Weekly letter from St Luke's - 17 December 2021

Dear Parish Friends The Queensland ‘Public Health and Social Measures linked to vaccination status Direction’ came into force today. Under this individual parishes were permitted to decide whether Covid-19 vaccination is an entry requirement to their activities. Our Parish Council has carefully considered what is the best way forward for us and decided that we will allow everyone, regardless of vaccination status, to come. Our overwhelming desire is to enable as many people as possible to interact with the parish, but in as safe a manner as possible. Therefore it is important that we are mindful of maintaining physical distancing, washing hands, not coming to church if unwell, and wearing masks if this makes one more comfortable. If you are anxious about coming in person to church, remember that many of our services, including our Sunday @ 9 service are streamed over Zoom (see link to this Sunday's service below). Over Christmas the 7pm Christmas Eve service and the 8am Christmas Day will also be streamed. I am always happy to offer pastoral support over the telephone or by home visit. The focus of the fourth Sunday of Advent is Mary. In the Eastern Church, Mary is known as theotokos, literally 'God-bearer'. We are reminded though that we are all called to be God-bearers, playing our part in reflecting God's light into the world, as have many, many before us. Through Ezekiel, God promised to put his spirit within the people (Ezekiel 36:27), and St. Paul reminds us that the Holy Spirit is within us (e.g. 1 Corinthians 3:16). Another reminder of the Christmas promise of God to come and be with us. Yours in Christ Rev'd Timothy