SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
15th July 2007
Graphics and cartoons appear only in the printed version
CELIBACY
Many aspects of human sexuality are very puzzling. Take celibacy. This can be a choice in life, or a condition imposed by environmental factors. While attending a Marriage Encounter Weekend, Robert and Mary listened to the instructor declare: “It is essential that husbands and wives know the things that are important to each other.” He addressed the men. “Can you each name and describe your wife's favourite flower?” Robert leaned over, touched Mary's arm gently and whispered, “Self raising, isn't it?” Thus began Robert’s life of celibacy!
TRAVELLERS’ TALES (16)
Andrew Neaum (2000)
Before we left Wodonga for Scotland we were given by one of our Wodonga parishioners the name of a distant relative of hers to look up, resident in Dundee. She was the sort of parishioner you ignored at your peril and so look them up we did. Having made contact we later found ourselves heading off to have a meal with Amanda and Trevor Lucas. Trevor was on a year’s exchange with a local teacher and they were living in Dundee in an upstairs unit, one of four in a grey, pebble-dash, nineteen thirties building, fairly close to the Observatory, but in a less than affluent locality. It was a small unit with no dining room. He said, as we shook hands, that he knew me, as indeed he did, for he turned out to have been a synodsman in Ballarat diocese during the time that I was a fairly voluble member of Ballarat Synod. We had a most pleasant evening with them. They found where they lived to be a bit grim and commented on how unutterably grey everything is during the long winters, with the trees stark and leafless for so long. He also had the misfortune to be teaching in one of Scotland’s worst schools. However they both managed to enjoy life, by and large, and had packed in a lot of tripping around in Britain and on the continent. We had snacks, beer, wine, sweet and sour chicken with rice, a lemon trifle and chocolates, followed by coffee and port. We then went for a walk in the Observatory woods and on through a lovely cemetery overlooking the Tay. We left after eleven at night with plenty of daylight still left in the day. Lovely folk.
Given the nature of many British schools I don’t think Elizabeth and Rachel missed much by not attending one for the four months that we were in Scotland. They did go for one day to a “fun and out of uniform day” at the Harris Academy, with friends from church, and enjoyed that. The word “academy”, with a pedigree going right back to Plato, would surely be a good name to lift any Australian school a peg of two in status. I must suggest it to the Principal of the Catholic College. “The Wodonga Catholic Academy” might give them an edge even over Scots College.
An invitation
The Lucas’ worshipped in Dundee at the church of Fr Paul Harvie, the one time precentor of Wangaratta Cathedral and man responsible for initiating the sequence of events that led to our trip to Invergowrie. Shortly after our visit to the Lucas’ Fr Paul rang me up to ask if I would preside at the 11.00am service at his church on Corpus Christi Sunday. His church is old fashioned, high church, and so the service would include a procession with the blessed sacrament displayed in a monstrance, bells, smells and all the works! He was incapacitated by what he thought at the time to be sciatica, but which later turned out to be cancer which killed him shortly after we had left for home. I agreed to take the service for him if he could find someone to look after Invergowrie for me. He said he would ask the bishop to do so. The bishop was not welcome to celebrate in Fr Paul’s Church, St Salvador’s, because it is a “Forward in Faith” (or as I say “Backward in Fear”) church, which is one that will have nothing to do with bishops who have ordained women! When episcopal ministration is needed a bishop with hands “untainted” by the ordaining of women is called in! The amiable and cooperative Bishop was unable to do my service at Invergowrie, but suggested someone who could, so I was able to go to St Salvador’s.
High jinks
Corpus Christi turned out to be a lovely day with a bit of cloud about and a coolish wind. I went down to All Souls’ to set up and to meet the priest taking my service, a young man called Fr James Milne. As I was talking to him in the vestry, a bluff and hearty old fellow burst in and introduced himself, though I didn’t catch his name. James told me, after he had left to sit in his pew, that it was the previous bishop of the diocese who lives in Edinburgh, but who was evidently visiting nearby relatives. As I hadn’t caught his name and he was not in purple I had been denied the privilege of kissing his boots or ring! I stayed on to greet folk as they arrived at church and then headed off for Fr Paul Harvie’s and St Salvador’s.
The Church has a beautifully decorated sanctuary, lovingly painted, mostly in scarlet and gold, by Fr Harvie. I was met by the MC, a geography lecturer whom I had met when he came to my university service some weeks previously, perhaps to spy me out and assure Fr Harvie that I knew how to conduct a service in the “Catholic” fashion! I donned my alb and then sat in the Lady Chapel listening to Fr Harvie rehearse musical items with the organist and cantor. I was then introduced to the elderly and pleasant looking sub deacon, but the deacon of the Mass, who seems to be a permanent member of that usually temporary order of ministers, arrived so late, that a limping Fr Harvie, who, perforce, was taking his place, only dropped out of the procession as we actually made our way in to the church. They made a quick swap as the rest of us arrived at the sanctuary for asperges (a word that my godless and liturgical ignoramus of a word processor does not recognise!).
The sanctuary party, needless to say, was all male and in spite of my virile presence had what I thought to be a vaguely camp and effeminate aura to it! All went reasonably well. My only major goof was to refrain from absolving everyone, though the asperges probably ensured a state of grace sufficient to ensure that no one ate or drank the sacrament unworthily! The trouble was that the confession itself was unfamiliar and had tacked on at its end a sort of inclusive “absolution” which planted a doubt in my mind as to whether or not it was to be considered sufficient. Then when I decided it was not and turned round to deliver the proper absolution, there, facing me in line, were deacon and sub-deacon and I would have had to deliver the absolution straight into the eyeballs of the deacon..... So I funked it!
For all Harvie’s musical ability and his past as choir master at Christ Church Brunswick, there was no choir, just excellent cantoring both from him and a cantor. There were about forty or at most fifty folk in the congregation.
The real excitement began with the procession - out came the monstrance, I was enfolded in a great cope and then the humeral veil. I lifted the monstrance high, turned, and we passed down the chancel to the screen. There, waiting, were four men holding one each of four brass staves adorned with four little bells on each and which held a canopy over the monstrance, our Lord and me! So singing our heads off and tinkling merrily, down the chancel we processed, beams of sunlight, made visible by the incense, streamed in from the windows. There was a bit of a hiatus as we wriggled through the two doors and a porch to get outside, but we managed it, the canopy only once tickling my head. Then round the plaza we processed, starting a new hymn with the help of a tuning fork. Our al fresco circuit completed we went back inside and up to the altar, leaving the canopy at the screen. Benediction was granted by the sign of the cross traced in the air slowly with the monstrance, as I used to do every Sunday evening when I was Rector of Skipton, and so the service ended.
My only regret was that at the last minute it was decided to forego the exotic thrill of biretta wearing! All quite nostalgic for me really, it was the sort of worship that I partook of in my very first appointment as deacon and then priest in Harare Cathedral. When talking to an Invergowrie parishioner about it afterwards and mentioning that I had gone there because Fr Harvie was suffering from sciatica he commented “Ah, his sciatica would be the result of neglecting to warm up before high mass!”
SCARLET VIRTUE
Blushing is the colour of virtue. Diogenes
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
From an article by Philip Jenkins, professor of history and religious studies at Penn State University and author of “God’s Continent: Christianity, Islam, and Europe’s Religious Crisis” .....Jürgen Habermas, a veteran leftist German philosopher stunned his admirers not long ago by proclaiming, “Christianity, and nothing else, is the ultimate foundation of liberty, conscience, human rights, and democracy, the benchmarks of Western civilization. To this day, we have no other options [than Christianity]. We continue to nourish ourselves from this source. Everything else is postmodern chatter.”
......the rapid decline in the continent’s church attendance over the past 40 years may have done Europe a favour. It has freed churches of trying to operate as national entities that attempt to serve all members of society. Today, no church stands a realistic chance of incorporating everyone. Smaller, more focused bodies, however, can be more passionate, enthusiastic, and rigorously committed to personal holiness. To use a scientific analogy, when a star collapses, it becomes a white dwarf—smaller in size than it once was, but burning much more intensely. Across Europe, white-dwarf faith communities are growing within the remnants of the old mass church.
DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD - MAXIMS
We would frequently be ashamed of our good deeds if people saw all of the motives that produced them.
Virtue would not go to such lengths if vanity did not keep her company.
