ALL SOULS’ DAY
2nd November 2003
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
What do we mean by ‘heaven' or ‘eternal life', and what are the true grounds for desiring it? I was once asked whether, if it could be proved that there was no God, I would wish I had lived my life differently. The reply, so far as memory serves, was this: "No, I would not want to have lived my life by different values, because I believe that those by which I have at least tried to live are right in themselves anyway. But I would be very sad, because it would mean that truth, goodness, beauty and love are not eternal and will not triumph in the end." The reason for wanting there to be a ‘heaven' is that the last word may rest not with evil or nothingness but with goodness and love. To the degree that we care about that we shall long for heaven as it really is. John Austin Baker
A PRAYER TO USE THIS WEEK
We give back to you, O God, those whom you gave to us. You did not lose them when you gave them to us and we do not lose them by their return to you. Your dear Son has taught us that life is eternal and love cannot die. So death is only a horizon, and a horizon is only the limit of our sight. Open our eyes to see more clearly, and draw us closer to you so that we may know that we are nearer to our loved ones, who are with you. You have told us that you are preparing a place for us: prepare us also for that happy place, that where you are we may also be always, O dear Lord of life and death. William Penn
BACK O' BOURKE
A couple of bushies had finished their fencing contract back o' Bourke and were heading towards town when they were overcome by thirst. So they parked the ute at the front of a lonely little pub and went inside to breast the bar. "What's the beer like?" they asked a stockman, who'd arrived a few minutes earlier and was tying his blue heeler to a fence post out the front. "The beer here? It's flaming awful," said the stockman. "I'll be glad when I've had enough."
MAKING BEDS TO LIE UPON
Fr Andrew Neaum
My two sons, Peter and David, when much smaller than they are now, slept in great ugly bunks, designed by an idiot, and placed, when we were in Skipton Rectory, in a room too small to enable the bunks to be anything but against a wall. This meant that making their bed was a difficult task for them.
Trapped By Jehovah's Witnesses
Incidentally that Rectory too was designed by an idiot, because its front door was opposite the loo, and so Jehovah's Witnesses, salesmen and anyone else whom one preferred to deal with at the front door, rather than invite inside, were able to observe the exits and the entrances of family members to "the white tiled cabin everyone calls home", unless they were modest enough to remain enthroned until the coast was clear.
A Knuckle Bruising Task
Once a week the boys were let off making their bunks because of sheet-change day, and Margaret, my wife, made them, with my help, unless I had got wind of what she was up to and so had fled to visit the hospital, to feign holiness in the chapel or to skulk in my office over a religious tome or the `Spectator', so avoiding the knuckle-bruising task.
Desperate Dad
The job of making those bunks was a thousand times worse than it might have been because we nearly always had the help of little Elizabeth and Rachel, who smoothed sheets and blankets for us, jumped on top of them to unsmooth what had been smoothed, tore at each other's hair over possession of a pillow-case and screamed when trodden on under a blanket by Mum or desperate Dad, who for all the feminists' insistence that men are made for this sort of thing has his doubts. He suspects that to be out and about archetypal male pastimes like hunting, tearing enemies to bits in war or chasing bulls through wild bush, is a great deal more natural, soothing and soul-satisfying.
Sermons In The Bedroom
As Margaret and I were at this desperate chore one day, our eyes meeting across the top bunk, the two girls bouncing on the newly-made bottom one, I suggested that in allowing our two daughters to help us make beds we were not unlike God, who allows humankind to help him in the making of the world. (Some wives have their husbands whisper sweet nothings to them, mine, poor girl, has to suffer sweet sermons). Our frustration at having the beds more messed than made by our eager, chortling, fighting helpers, must surely, I opined, be a little echo of the Divine frustration at having the whole world messed up more than made, by the eager, chortling, fighting helpers that constitute humankind.
I warmed to my theme. The potential for good, glory, peace and harmony in creation and in human society is staggering and boundless, and yet, because God has placed this potential in our hands, we have the horrors of Palestine, Iraq and Sudan; we have back-stabbing and puerile bickering in parliaments; we have adultery, divorce, broken homes and hearts everywhere and anywhere.
The Providential Presence
In spite of the miracle-mongering sects that seem so to thrive in suburbia and who peddle their simplistic faith-packages from door to door and over television, God's way with the world is to let it be itself, and to let us be ourselves. God influences and guides discreetly, through natural cause and effect, not by suspending natural laws, or by mind- boggling miracles, or by direct and obvious manipulation and intervention. Thus it requires faith to see God's influence and guidance and providential presence in his world.
