QUINQUAGESIMA & HARVEST FESTIVAL
22nd February 2004
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
Some people will not tolerate emotional honesty in communication. They would rather defend their dishonesty on the grounds that it might hurt others. Therefore, having rationalized their phoniness into nobility, they settle for superficial relationships Anon.
In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't. Blaise Pascal
And a Chinese Proverb to psyche us up for Lent: The more you eat, the less flavour; the less you eat, the more flavour.
IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
A fat man went to the Medical Centre to see if he could do anything about his obesity. The doctor gave him pills to be taken every night for two months with a promise of a loss of two stone. The first night he took the pill and dreamed the most marvellous dream, being on a beautiful island, inhabited by the most gorgeous girls, all scantily dressed, whom he proceeded to chase round the island. The result was a pound gone in the morning. This happened every night for two months and the two stone was dutifully lost. Another man, equally fat, asked him how he had done it. Off he went to the same doctor for the same prescription - but his dreams were of a rocky island on which he was chased every night by horrible creatures, but the result was the same - two stones lost. He went to the doctor to ask why he had such horrible dreams and the first man such good ones. The doctor's reply was: " Oh well, you see, he had private health cover!"
THE SWEET MISERY OF LENT
Too often Lent appears a very pale and half-hearted effort compared to Ramadan as practised by Moslems. However, many of us, I am sure will be taking it very seriously. It is supposed to be a very positive period of preparation for the greatest commemoration and celebration in the Christian calendar, Holy Week and Easter.
To help us take Lent seriously I have chosen a theme for Lent this year. It is "forgiveness", a virtue that lies at the heart of the Lord's Prayer, the Lord's ethic and the Christian Faith. This Sunday's sermon is devoted to the subject and there could well be another later on. I would like to think that all of us could make it a particular Lenten project to forgive creatively and completely someone who has done us harm and hurt and whom we have difficulty in forgiving. I am aware that some of us may be in a similar situation to the dying Spaniard who was asked by the priest giving him the last rites if he forgave all his enemies. He replied: "Enemies! What enemies? I have no enemies. I have killed them all!" Such folk aside, a forgiving Lent can only be a fruitful and good Lent.
We might also consider buying, or borrowing from me, or anyone else, a book to read (I hope to build up a St Augustine's library in "The Library" over the next few years and will be putting out a list of books that ought to be represented in it for generous folk to donate, either from their shelves or from book shops. There are all sorts of worthy Christian-flavoured books to instruct, entertain, challenge and hearten. I am prejudiced against American, deep-South, bible-belt stuff, I confess, but there are so many more and better and more universal books available than that.
We can also seriously pray the Lenten Prayers that will be included in the pewsheets and we can donate money to ABM by way of the Lenten envelopes. We might too give up something good to sharpen our appreciation of it or determine upon a more simple life-style and diet for Lent. We can take on a weekly visit to an elderly relative or neighbour. We can determine to write someone a decent letter every week. We can come to a weekday Eucharist or to every weekday Eucharist, or to the Study Group.....
