25^th August  2002

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

 

 

                                                 

QUOTES  OF THE  WEEK

Approximately 100 percent of crop circles are man‑made, note that I said approximately....... we have to allow for dogs chasing their tails and other phenomena.    

                                  Joe Nickell, of   the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal.

 

The most famous exports of France have always been cheese, wine, and ideas. The cheese is excellent, the wine has good and bad years, and the illustrious ideas are consistently dreadful. Today, in universities across the West, Michel Foucault (1926‑1984) exemplifies the bad French idea at its most brilliant and its most poisonous.                         Robert Fulford

 

                                                                    

PRAYER OF THE WEEK

Show your mercy to me, O Lord, to gladden my heart.  Lo, here is the man that was caught of thieves, wounded, and left for half‑dead, as he was going towards Jericho. You kind‑hearted Samaritan, take me up....Deal favourably with me according to your good pleasure, that I may dwell in your house all the days of my life, and praise you for ever and ever with those who are already there.                                                                                                                                           St Jerome

 

IDENTITY

Two Australians, one Jew and one Chinaman were sitting on a park bench in Sydney reading their newspapers.  Suddenly the Jewish man jumped up and started beating the living daylights out of the Chinese man.  As he lay on the ground he looked up and said, "What you do that for?"  To which the Jewish man replied, "Pearl Harbour and the bombing of Darwin."  As he got up and dusted himself off, the Chinese man said, "But I Chinese, not Japanese."  The Jewish man said, "Chinese, Siamese, Japanese, they're all the same to me."  They re‑commenced reading their newspapers.  Suddenly the Chinese man jumped up and started to karate chop the Jewish man.  As he looked up, very dazed, he asked.  "What did you do that for?"  The Chinese man replied, "The Titanic." "But that was in iceberg."  "Goldberg, Steinberg, iceberg ‑ they're all the same to me!"

 

I'm tired of all this business about beauty being only skin deep.  That's deep enough. What do you want ‑ an adorable pancreas?                                                                                                                                                      Jean Kerr

 

BROKEN RITES

What a dreadful mess the Catholic Church is in. It is difficult not to conclude that enforced celibacy is part of the problem, as too an all male priesthood.  I read, years ago, a book that quoted a Frenchman as saying "Of all sexual aberrations, I find celibacy the hardest to comprehend!"  This I thought to be merely witty and funny at the time. Now I begin to wonder if it does not contain a good deal of truth.

  

How disgusting too, though, in the case of Dr Pell, that in our society a person's reputation can be impugned and forever tainted by public accusations before any guilt has been established.  How is the principle "innocent until proved guilty" preserved in a world of gleeful, finger‑pointing journalism?

 

The ABC, when it reports on matters of sexual abuse concerning the churches, often calls upon members of an organisation called "Broken Rites" for comment. I had a very quick look at "Broken Rites", on the Web early this morning.  There are two completely different organisations laying claim to the name. 

 

One is a group in England that looks after the needs of separated and divorced spouses of the clergy in the United Kingdom.  Its symbol is a butterfly, and it  reminds enquirers and victims  that new life does emerge from a chrysalis, that beyond hurt there is healing.  It seems altogether non‑vindictive, thoroughly positive, invaluable and worthwhile.

 

The second organisation is an Australian one that offers support to anyone "abused sexually, physically or emotionally in religious institutions. These institutions include parishes, church schools, church youth clubs and church‑affiliated children's homes. The offenders may be priests, ministers, religious brothers, church‑school teachers, lay officials or other church personnel.  Its focus is on the Church. The web site goes on to say: "Broken Rites offers support and advocacy for victims throughout the justice process. We operate throughout Australia, with a network of contacts in all states.  It is never too late to report sexual abuse. However, it is important that people should report these offences to a victims group such as Broken Rites. Broken Rites will advise a victim about all the options available for obtaining justice." 

 

The site publishes lists of the names of all Catholic clergy and lay officials gaoled for sexual offences over recent years, as well as those who received non‑custodial sentences, those who committed suicide while under investigation and so on.  There is a similar list of Anglican offenders, thankfully very much shorter.

The tone of this Australian organisation is very different from the English one that has to do with divorced clergy spouses.  It is coldly forensic.  There is no butterfly symbol. There are no reminders of life emerging from the chrysalis. The focus of the website is justice, is more Old Testament than New.  Justice indeed needs to be done, but it does seem to me, that no matter how worthwhile a cause, or how monstrous a crime, a lack of pity is a very, very great pity.       Fr Andrew Neaum

 

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Chris and Pat Filby and David and Annette Melton who celebrate their wedding anniversary on Monday 26th.

