Vicar's News - 15 March 2026

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Christ healing the blind man - Beth Abbey. Lawrence OL

Lent 4

Laetare - Mothering Sunday

Traditionally, this Sunday has been a day of celebration within the austere period of Lent. 'Laetare' comes from the latin opening verse of Latin introit for this day: 'Rejoice with Jerusalem..'. To signify that this is a rejoiceful day, rose-coloured vestments (rather than purple) are worn. On Mothering Sunday, Christians have historically visited their mother church—the church in which they received the sacrament of baptism, hence the alternate title - 'Mothering Sunday'.

In this weekend's gospel, Jesus heals a man born blind by spitting on the ground, making mud, and applying it to the man's eyes before telling him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. This miracle, performed on the Sabbath, demonstrated God's power and resulted in the man receiving his sight. And Jesus is declared the light of the world.

Alex De Leon, our student minister, is preaching this weekend.

Music on Sunday

LAETARE SUNDAY

CHORAL EUCHARIST @ 10.00 AM

Prelude: Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren (Now praise my soul the Lord) –

Johann Gottfried Walther (1684-1748)

Hymns: Processional Come down, O love divine

Gradual Let all the world in every corner sing

Thanksgiving Amazing Grace

Post Communion Sing we of the blessed mother

Setting: St. Andrew’s Mass – Timothy Mallis (b.1996)

Psalm: 23 (Anstey Psalter Trial)

Anthem: Locus Iste – Peter Leech (world premiere)

Motet: Plainchant Magnificat

Postlude: Serenade – Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937) (transcribed by W. J. Westbrook)

Vale

With much sadness we acknowledge the death of Nereda Hanlon. A private funeral will be held next week, followed by a memorial service at St Andrew's on a date to be advised. Our condolences to the Hanlon family.

May Nereda rest in peace, and rise in glory.

Through the generosity of a donor, we are having a silent austion over the remainder of Lent and Hoily Week to raise money towards the installation of gates and fencing between the chapel and 230A New Street (behing the church) to reduce the incidence of anti-social behaviour in the Garden of Remembrance and the Eastern Courtyard. A flyer can be downloaded here and will also be inside the pewsheets this week.

Social Cohesion

An article about our sign of support for Australian Jews appeared in this week's Australian Jewish News. You can read it here. We have reveived many emails and calls of thanks for our support from this community.