Elizabeth and Rachel would forget Mum and Dad, when with furious concentration they helped to make the boys' bunks. They imagined that they did the job unaided. Then they would catch a glimpse of the providential hand smoothing behind them and look up to see a smiling mother's face.
Full Face To God
So too, perhaps, it is with humankind. We get on with the business of life, masters of our own destiny, makers of our own bed to lie upon, cocksure that all is in our own hands, all is up to us. Until, in the middle of the mess we make of life, we have an intimation of the Divine, or begin to suspect pattern, purpose and meaning, and so look up.
We are then full-face to God, which is conversion. It is the beginning of a long, lovely journey learning to work with God not in spite of him or even against him.
A FINE POEM
The following poem, which I think particularly lovely, is quoted in full in today's sermon. I publish it here for closer reference. It is by the Anglican parson and poet Andrew Young, the collected works of whom in my possession are published by Secker and Warburg, though are probably out of print now. He lived from 1885 to 1971 and was born in Scotland, educated at school and university in Edinburgh and was ordained a minister of the Free Church in 1912. In 1910 his father paid for the publication of his "Songs of Night", the first of many slim volumes of poetry which were greatly admired by an ever widening circle. The first "Collected Poems" appeared in 1936. In 1939 he was ordained in the Church of England. A lifelong interest in botany is reflected in a prose account of his travels and searches called "A Prospect of Flowers, but is also very apparent in his poems, the subjects of which include many aspects of the natural world, as well as brief and polished reflections on God and man. The reference in the poem to "every seventh year" is to the supposed replacement every seven years of all the cells in the human body
PASSING THE GRAVEYARD
I see you did not try to save
The bouquet of white flowers I gave;
So fast they wither on your grave.
Why does it hurt the heart to think
Of that most bitter abrupt brink
Where the low-shouldered coffins sink?
These living bodies that we wear
So change by every seventh year
That in a new dress we appear;
Limbs, spongy brain and slogging heart,
No part remains the selfsame part;
Like streams they stay and still depart.
You slipped slow bodies in the past;
Then why should we be so aghast
You flung off the whole flesh at last?
Let him who loves you think instead
That like a woman who has wed
You undressed first and went to bed.
DEVILISH DEFINITIONS
Embalm, v.: To cheat vegetation by locking up the gases upon which it feeds. By embalming their dead and thereby deranging the natural balance between animal and vegetable life, the Egyptians made their once fertile and populous country barren and incapable of supporting more than a meagre crew. The modern metallic burial casket is a step in the same direction, and many a dead man who ought now to be ornamenting his neighbour's lawn as a tree, or enriching his table as a bunch of radishes, is doomed to a long inutility. We shall get him after awhile if we are spared, but in the meantime the violet and the rose are languishing for a nibble at his glutaeus maximus.
Dentist, n.: A prestidigitator who, putting metal into your mouth, pulls coins out of your pocket
Love, n.: A temporary insanity curable by marriage or by removal of the patient from the influences under which he incurred the disorder. This disease, like caries and many other ailments, is prevalent only among civilized races living under artificial conditions; barbarous nations breathing pure air and eating simple food enjoy immunity from its ravages. It is sometimes fatal, but more frequently to the physician than to the patient.
Man, n.: An animal so lost in rapturous contemplation of what he thinks he is as to overlook what he indubitably ought to be. His chief occupation is extermination of other animals and his own species, which, however, multiplies with such insistent rapidity as to infest the whole habitable earth and Canada.
Ambrose Bierce 1842-1914
THE WEEK THAT WAS
Most of last week was taken up with Diocesan duties or obligations. On Monday and Tuesday I attended a Clergy Conference in Wangaratta. The first day was devoted toa Seminar entitled "Power and Trust", and was to do with responsible and professional relationships between clergy and laity, with particular emphasis on the necessity of avoiding abusive and improper relationships. This was very well done with the help of excellent videos from America. The next day was occupied by reflection and discussion upon spiritual direction for clergy and the need for some sort of appraisal of both clergy and parishes, again this was largely constructive, though in the case of appraisal particularly it was only exploratory. More thought will go in to this over the following months. On Thursday I sped off once more to Wangaratta for a Bishop in Council meeting, though I had to return early for a funeral. In between all this there were two sermons to prepare, a funeral interview and homily to be seen to, this pew sheet to put together, several wedding interviews and another longer interview of a different sort as well. All very stimulating but busy. So what a relief to find myself at the end of the last column of the last page of this pew sheet. Deo Gratias!
