HARVEST FESTIVAL

In the Lord’s Prayer, there are seven petitions, six of which ask for spiritual blessings. In their midst, however, there is one petition, which asks for daily bread. Similarly, in the middle of all the festivals connected with our Church Year (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and so forth), during which we thank God for all the great deeds He carried out to secure our salvation, we have the Festival of Harvest, in which we thank God for our physical blessings. This is the only festival during the year when our physical, earthly wants come to the fore. This reminds us, first of all, that the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking. A festival service, once a year, when we think particularly of the body and its needs, protects us, however, from the false kind of spirituality which suggests that the earthly and heavenly, body and soul, have nothing to do with each other, as if at home during the week you are to think only of your daily bread, while on Sundays at church you are to think only of the Bread of Life.

The Festival of Harvest has always been a joyful festival.  Way back in Isaiah the prophet we read of the people who “…rejoice before You as people rejoice at the harvest” (Isaiah 9:3). Also encouraging the joy of harvest are the words from our first reading, which say: “…you shall rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given to you...” (Deuteronomy 26:11).  We can celebrate the Festival of Harvest with true joy when we learn, from God’s Word, to receive joyfully, and to give joyfully.

 

OUR SERVICES FOR SUNDAY THE 3RD FEBRUARY

Warrnambool 9.00am

Harvest Festival Thanksgiving Service with Holy Communion

Ayrford 11.30am

Harvest Festival Thanksgiving Service with Holy Communion

Hawkesdale 9.00am

Service for the 4th Sunday after Epiphany

OTHER ACTIVITIES THIS WEEK

Monday the 28th January, Parish Council 7.30

Wednesday the 30th January, Parish Confirmation Class 4.15

Friday the 1st February, Western Zone Lutheran Ministers Fraternal, Portland (Pastor David will be away during the day attending this function).





SERVICES FOR SUNDAY THE 27TH JANUARY

(The third Sunday after Epiphany)

Service Times:

Warrnambool 9.00am  Service with Holy Communion

Hawkesdale 11.00am Service with Holy Communion

On Monday (28th) the Parish Council is meeting in preparation for the Parish AGM next Sunday.
On Wednesday (30th) at 4.15pm the Parish Confirmation Class is holding its first meeting for 2013.
On Friday (1st) Pastor David will be absent during the day, attending the Western Zone Lutheran Ministers Fraternal.





SERVICES FOR SUNDAY THE 20TH JANUARY 2013

THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

 

Warrnambool 9.00am         Service of the Word

Hawkesdale 9.00am             Service of the Word

Ayrford 11.30am                     Service with Holy Communion

 

It is interesting to look at titles that have been given in sermon books or in commentaries to the story about the occasion at Cana, recorded in John 2:1-11 (the Gospel for the second Sunday after Epiphany).  Some of them do not get to the heart of this text.  "Prayer and the hearing of prayer" is not what this story is about.  Even Luther missed the boat, one feels, with one of his sermons entitled: “The consolation of married people and the glory of the married state.”  Then there was the young theological student (who shall of course remain nameless), who once tried to prepare a sermon on this text entitled: “The benefits of alcohol!”

 

The key to the understanding of today’s Gospel lies in the final verse: “Jesus did this, the first of His signs...and revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.” 

 

 

THE RE-LOCATION OF THE ORGAN AT TRINITY 

A meeting is to be held at 2pm on Sunday the 20th January to discuss and vote on the proposal to remove the organ from its present position to the north east corner of the worship area.  All voting members are invited and encouraged to attend.

 

 

THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD

(THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY, JANUARY 13TH 2013)

 

Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing Yourself at Your baptism as God's dear Son. Fill us, Your baptised children, with Your Spirit.  Amen.



Services for Sunday the 13th January are

 

In Hawkesdale at 9.00am (with Holy Communion)

In Warrnambool at 11.00am (with Holy Communion)

 

Readings

 

Isaiah 43:1-7 The Lord will be with his people

Acts 8:14-17 The people of Samaria receive the Holy Spirit

Luke 3:15-17,21,22 The baptism of Jesus

Sermon Text: Isaiah 43:1-7  "Do not fear"

 

In two statements, God tells us why He can confidently speak to us this call of comfort.

(a) In the first statement He says: "Do not fear...you are Mine"

(b) In the second statement He says: "Do not fear...I am with you"







THE FESTIVAL OF THE EPIPHANY, SUNDAY JANUARY 6TH

WHAT IS EPIPHANY?

(The following information is taken from the Lutheran Church of Australia's Worship Resources)

The day of the Epiphany of our Lord is always 6 January, although in practice the festival may be celebrated on the Sunday before (or occasionally after). The word 'epiphany' means 'manifestation' or 'showing plainly'. Epiphany is an extension of Christmas. Now Christ, who came to earth, is shown as Saviour to the whole world - to us and to all people, as originally to the wise men from the East. The First Sunday after Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Jesus, when he was shown as God's beloved Son. The following Sundays continue something of the Epiphany message, although they do not constitute an Epiphany season, but rather belong to the 'non-festival' time after Epiphany. The last Sunday after Epiphany is always Transfiguration, when Jesus is shown in glory before his time of suffering.

The number of Sundays after Epiphany varies according to the date of Easter and hence of Ash Wednesday (which is the Wednesday after Transfiguration).

Services in the parish on the 6th January are as follows:

Hawkesdale 9.00am Service of the Word
Warrnambool 9.00am Service with Holy Communion
Ayrford 11.30am Service with Holy Communion