SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
18th June 2006
Graphics and cartoons appear only in the printed version
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Christianity imposes the duty of defending those who are under attack. This is because Jesus preached a message of peace, but not of pacifism:
“The idea of forgiveness, symbolized in the Cross, distinguishes the Christian from the Muslim inheritance. There is no coherent reading of the Christian message that does not make forgiveness of enemies into a central item of the creed. Christ even commanded us, when assaulted, to turn the other cheek. But […] he was setting before us a personal ideal, not a political project. If I am attacked and turn the other cheek, then I exemplify the Christian virtue of meekness. If I am entrusted with a child who is attacked, and I then turn the child’s other cheek, I make myself party to the violence. That, surely, is how a Christian should understand the right of defence, and how it is understood by the medieval theories of the just war. The right of defence stems from your obligations to others. You are obliged to protect those whom destiny has placed under your care. A political leader who turns not his own cheek but ours makes himself party to the next attack. By pursuing the attacker, however violently, the politician serves the cause of peace, and also of forgiveness, of which justice is the instrument.” Roger Scruton
BEST FRIEND
At a private dinner party, during the main course, the dog of the house kept jumping up at the male guest sitting on the hostess’s left. The dog would put his paws on the man’s leg and attempt to lick him, wagging its tail furiously. With a smug smile the man said to the assembled company: “You know, it’s a funny thing but dogs always love me.” His hostess replied: “I wouldn’t be too sure about that. We are short of crockery and so you are eating off his plate.”
THE BREASTPLATE
Andrew Neaum
When it comes to the singing of hymns, the tune is all important to me. I can cope with the most appalling words as long as the tune is a good one, though some hymns do have words that are so bad they are impossible to countenance, no matter how good the tune. There was one in the old book, for example, the beginning of which conjures up images of a hypodermic syringe....
There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Emmanuel’s veins....
Last Sunday at the 8.30 Eucharist, I recited with some feeling, one of the greatest of all hymns, St Patrick’s Breastplate. It has an excellent tune, but a fairly complicated one, and so it is a bit of a struggle to sing so early in the morning as none of the verses are bad enough to leave out. Recitation seemed the best way to do the words justice.
Lorica
It is a strong and ancient hymn, reading almost like an incantatory spell. It certainly originates in early Celtic Christianity, though it is probably not written by St Patrick himself. It is sometimes called the Lorica, but Breastplate is preferable for being more immediately understandable. A lorica was a piece of ancient armour, meant to protect the chest like a breastplate. For the Celts, it was also a kind of personal protection charm that held magical powers, hence the piece’s incantatory flavour. The author binds himself to God the Holy Trinity as protection and talisman in a primitive, wild and dangerous world. I love it.
I bind this day to me for ever,
by power of faith, Christ’s incarnation,
his baptism in the Jordan river,
his death on the cross for my salvation,
his bursting from the spicéd tomb,
his riding up the heavenly way,
his coming at the day of doom:
I bind unto my self to day.....
Against all Satan’s spells and wiles,
against false words of heresy,
against the knowledge that defiles,
against the heart’s idolatry,
against the wizard’s evil crafts,
against the death-wound and the burning,
the choking wave, the poisoned shaft,
protect me, Christ, till thy returning.
A tranquil contrast
What makes it even more wonderful is that in the middle of the seven verses, there are two short lyrical verses which are entirely different in mood, tranquil, gentle, repetitive. They make a perfect prayer in their own right, one that should be known and prayed by all of us. To mark the contrast, this section is usually sung to a different tune, and in a different key. Wonderful! This section goes:
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all who love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
This is a lovely prayer in its own right, not least because to Christians in the world today, more disturbing than nuclear weapons, war, poverty, over-population, epidemics of Aids and other horror viruses, is that Christ is no longer, behind us, before us, beside us, beneath us, above us....in quiet, in danger, in hearts of all who love us, in mouth of friend and stranger. Christ no longer permeates our society. The mouth of friend and stranger can be assumed nowadays to know nothing of Christ. We live in a post-Christian world, on Christian credit, built up over centuries, and fast running out.
