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StLuke’sUnitingChurchHighton174BarraboolRoad,HightonPh.52442997Email:stlukes_highton@iinet.net.auWeb:www.hightonstlukes.unitingchurch.orgau

August6,2017ThisnewssheetisavailableonthewebsiteeachSaturdayevening

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Feedingthe5,000.

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PRAYERPOINTSFORTHISWEEKCOMMENCINGAugust6.• PrayforanincreasedawarenessofGod’spresencethroughouteachday,

comforting,empoweringandstrengthening.• PraiseGodforhisamazinggiftofgrace,freelygivenandavailabletoall.• Prayforopportunitiestoshareourfaithwithothers,andforcourageto

speakwhenthoseopportunitiesarise.• PrayfortheconversationsbetweentheJNCandprospectiveministers

regardingthecallingofanewministerforSt.Luke’s.• Givethanksforthosewhoareleadingworshipduringthevacancy–for

RaymondSurujpal,forLloydWalker,forMargaretandJohnRussell,andothers.

• PrayforthechildreninourcongregationandforyoungfamiliesattendingMessyChurchthisweek.Prayalsoforthe“team”ofhelpersmakingMessyChurchhappen.

• Manyinourcongregationarefacingserioushealthissues.MaytheyknowGod’speace,comfortandstrength.Prayalsofortheirfamilies.

• Prayfortheagedandfrail,thosewhoarelonelyorseparatedfromlovedones,thattheymighthaveadequatecare,companionshipandsafety.

• Prayforthosewhoaresufferinganxietyanddepression,andthosewhoarefindingitdifficulttoobtainwork.

• PrayfortheMissionOutreachofSt.Luke’s–fornewsettlerstobemadewelcomeandassisted,forMen’sShedandotherinitiatives.

• Prayforourpoliticalleadersandforworldleaders–forwisdomindecision-making,integrity,transparency,andcompassion.

• Prayforpeaceintheworld,andgivethanksforallthosewhoarepeace-makers.

• PrayforthoseinAfricancountriessuchasSouthSudanwhoarestarving.Prayalsoforthoseintheworldaffectedbyflood,fireanddrought.

• Praythattheremaybeanendtoterrorism,andprayforthevictimsandtheirfamilies.

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SHARINGTHEJOURNEY:DuringAugustJoyHickswillconductthissectionofworshipon6th,13th&27th.Shecanbecontactedon52534285or0429178973orpersonallybeforetheservice.Onthe20thitwillValMackenzie52413834or0400768288.To help keep this segment of Sunday Worship compact, it would beappreciated if announcements couldbegiven to themonthly leaderbeforethecommencementoftheservice.

'FIVELOAVESANDTWOFISH'

Matthew14:13-21

It is very challenging to preach on the 'Feeding of Five Thousand' withoutrealising themany issues facing theworld today.We thinkof the children inmany parts of the world suffering because of unclean water. We think ofpeopleinmanycountriesdyingfromfamineandmalnutritionandwethinkofmillionsof refugees forcedto leavetheirhomelandandseekshelter inothercountries.Thesearesomeoftheimagesthatcometomind.What then is the significance of this miracle in our modern world? The'feedingofthefivethousand'isaboutGod'sgenerositybutJesus'messagetoall his followers nowand in the future is “you give them something to eat.”(Matthew14:16).YouandIarecalledupontogivebreadtothehungry,tobealivingEucharistforthepeople.In the gospel story, Jesuswas told by his disciples that John theBaptist hadbeenexecutedbyHerod.WhenJesusheardthishewithdrewwithhisdisciplestoacitycalledBethsaidabutthecrowdhearditandtheyfollowedhim.Weallknowwhathappenedafterwards.Themiraclethatoccurredwassoprofoundthatitwasrecordedbyallthegospelwriters.Matthewtellsusthat5,000menwerefedbutmanybiblicalscholarscalculatethatincludingwomenandchildren,thisnumbercouldhavebeengreaterthan10,000.

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Therearetwopoints Iwould liketomakeaboutthismiracle.Firstly,whydidJesusperformthismiracle?Well,thecharacterofJesusisrevealedinasingleword,“compassion”.MatthewsaidthatJesussawthecrowdthathadfollowedhimandhehad“compassionfor them”(14:14).So,hehealedtheirsickandsharedwith themhis presence. And then,when evening came, they did nothavefood,so,hefedthem.Secondly, Jesus uses the disciples to tend to the needs of the thousands ofmen, women and children. Matthew first depicts a picture of scarcity “fiveloavesand two fishes” - tooneofabundance.Thedisciplesarecaughtup inJesus'wordsofabundanceandgratitude.Theydistributewhattheyhave.GodusesthedisciplestocareforthepoorandhungrywhomGodlovessomuch.Themiraclescontinuetoday!Whenorganisationslike'Uniting'ortheSalvationArmycollectbasketsoffoodorblanketsanddistributethemtoneedyfamiliesorthehomelesspeoplesleepingonthestreetsinGeelongorMelbourne,Godisworkingthesamemiracle.Whenatopeyesurgeongivesuphis/her jobtojoin the Fred Hollows Foundation to give sight to people in poor countries,God's miracles continue. When social workers or family members rescuesomeonewho is subjected toviolenceandabuseorwhensomeonegivesupeverything to look after someone who is sick or disabled, the God ofcompassionisagainrevealed.GodisstillatworkperformingmiraclesthroughHisdisciples.Godcaresdeeplyand passionately for all those who are most vulnerable – the lonely, thehomeless,therefugee,thehungryandGodusesustocareforthem.WhenwepartakeintheHolyCommunioneachmonth,letusremindourselvesthatGodhasfedusheavenlyfood.Ourtask istoshareGod's love,compassion,mercyandgracewithallwemeetandespeciallywiththoseindeepestneeds.Blessings RaymondSurujpal

