FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
6th February 2011
Graphics and cartoons & liturgical material appear only in the printed version
GOOD ON AUSTRALIA
After having dug an archaeological trench to a depth of 10 feet last year somewhere not far from Leamington Spa, British scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 200 years and came to the conclusion that their ancestors had already developed a telephone network more than 150 years ago. Not to be outdone by the Brit's, in the weeks that followed, an American archaeologist dug a trench to a depth of 20 feet at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains, and shortly afterwards, a story was published in the New York Times stating: "American archaeologists, having found traces of 250-year-old copper wire, have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network 50 years earlier than the British". One week later, the Department of Minerals and Energy in Western Australia, reported the following: "After digging a trench as deep as 30 feet in Western Australia's Pilbara region, Jack Lucknow, a self-taught archaeologist, reported that he found absolutely "bugger all" (as he colourfully put it). Jack has therefore concluded that 250 years ago, Australia had already gone wireless." Shucks, if just makes you so flaming proud to be Australian!
A professor is someone who talks in someone else's sleep. W.H. Auden
RETURNING TO ZIMBABWE (10)
Andrew Neaum
Our three day stay in the modest Anglican Rectory of the high density suburb Sakubva, was pivotal to and a highlight of our Zimbabwean stay. This is because it took us out of the world of privilege and wealth, which is all that most tourists experience, and gave us an insight into the life of more ordinary and struggling Zimbabweans, though by no means those right at the bottom of the pile, the poorest of the poor.
Sakubva, which apparently contains nearly half of Mutare's population although occupying an area rather less than four square miles, is officially the poorest of Mutare's neighbourhoods. It contains thousands more of the unemployed than the employed and its economy is centred around a large outdoor food and flea market, but there are worse places to live, by all accounts. Five or six years ago Mugabe "cleaned up" high density areas like Sakubva, all over the country, destroying illegal shanties and dwelling places and dumping their inhabitants elsewhere, promising the earth and delivering little except earth.
We returned to the Sakubva Rectory of the Holy Name for a lovely meal by candlelight that was not ornamental but necessary, for the electricity had been off all day and would not come back until the next day.
A talented diaspora
The Shona people are extremely inventive and resourceful folk. They come up with all sorts of ways to keep body and soul together. Even in the poorest of neighbourhoods laughter is to be heard, some sort of a living is scratched, and tales of heroism and stoicism are told. Many of the best educated and able in the country have escaped Mugabe's disgraceful wrecking of the economy to form a worldwide diaspora of talented individuals, some of whom are to be found in Shepparton and indeed in the congregation here at St Augustine's. Today, at the 10.30am service we will be baptizing an Australian born and robust little Zimbabwean baby called, Blessing Nhanhanga. His father, Handson is one of the most capable and genial of nurses at the local hospital and his mother Lynette is about to undertake a Masters degree at Bendigo. Her first degree was taken at the University of Zimbabwe, where I too studied, many years before she did. Zimbabwe's loss is Australia's gain.
Wandering around Mutare
After breakfast on our first day, in already hot sunshine, we took the car into town to have a look around Mutare itself. I remembered it as a clean, crisp, proud Rhodesian city, with most of its vibrancy and pullulating life hidden away and suppressed in policed ‘townships' like Sakubva. It is now not at all clean or crisp, but to compensate it is certainly vibrant and lively with street vendors galore, most of them selling fruit and vegetables, but all sorts of other items as well and all of them only to eager to tout for custom. As always on this return to Zimbabwe I found myself caught between regrets for the cool efficiency and order of long-gone Rhodesia and joy at the resourceful, uncorked fizz and liveliness of black Africa. The touts for the street vendors were insistent but never rude, urgent but never threatening and always ready to dissolve into laughter at the merest suggestion of a joke. We eventually bought some reasonable peaches and a pocket of oranges that proved to be pretty nasty, possibly due to under-watering, the membranes of each segment needing to be pulled off to render them at all palatable. We ate most of them on hot drives, during which even the worst of oranges proved refreshing.
Diana and I enjoyed walking up the main street, simply looking into shop windows and enjoying the city's backdrop of crisply outlined mountains, and the many glorious jacarandas, in full, heavy bloom, their flagrant blue not so much vying with the sky's blue as brilliantly complementing it.
Throstles
It was fascinated for me to be reminded of some of the shops and stores from my youth, for they still exist: OK Bazaars, Meikles, Kingstons, Edgars and so on. The mere sight of them rendered me nostalgic and even brought back to mind their advertising jingles of thirty or forty years ago on the Rhodesian Broadcasting Corporation's, television channel. Poor Diana had to suffer not a few snatches of these ancient and unimaginative ditties, wobbled rather than warbled from the cracked throstle of her husband. (As a matter of little interest I am sure, the word throstle is the English song thrush turdus philomelos, sadly very much in decline. It was always, however, my father's favoured word for throat. He never, ever suffered from a sore throat, it was always a sore throstle, hence my idiosyncratic use of the word.)
