Christmas Services – all are welcome!

Tuesday, 24 December at 5:00pm: Christmas Eve Family Service, followed by BBQ

Tuesday, 24 December at 11:00pm: Christmas Eve Choral Communion

Wednesday, 25 December at 8:00am: Christmas Day Festal Choral Communion

Wednesday, 25 December at 10:00am: Christmas Day Festal Sung Communion

Nomination Process Starts for the New Rector of St John’s, Gordon

With the elevation of Father Keith to be the fifth Bishop of The Murray in South Australia, the nomination process now commences for the selection of the eleventh Rector of St John’s, Gordon. The process for selection is laid out by the Diocese and can be searched at https://www.sds.asn.au

Whilst the Nominators will keep the parish informed of progress in general terms, the nomination process is, of necessity, for the privacy of the candidates, confidential and they ask for your patience in the coming months. However they do welcome any suggested names of candidates provided to them in confidence by parishioners. Everyone is encouraged to make known such recommendations directly to the Parish Nominators, particularly in the early months of the process.

The Nominators and Wardens also ask that:

• We pray for our Interim Rector-in-Charge Fr Ernest Chau and the Ministry team that will be continuing our Parish Mission and pastoral work that they will find strength and purpose in their work as we prepare for our next era;
• We give thanks to God for the ministry of Fr Keith and his family over the last 14½ years and that their future episcopal role will be endowed with God’s grace and wisdom in their mission in the Diocese of The Murray; and
• We also pray that the Nominators will be blessed with God’s guidance, wisdom and perception and act with unified purpose in their search for our new Rector at St John’s.

Prayer at the Time of Choosing an Incumbent

Bountiful God, give to this parish a faithful pastor who will faithfully speak your word and minister your sacraments; an encourager who will equip your people for ministry and enable us to fulfil our calling. Give to those who will choose, wisdom, discernment and patience, and to us give warm and generous hearts, for the sake of your son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

PARISH PRAYER
written by our former Rector, Father Bill Weston

God our Father, send your Holy Spirit upon the people of this parish.  Give us a greater love for all.  Make us more compassionate for the sick, the lonely and all in need, more zealous in the inspiration of the young, more concerned about the wider mission of the Church and more generous in our giving of service and money.  Help each one of us to know what we ought to do and give us strength and courage faithfully to do it, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen