St Hilda's Anglican Catholic Church Service Times

You are invited to join us for Anglican Catholic Holy Communion / Mass on:
Every Sunday, Maitland NSW Australia. Venue: St Marys School Chapel in Victoria St. Mass at 11am.
Email
Fr Matthew Kirby for further details.
Check here for any additions or cancelations of services.

Saturday 29 June 2013

Thanks with every breath

“God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say “thank you?”  William A.Ward

"Sacred is the prayer that asks for nothing... and gives thanks for every breath you take". Prince


Gracious Lord, during my hectic day,
Forgive me for not thanking you enough,
For selfishly taking for granted my abundant blessings.

I thank you Lord for who I am.
For my experiences within your glorious creation.
For the strength of your love,
For the opportunity to love others.

I thank you Lord for the gift of life,
For the warmth and sustenance you provide my flesh.
For the wisdom and creativity you offer my mind.
For the protection and hope you offer my soul.

I thank you Lord for encouraging my growth.
For protecting me through turbulence.
For holding my hand through tears and heartache.
For teaching me through illness and loss.

I thank you Lord for your patience.
For allowing me to share your gifts with others,
For forgiveness and mercy you have shown me,
For your unconditional and eternal love.

Amen


Join us for Anglican Catholic prayer and holy communion in Taree this week 30th June.

Thursday 27 June 2013

Holy Communion Times

Grant, O Lord, we beseech thee, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Sunday 30th June - Mass at Taree (contact for details)
Sunday 7th July - Mass at Maitland 11am
Sunday   14th July - Mass at Maitland 11am
Sunday 21st July - Mass at Maitland 11am

Join us for prayer and Mass at St. Hilda's Parish, Anglican Catholic Church.
This photograph was taken during the blessing of the sacraments in St.Marys Chapel at Maitland NSW Australia.  
Click on image to enlarge. 

Wednesday 26 June 2013

Patience of my Lord


He shone light where my shadows dwelt,
Warming my lifeless heart into beating.

As silence descends my soul breaths again,
In stillness my senses awaken.

His soothing presence envelopes 
as my loyalty and trust replenish.

Thank you for your patience with me Lord,
Thank you for fresh vision and hope.

Sunday 23 June 2013

Trinity III: Summary of Sermon

[1Pe 5:10,11] But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. +

[Note: In reading the following, one needs to know that my parish observed the Octaves of Corpus Christi and Sacred Heart, with the liturgical colour being white for the last two Sundays. I realise many or most other parishes in the ACC have been green already for one or two Sundays.] 


We have green again for the first time again in a long time. I want to talk to you about the church's colours today, and what they signify for us. The verse I quoted from the Epistle connects to all 4 of the common liturgical colours, as it happens.

Grace: Red. Symbolises blood and fire. Christ's blood poured out is grace, "undeserved favour or blessing". Blood washes us from sin, so represents mercy. Fire represents the Holy Spirit, who is called in Scripture and the Prayer Book, the Spirit of grace. Red reminds us of both sacrifice, including in the Martyrs, and our need to be living sacrifices to God. Red also speaks of God's overwhelming power for us and in us.

Glory: White or gold. The joy of Christmas and Easter, the powerful virtue of Christ and his Saints, and the related Feasts. The colour of celebration and of swimming happily in the Light of God's presence. The glorious colour indeed, as we enjoy God.

Suffering: Violet or purple. The sombre colour of bruised flesh. The colour of self-discipline and penitence. Advent and Lent. We prepare for glory by taking stock of our lives, minimising distraction and luxury, and turning from sin.

Establish and settle: Green. The colour of nature, the colour of steady growth. The normal colour. It takes up the majority of the year. What does this tell us? The Christian walk has times of intensity, of joy, power and enthusiasm, of suffering, penitence and sacrifice. (The red, white and violet.) But for most of us, most of the time, the reality is steady, even slow growth. Much of the battle is patience, as I have said before. We cannot always live either in the sweetness or the sorrow. We learn a lot just by long experience and persistent effort.

The Church, wisely, reflects this balance, and teaches us of it through the colours. But many people want to live their lives only in excitement or radical change, forever in a state of flux, always looking solely for immediate solutions or immediate satisfactions. They immerse themselves in thrilling pleasures if one sort of person, or programmes supposed to quickly change themselves if another sort of person. They become addicts of one sort or another, even if only addicted to forever finding something new. Whether its addiction to drugs, consumerism, entertainments, or to new age gurus selling self-help, such an approach to life leads to instability, unproductiveness and discontent.

