CHRIST THE KING
25 November 2012
Graphics and cartoons & liturgical material appear only in the printed version
MILK OF AMNESIA
A couple in their nineties were both having problems remembering things. During a checkup, the doctor told them that they were physically perfectly alright, but that they should perhaps start writing things down to help them remember. Later that very night, while watching TV, the old man got up from his chair. " Do you want anything while I'm in the kitchen?" he asked. "Yes please. Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?" "Indeed I will." "Don't you think you should write it down so you can remember it?" she asked. "No, I can remember it." "Well, I would also like some strawberries on top. Maybe you should write it down, so as not to forget it." He said, "I can remember that. You want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries on top." "I'd also like whipped cream. You are certain to forget that, so do write it down," she said. Irritated, he replied, "I don't need to write it down, I can remember it! Ice cream with strawberries and whipped cream - I have got it, for goodness sake!" He toddled into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes, he returned and handed his wife a plate of bacon and eggs. She stared at the plate for a moment and then said, "Where's my toast?"
THIS AND THAT (60)
Andrew Neaum
On Monday Diana and I went to Melbourne by train. I cannot remember ever having travelled by train in Australia. Considering that I have lived here for twenty seven years that is astonishing. What a private-car and road dominated a society we are. Our departure, we later learned, was caught on film and we appeared fleetingly on local television. New timetables came into effect that day and a camera crew were there to mark the event.
Railways and St Paul’s
Train travel and railway stations are one of Diana’s great enthusiasms. Her late husband Michael, after university and before ordination, worked for the railways in England, as did his father who was traffic controller at Marylebone Station in London. Their family were railway enthusiasts and Diana became so too. Whenever we travelled through a new town while in New Zealand last year Diana, as navigator, nearly always managed to direct us to its railway station. Most of these, as in so many parts of the developed world, were either derelict or nearly so, due to the shameful neglect of the railways in favour of the internal combustion engine and roads. We had a lovely and peaceful trip. To visit Melbourne as an ambling tourist is a treat for it is a most pleasing city.
We sauntered through St Paul’s Cathedral. My last visit was for the ordination of Libby Gilchrist when extensive restoration work was in progress and half of the building screened from view. Our visit this time allowed the beauty of the building really to percolate. We both of us found it most pleasing and remarked upon similarities in its architectural style to the church in which we were married in Surbiton and to Keble College and Chapel in Oxford, visited only a few months ago. Hardly surprising, because I discovered later, thanks to a Skype conversation with my son David, that the famous English architect William Butterfield. who had designed Keble College also designed St Paul’s Melbourne. He achieved this Australian masterpiece by long distance, refusing to come to Australia, which gave rise to a variety of difficulties, including his short and temporary resignation. The spires are not Butterfield’s, they were designed much later by a Sydney architect. Butterfield’s original plan was for an octagonal central tower with gable towers for the west end. This would have been more interesting and distinctive I feel. No matter, the Cathedral is a fine and peaceful island on what is possibly the busiest intersection in all of Melbourne. It is a building to be proud of.
Red Riding Hood and Roman Charity
We also visited the National Gallery limiting, the visit, as is our wont, to one particular section, this being the seventeenth century Dutch and Flemish paintings. I love many of these for their detail, but three in particular stay with me. The first is the painting by Stubbs of a lion on the back of a terrified horse. I have seen reproductions of this, but did not know it was in our Gallery. The second was of Little Red Riding Hood by Gustave Dore. In this painting the little girl is in bed with the wolf and the horror on her face is very well done considering, as we are told, she is just about to be gobbled up. The painting is inspired by the very first printed version of this ancient tale by Charles Perrault, in which the little girl is indeed gobbled up and the wolf gets away. What interests me most however is the moral that Perrault attached to the story. It indicates that way back in the seventeenth century there existed a paranoia about child safety that still haunts us today, the wolf displaced by paedophiles. Perrault’s moral goes: From this story one learns that children, especially young lasses, pretty, courteous and well-bred, do very wrong to listen to strangers, and it is not an unheard thing if the Wolf is thereby provided with his dinner. I say Wolf, for all wolves are not of the same sort; there is one kind with an amenable disposition – neither noisy, nor hateful, nor angry, but tame, obliging and gentle, following the young maids in the streets, even into their homes. Alas! Who does not know that these gentle wolves are of all such creatures the most dangerous!
