6 April 2008 Third Sunday of Easter

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THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER

6^th April 2008

Graphics and cartoons appear only in the printed version

UNDERSTANDING THE TALMUD

Father McManus begged Rabbi Levy to teach him the principles of the Talmud. “But you wouldn’t understand the spirit behind the Talmud,” insisted the rabbi. “Please try. I’m fascinated by it.” “All right, I’ll give you a test. I’ll ask you three questions. “First: Two men come down a chimney. One is white, the other is black and filthy. Which one washes himself?” “Well, obviously, the dirty one,” answers the puzzled priest. “No, it was the clean one because he looked at the dirty one and thought he himself was as dirty, whereas the dirty man saw the clean man and decided he was clean as well, so did not wash himself. “Second question: Two men are coming down a chimney. One is dirty, the other is clean. which one washes himself?” “Well, the clean one, of course.” “No, the dirty one, because he looks at himself, compares his dirty condition to the clean man’s and washes himself. “Third question: Two men are coming down a chimney. One is clean, the other is filthy. Which one washes himself?” “Well, er, I don’t know any more.” “See!” exulted the rabbi, “how could two men come down the same chimney and one be dirty and the other clean?”

INCLUSIVENESS

Andrew Neaum

When I was a theological student the College Chaplain, a very learned man, said to me in a seminar once, “the trouble with you Andrew is that you always speak in the accusative case. Even when you read the lessons in chapel.”

Arrogant swine

I think what he meant was: “the trouble with you Andrew is that you speak so forcefully, and confidently, even when you read the lessons in chapel, that anyone who doesn’t agree with and approve of you, inevitably feels an idiot.”

My best friend, who did the same degree as I did at University, said to me many years later, that during our university days, he sometimes found me and my family over-bearing, over confident and far too certain and sure of ourselves and of our faith. When I maintained that this was just appearance and that underneath it all I, at least, questioned everything and doubted much, he percep-tively remarked: “ Ah, I see, it’s a case of public certainty and private doubt then!”

I think my brother was making much the same point, when in an argument once he expostulated in exasperation, “Hell, Andrew, you’re an arrogant swine.”

Faith and doubt

Jeremiah’s God asks the rhetorical question: “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?” The implied answer of course is “No!” So I suppose I still sound far too certain, sure of myself and confident. Though late middle-age has, I think, tempered this quality in me a least a little. Certainly these days I do sometimes air private doubt at the expense of any public certainty. Not least because experience has taught me to be extremely suspicious of certainty. To be certain of almost anything is dangerous in that it leads all to easily to nasty fanaticisms of one sort or another.

A wise Anglican monk called Fr Kelly once said: “The opposite of faith is not doubt. It is certainty.”

Faith, by definition is committing our self to something about which we cannot ever be certain. God cannot be proved or disproved. He is never more than a possibility. Faith does not ask us to believe in spite of or against the evidence, but it does ask us to take a step beyond where evidence can take us.

The person of religious faith then, is someone who looks at the evidence on both sides, weighs it up, both this way and that, and then has the courage to get off the fence, one way or the other and commit himself, for better or worse. We do much the same when we finally decide to marry someone.

Certainty is no option

We must never ever think then, that the truly faithful person can be so certain about what he believes than he never doubts. Convinced he may be, committed, yes indeed, but certain, never. New evidence might make necessary a change of direction.

The Epistle to the Hebrews says: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” “.....things hoped for....things not seen.” About such there can never be certainty.

There is no act of faith required to believe in trees, dogs, cats, mountains. We are certain of their existence. But faith in things only hoped for and in things not seen, no matter how wholehearted and convinced, that faith, of necessity carries with it an element of doubt and therefore of humility.

We have to allow that we might not have the picture completely right, that there might be better angles from which to view things, fresh perspectives, different points of view, new evidence. Good heavens we might even have got it wrong.

Thus when we come across people of other faiths, or people with rather different versions of our own faith, we don’t automatically deny them, denounce then, shout them down. Rather, in the humility of the true faith that accommodates doubt, we consider them, compare them, are prepared to learn from them, for we might not have it all completely right.

So the first requirement of a true and charitable Christian faith, is to acknowledge, allow and accept that doubt is an essential element of religious faith.

To do so brings with it a humility in relations with those from whom we differ. It allows for dialogue and fruitful interaction, rather than denunciation, damnation, and the burning of heretics.

Inclusiveness

As Christians we should be convinced that the best and most complete picture of God and of God’s way, is to be seen in the sacrifice and love manifested in Jesus of Nazareth’s life and death, vindicated in resurrection. But other pictures of God presented by other faiths or denominations, although less satisfyingly complete to us do perhaps offer their own insights, their own special perspectives, and so are to be treated with genuine reverence and deference, and can contribute and enrich our own understanding and special knowledge of God.

Thus if we meet a Hindu, a Jew, a Confucian, a Moslem or an Atheist, we should try never to be arrogant, exclusive or denunciatory. To be such is not being true to our faith, but is rather pretence to an arrogant certainty that true faith does not possess. Instead we listen to the Hindu, Jew, or whomever, take seriously his view and compare it with our own. We look for parallels, point out parallels, we try to find common ground, look for elements in a different faith or system of belief or unbelief that can add to our own. All the while, though, being proud of our own tradition and presenting it as positively and attractively as we can.

There is more though. It is not only faith’s suspicion of certainty that makes this attitude possible, there is something else that helps too. Because if we believe, as I certainly do and I think as most of our best theologians do, that salvation is not necessarily limited to confessing Christians; if we believe that the saving shadow of the Cross, falls across every faith and all of humanity and that love of Christ’s sacrificing and saving sort, if found in Jew, Atheist or Hindu, will be acknowledged and embraced by the Christ, and that beyond this life will elicit in the loving Jew, Atheist or Hindu, a reciprocal acknowledgement and embrace of the Christ in response, and if we believe that God the Father, like the Prodigal Son’s father, will open his arms to embrace indiscriminately members of all faiths and none, and that anyone who has learned in anyway to love selflessly in this life, will accept with wonder and gratitude the embrace, and so be saved. Then we are freed from the arrogant compulsion, to dragoon, hector or bully everyone you meet, into our faith, for fear of their certain damnation.

Liberated into tolerance

We are liberated into a tolerance and inclusiveness, that allows for mutual respect, dialogue and fruitful interaction and that knocks hideous fanaticism and certainty on the head to manifests Christianity as the beautiful all embracing faith that it truly is.

To believe this, is not heretical. Our best theologians hold similar views. It is implied in much of what Jesus taught and showed in his life. The thief who looked with love and compassion at Jesus, from his own cross, though unbaptised, though no disciple, though ignorant of the faith’s essentials, was told: “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” The parable of the Prodigal Son implies the same.

It is true that there are elements in the Gospel and Jesus’s teaching that reflect a more exclusive and harsher view, yet far, far more essential and elemental is an inclusiveness that after the Resurrection helped Jesus’s version of Judaism that was to become Christianity, throw open its arms to sinners, outsiders, Samaritans, Romans and to anyone who in their acknowledgement of the primacy of sacrificial love could and would respond to God’s all-embracing love manifested in Jesus sacrificially loving life and death .

Jesus’s problems lay far more with the exclusivist pharisees, than with those outside of the faith and moral system to which he belonged.

Once we believe that those outside our own system of belief are not necessarily damned, and that our faith disallows, by definition, arrogant certainty, we are liberated to a tolerance and inclusiveness, that allows for mutual respect, dialogue and fruitful interaction, with those of other faiths, other denominations, other viewpoints.

Oh what sweet and glorious sense this Christian faith makes. I love it so dearly that inevitable doubts are merely authenticating indicators of its essential truth!

