TWENTY FOURTH SUNDAY after PENTECOST (32)
14th November 2004
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
For mainstream Christians, Darwin was never much of a problem anyway. He was only thought to be so by those who presumed he had somehow either: 1) proved the Bible wasn’t true, or 2) proved that men had no immortal souls. He had proved neither. Genesis was chewed over, about 1,800 years ago, by the clever Christian thinker Origen. ‘What reasonable man would think that the first, second and third day — and the evening and the morning — existed without a sun, moon and stars?’ he asked. I do not suppose that anyone doubts that these things figuratively indicate certain mysteries. No one, before the phrase ‘sola scriptura’ became a motto, took the Bible for a sort of cosmological mechanical maintenance manual. But it was the contention of Christians 1,500 years before Darwin that evolution does not rule out questions of design, intention, teleology or why anything exists at all.
Christopher Howse
RUSTIC FOLLY (1)
The old bushie decided to visit the big smoke, but he had never travelled by train, so he didn’t know what to do. “Just go up to the ticket window,” his mates told him. “They’ll put you right.” So the old bushie got a lift into town, found the railway station and joined the queue at the ticket window. The young woman in front gave some money to the booking clerk, saying, “Alice Springs, single.” When the bushie’s turn came, he plonked a $50 note down and said, “Mick O’Brien, married with two kids.”
RUSTIC FOLLY (2)
At a big-time wool-grower's daughter's wedding, all the staff were invited. A station-hand was bravely trying out all the flash tucker that had been especially imported for the wedding feast. First he put some caviar on a biscuit, then grabbed his hankie and spat it out. Then he tried a black olive, screwed his face up, and spat it into his hankie too. "Stone the crows!" he muttered fiercely to the other stationhand. "You'd think the boss or the cook'd be a bit more careful with this tucker - the flamin' blackberry jam tastes like fish, and I reckon the cat's piddled on the prunes!"
FIDO’S WEDDING
Fr Andrew Neaum
I was asked to include a dog in a wedding party once. A week or so before the wedding was due to take place, the groom came to see me to clear up a few matters. He tentatively asked if his dear bride’s beloved mutt could be a part of the marriage service. He seemed relieved at my incredulous and emphatic “No!” My suggested compromise, that he himself wear the dog’s collar and be led up the aisle by his bride, and that the word “obey” be inserted in his vow, was declined, with a grin.
The price of a price
Strange things happen at weddings these days. It is partly because churches charge fees. To charge for sacraments and church ceremonies turns the relationship between Church and seeker, or Christ and enquirer, into a commercial relationship, like that between a retailer and a customer. Customers have characteristics, expectations and rights altogether different from searchers for, and enquirers after God’s grace, sacraments and assistance.
At another wedding recently, as I was reading St Paul’s words about love being patient and kind, not arrogant, rude, irritable or resentful, nor insisting on its own way, the bride seemed rather less than loving in this Pauline sense. She was vehemently and unlovingly shaking her fist and hissing murderous threats at an angelic looking, but fiendishly behaving, little flower girl, who was running amok in the sanctuary, her own daughter. The irony was noted as wryly in heaven as it was by me, I am sure.
Mother-in-law’s elbow
When my father was a young curate in the English Midlands, many years ago, there was a wedding in the parish church, he maintained, every half hour on every Saturday of the year, from eight in the morning until six at night. He remembers on a particular Sunday, prior to the Christmas holiday season, having to read out forty nine sets of banns. At one wedding, which the girth of the bride indicated to be of the “shot gun” variety, the bride was given away by her mother. The future mother-in-law had to dig the reluctant groom deeply in the ribs with her elbow before he would say “I do”. When it came to the signing of the register, it was she who noticed that the groom had signed a false name. He was dragged back to sign correctly. I wonder if the marriage lasted.
