Author Archives: Jan Harper

Tomorrow will be the last Boot Sale for the year, and a huge thank you to all those volunteers who supported Ron and his team every month, not forgetting ‘Joan’s Scones for Missions’’ from Joan Blackman.

Rev Robyn Davis was the celebrant on Sunday 2nd, and challenged us again to enter into the spirit of Advent with some practical preparation for the lead up to Christmas.  Advent studies are on Wednesdays at 11.00 am after the Swan Hill 10.00 am service, then at 3.30 pm at Nyah West Op Shop, and Swan Hill on Mondays at 6.00 pm in the Foyer, BYO tea.

Many parishioners attended St Paul’s on Saturday December 2^nd to farewell our retiring Bishop of Bendigo. Bishop Andrew Curnow, the longest serving bishop in the Bendigo Diocese and his wife Jan will be greatly missed. We pray for whomever will succeed him, also praying for a new Rector our Parish of Swan Hill.

On 6th December at the midweek service,   Saint Nicholas was remembered as the Bishop of Myra, in Turkey, teacher, preacher and philanthropist in the 4^th century. He was 150^th of the great gathering of bishops attending Nicaea as they discussed and formatted our Nicaean Creed.

Rev Gary Fordham was again in Swan Hill for last Sunday’s service, and bookmarks were given out listing all services for Christmas. Invitations were also distributed for December 17^th and 24^th, firstly advertising Café Church at 5.00pm Sunday 17^th in the Foyer.  There will be Christmas craft activities, free sausage sizzle and a rehearsal for the Children’s Christmas Pageant, which will take place on Sunday December 24^th.  This will be at 5.00 pm in the church, with light refreshments following. All families welcome, help to spread the message of Christmas.

Today at 2.00 pm there will be a “ Cut up day” at Dillons,  good fun and great afternoon tea. This will be the last for the year.

Tonight several carloads from Swan Hill will travel to Ultima for Carol singing and tea at the Ultima Pub, 6.00 for 6.30 pm.

Please call the office to include names so that catering needs can be met. Transport is available, call Rev Denis.

Tomorrow at 10.30am Rev Denis will conduct the Alcheringa service and song requests will be honoured so happy voices can be heard.

Last Sunday Rev Robyn Davis was the celebrant, and challenged us again to enter into the spirit of Advent and do some practical preparation for the lead up to Christmas.  Advent studies are on Wednesdays at 11.00 am after the Swan Hill 10.00 am service, then at 3.30 pm at Nyah West Op Shop, and Swan Hill on Mondays at 6.00 pm in the Foyer,  BYO tea.

Last Wednesday there was a service of Prayer, Praise and Proclamation, and being December 6^th  Saint Nicholas was remembered as the Bishop of Myra, teacher, preacher and philanthropist in the 4^th century. He was 150^th  of the great gathering of bishops at Nicea as they discussed and formatted our “Nicean Creed.” Many of our parish attended Bendigo last Saturday to farewell another wonderful Bishop.

Bishop Andrew Curnow has been the longest serving bishop in the Bendigo Diocese; he and his wife Jan will be greatly missed.

We pray for whomever will succeed him, while also praying for a new Rector for the Parish of Swan Hill.

As a result of generous donations, last Sunday’s concert in the church, the Hamlin Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia will receive just over $200.00. Thanks to all who made the day such a pleasurable one despite the heat, in fact when the whole company of musicians closed the program in ensemble playing  “When the Saints go Marching in “ the audience of about 50 people was quite joyfully participating! Hopefully the numbers will double for the next event on the New Year.

Advent studies have commenced in preparation to greet the season of Christmas in the right spirit. There are three times each week the studies will be shared: Wednesdays after the 10.00 am Holy Communion service and at 3.30 pm at the Nyah West Op Shop, and Monday nights in the Foyer at 6.00 pm,  BYO tea.

Last Tuesday three M.U. members attended the AGM and final meeting of the Swan Hill CWL for a lovely luncheon. Our MU managed a reincarnation by Swan Hill Diocesan members joining the younger ladies in the Nyah West branch. All these ladies do wonderful within our community and the wider world.  Nyah West combined branch met for their Christmas break-up lunch at the RSL Club last Wednesday after their first Advent study. Anyone is welcome to share the journey within the groups.

This Sunday Rev Robyn Davis will be the celebrant at the 9.30 service, then on Wednesday 6^th come along at 10.am and perhaps learn something new about Saint Nicholas, as it is his feast day.

Please add names to the list for a special meal Friday 8^th at the Ultima Hotel, 6.00 – 6.30 pm, Carols and fellowship.  All welcome.

The parish family enjoyed a great weekend of special events.

Following a successful Boot Sale, parishioners on the Sunday entered into the spirit of the Pioneer Settlement wearing an assortment of old time clothing to attend the service of Morning Prayer in the beautiful little Church.

At 5.00 pm at Café Church, the Baker family carried out a splendid re-creation of “Family Feud” which tested most of the participants. Hilarity ensued when  teams were asked to name the most popular Christmas Carols (“ according to a survey”!) and  our organist, who has played for most of the Christmas services for decades suffered a ‘senior moment’ and went blank!

Next Saturday (2^nd December) many parishioners will travel to Bendigo for the service of the Bishop laying up his staff. Our prayers and best wishes go with Andrew and Jan in their retirement.

On Wednesday at the morning service the Mothers’ Union participated in the Wave of Prayer worldwide. This week we pray for Iraq, and the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East.  Mothers’ Union there supports relief work in Erbil, and the Anglican presence at St George’s, Bagdad, is thriving.

This Sunday at 2.00 pm there will be a concert in the Anglican Church, admission by donation includes afternoon tea. Proceeds are for the Hamlin Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia, an annual gift from our Mothers’ Union and our audiences. The program will feature a Jazz Band brought together by Reg Packer, also combining with the Swan Hill Ukulele Group during the afternoon.  Bonnie Kelly from the cast of “Oklahoma” will present one of the songs from the forthcoming show.  Several  holders of music scholarships administered by the Anglican Parish will be performing, also  Geoff Edmunds who plays the very impressive Wagner tuba. Please bring friends to encourage the young musicians, while supporting a humanitarian cause.

Last Sunday Rev’d Robyn Davis led the 9.30am service and began with the interesting exercise of moving everyone out of their ‘spot’ to another part of the nave. An hilarious article was written on this exercise some years ago by journalist Beryl Rule for the Melbourne Anglican publication “See”.   We accept that Jesus is at the right hand of God, but after that we are all just equally His servants, and should claim no place of personal importance, as we get the job done in His name.

Rev’d Denis Gell conducted the funeral service for Hilda Coster last Friday, and her amazing lifetime of devotion to faith and family, and to so many community activities, was presented with much love and humour by three generations of the family.  Fittingly, as it had been All Saints Day last week, the Recessional Hymn chosen was “For all the Saints who from their labours rest “.

There will be a Eucharist at Ultima at 7.30pm tonight, a 10.30am worship service at Alcheringa tomorrow, and on Sunday Fr Gary Fordham will return as celebrant, while All Saints Nyah West will have Morning Prayer.

Please note that Sunday 19^th will be a 9.30am service in the Pioneer Church at the Settlement, period dress optional ! The photo is of the Pioneer Service 3 years ago, with Hilda and Maggie, both our beloved saints now gone to God.

On the following Sunday, 26^th  November, there will be a concert in the church at 2.00pm.  Featured will be a Jazz Quartet, the Swan Hill Ukulele Group ( SHUGS) , several soloists, and  Theatre Organ requests.  Admission by donation to the Mothers ’ Union mission project in Ethiopia, the Hamlin Fistula Hospital.  Plan to bring friends and stay for afternoon tea