People today know what it is to be fearful. Teenagers
worry about their futures. Parents try to shield children
from the news- the endless litany of violence and of
catastrophes, both climatic and human-created. And they
worry about the future their children and grandchildren
will face. Travellers endure security searches every trip
with images of terror burned into their minds.
From Rev Canon Maree
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St Margaret’s discernment papers The letters with statistics about Jesmond and
the working paper are ready to be picked up over the next week. Please take one with
your family name on it. Please sign to say that you have taken these on the folder that
is with the letters.
Holy Communion: Home communion will be given today. Please pray for our
extended faith community.
Rev Canon Maree
Also this Week:
9am
10-12
Morning Prayer
Lollypops playgroup which is growing.
Thurs 19/11
SRE in schools
Fri 20/11
Rev Maree’s day off .
Sat 21/11

9.30am
Nativity dress rehearsal at Lambton.
Mission for October – Sparklit
Readings for next
week
Coming:
Wed 25/11
2 Samuel 23.1-7
Revelation 1.4b-8
Psalm 132.1-12 (13-18)
John 18.33-37
9.30am
6pm
Saturday 28/11 gates open
at 5pm.
Tues 1/12 at 6pm
Carols safety meetings
Carols by Candlelight at St Johns Lambton.
Parish Meeting for Discernment of St Margaret’s. All
welcome.
PRAYER LIST
Eileen
Audrey
Dorothy
My prayer is that we will discover that trust in God enables us to have hope and to be able to see
God’s faithful presence and reign which is in our midst. Amen
The author of Hebrews asserts we can hope because God is faithful. Difficult times cannot
outlast the God revealed in Jesus the Christ. In trusting God, we find not only encouragement for
ourselves but also strength and insight to encourage others.

Wed 18/11
Fear is a constant companion these days. We may not have rumours of wars anymore since we
are confronted with the reality of them via news reports 24/7. But we do have terrorist threats,
though not always supported by credible evidence. Wars and terrorists’ threats are continual
reminders that the most powerful motivator in these days is fear. This week offers an opportunity
to explore challenging texts through the lens of faith and encouragement
Our church mower
ATTENTION! CAROLS NIGHT INFORMATION
Please come along and support this event. It is for the community and
I would like to think that our faith community supported this event.
This is a wonderful witness! There are only 2 times in our year that
we can witness on this scale: Christmas and Easter. I would say
Christmas would be the one that we can reach the most in our
community.
PLEASE PRAY FOR SAFETY AND SMOOTH RUNNING AND FOR CLEAR WEATHER.
SAFETY MEETING for Carols
There will be a safety run through for the Carols on the 25th November at 9.30am in the
Lambton Church. Mr. Ken Illes is the safety officer for the Carols and will take us through the
safety procedures. There will also be a 6pm safety meeting for those who work. Anyone who is
helping on the grounds will need to be at one of these safety meetings to sign off.
NB That nativity or music people don’t need to come to this safety meeting.
PARISH HOUSEKEEPING
Rosters will be put together in November. Church Cleaners, Church readers,
Morning tea, parishioners for 2016. Please let Pam Wilson know if God is calling
you to help.. If you are already a helper and wish to remain so you do not need to advise her.
Ring 49525694
POEM
IF ONLY
If only we would look past the politico’s rhetoric
Flashed across the screen day after day.
So we might see those families for whom poverty is an unwelcome guest who refuses to move
out;
If only we would listen beyond the pious platitudes so easily mouthed day after day,
And with ears finely tuned with compassion,
Listen to the whispered prayers of children whose future seems so sterile;
If only we would disassemble the walls stacked word upon word day after day,
By the dissembler of optimism,
And peer into the faces of our sisters and brothers
Mired in the pit of hopelessness.
PARISH OF LAMBTON
St John the Baptist
St Margaret
Lambton
Jesmond
15 November 2015
Rector: Canon Maree Armstrong
Phone: 4957 1073
Pastoral Care Deacon: Rev Daphne Turnbull
Phone: 4955 8284
Email: revmaree@bigpond.com
Rector’s Warden: Gina Parslow
Phone: 0448 308 637
Address: 18 Morehead Street, LAMBTON NSW 2299
Website: www.lambtonanglicanparish.com.au
BSB 705-077- Account No 40391
If only we would
Day after day.
There are giving boxes this year for Alzeimer’s Australia (NSW). in the church to pick up if you
would like to help.. Pam Wilson. Details of this organisation at https://fightdementia.org.au/
Today’s Scripture Readings – Twenty Fifth Sunday After
Pentecost
DIOCESAN NEWS.
Bishop Greg in his charge to synod this year focused in the topic of “Loving Our Neighbour.”
He outlined a number of aspects. The survivor of sexual abuse, The survivor of domestic abuse,
The homeless person, The person living on low income, The refugee, Those affected by climate
change, Mission action, Being Clear who we are. The details of his charge are available on the
Diocesan website www.newcastelanglican.org.au
QUOTE FOR THE WEEK
Say YES to all of life. Say it loudly.
Say it fully. Say it with a faith that
knows there is a God who will
give us all things in abundance!
1 Samuel 1.4-20
Song of Hannah APBA p.429
Hebrews 10.11-14 (15-18) 19-25
Mark 13.1-11
FUTURE HOPE
Earthquakes, terror, economic crises, the times in which we live, bring challenge and doubt. Our
faith can become battered by fear, rather than buoyed by trust. Scripture tells us our ancestors
lived in similar times, and by reading their stories we are reminded of the need for perseverance
in the face of our experiences and our times. By God’s grace, faithful waiting can bear fruit,
despair can be transformed into hope, emptiness can overflow with new life. Where have you
discovered God remembering, and responding, to heartfelt prayer? How has faith sustained you
through difficult times? When and where have you experienced families, neighbourhoods,
congregations who persevere against doubt, fear and barrenness?
Prayer
God of our life, impatiently we stamp our feet, yelling “now!”
Yet empty, we are filled with your life;
Desperate, we are gifted with your hope;
Unable to see your future, you open our eyes to faith.
May it be in the waiting that we find You. Amen