PALM SUNDAY
4th April 2004
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Marxism is, of course, just a secular religion but a new and unstable one, founded not on tradition but on new ideas. It led to mass murder on a scale unprecedented in history. The crimes of the Christians Torquemada, Richelieu and Richard the First pale into insignificance compared with those of the atheists Lenin, Stalin and Mao. Only the pagan Hitler can rival them. (The ranking in terms of people killed is: 1. Mao; 2. Stalin; 3. Hitler; 4. Lenin.) The green eco-doom movement is another new religion. The Fall in the Garden of Eden has been replaced by the naughtiness of industry and capitalism. The punishment of the Old Testament plagues has been replaced with global warming and ozone depletion. We must seek redemption not in forsaking evil and praying a lot but in forsaking motorcars and building a lot of windmills. When Bjorn Lomborg challenged the eco-doom church by publishing statistics to show that the Earth is doing fine, he was denounced as a heretic and attacked without any factual backing by members of the establishment, such as Scientific American. Here Lomborg played the role of Galileo and Scientific American that of Pope Urban. Andrew Kenny
NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE
A middle-aged woman had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital. While on the operating table, she had a near-death experience. Seeing God, she asked "Is my time up?" God said, "No, you have another 43 years, 2 months and 8 days to live." Upon recovery, the woman decided to stay in the hospital and have a facelift, liposuction, and tummy tuck. She even had someone come and change the colour of her hair. Since she had so much time to live, she figured she might as well make the most of it After her last operation, she was released from the hospital. While crossing the street on her way home, she was killed by an ambulance. Arriving in front of God, she demanded, "I thought you said I had another 40+ years. Why didn't you pull me from the path of the ambulance?" God replied, "I didn't recognize you."
THE WEEK OF WEEKS
Fr Andrew Neaum
One of the most wonderful things about our Christian Faith is that it is based upon narrative, upon a story. It isn't a philosophy. It isn't based upon a treatise, or on dogma, or on laws, it isn't a great slab of obscure blah, blah. It is based on a narrative, a story, and so you don't have to be a genius to get the point.
Stories are open to everyone. Stories can be entered into imaginatively. You can lose yourself in them, you can find yourself in them, you can identify with characters, you can linger over details, you can interpret and reinterpret them,
they don't go out of date or become irrelevant.
The Christian Faith is built upon a narrative, a story, and on this Palm Sunday we recite and participate in St Luke's version of that story's essential and core narrative, our Lord's Passion. We know the story backwards, we know what is going to happen, the narrative unfolds inevitably, inexorably to its dreadful climax, and yet it can still hold us, still move us, if we allow it to.
This week, Holy Week, we tell, retell and reenact the story liturgically. On Maundy Thursday, at 7.00pm we retell, reenact and relive the golden Last Supper. with its moving foot washing. We take our Lord, in the blessed sacrament,
and led by candles and a tinkling bell we take a walk to the Garden of Gethsemane, singing the lovely and moving hymn, "Now my tongue the Mystery Telling". The Garden of Gethsemane is the flower bedecked Altar of Repose, in the Chapel. Then when we've done that, out go the lights! For the Lord is arrested! The altar and sanctuary are stripped, laid bare, and we leave, not in an ordered procession, but in the dark, a rabble of confused disciples. Though some of us remain in the chapel through the night, as outside, the Paschal moon shines brightly in the crisp autumn air and St Augustine's resident Mopoke owl calls its wooden, antipodean cuckoo incessantly as dawn contemplates breaking. In the fragile flicker of candle light safely from Gethsemane we watch as fragile truth and beauty flicker before being snuffed by the forces of hatred and evil.
On Good Friday at 9.00am. The servers enter the church in bleak silence, with no organ playing. They prostrate themselves before the altar, that is, they lie flat on their faces in desolation at what is happening to our Lord. And then, a little later, once more the core narrative is read, St John's version this time. The sermon that follows it, also re-tells, in yet another way, simply the core story. The veiled cross too is brought slowly into the Church from the back, and as it is brought in, so it is slowly unveiled to reveal its stark brutality. It is placed on a stand before the bare altar, sacrificial Love's great symbol, displayed for us to venerate. Beautifully mournful hymns like the Passion Chorale are sung: O Sacred head sore wounded..... It is one of the most moving of all hymns, the last verse goes:
Be thou my consolation, my shield, when I must die;
remind me of thy passion when my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold thee, upon thy cross shall dwell,
my heart by faith enfold thee; who dieth thus, dies well.
But good Friday is not the end of it all. There is Easter Saturday night. Usually this will be held at the more accessible time of 7.00pm, but in order to share a coincident Easter with our Macedonian friends this year the Resurrection story begins to be told at 11.00pm. Outside the church, in the dark, we light a fire that crackles, splutters and flames,
it is the rekindling of life and hope. The great Paschal Candle is then lit from the fire and strange signs and symbols inscribed upon it. It is then held high and taken into dark tomb of the church, softly lighting and revealing that Lent and Good Friday are over for there are flowers in the sanctuary once more, there is hope in the world, Christ is risen.
The ancient Exultet is declaimed, and the first Gloria of Easter sung as sleepy servers jangle bells and madly gong gongs. Later there is a procession to the font, and our baptism vows are renewed.....
Holy Week retells the foundation story of our faith. It invites us into the story and Faith, to be a part of it. It is an invitation not to be spurned or turned down. How can anyone bear not to be present at every single Holy Week service?
PRAYERS DURING HOLY WEEK
To be said, if possible, daily
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Think for a moment, at this beginning of Holy Week, of Jesus on the Cross.
Lovely tears of lovely eyes
why dost thou me so woe?
Sorrowful tears of sorrowful eyes
thou breakest my heart in two.
I confess, Father and Lord, 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
Dear Lord and Father of mankind, In simple trust like theirs who heard,
Forgive our foolish ways! Beside the Syrian sea,
Re-clothe us in our rightful mind, The gracious calling of the Lord,
In purer lives thy service find, Let us, like them, without a word
In deeper reverence praise. Rise up and follow thee.
Cast your mind over the past day, what you've seen, those you have met. Recall those you would like to pray for and hold them quietly in your mind and in God's presence and love.
Father, I bring to you the needs of my family. I call you Father because I am your child. Let your fatherly love strengthen my family and all families in peace and harmony, in love and faithfulness, in care and considerateness for each other, in faith and patience in our difficulties, in hope and forgiveness, in prayer and cheerfulness, through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.
Father, help me to pray with Jesus on the Cross.....By praying for any enemies who wish me hurt; and more, for yours, who do injustice and cruelty on the earth. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."......By praying for the guilty and condemned, with Jesus on the Cross: for all facing trial or in prison, and all captives of sin: bring them to look up to his holy Cross: and, hand in hand with him, go free.......By praying for the grace of love in human homes: for heavenly concord in your household, the Church, born of Christ's blood: praying with Jesus, with his Mother, with St John, for love, for holier love, on earth.......By holding fast to you, my God, my God, who hold fast to us, in the black and desperate day and in the hour of death......By praying, O Eternal Compassion, for all in pain of body or mind: for souls that thirst for you: and souls that wander in dry places, seeking rest, but not seeking you.......By praying for the present help of your own Spirit, that all you give me to do may be fearlessly begun, and faithfully finished.....So help me pray with Jesus on the Cross and to commend my body, mind, and spirit, O Father, into your hands for life, for death, for time without end. Amen.
(Read this week St Luke's account of the Passion - Chapters 22 & 23)
Thanks be to you, O Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits which you have given us; for all the pains and insults which you have borne for us. O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother, may we know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly; for your own sake. Amen.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Maurice Fennell who celebrates his birthday on Monday the 5th and to Shirley and Albert Dean who celebrate their anniversary on Saturday the 10th.
THANK YOU
Stella & Ron Hall wish to sincerely thank Father Andrew, Father John and all our church friends for your prayers and get well wishes during Ron's recent stay in hospital and for his continued health.
A.B.M. " LADY DAY" RESULTS
A big thank you for the wonderful support to our A.B.M. Raffle and stall. The cooking was just beautiful and brought in the princely sum of $382.30. The Raffle was for a hand painted plate, made and donated by Mrs. June McKellar, to whom we say a big thanks for such a lovely gift to raffle. Thank you also to all the ticket sellers and buyers, as a result of your efforts $807 was raised. The winner was Mrs.Heather Allott, wife of Father Laurie of Tallangatta. Grateful thanks as well to the small band of ladies that looked after the stall all day. The combined total of $1,189.30 is the best result for many years. Thanks again to one and all on behalf of A.B.M. Nola Brewer.
BLESSING
We bless at the 8.30am Eucharist today a lovely new wooden Offertory Plate made and given to us by John Griffin as well as a collection of the little crosses the Griffins make for those visited in hospital. Many thanks.
ALTAR OF REPOSE
The Altar of Repose on Maundy Thursday is one of Holy Week's delights. Donations of flowers to place on the altar, preferably red will be most welcome and they don't have to have long stems. Bring them along on Thursday morning before 10.00am please. Also glass jam jars are needed for both candles and flowers.
FOOT WASH AND WATCH
Please sign up on the list for both the foot washing on Maundy Thursday (we need 12) and for the Watch on Thursday night. Please don't leave the small hours of the night to the Rector!
EVENING GUILD
The Evening guild meets on the 15th April at 1.30. Guest Speaker: Dianne Neuwirth on "My Essence". All are welcome. Contact Kath Grills 58216358
DUTIES FOR 4th April 2004
Readers 8.30 Ann Weaire, Margaret Neaum
Readers 10.30 Charlotte Brewer,Andrea Fisher
Servers 8,30 Beth, Rachel, Emma
Servers 10.30 to be arranged
Euch. Assists 8.30 John Griffin, Carole Henderson
Euch. Assists 10.30 Christine Evans & Carole Henderson
Intercessors Celebrant, Christine Jones
Welcoming 8.30 Bev Ralph, Beryl Goodfellow
Welcomers 10.30 Jill Waterson, Nola Brewer
Sidespeople 8.30 Norm Mitchelmore, Joy Campbell
Sidespeople 10.30 John Pleming, Jenny Pleming
Tea 8.30 Bev Reither
Mowing Frank Steen, Michael Egan
DUTIES FOR 11th April 2004
Readers 8.30 Margaret Neaum, Anne Weaire
Readers 10.30 Nancy Noonan, Maureen Cormican
Servers 8,30 Michelle, Stephen, Debbie
Servers 10.30 to be arranged
Euch. Assists 8.30 John Griffin,Carole Henderson
Euch. Assists 10.30 Bev Condon, Maureen Cormican
Intercessors Margaret Neaum, Children
Welcoming 8.30 Heather Nichols, Heather Pearson
Welcomers 10.30 Adrian Evans, Cheryl Richards
Sidespeople 8.30 Trevor Batey, Victoria Heenan
Sidespeople 10.30 Alan Akers, Adrian Evans
Tea 8.30 Bev Reither
Mowing John Moore, John Pleming
FOR PRAYER
Liam Bognar, Barbara Brown, Helen Bruinier, Loris Buntine, Ashely Close, Adie Edwards, Neil Feldthman,Lynette Gates, Richard Goodfellow, Iris Grant,Kevin & Ellen Green, Ron Hall, the Harrison Family, Jean Hastie,Thelma Irwin, Fr Wayne Ireland, Isobel Kerr, Betty Mercer, Joyce Maloney,Ann Mills, Andrew Muirhead, Gabby Palvia,Richard Pearson,John Perry, Ray Prosser, Dennis Reed, Margaret Robinson, Gwen & Bob Scott, Roger Saville,Shirley & family, Peter & Eva Swindells, Rev Glenis Traill, May Wallace, Brian Ward, Malcolm Waterson, Alyssa, Craig, Darren, Elizabeth, Faith, Gary, Glenda, John, Keith, Mary, Michael, Midge,Rohan
Rest in peace
Anne Tacey
Anniversary of Death
Thomas Tomlinson, Ted Phillips 6th.
IMPORTANT DATES
April 11th Easter Day/Childrens Church
April 13th G.F.S. Townsend
April 15th Evening Guild
April 17th Wedding 3.00pm
April 18th Katandra/Dookie Family Service
April 20th Afternoon Guild
April 22nd Evening Guild
April 24th Wedding 2.30pm
April 25th Wedding 2.00pm
May 5th Parish Council at Dookie
May 7th Dookie Guild
May 8th Wedding 1.30pm
May 10th Ladies Guild Coffee Morning
May 18th - 21st Annual Priests' Retreat
May 22nd Wedding 2.30pm
May 25th Reconciliation Activity
May 26th St Augustine's Patronal Festival
Jun 5th Ugandan Martyrs - Breakfast
Jun 6th Mass for Africa
Jun 12th Wedding 2.00pm
Jun 18-19th Evening Guild Garage Sale
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 in Holy Week April 5th
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
11.00am Chrism Eucharist - Wangaratta
5.30pm Evening Prayer
7.00pm Eucharist
Tuesday in Holy Week April 6th
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
5.30pm Evening Prayer
7.00pm Eucharist
7.30pm Choir Practice
Wednesday in Holy Week April 7th
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
10.00am Eucharist - St Augustine's
11.00am Banksia Lodge
1.30pm Hakea Lodge
7.00pm Eucharist
Maundy Thursday April 8th
7.45am Mattins only - Lady Chapel
5.30pm Evening Prayer
7.00pm Footwashing, Commemoration of Last Supper, Watch etc.
Good Friday April 9th
7.45am Mattins only
9.00am Liturgy of the Day
Holy Saturday April 10th
7.45am Mattins only - Lady Chapel
11.00pm New Fire, Paschal Candle, first Eucharist of Easter
Easter Sunday April 11th
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 Children'sChurch
10.45am Eucharist - St Mary's Katandra
5.30pm Evening Prayer