell’s Reserve.
Help with Stock take and Cleaning Day would be appreciated, anytime between 10-00am and 3-00pm, with a break for lunch at Indigo Café.
Please consider how you can help in 2019.
Bruce and Joy Stewart Phone: 83362671 or Email: bruceandjoy@bigpond.com
Wirra Words of the Week
Christmas is fast approaching and the wirra is drying rapidly. The native grasses have greened and are seeding and soon, we will notice the Christmas Bush (Spinosa bursaria) begin to bloom with its bunches of tiny white flowers. This year we have been challenged with wet weather on Tuesdays, but in the past Stay and Players have often looked for the shady pots in the wirra. In the mornings, the main path in front of the deck is in deep shade and children have enjoyed obstacle courses there. “The Nook” is also a shady haven, offering a space for quieter activities like drawing and painting. We have utilised a large umbrella in the Activity Space to provide shade over the popular water activities. The Native Pine (Callitris pressii) near the old farm gate entry has presented itself as a wonderful Christmas tree when decorated. This year, you will discover our new signage lettering “wakwakurnaku wirra” and you might even discover a hand-crafted angel spreading the good news. Joy Stewart
Uniting Church Calendars
Please pick up your free 2019 UCA calendar from the foyer. Sharyn
Electronic Giving – Forms are available or speak to Treasurer Glen Luestner for more information.
Pastoral care – Please contact a member of our Pastoral Care Oversight Team for assistance:
Rev Linda Driver 0458 500 656 Bob Stevenson 0400 641 242
Brenton Summers 0400 632 829 Ann Brown 0413 581 554
Prayer Requests – Can we support you in prayer? Here’s how:
Prayer Chain – send an email to, or call Brenton Summers, who will pass your prayer request on to a group of people who faithfully pray in response to Prayer Chain emails.
Confidential Prayers – if the issue is more personal you are invited to contact Linda for individual prayer or one the members of the Pastoral Care Oversight team (Brenton Summers, Ann Brown, Bob Stevenson and Linda). All prayer requests going to the team will be kept strictly confidential within this team.
Prayers for Others (Sunday Worship) – Linda provides our Worship Leaders with prayer points as appropriate. Prayer points are also sourced from the Prayer Chain. If you have something you would like to be included in Prayers for Others, please contact Linda. “We are all called to pray for one another, and so we are all encouraged to offer to pray for, or with others, especially if they share a concern with you.” (James 5:13-16
Wider Church News- Please use the link to UC e-news at http://sa.uca.org.au/uc-e-news/
Website – We encourage you to visit our website: www.athelstonechurch.org.au
Newsletter contributions – Please email newsletter@athelstonechurch.org.au by 5pm Wed.
Lectionary readings
2nd December – Jeremiah 33:14-16 Psalm 25:1-10 1Thessallonians 3:9-13 Luke 21:25-36
9th December – Mal 3: 1-4, Luke 1:68-79, Phil: 1: 3-11, Luke 3: 7-18
Roster
| 2nd December | 9th December | |
| Preacher | Linda | Linda |
| Worship Leader | Di | Meg |
| Singers | Jeanine/Ann B/Allan | Friederike/LyndonR/Marie |
| Keyboard | Di | Di |
| Guitar | Shelley/Dave | Chris/Dave |
| Data Projector | Samantha | Samantha |
| Flowers | Di | Raelene |
| Door Stewards & Offering | Janet & Howard J | Jan & Gus |
| Notices | Don B | Don |
| Scripture Reader | Friederike A/W | Jayne |
| Offering Count | Don B & Gus R | Paul H/Trevor G |
| Tea & Coffee | Marie H & Friederike | Sheralyn & Leanne |
| Sound | Tara | Don B |
| Building Steward | Eric Hurrell | Richard Read |
What’s on 3rd – 9th December
| Monday | |||
| Tuesday | 9.00 am | Book Club | Coffee Shop |
| 9.30–11.30 am | Pilates | Top Hall | |
| 10.00-11.30 am | Stay & Play | Lwr Hall & Decking | |
| 10.00-11.00am | U3A – Yoga | Auditorium | |
| 12.00 noon | Tof’s Lunch | The Rezz | |
| 6.30-7.30pm | Reach your Feat | Top Hall | |
| Wednesday | 6.00-8.00 pm | Waratah Calisthenics College | Auditorium |
| 6.30-7.30pm | Reach your Feat | Top Hall | |
| Thursday | 5.30-6.30pm | Reach your Feat | Top Hall |
| Friday | 10.00-12.00pm | Friendship Club (Christmas Lunch) | Auditorium |
| Saturday | 9.30-11.30am | Pilates | Top Hall |
| 10.00-11.00 am | Waratah Calisthenics College | Auditorium | |
| Sunday | 9.30am | Worship | Auditorium |
| 4.00-6.00pm | Messy Christmas | Church |