FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
6 May 2012
Graphics and cartoons & liturgical material appear only in the printed version
THE BISHOP'S VISIT
The Bishop was visiting one of the churches in our diocese (better to leave it nameless). He was somewhat put out to find that the total congregation numbered seven, including the choir. After the service was over he spoke to the rector expressing his concern about the small attendance, saying: "That was a very small congregation this morning. Had no one informed folk that I was coming?" "Of course not," replied the Rector, "but I fear the news must have leaked out."
THIS, THAT
AND THE OTHER (43)
Andrew Neaum
We lit the first open fire of the season in the Rectory on Monday evening. A great delight.
God's folly
The kindling we use on the first fires of the season is always augmented by carefully cut and stored pieces of the year before's Christmas tree. The resinous scent of burning pine needles and twigs inebriates with pleasure. A primitive, prehistoric, aeons-old joy settles upon us as we sit beside and contemplate an open fire. There's no need for them in our centrally heated houses, they are messy, dangerous, ash-dust-inducing, environmentally irresponsible and yet as completely necessary and wholly appropriate to a fully lived life, as is Faith and God! To venture outside on a frosty night for another log or two and sniff the wood smoke wreathing the garden, shivers my timbers with such a frisson of delight and joy as to deliver an all but knockout blow to any incipient atheism. The foolishness of open fires is of the same order of things as St Paul's wise "Foolishness of God".
Monday was notable for more than the season's first fire. It was almost entirely a day off and away from parish affairs. Even this column had to wait until Tuesday for once. On stress-free early mornings, at the beginning of what appears to be a less than daunting week, instead of getting down to work after only a very rapid skim of the news and weather, I succumb to linger longer over the news. I view it from a variety of angles: the ABC, BBC, Australian, Age and Guardian and then move on to look at some of my favourite online periodicals. Later when Diana joins me in my study, we laugh about and discuss the day past, and we plan the day ahead, listing absolutely essential tasks, possibly necessary tasks, hardly necessary but desirable tasks and entirely frivolous but altogether enjoyable tasks. We then we prioritize them.
A good day off
On Monday my first task after breakfast was to fix a drawer from a shoddy chest of drawers that has been falling apart for months. This eventually necessitated our first visit to the new W. B. Hunters. Most fascinating to me there was that all items in the store have their price electronically displayed at the shelf. It seems that changes in price can be made at the tap of a keyboard and in an instant, for better or worse. I suppose that in a less scrupulous shop than W.B. Hunters, if it was observed on closed circuit surveillance cameras that a really wealthy shopper was approaching an item at a cut price, the managers might, in an instant, double or treble the price, on the assumption that people of real wealth do not usually demean themselves to question outlandish prices! Doubtless this technology has been around for a while, but it is the first time I have noticed it.
We also bought some silicon, because on Saturday I had spent time on the Rectory roof trying to identify a leak. I discovered several smallish cracks in the roof's coping in need of some attention I then cleared the roof's valleys of tree debris, a bit daft with the leaves beginning to fall heavily. They will need doing again in a few weeks.
After this we together descended to less enjoyable but necessary house cleaning tasks for a while. Diana, at twice my speed and with thrice my diligence.
Compost, manure and other good tucker
More soul satisfying was to turn our attention to the garden. There we finished composting mulching and manuring our vegetable beds, bedded broccoli and chard and before planting a good row of snow peas erected a trellis to support them. It got dark before we could plant some rows of turnips, a vegetable I love when mashed with butter and pepper.
For dinner a delicious lamb chop, grilled with leeks (from the garden) in cheese sauce, parsnips (from the garden), carrots (from the garden), potatoes (from the garden) and mint sauce (mint from the garden). Only onion and tomatoes were from the greengrocer. We do still have some tomatoes in the garden, but only little ones, not suitable for grilling and spiking with slivers of garlic.
Tristan da Cunha
We are continuing to type out my mother's diaries from her stay on the Island of Tristan da Cunha sixty years ago. It is a slow task.
Diana has a connection with Princess Anne who is the Patron of the St Helena Diocesan Association, of which Diana has been an active member for a good number of years. The volume of my mother's diaries that she is typing records the island's celebrations of the Queen's Coronation. Diana is sure that this little account of celebrations on the loneliest of all the far flung fragments of the British Empire is likely to be appreciated by the Royal Family in this 60th anniversary year. She intends sending a copy to them.
I am tackling the volume before that one. It records our leaving England in October 1952 on the Athlone Castle, our stay for two weeks in Cape Town and our horrendous voyage to the island on the Royal Navy Frigate, H.M.S. Actaeon. During our time in Cape Town the following little incident, noted by my mother in this particular volume, nearly deprived you of your present Rector:
Mr Rowan (late manager of the Tristan Canning Co) called and took us to his house above Hout Bay. It is situated on a mountain slope in a lovely setting. Mrs Rowan is a keen ornithologist and biologist and their place is a sanctuary for wild life. Flowering shrubs grow in profusion. Just inside the drive there are lanky cranes and we also saw a peahen. There is a little stream, brown and sparkling among stones and boulders. The children bathed in it with Andrew Rowan an attractive little boy of 6. The sun was terrifically hot and we grown ups went into the cool stone living room for an orange drink (soft).
Later the children came to play near the house. Suddenly Andrew Rowan rushed in and before we could speak his mother dashed into the garden. We followed and I was just in time to see our Andrew dripping wet and looking ghastly. He had fallen into the swimming pool at the deep end which was over 6ft. He had nearly drowned and Mrs Rowan was just going to apply artificial respiration when he was sick and got his breath back. He was an amazing little fellow. He never panicked. Just tried to swim rather unsuccessfully. Susan and Peter didn't realise the danger and were laughing at the bubbles he made as he went down. Mrs Rowan managed to catch hold of him without jumping in herself. Thank God he was saved. He told us afterwards he thought he'd never see us again.
We dressed him in Andrew Rowan's clothes and it was a horrible sight to see his sun hat floating in the middle of the pool. It was so nearly a tragedy we never even realised it till afterwards.
Filial affection
I have been contacted by the Diocese of Cape Town and asked if I will be willing to minister on the island during our three week stint there in September. Needless to say I have agreed to do so. It will be good to celebrate Mass on the very same altar as my father did for three and a half years so long ago. While we were there he made some altar rails out of imported oak and I helped him with the sand papering. Are they still in place I wonder.
Although very different from my father as a parish priest I have in important ways modelled myself on him. Insofar as he was a successful priest, and he was, it had a lot to do with his view of himself as being one of his parishioners, rather than some exotic and holy import, to be deferred and genuflected to. He always tithed his income, and so was able to gave as much to his parishes as the best of his parishioners. He would never ask anyone to do what he was not prepared to do himself and often did end up doing it himself. He loved woodwork, plumbing, gardening, farming. He never ever claimed to be morally better than anyone else, or to be a saint, and wasn't. He was always prepared and only too willing to take up the cudgels against the diocese on behalf of his parish where necessary. He was a parishioner of parishioners as well as a priest of priests. Like all parishioners, of course, he had many failings. Like all priests, likewise, he had his flaws!
Breakfast and monasticism
If you come to the 8.00am Eucharist on Thursday or Friday you will be invited to attend breakfast with us in the Narthex. We have been doing this for a couple of months now and it is lovely to share toast, ginger marmalade, honey, jam, good will, real coffee and charitable gossip with fellow Christians. So far there has been but one morning only with no one except Diana, myself and Fr John Price present.
My two oldest friends, one from school days, one from university days and both of them priests have now retired. They have lived happily for many years in England and their joys, trials and tribulations in retirement begin to give me pause for thought and reflection.
Insofar as we are authors of our own story, it is necessary to begin to anticipate, and adumbrate in our story's present, any future plot developments that are either likely or inevitable. Retirement is one such. In a recent column I compared moving from a spacious and possession-cluttered house into a nursing home room to a form of enforced monasticism. The metaphor applies specifically to the letting go of possessions.
The thought of giving away nearly everything we own, to simplify, unclutter and dispossess ourselves, can either be resented, resisted and allowed to destroy contentment, or it can be embraced as a form of liberation and as an opportunity to allow grace and God to flower within us in new ways.
The Patronal Festival and Pastoral Care
Everyone should have received an invitation to our Patronal Festival, or will soon do so. These days we attempt to economise on postage and so a great deal of work has been put into arranging the roll into geographical "areas" to enable all of us to deliver invitations and parish magazines or notices by hand. This is important for more reasons than merely saving money. It helps us to get to know our church-family neighbours and so, if necessary and at all inclined, enable us either to befriend them or keep a caring eye on them. It is all part of our Pastoral Care.
The Patronal Festival Eucharist and Dinner is also to do with church-family. Everyone should determine to participate. It is a sort of family birthday celebration. Dookie folk forego their service to join us, and Katandra folk will hopefully be present as well. Please return your invitation slips to the Office in good time.
It is always a joy to go to Murchison and Rushworth. They are both lovely churches. I did a funeral at St Paul's Rushworth the week before last and was again struck by how the loveliness of the Church is so enhanced by its splendid setting. Last Sunday I took their combined Eucharist at Christchurch Murchison, a pleasing, happy service followed up by a splendid Parish meal near Toolamba. Yet another great, necessary and joyful celebration of family-of-God-belonging.
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:
Merle Maskell 8 May
Joyce Oxley 10 May
Jim Olphert 12 May
Anniversary:
Bev & Michael Condon 12 May
WELCOME
Members of the Country Women's Association of Victoria join us at the 10.30 Eucharist today. Welcome good folk! We are blessed by your presence among us and trust that you will stay on for a cup of coffee & fellowship afterwards.
WELCOME
Welcome to Vera Boumbis and members of her family to the 10.30am Eucharist. It is the 40 day Memorial for Peter Boumbis, Vera's husband. May he rest in peace.
THANK YOU GRAEME BREWER
Our organist today is Graeme Brewer, kindly stepping in as Elizabeth Woodyard is away. Many thanks.
PLATES - Lost and Found
Carole has put out a table in the Narthex with plates that have been waiting, over the last year, to be claimed. Please check the table for an old friend you may have forgotten. We shall put any unclaimed plates in the next sale.
ADMITTING PARISH COUNCILLORS
(Today: 8.30 attenders at 8.30 & 10.30 at 10.30)
We admit Wardens and Councillors at either or both services in St Augustine's today. Vestry members at Dookie and Katandra will be admitted as arranged. Parish Councillors, Wardens and their families are invited to lunch at the Rectory today at 12.00 noonish.
STUDY COURSE CONTINUES
Christian Zen and Thomas Merton
Tuesdays 1,8,15,22 May 7.30 - 9pm
The second of these interesting studies
will again take place in the Narthex.
Conducted by Fr Rob Whalley.
ST COLUMB'S FAIR
Saturday 12 May 10 - 3pm
Sign up in the Narthex for this enjoyable and informative day to do with ways of being an effective parish - always stimulating.
PARISH FAIR RAFFLE SUB COMMITTEE
Thursday 10 May 4pm - Narthex
The year's first meeting! Come and join us.
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 .The meeting will be in the Supper Room of the Hall.
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.
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.
FRIENDSHIP GROUP
Tuesday 15 May 2pm
At home in the Narthex. Come with a friend if you can and enjoy one another's good company. If you have not been before come and join in when you can.
EVENING GUILD
Thursday 17 May 1.30 in Roz's room
Ella Egan is to demonstrate ‘making felt brooches'. Bring with you scissors, strong thread and needles. A chance to be creative with an excellent teacher.
RAFFLE
Draw on 13 June after the 10am service
Prize: hand-painted plate by Joan McKellar. Tickets available from Guild members or Nola Brewer at $2.00 a ticket in aid of ABM.
FOR THE DIARY
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
May15 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 9 Sat Men's Breakfast after 8am mass
Jun 14 Th 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
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 should be listed without permission.
Dulcie Ackland, Hilary & Alan Akers, Liam Bognar, Peter Burgess, Betty Bush, Michael Egan, Frank Harder, Bruce Hodgson & family, Katherine Holt, Bill Hunter, Margaret Kidman,, Merle Maskell, Adrian Moule, Sandra Simonis,, Fay Warren, Joyce & Ray.
Rest in Peace: Peter Boumbis, Donald Oliver.
Anniversaries: Dorothy Neaum, Geoffrey Carmichael, William Lethlean (7 May), Jim Reither, Eva Wooton (8 May),Bosilka Damianopoulos, Simon Keeley, Glenda Kuehnapfel (9 May), June Reid, Roger Knights, Agnes Causon (11 May), Charles Causon, Alma Broughton (12 May).
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 Volunteer, Irene Crawford
Welcome Table 10.30 Dorothy Cook
Projector 10.30 Charlotte Brewer
Children's Church Diana
Mowing none
Altar Linen -May Gwenda Betson
Monday Office Rosemary Moore, Jeanette Smith
Duties for Sunday 13 May
Reader 8.30 Carole, Norm Weaver
Intercessors 8.30 Bev Condon
Servers 8.30 Beth, Michelle
Euc. Assts 8.30 Grace, John Holder
Sidespeople 8.30 Gwyn and Merv Cowland
Welcomer 8.30 Anita Saville, Heather Nichols
Welcome Table 8.30 Dorothy Cook, Beverley Walsh
Tea 8.30 Shirley Dean
Readers 10.30 Andrea Fisher, Courtney Craven
Intercessors 10.30 Joan McCann
Servers 10.30 Joe,
Euc. Assts 10.30 Grace, Christine Evans
Sidespeople 10.30 Chris Sim, Charlotte Brewer
Welcomers 10.30 volunteer, Frank Steen,
Welcome Table 10.30 Judy Lloyd , Bev Condon
Projector 10.30 Lionel Waterson
Children's Church Suzanne
Mowing 19 May Marg and Brendan Carroll
Altar Linen -May Gwenda Betson
Monday Office Volunteer
READINGS NEXT SUNDAY 13 May
Acts 10:44-48, Psalm 98,1 John 5:1-12
THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
Sunday 6 May Fifth of EASTER
5.30pm Evening Prayer- Lady Chapel
Monday 7 May
Rector's day off
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
5.00pm Evening Prayer- Lady Chapel
Tuesday 8 May Julian of Norwich
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
10-12pm Play Group -Roz's Room- Church Hall.
5.00pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
6.30pm Grief Support - meal meeting
7.30pm Merton / Zen Study
Wednesday 9 May
7.45am Mattins - Lady Chapel
10.00am Eucharist - St Augustine's
2.00pm Vestry
5.00pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
5.30pm Hospice
6.00pm EfM
7.30pm Baptism Preparation
Thursday 10 May
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
8.25am Narthex Breakfast
10.00am Eucharist -Mercy
11.00am Eucharists - Harmony
11.00am Eucharist- Ave Maria
12.15pm Clergy Lunch
4.00pm Confirmation Class-Juniors
5.00pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
5.30pm Choir Practice
7.30pm Confirmation Class-Adults
Friday 11 May
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist - Lady Chapel
8.25am Narthex Breakfast
5.00pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel
7.30pm PCC Rushworth/ Murchison
Saturday 12 May
7.45am Mattins & Eucharist
10.00-3pm St Columb's Fair
6.00pm Vigil Eucharist
Sunday 13 May
8.30am Sung Eucharist - St Augustine's
10.30am Eucharist - St Augustine's & Children's Church
8.45am Eucharist - St Luke's Dookie
10.30am Eucharist - St Mary's Katandra
9.00am Murchison - local
11.00am Rushworth - local
5.30pm Evening Prayer - Lady Chapel