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ROSTERSPLEASEENSURETHATYOUFOLLOWTHEROSTERWHICHHASBEEN

DISTRIBUTEDTOALLTHOSELISTEDFORDUTY.AUGUST13,2017

FLOWERS TBA USHERS D&TAyrtonDYounghusbandIAllan

COMMUNIONBREAD

3rdSunday(20th) COMMUNIONSETUP

3rdSunday

COMMUNION 3rdSunday(20th) WELCOMER HSwanMORNINGTEA JHicks,JMarshman CARDRIVING JHicksSOUND KMcAvaney POWERPOINT MSellerCONNECTIONS LRobertson READER IPetersen

StLuke’sEnvironmentActionGroup.

NationalTreeDaylastSunday(30July)wasaverysuccessfulactivity.11 people in total planted, weeded and mulched. Apart from the Environment Groupthere were 3 young people, 2 people from outside Uniting church, the chairperson ofGrovedaleUnitingChurchand1dog.

Jean,Michelle,Deb,IanandRonLloydandToto

StLuke’sEnvironmentActionGroupNews

6August2017

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Weplantedover20 indigenoustrees,shrubsandgrassesalongthesouthernsideoftheGeelong Uniting Barwon and Grovedale Uniting Church site. Last year’s Tree Day weconcentrated on the Eastern side of the property, planting over 20 trees. Therefore atotalofover40plants,specificallyindigenoustotheGrovedaleareahavebeenplantedtoimproveandenhancethesurroundingsofUnitingBarwonandGrovedaleUnitingChurch.

Edwardwell-earnedafternoontea

LadiesEveningFellowship.Weare having a lunch at the homeofGlendaMurrant, 5Mala Ct,GrovedaleonThursday17thAugustat12noon.Pleasebringasmallplateoffoodtoshare.

St.Luke’sEnvironmentActionGroupNextmeeting28August2017

At7.30pmintheFellowshipRoom

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WhatisPrayer?PrayerisspendingtimeinGod’spresence,prayingforthepeopleyouknowandlove,andsituationsthatconcernyou.When we pray, we can kneel, stand, walk around, have our eyes open orclosed.Wecanpraysilentlyorverbally.NomatterhowweprayGodiswaitingandlistening.However,prayerismuchmorethanjust‘talkingtoGod,prayeristrustinginGod,communicatingwithGodandseekingafterGod’swill.AtSt. Luke’sweconsiderprayer tobean importantpartofourworshipandministryandweofferseveralopportunitiestospendtimeinGod’spresence.WehaveanactivePrayerLinkwhereprayersaresharedwiththosewhohavecommitted topray for theneedsandconcernsof thecongregationandtheirfamilyandfriends.Theseprayersarealwaysconfidentialandareonlysharedwiththewidercongregationifpermissionisreceived.UrgentprayerscanbeemailedtoJeanonbijl.williams@gmail.comatanytimeduringtheweek.TherearePrayerRequestFormsinthebackofeachpew.ThesecanbefilledinandhandedtoJeanWilliamsorPamSellerfollowingworship.Prayer Candles are available at the front of the church. Candles representprayersforpeopleorsituationsthatwecareaboutandmaybelitatanytimebeforeorduringtheservice.PrayerPartner/PrayerCorner atimeofsharedprivateprayerisalsoofferedfollowingworship.PleasecontactPamSellerorBethAllen.AlltheaboveprovideuswithopportunitiestocommunicatewithGod.

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LECTIONARYREADINGS:AUGUST13,2017

Genesis37:1-4,12-28.. Psalm105:1–6,16-22,45b Romans10:5-15 .. Matthew14:22-33

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LASTWEEK’SSTATISTICSOFFERING:ACTUAL: $1,526 Y.T.D.$52,639 BUDGET: $1,639 Y.T.D.$53,038

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THISWEEK’SDIARY:

Mon 7 7.00pm GeelongChoraleTue 8 9.30am

5.00pmMen’sShedWeightWatchers

Wed 9 11.00am6.30pm7.30pm

Chew,Chat&ThreadsWelshLadiesChoirSeekers

Thurs 10 9.30am9.30am2.00pm4.00pm4.30pm

Let’sMakeMusicMen’sShedMidweekService(HRobinson)HCChoirPracticeYouthChoir(JuniorChoir)

Fri 11 9.30am10.30am2.00pm4.00pm

TrekkiesLet’sMakeMusicCottagebytheSeaMessyChurch

Sat 12 10.00am MusicalSociety&GeelongChoraleSun 13 9.30am

1.00pmWorship–RevMRussellMusicalSociety&GeelongChorale