Parramatters - 16th December 2022

Hi Parramatta Salvos, 

It's the last weekend before Christmas! Can you believe it? This Sunday we continue our series, 'Home for Christmas', and we invite you to join us at 9:30am or 11am as we prepare our hearts for the coming of the promised Messiah. 

This year, on Christmas Day, we will be holding one service at 9:30am, and we invite you, your family and friends to join us on Christmas morning. 

We can't wait to see you!

Kylie & Sarah
(Corps Officer Team)

Help needed this week
On Monday afternoon / night we need volunteers to assist with packing down the worship hall following the Thanksgiving Service for Brian Campbell. We will also need help setting up the toy room for Christmas Cheer the following morning. If you can assist, please stay following the Thanksgiving Service, or join us from 2pm Monday afternoon. 

We are also in need of many more volunteers for our Christmas Cheer Distribution next week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9am-1:30pm. If you can help, please contact us or put your name down on the rosters in the foyer. 

Street Carolling 
Join our brass band this Tuesday evening as we walk and spread some Christmas joy through music. All brass players are welcome - dust off those instruments and join us (please let David know).

All church members are invited to come and chat with community members and hand out Parramatta Salvos brochures and Christmas invitations.

Supper will be provided at the Collinsons at the conclusion.

Empty Chair Service
Our Empty Chair Service is a chance for grieving families to acknowledge the loss of a loved one and that there will be an empty chair at their table this Christmas. Attendees will also be able to light a candle in memory of their loved one during this hour-long service at Parramatta Salvos Worship Hall. Join us from 7pm-8pm on Friday 23 December.

Those who have lost loved ones this year are encouraged to attend. However, this service is open to anyone who might wish to remember and celebrate the life of a close friend or family member.

Christmas Day Offering
Each year we have the opportunity to contribute to a special Christmas Day Offering alongside Salvos across Australia. This year the project we will be giving to build 4 Borewells in Tanzania, Africa.

Where The Salvation Army works overseas, women and children may have to walk kilometres several times each day just to collect enough water to drink and wash. This takes lots of time, the water is usually dirty and contaminated, and it leads to sickness. When a borehole well is drilled near their home life becomes easier for everyone. Borewells make it easy to collect water. Women have more time, so can care for their families better and often find work outside the home; children can regularly go to school; water-borne disease is reduced; and the whole family is happier and healthier and can look forward to a brighter future with hope.

We invite you to consider your offering on Christmas Day. You can take an enveloped from the foyer this week, or simply come prepared to give a cash offering on Christmas morning. 

New Year's Eve Party
At a loose end for New Year’s Eve? 

Christmas Carols 
We had a fabulous night with close to 200 people attending our Christmas Carols event last Sunday. Well done to all involved and thank you to those who help pull the night together!

Thanks to the amazing generosity of our church community, we now have over $4000 worth of gift cards to distribute to teenagers this Christmas. A huge thank you to all who have supported out Gift Card Offering this year.

Kurrajong Carols & Dooralong Carols
Our Brass Band supported the Kurrajong Carols last Saturday night and visited Dooralong Transformation Centre on Wednesday night. We are grateful for the band taking up so many opportunities to spread Christmas joy this year!

Brian Campbell
It is with deep sadness that we inform you of the Promotion to Glory of our friend, Brian Campbell. Brian was a much-loved soldier of Parramatta Corps and had been part of the corps for 40 years. He was greatly respected and will be missed by his family and friends, as well as us here at Parramatta.

A Thanksgiving Service to celebrate Brians's life will take place at Parramatta Corps on Monday 19^th December at 10.30am. This will be conducted by Lieut-Colonel David Godkin, and all are welcome to attend and give thanks for Brian's life. 

The family would also like to extend an invitation to everyone to attend the Castlebrook Crematorium for a brief service at 9am. 

The band will be participating in the thanksgiving service. If you are able to be a part of this, please let David Collinson know.

Refreshments will be served following the service, if you are able to contribute a plate of food or assist in the kitchen, please contact Barbara Browning.

The Thanksgiving Service will be live streamed. If you are unable to attend, the link for this is https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/parramatta/funeral/

We ask that you pray for Brian's family at this time, particularly Glenda, his wife of 60 years, and their daughters Debbie and Tania.
 

Marg Robbo
Please pray Margaret Robinson who has spent some time in hospital over the past few weeks. Marg is hoping to be home for Christmas, so we ask that you pray for improved health over the coming days. 

Appointment Bulletin
Please pray for officers who are changing roles in the coming months. Last Friday, Capt. Kim Haworth was appointment as our Divisional Commander in NSW/ACT.

Lt. Col. Miriam Gluyas commences as the Territorial Commander of the Australia Territory on the first of February, 2023. 

To read the latest appointment bulletin, please click on this link. 

Connect Site
*closed for Christmas Cheer*

Morning Tea
18/12/22 - Kerryn & Heather

Welcomes
18/12/22 - 9:30am: Montana 11am: Ray