Yet Christians can take this approach to the spiritual life too. There are Christians who look down on the traditional balance represented by the colours of the Church's year. They are always seeking the buzz, the rush of the miraculous, the confronting, the obviously powerful. They criticise predictability in Church services and desire the overtly supernatural and the radical transformation as often as possible. The problem is that this isn't reality. "God normally works normally" as I've heard even Pentecostals, wise Pentecostals, say. The result of this unbalanced approach is sometimes pretence or delusion. Let me quote parts of a song by a Christian hip-hop artist, John Rueben, who has clearly experienced just this foolishness in churches.

[“Freedom to Feel”]
...
I can't force a happy face or makeshift you a smile
I can't deny what I see, what I feel or what's in front of me
So take your world of precious moments of make-believe
They never made me believe in anything
But left me with nothing to hold on to
Your quick fix and magic tricks can only disguise what I was going through
And now I'm thinkin' it was when it wasn't
And now I'm tryin' to rationalize what just doesn't
Come together and somehow doesn't make sense
But God, how can I convince them when I'm not even convinced?
Everyone is thinkin' it, but nobody's sayin' it
Everyone's sayin' it, but nobody's feeling it
Everyone's feeling it, but nobody's seein' it
So how am I supposed to know what's real?
False sense of happiness
My security wrapped up in this
No time to be ugly
Don't trouble them with your doubt and fears
Shout for joy little boys and girls
You brokenness ain't welcome here
Well excuse me while I bleed through and my life becomes see-through
Don't ask for transparency but reject what you see into
Can somebody tell me how am I supposed to know what's real
When I was told and controlled how to feel?

So, let us be honest about our Christian walk, and never undervalue the ordinary, gentle ways of God, or the value of patience and perseverance in our spiritual growth. Yes, God will do extraordinary things at times, and we should expect this, being willing to climb the mountain heights and slog through the valleys when required. But the ordinary means of grace found in the liturgies and sacraments of the Church, as well as in personal prayer and reading of Scripture, are our staple diet, and there is nothing wrong with that. I will finish with a quotation from Tolkien's Silmarillion, which I feel symbolises this contentment very beautifully. It speaks of the reaction of immortal angelic beings to the first verdancy of the Earth, to the "mere" normalcy of natural beauty.

And there upon the Isle of Almaren in the Great Lake was the first dwelling of the Valar when all things were young, and new-made green was yet a marvel in the eyes of the makers; and they were long content.

Truly, the ordinary means of grace are also a marvel, an abiding place of great beauty. +

Friday 21 June 2013

Good Morning Lord...

The morning sun envelops me
in the warmth of Gods Love.
The breeze caressing his whispers
across my bare face.

Each day He opens my eyes
and heart to something new.
Reminding me of His presence
through smiles placed before me,

Memories of sadness and pain
are my journeys lessons.
Strengthening my compassion,
leading me closer to Christ.

I am about to immerse myself
within his glorious creation.
May all that I add to this day
be of value and pleasing to God.

I ask that the Holy Ghost take my hand
and lead me through this day,
protecting, teaching and inspiring me
to grow in the Glory of God.

Amen

Click on image to enlarge.  Photo was taken from the river bank at Maitland NSW Australia.
You are invited to join us in the Anglican Catholic Church for prayer and Holy Communion on Sunday 23rd July 2013 at St Marys Campus in Victoria Street Maitland at 11am.

Thursday 20 June 2013

Brother John Charles' Prayer

Father of Light from whom every good gift comes, send your Spirit, we pray, into our lives with the power of an irresistible wind, and by the flame of your wisdom, open the horizons of our minds. Loosen our tongues to sing your praise in words beyond the power of human speech, for without your spirit it is not given to us to raise our voice in words of peace or to announce the truth that JESUS is LORD. Amen
Prayer by Brother John Charles Vockler. (Anglican Catholic Arch-bishop)

 Join us in church for Prayer and Holy Communion in St Marys chapel 
 at All Saints College Victoria St entrance Maitland NSW Australia, 
this weekend on Sunday 23rd June at 11am.

Tuesday 18 June 2013

Sharing a smile...

