Newsletter

Sunday 24th February, 2013 Second Sunday in Lent WELCOME to Holy Innocents—we hope you enjoy this time of prayer as we reflect on Scripture together and celebrate the Eucharist. Breakfast is available in the Hall after the 8 am service and morning tea after the 10 am. All are welcome. Collect for today God of our ancestors, Whose chosen servant Abraham was given faith to obey Your call and to go out into the unknown; endow Your Church with such faith that we may follow You with courage, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen Today’s Readings Lent II read by Iris D Readings: Genesis 15: 1 …..18 and Philippians 3: 17—4:1 GOSPEL Luke 13: 1—9 PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Max A We pray for those in need: Ron Teague, Peter Little, Dorothy Furnival, the Swaby family , Dianne Cordes. Tommy Ferguson, Bob Arnold, Ann Daughtry, Pat Pater, Susan Daulby, Janet Phillips, Jan and Mollie, Eddy Klose, Bonney Tomlinson, Allan Pressley (in Flinders.), Eva and Ben Forster HAPPY BIRTHDAY Anna Kelly, Nuree Kim, Raquel Williams HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY - Lois and David Hall YEAR’S MIND— Erica Carter (2003) PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY Lent III Readings Isaiah 55: 1 – 9 and 1 Corinthians 10: 1 – 13 GOSPEL Luke 13: 31 – 35 REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS - PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month at 36 Penno Parade North BIBLE STUDY 10am Wednesdays at Pressley’s THURSDAY 9.30am Eucharist 5.30pm Evening Prayer with Wendy MOTHERS’ UNION - meets third Thursdays each month at 2.00pm WALKING CHURCH First Saturday of each month at 5.00pm at Belair National Park gates near railway station bridge. Next Saturday 2nd March Friday Morning HI Tea and Coffee is on again from 8.30am. Don’t miss the chance for a yarn Lenten Studies are to be held on Luke’s Gospel. Meetings for this week are , Sunday 11.30am in Church, Tuesday 10am in foyer, and 7.30pm at the Rectory. Official lists are available in the foyer—changes will be notified each week in these pages. You are reminded of the forthcoming WORLD DAY OF PRAYER on Friday 1st March at 10.00am at Holy Innocents’ Church. We are hosts! Pancake Night The donations from the Pancake evening amounted to $86 and with the promise of a further donation we should easily make $100. Thanks to the hard work from everyone involved, it was a wonderful evening. Traditionally the proceeds from this event have gone to the ABM Lenten Appeal. Yvonne Caddy The second of our READY, SET, GO Children's Ministry Events is set for 3.30pm on 17th March. More detail will be available soon, with advertising and invites for giving out. Watch out for a donkey or two, as well. The Annual Vestry Meeting of the Parish will be held after Church on Palm Sunday 24th March,. Reports need to be in hand for printing a fortnight before that date please. 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, and other types of assistance. Call Stephanie Lloyd 8278 4260 and Lucinda Hale 8278 8814 POWERPOINT ROSTER – Next Sunday Min Araki or Ron Keynes Following week Cynthia Macintosh or Don Caddy READER AND INTERCESSOR ROSTER Next Sunday Reader John F Intercessor Ben L Sunday after Reader Paul H Intercessor Vanessa D SANCTUARY ROSTER Next Sunday Flowers No flowers Brass Bonney Tomlinso Cleaning Cleaner Here are some various activities in Lent, to enable parishioners to contribute to the work of the ABM, the Anglican agency for overseas mission. 1. Making Palm Crosses. Palm crosses are distributed on Palm Sunday. Each year a group undertakes to make crosses from palm tree leaves. It is a tricky process, though quickly learnt, or re-learnt. 2. The Lenten Envelope Appeal In this annual appeal, all parishioners are invited to contribute weekly. Your contribution can be placed in a special envelope, which will be available on the first Sunday in Lent, and may be returned with your offering on Easter Day. All of us can remember the work of the Anglican Board of Mission as a part of our Lenten discipline of prayer For more information, please contact Joan Durdin (8178 0704) Parish Directory We are looking for someone to spend the time collating the information we need to produce a revised parish directory. It is not difficult work, just some chasing up and encouraging people to get their details in. If you are interested please see Warren or Wendy. RONBLOG on today’s Readings Today’s Gospel? Conventional wisdom, in Jesus’ day, was that if you suffered an accident (and the more horrific the more the point was ’proved,’) then you were obviously a sinner of some notoriety and extent. However as in similar situations and discussions, our Lord made quite clear that such a viewpoint was quite ridiculous