Mush and slush
One of the most unpleasant features of many weddings in church these days is the music. Sentimental songs expressing, soft-headed and mushy notions as to what “love” is all about, play the bride in and out. I can understand anyone rejecting the two traditional wedding marches, but surely something festive or majestic is more appropriate than slush! Another practical little problem at both weddings and funerals these days, is that the un-churched are familiar with only two hymns: “Morning has Broken” and “Amazing Grace”. The first is vapid enough to serve for any occasion. The second, however, is so full of God and of extremely personal religious sentiment, that no un-churched person who has taken any account of the words at all can ever seriously desire it to be sung. Both these hymns are well known because they have been high on the hit parade and are still sometimes recycled as popular songs. Perhaps one of the great services that our Church’s Liturgical Commission could perform would be to sponsor famous and talented popular musicians to record up-beat versions of good hymns with the aim of getting them on to the hit-parade. This would serve a double purpose. It would widen the popular repertoire of sacred music and also provide some sort of communication with the un-churched masses! A popular hymn with a refrain that replaces “Alleluia” with “Woof, woof!” might also have practical applications.
Celebrants
Many couples who come for their interviews are coy about the bible readings. The Bible is a collection of writings from centuries long ago when views on marriage were decidedly different, decidedly male-dominated, more realistically hard-headed and robust than today. Finding passages that do not make modern young people squirm is difficult and so I am often asked to include non-biblical readings in the service. These, like the songs, are usually cringe-making, banal and sentimental. There is even in circulation a collection of platitudes cobbled together in phony biblical language purporting to come from the pen of St Paul. More probably they are the creation of an unscrupulous secular “marriage celebrant”. Some such celebrants, although advertising an alternative to church weddings, are not at all averse to using a little diluted churchiness to provide a spurious other-worldly authenticity to their efforts! At a funeral I took recently a man identified himself to me as an L-plate “Celebrant” attending the funeral to obtain an idea as to how to “do it”!
Having said all the above, however, what a delight it is to have dealings with the happy young folk who do still turn to the Church to be married. Most of them are mature, sensible, and accommodating, and they are nearly always grateful for the effort we put in to making their wedding memorable. They all of them have good taste for there is no building more beautiful in which to be married in Shepparton than St Augustine’s, and many of them come too because they do desire God’s blessing upon their marriage. Merely by choosing to be married here they deserve our respect.
INTERESTING
Boxing Analyst (Olympic Games): “Sure there have been injuries, and even some deaths in boxing, but none of them really that serious.”
THE ORANGE
At lunchtime I bought a huge orange
The size of it made us all laugh.
I peeled it and shared it with Robert and Dave -
They got quarters and I had a half.
And that orange it made me so happy,
As ordinary things often do
Just lately. The shopping. A walk in the park
This is peace and contentment. It’s new.
The rest of the day was quite easy.
I did all my jobs on my list
And enjoyed them and had some time over.
I love you. I’m glad I exist.
Wendy Cope
GEORGE BUSH
Is there any reason to be pleased by the reelection of George Bush? You would hardly think so from the reaction of most commentators. However, Peter Ryan in a Quadrant article quotes one that will do. The poet AE Houseman on the reelection as Mr Baldwin as Prime Minister of England wrote...... “Not that I set the slightest store by politics, but I was pleased by Mr Baldwin's election as prime minister. It will annoy the sort of person whom I do not like.”
A PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
O God, you are Love and see all the injustice and misery that men have wrought in the world, have pity upon the inadequately clothed and hungry, the hopelessly indebted, the unemployed and all who are heavy laden with error, labour and sorrow. Fill us with active compassion for those who suffer and keep us always mindful of their needs, that we may help to hasten the coming of your kingdom of justice and truth in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
SEEK TO FIND
If a man does not seek God where he is, there is no profit in seeking him where he is not. What is the good of sitting at home seeking him, when his presence is in the Holy Eucharist ? J H Newman
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Andrew Neaum and Nancee Beck who celebrate their birthday
on the Tuesday the 16th.
WELCOME
Welcome to Steven and Donna Bognar and their sons Thomas and Liam who are being baptised at the10.30am Eucharist today, and to Julianne and Benedetto Parente and their son Joseph who is also being baptised.
