The Diocese of Wangaratta

with Broadford, Pyalong & Tallarook

Fifth Sunday of Easter - 28th April, 2013 with Holy Baptism
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The Anglican Parish of Kilmore

Hymns: 547, 699, 613, 687

Introit Hymn Christ is risen. [Alleluia.] He is risen indeed. [Alleluia.] Blessed be God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Blessed be God's kingdom, now and for ever. We are the body of Christ. His Spirit is with us. The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you. All may exchange a sign of peace.

The Liturgy continues on page 119 Green Prayer Book

SENTENCE: God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 1 John 4.16b THE COLLECT O Lord God, you teach us that without love, our actions gain nothing. Pour into our hearts your most excellent gift of love, that, made alive by your Spirit, we may know goodness and peace, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

FIRST READING
A reading from the book of Acts

Acts 11.1-18

The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticised him and said, You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them. Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. Then I heard a voice telling me, Get up, Peter. Kill and eat. I replied, Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth. The voice spoke from heaven a second time, Do not call anything impure that God has made clean. This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again. Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the mans house. He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved. As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit. So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in Gods way? When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life. Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. Thanks be to God. RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 148 Response: Praise the Lord from the heavens and praise him in the heights.

Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights. Praise him, all you his angels; praise him, all his host. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you stars of light.

Praise him, heaven of heavens, and you waters above the heavens...................R Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. He made them fast for ever and ever; he gave them a law which shall not pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps; Fire and hail, snow and mist, tempestuous wind, fulfilling his word;....................R Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars; Wild beasts and all cattle, creeping things and birds on the wing; Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the world; Young men and women, old and young together; let them praise the name of the Lord....................R For his name only is exalted, his splendour above earth and heaven. He has raised up the horn of his people and praise for all his faithful servants, the children of Israel, a people who are near him.........R Revelation 21.1-6 A reading from the book of Revelation

SECOND READING

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Look! Gods dwelling-place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, I am making everything new! Then he said, Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. He said to me: It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Everyone will know that you are | my disciples if you have love for | one another. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! GOSPEL John 13. 31-35 A reading from the holy gospel according to John Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ. During the supper when Judas had gone out, Jesus said, Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, Where I am going, you cannot come. I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. For the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

The Baptism follows the Gospel reading see Holy Baptism booklet THE PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL Holy God, you have called us to follow in the way of your risen Son, and to love and care not only for those who are our companions but for all the world. May we care with words of comfort, and with acts of love so that we may be a blessing for all. May your love fill and direct our lives, O living Lord. We pray for this holy gathering and our sacrifice of praise, and we pray for Brandon Mark, newly baptised, his parents and God-parents, that his life be filled with love and the light of Christ. May your love fill and direct our lives, O living Lord. We pray for all who minister; priests and deacons, for our Bishop John, and for all the holy people of God. May your love fill and direct our lives, O living Lord. We pray for all nations, peoples, tribes, clans, and families; for the leaders of the nations and we pray integrity for all who have authority. May your love fill and direct our lives, O living Lord.

For all those in danger and need: the sick and the suffering, prisoners, captives, and their families; the hungry, homeless, and oppressed; for those on our hearts this day and for those who have requested prayer. May your love fill and direct our lives, O living Lord. For the dying and the recently departed, remembering Barry Shaw and all those years mind occuring at this time. Rest eternal grant to them O Lord; And let light perpetual shine upon them. For ourselves, our families, and those we love........... May your love fill and direct our lives, O living Lord. Blessed are you, God of glory, who in your love gave us your Son. Hear the prayers we offer this day, come among your people, may your love wipe away every tear from our eyes; through Jesus Christ our Lord who taught us to pray. Our Father.......... Pg 124 Request for prayer from: Seth Gunther, Adrian Walsh, Ethan Forcier, Cliff Stomann, Gwenda Stomann, Diana Kelly, Lasse Prosser, Tom Davidson, Sandra Davidson, Lyn Ryan, Heather Turnbull, Peter Cannon, Ian Staring, Chris Schafer, Pearl Footer, Alex Impols, Michelle Gibbs, Ron Johnson, David Flower, Chris Tuckett, Glen Turnbull, Carol Boase, Tom Scrivens, Ted Evans, Alma Smith, Darren Winfield, Norma Hedley, Keith Jenkins, Justin Quigg, Kelly Quigg, Karen Godger, Michael Farrell. (Anyone wishing to add a person to the Parish prayer list please make sure the person is happy to be named and then contact Fr Kim.) Years mind: Today we remember before God those whose anniversary of death occurs this week: 28th Jessie Payne, Leslie Cook, Margaret Caplehorn, John Callaghan, Kevin Sharp, Ray Sharp, Wally Bennett, Rex Young; 29th Diane; May 1st Penelope Roberts, Frankie Walter, Ray Drummond; 3rd Heidi Weiher, Lynnette Chandler; 4th Joyce Jones, Raymond Pitman, Evelyn Carboon. Saints Days and Holy Days: Mon 29th Catherin of Siena, spiritual teacher (d. 1380); Wed 1st Philip and James, Apostles & martyrs; Thu 2nd Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, teacher (d. 373). Prayer after Communion God of love, in this eucharist we have heard your truth and shared in your life. May we always walk in your way, in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Reflections on the Readings As we enter the second half of the Easter season the focus shifts from Jesus offer of life to us, to the way we seek to live out that life as we follow him and

its a startling message of inclusivity and love. Jesus new commandment is frequently sung and quoted, but the "one another" that Jesus calls us to love is often limited to those we know and other Christian believers. Taking the Gospel reading from John in the context of the other readings, we realise that this "one another" goes much further. In Acts, we discover that the previously excluded Gentiles are now included in Gods Kingdom. In the Psalm, all of creation is included in this "one another" as the entire creation is exhorted to offer praise. And in Johns Revelation vision, we discover that God so includes all, that God moves Gods dwelling place ("heaven") into our earthly neighbourhood. There can be no greater, all-encompassing statement of love for all from God. We have no more excuses for turning the Gospel into an exclusive message! Yet, one of the biggest issues of time is the political and religious question of "who is in and who is out?", who is welcome and who is to be turned back. Geographically, economically, politically, religiously, racially, sexually and even generationally, lines in our world are built on defining who is acceptable and who is unacceptable. This is being played out in the often heated debate over asylum seekers and refugees and how we accommodate them. The prophetic Church, the Church of the resurrection, of love, of the God who lives among us, must be a Church that blurs every line, and invites everyone into Gods grace and love and be a Church that challenges the lines of exclusion and oppression in our world. This is what Jesus calls us to when he instructs us to love one another, and it is what is demonstrated in Peters willingness to minister to the Gentiles in Cornelius house, and in Gods gift of the Spirit to these "outsiders". In practical terms, then, we are called to be those who will reach cross the lines to welcome and embrace those who believe, think, dress, behave and live in ways different to us. This is not easy, but if we seek to reach people who are not part of any church; if we seek to make an impact on our wider community; then we need to demonstrate that we can live the message we preach, and that those we seek to reach will be included and loved and brought into contact with a loving and inclusive God not judged or condemned in the hopes that the fear of hell or Gods rejection will scare them into the Kingdom. It also means that, as the people of God, we need to learn to love one another within our own Church community and across denominational, theological and practical boundaries. Furthermore, this love must extend out from the church to include those of other faith and cultures. This is the challenge presented to us this week and it is daunting because it is fundamental to the way of Jesus. Adapted from John van de Laar (2013) www.sacredise.com

Notices
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A warm welcome to all our visitors, please join us for coffee or tea after the service. Altar Servers Christ Church: Additional servers are needed for the roster; if you feel called to serving, please contact Fr Kim or Caroline. Training provided.

Parish Website: The weekly pew sheets are also available once more on the parish website, www.anglicankilmore.org.au. As well as the pew sheets, tell our webmaster, Caroline, what you think of the website and what else you would like to see there. Request for prayer list - be advised that the prayer list is being reviewed. Please inform the wardens or Fr Kim if you want to have a name kept on the list. Note that permission must be sought from the persons concerned before they can be added. Confirmation 2013 - Please contact Fr Kim for more information on confirmation later in the year. Classes to start soon. Diocesan Synod: Bishop John has issued the Mandate for the 3rd Session of 37th Synod of the Diocese 31st May - 1st June 2013 - TAFE Docker Street Wangaratta. Nominations for Bishop in Council are now being sought. Parish BBQ - thanks to Robyn and Len Whitehouse for hosting the last BBQ. Hosts are required for May and beyond, please contact Caroline Burge with your availability. Direct Debit Offerings: Parish Account details: CBA Account Name Kilmore Anglican Parish. BSB 063-698. Account Number 1018 4649. Church 4 Kids THIS AFTERNOON 5.00pm - 6.30 @ Christ Church - fun time with BBQ to follow.

Parish life this week

First week of May Tuesday 30th 5.00pm Bishop-in-Council meeting, Wangaratta Wednesday 1st 9.00am Eucharist Christ Church 6.00pm Building & Maintenance Committee Meeting @ Christ Church Thursday 2nd 10.00am Eucharist St Mathews 10.00am Eucharist Willowmeade 4.00pm Eucharist Dianella Friday 3rd 10.00am 4.00pm Op Shop Church House Sat 4th 10.00am 12noon Op Shop Church House 11.00am Deanery Meeting Euroa - Labyrinth Day Next Sunday: 5th May: Sixth Sunday of Easter Acts 16. 9-15; Ps 67; Revelation 21.10-14, 22.1 - 5; John 14.23-29 Christ Church 9am Sung Eucharist St Matthews 11am Holy Eucharist & Holy Baptism St Stephens 11am Morning Prayer Transfiguration 3pm Holy Eucharist 1st Wed of the month: Building and Maintenance Committee Meeting 7.30pm Christ Church (unless otherwise notified) 3rd Tues of the month: St Matthews Friendship Group. Gavan Hall 1.30pm for fellowship & afternoon tea; contact Edie Simpson for details ph. 5784 1246. rd 3 Wed of the month: Parish Council Meeting, 7.30 pm venue TBA 4th Thurs of month: Christ Church Friendship Group contact Beris Hannam ph. 5723 9737 3rd Friday of month: Parish BBQs 6.30pm. th 4 Sunday of month: Church 4 Kids usually 5-6.30pm.

Parish Diary

Parish Clergy:
Rector Fr Kim Benton 9 Union Street Kilmore 3764 Ph 5782 1155 m 0407569343 kim@revkim.org Priest (PTO) Fr John Young 9/40 Powlett Street Broadford 3658 Ph 5784 2224

PO Box 289 Kilmore 3764 www.anglicankilmore.org.au