The other painting that caught our imagination was “Roman Charity” by Johan Zoffany. This too had as much to do with the amazing story behind the painting as with the painting itself, though the expression on the condemned old father’s face I thought very well done. The story behind the painting is recorded in “Nine Books of Memorable Acts and Sayings of the Ancient Romans” by the Roman historian Valerius Maximus. It was taken to be an admirable example of filial piety and Roman honour. It depicts Pero, the daughter of a man called Cimon, secretly breastfeeding her father who is gaoled and sentenced to death by starvation. Discovered by a gaoler her act of selflessness so impresses officials that it gains her father's release. It is a story that greatly appealed to seventeenth and eighteenth century artists, the most famous being Peter Paul Rubens who has left us several versions.
Early on the following morning from our visit I was rung up by my daughter Rachel whom I told about our visit and of this particular painting and so at the end of a stimulating conversation was able to say, “Thank you Rachel, you have been Pero to your old Father, though mercifully in a less bizarre and more seemly fashion.....”
Now the continuation of an edited diary from Diana and my time in England:
Thursday 16 August, 2012 7.30am
Yesterday’s chief event was a visit to Lambeth Palace to see a friend who works there. It was a grey day threatening rain but delivering only an odd sprinkle or two. We went with Max and Bella and met Diana’s sister Janet in the little garden beside the church outside the Palace, no longer a church but a garden centre these days. There we ate our sandwiches together and Janet then took Max and Bella off, after we had pulled the bell together that calls the gatekeeper to let us in to the tranquil interior of Lambeth Palace. We made our way through the gardens to the “Wash House” a modern building where our friend works.
Lambeth Palace is the official London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury. When I taught in London in the early seventies it was opened to the public only once a year and on that day I was able to give it a good look over. It is located on the south bank of the River Thames, a short distance upstream of the Palace of Westminster though on the south bank rather than the north. It was acquired by the archbishopric around the year 1200
It is now a mixture of old, not so old and modern. The oldest part being the Early English chapel. The Lollard’s Tower, which was used as a prison in the 17th century, dates from 1440. The Tudor brick gatehouse was built in 1495. Cardinal Pole lay in state in the palace for 40 days after he died there in 1558 and the fig tree in the palace courtyard is possibly grown from a slip taken from one planted by Cardinal Pole in the sixteenth century.
The Great Hall was ransacked by Cromwellian troops during the English Civil War, it was rebuilt in 1663, after the Restoration. I well remember from my seventies visit its great late- Gothic hammerbeam roof. The building of this roof is said to have been deliberately evocative, “speaking of High-Church Anglican continuity with the Old Faith, a visual statement that the Interregnum was over.” The diarist Samuel Pepys called it "a new old-fashioned hall".
New construction was added to the building in 1834 by Edward Blore (1787–1879), who rebuilt much of Buckingham Palace later. Here his work is neo-Gothic enough to have satisfied Sir Walter Scott, and it fronts a spacious quadrangle. It is these buildings which are now inhabited by the archbishop.
After our visit we re-found Janet and the children at the “Vauxhall City Farm”. Janet is very good at searching out unusual and interesting places to visit in London. It advertises itself as: a little piece of the countryside right in the heart of London with all the sights, smells, sounds and experiences of rural life. Our collection of friendly animals includes rare breed sheep, inquisitive goats, woolly alpacas and spotty pigs, not to mention our cuddly ferrets, rabbits and guinea pigs. Since 1976 we’ve been providing the local community with education services, youth activities, riding therapy and a peaceful escape from city life. Entry is always free and we are open from 10.30 – 4.00 Wednesday to Sunday. We can’t wait to see you down on the farm! Max and Bella enjoyed their time hugely as indeed did we all. The chickens can he held, the animals patted and young volunteers are excellent at answering questions and offering advice. After a nasty cup of coffee there, Janet found us its antithesis, an unusual and interesting restaurant with newspapers and books to read, comfortable chairs to sit on, old artefacts to contemplate and a variety of cakes displayed on tables. Called “The Teahouse Theatre” it is situated in an old Victorian Pub that opened in 1886 on the site of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. They specialise in loose leaf teas, proper sandwiches and homemade cakes and what they claim to be the best full English breakfasts in London. They make their own marmalade and jams, all for sale by the jar and their teas can be bought by the ounce. A great place. We then headed back to Martha and Llew’s place at Bounds Green to enjoy a tasty, garlicky stir fry from Llew. After midnight, still on the computer I had a Skype call from Heather in the Parish Office who told me that all was going well at St Augustine’s but that Fr. John can’t get the computer going
Friday 17 August, 2012 6.35am
We are now showered and in bed at Julien Foster’s pad in Leyton, north London. Julien is the Barrister son of a university friend of Diana’s and now also a friend in his own right. We arrived by overland train from South Tottenham at about 8.00pm for a dinner party and already there was a couple whose names escape me having a drink, The man was quiet, the woman very forthright, she North Country, he a Londoner. Both had worked for most of their lives in the Taxation Department and she had been at Lancaster University just after Diana, but had coincided there with Julien’s mother, hence their acquaintance. We had a drink standing outside as Diana trimmed the garden. The house is like so many terraced London houses but bigger than most of those with which I am familiar, with three bedrooms and extra rooms downstairs as well. The meal was good. With the drinks were little pieces of toast spread with a pungent, dark coloured, but tasty paste, there followed a cold orange soup and then a good salad with an eclectic collection of interesting food from a platter, including pickled herring in cream, prosciuto, ham, and more, all excellent. Ice cream and strawberries for dessert. The other guest was a nurse on holiday from Saudi Arabia. She is a really likeable and thoughtful person with a strong North Country accent and is an adventurous sort who after completing a philosophy degree, among other things, took to nursing. She is now contemplating taking a fast track medical degree to become a doctor. The conversation was robust, not least because the married woman happened to be a committed atheist and feminist who was forthright in the expression of her views and so asking to be challenged. Nothing acrimonious, but I think I put her on the spot a couple of times, not on the God business, but over marriage. She informed us that she wished she wasn’t married and only is so for tax and financial reasons. She sees no need to be, which is where I challenged her over love needing to articulate itself and to nail its colours to the mast to be real and so on.... Good stuff. After she and the husband she loves but wishes wasn’t a husband left, we had further good talk to do with faith.
As usual I was up early, feeling slightly seedy from too little sleep, though Diana had less because she talked to Julien until about 1.30am. We left at 8.00am with Julien on his way to the City for work, we to South London and Olga and Pula’s, travelling the whole length of the Victoria Line bar the last station and then on to Tooting.
FROM THE REGISTERS
Birthdays:
Nancy Fennell 25 Nov
Bev Ralph 25 Nov
Bub Wilson 26 Nov
Aileen Parry 29 Nov
WELCOME REG
The Vestry has appointed Reg Wells as our new Church Cleaner. We welcome him to the job and to having him around each week, usually on Fridays.
ADVENT STUDY
Nov 29, Dec 6, Dec 13. The Rectory: Thursdays 7.30 - 9.00pm.
The second of these four studies is on Thursday. Led by the Rector they take us through the life of Jesus in four weeks, and are based on a chapter from Francis Spufford's impressive book "Unapologetic: Why, Despite Everything, Christianity can still make Surprising Emotional Sense." Good preparation for Christmas, not to be missed. Sign up in the Narthex.
OUTREACH DEADLINE
25 November Sunday
Articles to Helen (hmalcolm@ bigpond.com) or to the church office today please.
ARISE 255-YOUTH GROUP
26 November 5.30-7.30 Monday - Hall
Wet Wild Water Night. Pack the bathers, wear the old clothes and bring a towel. Prepare to get wet, and maybe slimy. Supper provided and a $2 donation please.
PLAYGROUP BBQ
27 November 10-12 noon Tuesday
Play group resumes in the church Hall in Roz's Room every Tuesday in term time from 10am to 12 noon. This week there will be a BBQ serving food at 11am. More details via the Office 58 217 630
MOVING ON-GRIEF SUPPORT
27 November Tuesday 6pm
Dinner meeting and discussion of ideas in regards to ways of coping with Christmas and other significant events, without our loved ones. Cost $5. Please indicate your intention to attend on the list in the Narthex.
CELEBRATING LICENSED LAY MINISTRY
1 December Saturday
This is a day to inform, renew and celebrate the whole ministry of our Church at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Wangaratta. Licensed Lay Ministers are invited to Morning Tea from 10:00am and then to informative sessions with a catered lunch and a Festival Eucharist at 2:00 with an address by Bishop John and the renewal of Lay Ministry Licenses for 2013.
TRISTAN DA CUNHA for BREAKFAST
15 December after 8am Eucharist Saturday
There is a Men's Breakfast coming up. So, all you fellows, sign up for it in the Narthex. The Speaker: Andrew Neaum on Tristan da Cunha.
NATIVITY PLAY
16 Dec 10.30am during Sunday Eucharist
The crucial rehearsal for all those children desirous of a part this lovely event will on Sunday 9th of December during the 10.30 Eucharist. All children are most welcome and indeed encouraged to be a part of the play.
NEW ABM COLLECTOR
For years innumerable Nola Brewer has been our ABM representative, raising money and awareness with indefatigable zest. We congratulate her for all of this and sadly miss her enthusiasm now that for reasons of health she can no longer continue the role. Is anyone interested in taking on her mantle?
DEACON GRACE
Deacon Grace is now working with us full time, but only until the end of January, where-upon she plans to take on teaching at one of the largest refugee camps in the world, on the Thai/Burma border among the Karen people. This adventurous call grew out of her recent Retreat to discern where God would have her be and as is so often the case, if you ask for direction you get it and it can be thrilling. Certainly Grace's enthusiasm and joy in it all is hugely infectious and the parish will not only be following her adventure with interest we will also be backing it in a variety of ways, so our PCC pledged last Wednesday.
HAVE YOU EVER.....?
- wondered what the readings in church mean?
- questioned something in the sermon?
- asked why we do what we do in the service?
- wanted to relate your experience
to what the bible says?
- needed to rejuvenate your ministry, your
spirituality or your relationship with God?
If you answer ‘yes' to any of these questions or are just curious about your faith, then Education for Ministry could hold some of the answers. In a supportive learning community we discuss all the above questions – and we have a lot of fun doing it. Have a chat to Helen or another of the group members if you think you might like to join our EfM group next year.
FOR THE DIARY
Nov 27 Tues "Moving On" Dinner Meeting
Dec 16 Sun Nativity Play at 10.30 am
Dec 15 Sat Men's Breakfast
Dec 21 Fri Carol Service, St Augustine's
Dec 30 Sun Rushworth & Murchison-Combined+meal
Feb 3 Sun Cologne Chamber Orchestra
Feb 13 Wed Ash Wednesday & AGM
June 02 Sun Patronal Festival
REQUESTS FOR PRAYER
Betty Adams, Hilary & Alan Akers, Joyce Auldrige, Heather Baker Margaret Bakker, Liam Bognar, Nola Brewer, Betty Bush, Kevin Cowell, Ella & Michael Egan, Nancy Fennell, Liza Griffin, Pat Griffin, Frank and Joan Harder, Victoria Heenan, Bruce Hodgson & family, Katherine Holt, Dos King, Edwin Johnson, Elsie Lieschke, June McKellar, Colin MacKenzie, Merle Maskell, Lyn Morcom, Shawn Pleming, Lynda Saville, Nicole Sleeth, Suzanne Singh, Patricia Sparkes, Heather Steen, Joyce & Ray, Cheryl & Simon, David, Nicole, Fr Peter & Paul.
