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Wednesday 24 December 6pm
Family Christmas service with participation of children
Wednesday 24 December 11.30pm
(Choral Carols from 11pm)
Christmas Day 8am
CHRISTMAS SERVICES
COMMUNITY CAROLS – ARE WE ALL IN FINE VOICE?
It’s so good that we are invited to ‘make a joyful noise unto the Lord’ – it doesn’t have
to be a tuneful one – just joyful. Carols do give us all the opportunity to sing those
songs we have grown up with and love, that tell us Christmas is here. Being in the open
air, we can sing out even if we don’t think we are a singer because the chances are that
nobody else will hear us – what an opportunity for the bathroom baritones!
Carols on the lawn will be held on Friday 28 November. The barbecue will be fired
up from 5pm so those coming from work can get something to eat and drink. Families
may wish to picnic on the lawn – all is possible.
BrisStyle Indi Markets will be there again this year so there is great choice for those
wanting to do a little shopping. They do offer something a little different which is
always welcome.
The carolling will begin at 6pm. The Ascot State School Choir, conducted by Debbie
Daley, will take their part in our festivities, as will Éncorah, the choir from St Margaret’s
Anglican Girls School. Their participation in this event is always happily anticipated by
the community.
Each year, we collect gifts for some people who may otherwise find themselves not
remembered. This year we shall be collecting for women and children who are clients
of Anglican Women’s Hostel, St Mary’s Support and Accommodation program which
cares for single pregnant and parenting women aged between 16 and 25 years with
children under four years of age, who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and
Alina, an Anglicare program working alongside families and women with intellectual
disability and or learning difficulties within the Greater Brisbane Region.
Whilst acknowledging that a great deal of pleasure derives to the giver by the careful
wrapping of these gifts, could we ask that you maybe give the wrapping paper separately.
Because of the particular circumstances behind the person’s involvement with
Anglicare, some gifts may not be the right one for them. This is particularly true of
children where great care has to be taken to ensure, for example, that a toy gun is
not given to a child who has suffered in an abusive and violent home. There are many
different backgrounds which have to be taken into consideration as the staff decide
which gifts are most helpful for each person.
Pray that the rain holds off for the evening!
A little girl was sitting on her grandfather’s lap as he read her a bedtime story. From time to
time, she would take her eyes off the book and reach up to touch his wrinkled cheek.
She was alternately stroking her own cheek, then his again.
Finally she spoke up,
“Grandpa, did God make you?”
“Yes, sweetheart,”
he answered,
“God made me a long time ago.”
“Oh,”
she paused,
“grandpa, did God make me too?”
“Yes, indeed, honey,”
he said,
“God made you just a little while ago.”
Feeling their respective faces again, she observed,
“God’s getting better at it, isn’t he?”
