Sunday Services

6 December - Advent 2
Service of Lessons and Carols with The Cantabile Singers
Empty Christmas Tree

13 December - Advent 3
Contemporary Reflections on Christmas
We listen to recent writings on Christmas that express a variety of perspectives on traditional themes
Zephaniah 3:14-20; Isaiah 12:2-6; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18

20 December - Advent 4
Love is just around the corner?
Micah 5:2-5a; Psalm 80:1-7; Hebrews 10:5–10; Luke 1:39-45 (46-55)

24 December - Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, 8pm
At sundown we fill the church with the light of candles as we celebrate and meditate on the first Christmas
Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)

25 December - Christmas Day
Christmas Day Family Service, 9:30am
Isaiah 62:6-12; Psalm 97; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:1-7, 8-20, or John 1:1-14

27 December - First Sunday of Christmas
1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26; Psalm 148; Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:41-52

3 January - Epiphany
Holy Communion
Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12

10 January - Baptism of Jesus
Isaiah 43:1-7; Psalm 29; Acts 8:14-17; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

17 January - Epiphany 2
Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 36:5-10; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; John 2:1-11

24 January - Epiphany
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a; Luke 4:14-21

31 January - Epiphany 4
Jeremiah 1:4-10; Psalm 71:1-6; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Luke 4:21-30

Worship Notes - Seasons of the Church Year
The two months, December and January, contain three seasons of the church year. At Christmas, of course, we celebrate the birth of Jesus. The celebration of Christmas extends for twelve days, until Epiphany, January 6. For Christmas, the main decorations in the church are a crèche, or manger scene, depicting the baby Jesus in the stable at his birth along with his parents, visitors and animals, and a Christmas tree decorated with lights and baubles.

The tradition of a decorated Christmas tree in homes began in Sixteenth Century Germany, although the association of an evergreen tree, as a sign of life in (northern hemisphere) winter, is much older. There is a legend that Martin Luther introduced the use of the tree, with burning candles attached, to remind him of the stars in the sky at Christmas. Other stories link the tree with the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden and the lights with Christ as the light of the world. Traditionally, the Christmas tree and its decorations are taken down by the twelfth day of Christmas. St Francis is reported to have introduced a crèche in 1223, as a means of directing attention towards the humble circumstances of the birth of Jesus and away from materialism.

Advent is a time for preparation for Christmas. There is another tradition that carols are not sung in Advent before Christmas Eve, as they are not appropriate before the baby Jesus is born.

The third season is Epiphany, which begins on January 6th and continues to the Transfiguration, (in 2016, February 7th). Epiphany means “appearance,” or “display” and the day of Epiphany commemorates the visit of the wise men to the baby Jesus. (So, strictly speaking, we should not have the wise men in the crèche scene at Christmas.) The wise men were non-Jewish holy men. Their visit to Jesus is taken to show that the birth of Jesus was not just for the Jewish people, but for non-Jews (Gentiles) as well. Singing of Christmas carols traditionally ends at Epiphany.

Looking ahead, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 10th, Palm Sunday is March 20th and Easter Day, March 27th.
Rev Dr Peter Trudinger

Empty Christmas Tree
On Sunday the 6th of December Scots Church will once again have an “Empty Christmas Tree” service.
During this service Congregational Members are asked to bring along an appropriate toy for a child aged between 0 and 13; or a monetary donation that will be used to purchase a gift. These gifts are donated to the OARS “presents for prisoners’ children programme”. OARS supports the children of prisoners both in South Australia and interstate so presents that are ‘easy’ to post are most welcome. Gifts should be left unwrapped (donations of wrapping paper welcome) and should not contain any depiction of violence e.g. any weapons, police vehicles, fire engines, ambulances, soldiers etc. as this can be quite traumatic for children who may have witnessed their parent being arrested or hurt in any way. Please consider this worthy cause and the children and prisoners it supports

Advent Studies
2nd December (Wednesday) 10.15am
First Advent Study: “Advent: A Time to Get Ready”

16th December (Wednesday) 10.15am
Second Advent Study: Perspectives on Christmas