and totally unjust. Our Lord also made it quite clear that one of the things very important in any person’s move towards real maturity, was to take responsibility for acts and actions. I do not become mature by acting with immaturity; I do not bear fruit by accident or automatically. Maturity and discipleship emerges by one making sensible and valuable choices. Nor do I become an idiot by accident. Today’s readings, particularly in this Season of Lent, say something rather powerful to me – and a little intro may be of some use first, though. When, our son-in-law was ordained Deacon, one of the bright sparks of this Diocese – where Jeremy was ordained – preached on the difficulties of being called to the priesthood in such a tenuous time as ours. That preacher then indicated his conviction that when a century or so passes, people of that day and age will look back longingly, wishing that they had been part of this rather stressful time. They would have longed to have been part of what, to them then, would clearly be God at work in His world in away not seen for many centuries. Now, in my twilight years, I find people in congregations becoming quite unsettled because ‘what will happen to our church, Ron, when we pass away, and there is no one to follow us?’ And my answer is always the same. ‘Who knows, but God will be there and the Church will continue because the Spirit of God will ever be at work in people, and call them as He called Abraham all those millennia ago.’ The Church is not ours, but God’s. And as the Biblical record has shown since Abraham, God is always one who brings life out of death, something out of nothing, and although the experience may be a painful and difficult one, truth, love and compassion will survive, and one needs to keep one’s eyes open to see this all work out. Fear not is the constant Biblical injunction.

Newsletter

Sunday 17th February, 2013 First Sunday in Lent WELCOME to Holy Innocents—we hope you enjoy this time of prayer as we reflect on Scripture together and celebrate the Eucharist. Breakfast is available in the Hall after the 8 am service and morning tea after the 10 am. All are welcome. Collect for today O Lord, Who for our sake fasted forty days and forty nights; give us grace to use such abstinence that, our flesh being subdued to the spirit, we may ever obey Your godly will in righteousness and true holiness, to Your honour and glory, Who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God world without end. Amen Today’s Readings First Sunday in Lent read by Eric D Readings: Deuteronomy 26:1-11 and Romans 10:4—13 GOSPEL Luke 4: 1—15 PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Hal S-C We pray for those in need: Ron Teague, Peter Little, Dorothy Furnival, the Swaby family , Dianne Cordes. Tommy Ferguson, Bob Arnold, Ann Daughtry, Pat Pater, Susan Daulby, Janet Phillips, Jan and Mollie, Eddy Klose, Allan Pressley, Robyn Keynes’ sister Pam .. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mark Williams, Anthony Taylor, Ray Dixon HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY - Meg & Don Baker YEAR’S MIND— Jack Stauner, Ray Holdernesse (1993) PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY Lent II Readings: Genesis 15: 1 …..18 and Philippians 3: 17—4:1 GOSPEL Luke 13: 1—9 REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS - PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month at 36 Penno Parade North BIBLE STUDY 10am Wednesdays at Pressley’s THURSDAY 9.30am Eucharist 5.30pm Evening Prayer with Wendy MOTHERS’ UNION - meets third Thursdays each month at 2.00pm—next meeting Febru-ary 21st –Fr. Warren will celebrate the Eucharist with a Lenten focus, and a planning meeting will be held . Suggestions for speakers etc., please, - and a small plate of afternoon tea t o share. Margaret Pressley, (Group Leader) WALKING CHURCH First Saturday of each month at 5.00pm at Belair National Park gates near railway station bridge. Saturday week, 2nd March Friday Morning HI Tea and Coffee is on again from 8.30am. Don’t miss the chance for a yarn Anna Kelly is calling a meeting of people on the Sanctuary Roster for TODAY at 9.30am—all volunteers are asked to attend please. Someone lent Fr. Ron a large swag of old photos of Holy Innocents’ when the 20 year anni-versary magazine of the move to this building was published. Since then, the person who lent them has not claimed them. Please catch up with Fr. Ron if you know whose photos they are. Lenten Studies are to be held on Luke’s Gospel. Meetings for next week, Sunday 11.30am in Church, Tuesday 10am in foyer, and 7.30pm at the Rectory. Official lists are available in the foyer—changes will be noted each week in these pages. You are reminded of the forthcoming WORLD DAY OF PRAYER on Friday 1st March at 10.00am at Holy Innocents’ Church. France is the focus under the banner ‘I was a stranger and I welcomed me’ in a service prepared by French women. 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, and other types of assistance. Call Stephanie Lloyd 8278 4260 and Lucinda Hale 8278 8814 POWERPOINT ROSTER – Next Sunday Barb Capon or Trevor Tregenza Following week Min Araki or Ron Keynes READER AND INTERCESSOR ROSTER Next Sunday Reader Iris D Intercessor Max A Sunday after Reader John F Intercessor Ben L SANCTUARY ROSTER Next Sunday Flowers No flowers Brass Margaret Carruthers Cleaning Group 2 The Commissioning Service of (Public) School Chaplains is to be held at St. John’s, Coro-mandel Valley at 10 am on Sunday 24th February. All are welcome to attend and support the new Chaplains. Here are some various activities in Lent, to enable parishioners to contribute to the work of the ABM, the Anglican agency for overseas mission. 1. Making Palm Crosses. Palm crosses are distributed on Palm Sunday. Each year a group undertakes to make crosses from palm tree leaves. It is a tricky process, though quickly learnt, or re-learnt. All crosses in excess of those needed for distribution in the par-ish will be directed to the Auxiliary of the ABM in Adelaide. They will sell them to other par-ishes, the proceeds going to the ABM. In addition, we need a supply of palm fronds, in good condition. From each ‘good’ frond - clean, and not old and dry - about 30 or more crosses can be made. Help in supplying these will be welcome. 2 The Lenten Envelope Appeal In this annual appeal, all parishioners are invited to con-tribute weekly. Your contribution can be placed in a special envelope, which will be availa-ble on the first Sunday in Lent, and may be returned with your offering on Easter Day. All of us can remember the work of the Anglican Board of Mission as a part of our Lenten discipline of prayer For more information, please contact Joan Durdin (8178 0704) RONBLOG on today’s Gospel - Even when I was young, I could never see how those temptations ever constituted the slightest challenge to Jesus, or what it would matter if He gave in to these. Then I stopped being so very literal and the reality struck me. The temptations of Jesus were severe and hugely significant tests of our Lord, in His selection of the nature of His leadership. If ever you watch someone altruistically choose politics or somesuch as a career, intending to change the world, and then surrendering to the dishonesty and jiggerypokery, you will understand that enormity of the challenge. Each of the three tests represents differ-ent challenges, as Jesus sought ways of gaining a following and helping people to see what He was on about. They are also challenges to His perception of leadership, and this is some-thing so few people grasp. So let’s look at them one by one. The first test was about turning stones into bread. People then, as now, would real-ize straight away the direction in which this test was taking Jesus. In an Empire that ruled people through their stomachs, (give them bread and circuses) Jesus knew, as you do, that lots of people will surrender their whole being on the chance of getting something for nothing, but aware people know how destructive that path really is. Small wonder that Jesus rejected that path! It would be far harder to go in the direction He knew He should, but He also knew that He would lose both integrity and credibility if He chose the easy way. (Dare to note that sin so often consists in choosing the easy way rather than the true and effective way.) The second test was perhaps the most sinister. This falling down and worshipping Satan needs to be expressed in simple and straightforward terms. Jesus was challenged here to turn the truth into the lie, and the lie into the truth. Propaganda, spin and other names are given to this falsehood these days, but it remains THE LIE. Imagine the damage that would ensue had Jesus followed this path! You know the damage caused when leaders track this sort of way. The third test was to throw Himself down from the Temple – or if you like to astound people by His capacity to do miracles. Few Christians realize that Jesus refused miracle as a means of gaining a following. (He often used them as teaching tools, or signs -  - as John calls them in his Gospel.) This approach to people may titillate and lead them to ask for greater and more remarkable things. But there is small chance of miracles changing anything, and certainly not in the direction Jesus sought change in people. I know of very few other leaders who remained true to what is important. And it is hugely important to realize that just as Jesus saw the need to operate that way, so do His people of every day and age!

Newsletter

Sunday 10th February, 2013 Last Sunday after Epiphany WELCOME to Holy Innocents—we hope you enjoy this time of prayer as we reflect on Scripture together and celebrate the Eucharist. Breakfast is available in the Hall after the 8 am service and morning tea after the 10 am. All are welcome. Sunday School is back in action. Collect for today Almighty God, You have given us Your only Son to be for us both a sacrifice for sin and also an example of godly life; give us grace that we may always thankfully receive the benefits of His sacrifice, and also daily endeavour to follow the blessed steps of His most holy life; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Today’s Readings Last Sunday of Epiphany—Transfiguration —read by Vanessa Readings Exodus 34:29—35 and 2 Corinthians 3: 12—42 GOSPEL Luke 9: 26—36 (37-45) Ash Wednesday 9.30am and 7.45pm Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Warren We pray for those in need: Ron Teague, Peter Little, Dorothy Furnival, the Swaby family , Dianne Cordes. Tommy Ferguson, Bob Arnold, Ann Daughtry, Pat Pater, Susan Daulby, Janet Phillips, Jan and Mollie, Eddy Klose, Allan Pressley, Robyn Keynes’ sister Pam .. HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY - David & Barbara Corbett, Allan and Kate Jennings YEAR’S MIND— Alice Moore (2010) Alfred Barber (2003) Arleen Charlick (2008) Walter Marston (2001) Anne Bills (2009) PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY First Sunday in Lent Readings: Deuteronomy 26:1-11 and Romans 10:4—13 GOSPEL Luke 4: 1—15 REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS - PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month at 36 Penno Parade North BIBLE STUDY 10am Wednesdays at Pressley’s THURSDAY 9.30am Eucharist 5.30pm Evening Prayer with Wendy MOTHERS’ UNION - meets third Thursdays each month at 2.00pm—next meeting February 21st –Fr. Warren will celebrate the Eucharist with a Lenten focus, and a planning meeting will be held . Suggestions for speakers etc., please, - and a small plate of afternoon tea t o share. Margaret Pressley, (Group Leader) WALKING CHURCH First Saturday of each month at 5.00pm at Belair National Park gates near railway station bridge. Friday Morning HI Tea and Coffee is on again from 8.30am. Don’t miss the chance for a yarn Anna Kelly is calling a meeting of people on the Sanctuary Roster for Sunday 17th February at 9.30am—all volunteers are asked to attend please. Mary Vandepeer is planning the Shrove Tuesday Pancake evening, (13th Feb) and asks all who plan to attend to provide fillings for the pancakes that evening please. 6.00pm at the Church. Someone lent Fr. Ron a large swag of old photos of Holy Innocents’ when the 20 year anniversary magazine of the move to this building was published. Since then, the person who lent them has not claimed them. Please catch up with Fr. Ron if you know who it was. Jocelyn Deane is sorting them out just at present. Lenten Studies are to be held on Luke’s Gospel. Meetings for next week, Sunday 11.30am in Church, Tuesday 10am in foyer, and 7.30pm at the Rectory. Official lists are available in the foyer—changes will be noted each week in these pages. You are reminded of the forthcoming WORLD DAY OF PRAYER on Friday 1st March at 10.00am at Holy Innocents’ Church. We are hosts to this event. You are encouraged to invite your friends to this event. 