The arbiters of morals and fashion are now, as often as not, shallow and glib journalists and TV presenters, of all people, who know little of the Christ or the Faith and who sneer at and denigrate the little they do know.
Right and wrong are too often seen to be relative, shifting, dependent on an ignorant majority’s ignorant opinion. Right and wrong do not stand over against and judge the majority, rather the majority stands over against and judges and decides what is right and wrong. What is more the majority’s views are formed and manipulated by the media whose ultimate reference point, whose God, is profit and public applause, measured by advertising revenue, circulation and ratings. We worship then, inevitably, not God, but Mammon.
Young and old sell out
In the supposedly bad old days, the heroes of the young, their role-models, were saints, were the good and the brave, the sacrificing and the loving, the chivalrous and honourable. Today, their heroes, those they aspire to, those by whom they are formed, directed and moulded, are weedy squirts who scream, whine or whimper a shallow gospel of bonging and bonking into fondled and kissed microphones. Sanctity’s celebrity, heroism’s indulgence, love is sex and drugs are the pathway to ecstasy rather than religion, love, art, beauty and achievement. Christ is absent, goodness gone.
This is so not only among the young. The excuses, evasions and self-justifications I endure from adults and even the elderly I visit, who were once in tune with Christ and the Faith, are shallow beyond belief. Folk have not usually stopped believing, it is just that they too, like the young, have sold out to the Gospel of the easy road: to self- indulgence, weakness, licence, doing one’s own thing, golf, bowls, garden, new spouse, humouring kids too ill-disciplined to manage in church and so stupidly left to “decide for themselves about religion when they grow up, blah, blah, blah, blah.....” A sad litany of feebleness, frailty and weakness.
Holding on
What a refreshing relief it is, to turn to a strong hymn like St Patrick’s Breastplate, written in hard and dangerous times. I recite it with feeling. It helps me to value those folk who are still a part of the Church, in it and of it, who still hold to the Christ, who haven’t sold out to the weasel gospel of Mammon.
At the centre of our Parish Christian community, involved and immersed in Christian company, when among you all at Church, if not when down in the High Street, then indeed
Christ is with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all who love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
St Patrick lived in a world far wilder, more dangerous, more pagan than ours. At the age of 16 he was taken into slavery in Ireland, escaping after six years, to go and study intensely and to be ordained in France. He then returned to wild, druid-dominated Ireland to evangelise it, dangerously opposed, as his breastplate puts it, by:
Hostile men who marred his course,
The wizard’s evil crafts,
The death-wound and the burning,
The choking wave, the poisoned shaft...
Bad times are good times
Bad times, paradoxically, are good times for righteousness, because they show up goodness in stark and attractive relief.
Our times, like St Patrick’s, like Christ’s, are propitious then, are full of opportunity. The blacker things appear the brighter shines any light. Even our own, individual faith, if authentically lived, can attract folk in. So take heart, remain true, and
...bind unto thyself today
the strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
the three in One, and One in Three.
Of whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word.
Praise to the Lord of our salvation;
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.
CONGRATULATIONS
Birthdays
Joan McCann. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22nd June
Max Ralph. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23rd June
MORE CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to the Revd Gail and Ian Bryce on the birth of their first grandchild, Abigail Jayne, 10lbs 5oz and according to an ebullient and proud Gail the most beautiful of babies.
EVEN MORE CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Trish Britten on being awarded an Order of Australia Medal, worthy of the honour indeed and a lovely photo of her in the Shepparton News. It was good to read news of another worthy recipient in Marven Mould, unlike Trish he is not directly a member of St Augustine’s, but he has been a guest on our prayer list, and so our prayers are now sharpened by some inspiring news of him.
OUTREACH TIME
Outreach time looms - articles and items of interest are invited! Ron Rose
PRAYER LINE
The name of anyone in need of emergency and immediate prayer should be phoned to Hilary Akers who will then activate the “Prayer Line”. Her phone number is: 58314267
PARISH FAIR AND GARDEN PARTY
The Parish Fair Committee meets in the Narthex at 4.30 on Thursday next, 22nd June. New members will be welcomed with enthusiasm. Sherry and “Macedonian Delicacies” will be served from 4.00pm - so come early, enjoy the hospitality and get to know other members of the Organising Committee. (Tea and coffee will also be served, of course!).
This year’s Parish Fair 11th November will be held in the Church gardens as well as in the Hall. Many market Umbrellas will be required on the day (to provide shelter from the sun!), a list is on the table in the Narthex. If you can supply a market umbrella for this occasion would you please place your name on that list. Pat Gibson
BAPTISM PREPARATION
There is a Baptism Preparation Session in the Narthex on Tuesday evening at 7.30pm (yes, again, this week)
CONFIRMATION
We are gathering the names of those interested in being prepared for confirmation. Do not leave it too late. A great privilege.
VERSION OF HAPPY BIRTHDAY
In the Parish Office there is a version of Happy Birthday, sent from the Lutherans to a member of St Augustine’s who heard it at a Lutheran function and appreciated it enough to ask for a copy.... Whoever that person was, please call in and collect it.
PARISH COUNCIL
This Wednesday at 7.30pm.
SOIREE
There is a list in the Narthex for the names of those with the effrontery, panache, courage and gall to present an item or two at the Soiree on July 28th. Musical items are likely to be needed especially.
AFTERNOON GUILD AND RECIPES
The Afternoon Guild are in the process of compiling a Recipe Book to print for sale as a fund raiser. Please leave tried and favourite recipes at the office for either Val or Pat. Thank You. Note the next meeting is the 27th of June not the 20th!!!!
MIDDAY REFLECTIONS
There are busy folk in town who might like to take time off in the middle of the day to have a time of quiet and guided reflection in the peaceful environs of St Augustine’s once a week. There are also folk about who have never been confirmed who might welcome a non-eucharistic act of worship or reflection once a week. With this in mind we will soon be holding a short and quiet lunchtime “reflection”, using a little music, sometimes, or paintings and readings and prayers and ending with a cup of good coffee and something good but light to eat. We hope that some of our regular worshippers will find this a blessing as well.
EMERGENCY FOOD
A normal bag of emergency food at this time of year contains the following, and it is these items that we need donations of: Long Life milk, 2 minute noodles, tinned soup ( beef & Veg or Chicken & veg, minestrone or tomato), small packets of sweet biscuits, tea bags, coffee, sugar, tinned fruit, Kraft cheddar cheese (off the shelf), small packets of cereal, vegemite or peanut butter, tinned sausages & veg, or beef & vegetables, baked beans or spaghetti or tinned meat sauce (Bolognaise).
BIBLE STUDIES
We begin two Bible Studies this week. The first will be led by Ian Bryce on Tuesdays starting this Tuesday at 7.30pm. These will involve a careful consideration of a New Testament book. Please put you name on the list in the Narthex if you would like to participate. The second will be led by the clergy and will consider the forthcoming Sunday’s Gospel. These will be held on Wednesdays at 11.30am starting this Wednesday the 21st of June.
GARAGE SALE
The Evening Guild’s Annual Sale takes place on Friday 23rd 10am to 4pm and Saturday 24th 9am to noon in St Augustine’s Hall, Orr Street. There will be lots of Bargains! The Raffle is to be drawn at noon on Saturday
IMPORTANT DIARY DATES
June 27th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Afternoon Guild
July 28th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Soiree
Jul 30th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .“Out Reach” publication day
Aug 12th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Men’s Breakfast 8.00 Eucharist, Breakfast 8.30
Aug 18th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Youth Event
Aug 25th -15th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rector’s Holiday
Sept. 1st.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Seasonal Garden Working Bee
Sept 6th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .South African Visitor to talk
Oct 1st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pet Service 5.30pm
Oct 15th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Out Reach” publication day
Oct 21st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wedding
Oct 23 - 26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Clergy Conference
Oct 28th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Men’s Breakfast 8.00 Eucharist, Breakfast 8.30
Oct 29th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Confirmation
Nov 3rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Youth Event
Nov 4th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wedding
Nov 11th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Church Fair
Nov 18th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wedding
Dec 2nd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seasonal Garden Working Bee
Duties for 18th June 2006
Celebrant 6.30 Saturday 17th June. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Andrew Neaum
Celebrant 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gail Bryce
Celebrant 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Andrew Neaum
Celebrant Dookie 8.45. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew Neaum
Celebrant Katandra 10.45. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gail Bryce
Readers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Norm Mitchelmore, Victoria Heenan
Readers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bev Condon Liz Booth
Servers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Beth, Michelle
Servers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joan, Polly, Henry
Euc. Assts 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ian Bryce, John Griffin
Euc. Assts 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bev Condon, Carole Henderson
Intercessors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Heather Carlyon, Maureen Cormican
Welcoming 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gwen Betson, Shirley Dean
Welcomers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Frank Steen, Hilder Lidgard
Sidespeople 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gwyn Cowland, Merv Cowland
Sidespeople 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alan Akers, Adrian Evans
Tea 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Val Rose
Mowing 16th or 17th June. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kay McGregor, Merv Cowland
Duties for 25th June 2006
Celebrant 6.30pm Sat 24th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Andrew Neaum
Celebrant 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Andrew Neaum
Celebrant 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gail Bryce
Celebrant Dookie 8.45. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gail Bryce
Celebrant Katandra 10.45. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Andrew Neaum
Readers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pat Griffin substitute, Heather Fitzgerald
Readers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Evans, Hilder Lidgard
Servers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beth, Michelle
Servers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jenny, Zebedee, Joe
Euc. Assts 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margaret Neaum, Heather Fitzgerald
Euc. Assts 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Maureen Cormican, Chris Evans
Intercessors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carole Henderson, Andrea Fisher
Welcoming 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bev Reither, Beryl Goodfellow
Welcomers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sandra Simonis, Charlotte Brewer
Sidespeople 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bev & Max Ralph
Sidespeople 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alan Akers, Adrian Evans
Tea 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bev Reither
Mowing 23rd or 24th May. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . None this week
REQUESTS FOR PRAYER
David Burrow, Nan Cowan, Dulcie Ackland, Hamish Fisher, Pat Griffin, Brian Loxley, Bob McKellar, Denise McKellar, Judy McGuire, Denise McKellar, Marven Mould, Leon Myer, Margaret Noble, Jan Riches, Marj Watts, Barry Wood, Andrew, Barbara, Brian, Cherryl, Claire, Don, Gail, Glenda, Jason, Jenny, Jim, Joan, John, Kerry Liam, Lorna, Leah, Lilian, Raelene, Renee, Shannon, Stewart, Tania, Wayne, Zoe & Zac. Baby McKenzie Clark & parents Annie & Dale.
Rest in peace:
Harry Stamp
Anniversary of Death:
Aubrey Goodfellow, Graham Davey, Harold Rawlings 18th, Ken McRae, John Burgess, Yvonne Gibbins 19th, Arthur Halsey, Arthur Taylor, Georgia Morcom 20th, Elsie Cloak, Florence Robinett 21st, Joyce Rutherford, Maude Stone 22nd, Nancy McRae, Edna Inglis 23rd, Peter Preston 24th.
THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Monday 19th June
The Rector’s Day Off
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
Tuesday 20th June
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
10.30am Playgroup
10.00am Probus Talk
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
7.30pm Bible Study - Library
Wednesday 21st June
7.45am Mattins only - Lady Chapel
8.45am Nursing Home Round
10.00am Eucharist- St Augustine’s
11.30am Bible Study - Library
12.00noon Ethics Committee - Hospital
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
7.30pm Parish Council - Narthex
Thursday 22nd June St Alban
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
11.00am Eucharist - Harmony House
1.00pm Evening Guild
4.30pm Fair meeting
5.30pm Choir Practice
Friday 23rd June
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
10.00am Guild Garage Sale (until 4.00pm)
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
Saturday 24th June St John the Baptist
Associate Priest’s Day Off
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
9.00am Guild Garage Sale (Until noon)
6.30pm Vigil Eucharist - Lady Chapel
2nd Sunday after Pentecost 18th June
8.30am Sung Eucharist - St Augustine’s
8.45am Eucharist - St Luke’s Dookie
10.30am Eucharist & Baptisms - St Augustine’s
10.45am Eucharist - St Mary’s Katandra
5.30pm Evening Prayer