FIFTH SUNDAY after PENTECOST
1 July 2012
Graphics and cartoons & liturgical material appear only in the printed version
McSHEIK
An Arab Sheik was admitted to St Vincent's Hospital for heart surgery. As always, prior to the surgery, the doctors needed to ensure that there was a ready supply of blood of the Sheik's type in case the need arose. As the gentleman had a rare type of blood, it couldn't be found locally, so the call went out country wide. Finally a Scot was located who had a similar blood type. The Scot willingly donated his blood for the Arab. After the surgery, the Arab sent the Scotsman as appreciation for giving his blood, a new BMW, diamonds & US dollars. A couple of days later, once again, the Arab had to go through a corrective surgery. His doctor telephoned the Scotsman who was more than happy to donate his blood again. After the second surgery, the Arab sent the Scotsman a thank-you card & a jar of lollies. The Scotsman was shocked that the Arab this time did not reciprocate his kind gesture as he had anticipated. He phoned the Arab & asked him: "I thought you would be generous again, that you would give me a BMW, diamonds & money... But you only gave me a thank-you card & a jar of lollies". To this the Arab replied, "Aye Laddie, but you see, I now have Scottish blood in me veins". (From Lolene James)
THIS AND THAT (50)
Andrew Neaum
Surely one of the foulest of all domestic chores is cleaning the oven. We tackled ours on Monday with toxic sprays and grim vigour. The impotence of human ingenuity to provide ordinary householders with an easy answer to oven cleaning surprises me. It is as inexplicable and inexcusable as the inability to eradicate the common cold.
My effectiveness as an oven cleaner increases a little each time I tackle the task. For the first time I took the trays outside into the bright light of day with a bucket of hot water and steel wool. It proved far more speedy than attempting this at the kitchen sink as up until now I have done.
Handing over
When you are handing over your home to other people for a while, as we are at the end of this month, you do your best to polish the place up a bit. I like to think that this is commendable thoughtfulness rather than mere hypocrisy.
Monday inspired us to other and more stimulating domestic endeavour than oven cleaning. Entry to the Rectory up until now has been through the east facing door into what used to be my little study. These days this room is a mere ante chamber to my larger study next door, but also doubles as a cosy TV room. Neither of us like our main sitting room to be dominated by the vacuous window into the world of celebrity and balderdash that is a television screen.
However we do enjoy watching television sometimes, especially Silent Witness and Wallander. To do so in a room that is the main point of entry into the house and so a thorough-fare is less than satisfactory, so we have made some changes. The window blind that I affixed some years ago to the glass-panelled south facing Rectory door that leads into our hallway I moved on Monday. It is now on the outside door of the little television room, a door to be no longer used for Rectory ingress and regress except in emergencies. The main entry to the Rectory is the door that faces you as you leave the Church through its north side door.
For the first time last week I had a momentary flash of joy at the prospect of a long holiday. As the time of departure grows closer so the deadlines associated with it become more and more demanding and oppressive. This in turn spurs me on to meet them. So the pleasure of achievement ameliorates those oppressive demands, opening the heart to brief bursts of satisfied joy and anticipation.
This and that
I have just read a review of a biography of the acerbic Lillian Hellman, a woman very talented at making enemies. One of these, Mary McCarthy, said of her in a 1979 television interview "every word she writes is a lie, including ‘and' and ‘the'". A friend said that she had a face "that looked like a mouse had died on it." That really is an insult. There is no need to swear if you can come up with put downs like that.
On Saturday the 23rd of June Joan McCann held a party in the Supper Room to celebrate her eightieth birthday. It was a lovely and joyful occasion with Joan radiant and happy. One of the loveliest things about it was its informality and family flavour. Lovely and loving children and grandchildren helped with serving and welcoming and there was only one unaffected, utterly appropriate and lovely little speech. A fine tribute to a remarkable woman.
To Wangaratta
Most of Tuesday was spent in Wangaratta. Although Bishop in Council begins only at 5.30 in the evening, as a member of "Senior Staff" I have to be there by midday for a meeting that is held usually over lunch. We are a small group of clergy called together each month by the Bishop to discuss diocesan affairs, policy and problems. The meal this time was a particularly splendid one at the home of Father Alan Jarrad. I travelled up with Deacon Grace who needed to visit someone in Beechworth and so there was no danger of falling asleep at the wheel on the way home as is sometimes the case.
Bishops do not have an easy time. For every problem solved several more loom large or even gigantic. We manage to laugh some of these into proportion. When it comes to the trials and tribulations of clergy and their moves from one parish to another, a few of them urgent, nearly all necessary, some of them kicked against and resisted, the clergy chess board becomes a very, complicated matter. Most resistance or obstruction comes from the perspective of a single parish. The good sense and necessity of most moves and appointments can only be seen from a wider and episcopal viewpoint.
I always enjoy meeting up with the Rector of Albury. He is a larger than life, controversial, energetic and hugely effective priest. Without compromising our glorious tradition or stooping to pop culture and shoddy evangel-istic hectoring he remains unfuddy duddy and appears to be filling his church with lovely music, holy smoke as well as people both young and old. The best news in our diocese by far. He has a pony tail, wears a biretta, is as mad as a snake and I love him for it.
I am now writing this column at Wangaratta in the Registry boardroom between Tuesday's two meetings. I am becoming more adept at typing on my little turquoise laptop and grow more confident that it will not inhibit me too much while we are away on holiday.
I had a serious setback last week however. Typing madly away I decided that since I was sharing files with the parish computer on "Dropbox", I needed to "password protect" several files in order to keep them from prying eyes. Who would want strangers perusing one's journal, or finances for example? Sadly, in a fit of carelessness, I must have miss fingered the password I was using and so two files are now forbidden even to my own sight. All possible approximations of the password I thought I had typed in have failed to let me open the files. What is worse, for some reason one of them has become corrupt and so the Word Processor crashes as soon as I attempt to open it! Fortunately I had backups made a week before, and so haven't lost very much.
From Kerala
Last Sunday we were visited for the second time by a group of delightful folk from the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church. This is one of the "Mar Thoma" Churches of Kerala in South India. Diana and Michael, her late husband, visited Kerala for two months about fourteen years ago in order to find out more about these fascinating and ancient Churches and so she was particularly delighted to meet them. There is a community of these good Christian folk in Shepparton, made up at present of about thirty five people from eight families. They now have a resident priest, Fr Boby Thomas whose wife has a job here. They would like to use St Augustine's for worship on one day a month, and so with our Parish Council's happy concurrence we have signified our delight in offering them hospitality. From the 7th of July they will be worshipping here on the first Saturday of every month from about 8.30am and taking up probably much of the morning. We hope that this will initiate a mutually enriching relationship between our Church community and theirs.
Tear gas and more
I went to university in tormented times in Rhodesia. While there I experienced my one and only whiff of tear gas as used by police to curb a riot. It is nasty stuff made up, I think, mostly of ammonia. Pungent and acrid, it shrivels, puckers and corrugates the mucous membranes of your nose in so exquisite and excruciating a way that it brings tears to your eyes, as well as a desire to commit murder or suicide or both.
Like tear gas and ammonia, some of the things that I, in my time, have written and said, have had a similar tendency to get up people's noses. I remember some years ago that a whiff of ammoniacal, maniacal Neaum got right up the nose of a prominent bishop in Australia.
I wrote a little piece in a church paper in praise of poverty. It was in relation to one of Jesus' less preached about statements is "Blessed are the poor....". It went on to point out that this was no pious platitude on his part but that he lived it out himself, embracing poverty in his own life. Moreover, he seemed most happy and content in poverty.
Why, the article wondered, does the Church spend so much time, bad-mouthing and vilifying poverty and trying to turn everyone in Australia who is poor, rich? Is the Church being true to its founder? Should we not be demonstrating, like Jesus, the beauty of poverty, instead of constantly nagging governments for bigger welfare payments to help the poor be less poor? Shouldn't we rather be urging poverty upon everyone? Shouldn't we be decreasing bishops' and priests' salaries, to make them more blessedly poor? It being harder for a rich man to get into the Kingdom of Heaven than for a camel to get through the eye of a needle? Poor dears. "Blessed are the poor," said Jesus. And meant it.
The good Bishop did not like this at all, and wrote a refutation and the Dean of Ballarat preached a whole sermon vilifying the Gospel of Neaum! It was all very gratifying to someone who likes stirring pots,
But who is right, them or me? I am, of course! Though, as is my wont, I overstated my case.
Certainly blessed and happy poverty needs to be very carefully defined. Poverty to be blessed cannot be synonymous with destitution. It means having little, it does not mean having nothing. There can be nothing blessed about starving, or about being cold or about dying of untreated, treatable diseases.
Happiness and wealth
But having lived for many, many years among very poor people in Africa I have observed that there is as much happiness, contentment, fun and joy among such poor people, as there is among the likes of us. There is also a great deal more genuine and heartfelt religion and spirituality.
Happiness, contentment, the Kingdom of heaven itself, all lie within us, in our hearts and attitudes. They don't lie in possessions and riches. The more possessions and riches we have, then the more worries, distractions and often unhappinesses they tend to bring.