Rest in Peace:
Keith Burden, Bruce Heron
Anniversaries:
David Spence, Daryl Meyers, Glenn Hayes(25), Mervyn Rogers, James Burgmann(26), John Ross-Edwards, Gwynneth Williams(29), Zvezda Nedelkovski, Doris Young(30), Judith Bear, Edna Hooper, Evelyn Smith, June Scandolera, Harry Lloyd(1).
Duties for Sunday 25 November
Readers 8.30 Victoria Heenan, Gwyn Cowland
Intercessor 8.30 Clergy
Servers 8.30 John Griffin, Siobahn, Michelle
Euc. Assts 8.30 Joe Pearson, Grace Sharon
Sidespeople 8.30 Norm Mitchelmore, Trevor Batey
Welcomer 8.30 Eileen Quaife, Shirley Dean
Welcome Table 8.30 Dorothy Cook, Bev Condon
Tea 8.30 Barbara Schier
Readers 10.30 Peter Martin, Andrea Fisher
Intercessor 10.30 Jenny Pleming
Servers 10.30 Jenny, Nick, Ella
Euc. Assts 10.30 Grace Sharon, Linda Prosser
Sidespeople 10.30 John Pleming
Welcomers 10.30 Kylie Milsom, Robert Gilbert
Welcome Table 10.30 Dorothy Cook
Projector 10.30 Black Family
Children's Church Diana Neaum
Mowing 1 Dec John Horder,Garry Grant
Altar Linen Rosemary Mitchelmore
Monday Office 26 Nov Joyce Oxley, Bob Galt
Duties for Sunday 2 December
Readers 8.30 Liz Gyle, Pat Griffin
Intercessor 8.30 Clergy
Servers 8.30 Beth, Siobhan, Michelle
Euc. Assts 8.30 Joe Pearson, Heather Pearson
Sidespeople 8.30 Gwyn & Merve Cowland
Welcomer 8.30 Dulcie Ackland, Gwenda Betson
Welcome Table 8.30 Dorothy Cook
Tea 8.30 Bev Reither
Readers 10.30 Nancy Noonan
Intercessor 10.30 Joan Mc Cann
Servers 10.30 Jenny Pleming, Sarah, James
Euc. Assts 10.30 Volunteer, Joe Fernandez
Sidespeople 10.30 John Pleming, Frank Steen
Welcomers 10.30 Beryl Black, Irene Crawford
Welcome Table 10.30 Dorothy Cook
Projector 10.30 Karina Black
Children's Church Mary Pearson
Mowing none
Monday Office 3 Dec Rosemary Moore, Jeanette Smith
READINGS NEXT SUNDAY
Jeremiah 33: 4-16, Psalm 25:1-10, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Sunday 25 November
2.00pm Sudanese Church Service
5.30pm Evening Prayer- Lady Chapel
Monday 26 November Ember Day
(Rector's day off)
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
5.00pm Evening Prayer- Lady Chapel
5.30m Arise-Youth Group
Tuesday 27 November Ember Day
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
10-12 Play Group BBQ
5.00pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
6.00pm Grief Support Meal and Discussion
Wednesday 28 November Ember Day
7.45am Mattins - Lady Chapel
10.00am Eucharist - St Augustine's
5.00pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
6.00pm EfM
Thursday 29 November Ember Day
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
11.00am Harmony Devotions
5.00pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
5.30pm Choir Practice
7.30pm Advent Study Group
Friday 30 November St Andrew
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
8.30am Narthex Breakfast
5.00pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
Saturday 1 December
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist
9.00am Jacobite Orthodox Eucharist (until 1.00pm)
6.00pm Vigil Eucharist
Sunday 2 December 1st Sunday in Advent
8.30am Sung Eucharist - St Augustine's
10.30am Eucharist - St Augustine's
9.00am Reserve Sacrament - Rushworth
11.00am Reserve Sacrament - Murchison
8.45am Eucharist - St Luke's Dookie
2.00pm Sudanese Church Service
5.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel