The
monthly Anglican Diocese of Bendigo Cover artwork: Wes Campbell
march 2016
issue 117
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus Luke 24: 1-3
Registrar resigns page 3
Appearing at a Royal Commission pages 4-5
The meaning of the resurrection page 8
Seasonal suggestions page 9
The Bishop writes often just concentrate on the baby and let the words wash over them.
Dear Friends, s I travel around Sunday by Sunday I experience a variety of worship and was recently at the Cathedral for a service that included the baptism of a baby and a small child. As it turned out, I knew the family from years ago when I was rector of Elmore. So, it meant the family was not unfamiliar with the sacrament of baptism and being in church.
A
Last year when I was relieving in a parish I officiated at a baptism that had been pre-arranged some weeks earlier. The young mum and her partner with a beautiful baby arrived with other family members and the baptism took place in the Sunday parish Eucharist. The two services were quite different in style, but on both occasions I found the current baptism service from An Australian Prayer Book just did not work. The service is sacramentally, theologically and symbolically correct, but when I look at the faces of those participating in the service I feel I may as well be talking gobbledegook. The service is too wordy and the language and the imagery just seem to be of another time and age. The service is now over twenty years old and interestingly I have read where the Church of England, as a result of similar feedback to their baptism service, has produced an alternative baptism service that seeks to more effectively communicate the meaning and message of baptism. However, the meaning of baptism is quite complex! Dying to sin, turning to Christ, the rejection of evil and a commitment to live as a disciple of Christ - no wonder young parents 2
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I read the other day an interesting reflection on why Christmas services continue to be well attended, but attendance at Easter services is sharply declining. In fact services that appear to be growing most at Christmas are crib services, or family Christmas services on Christmas Eve in the early evening. The writer suggested that Christmas is so much more accessible for people, whereas Easter isn’t. I feel the same about baptism services. I know the theology, but the communication of the sacrament of baptism is dense and requires a great deal of understanding about the Christian message. As clergy began to wrestle with this dilemma, some felt the only way forward pastorally was to be quite clear and firm about the commitment parents were being asked to make when they came for children to be baptised. As a bishop, over the years I have had many parents and grandparents contact me and say the clergy are making it difficult for their baby or grandchild to be baptised. But the clergy feel they are acting in good faith. Some clergy have argued in favour of children being blessed but not baptised, but this usually doesn’t satisfy the families involved. In some sort of tribal way they feel they are being short changed. And of course there are some who will argue that just as Jesus took children in his arms and blessed them so the same should be for baptism. The challenge we have is that at the heart of baptism is conversion and for many people today this is a huge hurdle. It is requiring a commitment that many feel uneasy or unsure about making. Furthermore, many young parents, although they may want the baptism of their baby, struggle to find the time to make the commitment to pre-baptism classes.
march 2016
I have outlined the challenges and there are no easy answers, but I do believe that we need to look at the current baptism service and see if there is a way of making it work more effectively for all involved: parents, family, clergy, and congregations. Blessings,
Appearing at the Royal Commission In this edition of The Spirit, you will find a very important article that I asked Bishop Ron Stone to write about his experience of appearing at the Royal Commission into Institutional Child Abuse. Thank you Bishop Ron for your courage and willingness to write this article. I encourage you to read it. Read the article pages 4-5
Spirit The
Monthly newsmagazine of the Anglican Diocese of Bendigo
Address: The Spirit, PO Box 2, Bendigo 3552 Member, Australian Religious Press Association Telephone: 03 5443 4711 General: thespirit@bendigoanglican.org.au Chair and Editor: The Revd Andrew Eaton Publishing Editor: Sarah Crutch Consultant: The Revd Dr Charles Sherlock The Spirit is published in the first week of the month (excluding January). Advertising rates are available from the Editor. All advertisements are accepted at the Editor’s discretion; acceptance does not imply endorsement of the product or service. Contributions are welcome, and will be edited. Email contributions are preferred. Anonymous articles will not be considered for publication. Photographs should be sent in digital form to the general email address above. Full size, ‘raw’ files are necessary. Physical photos are normally not returned. The Anglican Diocese of Bendigo and the Editor are not responsible for opinions expressed by contributors, nor do these necessarily reflect the policy of the diocese. Contributions for the next issue must be submitted by Friday 25 March.