We are to labour says Jesus not for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life. " I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst".
One of the many reasons for coming regularly to church is to take especial note of Jesus of Nazareth, to listen to him and to take account of his teaching and example and love. We also in the quietude of Church attendance, freed from the busy flux of daily life, attempt to get our lives better into perspective and reflect that the most blessed moments in life and the most precious, are not those that bring in our salary or promotion, or possessions, or success, or material reward. Rather they are the little acts of charity and love, the glimpses of beauty, truth and simplicity, expressions of affection like the clasp of a child's hand, the joy in a loved one's eye, the scent of a flower and heart-warming examples of self sacrifice.
So many of us labour for the food which perishes, slave away for hours and hours at the expense of friends, and family, don't take enough time off to invite people round, don't take enough time to visit the miserable or the lonely, don't take enough time to play cards with the children, don't take enough time to sit and read a book worth reading, don't take enough time to listen, to notice, to share a hobby, don't accept what we have with gratitude and joy, don't accept what we are and who we are with gratitude and joy, don't focus and concentrate upon relationships and upon others.
Why? Because we're grimly pursuing either the dollar, or the widely admired tidy, large house and domestic dream of the advertisers. We labour for what brings no profound blessing, material things, success, praise and esteem, food that perishes.
The food which lasts forever, that doesn't perish, is different. Like the bread we receive at the altar rail. Materially pretty well worthless, unlikely to sustain a starving mouse let alone a human being. Spiritually worth everything, representing as it does relationships of love, God, friendship, community, communion.
Prayer and worship are important for bringing such truths back into focus. They help us to take stock, look at the wisdom of Jesus of Nazareth, and to embrace, accept, rejoice in poverty, to rejoice, that is, in what is non- material, in our relationships, in love, friendship, other people, fun, leisure, hobbies, in beauty, creativity, worship, recreation, in the immaterial, the spiritual, God.
CONGRATULATIONS
Birthdays:
Maureen Olphert 1 July
Michelle Woodyard 2 July
Janette Coutts 4 July
Lola Batey 6 July
Jan Wallden 6 July
Pat Griffin 7 July
BRUCE STERLING
The organist at 8.30 today is Dr Bruce Sterling. Many thanks to him for stepping in so willingly.
OUTREACH DEADLINE
Sunday 8 July
This is the deadline for contributions to the next edition of Outreach. Send them to hmalcolm@bigpond.com or via the church office, please.
STUDY GROUP-MARCUS BORG
Thursdays 5, 12, 19, 26 July. 7.00-9.00pm
This course is led by Fr Rob Whalley. The third takes place this Thursday. Come along!
CONFIRMATION
Sunday 15 July 10.30am
The Confirmation takes place at the 10.30am Eucharist. This is a big day in the life of the parish and so we encourage everyone to be at this Eucharist. The 8.30am Eucharist will still take place but without the choir.
FRIENDSHIP GROUP
Tuesday 17 July 12 noon
We are looking forward to the meeting this month which will be our annual luncheon in the Terminus Hotel. Keep your diary free for that date and check with Pat for details.
ST AUGUSTINE'S GUILD
Thursday 19 July 1.30pm in Roz's Room
Come to the meeting armed with some knitting needles as a Knitting Bee follows the meeting. Put the 16 Aug in your diary to celebrate The Guild's 50th Birthday lunch.
FRANK JOLLY
Saturday 21 July 12 noon
Some Parishioners will remember Frank Jolly who was a member of St. Augustine's in the late 1980's and early 1990's, until he returned to Melbourne. Frank has been in care for the past twenty years and died on 1 June 2012. It was his dearest wish that St. Augustine's be his final resting place. To meet that wish his family have arranged to have his ashes interred All who knew him are invited to attend.
HELPING OTHERS
We have been glad to offer assistance to the Arthur Dickmann Children's Centre during their recent renovations. They appreciated the use of our Tennis Courts, see the Noticeboard for their lovely card of appreciation. We are also accommodating one of the Berry Street play groups, which is greatly appreciated.
