FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
17th July 2011
Graphics and cartoons & liturgical material appear only in the printed version
ONLY KIDDING
Reaching the end of a job interview, the Personnel Manager of a large mining company asked a young engineer who was fresh out of the Melbourne Institute of Technology, “What starting salary were you thinking about? “The engineer said, “In the neighbourhood of $300,000 a year, depending on the benefit package.” The interviewer said, “Well, what would you say to a package of five weeks’ vacation, full medical and dental insurance, a company retirement fund of 50% of the salary, and a company car leased every two years - say, a silver Lexus?” The engineer sat up straight and said, “Wow! Are you kidding?” The Personnel Manager replied, “Indeed I am, but you started it.”
THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER (5)
Andrew Neaum
Whenever I feel lethargic, disconsolate, aim-less and appear to be suffering from the sin of accidie (spiritual sloth; indifference, apathy; torpor), I find one of the best remedies is to click on to the web page of Rowan Williams. I am almost invariable strengthened and heartened by what I find there.
A remedy of accidie
Too few people appear to realise just what a gem of a Christian and human being we have in our Archbishop of Canterbury. Not only is he a pro-found and subtle thinker, he is also saintly, or so it seems to me, and deeply so. I love him, and for me to be able to say that of such a card-carrying leftie is a little miracle in its own right.
I have just read two items from his web page. The first is a short sermon on the Ascension, preached at a BBC broadcast Eucharist in St Martin’s in the Fields. The musical setting for the occasion was Haydn’s Nelson Mass. O would that I had been there. The sermon is a concise, crystal clear interpretation of the Ascension that makes such sweetly relevant and coherent sense of it, that it gladdens the heart.
The second item is a transcript of an interview with David Hare. It ranges hither and thither, granting a glimpse of the man for the attractive, and perceptive person that he so undoubtedly is.
Insufferable oafs
David Hare is an intelligent and sympathetic interviewer: “Williams often speaks in public in a regulation-issue churchy voice, so tone can tune out content. But this is a man, remember, who in 1985 was arrested during a protest outside the US air base at Lakenheath. What was his offence? He was singing psalms......”
“......Like Barack Obama, Williams seemed a good man dealt an impossible hand. If you had happened, at any point, to follow the unending rows about gay clergy and women bishops, then it was obvious that the archbishop had endured a great deal from some insufferable oafs in the higher reaches of Anglicanism who had always been ready to pretend that their lack of Christian kindness towards colleagues was somehow justified by faith. A friend of Williams had even described his period of office as a crucifixion. But even so, I had read enough of his distinctive theology to know how strongly he felt that Christianity should be an escape from self, not an indulgence of it. ‘Jesus,’ he had written, ‘is the human event that reverses the flow of human self-absorption.......’
The reluctant fairground boxer
“........It’s striking that throughout his eight years in charge, Williams has been touring as God’s fairground boxer, willing to go five rounds with all comers. Up steps AC Grayling (atheist philospher), next day Philip Pullman (atheist author). But his fondness for quoting Saint Ambrose – ‘It does not suit God to save his people by arguments’ – suggests how little store he sets by such encounters. ‘Oh, look, argument has the role of damage limitation. The number of people who acquire faith by argument is actually rather small. But if people are saying stupid things about the Christian faith, then it helps just to say, “Come on, that won’t work.” There is a miasma of assumptions: first, that you can’t have a scientific world view and a religious faith; second, that there is an insoluble problem about God and suffering in the world; and third, that all Christians are neurotic about sex. But the arguments have been recycled and refought more times than we’ve had hot dinners, and I do groan in spirit when I pick up another book about why you shouldn’t believe in God. Oh dear! Bertrand Russell in 1923! And while I think it’s necessary to go on rather wearily putting down markers saying, ‘”No, that’s not what Christian theology says” and, “No, that argument doesn’t make sense”, that’s the background noise. What changes people is the extraordinary sense that things come together. Is it Eliot or Yeats who talks about a poem coming together with an audible click? You think, yes, the world makes sense looked at like that.......’
Uncompromising on God
“......Williams speaks so gingerly about human beings, always unwilling to impute motive, that it’s shocking when you move on to theology and realise how uncompromising his version of God is. He rarely uses the word ‘faith’. He prefers the word ‘trust’ because, he says, ‘it sounds less like product placement’. In print, he goes out of his way to emphasise that God doesn’t need us. ‘We must get to grips with the idea that we don’t contribute anything to God, that God would be the same God if we had never been created. God is simply and eternally happy to be God.’ How on Earth can he possibly know such a thing? ‘My reason for saying that is to push back on what I see as a kind of sentimentality in theology. Our relationship with God is in many ways like an intimate human relationship, but it’s also deeply unlike. In no sense do I exist to solve God’s problems or to make God feel better.’ In other words, I say, you hate the psychiatrist/patient therapy model that so many people adopt when thinking of God? ‘Exactly. I know it’s counterintuitive, but it’s what the classical understanding of God is about. God’s act in creating the world is gratuitous, so everything comes to me as a gift. God simply wills that there shall be joy for something other than himself. That is the lifeblood of what I believe.’
“I say that’s all very well, but how then can he be so critical of self-absorption when he himself is a poet? Surely self-study is necessary to create art? ‘Ah, yes, two very different things. Self-absorption means thinking the most interesting thing in the world is myself. Self-scrutiny, on the other hand, is very deeply part of the Christian experience.’ So is his religion a relief, a way of escaping self? ‘Yes. We are able to lay down the heavy burden of self-justification. Put it this way, if I’m not absolutely paralysed by the question, “Am I right? Am I safe?” then there are more things I can ask of myself. I can afford to be wrong. In my middle 20s, I was an angst-ridden young man, with a lot of worries about whether I was doing enough suffering and whether I was compassionate enough. But the late, great Mother Mary Clare said to me, “You don’t have to suffer for the sins of the world, darling. It’s been done....”’
Methought I heard one calling Child
The interview ends with a comment on the great Anglican poet George Herbert: “Herbert’s very important to me. Herbert’s the man. Partly because of the absolute candour when he says, I’m going to let rip, I’m feeling I can’t stand God, I’ve had more than enough of Him. OK, let it run, get it out there. And then, just as the vehicle is careering towards the cliff edge, there’s a squeal of brakes. ‘Methought I heard one calling Child! / And I replied My Lord.’ I love that ending, because it means, ‘Sorry, yes, OK, I’m not feeling any happier, but there’s nowhere else to go.’ Herbert is not sweet.” Hare:”And you like that?” Williams: “Non-sweetness? I do.”
Kindled at last
Having stood shivering on the brink for months I have at last taken the jump and purchased a Kindle. As I write it is winging its way towards me. I hope that it will be all that I expect it to be.
A Kindle is an electronic book reader and an electronic book is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as an electronic version of a printed book. However, there are already books that exist without a printed equivalent, and now, in America, the sale of electronic books exceeds the sale of conventional, printed books.
E-books can be read on computers and i-pads, but they are too bulky and unsatisfactory for lengthy reads, as well as comparatively expensive. This is where e-book-readers like Kindle come in. Kindles are devices produced by the huge online book store called Amazon, and are the size of a small paperback, though slimmer. In their cheapest form they cost a little over a hundred dollars and come with free access to the internet to enable an owner to download in a matter of seconds, any book he wishes to buy. One Kindle holds 3,500 books. Best of all, thousands and thousands of books that are out of copyright can be downloaded for nothing. For example, the whole of Dickens, Trollope, Shakespeare, Jane Austen, the Bible, the Book of Common Prayer and so on.
Once I have organised myself I hope to be able to read Mattins and Evensong on Kindle, when away on holiday. The print size can be varied to suit a viewer and the screen is non-reflective, exceptionally clear and can be read even in sunlight. An owner can subscribe to newspapers and magazines if desired though the Kindle does not specialise in graphics, nor is it in colour. Most of the books I am likely to download will be free and the first book I intend actually buying is “A History of Christianity” by Diarmaid MacCulloch, a mighty tome that will cost me about half of the price of a printed version and with no postage either, of course.
CONGRATULATIONS
Birthdays:
Beryl Goodfellow 19th July
Philippa Forster 20th July
Kasey Holyman 20th July
Scott Chandler 22nd July
Joan Kitto 23rd July
Anniversary
John & Pat Griffin 21st July
ONLY KIDDING
You all thought that the Bishop was celebrating the Eucharist today, did you not? Well he isn’t! We got our wires crossed, instead he comes on the 31st and so will join us for our Combined Service with a Bring and Share Lunch to follow. Sorry about that!
ADMISSION OF CATECHUMENS
At the Combined Service, which is at 10.30am on the 31st of July, we will have a little ceremony of welcome and admission for our candidates for confirmation this year. Hopefully all of them will be present for the bishop to look over, bless and encourage.
STEWARDSHIP
We embark on our Stewardship Campaign this coming week! Watch the post for a letter and do think and pray over the next few weeks, about how you can contribute to the financial well being of our Parish.
CHURCHWARDEN NEWS
John has finished his 33 sessions of radiotherapy and 8 sessions of chemotherapy and is recovering at home. Side effects are expected to increase over the next couple of weeks, after which there should be some improvement. He has been told by the speech therapist that it could be 8 weeks before eating can resume in a normal manner. A good home cooked meal is what he looks for-ward to, nothing fancy just good home fare. To achieve that will be a reward. For the past 5 weeks all that he has consumed by mouth is camomile tea and water. Quite boring. Thank you for all your enquiries and prayers. It has made a big difference and we’re sure it will continue to help speed the recovery process. On the tea bag tag front: The little boy has his wheelchair. Knox City Council in partnership with others have provided 6 chairs in all. They do not want to publicize the project too much to avoid being inundated with requests for assistance having reached their budget. So the tag collection was not a hoax as suggested in the press. Do not be afraid if anyone else makes a similar request. Thanks to all. Kate & John Horder
“ENCOURAGING YOUNG PEOPLE”
At Holy Trinity Church, Benalla, August 20th 10.00am to 3.30pm, there is a workshop on encouraging the young to be church involved. It is led by Fr Grant Bullen who says:”I’m not an expert in contemporary theories of evangelism with younger people or the latest strategies of church growth. I’m old-fashioned in that I’ve always operated within the normal parameters of Anglican parish life centred around Sunday’s Eucharist. ....in the four parishes where I’ve served, when we’ve created a welcoming space for younger people, they’ve always come. Not in a flood, but in sufficient numbers to re-juvenate and transform the parish.....
FAIR TRADE
See the Notice Board for news of a a display of Fair Trade Handcrafts on Monday 1st of August in the Foyer of the Goulburn Valley Christian Fellowship in Pine Road.
FRIENDSHIP AND EVENING GUILD
Friendship Group’s Annual Lunch! Meet at the Terminus Hotel Tues. 19th July at 12noon Please bring a small gift ($3-$5). Evening Guild will be held on Thursday 21st July at 1.30 in Roz’s Room. New Members Welcome.
OUTREACH DEADLINE
The next edition of Outreach will come out in mid-August. Please have any material for publication by 31st July to Helen via the church office or at hmalcolm@bigpond.com
ST. COLUMB’S FAIR
If you are at all jaded in your faith, or lacking in spark you should attend one of these excellent St Columb Days to mix with lively Christians to consider important topics. The next: July 30th in Seymour. Topics include:
“Possibilities of the Emerging Church”
A chance to step outside the square and look at new ways of adapting in a changing world where Gen X and Gen Y present a new set of challenges and opportunities.
Presentation- “If God breathed the world”
Prayer, spiritual directions and a rule of life. St. Paul tells us to pray constantly, and here we have a free-wheeling discussion led by a cleric and a Diocesan Spiritual Director about where, how and why we might want to move in that direction as well as some practical hints on how we can get there. And more! Let the Parish Office know if you intend going!
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
The Social Responsibilities Committee met last Tuesday for a profitable meeting. We discussed how our cooperation with Community Care in the distribution of emergency food parcels is going (well) and how it can be improved. We also decided to look into the purchase of Fair Trade products for use at parish functions, and at how best we can encourage generosity to the needy far away as well as locally. We also began to organise a mixed social and educational function for the parish, of which more later.
A NEW TREASURER
When Norm Mitchelmore again took on the onerous task of Parish Treasurer this year, he indicated that it would be his final year. When he relinquishes the reins we will thank and fete him appropriately for he has done a remarkable job. In the meantime I am happy to report that most providentially the very first person I approached has agreed to take over from Norm next year. This noble and very capable person is none other than Jeanette Smith. Many thanks indeed.