There are all sorts of creative ways properly to keep Lent. It is well worthwhile to do so, for it helps Easter, when it arrives, to be experienced for the real glory that it is. So have a truly beautiful and austere Lent. AN
THROUGH THE NEEDS OF OTHERS
Let me tell you a story, a true story told to me by a friend. Many years ago now this friend was vicar of a London parish within the area of the Bishop of Kensington, at the time when that Bishop was Henry Montgomery- Campbell. In the parish was an old woman, living alone in one room, who had once been ‘on the game'. But now she had made her peace with God, was being prepared for confirmation, and was looking forward with passionate longing to her first Communion. Suddenly she was taken ill, and soon it became apparent that she was dying. My friend assured her it was perfectly proper for her to receive communion, and urged her to do so, but she refused. Unless she was confirmed it wouldn't feel right. At his wits' end the vicar phoned Bishop Montgomery-Campbell, at about 10 o'clock at night. All the Bishop said was, "Meet me at the tube station in one hour." At 11.00 my friend was at the local Underground and there came the Bishop's tall figure, striding along with the big case in which he carried his robes. Together they went to the house where the old woman lay dying. In her small room the Bishop robed in full vestments, as he would have done in her parish church, cope, mitre and all; and with the Vicar as his Chaplain confirmed her there in bed. When the confirmation was over my friend thanked the Bishop and said, "I can carry on now." "Nonsense", came the reply; and the Bishop set up a little altar, and celebrated, and gave her the Sacrament, just as she had so dearly hoped he would do in church. And after that he disrobed, and the two of them stayed in that little room till dawn, when the old woman died in the Bishop's arms. After the necessary arrangements had been made, they went down into the street. "You will come back to breakfast?" said my friend. "Sorry", said the Bishop, "I can't. I promised to say the 8 o'clock this morning for the Vicar of St Luke's who is ill." And off he went, striding back to the Tube. If we let God speak to us through the needs of others, and think only of them, humility will come, precisely because we shall never know that it has done so. J. A. Baker
MAÑANA
At a conference on linguistics, a professor of Spanish was in conversation with a professor of Irish. The Spanish professor asked if in the Irish language there was the equivalent of the Spanish mañana. After pondering for some moments, the Irish professor said: "Well, yes we have, indeed we have several, but none of them convey the same sense of urgency."
RECTOR’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2003
I once wrote an Annual Report in verse. I won’t inflict it upon you this year, not so much out of compassion as because it is not all that good, but it does make the point that too many “Rector’s Reports” contain the whine of self-justification and the whimper of self-exculpation. If any of this is evident, ever, in any of my reports, please give me a good kick to the fundament.
As I have been here less than six months, and only two and a half months in the year 2003, upon which year, strictly speaking, this report should review, I can get away with a fairly brief report. What is more, just because most of my Shepparton sojourn lies ahead of me rather than behind me, I have little news except good news, for, as that master of the rhymed couplet, Alexander Pope says,
Hope springs eternal in the human breast;
Man never Is, but always To be blest....
This, surely then, will have to be a brief and most optimistic Annual Rector’s Reports, so do enjoy it!
I arrived in Shepparton to a warm welcome from everyone. Even up to this point in time no one has blown me a raspberry or indicated in anyway that they have seen right through me to my frail and fallible core. Fr Bill Squire did all in his power to ease me sweetly and gently into place. Those responsible for nominating me as Rector, perceptive folk indeed, were wonderfully positive and supportive and a huge effort was made by many good folk to provide an excellent Induction Service and also to clean up and improve the pleasantly crumbling and decaying Rectory, which has been most effectively and expensively heated in our honour, roll on winter!
The parish, it seems to me, does not need great innovation and change, nor its fortune telling or its goals resetting, but rather merely to flex muscles already present and awaken from an inter-regnant semi-torpor ,in order to begin to hum once more with normal parochial life. If all the ordinary parish organisations, traditions and activities flick up a gear or two and begin to run once more with smooth enthusiasm, then the parish, almost by default, is likely to become once more an impressive force for good in both the community and diocese.
We have restarted a choir in 2004, after having most successfully dipped our toe in the water with a Christmas Carol Choir in 2003. I hope the new choir will grow and enhance our worship enormously. Planning for Children’s Church began in 2003 and has now started most promisingly in 2004. Last year’s somewhat meagrely observed Lent gives way this year to what, at least from this point in time, appears to be a rather more widely and enthusiastically observed Lenten program, with a heartening number of folk volunteering to participate in the groups.
My next priority is to organise our pastoral work in such a way as to enable me to grasp, comprehend and coordinate all the fine work that went on throughout all of last year thanks to the devoted work of a small and talented team of Home Communion and Hospital Visitors, I hope soon to meet with them on a regular basis to work our way through the list of the sick and help ensure that all folk in need of visits, prayer or care have their needs met. Any volunteers for Pastoral Care work will be welcome.
There has been interest shown in restarting a prayer group, perhaps with a monthly healing service as a companion, I hope that this will soon become a reality. The use of Wednesday as an alternative or supplement to Sunday is interesting too and almost unique in our diocese. The congregations at the 10.00am Wednesday Eucharist have been impressive throughout 2003 and continue to be. The Lenten Wednesday evening sessions might likewise become more than merely Lenten gatherings for worship, eating and edification and take on a Post Easter life of their own, who knows. Certainly we need to be aware of changing patterns of life and the disappearance of the traditional Sunday in many households.
We have a very beautiful church that attracts even non- believers to regard it as a sort of non-spiritual, spiritual home. In order to ensure that it is maintained tastefully and that monuments and memorials and renovations are not introduced in an unplanned or ad hoc way, as has sometimes seemed to be the case in the past, I have asked Mr Norm Weaver and Mr Michael Egan to form a small committee to consider and make recommendations to the Vestry on such matters. Any offers of memorials, gifts and so on, will in future pass through this committee, upon which I too will sit. The committee will also, eventually, draw up a list of priorities to do with repairs, renovations and improvements generally, to be presented for approval by the Vestry.
This is very obviously a two priest parish. For the whole of 2003 it has been run with only one. We have been resting content with this because up until very recently we had a possible associate priest in waiting, he is no longer available, and so I shall be consulting with the bishop over the next few weeks about other possibilities. In the meantime I can be very stretched indeed, please bear with this, but never hesitate to ask me to do what I ought to be doing!
Fr John Price is an utter delight as well as a great help to me. His assistance is not limited to the enormous task he performs in the Nursing Homes of our city, or to the services taken at Dookie and Katandra, he is also a source of wisdom and common sense to me, a fund of parochial information as well as great fun to converse and laugh with. I am very, very grateful for all he does both for the parish and for me. I am sure that we all are.
Fr Wayne Weaire has been a most welcome participant in our worship and life since I first arrived here and I am most grateful for this, not least because it enables me to visit Dookie and Katandra once a month. He is likely to be seen rather less over the next few months because Yarrawonga is in need of his care, but we will still lay claims upon his enthusiasm and talents now and then.
Many thanks too, to Heather Fitzgerald who has indicated that she is stepping down as Rector’s Churchwarden, though not as Councillor. I know that she has been a quiet, godly, loyal and loving source of strength to her Rector, for I have talked of her to Fr John Howells, and in all her dealings with me and my family she has been kind and lovely. Many thanks Heather for
your devoted, good work over many years and especially for your integrity and your gentle and amiable countenance.
Thank you to everyone who helps run the parish so smoothly and makes parish priesting so wonderful a vocation. To the marvellous and talented flower ladies, to the indefatigable Treasurer and indefatigable Sacristan; to our Servers, Choir, Organists, Readers and excellent Verger; to our Intercessors, Hospital Visitors and Eucharistic Assistants; to our Councillors and Secretaries, to the leaders of and participants in our Guilds, Catering Group, Play Group and other groups, and to Heather Camm who, new herself, had a new boss foisted on her and copes with him admirably, and who walks a compassionate second mile for many an old lag and lame duck who comes with hand outstretched for help to Mother Church.
I am grateful too to the Macedonian Community for the part they play in the life of the parish and for introducing me to a active participation in the riches of Orthodox worship.
Many thanks too for those who keep a kind personal eye upon us in the Rectory, in all sorts of ways, it is noted and deeply appreciated.
Lastly, many thanks to Margaret my wife without whose support, love and help I would be a third rate parson and fifth rate human being. Fr Andrew Neaum
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to John Pleming who celebrates his birthday on Saturday the 28th and to Frank and Joan Harder who celebrate their 51st wedding anniversary on Ash Wednesday the 25th.
ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES
There are two extra Eucharists on Ash Wednesday. At 8.00am and 7.00pm as well as the usual 10.00am. No excuse not to be present at one of them then!
NOTICE OF A G M's
The Annual General Meetings this year take place as follows: Katandra: Sunday 29th February, after the Family Service. St Augustine's and Parish: Ash Wednesday 25th February after a 7.00pm Eucharist. Dookie: Tuesday 2nd March at 7.30pm.
REPORTS FOR AGM
With a bit of luck, the reports for the AGM will be available today in the Narthex!
SHROVE TUESDAY
It is not too late to put your name on the list in the Narthex for those coming to the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Party on the 24th of February at 6.00pm. There is no charge, simply a donation.
LENT GROUPS
There are to be two Lent Groups this year. The first on Tuesdays at 2.00pm, at the Church starting on the 2nd of March. The second on Wednesday evenings, following a Eucharist at 6.00pm and then a meal of soup and bread, the soup of a fairly substantial minestrone type. Those coming only to the study should be there by 7.25pm.
LADY DAY
"Lady Day" takes place on March 25th in Wangaratta, please note. We are back to the normal routine! Shepparton will host the Pie Stall as usual and Mrs June McKellar has generously donated a beautifully hand-painted plate for us to raffle. Tickets are $1 each and books contain ten tickets. Your help in selling a book to make a big success of June's generosity will be much appreciated. More about the Stall later. Nola Brewer.
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
The World Day of Prayer service this year takes place on Friday 5th of March at 10.00am in the Christian Fellowship building at 9 Pine Road. The speaker is Debbie Cooke.
MOTHERING SUNDAY
On Mothering Sunday we have decided to keep both the 8.30am and 10.30am service and to have a lunch for everyone afterwards. The speaker is a delightful and vibrant Sri Lankan woman, Suzie Don Leonard who is also the Anglicare Officer for our region.
NOMINATIONS
Nomination forms for prospective Wardens and Councillors are still available in the Narthex.
A SPIRITUALITY FOR LIVING WELL
On Saturday 28th February, from 11.00am to 2.00pm there is a Seminar at St John's Anglican Church Alexandra led by Fr Ian Crooks. He will present some aspects of the teaching and wisdom of St Benedict giving insights "to help us live in a more balanced way, integrating our various responsibilities within family, parish, among friends and as citizens in living prayerfully and aware of God's presence in the ordinary events and activities of our lives." This is the first of several ventures by a "liberal" group of both clergy and laity in our diocese of which your Rector is a part. Anyone who would like a lift have a word with Fr Andrew. More details on the board.
JOINING UP
We welcome into the Church at the 10.30am service today, by way of Baptism, Georgia Alice Steele, William James Prothero and Abbie Rae Londrigan.
THE HIGHEST PRAISE
In the 20th century our highest praise is to call the Bible "the World's Best-Seller". It has come to be more difficult to say whether we think it is a best-seller because it is great, or vice versa. Daniel Boorstin
DUTIES FOR 22nd February 2004
Readers 8.30 Gwyn Cowland, Pat Griffin
Readers 10.30 Joan McCann, Nancy Fennell
Servers 8,30 Michelle, Stephen, Debbie
Servers 10.30 Joan McCann, Zebedee, Jenny Pleming
Euch. Assists 8.30 Bev Condon, Heather Fitzgerald
Euch. Assists 10.30 Christine Evans, Carole Henderson
Intercessors Margaret Neaum, Andrea Fisher
Welcoming 8.30 Anita Saville, Heather Nichols
Welcomers 10.30 Sandra Simonis, Charlotte Brewer
Sidespeople 8.30 Merv Cowland, Gwyn Cowland
Sidespeople 10.30 Alan Akers, Adrian Evans
Tea 8.30 Cecily McDonald
Mowing Lionel Waterson, Adrian Evans
DUTIES 29th February 2004
Readers 8.30 Heather Carlyon, Norm Mitchelmore
Readers 10.30 Joan O'Reilly, Liz Booth
Servers 8,30 Beth, Kate, James
Servers 10.30 Jenny Waite
Euch. Assists 8.30 John Griffin, Carole Henderson
Euch. Assists 10.30 Bev Condon, Maureen Cormican
Intercessors Victoria Heenan, Liz Booth
Welcoming 8.30 Pat Griffin, Edna Wilson
Welcomers 10.30 Jenny Pleming, John Pleming
Sidespeople 8.30 Max Ralph, Bev Ralph
Sidespeople 10.30 Charlotte Brewer, Nola Brewer
Tea 8.30 Gwyn Cowland
Mowing Frank Steen,Michael Egan
FOR PRAYER
Liam Bognar, Helen Bruinier, Rita Esam, Richard Goodfellow, Iris Grant, Kevin & Ellen Green, Ron Hall, the Harrison Family, Jean Hastie, Fr Wayne Ireland, Hilder Lidgard, Di Maitland, Betty Mercer, Joy Merrigan, Ann Mills, John Perry, Ray Prosser, Dennis Reed, Pat Reeves, Gwen & Bob Scott, Roger Saville, Peter & Eva Swindells, Anne Tacey, Des Walker, May Wallace, Brian Ward, Malcolm Waterson, Bruce, Natalie & baby Alexandra, Alyssa, David, Elizabeth, Faith, Gary, John, Keith, Mary, Michael, Midge.