CONGRATULATIONS

Birthdays

Alannah Wells. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6^th Apr

Mervyn Cowland. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8^th Apr

Bert Oxenbury. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9^th Apr

Anniversaries

John & Joan Morrow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9^th Apr

Bob & Beryl Long. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12^th Apr

ABM LADY DAY COFFEE MORNING

Thank you to all of the ladies for a job well done last Monday. The Cake stall was just beautiful with so much to choose from. Also the Needlework stall with beautiful needlework and the Fancy Goods stall with knitting and craft work was just beautiful and with so much to choose from. The Devonshire morning tea was much appreciated by everyone. The lucky door prize - a lovely hand painted plate, painted by Mrs. June McKellar, was won by Mrs. Parry who is a Guild member and was working in the kitchen. Our major raffle which was a painting on a tile and also made and donated by June was won by Mrs. Jan Nankervis. Unfortunately 10 raffle books were not returned and this reduced our profit by $100. I really do need these books back so please return them. If tickets are sold please return the money to the buyer. I will use the unsold books next year.

Our total profit sent to ABM today was $1,605. I thank you all for your support through this tough three weeks for me.

Yours sincerely Nola Brewer

“MOVING ON”

On Tuesday, 8^th April at 7.30pm in the Narthex, “Moving On”, the parish Grief Support Group meets. They will be viewing the film “Iris” which is an excellent and sensitive film about Alzheimer’s disease. It stars Judy Dench and all are most welcome to attend.

EMPTY PLANT POTS PLEASE

Empty plant pots are wanted by Mike Egan please. Phone 58212078

CATECHESIS

There is a “Catechesis of the Good Shepherd” Training Session on April 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th and April the 17^th, 18^th, and 19^th . After this we will be beginning our first group at St Augustine’s. Please pray for both catechists and catechumens. There are leaflets with further information, including enrollment forms available on the narthex table.

PATRONAL FESTIVAL

The St Augustine’s Patronal Festival takes place this year on June 1^st and we will be introducing to our parish the Archbishop of Melbourne. Please note the date in your diary. He will be disappointed to miss you for any trivial reason.

BISHOP’S FAREWELL

The Bishop is to be bade farewell officially on Saturday afternoon, 31st May. At 1.30 pm he will conduct the Ordination Service to the priesthood of the Reverend Andrew Coleman. After this there will be Afternoon Tea from 3.15pm to 4.15 pm and then at 4.30 pm there will be Evensong and Farewell Speeches.

PASTORAL CARE

There is a Pastoral Care Meeting on April 7^th staring at 1.30pm in the Den. The speaker will be Carmel O’Sullivan of Grutzner House on “Mental Illness and its Affect on Families”. All in the parish are invited to attend what will be a most interesting session of use, surely, to nearly all of us.

CATHEDRAL CENTENARY

The Cathedral in Wangaratta celebrates its centenary with all sorts of interesting activities from May through to September. See the leaflets in the Narthex for details and if you wish to attend functions that are catered for please apply accordingly.

VESTRY MEETING

There will be a Vestry Meeting in the Library on Wednesday at 2.00pm

DATES FOR THE DIARY

Apr 9^th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vestry 2pm

April 10, 11, 12^th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Catechesis Training in Shepp

Apr 14^th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Arise 255-Youth Group 5-7pm

Apr16th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Parish Council

April 17,18, 19^th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Catechesis Training in Shepp

April 19^th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weddings 11.00am, 3.30pm

Apr 27^th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Orthodox Easter

April 28^th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Arise 255- Youth Group 5-7pm

May 2^nd/4^th & 4^th/ 6^th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diocesan Lay Retreat

May 3^rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Garden Working Bee

May 3^rd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mens Breakfast

May 3^rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wedding 1.30pm

May3rd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wedding 3pm

May 12^th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arise 255-Youth Group 5-7pm

May 12-15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Clergy Retreat

May 16^th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Turaton Concert /Hall 8.00pm

May 21^st. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Parish Council

May 23^rd & 24^th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Synod

May 26^th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Arise 255-Youth Group 5-7pm

May 29^th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Parish Fair planning meeting 4pm/Den

June 1^st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Patronal Festival

June 7^th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Garden Working Bee

June 18^th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Parish Council

June 21^st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wedding 3pm

June 23^rd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arise 255-Youth Group 5-7pm

July 5^th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Garden Working Bee

July 16^th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Parish Council

Aug 2^nd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Garden Working Bee

Aug 16^th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mens Breakfast

Aug 20^th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Parish Council

Aug 30^th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wedding 1.30pm

Sept 6^th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Garden Working Bee

Sept 14^th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Parish Council

Oct 4^th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Garden Working Bee

Oct 4^th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wedding 1.30pm

Oct 5^th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. Francis Tide Pet Service

Oct 7^th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Visit of Gippsland AWA Eucharist & Meal

Oct 15^th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Parish Council

Oct 27-30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Clergy Conference

Nov 1^st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .All Saint’s Day

Nov 2^nd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . All Soul’s Day

Nov 1^st. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Garden Working Bee

Nov 8^th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Parish Fair

Nov 15^th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mens Breakfast

Nov 19^th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Parish Council

Nov 22^nd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wedding 2pm

Dec 6^th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Garden Working Bee

Dec 17^th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .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, Liam Bognar, Geoff Bowen, Kylie Butterfield, Kathleen Camm, Joshua & Nicky Cavill, Daphne Clark, Rebecca Cole, Jack Cook, Donna Dyson, John Green,Frank Harder, Bill Hunter, Don & Dale Morrison Margaret Neaum, John Moore, Margaret Noble,Jim Northey, Margaret Osborough, Albert Oxenbury, Kevin Richards, Carole Shields, Laurie Tinning, Lorraine Townely, Heather Vines, Lorraine Vogul, Brittanee, David, Glenda, Graham, Fiona, Layla, Tracey, Patricia, Amanda,

Rest in Peace

Fran Wilson, Helen Gundry, Lillian Simson, Albert White, Hazel Kalms, Mary Schlieb

Anniversary of death

Thomas Tomlinson, Ted Phillips 6^th, Kylie Oakes 8^th Ethel Robertson, Maisie Lear, Nancy Tacey 11^th.

Duties for 6^th April 2008

Readers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margaret Hoare, Jeanette Smith

Readers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nancy Noonan, Andrea Fisher

Servers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Volunteer, Michelle, Beth

Servers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Joan, Ben, Daniel

Intercessors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Celebrant, Carole Henderson

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

Euc. Assts 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bev Condon, Carole Henderson

Welcoming 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Erma Wilson, Heather Pearson

Welcomers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sandra Simonis, Nola Brewer

Sidespeople 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bev Ralph, Max Ralph

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

Tea 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pat Griffin

Welcome Tbl 8.30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Judy Lloyd

Mowing 5^th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Norm Mitchelmore, Michael Egan

Duties for 13^th April 2008

Readers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norm Weaver, Carole Henderson

Readers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Lamour, Bev Condon

Servers 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Volunteer, Beth, Michelle

Servers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Helen, Tom, Bethany

Intercessors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Victoria Heenan, Children

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

Euc. Assts 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christine Evans, Jenny Pleming

Welcoming 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Judy Lloyd, Anita Saville

Welcomers 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jenny Moran, Charlotte Brewer

Sidespeople 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joy Campbell, Norm Mitchelmore

Sidespeople 10.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nola Brewer, Alan Akers

Tea 8.30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gwyn Cowland

Welcoming Table. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bev Walsh

Mowing 12^th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kay McGregor, Merv Cowland

READINGS for 13^th April

Acts of the Apostles, 2:42-47; 1 Peter 2:1-10

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

Monday 7^th April Rector’s Day off

7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel

11.00am Probus Mooroopna

1.30pm Pastoral Care Meeting - The Den