Second Sunday of Advent – 7 December 25
Dear Friends,
If anyone ever tried to suggest that following our God is boring then this Sunday’s readings (and I hope worship) should show how wrong that is. OK; perhaps I too find some parts of the Old Testament underwhelming – the genealogies and the rules for temple worship aren’t exactly ‘action packed’ but John the Baptist is about as ‘un-boring’ as you can imagine. John fits in the category of fascinating and amazing character like Sampson the superstrong, Elijah the warrior prophet and David the shepherd boy who brought down the mighty warrior Goliath. Even the ‘establishment figures’ the Sadducees and the Pharisees from Jerusalem went out into the wilderness to see and hear and to even be baptized by John the Baptist.
This Sunday we have the chance to think about John, his amazing life and God’s purpose for him in the whole history of God’s plan to save people from going to hell.
I continue to receive wonderful feedback from many people in our community for our Arts & Crafts Exhibition. People enjoyed coming to visit us and to get to know us. My thanks of course again to the wonderful hard-working, passionate, effective organizing committee AND also to everyone who played a role in making this a success. We have raised some money towards maintaining our church and hall AND we have engaged wonderfully with our community.
I hope and pray that your Advent, your time of preparation for God’s personal coming into the world is progressing. Our Bible readings are leading us to do the work of preparation; John the Baptist tells us some of why Jesus came into the world as God’s Saviour. Isaiah the Prophet of God, about 700 years before John the Baptist, similarly started to tell people that God would send a saviour and that they should be prepared for him. Our music is also helping us to prepare. This week ‘On Jordan’s bank’ the Baptist will announce that the Lord is nigh and we will start to prepare all ye faithful to come and adore God’s saviour. Next Sunday, Joy to the World will remind us that every heart needs to prepare room for Jesus to come into our lives, room to be loved and adored by us.
Advent is a time for us to get rid of anything that does not fit into the life that Jesus is calling us to live. What hopes, dreams, careers, expectations of others or just ‘stuff’ is God calling each of us to leave behind, to clean out this Advent?
Please note we will not be having Morning Prayer on Wednesdays from Christmas Eve until we resume on 21 Jan 2026.
Hope to see you ‘back in church’ on Sunday.
Grace and peace and hope and life,
ROB
Sunday Advent II 7 Dec 25
The Sentence
The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the good news. Mark 1:15
The Collect
God of all peoples, whose servant John came baptising and calling people to repentance: help us to hear his voice of warning and to prepare our hearts and lives, that we may also rejoice at his promised hope of salvation, and be found pure and blameless in that glorious Day when Christ comes to rule as Prince of Peace; who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Readings
OT Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm 72:1-7, 18-21 (p294)
NT Romans 15:4-13
Gospel Matthew 3:1-12 (John the Baptist)
Hymns
1 270 On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
2 491 Father welcomes all his children
3 304 O come all ye faithful (v1,2,3,5,6)
4 307 The Virgin Mary had a baby boy
Prayers for the people and issues within our Parish Family and Community.
In their times of sickness or surgery:
Rillis, Allison, Andrew, Anne & Paul, Geoff, Pam, Debbie, Elissa, David, Lesley, Howard, Rob.
That we who have been baptised may faithfully prepare the way of the Lord in our homes and community.
For those from our parish and our families who are travelling this holiday season:
Helen, John, Inga, Richard and the Greenwood family.
For leaders, ministers and workers in God’s church particularly those to be ordained on Saturday 6 December and that God will raise up more leaders for our schools, hospitals, prisons, Services and parishes.
For teachers and students; that they may have a ‘God breathed’ break during school holidays.
Please speak to Reverend Rob or Reverend Angela if you would like someone’s name added to or removed from the prayer list.
NOTICES
Coming Events
Sunday 7 Dec Sunday Advent II Holy Communion Service – 8.30am
Wednesday 10 Dec Morning Prayer and Bible Discussion – 8.30am (Coffee afterwards)
Sunday 14 Dec Sunday Advent III Holy Communion Service – 8.30am
Wednesday 17 Dec Morning Prayer and Bible Discussion – 8.30am
Sunday 21 Dec Sunday Advent IV Holy Communion Service – 8.30am
Wednesday 24 Dec Christmas Eve Nativity Play and Family Communion Service 5:00pm
(in Church Hall)
Thursday 25 Dec CHRISTMAS Holy Communion Service – 8.30am
Sunday 28 Dec Sunday after Christmas Holy Communion Service – 8.30am
Low Gluten or Gluten Free wafers – We have low gluten wafers available every Sunday and are happy to ‘consecrate’ and give then to you but we need to know who would like them. We also have ‘gluten free’ wafers. Asking before the Service is helpful but you can also ask during the distribution of the bread and wine.
For any who can tolerate absolutely no gluten, I am trying to source individually wrapped gluten free wafers which will ensure there is no possible transfer and I will advise when they are available.
Advent Giving – With all that was happening around the Arts & Crafts Exhibition, I deferred commencing collecting our Advent giving. This year I am encouraging donations to support the work of the Careforce Inala Pantry and any cash offerings will be passed to them. If you would like to make a tax deductible donation this can be done through Anglicare Southern Queensland.
Careforce, Inala Pantry
Thank you to all who have supported Inala Pantry financially and with food and other items this past year!
Donated items are collected at church and delivered at regular intervals to St. Hugh’s Inala. Items of long-life milk (full cream), tea, coffee, sugar, flour (the smaller 1kg size because that is the easiest to carry for those who walk home), cereal, tinned fruit and vegetables, in addition to the usual dried foods like rice, pasta, lentils they also suggested cooking oil (olive, canola etc) tinned fish, tinned soup and other tinned food, biscuits, spreads, washing liquid and powder, disinfectant, toilet paper and tissues as well as bathroom items like deodorant, shampoo and toothpaste, and finally snacks for kids lunch boxes like muesli bars and cheese and crackers are appreciated. Please check the ‘use by dates’ as out of date items are not allowed to be given away.
Next Sunday
Hymns and Readings – Advent III 14 Dec 25
OT Isaiah 35:1-10
Psalm 146 (p377)
NT James 5:7-10
Gospel Matthew 11:2-11 (John asks about Jesus)
Hymns
1 275 Hail to the Lord’s anointed,
2 316 O little town of Bethlehem
3 265 O come, O come Emmanuel (v1,3,4,5)
4 268 Joy to the world
CHURCH CONTACTS
Our Church Email moggillmtcrosby@anglicanchurchsq.org.au
Follow Anglican News on our Website: www.mmcanglican.org.au
Clergy:
The Reverend Rob Sutherland, CSC - Priest-in-Charge (part-time)
Mobile 0406 767 757 – Email Rob.Sutherland@anglicanchurchsq.org.au
The Reverend Angela McNeill (Honorary Assistant Priest)
Mobile 0439 877 057 - Email ajmcneil@bigpond.net.au
Church Wardens:
Bronwen Thomas Mobile 0448 120 218 - Email bronwen.thomas@sap.com
Sam Towers Phone - 3202 5196 - Email samantha.towers01@gmail.com
Rob Law Mobile 0403 842 329 – Email roblaw1512@gmail.com
Treasurer (and also Hall Hire contact): Richard Ponsonby
Mobile 0448 899 801 - Email moggillmtcrosby.treasurer@anglicanchurchsq.org.au
Children’s Ministry Coordinator: Helen Donovan Mobile 0417 789 433
Maintenance Coordinator: Anne Greenwood Mobile 0438 201 900
Email annejeanette1949@outlook.com