FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
29 April 2012
Graphics and cartoons & liturgical material appear only in the printed version
FAIR DINKUM
You know you're Australian if you think it's normal to have a leader called Julia, you pronounce Melbourne as 'Mel-bin', you believe the 'l' in the word 'Australia' is optional, you believe it makes perfect sense for a nation to decorate its highways with large fibreglass bananas, prawns and sheep, you believe it makes sense for a country to have a $1 coin that's twice as big as its $2 coin, you understand that 'Wagga Wagga' can be abbreviated to 'Wagga' but 'Woy Woy' can't be called 'Woy', you believe that cooked-down axle grease makes a good breakfast spread and you've also squeezed it through Vita Wheats to make little Vegemite worms, you believe that the confectionery known as the Wagon Wheel has become smaller with every passing year, you believe that every important discovery in the world was made by an Australian but then sold off to the Yanks for a pittance, you know what it's like to swallow a fly, on occasion via your nose, you know it's not summer until the steering wheel is too hot to handle and a seat belt buckle becomes a pretty good branding iron, you understand that male customers at a bar feel the need to offer an excuse whenever they order low-alcohol beer, you know how to abbreviate every word, all of which usually end in -o: arvo, combo, garbo, kero, lezzo, metho, milko, muso, rego, servo, smoko, speedo, righto, goodo etc, you know that there is a universal place called "woop woop" located in the middle of nowhere...no matter where you actually are, you have some time in your life slept with Aeroguard on in the summer, maybe even as perfume, you know that the barbecue is a political arena; the person holding the tongs is always the boss and usually a man and the women make the salad, you know that roo meat tastes pretty good, but not as good as barra, or a meat pie, you know that some people pronounce Australia like "Straya" and that's ok.
THIS, THAT
AND THE OTHER (43)
Andrew Neaum
I begin this week's column early on Monday morning and hope to have it all but finished by breakfast. It promises to be a busy week. There are already two funerals to arrange and perform and one day has to be spent in Wangaratta about diocesan business. Wednesday, of course, is Anzac Day. Unless an enjoyable task such as the writing of this "diary" column is accomplished early on, it will metamorphose into a worrying, tiresome burden later on in such a week.
Aubergines galore
Last Sunday we had the junior confirmation candidates and their families in for lunch. It proved to be a very happy occasion for us, and we trust for them. There were nineteen of us in all, and every youngster was assigned a task by Diana before the meal, to be made to feel a part of the successful outcome They rose to the challenge brilliantly and with joy.
The main course consisted of two huge "moussagnes". This is a term we use for a cross between a moussaka and a lasagne. Our garden has been very productive of aubergines (egg plants) this season, and we have discovered that the best way really to enjoy them is as part of this dish. The dish freezes easily and cooks up beautifully, so long as the cheese sauce on top of the frozen dish is uncooked. The recipe can be had for the asking, though each dish is a variant of its original in being dependent upon the garden's current fecundity.
There remain some intensely firm, beautiful, deep purple, penduline aubergines in our garden as I write. So one of my tasks, on this my day off, is to turn them into moussagnes.
Ornithology
You are unlikely to come across the word "penduline" except in ornithological books and the columns of Andrew Neaum. A fanatic bird-watcher as a school boy in Africa, I became aware of a family of little birds that made an elaborate bag nest, hanging from trees, usually over water. Hence the word "penduline" from pendulous. What is truly remarkable to anyone (like me) with a less than respectable sense of humour is that the birds are a species of tit and that there is a family termed "penduline tits". No need for further comment!
The offensive banana
It is disturbing to see those you love through the eyes of those who don't love them. This is a point made, somewhat obliquely, by an old joke that I once used in a Mothering Sunday sermon, and which offended at least one of my congregation:
A mother was sitting in a train with her little boy, when a man got into the same carriage and sat opposite them. He kept looking at the little boy, couldn't take his eyes off him, and not in a very nice way, either. Eventually he said to the mother. "Excuse me, Madam, I don't suppose I should say this, but I can't help myself, Your little boy is astonishingly ugly. He is the ugliest little boy I have ever, ever seen." The boy's mother, as you would expect, was very, very upset to be told this. She burst into tears, grabbed the little boy's hand, dragged him out into the train's corridor, and stood there crying her eyes out. Eventually the ticket-collector walked up and seeing her crying, asked her what the matter was. "It is that man in there" she said. "He has just said a truly terrible thing. He has insulted me awfully." The ticket collector was most understanding. "You sometimes get men like that on trains" he said. "It's best to ignore them, come into this empty compartment and I'll bring you a cup of tea, and also a banana for your pet baboon."
The mother of the boy loved him and so saw him differently from those who did not love him. Who then saw him most accurately for who he really was?
The hermenuetics of love
We might imagine that to see something or someone for what or who they really are requires objectivity and detachment. I disagree. To see reality and humanity penetratingly requires not detachment, but love. The mother of the boy in the story saw him far, far more closely for who he really was, than either the fellow passenger or the conductor.
Some years ago I read a book by a wonderful writer called Alan Jacobs. It is called: A Theology Of Reading: The Hermeneutics Of Love. A very learned but fascinating book, it explores what it means to read lovingly. He demonstrates how difficult it is to do this, but also makes a good case for it being the most satisfying, penetrating and liberating way of reading by far. Love is not blind, it is profoundly clear sighted.
In those halcyon days in the life of our Church when we argued and fought over new liturgies, rather than gender, women and homosexuality, I used to argue, I think rightly, that only those who loved the old liturgy should be considered qualified to revise and change it. Creative change as opposed to destructive change, needs to be loving. Evolutionary change rather than revolutionary change requires affection and reverence not hatred and contempt.
Critics of the Church, be they atheists, agnostics or disillusioned believers, unless they are in some sense loving, cannot really see the faith for what it truly is. The "New Atheists" hold in unutterable contempt what we love beyond telling. They cannot see what we are on about. They cannot see, full stop. Why is this so? Because they do not love. Their views are those of the Train Conductor for whom a loved and lovable little son and human being was essentially a baboon. To be love-deficient is to be love-blind.
Laughing at the Faith
One of the defining characteristics of a healthy faith is an ability to laugh at it and to take criticism of it in one's stride. Difficult to do if you dearly love your faith and God, but still necessary.
When people insult or ridicule those we love, the natural reaction is to take offense and retaliate. This is why one of the oldest provocations to engage in a fight singles out a man's mother: "You son of a bitch". Few of us do not love and respect our mother. Many of us would defend her honour at all cost.
A mature and confident love can cope with ridicule and insult. This is because there is little or no insecurity in such love and so no propensity to feel threatened or disturbed. The hurler of insults is either blind from want of love, or is being offensive for other and usually unworthy reasons. Such folk cannot be expected to see beauty and truth for what they are. Their disdain is hardly worth reacting to.
Over the Easter weekend a Zanetti cartoon in the local rag offended some Christians. It depicted the egregious Craig Thompson sitting on a likeness of Jesus' Cross, sticking his tongue out and blowing raspberries at two Roman centurions, one of whom is saying: "No matter how hard we try, we just can't seem to nail him!" Quite witty really, and certainly not deliberately insulting. It is merely blind, for a want of empathetic love, to just how dear to us is the Crucifixion of Jesus.
According to Peter Coleman, writing in the Spectator, a Fairfax cartoonist on Easter Sunday took advantage of the Resurrection's topicality by depicting Jesus as a clown in a nursery rhyme. Namely - a grinning Humpty Dumpty who on the third day was put together again.
Unlike Zanetti's effort this is a deliberate insult. Christians are being portrayed as believers in nursery rhymes. Who cares though? It is just another example of the ignorance caused by a want-of-love blindness. Such ignorance is widespread these days and is easy enough to laugh off. Coleman does go on to make a telling point though: "May we now expect our fearless cartoonists to depict on appropriate days, Islam or Judaism or other faiths as childish fables? Surely these free spirits are not so servile that they only take on easy targets....."
