From the Rector - December, 2007
Dear Friends, Today is Advent Sunday, advent meaning coming and in this season whilst looking forward to Christmas, and looking back to the birth of Jesus we particularly anticipate Christ’s second coming at the close of the age. The Advent wreath in our Church is circular in shape without beginning and end, decorated in evergreen representing new life. Over the next four Sundays we will light the candles the Four Candles fittingly named Hope – Peace – Joy and Love My prayer for you is that you may know God’s Hope, Peace, Joy and Love this Advent and in the year ahead. Have you noticed just how things seem to speed up at the year draws to a close. “I haven’t got time” seems to be the catchcry of most of us at some point. I always enjoy the Church season of Advent although it seems in a sense that we are thrust into it amidst the pressures and urgency of the end of the calendar year. The readings for Advent Sunday urge us to be alert, awake to all that is going on around us, awake to spiritual realities and to preparedness to meet the Lord when Christ will return in power and great glory at the close of the day. Regrettably when we encounter the pressures of 21st C living often that which matters most is neglected for the urgency of the moment – in our now, now, now world. That which often suffers most is Relationships. Within the Family unit, amongst extended family members, as well as with friends and work colleagues. As Christians the vitality or otherwise of our faith is dependent on our day to day relationship with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ – this means giving ourselves permission to take time out to seek God and to enjoy simply being in God’s presence. As believers we do not exist in isolation but as members, one with the other, in the Body of Christ. We read in the psalms ‘How precious it is when brothers and sisters exist together in unity’. and in the New Testament it was said of the early believers ‘see how these Christians love one another’. Don’t let the tyranny of time rob you of precious relationships, take time to nurture those relationships with others, and where there is distance take courage to build bridges. ‘Lord, renew us by your Spirit, unite us in your love and bring with all your people into the joy of your eternal Kingdom….’. That is my prayer for each of us [APBA 2nd order H.C.] It has been so good to travel throughout our area and observe good harvest this year. It seems we received the right amount of rain at just the right time. The paddocks look so good rich with the smell of freshly cut grass, and decorated with bails of hay or silage. We continue to pray for life-sustaining rain and for those who work the land. May we exercise good stewardship of all the resources made available to us. Since my last letter the Australian people have elected a new Government, our privilege as citizens living in a democracy. Now we uphold in prayer all those responsible for Governing our nation at a Federal, State and Local level. Direct their work and influence their decisions to the advancement of your glory and the safety and welfare of this country, so that peace and happiness, truth and justice, may be established among us. God, bless Australia. Amen. We have been through the round of Annual Meetings of our organisations and now need to begin looking at plans for 2008. My thanks and congratulations to all those who in many and varied ways have served the Lord through this parish and beyond during the past year. I know that for many the past year has been a hard time for you, some have experienced great sadness, others have had health problems, others uncertainty about what the future holds – you are especially remembered in pray at this time. I do hope that beyond the busyness of this month you may know and rejoice in the Reason for the Season – Jesus. For we read in the first chapter of John’s Gospel “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning…. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us”. The God we follow and love is not remote, distant, but is involved even now with our humanity having experienced the joys, sorrows, challenges and risks of this human life. As we prepare for a new year may we know that assurance of Emmanuel that is God with us….. and may we experience that peace which passes all understanding; a peace which the world simply cannot give. I trust that you may find some times for refreshment, opportunity to “smell the roses”; delight in God’s beautiful creation; and build upon relationships You will find a special Welcome within the Drouin Parish this Christmas as you come to Celebrate the awesome and wonderful reality of this Season – Emmanuel – God with us May the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the perseverance of the wise men, the obedience of Joseph and Mary, and the peace of the Christ child be with you and yours this Christmas.
Yours in the fellowship of Christ, Amy Turner – Rector
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