Sunday 26th June, 2011 Second Sunday of Pentecost
Sentence
The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 6:25
Collect
O God, Your Son has taught us that those who give even a cup of cold water in His name will not lose their reward; open our hearts to the needs of Your children and in all things make us obedient to Your will, so that in faith we may receive Your gracious gift, eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Old Testament Lesson Genesis 22: 1 – 14
After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you." So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him.
On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you."
Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac said to his father Abraham, "Father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." He said, "The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" Abraham said, "God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together.
When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided."
Psalm 13
How long O Lord, will You so utterly forget me: how long will You hide Your face from me?
How long must I suffer anguish in my soul, and be so grieved in my heart day and night: how long shall my enemy triumph over me?
Look upon me, O Lord my God, and answer me: lighten my eyes lest I sleep in death
Lest me enemies say ‘I have prevailed’: lest me foes exult at my overthrow.
Yet I will put my trust in Your unfailing love: O let my heart rejoice in Your salvation.
And I will make my song to the Lord: because He deals so bountifully with me
Epistle Romans 6: 12 – 23
Do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted, and that you, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness for sanctification. When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. So what advantage did you then get from the things of which you now are ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification. The end is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
GOSPEL Matthew 10: 40 – 42
Jesus said, "Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple--truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."
© 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
Every now and again you may well wonder what the connection between readings is supposed to be; frankly I cannot find any, unless you want to talk about sin. And even that is a vague connection.
Old Testament
This story of Abraham is well-known surely, it having been embedded in my Sunday School lessons of over 70 years ago. It is a moving picture, made more emotional as little Isaac twigs to what is likely to happen. One commentator drew attention to the fact Scripture does not record any further conversation between Abraham and Isaac after this staggering event!
On the other hand, this may well have marked the point at which old Abe managed to leave at least a little of his pagan baggage of child sacrifice behind. And of course it all prefigures the coming of Christ, although the imagery still needed quite some adjustment eh! Jehovah Jireh!
Psalm
There must have been lots of times when people of all periods in history have felt like this poor old psalmist. I am unsure whether his pain had to do with his sinning, although I suspect he could have coped better if that had been the case. Most people find greatest difficulty with perceived isolation from God when they have no idea what caused that position. That is hard to cope with. However, as the psalmist indicates, answers lie in recalling the nature of God, even if there are no other clues to assist.
Epistle
I have more than a sneaky suspicion that, of all of the passages and subjects in the New Testament, this one has suffered worst at the hands of evangelists and others. Only a week or so ago, a local Baptist Church was trying to convince its locals of their sin, quoting Scripture, and I doubt if any but the most Biblically literate readers had a clue of their point. Mostly such ‘point’ is to stand in judgement and threaten eternal damnation to whoever ignores the threat (or promise.)
What really is being said here? Not that Hell stands in front of most of us. It is that if one lives in s self-centred or self-obsessive manner, [Adamic, remember?] their hopes of great satisfaction and contentment is most unlikely of fulfillment. In other words the presumed promise of living in such a manner tends to produce quite the opposite that a person might expect.
To live Christ-like, that is, self-giving, concerned for others, caring about truth and justice and compassion, then the far more likely outcome is a settled and worthwhile life, having direction and purpose and value. Never having been wealthy, it has never appealed, though I admit to being far better off now than I had expected at this stage. Life certainly has its difficulties as a Christian, but I would not swap them for the opposite for love nor money.
GOSPEL
And there is today’s Gospel pointing me in precisely the direction I have just mentioned and just as I experience constantly. We are not isolated individuals, but part of a community. And when individual assumes priority over the community, that latter falls apart into disintegration. I kid you not. Look outside for it is happening already all over the place.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
It was many years ago now – I was quite young and had experience with the Billy Graham Crusade(s) and found that the then-normal ABC approach to the Gospel did not really get to the bottom of things for people. One youngster, as I counselled him, seemed to have all the answers, and I asked him if he had given his life to Christ before. A wide grin covered his face: ‘Often,’ he said – ‘each Sunday night in Church.’ He was not being silly. He had become convinced that this was the only way to go when such an altar call occurred.
Another part of being a young theological student in those days was to follow up the Follow Up cards that were received by the various Churches and parishes. I was saddened to find that in 100% of cases, those I called on in what was called ‘Follow Up,’ were totally embarrassed by what they had done at the Showground and did not want to take anything the slightest degree further. They simply wanted to return to anonymity.
Certainly such results were not the complete picture, but it was in my experience. And that led to quite a re-think not only of the so-called ABC Gospel process, but also of what the Gospel is really all about. And it is not about punishment of sin and avoiding an eternity in Hell. If you find that hard to stomach, please get in touch.
All this is not to dilute the sin concept by any means. Life with it is sufficiently ugly and hurtful not to see that is one of the real issues. But there is no simple blasé formula that solves the issue. SO what is?
I report some of my issues that I had with ‘elders and betters,’ even from teenage years. Most of this issue revolved around the apparent and clear (to me) injustice of a God Who was said to condemn sinners to an eternal hell when, at worst, their sinning could only have occurred over the usual ‘three-score years and ten.’ On top of that, the contemporary wisdom was that if you had received Christ, you were forgiven and heaven lay ahead of you and welcoming. So what to do with the rest of your life? Apart from spruiking the same Gospel it was a matter of sitting on your bottom and waiting for the end of your life. That struck me as mere refined form of selfishness, and out of sync with the Jesus that I was getting to know.
Sin. So what the hell is it? Rebellion, we were told. Nasty naughty things we were told. Things that made one’s soul black – we were told. And yet there were lots of things that Christians were doing that really did a lot of damage. Things like being terribly judgemental. Isolating people, making them feel put down.
The more I thought the more I discovered, and when finally I realized that the Faith was not about being religious but being fair dinkum, and that Genesis was not about some irremediable event in the distant past that Adam did and so we were all sinners, but about what has gone wrong in life and history, and from whence comes a remedy, things began to look up. Genesis 3 is not about judgement; nor is Genesis 4! It is the recognition that - very sadly – human misbehaviour does enormous damage, to the perpetrator as well as to others, and that anyone who looks for a move away from the root causes will find a far better path to travel, a more valuable sort of life to live. (In spite of that awful tale of Cain and Abel, Cain was not condemned but offered alternatives, and also the assurance that God would keep an eye out for him. The tale might sound naïve, but – like all of the creation sagas, -there is strong hope for the future.
The problem with sin is not so much that it is naughty, but that it is damaging. And if and when I step over the mark, it is you and someone else that gets hurts. And I am responsible.
So when we come to today’s Epistle, the death that is spoken of there is not hell, but that dying within us of care, concern or interest in the effect I have on others. The life that it speaks of is the benefit to others when ‘I turn from my wickedness and live.’ Eternal life, if you understand that.
It has long been a bother to me that so much of the ‘gospel’ preached by some over-keen ‘evangelists’ has more to do with escaping hell than it has with positive choosing in life. Will you understand me when I suggest that to choose to follow Christ because of the apparently ugly alternative, would have to make my discipleship remarkably questionable? It would be the result of moral or emotional blackmail, and that does not correspond to the Biblical picture either of Jesus or the Father. In fact, it is a picture that jars at the deepest level.
The Gospel, in Biblical terms, is the offer to choose life, not for myself but for life that challenges me to be open to all other people. Love is the basis of it all, and love that bears all. It is a challenge but it is also remarkably positive and with limits removed.
The wages of a false choice offered to us is that minimizing and limiting of life, mine and anyone close enough to me; it limits my view of what is worthwhile to a starkly selfish horizon, It may well suit people, and obviously it does, but it brings the horizons in from a long way off to so close to me as to be stifling.
As I mentioned in a letter to the local Atheist Foundation, even if there is no life after this, I must follow Christ, because He is the only one Who makes sense of life, and offers real and solid alternatives. And thank God He does.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Newsletter
Sunday 26th June, 2011 - Second Sunday after Pentecost
WELCOME to Holy Innocents—we hope you enjoy this time of prayer as we reflect on Scripture together and celebrate the Eucharist. After the 8am service breakfast is served and morning tea after the 10am service. At 10 am everything in the service will be screened on the walls. Sunday School is well and truly in action
Collect for Second Sunday after Pentecost
O God, Your Son has taught us that those who give even a cup of cold water in His name will not lose their reward; open our hearts to the needs of Your children and in all things make us obedient to Your will, so that in faith we may receive Your gracious gift, eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
TODAY’S READINGS
Readings Genesis 22: 1 –14 and Romans 6: 12—23 read by Clare
GOSPEL Matthew 10: 40—42
Fr Ron’s Notes available at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Hal S-C
We pray for those in need: Ron Teague, Peter Little, the Swaby family, Chris Contro, Yvonne Myers, Joy Campbell, Jenny Jeffrey, Dorothy Furnival, and others known to us,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Graham Browne, Christopher Morecroft, Jan Tregenza, Rita Musolino, John WIlsom
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
YEAR’S MIND—Fr. Allan Daw (2001) Fr. Frank Maygar, (2004) Marjorie Webster (1991)
PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY Third Sunday after Pentecost
Readings Genesis 24: 24 …. 67 and Romans 7: 14—25
GOSPEL Matthew 11: 15—19, 25 –30
REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month at 36 Penno Parade North
BIBLE STUDY 10am every Wednesday at 378 Main Road Coromandal Valley
THURSDAY 9.30am Eucharist
HOME GROUP At Wendy and Andrew Morecroft’s home, every 2nd and 4th Thursday evening at 7.30pm. Call Wendy for details on 0417 806 943
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 Barb Capon 8278 3584 and Lucinda Hale 8278 8814.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS—
Flinders Medial Centre helpers are reminded that Sunday 10th July is our turn to visit the wards and take patients to the service in the Chapel. Please be there by 10.00am. Our turn comes around just four times a year and we are looking for people fro Holy Innocents to join us. Please contact Jean Fordham on 8278 2837
HOLY INNOCENTS' BACK TO SCHOOL QUIZ NIGHT Saturday 2 July at 7pm in the Church $10/Adults $5/Concession BYO Supper and Drinks. Optional dress is school attire and prepare to be very well behaved for Quiz & Head Master, Andrew Morecroft. Book your table by writing your name on the form in the foyer
RON-BLOG On Sin and Death .... and even Hell from today’s readings
Warren talked last Sunday about the Copernican Revolution of the Self. Add that to this, please.
Sin. So what the hell is it? Rebellion, we were told. Nasty naughty things we were told. Things that made one’s soul black – we were told. And yet there were lots of things that Christians were doing that really did a lot of damage. Things like being terribly judgemental. Isolating people, making them feel put down, turning backs on them.
The more I thought the more I discovered, and when finally I realized that the Faith was not about being religious but being fair dinkum, and that Genesis was not about some irremediable event in the distant past that Adam did and so we were all sinners, but about what has gone wrong in life and history, and from whence comes a remedy, things began to look up. Genesis 3 is not about judgement; nor is Genesis 4! It is the recognition that - very sadly – human misbehaviour does enormous damage, to the perpetrator as well as to others in the way, and that anyone who looks for a move away from the root causes will find a far better path to travel, a more valuable sort of life to live. (In spite of that awful tale of Cain and Abel, Cain was not condemned but offered alternatives, and also the assurance that God would keep an eye out for him. The tale might sound naïve, but – like all of the creation sagas, -there is strong hope for the future.)
The problem with sin is not so much that it is naughty, but that it is damaging. And if and when I step over the mark, it is you and someone else that gets hurts. And I am responsible.
So when we come to today’s Epistle, the death that is spoken of there is not hell, but that dying within us of care, concern or interest in the effect I have on others. The life that it speaks of is the benefit to others when ‘I turn from my wickedness and live.’ Eternal life, if you understand that.
It has long been a bother to me that so much of the ‘gospel’ preached by some over-keen ‘evangelists’ has more to do with escaping hell than it has with positive choosing in life. Will you understand me when I suggest that to choose to follow Christ because of the apparently ugly alternative, then it would have to make my discipleship remarkably questionable? It would be the result of moral or emotional blackmail, and that does not correspond to the Biblical picture either of Jesus or the Father. In fact, it is a picture that jars down to the deepest level.
The Gospel, in Biblical terms, is the offer to choose life, not for myself but for life that challenges me to be open to all other people. Love is the basis of it all, and love that bears all. It is a challenge but it is also remarkably positive and with limits removed.
ROSTERS
POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Today Don Caddy or Ron Keynes
Next Sunday Trevor Tregenza or Joy Campbell
READER- AND INTERCESSOR ROSTER
Next Sunday Reader no info Intercessor no info
Sunday after Reader no info Intercessor no info
SANCTUARY ROSTER
Next week Flowers Jan T Brass Sweet family
Cleaning Group 2
OTHER ITEMS …….
Some years ago a kind parishioner gave us a folding table-tennis table. It is in good order but no longer used and is something of a problem to store in a hall where everything is moved around frequently. It is available to anyone who would like to have it for a very modest donation. See Don Baker
GOODS FOR THE MAGDELENE CENTRE URGENT ….. Please check out your cupboards for surplus blankets, doonas, sleeping bags and rugs in good condition which can be given to Mary Magdalene's for homeless people. We are happy to collect them or bring them to the Church in the next couple of weeks. Allan and Kate call 8370 3166 Thank you.
St. Barnabas’ College offers the opportunity for people sit in on some of the theological subjects available. Those choosing to do so receive reading materials, attend lectures and participate in discussion,. There is no requirement to do written work . Applications close at the end of June . Details can be found on the poster and flyers at the back of the church or contact jtaylor@sbtc.org.au or 8416 8442.
LOOKING AHEAD .....
Plans are being laid for the next Parish Magazine, coming out in time to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the ‘new’ Church building. If you have photos or stories from that time in the parish’s life, Fr. Ron would be most glad to hear from you.
Items for the Newsletter need to be sent to Fr. Ron at 8298 7160 or ronpkeynes@internode.on.net by Tuesday afternoon please …….
WELCOME to Holy Innocents—we hope you enjoy this time of prayer as we reflect on Scripture together and celebrate the Eucharist. After the 8am service breakfast is served and morning tea after the 10am service. At 10 am everything in the service will be screened on the walls. Sunday School is well and truly in action
Collect for Second Sunday after Pentecost
O God, Your Son has taught us that those who give even a cup of cold water in His name will not lose their reward; open our hearts to the needs of Your children and in all things make us obedient to Your will, so that in faith we may receive Your gracious gift, eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
TODAY’S READINGS
Readings Genesis 22: 1 –14 and Romans 6: 12—23 read by Clare
GOSPEL Matthew 10: 40—42
Fr Ron’s Notes available at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Hal S-C
We pray for those in need: Ron Teague, Peter Little, the Swaby family, Chris Contro, Yvonne Myers, Joy Campbell, Jenny Jeffrey, Dorothy Furnival, and others known to us,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Graham Browne, Christopher Morecroft, Jan Tregenza, Rita Musolino, John WIlsom
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
YEAR’S MIND—Fr. Allan Daw (2001) Fr. Frank Maygar, (2004) Marjorie Webster (1991)
PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY Third Sunday after Pentecost
Readings Genesis 24: 24 …. 67 and Romans 7: 14—25
GOSPEL Matthew 11: 15—19, 25 –30
REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month at 36 Penno Parade North
BIBLE STUDY 10am every Wednesday at 378 Main Road Coromandal Valley
THURSDAY 9.30am Eucharist
HOME GROUP At Wendy and Andrew Morecroft’s home, every 2nd and 4th Thursday evening at 7.30pm. Call Wendy for details on 0417 806 943
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 Barb Capon 8278 3584 and Lucinda Hale 8278 8814.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS—
Flinders Medial Centre helpers are reminded that Sunday 10th July is our turn to visit the wards and take patients to the service in the Chapel. Please be there by 10.00am. Our turn comes around just four times a year and we are looking for people fro Holy Innocents to join us. Please contact Jean Fordham on 8278 2837
HOLY INNOCENTS' BACK TO SCHOOL QUIZ NIGHT Saturday 2 July at 7pm in the Church $10/Adults $5/Concession BYO Supper and Drinks. Optional dress is school attire and prepare to be very well behaved for Quiz & Head Master, Andrew Morecroft. Book your table by writing your name on the form in the foyer
RON-BLOG On Sin and Death .... and even Hell from today’s readings
Warren talked last Sunday about the Copernican Revolution of the Self. Add that to this, please.
Sin. So what the hell is it? Rebellion, we were told. Nasty naughty things we were told. Things that made one’s soul black – we were told. And yet there were lots of things that Christians were doing that really did a lot of damage. Things like being terribly judgemental. Isolating people, making them feel put down, turning backs on them.
The more I thought the more I discovered, and when finally I realized that the Faith was not about being religious but being fair dinkum, and that Genesis was not about some irremediable event in the distant past that Adam did and so we were all sinners, but about what has gone wrong in life and history, and from whence comes a remedy, things began to look up. Genesis 3 is not about judgement; nor is Genesis 4! It is the recognition that - very sadly – human misbehaviour does enormous damage, to the perpetrator as well as to others in the way, and that anyone who looks for a move away from the root causes will find a far better path to travel, a more valuable sort of life to live. (In spite of that awful tale of Cain and Abel, Cain was not condemned but offered alternatives, and also the assurance that God would keep an eye out for him. The tale might sound naïve, but – like all of the creation sagas, -there is strong hope for the future.)
The problem with sin is not so much that it is naughty, but that it is damaging. And if and when I step over the mark, it is you and someone else that gets hurts. And I am responsible.
So when we come to today’s Epistle, the death that is spoken of there is not hell, but that dying within us of care, concern or interest in the effect I have on others. The life that it speaks of is the benefit to others when ‘I turn from my wickedness and live.’ Eternal life, if you understand that.
It has long been a bother to me that so much of the ‘gospel’ preached by some over-keen ‘evangelists’ has more to do with escaping hell than it has with positive choosing in life. Will you understand me when I suggest that to choose to follow Christ because of the apparently ugly alternative, then it would have to make my discipleship remarkably questionable? It would be the result of moral or emotional blackmail, and that does not correspond to the Biblical picture either of Jesus or the Father. In fact, it is a picture that jars down to the deepest level.
The Gospel, in Biblical terms, is the offer to choose life, not for myself but for life that challenges me to be open to all other people. Love is the basis of it all, and love that bears all. It is a challenge but it is also remarkably positive and with limits removed.
ROSTERS
POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Today Don Caddy or Ron Keynes
Next Sunday Trevor Tregenza or Joy Campbell
READER- AND INTERCESSOR ROSTER
Next Sunday Reader no info Intercessor no info
Sunday after Reader no info Intercessor no info
SANCTUARY ROSTER
Next week Flowers Jan T Brass Sweet family
Cleaning Group 2
OTHER ITEMS …….
Some years ago a kind parishioner gave us a folding table-tennis table. It is in good order but no longer used and is something of a problem to store in a hall where everything is moved around frequently. It is available to anyone who would like to have it for a very modest donation. See Don Baker
GOODS FOR THE MAGDELENE CENTRE URGENT ….. Please check out your cupboards for surplus blankets, doonas, sleeping bags and rugs in good condition which can be given to Mary Magdalene's for homeless people. We are happy to collect them or bring them to the Church in the next couple of weeks. Allan and Kate call 8370 3166 Thank you.
St. Barnabas’ College offers the opportunity for people sit in on some of the theological subjects available. Those choosing to do so receive reading materials, attend lectures and participate in discussion,. There is no requirement to do written work . Applications close at the end of June . Details can be found on the poster and flyers at the back of the church or contact jtaylor@sbtc.org.au or 8416 8442.
LOOKING AHEAD .....
Plans are being laid for the next Parish Magazine, coming out in time to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the ‘new’ Church building. If you have photos or stories from that time in the parish’s life, Fr. Ron would be most glad to hear from you.
Items for the Newsletter need to be sent to Fr. Ron at 8298 7160 or ronpkeynes@internode.on.net by Tuesday afternoon please …….
Friday, June 17, 2011
Newsletter
Sunday 19th June, 2011 - Trinity Sunday
Welcome to Brigitte and her family
WELCOME to Holy Innocents—we hope you enjoy this time of prayer as we reflect on Scripture together and celebrate the Eucharist. After the 8am service breakfast is served and morning tea after the 10am service. At 10 am everything in the service will be screened on the walls. Sunday School is well and truly in action
Collect for Trinity
Almighty and everlasting God, You have given Your servants grace by the confession of a true faith to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the divine majesty to worship the unity; keep us steadfast in this faith and evermore defend us from all adversities, for You live and reign, One God, for ever and ever Amen
TODAY’S READINGS
Readings Exodus 34: 1—8 and 2 Cor 13: 11—13 read by Arakis
GOSPEL Matthew 28: 16—20
Fr Ron’s Notes available at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Warren
We pray for those in need: Ron Teague, Phyllis Morecroft, Peter Little, the Swaby family, Chris Contro, Yvonne Myers, Joy Campbell, Jenny Jeffrey, Dorothy Furnival, Sid Sweet and others known to us,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Robyn Keynes, Margaret Collings
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
YEAR’S MIND—Beryl Errington (1993) Richard Osterman (2006) Anne Rubinich (2003)
PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY Second Sunday after Pentecost
Readings Genesis 22: 1—14 and Romans 6: 12—23
GOSPEL Matthew 10: 40—42
REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month at 36 Penno Parade North
BIBLE STUDY 10am every Wednesday at 378 Main Road Coromandal Valley
THURSDAY 9.30am Eucharist
HOME GROUP At Wendy and Andrew Morecroft’s home, every 2nd and 4th Thursday evening at 7.30pm. Call Wendy for details on 0417 806 943
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 Barb Capon 8278 3584 and Lucinda Hale 8278 8814.
ROSTERS
POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Today Cynthia Macintosh or Min Araki
Next Sunday Don Caddy or Ron Keynes
READER- AND INTERCESSOR ROSTER
Next Sunday Reader Clare B Intercessor Hal S-C
Sunday after Reader Intercessor
SANCTUARY ROSTER
Next week Flowers Jan T Brass Sweet family
Cleaning Group 2
FORTHCOMING EVENTS—
HOLY INNOCENTS' BACK TO SCHOOL QUIZ NIGHT Saturday 2 July at 7pm in the Church $10/Adults $5/Concession BYO Supper and Drinks. Dress is school attire and prepare to be very well behaved for Quiz & Head Master, Andrew Morecroft. Book your table by writing your name on the form in the foyer
LOOKING AHEAD .....
Plans are being laid for the next Parish Magazine, coming out in time to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the ‘new’ Church building. If you have photos or stories from that time in the parish’s life, Fr. Ron would be most glad to hear from you.
Some years ago a kind parishioner gave us a folding table-tennis table. It is in good order but no longer used and is something of a problem to store in a hall where everything is moved around frequently. It is available to anyone who would like to have it for a very modest donation. See Don Baker
GOODS FOR THE MAGDELENE CENTRE
The current issue of The Supporter, newsletter of Anglicare, reminds us of the need for gifts of food for the Magdalene Centre is urgent. Our parish has a good record of weekly donations, and we receive a warm welcome when our donations are delivered. Remember that the most wanted items include tins of soup, pasta and pasta sauces, tinned meat (ham, sardines, tuna,) and long-life milk.
St. Barnabas’ College offers the opportunity for people audit some of the theological subjects available. Those auditing a subject receive reading materials, attend lectures and participate in discussion,. There is no requirement to do written work . Applications close at the end of June . Details can be found on the poster and flyers at the back of the church or contact itaylor@sbtc.org.au or 8416 8442.
RON-BLOG Old Testament Lesson - to the third and fourth generation....
Sad to relate, there is often a lack of reference to the Old Testament, so the old and important stories and issues tend to get lost to memory. Just as it is important to realize who you are by looking back to from whence and from whom you have come, so the same remains true in this issue of matters Biblical.
It may well be that moderns express things quite differently, but for people of the day and age back then, the telling of the story, however embellished or not, could not have been better. What early culture that you know of did not express their sense of identity and purpose other than stories of their ancients, dreamtime style or not. Sacred places have always been a major factor, as Sinai (Horeb) has been for Jews – and Christians.
And here is a story, related in serious and significant terms about the giving of the Law, the Ten Commandments, the Decalogue. A question is asked often about that ‘third and fourth generation’ thing and it is worth pondering. One suspects that this canon emerged simply because the ancients watched families and people. It may well have been the answer of those ancients’ question, ‘why does the damage and dysfunction in a family seem to go on for some time?’ Without genetics and so on available in those far-off days, it became obvious that disintegration became a cumulative thing. (Apparently history shows that Adolph Hitler was the product of a sadist and dysfunctional family.) And this sort of process certainly seems to show up in spades these days.
Also from observations way back in those times was noticed a gradual return over several generations, to sense and sanity. This is somewhat parallel to the Johannine observation, in Revelation, that evil tends to contain the seeds of its own destruction. Pardon me, but those ancient worthies may not have been as naive and silly as sometimes they have been painted.
Items for the Newsletter need to be sent to Fr. Ron at 8298 7160 or ronpkeynes@internode.on.net by Tuesday afternoon please …….
Welcome to Brigitte and her family
WELCOME to Holy Innocents—we hope you enjoy this time of prayer as we reflect on Scripture together and celebrate the Eucharist. After the 8am service breakfast is served and morning tea after the 10am service. At 10 am everything in the service will be screened on the walls. Sunday School is well and truly in action
Collect for Trinity
Almighty and everlasting God, You have given Your servants grace by the confession of a true faith to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the divine majesty to worship the unity; keep us steadfast in this faith and evermore defend us from all adversities, for You live and reign, One God, for ever and ever Amen
TODAY’S READINGS
Readings Exodus 34: 1—8 and 2 Cor 13: 11—13 read by Arakis
GOSPEL Matthew 28: 16—20
Fr Ron’s Notes available at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Warren
We pray for those in need: Ron Teague, Phyllis Morecroft, Peter Little, the Swaby family, Chris Contro, Yvonne Myers, Joy Campbell, Jenny Jeffrey, Dorothy Furnival, Sid Sweet and others known to us,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Robyn Keynes, Margaret Collings
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
YEAR’S MIND—Beryl Errington (1993) Richard Osterman (2006) Anne Rubinich (2003)
PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY Second Sunday after Pentecost
Readings Genesis 22: 1—14 and Romans 6: 12—23
GOSPEL Matthew 10: 40—42
REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month at 36 Penno Parade North
BIBLE STUDY 10am every Wednesday at 378 Main Road Coromandal Valley
THURSDAY 9.30am Eucharist
HOME GROUP At Wendy and Andrew Morecroft’s home, every 2nd and 4th Thursday evening at 7.30pm. Call Wendy for details on 0417 806 943
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 Barb Capon 8278 3584 and Lucinda Hale 8278 8814.
ROSTERS
POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Today Cynthia Macintosh or Min Araki
Next Sunday Don Caddy or Ron Keynes
READER- AND INTERCESSOR ROSTER
Next Sunday Reader Clare B Intercessor Hal S-C
Sunday after Reader Intercessor
SANCTUARY ROSTER
Next week Flowers Jan T Brass Sweet family
Cleaning Group 2
FORTHCOMING EVENTS—
HOLY INNOCENTS' BACK TO SCHOOL QUIZ NIGHT Saturday 2 July at 7pm in the Church $10/Adults $5/Concession BYO Supper and Drinks. Dress is school attire and prepare to be very well behaved for Quiz & Head Master, Andrew Morecroft. Book your table by writing your name on the form in the foyer
LOOKING AHEAD .....
Plans are being laid for the next Parish Magazine, coming out in time to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the ‘new’ Church building. If you have photos or stories from that time in the parish’s life, Fr. Ron would be most glad to hear from you.
Some years ago a kind parishioner gave us a folding table-tennis table. It is in good order but no longer used and is something of a problem to store in a hall where everything is moved around frequently. It is available to anyone who would like to have it for a very modest donation. See Don Baker
GOODS FOR THE MAGDELENE CENTRE
The current issue of The Supporter, newsletter of Anglicare, reminds us of the need for gifts of food for the Magdalene Centre is urgent. Our parish has a good record of weekly donations, and we receive a warm welcome when our donations are delivered. Remember that the most wanted items include tins of soup, pasta and pasta sauces, tinned meat (ham, sardines, tuna,) and long-life milk.
St. Barnabas’ College offers the opportunity for people audit some of the theological subjects available. Those auditing a subject receive reading materials, attend lectures and participate in discussion,. There is no requirement to do written work . Applications close at the end of June . Details can be found on the poster and flyers at the back of the church or contact itaylor@sbtc.org.au or 8416 8442.
RON-BLOG Old Testament Lesson - to the third and fourth generation....
Sad to relate, there is often a lack of reference to the Old Testament, so the old and important stories and issues tend to get lost to memory. Just as it is important to realize who you are by looking back to from whence and from whom you have come, so the same remains true in this issue of matters Biblical.
It may well be that moderns express things quite differently, but for people of the day and age back then, the telling of the story, however embellished or not, could not have been better. What early culture that you know of did not express their sense of identity and purpose other than stories of their ancients, dreamtime style or not. Sacred places have always been a major factor, as Sinai (Horeb) has been for Jews – and Christians.
And here is a story, related in serious and significant terms about the giving of the Law, the Ten Commandments, the Decalogue. A question is asked often about that ‘third and fourth generation’ thing and it is worth pondering. One suspects that this canon emerged simply because the ancients watched families and people. It may well have been the answer of those ancients’ question, ‘why does the damage and dysfunction in a family seem to go on for some time?’ Without genetics and so on available in those far-off days, it became obvious that disintegration became a cumulative thing. (Apparently history shows that Adolph Hitler was the product of a sadist and dysfunctional family.) And this sort of process certainly seems to show up in spades these days.
Also from observations way back in those times was noticed a gradual return over several generations, to sense and sanity. This is somewhat parallel to the Johannine observation, in Revelation, that evil tends to contain the seeds of its own destruction. Pardon me, but those ancient worthies may not have been as naive and silly as sometimes they have been painted.
Items for the Newsletter need to be sent to Fr. Ron at 8298 7160 or ronpkeynes@internode.on.net by Tuesday afternoon please …….
RonBlog
Sunday 19th June 2011 Trinity Sunday
Sentence
Proclaim the Name: The Lord, the Lord a God Who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Exodus 34:6
Collect
Almighty and everlasting God, You have given Your servants grace by the confession of a true faith to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the divine majesty to worship the unity; keep us steadfast in this faith and evermore defend us from all adversities, for You live and reign, One God, for ever and ever Amen
Old Testament Lesson Exodus 34: 1 – 8
The LORD said to Moses, "Cut two tablets of stone like the former ones, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets, which you broke. Be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai and present yourself there to me, on the top of the mountain. No one shall come up with you, and do not let anyone be seen throughout all the mountain; and do not let flocks or herds graze in front of that mountain."
So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the former ones; and he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tablets of stone. The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name, "The LORD." The LORD passed before him, and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, yet by no means clearing the guilty, but visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation. And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.
For the Psalm Song of the Three Young Men 29 - 34
Blessed are you, the God of our forebears: worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
Blessed is Your holy and glorious Name: worthy to be praised and exalted for ever
Blessed are You, glorious in Your holy Temple: worthy to be praised and exalted for ever
Blessed are You Who behold the depths: worthy to be praised and exalted for ever
Blessed are You on the throne of Your Kingdom: worthy to be praised and exalted for ever
Blessed are You in the heights of heaven: worthy to be praised and exalted for ever
Epistle 2 Corinthians 13: 11 – 13
Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
GOSPEL Matthew 28: 16 – 20
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
© 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
Sad to relate, there is often a lack of reference to the Old Testament, so the old and important stories and issues tend to get lost to memory. Just as it is important to realize who you are by looking back to from whence and from whom you have come, so the same remains true in these issues Biblical.
It may well be that moderns might express things quite differently, but for people of the day and age back then, the telling of the story, however embellished or not, could not have been better. What early culture that you know of did not express their sense of identity and purpose other than stories of their ancients, dreamtime style or not. Sacred places have always been a major factor, as Sinai (Horeb) has been for Jews – and Christians.
And here is a story, related in serious and significant terms about the giving of the Law, the Ten Commandments, the Decalogue. A question often asked about that ‘third and fourth generation’ thing is worth pondering. One suspects that this canon emerged simply from watching families and people. Notice first that this is a reduction of the problem, not a magnifying of it. So this may well have been the answer of those ancient to the question ‘why does the dysfunction in a family seem to go on for some time?’ Without genes and so on available in such days, it became obvious that disintegration became a cumulative thing. It certainly seems to show up in spades these days. On the other hand, that same constant observation seemed to indicate that while it may take a generation or two, the dysfunction faded and soundness reappeared. This is not dissimilar to John’s observation in his Revelation, that evil contains in itself the seeds of its own destruction. No generation however weak or ill-equipped, can or will support a Hitler for long.
For the Psalm
Once again, such songs seemed to appeal to people in the distant past, and is returning in the present. Whilst I find much modern music repetitive and boring, young people see things otherwise. Perhaps it is the visceral beat that really appeals. Or am I getting old?(Don’t answer that, thank you!!!!!)
Epistle
The rather beautiful appendage to the Corinthian Epistle has made its home for people over recent centuries. That ‘grace’ as we call it is more than just a sort of thanksgiving. It is a statement of Gospel experience and belief, the former preceding the second I suspect.
GOSPEL
For many people, this conclusion to Matthew’s Gospel is very well known, clear and decisive, with the challenge offered to all who would be disciples of Christ wherever and whenever that might be. Most of those people aforementioned – oddly to my mind – are less aware that this same extraversion for the Faith is not new (in New Testament terms) but has always been embedded in the Biblical Faiths. From Abraham on, this outward look and emphasis has been there, spelt out in clear terms. Abraham was to be the blessing to all nations, as Jesus is, of course, the example par excellence pointing in the same direction.
Oddly enough it is not so much about being religious (which is an adjective that I really do not like) but about being serious. The Biblical faith from its outset has made it clear that the role of this perception in life is to answer the deepest of human needs and aspirations: what does it mean to be human and alive on planet earth and in this cosmos? Our role is not to make people religious; our role is to make people aware that this Faith has answers that are very well worth exploring, embracing and living by. I am amazed that so few people in our own day and age refuse to look at it. The alternatives in this affluent age appear far more attractive, but all history screams at us that it is all a bubble waiting to burst.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
I imagine that we could tackle Trinity Sunday a couple of ways.
The first might be to provide an answer to Christadelphians who like to challenge it all with the comment that ‘trinity’ is not a word found in Scripture. With all due respect I can find more useful things to do today. The second may be to look at something rather more immediate, significant and useful, and that is to start with this thing called life. Are you game?
In the absence of a visible tangible Divinity with Whom to question and get answers, one has to start at the other end do we not? And the only area to question is in the ordinary, common or garden aspects of life. Watch and observe, ponder the results of those observations, and come out with some sort of answers that may well need variation, alteration or adjustment as time goes by. If you are wondering, then surely this is what we now call the scientific method, though the ancient Israelites would not have even known that as a process. They were far more down to earth - and thank heaven for that. So they were inquisitive, explorative, asking the hard questions and not being satisfied with pat answers or easy put-offs. And thank heaven for that. Many of the Jews I have known over the years are very much like that still.
Now over a short period of time, answers could well be shallow. Over a millennium or two, they are more likely to be very much more reliable and valuable, having been tested by the passage of time and the widening of the questions.. And when we must realize that while people back in Abraham’s time had more in the way of superstition than perhaps we do, there still would have been a lot of baggage along the way that needed to be discarded. And it is not easy to do that.
From where I sit and think, one of the most remarkable and valuable things to come out of the Jewish Old Testament records was the emergence of the school of the prophets. I know of nothing similar in any other religion no matter how ancient, though all sought answers to the same sorts of questions. Never take a superior view to other faiths. They are all searchers after truth, and that is to be encouraged.
Perhaps the most stunning contribution of that school of prophets – which I think I have mentioned before – was to take what we may call religion out of esoteric areas and into the arena of real life. I know of no other contemporary religion in the ‘Fertile Crescent’ that made justice, truth and compassion a factor of their faiths. Amos and later prophets were profoundly concerned at the way the affluent ones in Israel stopped caring about their compatriots, and ‘sold the needy for a pair of shoes.’ In fact most of the outcry of the prophets had to do with all manner of injustice perpetrated on their fellow people. If you ask the question which came first, social justice or the Shema Israel, the answer may be difficult to find. The mere fact of their emergence at all is a stunning fact of Jewish prophetic genius. A genius of caring, not of dissociated brilliance.
As that ancient faith unfolded, the clear and vivid relevance to real life shone brightly, and even though all manner of attempts to put out the light was a feature of Jewish life, the light shone on. Even though the history of this tiny, fragile nation was one of huge ups and downs, the slow evolution of the faith continued. From where I sit, all the seeds visible and tangible in the Old Testament came to fruition in the New.
It strikes me that – as the process continued - the perception of the Divinity grew and strengthened, along with a parallel view of the value of each human being, and life itself. From the early beginnings in Abraham’s time and for long after, JHWH was seen really and merely as first a tribal divinity whose capacity was limited to the tribal regions. Outside of that, you were on your own. Yet gradually, perceptions were widened, and God was seen as more than tribal chaplain, and increasingly – as they experienced life in the light of this God – as the One over all any other. Finally, as experience widened and thought progressed, JHWH was seen as the One and Only. A person no longer needed to tug the forelock to myriads of gods, just in case one of them had residual power to bite you from behind. JHWH was the One and Only, the Holy One Who Himself acted with justice, compassion. And love. Love that surpassed human love, loving even the unlovely. God is a God Whom no one could remove from position and authority. And yet this God did not stop people being people, but longed for them to operate at the same or similar level to Himself.
Sentence
Proclaim the Name: The Lord, the Lord a God Who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Exodus 34:6
Collect
Almighty and everlasting God, You have given Your servants grace by the confession of a true faith to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the divine majesty to worship the unity; keep us steadfast in this faith and evermore defend us from all adversities, for You live and reign, One God, for ever and ever Amen
Old Testament Lesson Exodus 34: 1 – 8
The LORD said to Moses, "Cut two tablets of stone like the former ones, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets, which you broke. Be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai and present yourself there to me, on the top of the mountain. No one shall come up with you, and do not let anyone be seen throughout all the mountain; and do not let flocks or herds graze in front of that mountain."
So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the former ones; and he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tablets of stone. The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name, "The LORD." The LORD passed before him, and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, yet by no means clearing the guilty, but visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation. And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.
For the Psalm Song of the Three Young Men 29 - 34
Blessed are you, the God of our forebears: worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
Blessed is Your holy and glorious Name: worthy to be praised and exalted for ever
Blessed are You, glorious in Your holy Temple: worthy to be praised and exalted for ever
Blessed are You Who behold the depths: worthy to be praised and exalted for ever
Blessed are You on the throne of Your Kingdom: worthy to be praised and exalted for ever
Blessed are You in the heights of heaven: worthy to be praised and exalted for ever
Epistle 2 Corinthians 13: 11 – 13
Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
GOSPEL Matthew 28: 16 – 20
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
© 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
Sad to relate, there is often a lack of reference to the Old Testament, so the old and important stories and issues tend to get lost to memory. Just as it is important to realize who you are by looking back to from whence and from whom you have come, so the same remains true in these issues Biblical.
It may well be that moderns might express things quite differently, but for people of the day and age back then, the telling of the story, however embellished or not, could not have been better. What early culture that you know of did not express their sense of identity and purpose other than stories of their ancients, dreamtime style or not. Sacred places have always been a major factor, as Sinai (Horeb) has been for Jews – and Christians.
And here is a story, related in serious and significant terms about the giving of the Law, the Ten Commandments, the Decalogue. A question often asked about that ‘third and fourth generation’ thing is worth pondering. One suspects that this canon emerged simply from watching families and people. Notice first that this is a reduction of the problem, not a magnifying of it. So this may well have been the answer of those ancient to the question ‘why does the dysfunction in a family seem to go on for some time?’ Without genes and so on available in such days, it became obvious that disintegration became a cumulative thing. It certainly seems to show up in spades these days. On the other hand, that same constant observation seemed to indicate that while it may take a generation or two, the dysfunction faded and soundness reappeared. This is not dissimilar to John’s observation in his Revelation, that evil contains in itself the seeds of its own destruction. No generation however weak or ill-equipped, can or will support a Hitler for long.
For the Psalm
Once again, such songs seemed to appeal to people in the distant past, and is returning in the present. Whilst I find much modern music repetitive and boring, young people see things otherwise. Perhaps it is the visceral beat that really appeals. Or am I getting old?(Don’t answer that, thank you!!!!!)
Epistle
The rather beautiful appendage to the Corinthian Epistle has made its home for people over recent centuries. That ‘grace’ as we call it is more than just a sort of thanksgiving. It is a statement of Gospel experience and belief, the former preceding the second I suspect.
GOSPEL
For many people, this conclusion to Matthew’s Gospel is very well known, clear and decisive, with the challenge offered to all who would be disciples of Christ wherever and whenever that might be. Most of those people aforementioned – oddly to my mind – are less aware that this same extraversion for the Faith is not new (in New Testament terms) but has always been embedded in the Biblical Faiths. From Abraham on, this outward look and emphasis has been there, spelt out in clear terms. Abraham was to be the blessing to all nations, as Jesus is, of course, the example par excellence pointing in the same direction.
Oddly enough it is not so much about being religious (which is an adjective that I really do not like) but about being serious. The Biblical faith from its outset has made it clear that the role of this perception in life is to answer the deepest of human needs and aspirations: what does it mean to be human and alive on planet earth and in this cosmos? Our role is not to make people religious; our role is to make people aware that this Faith has answers that are very well worth exploring, embracing and living by. I am amazed that so few people in our own day and age refuse to look at it. The alternatives in this affluent age appear far more attractive, but all history screams at us that it is all a bubble waiting to burst.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
I imagine that we could tackle Trinity Sunday a couple of ways.
The first might be to provide an answer to Christadelphians who like to challenge it all with the comment that ‘trinity’ is not a word found in Scripture. With all due respect I can find more useful things to do today. The second may be to look at something rather more immediate, significant and useful, and that is to start with this thing called life. Are you game?
In the absence of a visible tangible Divinity with Whom to question and get answers, one has to start at the other end do we not? And the only area to question is in the ordinary, common or garden aspects of life. Watch and observe, ponder the results of those observations, and come out with some sort of answers that may well need variation, alteration or adjustment as time goes by. If you are wondering, then surely this is what we now call the scientific method, though the ancient Israelites would not have even known that as a process. They were far more down to earth - and thank heaven for that. So they were inquisitive, explorative, asking the hard questions and not being satisfied with pat answers or easy put-offs. And thank heaven for that. Many of the Jews I have known over the years are very much like that still.
Now over a short period of time, answers could well be shallow. Over a millennium or two, they are more likely to be very much more reliable and valuable, having been tested by the passage of time and the widening of the questions.. And when we must realize that while people back in Abraham’s time had more in the way of superstition than perhaps we do, there still would have been a lot of baggage along the way that needed to be discarded. And it is not easy to do that.
From where I sit and think, one of the most remarkable and valuable things to come out of the Jewish Old Testament records was the emergence of the school of the prophets. I know of nothing similar in any other religion no matter how ancient, though all sought answers to the same sorts of questions. Never take a superior view to other faiths. They are all searchers after truth, and that is to be encouraged.
Perhaps the most stunning contribution of that school of prophets – which I think I have mentioned before – was to take what we may call religion out of esoteric areas and into the arena of real life. I know of no other contemporary religion in the ‘Fertile Crescent’ that made justice, truth and compassion a factor of their faiths. Amos and later prophets were profoundly concerned at the way the affluent ones in Israel stopped caring about their compatriots, and ‘sold the needy for a pair of shoes.’ In fact most of the outcry of the prophets had to do with all manner of injustice perpetrated on their fellow people. If you ask the question which came first, social justice or the Shema Israel, the answer may be difficult to find. The mere fact of their emergence at all is a stunning fact of Jewish prophetic genius. A genius of caring, not of dissociated brilliance.
As that ancient faith unfolded, the clear and vivid relevance to real life shone brightly, and even though all manner of attempts to put out the light was a feature of Jewish life, the light shone on. Even though the history of this tiny, fragile nation was one of huge ups and downs, the slow evolution of the faith continued. From where I sit, all the seeds visible and tangible in the Old Testament came to fruition in the New.
It strikes me that – as the process continued - the perception of the Divinity grew and strengthened, along with a parallel view of the value of each human being, and life itself. From the early beginnings in Abraham’s time and for long after, JHWH was seen really and merely as first a tribal divinity whose capacity was limited to the tribal regions. Outside of that, you were on your own. Yet gradually, perceptions were widened, and God was seen as more than tribal chaplain, and increasingly – as they experienced life in the light of this God – as the One over all any other. Finally, as experience widened and thought progressed, JHWH was seen as the One and Only. A person no longer needed to tug the forelock to myriads of gods, just in case one of them had residual power to bite you from behind. JHWH was the One and Only, the Holy One Who Himself acted with justice, compassion. And love. Love that surpassed human love, loving even the unlovely. God is a God Whom no one could remove from position and authority. And yet this God did not stop people being people, but longed for them to operate at the same or similar level to Himself.
Friday, June 10, 2011
RonBlog
Sunday 12th June, 2011 Pentecost
Sentence
Let anyone who is thirsty come to Me, and let the one who believes in Me drink; for out of Your heart shall flow rivers of living water. John 7: 38
Collect
O God, Who taught the hearts of Your faithful people by sending to them the light of Your Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore rejoice in His holy comfort, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. Amen
First Lesson Acts 2: 1 – 21
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs--in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power."
All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine." But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 'In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'
Psalm 104: 26 – 36
Lord, how various are all your works: in wisdom you have made them all, and the earth is full of your creatures.
There is the wide, immeasurable sea: there move living things without number, great and small.
There go the ships to and fro: and there is that Leviathan whom you formed to sport in the deep
These all look to you: to give them their food in due season
When you give it to them, they gather it: when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.
When you hide your face, they are troubled: when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit they are created: and you renew the face of the earth
May the glory of the Lord endure for ever: may the Lord rejoice in all his works.
If he looks upon the earth, it shall tremble: if he but touch the mountains, they shall smoke.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live: I will praise my God while I have any being
May my meditation be pleasing to Him: for my joy shall be in the Lord
May sinners perish from the earth, let the wicked be no more: bless the Lord o my soul, O praise the Lord
Epistle 1 Corinthians 12: 1 – 13
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says "Let Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord;
and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
GOSPEL John 20: 19 – 23
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
© 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
First Lesson
Wherever does one begin with a passage as critical and formative as this. Familiar it may be, but rather too often familiarity leads a person to overlook either the obvious or the not so obvious. Hopefully we will cover both issues here.
They were all together in one place is really quite critical to see and embrace. That is the punch-line if you will, and all else proceeds from there. This remarkable event, however it took place in reality, was to point all who followed to see where being Christ’s disciples would take them. And it was together, and that meant reconciliation and fellowship. No room for division for that would be blasphemous. And how did the Church respond over the centuries, but in completely the opposite direction …. And often still does.
The symbols of wind and fire need to be understood too. Fire, of course, purges and refines metals to bring them to completeness. Wind (breath, spirit, even life) has the same breadth of translation in both Hebrew and Greek. Ruarch in Hebrew (רוח) or pneuma) in Greek.. To me that is a fascinating factor.
One of the odd things about some modern Christians is their penchant for miracle. This business of speaking in languages is not so much miracle, but a pointer (John’s sign!) for catching sight of the purpose. Here is the reversal of Babel, that creation saga about the division of people by the plethora of languages. The old divisions are removed by the Gospel, and that is the point of it all. The coming of the Holy Spirit is presented as the source of unity, just as the Three-in-One are one. This is the focus of forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration.
In a funny way, that mistake people there made thinking the disciples were drunk underlines, in its own inimical way, that there is not a large gap between what once may have been called ‘sacred’ things from ‘secular.’
Psalm
For anyone who wonders why this psalm was chosen for Pentecost, then please read the fine print, so to speak. How often do you see ‘spirit,’ wisdom’ ‘breath’ all in one psalm, and remember that this is Old Testament! It is a remarkable production in its width of vision of life, and even includes the sea (ocean) which has never been a favourite of Hebrew people. Remember Jonah! Mind you, the last verse in this psalm is a reminder that it stems from an earlier stage in the development of the Jewish Faith. Never miss the point that your faith, like theirs, developed and evolved like everyone else’s. And do NOT stumble over the use of ‘evolution.’ It has already happened to you physically, let alone intellectually and spiritually. If it hasn’t, then you must be dead in your tracks. Yes, I am being naughty but only to disperse a few nightmares.
Epistle
For anyone caught up in some common misunderstandings of the Faith, and in particular with matters of the Spirit, may I suggest that you spend some time reading –at one sitting, and then doing it again – Paul’s Chapters 10 – 13 in this book of his. And pay good heed to what Paul has to say. Apart from anything else, gifts are gifts are gifts – they are not my property, and they are for the betterment of all. I suspect there will be more along these lines anon.
GOSPEL
Now it may have shocked you a little just after Easter when this passage and a little more was under focus. However, when John wrote his Gospel, quite some period of time after the synoptic Gospels, he did some very different things and told some of the stories very differently. For instance, he has the cleaning of the Temple at the start of Jesus’ ministry – not because it happened then, but because it was a matter of emphasis for John. His telling of the story was not in chronological order, but theological. And John’s seven signs (not miracles remember!) not only told the story of those events but also pointed up the biblical and evidential emphases the author wished to stress.
It is not surprising then that John has the coming of the Holy Spirit very soon after the Resurrection. Now almost certainly, John would have read Luke’s Gospel and Acts before he wrote, and while he was not trying to call Luke a fibber, he was making his own emphasis.
Please note a couple of things: this epiphany was with just the disciples. It is not clear whether that was a big mob or just the Eleven. If they were behind locked doors, there would not be room for mobs of people, now would there?
Note also, that this ‘ordination’ for those there was to charge the disciples with the same role and ministry as Jesus. ‘As the Father sent Me, so I send you …..’ There was no room for holding this Gospel close to their chests; it is designed for all the world.
Note, too that the matter of absolution focusses high on the agenda. For some Christians, confession, absolution are not high priorities, partly because maybe they misunderstand the process. In Anglican worship, this features highly, and usually at the start of most services of common worship, Eucharistic or not. And the point is not, as others often assume, to ‘clear your dirty soul back to pure again,’ but in the light of forgiveness from God, to enable you to look back at those failures, not only repent of them, but also learn from them in order to avoid them in the future. It is only as I am free to examine my mistakes without fear of retribution that I can learn from them. And I learn best from my boo boos rather than from what I do well. N’est ce pas? I surprise folk from time to time when I say that it should be impossible to blackmail a Christian. If they have done what the blackmailer charges, all they need to do is to agree. ‘Yes, that was me.’ If other Christians cannot cope with that, whatever it is, then the problem lies with them – they are not sinless either now are they! If they did not do it, the blackmail falls to the ground.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
It is supposed to help if you begin a sermon with a funny story: this is a slightly loaded one, but you should get the picture easily enough.
It was very many years ago and I was involved with a Youth Group in Sydney that boasted the presence then of a stiff young man who was later to become a Federal Attorney General. Also in that group was a young man of enormous enthusiasm who, at a sort of mission run by the group, encouraged the congregation to ‘sing lustfully’ which amused my mother no end!!! Of course he meant lustily. That same young man was considering entering the ministry as it was then described, but saw absolutely no need to go through the totally unnecessary business of training, for he knew it all anyhow. Whenever he spoke (preached he would have called it) it was severely obvious that he really did have little idea, and would have led (some) people up all manner of garden paths. I never did discover whether he moved in that direction, but he would have been a disaster area if he had.
All that brings me to the point on this Pentecost Sunday. And that point is this, that one needs to approach Scripture with far more than enthusiasm when understanding what is being conveyed. And I have to add, in solid Anglican conviction, that the 39 Articles are quite right when they require Scripture to be understood by taking all of its writings into balance. That wide-ranging view of things is particularly necessary with today’s rune of readings.
I entered college sure that I knew it all, and it took but a couple of days to blow that perception right out of my mind. New Testament lecturers were responsible for that business of seeing Acts 2 as countermanding the Tower of Babel. Told that in lectures, it blew up in my head, as did most of the other information passed on. Four years of College was a remarkably steep learning curve. It has always been a sadness for me that not all parishioners have at least one year in Theological College.
Over the years I have had people hound me to be open to the gift of speaking in tongues. ‘Without it, Ron, you are outside the Kingdom’ I have been told – and my response is ever to point people to the group of chapters in 1 Corinthians 10 onwards, where, from Eucharist to tongues to love, the gifts of the Spirit fall under Paul’s purview. As I have said to many, when I have exhausted that gift of love, I will begin to worry about the others. That approach even silenced my charismatic brother many years ago.
As one studies both Old Testament and New, and is aware that the Old Testament has quite something to say about the Spirit of God, and by quite a number of names, one’s picture of what is going on takes a broader vision as well. From the (first) Creation story, the Spirit appears. The Wisdom literature of the Old Testament refers to what you know as the Holy Spirit as well, but not by that name. And the further one goes, it is obvious that the prophets were people of the Spirit, being inspired most remarkably in their ministry to people of their own day and age …. And to us centuries and millennia later. So it bodes us ill to try and compact down the work of this most remarkable person of the Trinity.
Most of all, I dare to bring this Spirit right into your view, particularly if you are not too sure what is being spoken or written about. We Christians are a little too hasty in limiting this Spirit to the People of God. From my experience, as well as those of Biblical times, it is a delightful surprise to find that people apparently outside of the Faith are ‘infected’ by the Spirit of God. Truth is far from being the monopoly of Christians, and sad to say, they are often least likely to hear or respond to truth! Like people of other persuasions, ideology gets in the way, and the result is not a pretty sight. But, as we humans all know, truth is truth is truth, and one needs to be open to the directions that open up as truth becomes more clear to us. And as I said to my brother all those years ago, I have enough difficulty growing in the love direction, to worry about what to me – and Paul! – are lesser issues and gifts.
Perhaps that is enough to think about for the present ………
Sentence
Let anyone who is thirsty come to Me, and let the one who believes in Me drink; for out of Your heart shall flow rivers of living water. John 7: 38
Collect
O God, Who taught the hearts of Your faithful people by sending to them the light of Your Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore rejoice in His holy comfort, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. Amen
First Lesson Acts 2: 1 – 21
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs--in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power."
All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine." But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 'In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'
Psalm 104: 26 – 36
Lord, how various are all your works: in wisdom you have made them all, and the earth is full of your creatures.
There is the wide, immeasurable sea: there move living things without number, great and small.
There go the ships to and fro: and there is that Leviathan whom you formed to sport in the deep
These all look to you: to give them their food in due season
When you give it to them, they gather it: when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.
When you hide your face, they are troubled: when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit they are created: and you renew the face of the earth
May the glory of the Lord endure for ever: may the Lord rejoice in all his works.
If he looks upon the earth, it shall tremble: if he but touch the mountains, they shall smoke.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live: I will praise my God while I have any being
May my meditation be pleasing to Him: for my joy shall be in the Lord
May sinners perish from the earth, let the wicked be no more: bless the Lord o my soul, O praise the Lord
Epistle 1 Corinthians 12: 1 – 13
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says "Let Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord;
and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
GOSPEL John 20: 19 – 23
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
© 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
First Lesson
Wherever does one begin with a passage as critical and formative as this. Familiar it may be, but rather too often familiarity leads a person to overlook either the obvious or the not so obvious. Hopefully we will cover both issues here.
They were all together in one place is really quite critical to see and embrace. That is the punch-line if you will, and all else proceeds from there. This remarkable event, however it took place in reality, was to point all who followed to see where being Christ’s disciples would take them. And it was together, and that meant reconciliation and fellowship. No room for division for that would be blasphemous. And how did the Church respond over the centuries, but in completely the opposite direction …. And often still does.
The symbols of wind and fire need to be understood too. Fire, of course, purges and refines metals to bring them to completeness. Wind (breath, spirit, even life) has the same breadth of translation in both Hebrew and Greek. Ruarch in Hebrew (רוח) or pneuma) in Greek.. To me that is a fascinating factor.
One of the odd things about some modern Christians is their penchant for miracle. This business of speaking in languages is not so much miracle, but a pointer (John’s sign!) for catching sight of the purpose. Here is the reversal of Babel, that creation saga about the division of people by the plethora of languages. The old divisions are removed by the Gospel, and that is the point of it all. The coming of the Holy Spirit is presented as the source of unity, just as the Three-in-One are one. This is the focus of forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration.
In a funny way, that mistake people there made thinking the disciples were drunk underlines, in its own inimical way, that there is not a large gap between what once may have been called ‘sacred’ things from ‘secular.’
Psalm
For anyone who wonders why this psalm was chosen for Pentecost, then please read the fine print, so to speak. How often do you see ‘spirit,’ wisdom’ ‘breath’ all in one psalm, and remember that this is Old Testament! It is a remarkable production in its width of vision of life, and even includes the sea (ocean) which has never been a favourite of Hebrew people. Remember Jonah! Mind you, the last verse in this psalm is a reminder that it stems from an earlier stage in the development of the Jewish Faith. Never miss the point that your faith, like theirs, developed and evolved like everyone else’s. And do NOT stumble over the use of ‘evolution.’ It has already happened to you physically, let alone intellectually and spiritually. If it hasn’t, then you must be dead in your tracks. Yes, I am being naughty but only to disperse a few nightmares.
Epistle
For anyone caught up in some common misunderstandings of the Faith, and in particular with matters of the Spirit, may I suggest that you spend some time reading –at one sitting, and then doing it again – Paul’s Chapters 10 – 13 in this book of his. And pay good heed to what Paul has to say. Apart from anything else, gifts are gifts are gifts – they are not my property, and they are for the betterment of all. I suspect there will be more along these lines anon.
GOSPEL
Now it may have shocked you a little just after Easter when this passage and a little more was under focus. However, when John wrote his Gospel, quite some period of time after the synoptic Gospels, he did some very different things and told some of the stories very differently. For instance, he has the cleaning of the Temple at the start of Jesus’ ministry – not because it happened then, but because it was a matter of emphasis for John. His telling of the story was not in chronological order, but theological. And John’s seven signs (not miracles remember!) not only told the story of those events but also pointed up the biblical and evidential emphases the author wished to stress.
It is not surprising then that John has the coming of the Holy Spirit very soon after the Resurrection. Now almost certainly, John would have read Luke’s Gospel and Acts before he wrote, and while he was not trying to call Luke a fibber, he was making his own emphasis.
Please note a couple of things: this epiphany was with just the disciples. It is not clear whether that was a big mob or just the Eleven. If they were behind locked doors, there would not be room for mobs of people, now would there?
Note also, that this ‘ordination’ for those there was to charge the disciples with the same role and ministry as Jesus. ‘As the Father sent Me, so I send you …..’ There was no room for holding this Gospel close to their chests; it is designed for all the world.
Note, too that the matter of absolution focusses high on the agenda. For some Christians, confession, absolution are not high priorities, partly because maybe they misunderstand the process. In Anglican worship, this features highly, and usually at the start of most services of common worship, Eucharistic or not. And the point is not, as others often assume, to ‘clear your dirty soul back to pure again,’ but in the light of forgiveness from God, to enable you to look back at those failures, not only repent of them, but also learn from them in order to avoid them in the future. It is only as I am free to examine my mistakes without fear of retribution that I can learn from them. And I learn best from my boo boos rather than from what I do well. N’est ce pas? I surprise folk from time to time when I say that it should be impossible to blackmail a Christian. If they have done what the blackmailer charges, all they need to do is to agree. ‘Yes, that was me.’ If other Christians cannot cope with that, whatever it is, then the problem lies with them – they are not sinless either now are they! If they did not do it, the blackmail falls to the ground.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
It is supposed to help if you begin a sermon with a funny story: this is a slightly loaded one, but you should get the picture easily enough.
It was very many years ago and I was involved with a Youth Group in Sydney that boasted the presence then of a stiff young man who was later to become a Federal Attorney General. Also in that group was a young man of enormous enthusiasm who, at a sort of mission run by the group, encouraged the congregation to ‘sing lustfully’ which amused my mother no end!!! Of course he meant lustily. That same young man was considering entering the ministry as it was then described, but saw absolutely no need to go through the totally unnecessary business of training, for he knew it all anyhow. Whenever he spoke (preached he would have called it) it was severely obvious that he really did have little idea, and would have led (some) people up all manner of garden paths. I never did discover whether he moved in that direction, but he would have been a disaster area if he had.
All that brings me to the point on this Pentecost Sunday. And that point is this, that one needs to approach Scripture with far more than enthusiasm when understanding what is being conveyed. And I have to add, in solid Anglican conviction, that the 39 Articles are quite right when they require Scripture to be understood by taking all of its writings into balance. That wide-ranging view of things is particularly necessary with today’s rune of readings.
I entered college sure that I knew it all, and it took but a couple of days to blow that perception right out of my mind. New Testament lecturers were responsible for that business of seeing Acts 2 as countermanding the Tower of Babel. Told that in lectures, it blew up in my head, as did most of the other information passed on. Four years of College was a remarkably steep learning curve. It has always been a sadness for me that not all parishioners have at least one year in Theological College.
Over the years I have had people hound me to be open to the gift of speaking in tongues. ‘Without it, Ron, you are outside the Kingdom’ I have been told – and my response is ever to point people to the group of chapters in 1 Corinthians 10 onwards, where, from Eucharist to tongues to love, the gifts of the Spirit fall under Paul’s purview. As I have said to many, when I have exhausted that gift of love, I will begin to worry about the others. That approach even silenced my charismatic brother many years ago.
As one studies both Old Testament and New, and is aware that the Old Testament has quite something to say about the Spirit of God, and by quite a number of names, one’s picture of what is going on takes a broader vision as well. From the (first) Creation story, the Spirit appears. The Wisdom literature of the Old Testament refers to what you know as the Holy Spirit as well, but not by that name. And the further one goes, it is obvious that the prophets were people of the Spirit, being inspired most remarkably in their ministry to people of their own day and age …. And to us centuries and millennia later. So it bodes us ill to try and compact down the work of this most remarkable person of the Trinity.
Most of all, I dare to bring this Spirit right into your view, particularly if you are not too sure what is being spoken or written about. We Christians are a little too hasty in limiting this Spirit to the People of God. From my experience, as well as those of Biblical times, it is a delightful surprise to find that people apparently outside of the Faith are ‘infected’ by the Spirit of God. Truth is far from being the monopoly of Christians, and sad to say, they are often least likely to hear or respond to truth! Like people of other persuasions, ideology gets in the way, and the result is not a pretty sight. But, as we humans all know, truth is truth is truth, and one needs to be open to the directions that open up as truth becomes more clear to us. And as I said to my brother all those years ago, I have enough difficulty growing in the love direction, to worry about what to me – and Paul! – are lesser issues and gifts.
Perhaps that is enough to think about for the present ………
Newsletter
Sunday 12th June, 2011 - PENTECOST
WELCOME to Holy Innocents—we hope you enjoy this time of prayer as we reflect on Scripture together and celebrate the Eucharist. After the 8am service breakfast is served and morning tea after the 10am service. At 10 am everything in the service will be screened on the walls. Sunday School is back in action
Collect for Pentecost
Almighty God, at the feast of Pentecost You sent Your Holy Spirit to the disciples, filling them with joy and boldness to preach the gospel: empower us with that same Spirit to witness to your redeeming love and draw all people to You; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
TODAY’S READINGS
Acts 2: 1—21 and 1 Corinthians 12: 1—13 read by Araki family
GOSPEL John 20: 19—23
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Warren
We pray for those in need: Ron Teague, Phyllis Morecroft, Peter Little, the Swaby family, Chris Contro, Yvonne Myers, Joy Campbell, Jenny Jeffrey, Dorothy Furnival, Sid Sweet and others known to us,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Barb Capon
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
YEAR’S MIND—Norm Currer (2010), Mabel Mitchell (1997) Len Dent (1998)
PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY Trinity Sunday
Readings Exodus 34: 1—8 and 2 Cor 13: 11—13
GOSPEL Matthew 28: 16—20
Fr Ron’s Notes available at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/
REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month at 36 Penno Parade North
BIBLE STUDY 10am every Wednesday at 378 Main Road Coromandal Valley
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 Barb Capon 8278 3584 and Lucinda Hale 8278 8814.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS—
HOLY INNOCENTS' BACK TO SCHOOL QUIZ NIGHT Saturday 2 July at 7pm in the Church $10/Adults $5/Concession BYO Supper and Drinks. Dress is school attire and prepare to be very well behaved for Quiz & Head Master, Andrew Morecroft. Book your table by writing your name on the form in the foyer
MOTHERS’ UNION Thursday 16th June at 2.00pm at the Church AGM. And Marion McCall will be offering a Reflection TIme. All welcome. Marg Pressley, Leader
HOME GROUP at Andrew & Wendy Moorcroft's home Thursday 16 June 7.30pm. Call Wendy for details 0417 806 943
.RON-BLOG from today’s readings Acts 2
Wherever does one begin with a passage as critical and formative as this. Familiar it may be, but rather too often familiarity leads a person to overlook either the obvious or the not so obvious. Hopefully we will cover both issues here.
They were all together in one place is really quite critical to see and embrace. That is the punch-line if you will, and all else proceeds from there. This remarkable event, however it took place in reality, was to point all who followed to see where being Christ’s took them. And it was together, and that meant reconciliation and fellowship. No room for division for that would be blasphemous. And how did the Church respond over the centuries, but in completely the opposite direction …. And often does still.
The symbols of wind and fire need to be understood too. Fire, of course, purges and refines metals to bring them to completeness. Wind (breath, spirit, even life) has the same breadth of translation in both Hebrew and Greek. Ruarch in Hebrew pneuma in Greek both can be translated in the same breadth. To me that is a fascinating fact.
One of the odd things about some modern Christians is their penchant for miracle. This business of speaking in languages is not so much miracle, but a pointer (John’s sign!) for catching sight of the purpose. Here is the reversal of Babel, that creation saga about the division of people by the plethora of languages. The old divisions are removed by the Gospel, and that is the point of it all. The coming of the Holy Spirit is presented as the source of unity, just as the Three-in-One. This is the focus of forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration.
ROSTERS
POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Today Trevor Tregenza or Craig Deane
Next Sunday Cynthia Macintosh or Min Araki
READER- AND INTERCESSOR ROSTER
Next Sunday Reader Araki family Intercessor Warren
Sunday after Reader Clare B Intercessor Hal S-C
SANCTUARY ROSTER
Next week Flowers Sue Daw-Thomas Brass Bonney Tomlimson
Cleaning Bonney Tomlinson
BCA BOXES
A gentle reminder that May was Box collection month, and we have run out of May. Box holders are asked to bring them in for clearing. Alan and Margaret Pressley will be there to receive them, and to forward the offerings on the BCA, in support of ministry in the Bush.
Some years ago a kind parishioner gave us a folding table-tennis table. It is in good order but no longer used and is something of a problem to store in a hall where everything is moved around frequently. It is available to anyone who would like to have it for a very modest donation. See Don Baker
GOODS FOR THE MAGDELENE CENTRE
The current issue of The Supporter, newsletter of Anglicare, reminds us of the need for gifts of food for the Magdalene Centre is urgent. Our parish has a good record of weekly donations, and we receive a warm welcome when our donations are delivered. Remember that the most wanted items include tins if soup, pasta and pasta sauces, tinned meat (ham, sardines, tuna,) and long-life milk.
Congrats and best wishes to David Hall, recently elected Warden for Holy Innocents’ Thanks for putting up your hand—and we offer our support in your new role.
There is to be a baptism next Sunday—and a warm welcome to Bridgitte and her family
This is an announcement for the parishioners who are participating in the planned-giving (or Free-Will Offering) Scheme. Those parishioners should be receiving the quarterly statements, which state the amount received during the last quarter together with the start and end dates of the last quarter. The Church Council decided in the meeting held in May that the quarterly statements should also provide the following two numbers: the amount promised up to the last quarter as well as the amount actually received up to the last quarter. This change will commence with the next quarterly statements. Any parishioner, who is using more than one method of payment, will receive one statement for the combined amounts. This is for the Recorder’s convenience. For any queries, please call me at 8270-8894 (before 10th of June) 7225-1951 (after 14th of June)
Items for the Newsletter need to be sent to Fr. Ron at 8298 7160 or ronpkeynes@internode.on.net by Tuesday afternoon please …….
WELCOME to Holy Innocents—we hope you enjoy this time of prayer as we reflect on Scripture together and celebrate the Eucharist. After the 8am service breakfast is served and morning tea after the 10am service. At 10 am everything in the service will be screened on the walls. Sunday School is back in action
Collect for Pentecost
Almighty God, at the feast of Pentecost You sent Your Holy Spirit to the disciples, filling them with joy and boldness to preach the gospel: empower us with that same Spirit to witness to your redeeming love and draw all people to You; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
TODAY’S READINGS
Acts 2: 1—21 and 1 Corinthians 12: 1—13 read by Araki family
GOSPEL John 20: 19—23
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Warren
We pray for those in need: Ron Teague, Phyllis Morecroft, Peter Little, the Swaby family, Chris Contro, Yvonne Myers, Joy Campbell, Jenny Jeffrey, Dorothy Furnival, Sid Sweet and others known to us,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Barb Capon
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
YEAR’S MIND—Norm Currer (2010), Mabel Mitchell (1997) Len Dent (1998)
PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY Trinity Sunday
Readings Exodus 34: 1—8 and 2 Cor 13: 11—13
GOSPEL Matthew 28: 16—20
Fr Ron’s Notes available at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/
REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month at 36 Penno Parade North
BIBLE STUDY 10am every Wednesday at 378 Main Road Coromandal Valley
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 Barb Capon 8278 3584 and Lucinda Hale 8278 8814.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS—
HOLY INNOCENTS' BACK TO SCHOOL QUIZ NIGHT Saturday 2 July at 7pm in the Church $10/Adults $5/Concession BYO Supper and Drinks. Dress is school attire and prepare to be very well behaved for Quiz & Head Master, Andrew Morecroft. Book your table by writing your name on the form in the foyer
MOTHERS’ UNION Thursday 16th June at 2.00pm at the Church AGM. And Marion McCall will be offering a Reflection TIme. All welcome. Marg Pressley, Leader
HOME GROUP at Andrew & Wendy Moorcroft's home Thursday 16 June 7.30pm. Call Wendy for details 0417 806 943
.RON-BLOG from today’s readings Acts 2
Wherever does one begin with a passage as critical and formative as this. Familiar it may be, but rather too often familiarity leads a person to overlook either the obvious or the not so obvious. Hopefully we will cover both issues here.
They were all together in one place is really quite critical to see and embrace. That is the punch-line if you will, and all else proceeds from there. This remarkable event, however it took place in reality, was to point all who followed to see where being Christ’s took them. And it was together, and that meant reconciliation and fellowship. No room for division for that would be blasphemous. And how did the Church respond over the centuries, but in completely the opposite direction …. And often does still.
The symbols of wind and fire need to be understood too. Fire, of course, purges and refines metals to bring them to completeness. Wind (breath, spirit, even life) has the same breadth of translation in both Hebrew and Greek. Ruarch in Hebrew pneuma in Greek both can be translated in the same breadth. To me that is a fascinating fact.
One of the odd things about some modern Christians is their penchant for miracle. This business of speaking in languages is not so much miracle, but a pointer (John’s sign!) for catching sight of the purpose. Here is the reversal of Babel, that creation saga about the division of people by the plethora of languages. The old divisions are removed by the Gospel, and that is the point of it all. The coming of the Holy Spirit is presented as the source of unity, just as the Three-in-One. This is the focus of forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration.
ROSTERS
POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Today Trevor Tregenza or Craig Deane
Next Sunday Cynthia Macintosh or Min Araki
READER- AND INTERCESSOR ROSTER
Next Sunday Reader Araki family Intercessor Warren
Sunday after Reader Clare B Intercessor Hal S-C
SANCTUARY ROSTER
Next week Flowers Sue Daw-Thomas Brass Bonney Tomlimson
Cleaning Bonney Tomlinson
BCA BOXES
A gentle reminder that May was Box collection month, and we have run out of May. Box holders are asked to bring them in for clearing. Alan and Margaret Pressley will be there to receive them, and to forward the offerings on the BCA, in support of ministry in the Bush.
Some years ago a kind parishioner gave us a folding table-tennis table. It is in good order but no longer used and is something of a problem to store in a hall where everything is moved around frequently. It is available to anyone who would like to have it for a very modest donation. See Don Baker
GOODS FOR THE MAGDELENE CENTRE
The current issue of The Supporter, newsletter of Anglicare, reminds us of the need for gifts of food for the Magdalene Centre is urgent. Our parish has a good record of weekly donations, and we receive a warm welcome when our donations are delivered. Remember that the most wanted items include tins if soup, pasta and pasta sauces, tinned meat (ham, sardines, tuna,) and long-life milk.
Congrats and best wishes to David Hall, recently elected Warden for Holy Innocents’ Thanks for putting up your hand—and we offer our support in your new role.
There is to be a baptism next Sunday—and a warm welcome to Bridgitte and her family
This is an announcement for the parishioners who are participating in the planned-giving (or Free-Will Offering) Scheme. Those parishioners should be receiving the quarterly statements, which state the amount received during the last quarter together with the start and end dates of the last quarter. The Church Council decided in the meeting held in May that the quarterly statements should also provide the following two numbers: the amount promised up to the last quarter as well as the amount actually received up to the last quarter. This change will commence with the next quarterly statements. Any parishioner, who is using more than one method of payment, will receive one statement for the combined amounts. This is for the Recorder’s convenience. For any queries, please call me at 8270-8894 (before 10th of June) 7225-1951 (after 14th of June)
Items for the Newsletter need to be sent to Fr. Ron at 8298 7160 or ronpkeynes@internode.on.net by Tuesday afternoon please …….
Friday, June 3, 2011
RonBlog
Sunday 5th June, 2011 Seventh Sunday of Easter
Sentence
This is eternal life, that we may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom You have sent.
John 17:3
Collect
O God the King of Glory, You have exalted Your only Son, Jesus Christ with great triumph to Your kingdom in heaven; we pray You leave us not comfortless, but send Your Holy Spirit to strengthen us and exalt usto the same place where our Saviour Christ has gone before; Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen
First Lesson Acts 1: 6 – 14
When they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.
When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
Psalm 68: 1 – 10 & 32-35
God shall arise and His enemies shall be scattered: those that hate Him shall flee before His face.
As smoke is dispersed, so shall they be dispersed: as wax melts before a fire, so shall the wicked perish at the presence of God
But the righteous shall be glad and exult before God: they shall rejoice with gladness.
O sing to God, sing praises to His name: glorify Him that rode through the deserts, Him Whose Name is the Lord, and exult before Him.
He is the father of the fatherless, He upholds the cause of the widow: God in His holy dwelling place.
He gives the desolate a home to dwell in, and brings the prisoners out into prosperity: but rebels must dwell in a barren land.
O God, when You went out before Your people: when You marched through the wilderness,
The earth shook, the heavens poured down water: before the God of Sinai, before God the God of Israel.
You showered down a generous rain O God: You prepared the land of Your possession when it was weary.
And there Your people settled: in the place that You goodness, O God, had made ready for the poor.
Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth: O sing praises to the Lord,
To Him that rides upon the highest heaven, that were from the beginning: Who utters His voice, which is a mighty voice.
Ascribe power to God, Whose majesty is over Israel: and His might is in the clouds
Terrible is God Who comes from His holy place: the God of Israel Who gives power and strength to His people. Blessed be God.
Epistle 1 Peter 5
As an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it --not for sordid gain but eagerly. Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away.
In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.
Through Silvanus, whom I consider a faithful brother, I have written this short letter to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. Your sister church in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings; and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
GOSPEL John 17: 1 – 11
After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are Yours, and Yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.
© 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 First Lesson
There is something delightfully human and ineffective about the Eleven at this time just before Jesus’ Ascension. They were little better afterwards, but I guess it is easy to be wise after the event. One has 20/20 vision then, do we not?
All this is something of an illustration of how hard it is to shift people from their populist view of the Faith. How deeply ingrained in them was this business that the Messiah should sort everyone out, whiz bang, alakazam- style? Even after three years of solid teaching, after the Cross, they were still looking for someone messianic in the early Old Testament style. Do not be surprised that they did not take on board such passages as we have recently, with those marvellous Servant Songs of Isaiah. One of my Jewish mates could not understand my perception of Isaiah 53 or the Servant Songs. I still don’t see what they perceive!
Like even modern people, those Eleven looked for apocalyptic issues – end of the world stuff, or at least sorting out the Romans. It is a strange malady, and it still ails people. The turn of the millennium brought out all manner of cranks, but there was no eruption then - nor was there ever likely to be. And that surprisingly naive ‘pastor’ in the States recently fell into the same trap. Even Scripture forbids guesses. Small wonder that Jesus, once again, attempted to turn their attention on to other more immediate issues.
Psalm
Perhaps here was a source of the expectation of the Eleven; it all sounds quite dramatic does it not? So how would you respond to such strong words in this day and age? One wonders when ‘rain’ and ‘Sinai’ are mentioned in the same breath. That would have been as likely as seeing a verdant Birdsville Track! However it certainly tizzies up the picture of Moses’ time, which does not compute all that well with the pressures indicated in the Exodus account.
Epistle
There is a small window into the world of the early Church in the tail end of this passage. What was it really like to live in the middle or later of the first century, and what was it like to be a Christian then?
Peter’s admonition to the ‘shepherds of the flock’ are very similar to the charges of Ezekiel many centuries before. It is an admonition that bears repetition in every generation, for it is rather too easy to move from shepherd to manager, controller, boss. And that leads to the denial of the very Gospel we profess!
There is also that interesting insight into the pressures of maintaining the faith in a world designed to emphasise – for those in any position to – for wealth, power and intrigue. Can you imagine the difficulties associated with resisting those pressures, especially in a period when the lions were very likely to be very real and very savage. And Christians were rather much the flavour of the month.
Some little glimpse is offered of life within the Church then, when –as other epistles indicate – there were traitors from within as well. And we think we have difficulties in life! Oh! Yeah?
GOSPEL
This High Priestly Prayer, as it is often called, is a moving expression of Jesus’ self-awareness, as well as the role or task that has been His. If you are a little bemused by the constant use of the ‘glorify’ it may be of some help to unpack it somewhat. Whatever does it really mean?
God is not glorified by lots of hymns or songs or even prayers. God is glorified when He is made known, His character and goals are clear. Jesus glorifies the Father when He made and makes Him clear, visible, tangible if you dare. You glorify God when who you are, what you do and how you react makes the Father clear and understandable to people around you. In a way you ‘reincarnate’ God. For like it or not, the way the Father operates, as in Jesus so in you, is to find someone to incarnate His nature – as far as you are capable. And it will surprise you what glimpses even the poorest witness can offer.
Making the Father known is the role of the Church and its people. Surprisingly, even those outside the Faith – I have found – may sometimes do the same, even if they are unaware of it.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
It was a lot of years ago, and one of the first times that my parents were at the Church where I was preaching – it must have been close to 55 years ago. I was not trying to impress anyone, but rather to help folk get past some ancient and holy words to realize what they were really talking about.
Matthew 5 has the Sermon on the Mount, and the first few verses being with the same word. ‘Blessed ….’ In Greek, makaraios. Just a year or two before that, all the news was about Cyprus and the struggle between Greek and Turk on that island, and the enormous loss of life in that struggle. As we pondered that word and that news, something of the irony of that word, blessed, (makarios) began to gel. Marakrios means ‘blessed’ and it was also the name of the Greek Orthodox Archbishop who was political leader of that stricken island. Blessed the Archbishop certainly was not.
Blessed. Happy. Content. Doing what was required of a person. Fulfilling the purpose. All sorts of things that are very rare events in our own day and age. Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.
It was only a short time ago (June, 2010) that I read a comment from Bob Hawke when he was Prime Minister. ‘It is not the meek that people need; they need to strong to look after the weak.’ I suspect Bob’s old Dad would have turned in his grave if he – Church minister – heard his son come out with that!
So let’s try another word often used in Church, and rather rarely understood. Try ‘glorify.’ Now how does anyone do that for anyone? How do you glorify God? How did Jesus glorify God? What in the name of fortune does the word really mean? May I take the strain away from you, and fill in the meaning?
When Jesus glorified God, it means simply that He made the Father known, almost visible, almost tangible. Not what the Father looks like, but what His nature is like. In what Jesus said, in what Jesus did, He illustrated and incarnated something of the nature of God. In other words, when people saw Jesus, they caught some sight of Who God is.
Does that make sense to you? At the risk of giving the poor man conniptions, we have long said to people that one of our great mates has done similar things. ‘If you want to get a bit of a picture of Jesus, then go and talk to Bishop Bruce Rosier.’ And I could tell you a lot of stories to illustrate that.
Jesus made God rather more tangible, reachable, understandable by what He did and said. Most of all it showed up at the Cross, much of it by what Jesus did not do. Yell and scream and demand revenge. And in what He did – giving Himself totally to others.
And that is the challenge for those called to priesthood. To reflect the characteristics of the Father. To incarnate the Faith, making it tangible, visible, understandable. As Peter wrote in his epistle, tend the flock of God, - not for sordid gain but eagerly. Do not lord it over your charge but be examples to the flock. I must be old-fashioned or something but it is rather too rare these days to find this attitude amongst clergy.
And just in case you think this has nothing to do with you, because priest you are not, --- you are in the same boat. Yours is also the role to glorify God, to incarnate the characteristics of the Father. To make Jesus known, visible, tangible and understandable.
You will notice that in this day and age, that may not be the most popular programme, as Bob Hawke’s words would indicate. But it is the most necessary, for as our culture gradually claws itself to pieces, it is going to need people of sterner stuff, with a much clearer vision of what life could be like, to glue it all together again. It is a high calling, and will become an increasingly urgent one.
Sentence
This is eternal life, that we may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom You have sent.
John 17:3
Collect
O God the King of Glory, You have exalted Your only Son, Jesus Christ with great triumph to Your kingdom in heaven; we pray You leave us not comfortless, but send Your Holy Spirit to strengthen us and exalt usto the same place where our Saviour Christ has gone before; Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen
First Lesson Acts 1: 6 – 14
When they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.
When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
Psalm 68: 1 – 10 & 32-35
God shall arise and His enemies shall be scattered: those that hate Him shall flee before His face.
As smoke is dispersed, so shall they be dispersed: as wax melts before a fire, so shall the wicked perish at the presence of God
But the righteous shall be glad and exult before God: they shall rejoice with gladness.
O sing to God, sing praises to His name: glorify Him that rode through the deserts, Him Whose Name is the Lord, and exult before Him.
He is the father of the fatherless, He upholds the cause of the widow: God in His holy dwelling place.
He gives the desolate a home to dwell in, and brings the prisoners out into prosperity: but rebels must dwell in a barren land.
O God, when You went out before Your people: when You marched through the wilderness,
The earth shook, the heavens poured down water: before the God of Sinai, before God the God of Israel.
You showered down a generous rain O God: You prepared the land of Your possession when it was weary.
And there Your people settled: in the place that You goodness, O God, had made ready for the poor.
Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth: O sing praises to the Lord,
To Him that rides upon the highest heaven, that were from the beginning: Who utters His voice, which is a mighty voice.
Ascribe power to God, Whose majesty is over Israel: and His might is in the clouds
Terrible is God Who comes from His holy place: the God of Israel Who gives power and strength to His people. Blessed be God.
Epistle 1 Peter 5
As an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it --not for sordid gain but eagerly. Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away.
In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.
Through Silvanus, whom I consider a faithful brother, I have written this short letter to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. Your sister church in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings; and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
GOSPEL John 17: 1 – 11
After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are Yours, and Yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.
© 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 First Lesson
There is something delightfully human and ineffective about the Eleven at this time just before Jesus’ Ascension. They were little better afterwards, but I guess it is easy to be wise after the event. One has 20/20 vision then, do we not?
All this is something of an illustration of how hard it is to shift people from their populist view of the Faith. How deeply ingrained in them was this business that the Messiah should sort everyone out, whiz bang, alakazam- style? Even after three years of solid teaching, after the Cross, they were still looking for someone messianic in the early Old Testament style. Do not be surprised that they did not take on board such passages as we have recently, with those marvellous Servant Songs of Isaiah. One of my Jewish mates could not understand my perception of Isaiah 53 or the Servant Songs. I still don’t see what they perceive!
Like even modern people, those Eleven looked for apocalyptic issues – end of the world stuff, or at least sorting out the Romans. It is a strange malady, and it still ails people. The turn of the millennium brought out all manner of cranks, but there was no eruption then - nor was there ever likely to be. And that surprisingly naive ‘pastor’ in the States recently fell into the same trap. Even Scripture forbids guesses. Small wonder that Jesus, once again, attempted to turn their attention on to other more immediate issues.
Psalm
Perhaps here was a source of the expectation of the Eleven; it all sounds quite dramatic does it not? So how would you respond to such strong words in this day and age? One wonders when ‘rain’ and ‘Sinai’ are mentioned in the same breath. That would have been as likely as seeing a verdant Birdsville Track! However it certainly tizzies up the picture of Moses’ time, which does not compute all that well with the pressures indicated in the Exodus account.
Epistle
There is a small window into the world of the early Church in the tail end of this passage. What was it really like to live in the middle or later of the first century, and what was it like to be a Christian then?
Peter’s admonition to the ‘shepherds of the flock’ are very similar to the charges of Ezekiel many centuries before. It is an admonition that bears repetition in every generation, for it is rather too easy to move from shepherd to manager, controller, boss. And that leads to the denial of the very Gospel we profess!
There is also that interesting insight into the pressures of maintaining the faith in a world designed to emphasise – for those in any position to – for wealth, power and intrigue. Can you imagine the difficulties associated with resisting those pressures, especially in a period when the lions were very likely to be very real and very savage. And Christians were rather much the flavour of the month.
Some little glimpse is offered of life within the Church then, when –as other epistles indicate – there were traitors from within as well. And we think we have difficulties in life! Oh! Yeah?
GOSPEL
This High Priestly Prayer, as it is often called, is a moving expression of Jesus’ self-awareness, as well as the role or task that has been His. If you are a little bemused by the constant use of the ‘glorify’ it may be of some help to unpack it somewhat. Whatever does it really mean?
God is not glorified by lots of hymns or songs or even prayers. God is glorified when He is made known, His character and goals are clear. Jesus glorifies the Father when He made and makes Him clear, visible, tangible if you dare. You glorify God when who you are, what you do and how you react makes the Father clear and understandable to people around you. In a way you ‘reincarnate’ God. For like it or not, the way the Father operates, as in Jesus so in you, is to find someone to incarnate His nature – as far as you are capable. And it will surprise you what glimpses even the poorest witness can offer.
Making the Father known is the role of the Church and its people. Surprisingly, even those outside the Faith – I have found – may sometimes do the same, even if they are unaware of it.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
It was a lot of years ago, and one of the first times that my parents were at the Church where I was preaching – it must have been close to 55 years ago. I was not trying to impress anyone, but rather to help folk get past some ancient and holy words to realize what they were really talking about.
Matthew 5 has the Sermon on the Mount, and the first few verses being with the same word. ‘Blessed ….’ In Greek, makaraios. Just a year or two before that, all the news was about Cyprus and the struggle between Greek and Turk on that island, and the enormous loss of life in that struggle. As we pondered that word and that news, something of the irony of that word, blessed, (makarios) began to gel. Marakrios means ‘blessed’ and it was also the name of the Greek Orthodox Archbishop who was political leader of that stricken island. Blessed the Archbishop certainly was not.
Blessed. Happy. Content. Doing what was required of a person. Fulfilling the purpose. All sorts of things that are very rare events in our own day and age. Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.
It was only a short time ago (June, 2010) that I read a comment from Bob Hawke when he was Prime Minister. ‘It is not the meek that people need; they need to strong to look after the weak.’ I suspect Bob’s old Dad would have turned in his grave if he – Church minister – heard his son come out with that!
So let’s try another word often used in Church, and rather rarely understood. Try ‘glorify.’ Now how does anyone do that for anyone? How do you glorify God? How did Jesus glorify God? What in the name of fortune does the word really mean? May I take the strain away from you, and fill in the meaning?
When Jesus glorified God, it means simply that He made the Father known, almost visible, almost tangible. Not what the Father looks like, but what His nature is like. In what Jesus said, in what Jesus did, He illustrated and incarnated something of the nature of God. In other words, when people saw Jesus, they caught some sight of Who God is.
Does that make sense to you? At the risk of giving the poor man conniptions, we have long said to people that one of our great mates has done similar things. ‘If you want to get a bit of a picture of Jesus, then go and talk to Bishop Bruce Rosier.’ And I could tell you a lot of stories to illustrate that.
Jesus made God rather more tangible, reachable, understandable by what He did and said. Most of all it showed up at the Cross, much of it by what Jesus did not do. Yell and scream and demand revenge. And in what He did – giving Himself totally to others.
And that is the challenge for those called to priesthood. To reflect the characteristics of the Father. To incarnate the Faith, making it tangible, visible, understandable. As Peter wrote in his epistle, tend the flock of God, - not for sordid gain but eagerly. Do not lord it over your charge but be examples to the flock. I must be old-fashioned or something but it is rather too rare these days to find this attitude amongst clergy.
And just in case you think this has nothing to do with you, because priest you are not, --- you are in the same boat. Yours is also the role to glorify God, to incarnate the characteristics of the Father. To make Jesus known, visible, tangible and understandable.
You will notice that in this day and age, that may not be the most popular programme, as Bob Hawke’s words would indicate. But it is the most necessary, for as our culture gradually claws itself to pieces, it is going to need people of sterner stuff, with a much clearer vision of what life could be like, to glue it all together again. It is a high calling, and will become an increasingly urgent one.
Newsletter
Sunday 5th June, 2011 - SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Our Celebrant and preacher today 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. After the 8am service breakfast is served and morning tea after the 10am service. At 10 am everything in the service will be screened on the walls. Sunday School is back in action
Collect for Seventh Sunday of Easter
O God, Whose Son Jesus prayed for His disciples, and sent them into the world to proclaim the coming of Your kingdom: by Your Holy Spirit, hold the Church in unity, and keep it faithful to Your word, so that, breaking bread together, we may be one with Christ in faith and love and service, now and for ever. Amen.
TODAY’S READINGS
Acts 1: 6 –14 and 1 Peter 5 read by Mary V
GOSPEL John 10: 1– 10
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Marg P
We pray for those in need: Ron Teague, Phyllis Morecroft, Peter Little, the Swaby family, Chris Contro, Yvonne Myers, Joy Campbell, Jenny Jeffrey, Dorothy Furnival, and others known to us,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Neil Thomas
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
YEAR’S MIND—Gwenyth Rounsevell, Tony Willoughby (1994) Fr. Reg Petter (2000) Ros Hayman and John Carruthers (1998)
PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY Pentecost
Acts 2: 1—21 and 1 Corinthians 12: 1—13
GOSPEL John 20: 19—23
Fr Ron’s Notes available at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/
REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month at 36 Penno Parade North
BIBLE STUDY 10am every Wednesday at 378 Main Road Coromandal Valley
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 Barb Capon 8278 3584 and Lucinda Hale 8278 8814.
Herewith the address for Warren’s latest Chaplain’s contribution:
http://www.stjohns.sa.edu.au/news/the-copernican-revolution-of-the-self
FORTHCOMING EVENTS—
Special Note St. Barnabas. College 131st Anniversary Evening: This is to be held at St. Peter’s Cathedral at 6.00pm on 10th June, and Dr. Anstey will be the preacher. The service will be followed by a light meal in the Hall and RSVPs are required for that, on 8416 8440 or admin@sbtc.org.au.
HOLY INNOCENTS' BACK TO SCHOOL QUIZ NIGHT Saturday 2 July at 7pm in the Church $10/Adults $5/Concession BYO Supper and Drinks. Dress is school attire and prepare to be very well behaved for Quiz & Head Master, Andrew Morecroft. Book your table by writing your name on the form in the foyer
HOME GROUP at Andrew & Wendy Moorcroft's home Thursday 10 July 7.30pm. Call Wendy for details 0417 806 943
.RON-BLOG from today’s readings
We use words in Church, don’t we with not a lot of understanding what they mean.. Try ‘glorify.’ Now how does anyone do that for anyone? How do you glorify God? How did Jesus glorify God? What in the name of fortune does the word really mean? May I take the strain away from you, and offer some help?
When Jesus glorified God, it means simply that He made the Father known, almost visible, almost tangible. Not what the Father looks like, of course, but what His nature is like. In what Jesus said, in what Jesus did, He illustrated and incarnated something of the nature of God. In other words, when people saw Jesus, they caught some sight of Who God is.
Does that make sense to you? At the risk of giving the poor man conniptions, we have long said to people that one of our great mates has done similar things. ‘If you want to get a bit of a picture of Jesus, then go and talk to and watch Bishop Bruce Rosier.’ And I could tell you a lot of stories to illustrate that.
Jesus’ life and ministry made God rather more tangible, reachable, understandable by what He did and said. Most of all it showed up at the Cross, much of it by what Jesus did not do. Yell and scream and demand revenge, for instance. And in what He did – giving Himself totally to others.
And that is the challenge for those called to priesthood. To reflect the characteristics of the Father. To incarnate the Faith, making it tangible, visible, understandable. As Peter wrote in his epistle, tend the flock of God, - not for sordid gain but eagerly. Do not lord it over your charge but be examples to the flock. I must be old-fashioned or something but it is rather too rare these days to find that Biblical attitude amongst quite some of the clergy.
And just in case you think this has nothing to do with you, because priest you are not, --- you are in the same boat. Yours is also the role to glorify God, to incarnate the characteristics of the Father. To make Jesus known, visible, tangible and understandable.
You will notice that in this day and age, that may not be the most popular programme, as Bob Hawke’s words would indicate when he suggested that weak people need strong leaders..But this glimpse of reality is the most necessary, for as our culture gradually claws itself to pieces, it is going to need people of sterner stuff, with a much clearer vision of what life could be like, to glue it all together again. It is a high calling, and will become an increasingly urgent one. The further people move away from God the further they move from each other, and you are aware of the drastic outcomes of that direction!
ROSTERS
POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Today Barb Capon or Jill Hilbig
Next Sunday Trevor Tregenza or Craig Deane
READER- AND INTERCESSOR ROSTER
Next Sunday Reader Max A Intercessor Sue D-T
Sunday after Reader Araki family Intercessor Warren
SANCTUARY ROSTER
Next week Flowers Anna Kelly Brass Joan Durdin
Cleaning Group 1
BCA BOXES
A gentle reminder that May is Box collection month, and we have run out of May. Box holders are asked to bring them in for clearing. Alan and Margaret Pressley will be there to receive them, and to forward the offerings on the BCA, in support of ministry in the Bush.
Congrats and best wishes to David Hall, recently elected Warden for Holy Innocents’ Thanks for putting up your hand—and we offer our support in your new role.
Applications are invited for the position of School Chaplain at COROMANDEL VALLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL Address: 339 Main Rd, Coromandel Valley Phone: 8278 3693
23 hours per week, commencing Term 3, 2011. The position exists to offer support to students, staff and the school community. A Job and Person Specification is available from: Coromandel Valley Primary School Front Office Closing date: 5pm, Tuesday 7th June www.smg.asn.au
An opportunity to visit the Lutheran Community Sewing Group (featured in the last Parish Magazine) is open to any who would like to join Marg Pressley and Robyn Keynes on Friday 10th June. And if you knit toddlers’ beanies, that would be appreciated by the Group. Contact Marg or Robyn
St Peter’s Woodlands Grammar School formerly St Peter’s Glenelg Anglican Grammar School Reunion of past scholars, parents, staff and families of all eras You are invited to visit our school, renew acquaintances and to view the historic mementos contained in the Time Capsule opened as planned after 25 years. Sunday 7 August 2011 2.00pm - 4.00pm Nutter Thomas Dining Room St Peter’s Woodlands Grammar School 39 Partridge Street Glenelg 5045 For more information contact Karen
p. 08 7221 6202 e. kschaumloffel@spw.sa.edu.au
Items for the Newsletter need to be sent to Fr. Ron at 8298 7160 or ronpkeynes@internode.on.net by Tuesday afternoon please …….
Our Celebrant and preacher today 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. After the 8am service breakfast is served and morning tea after the 10am service. At 10 am everything in the service will be screened on the walls. Sunday School is back in action
Collect for Seventh Sunday of Easter
O God, Whose Son Jesus prayed for His disciples, and sent them into the world to proclaim the coming of Your kingdom: by Your Holy Spirit, hold the Church in unity, and keep it faithful to Your word, so that, breaking bread together, we may be one with Christ in faith and love and service, now and for ever. Amen.
TODAY’S READINGS
Acts 1: 6 –14 and 1 Peter 5 read by Mary V
GOSPEL John 10: 1– 10
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Marg P
We pray for those in need: Ron Teague, Phyllis Morecroft, Peter Little, the Swaby family, Chris Contro, Yvonne Myers, Joy Campbell, Jenny Jeffrey, Dorothy Furnival, and others known to us,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Neil Thomas
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
YEAR’S MIND—Gwenyth Rounsevell, Tony Willoughby (1994) Fr. Reg Petter (2000) Ros Hayman and John Carruthers (1998)
PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY Pentecost
Acts 2: 1—21 and 1 Corinthians 12: 1—13
GOSPEL John 20: 19—23
Fr Ron’s Notes available at http://www.anglican-belair.blogspot.com/
REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS
PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month at 36 Penno Parade North
BIBLE STUDY 10am every Wednesday at 378 Main Road Coromandal Valley
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 Barb Capon 8278 3584 and Lucinda Hale 8278 8814.
Herewith the address for Warren’s latest Chaplain’s contribution:
http://www.stjohns.sa.edu.au/news/the-copernican-revolution-of-the-self
FORTHCOMING EVENTS—
Special Note St. Barnabas. College 131st Anniversary Evening: This is to be held at St. Peter’s Cathedral at 6.00pm on 10th June, and Dr. Anstey will be the preacher. The service will be followed by a light meal in the Hall and RSVPs are required for that, on 8416 8440 or admin@sbtc.org.au.
HOLY INNOCENTS' BACK TO SCHOOL QUIZ NIGHT Saturday 2 July at 7pm in the Church $10/Adults $5/Concession BYO Supper and Drinks. Dress is school attire and prepare to be very well behaved for Quiz & Head Master, Andrew Morecroft. Book your table by writing your name on the form in the foyer
HOME GROUP at Andrew & Wendy Moorcroft's home Thursday 10 July 7.30pm. Call Wendy for details 0417 806 943
.RON-BLOG from today’s readings
We use words in Church, don’t we with not a lot of understanding what they mean.. Try ‘glorify.’ Now how does anyone do that for anyone? How do you glorify God? How did Jesus glorify God? What in the name of fortune does the word really mean? May I take the strain away from you, and offer some help?
When Jesus glorified God, it means simply that He made the Father known, almost visible, almost tangible. Not what the Father looks like, of course, but what His nature is like. In what Jesus said, in what Jesus did, He illustrated and incarnated something of the nature of God. In other words, when people saw Jesus, they caught some sight of Who God is.
Does that make sense to you? At the risk of giving the poor man conniptions, we have long said to people that one of our great mates has done similar things. ‘If you want to get a bit of a picture of Jesus, then go and talk to and watch Bishop Bruce Rosier.’ And I could tell you a lot of stories to illustrate that.
Jesus’ life and ministry made God rather more tangible, reachable, understandable by what He did and said. Most of all it showed up at the Cross, much of it by what Jesus did not do. Yell and scream and demand revenge, for instance. And in what He did – giving Himself totally to others.
And that is the challenge for those called to priesthood. To reflect the characteristics of the Father. To incarnate the Faith, making it tangible, visible, understandable. As Peter wrote in his epistle, tend the flock of God, - not for sordid gain but eagerly. Do not lord it over your charge but be examples to the flock. I must be old-fashioned or something but it is rather too rare these days to find that Biblical attitude amongst quite some of the clergy.
And just in case you think this has nothing to do with you, because priest you are not, --- you are in the same boat. Yours is also the role to glorify God, to incarnate the characteristics of the Father. To make Jesus known, visible, tangible and understandable.
You will notice that in this day and age, that may not be the most popular programme, as Bob Hawke’s words would indicate when he suggested that weak people need strong leaders..But this glimpse of reality is the most necessary, for as our culture gradually claws itself to pieces, it is going to need people of sterner stuff, with a much clearer vision of what life could be like, to glue it all together again. It is a high calling, and will become an increasingly urgent one. The further people move away from God the further they move from each other, and you are aware of the drastic outcomes of that direction!
ROSTERS
POWERPOINT ROSTER –
Today Barb Capon or Jill Hilbig
Next Sunday Trevor Tregenza or Craig Deane
READER- AND INTERCESSOR ROSTER
Next Sunday Reader Max A Intercessor Sue D-T
Sunday after Reader Araki family Intercessor Warren
SANCTUARY ROSTER
Next week Flowers Anna Kelly Brass Joan Durdin
Cleaning Group 1
BCA BOXES
A gentle reminder that May is Box collection month, and we have run out of May. Box holders are asked to bring them in for clearing. Alan and Margaret Pressley will be there to receive them, and to forward the offerings on the BCA, in support of ministry in the Bush.
Congrats and best wishes to David Hall, recently elected Warden for Holy Innocents’ Thanks for putting up your hand—and we offer our support in your new role.
Applications are invited for the position of School Chaplain at COROMANDEL VALLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL Address: 339 Main Rd, Coromandel Valley Phone: 8278 3693
23 hours per week, commencing Term 3, 2011. The position exists to offer support to students, staff and the school community. A Job and Person Specification is available from: Coromandel Valley Primary School Front Office Closing date: 5pm, Tuesday 7th June www.smg.asn.au
An opportunity to visit the Lutheran Community Sewing Group (featured in the last Parish Magazine) is open to any who would like to join Marg Pressley and Robyn Keynes on Friday 10th June. And if you knit toddlers’ beanies, that would be appreciated by the Group. Contact Marg or Robyn
St Peter’s Woodlands Grammar School formerly St Peter’s Glenelg Anglican Grammar School Reunion of past scholars, parents, staff and families of all eras You are invited to visit our school, renew acquaintances and to view the historic mementos contained in the Time Capsule opened as planned after 25 years. Sunday 7 August 2011 2.00pm - 4.00pm Nutter Thomas Dining Room St Peter’s Woodlands Grammar School 39 Partridge Street Glenelg 5045 For more information contact Karen
p. 08 7221 6202 e. kschaumloffel@spw.sa.edu.au
Items for the Newsletter need to be sent to Fr. Ron at 8298 7160 or ronpkeynes@internode.on.net by Tuesday afternoon please …….
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