At the top of Mutare's main street Diana pointed out to me a colonial relic worthy of a photograph, a red pillar post box with E.R. inscribed upon it. Diana likes to give little presents that are useful to any folk we stay with, rather than things edible or flowers, and so we explored some of the stores looking for a decent frying pan for our hosts, having noticed that they used a bashed in specimen with no handle. Stock in the stores seemed sparse compared to Australia, though what there was was skilfully and artfully spaced to give the impression of more rather than less. In the supermarkets there would be whole shelves of a single variety of soap, for example. It appears that since the Zimbabwean currency was abandoned in favour of the American dollar and the advent of the uneasy and very far from equal coalition with Morgan Tsangirai's "Movement for Democratic Change", there has been some improvement in the flow of goods into the shops, and that shortages are far less than used to be the case.
Currency and gardens
The supermarkets were crowded with shoppers, and because the smallest unit of currency is the paper American dollar, any change given has to be either in the form of cheap lollies or in coins of South African currency, at a poor exchange rate. One and two dollar notes are nearly always disgusting from over use, filthy little dish cloths, sweaty finger sodden, they made me most appreciative of Australian plastic notes. There were no green bags on sale to help limit the use of plastic bags, which contribute so nastily to a widespread litter problem. However, typical Shona ingenuity was evident in the good number of folk outside most large supermarkets offering for sale flour, rice, or mealie-meal bags, washed and with handles sewn on to them for those with enough purchased goods to require sturdy support. We did eventually find a decent frying pan after a thorough search, and also purchased a simple lunch, a part of which was a monster Chelsea bun, eaten appreciatively in the city's park, wary of monkeys desirous of a shared lunch and watching a lovely Heuglin's robin forage for insects. Valiant attempts are being made to maintain the lawns and gardens of the park, but obvious under funding has rendered it a sad reflection of its former glory.
Among the many strange quirks of middle-class English folk is a fascination with railways. Diana is no exception and so she insisted on a visit to the railway station. We found it with little trouble, the streets nearby dreadfully potholed. There seemed very little activity, but we wandered around and established that there was a passenger train service to Harare only on alternate days, with sleeper compartments if desired. We also goggled at a huge steam crane, used for lifting and turning rolling stock. We were amused too by the "first class waiting room", for it was remarkably bare and containing a single lounge sweet, still wrapped in the plastic it was presumably delivered in. This reminded me of the old men of my mission-station youth, who on buying with their hard to come by cash a good felt hat for important occasions, would wear it with its plastic wrapping on to protect so valued and valuable a personal item from sun-fading or sweat-soiling.(To be continued...)
CONGRATULATIONS
Birthdays:
Trevor Batey 8th Feb
Abel Chandler 8th Feb
Joan Harder 9th Feb
Venita Stewart 9th Feb
Pam Wood 9th Feb
Marj Earl 10th Feb
Anniversary:
Max & Bev Ralph 11th Feb
FLOWER POWER
It was good to see so many enthusiastic people at last week's meeting to discuss the flowers in the church, flowers are obviously very dear to the hearts of many, including your Rector. It was agreed that fresh flowers, when possible, should remain at the heart of our church arrangements, but that really good quality artificial flowers should be purchased to augment fresh flowers when necessary, and that these be used as often as possible with natural foliage. It was also agreed that even artificial flowers should be used "in season", that June masquerading as December is inappropriate.(After all, no matter what the ignorant might claim, hypocrisy of this and any sort is far more prevalent outside the church than in it). Even artificial flowers are to receive careful arranging, as well as cleaning and dusting.
A positive spirit of cooperation was very much in evidence at the meeting and not a few folk were happy to take on extra rostered positions as required. Flowers for weddings or funerals in Lent and Advent will not be supplied by the Church, though brides or the families of the bereaved are welcome to grace the building with flowers supplied and arranged by themselves. At major festivals fresh flowers will dominate and be purchased if necessary. Anyone with a garden full of flowers suitable for church use should ring Heather Nichols and she will direct the offer to those on duty for any particular week.
Anyone who would like to donate cash or flowers for a Sunday, as a memorial to a loved one, is most welcome to do so. The name of the loved one would be remembered in both the prayers and the pewsheet on the designated Sunday, as supplied.
