EASTER SERVICES

Friday

9am at Merredin. Good Friday service.

6pm at Mukinbudin we will have a Tenebrae Service. Come along if you missed the service on Thursday evening.

Sunday

9am – Easter Service at Merredin with Holy Communion and Thanksgiving for Fanie & Suzette’s daughter Lianie

11am – Easter Service at Bruce Rock

LADIES GUILD

Meets at 10am at the Merredin Church on TUESDAY 6 April. The feature will be the movie “Fireproof”. A poignant story of daring to love your partner to the limits.

MORE MEN’S SECRET BUSINESS

6pm at Venue 68 on WEDNESDAY 7 April

Julian Krieg will speak on “Dealing with stress and disappointment”, “Taking life in context” and “Talk to a mate”. Check out Steve Higgin’s article in last week’s Mercury and David’s in the forthcoming issue.

BLESSING OF THE PLOUGH IN BRUCE ROCK

At St Mary’s Catholic Church at 11am on SUNDAY April 11th. Followed by morning tea.

VIETNAM FOR CHRIST

Ralph & Linda Parker will be at the Church of Christ at 7pm on THURSDAY April 15th. Bring a plate to share at 6pm.

BLESSING OF THE SEASON

The Churches in Merredin will hold special services in their own congregations on SUNDAY April 18th

Just a quick post to let you know when our Easter services will be. They are as follows…

Merredin

April 1 @ 7pm Tenebrae
April 2 @ 9am Good Friday
April 4 @ 9am Easter

Mukinbudin

April 2 @ 6pm Good Friday

Bruce Rock

April 4 @ 11am Easter

If you are not a regular to our church, please feel free to come along to one of these services. We would love to have you join us for this special time.

God Bless,

Dave Q

• December 27 – Final service of the year at 9.00am. All welcome.
• January 3 – Combined service at the Anglican Church – 9.00am
• January 10 – Combined service at the Church of Christ – 9.30am
• January 17 – Combined service at the Uniting Church – 9.00am
• January 17 – Moorditj Mia Nursing Home – 2.30pm
• January 24 – All church services return to normal – 9.00am

All the members of Merredin Uniting Church would like to wish the people of Merredin and the surrounding towns a very blessed Christmas. We hope and pray this Christmas is a wonderful, happy and safe time for you and your family.

If you would like to join us for our Christmas Day Service it will be at 9.00am at our church building on Fifth Street. Come and hear “What’s so amazing about Christmas”. All are welcome.

God’s Richest Blessings

Dear David,

It was a delight and privilege to meet you when we visited Merredin recently. I know that for some tour members it was a highlight of the tour and I am sure the Merredin people enjoyed it as much as we did.

Thank you David for your leadership of the service and also giving us an insight into your own faith journey – your personal touch was very inspiring to the Sing Australia members.

Merredin is very fortunate to have you as their Minister – you are an inspirational leader and a wonderful asset to Merredin and the surrounding district.

I am sure the event opened new doors for you in Merredin and this will be invaluable in your work in that community.

The remainder of the tour was a great success with many memorable nights of singing, dining and friendship with existing groups. We started a new group in Kalgoorlie. Our visits to schools in Wyalkatchem, Morowa and Mullewa touched the hearts of everyone in the group and these times were highlights of the tour.

Again, many thanks for the wonderful hospitality shown to us, it will long be remembered by all tour members.

Have a very Happy and Blessed Christmas,

Yours sincerely,

Colin Slater  OAM
National Director

Hello all, here is the fourth advent reading that was read by the Higgins family yesterday…

Last Sunday we lit the candle of joy.  We light it and the candles of hope and peace again as we remember that Christ, who was born in Bethlehem, will come again to fulfil all of God’s promises and bring us everlasting peace and joy (Light the Candles of Hope, Peace, and Joy).

The fourth candle of Advent is the Candle of Love. God’s love is a perfect love.  It holds nothing back. God, in love, gives us everything we need to live a life of hope and peace.

The bible says that “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”  Jesus shows us God’s perfect love.

This is what love is like: Love is patient, love is kind and envies no one.  Love is never boastful or conceited, rude or selfish.  Love is not quick to take offense, it keeps no records of wrongs, it does not gloat

over other people’s troubles, but rejoices in the right, the good, and the true.   There is nothing that love cannot face, there is no limit to its faith, to its hope, to its endurance.

Love never ends. We light the candle of love to remind us that Jesus brings us God’s love and shows us how to love others. (Lights the Candle of Love)

Love is like a light shining in a dark place.  As we look at this candle we celebrate the love we find in Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: Thank you God for the love you give us. We ask that as we wait for all your promises to come true, and for Christ to come again, that you would remain present with us.  Help us today, and everyday to worship you, to hear your word, and to do your will by sharing your love with each other. We ask it in the name of the one who was born in Bethlehem. Amen.

About a week before Christmas the family bought a new nativity scene. When they unpacked it they found 2 figures of the Baby Jesus. “Someone must have packed this wrong,” the mother said, counting out the figures. “We have one Joseph, one Mary, three wise men, three shepherds, two lambs, a donkey, a cow, an angel and two babies. Oh, dear! I suppose some set down at the store is missing a Baby Jesus because we have 2.”

“You two run back down to the store and tell the manager that we have an extra Jesus. Tell him to put a sign on the remaining boxes saying that if a set is missing a Baby Jesus, call 7126. “Put on your warm coats, it’s freezing cold out there.”

The manager of the store copied down mother’s message and the next time they were in the store they saw the cardboard sign that read, “If you’re missing Baby Jesus, call 7126.”

All week long they waited for someone to call. Surely, they thought, someone was missing that important figurine. Each time the phone rang mother would say, “I’ll bet that’s about Jesus,” but it never was. Father tried to explain there are thousands of these scattered over the country and the figurine could be missing from a set in Florida or Texas or California. Those packing mistakes happen all the time. He suggested just put the extra Jesus back in the box and forget about it. “Put Baby Jesus back in the box! What a terrible thing to do said the children.” “Surely someone will call,” mother said. “We’ll just keep the two of them together in the manger until someone calls.”

When no call had come by 5:00 on Christmas Eve, mother insisted that father “just run down to the store” to see if there were any sets left. “You can see them right through the window, over on the counter,” she said. “If they are all gone, I’ll know someone is bound to call tonight.” “Run down to the store?” father thundered. “It’s 15 below zero out there!”

“Oh, Daddy, we’ll go with you,” Tommy and Mary began to put on their coats. Father gave a long sigh and headed for the front closet. “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” he muttered.

Tommy and Mary ran ahead as father reluctantly walked out in the cold. Mary got to the store first and pressed her nose up to the store window. “They’re all gone, Daddy,” she shouted. “Every set must be sold.”

“Hooray,” Tommy said “The mystery will now be solved tonight!” Father heard the news still a half block away and immediately turned on his heel and headed back home. When they got back into the house they noticed that mother was gone and so was the extra Baby Jesus figurine. “Someone must have called and she went out to deliver the figurine,” my father reasoned, pulling off his boots. “You kids get ready for bed while I wrap mother’s present.”

Then the phone rang. Father yelled “answer the phone and tell’em we found a home for Jesus.” But it was mother calling with instructions for us to come to 205 Chestnut Street immediately, and bring three blankets, a box of cookies and some milk.

“Now what has she gotten us into?” my father groaned as we bundled up again. “205 Chestnut. Why that’s across town. Wrap that milk up good in the blankets or it will turn to ice before we get there. Why can’t we all just get on with Christmas? It’s probably 20 below out there now. The wind is picking up. Of all the crazy things to do on a night like this.”

When they got to the house at 205 Chestnut Street it was the darkest one on the block. Only one tiny light burned in the living room and, the moment we set foot on the porch steps, my mother opened the door and shouted, “They’re here, Oh thank God you got here, Ray! You kids take those blankets into the living room and wrap up the little ones on the couch. I’ll take the milk and cookies.”

“Would you mind telling me what is going on, Ethel?” my father asked. “We have just walked through below zero weather with the wind in our faces all the way.” “Never mind all that now,” my mother interrupted. “There is no heat in this house and this young mother is so upset she doesn’t know what to do. Her husband walked out on her and those poor little children will have a very bleak Christmas, so don’t you complain. I told her you could fix that oil furnace in a jiffy.
My mother strode off to the kitchen to warm the milk while my brother and I wrapped up the five little children who were huddled together on the couch. The children’s mother explained to my father that her husband had run off, taking bedding, clothing, and almost every piece of furniture, but she had been doing all right until the furnace broke down.

“I been doing washing and ironing for people and cleaning the five and dime,” she said. “I saw your number every day there, on those boxes on the counter. “When the furnace went out, that number kept going through my mind, 7162 7162, that is what it said on the box.” If a person is missing Jesus, they should call 7162 7162. That’s how I knew you were good Christian people, willing to help folks. I figured that maybe you would help me, too. So stopped at the grocery store tonight and I called your miss’s. I’m not missing Jesus, mister, because I sure love the Lord. But I am missing heat. I have no money to fix that furnace.

“Okay, Okay!” said father. “You’ve come to the right place. Now lets see. You’ve got a little oil burner over there in the dining room. Shouldn’t be too hard to fix. Probably just a clogged flue. I’ll look it over, see what it needs.”

Mother came into the living room carrying a plate of cookies and warm milk. As she set the cups down on the coffee table, I noticed the figure of Baby Jesus lying in the center of the table. It was the only sign of Christmas in the house. The children stared wide-eyed with wonder at the plate of cookies my mother set before them.

Father finally got the oil burner working but said you need more oil. I’ll make a few calls tonight and get some oil. Yes, sir, you came to the right place, father grinned.

On the way home father did not complain about the cold weather and had barely set foot inside the door when he was on the phone.

Ed, hey, how are ya, Ed?” “Yes, Merry Christmas to you, too. Say Ed, we have kind of an unusual situation here I know you’ve got that pickup truck. Do you still have some oil in that barrel on your truck? You do?

By this time the rest of the family were pulling clothes out of their closets and toys off of their shelves. It was long after their bedtime when they were wrapping gifts. The pickup came. On it were chairs, three lamps, blankets and gifts. Even though it was 30 below, father let them ride along in the back of the truck.

No one ever did call about the missing figure in the nativity set, but as I grow older I realize that it wasn’t a packing mistake at all. Jesus saves, that’s what HE DOES.

KOBUS – Last Sunday we lit the candle of Peace.  We light it and the candle of hope again as we remember that Christ, who was born in Bethlehem, will come again to judge the world and bring it everlasting peace. (Relight the candles of hope, and peace)

SAL – The third candle of Advent is the Candle of Joy.  When the angel Gabriel told Mary that a special child would be born to her she was filled with joy.  She sang a song that began with the words: “My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my saviour.

FRANCOIS – Just as the birth of Jesus gave great joy to his mother, so his presence in the world gave joy to those who had none before.  He healed them and gave them hope and peace when they believed in him.  From hope, peace, and love grows joy.

SARITA – We light the candle of joy to remind us that when Jesus is born in us we have joy and that through him there will be everlasting joy on earth. (Light the Candle of Joy – PINK ONE)

PAUL – Joy is like a light shining in a dark place.  As we look at this candle we celebrate the joy we find in Jesus Christ.

KOBUS – Let us pray: Thank you God for the joy you give us.  We ask that as we wait for all your promises to come true, and for Christ to come again, that you would remain present with us.  Help us today, and everyday to worship you, to hear your word, and to do your will by sharing your joy with each other.  We ask it in the name of the one who was born in Bethlehem.  Amen.

Just a reminder about our two Christmas services/events.

This Sunday evening we have the Christmas Carols at the Old Civic Bowling Club that is located on Throssell Road. There is a sausage sizzle at 6.30pm and the Carols start at 7.00pm. Please bring your own chair or blanket to sit on.

Our Christmas Day service will be held at 9.00am at our church. Visitors are more than welcome to come along. We would love have to you join us.

God’s Richest Blessings,

Dave Q

MATTHEW – Last Sunday we lit the first candle in our Advent  Wreath, the Candle of Hope.  We light it again as we remember that Christ, who was born in Bethlehem, will come again to fulfil all of God’s promises to us. (relight the Candle of Hope)

BETH – The second candle of Advent is the Candle of Peace. Peace is a word that we hear a lot.  It is one of the things that we hope for.  Christ brought peace when he first came to us and he will bring everlasting peace when he comes again.

MATTHEW – The prophet Isaiah called Christ “the Prince of Peace”. When Jesus came he taught people the importance of being peace makers.  He said that those who make peace shall be called the children of God and the Bible teaches that we shall find peace through the repentance for our sin.

BETH – We light the candle of peace to remind us that Jesus is the Prince of Peace and that through him peace is found. (light the Candle of Peace)

BETH – Peace is like a light shining in a dark place.  As we look at this candle we celebrate the peace we find in Jesus Christ.

MATTHEW – Let us pray: Thank you God for the peace you give us. We ask that as we wait for all your promises to come true, and for Christ to come again, that you would remain present with us.  Help us today, and everyday to worship you, to hear your word, and to do your will by sharing your peace with each other.  We ask it in the name of the one who was born in Bethlehem.  Amen.

Today is the first Sunday of Advent.  Advent means “coming” and in this season we prepare for the coming of Christ. One of the ways we prepare for his coming is by making an Advent wreath and lighting its candles to remind us of the gifts Christ brings to the world.

The Advent wreath includes many symbols to help us think about Christ and his gifts. The wreath itself is in the shape of a circle.  A circle has no beginning and no end.  This reminds us that there is no beginning and no end to God and that God’s love and caring are forever. The light from the candles – which grows stronger each Sunday in Advent, reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world.

Today we light the candle of hope.  The people of Israel hoped in God’s promises and were not disappointed.  Again and again God delivered Israel from its enemies.  We too have the same experience of salvation.  That is why we believe in God’s promise to send Jesus to us once again to judge the world and establish his kingdom forever upon the earth. (Light the candle)

Hope is like a light shining in a dark place.  As we look at the light of this candle we celebrate the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

Let us pray:  Thank you God for the hope you give us.  We ask that as we wait for all your promises to come true, and for Christ to come again, that you would remain present with us.  Help us today, and everyday to worship you, to hear your word, and to do your will by sharing your hope with each other.  We ask it in the name of the one who was born in Bethlehem.  Amen.

Just a quick reminder that the church service will be at the Merredin Senior High School this week. We are meeting in the Performance Arts Centre (PAC) at 9.00am. The choir from Sing Australia will be with us for this service.

You can find the PAC on the railway side of the school. Entry can be made from the Throssle Rd side and parking is available in the carpark near the basketball/tennis courts.

This promises to be a great service. Hope to see you all there. Visitors are more than welcome to join us for this service too.

God’s Richest Blessings,

Dave Q

Sing Australia Pty Ltd was established in 1985 by Colin Slater OAM, an accomplished singer and singing teacher, to promote singing, Australian compositions and Australian artists. High among the organisation’s priorities has been the encouragement of people to sing using a unique style of teaching for large groups.

Sing Australia community singing groups do not require people to audition or to attend regularly. They are groups that offer the opportunity to learn songs – be it in unison or in parts. The concept also accepts that not everyone can read music, not everyone can sing in tune, and not everyone has yet made contact with their singing voice.

Sing Australia also performs regular concerts and has a very extensive repertoire and there are songs for every occasion in their songbooks. Songs like Amazing Grace, Hallelujah Chorus (The Messiah), Oh what a beautiful morning, Hey Jude, That’s What Friends Are For and Aussie favourite Waltzing Matilda are all part of their song list.

We would love to have you come along this Sunday for the special event. The Performing Arts Centre is located on the railway side of the high school and can be accessed from Throssle Road. Parking is available right outside the door next to the Tennis/Basketball courts on Throssle Road. The event starts at 9.00am.

See you there!

We will be having Caroline Crombie as our guest speaker this Sunday the 21st of June.

Caroline says, “I will be talking about, The Seeds of Love missionary organisation, which runs an orphanage, community centre and meals-on-wheels program for leprosy affected people in north-east Thailand.

My daughter Daisy (13) will be with me, as she has recently returned from Thailand (I’ve never been there myself). She’ll stand with me to talk a little bit about her trip. The theme is missions… helping the poor… seeing Jesus in the faces of the poor”.

It promises to be a great morning of encouragement. The service begins at 9.00am. All are welcome.