CONGRATULATIONS
Birthdays
Jack Rankin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19th July
Beryl Goodfellow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19th July
Philippa Foster. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20th July
Anniversary
Pat & John Griffin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21st July
WELCOME BACK
We welcome back today the Rev. Gail and Ian Bryce. We trust that they have had a superb holiday, but are glad to be back in the land of Oz and a part of the St Augustine’s fellowship once more. They are at Dookie and Katandra today, but should be at St Augustine’s for the 8.30am and 10.30am services next Sunday.
THANK YOU
Welcome to the Rev. Dr. Chris Shields who has kindly come to take the 8.30am and 10.30am Eucharists today enabling the Neaums to gallivant to Hamilton and take part in the wedding of a friend.
STUDY GROUP
The Thursday night Study Group meetings resume on the 26th July at 7.30pm. This time it will consist of a video and discussion: “What’s so amazing about Grace”. The group will meet at Carole Henderson’s home. Place your name on the list in the Narthex if you are interested in attending.
CONFIRMATION CLASS
There will again be Confirmation Class this week meeting in the Library at 4pm.
“SIMPLY SOUL SOOTHING”
On the 17th July, that is, next Tuesday, at the “Simply Soul Soothing” reflection, we will hear from Ella Egan about her beautiful hanging on the east wall of the church which, as you would expect, has a story behind it and symbolism and significance beyond the obvious. To facilitate responsible catering there is a list in the narthex for those who would like to attend.
MEETINGS
There is a Council Meeting on Wednesday, in the Den at 7.30pm and there is a meeting of the Sculpture Blessing Committee on the same day, Wednesday but at 4.00pm.
BAPTISM SPONSORS
We are having difficulty in finding people willing to accept the responsibility of being a Congregational Sponsor of our baptism families. Those who bring little ones for baptism need to be made welcome and to feel at home in our pews. They also sometimes need to be given a little initial guidance through our services. To take on this very small commitment should not daunt any of us. All that is necessary is to attend a Children’s Church service, to welcome a family and sit with them. This usually entails a phone call to arrange the date of the particular service and to swap names. Then it is necessary to attend the baptism and again sit with the family. We like the sponsor to attend their family’s Tuesday evening preparation session, but this is not strictly necessary. If we took upon ourselves this neither difficult nor unpleasant task only once a year it would mean that the load would be well shared and that Heather or the clergy did not have to scratch around frantically to find willing candidates each month. At Parish Council last month there was discussion on how to encourage new parishioners and even the suggestion of a “survey” to ask young families “what they want from the church”. Surely one of their answers would be to feel welcomed and included. When next asked then, say “Yes! I would love to.”
GUILD BIRTHDAY
The ladies of the Afternoon Guild will be celebrating their birthday on Tuesday 17th July at the Terminus Hotel at 12 noon. Members are asked to bring a small gift to exchange. Anyone needing transport please contact Val (58216974) or Pat (58311606)
DIOCESAN SNOW TRIP
The Diocesan Youth Snow Trip takes place from Fri 3rd August to Sunday 5th of August. Forms and information are in the Narthex.
VOLUNTEERS AT “THE BRIDGE”
We have had a request from “The Bridge” for folk who are looking for an additional opportunity to make a difference in the lives of young people. They are particularly looking for suitable people who can work at the counter at their revamped Op Shop and serve customers. There is also a need of help from volunteers to assist in picking up furnishings and donated goods.
ST. JOHN’S WODONGA
The Victoria Welsh Choir is singing in St John’s Wodonga on the 4th August at 2.30pm Tickets $25, concession$20. For further information see notice board
DATES FOR THE DIARY
July 17th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Afternoon Guild/Den
July 17th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baptism Preparation
July 18th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Parish Council
July 26th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Parish Fair & Garden Party meeting 3.45pm
Aug 13th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pastoral Care meeting
Aug 26th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dedication of Sculpture & Wall Hanging
Sept 8th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wedding 1.30pm
Sept 8th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wedding 3.00pm
Sept 15th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wedding 1pm
Sept 15th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wedding 2.30pm
Sept. 27th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Parish Fair & Garden Party Committee mtg.
Oct 6th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wedding 2.30pm
Oct 6th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Men’s Breakfast
Oct 13th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wedding 3.30pm
Oct 15 -18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clergy Conference
Oct 25th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Parish Fair & Garden Party Committee mtg.
Oct 27th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wedding 1.00pm
Nov 10th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Parish Fair
Nov 17th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wedding 3.00pm
Nov 17th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wedding 5.00pm
Nov 24th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wedding 2.00pm
Nov 24th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wedding 3.30pm
Dec 1st. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wedding 2.00pm
Dec 1st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Men’s Breakfast
Dec 8th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wedding 4pm
Duties for 15th July 2007
Vigil Eucharist at 6pm Sat 14th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .no service
Celebrant 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chris Shields
Celebrant 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chris Shields
Celebrant 8.45 Dookie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gail Bryce
Celebrant 10.45 Katandra. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gail Bryce
Readers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jeanette Smith, Heather Fitzgerald
Readers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nancy Noonan, Joan McCann
Servers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Volunteer, Michelle, Beth
Servers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jenny, Bethany, Sophie
Intercessors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Victoria Heenan, Carole Henderson
Euc. Assts 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Griffin, Heather Fitzgerald
Euc. Assts 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carole Henderson, Bev Condon
Welcoming 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bev Ralph, Roz Dunlop
Welcomers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joy Campbell, Frank Steen
Sidespeople 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Trevor Batey, Joy Campbell
Sidespeople 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Charlotte Brewer, John Pleming
Tea 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pat Griffin
Mowing 14th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kay McGregor, Merv Cowland
Welcome Tbl.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pamela Lee, Roz Dunloop
Duties for 22nd July 2007
Vigil Eucharist at 6pm Sat 21st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Andrew Neaum
Celebrant 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gail Bryce
Celebrant 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gail Bryce
Celebrant 8.45 Dookie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew Neaum
Celebrant 10.45 Katandra. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Andrew Neaum
Readers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carole Henderson, Heather Carlyon
Readers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bev Condon, Andrea Fisher
Servers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Beth, Ben, Daniel
Servers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joan, Zebedee, Joe
Intercessors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pat Griffin, Celebrant
Euc. Assts 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ian Bryce, Carole Henderson
Euc. Assts 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bev Condon, Jenny Pleming
Welcoming 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Heather Nichols, Joyce Cavill
Welcomers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nola Brewer, Sandra Simonis
Sidespeople 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bob Galt, Norm Mitchelmore
Sidespeople 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alan Akers, Nola Brewer
Tea 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gwyn Cowland
Welcome Tbl.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8.30 Margaret Hoare, 10.30 Dorothy Cook
REQUESTS FOR PRAYER
Liam Bognar, David Burrow, Holly Butterfield, Goldie Coe, Dorothy Cook, Nance Cook, Donna Dyson, Mavis Euling, Kath Grills, Frank Harder, Frank Holla, Denise McKellar, Margaret Neaum, Margaret Noble, Margaret Osborough, Elsie Rae, Edith Robins, Jan Riches, Robyn Stone, Peter & Eva Swindells, Laurie Tinning, Lil Utley, Lorraine Vogul, Bill, David, Joan, Alexandra & Charles, David & Judith, Buffy, Liz, Peggy, Yvonne.
Rest in peace
Eleanor Routledge, Eleni Damianopoulos
Anniversary of death
Lorna Best 15th, Jemma Daldy 17th, Timothy Ross-Edwards 18th, Charles Phillips 19th, Olive Rattray, Mabel Gow, Patricia Twomey 20th, May Coleman 21st.
THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Mon 16th July Rector’s day off
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
Tuesday 17th July
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
10.00am Playgroup
12.15pm Simply Soul Soothing - Lady Chapel
1.30pm Afternoon Guild/Den
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
4.00pm Confirmation Class
7.30pm Baptism Preparation
Wednesday 18th July
7.45am Mattins only- Lady Chapel
10.00am Eucharist - St Augustine’s
3.00pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
4.00pm Committee for Blessing of Sculpture
5.30pm Choir Practice for 10.30 Eucharist
7.30pm Parish Council - Rectory
Thursday 19th July
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
9.30am Tarcoola Village Eucharists
11.00am Eucharist- Harmony Village
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
5.30pm Choir Practice
Friday 20th July
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
Saturday 21st July Associate Priest’s Day Off
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist
6.00pm Vigil Eucharist
Sunday 22nd July 7th Sunday after Pentecost
8.30am Eucharist - St Augustine’s
10.30am Eucharist - St Augustine’s/Baptisms
8.45am St Luke’s Dookie
10.45am St Mary’s Katandra West
12.15pm Orthodox Baptism
5.30pm Evening Prayer