Events this week (25th Feb. to 3rd March)

Our parish confirmation class meets on Wednesday (27th) at 4.15

A meeting of the members of the stewardship committee, the counters, and the bankers has been arranged after the service next Sunday (3rd), to iron out any issues that may have arisen after the implementation of new arrangments for the counting and banking of offerings.

The walking fellowship will be having its first outing for 2013, meeting at the old railway station in Koroit at 5pm on Sunday the 3rd March and walking from there along the old railway track toward Port Fairy. On returning to Koroit, we will be able to order pizzas from one of two local outlets and share a meal at the Blackwood Community Centre in the civic park.

Services for Sunday the 3rd March, The Third Sunday in Lent

In Hawkesdale at 9am - Service of the Word
In Warrnambool at 9am - Service with Holy Communion
In Ayrford at 11.30 - Service with Holy Communion

Midweek Lenten Service

Our next midweek lenten service is in Warrnambool on Wednesday the 27th February at 7.30. This service will be led by Pastor Richard Taylor of the Hamilton Parish. The topic under the overall theme, "Only Jesus" will this week be "Only Jesus would wait so long for someone" (Matthew 26:20-25)

Trinity Music, 7:30pm 16th March

Trinity Music Promotional Poster (click to enlarge)

The musicians of the Warrnambool Trinity Lutheran congregation have been working hard to organise a concert within the church to showcase their musical talents to the congregation and the wider community.  This is a fundraising effort to contribute to the costs required to relocate the pipe organ and provide an encouraging environment for alternative musicians to add another aspect to our weekly services.

Even at this early stage we are expecting at least 15 members of the congregation to provide entertainment on the night, ranging from organ recitals to Celtic and Irish music, choral music and even a few pieces of music written specifically for the event by members of our church.  This is a great chance to support the up and coming musicians in our congregation, and appreciate the range of talent that we have been blessed with.

Tickets are only $5 each, and will be available for purchase in the hall (Warrnambool) after every Sunday service between now and the night of the event.  Tickets can also be purchased at the door on the night.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,

to sing praises to your name, O Most High;

to declare your steadfast love in the morning,

and your faithfulness by night,

to the music of the lute and the harp,

to the melody of the lyre.

For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;

at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

Psalm 92: 1-4

THE FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT

 

"Should pastors ever go on strike?"

 

Services for Sunday the 17th February 2013

Warrnambool, 9.00am, Service of the Word

Hawkesdale, 9.00am, Service of the Word

Ayrford, 11.30am, Service with Holy Communion

 

Readings

Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Romans 10:9-18, Luke 4:1-13

 

"Should pastors ever go on strike?" is the intriguing question asked during for this week's sermon, based on today's second reading from Romans 10. The answer depends on what you think the Church is all about. Because of the nature of the Church, it is inconceivable that pastors should ever withdraw their services.

 

PARISH CONFIRMATION CLASS



Our next meeting is on Wednesday at 4.15, when we shall discuss the third commandment.

 

MIDWEEK LENTEN SERVICE

We note this week that our MIDWEEK LENTEN SERVICE is to be held at Hawkesdale at 7.30pm on the 20th February.  Leading this service will be Pastor Sam Modra from the Tabor Parish. Under the overall theme, "Only Jesus," the topic this week is "Only Jesus could cleanse the Temple." This is, of course, a parish service, and it is hoped that a good number from the Warrnambool congregation will travel out to Hawkesdale.

Hawkesdale Harvest Festival (February 10th 2013)

Hawkesdale Sunday School. 

What an eager looking group! The Sunday Schools in our three congregations are now underway once more.  We thank God for our children and for our Sunday School teachers and helpers

 

Parish Camp is to be held this year at the Tandara Lutheran Camp, Halls Gap, from Friday the 31st May to Sunday the 2nd June.  Pastor Andrew Ruddell, of the Rainbow Parish, will be the guest presenter on the Saturday.  Further details will be issued soon. All members of the parish are invited and encouraged to set this weekend aside and join us for this time of worship, study, fellowship and recreation.  Members of our camp planning committee are Bev Leske, Val Roll, Anthony Cook, Wendy Habel, Geoff Nuske, Carolyn Carlin.

ASH WEDNESDAY

 

 

ASH WEDNESDAY PARISH SERVICE IN WARRNAMBOOL 7.30PM

 

The name of Ash Wednesday is derived from the medieval custom of the penitent coming to the church on this day in sackcloth and with naked feet and throwing ashes over their heads when they had finished their prayers. These ashes were made from palms blessed the previous Palm Sunday.  The first reading for this day also announces: “sanctify a fast!” and goes on to instruct:  “return to me with all your heart,” and “rend your hearts and not your clothing.”  In the Gospel our Lord gives His rule for fasting. There is no room for work-righteousness. We do not earn forgiveness. It is not of our merit but of His grace. In secret we show our Father a new and contrite heart that really knows and “worthily” laments our sins and earnestly seeks perfect remission and forgiveness. Lent is to renew us.  The mystical body of Christ is to fill itself with new life in its members and expel all seeds of death.  The goal of Lent is pulsating life.  The whole teaching of this day is intended to ensure the spiritual use of abstinence as an aid to the devotional life and as a check upon worldliness and unspirituality.

A few more facts about Ash Wednesday:  The earliest Ash Wednesday can occur is February 4^th (in a non-leap year, with Easter on March 22^nd), which has not happened since 1818 – 190 years ago.

The latest possible date is March 10^th, which last occurred in 1943.

Ash Wednesday has never occurred on Leap Year Day (February 29^th), and will not happen until 2096.

Everything hinges upon the day of Easter Sunday, which is the Sunday following the paschal full moon date for the year, i.e. the full moon after the vernal (=spring) equinox in the northern hemisphere.