THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
25th June 2006
Graphics and cartoons appear only in the printed version
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
The years between fifty and seventy are the hardest. You are always being asked to do things, and yet you are not decrepit enough to turn them down. T. S. Eliot
Never trust men with short legs. Brains too near their bottoms. Noel Coward
(In Wales) The chapels—Sinai, Bethel, Zion, and so on—are closing, converted into luxury homes or garden centres or even restaurants (I can recall when restaurants remained almost unknown in North Wales). And in the towns, despite the flourishing of the ancient Welsh language—the oldest in Europe with a continuous poetic tradition—the prevailing culture is the deliberately lumpen and grungy culture of modern Britain: pop music leaking out of the shops into the street like poisonous exhaust, young women, however fat and suety, exposing midriffs and pierced belly buttons to the appalled gaze of the middle-aged. After a certain age, you don’t go to the centre of Welsh towns on a Saturday night any more than you would in English provincial cities. In Transylvania after dark, it was Dracula who kept you indoors; in Britain, it is the young who do so. Theodore Dalrymple (City Journal)
JOG JOG JOGGING ALONG
An interstate trucker, travelling from Queensland to Victoria, decided to pull his rig over and sleep for a while. Exhausted, he passed out immediately, only to be awoken by some loud knocks on the window of his cab. It turned out to be a jogger wanting to know the time. “Three forty-five” grunted the trucker and promptly fell asleep again. Ten minutes later he was woken by another jogger who wanted to know the time. “It’s three fifty-five,” he shouted. Determined to get some peace and quiet, he wrote a note and hung it on the door handle of the truck, rather like a “Do Not Disturb” sign on a hotel door. It read: “I Don’t Know The Flaming Time!!” A little while later yet another jogger awoke him to say: “It’s half-past five.”
THIS AND THAT
Andrew Neaum
I walk far too fast with a preoccupied mind. As a result I have three stitches in my forehead.
Wounded
It happened on Tuesday night. At 7.30pm we held a Baptism Preparation Session in the Library. Because there was also a Bible Study in the narthex, I left the baptism file in the library and later on went to collect it, take it to the Office and check that all the doors in the narthex were locked. I picked up the file and then, in a dark church, walked fast down the aisle to the narthex, which was still lit up as the bible-study folk cleared up. As I attempted to pass from church to narthex I hit, with great force, an invisible barrier that bounced me backwards and left me lying on my back in the church aisle, observing a rather less than heavenly constellation. I had walked into the closed glass doors between the church and narthex, invisible from the dark to the light and damnably hard!
Dazed I sat up and felt for a likely bump on my forehead, which had taken most of the collision’s force. I felt no bump, but the ominous wetness of blood. Somehow, it seems, my glasses had bounced up and gouged into me. The remaining bible-studiers now studied me with as much care and concern as before they had been studying the bible. Maureen and Carole, with their nursing expertise, suggested that my wound would need stitching and Margaret, when I went home, concurred. So off to hospital I went, trickling blood reddening my white beard back to the red it once was, though streakily and to redness of a rather more lurid hue.
It reminded me of the Presbyterian minister who liked to enjoy a game of golf every Monday, even in the coldest of weather. He always took with him a hip flask of single malt whisky to beat back the cold as necessary. One Monday he leapt a little burn on the course, slipped and fell heavily. As he picked himself up he felt an ominous trickle of liquid down his leg and muttered: “Dear God, I hope that’s blood!”
Sex!
I read so much and retain too little! I even cast my eye over the Shepparton News each day, and on Monday was disturbed enough over a report in it to write a letter to the Editor. Nearly always a mistake. It was all to do with sex and homosexuality in schools, and having made my point in the letter I do not intend doing so again here. However, I do get tired of the so widespread confusion and idiocy on the subject of sexual behaviour in our society these days, as well as the lack of any appreciation of traditional wisdom on the subject. As an exhilarating antidote I have in my possession a not particularly long article written by Roger Scruton in 2003 in the National Review. It is so crystal clear, sensible, heartening and sound that it should be compulsory reading for all thoughtful people. Anyone who would like a copy has only to ask me for one, and as an appetite whetter there follows a snippet:
The Moral Birds and the Bees
Sex and Marriage properly understood
...According to the gurus of sexual liberation, the real purpose of sex is not to express love or to generate children (which is another way of expressing love) but to obtain pleasurable sensations. Sexual initiation, according to their view of things, means learning to overcome guilt and shame, to put aside our hesitations, and to enjoy what is described in their literature (which is rapidly becoming the literature of “sex education” in our schools) as “good sex.” This can occur with any partner of either sex, and requires no institutional preparation and no social endorsement.
That picture leaves out of consideration the phenomenon that distinguishes us from the other animals, and that also generates the need for a sexual morality, namely desire. Sexual desire is not a desire for sensations. It is a desire for a person: and I mean a person, not his or her body, conceived as an object in the physical world, but the person conceived as an incarnate subject, in whom the light of self-consciousness shines and who confronts me eye to eye and I to I. True desire is also a kind of petition: It demands reciprocity, mutuality, and a shared surrender. It is therefore compromising, jealous, and also threatening. No pursuit of a mere sensation could be compromising, jealous, or threatening in this way. Here lies the distinction between the erotic and the pornographic. Erotic literature is about wanting another person; pornography is about wanting sex........
Domestic misery
A book absorbing me at present, by Theodore Dalrymple, is entitled: “Our Culture, What’s Left of It”, and published by Ivan R Dee. Here is a horrifying little auto-biographical anecdote from its second essay:
I learned early in my life that if people are offered the opportunity of tranquillity, they often reject it and choose torment instead.
My own parents chose to live in the most abject conflictual misery and created for themselves a kind of hell on a small domestic scale, as if acting in an unscripted play by Strindberg. There was no reason external to themselves why they should not have been happy; reasonably prosperous, they lived under as benign a government as they could have wished for. Though they lived together, they addressed not a single word to one another in my presence during the eighteen years I spent in their house, though we ate at least one meal a day together; once, as a child I was awakened in the night by the raised voice of my mother exclaiming to my father. “You’ re a wicked, wicked man.” Those are the only words I ever heard pass between them. It was like a bolt of lightning on a dark night: dazzling but unilluminating. For the rest, their silences were highly nuanced, expressing resentment, aggression, injured innocence, exasperation, moral superiority and all the other dishonest little emotions of which the human mind is capable. They continued their absurd, self-dramatizing civil war to the end of my father’s life: on his deathbed, my father, by then long separated from my mother said to me, “Tell her she can come if she wants to, to which my mother’s reply was, “Tell him I’ll come if he asks me.” They stuck to their principles and never did meet: for what is mere death by comparison to a lifelong quarrel?
For a long time I pitied myself: had any child ever been as miserable as I? I felt the deepest, most sincere, compassion for myself. Then gradually it began to dawn on me that the education I had received had liberated me from any need or excuse to repeat the sordid triviality of my parents, personal lives. One’s past is not one’s destiny, and it is self-serving to pretend that it is. If henceforth I were miserable, it would be my own fault: and I vowed never to waste my substance on petty domestic conflict........
W. S. Gilbert
I can trace my ancestry back to a protoplasmal primordial atomic globule. Consequently my family pride is something inconceivable. I can’t help it, I was born sneering. W S Gilbert
WELCOME
Welcome to the families and friends of those being baptized at the 10.30am Service. It is lovely to have you all with us. Congratulations to those being baptized: Noah Thomas Brodie, Isaac Mason Chandler, Bryce Logan Jones, Joshua James Rowe.
CONGRATULATIONS
Birthdays
John Horder (retrospectively) 15th of June
Heila Wentzel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30th June
PLAYGROUP
The St Augustine’s Playgroup is in recess for the school holidays, but anyone interested in becoming a part of it, please contact Roz Dunlop who runs it. She is an experienced mother, an expert and longtime playgroup supervisor, one of St Augustine’s very best and the most amiable of personalities! Her phone number is: 58269453 and the group meets on Tuesdays, in term time from 10.00am until 12 noon. This is great time to meet other parents and to enjoy activities with your children in a loving and caring environment.
SUNDAY ON SATURDAY
Our first Sunday Eucharist occurs on Saturday evening at 6.30pm. This provides those who have commitments on Sunday nonetheless to fulfil their baptism and Christian commitment. The Saturday night service is held in the Lady Chapel, is quiet, peaceful and devotional. As often as not and if the congregation is very meagre even the sermon is waived! Make use of this service please.
PRECIOUS
St Augustine’s is precious to all sorts and types of people, not only to those who attend its worship, contribute to its coffers and grace its roll. There are many folk who turn to us in trouble, be it for food, counsel, comfort, protection or advice. That they should do so is a sign of grace and a great compliment to us all.
