A MESSAGE TO ALL PARISHES FROM
FROM ARCHBISHOP JEFFREY DRIVER
IN RESPONSE TO AN ARTICLE
IN THE ADVERTISER ON SATURDAY, MAY 29TH.
(I would ask that you read this to congregations at all services on May 30th)
You may have been concerned by an article in the Adelaide Advertiser yesterday. The article seems to infer that the Diocese, the Archbishop and Anglicare SA either acted improperly, or sought to act improperly, in considering whether Anglicare could support the diocesan response to the survivors of abuse
I assure you that such inferences or suggestions are untrue. No funds were improperly transferred to the Diocese. Anglicare Board did not act contrary to its own constitution. All funds for programs managed by Anglicare were properly acquitted, reported and audited.
I continue to maintain that it was morally and pastorally right for Anglicare to explore ways, within its legal and constitutional framework, to support the diocesan response to the survivors of abuse. Anglicare was incorporated in 2000, but a number of the cases of abuse that the Diocese was responding to were linked to entities or people associated with Anglicare before its incorporation. The person who allegedly perpetrated the most instances of abuse, Mr Robert Brandenburg, was for a time an employee of Anglicare.
As an organisation established for the care and support of the marginalised and needy, Anglicare-SA could not have maintained its integrity if it had not considered how it could support a response to people who had suffered in entities or through staff associated with it before its incorporation. Of course it had to act within its constitution and with full regard for the proper use of funds, so its capacity to support the diocesan response was limited.
An amount of money was transferred to the Diocese in 2007. These were funds that were erroneously transferred to Anglicare at the time of incorporation. The error was discovered by Anglicare and the funds were returned following legal advice.
Anglicare-SA, the Diocese and the Archbishop are taking legal advice about the article published in the Adelaide Advertiser on Saturday.
+Jeffrey
Saturday, 29 May 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Notes on Readings
SUNDAY 30th May, 2010 TRINITY SUNDAY
Sentence
Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice? The Lord created me at the beginning of His work, the first of His acts long ago. Proverbs 8:1, 22
Collect
Father we praise You that through Your Word and Holy Spirit, You created all things; You reveal Your salvation in all the world through Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh; through Your Holy Spirit, You give is a share in Your life and love; fill us with a vision of Your glory that we may always serve and praise You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen
Old Testament Lesson Proverbs 8: 1 – 4 & 22 – 31
Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out: "To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live.
The LORD created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth-- when he had not yet made earth and fields, or the world's first bits of soil. When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race.
PSALM 8
O Lord our Governor: how glorious is Your name in all the earth!
Your majesty above the heavens is yet recounted: by the mouths of babes and sucklings
You have founded a strong defence against Your adversaries: to quell the enemy and the avenger
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers: the moon and the stars which You have set in order
What are we, that You should be mindful of us: what are we, that You should care for us?
Yet You have made us little less than gods: and have crowned us with glory and honour
You have given us dominion over Your handiwork: and have put all things in subjection under our feet
All sheep and oxen: and all the creatures of the field
The birds of the air and the fish of the sea: and everything that moves in the pathways of the great waters
O Lord our Governor: how glorious is Your name in all the earth!
Epistle Romans 5: 1 – 5
Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
GOSPEL John 16: 12 – 15
Jesus said, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
© New Revised Standard Version of the Bible
Copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the
Churches of Christ in the USA, and used by permission. All rights reserved
NOTES ON THE READINGS
Old Testament
You are free to charge me with ‘cooking my cabbages twice’ or even a few more times over, but I ask you to ponder what is being said here, for it really does echo the greater part of the Biblical revelation. Just as John in his Gospel focussed on the ‘logos,’ the word and reason for existence, here the far more ancient author focusses on ‘wisdom.’ In other words it is the reiteration of the fact that the Biblical Faith has to do with sense, and not with some sort of spiritual idiocy. The Biblical Faith is rational, sound, sensible – it is not weird or oddball; nor was it ever designed to so silly. Sure there are parts and passages where one wonders what the writer expected people to believe or understand; but there is not a lot that comes across as incredible or unrelated to sense. In fact, the Hebrew faith evolved as people looked at life and experience, and drew their perceptions from real life.
Mind you, there is a distance between what the Hebrews understood by ‘wisdom,’ and how the Greeks tended to see it. For Hebrews, wisdom tended to relate to common sense and matters easily established by reference to people’s experience. For Greeks, it was a rather more intellectual exercise, open for debate but more often than not, irresolvable. It was something to debate, with little or no expectation of coming up with any answers. Indeed, this passage from Proverbs was an appeal to the common experience of people, high and low, both levels of which could nod their heads in agreement to the sentiments expressed.
Most of all, it is fascinating to notice that the old author operated under the premise that this was the way it was always intended to be. Wisdom was no late starter but as the Genesis author(s) indicate, Wisdom/Spirit was there from the very beginning, before the creation, so to speak..
This has important ramifications in the understanding of the Faith. And with all due respect, it disqualifies all that is oddball, ridiculous and weird from any connection with the ‘faith once delivered.’
Psalm
Here is another line of exploration of life and God, from the Hebrew perspective. One can learn quite something about God from observing nature, and particularly from the perceived position of humanity in that wide-ranging experience of (all) life. Part of the Jewish genius was to ponder the ‘reason for existence’ but taking all possible factors into consideration. And there is no other legitimate path to travel, surely.
Epistle
First of all, please note the connection in this brief passage, with Father, Son and Spirit. For those who may still complain that ‘Trinity’ is not a Biblical word, they must still recognise that it is an attempt to express in a single word what is the accumulated information from Scripture and people’s experience of God. Note also, that this may well be no easy path, but that the process is a valuable and worthwhile one, for maturity is a by-product of the process. And that can hardly be a bad thing, eh!
GOSPEL
And here is another example of John expressing the same sort of thing that Paul did in his Roman epistle. Note the clear connection, as well as that process involving a concession to the sheer human business of needing time to absorb what may be called the theology of life and of God.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
I have become quite impatient, over the years, at people outside the Faith who continue to charge us with putting dogma before common sense. It is a charge I deny and have done for decades, having long discovered the failure of dogma to compete with reality. The Faith, Hebrew and Christian, is far more virile than that. Dare I say it, that the Faith evolves, or at least my understanding of the Faith evolves, just as I do as a human being.
So when we talk about “Trinity” what are we on about?
I recall – many years ago now – having a new family join the congregation where we were then living. They had moved to our town and were looking for a Church to belong to, and were going through the tasting process: and we had four mainstream Churches there. They chose us to belong to, and began attending our Bible Study Group, which was great. He had come from a Jehovah’s Witness background though he had rejected that when he was young. I was not surprised when his first and major question of me was about the Trinity, that factor being almost a swear word where he had come from.
We talked several times at some length, not attempting to prove or disprove anything, but it did not meet him where he was. So I suggested that he leave the issue alone for a while, and simply allow life and faith to surround and support him. I think I surprised him somewhat when I suggested that – with the passage of time, and prayer and thought, the issue may well address itself, and his answers come. I also suggested that, if it did not, then we talk again.
It was some years later that he ‘complained’ to me that I had never followed him up. I reminded him of the terms agreed to, that he raise any further questions, and asked why he did not. He laughed and said, ‘I have come to understand why you suggested what you did. As I watched and pondered, the answers came, and I had no need to ask further.’
Apart from theological dimensions, the answer for most people is really rather simple. ‘Trinity’ is an attempt to put into words what can describe and delineate something of human experience of God. It would take a long sermon to cover many of the possibilities, but the fact that there are theological ‘limitations’ is because we do have a long history of rather strange and oddball theories.
It is interesting to note that, as a surprise to some people, that business of the Holy Spirit is not new to the New Testament, but rather goes back to the Biblical beginnings. And one needs to understand Old Testament statements and parallels to ‘spirit’ – and there are several. Wisdom is one of the alternative ‘names’ and the Wisdom Literature of the OT underlines the importance seen by Hebrews of the God Who speaks through one’s own spirit.
Obviously, with the Genesis stories of creation, there is another way God speaks to people, through the very life and world which has been given them. Those old story-tellers are matched quite nicely by some of the Psalmists, who point to a remarkably vocal natural universe, open and available to anyone who cares or dares to listen. On top of that, the Prophets, a remarkable and unique group of people, illustrated quite constantly the way in which God spoke to them and through them to the populace at large.
And now God has spoken to us in His Son. Why some people get stirred up about evolution always escapes me, for that is the process of revelation through the Scriptures. Like any development, it had to start where the people of the time ‘were at’ as the expression has it. And Abraham would have started his pilgrimage with a huge amount of baggage from his past. We are no different,) It was no accident that the process of development took all of the 3,000 years from Abraham to Christ, for in my experience, people do not change in five minutes. Nor in five years or even five decades. Notice, importantly, that those 3,000 years of exploration and discovery did not come from individuals isolated as hermits, but it all took place in the quite ordinary vicissitudes of daily life. And that is where each person discovered, understood and then related to God. And if the faith they developed did not ‘fit’ real and ordinary life, then it was discarded as irrelevant. It is a lesson we need to re-learn, do we not!
So with the arrival of Jesus, the Word made flesh, incarnated, came the apex of revelation. And it was, once again, into ordinary, unvarnished living that He came. In other words, Jesus continued the clear and vital understanding that the Faith would have to prove itself in real life, or it would disqualify itself. If the Jesus ‘experiment’ failed, then the whole faith would collapse. Mind you, one needs to ponder quite what Jesus was doing, and why as well as how, for here was no charade to9 be gone through, but a huge test on the real and powerful stage of everyone’s life.
So, in the final analysis, what ‘Trinity’ is saying is this: that God is encountered, or there to be encountered, in three ways. One, is through the world in which we live, or these days, the universe vast beyond our imaginings. One needs to remember that it was because of the clear perception of that day, the science grew in Western culture on the very grounds that as there is one God, there must be sufficient order in the universe to be able to explore and find sense.
Another factor is what we spoke about last Sunday, and the God Who speaks even to kids having brawls with their parents. One needs to be honest and fair dinkum about the way conscience ‘doth make cowards of us all’ sometimes, for there is that inbuilt sense of truth and justice – unless we turn out backs on it, finally, utterly and wilfully. And then came Jesus: the example par excellence that all of Israel’s discoveries of truth and justice, integrity and love are valid, and even necessary if life is to be lived at its true fullest. Peace will never come without justice, whether between nations or even individuals.
So in the final analysis, ‘Trinity’ is not theoretical or even doctrinal. It is experiential. And how is that for a grenade to be dropped in your lap?
Sentence
Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice? The Lord created me at the beginning of His work, the first of His acts long ago. Proverbs 8:1, 22
Collect
Father we praise You that through Your Word and Holy Spirit, You created all things; You reveal Your salvation in all the world through Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh; through Your Holy Spirit, You give is a share in Your life and love; fill us with a vision of Your glory that we may always serve and praise You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen
Old Testament Lesson Proverbs 8: 1 – 4 & 22 – 31
Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out: "To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live.
The LORD created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth-- when he had not yet made earth and fields, or the world's first bits of soil. When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race.
PSALM 8
O Lord our Governor: how glorious is Your name in all the earth!
Your majesty above the heavens is yet recounted: by the mouths of babes and sucklings
You have founded a strong defence against Your adversaries: to quell the enemy and the avenger
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers: the moon and the stars which You have set in order
What are we, that You should be mindful of us: what are we, that You should care for us?
Yet You have made us little less than gods: and have crowned us with glory and honour
You have given us dominion over Your handiwork: and have put all things in subjection under our feet
All sheep and oxen: and all the creatures of the field
The birds of the air and the fish of the sea: and everything that moves in the pathways of the great waters
O Lord our Governor: how glorious is Your name in all the earth!
Epistle Romans 5: 1 – 5
Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
GOSPEL John 16: 12 – 15
Jesus said, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
© New Revised Standard Version of the Bible
Copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the
Churches of Christ in the USA, and used by permission. All rights reserved
NOTES ON THE READINGS
Old Testament
You are free to charge me with ‘cooking my cabbages twice’ or even a few more times over, but I ask you to ponder what is being said here, for it really does echo the greater part of the Biblical revelation. Just as John in his Gospel focussed on the ‘logos,’ the word and reason for existence, here the far more ancient author focusses on ‘wisdom.’ In other words it is the reiteration of the fact that the Biblical Faith has to do with sense, and not with some sort of spiritual idiocy. The Biblical Faith is rational, sound, sensible – it is not weird or oddball; nor was it ever designed to so silly. Sure there are parts and passages where one wonders what the writer expected people to believe or understand; but there is not a lot that comes across as incredible or unrelated to sense. In fact, the Hebrew faith evolved as people looked at life and experience, and drew their perceptions from real life.
Mind you, there is a distance between what the Hebrews understood by ‘wisdom,’ and how the Greeks tended to see it. For Hebrews, wisdom tended to relate to common sense and matters easily established by reference to people’s experience. For Greeks, it was a rather more intellectual exercise, open for debate but more often than not, irresolvable. It was something to debate, with little or no expectation of coming up with any answers. Indeed, this passage from Proverbs was an appeal to the common experience of people, high and low, both levels of which could nod their heads in agreement to the sentiments expressed.
Most of all, it is fascinating to notice that the old author operated under the premise that this was the way it was always intended to be. Wisdom was no late starter but as the Genesis author(s) indicate, Wisdom/Spirit was there from the very beginning, before the creation, so to speak..
This has important ramifications in the understanding of the Faith. And with all due respect, it disqualifies all that is oddball, ridiculous and weird from any connection with the ‘faith once delivered.’
Psalm
Here is another line of exploration of life and God, from the Hebrew perspective. One can learn quite something about God from observing nature, and particularly from the perceived position of humanity in that wide-ranging experience of (all) life. Part of the Jewish genius was to ponder the ‘reason for existence’ but taking all possible factors into consideration. And there is no other legitimate path to travel, surely.
Epistle
First of all, please note the connection in this brief passage, with Father, Son and Spirit. For those who may still complain that ‘Trinity’ is not a Biblical word, they must still recognise that it is an attempt to express in a single word what is the accumulated information from Scripture and people’s experience of God. Note also, that this may well be no easy path, but that the process is a valuable and worthwhile one, for maturity is a by-product of the process. And that can hardly be a bad thing, eh!
GOSPEL
And here is another example of John expressing the same sort of thing that Paul did in his Roman epistle. Note the clear connection, as well as that process involving a concession to the sheer human business of needing time to absorb what may be called the theology of life and of God.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
I have become quite impatient, over the years, at people outside the Faith who continue to charge us with putting dogma before common sense. It is a charge I deny and have done for decades, having long discovered the failure of dogma to compete with reality. The Faith, Hebrew and Christian, is far more virile than that. Dare I say it, that the Faith evolves, or at least my understanding of the Faith evolves, just as I do as a human being.
So when we talk about “Trinity” what are we on about?
I recall – many years ago now – having a new family join the congregation where we were then living. They had moved to our town and were looking for a Church to belong to, and were going through the tasting process: and we had four mainstream Churches there. They chose us to belong to, and began attending our Bible Study Group, which was great. He had come from a Jehovah’s Witness background though he had rejected that when he was young. I was not surprised when his first and major question of me was about the Trinity, that factor being almost a swear word where he had come from.
We talked several times at some length, not attempting to prove or disprove anything, but it did not meet him where he was. So I suggested that he leave the issue alone for a while, and simply allow life and faith to surround and support him. I think I surprised him somewhat when I suggested that – with the passage of time, and prayer and thought, the issue may well address itself, and his answers come. I also suggested that, if it did not, then we talk again.
It was some years later that he ‘complained’ to me that I had never followed him up. I reminded him of the terms agreed to, that he raise any further questions, and asked why he did not. He laughed and said, ‘I have come to understand why you suggested what you did. As I watched and pondered, the answers came, and I had no need to ask further.’
Apart from theological dimensions, the answer for most people is really rather simple. ‘Trinity’ is an attempt to put into words what can describe and delineate something of human experience of God. It would take a long sermon to cover many of the possibilities, but the fact that there are theological ‘limitations’ is because we do have a long history of rather strange and oddball theories.
It is interesting to note that, as a surprise to some people, that business of the Holy Spirit is not new to the New Testament, but rather goes back to the Biblical beginnings. And one needs to understand Old Testament statements and parallels to ‘spirit’ – and there are several. Wisdom is one of the alternative ‘names’ and the Wisdom Literature of the OT underlines the importance seen by Hebrews of the God Who speaks through one’s own spirit.
Obviously, with the Genesis stories of creation, there is another way God speaks to people, through the very life and world which has been given them. Those old story-tellers are matched quite nicely by some of the Psalmists, who point to a remarkably vocal natural universe, open and available to anyone who cares or dares to listen. On top of that, the Prophets, a remarkable and unique group of people, illustrated quite constantly the way in which God spoke to them and through them to the populace at large.
And now God has spoken to us in His Son. Why some people get stirred up about evolution always escapes me, for that is the process of revelation through the Scriptures. Like any development, it had to start where the people of the time ‘were at’ as the expression has it. And Abraham would have started his pilgrimage with a huge amount of baggage from his past. We are no different,) It was no accident that the process of development took all of the 3,000 years from Abraham to Christ, for in my experience, people do not change in five minutes. Nor in five years or even five decades. Notice, importantly, that those 3,000 years of exploration and discovery did not come from individuals isolated as hermits, but it all took place in the quite ordinary vicissitudes of daily life. And that is where each person discovered, understood and then related to God. And if the faith they developed did not ‘fit’ real and ordinary life, then it was discarded as irrelevant. It is a lesson we need to re-learn, do we not!
So with the arrival of Jesus, the Word made flesh, incarnated, came the apex of revelation. And it was, once again, into ordinary, unvarnished living that He came. In other words, Jesus continued the clear and vital understanding that the Faith would have to prove itself in real life, or it would disqualify itself. If the Jesus ‘experiment’ failed, then the whole faith would collapse. Mind you, one needs to ponder quite what Jesus was doing, and why as well as how, for here was no charade to9 be gone through, but a huge test on the real and powerful stage of everyone’s life.
So, in the final analysis, what ‘Trinity’ is saying is this: that God is encountered, or there to be encountered, in three ways. One, is through the world in which we live, or these days, the universe vast beyond our imaginings. One needs to remember that it was because of the clear perception of that day, the science grew in Western culture on the very grounds that as there is one God, there must be sufficient order in the universe to be able to explore and find sense.
Another factor is what we spoke about last Sunday, and the God Who speaks even to kids having brawls with their parents. One needs to be honest and fair dinkum about the way conscience ‘doth make cowards of us all’ sometimes, for there is that inbuilt sense of truth and justice – unless we turn out backs on it, finally, utterly and wilfully. And then came Jesus: the example par excellence that all of Israel’s discoveries of truth and justice, integrity and love are valid, and even necessary if life is to be lived at its true fullest. Peace will never come without justice, whether between nations or even individuals.
So in the final analysis, ‘Trinity’ is not theoretical or even doctrinal. It is experiential. And how is that for a grenade to be dropped in your lap?
Newsletter
SUNDAY 30th May 2010
Trinity Sunday
Our Celebrant and preacher today is
Rev’d Dr. Warren Huffa
WELCOME
Please join us for breakfast in the hall after the 8am service or for morning tea after the 10am service. At 10am you will find all prayers and hymns projected onto the sanctuary walls. There is Sunday School at the 10 am service during School term times.
THE PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father we praise You that through Your Word and Holy Spirit, You created all things; You reveal Your salvation in all the world through Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh; through Your Holy Spirit, You give is a share in Your life and love; fill us with a vision of Your glory that we may always serve and praise You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. .Amen
TODAY’S READINGS Proverbs 8: 1 – 4 & 23 – 31 or Romans 5: 1 – 5 read by Jane S
GOSPEL John 16: 12 - 15
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Marg P
We pray for those in need Warren and Thea, Janet and Peter, Ron Teague, Michael Boere. Sid Sweet,
We give thanks for the life of Norah Huxham (2004) and Alan Crutchley (1986)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mary Roberts, Bob Arnold and Neal Barber
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY –
PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY – Second Sunday after Pentecost
Readings 1 Kings 17: 8 – 16 and Galatians 1: 11 - 24
GOSPEL Luke 7: 11 - 17
Refer Fr Ron’s Notes available at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/
POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Today Don Caddy or Craig Deane
Next Week Barb Capon or Luke Vandepeer
REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month at 36 Penno Parade North
THURSDAY EVENINGS 7.00pm Meditation, Eucharist and Discussion
BIBLE STUDY 10am every Wednesday at 378 Main Road Coromandel Valley
St John’s Grammar has booked the Hall each day for Yr 12 exams from 19 to 23 July and 26th.
OTHER COMING EVENTS
July 25 Patronal Festival with Bishop David McCall preacher.
HELPLINE
Part of being a Christian community is the support offered to each other in times of need. We offer short-term delivery of food where needed, local transport, phone calls, visits and other types of assistance. Call Iris Downes 8278 3260 or Marlene Dixon 8278 8568
The Sunday School group will be grateful for (refundable) bottles, cans and packs being made available: the proceeds will be put to good use for Children’s Ministry. See Robyn Keynes for more info.
BUSH CHURCH AID BOX OPENING
Margaret Pressley advises that May is Box-opening month, and asks all box holders to bring their boxes so that the collections can be sent on.
Thanks once again to parishioners for all your generosity with donations of food and clothing fir the Magdalene Centre. Our greatest need for the homeless is for men’s wear, particularly shoes (pre-loved absolutely perfect.) We are happy to collect if this will assist. Kate and Allan 83703166
Family Packs
On a table in the narthex, are Family Packs, for parents and grandparents to help with teaching young ones the Faith All this for only $5.00. Robyn Keynes has more information
2010/2011 PARISH DIRECTORY
Would you please update or add your details to our Directory. This is a wonderful resource for keeping in touch with each other. There is a form in this week’s pew sheet or you can collect one from the foyer. Please pass them to Wendy or in her absence, leave them with Cynthia. You can contact Wendy on 0433 786 261 or wendy@copycatprinting.com.au.
Note on the Home Groups
As we now have a Thursday night program at the church it has been suggested that we attend the Thursday night session as an alternative for a few months
St. Barnabas’ College 130th Anniversary
On Thursday 10 June, St Barnabas’ Theological College will be celebrating 130 years from the laying of its foundation stone by Bishop Short on St Barnabas’ Day, 11 June 1880. The evening will begin with 6pm Patronal Festival Evensong at Christ Church North Adelaide, with the Rev’d Dr Matthew Anstey preaching. This will be followed by a light supper, during which there will be a presentation about the College and news about its exciting future. All collegians and members of the diocese are warmly invited to this significant event. A special offering for the College will be collected during the service. To assist with catering, please RSVP to the College by Friday 4 June (mmorris@adelaide.anglican.com.au; 8416 8440).
SCHOOLS MINISTRY GROUP CONFERENCE EXPO
This expo is not just for those who work specifically in schools, but is ideal for all who are involved in Children’s and/or Youth Ministry area. You are invited to come, see and hear about many of the best programs, resources and people available in South Australia, in this once a year expo! Dozens of a whole range of mission agencies, ministry networks, denominational youth and children’s departments, Christian training agencies, Government service providers, plus displays of all the latest resources & books will be present – all in the one location! Plus, mix and chat with others who share in your passion for reaching and empowering today’s children and young people.
When: Monday June 28th, anytime between 5:00pm – 8:00pm
Where: ‘The Shed’ at Seaton Christian Family Centre 185 Frederick Road, Seaton
Cost: Free! NB: Please RSVP by 21st June 2010 to: training@smg.asn.au or 08 8378 6800
Items for the Newsletter need to be sent to Fr. Ron at 8298 7160 or ronpkeynes@internode.on.net or
60a Davenport Terrace, Seacliff Park SA 5049 by Tuesday nights, please
Trinity Sunday
Our Celebrant and preacher today is
Rev’d Dr. Warren Huffa
WELCOME
Please join us for breakfast in the hall after the 8am service or for morning tea after the 10am service. At 10am you will find all prayers and hymns projected onto the sanctuary walls. There is Sunday School at the 10 am service during School term times.
THE PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father we praise You that through Your Word and Holy Spirit, You created all things; You reveal Your salvation in all the world through Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh; through Your Holy Spirit, You give is a share in Your life and love; fill us with a vision of Your glory that we may always serve and praise You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. .Amen
TODAY’S READINGS Proverbs 8: 1 – 4 & 23 – 31 or Romans 5: 1 – 5 read by Jane S
GOSPEL John 16: 12 - 15
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Marg P
We pray for those in need Warren and Thea, Janet and Peter, Ron Teague, Michael Boere. Sid Sweet,
We give thanks for the life of Norah Huxham (2004) and Alan Crutchley (1986)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mary Roberts, Bob Arnold and Neal Barber
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY –
PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY – Second Sunday after Pentecost
Readings 1 Kings 17: 8 – 16 and Galatians 1: 11 - 24
GOSPEL Luke 7: 11 - 17
Refer Fr Ron’s Notes available at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/
POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Today Don Caddy or Craig Deane
Next Week Barb Capon or Luke Vandepeer
REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month at 36 Penno Parade North
THURSDAY EVENINGS 7.00pm Meditation, Eucharist and Discussion
BIBLE STUDY 10am every Wednesday at 378 Main Road Coromandel Valley
St John’s Grammar has booked the Hall each day for Yr 12 exams from 19 to 23 July and 26th.
OTHER COMING EVENTS
July 25 Patronal Festival with Bishop David McCall preacher.
HELPLINE
Part of being a Christian community is the support offered to each other in times of need. We offer short-term delivery of food where needed, local transport, phone calls, visits and other types of assistance. Call Iris Downes 8278 3260 or Marlene Dixon 8278 8568
The Sunday School group will be grateful for (refundable) bottles, cans and packs being made available: the proceeds will be put to good use for Children’s Ministry. See Robyn Keynes for more info.
BUSH CHURCH AID BOX OPENING
Margaret Pressley advises that May is Box-opening month, and asks all box holders to bring their boxes so that the collections can be sent on.
Thanks once again to parishioners for all your generosity with donations of food and clothing fir the Magdalene Centre. Our greatest need for the homeless is for men’s wear, particularly shoes (pre-loved absolutely perfect.) We are happy to collect if this will assist. Kate and Allan 83703166
Family Packs
On a table in the narthex, are Family Packs, for parents and grandparents to help with teaching young ones the Faith All this for only $5.00. Robyn Keynes has more information
2010/2011 PARISH DIRECTORY
Would you please update or add your details to our Directory. This is a wonderful resource for keeping in touch with each other. There is a form in this week’s pew sheet or you can collect one from the foyer. Please pass them to Wendy or in her absence, leave them with Cynthia. You can contact Wendy on 0433 786 261 or wendy@copycatprinting.com.au.
Note on the Home Groups
As we now have a Thursday night program at the church it has been suggested that we attend the Thursday night session as an alternative for a few months
St. Barnabas’ College 130th Anniversary
On Thursday 10 June, St Barnabas’ Theological College will be celebrating 130 years from the laying of its foundation stone by Bishop Short on St Barnabas’ Day, 11 June 1880. The evening will begin with 6pm Patronal Festival Evensong at Christ Church North Adelaide, with the Rev’d Dr Matthew Anstey preaching. This will be followed by a light supper, during which there will be a presentation about the College and news about its exciting future. All collegians and members of the diocese are warmly invited to this significant event. A special offering for the College will be collected during the service. To assist with catering, please RSVP to the College by Friday 4 June (mmorris@adelaide.anglican.com.au; 8416 8440).
SCHOOLS MINISTRY GROUP CONFERENCE EXPO
This expo is not just for those who work specifically in schools, but is ideal for all who are involved in Children’s and/or Youth Ministry area. You are invited to come, see and hear about many of the best programs, resources and people available in South Australia, in this once a year expo! Dozens of a whole range of mission agencies, ministry networks, denominational youth and children’s departments, Christian training agencies, Government service providers, plus displays of all the latest resources & books will be present – all in the one location! Plus, mix and chat with others who share in your passion for reaching and empowering today’s children and young people.
When: Monday June 28th, anytime between 5:00pm – 8:00pm
Where: ‘The Shed’ at Seaton Christian Family Centre 185 Frederick Road, Seaton
Cost: Free! NB: Please RSVP by 21st June 2010 to: training@smg.asn.au or 08 8378 6800
Items for the Newsletter need to be sent to Fr. Ron at 8298 7160 or ronpkeynes@internode.on.net or
60a Davenport Terrace, Seacliff Park SA 5049 by Tuesday nights, please
Saturday, May 22, 2010
RonBlog
Sunday 23rd May, 2010 Pentecost - Whit Sunday
Sentence
God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us
Romans 5:5
Collect
O God, Who taught the hearts of Your faithful people by sending to them the light of Your Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore rejoice in His holy comfort; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour, Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, now and for ever Amen
First Lesson Acts 2: 1 – 21
When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs--in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 'In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'”
Psalm 104: 26 - 36
Lord, how various are all your works: in wisdom you have made them all, and the earth is full of your creatures.
There is the wide, immeasurable sea: there move living things without number, great and small.
There go the ships to and fro: and there is that Leviathan whom you formed to sport in the deep
These all look to you: to give them their food in due season
When you give it to them, they gather it: when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.
When you hide your face, they are troubled: when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit they are created: and you renew the face of the earth
May the glory of the Lord endure for ever: may the Lord rejoice in all his works.
If he look upon the earth, it shall tremble: if he but touch the mountains, they shall smoke.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live: I will praise my God while I have any being
May my meditation be pleasing to Him: for my joy shall be in the Lord
May sinners perish from the earth, let the wicked be no more: bless the Lord o my soul, O praise the Lord
Epistle Romans 8: 14 – 17
All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ--if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
GOSPEL John 14: 8 – 17(25-27)
Philip said to Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father?’ Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
NOTES ON THE READINGS
First Lesson
There may be but few readers of this material who have not stopped to realize the Biblical emphasis of this event and its record, but sadly the tale has been bent somewhat out of shape over the matter of the languages of the story. Here, if you will see it, is the reversal of Babel, the healing of division between people, and something that has been longed for by humans of all manner of persuasions emphasising the need for peace. It has nothing to do with the ‘modern’ stress on ‘tongues’ and their use, abuse and division and separation.
It needs also to be said, (and made obvious in the words of Joel,) that this removal of division and restoration of oneness has always been in the mind of God, and has always been one of the chief emphases of both Hebrew and Christian Faith. And that reconciliation had been made concrete, incarnated, in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. So from this point on, it had been made clear to all humans who want to know. Pentecost is far more than a religious festival; it is life-giving for all humanity. Or at least that is its potential – for it remains for humans to embrace the enormous gift.
Psalm
Do not be bemused by the words of this psalm which might appear to wander all over the place. It is part of the genius of Jewish faith that God is to be found in all aspects of life and history, in the natural world as well. Not only is God to be found in the ‘sensible’ aspects of nature but also in the different, weird, and unexpected. And you will note the reference to the spirit in the 32nd verse. It may be as well to note that in Jewish Scripture, ‘spirit’ has to do with life, breath, wisdom and all those aspects of life that require a little more attention than is often given. (See notes elsewhere about ruarch and pneuma, the Hebrew and Greek words translated as spirit – and breath and wind, and life actually.)
There is always joy in pondering God, Who gives life, sense and direction to living in a world that many often feel lacks those essentials for balanced living.
Epistle
I find it strange that rather too many people find any reference to the Spirit as either vague or to be internalised and spiritualised. The reality is that all humans, dare they stop and look, are aware of inner promptings when faced by choices and challenges. The fact of the Spirit of God is a common human experience, even if the source is unacknowledged. You may well have heard of or even experienced what many call ‘inspiration,’ whether that has to do with the arts, or invention or whatever. It is all of a piece, but sadly, these days (and this is not unusual!) people tend to refuse to listen to that inner voice.
My main emphasis here is that the spirit is not some exclusive gift or benefit to believers.
GOSPEL
And here, dare you think about it, is even Jesus making the observation as above. Philip was not seeing that the very evidence of the truth of Jesus’ ministry is contained in it. It resonates with all that God is, in His nature. And – perhaps it is wisdom from hindsight – but the picture Jesus offered of His Father resonates very soundly with what people must surely feel ‘is the way it should be,’ if you follow me.
When Jesus mentioned ‘the Spirit of God, Whom the world cannot receive,’ He was not saying that the Spirit is or was unavailable; the reality is that any human can close their ears to the promptings of the Spirit. ‘It is not that God is dumb; it is that we chose to be deaf.’ And there is a world of difference between that observation and the other which says that the Holy Spirit is unavailable to any human being. The very sad truth is that when a human closes their ears totally and determinedly, then the outcome for that person and those around them becomes traumatic in the extreme. Just read your newspaper or watch the TV news.
For those who do listen to the Spirit, there is peace, because there is that sense of truth and reality of where the Spirit leads a person. (Mind you, there remains great sadness when there are instances of people certain that the Spirit is taking them in oddball and even dangerous directions. Sadly, there will always be, I fear, an idiotic fringe.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
If ever there was a subject where it is possible for preachers to go off with the fairies, the subject of Pentecost Sunday is one of them. However, if you watch Scripture closely, or even re-read the passages set for today’s readings, you would have to note that there is nothing oddball, queer or even irrational about any of the subjects. In fact, the real point of Pentecost is to remind everyone of the perfectly normal, perfectly natural experience of conscience in all of us. Conscience is not the Holy Spirit of course, but is certainly a channel of connection, regardless of whether people ‘believe’ or not.
Yo will have heard this one before, but it is worth repetition. It comes from a Primary School RI Lesson in a NSW country school; where kids are as sceptical as anywhere. The lesson was about hearing God speak, and a brash young 6th Class boy threw up his hand and declared that God had never spoken to him! The class laughed as one might expect, so I wandered across to the lad’s desk and asked a series of questions. (I suspect that he anticipated some sort of order to be silent, but that was not what he got.)
I asked the lad when was the last time he had argued with his parents: the response was a sideways smile, for he had come to that only that very morning! Assuring the lad that I was not interested in the subject of the brawl, but in the process. ‘When you were arguing, what was going on inside of you?’ I asked. He said he did not know what I was talking about. ‘Right in the middle of the argument, were you aware of being untrue or false in your argument?’ ‘Oh!’ he responded, by which time the class noise level had dropped to a deep silence. ‘Yes, I knew that I was trying to bluff them, he responded. ‘So who told you that?’ I asked, to which he had no answer. ‘Was it Mum or Dad? Brother or sister? Grandma or Grandpa?’ I explored with him. The reply was finally drawn out of him. ‘None of them’ was all he could say. So I asked where else it might have come, to this 11 or 12 year old kid. He had no answer. So I pointed out to him that he had had God speak to him, as have we all, for that was the source of the urging. And I also suggested to the rest of the class that, far from having no clue of what we had been speaking, it was all common experience for them. And it came as considerable surprise, but it resonated without exception.
And that is the point: God does not leave Himself without witness in the world, and we of all people need to be completely aware of that. People may switch off listening to the promptings, but they become the poorer for it. The final outcome of refusal to listen is a heightening rise of anger and evil from such a person and rising danger to anyone around the vicinity!
Still people describe this Faith as irrelevant in the modern age. Both history and reality make it perfectly clear that little could be further from the truth. In a way it has nothing at all to do with ‘religion,’ and in fact any source of angst from anyone ‘religious’ tends to stem from their own refusal to listen to the truth. Truth and bigotry can never go hand in hand, can never be soulmates. And that is what Pentecost reminds us, year after year after year.
Sentence
God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us
Romans 5:5
Collect
O God, Who taught the hearts of Your faithful people by sending to them the light of Your Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore rejoice in His holy comfort; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour, Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, now and for ever Amen
First Lesson Acts 2: 1 – 21
When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs--in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 'In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'”
Psalm 104: 26 - 36
Lord, how various are all your works: in wisdom you have made them all, and the earth is full of your creatures.
There is the wide, immeasurable sea: there move living things without number, great and small.
There go the ships to and fro: and there is that Leviathan whom you formed to sport in the deep
These all look to you: to give them their food in due season
When you give it to them, they gather it: when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.
When you hide your face, they are troubled: when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit they are created: and you renew the face of the earth
May the glory of the Lord endure for ever: may the Lord rejoice in all his works.
If he look upon the earth, it shall tremble: if he but touch the mountains, they shall smoke.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live: I will praise my God while I have any being
May my meditation be pleasing to Him: for my joy shall be in the Lord
May sinners perish from the earth, let the wicked be no more: bless the Lord o my soul, O praise the Lord
Epistle Romans 8: 14 – 17
All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ--if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
GOSPEL John 14: 8 – 17(25-27)
Philip said to Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father?’ Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
NOTES ON THE READINGS
First Lesson
There may be but few readers of this material who have not stopped to realize the Biblical emphasis of this event and its record, but sadly the tale has been bent somewhat out of shape over the matter of the languages of the story. Here, if you will see it, is the reversal of Babel, the healing of division between people, and something that has been longed for by humans of all manner of persuasions emphasising the need for peace. It has nothing to do with the ‘modern’ stress on ‘tongues’ and their use, abuse and division and separation.
It needs also to be said, (and made obvious in the words of Joel,) that this removal of division and restoration of oneness has always been in the mind of God, and has always been one of the chief emphases of both Hebrew and Christian Faith. And that reconciliation had been made concrete, incarnated, in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. So from this point on, it had been made clear to all humans who want to know. Pentecost is far more than a religious festival; it is life-giving for all humanity. Or at least that is its potential – for it remains for humans to embrace the enormous gift.
Psalm
Do not be bemused by the words of this psalm which might appear to wander all over the place. It is part of the genius of Jewish faith that God is to be found in all aspects of life and history, in the natural world as well. Not only is God to be found in the ‘sensible’ aspects of nature but also in the different, weird, and unexpected. And you will note the reference to the spirit in the 32nd verse. It may be as well to note that in Jewish Scripture, ‘spirit’ has to do with life, breath, wisdom and all those aspects of life that require a little more attention than is often given. (See notes elsewhere about ruarch and pneuma, the Hebrew and Greek words translated as spirit – and breath and wind, and life actually.)
There is always joy in pondering God, Who gives life, sense and direction to living in a world that many often feel lacks those essentials for balanced living.
Epistle
I find it strange that rather too many people find any reference to the Spirit as either vague or to be internalised and spiritualised. The reality is that all humans, dare they stop and look, are aware of inner promptings when faced by choices and challenges. The fact of the Spirit of God is a common human experience, even if the source is unacknowledged. You may well have heard of or even experienced what many call ‘inspiration,’ whether that has to do with the arts, or invention or whatever. It is all of a piece, but sadly, these days (and this is not unusual!) people tend to refuse to listen to that inner voice.
My main emphasis here is that the spirit is not some exclusive gift or benefit to believers.
GOSPEL
And here, dare you think about it, is even Jesus making the observation as above. Philip was not seeing that the very evidence of the truth of Jesus’ ministry is contained in it. It resonates with all that God is, in His nature. And – perhaps it is wisdom from hindsight – but the picture Jesus offered of His Father resonates very soundly with what people must surely feel ‘is the way it should be,’ if you follow me.
When Jesus mentioned ‘the Spirit of God, Whom the world cannot receive,’ He was not saying that the Spirit is or was unavailable; the reality is that any human can close their ears to the promptings of the Spirit. ‘It is not that God is dumb; it is that we chose to be deaf.’ And there is a world of difference between that observation and the other which says that the Holy Spirit is unavailable to any human being. The very sad truth is that when a human closes their ears totally and determinedly, then the outcome for that person and those around them becomes traumatic in the extreme. Just read your newspaper or watch the TV news.
For those who do listen to the Spirit, there is peace, because there is that sense of truth and reality of where the Spirit leads a person. (Mind you, there remains great sadness when there are instances of people certain that the Spirit is taking them in oddball and even dangerous directions. Sadly, there will always be, I fear, an idiotic fringe.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
If ever there was a subject where it is possible for preachers to go off with the fairies, the subject of Pentecost Sunday is one of them. However, if you watch Scripture closely, or even re-read the passages set for today’s readings, you would have to note that there is nothing oddball, queer or even irrational about any of the subjects. In fact, the real point of Pentecost is to remind everyone of the perfectly normal, perfectly natural experience of conscience in all of us. Conscience is not the Holy Spirit of course, but is certainly a channel of connection, regardless of whether people ‘believe’ or not.
Yo will have heard this one before, but it is worth repetition. It comes from a Primary School RI Lesson in a NSW country school; where kids are as sceptical as anywhere. The lesson was about hearing God speak, and a brash young 6th Class boy threw up his hand and declared that God had never spoken to him! The class laughed as one might expect, so I wandered across to the lad’s desk and asked a series of questions. (I suspect that he anticipated some sort of order to be silent, but that was not what he got.)
I asked the lad when was the last time he had argued with his parents: the response was a sideways smile, for he had come to that only that very morning! Assuring the lad that I was not interested in the subject of the brawl, but in the process. ‘When you were arguing, what was going on inside of you?’ I asked. He said he did not know what I was talking about. ‘Right in the middle of the argument, were you aware of being untrue or false in your argument?’ ‘Oh!’ he responded, by which time the class noise level had dropped to a deep silence. ‘Yes, I knew that I was trying to bluff them, he responded. ‘So who told you that?’ I asked, to which he had no answer. ‘Was it Mum or Dad? Brother or sister? Grandma or Grandpa?’ I explored with him. The reply was finally drawn out of him. ‘None of them’ was all he could say. So I asked where else it might have come, to this 11 or 12 year old kid. He had no answer. So I pointed out to him that he had had God speak to him, as have we all, for that was the source of the urging. And I also suggested to the rest of the class that, far from having no clue of what we had been speaking, it was all common experience for them. And it came as considerable surprise, but it resonated without exception.
And that is the point: God does not leave Himself without witness in the world, and we of all people need to be completely aware of that. People may switch off listening to the promptings, but they become the poorer for it. The final outcome of refusal to listen is a heightening rise of anger and evil from such a person and rising danger to anyone around the vicinity!
Still people describe this Faith as irrelevant in the modern age. Both history and reality make it perfectly clear that little could be further from the truth. In a way it has nothing at all to do with ‘religion,’ and in fact any source of angst from anyone ‘religious’ tends to stem from their own refusal to listen to the truth. Truth and bigotry can never go hand in hand, can never be soulmates. And that is what Pentecost reminds us, year after year after year.
Newsletter
SUNDAY 23rd May 2010
Pentecost
Our Celebrant today is Rev’d Dr. Warren Huffa
And our Preacher is Canon Ron Keynes
WELCOME
Please join us for breakfast in the hall after the 8am service or for morning tea after the 10am service. At 10am you will find all prayers and hymns projected onto the sanctuary walls. There is Sunday School at the 10am service during School term times.
THE PRAYER FOR TODAY
O God, Who taught the hearts of Your faithful people by sending to them the light of Your Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore rejoice in His holy comfort; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour, Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, now and for ever Amen
TODAY’S READINGS Acts 2: 1 – 21 or Genesis 11: 1 – 9 and Romans 8:14 – 17 read by Hal S-C
GOSPEL John 14: 8 - 17
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Hal S - C
We pray for those in need Warren and Thea, Janet and Peter, Ron Teague, Barbara Corbett, Michael Boere, Christie Hodgson and Judy Ellis. Sid Sweet is progressing quite well.
We give thanks for the life Glen Drummond Chester (1988) Pauline Hail (2004) and Millicent Williamson (1995)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Joan Durdin, Margaret Pressley, Mary Castanelli, Jasmine Black, Stan Shepherd, Joan Fitter and Maria Hassiotis
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY – Jill and Paul Hilbig and Neil and Sue Daw-Thomas.
PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY –
Trinity Sunday Proverbs 8: 1 – 4 & 22 -31 and Romans 5: 1 - 5
GOSPEL John 16: 12 - 15
Refer Fr Ron’s Notes at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/
POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Today Ron Keynes or Barb Capon
Next Week Don Caddy or Craig Deane
REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month at 36 Penno Parade North
BIBLE STUDY 10am every Wednesday at 378 Main Road Coromandel Valley looking at the book of Job
St John’s Grammar have booked the Hall each day for Yr 12 exams from 19 to 23 July and 26th.
OTHER COMING EVENTS
July 25 Patronal Festival with Guest Preacher Bishop David McCall
Recently retired Bishop of Bunbury (WA).
HELPLINE
Part of being a Christian community is the support offered to each other in times of need. We offer short-term delivery of food where needed, local transport, phone calls, visits and other types of assistance. Call Iris Downes 8278 3260 or Marlene Dixon 8278 8568
The Sunday School group will be grateful for (refundable) bottles, cans and packs being made available: the proceeds will be put to good use for Children’s Ministry. See Robyn Keynes for more info.
BUSH CHURCH AID BOX OPENING
Margaret Pressley advises that May is Box-opening month, and asks all box holders to bring their boxes so that the collections can be sent on.
Family Packs
On a table in the narthex, are Family Packs, for parents and grandparents to help with teaching young ones the Faith All this for only $5.00. Robyn Keynes has more information
2010/2011 PARISH DIRECTORY
Would you please update or add your details to our Directory. This is a wonderful resource for keeping in touch with each other. There is a form in this week’s pew sheet or you can collect one from the foyer. Please pass them to Wendy or in her absence, leave them with Cynthia. You can contact Wendy on 0433 786 261 or wendy@copycatprinting.com.au.
If there is anyone who has a use for some removalists’ cardboard packing cases, please talk to Mary Vandepeer (phone; 82272838) as there are quite a few available and I don't want to just consign them to the recycling!!
St. Barnabas’ 130th Anniversary
On Thursday 10 June, St Barnabas’ Theological College will be celebrating 130 years from the laying of its foundation stone by Bishop Short on St Barnabas’ Day, 11 June 1880. The evening will begin with 6pm Patronal Festival Evensong at Christ Church North Adelaide, with the Rev’d Dr Matthew Anstey preaching. This will be followed by a light supper, during which there will be a presentation about the College and news about its exciting future. All collegians and members of the diocese are warmly invited to this significant event. A special offering for the College will be collected during the service. To assist with catering, please RSVP to the College by Friday 4 June (mmorris@adelaide.anglican.com.au; 8416 8440).
COMMUNITY CONCERN 2010 an annual ecumenical event organized by Australian Church Women
This year we are supporting the Epilepsy Association and raising funds for the annual carers’ retreat and children’s camp. In our area, the event will be held at the Blackwood Uniting Church at 1.00pm on Friday 28th May. Come and meet people from other Churches, hear a speaker from the Epilepsy Centre, and support a worth-while cause; and enjoy afternoon tea. Donation $4.00 Trading Table Jean Fordham 82782837
SCHOOLS MINISTRY GROUP CONFERENCE EXPO
This expo is not just for those who work specifically in schools, but is ideal for all who are involved in Children’s and/or Youth Ministry area. You are invited to come, see and hear about many of the best programs, resources and people available in South Australia, in this once a year expo! Dozens of a whole range of mission agencies, ministry networks, denominational youth and children’s departments, Christian training agencies, Government service providers, plus displays of all the latest resources & books will be present – all in the one location! Plus, mix and chat with others who share in your passion for reaching and empowering today’s children and young people.
When: Monday June 28th, anytime between 5:00pm – 8:00pm
Where: ‘The Shed’ at Seaton Christian Family Centre 185 Frederick Road, Seaton
Cost: Free! NB: Please RSVP by 21st June 2010 to: training@smg.asn.au or 08 8378 6800
Items for the Newsletter need to be sent to Fr. Ron at 8298 7160 or ronpkeynes@internode.on.net or
60a Davenport Terrace, Seacliff Park SA 5049 by Tuesday nights, please.
Pentecost
Our Celebrant today is Rev’d Dr. Warren Huffa
And our Preacher is Canon Ron Keynes
WELCOME
Please join us for breakfast in the hall after the 8am service or for morning tea after the 10am service. At 10am you will find all prayers and hymns projected onto the sanctuary walls. There is Sunday School at the 10am service during School term times.
THE PRAYER FOR TODAY
O God, Who taught the hearts of Your faithful people by sending to them the light of Your Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore rejoice in His holy comfort; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour, Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, now and for ever Amen
TODAY’S READINGS Acts 2: 1 – 21 or Genesis 11: 1 – 9 and Romans 8:14 – 17 read by Hal S-C
GOSPEL John 14: 8 - 17
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Hal S - C
We pray for those in need Warren and Thea, Janet and Peter, Ron Teague, Barbara Corbett, Michael Boere, Christie Hodgson and Judy Ellis. Sid Sweet is progressing quite well.
We give thanks for the life Glen Drummond Chester (1988) Pauline Hail (2004) and Millicent Williamson (1995)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Joan Durdin, Margaret Pressley, Mary Castanelli, Jasmine Black, Stan Shepherd, Joan Fitter and Maria Hassiotis
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY – Jill and Paul Hilbig and Neil and Sue Daw-Thomas.
PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY –
Trinity Sunday Proverbs 8: 1 – 4 & 22 -31 and Romans 5: 1 - 5
GOSPEL John 16: 12 - 15
Refer Fr Ron’s Notes at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/
POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Today Ron Keynes or Barb Capon
Next Week Don Caddy or Craig Deane
REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month at 36 Penno Parade North
BIBLE STUDY 10am every Wednesday at 378 Main Road Coromandel Valley looking at the book of Job
St John’s Grammar have booked the Hall each day for Yr 12 exams from 19 to 23 July and 26th.
OTHER COMING EVENTS
July 25 Patronal Festival with Guest Preacher Bishop David McCall
Recently retired Bishop of Bunbury (WA).
HELPLINE
Part of being a Christian community is the support offered to each other in times of need. We offer short-term delivery of food where needed, local transport, phone calls, visits and other types of assistance. Call Iris Downes 8278 3260 or Marlene Dixon 8278 8568
The Sunday School group will be grateful for (refundable) bottles, cans and packs being made available: the proceeds will be put to good use for Children’s Ministry. See Robyn Keynes for more info.
BUSH CHURCH AID BOX OPENING
Margaret Pressley advises that May is Box-opening month, and asks all box holders to bring their boxes so that the collections can be sent on.
Family Packs
On a table in the narthex, are Family Packs, for parents and grandparents to help with teaching young ones the Faith All this for only $5.00. Robyn Keynes has more information
2010/2011 PARISH DIRECTORY
Would you please update or add your details to our Directory. This is a wonderful resource for keeping in touch with each other. There is a form in this week’s pew sheet or you can collect one from the foyer. Please pass them to Wendy or in her absence, leave them with Cynthia. You can contact Wendy on 0433 786 261 or wendy@copycatprinting.com.au.
If there is anyone who has a use for some removalists’ cardboard packing cases, please talk to Mary Vandepeer (phone; 82272838) as there are quite a few available and I don't want to just consign them to the recycling!!
St. Barnabas’ 130th Anniversary
On Thursday 10 June, St Barnabas’ Theological College will be celebrating 130 years from the laying of its foundation stone by Bishop Short on St Barnabas’ Day, 11 June 1880. The evening will begin with 6pm Patronal Festival Evensong at Christ Church North Adelaide, with the Rev’d Dr Matthew Anstey preaching. This will be followed by a light supper, during which there will be a presentation about the College and news about its exciting future. All collegians and members of the diocese are warmly invited to this significant event. A special offering for the College will be collected during the service. To assist with catering, please RSVP to the College by Friday 4 June (mmorris@adelaide.anglican.com.au; 8416 8440).
COMMUNITY CONCERN 2010 an annual ecumenical event organized by Australian Church Women
This year we are supporting the Epilepsy Association and raising funds for the annual carers’ retreat and children’s camp. In our area, the event will be held at the Blackwood Uniting Church at 1.00pm on Friday 28th May. Come and meet people from other Churches, hear a speaker from the Epilepsy Centre, and support a worth-while cause; and enjoy afternoon tea. Donation $4.00 Trading Table Jean Fordham 82782837
SCHOOLS MINISTRY GROUP CONFERENCE EXPO
This expo is not just for those who work specifically in schools, but is ideal for all who are involved in Children’s and/or Youth Ministry area. You are invited to come, see and hear about many of the best programs, resources and people available in South Australia, in this once a year expo! Dozens of a whole range of mission agencies, ministry networks, denominational youth and children’s departments, Christian training agencies, Government service providers, plus displays of all the latest resources & books will be present – all in the one location! Plus, mix and chat with others who share in your passion for reaching and empowering today’s children and young people.
When: Monday June 28th, anytime between 5:00pm – 8:00pm
Where: ‘The Shed’ at Seaton Christian Family Centre 185 Frederick Road, Seaton
Cost: Free! NB: Please RSVP by 21st June 2010 to: training@smg.asn.au or 08 8378 6800
Items for the Newsletter need to be sent to Fr. Ron at 8298 7160 or ronpkeynes@internode.on.net or
60a Davenport Terrace, Seacliff Park SA 5049 by Tuesday nights, please.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Pewsheet
SUNDAY 16th May 2010
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Our Celebrant and Preacher today is Rev’d Dr. Warren Huffa
WELCOME
Please join us for breakfast in the hall after the 8am service or for morning tea after the 10am service. At 10am you will find all prayers and hymns projected onto the sanctuary walls.
THE PRAYER FOR TODAY
Almighty God, Whose blessed Son before His passion prayed for His disciples that they might be one as You and He are one; grant that Your Church being bound together in love and obedience to You, may be united in one body by the one Spirit, that the world may believe in Him Whom You have sent, Your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
TODAY’S READINGS Acts 16: 16-34 & Rev’n 22: 12 - 21 read by Marg P
GOSPEL John 12: 20 - 26
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Sue D-T
We pray for those in need Warren and Thea, Janet and Peter, Ron Teague, Barbara Corbett, Michael Boere,
We give thanks for the life of Catherine Cordes (2006) Christine McAuliffe (1983) Philip Lockwood (1997) and Lorna Mengler (1995)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Sid Sweet and Olive Marston
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY – Margaret and Allan Pressley and Jocelyn and Craig Deane
PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY –
Eighth Sunday of Easter Acts 2: 1 – 21 and Romans 8: 14 - 17
GOSPEL John 14: 8 - 17
Refer Fr Ron’s Notes at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/
POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Today Araki Family or Don Caddy
Next Week Ron Keynes or Barb Capon
REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month at 36 Penno Parade North
BIBLE STUDY 10am every Wednesday at 378 Main Road Coromandel Valley looking at the book of Job
St John’s Grammar have booked the Hall each day for Yr 12 exams from 19 to 23 July and 26th.
OTHER COMING EVENTS
QT 3 - Tonight at Holy Innocents 7.30pm Is God deaf?
13th June Patronal Festival
HELPLINE
Part of being a Christian community is the support offered to each other in times of need. We offer short-term delivery of food where needed, local transport, phone calls, visits and other types of assistance. Call Iris Downes 8278 3260 or Marlene Dixon 8278 8568
The Sunday School group will be grateful for (refundable) bottles, cans and packs being made available: the proceeds will be put to good use for Children’s Ministry. See Robyn Keynes for more info.
BUSH CHURCH AID BOX OPENING
Margaret Pressley advises that May is Box-opening month, and asks all box holders to bring their boxes so that the collections can be sent on.
Family Packs
On a table in the narthex, are Family Packs, for parents and grandparents to help with teaching young ones the Faith All this for only $5.00. Robyn Keynes has more information
NOTES FROM WARREN
We've got a few extra things happening at Holy Innocents in the next few weeks. Each Thursday night (beginning this Thursday) I'll be running sessions on some of the spiritual practices of the church, studies and a monthly Eucharist. One Thursday a month will also be a follow up on the QT topic. At 7:10pm I will be celebrating the Eucharist in a simple, bare essentials way, concluding at 7:30pm. Come along to either sessions or both.
I'll be starting a 6 part series on 12 Big Passages of the Old Testament. if you would like a way to understand the Old Testament as a whole, especially as it was then used by the early church after the resurrection of Jesus, this will help. The session will begin at 7:00pm with some silence/meditation followed by the study of the Old Testament at 7:30pm. Come to either parts or both.
Hope to see you soon. Regards, Warren
Home Groups
As we now have a Thursday night program at the church it has been suggested that we attend the Thursday night session as an alternative to Home Groups for a few months. It is planned to ask Vivian Bleby to talk to interested parishioners about small group leadership and Home Groups later in the year. Therefore, please note that Home Groups are in recess on both Thursday and Friday nights until further notice. Please contact either Wendy Morecroft or Yvonne Caddy for further information or any questions etc.
Today, after the 10,00am service there will be the usual morning tea followed by the BBQ Thank You to those who have volunteered their efforts for the parish.
If there is anyone who has a use for some removalists’ cardboard packing cases, please talk to Mary Vandepeer (phone; 82272838) as there are quite a few available and I don't want to just consign them to the recycling!!
St. Barnabas’ 130th Anniversary
On Thursday 10 June, St Barnabas’ Theological College will be celebrating 130 years from the laying of its foundation stone by Bishop Short on St Barnabas’ Day, 11 June 1880. The evening will begin with 6pm Patronal Festival Evensong at Christ Church North Adelaide, with the Rev’d Dr Matthew Anstey preaching. This will be followed by a light supper, during which there will be a presentation about the College and news about its exciting future. All collegians and members of the diocese are warmly invited to this significant event. A special offering for the College will be collected during the service. To assist with catering, please RSVP to the College by Friday 4 June (mmorris@adelaide.anglican.com.au; 8416 8440).
COMMUNITY CONCERN 2010 an annual ecumenical event organized by Australian Church Women
This year we are supporting the Epilepsy Association and raising funds for the annual carers’ retreat and children’s camp. In our area, the event will be held at the Blackwood Uniting Church at 1.00pm on Friday 28th May. Come and meet people from other Churches, hear a speaker from the Epilepsy Centre, and support a worth-while cause; and enjoy afternoon tea. Donation $4.00 Trading Table Jean Fordham 82782837
And on a personal note, Mary and Graham Roberts send their regards, as they settle down near Morphett Vale.
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Our Celebrant and Preacher today is Rev’d Dr. Warren Huffa
WELCOME
Please join us for breakfast in the hall after the 8am service or for morning tea after the 10am service. At 10am you will find all prayers and hymns projected onto the sanctuary walls.
THE PRAYER FOR TODAY
Almighty God, Whose blessed Son before His passion prayed for His disciples that they might be one as You and He are one; grant that Your Church being bound together in love and obedience to You, may be united in one body by the one Spirit, that the world may believe in Him Whom You have sent, Your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
TODAY’S READINGS Acts 16: 16-34 & Rev’n 22: 12 - 21 read by Marg P
GOSPEL John 12: 20 - 26
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Sue D-T
We pray for those in need Warren and Thea, Janet and Peter, Ron Teague, Barbara Corbett, Michael Boere,
We give thanks for the life of Catherine Cordes (2006) Christine McAuliffe (1983) Philip Lockwood (1997) and Lorna Mengler (1995)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Sid Sweet and Olive Marston
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY – Margaret and Allan Pressley and Jocelyn and Craig Deane
PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY –
Eighth Sunday of Easter Acts 2: 1 – 21 and Romans 8: 14 - 17
GOSPEL John 14: 8 - 17
Refer Fr Ron’s Notes at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/
POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Today Araki Family or Don Caddy
Next Week Ron Keynes or Barb Capon
REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month at 36 Penno Parade North
BIBLE STUDY 10am every Wednesday at 378 Main Road Coromandel Valley looking at the book of Job
St John’s Grammar have booked the Hall each day for Yr 12 exams from 19 to 23 July and 26th.
OTHER COMING EVENTS
QT 3 - Tonight at Holy Innocents 7.30pm Is God deaf?
13th June Patronal Festival
HELPLINE
Part of being a Christian community is the support offered to each other in times of need. We offer short-term delivery of food where needed, local transport, phone calls, visits and other types of assistance. Call Iris Downes 8278 3260 or Marlene Dixon 8278 8568
The Sunday School group will be grateful for (refundable) bottles, cans and packs being made available: the proceeds will be put to good use for Children’s Ministry. See Robyn Keynes for more info.
BUSH CHURCH AID BOX OPENING
Margaret Pressley advises that May is Box-opening month, and asks all box holders to bring their boxes so that the collections can be sent on.
Family Packs
On a table in the narthex, are Family Packs, for parents and grandparents to help with teaching young ones the Faith All this for only $5.00. Robyn Keynes has more information
NOTES FROM WARREN
We've got a few extra things happening at Holy Innocents in the next few weeks. Each Thursday night (beginning this Thursday) I'll be running sessions on some of the spiritual practices of the church, studies and a monthly Eucharist. One Thursday a month will also be a follow up on the QT topic. At 7:10pm I will be celebrating the Eucharist in a simple, bare essentials way, concluding at 7:30pm. Come along to either sessions or both.
I'll be starting a 6 part series on 12 Big Passages of the Old Testament. if you would like a way to understand the Old Testament as a whole, especially as it was then used by the early church after the resurrection of Jesus, this will help. The session will begin at 7:00pm with some silence/meditation followed by the study of the Old Testament at 7:30pm. Come to either parts or both.
Hope to see you soon. Regards, Warren
Home Groups
As we now have a Thursday night program at the church it has been suggested that we attend the Thursday night session as an alternative to Home Groups for a few months. It is planned to ask Vivian Bleby to talk to interested parishioners about small group leadership and Home Groups later in the year. Therefore, please note that Home Groups are in recess on both Thursday and Friday nights until further notice. Please contact either Wendy Morecroft or Yvonne Caddy for further information or any questions etc.
Today, after the 10,00am service there will be the usual morning tea followed by the BBQ Thank You to those who have volunteered their efforts for the parish.
If there is anyone who has a use for some removalists’ cardboard packing cases, please talk to Mary Vandepeer (phone; 82272838) as there are quite a few available and I don't want to just consign them to the recycling!!
St. Barnabas’ 130th Anniversary
On Thursday 10 June, St Barnabas’ Theological College will be celebrating 130 years from the laying of its foundation stone by Bishop Short on St Barnabas’ Day, 11 June 1880. The evening will begin with 6pm Patronal Festival Evensong at Christ Church North Adelaide, with the Rev’d Dr Matthew Anstey preaching. This will be followed by a light supper, during which there will be a presentation about the College and news about its exciting future. All collegians and members of the diocese are warmly invited to this significant event. A special offering for the College will be collected during the service. To assist with catering, please RSVP to the College by Friday 4 June (mmorris@adelaide.anglican.com.au; 8416 8440).
COMMUNITY CONCERN 2010 an annual ecumenical event organized by Australian Church Women
This year we are supporting the Epilepsy Association and raising funds for the annual carers’ retreat and children’s camp. In our area, the event will be held at the Blackwood Uniting Church at 1.00pm on Friday 28th May. Come and meet people from other Churches, hear a speaker from the Epilepsy Centre, and support a worth-while cause; and enjoy afternoon tea. Donation $4.00 Trading Table Jean Fordham 82782837
And on a personal note, Mary and Graham Roberts send their regards, as they settle down near Morphett Vale.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
RonBlogMay 162010
Sunday 16th May, 2010 Seventh Sunday of Easter Sunday after Ascension
Sentence
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Acts 16:31
Collect
Almighty God, Whose blessed Son before His passion prayed for His disciples that they might be one as You and He are one; grant that Your Church being bound together in love and obedience to You, may be united in one body by the one Spirit, that the world may believe in Him Whom You have sent, Your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
FIRST LESSON Acts 16: 16 – 34
One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, "These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation." She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour. But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities.
When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, "These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe." The crowd joined in attacking them and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened.
When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.
Then he brought them outside and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.
PSALM 97
The Lord is king, let the earth rejoice: let the multitude of islands rejoice
Clouds and darkness are round about Him: righteousness and justice are the foundations of His throne
Fire goes before Him: and burns up His enemies on every side
His lightnings light the world: the earth sees it and quakes
The mountains melt like wax before His face: from before the face of the Lord of all the earth
The heavens have proclaimed His righteousness: and all the peoples have seen His glory
They are ashamed, all those who serve idols, and glory in mere nothings: all gods bow down before Him
Zion heard and was glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoiced: because of Your judgements, O God
For You, Lord, are most high over all the earth: You are exalted far above all gods.
The Lord loves those who hate evil: the Lord guards the life of the faithful, and delivers them from the hand of the ungodly.
Light dawns for the righteous: and joy for the true of heart
Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous: and give thanks to His holy name.
EPISTLE Revelation 22: 12 – 21
"See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let everyone who hears say, "Come." And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book; if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away that person's share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. The one who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.
GOSPEL John 17: 20 – 26
Jesus prayed "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."
NOTES ON THE READINGS
First Lesson
This story of the Philippian gaoler is interesting in a number of ways, not least the way in which the circumstances of conversion of the man affected the Apostle’s ministry in the city. It reflects in another interesting way, in that those who demanded the arrest of the apostle changed their charge from the obvious one about losing their income, in an untrue but facile direction. Note that Paul was charged as a Jew, and doing what he was not. The healing of the young girl had nothing to do with ‘customs that are not lawful.’ So very often, people will move against others, not on their real grounds of complaint, but rather in terms that are likely to evoke support from locals who have similar hang-ups. Truth is the first casualty!
The conversion of the gaoler was followed by the baptism of all his family, - more likely ‘retinue.’ This sort of action by the Apostle must create some difficulty for those who seem not to understand the basis for baptism: entry into the Covenant rather than expression of their faith.
Psalm
Rather too often, I suspect, the psalmists of old tend to be misunderstood as they rejoice in God as King. It may all seem rather twee or naive to think in this way, but it is suggested that one thinks a little deeper. (We tend to assume that kings tend to prove their point and press or compel people into allegiance, but there seems to be no attempt on the part of the Divinity to compel. SO how does this work, if at all?)
That which seems to mark the huge difference between the Judaic-Christian Faiths from the run-of-the-mill religions is the constant emphasis on justice, integrity and compassion. As often repeated in these notes, please see that ‘righteousness’ translates not inner purity (which which I grew up!) but justice. This justice of course is not that ‘variety’ than demands retribution from the evil-doer, but rather takes all the factors into consideration, requiring humans to act truthfully and with compassion with each other.
Truth, justice, integrity, compassion. As Paul once wrote, ‘against such there is no law.’ And the psalmist (as with all OT writers,) saw that no matter how long these ancient verities might be suppressed by tyrants or peoples, they will re-emerge as important factors in the survival of any civilization. They are eternal. Hence, in the quiet logic of the psalmist, God is eternal. (A reverse argument if you like, but it does provide reality.)
So perhaps these psalmists were not all that silly after all!
For the Epistle
Pardon my cynicism, but I suspect, along with many commentators, that the curse laid on anyone who alters the ‘word of this book’ are not part of the original. First of all, they are quite un-Johannine, and also they provide quite an irregular jarring note on an otherwise powerful statement of faith.
As mentioned previously in the notes on Revelation readings, the focus in quite some of John’s writings have to do with goal not end. The Biblical goal of life is ‘to love God and to enjoy Him for ever.’ And life is distorted out of shape by human evil. Revelation looks to the final removal of all evil, and the achieving of the Divine goal. This goal is open to anyone and everyone who searches for truth – and justice. It is not for malefactors.
GOSPEL
I have more than a sneaky suspicion that this High Priestly prayer of Jesus, recorded in John 17, may well leave a lot of people bemused and confused. It does not seem to make sense for many, and is rather repetitive for others. This partly because (as mentioned earlier) we are not all that sure of the meaning of some of the words used. We have looked already at ‘glorify,’ and may need to pursue that direction some more.
One of the sadly misunderstood factors both of the Faith and of this prayer in particular has to do with being ‘One.’ This does not mean being peas in pods, but it does mean being reconciled. Christian history is riven with the failure to see the importance of unity, and much of the reason that ‘the world does not believe,’ is because Christians can never seem to be one in any sense of the word. Ask a Jew, Jewish people will say, and you will get three opinions. I suspect the answer for Christians is double that. And the divisions between Christian denominations and the plethora of sects makes the whole business laughable. Perhaps the lack of love is one of the great issues for us all.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
This Sunday after the Ascension has been marked, for many years now, by being in the middle of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It does not take a great deal of thought to see that, although this celebration is many decades old, there is little to show of any progress in the great debate. That this is tragic, even blasphemous, is underlined by the Gospel for the day, and, in fact, by the whole raison d’etre of the Faith.
Perhaps part of the reason that this goal has been bypassed is because there is a rather strange but immensely popular misrepresentation of the faith in terms of personal salvation. So much of the divide between denominations and others has been on what grounds the believer is ‘saved.’ This has led to an introversion of faith, a looking inwards for one’s own redemption, when the Faith (Hebrew and Christian, actually,) has its first focus on the world at large.
We have a great logos of material to underline where we are meant to be heading. From Abram’s call, to be a blessing to the whole world, to the repetitive emphasis in prophets, to the contrast between the Babel myth and Acts 2, and even Genesis 3, the Faith has been offered to the world as the means par excellence of dealing with what moderns call (or used to call) the human dilemma. Why is it, as in Murphy’s Law, whatever can go wrong will go wrong. Why ever is it that the ‘war to end all wars’ has done nothing of the sort?
Here lies the unity which is at the heart of the Biblical Faith, and the failure to reach out in that direction is also part of the very human dilemma mentioned above. Religious people are often at the very van of the process that militates against progress. ‘I am right and you are wrong’ is as much sin as is murder of genocide. And the philosophy that force of arms will produce a just outcome is as utterly stupid as are the people who promote such a view. There has got to be a better way, and – properly understood, if rather risky – is the offer put forward by the ‘faith of our fathers.’
There is some hope, of light at the end of the tunnel, but it will require people of goodwill to see past both their own prejudices and those of other people too. None of us have any monopoly on the truth, but I have a sneaky suspicion that this ‘faith once delivered,’ if seen for what it is, has the best possible solution that I have encountered anywhere, in any religion, philosophy or ism in circulation or past.
Reconciliation is the drum that I have been pumping for many years – decades! – now, and it still falls on deaf ears. Perhaps that is because the whole thing is seen as far too difficult; perhaps it looks like a daydream to many. However, it can be said with considerable truth, that because Christians of all sorts and colours have missed or bypassed the point, the world at large has considered that bubble pricked, and not longer worthy of any attention.
So where does that leave YOU?
Sentence
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Acts 16:31
Collect
Almighty God, Whose blessed Son before His passion prayed for His disciples that they might be one as You and He are one; grant that Your Church being bound together in love and obedience to You, may be united in one body by the one Spirit, that the world may believe in Him Whom You have sent, Your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
FIRST LESSON Acts 16: 16 – 34
One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, "These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation." She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour. But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities.
When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, "These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe." The crowd joined in attacking them and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened.
When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.
Then he brought them outside and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.
PSALM 97
The Lord is king, let the earth rejoice: let the multitude of islands rejoice
Clouds and darkness are round about Him: righteousness and justice are the foundations of His throne
Fire goes before Him: and burns up His enemies on every side
His lightnings light the world: the earth sees it and quakes
The mountains melt like wax before His face: from before the face of the Lord of all the earth
The heavens have proclaimed His righteousness: and all the peoples have seen His glory
They are ashamed, all those who serve idols, and glory in mere nothings: all gods bow down before Him
Zion heard and was glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoiced: because of Your judgements, O God
For You, Lord, are most high over all the earth: You are exalted far above all gods.
The Lord loves those who hate evil: the Lord guards the life of the faithful, and delivers them from the hand of the ungodly.
Light dawns for the righteous: and joy for the true of heart
Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous: and give thanks to His holy name.
EPISTLE Revelation 22: 12 – 21
"See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let everyone who hears say, "Come." And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book; if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away that person's share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. The one who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.
GOSPEL John 17: 20 – 26
Jesus prayed "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."
NOTES ON THE READINGS
First Lesson
This story of the Philippian gaoler is interesting in a number of ways, not least the way in which the circumstances of conversion of the man affected the Apostle’s ministry in the city. It reflects in another interesting way, in that those who demanded the arrest of the apostle changed their charge from the obvious one about losing their income, in an untrue but facile direction. Note that Paul was charged as a Jew, and doing what he was not. The healing of the young girl had nothing to do with ‘customs that are not lawful.’ So very often, people will move against others, not on their real grounds of complaint, but rather in terms that are likely to evoke support from locals who have similar hang-ups. Truth is the first casualty!
The conversion of the gaoler was followed by the baptism of all his family, - more likely ‘retinue.’ This sort of action by the Apostle must create some difficulty for those who seem not to understand the basis for baptism: entry into the Covenant rather than expression of their faith.
Psalm
Rather too often, I suspect, the psalmists of old tend to be misunderstood as they rejoice in God as King. It may all seem rather twee or naive to think in this way, but it is suggested that one thinks a little deeper. (We tend to assume that kings tend to prove their point and press or compel people into allegiance, but there seems to be no attempt on the part of the Divinity to compel. SO how does this work, if at all?)
That which seems to mark the huge difference between the Judaic-Christian Faiths from the run-of-the-mill religions is the constant emphasis on justice, integrity and compassion. As often repeated in these notes, please see that ‘righteousness’ translates not inner purity (which which I grew up!) but justice. This justice of course is not that ‘variety’ than demands retribution from the evil-doer, but rather takes all the factors into consideration, requiring humans to act truthfully and with compassion with each other.
Truth, justice, integrity, compassion. As Paul once wrote, ‘against such there is no law.’ And the psalmist (as with all OT writers,) saw that no matter how long these ancient verities might be suppressed by tyrants or peoples, they will re-emerge as important factors in the survival of any civilization. They are eternal. Hence, in the quiet logic of the psalmist, God is eternal. (A reverse argument if you like, but it does provide reality.)
So perhaps these psalmists were not all that silly after all!
For the Epistle
Pardon my cynicism, but I suspect, along with many commentators, that the curse laid on anyone who alters the ‘word of this book’ are not part of the original. First of all, they are quite un-Johannine, and also they provide quite an irregular jarring note on an otherwise powerful statement of faith.
As mentioned previously in the notes on Revelation readings, the focus in quite some of John’s writings have to do with goal not end. The Biblical goal of life is ‘to love God and to enjoy Him for ever.’ And life is distorted out of shape by human evil. Revelation looks to the final removal of all evil, and the achieving of the Divine goal. This goal is open to anyone and everyone who searches for truth – and justice. It is not for malefactors.
GOSPEL
I have more than a sneaky suspicion that this High Priestly prayer of Jesus, recorded in John 17, may well leave a lot of people bemused and confused. It does not seem to make sense for many, and is rather repetitive for others. This partly because (as mentioned earlier) we are not all that sure of the meaning of some of the words used. We have looked already at ‘glorify,’ and may need to pursue that direction some more.
One of the sadly misunderstood factors both of the Faith and of this prayer in particular has to do with being ‘One.’ This does not mean being peas in pods, but it does mean being reconciled. Christian history is riven with the failure to see the importance of unity, and much of the reason that ‘the world does not believe,’ is because Christians can never seem to be one in any sense of the word. Ask a Jew, Jewish people will say, and you will get three opinions. I suspect the answer for Christians is double that. And the divisions between Christian denominations and the plethora of sects makes the whole business laughable. Perhaps the lack of love is one of the great issues for us all.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
This Sunday after the Ascension has been marked, for many years now, by being in the middle of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It does not take a great deal of thought to see that, although this celebration is many decades old, there is little to show of any progress in the great debate. That this is tragic, even blasphemous, is underlined by the Gospel for the day, and, in fact, by the whole raison d’etre of the Faith.
Perhaps part of the reason that this goal has been bypassed is because there is a rather strange but immensely popular misrepresentation of the faith in terms of personal salvation. So much of the divide between denominations and others has been on what grounds the believer is ‘saved.’ This has led to an introversion of faith, a looking inwards for one’s own redemption, when the Faith (Hebrew and Christian, actually,) has its first focus on the world at large.
We have a great logos of material to underline where we are meant to be heading. From Abram’s call, to be a blessing to the whole world, to the repetitive emphasis in prophets, to the contrast between the Babel myth and Acts 2, and even Genesis 3, the Faith has been offered to the world as the means par excellence of dealing with what moderns call (or used to call) the human dilemma. Why is it, as in Murphy’s Law, whatever can go wrong will go wrong. Why ever is it that the ‘war to end all wars’ has done nothing of the sort?
Here lies the unity which is at the heart of the Biblical Faith, and the failure to reach out in that direction is also part of the very human dilemma mentioned above. Religious people are often at the very van of the process that militates against progress. ‘I am right and you are wrong’ is as much sin as is murder of genocide. And the philosophy that force of arms will produce a just outcome is as utterly stupid as are the people who promote such a view. There has got to be a better way, and – properly understood, if rather risky – is the offer put forward by the ‘faith of our fathers.’
There is some hope, of light at the end of the tunnel, but it will require people of goodwill to see past both their own prejudices and those of other people too. None of us have any monopoly on the truth, but I have a sneaky suspicion that this ‘faith once delivered,’ if seen for what it is, has the best possible solution that I have encountered anywhere, in any religion, philosophy or ism in circulation or past.
Reconciliation is the drum that I have been pumping for many years – decades! – now, and it still falls on deaf ears. Perhaps that is because the whole thing is seen as far too difficult; perhaps it looks like a daydream to many. However, it can be said with considerable truth, that because Christians of all sorts and colours have missed or bypassed the point, the world at large has considered that bubble pricked, and not longer worthy of any attention.
So where does that leave YOU?
Friday, May 7, 2010
Newsletter
SUNDAY 9th May 2010
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Our Preacher today is Stephen Daughtry
Our Celebrant is Rev’d Dr. Warren Huffa
WELCOME
Please join us for breakfast in the hall after the 8am service or for morning tea after the 10am service. At 10am you will find all prayers and hymns projected onto the sanctuary walls.
THE PRAYER FOR TODAY
Loving God, Your Son has chosen us and called us to be His friends: give us grace to keep His commandments, to love one another, and to bear fruit which shall abide: through Him Who is the True Vine, the source of all our life, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
TODAY’S READINGS Acts 16: 9-15 & Rev’n 21: 10-14 and 21:22 – 22:5 read by Arndrae L
GOSPEL John 14: 21 – 29
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Sue D-T
We pray for those in need Warren and Thea, Janet and Peter, Ron Teague, Barbara Corbett, Michael Boere,
We give thanks for the life of Catherine Cordes (2006) Christine McAuliffe (1983) Philip Lockwood (1997) and Lorna Mengler (1995)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Sid Sweet and Olive Marston
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY – Margaret and Allan Pressley and Jocelyn and Craig Deane
PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY –
Seventh Sunday of Easter Acts 16: 16-34 & Rev’n 22: 12 - 21
GOSPEL John 12: 20 - 26
Refer Fr Ron’s Notes at try looking up diowillochra.org.au/Archives Sermons /Ron /Sermons Canon Keynes/May 2010
POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Today Trevor Tregenza or Ron Keynes
Next Week Araki Family or Don Caddy
REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month at 36 Penno Parade North
BIBLE STUDY 10am every Wednesday at 378 Main Road Coromandel Valley looking at the book of Job
The Germein Room is booked for counselling , Mondays noon – 7.30pm and Wednesdays 9am – 7.30pm: 19 – 27 July St John’s Grammar have booked the Hall each day for Yr 12 exams from 19 to 23 July and 26th.
OTHER COMING EVENTS
QT 3 - Sunday 16th May at Holy Innocents 7.30pm Is God deaf?
13th June Patronal Festival
HELPLINE
Part of being a Christian community is the support offered to each other in times of need. We offer short-term delivery of food where needed, local transport, phone calls, visits and other types of assistance. Call Iris Downes 8278 3260 or Marlene Dixon 8278 8568
The Sunday School group will be grateful for (refundable) bottles, cans and packs being made available: the proceeds will be put to good use for Children’s Ministry. See Robyn Keynes for more info.
BUSH CHURCH AID BOX OPENING
Margaret Pressley advises that May is Box-opening month, and asks all box holders to bring their boxes so that the collections can be sent on.
Family Packs
On a table in the narthex, are Family Packs, for parents and grandparents to help with teaching young ones the Faith All this for only $5.00. Robyn Keynes has more information
School Chaplaincies:
Coffee and Cake . The MH Inter Church Council continues to need additional funds to support its projects. The idea of Coffee and Cake is a plan for people to give a small amounts each week based on what they would spend on a weekly basis on coffee and cake so the money can go to support School Chaplains .You can place an envelope with your donation in the offertory plate addressed Coffee and Cake for the work of School Chaplains
Beacon. Beacon an MHICC endorsed project sets out to help the needy in the area. To this end it urgently needs donations of long life food. Donations can be taken to the Blackwood Church of Christ Office during office hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Ross Hill-Brown
ABM LENTEN APPEAL
"This week a cheque for the sum of $2,618.40 was forwarded to the Anglican Board of Mission - Australia of which $2,174.25 was the parishioners' response to the Lenten Appeal, and $444.15 from other parish fund raisers.
The Lenten Appeal funds will be directed to the support of a Community Library in Ethiopia, one of the projects promoted by ABM-A. This library is operated by St Matthew's Anglican Church in Addis Ababa. In a country where opportunities for education are limited, children who have access to a library are able to pursue their interest in learning beyond the classroom. As a result they will be better prepared to seek employment or further education when they leave school. It is good to know that we are able to help children in Africa in this way. Thanks to all who contributed to the Lenten Appeal." Joan Durdin
NOTES FROM WARREN
We've got a few extra things happening at Holy Innocents in the next few weeks. Each Thursday night (beginning this Thursday) I'll be running sessions on some of the spiritual practices of the church, studies and a monthly Eucharist. One Thursday a month will also be a follow up on the QT topic. So this Thursday (May 6) at 6:45pm I will be introducing the practice of silence, leading into (in future weeks) the tradition of the prayer of the heart and contemplation which is so deeply embedded in the Christian tradition. And then at 7:10pm I will be celebrating the Eucharist in a simple, bare essentials way, concluding at 7:30pm. Come along to both sessions or either one.
On Thursday May 13 I'll be starting a 6 part series on 12 Big Passages of the Old Testament. if you would like a way to understand the Old Testament as a whole, especially as it was then used by the early church after the resurrection of Jesus, this will help. The session will begin at 7:00pm with some silence/meditation followed by the study of the Old Testament at 7:30pm. Come to both parts or either.
On Sunday, May 16 the next QT will be held, entitled 'Is God Deaf?' following the questions raised last month about the efficacy of intercessory prayer. Details to follow, but on the Thursday following, May 20, I and/or Stephen Daughtry will be hosting a night to follow up the discussion from QT.
Our Sunday services at 8am and 10am continue as usual, with a special BBQ on 16th May at 11:30am where we will say thank you to all those who contribute to the life of our church. So if you do anything that keeps our church alive come along so I can say thanks on behalf of us all. And if you would like to say thanks to everyone else, come along too!
Hope to see you soon. Regards, Warren
More on the THANK YOU BBQ
Please tell us us if you plan to be at the BBQ on 16th May when we will express our thanks to all who contribute to the life and family of the church in this place. There is a list in the foyer.
Also,, - If there is anyone who has a use for some removalists’ cardboard packing cases, please talk to Mary Vandepeer (phone; 82272838) as there are quite a few available and I don't want to just consign them to the recycling!!
"Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - it has no point."
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Our Preacher today is Stephen Daughtry
Our Celebrant is Rev’d Dr. Warren Huffa
WELCOME
Please join us for breakfast in the hall after the 8am service or for morning tea after the 10am service. At 10am you will find all prayers and hymns projected onto the sanctuary walls.
THE PRAYER FOR TODAY
Loving God, Your Son has chosen us and called us to be His friends: give us grace to keep His commandments, to love one another, and to bear fruit which shall abide: through Him Who is the True Vine, the source of all our life, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
TODAY’S READINGS Acts 16: 9-15 & Rev’n 21: 10-14 and 21:22 – 22:5 read by Arndrae L
GOSPEL John 14: 21 – 29
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Sue D-T
We pray for those in need Warren and Thea, Janet and Peter, Ron Teague, Barbara Corbett, Michael Boere,
We give thanks for the life of Catherine Cordes (2006) Christine McAuliffe (1983) Philip Lockwood (1997) and Lorna Mengler (1995)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Sid Sweet and Olive Marston
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY – Margaret and Allan Pressley and Jocelyn and Craig Deane
PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY –
Seventh Sunday of Easter Acts 16: 16-34 & Rev’n 22: 12 - 21
GOSPEL John 12: 20 - 26
Refer Fr Ron’s Notes at try looking up diowillochra.org.au/Archives Sermons /Ron /Sermons Canon Keynes/May 2010
POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Today Trevor Tregenza or Ron Keynes
Next Week Araki Family or Don Caddy
REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month at 36 Penno Parade North
BIBLE STUDY 10am every Wednesday at 378 Main Road Coromandel Valley looking at the book of Job
The Germein Room is booked for counselling , Mondays noon – 7.30pm and Wednesdays 9am – 7.30pm: 19 – 27 July St John’s Grammar have booked the Hall each day for Yr 12 exams from 19 to 23 July and 26th.
OTHER COMING EVENTS
QT 3 - Sunday 16th May at Holy Innocents 7.30pm Is God deaf?
13th June Patronal Festival
HELPLINE
Part of being a Christian community is the support offered to each other in times of need. We offer short-term delivery of food where needed, local transport, phone calls, visits and other types of assistance. Call Iris Downes 8278 3260 or Marlene Dixon 8278 8568
The Sunday School group will be grateful for (refundable) bottles, cans and packs being made available: the proceeds will be put to good use for Children’s Ministry. See Robyn Keynes for more info.
BUSH CHURCH AID BOX OPENING
Margaret Pressley advises that May is Box-opening month, and asks all box holders to bring their boxes so that the collections can be sent on.
Family Packs
On a table in the narthex, are Family Packs, for parents and grandparents to help with teaching young ones the Faith All this for only $5.00. Robyn Keynes has more information
School Chaplaincies:
Coffee and Cake . The MH Inter Church Council continues to need additional funds to support its projects. The idea of Coffee and Cake is a plan for people to give a small amounts each week based on what they would spend on a weekly basis on coffee and cake so the money can go to support School Chaplains .You can place an envelope with your donation in the offertory plate addressed Coffee and Cake for the work of School Chaplains
Beacon. Beacon an MHICC endorsed project sets out to help the needy in the area. To this end it urgently needs donations of long life food. Donations can be taken to the Blackwood Church of Christ Office during office hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Ross Hill-Brown
ABM LENTEN APPEAL
"This week a cheque for the sum of $2,618.40 was forwarded to the Anglican Board of Mission - Australia of which $2,174.25 was the parishioners' response to the Lenten Appeal, and $444.15 from other parish fund raisers.
The Lenten Appeal funds will be directed to the support of a Community Library in Ethiopia, one of the projects promoted by ABM-A. This library is operated by St Matthew's Anglican Church in Addis Ababa. In a country where opportunities for education are limited, children who have access to a library are able to pursue their interest in learning beyond the classroom. As a result they will be better prepared to seek employment or further education when they leave school. It is good to know that we are able to help children in Africa in this way. Thanks to all who contributed to the Lenten Appeal." Joan Durdin
NOTES FROM WARREN
We've got a few extra things happening at Holy Innocents in the next few weeks. Each Thursday night (beginning this Thursday) I'll be running sessions on some of the spiritual practices of the church, studies and a monthly Eucharist. One Thursday a month will also be a follow up on the QT topic. So this Thursday (May 6) at 6:45pm I will be introducing the practice of silence, leading into (in future weeks) the tradition of the prayer of the heart and contemplation which is so deeply embedded in the Christian tradition. And then at 7:10pm I will be celebrating the Eucharist in a simple, bare essentials way, concluding at 7:30pm. Come along to both sessions or either one.
On Thursday May 13 I'll be starting a 6 part series on 12 Big Passages of the Old Testament. if you would like a way to understand the Old Testament as a whole, especially as it was then used by the early church after the resurrection of Jesus, this will help. The session will begin at 7:00pm with some silence/meditation followed by the study of the Old Testament at 7:30pm. Come to both parts or either.
On Sunday, May 16 the next QT will be held, entitled 'Is God Deaf?' following the questions raised last month about the efficacy of intercessory prayer. Details to follow, but on the Thursday following, May 20, I and/or Stephen Daughtry will be hosting a night to follow up the discussion from QT.
Our Sunday services at 8am and 10am continue as usual, with a special BBQ on 16th May at 11:30am where we will say thank you to all those who contribute to the life of our church. So if you do anything that keeps our church alive come along so I can say thanks on behalf of us all. And if you would like to say thanks to everyone else, come along too!
Hope to see you soon. Regards, Warren
More on the THANK YOU BBQ
Please tell us us if you plan to be at the BBQ on 16th May when we will express our thanks to all who contribute to the life and family of the church in this place. There is a list in the foyer.
Also,, - If there is anyone who has a use for some removalists’ cardboard packing cases, please talk to Mary Vandepeer (phone; 82272838) as there are quite a few available and I don't want to just consign them to the recycling!!
"Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - it has no point."
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Ron's Notes May 9, 2010
Sunday 9th May, 2010 Sixth Sunday of Easter
Sentence
‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.’ John 14: 27
Collect
Loving God, Your Son has chosen us and called us to be His friends: give us grace to keep His commandments, to love one another, and to bear fruit which shall abide: through Him Who is the True Vine, the source of all our life, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
First Lesson Acts 16: 9 – 15
During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them. We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days.
On the Sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home." And she prevailed upon us.
PSALM 67
Let God be gracious to us and bless us: and make His face shine upon us
That Your ways may be known on earth: Your liberating power among all nations
Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You
Let the nations be glad and sing: for You judge the peoples with integrity, and govern the nations on earth
Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You
Then the earth will yield its fruitfulness: and God, our God, will bless us
God shall bless us: and all the ends of the earth will fear Him
For the Epistle Revelation 21: 10 – 14, 21- 22 & 22:5
In the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It has the glory of God and a radiance like a very rare jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal. It has a great, high wall with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates are inscribed the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites; on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day--and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honour of the nations. But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
GOSPEL John 14: 23 – 29
Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me. I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.”
NOTES ON THE READINGS
First Reading
If you have never spent the time reading the Acts of the Apostles, it would be both a good read and a helpful thing to do – it would provide all sorts of info about the Infant Church. This passage marks both the move from Asia to Europe for the Apostle, and the point at which (according to most commentators) where the beloved physician, Luke, joined the Pauline bandwaggon. Luke is thought to have been that man from Macedonia. On the other hand, it was a culmination of Paul’s response to the Spirit’s leading, and a great step forward at that.
It was no accident that Paul was ‘at the place of prayer’ on the Sabbath. Most Jewish communities outside Israel had either a synagogue – if they had the required number of male Jews, or a place in the open where the faithful ones would meet. Lydia, apparently, was a god-fearer, a Gentile searching for faith, and her step forward was a sort of double one: baptism marked her move towards faith in Christ. It is a beautiful insight into the nature of what we would call evangelism, not with a flourish but with a quiet and rather intimate progression.
Psalm
Here is another of the Psalms, sung at Evensong according to the Book of Common Prayer, when I was a choirboy eons ago. It is a gladsome song, rejoicing in the potential for life that faithfulness to God and loyalty to each other has for everyone. Note that bit about ‘judging with integrity,’ for that would be quite a rarity even in Jewish circles of the time. It is not easy to be true to one’s faith, especially it seems for the leadership.
For the Epistle
Pardon me when I wax lyrical about this most remarkable of books. Here, in apocalyptic and highly dramatic terms is described the real goal of life for the people of God. This is no reward for ‘being good!’ This is the natural outcome when life is lived as the Creator designed it to be lived. It is a description of what can be when evil is no longer part of the scenery. (Are you aware that when John in Chapter 21 writes about ‘no more sea’ he is not talking water, saline or fresh, but that which is very often epitomised by sea, or the Nile, or even the Jordan. That sea of glass like crystal is no pretty sight, but the conglomeration of evil, which has departed in Chapter 21 and has gone for good in this description.
Gospel
Never, never, never associate the peace of which Jesus talks with some sort of ‘blessing’ that comes to the spiritual ones. Here is no Christian nirvana or ‘off with the fairies.’ It is the solid outcome of reconciliation of which the Gospel is full, reconciliation both vertical and horizontal. Peace is not the absence of war; it is the concrete outcome of that reconciliation between humans.
Certainly this peace is not available to those who turn their backs on truth, integrity, justice and love; not because they are sinful and naughty, but because they are looking in a direction horizontally opposed to that to which our Lord points.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
It is probably some sort of evidence about where I have come from in my Christian pilgrimage, and also something of the encounters with those of other views that brings out the following thoughts for a sermon. So if this makes sense to you, then I am glad; if it does not, then just move on.
As a young person in the congregation and youth fellowship to which I belonged, all the ‘high and holy ones’ talked incessantly about ‘abiding in Christ,’ and being spiritual and holy. I confess that it never rang any bells for me, as it seemed so remote from ordinary life and relationships. It was all so moody and introverted, and whilst I was a shy young person, it did not resonate.
Even in those days, back in the 50s, there was also a contrary pressure from those who confessed and called themselves atheists, and were sometimes quite astringent in presenting their viewpoint. They were particularly vocal about those ‘holy ones’ whose heads were in the clouds as far as the non-believers were concerned. So one needed to determine who was correct in the great debate, and as often is the case, the reality was somewhere in the middle. I guess I have never been a conformist, (at least not by intention) so it was a matter of exploring both what Scripture has to say, and what connection there was in ordinary life and living.
Part of that search led me to the point of trying to determine what the substance is for the atheist view, and also that for the Christian (or believer in other faiths, come to that.) And – if you have been a regular reader of these notes, you will know of my encounters with those of disbelieving mien.
Sentence
‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.’ John 14: 27
Collect
Loving God, Your Son has chosen us and called us to be His friends: give us grace to keep His commandments, to love one another, and to bear fruit which shall abide: through Him Who is the True Vine, the source of all our life, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
First Lesson Acts 16: 9 – 15
During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them. We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days.
On the Sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home." And she prevailed upon us.
PSALM 67
Let God be gracious to us and bless us: and make His face shine upon us
That Your ways may be known on earth: Your liberating power among all nations
Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You
Let the nations be glad and sing: for You judge the peoples with integrity, and govern the nations on earth
Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You
Then the earth will yield its fruitfulness: and God, our God, will bless us
God shall bless us: and all the ends of the earth will fear Him
For the Epistle Revelation 21: 10 – 14, 21- 22 & 22:5
In the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It has the glory of God and a radiance like a very rare jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal. It has a great, high wall with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates are inscribed the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites; on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day--and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honour of the nations. But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
GOSPEL John 14: 23 – 29
Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me. I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.”
NOTES ON THE READINGS
First Reading
If you have never spent the time reading the Acts of the Apostles, it would be both a good read and a helpful thing to do – it would provide all sorts of info about the Infant Church. This passage marks both the move from Asia to Europe for the Apostle, and the point at which (according to most commentators) where the beloved physician, Luke, joined the Pauline bandwaggon. Luke is thought to have been that man from Macedonia. On the other hand, it was a culmination of Paul’s response to the Spirit’s leading, and a great step forward at that.
It was no accident that Paul was ‘at the place of prayer’ on the Sabbath. Most Jewish communities outside Israel had either a synagogue – if they had the required number of male Jews, or a place in the open where the faithful ones would meet. Lydia, apparently, was a god-fearer, a Gentile searching for faith, and her step forward was a sort of double one: baptism marked her move towards faith in Christ. It is a beautiful insight into the nature of what we would call evangelism, not with a flourish but with a quiet and rather intimate progression.
Psalm
Here is another of the Psalms, sung at Evensong according to the Book of Common Prayer, when I was a choirboy eons ago. It is a gladsome song, rejoicing in the potential for life that faithfulness to God and loyalty to each other has for everyone. Note that bit about ‘judging with integrity,’ for that would be quite a rarity even in Jewish circles of the time. It is not easy to be true to one’s faith, especially it seems for the leadership.
For the Epistle
Pardon me when I wax lyrical about this most remarkable of books. Here, in apocalyptic and highly dramatic terms is described the real goal of life for the people of God. This is no reward for ‘being good!’ This is the natural outcome when life is lived as the Creator designed it to be lived. It is a description of what can be when evil is no longer part of the scenery. (Are you aware that when John in Chapter 21 writes about ‘no more sea’ he is not talking water, saline or fresh, but that which is very often epitomised by sea, or the Nile, or even the Jordan. That sea of glass like crystal is no pretty sight, but the conglomeration of evil, which has departed in Chapter 21 and has gone for good in this description.
Gospel
Never, never, never associate the peace of which Jesus talks with some sort of ‘blessing’ that comes to the spiritual ones. Here is no Christian nirvana or ‘off with the fairies.’ It is the solid outcome of reconciliation of which the Gospel is full, reconciliation both vertical and horizontal. Peace is not the absence of war; it is the concrete outcome of that reconciliation between humans.
Certainly this peace is not available to those who turn their backs on truth, integrity, justice and love; not because they are sinful and naughty, but because they are looking in a direction horizontally opposed to that to which our Lord points.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
It is probably some sort of evidence about where I have come from in my Christian pilgrimage, and also something of the encounters with those of other views that brings out the following thoughts for a sermon. So if this makes sense to you, then I am glad; if it does not, then just move on.
As a young person in the congregation and youth fellowship to which I belonged, all the ‘high and holy ones’ talked incessantly about ‘abiding in Christ,’ and being spiritual and holy. I confess that it never rang any bells for me, as it seemed so remote from ordinary life and relationships. It was all so moody and introverted, and whilst I was a shy young person, it did not resonate.
Even in those days, back in the 50s, there was also a contrary pressure from those who confessed and called themselves atheists, and were sometimes quite astringent in presenting their viewpoint. They were particularly vocal about those ‘holy ones’ whose heads were in the clouds as far as the non-believers were concerned. So one needed to determine who was correct in the great debate, and as often is the case, the reality was somewhere in the middle. I guess I have never been a conformist, (at least not by intention) so it was a matter of exploring both what Scripture has to say, and what connection there was in ordinary life and living.
Part of that search led me to the point of trying to determine what the substance is for the atheist view, and also that for the Christian (or believer in other faiths, come to that.) And – if you have been a regular reader of these notes, you will know of my encounters with those of disbelieving mien.
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