At Sunday School they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings. Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam’s ribs.

Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and she said, ‘Johnny, what is the matter?’

Little Johnny responded, ‘I have pain in my side. I think I’m going to have a wife.’

Saturday 15 June 2013

A hearty desire to pray

O LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to hear us; and grant that we, to whom thou hast given an hearty desire to pray, may by thy mighty aid be defended and comforted in all dangers and adversities; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Collect - page 221 of The Book Of Common Prayer Canada

 Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. For thy loving kindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth. I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked. I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord: That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes. But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me. My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the Lord.
Psalm 26 (KJV)

 Join us for Anglican Catholic Prayer and Holy Communion in St Marys chapel at All Saints College Victoria St entrance Maitland NSW Australia, this weekend on Sunday 16th June at 11am.

Friday 14 June 2013

God's Masterpiece

  It is now a fast paced world where gratification is expected almost instantly. Much of our modern society has an "I want - I want" attitude where our success is measured in popularity and material possessions, and some of the more important aspects of a healthy life are neglected.
"He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. ” Psalm 46:10 (KJV)

 We all have days when we feel as though we are not performing as well as others, that we are not as interesting, as energetic, as funny, as adventurous, as smart, as elegant, as giving, as useful or as loved. We are disappointed in ourselves at what we have to offer.  I came across a quote worth sharing: "You are God's handcrafted work of art. You are not an assembly-line product, mass produced without thought. You are a custom-designed, one-of-a-kind, original masterpiece." You not only need the time to "be still and know God" but to slow down and know yourself, to realise your own value, the value that God has placed in you. Understand that you don't have to fit a specific mold or unrealistic expectation that you imagine society has placed on you. God has given us all gifts. We are his living works of art and he is shaping and forming us to serve him in ways that make our ministry unique. Both our joy and our pain help us to mature and to bring new understanding and experiences to the table. Even the small, unnoticed contributions you make to other peoples lives are important. Like it or not - you do make a diffference to those around you - so aim to make it a positive difference.

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE - Image is used with the Artist permission.
More of this frog art series can be seen at http://life-of-frog.blogspot.com.au/

Saturday 8 June 2013

Long weekend

My soul is freely given to God; to guide, nurture and grow by the inspiration of Jesus Christ, with the comfort and assistance of the Holy Spirit. May they protect and inspire me until I'm mature enough to walk in my Fathers presence. Amen

O LORD, who never failest to keep and govern them whom thou dost bring up in thy stedfast fear and love: Keep us, we beseech thee, under the protection of thy good providence, and make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 
The Collect - page 219 of The Book Of Common Prayer Canada

You are invited to our church service for Anglican Catholic Prayer and Holy Communion in St Marys chapel at All Saints College Victoria St entrance Maitland NSW Australia, on Sunday 9th June at 11am.  

Don't forget this is a long weekend. If you are traveling on the roads stay safe.

Friday 7 June 2013

The lessons we face

But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, SELF CONTROL; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

"God teaches us to LOVE by putting some unloving people around us. It takes no character to love people who are lovely and loving to you. God teaches us real JOY in the midst of sorrow, when we turn to Him. Happiness depends on external circumstances, but joy is based on your relationship with God.
God develops real PEACE within us, not by making things go the way we planned, but allowing times of chaos and confusion. Anyone can be peaceful watching a beautiful sunset or relaxing on vacation. We learn real peace by choosing to trust God in circumstances in which we are tempted to worry or to be afraid. Likewise, PATIENCE is developed in circumstances in which we're forced to wait and are tempted to be angry or have a short fuse.
God uses the opposite situation of each fruit to allow us a choice. You can't claim to be GOOD if you've never been tempted to be bad. You can't claim to be FAITHFUL if you've never had the opportunity to be unfaithful. INTEGRITY is built by defeating the temptation to be dishonest: HUMILITY  grows when you refuse to be prideful: and ENDURANCE develops every time you reject the temptation to give up. Every time you defeat a temptation, you become more like Jesus!
"    Quote from Rick Warren - The purpose driven life.

So what lessons are you currently facing???
How well are you passing Gods test of character???

Monday 3 June 2013

Whatever your day holds...

God bless us with the trust, courage and strength we need to get through each day, 
and if our sense of those blessings waver, 
may we have enough love around us that our vision is replenished quickly.
Amen

Have a wonderful day.