PARISH FAIR 2003
LEAFLETS
Leaflets for distribution and maps are on the Narthex table. Could helpers please sign name against map number and take enough leaflets required to distribute in your area.
JAMS, PRESERVES, CAKES
There is still time to make Jams, Preserves and Chutneys, always popular items. And please bake, bake, bake, bake! The more the merrier.
HANDBAGS AND JEWELLERY
A new stall this year requires donations of jewellery, handbags and accessories. Any items can be left at the Parish Office or at 14 Parker Street.
NOVEMBER 30th
The combined service for the Parish on this day has been cancelled. Services will be as normal. Servers and Welcomers please check revised roster on the notice board.
CALENDARS
Anglican Calenders for 2004 have arrived and can be collect from the office upon payment of $10.00 each
SERVERS
We need more servers, lots of them and young ones as well as old! If you have children or grandchildren who can be persuaded, bribed or coerced into offering their services, please put their name on the list in the Narthex! There is a short practice after the 10.00am Eucharist today, the 2nd of November.
CAROLS
There is a list for those interested in forming a choir for a Christmas Carol Service and perhaps too to sing at Midnight Mass. If we get enough folk with decent voices we will do a few items that are fairly ambitious. If not it will be a matter of singing well known carols with gusto. What is certain, however, is that it will be good fun. We will meet this Thursday evening the 6th, at 7.30pm in St Augustine's. Put your name down if you can sing at all reasonably.
CHAPLAINCY ECUMENICAL DINNER
Friday 7th November
3 course meal.
Starting time
6.30p.m.
Music
Shepparton High School Band.
Guest Speaker
Katrina Robinson.
Venue
Goulburn Valley Christian Fellowship, Pine Road.
Cost
Adults $10.00, Primary Students $5.00
Tickets available from Rosemary Moore 58 216 139
INTERNET BANKING
Shepparton High School Chaplaincy Committee, with the A.N.Z. Community Financial Education Program will be conducting an Internet Training Program on Thursday 13th Nov in the V.C.E. Centre. There will be sessions at 6.30pm and 8pm with each session lasting about 90 mins. What is more, if you attend the program the A.N.Z. Bank will donate $10.00 to the Chaplaincy Committee for you and each other person attending. Contact Rosemary Moore (Chaplaincy Secretary) on 58 216 139
ON THE WEB
The articles, quotations and notices in this pew sheet can be accessed each week on the Web. The cartoons and liturgical material are not uploaded. The easiest way to find them is to type "Andrew Neaum" into your search engine as they are on his personal web page.
IMPORTANT DATES
It is useful to have printed each week in this sheet a list of important dates.
Please hand any such dates to the Parish Secretary...
Nov 1st Wedding
Nov 2nd Servers Practice after 10.00am Eucharist
Nov 4th Baptism Preparation - Narthex
Nov 8th Parish Fair
Nov 8th Wedding
Nov 12th Parish Council
Nov 18th Afternoon Guild Break-up
Nov 20th Evening Guild Eucharist and Break-up
Dec 7th St Mary's Patronal Festival
April 11th Easter Day
FOR PRAYER
Please note that there is a list for the names of folk for whom prayers are required in the narthex... we usually leave names on our prayer list for a month and then put out a new sheet.
Sheila Hollaway, Peter & Eve Swindells, David, Brien Emmett, Ray Prosser, May Wallace, Harrison Family, Liam & Donna Bognar, Ann Mills, Neale Feldtman, Vera Stolz, Gwen & Bob Scott, Bruce Natalie & Baby, Reta Esam, Barbara Whyte, John & Millie Jeffery, Hunter & family, Keith, Gwen, Fr Wayne Ireland.
Anniversary of Death
Laurence Sweet, Edison(Ted) Condon, Jean Anselmi,Reg Shearer, Lorna Sanderson, George Eric Bartlett, Ernest George Young,Lindsay Dealy, Annie Galt, Evelyn Rose Sheppard.
THE PARISH
Today
St Augustine's Shepparton
8.30am Eucharist Fr Andrew
10.00am Eucharist Fr Andrew
5.30pm Evening Prayer Fr Andrew
St Luke's Dookie
9.00am Eucharist Fr John
St Mary's Katandra West
10.45am Eucharist Fr John
Weekday Services
7.45am Morning Prayer daily
8.00am Eucharist daily except Wednesday
10.00am Eucharist Wednesdays only
5.30pm Evening Prayer (daily usually)