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Community Service Award for Inglewood parishioner Sue Brown
V
al Johns from the Parish of Inglewood was honoured at this years’ Australia Day Awards with a Community Service Award from the Loddon Shire.
Resigned: Anne Baker formally finished in the Registry Office in February
Anne Baker finishes as Registrar Sarah Crutch
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nne Baker has resigned her position as Registrar/General Manager of the Diocese of Bendigo, formally finishing in the role at the end of February. After five years in the position, Anne felt a need to spend more time with her family, with maintaining an appropriate work-life balance becoming difficult with the high level of dedication and work required in managing the business of the diocese. Anne initially came to work for the diocese in 2009 to formally set up and manage the two diocesan welfare agencies, Bencourt Care and New Horizons Welfare Service. She was appointed Registrar/General Manager in March 2011.
of matters that had been long neglected,” he said. Significant achievements during Anne’s time as Registrar include the building of a new Eddington Cottage, the sale of All Saints’ Old Cathedral, the sale of surplus church properties, the establishment of the Bendigo Anglican Diocesan Corporation and the winding up of the Diocesan Development Fund. “More importantly Anne has brought to the role a sense of calling,” Bishop Andrew added.
Acknowledged: Val Johns pictured with her Community Service Award on Australia Day The award is in recognition of Val’s long service in a range roles in many community organisations in Inglewood including:
In receiving her resignation, Bishop Andrew acknowledged the determination Anne brought to the Registrar’s role.
“This has not just been a job, but Anne has been driven by a deep desire to make a difference to the Church in the Diocese of Bendigo for the Glory of God.”
• The Goldfields Choir
“Anne very quickly brought to the role a strategic focus, a very professional understanding of how the diocesan finances should be managed and a determination to address a range
Anne will continue to serve the diocese as Chair of the Diocesan Finance and Investment Committee and will be available for specific diocesan project work.
• RSL Auxiliary
• Inglewood Mothers’
Primary Club
School
• Inglewood Brass Band • Inglewood Op Shop
Ambulance
Auxilairy
• Ladies Guild of St Augustine’s Inglewood • Church organist and organist for World Day of Prayer services Val has worked tirelessly for her community and always carries a positive attitude with whatever she does. Val exemplifies community spirit and is a worthy recipient of the 2016 Inglewood Community Service Award.
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Appearing at a Royal Commission
as told by Bishop Ron Stone
I
have been asked to write this article about my being called to give evidence at the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse in the Church of England Boys’ Society (CEBS) held in Hobart last month, and involving the dioceses of Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Tasmania.
I have hesitated in writing this, for I do not want anything written here to detract from the bravery of the survivors, who had to re-live and reveal their heartbreaking stories of abuse. Neither do I want to detract from the courage of those witnesses who refused to remain silent when the leadership of the Church would not hear, nor do I wish to grandstand in light of colleagues who have had to face scrutiny for acting as they did or for failing to act. Just seven days before Christmas officers of the Royal Commission advised me that I was required to give evidence regarding any knowledge I had of a particular priest who had been involved in CEBS, where abuse had occurred in the 1970s, and of any actions I had taken with regard to this priest during my time as Assistant Bishop of Tasmania between 19921996. I was required to make a statement by the 8th January and I duly prepared a statement of 3800 words, plus attachments. The Commission
There was an expectation that I would be giving evidence on the first day of the hearing; however, after three nervous days, my evidence commenced on Friday 29 January 2016. My evidence did not conclude that day but remained part-heard when the Commission adjourned early for the weekend meaning that I would have to return the following Monday. As I already had commitments back home, I was required to fly home, lead worship on the Sunday, and then return to Hobart that night to
There can be no excuse for how the cries of the survivors, and those who spoke up for them went unheeded... considered my statement and advised me that I would be required to attend the hearing and be cross-examined.
resume giving evidence on Monday 1 February 2016. The entire hearing lasted 7 days.
