Weekly Letter from St Luke's - 23 December 2021

Dear Parish Friends

I am very much looking forward to sharing in the celebration of Christmas this weekend. We have services at St Luke's as follows:

• Christmas Eve, 7pm. Family service

• Christmas Eve, 11pm. Midnight Mass (come from 10.30pm to sing carols).

• Christmas Day, 8am. Family service with communion

• Sunday 26th, 9am. Holy Communion (note no 7am service on Sunday).

With the exception of the Christmas Eve 11pm service, they will also be streamed on Zoom, and service sheets are available via the links below (make sure that you enable display of pictures in your email to see these).

I remind you that the parish council has taken the decision to allow everyone, regardless of vaccination status to come to St Luke's. However to enable us to keep safe, please be mindful of maintaining physical distancing, washing hands, and don't come to church if you unwell. Although not mandated, mask wearing is encouraged.

I also have some very exciting new to share. Yesterday the Brisbane City Council approved our Development Application for the redevelopment of our site (Anglican child care centre, new hall and church deck). This is a wonderful Christmas present for the parish! We can now move forward in the New Year to working with the architect to finalise the design and plan for this new chapter in the life of the parish. We expect the civil works to begin in June/July.

Here is a Gregorian blessing from the 10th century for Christmas, as relevant today as then:

Almighty God, grant that we who are being bathed in the new light of your incarnate Word may reflect the faith that shines in our hearts in all we do; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Yours in Christ

Rev'd Timothy