25 April 2004 Easter 3

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER

25^th April 2004

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

Arthur McAuliff

If Bach is the sound of God, thinking, then perhaps Gershwin is, at least, the sound of St Anthony of Padua whistling as he works. And the sound of gangsta rap? of the fragmenting sub-colonies of...`full-throttle techno terror'? No matter how street-smart the words, the musical effect is the sound of a face being punched. It is MacMusic, fast sound, empty calories. People are being fed spleenburgers and told that's what food is like......

Michael Bywater

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

Mahatma Gandhi

NATURAL BIRTH

A small boy, wanting help over a school essay, asked his mother how he came into the world. Unprepared and flustered, she fell back on the stork story, with suitable trimmings. Looking a little puzzled, he went into the next room and asked grandma how his mother - and for that matter she herself - had arrived. His grandmother, who had overheard the first exchange, gave him the same reply with even greater circumstantial detail about the sagacity and accuracy of the stork as a delivery agent. The boy thanked her politely and went off to write his essay. It began: "so far as I can make out there has not been a natural birth in my family for three generations."

PERFECTION OF THE LIFE

OR OF THE WORK

Fr Andrew Neaum

I visited a young priest some time ago who told me that he had recently informed his parishioners that his family was more important to him than his parish. At a Council Meeting he had said that if ever there had to be a choice made between his parish and his family, then his family would win.

The poet W B Yeats, in what has become a famous couplet, wrote:

The intellect of man is forced to choose

Perfection of the life or of the work.

It is impossible to be a lovely, happy and fulfilled person as well as a notable and great achiever. We all have to make a choice between our life and our work. The two rarely go together. Success is usually achieved at the expense of our family, at the expense of sweetness of personality, of contentment, fulfilment and peace of mind. Successful people tend to be compelled and driven, often pathologically so.

If this is indeed the case, then there are some lovely exceptions to the rule, I am pleased to say. Samuel Johnson, although superficially eccentric, was a truly great and lovely man, as well as being a very great achiever. Indeed, his greatest work was not his dictionary or his "Lives of the Poets", nor his critical work or novel, wonderful achievements though these might be. His greatest work was his life, was his personality, was his character, all wonderfully preserved for us by his biographer James Boswell in the greatest biography ever written.

Sir Walter Scott is another great exception to the rule. His achievements, listed in A N Wilson's biography of him, are staggeringly great. Twenty seven novels, a four volume collection of ballads, editions of Dryden and Swift, numerous tales, a child's history of Scotland in three volumes, a nine volume life of Napoleon, twelve large volumes of correspondence and as many again of miscellaneous essays and reviews, and a journal which runs to over seven hundred pages. All this was achieved while he was a full-time judge, a businessman and conscientious land owner. Moreover his work inspired over a thousand paintings and fifty operas! Yet he remained, all the while, a truly lovely man and a faithful and loving husband and father. The sweetness of his nature and the soundness of his principles shine through his novels.

However, Yeats does seem to be right in many cases. Too often those who achieve success do so at a terrible cost to their families, personal happiness and loveliness of character.

Even in the Church this not infrequently applies. A parish priest who succeeds, who does well enough to be noticed, to gain preferment and become a bishop does so, sometimes, at great cost to his or her enjoyment of life, quality of personality, availability to friends and family and even personal holiness.

In parish priesting though, can such success really be success? Christianity is a way of life. Christianly speaking, success cannot surely be success if it is achieved only by the sacrifice of beauty of life and personality. The reason that I would hesitate to tell my parish that my family comes before my parishioners, is because the relationship with family on the one hand and parish on the other, is surely symbiotic.

Unless a priest is fulfilled at home he cannot function anywhere near at his best in the parish, and vice versa. It is in the parish's best interest, therefore, to ensure that its priest has time for his or her family, is well housed, well homed, well gardened and well loved. It is in his family's best interest to reassure him, when he cannot get in for a meal, or is called out in the middle of a game of scrabble, for good reason, that it does not matter. That they are happy for him to be doing his job and fulfilling his twin vocation.

In the case of parish priesting then, Yeats is wrong. Perfection of both life and work go hand in hand, are symbiotic. If either fails both fail. It is only in worldly affairs that Yeats, perhaps, is right. Too often the race for success and achievement kills beauty of character, personal holiness and growth in grace. This might be why, especially as I get older, I find it more and more difficult to admire those in authority, be they politicians, business tycoons or ecclesiastics. So many of them seem to be such pompous little jumped-up-jacks-and-jills-in office! Real people, real achievement lie beneath them!