“OUTREACH”
There has been an “Outreach” Editorial Committee Meeting, and we hope to have a Christmas edition of the magazine out in early December. Contributions are welcome from all and sundry and must be in the Parish Office by the 28th of November. We hope to have a “Round and About the Parish” column which will contain paragraphs about what past and present parishioners have been up to and news of the Guilds, the Prayer Support Group, Choir, Flower Guild and any parish events or occasions. The more contributions received the better reading the column will make. We hope to run a regular “Parish Profile” column featuring parishioners who have contributed significantly to the life of the parish in some way. There will also be a “Letters to the Editor” column, letters will be published so long as they are no more than 200 words in length and charitable in tone even if critical in content. We hope there will be news from Dookie and Katandra. The whole idea of the Magazine is to reach out to everyone on our roll with news and views not only from the Rector but from our parishioners too. The Editor is Ron Rose, his committee is at present Frank and Heather Steen and Fr Andrew.
BISHOP AT DOOKIE & KATANDRA
Next Sunday the Bishop is present in the parish and will be taking the services at Dookie and Katandra. St Augustine’s had him for the Confirmation service and he loves visiting small rural churches so Dookie and Katandra have their turn next Sunday.
CONCERT IN WANGARATTA
See the Notice Board for news of a concert for organ and flutes on November 28th in the Cathedral in Wangaratta.
THANK YOU FOR THE PARISH FAIR
The Parish Fair is now over for another year and Adrian Evans and his team of willing helpers are sitting back and mopping their brows after a great deal of hard work, worry and fun. Many thanks to them for their great effort and to all who helped in anyway at all. The results will be published in next week’s pewsheet.
PARISH COUNCIL & STUDY GROUP
There is a meeting of the Parish Council this week, on Wednesday at 7.30pm in the Library. This means that there will not be Study Group this week.
PORN AND PROTEST
You might have noticed that there is a strong and very well organised protest movement in our city against the proposed pornographic material “mega-store”. This is largely a local and ecumenical Christian initiative, though many others are a part of it, I believe. Because I am a person who considers the Church to be at its best and most attractive when affirming rather than condemning and also have a distaste for the whole protest and demonstration culture, I haven’t played any part in this protest. However I do deplore the arrival of such a store in our city and consider the pornographic outlets already here more than sufficient to satisfy the demands of those whose sex lives are so stunted, bent, dull and unimaginative that they have to resort to such tacky expedients to make their lives worth living.
ST. AUGUSTINE'S LADIES AFTERNOON GUILD November 16th
We meet in the car park at 1.30pm to go to afternoon tea at “Café on the Lake” for 2pm. Please bring a small gift to exchange. Anyone requiring transport contact Nancy 58211447 or Pat 58311606. Pat.
ANGLICAN CALENDARS
Anglican Calenders have arrived and those who ordered them please pay for and collect them from the office.
CHRISTMAS CHOIR
Come along to augment the Choir for the Christmas Carol Service on Friday the 17th of December. The Sunday choir meets at 7.30pm, Christmas singers come along at 8.00pm.
VISITORS
There is a need for some systematic visiting to be done in the parish. For example all those to whom we send an invitation to Children’s Church should be visited for encouragement and also to ascertain whether our invitations are wanted. If anyone would like to be a part of a visiting team please sign up on the relevant sheet in the Narthex.
CHARITY CARD SHOP
The Charity Card Shop is open - Please note the new address: 299 Wyndham Street, (next to the old National Bank). It is open from 10am to 4pm. All the usual charities including our own Anglicare will be represented. Bev. Reither
PLAY GROUP
Playgroup will be held at Kidstown
for the 9th November and16th November.
DUTIES FOR THE 14th November
Readers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Frank Harder, Heather Pearson
Readers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Joan McCann, Nancy Fennell
Servers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michelle, Stephen, Debbie
Servers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Joan McCann
Euc. Assts 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carole Henderson, John Griffin
Euc. Assts 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bev Condon, Maureen Cormican
Intercessors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pat Griffin, Children
Welcoming 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Irma Wilson, Pat Griffin
Welcomers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .John Pleming, Jenny Pleming
Sidespeople 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trevor Batey, Victoria Heenan
Sidespeople 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alan Akers, Adrian Evans
Tea 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pat Griffin
Mowing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Frank Steen, Michael Egan
DUTIES FOR THE 21st November 2004
Readers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeanette Smith, Norm Weaver
Readers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Christine Jones, Liz Booth
Servers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beth, Kate, James
Servers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jenny Pleming,Stephen,Debbie
Euc. Assts 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Heather Fitzgerald, Carole Henderson
Euc. Assts 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christine Evans, Maureen Cormican
Intercessors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carole Henderson, Liz Booth
Welcoming 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeanette Berry, Anita Saville
Welcomers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jill Waterson, Nola Brewer
Sidespeople 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bob Galt, Joe Pearson
Sidespeople 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlotte Brewer, Nola Brewer
Tea 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pat Gibson
Mowing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Moore, John Pleming
FOR PRAYER
Joyce & Vernon Auldrige, Irene Beard, Liam Bognar, Johanna Camm, Daniel Cowan, Rae Egan, Lachlan Falls, Richard Goodfellow, Ron Hall, Noel Heenan, Barry Henderson, Tanya & Peter Lindberg, Joyce Maloney,Ann Mills, Margaret Noble, Shasikala Prahalapan, Richard Pearson, Ray Prosser, Lesley Rankin, Margaret Robinson, Rodger Saville, Judy Tremellen, Peter & Eva Swindells, May Wallace, Lillian Walter, Brian Ward, Stan Windley, Darren, Elizabeth, Faith, John, Lindsay, Gladys, Alan, Glenda, Dorrie, Brian, Mary, Julie, Pat,
Anniversary of Death
Margaret Fairless, Sarah Morrow, John Griffiths 15th, Arthur Basset 16th, Doris Stansfield, Thomas Trevaskis, Cecil McKellar 17th, Stanley Houghton, John Jeffery 18th, Edward Lacey 19th, Catherine Baskerville 20th.
Rest in Peace
Audine Fister, Wendy, Val Church
IMPORTANT DATES FOR THE DIARY
Nov 16th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Afternoon Guild 2pm
Nov 17th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Parish Council 7.30
Nov 18th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Evening Guild 1.30pm
Nov 20th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wedding in Wodonga
Nov 21st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bishop’s Pastoral Visit
Nov 26th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Synod Session
Nov 27th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Youth forum -Wangaratta
Nov 27th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wedding 1.30
Dec 4th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Quarterly Garden Working Bee
Dec 5th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wedding 1.30pm
Dec 8th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. Mary’s Patronal Festival 8pm
Dec 9th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Prof Lee on St Mark - St David’s 1.00 or 3.00pm
Dec 17th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christmas Carol Service
Dec 18th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Orthodox Wedding 1.30pm
Dec 31st. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wedding 4pm
Mar 5th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Quarterly Garden Working Bee
Jun 4th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Quarterly Garden Working Bee
THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Monday 15th November
Father Andrew’s day off
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
6.00pm Evening Prayer
Tuesday 16th November
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
1.30pm Afternoon Guild
6.00pm Evening Prayer
Wednesday 17th November
10.00am Eucharist - St Augustine’s
1.30pm Hakea Lodge
6.00pm Evening Prayer
No Study Group
7.30pm Parish Council
7.30pm Prayer Support Group - Chapel
Thursday 18th November
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
1.30pm Evening Guild Eucharist & Meeting
6.00pm Evening Prayer
7.30pm Choir Practice
Friday 19th November
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
6.30pm Evening Prayer
Saturday 20th November
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
10.30am Franciscan Tertiary Eucharist & Meeting
4.00pm Wedding in Wodonga
6.00pm Evening Prayer
6.30pm. Vigil Eucharist
Sunday 21st November /Christ The King
8.00am Mattins - Lady Chapel
8.30am Sung Eucharist
9.00am Eucharist - Dookie (Bishop)
10.30amEucharist - St Augustine’s/Baptism
10.45am Eucharist - Katandra West (Bishop)
5.30pm Evening Prayer - St Augustine