 

BARBECUE NEXT WEEK

With the blackbirds singing joyously every morning and so reminding us that spring is all but upon us we intend reviving the first Sunday of the month BBQs.  Next Sunday those so inclined will head off to some pleas‑ing local rendevous to relax, eat and drink in good company. We'll let you know where and offer lifts next week. BYO everything.

 

CHORAL EVENSONG

In place of Choral Evensong tonight there is Evensong at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Wangaratta at 6.00pm.  At this service Fr Reg Farnell is to be installed as a Canon and both Fr Ellis and Fr Andrew, at least, will be present.  This is preceded by a Sunday Seminar for both clergy and laity led by the noted UK Moral Theologian and teacher Fr Peter Allan.  There is afternoon tea at 3.30pm and the seminar begins at 4.00.  It is entitled "Does the World need the Church?" Fr Allan will preach at Evensong..

 

BISHOP'S CERTIFICATE

We start the Bishop ‘s Certificate course this Tuesday at 7.30pm in the Narthex..  It is all about the basics of our Faith and the Bishop would like all Eucharistic Assistants to take part. Anyone else is most welcome to come along too.

 

AFFIRMING CATHOLICISM

There is a meeting in Wangaratta on Monday night about the liberal, High Church Anglican organisation called "Affirming Catholicism".Our Diocese needs some such liberality! If you need a lift ask the clergy.

 

FRIENDSHIP

The Friendship group meets this Wednesday in the Narthex. The inimitable Val Hill will be arranging entertainment. Newcomers will be welcomed in a most friendly fashion.

 

MRS FRAWLEY

On Wednesday at 2.00pm Mrs Frawley, in charge of Osburn Lodge, will be talking in the Narthex, to all with the good sense to attend, about visiting and caring for the geriatric and elderly and infirm.  Do please come along.

 

NEWS FROM DILI

On the table in the Narthex is a copy of an ongoing letter from Fr Peter Hayes in Dili, for anyone interested to have a read.

 

HART LECTURE

The 2002 Hart Lecture will be given by Fr Peter Allan on Thursday 29th August at 7.30pm.  See the Notice Board.

 

FETE AND FLOWER‑SHOW

Our annual Fete and Flower Show is on the 26 October and preparations have begun. We expect the Dawn Richardson Centre will be in progress and we are currently looking at the allocation of space for the various stalls. No matter what, the Fete will go ahead. Each year we ask for your help and each year the wonderful people of St John's provide the Fete Committee with the support they need. As usual we are looking for items for the Trash and Treasure (to arrange collection phone Bill Elkington 60241540 or Jim Hislop 60246492), Cakes and slices can be made at anytime, frozen and delivered to the Fete by 9am on the day (this stall always sells everything they have) Boxes will be provided in the Narthex for donations of Preserves, Art and Craft, Toys, Tom's Hamper, Books and small items for the children's Lucky Dip. Plants in pots or Fruit and Vegetables can be delivered on Friday the 2 October. We will have some notices available in the Narthex by the end of August, we ask anybody who has access to a workplace or community notice board to take copies and help us with our publicity.

 

Ideas, Ideas, Ideas! If you have seen a new type of stall at another Show or Fete and you think it might  work for us, please discuss your idea with Bill Elkington, we must always be on the lookout for new ideas. If you can offer any support please contact the appropriate co‑ordinator.

 

Co‑ordinator               Phone

 

GREAT SPRING TOURS

Bookings are in progress for this year's Spring Tours.  A three day (15th Sept), or two day (19th Sept) trip to the Dandenongs includes the Tulip Festival, National Rhodo‑dendron Park, Australian Plant Garden, a musical luncheon at the Cuckoo Restaurant and as trip on Puffing Billy.  The five day, four night "Ocean/Mountain/Goldfields tour begins on 28th October.  Accommodation each night at a Ballarat Motel.  Only one hour from the Great Ocean Road, and one and a half hours from the Grampians, with unique gold‑fields close by, easy day trips will be enjoyed each day from our Motel. For detailed information contact Margaret Connell ‑ 02 60241448.