FOLK TALE

Prayers like gravel

Flung at the sky's

window, hoping to attract

the loved one's

attention. But without

visible plaits to let

down for the believer

to climb up,

to what purpose open

that far casement?

I would

have refrained long since

but peering once

through my locked fingers

I thought I detected

the movement of a curtain.

R S Thomas

BAPTISM

.......In 1977 Michael Ramsey, then Archbishop of Canterbury, visited Boston Parish church in Lincolnshire to preach. After the service he asked to be taken to Horbling church, on the fens south of Sleaford, where his maternal grandfather had been vicar and where he had been baptized. He shocked his companions by shuffling along to the font, walking around it, and then speaking to it: "O font, font, font; this is where my Christian life began". The eccentric action spoke more loudly than any tome on the sacraments or architecture. Christianity is not at its core something to be believed in, but something to be lived; it changes our lives and the whole way in which we relate to one another. After that baptismal bath nothing can ever be the same. Ramsey knew that; and he could smile and laugh at how strange the whole thing seemed.

Being in Christ is shocking and those who are in Christ will often appear strange and eccentric; and that bath we take to get there is equally shocking - even if it doesn't seem to be. "O font, font, font; this is where my Christian life began". And it is the fool and the eccentric who become our saints; those who can see just how radical, threatening and disturbing is that message of being one in Christ. It was the eccentric man in the desert who preached repentance and who practised baptism who was beheaded; and it was the fool who proclaimed God's justice who was crucified. But it was those who were shocked and those who couldn't bear to look on, those who organised the cult and who governed the land, who put them both to death......

Mark Chapman

A PRAYER FOR THE WEEK

Lord God, you give to all your children liberally and generously and you accept us without censure, preserve us from all envy of the good of others, and from every kind of jealousy. Teach us to be thankful for what they have and we have not, and to delight in what they can achieve and we cannot, being generous of praise and slow to criticize, that we may fulfil the command of him who has taught us how to love our neighbour as our self, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYER LIST

In the Narthex, there is a new list for the names of those for whom prayers are desired. From next week only names on that new list will be included in the pew sheet intercession list. It is necessary to do this to ensure that due consideration and reconsideration is given to names on this important prayer list.

THIS WEDNESDAY

Taking the Wednesday Eucharist at 10.00am this week and also preaching will be Fr Chris Shields, a delightful parson and person who lectures in business management at La Trobe and looks after Murchison and Rushworth in his spare time. He is an excellent fellow and I hope this marks the beginning of a closer association with our parish. He is to preach and talk at our Patronal Festival this year. Fr Andrew will be returning from Canberra on Wednesday after taking Rachel back to University.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Betty Garraway who celebrates her birthday on Tuesday the 27th of April and to Elizabeth Woodyard who celebrates hers on Thursday the 29th. Congratulations too to Mia Caprice Villani, Emma Lorraine Beare and Zac Timothy Piastri, all of whom are to be baptized at the 10.30am Eucharist today.

THE PASSION

A review of Mel Gibson's version of our Lord's Passion in the Times Literary Supplement made the interesting observation that given the evidence of his film "Brave heart" the English can at least be grateful that it is the Jews rather than the English who are blamed for Jesus' death. On Thursday the 29th of April the Ministers' Fellowship have organised a block-booking to the film which is now almost fully subscribed. For those who have booked in we need the money ($8) no later than this Wednesday. The show starts at 7.30pm.

PASTORAL CARERS

There will be a meeting of those who visit the hospital and those who take Communion to folk in their homes after the 10.00am Eucharist on Wednesday 5th May, in the Library

MASS FOR AFRICA

On June the 6th, which is the Sunday that follows the ecumenical service and Breakfast in honour of the Ugandan Martyrs, we are holding a "Mass for Africa". I have asked a Sudanese Church Choir from an Anglican Church in Footscray to come and sing for us and we will need billets on the Saturday night for about sixteen people. On the Sunday we will be holding a luncheon with an African flavour! Do book the date and so make sure you are present for this occasion. Offers of billets to the Parish Office please.

FAIR RAFFLE

A meeting will be held on Wednesday 28th April at 7.30pm in the Narthex to bring together ideas for the Fair Raffle. Input is required to make this a success. All are welcome.

Adrian Evans

G.V. Health Extended Care Auxiliary

Film & Basket Luncheon

"Calendar Girl"

A great English comedy

a laugh a minute!

Thursday 13th May

Adm. $15.00

Tickets Lolene 58 219182

Mimma's Hairdressing

See the Notice Board

EVENING GUILD GARAGE SALE

Do not forget the Garage Sale. All donations of goods will be greatly appreciated

DIOCESAN LAY RETREATS

The Lay Retreats, conducted by Fr Philip Thirlwell take place from Friday 30th April to Sunday 2nd May and from Sunday 2nd May to Tuesday 4th May. Registration forms are in the Narthex or can be obtained from the office.