Many thanks to Heather Nichols for her loving and selfless leadership of the Flower Guild, to Norm and Rosemary Mitchelmore for the wonderful bounty of their garden so willingly given, and to all who arrange flowers in God's honour and to our delight.
LETS FACE IT
We are now on facebook. Find us on: staugustinesshep@bigpond.com or St Augustines Shepparton.
STRATEGY MEETING
For the small band of folk invited to the "Strategy Meeting", it takes place this Tuesday, the 8th of February at 5.30pm in the library.
GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP - "MOVING ON"
Tuesday 8th February at 7.30 in the Narthex."
"Disasters" - Telling stories!, what's "Your Story"?
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
The World Day of Prayer service takes place in St Augustine's on Friday 4th March at 6.30pm. Guest speaker: the indomitable and indefatigable Susie Don Leonard.
EVENING GUILD
The first meeting for 2011 will be on Feb. 17th at 1.30pm, beginning with the Eucharist. The Fashion Parade date is Thursday March 10th, at 1.30pm. (See the Notice Board)
WELCOMERS
We would like to hear from anyone who is prepared to go on the Welcomer's Roster for our 10.30 service. It is not onerous, once a month you would be required to welcome people warmly to the service and hand them a pewsheet, a pleasant task indeed. Please give your name to Heather at the office.
YOUNG & YOUNG HEART
This service takes place this afternoon at 4.30pm in our hall. It is a "contemporary worship service", altogether different in style and flavour from what takes place in the morning, but exactly the same in purpose and content, for it is offered to the honour and glory of God, expressing our devotion to and love of him. Come along and experience it and to support Mary Pearson in her creativity and devotion.
MEN'S BREAKFAST
Sign up for the Men's Breakfast on the 19th of February. The Eucharist begins at 8.00am, the breakfast at 8.30am. The speaker is Diana Neaum. A list is available in the Narthex.
WOMEN'S BREAKFAST
Saturday 12th February. We are very fortunate to have Kasey as our guest speaker, come along and hear this delightful young person speak. There is a list in the narthex for catering purposes.
SUNDAY 13th FEBRUARY
Our preacher on Sunday 13th of February will be Kasey, the bright little spark who has helped enliven the parish these past few weeks, a theological student at Trinity in Melbourne. Sign up in the Narthex for the farewell BBQ afterwards. Sausage & bread provided, bring a salad or something to share.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
As usual the parish AGM takes place on Ash Wednesday which this year is on the 9th of March. Later than usual it gives us some time to relax, but please note that we will need all reports by the February 20th if they are to be included in the booklet of reports.
PARISH COUNCIL AT DOOKIE
Dinner and Parish Council on the 16th Feb. take place at Dookie. The menu is on the narthex table, please nominate the meal you would like to receive.
LENT STUDY GROUPS
There is a list for the names of those who would like to sign up for a Lenten Study on such on the table in the Narthex. We are offering a single course this year, the Revd Gail Bryce will be leading one on Mondays at 1.30pm. (Starting 14th March) Canon Andrew will be leading one on Tuesdays at 7.30pm, preceded by a Eucharist at 7.00pm. (Starting 15th March)
PASTORAL CARE
There will be a Pastoral Care Meeting in the Library on Wed. 9th Feb. at 11.15am. If you are interested in Pastoral Care in the parish and have some time to spare come along to the meeting. Pastoral Care is core business, and there are numerous ways to contribute: visiting in hospital, homes and aged care facilities; friendship, small errands for house bound people to name but a few. All are welcome or speak to the Clergy if they wish to help and cannot attend the meeting.
BLESSED BY BLESSING
We welcome Blessing Nhanhanga into the Church family today by way of baptism.
FRIENDSHIP GROUP
The first meeting for 2011 will be on Tuesday 15th with a Eucharist at 1.30. The meeting starts at 2pm. All are welcome
KATANDRA
There will be no service at Katandra next week as both clergy are required at the 10.30am Eucharist and farewell for Kasey.
CONGRATULATIONS
Our Bishop received an AM for service to the Anglican Church of Australia, particularly through contributions to the completion of St. John's Cathedral, Brisbane.
OUTREACH
The deadline for the next edition of Outreach is Sunday 20th February. Please have articles to Helen by then through the church office, to PO Box 123 Shepparton 3632 or (preferably) to hmalcolm@bigpond.com
DATES FOR THE DIARY
Feb 6th Young & Young at Heart today 4.30/hall
Feb 8th "Moving On" Grief Support/Narthex 7.30pm
Feb 8th Strategy Meeting - Library
Feb 9th Pastoral Care Meeting
Feb 12th Women's Breakfast "Valentine's Day"
Feb 14th Arise 255 Youth Group
Feb 15th Friendship Group
Feb 16th Parish Council at Dookie
Feb 17th Evening Guild Meeting 1.30pm
Feb 19th Men's Breakfast
Feb 19th Wedding
Feb 20th Deadline for next "Outreach"
Feb 22nd Bishop in Council
Feb 26th Garden Working Bee
Feb 28th Arise 255 /Youth Group
Mar 4th World Day of Prayer at St. Augustine's
Mar 6th Young and Young at Heart 4.30/Hall
Mar 8th "Moving On" Grief Support Group/7.30pm
Mar 9th Annual General Meeting (Ash Wednesday)
Mar 10th Evening Guild Fashion Parade 1.30pm
Mar 13th Lauren Artress to preach (Labyrinth doyenne)
Mar 16th Parish Council
Apr 9th Wedding
May 22nd Patronal Festival
June 3rd Synod
June 4th Synod
July 17th Bishop's Visit
Oct 23rd Confirmation
READINGS for 13th February
Sirach 15:15-20, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9
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.
Nicole Ackland, Alan Akers, Jeffrey Andrewartha, Deb Bagley, Jan & Neville Black, Liam Bognar, Ian Carmen, Frank Harder, Margaret Hoare, Margaret Kidman, Lynn Morcam, Albert Oxenbury, Heather Pearson, Isabelle Richards, Suzanne Singh, Peter Swindells, Patricia Sparkes, Xavier Vale, David, David & Judith, Stewart, John, Pat & Liza, Lewis.
Rest in Peace:
Norma Anderson, Zira Daphne Berry, Gwen Halliday, Isabelle Scanlon.
Anniversary of death:
Beryl Cormican, Brian Kelly 6th, Amelia Meloury, Jennifer Clarke, Nance Evans 8th, John Chapman, Glenis Joyce, Gladys Hooper, Jack Shortridge 9th, Sylvia Walls, Frank Purdy 11th, Ernest Fister, Edna Moore 12th.
Duties for 6th February 2011
Readers 8.30 Victoria Heenan, John Wellman
Readers 10.30 Jenny Pleming, Peter Martin
Servers 8.30 Joan, Vanita, Valerie
Servers 10.30 Michelle, Beth
Intercessors Bev Condon, Christine Jones
Euc. Assts 8.30 Bev Condon, John Griffin
Euc. Assts 10.30 Jenny Pleming, Greg Pestell
Welcoming 8.30 Heather Nichols, Anita Saville
Welcomers 10.30 Sandra Simonis, Charlotte Brewer
Sidespeople 8.30 Bev Ralph, Max Ralph
Sidespeople 10.30 John Pleming, Volunteer
Welcome Table Judy
Altar Linen for Feb Gwenda Betson
Tea 8.30 Bev Reither
Mowing Not this week
Duties for 13th February 2011
Readers 8.30 Jeanette Smith, Norman Weaver
Readers 10.30 Mary Pearson, Courtney Craven
Servers 8.30 Beth, Michelle
Servers 10.30 Greg, Joe, Zebedee
Intercessors Heather Pearson, Children
Euc. Assts 8.30 Carole Henderson, Heather Fitzgerald
Euc. Assts 10.30 Christine Evans, Joe Fernandez
Welcoming 8.30 Pat Griffin, Judy Lloyd
Welcomers 10.30 Volunteers please
Sidespeople 8.30 Trevor Batey, Joy Campbell
Sidespeople 10.30 Charlotte Brewer, Nola Brewer
Welcome Table Dorothy
Tea 8.30 Shirley Dean
Altar Linen for Feb Gwenda Betson
Mowing 12th Feb Norm Mitchelmore, Joe Cummins
THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Monday 7th February
Rector's day off,
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
Tuesday 8th February
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
11.00am Shepparton Aged Care- Anne Russell
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
5.30pm Strategy meeting
7.30pm "Moving On" Grief Support Group
Wednesday 9th February
7.45am Mattins only - Lady Chapel
10.00am Eucharist - St Augustine's
11.15am Pastoral Care meeting/Library
2.00pm Vestry meeting/Library
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
6.00pm EfM
Thursday 10th February
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
11.00am Eucharist - Harmony
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
5.30pm Choir Practice
Friday 11th February
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
1.00pm Funeral - St Augustine's
3.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
11.00am Eucharist - Ave Maria
Saturday 12th February
Associate Priest's Day off
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
8.00am Eucharist & Women's Breakfast
6.00pm Vigil Eucharist
Epiphany Six Sunday 13th February
8.30am Sung Eucharist - St Augustine's
10.30am Eucharist - St Augustine's Kid's church
12noon B.B.Q for Kasey
8.45am Eucharist - Dookie
5.30pm Evening Prayer