TRINITY SUNDAY
15th June 2003
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
There is something to be said for hardness of hearing.... "This is Michelangelo" ("my grandmother"). "There's Napoleon" ("the podium"). Quasimodo!" ("Austin-Rover"). "Heroism must not be allowed to prevail" "Terrorism must....."). "A smell of opium in the air" ("of autumn"). "The book became an article of masturbation" ("of mass production"). "Prostitutes must be made environment-friendly" (Phosphates....."). "There's a lot going on in brothels" ("in Brussels"). "The pension is rising" (alas, only "the tension") ......it brightens up those dull stretches on TV and radio...... D J Enright in old age
WELCOME
Welcome to our services. The order of the Eucharist is from "A Prayer Book for Australia". We like our worship to flow, so there are few directions given during the service. Page numbers are printed in the hard copy version of this pew sheet as is the Prayer of the Day, the Readings, Psalm and Hymn Numbers.
PRAYER OF THE WEEK
O God of all beauty, whose will it is that all your creatures enjoy the world and the life you have given us; we know that many are unable to do this, through hunger, poverty, disease, oppression, ignorance, or sin. Let me never rest content in your joys until I have done everything in my power and in your grace to help others to share them also, O God of all goodness and willer of abundant life. Amen. George Appleton
FROM THE WINGS OF THE EAGLE
Fr Andrew Neaum
A nightmare came true for me at Evensong in Ararat once. I made my measured and stately way to the pulpit during the penultimate verse of the penultimate hymn, to deliver what I hoped was to be a well-prepared, well thought out and worthwhile sermon. When I got into the pulpit the sermon which I thought I had placed there was not there. I descended from the pulpit rather more quickly than I had ascended it, did a couple of panic-stricken turns about the chancel and then bolted out of the church to where I might have left it. I returned to a quiet church and to a congregation wondering what had got into me. Had I been taken ill, suffered a crisis of faith, or like Zechariah seen a vision?
Be prepared
I like to be well prepared for worship. I cannot recall a similar lapse in over twenty years of preaching. I like other participants in worship to be well prepared too. Not least readers of scripture. Those who come to read in church without any preparation deserve a special kind of punishment. Such as being asked, without prior notice, to read a portion from the Book Obadiah, only to find on approaching the lectern that the bible is closed and unmarked. How delicious to see them riffle confidently through the minor prophets without finding the anorexicly slim book of Obadiah, and then more and more frantically, once, twice, three times more, until they give up and have recourse to the index.
How fortunate we are in this parish to have considerate clergy who not only print each Sunday's readings in the pew sheet, but also provide a guide to reading them in the preceding week's pew sheet! Ideally the readings should not be followed in the pew sheet by listeners as they are read. We should all be so confident of our readers that we can sit, or for the Gospel stand, watching the reader declaim the reading all but perfectly. This being an honour that holy scripture should be granted. Sadly it is an honour not often granted.
Gaffe of gaffes
The worst gaffe I have ever heard from a lector was during a reading of the Passion Narrative. Not once, but twice the name Annas was pronounced confidently and emphatically as Anus. I trust that the reader's wife kicked his after the service!
At college in Grahamstown in South Africa, where chapel services on Tuesdays were all conducted in Afrikaans, I heard some astonishing performances. Just as a donkey can be defined as a horse translated into Dutch, so scripture rendered by the inept into Afrikaans has a hee-hawtiness, a floppy-earedness to it, that is rather more amusing than edifying.
We have so democratised the reading of scripture in church nowadays that mediocre performances have almost become the norm. This is one of the reasons for printing readings in the pew sheet, it enables listeners to see what they ought to be hearing! The reading of scripture, however, should be a high point in the unfolding of the liturgy. It needs to be made alive, by confident and flawless proclamation, in order to spark response, in order to become living and active. This does not mean that there should be idiosyncratic or dramatic renditions. Scripture during divine worship is best allowed to speak for itself. For it to do so it needs to be read correctly and clearly, that is all. An idiosyncratic emphasising of words is unhelpful. There are folk who say earnestly after a reading, "This is the word of the Lord..." emphasising the word "is" so dramatically that one can only suppose that there is some doubt as to whether or not in fact it is.
Decanal chagrin
This reminds me of a true story concerning the one time Bishop of Matabeleland, Robert Mercer CR. He was very much a traditionalist as regards liturgy. After his election as bishop he was soon required to celebrate a weekday Eucharist in his Cathedral which had a progressive dean not given to compromising his principles for a mere bishop. The dean insisted on what was then the "new liturgy". Bishop Mercer, so the story goes, asked for a copy of the liturgy the night before and went through it changing every "you" to "thee" or "thou". As if this was not enough cause for decanal chagrin the next day, the first reading happened to be from the Apocrypha and so after reading it, Bishop Mercer, instead of saying "This is the Word of the Lord," looked up at the congregation and said, "I am afraid that the Church in its wisdom, has never ever been able quite to make up its mind as to whether or not this is in fact the Word of the Lord or not....."
