THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
15th January 2006
Graphics and cartoons appear only in the printed version
JANUARY PEW-SHEETS
The Pew-sheets in January are likely to be more modest than usual, made up of a single sheet. This is less idleness on your Rector’s part than a desire to devote time to other pressing matters.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Human beings are religious animals. It is psychologically very hard to go through life without the justification, and the hope, provided by religion. You can see this in the positivist scientists of the 19th century. They insisted that they were describing the universe in rigorously materialistic terms - yet at night they attended seances and tried to summon up the spirits of the dead. Even today, I frequently meet scientists who, outside their own narrow discipline, are superstitious - to such an extent that it sometimes seems to me that to be a rigorous unbeliever today, you have to be a philosopher. Or perhaps a priest. Umberto Eco
“Speak Lord, your Servant is listening”
Andrew Neaum
Is your life dull, predictable, hum drum, depressingly explicable, unextraordinary? Is its major excitement a raffle win, or a bonanza on the horses, or a great meal, or a good night’s sleep or your usual annual holiday? Is there never the whisper of angels wings in your life, no hints of transcendent glory, of majesty, no mystery, no miracle, no awe, no risk? Have you never ever heard the voice of God? Do no bushes in your life flame without being consumed? Is your God a paltry crutch, your Christianity a feeble and half-hearted response to life's absurdity and to your own mortality? Are you drowning in dull ordinariness, mediocrity, sameness, in unadventurousness, or in quiet desperation? Are your critical faculties dulled, by a ceaseless round of drearily predictable pleasure, of sport, television, television, sport, of escapist books and romances or ceaseless, pointless busyness?
If so there is nothing unusual about you. For not all faith is strong and vibrant. There is a lot of faith about that is feeble, that is notable more for yawns than zest, for excuses more than action, for timidity more than courage. Faith that is defensive, apologetic, lacking in get up and go.
But if so, why not sit up and listen... Listen, listen, listen. Can’t we hear? There is a voice calling to us. Yes, to us, but we are not listening!
Plucked from dull ordinariness
The voice of God, the voice that called to little Samuel in the middle of a primitive night, thousands of years ago. A voice calling him to be a king-maker, prophet and pivotal figure of his time. The voice of God that called Andrew, a fisherman, and also Philip and Nathaniel to become full-time, perilous-living, peripatetic disciples.... A voice that changes lives, plucks people out of dull ordinariness, away from dreary, materialistic, selfish lives, and plonks them down into significance, difference, purpose, excitement, mystery, risk.
The voice calls to us everywhere! Every time we come to Church, for example, where, before our dull eyes, is presented, re-enacted, the antithesis of pretty well everything the world stands for. The sacrifice of Christ, no less, presented, offered on the altar, and which says to us: Material things, possessions, looking after our self, personal safety, personal satisfaction, this mammon-ridden, consumer-mad society we live in, is nothing, nothing, nothing! Because love, only love, love, love, matters, sacrificing love, self-surrendering love. So, reach out for it, not only with hands at the altar rail, but with heart, mind, soul and strength as well; and so in your life too. Spend yourself, give yourself for good, others, God.
Many voices
Every time we come to Church our dull ears are bombarded with wise words we don't hear. Words that present an alternative way of life, a way of life so different, so extravagant, that to take it to heart would forever to be lifted from the rut of ordinariness into a world wonderfully different, a world shot through with glory, purpose, meaning. With things to do that banish boredom and ordinariness, a relationship with the divine, with our Lord, with Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified one.
The voice of God: calls not only in church, it speaks to us as well in great literature, which unlike escapist pap, challenges, disturbs, awakens, opens eyes and ears and hearts, is the voice of God. So for heaven’s sake let us read the great books then, let’s not always simply wallow in escapism, for to do so is to escape the very voice and call of God.
The voice of God calls to us as well in great music, which opens the windows of mystery, of time, of eternity, and allows God’s voice to sing its way into our lives and hearts. So for heaven’s sake let’s listen to the great music, not as background noise, as a mere buffer from silence, but as heaven’s “Gloria in excelsis deo....”
The voice of God: calls as well in tragedy and grief, in all those terrible things in life which give the lie to happiness as a realisable goal. Which shock and shake us out of an idle, easy-going complacency, acting to us as a megaphone for God’s voice, that shouts to us: Listen, listen, listen.... security, comfort, and materialistic heavens are illusory, it’s love alone that’s real and thus our tragedies and griefs link up to another tragic event, once upon a time, on skull hill, Golgotha, bone hill. Sadnesses and griefs help to make all this clear, challenging us to let go of the illusory, let go of things that don’t fundamentally matter and to take up the real, that is, God, love, sacrifice. So much more daring, risky, lovely, glorious.
No whisper of angels wings?
Is your life dull, predictable, hum drum, depressingly explicable, unextraordinary? Is its major excitement a raffle win, or a bonanza on the horses, or a great meal, or a good night’s sleep or your usual annual holiday? Is there never the whisper of angels wings in your life, no hints of transcendent glory, of majesty, no mystery, no miracle, no awe, no risk? Have you never ever heard the voice of God? Do no bushes in your life flame without being consumed? Is your God a paltry crutch, your Christianity a feeble and half-hearted response to life's absurdity and to your own mortality? Are you drowning in dull ordinariness, mediocrity, sameness, in unadventurousness, or in quiet desperation? Are your critical faculties dulled, by a ceaseless round of drearily predictable pleasure, of sport, television, television, sport, of escapist books and romances or ceaseless, pointless busyness?
If so then listen to the voice of God, you who have ears to hear.......listen, listen, listen, allow yourself to be converted, called, changed. Stop being a dead dog, pseudo, half-baked, one-foot-in-both-camps, Laodicean, quasi Christian, and become the real and vibrant article.... Open the windows, let the sun into your life, with all its power, mystery, beauty. Listen to the thousand year old liturgy enacted in this church today, and allow it to speak and transform you. Give your heart to the Lord. Let his voice set your ears a-tingle and so respond with little Samuel: “Speak Lord, your servant is listening.....”
PARISH BARBECUE
There is a Parish BBQ scheduled next Sunday, BYO of course, though there might be a box of wine available for those with shameless palates! Do attend if you are able - from 12 noon onwards. Afterwards there will be a short training session for volunteer parish visitors of folk on our mailing list. If you would like to try your hand at this have a word with the clergy, who will be delighted.
MEMORIAL WALL
The Memorial Wall is complete, and a very fine piece of work it is. There are still decisions to be made as to landscaping and bordering and any ideas will be st least be listened to! The official opening will be in a few months time, not least because we need to offer the possibility of purchasing a plaque to the relatives of those whose ashes are already interred. Please let us have any relevant names and addresses.
IMPORTANT DIARY DATES
Jan 19th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Grief Support Meeting 7.30pm
Jan 22nd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Parish BBQ and Visitor Training
Feb 18th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Men’s Breakfast 8.00 Eucharist, Breakfast 8.30
Feb 19th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pastoral Care Sunday
Feb 25th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Possible Wedding
Mar 1st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AGM (Ash Wednesday)
Mar 17th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Youth Event
Mar 18th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weddings 2.00pm & 4.00pm
Mar 25th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lady Day
Mar 26th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Out Reach” publication day
April 22nd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weddings 3.00pm & 4.30pm
April 23rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wedding
May 13th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Men’s Breakfast 8.00 Eucharist, Breakfast 8.30
May 13th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wedding 1.00pm
May 13th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Turaton Concert
May 28th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Patronal Festival St Augustine’s
Jun 17th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wedding
July 28th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Soiree
Jul 30th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Out Reach” publication day
Aug 18th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Youth Event
Oct 8th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pet Service 5.30pm
Oct 15th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Out Reach” publication day
Oct 21st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wedding
Oct 23 - 26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Clergy Conference
Oct 28th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wedding
Aug 12th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Men’s Breakfast 8.00 Eucharist, Breakfast 8.30
Oct 28th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Men’s Breakfast 8.00 Eucharist, Breakfast 8.30
Nov 3rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Youth Event
Nov 4th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wedding
Nov 11th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Church Fair
Nov 18th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wedding
REQUESTS FOR PRAYER
Norma Anderson, Liam Bognar, David Burrow, Mary Clarke, Goldie Coe, Alby Dean, Hamish Fisher, Ron Hall, Bill Hunter, Tom McDonnell, Marge Malcolm, Dudley Manton, Leon Meyer, Ann Mills, Ken Neal, Margaret Noble, Margaret Osbrough, Lesley Rankin, Eleanor Routledge, Suzanne Singh, Patricia Sparks, Peter and Eva Swindells, Carole, Con Tokarew, Ken & Shirley Young, Carmel, Cheryl, Glenda, Jason, Joan, Joanne, Jude, Lee, Lorna, Michelle, Pam, Raeline, Shannon, Sherena, Stuart, Trudy.
Rest in Peace: Cathryn Lawrence
Anniversary of Death: Rowland Taig 15th, Keith Dean, Colin Ferguson 16th, Ernest Guyatt, Illias Petcopoulos 17th, Valerie Ford 18th, Madge Grutzner, Niko Rendevski 19th, Maria Balaburov 20th, Gerald Rogers 21st.
Duties for January 15th 2006
Celebrant 6.30 Saturday 14th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Canon Andrew Neaum
Celebrant 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Canon Andrew Neaum
Celebrant 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Revd Gail Bryce
Celebrant Dookie 8.45am. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Revd Gail Bryce
Celebrant Katandra 10.45am. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Canon Andrew Neaum
Readers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Frank Harder, Margaret Neaum
Readers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nancy Fennell, Lionel Waterson
Servers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Michelle, Steve, Debbie
Servers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Joan McCann, Henry & Polly Shattock
Euc. Assts 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Margaret Neaum, Bev Condon
Euc. Assts 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jenny Pleming & Carole Henderson
Intercessors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bev Condon, Jenny Pleming
Welcoming 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Joyce Cavill, Bev Ralph
Welcomers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Charlotte Brewer, Nola Brewer
Sidespeople 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Merv & Gwyn Cowland
Sidespeople 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adrian Evans, Alan Akers
Tea 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shirley Dean
Mowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marg Carroll, John Pleming
Duties for 22nd January 2006
Celebrant 6.30pm Sat 21st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Canon Andrew Neaum
Celebrant 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Revd Gail Bryce
Celebrant 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Canon Andrew Neaum
Celebrant Dookie 8.45am. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Canon Andrew Neaum
Celebrant Katandra 10.45am. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Revd Gail Bryce
Readers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joan Harder, Carole Henderson
Readers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Liz Booth, Bev Condon
Servers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Michelle, Steve, Debbie
Servers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jenny Pleming Joe, Zeb
Euc. Assts 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Griffin, Margaret Neaum
Euc. Assts 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carole Henderson, Bev Condon
Intercessors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Celebrant, Mary Pearson
Welcoming 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Shirley Dean, Heather Nichols
Welcomers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Frank Steen, Hilder Lidgard
Sidespeople 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Max & Bev Ralph
Sidespeople 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlotte Brewer, Nola Brewer
Tea 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pat Griffin
Mowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kay McGregor, Merv Cowland
THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Monday 16th January Canon Andrew’s Day off
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
Tuesday 17th January Antony of Egypt
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
Wednesday 18th January
7.45am Mattins only - Lady Chapel
8.45am Nursing Home Round
10.00am Eucharist - St Augustine’s
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
7.30pm Parish Council Meeting - Narthex
Thursday 19th January
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
11.00am Eucharist - Multi Cultural Centre
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
5.30pm Choir Practice
7.30pm Grief Support Meeting - Supper Room
Friday 20th January
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
11.00am Eucharist - Ave Maria
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
Saturday 21st January The Revd. Gail Bryce’s Day Off
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist (Traditional rite - Lady Chapel)
6.30pm Vigil Eucharist
Sunday 3rd Sunday after Epiphany 22nd January
8.30am Sung Eucharist - St Augustine’s
8.45am Eucharist - Dookie
10.30amEucharist & Baptisms - St Augustine’s
10.45am Eucharist - Katandra
12 noon Parish BBQ
2.00pm Visitors Training Session - Narthex
5.30pm Evening Prayer