Dear Friends and Families,

Welcome back to you all and I trust that you enjoyed both rest and refreshment during the Christmas period and the Summer holidays. Some words from the Christian Scriptures to consider: 

‘Although I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink; instead I hope to come to you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete’ [2 John 12].

These beautiful words, from the end of a pastoral letter by the apostle John, perfectly summarise, I believe, the emotion of desiring to be physically present with people. In our Victorian context, it perhaps can be expressed by the sentiment that it is now so much better to be seeing people in our homes, rather than through the mediums of Zoom, Teams and Facebook!

The celebration of Christmas was about the ongoing wonder of the Incarnation, where God himself takes on human flesh and becomes like one of us in this world. He literally dwells with us!

This term, we look forward towards the season of Lent, which anticipates the celebrations of both Good Friday and Easter, where this same God-in-the-flesh will take upon himself the brokenness of the world, absorbing sin, and thus make all things anew.

While we await the rollout of the COVID vaccine and get back into the busyness of domestic and school routines now, I do hope and pray that our hearts will again soon be warmed with the ultimate and most compelling display of love this world has ever witnessed: the Son of God coming to this earth to be our Saviour.   

If you would like to speak further, or have questions about the Christian life, then do please contact me at: [email protected]

I also encourage you to pray the prayer for the week below.

If you would like to explore the certainty of Christ further, the two local Anglican churches listed below lead regular Sunday services.

St Peter’s, Craigieburn (meeting in the Chapel at Hume Anglican Grammar – 100 Mt Ridley Road, Mickleham)

Locum: Father Charles Potter

Mobile: 0468 331 549 / 03 9308 2452

Email: [email protected]

http://www.humeparish.melbourneanglican.org.au

https://www.facebook.com/humeparishcraigieburn/

Redemption Anglican Church (meeting now at the Hume Tennis & Community Centre - 225 Marathon Blvd, Craigieburn)

Pastor: Rev. Akhil Gardner

Mobile: 0400 021 381

Email: [email protected]

https://www.rccraigieburn.com.au/online

https://www.facebook.com/rccraigieburn/

Prayer for the week

Father of all,

who gave your only-begotten Son,

to take upon himself the form of a servant,

and to be obedient even to death on a cross:

give us the same mind that was in Christ Jesus,

that, sharing in his humility,

we may come to be with him in his glory;

where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Song (Who You Say I Am)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcC1Bp13n_4

Reverend Peter Waterhouse - School Chaplain