ERRATUM
The non-liturgical part of this pew sheet is put on the Web and so parishioners such as Peter and Anne Young, on holiday overseas, can keep up with what is going on in the parish, if they so wish. They are not the only ones. The Bishop rang me up last week because he too had read the Pew sheet on the Web. This is most gratifying, however he did point out an error in my report on Synod. Apparently the motion to close the debate and block the vote on the motion to pass the Canon that would enable the ordaining of women as priests was not moved from the Chair, as I reported, but was moved by the Chancellor. The Chairman though supportive of this motion did not actually move it. AN
PASS ON
Reader, pass on, ne'er waste your time
On bad biography and bitter rhyme;
For what I am, this cumbrous clay ensures,
And what I was, is no affair of yours.
Epitaph in Guildford Churchyard.
THE KINGDOM
It's a long way off but inside it
There are quite different things going on:
Festivals at which the poor man
Is king and the consumptive is
Healed; mirrors in which the blind look
At themselves and love looks at them
Back: and industry is for mending
The bent bones and the minds fractured
By life. It's a long way off, but to get
There takes no time and admission
Is free, if you will purge yourself
Of desire, and present yourself with
Your need only and the simple offering
Of your faith, green as a leaf.
R S Thomas (Collected Poems 1945-1990 - Phoenix)
Everybody, please read this, whether you are a Reader or not.
READING THE BIBLE AT EUCHARIST
Take the time for a PREVIEW of Next Sunday's Readings 22 June
THE BODY and BLOOD of CHRIST
(Corpus Christi)
Guide for Readers at Sunday Eucharist
Our Lectionary calls this "Thanksgiving for Holy Communion" and sets it down for Thursday 19 June. This year we are taking our bearings from "another Communion" and celebrating it on Sunday so we can get the message across to a nice big congregation. It is not exclusively about Holy Communion. We do that kind of celebration on Maundy Thursday. Corpus Christi ("Christmas in June") is more about what we have today: the Body of Christ (us) celebrating, offering and sharing the Body of Christ; and receiving and Body of Christ in the Sacrament.
Gospel is Mark Chapter 14 verses 12–16 and 22- 26.
The very straightforward Marcan account of the preparation for that last Supper, a Passover meal; and the institution of the Lord's Supper as a continuing observance for the community of disciples.
Reading 1 A Reading from the Book Exodus, Chapter 24 verses 3 - 8.
Moses delivers the Law to the people in a Covenant-Making ceremony involving sacrifice and blood.
Our Lord Jesus quotes the words of Moses, "See the blood of the Covenant" in Mark's account of the Institution of the Supper of the Lord. The Covenant is the agreement or bargain God makes with his people: "I am helping you out of Egypt across the desert to the Promised Land, therefore you must agree to do this and this etc." "Testament" is the same as "Covenant". We the Church live under a bargain or agreement with the eternal God the living and true. Sometimes we slip up on our side, but God never breaks his side.
The Psalm is number 29.
Only the last few verses can possibly be interpreted in the light of our liturgy, so we should trim this down to verses 12–14; 17– end.
Reading 2: A Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews Chapter 9 verses 11 - 15
This is the correct Reading for our liturgy. It speaks of Christ as the new High Priest, and how much better his sacrifice is than all the old rites of the Temple. It also refers to the Covenant idea, thus emphasising the Exodus reading and the Gospel proclamation of the Covenant. In Hebrews, Christ is the mediator of a New Covenant
Get your Bible readings right, ladies and gentlemen. The glorious Bible is our tool of trade. Make it work for us! Fr Ellis Jones
NO THANK YOU
Hikers from Melbourne, caught by a snowstorm in the high country, took refuge in a hut for the night. Next morning a search party with Red Cross personnel set out. They saw the hut and knocked on the door. A voice from inside said: "Who's there?" "The Red Cross." The voice from inside said: "We've already given, thank you."
ELLISONIAN WISDOM
Fr Ellis' a study group entitled: "Introducing main themes from the Old Testament", began last week. It is not too late to join, Mondays in the Narthex from 7.30 pm.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Madelaine Jones who celebrates her birthday Monday the 16th of June and also to Clare and Vern Russell who celebrate their wedding anniversary on Tuesday the 17th.
FRIENDS OF OUR LADY
The Friends of our Lady Group Eucharist and Coffee Morning is on Wednesday 18th June at 10.00am. The Guest Speaker: Angela the High School Chaplain. Please bring morning tea to share.
ALL THAT JAZZ
The Michelle Nicolle Quartet is playing in St John's on Friday 27th June. See the Notice Board for details. This is top Jazz, well worth coming to. $15, $10 concessions.
HOLDING ON TO THE CROSS
Derek Polderman, who is doing some work for us on the Memorial Centre, makes very beautiful "holding crosses" out of Huon Pine. They cost $30 and make a wonderful present for any Christian, particularly for those who are ill. Speak to the Rector if you would like to have a look at one.
SACKAN
The group will meet in the Narthex at 9.30am on Thursday 19th. Come and join us. We would like anybody who likes knitting and has the time to knit rug squares and bed socks for Osborne Lodge. If you can help see Julie Skilton, Margaret Neaum, Dorothy Heiner or Georgina Edgar for patterns and wool. Please help this very worthy cause.
