Church News 

ALL WELCOME – WORSHIP SERVICES AT ST PAUL

Everyone is welcome to join us on Sunday morning for worship. Worship times are 8.30am for a Traditional Service and 10.00am for a more Contemporary service with Godly Play on offer during term time for Primary School aged children. Tea and Coffee and a time of gathering is held most weeks after both worship services.

EASTER @ ST PAUL – BUTTERFLIES EVERYWHERE

Jesus Christ is Risen!  He is Risen indeed!

These are the opening words to the Easter Sunday church service – the day where we celebrate Jesus rising from the dead, so that all believers can one day live with Him in Heaven.  A sacrificial act of love greater than we can fully comprehend.

There are many symbols around the Easter celebration from Easter eggs and hot cross buns to Easter lilies and Spring flowers, and even the Easter bunny. Some are very helpful in the celebration of the new life in our risen Lord 

Jesus, while others may be a little confusing (like a bunny hiding chicken eggs!). 

I think the symbol of the butterfly is one of the more helpful ones. Its whole life cycle is meant to symbolise the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. The first stage is that of a caterpillar which might represent Jesus’ earthly life as truly a man. The second phase is the cocoon stage, depicting Jesus’ death and burial in a tomb. The glorious third stage is that of the beautiful butterfly representing Jesus’ victorious resurrection from the dead. What a meaningful symbol of the life death and resurrection of the God-man, Jesus! 

On Easter morning the disciples saw Jesus’ grave clothes lying on the cold slab. Only the corpse was gone, much like an empty chrysalis deserted by a butterfly who has left to soar free. “He is risen as He said,” an angel told the incredulous disciples. Later that day he appeared to the disciples, and then, over the course of the next few weeks, to as many as five hundred people at one time. Even “Doubting Thomas” didn’t doubt for long that Jesus was really risen from the dead. Jesus’ resurrection from the grave is God’s proof to us that death is not the end. He conquered death and the devil, and paid the price of sin. The empty tomb and Jesus’ Spirit within us testify that Easter morning is God’s triumph over death. And ultimately, Jesus promised, God will raise from the dead all who believe in His Son. 

Taken from: https://www.trinitywestseneca.com/2017/04/the-easter-butterfly/

For this reason, the church was covered with butterflies for Easter Sunday, from the display on the balcony at the front of the church, through the narthex where the butterflies were strung along the ceiling, and into the body of the church, where they covered the walls and windows. 

A huge thank you to all the school staff and students involved in creating all these beautiful butterflies.

PLAYGROUP @ ST PAUL 

Playgroup @ St Paul is on each Tuesday during term time in the Hall.  We welcome people anytime from 8.30 onwards to help set up. Join us for a coffee, playtime, story time and songs from 9-10.30am each week during school terms. Cost is $2 per family.  We offer a simple craft, a sensory activity and read a book related to a different theme each week.

This week, we read the book ‘Big Rain Coming’ by Katrina Germein and played with our imaginary gumboots and rain hats while listening to the sound of the rain stick. In the sensory play space, we poured ‘rain’ down water spouts with incy wincy spider.

 This is the last Playgroup for the term and we will return in Term 2 on Tuesday 2nd May at 9am.

For more information about anything playgroup related, contact Kylie Koelman in the Church Office on 8262 4690 or email at office@stpaul-church.org.au

SPY

St Paul Youth is run on the first and third Fridays of the month during school terms and is open to children in School Years 6-8.  The next SPY date will be in Term 2. 

Please contact either Renate or Tom if you need more information, or the Church office on 8262 4690 or email office@stpaul-church.org.au

GROWING FAITH AT HOME 

This resource is developed by the Lutheran Church of Australia and is intended to be a guide in sharing faith activities with members of your family.

Here are a few ways you could introduce faith discussions in your home and day-to-day life.

Mealtime Prayer:  Risen Lord, we thank you for the meal at this table and the celebration of Easter joy.  Amen.

Blessing: (Child’s name) May the risen Jesus replace your fears with joy and raise you to new life with him. Amen.

Bible Verse of the Week:

The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid!  I know you are looking for Jesus, who was nailed to a cross. He isn’t here! God has raised him to life, just as Jesus said he would.”

(Matthew 28:5-6)