The lightning and thunder couldn’t outdo the enthusiasm of the singers and readers who carried on regardless, in good humour.
The Bishop of Riverina, the Right Reverend Donald Kirk, officiated over what was a very ecumenical affair with representatives from the Anglican, Uniting and Catholic churches taking part, and visitors from surrounding towns coming to join in the service and raise their voices in song.
Talented young baritone Ben Stonnill delighted everyone with his rendition of ‘O Holy Night’ and ‘The Holy City’ during the service.
The Christmas hampers’ raffle was drawn during the delicious supper which was held in the church hall after the service.
Winners were Sadie Herrick, and Mark Baldwin.
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The Carol Service will be the only Christmas service at St Stephen’s this year.
Other Christmas church services in Jerilderie will be as follows – St Joseph’s Catholic church, 9am Christmas Day; Uniting Church on Christmas Eve (Sunday) at 10am.
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Parishioners of St Joseph’s Catholic Church and teachers of St Joseph’s School provided an early farewell morning tea for Father Blaise Kurek, in the school staff room, after the 10.30am Mass last Sunday.
Father Blaise, who has served the parishes of Jerilderie/Coleambally/Darlington Point for 12 years, will say his last Mass in Jerilderie after Christmas, before taking up his new role with Ganmain/Coolamon parishes.
Father Connell Perry will be looking after the Jerilderie/Darlington Point/Coleambally parishes during January/early February, until Father Cyprian Onuarah returns from a family visit to Nigeria, to take up his role as the new administrator of the Jerilderie parish, and Darlington Point/Coleambally.
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Garbage collections in Jerilderie will be slightly different over the Christmas period.
There will be no collection Christmas Day, but put out your green bins on the evening of Christmas Day for a Tuesday morning, Boxing Day, collection.
Red lid bins are to be put out on Wednesday evening (December 27) for a Thursday collection.
Normal green bin collection on Monday, January 1 – put out Sunday night.
Then all back to normal.
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Jerilderie CWA held a successful street stall with raffle winners being: 1st fruit & veg box Tanya Roe; 2nd set of place mats and coasters Lucy Sweeney.
Thank you to everyone who supported the raffle.
Jerilderie CWA is now in recess until February 2024.