DATES FOR THE DIARY
July 19th Friendship Group 12.00pm Terminus Hotel
July 21st Evening Guild 1.30pm
July 30th Garden Working Bee
July 30th St. Columb’s Fair/Seymour
July 31st Combined Parish Worship & Bring & Share
Aug 8th Casserole Lunch/St. Paul’s Rushworth
Aug 9th Social Responsibilities Meeting
Aug 9th “Moving On” Dinner meeting
Aug 11th Parish Fair & Garden Party Meeting
Aug 20th Wedding
Aug 21st Thanksgiving Sunday
Aug 27th Garden Working Bee
Aug 27th St. Columb’s Travelling Fair/St. Augustines
Sept 3rd Women’s Breakfast
Sept 10th Harvey Norman Sausage Sizzle (Fete)
Sept 13th Social Responsibilities Meeting
Sept 17th Men’s Breakfast
Sept 22nd Parish Fair & Garden Party Meeting
Sept 24th Wedding
Sept 24th Garden Working Bee
Oct 1st Wedding 2pm
Oct 5th Lunch function
Oct 8th Wedding 2pm
Oct 8th Wedding 3.30pm
Oct 11th Social Responsibilities Meeting
Oct 22nd Parish Fair & Garden Party
Oct 23rd Confirmation
Oct 29th Wedding
Oct 29th Garden Working Bee
Dec 3rd Women’s Breakfast
Dec 10th Men’s Breakfast
Dec 10th Wedding
READINGS NEXT WEEK
Genesis 29:15 - 28, Romans 8:26-39
Duties for 17th July 2011
Readers 8.30 Jeanette Smith, Gwyn Cowland
Readers 10.30 Andrea Fisher, Joan MCann
Servers 8.30 Volunteers or Volunteered
Servers 10.30 Volunteers or Volunteered
Intercessors Pat Griffin, Nancy Noonan
Euc. Assts 8.30 Bev Condon, Carole Henderson
Euc. Assts 10.30 Joe Fernandez, Greg Pestell
Welcomers 8.30 Anita Saville, Gwen Betson
Welcomers 10.30 Nola Brewer, Charlotte Brewer
Sidespeople 8.30 Gwyn & Merv Cowland
Sidespeople 10.30 Mitch Macheda, John Pleming
Tea 8.30 Pat & Barb
Welcoming Table Beverley Walsh
Mowing 16th July Marg and Brendan Carroll
Altar Linen for July Ella Egan
Duties for 24th July 2011
Readers 8.30 Heather Fitzgerald, Liz Gyles
Readers 10.30 Nancy Noonan, Linda Prosser
Servers 8.30 Volunteers or Volunteered
Servers 10.30 Jenny, Vanita, Valerie
Intercessors Norm Weaver, Mary Pearson
Euc. Assts 8.30 Heather Fitzgerald, John Griffin
Euc. Assts 10.30 Joe Fernandez, Jenny Pleming
Welcomers 8.30 Shirley Dean, Beth Reither
Welcomers 10.30 Jenny Moran, Frank Steen
Sidespeople 8.30 Joe Pearson, Norm Mitchelmore
Sidespeople 10.30 Jenny Moran, Charlotte Brewer
Tea 8.30 Gwyn Cowland
Welcoming Table Judy Lloyd
Mowing 2nd July None this week
Altar Linen for July Ella Egan
REQUESTS FOR PRAYER
Alan Akers, Deb Bagley, Liam Bognar, Marlene Bovaird, Ian Carman, June Cato, Kath Grills, Frank Harder, Katherine Holt, John & Kate Horder, Ross Judd, Michael Green, Ross Judd, Bronwyn Mitchell, Lyn Morcom, Marj Millerick, Margaret Kidman, Albert Oxenbury, Isabelle Richards, Sandra Simonis, Peter Swindells, Patricia Sparkes, Fay Warren, David, Krystina. Peter, David & Judith, Kaye.
Rest in peace: John Young, Sotiros Alimaras.
Anniversaries: Jemma Daldy, Lydia Smith, Rita Johnston, Nancy Demasi, Andrew Mills 17th, Timothy Ross-Edwards 18th, Charles Phillips, Brian Smith 19th, Olive Rattray, Mabel Gow, Patricia Twomey 20th, May Coleman, Kent Grasby 21st, John Stone, Lillian Uttley, Mitre Davkovski 22nd, Donald Seymour 23rd.
THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Monday 18th July (Rector’s day off)
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
Tuesday 19th July
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
10.00am Playgroup/Roz’s Room
11.00am Shepparton Aged Care
12.00pm Friendship Group - Terminus Hotel
4.15pm Confirmation Class
7.30pm Baptism Preparation
Wednesday 20th July
7.45am Mattins only - Lady Chapel
10.00am Eucharist - St Augustine’s
4.00pm Eucharist - Banksia
7.30pm Parish Council
Thursday 21st July
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
9.30am Eucharists - Acacia/Hakea
11.00am Eucharist - Harmony
1.30pm Evening Guild
5.30pm Choir Practice - Rectory
Friday 22nd July Mary Magdalen
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
11.00am Ave Maria
Saturday 23rd July Associate Priest’s Day off
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist (trad) - Lady Chapel
11.00am Ordination/Wangaratta
6.00pm Vigil Eucharist - Lady Chapel
Sunday 24th July
8.30am Sung Eucharist - St Augustine’s
10.30am Eucharist - St Augustine’s
8.45am Eucharist - St Luke’s Dookie
10.45am Eucharist- St. Mary’s Katandra