Anniversary of Death Frederick Clark, Eva Baldwin, Maisie Jolliffe, Elsie Blair, Melba Briggs 22nd, Venda Keenan, Graham Longley 24th, Constance Brock 25th, Suzanne Shepherd, Frances Simpson, John Phillips, Valerie Kennedy 28th.
IMPORTANT DATES
Feb 24th Playgroup 10 a.m.
Feb 24th Shrove Tuesday Pancakes 6.00pm
Feb 25th Ash Wednesday and AGM
Feb 28th Seminar - Alexandra
Feb 29th Family Service Katandra & A.G.M.
Mar 2nd Playgroup 10 a.m.
Mar 2nd Dookie A.G.M. 7.30 p.m.
Mar 5th World Day of Prayer
Mar 14th Children's Church
Mar 21st Mothering Sunday
Mar 25th Lady Day - Wangaratta
April 11th Easter Day
April 17th Wedding 3.00pm
April 24th Wedding 2.30pm
May 8th Wedding 1.30pm
May 18th - 21st Annual Priests' Retreat
May 22nd Wedding 2.30pm
May 26th St Augustine's Patronal Festival
May 28th -29th Synod
Jun 5th Ugandan Martyrs - Breakfast
Jun 12th Wedding 2.00pm
June 16th Mass for Africa
Oct 3rd St Francistide Pet Blessing
Oct 23rd Wedding 3.00pm
Nov 6th Wedding 3.30pm
Nov 13th Wedding 2.30pm
Nov 13th Parish Fair
Nov 27th Wedding 1.30pm
Dec 18th Wedding 1.30pm
THIS WEEK
Monday February 23rd
Fr Andrew's Day off
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
5.30pm Evening Prayer
Shrove Tuesday February 24th
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
10.00am Playgroup - Hall
2.00pm Guild Meeting - St Augustine's
5.30pm Evening Prayer
6 p.m. Pancake Party
Ash Wednesday February 25th
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
10.00am Eucharist - St Augustine's
11.00am Banksia Lodge
1.30pm Hakea Lodge
5.30pm Evening Prayer
7.00pm Imposition of Ashes & Eucharist - St Augustine's
7.30pm Annual General Meeting - St Augustine's
Thursday February 26th
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
9.30am Bishop in Council - Wangaratta
5.30pm Evening Prayer
7.30pm Choir Practice
Friday February 27th
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
5.30pm Evening Prayer
Saturday February 28th
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
5.30pm Evening Prayer
Quinquagesima Sunday Feb 29th
8.00am Mattins - Lady Chapel
8.30am Sung Eucharist - St Augustine's
9.00am Eucharist - St Luke's Dookie
10.30am Eucharist - St Augustine's
10.45am Eucharist, Family Service & A.G.M - Katandra
5.30pm Evening Prayer