Face to face services launch this Sunday 29 November

We are delighted that our services can return in a more ‘COVID normal’ format from this Sunday, 29th November! 

This means that all of our regulars and visitors are invited to join us WITHOUT pre-registering. However, all attendees will be required to ‘check-in’ upon arrival.

Spaces, capacities and masks

Inside:
Our capacity inside the Church is 64 people, with overflow seating in the foyer, as required. 
At present, masks must be worn inside at all times, unless you are in an exempt category.

Outside:
Our capacity outside is 300 people.

At present, masks must be carried and are only required to be worn when singing, when physical distancing cannot be maintained or if we have a need to relocate indoors due to weather.

Service details:
8am: Inside the Church.
9:15am: Inside the Church (and foyer if needed). 
11am: Outside under the gum tree*
5pm: Outside under the gum tree*

* If windy, we will meet in the carpark. If wet or temperature is above 35 degrees, we will meet in the church and foyer and have a different format to suit a spread out congregation.

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We often forget

“Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands”. (Deuteronomy 8:1-2).

At one of my previous Parish, a lady complained to me that she had noticed many repetitions in my sermons. “Why do you do that?” she asked me. My counter question was: “How old is the youngest member of the parish?” Her answer was 78. Then I responded for her question saying: “due the ageing process, people forget”. Hence my repetitions to register at least my main points; so, I intentionally repeat myself. There are lots of reasons we forget – the passage of time, ageing older or being too busy. We forget passwords, names of people or even where we park our car especially at Supermarkets or Airport. There is only so much we can fit in our brain. There are times we need to delete something in our minds before we can remember something new. This is part of the human nature. The lady agreed. She said, “It is right. We all forget. I remember your sermons because your repetitions help me”.

We often need reminders to help us remember what God has done for us. Israelites had a similar tendency. Even with the many miracles they had experienced, they still needed to be reminded of his compassionate care for them. In the above-mentioned Deuteronomy passage, God reminded the Israelites that he had allowed them to experience hunger in the wilderness but followed by providing them amazing superfood daily – manna. God supplied clothing that never wore out. God led them through exile and captivity. They had learned humility and gratefulness, as they realized how totally dependent, they were on God’s grace, compassion, and provision.

“God’s faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalm 100:5). Now that we all have come out of the Covid-19 pandemic tunnel, on to the green pastures, let us remember with thanksgiving how our Lord our God has led us all the way through the pandemic tunnel. Whenever we find ourselves forgetting God’s intervention and participating in our pandemic journey, let us remember with thanksgiving the ways Our Lord Almighty intervened in our pandemic journey via his human agencies and answered our prayers.
So, let us join with Jeremiah praising God: “God’s compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is his faithfulness, so great is his unfailing love” (Lamentations 3:22-23& 32).

Rev Bertram Mather
Pastoral Care Minister

Can you help?

One of our 9:15-ers is in need of short-term help with some life admin including things like investigating best health insurance, invoices for Medicare and some email needs. She normally has help from her sister or a support worker, but just at this time they are unavailable. Do you have the knowledge, availability and skills to offer to meet with our sister and help?  If so, please call Karen for further details.

Christmas welcome

As Christmas fast approaches, it’s time to consider if you may have a spare seat at your Christmas table for someone this year. If you do, please give Karen a call. Likewise, if you are someone who would like to be adopted into a home for Christmas rather than being alone, please let Karen know. Let’s make sure in this isolated year that no one is left alone!

Interview with Kevin and Jenny Furness

If you missed seeing the interview with Kevin and Jenny Furness from our 9:15 Service, you are able to catch up on their story here.

This Sunday

The Traditional Service for Sunday will be live streamed at 9:15am The service is available for catch up throughout the week.

Readings

This Sunday’s reading: Matthew 25:31-46

Thank you gift for the Edwards

Through the month of November, we will be opening an opportunity to contribute to a farewell gift for Rob and Michelle.  Rob and Michell Edwards have lovingly served us at Holy Trinity for the last 16 years and they have been absolute blessing to us from God.

If you would like to contribute to this gift, the best way is to utilise our current church banking details and mark the deposit:  EDWARDS GIFT.  Bank details: Anglican Parish south east. BSB: 633-000 ACC 120780267

Church Member Contact Management System

So that you can expect it, over the coming weeks or months you may receive an email from Nigel Preston inviting you to update your contact details and chose a password for our new church contact management system.  This system will be particularly helpful for those on rosters, it also will replace the old way that we used to update contact details each year via a paper form.  We are also using this software to help you book into our face to face services.

Ordination of Bertram and Rob as priests

We have the delight to announce that it is planned for Bertram Mather and Rob Edwards to be ordained as priests in the Anglican Church by Bishop Matt on November 28^th.  Bertram will continue on serving our Parish part time, focusing on pastoral care and Rob in his role as minister at the Strathfieldsaye Community Church.

Pastoral Care

If you would like a pastoral visit from Bertram, please call and arrange a time. The ministry team continues to be calling and visiting our elderly, unwell and shut-in members, but please also know you are welcome to request a visit at any time too.

Bertram’s passion is pastoral care and we are blessed to have him available at South East Bendigo largely for this need, so please do not feel your needs are not important enough or that you would be putting him out!

Invite someone out, over or to church

Some people may be feeling very cautious or unenthused about re-entering into life again after our long stint at home.  Some people may even feel uncomfortable driving now.  This caution maybe to church or community spaces or just out of the house in general.  I wonder if there is someone you could invite back to church with you or back into to community life for a cuppa somewhere.  For some this re-entering may be more smooth and less daunting if they can do it with others help.  You may be that help.

Prayer Guide

The prayer guide is updated every week and is available under the Prayer at Home menu tab on the HT website. Please use them as much as possible in your prayer life.