PARISH COUNCIL
There is a Parish Council Meeting this Wednesday at 7.30pm.
PASTORAL CARE
There is a Pastoral Care Committee Meeting on Wednesday at 2.00pm in the Parish Office.
SNOW TRIP
The Diocesan Youth Ministry Snow Trip takes place from the 1st to the 2nd of August. There is more infor-mation on the table in the Narthex as well as application forms.
DUTIES up to & including 15th June
Cleaning & Tea Team 7
Readers Beryl Anson, Dave Gillard, Margaret Connell
Eucharistic Assistant Mary Nicholson
Intercessor Children
Door Beryl Anson, Glad Baumgarten, Kaye Watt
Vestry Eric Saunders
Mowing Malcolm Jackson
Narthex Jean De Kruiff
Linen Ethel Elkington
Welcome Table Betty Dahl, Shirley Boynton
Servers Tabitha, Caldwell, Jess, Jayne, Travis, Daniel
DUTIES up to & including 15th June
Cleaning & Tea Team 7
Readers Marion Ellis, M. Neaum, G. Goldsworthy
Eucharistic Assistant Di Smith
Intercessor Clare Russell
Door Marie Draper, Gwen Goldsworthy, Joan Berrell
Vestry Peter Young substitute
Mowing Nil
Narthex Stan & Alice Windley
Linen June Bird
Welcome Table Mary Nicholson, Joy Hayden
Servers Anthony, Candice, Aaron, Erin, Phillip, Catherine
IMPORTANT DATES
Jun 18th Friends of our Lady Eucharist & Coffee Morn
June 18th Pastoral Care Committee Meeting
Jun 25th 2.00pm Pastoral Care Group
Jun 27th Jazz Night with Michelle Nicolle
July 8th Stewardship Meeting 2.00pm
July 23rd Fish and Chip night
July 27th Confirmation Day
Jul 30th 2.00pm Pastoral Care Committee
Aug 14th-15th Choral Festival
Aug 16th Welsh Choir
Aug 20th 2.00pm Pastoral Care Committee
Aug 24th Hall Opening and Thanksgiving Lunch
Sep 17th Friends of our Lady Eucharist & Coffee Morn
Sept 24th 2.00pm Pastoral Care Group
Oct 5th St Francistide Pet Service
Oct 12th Farewell Service and lunch for Neaums
Oct 22nd 2.00pm Pastoral Care Committee
Oct 25th Flower Show and Fete
Nov 23rd Bishop's Pastoral Visit
Nov 26th 2.00pm Pastoral Care Group
Dec 3rd Combined Friends of our Lady & Pastoral Care
FOR PRAYER
The Sick
Ed Baumgarten, Jean Byrnes, Betty Caldow, Blanche Coyle, Eunice Charlton, Sally Craven, Marion Ellis, Gwen Goldsworthy, Joyce Hall, Robert Jones, Andrew Kleinert, Jean Miles, Janet Murray, Edna Naismith, Bobby Nicholson, Thora Pyke, Bob Phillips, Simone Rattray Reid, Val Saunders, Ray Schmidt, Pam Willoughby, Heather
Rest in Peace Betty Wilson.
Anniversary of Death
Frederick Spilsbury 15th, Patricia Tame 16th, Thomas Russell, Shane Elsley, Ronald Unger, Doris Taylor, Jean Woodhouse, Doris Anderson 17th, Royston Haley, Baron Foster, Gladys Saunders, Dawn Richardson 18th, Ernest Newey, Grant Molloy, Elvyn Trevellick 19th, John Hunt, Arthur Kingham, Raymond Mack 20th.
THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Monday 16th June Columba
Fr Andrew's Day off
7.15am Mattins & Eucharist - St John's
5.00pm Evening Prayer - St John's
7.30pm Old Testament Study - Narthex
Tuesday 17th June
7.15am Mattins & Eucharist - St John's
9.00am Pastoral Care - Parish Office
Clergy Hospital Visits
5.00pm Evening Prayer - St John's
8.00pm Baptism Preparation - Narthex
Wednesday 18th June
7.15am Mattins - Emmanuel
9.00am Meditation - Narthex
10.00am Eucharist - (Friends of our Lady) - St John's
10.00am Home Communions
2.00am Pastoral Care Committee Meeting - Parish Office
7.30pm Parish Council Meeting - Narthex
Thursday 19th June
7.15am Mattins & Eucharist - St John's
9.30am SACKAN
11.00am Eucharist - Westlands
1.30pm Eucharist - Osburn Lodge
3.30pm Children for Christ - Narthex & Emmanuel
7.30pm Choir Practice - St John's
Friday 20th June
7.15am Mattins & Eucharist (trad rite) - St John's
5.00pm Evening Prayer - St John's
7.30pm Scottish Country Dancing - Narthex
Saturday 21st June
Fr Ellis' Day off
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - St John's
6.00pm Vigil Eucharist - St John's
CORPUS CHRISTI June 22
7.30am Said Eucharist - St John's
9.00am Uniting Church Eucharist - Emmanuel
9.30am Eucharist - St John's
11.00am Morning Prayer - Bethanga
7.00pm Evening Prayer - St John's