 I love being part of this Church community. It’s certainly been a week packed full of fun
and fellowship. On Tuesday we held a wonderful community lunch. We are truly thankful to Peninsula Grammar staff for their community service… cleaning, setting up, preparing food and serving plus pack up, choir and music performances (and a back yard blitz behind the scenes). They did a great job! We also give a "thumbs up" to Woolies for donating 7 roast chooks. And thank Brumby’s for spoiling us with some treats. The Lions Club donated cakes to be served as dessert puddings with all the trimmings. And Mornington Community Centre and Bakers Delight arranged for us to receive sliced and bagged bread and pastries. Our own John Welsh was a star, co-ordinating the kitchen duties, Wendy led a sing-along on the piano, and Alicia provided the most gorgeous decorations! What a day it was! Our stomachs were full and so are our hearts - with gratitude. Thanks to all who brought neighbours, friends, and colleagues along to be blessed. You made it all worth while! On Wednesday, the fun and fellowship continued at the Dava Hotel for MEAC Munchies and a great time was had by all. We are certainly well fed physically, and look forward to some spiritual food this Sunday as we look at the scriptures together and I bring a reflection on another old Christmas Carol “God rest ye Merry Gentlemen" which can be nowadays understood as "God make you Strong, people" God bless you and make you strong, Reverend Tanya
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I've been reading about the origins of the Nine Lessons and Carols festival this week and I was delighted to learn that it was created to bring more imagination and creativity to worship.
The Nine Lessons and Carols service, which had its origin in 1880, was made famous through services held at King’s College, Cambridge beginning in 1918. The dean of the college became convinced that more imaginative worship was needed by the Church of England. Nowadays we can find many variations of the Nine Lessons and Carols service. This reminds us that, though all traditions were once new, the church’s worship needs an injection of creativity every now and then. In my opinion we need this especially at Christmas to keep us from taking the nativity for granted. It is my hope that you will enjoy the Lessons and Carols service we have put together for you this coming Sunday. I have sought to mix some of the old tradition with some fresher expressions of worship. In this service you can expect to sing some of the Carols you know and love, as well as some others which will encourage us go deeper in our time together with God. That is my heart’s desire for all of us to draw closer to God this Christmas. May we reflect deeply and consider afresh, the birth of Christ in all its fulness and meaning. God bless you, Reverend Tanya  When did you first hear the story of Jesus’ birth? Do you remember? Maybe you feel like you’ve always known it.
Sometimes it can be hard for us to remember that God’s people waited many long years for Jesus to be born. Advent is a season that helps us to remember this. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, God’s people had been expecting Jesus, even though they didn’t know exactly what it would be like when he came. Come Thou Long Expected Jesus is a simple song that helps us to remember that Jesus’ birth is a part of the big story of the Gospel. This Sunday, I will be bringing a message inspired by this song. In preparation I encourage you to watch this video which literally paints the story of God’s people as they wait for a Saviour: Click HERE or go to https://youtu.be/VLcTLCCpI5A I pray God meets the deep longing in each of us; to be set free, to experience a soul at rest, to feel a child’s joy this Christmas. That’s why Jesus came. I pray the Holy Spirit, inhabits the deepest and darkest places within each of us. Sets us free. Helps us rest. Gives us joy. In Jesus’ name, Rev. Tanya |