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, and other types of assistance. Call Stephanie Lloyd 8278 4260 and Lucinda Hale 8278 8814 POWERPOINT ROSTER – Next Sunday Joy Campbell or Craig Deane Following week Barb Capon or Trevor Tregenza READER AND INTERCESSOR ROSTER Next Sunday Reader Eric D Intercessor Hal S-C Sunday after Reader Iris D Intercessor Max A SANCTUARY ROSTER Next Sunday Flowers No flowers Brass Rosemary Conlon Cleaning Cleaner GENTLE REMINDER Wendy M has been using Facebook to convey information from the parish on her page at Holy Innocents’ Anglican Parish Belair, and is obtaining increasing numbers of hits. It may be a little rude for me to report that my full notes on Sunday’s Readings are also posted on that page each week. St Barnabas’ Theological College Commencement Monday 25 February 2013, 6.30 pm – St Peter’s Cathedral Our theological college will celebrate the new academic year with its Commencement Service, This will include the presentation of prizes to several students to commemorate their success in theological studies. The Guest Preacher will be Dr Ben Myers, one of Australia’s leading young theologians. Following the evensong service, the Commencement Lecture will be held starting at 7.30pm. The title of Dr Ben Myer’s talk is God and Other Strangers: Rowan Williams and Theology in the Public Square. Parishioners are welcome to attend the Service and/or Lecture. If you have any queries please telephone the College on 8340 0411. Here are some various activities in Lent, to enable parishioners to contribute to the work of the ABM, the Anglican agency for overseas mission. 1. Making Palm Crosses.Palm crosses are distributed on Palm Sunday. Each year a group undertakes to make crosses from palm tree leaves. It is a tricky process, though quickly learnt, or re-learnt. All crosses in excess of those needed for distribution in the parish will be directed to the Auxiliary of the ABM in Adelaide. They will sell them to other parishes, the proceeds going to the ABM. In addition to some ‘makers’ of crosses, we need a supply of palm fronds, in good condition. From each ‘good’ frond - clean, and not old and dry - about 30 or more crosses can be made. Help in supplying these will be welcome. 2 The Lenten Envelope Appeal In this annual appeal, all parishioners are invited to contribute weekly. Your contribution can be placed in a special envelope, which will be available on the first Sunday in Lent, and may be returned with your offering on Easter Day. All of us can remember the work of the Anglican Board of Mission as a part of our Lenten discipline of prayer For more information, please contact Joan Durdin (8178 0704) RONBLOG on today’s Gospel - Transfiguration Many years ago, I was driving back from a rather hectic and stressed Tuesday of visits and counselling in the next valley, drained, exhausted and wondering whether it might be wise to ring up the dozen or more folk who looked forward to the Bible Study Group in that parish. It was latish afternoon, sun dropping down in the west, and time of year not all that far off harvest. The lowering sun somehow caught the ripening wheat and the ttint brought tears to my eyes. It was such a beautiful sight that I stopped the car, and got out to drink in the vision there in front of me – acres and acres of golden wheat, slowly swaying in the slight breeze. Kids these days would call that ‘awesome,’ and so it was. After ten minutes of simply looking, it so refreshed me that any idea of cancelling the Study dissipated. When we all gathered that evenoing, I mentioned my very own transfiguration, and it was a lovely surprise to have other people report their own similar experiences. A transfiguration is an ordinary situation taking on an extraordinary value, quite invigorating and encouraging and strengthening aware people. And offering a huge challenge as well. Neither of those stories are designed to get you all emotional; far from it. Rather it is simply an attempt to help see that more often than not, transfigurations are a remarkable yet constant revelation of something marvellous which emerges out of something quite unremarkably ordinary. Some people call such things as light-globe moments, eureka times, when out of the blue comes a chance at a learning curve. There is less point simply enjoying the moment than there is in moving in the direction such an experience points.