FOR THE DIARY
July 8 Sun Deadline for Outreach
July 15 Sun Confirmation
July 17 Tue Friendship Group luncheon 12noon
July 19 Thurs Guild Meeting and Knitting Bee 1.30pm
July 21 Sat Burial of Frank Jolly's Ashes 12 noon
July 23 Mon Arise 255 - Youth Group
July 28 Sat Garden Working Bee
Aug 13 Mon Rushworth Guild Casserole lunch
Oct 20 Sat 2012 Parish Fair and Garden Party
Oct 27 Sat Murchison Car Boot
Duties for Sunday 1 July
Readers 8.30 Pat Griffin, Norm Mitchelmore
Intercessor 8.30 Carole
Servers 8.30 Beth, Soibahn
Euc. Assts 8.30 John Horder, John Griffin(C)
Sidespeople 8.30 Gwyn & Merv Cowland
Welcomer 8.30 Beryl Goodfellow , Shirley Dean
Welcome Table 8.30 Dorothy
Tea 8.30 Barbara Schier
Readers 10.30 Charlotte Brewer, Jenny Pleming
Intercessor 10.30 Christine Evans
Servers 10.30 Sarah & James Davies, Jenny
Euc. Assts 10.30 Joe Fernandez
Sidespeople 10.30 John Pleming, Charlotte Brewer
Welcomers 10.30 Beryl Black, Irene Crawford
Welcome Table 10.30 Dorothy
Projector 10.30 Mary
Children's Church Diana
Mowing none
Altar Linen -July Ella Egan
Monday Office Rosemary Moore & Jeanette Smith
Duties for Sunday 8 July
Readers 8.30 Heather Pearson, Liz Gyles
Intercessor 8.30 Victoria
Servers 8.30 Michelle, Beth, Soibhan
Euc. Assts 8.30 Grace, Heather Pearson
Sidespeople 8.30 Joe Pearson, Trevor Batey
Welcomer 8.30 Heather Nichols, Gwenda Betson
Welcome Table 8.30 Dorothy
Tea 8.30 Shirley Dean
Readers 10.30 Joan McCann, Christine Evans
Intercessor 10.30 Jenny Pleming
Servers 10.30 Sarah, James, Jenny
Euc. Assts 10.30 Grace, Christine Evans
Sidespeople 10.30 John Pleming, Leoni Gilbert
Welcomers 10.30 volunteers please
Welcome Table 10.30 Dorothy
Projector 10.30 Sandra Simonis
Children's Church Suzanne
Mowing (14 July) John Pleming, John Wellman
Altar Linen -July Ella Egan
Monday Office Jenny Mintern
REQUESTS FOR PRAYER
At the beginning of each month this list is cleared. Names need putting down again on the list in the narthex and signed in. No names to be listed without permission.
Dulcie Ackland, Hilary & Alan Akers, Margaret Bakker, Liam Bognar, Betty Bush, Michael Egan, Christina Furze, Frank Harder, Bruce Hodgson & family, Katherine Holt, Margaret Kidman, Judy Lloyd, Joy Markey, Elvie McInnes Molly Olphert, Olive Paez, Sandra Simonis, Heather Steen, Faye Warren, Joyce & Ray, Tom.
Rest in Peace: Margaret Coghlan
Anniversaries: John Osbourne, Heather Carlyon, Aileen Rowe (1 July), Elizabeth Malcolm, Joan Galt, George Balaburov, Colin Cato (3 July), Beatrice Purdy, John Hutchinson, Claudine Tuttle, Ernest Pleming (5 July), Albert Wisely, Ian Phillips, Eva Routledge, John Walker, Margaret Noble (6 July), Simon Gain, Ivan Thorne, Joan Paton, Lucy Coakley, Roz Dunlop (7 July).
READINGS NEXT SUNDAY 8 July
2 Samuel 51-5, 9-10, Psalm 48, 2 Corinthians 122-10
THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Sunday 1 July
5.30pm Evening Prayer- Lady Chapel
Monday 2 July
Rector's day off
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
5.00pm Evening Prayer- Lady Chapel
Tuesday 3 July
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
No Play Group
11.00am Shepp Aged Care
5.00pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
Wednesday 4 July
7.45am Mattins - Lady Chapel
10.00am Eucharist - St Augustine's
4.00pm Banksia
5.00pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
6.00pm No EfM
7.30pm Baptism Practice
Thursday 5 July
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
8.25am Narthex Breakfast
9.30am Tarcoola
11.00am Eucharist - Harmony
4.00pm Confirmation Class - Juniors
5.00pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
5.30pm Choir Practice
7.00pm Study - Marcus Borg-Narthex
7.30pm Confirmation Class - Adults
Friday 6 July John Fisher
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
8.25am Narthex Breakfast
5.00pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
Saturday 7 July
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist
9am - 1pm Jacobite Orthodox Service and tea-Church
6.00pm Vigil Eucharist
Sunday 8 July 6th after Pentecost
8.30am Sung Eucharist - St Augustine's
10.30am Eucharist - St Augustine's & Children's Church
9.00am Rushworth- local
11.00am Murchison- local
8.45am Eucharist - St Luke's Dookie
10.30am Eucharist - St Mary's Katandra
5.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel