FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
19th June 2005
The cartoons and graphics from the Pewsheet are found only in the printed version
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
The archbishop (Rowan Williams) is not at ease with shouted certainties. There is always in his theology a stammer, not because he is in doubt whether there is anything there but because he knows there is too much. Theology for him is always an encounter “with what cannot be mastered”. Christians have to stay together patiently in love, resisting the urge to parade convictions and go off to do their own thing with the like-minded. Instead they should listen to one another, treating theology as a “conversational skill”. Williams insists: “The taking of time is at the centre of truthful understanding.” ....(An) almost fatal childhood illness left the future archbishop deaf in one ear which is why he is always to be seen bending to pay attention. Perhaps those who think that they hear the word of God so clearly fail so to bend and so to listen. Peter Cornwell in a Review of Rupert Shortt’s book: “Explaining the Archbishop”
INFAMY
Julius Caesar fending off the knives in an assassination attempt: “Infamy, infamy! They’ve all got it in for me!”
(From “Carry on Cleo”)
SMOKE AND FIRE
A lawyer in America purchased a box of very rare and expensive cigars, then insured them against fire among other things. Within a month, having smoked his entire stockpile of these great cigars, and without yet having made even his first premium payment on the policy, the lawyer filed a claim against the insurance company. In his claim, the lawyer stated the cigars were lost “in a series of small fires.” The insurance company refused to pay, citing the obvious reason: that the man had consumed the cigars in the normal fashion. The lawyer sued and won! In delivering the ruling the judge agreed with the insurance company that the claim was frivolous. The Judge stated nevertheless, that the lawyer held a policy from the company in which it had warranted that the cigars were insurable and also guaranteed that it would insure them against fire, without defining what is considered to be “unacceptable fire” and was obligated to pay the claim. Rather than endure a lengthy and costly appeal process, the insurance company accepted the ruling and paid $15,000 to the lawyer for his loss of the rare cigars, lost in the “ fires”. However, after the lawyer cashed the cheque, the insurance company had him arrested on 24 counts of arson! With his own insurance claim and testimony from the previous case being used against him, the lawyer was convicted of intentionally burning his insured property and was sentenced to 24 months in jail and a $24,000 fine.
THREE RESPONSES TO W.N. EWER
How odd But not so odd Not odd Not news
Of God As those who choose Of God. Or odd;
To choose A Jewish God Goyim The Jews
The Jews. W N Ewer Yet spurn the Jews. Anon. Annoy ’im. Anon Chose God. Anon.
THE MARRIAGE PROBLEM
So important is the family, and so intractable the differences in family stability, form and structure that distinguish one part of America from another, insists James Q Wilson in his book “The Marriage Problem: How Our Culture Has Weakened Families”... that we are in fact two nations. He describes these nations as follows: "In one nation, a child, raised by two parents, acquires an education, a job, a spouse, and a home kept separate from crime and disorder by distance, fences or guards. In the other nation, a child is raised by an unwed girl, lives in a neighbourhood filled with many sexual men but few committed fathers, and finds gang life to be necessary for self-protection and valuable for self-advancement." In the first nation, children look forward to the future and make plans. In the second, children disbelieve that they will have a future and live for the immediate moment. Harms occur in both nations, but in the second nation "they proliferate -- child abuse and drug abuse, gang violence and personal criminality, economic dependency and continued illegitimacy."
Fatherlessness
Wilson argues that the destructive features of a world without fathers are by now so well documented that they are beyond challenge. No responsible person wants to see that world expand, given its clear and present dangers. But how did it come about, and how are we to bring the second nation closer to the standard of the first in order to ensure that, in the parlance of the moment, no child is left behind? Wilson reminds us that when Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan first alerted the country in 1960 to the troubles looming on the horizon as the world of fatherlessness and rising out-of-wedlock birth was coming into view, he was denounced, accused of everything from racism to sexism to cultural imperialism, even as many people within the black community were saying the same thing -- that a leap in fatherlessness was a "pathology." But that made no difference to the main-stream media or scholarship. As a result, it was easy for the first nation, irresponsibly, to ignore the problem of the second.
Forty years later, facing an epidemic in teenage motherhood - by 1995, "three out of every four births to all teenagers were to unmarried girls; for black girls, it was nine out of ten" -- the alarm bells finally went off as politicians and social analysts converged on the same point: This trend cannot continue, as too much measurable harm is being done to children. As the evidence piled up, even those most resistant to the notion that fatherlessness as an independent factor generated risk factors for children, whatever the family's socio-economic status, were forced to acknowledge the data. "Children in one-parent families, compared to those in two-parent ones, are twice as likely to drop out of school. Boys in one-parent families are much more likely than those in two-parent ones to be both out of school and out of work. Girls in one-parent families are twice as likely as those in two-parent ones to have an out-of-wedlock birth."
Stay Married
...the real gravamen of his argument is that mothers and fathers should marry and stay married unless there is palpable abuse. Nothing compensates for the loss of rock -bottom familial stability. A culture that was once supportive of marriage now treats it as just another lifestyle choice rather than as the normatively preferable way a decent culture creates a stable environment for children.
We could try to alter the culture's assault on what is already a fragile institution, Wilson insists, but he doesn't offer much that is concrete here. He believes we are hard-wired to seek intimacy and to have children, but not so hard-wired that we can't screw it up. All in all, he is pessimistic about our prospects. He believes we have ignored the trouble signs for so long that we have accustomed ourselves to a world of two nations, with the first nation fearful of the second and the second fearful of those in its own midst. This is not a happy picture.
I can’t trace where this interesting review came from AN
EPISCOPAL WISDOM
Preaching was not the metier of Neville ‘Gorky’ Gorton, Bishop of Coventry. After a singularly incoherent sermon at Eton, as the organist was playing the final hymn, Gorky suddenly shouted out, ‘What I really meant to say was — you damned well all need to be converted.’
‘Tommy’ Strong, Bishop of Oxford, ‘disliked public occasions and did not seem over-fond of church services’. His musical gifts made him particularly sensitive to the limitations of village choirs — ‘the noise it made was such as to twist the intestines of a hyena’. From “The Bishops” by Trevor Beeson
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
What will you do, God, when I die?
When I, your pitcher, broken, lie?
When I, your drink, go stale or dry?
I am your garb, the trade you ply,
you lose your meaning, losing me.
Homeless without me, you will be
robbed of your welcome, warm and sweet.
I am your sandals; your tired feet
will wander bare for want of me.
Your mighty cloak will fall away.
Your glance that on my cheek was laid
and pillowed warm, will seek, dismayed,
the comfort that I offered once -
to lie, as sunset colours fade
in the cold lap of alien stones.
What will you do, God? I am afraid.
Rainer Maria Rilke 1875-1926. Considered the most important lyric poet of 20th century Germany.
PRAYER OF THE WEEK
O God, you have revealed to us that of all the virtues Love most clearly describes for us your infinite nature, and that when we selflessly love we approach most nearly to your presence: Grant to us therefore this the supreme virtue; for you have shown us that, without it, persistence hardens into pride, peace chills to cold-heartedness and even humility sinks to despair. But enkindled by loving kindness all these virtues become alive, bearing us up into your presence where alone our hearts may rest. Gerald Heard
Circles are praised, not that abound
In Largeness, but the exactly round;
So life we praise, that does excel
Not in much time, but acting well. Edmund Waller 1606-1687
THANK YOU
Fr Andrew is taking the services at Dookie and Katandra today and is grateful to Fr John for so willingly donning the chasuble at the 8.30am and 10.30am Eucharists.
CONGRATULATIONS
Birthdays
Joan McCann. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wednesday 22nd June
Max Ralph. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thursday 23rd June
SOIRÉE
Folk after the Wednesday Eucharist were wondering what a Soirée actually is. It is an evening party or gathering, normally at a private house and usually with musical entertainment. It comes from the French word for “evening”: soir.
Our Soirée is a chance for us to get together and have a bit of fun. There are two lists in the narthex, one is for those who would like to present an item or two and the other is for those who would like to come simply to be entertained.
The items presented can be the recitation of verse or prose, written by oneself or from a favourite author. They can be a piece of music, a song, a duet, a choral item or an instrumental piece. They can be an acted skit of one sort or another, or the demonstration of a trick, “magical” or otherwise or a dance routine. The emphasis should on entertainment and fun.
Those who come are invited to bring a small plate of supper. Coffee and a glass of port will be provided and a gold coin can be donated towards the cost of this if you are so inclined, but it is certainly not compulsory. The more folk who come the better the evening will be.
As our Soirée takes place this coming Friday, put your name down on either list today!
AFTERNOON GUILD
The Afternoon Guild meets this Tuesday, the 21st of June at 2.00pm. Hostesses: Nancy Noonan and Hilder Lidgard. Competition: Best Camellia. All are welcome
ECUMENICAL SERVICE DOOKIE
The Ecumenical Service at Dookie takes place next Sunday, the 26th, at 5.30pm and is followed by an excellent feed. St Luke’s folk are hosting it this year and the Rector is preaching, but the venue, as always, is the Dookie Uniting Church.
STUDY GROUP
The Study Group meets this Wednesday as usual at the Rectory. 6.30pm for a meal, 7.30pm for study.
OUTREACH
Now that winter has arrived there will be time, sitting by the heater or fire, to put pen to paper for an “Outreach” article, we’d love to receive any items you wish to submit. Our next edition should be out about the 10th of July.
CHOIR PRACTICE
Choir Practice is on Thursdays at 5.30pm during winter. Newcomers most welcome.
GRAMMAR SCHOOL SERVICE
On Thursday the Goulburn Valley Grammar School holds a Thanksgiving Service in St Augustine’s starting at 7.30pm. This should be a musical and happy occasion, nor will it be too long. Because not all the school’s pupils will be present there will be room for any of us who would like to attend to do so. Why not come along to support the youngsters and enjoy a young congregation.
IMPORTANT DIARY DATES
Jun 21st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Afternoon Guild
Jun 23rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Grammar School Thanksgiving Service 7.30pm
Jun 24th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Soiree 7.00pm
Jun 26th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ecumenical Service Dookie
July 17th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bishop’s Pastoral Visit
July 30th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wedding
Aug 5th - 8th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Annual Snow Trip for young people
Aug 21st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ecumenical Service Katandra
Aug 24th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Quiet Day 10.00am
Aug 24th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Quiet Evening 6.30pm
Aug 26th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rector’s 30th Anniversary of Priesting Bash
Sept 3rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Quarterly Garden Working Bee
Sep 17th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wedding
Oct 1st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Men’s Breakfast
Oct 1st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wedding
Oct 15th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wedding
Oct 9th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pet Service 5.00pm
Oct 22nd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wedding
Oct 29th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wedding
Nov 5th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wedding
Nov 6th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Confirmation
Nov 12th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Parish Fair
Dec 3rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Quarterly Garden Working Bee
Dec 3rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wedding
Dec 17th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wedding
Duties for 19th June 2005
Readers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Heather Pearson, Carole Henderson
Readers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hilder Lidgard, Christine Jones
Servers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Beth, Steve, Debbie
Servers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wayne, Renee, Glen
Euc. Assts 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bev Condon, John Griffin
Euc. Assts 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bev Condon, Carole Henderson
Intercessors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Heather Carlyon, Joan McCann
Welcoming 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bev Reither, Shirley Dean
Welcomers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Frank Steen, Sandra Simonis
Sidespeople 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe Pearson, Trevor Batey
Sidespeople 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nola Brewer, Charlotte Brewer
Tea 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pat Griffin
Mowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . None this week
Duties for 26th June 2005
Readers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pat Griffin, Gwyn Cowland
Readers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Andrea Fisher, Joan McCann
Servers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michelle, Debbie, Steve
Servers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jenny, Zebedee
Euc. Assts 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Heather Fitzgerald, Bev Condon
Euc. Assts 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christine Evans, Maureen Cormican
Intercessors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carole Henderson, Jenny Pleming
Welcoming 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bev Ralph, Beryl Goodfellow
Welcomers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Judy Longley, Nola Brewer
Sidespeople 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gwyn and Merv Cowland
Sidespeople 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jenny and John Pleming
Tea 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pat Gibson
Mowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Frank Steen, Michael Egan
REQUESTS FOR PRAYER
Liam Bognar, David Burrow, The Revd Colin Cameron, Tony & Nicky Cavill, Daphne Clarke, Daniel Cowan, Nancy Cowan, Albert Fenn, Iris & Charles Grant, Ron Hall, Kate Horder, Bill Hunter, Fiona Lea-Whyte, Ann Mills, Margaret Noble, Ray Prosser, Lesley Rankin, Isobell Richards, Peter & Eva Swindells, Susan Stone, May Wallace, Mr & Mrs Wilson, Amanda, Bevan, Fiona, Genevieve, Glenda, Jon, Linda, Natalie, Bruce and Alexandra, Shannon, Jason, Suzanne, Tom.
Rest in Peace
Harold Merrigan, Olive Emery
Anniversary of Death
Ken McRae, John Burgess 19th, Arthur Halsey, Arthur Taylor, Georgia Morcom 20th,Elsie Cloak, Florence Robinett 21st, Joyce Rutherford, Maude Stone 22nd, Nancy McRae, Edna Inglis 23rd.
THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Monday 20th June
Fr Andrew’s day off
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
Tuesday 21st June
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
10.00am Play Group - Parish Hall
2.00pm Afternoon Guild - Supper Room
3.00pm Evening Prayer
7.30pm Prayer Support Group - Lady Chapel
Wednesday 22nd June Thomas More & John Fisher
7.45am Mattins only - Lady Chapel
10.00am Eucharist - St Augustine’s
8.45am Shepparton Aged Care,
11.00am Banksia House, Hakea 1.30pm, Acacia 2.15pm
3.00pm Evening Prayer
6.30pm Study Group - Rectory
Thursday 23rd June
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
8.45am Retirement Home Visits - Mooroopna
1.30pm Evening Guild
3.00pm Evening Prayer
5.30pm Choir Practice
7.30pm Grammar School Thanksgiving Service
Friday 24th June John the Baptist
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
3.00pm Evening Prayer
7.30pm Soiree - Supper Room
Saturday 25th June
7.45am Mattins and Eucharist- Lady Chapel
6.30pm Vigil Eucharist
Sunday 26th June Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
8.00am Mattins, Lady Chapel
8.30am Sung Eucharist - St Augustine’s
9.00am Eucharist - Dookie
10.30amEucharist - St Augustine’s
10.45am Eucharist - Katandra West
5.30pm Ecumenical Service - Uniting Church Dookie
5.30pm Evening Prayer - St Augustine’s