By the shores of Gitche Gumee
My mother was a woman of strong prejudices. One of them being an antipathy to the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and particularly to his poem "Hiawatha". Her scorn of the sentimental balderdash that is Hiawatha, appears to me justified, but I came across a little poem by Longfellow last week that moved me. It is sentimental without doubt, but as I have been having a lot to do with three lovely little granddaughters lately it greatly touched me:
Children
Come to me, O ye children!
For I hear you at your play,
And the questions that perplexed me
Have vanished quite away.
Ye open the eastern windows,
That look towards the sun,
Where thoughts are singing swallows
And the brooks of morning run.
In your hearts are the birds and the sunshine,
In your thoughts the brooklet's flow,
But in mine is the wind of Autumn
And the first fall of the snow.
Ah! what would the world be to us
If the children were no more?
We should dread the desert behind us
Worse than the dark before.
What the leaves are to the forest,
With light and air for food,
Ere their sweet and tender juices
Have been hardened into wood, --
That to the world are children;
Through them it feels the glow
Of a brighter and sunnier climate
Than reaches the trunks below.
Come to me, O ye children!
And whisper in my ear
What the birds and the winds are singing
In your sunny atmosphere.
For what are all our contrivings,
And the wisdom of our books,
When compared with your caresses,
And the gladness of your looks?
Ye are better than all the ballads
That ever were sung or said;
For ye are living poems,
And all the rest are dead.
Slipper's slip-up and slap-down
The Slipper affair, is exceedingly unedifying. It is also, I have to admit, engrossing. High principle among politicians appears to be as hard to find as it is among journalists. The present moves by our politicians to muzzle the press is a case of pots calling kettles. There is the reek and stench of dissolution and decay hanging over Canberra.
Don't for a moment imagine that Mr Slipper is an Anglican Priest. He is a "priest" in the "Traditional Anglican Communion". This is a small and dubious group of ultra conservative, largely onetime Anglicans who broke away from the Anglican Church proper in 1991. They took issue with us over our acceptance of women priests, new liturgies and (how deliciously ironic) growing tolerance of homosexual practice! They are far too narrow for so broad a Church as ours.
"The reason there are so few female politicians is that it is too much trouble to put makeup on two faces," said Maureen Murphy
All the episodes of this diary column
can be accessed on the web as Article 64 at:
(http://www.andrewneaum.com/articles.htm)
CONGRATULATIONS
Birthday:
Elizabeth Woodyard 29 April
Bill Hunter 29 April
Tiffany Chandler 5 May
Anniversary:
Aileen and Viv Perry 1 May
Harry and Heather Nichols 4 May
THANK YOU BRUCE STERLING
Our organist today is Dr Bruce Sterling, kindly stepping in as Elizabeth Woodyard is away. Many thanks.
ADMITTING PARISH COUNCILLORS
Sunday 6 May, 8.30 attenders at the 8.30 : 10.30 at the 10.30
We will admit our Wardens and Councillors next Sunday the 6th of May at both services in St Augustine's. The Vestry members at Dookie and Katandra will be admitted as to be arranged. Parish Councillors, Wardens and their families are invited to lunch at the Rectory on Sunday 6 May at 12.00 noon.
ELLA'S LOVELY WORK
Sunday 13 May at the 8.30am Eucharist
Ella's stunning embroidered panels on the east wall of St Augustine's, completing her triptych, are to be dedicated on Sunday 13th May. Helen Malcolm will Celebrate and Dedicate as the two new panels are in memory of her parents.
CHILDREN'S CHURCH
Sunday 10.30am every Sunday
Anyone who would like to help plan and take a monthly activity session for the children after their talk at the 10.30am Eucharist on Sundays, or to come out and be an assistant please have a word with Diana or the Clergy. The activity is usually based on the Gospel of the day.
RAFFLE
Draw on 13 June after the 10am service
The raffle is for the hand-painted plate generously donated by Joan McKellar. Tickets are available from Guild members or Nola Brewer at $2.00 a ticket in aid of ABM.
