Sunday 30th January, 2011 - Epiphany IV
Our Celebrant and preacher is Warren Huffa
Welcome to Jack and his family
WELCOME to Holy Innocents—we hope you enjoy this time of prayer as we reflect on Scripture together and celebrate the Eucharist. We invite you to join us for breakfast after the 8am service, or morning tea after the 10am service. At 10 am everything in the service will be screened on the walls. Sunday School resumes today!
COLLECT FOR EPIPHANY III
Living God, in Christ you make all things new: transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace, and in the renewal of our lives make known your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
TODAY’S READINGS Micah 6: 1—8 and 1 Corinthians 1: 18—31read by Neil T
GOSPEL Matthew 5: 1—12
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE
We pray for those in need: Ron Teague, Phyllis Morecroft, Peter Little, the Swaby family, Eddie Barber (doing better), Chris Contro— and Yvonne Myers operating under some difficulty
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Jane Raymond, Andrew Kelly, Lucy Thomas and Kirby Huffa
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY – Lucinda and David Hale, Rosemary and Sean Conlon
YEAR’S MIND—Sylvia McDonald (1994)
PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY - Epiphany V
Readingd Isaiah 58: 1—9a and 1 Corinthians 2: 1—13
GOSPEL Matthew 5: 11—20
Fr Ron’s Notes available at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/
POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Today Cynthia Macintosh or Jill Hilbig
Next Sunday Craig Deane or Don Caddy
READER- AND INTERCESSOR ROSTER
Next Sunday Reader Trevor T Intercessor Marg P
Sunday after Reader Mary V Intercessor Max A
SANCTUARY ROSTER
Next week Flowers Audrey and Graham B Brass Bonny Tomlinson
Cleaning Group 2
REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE and BIBLE STUDY in recess until February 2010
THURSDAY 9.30am Eucharist 7.00pm Eucharist and Parish Council after
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 Marlene Dixon on 8278 8568 or Iris Downes on 8278 3260
Today the new Lutheran Pastor will be commissioned at St. Peter’s Church at 10.00am. We send our best wishes for his ministry—but wish they would have such services during the week!!!!
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Mark your diaries, each and everyone, with particular reference to
(a) Twilight Progressive Tea on Saturday 17th February—starting at the Rectory perchance, then Barryn where Greg will cook the main course, and dessert at our Hall
(b) Pancake Party on Shrive Tuesday—8th March and a Passover Meal on 21st April, Maundy Thursday. Mary V will have more detail
From the Ron Blog—Epiphany IV
Do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
The first time I ever encountered this most remarkable of quotes from the prophet, Micah it resonated with great power and purpose. On top of that, it revolutionised my perception of the old Hebrew Faith – as well as the role of the prophets in their contribution to the formation of Judaism. Sadness remains that, in modern expression of the Jewish life, so little of those worthy contributions still seem to have power to motivate the ancient people of God.
Here, of course, is the line in the sand, the great divide between those of conciliatory mood and those who are not. History is so totally full of examples and illustrations of the battle between human concepts of power and control, and the Divine perception of what life could and should be like.
May I make the position clear, as I do from time to time, that this Judaic/Christian Faith has, as a major part of its genius, the very factor that provides real and substantial answers to what used often to be called the ‘human dilemma.’ It is a little like the proverbial ‘Murphy’s Law’ which states that whatever can go wrong will go wrong, and that ‘Murphy was an optimist.’ More to the point, this human dilemma (sin in the Biblical text) includes all that makes nonsense of human life, aspirations and history – and I doubt very much if you need any illustration of this awful fact of life.
The fact that this solution is more often despised than taken seriously is a blot on the landscape too. Certainly it has to be said that the Christian witness to what is the real Gospel is rarely heard or advertised. Part of that very dilemma is that both faith and Church are riddled with the incapacity of humans to live out what they believe. In fact, it was a rare experience for me even to hear from any source what is real Gospel, especially as a young person. ‘Religion’ was sacrosanct, beyond discussion or debate, and I recall being told very firmly from my own priest that I was not to ask questions such as I raised. Small wonder that the faith even survived!
There is nothing new in that, for such refusal to face or answer questions was the common experience of most lay people. It was all part of the power game, which is itself a denial of the ‘faith once delivered.’
So if this monologue rings any bells in your own mind and heart, do not hesitate to push your way through the baloney – and see what the Faith really is all about. It is designed to overcome precisely those resistances and reservations.
One last touch—moderns seem to hate the word sin. Are you aware that the Greek word so translated, really comes across as missing the mark.
Everyone is asked to note that Cynthia Macintosh is at the Church Office on Thursdays each week—and keeps her eyes open at other times too.
Items for the Newsletter need to be sent to Fr. Ron at 8298 7160 or ronpkeynes@internode.on.net by Tuesday late afternoon please
Friday, January 28, 2011
RonBlog
Sunday 30th January, 2011 Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Sentence
What does the Lord require of you, O man, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
Collect
O Lord, You have taught us that all our doings without love are worth nothing; send Your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love, the true bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whoever lives is counted as dead before You. Grant this for Your only Son, Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Micah 6: 1 – 8
Hear what the LORD says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the LORD, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the LORD has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel. "O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me! For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of slavery; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised, what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the LORD."
"With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"
He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
PSALM 15
Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle: or who may dwell upon Your holy hill?
Whoever leads an uncorrupt life, and does the thing that is right: who speaks the truth from the heart and has not slandered with the tongue.
Who has done no evil to a friend: nor vented abuse against a neighbour
In whose eyes the worthless have no honour: but who makes much of those who fear the Lord
Whoever has sworn to a neighbour: and will not go back on that oath
Who has not put money to usury: nor taken a bribe against the innocent
Whoever does these things: shall never be overthrown
EPISTLE 1 Corinthians 1: 18 – 31
The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe.
For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.
Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
GOSPEL Matthew 5: 1 – 12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.
Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before 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
It would seem that the view of Jewish religion and expression of it must have depended on who was talking and when; the New Testament is full of comparison between ‘Law’ and ‘grace’ – or between sacrifice and lack of it, circumcision or lack of it. So it was a surprise for me, when training for the priesthood, to discover the writings of Micah. What is more surprising to someone of the modern age, is that this man lived around 750 BC when one might have expected a rather naïve expression of Hebrew Faith. Little could be further from the truth.
For this rather remarkable person, real religion for him is expressed in that most passionate of expressions: ‘what does the Lord require of you, O man?’ The answer is more surprising in that day and age: to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’ As I have mentioned many a time and oft before, the real Hebrew Faith was far less ‘religious’ and rather more like moderns might describe as ‘humanist.’ If that comes as a shock then stop and think. Love God and love neighbour can only be expressed in such terms anyhow. Put that in your pipe for some time and smoke it!
PSALM
And look what the psalmist has to say on the same subject. And this has to be one of the early psalms! Even these days, antagonists to the Faith are ready to declaim against anyone who acts inconsistently with the Shema Israel.
EPISTLE
There has been a lot of ink spilt in commenting on this passage from St. Paul, but often that ink misses the real point at issue. As mentioned earlier, the folly consists in the perceived difference between the human sense of who is strong, and those who are weak. Every country, so the propaganda goes, looks for a strong leader, which is why Germany chose Adolph Hitler. (Other examples are common!) And that sort of strength turns out to be a savage sort of weakness. If I need a big stick to convince you that I hold to the truth, then that very stick proves me to be a liar. I kid you not.
The second paragraph – about signs and wisdom – does actually have a lot to say about much modern populist religion, seems to me, as well as pointing to more ancient foibles. For Jew and Greek, it strikes me that those then-popular emphases were little more than smokescreens to avoid reality, rather than tests to establish the truth. Finally, I point to this last paragraph to underline the fact that God tends more often to work through humble ordinary people, and avoids the flash-in –the-pan sort of human.
GOSPEL
One could spend the whole time exploring the parameters of the Beatitudes, this passage from the Sermon on the Mount. This is a fascinating counterpoint to the Epistle for today, for much of the world would regard the Beatitudes as totally beyond value or usefulness. In fact, for many decades, some commentators saw these verses as having only possible expression in heaven!
The reality is far closer to home. Read them through again and catch sight of all that is being said. In terms of Jesus and that ‘extra mile’ that he called for as people responded to people in need, and realize that the only way to remove most of earth’s human ills is for almost total self-giving, then see whilst it may be idealistic, it would be totally effective --- if there is a genuine response from other humans.
Mind you, that will always beg the question, for there is ever that human element that determines to operate in the Adamic, self-obsessed manner. On the other hand, much of the great value of the Gospel is that it offers that new life, that completely different way to operate. And thank heaven for that.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
Do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
The first time I ever encountered this most remarkable of quotes from Micah it resonated with great power and purpose. On top of that, it revolutionised my perception of the old Hebrew Faith – as well as the role of the prophets in their contribution to the formation of Judaism. Sadness remains that, in modern expression of the Jewish life, so little of those worthy contributions still seem to have power to motivate the ancient people of God.
There, of course, is the line in the sand, the great divide between those of conciliatory mood and those who are not. History is so totally full of examples and illustrations of the battle between human concepts of power and control, and the Divine perception of what life could and should be like.
May I make the position clear, as I do from time to time, that this Judaic/Christian Faith has, as a major part of its genius, the very factor that provides real and substantial answers to what used often to be called the ‘human dilemma.’ It is a little like the proverbial ‘Murphy’s Law’ which states that whatever can go wrong will go wrong, and that ‘Murphy was an optimist.’ More to the point, this human dilemma includes all that makes nonsense of human life, aspirations and history – and I doubt very much if you need any illustration of this awful fact of life.
The fact that this solution is more often despised than taken seriously is a blot on the landscape too. Certainly it has to be said that the Christian witness to what is the real Gospel is rarely heard or advertised. Part of that very dilemma is that ever faith and Church are riddled with the incapacity of humans to live out what they believe. In fact, it was a rare experience for me even to hear from any source what is real Gospel, especially as a young person. ‘Religion’ was sacrosanct, beyond discussion or debate, and I recall being told very firmly from my own priest that I was not to ask questions such as I raised. Small wonder that the faith even survived!
There is nothing new in that, for such refusal to face or answer questions was the common experience of most lay people. It was all part of the power game, which is itself a denial of the ‘faith once delivered.’
So if this monologue rings any bells in your own mind and heart, do not hesitate to push your way through the baloney – and see what the Faith really is all about. It is designed to overcome precisely those resistances and reservations.
Sentence
What does the Lord require of you, O man, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
Collect
O Lord, You have taught us that all our doings without love are worth nothing; send Your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love, the true bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whoever lives is counted as dead before You. Grant this for Your only Son, Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Micah 6: 1 – 8
Hear what the LORD says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the LORD, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the LORD has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel. "O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me! For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of slavery; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised, what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the LORD."
"With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"
He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
PSALM 15
Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle: or who may dwell upon Your holy hill?
Whoever leads an uncorrupt life, and does the thing that is right: who speaks the truth from the heart and has not slandered with the tongue.
Who has done no evil to a friend: nor vented abuse against a neighbour
In whose eyes the worthless have no honour: but who makes much of those who fear the Lord
Whoever has sworn to a neighbour: and will not go back on that oath
Who has not put money to usury: nor taken a bribe against the innocent
Whoever does these things: shall never be overthrown
EPISTLE 1 Corinthians 1: 18 – 31
The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe.
For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.
Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
GOSPEL Matthew 5: 1 – 12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.
Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before 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
It would seem that the view of Jewish religion and expression of it must have depended on who was talking and when; the New Testament is full of comparison between ‘Law’ and ‘grace’ – or between sacrifice and lack of it, circumcision or lack of it. So it was a surprise for me, when training for the priesthood, to discover the writings of Micah. What is more surprising to someone of the modern age, is that this man lived around 750 BC when one might have expected a rather naïve expression of Hebrew Faith. Little could be further from the truth.
For this rather remarkable person, real religion for him is expressed in that most passionate of expressions: ‘what does the Lord require of you, O man?’ The answer is more surprising in that day and age: to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’ As I have mentioned many a time and oft before, the real Hebrew Faith was far less ‘religious’ and rather more like moderns might describe as ‘humanist.’ If that comes as a shock then stop and think. Love God and love neighbour can only be expressed in such terms anyhow. Put that in your pipe for some time and smoke it!
PSALM
And look what the psalmist has to say on the same subject. And this has to be one of the early psalms! Even these days, antagonists to the Faith are ready to declaim against anyone who acts inconsistently with the Shema Israel.
EPISTLE
There has been a lot of ink spilt in commenting on this passage from St. Paul, but often that ink misses the real point at issue. As mentioned earlier, the folly consists in the perceived difference between the human sense of who is strong, and those who are weak. Every country, so the propaganda goes, looks for a strong leader, which is why Germany chose Adolph Hitler. (Other examples are common!) And that sort of strength turns out to be a savage sort of weakness. If I need a big stick to convince you that I hold to the truth, then that very stick proves me to be a liar. I kid you not.
The second paragraph – about signs and wisdom – does actually have a lot to say about much modern populist religion, seems to me, as well as pointing to more ancient foibles. For Jew and Greek, it strikes me that those then-popular emphases were little more than smokescreens to avoid reality, rather than tests to establish the truth. Finally, I point to this last paragraph to underline the fact that God tends more often to work through humble ordinary people, and avoids the flash-in –the-pan sort of human.
GOSPEL
One could spend the whole time exploring the parameters of the Beatitudes, this passage from the Sermon on the Mount. This is a fascinating counterpoint to the Epistle for today, for much of the world would regard the Beatitudes as totally beyond value or usefulness. In fact, for many decades, some commentators saw these verses as having only possible expression in heaven!
The reality is far closer to home. Read them through again and catch sight of all that is being said. In terms of Jesus and that ‘extra mile’ that he called for as people responded to people in need, and realize that the only way to remove most of earth’s human ills is for almost total self-giving, then see whilst it may be idealistic, it would be totally effective --- if there is a genuine response from other humans.
Mind you, that will always beg the question, for there is ever that human element that determines to operate in the Adamic, self-obsessed manner. On the other hand, much of the great value of the Gospel is that it offers that new life, that completely different way to operate. And thank heaven for that.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
Do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
The first time I ever encountered this most remarkable of quotes from Micah it resonated with great power and purpose. On top of that, it revolutionised my perception of the old Hebrew Faith – as well as the role of the prophets in their contribution to the formation of Judaism. Sadness remains that, in modern expression of the Jewish life, so little of those worthy contributions still seem to have power to motivate the ancient people of God.
There, of course, is the line in the sand, the great divide between those of conciliatory mood and those who are not. History is so totally full of examples and illustrations of the battle between human concepts of power and control, and the Divine perception of what life could and should be like.
May I make the position clear, as I do from time to time, that this Judaic/Christian Faith has, as a major part of its genius, the very factor that provides real and substantial answers to what used often to be called the ‘human dilemma.’ It is a little like the proverbial ‘Murphy’s Law’ which states that whatever can go wrong will go wrong, and that ‘Murphy was an optimist.’ More to the point, this human dilemma includes all that makes nonsense of human life, aspirations and history – and I doubt very much if you need any illustration of this awful fact of life.
The fact that this solution is more often despised than taken seriously is a blot on the landscape too. Certainly it has to be said that the Christian witness to what is the real Gospel is rarely heard or advertised. Part of that very dilemma is that ever faith and Church are riddled with the incapacity of humans to live out what they believe. In fact, it was a rare experience for me even to hear from any source what is real Gospel, especially as a young person. ‘Religion’ was sacrosanct, beyond discussion or debate, and I recall being told very firmly from my own priest that I was not to ask questions such as I raised. Small wonder that the faith even survived!
There is nothing new in that, for such refusal to face or answer questions was the common experience of most lay people. It was all part of the power game, which is itself a denial of the ‘faith once delivered.’
So if this monologue rings any bells in your own mind and heart, do not hesitate to push your way through the baloney – and see what the Faith really is all about. It is designed to overcome precisely those resistances and reservations.
Friday, January 21, 2011
RonBlog
Sunday 23rd January 2011 Third Sunday after Epiphany
Sentence
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and sickness among the people. Matthew 4: 23
Collect
Loving God, the light of the minds that know You, the life of the souls who love You, and the strength of the hearts that serve You; help us so to know You that we may truly love You; and so to love You that we may faithfully serve You, Whose service is perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Old Testament Lesson Isaiah 9: 1 – 4
There will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness-- on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.
Psalm 27: 1 – 10
The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.
One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.
Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.
Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.
Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Saviour.
Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.
Epistle 1 Corinthians 1: 10 – 18
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ."
Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
GOSPEL Matthew 4: 12 – 25
When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-- the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned." From that time Jesus began to proclaim, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea--for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
© 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
This passage is neither all that clear nor (really) all that easy to understand. However as an overview, it stems from a period in Jewish history when all sorts of things were being turned upside down. (First) Isaiah was writing around the time of the divided kingdom, when threats of political and military natures were being experienced. A look at the map will indicate that even the combined Kingdom was really very small, and being on the land trade route from Egypt to all points north and east, meant that whoever controlled Israel controlled the trade.
Now northern areas of Israel were not considered all that strong or valuable, so such folk were looked down on. In any country, those furthest from the action, the hayseeds, were held in some derision. However, here the prophet anticipates the reversal of such a situation, so that those folk would be in a position to point others to the light. The latter parts of this passage have tended to be taken as prophecies of the coming Christ, but one would have to suggest that such is a matter of drawing a long bow. It is not unlike that passage from this book that talks about ‘virgins.’
The real issue in this passage is not to be afraid of tyrants and other braggarts. They will come and go, but truth, justice and integrity will ever remain as strong and indestructible bases for life. And faith.
Psalm
And does not this Psalm underline exactly the same sort of thing? It was true way back then, and true it remains in spite of the passage of up to three millennia.
Epistle
It was never easy being a prophet, and here it is clear that apostles encountered similar stresses and difficulties. As mentioned in last week’s notes, the Corinthian Christians were not the prettiest of sights, and their penchant for division and strife showed up constantly. Here Paul is calling for unity, albeit without a lot of success. The aside about baptism might seem to downplay any sense of importance that Paul had for that sacrament, but that would be to misread what he was writing. Baptism, like Eucharist, is sacrament of unity and reconciliation, and never forget that.
The final sentence is a fascinating one, and Paul returns to this thought a number of times. The message of the cross is foolishness to those who see power and strength as the canons of greatness. Jesus did not, for He saw the eternal values in reconciliation, forgiveness and restoration. Those values and attributes never seem to hit a lot of airspace in the citadels of (human) power – which is why tensions run high and wars are a constant.
GOSPEL
Dear old Matthew managed to enlist those words from Isaiah to underline the fact that much of Jesus’ ministry was in the northern part of the country, near Galilee, where people tended to be despised. (Always consult an atlas when you read the Gospels, for it is remarkable to realize the extent to which Jesus went outside Israel during His ministry. Our Lord has no difficulty embracing Samaritans and Gentiles, much to the annoyance of the purists of His day. Even Jesus’ selection of disciples would have raised the ire of Jesus’ antagonists. Ignorant and unlearned men was the description laid on those fishermen, but they turned out to be inspired choices for the task in front of them. They were not perfect, Charlie Brown, any more than are we; and they stumbled from time to time. But one could hardly doubt their loyalty after the resurrection.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
I recall a sermon way, way back in my youth, preached not by me but by a College lecturer, I recall. Whoever it was emphasised the number of times that Jesus exhorted people to ‘Fear not.’ In fact just a few verses before the start of today’s OT reading, these words occur:
Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy,
and do not fear what it fears, or be in dread.
But the LORD of hosts, Him you shall regard as holy;
let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
Now this passage has nothing to do with being afraid of death and hell, as some old time preachers might like to stress. It has to do with fear of invasion from external forces, armies, dictators and tyrants. Fear not, do not be afraid; a constant exhortation in all of Scripture.
Now this is a factor worth exploring, for it has to be said that in all modern expressions of tyranny from Hitler to Stalin to Saddam Hussein and more, fear has been the common controlling factor that enabled such men to retain their hold over people. On top of that, what appears to have been the propaganda weapon that assisted such horror was their common tendency to convince people that the ancient verities of justice, truth, compassion and integrity were no long valid, and in fact were dead.
The Judaic/Christian Faiths have, in word if not always in deed, maintained the reality of those ancient and unchanging virtues. In fact, I think it may be true to say that whenever the adherents of whatever religion have wandered from their own values; they have tried to downplay what people, generally, would know to be real.
As one who was rather young during World War II, I found it fascinating and well as enormously encouraging to hear of and occasionally meet Christian pastors and priests from Hitler’s Germany who stood up to the abuse and threats from Nazi hoodlums. (It was equally horrifying to find that there were rather more clergy of all denominations who ‘bowed the knee’ for the sake of their own survival.) Post war we had the experience of sitting at the feet of those who upheld their faith and their integrity, and to read the writings of those who did not.
I do not know how I would respond and react to huge pressure to submit to violent men, so I can never stand in judgement on those who surrendered, but I do have the vision offered both by Scripture and such people to be aware of when falsities are being presented as gospel, and spin is offered instead of reality. And that surely is the first rung of the ladder of being strong to hold out against untruths – and tyranny.
And that is just as important an aspect of Epiphany as any other; and underlines the value of that difficult passage from Isaiah.
Sentence
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and sickness among the people. Matthew 4: 23
Collect
Loving God, the light of the minds that know You, the life of the souls who love You, and the strength of the hearts that serve You; help us so to know You that we may truly love You; and so to love You that we may faithfully serve You, Whose service is perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Old Testament Lesson Isaiah 9: 1 – 4
There will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness-- on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.
Psalm 27: 1 – 10
The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.
One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.
Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.
Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.
Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Saviour.
Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.
Epistle 1 Corinthians 1: 10 – 18
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ."
Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
GOSPEL Matthew 4: 12 – 25
When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-- the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned." From that time Jesus began to proclaim, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea--for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
© 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
This passage is neither all that clear nor (really) all that easy to understand. However as an overview, it stems from a period in Jewish history when all sorts of things were being turned upside down. (First) Isaiah was writing around the time of the divided kingdom, when threats of political and military natures were being experienced. A look at the map will indicate that even the combined Kingdom was really very small, and being on the land trade route from Egypt to all points north and east, meant that whoever controlled Israel controlled the trade.
Now northern areas of Israel were not considered all that strong or valuable, so such folk were looked down on. In any country, those furthest from the action, the hayseeds, were held in some derision. However, here the prophet anticipates the reversal of such a situation, so that those folk would be in a position to point others to the light. The latter parts of this passage have tended to be taken as prophecies of the coming Christ, but one would have to suggest that such is a matter of drawing a long bow. It is not unlike that passage from this book that talks about ‘virgins.’
The real issue in this passage is not to be afraid of tyrants and other braggarts. They will come and go, but truth, justice and integrity will ever remain as strong and indestructible bases for life. And faith.
Psalm
And does not this Psalm underline exactly the same sort of thing? It was true way back then, and true it remains in spite of the passage of up to three millennia.
Epistle
It was never easy being a prophet, and here it is clear that apostles encountered similar stresses and difficulties. As mentioned in last week’s notes, the Corinthian Christians were not the prettiest of sights, and their penchant for division and strife showed up constantly. Here Paul is calling for unity, albeit without a lot of success. The aside about baptism might seem to downplay any sense of importance that Paul had for that sacrament, but that would be to misread what he was writing. Baptism, like Eucharist, is sacrament of unity and reconciliation, and never forget that.
The final sentence is a fascinating one, and Paul returns to this thought a number of times. The message of the cross is foolishness to those who see power and strength as the canons of greatness. Jesus did not, for He saw the eternal values in reconciliation, forgiveness and restoration. Those values and attributes never seem to hit a lot of airspace in the citadels of (human) power – which is why tensions run high and wars are a constant.
GOSPEL
Dear old Matthew managed to enlist those words from Isaiah to underline the fact that much of Jesus’ ministry was in the northern part of the country, near Galilee, where people tended to be despised. (Always consult an atlas when you read the Gospels, for it is remarkable to realize the extent to which Jesus went outside Israel during His ministry. Our Lord has no difficulty embracing Samaritans and Gentiles, much to the annoyance of the purists of His day. Even Jesus’ selection of disciples would have raised the ire of Jesus’ antagonists. Ignorant and unlearned men was the description laid on those fishermen, but they turned out to be inspired choices for the task in front of them. They were not perfect, Charlie Brown, any more than are we; and they stumbled from time to time. But one could hardly doubt their loyalty after the resurrection.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
I recall a sermon way, way back in my youth, preached not by me but by a College lecturer, I recall. Whoever it was emphasised the number of times that Jesus exhorted people to ‘Fear not.’ In fact just a few verses before the start of today’s OT reading, these words occur:
Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy,
and do not fear what it fears, or be in dread.
But the LORD of hosts, Him you shall regard as holy;
let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
Now this passage has nothing to do with being afraid of death and hell, as some old time preachers might like to stress. It has to do with fear of invasion from external forces, armies, dictators and tyrants. Fear not, do not be afraid; a constant exhortation in all of Scripture.
Now this is a factor worth exploring, for it has to be said that in all modern expressions of tyranny from Hitler to Stalin to Saddam Hussein and more, fear has been the common controlling factor that enabled such men to retain their hold over people. On top of that, what appears to have been the propaganda weapon that assisted such horror was their common tendency to convince people that the ancient verities of justice, truth, compassion and integrity were no long valid, and in fact were dead.
The Judaic/Christian Faiths have, in word if not always in deed, maintained the reality of those ancient and unchanging virtues. In fact, I think it may be true to say that whenever the adherents of whatever religion have wandered from their own values; they have tried to downplay what people, generally, would know to be real.
As one who was rather young during World War II, I found it fascinating and well as enormously encouraging to hear of and occasionally meet Christian pastors and priests from Hitler’s Germany who stood up to the abuse and threats from Nazi hoodlums. (It was equally horrifying to find that there were rather more clergy of all denominations who ‘bowed the knee’ for the sake of their own survival.) Post war we had the experience of sitting at the feet of those who upheld their faith and their integrity, and to read the writings of those who did not.
I do not know how I would respond and react to huge pressure to submit to violent men, so I can never stand in judgement on those who surrendered, but I do have the vision offered both by Scripture and such people to be aware of when falsities are being presented as gospel, and spin is offered instead of reality. And that surely is the first rung of the ladder of being strong to hold out against untruths – and tyranny.
And that is just as important an aspect of Epiphany as any other; and underlines the value of that difficult passage from Isaiah.
Newsletter
Sunday 23rdJanuary, 2011 - Epiphany III
Australia Day Celebration
Our Celebrant and preacher is Warren Huffa
WELCOME to Holy Innocents—we hope you enjoy this time of prayer as we reflect on Scripture together and celebrate the Eucharist. We invite you to join us for breakfast after the 8am service, or morning tea after the 10am service. At 10 am everything in the service will be screened on the walls
Sunday School resumes at 10am on Sunday 30th January! Wacko!
COLLECT FOR EPIPHANY III
Loving God, the light of the minds that know you, the life of the souls that love you, and the strength of the hearts that serve you: help us so to know you that we may truly love you, and so to love you that we may faithfully serve you, whose service is perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
TODAY’S READINGS Isaiah 9: 1—4 and 1 Cor. 1: 10 –18 read by Caroline S
Gospel Matthew 4: 12—25
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Hal S-C
We pray for those in need: Ron Teague, Phyllis Morecroft, Peter Little, the Swaby family, Eddie Barber and Chris Contro. Yvonne Myers is not all that well either..
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Jane Raymond, Andrew Kelly, Lucy Thomas and Kirby Huffa
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY – Lucinda and David Hale, Rosemary and Sean Conlon
YEAR’S MIND—Sylvia McDonald (1994)
PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY - Epiphany IV
Micah 6: 1—8 and 1 Corinthians 1: 18—31
GOSPEL Matthew 5: 1—12
Fr Ron’s Notes available at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/
POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Today Don Caddy or Craig Deane (Craig away!)
Next Sunday Cynthia Macintosh or Jill Hilbig
READER- AND INTERCESSOR ROSTER
Next Sunday Reader Neil T Intercessor Warren H
Sunday after Reader Trevor T Intercessor Marg P
SANCTUARY ROSTER
Next week Flowers Jan Tregenza Brass Margaret Carruthers
Cleaning Susan Lee
REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE and BIBLE STUDY in recess until February 2010
THURSDAY 9.30am Eucharist
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 Marlene Dixon on 8278 8568 or Iris Downes on 8278 3260
NEXT BBQ AFTER CHURCH
After service today there will be the traditional Australia Day BBQ. If you have not put your name down, there may well be room for you anyhow ….. and even some tucker!
And then there is
Anne Roller, winner of the Nativity Set recently wrote to Jan T to express both her gratitude for winning, and her intention as teacher of Reception Class at Walford, to use the Set each year to discuss Christmas Day. Isn’t that great!
Are you interested? Fr. Ron has been wondering about starting a Bible Study Group (at Seacliff Park possibly—more likely in Belair), asking if there are people interested in such a project. Some folk have answered positively and we may move quietly from here. Both day, time and place are open for discussion.
From the Ron Blog—Epiphany III Almost an aside on the readings
I recall a sermon way, way back in my youth, preached not by me but by a College lecturer. Whoever it was emphasised the number of times that Jesus exhorted people to ‘Fear not.’ In fact just a few verses before the start of today’s OT reading, these words occur:
Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy,
and do not fear what it fears, or be in dread.
But the LORD of hosts, him you shall regard as holy;
let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
Now this passage has nothing to do with being afraid of death and hell, as some old time preachers might like to stress. It has to do with fear of invasion from external forces, armies, dictators and tyrants. Fear not, do not be afraid; a constant exhortation in all of Scripture.
Now this is a factor worth exploring, for it has to be said that in all modern expressions of tyranny from Hitler to Stalin to Saddam Hussein and more, fear has been the common controlling factor that enabled such men to retain their hold over people. On top of that, what appears to have been the propaganda weapon that assisted such horror was their common tendency to convince people that the ancient verities of justice, truth, compassion and integrity were no longer valid, and in fact were dead.
The Judaic/Christian Faiths have, in word if not always in deed, maintained the reality of those ancient and unchanging virtues. In fact, I think it may be true to say that whenever the adherents of whatever religion have wandered from their own values; they have tried to downplay what people, generally, would know to be real.
As one who was rather young during World War II, I found it fascinating and well as enormously encouraging to hear of and occasionally meet Christian pastors and priests from Hitler’s Germany who stood up to the abuse and threats from Nazi hoodlums. (It was equally horrifying to find that there were rather more clergy of all denominations who ‘bowed the knee’ for the sake of their own survival.) Postwar, we had the experience of sitting at the feet of those who upheld their faith and their integrity, and to read the writings of those who did not.
I do not know how I would respond and react to huge pressure to submit to violence, so I can never stand in judgement on those who surrendered, but I do have the vision offered both by Scripture and such people to be aware of when falsities are being presented as gospel, and spin is offered instead of reality. And that, surely is the first rung of the ladder of being strong to hold out against untruths – and tyranny.
********************************************************
QUEENSLAND FLOODS
We have received news from the Primate about the flooding in Queensland and its effect on the Dioceses of Brisbane and Rockhampton. An extract from the Primate’s letter is given below. Archbishop Aspinall has also advised that his Emergency Relief Fund is accepting donations for flood relief. The details are as follows: Payments may be made by:
cheque made out to "Archbishop’s Emergency Relief Fund" and sent to ANFIN, GPO BOX 421, BRISBANE, QLD 4001, or Electronic Transfer
Account Name: Archbishop’s Emergency Relief Fund
Account BSB: 704-901
Account Number: 00014858
Memo from St. Peter’s Cathedral…….
On Monday 24 January from 5.30-6.30pm the Cathedral will be holding an hour of prayer for the victims of the flooding throughout Australia. There will be a time of formal prayer every quarter hour (5.30pm, 5.45pm, 6pm, 6.15pm and 6.30pm) with opportunities for silent prayer and the lighting of candles in between. Prayer and reflection resources will be provided. People are welcome to drop in for as long as they like, from a few minutes to the full time, as we join in solidarity with those who have lost so much.
Items for the Newsletter need to be sent to Fr. Ron at 8298 7160 or ronpkeynes@internode.on.net by Tuesday late afternoon please
Australia Day Celebration
Our Celebrant and preacher is Warren Huffa
WELCOME to Holy Innocents—we hope you enjoy this time of prayer as we reflect on Scripture together and celebrate the Eucharist. We invite you to join us for breakfast after the 8am service, or morning tea after the 10am service. At 10 am everything in the service will be screened on the walls
Sunday School resumes at 10am on Sunday 30th January! Wacko!
COLLECT FOR EPIPHANY III
Loving God, the light of the minds that know you, the life of the souls that love you, and the strength of the hearts that serve you: help us so to know you that we may truly love you, and so to love you that we may faithfully serve you, whose service is perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
TODAY’S READINGS Isaiah 9: 1—4 and 1 Cor. 1: 10 –18 read by Caroline S
Gospel Matthew 4: 12—25
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Hal S-C
We pray for those in need: Ron Teague, Phyllis Morecroft, Peter Little, the Swaby family, Eddie Barber and Chris Contro. Yvonne Myers is not all that well either..
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Jane Raymond, Andrew Kelly, Lucy Thomas and Kirby Huffa
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY – Lucinda and David Hale, Rosemary and Sean Conlon
YEAR’S MIND—Sylvia McDonald (1994)
PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY - Epiphany IV
Micah 6: 1—8 and 1 Corinthians 1: 18—31
GOSPEL Matthew 5: 1—12
Fr Ron’s Notes available at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/
POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Today Don Caddy or Craig Deane (Craig away!)
Next Sunday Cynthia Macintosh or Jill Hilbig
READER- AND INTERCESSOR ROSTER
Next Sunday Reader Neil T Intercessor Warren H
Sunday after Reader Trevor T Intercessor Marg P
SANCTUARY ROSTER
Next week Flowers Jan Tregenza Brass Margaret Carruthers
Cleaning Susan Lee
REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE and BIBLE STUDY in recess until February 2010
THURSDAY 9.30am Eucharist
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 Marlene Dixon on 8278 8568 or Iris Downes on 8278 3260
NEXT BBQ AFTER CHURCH
After service today there will be the traditional Australia Day BBQ. If you have not put your name down, there may well be room for you anyhow ….. and even some tucker!
And then there is
Anne Roller, winner of the Nativity Set recently wrote to Jan T to express both her gratitude for winning, and her intention as teacher of Reception Class at Walford, to use the Set each year to discuss Christmas Day. Isn’t that great!
Are you interested? Fr. Ron has been wondering about starting a Bible Study Group (at Seacliff Park possibly—more likely in Belair), asking if there are people interested in such a project. Some folk have answered positively and we may move quietly from here. Both day, time and place are open for discussion.
From the Ron Blog—Epiphany III Almost an aside on the readings
I recall a sermon way, way back in my youth, preached not by me but by a College lecturer. Whoever it was emphasised the number of times that Jesus exhorted people to ‘Fear not.’ In fact just a few verses before the start of today’s OT reading, these words occur:
Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy,
and do not fear what it fears, or be in dread.
But the LORD of hosts, him you shall regard as holy;
let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
Now this passage has nothing to do with being afraid of death and hell, as some old time preachers might like to stress. It has to do with fear of invasion from external forces, armies, dictators and tyrants. Fear not, do not be afraid; a constant exhortation in all of Scripture.
Now this is a factor worth exploring, for it has to be said that in all modern expressions of tyranny from Hitler to Stalin to Saddam Hussein and more, fear has been the common controlling factor that enabled such men to retain their hold over people. On top of that, what appears to have been the propaganda weapon that assisted such horror was their common tendency to convince people that the ancient verities of justice, truth, compassion and integrity were no longer valid, and in fact were dead.
The Judaic/Christian Faiths have, in word if not always in deed, maintained the reality of those ancient and unchanging virtues. In fact, I think it may be true to say that whenever the adherents of whatever religion have wandered from their own values; they have tried to downplay what people, generally, would know to be real.
As one who was rather young during World War II, I found it fascinating and well as enormously encouraging to hear of and occasionally meet Christian pastors and priests from Hitler’s Germany who stood up to the abuse and threats from Nazi hoodlums. (It was equally horrifying to find that there were rather more clergy of all denominations who ‘bowed the knee’ for the sake of their own survival.) Postwar, we had the experience of sitting at the feet of those who upheld their faith and their integrity, and to read the writings of those who did not.
I do not know how I would respond and react to huge pressure to submit to violence, so I can never stand in judgement on those who surrendered, but I do have the vision offered both by Scripture and such people to be aware of when falsities are being presented as gospel, and spin is offered instead of reality. And that, surely is the first rung of the ladder of being strong to hold out against untruths – and tyranny.
********************************************************
QUEENSLAND FLOODS
We have received news from the Primate about the flooding in Queensland and its effect on the Dioceses of Brisbane and Rockhampton. An extract from the Primate’s letter is given below. Archbishop Aspinall has also advised that his Emergency Relief Fund is accepting donations for flood relief. The details are as follows: Payments may be made by:
cheque made out to "Archbishop’s Emergency Relief Fund" and sent to ANFIN, GPO BOX 421, BRISBANE, QLD 4001, or Electronic Transfer
Account Name: Archbishop’s Emergency Relief Fund
Account BSB: 704-901
Account Number: 00014858
Memo from St. Peter’s Cathedral…….
On Monday 24 January from 5.30-6.30pm the Cathedral will be holding an hour of prayer for the victims of the flooding throughout Australia. There will be a time of formal prayer every quarter hour (5.30pm, 5.45pm, 6pm, 6.15pm and 6.30pm) with opportunities for silent prayer and the lighting of candles in between. Prayer and reflection resources will be provided. People are welcome to drop in for as long as they like, from a few minutes to the full time, as we join in solidarity with those who have lost so much.
Items for the Newsletter need to be sent to Fr. Ron at 8298 7160 or ronpkeynes@internode.on.net by Tuesday late afternoon please
Saturday, January 15, 2011
RonBlog
Sunday 16th January, 2011 Second Sunday after Epiphany
Sentence
God is faithful; by Him you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Cor. 1:9
Collect
Almighty God, by Whose grace alone we are accepted and called to Your service; strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit and make us worthy of our calling, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Old Testament Lesson Isaiah 49: 1 – 7
Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The LORD called me before I was born, while I was in my mother's womb he named me. He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified." But I said, "I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the LORD, and my reward with my God."
And now the LORD says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honoured in the sight of the LORD, and my God has become my strength--he says, "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."
Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the slave of rulers, "Kings shall see and stand up, princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy Israel, who has chosen you."
Psalm 40: 1 – 14
I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.
Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.
Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you have prepared for me; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, “Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll.
I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”
I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD.
I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.
Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me.
For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.
Be pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me.
May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
Epistle 1 Corinthians 1: 1 – 9
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind-- just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you--so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
GOSPEL John 1: 29 – 42
The next day John (the Baptist) saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel." And John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God."
The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!" The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon.
One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed ). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter.)
© 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 Lesson
As we continue to explore the Servant Songs of Isaiah, it is interesting that this passage comes up for consideration. It is helpful perhaps to look at its first useage in the prophet’s time, and then to translate it to our own period in history.
Israel was in exile in Babylon, and in spite of or even because of the passage of decades, was disconsolate. If they were supposed to be the People of God, why was everything so balanced against them? If God is God, where is the future? And there seemed to be none.
In response to their pessimism, the prophet seemed to understand God to be widening their calling rather than limiting it. ‘It is too small a thing’ is a fascinating sort of statement. The prophet saw the calling of Israel rather wider than simply bringing its own people closer to faith and reality. That calling was broadened to embrace all of humanity. On top of that, there was the reassurance that, in spite of evidence to the contrary, God was not dead, nor had He forgotten His people. That double encouragement must have strengthened the hand of many of the exiles.
Now translate that to the present, where lots of people of faith are wondering what is the future of the Church. Seems to me that the same message of ‘look beyond yourselves’ is a salutary lesson for the present time. And a singularly useful one in this Season of Epiphany – light to the Gentiles!!!!!!!
Psalm
One might see in this psalm the cries of a self-focussed person worrying about what others might think of him. On the other hand, it seems to me to be the cry of one who is concerned that the ‘great unwashed’ have grounds to ignore the Holy One of Israel. It strikes me that so many of the apparently sad psalms are in fact rather more pointing to the reality of God, the faith He offers, and the enormous benefits if only stupid people would sit up and take notice.
Epistle
When one becomes familiar with all the rest of the still-available letters of Paul to Corinth, one is left wondering whether here Paul writes in the language of hope, or is simply trying to be nice to a rather unpretty congregation or two there. From all Paul wrote, there were constant issues needing attention and resolution. Mind you, in the circumstances, it would be surprising if any Church these days would get off the deck in such a place.
Corinth was (and remains) a seaport not all that far from Athens, and seaports are not exactly noted for the finesse in their living or in their attitudes. It must have been a rough-and-tumble sort of place with not a lot to say for itself, at least not in terms of good manners and politeness!!!
So reality means that we do need to recognize that the Gospel managed to flourish in such a god-forsaken city, as well as to see that it must have been the case that much of Paul’s church-planting was a risk-taking enterprise. In spite of all the bad press, Paul still sees the members of that Church as ‘saints,’ hagioi, even if they had only one foot on the first rung of the ladder. This is enough to encourage us all to keep going, surely.
GOSPEL
One has to say that ‘it was a small world’ when we see that the disciples of John the Baptist move their allegiance to our Lord. And that must have been difficult for John, poor bloke – his later ‘he (Jesus) must increase and I decrease’ surely came from suchlike experiences.
There is a strange atmosphere about the entire Baptist thing, surely. John and Jesus were cousins, and yet came from quite different backgrounds. As far as can be ascertained, the Baptist grew up in an Essene community, with all its stringent and apocalyptic emphases. John’s religion would have been singularly dogmatic and judgemental, whereas Jesus’ response to people was far more relaxed. As time went by, you will recall that John was uncertain about his cousin (‘are you the one we are looking for, or do we search for another?’) John’s expectation was of dramatic judgement and denouement for Israel and those around, and his disappointment must have been massive.
All this is not to confuse you, but rather to indicate that not many people seemed to have all the answers as we might have expected. Each and every one had to test the spirits to discover where the truth really lay.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
It has been a funny – strange - thing being a priest I must confess, and over the years quite a lot of expectations have gone the way of all flesh. I expect that has been true for lots of lay people as well, but it s a while since I have been one-such.
One of the misperceptions that have dispersed into the mist of experience has been that expectation that if you preached well and interestingly and visited people in their homes, that the congregation would grow to large proportions and you would be loved. That latter has never been all that important, but it must be said that it may be the only thing that really did come into being. All the rest has been hard slog, with not a lot of results.
I have to confess to a troubled response many years ago to articles written for BCA’s Real Australian where some of my confreres wrote glowing reports of ‘all the Lord was doing in their spheres.’ I could report no such things, but gave indication of what really was happening on my turf. Change of parish to someone else operated earlier uncovered the fact that most of the stories were less than honest with reality. I have encountered other clergy also who have gilded the lily because they thought that that was what people wanted to hear. Mmmmm!
Now none of the above is meant to destroy reputations, but rather to do as Scripture does and bring us back to earth, down to reality, and rather more realistic in both expectations and hopes. There is no easy path to being a Christian, being a Christian priest, nor is there an ideal parish or even congregation – at least not in my experience. Mind you, there are some absolute beauties, and I have been part of them, but they have not been without ‘issues.’
If you are feeling downcast at all this, then you have no right to be, not at all. Let me explain.
For instance, I had often wondered why the Old Testament prophets came in for so much flak. So much of what they had to say comes across to me at least, with such power, passion, and obvious truth, that I found it hard to work out why life was so hard for them. Jeremiah, for instance, seemed forever in the black books of those around him, and yet I would have loved to have sat at his feet. I think. But then when one has spent time with real and ordinary people, the discovery comes with unabashed impact: people do not want to know the truth. Give ‘em baloney and they’ll love it; give ‘em truth and they will hate you.
The example par excellence, of course, is our Lord. No one could have been more open, honest, compassionate and truthful, and look what they did to Him. Certainly I could not have held back from calling those miserable so-and-sos by their right names. On occasion they did get the better of me, as professing Christians showed that they were nothing of the sort.
So where is all this leading?
Notice how today’s readings tend to bend to the pessimistic side? Israel in Exile was feeling left out in the cold, right through that difficult and threatening period; Paul (seems to me to be) trying to boost the recalcitrant Corinthians. And even the Baptist was having difficult for much of his ministry in recognizing Jesus as Christos.
In other words, even the Infant Church had all sorts of issues and problems in their own day and age, so why should we be any different? Complaining will change nothing; so just remember that if Jesus had decided that it was not worth the effort, we would never have heard a thing about Him. So if He managed to cope with it, and we are on the same side, then get real, get on with it, and stop feeling sorry for yourself. You have a task to fulfill, so fulfill it to the best of your ability and leave the rest up to the Lord. He has broad shoulders.
Sentence
God is faithful; by Him you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Cor. 1:9
Collect
Almighty God, by Whose grace alone we are accepted and called to Your service; strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit and make us worthy of our calling, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Old Testament Lesson Isaiah 49: 1 – 7
Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The LORD called me before I was born, while I was in my mother's womb he named me. He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified." But I said, "I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the LORD, and my reward with my God."
And now the LORD says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honoured in the sight of the LORD, and my God has become my strength--he says, "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."
Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the slave of rulers, "Kings shall see and stand up, princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy Israel, who has chosen you."
Psalm 40: 1 – 14
I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.
Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.
Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you have prepared for me; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, “Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll.
I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”
I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD.
I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.
Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me.
For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.
Be pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me.
May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
Epistle 1 Corinthians 1: 1 – 9
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind-- just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you--so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
GOSPEL John 1: 29 – 42
The next day John (the Baptist) saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel." And John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God."
The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!" The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon.
One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed ). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter.)
© 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 Lesson
As we continue to explore the Servant Songs of Isaiah, it is interesting that this passage comes up for consideration. It is helpful perhaps to look at its first useage in the prophet’s time, and then to translate it to our own period in history.
Israel was in exile in Babylon, and in spite of or even because of the passage of decades, was disconsolate. If they were supposed to be the People of God, why was everything so balanced against them? If God is God, where is the future? And there seemed to be none.
In response to their pessimism, the prophet seemed to understand God to be widening their calling rather than limiting it. ‘It is too small a thing’ is a fascinating sort of statement. The prophet saw the calling of Israel rather wider than simply bringing its own people closer to faith and reality. That calling was broadened to embrace all of humanity. On top of that, there was the reassurance that, in spite of evidence to the contrary, God was not dead, nor had He forgotten His people. That double encouragement must have strengthened the hand of many of the exiles.
Now translate that to the present, where lots of people of faith are wondering what is the future of the Church. Seems to me that the same message of ‘look beyond yourselves’ is a salutary lesson for the present time. And a singularly useful one in this Season of Epiphany – light to the Gentiles!!!!!!!
Psalm
One might see in this psalm the cries of a self-focussed person worrying about what others might think of him. On the other hand, it seems to me to be the cry of one who is concerned that the ‘great unwashed’ have grounds to ignore the Holy One of Israel. It strikes me that so many of the apparently sad psalms are in fact rather more pointing to the reality of God, the faith He offers, and the enormous benefits if only stupid people would sit up and take notice.
Epistle
When one becomes familiar with all the rest of the still-available letters of Paul to Corinth, one is left wondering whether here Paul writes in the language of hope, or is simply trying to be nice to a rather unpretty congregation or two there. From all Paul wrote, there were constant issues needing attention and resolution. Mind you, in the circumstances, it would be surprising if any Church these days would get off the deck in such a place.
Corinth was (and remains) a seaport not all that far from Athens, and seaports are not exactly noted for the finesse in their living or in their attitudes. It must have been a rough-and-tumble sort of place with not a lot to say for itself, at least not in terms of good manners and politeness!!!
So reality means that we do need to recognize that the Gospel managed to flourish in such a god-forsaken city, as well as to see that it must have been the case that much of Paul’s church-planting was a risk-taking enterprise. In spite of all the bad press, Paul still sees the members of that Church as ‘saints,’ hagioi, even if they had only one foot on the first rung of the ladder. This is enough to encourage us all to keep going, surely.
GOSPEL
One has to say that ‘it was a small world’ when we see that the disciples of John the Baptist move their allegiance to our Lord. And that must have been difficult for John, poor bloke – his later ‘he (Jesus) must increase and I decrease’ surely came from suchlike experiences.
There is a strange atmosphere about the entire Baptist thing, surely. John and Jesus were cousins, and yet came from quite different backgrounds. As far as can be ascertained, the Baptist grew up in an Essene community, with all its stringent and apocalyptic emphases. John’s religion would have been singularly dogmatic and judgemental, whereas Jesus’ response to people was far more relaxed. As time went by, you will recall that John was uncertain about his cousin (‘are you the one we are looking for, or do we search for another?’) John’s expectation was of dramatic judgement and denouement for Israel and those around, and his disappointment must have been massive.
All this is not to confuse you, but rather to indicate that not many people seemed to have all the answers as we might have expected. Each and every one had to test the spirits to discover where the truth really lay.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
It has been a funny – strange - thing being a priest I must confess, and over the years quite a lot of expectations have gone the way of all flesh. I expect that has been true for lots of lay people as well, but it s a while since I have been one-such.
One of the misperceptions that have dispersed into the mist of experience has been that expectation that if you preached well and interestingly and visited people in their homes, that the congregation would grow to large proportions and you would be loved. That latter has never been all that important, but it must be said that it may be the only thing that really did come into being. All the rest has been hard slog, with not a lot of results.
I have to confess to a troubled response many years ago to articles written for BCA’s Real Australian where some of my confreres wrote glowing reports of ‘all the Lord was doing in their spheres.’ I could report no such things, but gave indication of what really was happening on my turf. Change of parish to someone else operated earlier uncovered the fact that most of the stories were less than honest with reality. I have encountered other clergy also who have gilded the lily because they thought that that was what people wanted to hear. Mmmmm!
Now none of the above is meant to destroy reputations, but rather to do as Scripture does and bring us back to earth, down to reality, and rather more realistic in both expectations and hopes. There is no easy path to being a Christian, being a Christian priest, nor is there an ideal parish or even congregation – at least not in my experience. Mind you, there are some absolute beauties, and I have been part of them, but they have not been without ‘issues.’
If you are feeling downcast at all this, then you have no right to be, not at all. Let me explain.
For instance, I had often wondered why the Old Testament prophets came in for so much flak. So much of what they had to say comes across to me at least, with such power, passion, and obvious truth, that I found it hard to work out why life was so hard for them. Jeremiah, for instance, seemed forever in the black books of those around him, and yet I would have loved to have sat at his feet. I think. But then when one has spent time with real and ordinary people, the discovery comes with unabashed impact: people do not want to know the truth. Give ‘em baloney and they’ll love it; give ‘em truth and they will hate you.
The example par excellence, of course, is our Lord. No one could have been more open, honest, compassionate and truthful, and look what they did to Him. Certainly I could not have held back from calling those miserable so-and-sos by their right names. On occasion they did get the better of me, as professing Christians showed that they were nothing of the sort.
So where is all this leading?
Notice how today’s readings tend to bend to the pessimistic side? Israel in Exile was feeling left out in the cold, right through that difficult and threatening period; Paul (seems to me to be) trying to boost the recalcitrant Corinthians. And even the Baptist was having difficult for much of his ministry in recognizing Jesus as Christos.
In other words, even the Infant Church had all sorts of issues and problems in their own day and age, so why should we be any different? Complaining will change nothing; so just remember that if Jesus had decided that it was not worth the effort, we would never have heard a thing about Him. So if He managed to cope with it, and we are on the same side, then get real, get on with it, and stop feeling sorry for yourself. You have a task to fulfill, so fulfill it to the best of your ability and leave the rest up to the Lord. He has broad shoulders.
Newsletter
Sunday 16th January, 2011 - Epiphany II
Our Celebrant and preacher is Warren Huffa
WELCOME to Holy Innocents—we hope you enjoy this time of prayer as we reflect on Scripture together and celebrate the Eucharist. We invite you to join us for breakfast after the 8am service, or morning tea after the 10am service. At 10 am everything in the service will be screened on the walls
COLLECT FOR EPIPHANY II
Almighty God, whose Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, is the light of the world: may your people, illumined by your word and sacraments, shine with the radiance of his glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
TODAY’S READINGS Isaiah 49: 1—7 and 1 Corinthians 1: 1—9 read by Jan Sil
Gospel John 1: 29—42
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Sue D-T
We pray for those in need: Ron Teague, Phyllis Morecroft, Peter Little, the Swaby family, Eddie Barber and Chris Contro
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Stenia Zmulski, Harold Shaw-Claverley, William Kelville
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY – John and Anna Kelly
YEAR’S MIND—Rene Upton )1997) Jim Fitter (2004)
PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY - Epiphany III
Isaiah 9: 1—4 and 1 Cor. 1: 10 –18
Gospel Matthew 4: 12—25
Fr Ron’s Notes available at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/
POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Today Cynthia Macintosh or Ron Keynes
Next Sunday Don Caddy or Craig Deane
READER- AND INTERCESSOR ROSTER
Next Sunday Reader Caroline S Intercessor Hal S-C
Sunday after Reader Neil T Intercessor Warren H
SANCTUARY ROSTER
Next week Flowers Sue D-T Brass Yvonne M
Cleaning Group 1
REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE and BIBLE STUDY in recess until February 2010
THURSDAY All events on Thursdays in recess till further notice
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 Marlene Dixon on 8278 8568 or Iris Downes on 8278 3260
NEXT BBQ AFTER CHURCH
Jan Tregenza wishes to advertise the fact that, on Sunday 23rd January, there will be a barbecue to celebrate Australia Day, after the service. People are asked to put their names down on the list in the foyer if they intend to be present for that meal together. All are welcome of course,
And then there is
Anne Roller, winner of the Nativity Set recently wrote to Jan T to express both her gratitude for winning, and her intention as teacher of Reception Class at Walford, to use the Set each year to discuss Christmas Day. Isn’t that great!
And Peter Little thanked us all for the support during his treatment, and reminded us of Hal’s contribution to the erection of the Church: both in the floor of the Sanctuary and the restoration of the reredos from the old Church.
S-O-S
Iris Downes asks if anyone has seen a dark green dish with fluted edging , about 12” round, last seen at the Church Barbeque in November. She would love to hear from anyone who might know where it is.
Are you interested?
Fr. Ron has been wondering about starting a Bible Study Group (at Seacliff Park possibly—more likely in Belair), asking if there are people interested in such a project. Some folk answered positively last Sunday, and we may move quietly from there. Both day, time and place are open for discussion.
From the Ron Blog—Epiphany II
One has to say that ‘it was a small world’ when we see that the disciples of John the Baptist move their allegiance to our Lord. And that must have been difficult for John, poor bloke – his later ‘he must increase and I decrease’ surely came from suchlike experiences.
There is a strange atmosphere about the entire Baptist thing, surely. John and Jesus were cousins, and yet came from quite different backgrounds. As far as can be ascertained, the Baptist grew up in an Essene community, with all its stringent and apocalyptic emphases. John’s religion would have been singularly dogmatic and judgemental, whereas Jesus’ response to people was far more relaxed. As time went by, you will recall that John was uncertain about his cousin (‘are you the one we are looking for, or do we search for another?’) John’s expectation was of dramatic judgement and denouement for Israel and those around, and his disappointment must have been massive.
All this is not to confuse you, but rather to indicate that not many people seemed to have all the answers as we might have expected. Each and every one had to test the spirits to discover where the truth really lay.
It has been a funny – strange - thing being a priest I must confess. One of the misperceptions that have dispersed into the mist of experience has been that if you preached well and interestingly and visited people in their homes, that the congregation would grow to large proportions and you would be appreciated. That latter has never been all that important, but it may be the only thing that really did come into being. All the rest has been hard slog, with not a lot of results.
I have to confess to a troubled response many years ago to articles written for BCA’s Real Australian where some of my confreres wrote glowing reports of ‘all the Lord was doing in their spheres.’ I could report no such things, but gave indication of what really was happening on my turf. Change of parish to someone else operated earlier uncovered the fact that most of the stories were less than honest with reality. I have encountered other clergy also who have gilded the lily because they thought that that was what people wanted to hear. Mmmmm!
Now none of the above is meant to destroy reputations, but rather to do as Scripture does and bring us back to earth, down to reality, and rather more realistic in both expectations and hopes. There is no easy path to being a Christian, being a Christian priest, nor is there an ideal parish or even congregation – at least not in my experience. Mind you, there are some absolute beauties, and I have been part of them, but they have not been without ‘issues.’
I had often wondered why the Old Testament prophets came in for so much flak. So much of what they had to say comes across to me at least, with such power, passion, and obvious truth, that I found it hard to work out why life was so hard for them. Jeremiah, for instance, seemed forever in the black books of those around him, and yet I would have loved to have sat at his feet. I think. But then when one has spent time with real and ordinary people, the discovery comes with unabashed impact: people do not want to know the truth. Give ‘em baloney and they’ll love it; give ‘em truth and they will hate you.
.
QUEENSLAND FLOODS
We have received news from the Primate about the flooding in Queensland and its effect on the Dioceses of Brisbane and Rockhampton. An extract from the Primate’s letter is given below. Archbishop Aspinall has also advised that his Emergency Relief Fund is accepting donations for flood relief. The details are as follows: Payments may be made by:
cheque made out to "Archbishop’s Emergency Relief Fund" and sent to ANFIN, GPO BOX 421, BRISBANE, QLD 4001, or Electronic Transfer
Account Name: Archbishop’s Emergency Relief Fund
Account BSB: 704-901
Account Number: 00014858
Items for the Newsletter need to be sent to Fr. Ron at 8298 7160 or ronpkeynes@internode.on.net by Tuesday late afternoon please
Our Celebrant and preacher is Warren Huffa
WELCOME to Holy Innocents—we hope you enjoy this time of prayer as we reflect on Scripture together and celebrate the Eucharist. We invite you to join us for breakfast after the 8am service, or morning tea after the 10am service. At 10 am everything in the service will be screened on the walls
COLLECT FOR EPIPHANY II
Almighty God, whose Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, is the light of the world: may your people, illumined by your word and sacraments, shine with the radiance of his glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
TODAY’S READINGS Isaiah 49: 1—7 and 1 Corinthians 1: 1—9 read by Jan Sil
Gospel John 1: 29—42
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Sue D-T
We pray for those in need: Ron Teague, Phyllis Morecroft, Peter Little, the Swaby family, Eddie Barber and Chris Contro
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Stenia Zmulski, Harold Shaw-Claverley, William Kelville
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY – John and Anna Kelly
YEAR’S MIND—Rene Upton )1997) Jim Fitter (2004)
PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY - Epiphany III
Isaiah 9: 1—4 and 1 Cor. 1: 10 –18
Gospel Matthew 4: 12—25
Fr Ron’s Notes available at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/
POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Today Cynthia Macintosh or Ron Keynes
Next Sunday Don Caddy or Craig Deane
READER- AND INTERCESSOR ROSTER
Next Sunday Reader Caroline S Intercessor Hal S-C
Sunday after Reader Neil T Intercessor Warren H
SANCTUARY ROSTER
Next week Flowers Sue D-T Brass Yvonne M
Cleaning Group 1
REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE and BIBLE STUDY in recess until February 2010
THURSDAY All events on Thursdays in recess till further notice
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 Marlene Dixon on 8278 8568 or Iris Downes on 8278 3260
NEXT BBQ AFTER CHURCH
Jan Tregenza wishes to advertise the fact that, on Sunday 23rd January, there will be a barbecue to celebrate Australia Day, after the service. People are asked to put their names down on the list in the foyer if they intend to be present for that meal together. All are welcome of course,
And then there is
Anne Roller, winner of the Nativity Set recently wrote to Jan T to express both her gratitude for winning, and her intention as teacher of Reception Class at Walford, to use the Set each year to discuss Christmas Day. Isn’t that great!
And Peter Little thanked us all for the support during his treatment, and reminded us of Hal’s contribution to the erection of the Church: both in the floor of the Sanctuary and the restoration of the reredos from the old Church.
S-O-S
Iris Downes asks if anyone has seen a dark green dish with fluted edging , about 12” round, last seen at the Church Barbeque in November. She would love to hear from anyone who might know where it is.
Are you interested?
Fr. Ron has been wondering about starting a Bible Study Group (at Seacliff Park possibly—more likely in Belair), asking if there are people interested in such a project. Some folk answered positively last Sunday, and we may move quietly from there. Both day, time and place are open for discussion.
From the Ron Blog—Epiphany II
One has to say that ‘it was a small world’ when we see that the disciples of John the Baptist move their allegiance to our Lord. And that must have been difficult for John, poor bloke – his later ‘he must increase and I decrease’ surely came from suchlike experiences.
There is a strange atmosphere about the entire Baptist thing, surely. John and Jesus were cousins, and yet came from quite different backgrounds. As far as can be ascertained, the Baptist grew up in an Essene community, with all its stringent and apocalyptic emphases. John’s religion would have been singularly dogmatic and judgemental, whereas Jesus’ response to people was far more relaxed. As time went by, you will recall that John was uncertain about his cousin (‘are you the one we are looking for, or do we search for another?’) John’s expectation was of dramatic judgement and denouement for Israel and those around, and his disappointment must have been massive.
All this is not to confuse you, but rather to indicate that not many people seemed to have all the answers as we might have expected. Each and every one had to test the spirits to discover where the truth really lay.
It has been a funny – strange - thing being a priest I must confess. One of the misperceptions that have dispersed into the mist of experience has been that if you preached well and interestingly and visited people in their homes, that the congregation would grow to large proportions and you would be appreciated. That latter has never been all that important, but it may be the only thing that really did come into being. All the rest has been hard slog, with not a lot of results.
I have to confess to a troubled response many years ago to articles written for BCA’s Real Australian where some of my confreres wrote glowing reports of ‘all the Lord was doing in their spheres.’ I could report no such things, but gave indication of what really was happening on my turf. Change of parish to someone else operated earlier uncovered the fact that most of the stories were less than honest with reality. I have encountered other clergy also who have gilded the lily because they thought that that was what people wanted to hear. Mmmmm!
Now none of the above is meant to destroy reputations, but rather to do as Scripture does and bring us back to earth, down to reality, and rather more realistic in both expectations and hopes. There is no easy path to being a Christian, being a Christian priest, nor is there an ideal parish or even congregation – at least not in my experience. Mind you, there are some absolute beauties, and I have been part of them, but they have not been without ‘issues.’
I had often wondered why the Old Testament prophets came in for so much flak. So much of what they had to say comes across to me at least, with such power, passion, and obvious truth, that I found it hard to work out why life was so hard for them. Jeremiah, for instance, seemed forever in the black books of those around him, and yet I would have loved to have sat at his feet. I think. But then when one has spent time with real and ordinary people, the discovery comes with unabashed impact: people do not want to know the truth. Give ‘em baloney and they’ll love it; give ‘em truth and they will hate you.
.
QUEENSLAND FLOODS
We have received news from the Primate about the flooding in Queensland and its effect on the Dioceses of Brisbane and Rockhampton. An extract from the Primate’s letter is given below. Archbishop Aspinall has also advised that his Emergency Relief Fund is accepting donations for flood relief. The details are as follows: Payments may be made by:
cheque made out to "Archbishop’s Emergency Relief Fund" and sent to ANFIN, GPO BOX 421, BRISBANE, QLD 4001, or Electronic Transfer
Account Name: Archbishop’s Emergency Relief Fund
Account BSB: 704-901
Account Number: 00014858
Items for the Newsletter need to be sent to Fr. Ron at 8298 7160 or ronpkeynes@internode.on.net by Tuesday late afternoon please
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Newsletter
Our Celebrant and preacher at 8 am is Michael Whiting
and at 10 am is Matthew Anstey
WELCOME to Holy Innocents—we hope you enjoy this time of prayer as we reflect on Scripture together and celebrate the Eucharist. We invite you to join us for breakfast after the 8am service, or morning tea after the 10am service. At 10 am everything in the service will be screened on the walls
COLLECT FOR EPIPHANY II
Eternal God, at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan you pro-claimed him your beloved Son, and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: grant that all who are baptized into his name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Saviour; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting Amen
TODAY’S READINGS Isaiah 42: 1—9 and Acts 10: 34—43 read by Hal S-C
Gospel Matthew 3: 13—17
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Wendy M
We pray for those in need: Ron Teague, Phyllis Morecroft, Peter Little, the Swaby family, Eddie Barber and Chris Contro
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Nick Laycock, Anthony Kelly and Tom Araki
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY – Anthony and Alysia Kelly (2006)
YEAR’S MIND—Valerie Hall (2009) George Forward (1009) George McAuliffe (1990)
PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY - Epiphany III
Isaiah 49: 1—7 and 1 Corinthians 1: 1—9
Gospel John 1: 29—42
Fr Ron’s Notes available at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/
POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Today Don Caddy or Jill Hilbig
Next Sunday Cynthia Macintosh or Ron Keynes
READER- AND INTERCESSOR ROSTER
Next Sunday Reader Jane S Intercessor Sue D-T
Sunday after Reader Caroline S Intercessor Hal S-C
SANCTUARY ROSTER
Next week Flowers Anna Kelly Brass Joan Durdin Cleaning Sue Kelly
REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE and BIBLE STUDY in recess until February 2010
THURSDAY All events on Thursdays in recess till further notice
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 Marlene Dixon on 8278 8568 or Iris Downes on 8278 3260
Robyn Keynes thanks all who have collected bottles, cans and cartons - we have raised over $100 for our Children’s Ministry. Great work!
Yvonne thanks all who participated in the Anglicare Raffle: $207 was raised and the winner was Anne Roller. Thanks again.
From the Ron Blog—Epiphany II Baptism of our Lord
I must be getting quite old, for I can remember times when, in look-ing for a job, one did not need Curriculum Vitae, nor anyone else to write your CV for you. You may have needed a reference or two, but that is no longer sufficient.
As we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus, we are given all of the above modern requirements, if we have but the wit to see it, in that powerful pas-sage from Isaiah. Perhaps any of the Servant Songs of Isaiah may have suited, but I suspect that Isaiah 42 is one of the best to be used. A long hard look at this passage (as well as the others, come to that) will repay any at-tention given to the question.
Over the centuries, and particularly in our own time, all manner of distortions of the nature of Jesus’ ministry has been proffered as the true one. Anyone who has read these notes over the years will recall my huge difficulty with the capacity of American Presidents—in particular—to proffer a very war-like image of the Faith if not of Jesus Himself. Had I been God at the time, my very human patience would have been tested in not sorting the so-and-sos out on the spot. This only shows, of course, that it is just as well that God is God and I am not! There is no sign of belligerence in the Biblical evidence of Jesus and His life, nor even the expectation in that most re-markable of prophets.
The outcome and the reality that was Jesus is fascinating to ponder – and to reflect. All that is offered in this Faith once delivered is no picture of military or political superiority, but rather is a prescription for reconciliation, peace and justice. This Faith will ever run contrary to human expectations of power and strength, for the simple reason that most of those human de-mands can result only in division, isolation and – in the final analysis, terror. One need look only at the realities of human history to see the veracity of that!
So instead of a long and involved notes here, may I suggest that some quiet time be used to ponder the reality of the calling of this Jesus, and all of His followers, if only to rid ourselves of some useless baggage we carry that has little or nothing to do with the ‘faith once delivered.’.
********************************************************************
S-O-S
Iris Downes asks if anyone has seen a dark green dish with fluted edging , about 12” round, last seen at the Church Barbeque in November. She would love to hear from anyone who might know where it is.
Are you interested?
Ron Keynes has been wondering about starting a Bible Study Group (at Seacliff Park possibly), asking if there are people interested in such a pro-ject. Some folk answered positively last Sunday, and we may move quietly from there. Both day, time and place are open for discussion.
Items for the Newsletter need to be sent to Fr. Ron at 8298 7160 or ronpkeynes@internode.on.net by Tuesday late afternoon please
and at 10 am is Matthew Anstey
WELCOME to Holy Innocents—we hope you enjoy this time of prayer as we reflect on Scripture together and celebrate the Eucharist. We invite you to join us for breakfast after the 8am service, or morning tea after the 10am service. At 10 am everything in the service will be screened on the walls
COLLECT FOR EPIPHANY II
Eternal God, at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan you pro-claimed him your beloved Son, and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: grant that all who are baptized into his name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Saviour; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting Amen
TODAY’S READINGS Isaiah 42: 1—9 and Acts 10: 34—43 read by Hal S-C
Gospel Matthew 3: 13—17
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Wendy M
We pray for those in need: Ron Teague, Phyllis Morecroft, Peter Little, the Swaby family, Eddie Barber and Chris Contro
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Nick Laycock, Anthony Kelly and Tom Araki
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY – Anthony and Alysia Kelly (2006)
YEAR’S MIND—Valerie Hall (2009) George Forward (1009) George McAuliffe (1990)
PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY - Epiphany III
Isaiah 49: 1—7 and 1 Corinthians 1: 1—9
Gospel John 1: 29—42
Fr Ron’s Notes available at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/
POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Today Don Caddy or Jill Hilbig
Next Sunday Cynthia Macintosh or Ron Keynes
READER- AND INTERCESSOR ROSTER
Next Sunday Reader Jane S Intercessor Sue D-T
Sunday after Reader Caroline S Intercessor Hal S-C
SANCTUARY ROSTER
Next week Flowers Anna Kelly Brass Joan Durdin Cleaning Sue Kelly
REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE and BIBLE STUDY in recess until February 2010
THURSDAY All events on Thursdays in recess till further notice
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 Marlene Dixon on 8278 8568 or Iris Downes on 8278 3260
Robyn Keynes thanks all who have collected bottles, cans and cartons - we have raised over $100 for our Children’s Ministry. Great work!
Yvonne thanks all who participated in the Anglicare Raffle: $207 was raised and the winner was Anne Roller. Thanks again.
From the Ron Blog—Epiphany II Baptism of our Lord
I must be getting quite old, for I can remember times when, in look-ing for a job, one did not need Curriculum Vitae, nor anyone else to write your CV for you. You may have needed a reference or two, but that is no longer sufficient.
As we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus, we are given all of the above modern requirements, if we have but the wit to see it, in that powerful pas-sage from Isaiah. Perhaps any of the Servant Songs of Isaiah may have suited, but I suspect that Isaiah 42 is one of the best to be used. A long hard look at this passage (as well as the others, come to that) will repay any at-tention given to the question.
Over the centuries, and particularly in our own time, all manner of distortions of the nature of Jesus’ ministry has been proffered as the true one. Anyone who has read these notes over the years will recall my huge difficulty with the capacity of American Presidents—in particular—to proffer a very war-like image of the Faith if not of Jesus Himself. Had I been God at the time, my very human patience would have been tested in not sorting the so-and-sos out on the spot. This only shows, of course, that it is just as well that God is God and I am not! There is no sign of belligerence in the Biblical evidence of Jesus and His life, nor even the expectation in that most re-markable of prophets.
The outcome and the reality that was Jesus is fascinating to ponder – and to reflect. All that is offered in this Faith once delivered is no picture of military or political superiority, but rather is a prescription for reconciliation, peace and justice. This Faith will ever run contrary to human expectations of power and strength, for the simple reason that most of those human de-mands can result only in division, isolation and – in the final analysis, terror. One need look only at the realities of human history to see the veracity of that!
So instead of a long and involved notes here, may I suggest that some quiet time be used to ponder the reality of the calling of this Jesus, and all of His followers, if only to rid ourselves of some useless baggage we carry that has little or nothing to do with the ‘faith once delivered.’.
********************************************************************
S-O-S
Iris Downes asks if anyone has seen a dark green dish with fluted edging , about 12” round, last seen at the Church Barbeque in November. She would love to hear from anyone who might know where it is.
Are you interested?
Ron Keynes has been wondering about starting a Bible Study Group (at Seacliff Park possibly), asking if there are people interested in such a pro-ject. Some folk answered positively last Sunday, and we may move quietly from there. Both day, time and place are open for discussion.
Items for the Newsletter need to be sent to Fr. Ron at 8298 7160 or ronpkeynes@internode.on.net by Tuesday late afternoon please
RonBlog
Sunday 9th January, 2011 The Baptism of our Lord (APBA #526)
Sentence
A voice came from heaven, saying ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with Whom I am well pleased.
Matt 3:17
Collect
Loving God, Your Son came to seek the lost, and was baptised with sinners; grant that we, who have been baptised in His name, may reach out in love to those in need with the mercy of Christ, Who lives and reigns with You, for ever and ever Amen
Old Testament Lesson Isaiah 42: 1 – 9
Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching.
Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the LORD, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.
Psalm 29
Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendour of his holiness.
The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.
The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic.
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox.
The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning.
The voice of the LORD shakes the desert; the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.
For the Epistle Acts 10: 34 – 43
Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--He is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
GOSPEL Matthew 3: 13 – 17
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."
© 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 Lesson
Here is yet another passionate expression from one of the most remarkable of OT prophets, underlining both the nature of the Servant of the Lord and His modus operandi. And it should be listened to and responded to with far wider emphasis than I have seen to date.
It is fascinating that, as a reading for this particular Festival, the Baptism of Jesus that we have what amounts to a CV for Jesus. Notice – yet again! – the emphasis on justice. This is never to be understood as retribution: that, in Biblical terms, is not justice but rather the lack of it. In the following verse there is also that breath of fresh air – no pressure moral or emotional is imposed on the recipients of the message, but a patient and longing offer of newness of life. In that cameo there is only the warm encouragement to even the least flicker of response. It is very moving stuff.
Although we of the present age tend to see Isaiah pointing to Jesus, the reality of the Servant Songs is that the prophet was requiring Israel of old to see that they were the ‘servants of the Lord.’ The emphasis remains so for present-day followers of Christ, the Church. The same calling and challenge for all the People of God has been from the beginnings with Abraham and we dare not forget it.
Psalm
‘Olde worlde’ this psalm may sound to modern ears, but one can enter in to the clear perception that the Lord is the centre of all things. If you do not find this so, then I wonder at what is needed to excite one’s imagination.
Epistle
I really must check up and count the number of times in a year this passage hits liturgical airspace. (Anyhow you are able to do so yourself!) In one way it is a strange one; in another it marks the revitalisation of the Infant Church into its calling to reach out to all humans.
How sad it is that tradition gets in the way of reality. OT Jews had become convinced that they were the only humans of any interest to God, with their ‘Chosen People’ syndrome. They had managed to avoid seeing any Biblical command to reach beyond themselves, in spite of their Scriptures, their antecedents in the Faith, and their prophets pointing otherwise.
So this passage was formative for the Infant Church, as people realised that this Faith was not for people of one race, but for all. And it took the questioning of a Roman soldier to get Peter past his religious baggage. What does it take for you to get past yours? Or even recognize it as baggage!
GOSPEL
In days gone by, there was ever the question being asked as to why Jesus required to be baptized. He was sinless, was he not? And all manner of assumptions about baptism got in the way.
Baptism is not some remedy for sin but rather the acceptance of the covenant from God, the commitment as part of His people. It is no naming ceremony, it is not confession of following or accepting Christ: it is in fact the business of being accepted by Christ, do you see?
NOTES FOR A SERMON
I must be getting quite old, for I can remember times when, in looking for a job, one did not need Curriculum Vitae, nor anyone else to write your CV for you. You may have needed a reference or two, but that is no longer sufficient.
As we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus, we are given all of the above modern requirements, if we have but the wit to see it. Perhaps any of the Servant Songs of Isaiah may have suited, but I suspect that Isaiah 42 is one of the best to be used. A long hard look at this passage (as well as the others, come to that) will repay any attention given to the question.
Over the centuries, and particularly in our own time, all manner of distortions of the nature of Jesus’ ministry has been proffered as the true one. Anyone who has read these notes over the years will recall my huge difficulty with the capacity of American Presidents to proffer a very war-like image of the Faith if not of Jesus Himself. Had I been God at the time, my very human patience would have been tested in not sorting the so-and-so out on the spot. This only shows, of course, that it is just as well that God is God and not me! There is no sign of belligerence in the Biblical evidence of Jesus and His life, nor even the expectation of that most remarkable of prophets.
The outcome and the reality that was Jesus is fascinating to ponder – and to reflect. All that is offered in this Faith once delivered is no picture of military or political superiority, but rather is a prescription for reconciliation, peace and justice. This Faith will ever run contrary to human expectations of power and strength, for the simple reason that most of those human demands can result only in division, isolation and – in the final analysis, terror. One need look only at the realities of human history to see the veracity of that!
So instead of a long and involved sermon, may I suggest that some quiet time be used to ponder the reality of the calling of this Jesus, and all of His followers, if only to rid ourselves of some useless baggage we carry that has little or nothing to do with the actual faith.
Sentence
A voice came from heaven, saying ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with Whom I am well pleased.
Matt 3:17
Collect
Loving God, Your Son came to seek the lost, and was baptised with sinners; grant that we, who have been baptised in His name, may reach out in love to those in need with the mercy of Christ, Who lives and reigns with You, for ever and ever Amen
Old Testament Lesson Isaiah 42: 1 – 9
Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching.
Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the LORD, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.
Psalm 29
Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendour of his holiness.
The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.
The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic.
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox.
The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning.
The voice of the LORD shakes the desert; the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.
For the Epistle Acts 10: 34 – 43
Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--He is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
GOSPEL Matthew 3: 13 – 17
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."
© 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 Lesson
Here is yet another passionate expression from one of the most remarkable of OT prophets, underlining both the nature of the Servant of the Lord and His modus operandi. And it should be listened to and responded to with far wider emphasis than I have seen to date.
It is fascinating that, as a reading for this particular Festival, the Baptism of Jesus that we have what amounts to a CV for Jesus. Notice – yet again! – the emphasis on justice. This is never to be understood as retribution: that, in Biblical terms, is not justice but rather the lack of it. In the following verse there is also that breath of fresh air – no pressure moral or emotional is imposed on the recipients of the message, but a patient and longing offer of newness of life. In that cameo there is only the warm encouragement to even the least flicker of response. It is very moving stuff.
Although we of the present age tend to see Isaiah pointing to Jesus, the reality of the Servant Songs is that the prophet was requiring Israel of old to see that they were the ‘servants of the Lord.’ The emphasis remains so for present-day followers of Christ, the Church. The same calling and challenge for all the People of God has been from the beginnings with Abraham and we dare not forget it.
Psalm
‘Olde worlde’ this psalm may sound to modern ears, but one can enter in to the clear perception that the Lord is the centre of all things. If you do not find this so, then I wonder at what is needed to excite one’s imagination.
Epistle
I really must check up and count the number of times in a year this passage hits liturgical airspace. (Anyhow you are able to do so yourself!) In one way it is a strange one; in another it marks the revitalisation of the Infant Church into its calling to reach out to all humans.
How sad it is that tradition gets in the way of reality. OT Jews had become convinced that they were the only humans of any interest to God, with their ‘Chosen People’ syndrome. They had managed to avoid seeing any Biblical command to reach beyond themselves, in spite of their Scriptures, their antecedents in the Faith, and their prophets pointing otherwise.
So this passage was formative for the Infant Church, as people realised that this Faith was not for people of one race, but for all. And it took the questioning of a Roman soldier to get Peter past his religious baggage. What does it take for you to get past yours? Or even recognize it as baggage!
GOSPEL
In days gone by, there was ever the question being asked as to why Jesus required to be baptized. He was sinless, was he not? And all manner of assumptions about baptism got in the way.
Baptism is not some remedy for sin but rather the acceptance of the covenant from God, the commitment as part of His people. It is no naming ceremony, it is not confession of following or accepting Christ: it is in fact the business of being accepted by Christ, do you see?
NOTES FOR A SERMON
I must be getting quite old, for I can remember times when, in looking for a job, one did not need Curriculum Vitae, nor anyone else to write your CV for you. You may have needed a reference or two, but that is no longer sufficient.
As we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus, we are given all of the above modern requirements, if we have but the wit to see it. Perhaps any of the Servant Songs of Isaiah may have suited, but I suspect that Isaiah 42 is one of the best to be used. A long hard look at this passage (as well as the others, come to that) will repay any attention given to the question.
Over the centuries, and particularly in our own time, all manner of distortions of the nature of Jesus’ ministry has been proffered as the true one. Anyone who has read these notes over the years will recall my huge difficulty with the capacity of American Presidents to proffer a very war-like image of the Faith if not of Jesus Himself. Had I been God at the time, my very human patience would have been tested in not sorting the so-and-so out on the spot. This only shows, of course, that it is just as well that God is God and not me! There is no sign of belligerence in the Biblical evidence of Jesus and His life, nor even the expectation of that most remarkable of prophets.
The outcome and the reality that was Jesus is fascinating to ponder – and to reflect. All that is offered in this Faith once delivered is no picture of military or political superiority, but rather is a prescription for reconciliation, peace and justice. This Faith will ever run contrary to human expectations of power and strength, for the simple reason that most of those human demands can result only in division, isolation and – in the final analysis, terror. One need look only at the realities of human history to see the veracity of that!
So instead of a long and involved sermon, may I suggest that some quiet time be used to ponder the reality of the calling of this Jesus, and all of His followers, if only to rid ourselves of some useless baggage we carry that has little or nothing to do with the actual faith.
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