On Wednesday 18 December and Thursday 19 December we had services in honour of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra in Lycia, the heavenly protector of our parish. All-night vigil with the blessing of loaves and wheat, wine and oil was served on Wednesday evening, and Divine Liturgy was served on Thursday morning. Joining the parish rector for Divine Liturgy was Hieromonk John (Macpherson) of the Holy Trinity Monastery in Monkerai, NSW. The Apostol was read by the parish Warden, Nikolai Nikolaevich Goura, celebrating his name-day that day. Receiving Holy Communion for the first time was Vasilissa Dawson, baptised in our parish on 8 December. After the Prayer before the Amvon a brief moleben to Saint Nicholas was served at which all our parishioners were commemorated by name. Following the dismissal, the rector congratulated Mr Goura on his name-day, and Many Years was sung for him. A number of those present then gathered for a light festive meal in the church hall, while our parish choir had its first rehearsal under the guidance of our new choir conductor, Nataliya Rahim.