Vicar's newsletter Friday Zoom Cocktails and other important parish matters :)

[Hugh Kempster]

Dear Parishioners and Friends of St Peter’s,

How has this week been for you? Last weekend’s Premiers’ announcement has left us all rather frustrated and disappointed I imagine.

In his weekly letter to the clergy, the Archbishop clarified where we stand as a church in the coming weeks and months: “until 28 September, churches and church buildings remain closed. From 28 September, outdoor gatherings on church property of up to five people plus a clergy-person or ASLM are possible, but not for a service. From 26 October this will be eased to ten people, include outdoor services, and private prayer inside the church would be possible within limits. At this stage, indoor services cannot resume until at least 23 November."

So, from our perspective here at St Peter’s:
Sadly, public Sunday worship in the church building will not be permitted until Advent.
Advent Sunday - 29 November - looks like it will be our first Sunday Mass with the doors open to a congregation; although the numbers permitted have not yet been announced.
from 28 September, however, we are permitted outdoor gatherings at church of 5 people, plus a clergy person; but not for worship. I am not sure what this sort of a gathering might be useful for at St Peter’s, but I am open to ideas.
then from 26 October we can have an outdoor Mass with 10 people, plus a priest. This will mean that we can plan small outdoor Masses for All Saints Day, Sunday 1st November, and All Souls Day. Reminiscent, perhaps, of the 1919 Mass that took place during the Spanish Flu (see attached photo) although much more limited in numbers.

In the meantime, our parochial life goes on, as best we can: 
From 10.30am, Sunday Mass, and now also Children’s Church, can be found on FaceBook (https://www.facebook.com/stpeterseasternhill <https://www.facebook.com/stpeterseasternhill>) and our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCivSIL2aOQC9elzNK6zX0Tw <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCivSIL2aOQC9elzNK6zX0Tw>) as usual, followed by “Morning Tea at the Vicarage” from 12.30pm ( https://us02web.zoom.us/j/91491816647 <https://us02web.zoom.us/j/91491816647>)
September is traditionally ‘planned giving month’ and I encourage you to read the Warden and Treasurer’s letter in this week’s Pew Sheet (https://bit.ly/3bOFQ6t <https://bit.ly/3bOFQ6t>)
Ever the optimists, your Parish Council, Clergy and Lay Leaders have commenced work on the 2021-23 Mission Action Plan for the parish, that will be drafted over the coming months and presented to the Annual Meeting in November.
and last but not least … Friday Zoom Cocktails :) our Lay Minister, Alae, will be hosting a friendly gathering online to end the week, at 7.30pm this evening (join: https://rmit.zoom.us/j/91505659135 <https://rmit.zoom.us/j/91505659135>).

Every blessing for these challenging times,
Fr Hugh
___________________
The Rev’d Dr J. Hugh Kempster
Vicar, St Peter’s Eastern Hill
www.stpeters.org.au <http://www.stpeters.org.au/>
vicar at stpeters.org.au <mailto:vicar at stpeters.org.au>
+61 488 960 022



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