The Commission also advised me that I should have legal representation independent of the Diocese of Tasmania to ensure there was no conflict of interest. Subsequently the Commission provided me with a Senior Counsel, specialising in Criminal Law; and a Criminal Lawyer assisted by an Associate. I was provided with an excellent team who gave me help with finalising my statement, with the Senior Counsel spending two hours with me preparing me for crossexamination.
The hearing was conducted in a small court room in the Hobart Federal Court with two Commissioners on the bench, Justice Jennifer Coates and Mr Robert Atkinson. A row of officers of the Commission sat below them, recording proceedings in Hansard, providing the witnesses with documents in electronic form and facilitating the live feed over the internet. At the bar table were seated the various counsel for survivors, witnesses and the dioceses and behind them a public gallery that was
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always at capacity. Senior Counsel for Commission, Naomi Sharp, an extremely talented woman with an incisive mind and an appropriately aggressive approach, played a pivotal role in coordinating the proceedings and conducted the majority of the questioning, including that of myself. The focus of my evidence was the steps I had taken when I had been advised of abuse – of my interviews and pastoral care of victims; how I used the authority I had been given to immediately terminate the ministry of the abuser, and of my statement to, and cooperation with, Tasmania Police in bringing the priest to justice and imprisonment. I was so grateful for the prayers of family, parishioners and friends. I had asked them to pray that I might remain focused and calm. (I thank you). The Commission provided for Lisbeth to be with me as a support person, which meant ever so much, although the crossexamination was difficult for her to sit through. My time in the witness box was a total of two and a half hours over two days separated by a weekend. The experience was quite draining, particularly in recalling events that took place twenty-two years earlier. It took me quite a long time to process in my mind the experience of the Royal Commission, and nights of disturbed sleep. Telephone conversations with two independent retired bishops, by way of de-briefing, has greatly helped me. There can be no excuse for how the cries of the survivors, and those who
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Evidence: Bishop Ron Stone providing evidence to the Royal Commission in Hobart in January. Photo: The Mercury spoke up for them went unheeded. There can be no excuse given for those clergy who abused the survivors and betrayed a sacred call from God. The truth is that there has been, in Jesus’ words, “Wolves amongst the shepherds” and they had gone about
were no guidelines in place and this contributed to the making of mistakes, although that is no excuse. Thankfully clear guidelines are now in place. In the past, judgements were made about levels of sexual abuse, and what constituted lesser
There can be no excuse given for those clergy who abused the survivors and betrayed a sacred call from God... their wickedness unidentified, or our Church has been slow to act. As an Anglican, and as a bishop, I feel deeply ashamed about what I have heard of what the survivors have been through, and of how they have been treated…and I am deeply sorry. In the time frame of the many cases heard at the Commission there
or more serious abuse. Let it be clear today that every act of sexual abuse is serious. My legal representatives have reviewed and approved this article, which is necessary, as there is still a further stage to be undertaken and that is to be my responding to submissions from the Senior Counsel
to the Commission regarding my evidence. They have also suggested I include reference to an incident that happened on the plane on my return to Hobart for the second day of giving evidence. I was sitting in my seat, just prior to take-off, when a man seated behind me, touched me on the arm, and said “Bishop Stone! You are an honest man. You are a good man.” When I said, “Thank you, but do I know you?” He said “No, but I am (giving his name) one of the many survivors who have been giving evidence.” For most people, giving evidence at a Royal Commission is unpleasant and stressful, and to receive acknowledgement from a survivor made it ever so worthwhile and a positive experience. The work of the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse is of the greatest importance and I would always be willing to support its work.