 

HELP

We need one or two folk to fill a gap in the office roster each 2nd Thursday during September and November. See Margaret Andrews (60244189            

 

IMPORTANT DATES

Aug 29th                      Hart Lecture 7.30pm Wangaratta

Sept 1st                        Parish BBQ

Sept 4th                       Clergy Day Wangaratta

Sept 6th                       Parish Dinner

Sept 19th‑Oct 8th        Rector's Holiday

Oct 5th                         Dederang Dinner

Oct 26th                       Flower Show and Fete

Nov 27th                      Pastoral Care Meeting

Nov 30th                      Concert & Book Launch Wangaratta

 

DUTIES up to & including 1st September

Cleaning & Tea            Team 6

Vestry                          Hugh Elford

Mowing                        No one this week

Narthex                        Jean De Kruiff

Linen                            June Bird

Welcome Table            Maimee and Alan Haines

Door                            Joan Redman, Lanice Dicker, Rachel Neaum

Readers                        Jean Ardern, Anne Young, Elizabeth Neaum

Euch. Assistant Mary Nicholson

Intercessor                   Georgina Edgar

Servers                         Paige, Ryan, Caldwell, Candice, Liz, Howard

 

FOR PRAYER

Ed Baumgarten,  Margaret Beecher, Lauren Fitzsimons, Dorothy Heiner, Julie Howe, Audrey Kennedy, Trazden Lawford, Jordan Lowe, Lois Neil, Olive Newton, Peter Nugent, Betty Murphy, Christopher Pearson, Thora Pyke,  Val Saunders, Grant Savage, Mary Shae, Jack Skilton, Sandra Temple,  Mellissa Walsch,

 

Anniversary  of  Death:  Gustavus Rodkis 25th, John Kimball, June Jones 26th,  Herbert Edney 27th,  Mark Sinclair, Robert Smith, Hilda Butterfield, Euphemia Pethybridge, Maciek Korneluk, Mark Saxelby 28th, Beryl Randall, Audrey Elford 29th, William Hadley, William Morass, Donald Armitage, Mabel Wallace 30th, Ellen Marsh, John Jones 31st

 

                                                                                   RAFFLE

There is no Major Raffle this year, but there is a Hamper to raffle, with tickets worth a mere 50 cents.  Please take a book to sell.  The draw will be at the Parish Dinner.  The Dinner will be great fun and good value.  Have you replied to your invitation.  Please do!

 

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

Monday 26th August

Fr Andrew's Day off

7.15am             Mattins & Eucharist  ‑ St John's

5.00pm            Evening Prayer ‑ St John's

7.30pm            Affirming Catholicism Mtg. ‑ Wangaratta

 

Tuesday 27th August  St Monica

7.15am Mattins & Eucharist  ‑ St John's

9.00am Pastoral Care Meeting ‑ Parish Office

9.30am Clergy Hospital Visits

1.30pm            Chaplaincy Meeting ‑ Albury Base Hospital

5.00pm            Evening Prayer ‑ St John's

7.30pm            Bishop's Certificate Course ‑ Narthex

 

Wed 28th August  St Augustine of Hippo

7.15am Mattins only ‑ Emmanuel

10.00am           Eucharist ‑ St John's

10.00am           Home Communions

2.00pm            Pastoral Care Meeting ‑ Narthex

5.00pm            Evening Prayer ‑ St John's

7.30pm            Friendship Group ‑ Narthex

 

Thursday 29th August   Beheading of John Baptist 

7.15am Mattins & Eucharist ‑  St John's

11.00am           Eucharist ‑ Westlands

11.30am           Devotional Service ‑ Murray Valley

1.30pm            Eucharist ‑ Osburn Lodge

3.30pm            Children for Christ ‑ Narthex

5.00pm            Evening Prayer ‑ St John's

7.30pm            Choir Practice ‑ St John's

7.30pm            Hart Lecture ‑ Wangaratta

 

Friday 30th August

Fr Ellis' Day off

7.15am Mattins & Trad Rite Eucharist ‑ St John's

7.30pm            Scottish Country Dancing ‑ Narthex

 

Saturday 31st August  John Bunyan

7.45am Mattins & Eucharist  ‑ St John's

5.30pm            Evening Prayer ‑ St John's

6.00pm            Vigil Eucharist ‑  St John's

 

1st September ‑ Fifteenth  Sunday after Pentecost

7.30am Said Eucharist ‑   St John's

9.00am             Uniting Church Eucharist ‑ Emmanuel

9.30am             Sung Eucharist ‑  St John's

11.00am           Eucharist ‑ Bethanga

Parish Barbecue

3.00pm            Cello Concert ‑ St John's

7.00pm            Evening Prayer (said)  ‑ St John's