14 January 2007 Second after Epiphany

EPIPHANY TWO

14 January 2007

Graphics and cartoons appear only in the printed version

NOTE WELL

A new page of light and irreverent verse has been added to the Website this week. It includes the following and much worse:

EVANGELIST

With polished scorn and sneering wit

And Darwin’s work for Holy Writ,

Supremely confident, without

A second thought or single doubt,

Richard Dawkins pushes science,

With evangelical defiance,

Down the throats of all believers,

Dismissed as fools and rank deceivers.

Science’s evangelist!

A smoothly handsome atheist.

In glibness, certainty and style

Surely just as suavely vile

As those whose certitude he hates,

Pours scorn upon and mocks and baits.

We all perceive with little trouble,

The man’s a pulpit ranter’s double.

Andrew Neaum (2003)

UNDERCOVER

It was Christmas, the time when some foolish clergy, instead of welcoming with joy those who have come to church, cannot resist having a crack at the ones who attend only at Christmas. At the door of a local church the priest pumped the hand of one such and said: “You really do need to sign up for regular service in the Army of the Lord”. The man replied, “I'm already in the Army of the Lord, Father.” To which the priest responded, “How is it that I don't see you except at Christmas and Easter?” He whispered back, “I'm in the secret service.”

EVERYONE WELCOME

Andrew Neaum

Was Jesus of Nazareth a Christian? Of course he wasn't. There were no Christians in those days. He was a Jew. A member of the Jewish faith and race. He never ever went to church on Sundays. He went to synagogue on Saturdays. He never ever read the New Testament. He only read the Old Testament, the Jewish bible. He was never ever Christened. He was circumcised. And although baptized as an adult in a river, it was not in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, it was just for repentance. So it wasn't, in our eyes, a valid baptism. We would have to get the bishop's permission, Even to marry him in church.

Was Jesus of Nazareth a Christian? Of course he wasn't. He was a Jew. A follower of Moses, not the Christ. Of the Ten Commandments, not the Sermon on the Mount. He would make his pilgrimages today then, not to St Peter's in Rome, not to Canterbury Cathedral, not even to Bethlehem or to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, he would make them rather to Jerusalem's Wailing Wall, the only remnant of the old Jewish Temple still left.

Was Jesus of Nazareth a Christian? Of course he wasn't. He was a Jew. A member of the Jewish race and faith. He never ever went to Mass. He never ever went to Evensong. He never ever ate pork, crayfish of mussels.

Fancy that. He was a Jew, not a Christian.

The Jewish faith is one of the world's great monotheistic faiths. It looks back to Moses as its seminal figure. Moses who took the People of Israel our of slavery in Egypt, and led them to Mount Sinai, where they covenanted themselves to the One God. To the God of Israel, to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The people of Israel agreed there, at Mount Sinai, to be God's. And God, in turn, agreed to be their's. He gave them the Ten Commandments, the Law, and the Promised Land. They gave him their loyalty, devotion and heart, promising to show this by keeping his Law.

They made this agreement, this Covenant with him. That is, the Old Covenant, made at Mount Sinai. This was the foundation of the Jewish Faith. One of the world's great faiths. A marvellous faith. A beautiful faith. Thou shalt have no other God's but me!

Was Jesus of Nazareth a Christian? Of course he wasn't. He was a Jew. A member of the great Jewish Faith, a Faith born, with Moses as midwife, on Mount Sinai.

A feature of the Jewish Faith is exclusiveness. It excludes people. It doesn't open its arms to non-believers. It is not inclusive as is Christianity. It has no missionaries trying to convert the world to Judaism. For the Jews see themselves as the Chosen People. Chosen by God for his special favour. The favour granted by God in the Law and the Mount Sinai Covenant Agreement. Either you are born into this chosen race and people or you are not. And that is that.

Down through the centuries, the Jews have been obsessed by the purity of both their race and their religion, refusing to have anything to do with outsiders, gentiles. Because to be thus exclusive, ensured that the faith was not diluted, that foreign practices and gods were not brought in to rival or weaken devotion to the one God.

Particularly from the time of Ezra, the Jewish Faith has been fiercely exclusive. Try to become a Christian, and we'll welcome you with open arms. Try to become a Jew, and you will be cold-shouldered, rebuffed, put off. Only dogged persistence will get you anywhere, and then only rarely.

However, within the Jewish Faith, there has always been a faint but contrary tradition. A tradition which has seen the jealous, exclusive God of Israel, as not only for Jews, but also for all humankind. For Gentiles as well.

In the poetry of Isaiah, for example, like in today's first reading, we hear of Israel, the Jewish people and their Faith, as being a light to the Gentiles, a light drawing all men and women, even three wise men and their dromedaries, to the One God....

This inclusive view never ever quite died out, but it was always faint, usually very faint. Fierce exclusivism was the norm.

Jesus of Nazareth, the Jew, Shocked his fellow Jews, by talking to and taking seriously, the half-caste Samaritans, who were less than true Jew. He shocked by healing the sick of the despicable colonial Romans, he shocked by consorting with those beyond the pale of orthodox Judaism.

So he was a Jew alive, very much alive, to the faint tradition of inclusiveness.

So, after his crucifixion and Resurrection, and after the inspiration of his followers by the Holy Spirit, a tension developed among those followers, as they accommodated themselves to the fact that he was indeed Messiah, the Christ, and even God.

Was this great Christ just for Jews, or for everyone? Was Christianity to be exclusive or inclusive?

There was much indecision and disagreement among the early Christians, Remember how St Paul had to go to put the case for inclusivism in Jerusalem, for gentiles were being inspired by the Holy Spirit as a result of his preaching, and were being baptised.

