FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT
29th February 2004
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
The Theme of our Lent this year is "Forgiveness" and there was a sermon from the Rector on the subject
last Sunday at 8.30. There will be another several weeks hence.
Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it. Mark Twain
In contrast to revenge, which is the natural, automatic reaction to transgression and which, because of the irreversibility of the action process, can be expected, and even calculated, the act of forgiving can never be predicted; it is the only reaction that acts in an unexpected way and thus retains, though being a reaction, something of the original character of action. Hannah Arendt
Many promising reconciliations have broken down because, while both parties came prepared to forgive, neither party came prepared to be forgiven. Charles Williams
No one ever forgets where he buried the hatchet. Kim Hubbard
CHEESY TALE
The city of Shepparton, I am told, received recently a bequest of a large property including a spacious mansion and a lake. The Mayor decided that the mansion should be a museum and art gallery and the lake a pleasure area with a boat-house. One of the Councillors then moved that a gondola be purchased for the lake. A second and rival Councillor immediately moved an amendment that they should buy two, breed from them and sell the progeny to another municipality across the river and thus make a tidy profit. The learned Mayor, appalled at the ignorance of his colleague, said: "Please withdraw your amendment - are you unaware that a gondola is a cheese?"
THIS AND THAT
Fr Andrew Neaum
The Shrove Tuesday bash was a happy occasion and many thanks to the Townsend girls for organising it. The great tree outside the hall does provide us with a wonderful BBQ and partying venue, surely one of the best in Shepparton.
We are now into Lent, and with well over a hundred communicants at the Ash Wednesday Eucharists, a good number of folk have marked its beginning in the right way. I trust that we are all treating it seriously, because any great occasion, unless trouble is taken in preparing for it, tends to be anticlimactic. Holy Week and Easter, the highlight of the Church's liturgical year, the re-enactment of the defining drama of our Faith, are all the more emotionally involving, glorious and full of wonder, if they arrive as the climax of an involved and active Lent. There is a simple little prayer scheme on the back page of this pew sheet which I hope all folk will find useful. There will be a new one for each week in Lent.
The Lenten Groups get underway this week. We are following a book produced by Bishop Huggins, an amiable and devout man, who for a short time was bishop of Grafton, but is now one of the Melbourne bishops. A privilege of being a bishop is that publishers imagine that your mitre automatically confers an ability to produce worthwhile Lent books! Though not always the case, hard-headed publishers probably speculate that dutiful diocesan flocks will guarantee reasonable sales for any such book. I hope that we will be able together to make something of this book and that some of those coming to the Wednesday night gathering will be able to attend the preceding Eucharist and the simple Lenten meal that follows it.
The AGM went off amiably and speedily, humour proving, as it so often does, an excellent emollient. St Augustine's Wardens are: Bev Condon, Carole Henderson and Norm Weaver. The Parish Councillors are the Churchwardens of each centre, Charlotte Brewer, Joy Campbell, Maureen Cormican, Merv Cowland, Adrian Evans, Heather Fitzgerald, Norm Mitchelmore, and John Moore. The first Parish Council Meeting is to take place on Wednesday the 17th of March (St Patrick's Day) at 5.30pm. Parish Council and Vestry Meetings from now on will take place on the third Wednesday of alternate months, usually at 7.30pm.
I have run out of space and so leave you with an interesting little piece of art criticism: Zeuxis was said to have painted grapes on a boy's head so well that the birds came and pecked them. Sir G. Kneller replied that if the boy too had been well painted the birds wouldn't have dared approach.
PRAYERS DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT
(To be said, if possible, daily)
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it. (from Psalm 139)
I confess, Father that I have sinned in many ways but especially in these two ways:
1 ............ 2 ............
(Think of ways you can make amendment or reparation, if applicable)
For all my sins Father, and especially for these, I am very sorry,
firmly purpose amendment, and ask your pardon.
Remember at least two blessings in the past twenty four hours that merit saying
thank you to God. Dwell upon them and be grateful
Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done, in whom his world rejoices;
Who from our mother's arms hath blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
Think of those close to you, dwell upon each, be thankful, and pray for them...
Old friends, old scenes, will lovelier be
As more of Heaven in each we see:
Some softening gleam of Love and Prayer
Shall dawn on every cross and care.... (John Keble)
Think of and remember those in our own town and district you have noticed to be in sorrow or need, and then, if there is time of those in more distant places.
I beseech you Lord for the wounded in spirit, the sick in mind, the perplexed, the sad; for those that are in peril of their life, those that are sick, those that face serious operations or drastic medication; for captives, prisoners, those that are condemned to death; for the poor, the oppressed, the desolate; for strangers, orphans, those without homes or loved one; for those that are with child, for little children, the bereaved. For those that are abroad, travellers and those in any sort of danger, especially those that do not pray. Give to the living, Lord, mercy and grace, to the dead rest and life perpetual; give to the Church truth and peace, to myself, penitence, pardon, and a joyous and loving heart. Amen.
(Read reflectively, a chapter of St Mark each day or even only a few verses)
Father, into thy hands I give my heart,
Which left thee but to learn how good thou art.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Angus Fisher who celebrates his birthday on Wednesday 3rd of March and to Doris Nichols who celebrates hers on Friday the 5th.
LENT GROUPS
The Lenten Groups begin this week. The first on Tuesday at 2.00pm, at the Church. The second on Wednesday, this is preceded by a Eucharist at 6.00pm for those who can get and 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.
THANK YOU
The Shepparton High School Chaplaincy committee would like to thank those in the St Augustine's community who helped by donating time, produce, plants, jams, cakes etc. to their stall last week. Through your support and that of orchardists and members of other churches, we raised approx. $850.00 towards the total of $25,500 needed for 2004
GFS Townsend
invites
St Augustine's Parish Family
to share an evening with
Fr. Andrew and Margaret
in the Parish Hall
on March the 9th, 2004
Presentation and " Interrogation"
from 7.30 - 9-30 pm
Supper provided. All welcome.
IMPRISONED
To forgive is to set the prisoner free, and then discover the prisoner was you.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
After the 10.00am Eucharist next Wednesday the Devotional exercise known as "Stations of the Cross" will take place for all those interested in participating during Lent.
ADMISSION OF COUNCILLORS
The new Parish Council and Wardens are to be admitted during the 8.30 Eucharist on Sunday 14th of March
ANGLICARE SOCIAL AUDIT
The Anglicare Community Development Office, Suzanne Don Leonard has developed a comprehensive "Social Audit" questionnaire which she will use to gather information as to what social services are available in our region. She hopes to meet in the near future with some of us to fill out this questionnaire with a view to finding out, in consultation with us, what is lacking that Anglicare, perhaps with our help, can possibly provide. We are looking for folk who would be interested in participating in this project - have a word with one of our Wardens or the Rector. A vital and very interesting exercise.
NEW PRAYER LIST
There is a new Prayer List for March on display in the Narthex. Please everyone who has placed a name on the list for prayer consider carefully whether that name should be left on for another month or removed and indicate accordingly.
KATANDRA AGM
Fr Andrew and Margaret are at Dookie and Katandra today, nobly taking part in the Katandra AGM as well as worshipping with good countryfolk.. Many thanks to Fr Wayne Weaire for once more taking the Shepparton services to enable this to be.
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.
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER - DOOKIE
The Dookie District World Day of Prayer Service will be held at St Andrew's Uniting Church, Dookie on Friday March 5th at 8.00pm. The Guest Speaker: Isobel Cameron. Supper will be served and all are welcome.
Gladys Petschack - Convenor
HILDER'S BACK
It was lovely to see Hilder Lidgard back at church on Ash Wednesday, after her operation. She wishes to thank everyone for their prayers, love and support which have been greatly appreciated and most effective in helping the healing process along.
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
DUTIES FOR 7th March 2004
Readers 8.30 Norm Weaver, Jeanette Smith
Readers 10.30 Maureen Cormican, Jennifer Pleming
Servers 8,30 Beth, Rachel, Emma
Servers 10.30 to be arranged
Euch. Assists 8.30 Bev Condon, Heather Fitzgerald
Euch. Assists 10.30 Christine Evans, Carole Henderson
Intercessors Heather Carlyon, Joan McCann
Welcoming 8.30 Eileen Quaife, Jeanette Berry
Welcomers 10.30 Nola Brewer, Frank Steen
Sidespeople 8.30 Norm Mitchelmore,Joy Campbell
Sidespeople 10.30 John Pleming, Jennifer Pleming
Tea 8.30 Pat Giriffin
Mowing John Moore, John Pleming
FOR PRAYER
Liam Bognar, Helen Bruinier, Rita Esam, Richard Goodfellow, Iris Grant, Kevin & Ellen Green, Ron Hall, the Harrison Family, Jean Hastie, Cynthia Hossack & family, 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, May Wallace, Brian Ward, Malcolm Waterson, Bruce, Natalie & baby Alexandra, Alyssa, David, Elizabeth, Faith, Gary, John, Keith, Mary, Michael, Midge.
ANNIVERSARY OF DEATH
Margaret Stammers 29th, Ailsa Manley, Ruby Young 1st, Mary Elva Shearer 3rd, Ronald Ford 4th,
Eva Downer 5th, Norman Grills 6th.
IMPORTANT DATES
Mar 2nd Playgroup 10 a.m.
Mar 2nd Baptism Preparation 7.30 p.m.
Mar 2nd Dookie A.G.M. 7.30 p.m.
Mar 5th World Day of Prayer
Mar7th 3 Baptisms 12 noon
Mar 7th Orthodox Baptism 4 p.m.
Mar 9th G.F.S. Townsend
Mar 14th Children's Church
Mar 14th Orthodox Baptism 12 nooon
Mar 28th Baptisms
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
Jun 5th Ugandan Martyrs - Breakfast
Jun 12th Wedding 2.00pm
June 16th Mass for Africa
Sept 17-18 Synod
Oct 3rd St Francistide Pet Blessing
Oct 16th Wedding 3.00pm
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 March 1st
Fr Andrew's Day off
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
5.30pm Evening Prayer
Tuesday March 2nd
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
10.00am Playgroup - Hall
2.00pm Lenten Study group
5.30pm Evening Prayer
7.00pm Dookie A.G.M.
7.30pm Baptism Preparation
Wednesday 3rd March
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
10.00am Eucharist - St Augustine's
11.00am Banksia Lodge
1.30pm Hakea Lodge
5.30pm Evening Prayer
6.00pm Eucharist/followed by a meal of soup & bread
7.25pm Lenten Study Group
Thursday 4th March
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
5.30pm Evening Prayer
7.30pm Choir Practice
Friday 5th March
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
5.30pm Evening Prayer
8.00pm World Day of Prayer - Dookie
Saturday 6th March
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
5.30pm Evening Prayer
Sunday 7th March
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 - St Mary's Katandra
12 noon Baptisms
4.00pm Orthodox Baptism
5.30pm Evening Prayer