CONFIRMATION
Thursdays at 4.00pm and 7.30pm
The Junior Preparation Sessions are on Thursdays each week at 4.00pm in the Narthex. Adult sessions take place on Thursdays at 7.30pm in the Rectory.
GRIEF SUPPORT-MOVING ON
Tuesday 8 May 6.30pm Dinner Meeting
"Meditation as a Helpful Means of Coping with Grief."
There will be a meal at 6.30pm followed by a discussion led by Fr Michael (St Mel's). Please put your name on the list at the back of the church for catering purposes and the cost will be $5 per person.
PARISH FAIR RAFFLE SUB COMMITTEE
10 May 4pm - Narthex The first meeting of this year! Do come and join us.
ARISE 255 YOUTH GROUP
This Monday, 30 April 5.30-7.30 pm. Come along and see what we are up to!
STUDY COURSE
Christian Zen and Thomas Merton: Tuesdays 1,8,15,22 May 7.30 - 9pm
This interesting study course is out of the ordinary and stretches boundaries a little. Conducted by Fr Rob Whalley it will explore the place where Mystical Christianity and Zen Buddhist practice and presence find a common ground of being. Using the life and teaching of Thomas Merton as a guide, it considers how the contemplative actions found in both traditions can lead us to live with more peace, passion and purpose. Sign up in the Narthex.
PATRONAL FESTIVAL
10.30am 20 May followed by Lunch
The Patronal Festival takes place this year on Sunday the 20th May. The Guest Preacher and the Speaker at the luncheon will be the Revd Kim Benton, psychologist, priest and thoroughly good fellow. The cost of a luncheon ticket will be a mere $12 for an excellent meal with a complimentary glass or two of wine. Invitations are soon to be issued. For the luncheon we would like to borrow slow cookers and rice cookers from the generous and the good, please. Let Diana in the Parish Office know if you can oblige.
FOR THE DIARY
Apr 29 Sun Combined Service & Lunch Murchison
Apr 30 Mon Arise 255 Youth Group
May 1 Tues 1st of 4 Studies-Christianity and Zen
May 3 Thur Christian meditation-St Mel's 7-9.30pm
May 5 Sat Women's Breakfast after 8am mass
May 5 Sat Labyrinth Day - visits in Shepp (see poster)
May 8 Tue Grief Support 6.30 Dinner Meeting
May 10 Th Raffle Sub Committee Meeting 4.00pm
May 12 Sat St Columb's Fair @ St Augustine's 10-3pm
May 15 Tue Friendship Group
May 17 Thu Evening Guild
May 20 Sun St Augustine's Patronal Festival
May 25-26 Synod - Wangaratta
May 26 Sat Garden Working Bee
May 28-31 Lay and Clergy Conference - Harrietville
Jun 2 Sat Men's Breakfast after 8am mass
Jun 14 Thu Parish Fair Planning Meeting 4.00pm
Jun 25-29 Clergy in Service Training Trinity College
July 15 Sun Confirmation
Oct 20 Sat 2012 Parish Fair and Garden Party
REQUESTS FOR PRAYER
Dulcie Ackland, Hilary & Alan Akers, Robert Bailey & family, Heather & Barry Baker, Liam Bognar, Angela Brown, Betty Bush, Michael Egan, Christine Furze, Vida Hardy, Frank Harder, Bruce Hodgson & family, Katherine Holt, Bill Hunter, Margaret Kidman, Jack Lear, Ruth Lewis, Elsie Lieschke, Merle Maskell, Adrian Moule, Olive Paez, Bev Ralph, Dawn & John Scott & family, Sandra Simonis, Jon Singh, Suzanne Singh, Patricia Sparkes, Heather Steen, Fay Warren, Mary Warren, Jean Wellman, Joyce & Ray, Liza, Kaye, Lewis, Margaret, Peter, Seth.
Rest in Peace:
Peg Baker, Emmi Dean, Cindy Kiker.
Anniversaries:
Christine Brown-Shepherd, Elizabeth Raleigh (29 April), Leonard Mitchell (1 May), Mildred Cochran (2 May), Frances Hobart, Bill Auldridge , Doreen Farrow (3 May), Alfred Probst (4 May), Keith Oxley, Stan Dainton, Gus Kelly, Rodger Saville (5 May).
Duties for Sunday 29 April
Reader 8.30 Gwyn Cowland, Carole
Intercessors 8.30 Victoria Heenan
Servers 8.30 Beth, Soibhan
Euc. Assts 8.30 Carole, John Griffin
Sidespeople 8.30 Gwyn and Merv Cowland
Welcomer 8.30 Bev Reither, Heather Nichols
WelcomeTable 8.30 Dorothy Cook, Judy Lloyd
Tea 8.30 Barbara Schier
Readers 10.30 Charlotte Brewer, Jenny Pleming
Intercessors 10.30 Christine Evans
Servers 10.30 Joe,
Euc. Assts 10.30 Grace, Jenny
Sidespeople 10.30 John Pleming, Charlotte Brewer
Welcomers 10.30 Irene Crawford, Beryl Black,
Welcome Table 10.30 Judy Lloyd , Dorothy Cook
Projector 10.30 Mary Pearson
Children's Church Suzanne
Mowing 5 May Gary Grant, John Horder
Altar Linen - April Pat Griffin
Monday Office Bob Galt, Volunteer
Duties for Sunday 6 May
Reader 8.30 Liz Gyles, Heather Pearson
Intercessors 8.30 Norm Weaver
Servers 8.30 Beth, Siobhan
Euc. Assts 8.30 Barbara Schier, Joe Pearson
Sidespeople 8.30 Norm Mitchelmore, Trevor Batey
Welcomer 8.30 Bev Reither, Shirley Dean
WelcomeTable 8.30 Dorothy Cook, Judy Lloyd
Tea 8.30 Gwyn Cowland
Readers 10.30 Peter Martin, Joan McCann
Intercessors 10.30 Nancy Noonan
Servers 10.30 to be discovered
Euc. Assts 10.30 Joe, Jenny
Sidespeople 10.30 John Pleming, Frank Steen
Welcomers 10.30 Beryl Black, Irene Crawford
Welcome Table 10.30 Dorothy Cook
Projector 10.30 Charlotte Brewer
Children's Church Diana
Mowing none
Altar Linen -May Bev Reither
Monday Office Rosemary Moore, Jeanette Smith
READINGS NEXT SUNDAY 6 May
Acts 826-40, Psalm 2226-32, 1 John 47-21
THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Sunday 29April Fourth of EASTER
5.30pm Evening Prayer- Lady Chapel
Monday 30 April Rector's day off
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
5.00pm Evening Prayer- Lady Chapel
5.30pm Arise 255 Youth Group
Tuesday 1 May
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
10-12am Play Group -Roz's Room- Church Hall.
11.00am Shepp Aged Care
5.00pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
7.30pm Merton / Zen Study
Wednesday 2 May St Athanasius
7.45am Mattins - Lady Chapel
10.00am Eucharist - St Augustine's
4.00pm Banksia
5.00pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
6.00pm EfM
7.30pm Baptism Preparation
Thursday 3 May Phillip and James
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
8.25am Narthex Breakfast
9.30am Eucharist -Tarcoola
11.00am Eucharists - Harmony
4.00pm Confirmation Class-Juniors
5.00pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
5.30pm Choir Practice
7.30pm Confirmation Class-Adults
Friday 4 May
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
8.25am Narthex Breakfast
5.00pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
Saturday 5 May
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist
6.00pm Vigil Eucharist
Sunday 6 May
8.30am Sung Eucharist - St Augustine's
10.30am Eucharist - St. Augustine's & Children's Church
8.45am Eucharist - St Luke's Dookie
9.00am Reserve Sacrament - Murchison
11.00am Reserve Sacrament - Rushworth
5.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel