Laetare (“Rejoice!”) Sunday

Sunday, March 15, 2026

Almighty God,

in Christ you make all things new:

transform the poverty of our nature

by the riches of your grace,

and in the renewal of our lives

make known your heavenly glory;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Stay In Touch

Father Ted Starr - Priest-in-Charge - 0451 929 180 - edward.starr@anglicanchurchsq.org.au

Mrs Liz Peters - Rector’s Warden - 0400 844 946

Mrs Gail Symons - People’s Warden - 0409 618 511

Mr Tony Hughes - People’s Warden - 0468 764 009

Zoom Church - 328 492 8300 - 548 747

Readings

for The Fourth Sunday in Lent

1 Samuel 16:1 - 13

Psalm 23

Ephesians 5:8 - 14

John 9:1 - 41

Giving

Offering - 704 901 - 0000 0780

Building Fund - 704 901 - 0001 4767

Want to give in other ways? Cards are on sale at the back of the church.

For Your Prayers

We ask of your goodness, Lord, to comfort and sustain all who in this transitory life are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity, and especially Shirley Kimber, Alex, Ann, Lois, Barbara, Helena, Ian, Maggie, Dave, Uncle Peter, Chris, Bill Tattam, Jeff Byrne, Karne, Greg, Aaron, Joanne, Grace and Faith, Beryl Old, Fr David, Nina, and Gary McKenzie. Please contact Fr Ted to be on this list.

We also give thanks for those whose year’s mind occurs at this time, and in particular Matthew Wisz, Brian Livett and Bill Neville. Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them.

Mission and Outreach

BCA (support for the Church in the Bush) are running a donation drive for water during Lent. Also, March is the time to return our BCA boxes. There are spare boxes on the back table – try filling one up with your spare change to support this ministry.

Meals for Woody Point Special School are starting again. Please label your meal with title, ingredients and date cooked, then freeze it, and bring it to church on Sunday. Meal containers are on the back table. Alternatively, give a monetary donation or supermarket gift card. For more information on both of these ministries, contact Elizabeth on 0404 080 861.

Retiring Collection today is to raise money to support literacy efforts in the Solomon Islands.

Barnabas Brekkie is on Saturday, 9 May to raise money for persecuted Christians in Ghana. Your parish needs you! Do you have a CostCo membership? Can you cook eggs and bacon, brew tea and coffee, wash dishes,or  move furniture? Contact Florine, Dale or Gail if so.

Ministry During the Week

Mother’s Union meets at a new time: Third Wednesdays at 9am. Please also note AMUA is holding a fundraiser concert of favourite hymns this afternoon at 2pm, at the Deception Bay Anglican Church, $5 entry.

Thursday Fellowship: every first and third Thursday from 9:30am to 11:30am. All welcome for a cuppa and a chat. Bring your craft to work on or just enjoy the company.

Caring and Sharing: every fourth Wednesday from 11am.

Talent Table: every last Sunday after the second service.

Bible Study: Tuesdays at 9am and Thursdays at 7pm. All materials supplied.

The Week Ahead

Mon, 17 Mar

8:00 am - Holy Communion for St Patrick, bishop, missionary to Ireland (d. 461)

9:30 am - Bible Study

Tues, 18 Mar

6:30 pm Parish Council

Wed, 18 Mar

9:00 am - Mother’s Union

10:00 am - Holy Communion for St Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop and teacher (d. 386)

11:00 am - Ladies Guild

Thu, 19 Mar

8:30 am - Sung Matins for St Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

9:30 am - Friendship and Craft Group

7:00 pm - Bible Study

Sun, 22 Mar

7:00 am & 9:00 am - Holy Communion for the Fifth Sunday in Lent.

Article 10

Of Free-will.

The condition of Man after the fall of Adam is such, that he cannot turn and prepare himself, by his own natural strength and good works, to faith, and calling upon God: Wherefore we have no power to do good works pleasant and acceptable to God, without the grace of God by Christ preventing us, that we may have a good will, and working with us, when we have that good will.

Having established in our previous Article that Original Sin runs through every human being, we now turn to reflecting on the question: how does this then affect our relationship with God? Firstly, it means that no human being can have faith in God “by [their] own natural strength”. Sin has taken everything captive, even our ability to freely will. Note that this means we sit between two extremes. We do not say that humans do not have free will, neither do we say that humans have absolute free will naturally, on their own apart from God. We affirm free will in every human being; but we also affirm that the power of sin is holding it captive. The strength of sin over our capacity for free will means that we need God to set us free – free from sin, to be able to will freely.  John 6:34-36 reads: Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.  St Paul writes in Romans 8 using similar language about slaves being set free, and becoming children and heirs of God. In the second chapter of his letter to the Ephesians he takes it one step further and describes this captivity to sin as total and as complete as death:  “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked,” highliting the absolute power of sin over us (and our ability to will freely).

There are objections to this, and there have been since Jesus spoke those words in Capernaum we referenced earlier from John 6. In the Gospel according to St Matthew, chapter 19, Jesus speaks on several moral topics: divorce, the role of children in the kingdom of God, and matters of wealth. He finishes with the great line “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” To which his disciples reply with that heartbreaking question “who then can be saved?” (vv 24-25). If there is nothing we can do on our own to turn and place our faith in Christ, not even our best efforts, to the point where we do not even have a will free to choose Christ, what hope do we have? Our Article answers: ...the grace of God by Christ preventing us. “Preventing” here is used in its old sense, that is, to go before us. The grace of God by Christ comes and sets us free from the power of sin, so that our wills are truly free, and we are truly free to  “turn… to God” and “do good works pleasant and acceptable to God”. Not only that, God remains with us, “working with us” as we live lives set free by his grace. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.  (Ephesians 2:8-10)

The Third Sunday in Lent

Sunday, March 08, 2026

Lord God, our Redeemer,

who heard the cry of your people

and sent your servant Moses to lead them out of slavery:

free us from the tyranny of sin and death

and, by the leading of your Spirit,

bring us to our promised land;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Stay In Touch

Father Ted Starr - Priest-in-Charge - 0451 929 180 - edward.starr@anglicanchurchsq.org.au

Mrs Liz Peters - Rector’s Warden - 0400 844 946

Mrs Gail Symons - People’s Warden - 0409 618 511

Mr Tony Hughes - People’s Warden - 0468 764 009

Zoom Church - 328 492 8300 - 548 747

Readings

for The Third Sunday in Lent

Exodus 17:1 - 7

Psalm 95

Romans 5:1 - 11

John 4:5 - 42

Giving

Offering - 704 901 - 0000 0780

Building Fund - 704 901 - 0001 4767

Want to give in other ways? Cards are on sale at the back of the church.

For Your Prayers

We ask of your goodness, Lord, to comfort and sustain all who in this transitory life are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity, and especially Shirley Kimber, Alex, Ann, Lois, Barbara, Helena, Ian, Maggie, Dave, Uncle Peter, Chris, Bill Tattam, Jeff Byrne, Karne, Ika, Greg, Aaron, Joanne, Grace and Faith, Beryl Old, Fr David, and Nina. Please contact Fr Ted to be on this list.

We also give thanks for those whose year’s mind occurs at this time, and in particular Alma Ziebarth. Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them.

Mission and Outreach

BCA (support for the Church in the Bush) are running a donation drive for water during Lent. Also, March is the time to return our BCA boxes. There are spare boxes on the back table – try filling one up with your spare change to support this ministry.

Meals for Woody Point Special School are starting again. Please label your meal with title, ingredients and date cooked, then freeze it, and bring it to church on Sunday. Meal containers are on the back table. Alternatively, give a monetary donation or supermarket gift card. For more information on both of these ministries, contact Elizabeth on 0404 080 861.

Ministry During the Week

Mother’s Union meets at a new time: Third Wednesdays at 9am, starting in March. Please also note AMUA is holding a fundraiser concert of favourite hymns at 2pm on March 15th at the Deception Bay Anglican Church, $5 entry.

Thursday Fellowship: every first and third Thursday from 9:30am to 11:30am. All welcome for a cuppa and a chat. Bring your craft to work on or just enjoy the company.

Caring and Sharing: every fourth Wednesday from 11am.

Talent Table: every last Sunday after the second service.

Bible Study: Tuesdays at 9am and Thursdays at 7pm. All materials supplied.

The Week Ahead

Mon, 10 Mar

8:00 am - Holy Communion

9:30 am - Bible Study

Wed, 11 Mar

10:00 am - Holy Communion

Thu, 12 Mar

9:00 am - Growth Committee

7:00 pm - Bible Study

Sun, 15 Mar

7:00 am & 9:00 am - Holy Communion for Laetare (“Rejoice!”) Sunday, also known as Mothering Sunday.

Don’t forget to wear something pink – the liturgical colour for joy – next Sunday! There will also be a retiring collection after the service for ministry in the Solomon Islands, alongside posies and cake.

Article 9

Of Original or Birth Sin.

Original Sin standeth not in the following of Adam, (as the Pelagians do vainly talk), but it is the fault and corruption of the Nature of every man, that naturally is ingendered of the offspring of Adam; whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and is of his own nature inclined to evil, so that the flesh lusteth always contrary to the spirit; and therefore in every person born into this world, it deserveth God’s wrath and damnation. And this infection of nature doth remain, yea, in them that are regenerated; whereby the lust of the flesh, called in Greek, phronema sarkos, which some do expound the wisdom, some sensuality, some the affection, some the desire, of the flesh, is not subject to the Law of God. And although there is no condemnation for them that believe and are baptized, yet the Apostle doth confess, that concupiscence and lust hath of itself the nature of sin. 

Having established who God is, and where we learn about him, the Articles now move to us – humanity, and what we are like. And it is not pretty. The doctrine of Original Sin has taken a bit of a beating over the millennia, yet orthodox believers in every age have held to it. Most disagreements come not with the doctrine itself, but with extreme exaggerations. Original Sin does not teach that people always choose the worst of all options. Rather, it teaches that when we do good, our sin runs so deep that it still infects those good deeds. Take, for example, charitable works. It is unarguably good to do works of charity. Yet there are always sinful instincts like pride and self-interest lurking in the background when we do them. We are “naturally ingendered” in that way. We also suffer from the struggle between right and wrong, between good and evil: “the flesh lusteth always contrary to the spirit”. Since God is holy and perfect, these imperfections of sin that get into everything we do means that “every person born into this world… deserveth God’s wrath and damnation.” Then we get pastoral: “this infection of nature” remains in us even after we are born again by the Holy Spirit. This is actually a  great comfort: even though we fall into sin after our baptism, that is not a sign we are not saved. Rather, “there is no condemnation for them that believe and are baptised”. And here is the key. Christ died on the cross, meaning that the old person, born with original sin, is now dead and buried. When he rose, he rose in a glorified body, meaning those who believe and are baptised will rise again in perfection, with no stain of sin, original or otherwise.                                     Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!  (Romans 7:24-25).

MARCH NEWSLETTER 2026

February concluded with Burning Palm Crosses, Ash Wednesday and first Sunday in Lent services. Bible study commenced with thought provoking reflections of Romans and will continue for several weeks.

The Care and Connect Team had a very productive meeting with Fr Ted. The team’s lists were updated but if you have had any changes with your phone, email or postal address contacts, please contact Liz Peters 0400844946. Likewise, if you need Home Communion and are unable to come to church, please contact Liz.

The AGM was well attended and wardens, parish council, liturgical assistants, sacristan, MU, Ladies Guild, Growth, Thursday Friendship, CCT, Home Communion members were inducted and anointed by Fr Ted on Sunday February 22.

A working bee, for both inside the church and grounds will be held SATURDAY MARCH 28.  Trim and collect your garden palms, bring dusters and garden implements to help spruce up everywhere in readiness for PALM SUNDAY MARCH  29.

Please diary date for Holy Week

Sunday 29 March Palm Sunday 7am and 9am services

Tuesday 30 March 8am Holy Communion

Wednesday 31 March 10am Holy Communion

Maundy Thursday 2 April Meal 6pm Stripping the altar 7.30pm

Good Friday 3 April 8.30am service  

Easter Eve Saturday 4 April 8am Mattins morning service and 6pm Holy communion

Easter Sunday 5 April 8am Holy Communion

Planning has started on many of the annual events and a new one. A Barnabus Brekkie, on the church deck, will raise money for the purchase of pigs and chickens to establish efficient farming in communities in Ghana. Saturday 9 MAY. Bacon and eggs, tea and coffee, orange juice with a suggested $10 donation. Contact Florine Simon 0450962705

Redcliffe Floral and Art Festival JUNE 19,20,21 Planning is underway, with musicians and artists all confirmed. This is the biggest Parish event and needs lots of help. Please volunteer for inside seated jobs of selling raffle tickets or cards, being outside to sell on the plants stall, serving and working in the parish kitchen for the ever-popular Devonshire Teas over the 3 full days

Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name: tell among the peoples what things he has done. Psalm 105 v 1

The Second Sunday in Lent

Sunday, March 01, 2026

Remember, O Lord,

what you have wrought in us

and not what we deserve,

and, as you have called us to your service,

make us worthy of our calling;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Stay In Touch

Father Ted Starr - Priest-in-Charge - 0451 929 180 - edward.starr@anglicanchurchsq.org.au

Mrs Liz Peters - Rector’s Warden - 0400 844 946

Mrs Gail Symons - People’s Warden - 0409 618 511

Mr Tony Hughes - People’s Warden - 0468 764 009

Zoom Church - 328 492 8300 - 548 747

Readings

for The Second Sunday in Lent

Genesis 12:1 - 4a

Psalm 121

Romans 4:1 - 17

John 3:1 - 17

Giving

Offering - 704 901 - 0000 0780

Building Fund - 704 901 - 0001 4767

Want to give in other ways? Cards are on sale at the back of the church.

For Your Prayers

We ask of your goodness, Lord, to comfort and sustain all who in this transitory life are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity, and especially Shirley Kimber, Alex, Ann, Lois, Barbara, Helena, Ian, Maggie, Dave, Uncle Peter, Chris, Bill Tattam, Jeff Byrne, Karne, Ika, Greg, Aaron, Joanne, Grace and Faith, Beryl Old, Fr David, and Nina. Please contact Fr Ted to be on this list.

We also give thanks for those whose year’s mind occurs at this time. Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them.

Mission and Outreach

Recycling is currently on pause as we look for an alternative storage solution. Please keep an eye out for when we resume this fundraiser.

Meals for Woody Point Special School are starting again. Please label your meal with title, ingredients and date cooked, then freeze it, and bring it to church on Sunday. Meal containers are on the back table. Alternatively, give a monetary donation or supermarket gift card. For more information contact Elizabeth on 0404 080 861.

Ministry During the Week

Mother’s Union meets at a new time: Third Wednesdays at 9am, starting in March. Please also note AMUA is holding a fundraiser concert of favourite hymns at 2pm on March 15th at the Deception Bay Anglican Church, $5 entry.

Thursday Fellowship: every first and third Thursday from 9:30am to 11:30am. All welcome for a cuppa and a chat. Bring your craft to work on or just enjoy the company.

Caring and Sharing: every fourth Wednesday from 11am.

Talent Table: every last Sunday after the second service.

Bible Study: Tuesdays at 9am and Thursdays at 7pm. All materials supplied.

The Week Ahead

Mon, 3 Mar

8:00 am - Holy Communion

9:30 am - Bible Study

Wed, 4 Mar

10:00 am - Holy Communion

Thu, 5 Mar

9:30 am - Friendship and Craft Group

7:00 pm - Bible Study

Fri, 6 Mar

9:00 am - World Day of Prayer at the Redcliffe Uniting Church.

Sun, 8 Mar

7:00 am & 9:00 am - Holy Communion for the Third Sunday in Lent

Article 8

Of the Three Creeds.

The Three Creeds, Nicene Creed, Athanasius’s Creed, and that which is commonly called the Apostles’ Creed, ought thoroughly to be received and believed: for they may be proved by most certain warrants of holy Scripture.

How would you try and distil the message of the Bible into a few short paragraphs? When people ask you what Christianity is all about, where do you start? What do you say?

The Bible is, as we have established, a lot of books, written by different human authors, across millennia. Since God inspired those human writers, there is also a common thread, or main story line.

All that just means is that we have a whole lot of data in the Scriptures that points to God’s work of creation, salvation and renewal through the Person of Jesus Christ, in various genres such as history, poetry, personal correspondence, and many more.

So back to the original question: how do you distil it all into a few short paragraphs?

Enter the historic creeds. Various churches and denominations have alternatives to the historic creeds – just look on the websites of some local churches of different denominations and check their “what we believe” section. But at the end of the day, they are very similar to the ancient Creeds. The Creeds bring together all the grand themes of the Bible into an easy to remember formula. This is the first benefit of our Creeds: for teaching. Second, they are widely accepted. Since we accept there is no one Christian who is wiser and more spiritual than the rest of us, we develop our doctrine as a group. The Church catholic has accepted these creeds for over a thousand years as our standard of faith.

As second-point-five benefit, the Creeds keep us unified. Diverge from them, and you diverge from the Church, since it is how the body of Christ has understood the truth of God as revealed in the Scriptures.

Which brings us to our third and final point: “they may be proved by most certain warrants of holy Scripture.” We affirm the Creeds because they reflect the truth of the Bible. Where the Creeds and the Bible differ, we go with the Bible – but the Church catholic has spent a lot of time formulating these Creeds. So next time someone wants the Christian faith in shorthand, try one of the Creeds – it’s a validly Biblical response!