So there were arguments put, for and against. The evidence was marshalled and considered.

Someone at some stage might well have said: "Do you remember how three Magi, three wise and learned foreigners, visited the infant Jesus, and worshipped.... They were non-Jews, Gentiles. The heavenly star that led them, surely shows it to be heaven’s wish that the Christ to be for all....inclusive?"

The inclusivists won the argument, Christ is for all. Christianity did not become a little Jewish sect, it burst out from behind the walls of exclusive Judaism, offering the Good News to all.

This triumph, this recognition of the great truth that Christ is as manifest to the Gentiles as the Jews, we celebrate on the Feast of the Epiphany.

Everyone is welcome into the arms of Christ... Even non believers, sinners, rat bags, scally-wags, scum-bags and Neaums.

Everyone is welcome in this Church. No matter where they stand in relation to morality or faith. Everyone is welcome into the arms of Christ.

One day, when you walk into this church, and look up at the strange figure of Christ on the cross above the altar, notice that his arms are wide to welcome and enfold you. You see, Jesus loves you, even you!

CONGRATULATIONS

Birthdays

Joan O'Reilly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sunday 14th,

Edith Robins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thursday 18th,

Val Downie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Friday 19th,

Heather Carlyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Saturday 20th.

Anniversaries

Heather & Joe Pearson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thursday 18th

PASTORAL CARE

The Pastoral Care team meet on Monday the 22^nd of January at 12 noon for a meal at Galways.

PARISH COUNCIL

There is a Parish Council Meeting this Wednesday at 7.30pm

SIMPLY SOOTHING

This peaceful service of reflection in the Lady chapel, which is followed by lunch in the Narthex, takes place on Tuesday at 12.15pm.

ORTHODOX BAPTISM OF OUR LORD

On Friday at 9.00am there takes place the fascinating Orthodox celebration of Our Lord’s Baptism with our Macedonian parishioners. It includes the blessing of water in the fountain. All are invited to come along.

A GREAT TRIP

Barbara Whyte on behalf of the Church Gardening Group has organised for us all a Day trip to the beautiful Cloud Hill & Range View Gardens in Olinda. The date is 8^th Feb 2007, leaving the car park behind the church at 8.30am and returning about 6.30pm. The cost is $30 travel & admittance.

Contact Barbara Whyte 58212738 or the Church office 58217630

REQUESTS FOR PRAYER

Hilary Akers, Liam Bognar, David Burrow, Nancy Cooke, Mark Cowan, Donna Dyson, Hamish Fisher, Melissa Galizia, Denise McKellar, Leon Myer, Marven Mould, Bill McIntosh, Margaret Noble, Margaret Osborough, Jan Riches, Peter & Eva Swindells, Buffy, Cheryl, David, Judith, Don, Glenda, Greg, Heather, Maurie, Peggy & Carers, Robert, Ross, Sherena, Sue, Jim, Wayne & family.

Rest in Peace

Betty Bau

Anniversary of death

Dorothy Young, Frances McKendry, Cathryn Lawrence 8^th, Edyth Akers, Annie McPhail 9th, Jillian Bradford, Emily Jean Pleming 11^th, Leslie Gribble, George Watkins, Susan Neff 12^th, Nicholas Auldrige, Percival Brooke 13^th ,Margaret Tobias, Ethel Peters, Cyril Caldwell 14^th, Ron Taig 15^th, Keith Dean, Colin Ferguson 16^th, Ernest Guyatt, Ilias Petcopoulos 17^th, Valerie Ford, Judith Climas 18^th, Madge Grutzner, Niko Rendevski 19^th, Maria Balaburov 20th.

Duties for 14^th January 2006

Celebrant 6.30pm Sat 13^th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Andrew Neaum

Celebrant 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gail Bryce

Celebrant 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Andrew Neaum

Celebrant 8.45 Dookie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew Neaum

Celebrant 10.45 Katandra. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gail Bryce

Readers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeanette Smith, Gwyn Cowland

Readers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nancy Noonan, Joan McCann

Servers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Michelle Beth

Servers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joan, Peter Lear, Jack Lear

Intercessors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bev Condon, Children

Euc. Assts 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ian Brice, Heather Fitzgerald

Euc. Assts 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maureen Cormican, Chris Evans

Welcoming 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joy Campbell, Pat Griffin

Welcomers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hilder Lidgard, Jenny Moran

Sidespeople 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bob Galt, Norm Mitchelmore

Sidespeople 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Pleming Charlotte Brewer

Tea 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bev Reither

Mowing (13^th). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norm Mitchelmore, Lawrie Tinning

Duties for 21^st January 2006

Celebrant 6.30pm Sat 20^th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Andrew Neaum

Celebrant 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Andrew Neaum

Celebrant 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gail Bryce

Celebrant 8.45 Dookie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gail Bryce

Celebrant 10.45 Katandra. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Andrew Neaum

Readers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joan Harder, Margaret Neaum

Readers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bev Condon, Andrea Fisher

Servers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michelle, Daniel, Ben

Servers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jenny, Erin, Sally

Intercessors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Celebrant, Joan McCann

Euc. Assts 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carole Henderson, Bev Condon

Euc. Assts 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ian Bryce, Jenny Pleming

Welcoming 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Joyce Cavill, Eileen Quaife

Welcomers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlotte Brewer, Roz Dunlop

Sidespeople 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Merv & Gwyn Cowland

Sidespeople 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlotte Brewer, Alan Akers

Tea 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Shirley Dean

Mowing 20^th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Adrian Evans, Lionel Waterson, Rick Coates

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

Monday 15^th January Rector’s Day Off

7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel