FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
24th August 2008
Graphics and cartoons & liturgical material appear only in the printed version
TEN UP FOR THE IRISH
An Australian walked into a pub in Ireland, cleared his voice and said, “I hear youse Irish are a mob of hard drinkers. I'll give a thousand Oz dollars to any of youse in here who can drink ten pint tubes of Guinness back-to-back.” The room was quiet. No one took up the Australian’s offer, but one man did leave the room. Thirty minutes later the man who had left returned and tapped the Australian on the shoulder. “Is your bet still good?” The Australian said, “It sure is mate.” He asked the bartender to line up ten pints of Guinness. Immediately the Irishman tore into all ten pints, drinking them all back-to-back. The pub patrons cheered as the Australian sat back in amazement. He gave the Irishman the $1000 and said, “If youse don't mind me askin', mate, where did you go for that thirty minutes you were gone for?” The Irishman replied, “Ah... I had to go to the pub down the street to see if I could do it first.”
SEPARATION
I came across the following quotation from the amazing Simone Weil in an article on her. It is beautiful even out of context......Two prisoners whose cells adjoin communicate with each other by knocking on the wall. The wall is the thing which separates them but it is also their means of communication. It is the same with us and God. Every separation is a link.
THE TWO-HEADED CALF
I have just finished reading a fascinating book “Original Sin. A Cultural History”. Original Sin is a doctrine that originates more in the writings and experience of St Paul and St Augustine than in Genesis. The book, by Alan Jacobs (published by “Harper One”) was so compelling a read that I would like to reread it, but other books beckon so it is unlikely that I shall. In one of its chapters the author discusses the book “Black Lamb and Grey Falcon by Rebecca West which he considers the “greatest book of the twentieth century.” It is a history of Yugoslavia which I am determined eventually to read.
Jacob writes: “In Struga, West and her husband visit a curious little ‘biological museum’ that contains, among other things, a stuffed two-headed calf in a glass case, an animal ‘strangely lovely in form,’ so that ‘it was a shock to find that of the two heads which branched like candelabra one was lovely, but one was hideous, like that other seen in a distorting glass.’ The museum’s custodian affirms that the calf lived for two days ‘and should be alive today had it not been for its nature.’ West’s husband expresses puzzlement at this statement, and the custodian explains that when they fed milk to the calf through its beautiful head, its ugly head spat the milk out, so no food got into its stomach, and it died. This account prompts West to meditation: To have two heads, one that looks to the right and another that looks to the left, one that is carved by grace and another that is not, the one that wishes to live and the other that does not; this was an experience not wholly unknown to human beings. As we pressed our faces against the case, peering through the green dusk, our reflections were superimposed on the calf, and it would not have been surprising if it had moved nearer the glass to see us better. Jacobs observes: “The whole history of Yugoslavia, West comes to think, is the story of a two-headed calf, and maybe the whole of human history.....” (AN)
UPON A GLOOMY NIGHT
Andrew Neaum
The first pop tune I can recall hearing dates from the nineteen fifties. This is so long ago that it is hardly surprising that is should be festooned with politically incorrect cobwebs. It is called “Technique” and was sung by Pat Boone:
You love 'em, you leave 'em
That's what is known as technique, technique,
The more you deceive 'em
The more they like your technique.....
Ooohhh, de women folk
They back is broad, they brain is weak
Soooo, they pigeon for the bachelor technique
In those far off primitive days, with my thin and palid pommie legs emerging from regulation school khaki shorts, I wandered around the African bush singing in a piping treble all about the techniques of love.
My love affair with pop music
I was at my first boarding school and aged eleven. We never, ever heard pop music at home. It was the beginning of a love affair with pop music that lasted until, in my mid twenties, I stopped ever listening to it.
After finishing Primary School I went to board elsewhere, further away from home. My voice broke and I began tentatively to fall in love myself, but alas, with no technique whatsoever, and so I didn’t get far. The song, it appears, had taught me nothing.
This second boarding establishment I attended was a very holy boarding home for missionaries, children. They were bible freaks, mostly American, and although they pretended to holiness, they were very unholy indeed beneath the surface. The holy lady who ran the place drove an unholy and very smart Jaguar car. It had a radio and we had none. So in the middle of the night we would unscrew the burglar bars on our dormitory windows and break into her Jaguar to listen to Radio Lourenco Marques on the car’s radio.