Newsletter

Sunday 3rd February, 2013 Fourth Sunday after Epiphany WELCOME to Holy Innocents—we hope you enjoy this time of prayer as we reflect on Scripture together and celebrate the Eucharist. Breakfast is available in the Hall after the 8 am service and morning tea after the 10 am. All are welcome. Sunday School is back in action today Collect for today Righteous God, You confound the world’s wisdom by giving Your blessing to the lowly and pure in heart; give us such a hunger and thirst for justice, and perseverance in striving for peace, that in all we do, the world may see the promise of Your kingdom which ahs been revealed in Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever Amen Today’s Readings Fourth Sunday after Epiphany read by David C Readings: Jeremiah 1: 4—10 and Corinthians 13: 1—13 GOSPEL Luke 4: 21—30 PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE led by Mary V We pray for those in need: Ron Teague, Peter Little, Dorothy Furnival, the Swaby family , Dianne Cordes. Tommy Ferguson, Bob Arnold, Ann Daughtry, Pat Pater, Susan Daulby, Janet Phillips, Jan and Mollie, Eddy Klose . Robyn Keynes’ sister Pam . HAPPY BIRTHDAY Kira Eve Barber HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY - Neal and Sharon Barber YEAR’S MIND— Bette Tickle (2002) Michaerl Bingham (2005) Gordon Hannaford (1994) Shirley Burkitt (2003) PREPARATION FOR NEXT SUNDAY Last Sunday of Epiphany—Transfiguration Readings Exodus 34:29—35 and 2 Corinthians 3: 12—42 GOSPEL Luke 9: 26—36 (37-45) REGULAR GROUPS AND BOOKINGS - PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month at 36 Penno Parade North BIBLE STUDY 10am Wednesdays at Pressley’s THURSDAY 9.30am Eucharist 5.30pm Evening Prayer with Wendy MOTHERS’ UNION - meets third Thursdays each month at 2.00pm—next meeting February 21st WALKING CHURCH First Saturday of each month at 5.00pm at Belair National Park gates near railway station bridge. Friday Morning HI Tea and Coffee is on again from 8.30am. Don’t miss the chance for a yarn Mary Vandepeer is planning the Shrove Tuesday event, and asks all who plan to attend to provide fillings for the pancakes that evening please. Colin Wright, the Keynes’ son-in-law, Colin Wright, Ancient History teacher at TRAC, Wagga, discovered reference to the original and encouraged his class to recreate the mosaic shown on the front page. It was discovered recently in a yard in Britain—said to be of Jesus. Well, maybe. You are reminded of the forthcoming WORLD DAY OF PRAYER on Friday 1st March at 10.00am at Holy Innocents’ Church. We are hosting the event, and all are encouraged to attend. Warren is planning Lenten Studies with tentative arrangements being for Monday mornings at the Church and Tuesday evenings at the Rectory. More closer to the time. 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, and other types of assistance. Call Stephanie Lloyd 8278 4260 and Lucinda Hale 8278 8814 POWERPOINT ROSTER – Next Sunday Ron Keynes or Barb Capon Following week Joy Campbell or Craig Deane READER AND INTERCESSOR ROSTER Next Sunday Reader Vanessa D Intercessor Warren Sunday after Reader Eric D Intercessor Hal S-C SANCTUARY ROSTER Next Sunday Flowers Noelene Carter Brass Yvonne Caddy Cleaning Group 1 ADVANCE NOTICE Parish Camp Friday 8 - Sunday 10 November 2013 at Pt Elliot Caravan Park Powered site $33/night Units $115/night, Cabins $90/night For more details refer notice board in the hall or contact Wendy Morecroft awsc@internode.on.net 0400576364 St Barnabas’ Theological College Commencement Monday 25 February 2013, 6.30 pm – St Peter’s Cathedral Our theological college will celebrate the new academic year with its Commencement Service, commencing at 6.30 pm. This will include the presentation of prizes to several students to commemorate their success in theological studies. The Guest Preacher will be Dr Ben Myers, one of Australia’s leading young theologians. Following the evensong service, the Commencement Lecture will be held starting at 7.30pm. The title of Dr Ben Myer’s talk is God and Other Strangers: Rowan Williams and Theology in the Public Square. Parishioners are welcome to attend the Service and/or Lecture. If you have any queries please telephone the College on 8340 0411. RONBLOG on today’s Epistle What an Epistle – which used to be one of the best-known passages in Scripture. Paul’s panegyric on love. This surely is one of the greatest levellers of all time. Love. What a word that carries all the beauty and ugliness in English, because it is one word only. Greek has at least three words and the one used by Paul is, so I am led to believe, one that he dredged up from past desuetude. Long out of use, Paul decided that the Divine love needed a word all of its own and here it is. Agape. . (And even this word has been abused in this State in recent years.) This Divine love has been defined as ‘love that is offered and persists not because of who the loved person is but in spite of who that person is.’ Most of us respond with love to love, but here is something several steps ahead of it. God’s sort of love, as Paul conveys it that reaches out to the unloved. What really gives the rest of us the willies is that Paul expressed the challenge for Christians to express that sort of love to others. Whilst one may say that it is better to aim for the impossible, than to aim at nothing and hit it, the scenario remains a huge challenge. Even heading in such a direction can be a huge benefit to people around us. And if you go on to think about it, there lies the direction and challenge of Epiphany for Christian people today. This is not just going the second mile, but the third and the fourth. And in a day and age so bereft of such love, the impact will be greater, will it not?