Our Social Responsibilities Committee has just completed a series of Training Afternoons for those of us who deal firsthand with the varied types and sorts who turn up on our doorstep seeking help of one sort or another. These sessions were devised and run by Andrea Fisher, an impressive, and imaginative professional in the counselling and welfare field. All of us who were a part of her sessions appreciated them enormously and feel far better equipped to cope with any demands made upon us. Many thanks indeed to Andrea for devoting so much of her valuable time to us over so many weeks, as well as for her sense of fun and impressive knowledge and ability in so many fields. We have had good and often profound fellowship and teaching. There will be follow up sessions this year and next year probably a repeat performance. Anyone interested should have a word with Andrea or the clergy.
HOSPITAL AND AGED CARE VISITORS
The bi monthly meeting of ALL Hospital and Aged Care Visitors takes place on Monday 3rd of July at 1.00pm. Please note change of date and time
GARDENERS PLEASE
There is a Garden Meeting in Library on Friday 30th June, starting at 10am followed by a tidy up on Saturday 1st July. All are welcome. Barbara Whyte
PARISH FAIR AND GARDEN PARTY
This year’s Parish Fair on the 11th November will be held in the Church gardens as well as in the Hall. Many market Umbrellas will be required on the day (as shelter from the sun!). If you can supply a market umbrella for this occasion would you please place your name on the list in the narthex. Pat Gibson
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.
CONFIRMATION
We are gathering the names of those interested in being prepared for confirmation. Do not leave it too late. A great privilege.
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!!!!
OUTREACH TIME
Outreach time looms - articles and items of interest are invited and need to be in by the 16th July please. 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
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 regular worshippers will find this a blessing too.
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
May 27th 07. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Patronal Festival
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, 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
Duties for 2nd July 2006
Celebrant 6.30 Saturday 1st July. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gwyn Cowland, Liz Gyles
Readers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nancy Noonan, Jenny Pleming
Servers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beth, Michelle
Servers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joan, Georgia, Sally
Euc. Assts 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carole Henderson, Bev Condon
Euc. Assts 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jenny Pleming, Ian Bryce
Intercessors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bev Condon, Liz Booth
Welcoming 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bev Ralph, Heather Pearson
Welcomers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cheryl Richards, Frank Steen
Sidespeople 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norm Mitchelmore, Joe Pearson
Sidespeople 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Adrian Evans, Alan Akers
Tea 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Shirley Dean
Mowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Norm Mitchelmore, Lawrie Tinning
REQUESTS FOR PRAYER
Dulcie Ackland, Joan Bailey, David Burrow, Nan Cowan, Hamish Fisher, Pat Griffin, Brian Loxley, Judy McGuire, Bob McKellar, Denise McKellar, Marven Mould, Leon Myer, Margaret Noble, Pauline Obradovic, Jan Riches, Joh, Suzanne and Norma Singh, Marj Watts, Olive Wisely, Barry Wood, Aaron, Andrew, Barbara, Brian, Cherryl, Claire, Dawn, Don, Gail, Glenda, Jason, Jenny, Jim, Joan, John, Kerry, Leah, Liam, Lilian, Lorna, Raelene, Renee, Ross, Shannon, Stewart, Tania, Wayne, Zoe & Zac, Baby McKenzie Clark & parents Annie & Dale.
Rest in peace:
Clifford Jewell, Marj Watts
Anniversary of Death:
Charlie Causon, Thomas Dickie, Sylvia Allen, Walter Young 26th, Robert Lennos 27th, Vasiliki Janeff 28th, Mervyn Ford 29th, Michelle Ward, Ethel Woods 30th.
THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Monday 26th June The Rector’s Day Off
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
Tuesday 27th June Cyril of Alexandria
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
2.00pm Afternoon Guild
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
5.30pm Bishop in Council
7.30pm Bible Study - at Carole Henderson’s Home
Wednesday 28th June Irenaeus of Lyons
7.45am Mattins only - Lady Chapel
8.45am Nursing Home Round
10.00am Eucharist- St Augustine’s
11.30am Bible Study - Library
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
5.30pm Stewardship Committee - Library
Thursday 29th June
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
10.15am Eucharist - Grutzner House
11.00am Eucharist - Harmony House
5.30pm Choir Practice
Friday 30th June
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
Saturday 1st July
Associate Priest’s Day Off
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
6.30pm Vigil Eucharist - Lady Chapel
4th Sunday after Pentecost 2nd July
8.30am Sung Eucharist - St Augustine’s
8.45am Eucharist - St Luke’s Dookie
10.30am Eucharist - St Augustine’s
10.45am Eucharist - St Mary’s Katandra
5.30pm Evening Prayer