Church News
Kylie Koelman
ALL WELCOME – WORSHIP 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 for Primary School aged children. Tea and Coffee and a time of gathering is held most weeks after both worship services. For the first Sunday of the month, there is one combined service, with a blended style of worship. This means that this Sunday 5th November, there will be one service at 9.30am. This Sunday we will commemorate All Saints Day and during this service there will be a rite of remembrance to honour persons of faith who have died this past year believing in Christ Jesus and His salvation.
ALL SAINTS DAY
DID YOU KNOW? All Saints Day is celebrated on the 1st of November every year and is a good time to face death and sadness with hope and courage. In the Church we remember and give thanks to God for Christians who have died in the faith and during the service, we light candles to remember those friends and loved ones. The Bible verses 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 remind us that while we grieve those gone before us, we have hope that all people who live in Jesus, both living and dead, will be there on the day when He returns and will live with him together forever in Heaven.
‘Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.’
Luke 6:21b
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 9-10.30 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 made paper chain people and love hearts at the craft table as we celebrated how people are the same but different with the book ‘Whoever You Are’ by Mem Fox.
Next week we will be looking at turtles with the book ‘Who Saw Turtle?’ by Ros Moriarty
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 students in school Years 6-8. The next date for SPY is Friday 17th November. Cost is $2 per family. Please contact either Renate or Tom if you need more information, 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.
This week the Bible reading for All Saints Day focuses on what is known as the Beatitudes. These are a summary of Jesus’ teaching about what it means to live as a child of God’s Kingdom. You can read them in detail in Matthew 5:1-12. One of the verses that resonates strongly on All Saints Day is: “God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4).
As a family activity, you may like to light a candle for any of your relatives or friends who have died. You could share memories and pray this prayer:
Lord God, we thank you for the life of (name). Thank you for the blessings that came to us through them. Thank you that they now have eternal life with you. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
God gives us the promises of Heaven: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death” or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ (Revelation 21:4).
Mealtime Prayer:
Lord God, we bring you our praise and thanks. You meet our needs with this meal and give us hope for the life to come. All glory be to you. Amen.
Prayer:
Lord God, please comfort us when we are sad. Give us the hope that comes from your promises. Amen.
Blessing:
(Child’s Name) May God comfort you when you are sad and bless you with hope and peace through Jesus. Amen.