The Anglican Diocese of Bendigo expects the highest standards of professional service from its clergy and lay ministers.
If you have a complaint please call 1800 135 246 (free call) Your matter will be handled independently by the Office of Professional Standards. If this article has caused you distress, please seek help and call Lifeline on 13 11 14. 5
Around the Diocese
Ministry students complete Trinity Certificate
Congratulations to Ian Fisher (Quambatook), Janice Dear (Inglewood), Christine King (Castlemaine), Susan Turner (Heathcote) and Robyn Hosking (Quambatook) who recently completed the Trinity Certificate in Theology and Ministry, a two year program led by Canon Heather Marten and The Revd Sharon Valentino. The Trinity Certificate covers topics including Old Testament, New Testament, Church History, Theology, Ministry and Service with some additional sessions on Worship, Prayer and Spirituality. It aims to help Christian people think through their faith and its implications for life and worship and to become more confident as followers of Christ. The course comes to us through Trinity College Theological School in Melbourne. - Heather Marten
Completed: Ian Fisher, Janice Dear and Christine King
Scrumptious pancakes served up in St Arnaud Shrove Tuesday community pancake night was a night of fellowship, conversations and good food.
The preparations went well with parishioners volunteering to assist in setting up the hall and preparing the toppings and pancake mix in the days beforehand, while on Tuesday night an enthusiastic bunch arrived to set up, welcome visitors and cook and serve delicious pancakes to our many guests. At the end of the evening all feedback was very positive with people saying they had been well fed with delicious savoury and sweet pancakes. The happy chatter during the evening indicated that those present enjoyed the hospitality of all who had worked willingly to host the evening. - Heather Blackman
Delicious: Guests enjoy the pancake night served by the parish
Prayer vigil for refugees and asylum seekers
On Thursday 4 February members of the Central Highlands Cluster came together in Woodend to pray for refugees and asylum seekers affected by the recent High Court decision to uphold laws putting vulnerable people in our communities at risk of being deported to offshore detention. “It’s important for us to acknowledge that there is no easy solution to this, but that as people of the gospel, we have a calling to care for those in need – no matter what our political views are,” the Revd Melissa Clark said. “We must pray for a solution that leads to peace and not further harm”. There will be an ecumenical event on Palm Sunday at 2:00pm at the rotunda in High Street Woodend, supporting refugees and asylum seekers. All are welcome.
Let them stay: Candles were lit as part of the prayer vigil
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- Melissa Clark
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Around the Parishes
Castlemaine welcomes new ministry
Bishop Andrew expressed his delight and relief in inducting the Revd Anne McKenna as the new rector of Castlemaine on Tuesday 1 March after a nearly two year interregnum. The full church included a vibrant attendance of parishioners, clergy and visitors from the Ballarat Diocese. The choir was in fine voice, lifting the service to transcendent heights during the singing of an anthem between the readings. Danni Moore weclomed Anne using vivid imagery to paint a picture of the Parish of Castlemaine as a collection of candles of varying heights, strength and colour, but each sharing the light of Christ with the world. Anne, sporting a broad Irish grin throughout much of the service, thanked the Bishop for inviting her to the position, and gave voice to her enthusiasm for sharing the gospel. - Andrew Eaton
Rector of Castlemaine: Anne McKenna
Harvest Thanksgiving celebrated in Swan Hill
What a beautiful display we achieved this year for our Harvest Thanksgiving Service on 31 January. The whole parish gathered to worship at Christ Church Swan Hill, and we had a grand assortment of fruit, vegetables, grain, eggs, jams and preserves. The perishables were put on the trading table after the service and donations with a longer shelf life went to St Luke’s Anglicare. At the end of the service the schoolies, children and a teacher, brought their backpacks up for a blessing with a beautiful prayer written by Wendy Claire Barrie, Director of Children, Youth & Family Ministries at St Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in New York City.