We sat there in bliss, eating cheap lollies and smoking cheaper cigarettes, three pennies for ten, entranced by Connie Francis, Helen Shapiro, Marty Robins, Elvis Presley, the Everley Brothers.
Miss Hook and I
A year or so later, however, God visited me in the person of an old missionary called Miss Muriel Hook. May she rest in peace. She had the characteristic thick ankles of missionary ladies, wore no-nonsense shoes, tweedy skirts and very thick-lensed, dark-wire-rimmed, round glasses. The twinkle in the eyes behind the glasses, indicated a healthy sanctity, authenticated by humour.
When she went back to England on long leave she lent to my parents an excellent little gramophone and a selection of records. Among the records were Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos, Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony, Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nacht Musik and his Horn Concertos.
Conversion
I was converted. Hooked by Miss Hook. Overwhelmed by a beauty I had been almost unaware of. Slowly this rather different sort of music displaced the other.
Music has great power over almost all of us. For me a lovely melody, beautifully played or sung, fills me with a peculiarly intense and bitter-sweet delight.
Sweet because, in it’s limpid beauty and perfection, it takes me out of myself and self preoccupation, to delight in something far better worth delighting in than my mere self. Bitter because it often brings with it a sense almost of loneliness and incompleteness, of alienation, an intense longing for something other, for something beyond, for fulfilment, absorption, communion, consummation.
In popular music this intense longing is focussed usually on the opposite sex and human love. In the classical music I listen to it is focussed more usually upon God, though not necessarily directly nor always.
Beneath and underlying all faith and belief lies, or possibly should lie, not fear of death, or fear of meaninglessness; not disillusion or unhappiness with life, not po-faced righteousness, respectability, and goody-goodyness, but rather this sense of incompleteness that beautiful music awakens in us; a desire for fulfilment, communion, consummation; a longing, an intense longing, for God and for what is beautiful and good.
To be in love, how wonderful it is. Longing, longing, longing for God.
God and romance
Popular music and classical music are nowhere near as far from each other as we sometimes imagine. This is hardly surprising, because romantic love and religious love are also much closer to each other than we sometimes think. Both open doors to ecstasy, a word which means literally “to stand out of or away from the self”, to be dis-placed, dis -located.
One of Christendom’s greatest saints is Spain’s St John of the Cross. A Carmelite monk who wrote poems about his love affair with God, that are sometimes difficult to distinguish from ecstatic, secular love poems written in honour of a merely human lover. They are inspired by the love song of love songs in Scripture itself, the very beautiful Song of Solomon.
St John of the Cross’ most famous, intense, and utterly astonishing poem goes:
Upon a gloomy night,
With all my cares to loving ardours flushed,
(O venture of delight!)
With nobody in sight
I went abroad when all my house was hushed.
In safety, in disguise,
In darkness up the secret stair I crept,
(O happy enterprise)
Concealed from other eyes
When all my house at length in silence slept.
Upon that lucky night
In secrecy, inscrutable to sight,
I went without discerning
And with no other light
Except for that which in my heart was burning.
It lit and led me through,
More certain than the light of noonday clear
To where One waited near
Whose presence well I knew,
There where no other presence might appear.
Oh night that was my guide!
Oh darkness dearer than the morning’s pride,
Oh night that joined the lover
To the beloved bride
Transfiguring them each into the other.
Within my flowering breast
Which only for himself entire I save
He sank into his rest
And all my gifts I gave
Lulled by the airs with which the cedars wave.
Over the ramparts fanned
While the fresh wind was fluttering his tresses,
With his serenest hand
My neck he wounded, and
Suspended every sense with its caresses.
Lost to myself I stayed
My face upon my lover having laid
From all endeavour ceasing:
And all my cares releasing
Threw them amongst the lilies there to fade.
How beautiful that is. A longing for God as a lover, and to be heart-stopped, lost in his presence, all cares released and thrown amongst the lilies there to fade... loved, loving, consumed, consuming.
(The poem is translated from the Spanish by one of the finest of all the minor poets of the twentieth century, the South African Roy Campbell)
CONGRATULATIONS
Birthdays
Kirsty Prothero. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24th Aug
Carole Henderson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25th Aug
Heather Pearson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29th Aug
WELCOME
We welcome to be baptised today Lorelai Maskell with her parents Luke and Jody-Lee, as well as their family and friends.
LABYRINTH WORK SHOP
Don’t forget to sign up for the Labyrinth Workshop next Sunday - 2.00pm until 5.00pm in the hall, where the huge labyrinth will be laid out to see and walk.
“PROFESSIONAL GRIEF”
Rosemary Petschack, a specialist bereavement counsellor is holding a seminar at the Mooroopna Hub, 23 Alexander Street, Mooroopna on Tuesday 26th August from two to four in the afternoon. From two to three a video “Hard Medicine” will be shown.(Hard Medicine is a journey in adult grief and this is a graphic but sensitive portrayal of the grief of four people after the devastating loss of someone they love.) From three to four there will be an introduction & discussion around future professional grief get-togethers in Hume region. If anyone is interested please contact the clergy so that we can RSVP appropriately.
ARISE 255
Mary Pearson runs a youth group intriguingly called “Arise 255”. The sessions are on Monday evenings, usually from 5.00pm to 7.00pm. She needs an adult to be with her to assist hopefully, but also and more importantly, because this is a legal requirement. If two people offered to help it would be a monthly commitment only. If four half that! This is a very important little group and Mary does all the program, imagination and work. An offer or two or three would be appreciated.
GARDEN WORKING BEE
There is a Garden Working Bee on Saturday 30th August as well as the Bunnings Sausage Sizzle. The gardeners are deterred by nothing. Come along to herald the Spring in our gardens. All very welcome
LAWN MOWERS PLEASE
We require the services of a lawn mower (the human kind) to help out with the mowing roster once a month. We are one person short on the roster. We now have a fleet of mowers which includes a Ride-on and a Self- propelled, all to aid in convincing someone to help out in keeping our beautiful grounds beautiful. Give it some thought and contact the office if you feel it a worthy cause for your spare time.
ABM MISSION BOXES
N.B. In September mission boxes are due back to myself or to a Sides person at any church service. This money goes to the clean water appeal. Thanks again. Nola Brewer
SIZZLING SAUSAGES
This Saturday, August 30th St Augustine’s will be running the Sausage Sizzle of Sausage Sizzles at Bunnings. Come along and greet our expert Parish Fair team and sample their top quality fare. They are likely to be on duty from 8.30am to 6.00pm
OUTREACH
The next issue of Outreach is due on the first Sunday in October All copy (preferably by e-mail or on disk) by 21st September please. You can send it direct to Ron Rose at ronald_rose@bigpond.com.au, if that suits you better. Anything received later than the 21st is unlikely to be published.
MORE ON THE GREAT RAFFLE
Tickets for the Raffle are sold at IGA, City Walk and Archer Street Safeway Plaza. Rosters for sellers are on the table in the narthex. PLEASE SIGN UP TO SELL!
CATHEDRAL NEWS
All are invited to join in the Cathedral's Centenary celebrations. See the Advocate for details, but note especially “A Festive High Tea” at 5.00pm on Sunday 14th of September followed by a Choral Evensong with a combined Diocesan Choir.
DATES FOR THE DIARY
Aug 25th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Arise 255/Youth Group
Aug 30th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Garden Working Bee
Aug 31st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Labyrinth Workshop 2.00pm-5.00pm the Hall
Sept 3rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hall Committee Meeting 2.30 in the Den
Sept 8th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arise 255/Youth Group
Sept 9th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .“Moving On” Grief Support
Sept 17th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Parish Council
Sept 18th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Evening Guild / Den
Sept 27th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christian Meditation Day 10.00-4.30/Hall
Sept 27th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Garden Working Bee
Sept 28th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EfM Information Day 2 - 4.30pm the Hall
Oct 4th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wedding 1.30pm
Oct 5th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. Francis Tide Pet Service
Oct 7th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Visit of Gippsland AWA Eucharist & Meal
Oct 12th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120th Anniversary Celebrations - Katandra
Oct 14th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Moving On” Grief Support
Oct 15th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Parish Council
Oct 16th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Evening Guild 1.30pm / Narthex
Oct 19th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .St Luke Day for Health & Caring Professionals
Oct 25th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Garden Working Bee
Oct 27-30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Clergy Conference
Nov 1st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .All Saint’s Day
Nov 2nd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . All Soul’s Day
Nov 8th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Parish Fair
Nov 11th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .“Moving On” Grief Support
Nov 15th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mens Breakfast
Nov 19th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Parish Council
Nov 20th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Evening Guild / Narthex
Nov 22nd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wedding 2pm
Nov 29th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Garden Working Bee
Dec 17th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Parish Council
REQUESTS FOR PRAYER
At the beginning of each month this list is cleared and ALL names need putting down again on the list in the narthex and signed in. No names should be listed without a person’s permission. The list for names of those to be prayed for is kept in the top drawer of the little plastic box of drawers on the narthex table.
