Upcoming Services & Events
Each of our Christmas services will be held at St John’s and livestreamed, so you can attend in person or invite friends over and celebrate from home. And the recent changes in government regulations mean that we can welcome EVERYONE, regardless of vaccination status, to our in-person services. You can find more details for our Christmas services, here.
Sunday 19 December – Community Carols
Arrive from 6:30pm, for a 7:00pm start. BYO picnic dinner.
Note, this is our only service this weekend.
Friday 24 December – Christmas Eve Family Service
Arrive from 4:30pm and enjoy the Animal Farm. Service begins at 5:00pm.
This service has a relaxed family focus and features carols and a performance by St John’s Kids.
Friday 24 December – Christmas Eve Traditional Service
11:00pm, candlelight service featuring carols and an inspiring message.
Saturday 25 December – Christmas Day
9:00am celebration including Holy Communion
Sunday 26 December
10:00am Zoom service only today
Join here (If prompted, Meeting ID: 819 9108 2223 Passcode: 430669)
Friday 31 December – New Year’s Eve Celebration
An open invitation is extended, particularly to young families and others for who midnight celebrations may be improbable, to celebrate on New Year’s Eve together.
Arrive from 4:30pm.
Anthony Beale Reserve Playground, 277 St Helena Rd.
BYO Picnic Dinner (BBQ facilities available). As well as a playground and oval, there is a half basketball court and junior skate ramp, so bring bats, balls, skateboards, scooters, etc.
Family Discipleship
This week is the fourth Sunday of Advent – the season in the lead up to Christmas, when we prepare for the coming of Jesus. In our services, we have been lighting a candle each week to remind us that Jesus brings light into the world.
For those of you who have created an advent wreath at home, light the fourth candle, LOVE, this week.
Love is a frequently used word to describe how much someone enjoys or prefers something: I love football. I love pizza. I love being with my friends.
But love is more than just liking something a lot.
Read 1 Corinthians 13 together and note the ways love is described.
This kind of love is selfless and never-ending and so much more powerful than liking a sport or a food: you may like those things today and change your mind in a few years. God loves us every day, always.
Discuss:
- Describe love in your own words.
- What is the way you feel the most loved?
- Where do you see the love of God in your life?
- Could God ever stop loving you?
- How can we share God’s love with others?
We worship a God of love. He shows his love through his plans for our lives and all that he provides for us. At Christmas we celebrate his ultimate outpouring of love – sending his son into the world as a human baby, to be the perfect example of love, and to die to save us.
Have a great week,
Kylie – Children & Families’ Minister
St John’s is committed to Child Safety and welcomes your feedback on how we can keep improving.
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