Easter Services
In person and online (In person, see Covid notes opposite) ⇒
Sunday 2nd April 2023 9:30am Palm Sunday (Communion)
(Daylight Saving ends)
Lectionary Readings
Matthew 21:1-11; Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16;
Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 26:14-27:66 or Matthew 27:11-54
Thursday 6th April 2023 7:30pm Maundy Thursday (Communion)
(In church only, not streamed)
Friday 7th April 2023 9:00am Good Friday
Sunday 9th April 2023 6:00am Easter Dawn Service
(On front lawn, not streamed)
Sunday 9th April 2023 9:30am Easter Day
Available Recorded Services can be viewed on our
YouTube page
Link
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Minister's Message
Waiting
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ Matthew 21:9
One of the questions that we have as individuals is, what to do with all our ‘waiting’?
What do we do as we wait for the next event; next appointment; next experience in our life?
As we wait for seasons to change or hurts to heal …what do we do with all the waiting??
We have been journeying through Lent, a time of waiting, a time of preparation, a time for reflecting on faith in Jesus Christ, all this waiting takes place while life goes on. Waiting, while at the same time we wake, we pray, we work, we eat, we worship, we play, we rest, we sleep.
So too for the people of Israel who had been waiting for someone to help them. Waiting for a Messiah was hard work. When would he appear?
Matthew recounts the story of a people waiting for the Messiah to deliver them from the harsh rulers of the day. Could their waiting and anticipating be over?
A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,
‘Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’
Not quite the King riding in on a horse that they were expecting, but their waiting for a Messiah revealed Jesus, riding humbly on a donkey, the one who came to save.
As we journey from the triumphant entry into Jerusalem to Jesus’ death on a cross, burial, and resurrection, may we be a people who wait in hope and celebrate with assurance.
Every blessing Rev. Carmel
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Minister
Rev. Carmel Ieraci
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Student Minister
Ms Tanya Pualilo
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Contact Details:
Email Minister:
minister@wesleycastlehill.org.au
Email Office:
admin@wesleycastlehill.org.au
Telephone:
(02) 9894 8999
Tues - Fri, 9:30 - 2:30
Mail: PO Box 515, Castle Hill 1765
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Donations and Giving:
Wesley relies entirely on the generosity of its members and friends for financial support.
Many members now prefer to use regular online offerings.
Click here for details for giving online.
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Our NEWSLETTER
'Newscope', is being emailed to members, and recent issues are available here.
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COVID SAFE WORSHIP AT WESLEY
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To this point in time, we have been very successful at Wesley in responding to the coronavirus pandemic that has been with us for more than two years.
The movement of air through a building substantially reduces the risk of cross-infection. By opening doors and windows around the church, we move air in and out of the building and reduce the risk of airborne transmission.
The other successful strategy is the wearing of a mask. This is no longer mandatory, but is highly recommended by NSW Health.
Bryan Mullan — Safe Church Team
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Thought of the Week:
After we had turned out the light a week or so ago I was quietly giving thanks to God when, in my spirit, I heard the words, “Are you really giving thanks?” After a very thoughtful moment I realised that I was only going through the motions of giving thanks – a kind of nightly ritual.
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I had been reading from the prophet Isaiah, ‘The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.’ Isaiah 12:2a-30 (NIV)
Isaiah’s words, “with joy”, and “the Lord himself, is….. my song”, suddenly resonated with me, and I realised that there was little joy in my giving thanks. I connected also to the words of Zephaniah, “He will take great delight in you … [he] will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
As I lay there, contemplating those Scripture passages, the Lord’s joy for me was fast becoming my companion, and I very briefly continued to give thanks, but with his joy in my heart…..and fell asleep. I learnt a lot from that. So often we learn things off by heart, and therein lies the trap. They can become so familiar that they lose their punch. Just going through the motions of giving thanks sometimes causes us to dwell on what is happening in our lives rather than on God, and that can lead to worry.
The joy of the Lord is my strength and song. Is it yours? So….how do we get in touch with that joy of the Lord? Contemplating those Scriptures expressing God’s joy for me helped me. Yes, I felt it that night. What might help you? Quietly breaking out in song perhaps? Saying thanks is so important, but let our thanks give rise to joy, God’s joy in our hearts and lives.
Saying thanks will then take on a new dimension.
Grace and Peace — Bill Rosier
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Current News
New Student Minister
We are delighted to welcome our new Student Minister, Tanya Pualilo, who is joining us at Wesley as part of her studies to become a Minister of the Word. Tanya comes from Samoa, and is in her first year of studies, after working in caring roles for several years in Sydney.
Welcome Tanya!
New Playgroup on Tuesday Morning
A playgroup has commenced on Tuesday mornings, 9:30 - 11:30am. More details from the Office, 9894 8999.
Wednesdays@Wesley Hymn Singing will next be on
5th April and the first Wednesday of each month.
10am for an hour of singing our favourite hymns, followed by morning tea and a chat.
Give Blood at Wesley
The Red Cross Blood Collection unit will be back at Wesley Church in April, after Easter.
Click What it means to give blood for 2 pages from the Red Cross (in a new window).
Wesley Walkers, Rose Bay to Double Bay
Saturday 15TH April, meet outside Showground Metro Station 9:00am
Wednesdays@Wesley, 26th April 2023
Seniors Lunch, 12 noon - 1:30pm
preceded by Communion and Rest and Relax from 11:15
Next Market Day will be on Saturday 29th April.
There will be stalls from Wesley, from some community organisations, and some local stallholders.
More details to come.
Parramatta Mission and Bill Crews Foundation
We have collected Plates for the Parramatta Mission Christmas Lunch, and also donations for Christmas Hampers. These collections are now completed for this season, and we will be suppporting the Winter Appeal later in the year..
We are also collecting for the Bill Crews Foundation (Exodus, Ashfield). There are flyers in the Church describing what is needed
The Christian Life, Baptism and Confirmation
If you would like to learn more about the Christian faith, Rev. Carmel has been conducting classes over the past few months, and further classes will be available in future
Hindi Speaking Church at St Clair
Congratulations and abundant blessings from everyone at Wesley Castle Hill to Mike and Ann Kumar, who are leaders at the Hindi Speaking Church at St Clair.
This Church Fellowship was formally recognised as a Hindi speaking Faith Community by the Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia and celebrated as such at the recent Presbytery meeting. Ann & Mike serve as the Church Leaders of this Community that has been worshipping for more than 15 years.
The Church is active in supporting:
- young people – with a young leader responding to God’s call to ministry.
- Upskilling and supporting elders in bilingual lay ministry
- The vulnerable
- provision of over 1400 Eye Sights to the marginalised community in Fiji
- offering pastoral care
This formal recognition as a “Faith Community” places them on a trajectory to becoming a Congregation in the near future.
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Ongoing Activities
Kids and Youth Activities
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Play Group for young children, Tuesdays 9:30 - 11:30
Young Adults - Follow on Facebook
Youthgroup School years 8 to 11. Called 'Fuse', meets every 2 weeks on a Friday night
Kids@Wesley Ages 3 to 12. Meets during church service, with activities
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Life Teams (various times)
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Much of our pastoral care and fellowship at Wesley takes place primarily within the context of smaller cell groups, often meeting in homes. Some of these are structured around regular small group studies or specific bible study material, while others may form around common interests. These small groups provide a safe place to form friendships and explore faith matters.
Groups welcome new members and take place on many different days and various times.
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Tuesdays 1 - 3pm UFO Craft Group
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(Un-Finished Objects)
each Tuesday, 1:00 to 3:30pm
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Wednesdays@Wesley 1st, 3rd and 4th Wed each month
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First Wednesday from 10am, Singing the hymns that shaped our faith, followed by morning tea
Third Wednesday from 10am, Gathering and games, folllowed by a light lunch
Third Wednesday from 12:15 - 2:30pm, Relaxing Art for Beginners
Fourth Wednesday 12 noon, Seniors Lunch
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First Thursday, Book Club 10am-2pm
Fourth Friday, Rummikub 1-3pm
Third Saturday, Wesley Walkers, usually a full day outing
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