Alison Baldwin, Doris Blackley, Liam Bognar, Ray Burt,Kylie Butterfield, Jack Cook, Barbara Carlyon, Joshua & Nicky Cavill, Richard Goodfellow, John Green, John Griffin, Mckenzie Griffin, Kath Grills, Frank Harder, Sam Martin, Sophie Mould, Lyn & Bill Mawson, Margaret Neaum, Margaret Noble, Albert Oxenbury, Coral Prossor, Jan Riches, Kevin Richards, John Shortridge, Peter & Eva Swindells, Wes & Sue Tyson, Lorraine Vogul, Barbara, Darren, David, Glenda, Layla, David & Judith, Michael & Amanda, Ruby, Rae & Kevin, Carolyn & Stuart, Amanda, Tracey, Brigid, Elaine.
Rest in Peace :
Margaret Osbrough, Giovanni Campesato,
Laurie Tinning
Anniversary of death:
Elsie Erwen, Clarice Boord, Olive Wisely 25th, David Pearson, Gwen Taig 26th, William Buzza 27th, John Furphy, Colin Cameron 28th, Lillian Aylward 29th, George Young, Ron Euling 30th.
Duties for 24th August 2008
Readers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carole Henderson, Norm Weaver
Readers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Courtney Craven, Christine Jones
Servers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Michelle, Phillipa
Servers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe, Zebedee, Bethany
Intercessors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pat Griffin, Celebrant
Euc. Assts 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margaret Neaum
Euc. Assts 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Greg Pestell
Welcoming 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Shirley Dean, Bev Reither
Welcomers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sandra Simonis, Nola Brewer
Sidespeople 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bob Galt, Norm Mitchelmore
Sidespeople 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Charlotte Brewer, John Pleming
Tea 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Val Rose
Welcoming Table. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dorothy Cook
Mowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .no mowing
Duties for 31st August 2008
Readers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Liz Gyles, Heather Fitzgerald
Readers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Christine Jones, Verna Pestell
Servers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beth, Michelle
Servers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jenny, Sophie, Zebedee
Intercessors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Celebrant
Euc. Assts 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ian Bryce, Helen Malcom
Euc. Assts 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Greg Pestell, Bev Condon
Welcoming 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeanette Betty, Pat Griffin
Welcomers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jenny Moran, Charlotte Brewer
Sidespeople 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bev Ralph, Max Ralph
Sidespeople 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nola Brewer, Alan Akers
Tea 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bev Reither
Welcoming Table. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bev Walsh
Mowing 30th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adrian Evans, Volunteer
READINGS for 31st August
Exodus 3:1 -5 & Romans 12:9-21
THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Mon. 25th August (Rector’s Day off)
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
4.00pm Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
5.00pm Arise 255/Youth Group
Tuesday 26th August
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
10.00am Play Group - The Den
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
Wed 27th August
7.45am Mattins only - Lady Chapel
10.00am Eucharist - St Augustine’s
12 noon Ethics Comm
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
Thursday 28th August
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
10.15am Grutzner House
11.00am Eucharist - Harmony Village
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
5.30pm Choir Practice
Friday 29th August
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
2.00pm Funeral - Laurie Tinning
9.00am Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Saturday 30th August Associate Priest’s Day off
7.45am Mattins only - Lady Chapel Trad Rite
6.00pm Vigil Eucharist
8.30am Bunnings Sausage Sizzle
9.00am Garden Working Bee
Sunday 31st August
8.30am Eucharist - St Augustine’s
10.30am Eucharist - St Augustine’s
2.00pm Labyrinth Workshop
8.45am Eucharist - Dookie
10.45am Eucharist - Katandra