THE HALL KITCHEN

On May the 6th the Wardens, Rector and a representative of each Guild and the Catering Committee will hold a meeting to begin the process of getting the hall kitchen renovated. If anyone has any good ideas please let one of the above know and would the Guilds please ensure that they have a representative in attendance.

IMPORTANT DATES

April 28th Fair Raffle meeting

Apr 30th-2nd May Diocesan Lay Retreat

May 2nd-4th Diocesan Lay Retreat

May 5^th Parish Council at Dookie 7.30

May 6^th Hall Kitchen Committee Meeting

May 7^th Dookie Guild

May 8^th Wedding 1.30pm

May 10^th Ladies Guild Coffee Morning

May 18^th - 21^st Annual Priests' Retreat

May 22^nd Wedding 2.30pm

May 25^th Reconciliation Activity

May 26^th St Augustine's Patronal Festival

Jun 5^th Ugandan Martyrs - Breakfast

Jun 6^th Mass for Africa

Jun 12^th Wedding 2.00pm

Jun 18^th - 19^th Evening Guild Garage Sale

July 18^th Confirmation

Sept 17^th -18^th Synod

Oct 3^rd St Francistide Pet Blessing

Oct 16^th Wedding 3.00pm

Oct 23^rd Wedding 3.00pm

Nov 6^th Wedding 3.30pm

Nov 13^th Wedding 2.30pm

Nov 13^th Parish Fair

Nov 27^th Wedding 1.30pm

Dec 18^th Wedding 1.30pm

DUTIES FOR 25th April 2004

Readers 8.30 Joan Harder, Gwyn Cowland

Readers 10.30 Liz Booth, Peter Martin

Servers 8,30 Michelle, Stephen, Debbie

Servers 10.30 Joan McCann, Tiana, Zebedee

Euch. Assists 8.30 John Griffin, Carole Henderson

Euch. Assists 10.30 Bev Condon, Maureen Cormican

Intercessors Heather Carlyon, Joan O'Reilly

Welcoming 8.30 Jeanette Berry, Anita Saville

Welcomers 10.30 Frank Steen, Jill Waterson

Sidespeople 8.30 Merv Cowland, Gwyn Cowland

Sidespeople 10.30 Alan Akers, Adrian Evans

Tea 8.30 Cecily McDonald

Mowing Norm Mitchelmore, Lawrie Tinning

DUTIES FOR 2ND May 2004

Readers 8.30 Frank Harder, Heather Pearson

Readers 10.30 Jenny Pleming, Charlotte Brewer

Servers 8,30 Beth, Rachel, Emma

Servers 10.30 Jenny Waite, Joan McCann, Carole

Euch. Assists 8.30 Bev Condon, Carole Henderson

Euch. Assists 10.30 Bev Condon, Maureen Cormican

Intercessors Pat Griffin, Maureen Cormican

Welcoming 8.30 Joy Campbell,Eileen Quaife

Welcomers 10.30 Judy Longley, Adrian Evans

Sidespeople 8.30 Norm Mitchelmore, Joy Campbell

Sidespeople 10.30 John Pleming, Jennifer Pleming

Tea 8.30 Gwyn Cowland

Mowing Lionel Waterson, Adrian Evans

FOR PRAYER

Liam Bognar, Sarah Boudville, Helen Bruinier, Loris Buntine, Ashley Close, Neil Feldthman, Lynette Gates, Richard Goodfellow, Iris Grant, Kevin & Ellen Green, Ron Hall, the Harrison Family, Jean Hastie, Thelma Irwin, Fr Wayne Ireland, Marie Law, Betty Mercer, Joyce Maloney, Ann Mills, Gabby Palvia, Anthony Pease, Richard Pearson, John Perry, Ray Prosser, Margaret Robinson, Julieanne Ross-Soden, Gwen & Bob Scott, Roger Saville, Shirley & family, Peter & Eva Swindells, Rev Glenis Traill, May Wallace, Brian Ward, Malcolm Waterson, Alyssa, Darren, Elizabeth, Faith, Gary, Glenda, Keith, Nea, Rohan

Rest in peace

Andrew Muirhead, Isobel Kerr, Molly Howard

Anniversary of Death

Elizabeth Guyatt, Frederick Broadbridge 26th, George Hardwick, Hock Stonehouse, Eunice Earl 28th , Vivienne Parrant

THIS WEEK

Monday April 26th

Fr Andrew's Day off