This Sunday we celebrate Australia Day, which falls on Tuesday. Australia Day is the foremost expression of Australian culture and identity, celebrated each year on a nationally declared public holiday. For those who call Australia home, regardless of their view of what happened 225 years ago and the history that is behind this date, Australia Day is an opportunity to give thanks for the land we live in.
There can be no doubt that our country has been richly blessed by our creator God. From the perspective of natural wonders and beauty, this land is magnificent. There are the deserts of the outback, the mountain ranges, the grassy paddocks, the wildlife, the rivers, and the magnificent coastline with its cliffs, islands and white sandy beaches.
It is all so vast and so different and we can only exclaim that this land is a masterpiece of natural beauty. God's creativity never ceases to amaze.
I’m sure people in other countries rightly make the same claim about their land, the place they call home. We should not be boasting that our country is better than any other, but thanking God that coupled with the natural beauty of our land are the peace and freedom that we have enjoyed as a nation.
Let’s pray.
God of Australia,
you have loved this ancient land
long before European eyes explored it.
On this Australia Day
we offer our praise.
We bring you our gratitude
for the diversity and wealth of this land and its people;
for its weathered old mountains, fertile valleys, and vast plains;
for its riches of mine and agriculture, forest and grazing land;
for the first Australians, who know and love this continent
with an intimate, profound sensitivity;
for the courage, vision and sacrifice of early settlers;
for the diverse races who now call Australia home.
For these and all your gifts
we offer you, O Lord, our joyful thankful hearts. Amen.
Bruce Prewer
Baptism
This Sunday 24 January Bo Liu will be baptised at 9.10 am at Brighton Beach outside the Royal Brighton Yacht Club. All are welcome to come and join in welcoming Bo Liu into the church of God.
The sun shone on Friday for the funeral of Roger Sanderson, just as it has nearly 2 weeks ago for the funeral of David Greenhalgh. Thank you to everyone who made those occasions so special from the carpark attendants, pewsheet printers and the catering facilities organisers.
Church floors
During the week the flooring in the church and chapels was stripped and resealed. The result was very pleasing as those who attended Friday’s funeral can attest.
It does mean that we should not, however, move the Pioneer altar into the main body of the church as this is damaging the flooring.
Brighton Schoolhouse Café
The garden areas of the café has had a facelift and it looking great from the street. You can now order on-line from your table, and a waiter will bring it to you.
This week at St Andrew’s
click here to see our calendar of services and events
Advance notice for your diaries
St Andrew’s Opportunity Shop re-opens on Wednesday 27 January with a half-price sale (open Wednesdays & Thursdays 10am-3pm)
SACPA welcome & AGM will be held in the Lady Chapel on Friday 29 January at 8pm.
mainly music will recommence on Monday 1 February
English Conversation Group will recommence on Monday 1 February
St Andrew’s Choir returns to church on 7 February when we will be commissioning the new choir members
Merry Melodies is delaying its return given the persistent limitations around masks, food and singing
主任牧师寄语 24/01/2021
本周主日我们将庆祝周二的澳大利亚国庆日。“澳大利亚日”是澳大利亚文化和身份认同的最重要表达，是全国性的公共假日。对于那些把澳大利亚称为家的人来说，不管他们如何看待225年来发生的事情以及这个日子背后的历史，澳大利亚日是一个很好的机会让我们来感谢我们所生活的土地和国家。
毫无疑问，我们的国家得到了造物主上帝的充分祝福。从自然奇观和美丽的角度来看，这片土地是壮丽的。这里有内陆的沙漠、山脉、长满青草的围场、野生动物、河流和悬崖峭壁、岛屿和白色沙滩的壮丽海岸线。
它是如此辽阔，如此与众不同，我们只能感叹，这片土地是自然美景的杰作。上帝的创造力总是让人惊叹。
我相信其他国家的人也会对他们的土地，他们称之为家的地方做出同样的声明。我们不应该自夸我们的国家比其他任何国家都好，但感谢上帝，我们拥有土地的自然美景加上我们作为一个国家享有和平和自由， 这一切都值得我们感恩。
让我们祷告。
澳大利亚的主啊
你眷顾这片古老的土地
远在欧洲人探索它之前。
在澳大利亚国庆日
我们达我们的赞美。
我们向您献上我们的感激：
为这片土地 , 它的人民的多样性和财富;
为它饱经风霜的古老山脉、肥沃的山谷和广阔的平原;
为它丰富的矿产资源、农业、森林和牧场;
为那些第一批澳大利亚人，他们了解并热爱这片大陆
有一种亲密而深刻的敏锐;
作为早期移民的勇气、远见和牺牲;
为那些把澳大利亚当作家的各种多元化种族。
感谢你的这些礼物
主啊，我们将喜悦感激的心献给你。阿们
Bruce Prewer
Vale Roger Sanderson
周五，Roger Sanderson 的葬礼上阳光明媚，David Greenhalgh 的葬礼上一样。感谢所有让这些活动变得如此特别的人，包括停车场服务员、单张打印员和餐饮设施组织者。
教堂的地板
在这一周里，教堂和小礼拜堂的地板被拆除并重新密封。参加周五葬礼的人可以证明，结果非常令人满意。
School House 校舍咖啡馆
咖啡馆的花园区已经焕然一新，从街上看很漂亮。你现在可以在你的桌子上在线点餐，服务员会把菜端给你。
本周教会活动安排
刘波姐妹的受浸仪式将于2021年1月24日，本周主日早上9点10分在Brighton 帆船俱乐外面的海里进行，欢迎大家参加见证神的圣礼，并欢迎刘波归入神家。
SACPA欢迎暨年会将于1月29日(星期五)晚上8点在圣母堂举行。
Mainly Music， English Conversation Group 将于2021年2月1 日星期一重新开始
圣安德鲁合唱团将于2月7日返回教堂，届时我们将委任新的合唱团成员
2021年2月11日，每个月的第二个星期二，“快乐的旋律” Merry Melodies将在教堂里回归。
Fr Ian Morrison
牧师