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Parish of Coromandel Valley, Anglican Diocese of Adelaide
All Hallows’ Church, Blackwood & St John’s Church, Coromandel Valley
A Newsletter for December 2016 (emailed on 2nd Dec)
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Dear Parishioners
Vestry Meeting
The Budget Vestry Meeting last Sunday was well-attended, concluded by 12.30pm, and the updated list of Council members including Wardens is noted by Pam in this week’s Leaflet. We welcome 2 new people, Debbie Jeanes and Peter Kalendra. We thanked Robyn Priest for her wonderful role as Priest’s Warden for All Hallows’, and she also steps off Council, with Vivien Bleby taking on that Warden’s role. We also thanked Cath for her role as Priest’s Warden for St John’s although she remains a member of Council and, at my request, the Chair; I thank her for continuing with that despite increased workload in 2017.
Julia and I greatly appreciated supportive comments during and after the meeting regarding our decision to move out of the Rectory, which I presented to the meeting. More information will be given when appropriate and it may take us time to find a suitable home at a price that Julia and I can afford. The Parish need be in no hurry to decide what to do with the existing rectory but Council will need to consider this as it fails to meet Diocesan requirements.
Sunday 11th December: Thanksgiving Sunday (at both morning services)
Having spoken on this in a couple of recent services, I want to ensure all are aware of the intention for the following Sunday. We will still observe it as the Third Sunday in Advent, however in place of a sermon from the priest, we will all have an opportunity to share in an act of thanksgiving as members of the congregation speak.
It is ultimately to remind us of how blessed by God we are, and to be thankful people in our regular Sunday service of Eucharist (which is derived from the Greek word for Thanksgiving) and to share in this together. It should not be too long as there is not time for many lengthy stories. You could speak whether “off the cuff” or from a prepared note; or you could write something and ask someone else to share it for you. If lots of people have something to say, that will be wonderful; if only a few people have something to say, it will also be wonderful. We will take it as it comes!
The Bones be Thanked!
Speaking of giving thanks, we are very grateful to Daphne & John Bone and Peggy Bishop for their considerable fundraising efforts in last Saturday’s “South from Alaska” event at their home. Assisted by family and musician friends, they raised $2,788 … Wow!
“Circle of Friends” – Wednesday 7 December
Following her October presentation to us, Lynona Hawkins invites any interested people to attend the “Circle of Friends” monthly meeting involved in support for local refugees; I will be attending this month, Weds 7th Dec. at Blackwood Uniting Church, 7.30pm.
Welcome to Australia! Dinner on Thursday 8 December
Having been invited to attend a monthly “Welcome to Australia” meal hosted by St John’s Anglican Parish, Salisbury, Debbie Jeanes and I will attend what I am told is a delicious meal including Indian, Lebanese and other Middle Eastern delicacies this Thursday evening, 8th Dec. at 6.00pm (departing All Hallows’ at 5.00pm). I have 3 spaces available in my car ….
Service of Solace / “Blue Christmas”
Info from Mitcham Hills Inter-Church Council via Elaine Gregory:
Thurs 22nd December at 7.00pm, Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church, Laffers Road, Belair
Anyone suffering grief and loss especially at this time of year is welcomed to this ecumenical service. Last year over 60 people attended; the response was very positive.
Pilgrimage Tour of Israel:
Bishop John Ford of the Diocese of the Murray has a few spaces left on his 19-day Israel Tour in July 2017. Rather than publicise all the details here, I have the information for anyone interested. Vivien and Martin Bleby will be on this tour too.
Tour of South Africa:
Dean Frank Nelson and his wife Christine have some spaces on their 3-week Pilgrimage Tour of South Africa in September 2017, visiting tourist highlights plus church and other religious sites. I have details for anyone interested and can put you in direct contact with Christine and Frank. [I could even tell you a little about the country and what a wonderful trip you’d have!]
Retirement as Lay Assistant
John Hodgson has served the Anglican Church in South Australia over many years, including for 48 years as a Lay Assistant. Now in his 88th year of life, John has decided that the Christmas Day 9.00am Service at St John’s Church will be his last in that role. We thank John, supported by Jan, for many years of faithful service in this and other ways!
Welcome to a new child:
We rejoice with Elizabeth McCall and Julian Ferraretto as they extend their family in delightful ways … Zoe Francis was born on November 8th, a sister to Violet and Olive.
December & January leave:
Julia and I and our children will take a significant part of our annual leave after Christmas, from 26th December until mid-January, visiting friends and seeing great Australian sights in rural Victoria, Canberra and Sydney. Locum clergy will be available in that time, conducting Sunday services – including Bishop David McCall (1 January), Sister Juliana (8 Jan) and Gary Priest (15 Jan).
Thursday services in January
The 10.00am weekday services at All Hallows’ are usually not held during most of January. They will resume on Thursday 26th Jan. Gary Priest has offered to lead each third Thursday in the month, which is wonderful, and he has been doing this since October.
Report from Synod:
Your reps to Synod, Vivien Bleby, Debbie Jeanes and me, will make our Synod report available (email and printed copies at the back of the church) next week.
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With love from Nic, your parish priest
Nic Denny-Dimitriou, Parish Priest: / Mobile 0411 308 833
Priest’s usual day off: Monday
Parish Office: Tuesday to Thursday from 9.00am to early afternoons:
Pam Crew, Telephone 8278 8626 or email
Website: & “Coromandel Valley Parish” on Facebook