Gifts: The abundance of produce at the Harvest Thanksgiving
- Jan Harper
Baptism in the Murray River
In early February on a sunny morning more than fifty family, friends and parishioners met at Runciman Road sand bar on the Murray River near Swan Hill to take part in a service of holy baptism in morning prayer for Billy Lowe. This was the second service at the sandbar for the Lowe family after Billy’s older brother Jack was also baptised there in 2014. The service began on the riverbank and then the godparents, along with Billy’s parents and Canon Heather, entered the water for the baptism. The service concluded back on the sandbar, after which all those present celebrated with a cake supplied by the Mothers’ Union at Swan Hill. - Glenis Wharton River baptism: Heather Blackman baptises Billy Lowe
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SIDA accounts to replace DDF
W
hen the diocese was looking for a replacement product for the DDF it was natural for us to talk with Community Sector Banking. We were impressed by their Social Investment Deposit Account (SIDA) product. Features of SIDA: • This is an at call, interest bearing account which operates like any other bank account. • You can access the account online or through any branch of the Bendigo Bank. • You earn a competitive market interest rate and your money is safe with a highly regarded banking institution. • Community Sector Banking sets aside (via a grant process) 50% of the net profit they make on this account for the diocese. • You can choose to donate 0%, 50% or 100% of the interest earned on your account to the Anglican Diocese of Bendigo which goes towards fulfilling your church’s mission. The diocese and a number of parishes are already using the SIDA product for funds that were previously held by them in the DDF. The reason we are telling you this is that SIDA is available to anyone. Parishioners and the general public who would like to support the diocese can open a SIDA account and share half (or all) of the interest earned on the account with the diocese. They can also choose to keep all the interest earned and the diocese will still benefit from a 50% share of the banks net profit from this product. To open an account, a specific Diocese SIDA form with our specific reference number is required. If you have any questions, would like more information or a copy of the account opening form, then please contact the Registry office.
The meaning of the resurrection Dorothy Lee, Trinity College Theological School
T
he raising of Jesus from the dead signifies God’s re-creation of the world and parallels God’s original creation of the world and the bringing forth of created light (Gen 1:3). The first word in God’s new creation is Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh ( Jn 1:14), the Light of the world, who brings light out of darkness ( Jn 8:12). Just as God made the world by the creative word, so God will re-make it through the divinely-human Word. The resurrection is the first indication of God’s re-creation for all who have faith in Christ (2 Cor 5:17). The resurrection therefore speaks not just of spiritual realities but also of earthly ones. It shows the importance of the body and material reality.
At the same time, the resurrection signifies God’s triumph over sin and death. In the natural world, death has the last word on human life: the final ‘no’ on creation. But the resurrection transforms the natural order, showing that death does not have the last word. God has the last word, a word that resounds with a triumphant ‘yes’ to all creation in the face of sin, suffering and death (Rom 8:19-23).
The resurrection is not only the promise of God’s future. It also transforms the present because it is as much about living in hope in the here-and-now Christians believe that Jesus was raised from the dead, body and soul: not revived as a resuscitated corpse but raised to new life in a transformed body, a ‘spiritual body’, no longer subject to the limitations of space and time (1 Cor 15:42-49). In affirming the body, the resurrection affirms the whole of creation. In his rising from the dead, Christ is the ‘firstborn of all creation’ (Col 1:15). People often assume Christians have no time for the body or material reality, and are only concerned with ‘saving souls’. But the resurrection challenges that view. Matter matters to God who created it and will re-create it. The resurrection implies, therefore, that issues of physical health, ecology, politics and community are as much a part of the gospel as spirituality. That is the promise of the resurrection, the promise of transformation of all that God has made, all that makes created life possible and meaningful.
Because of the resurrection, death now becomes a penultimate reality, second-last but not final. It is true that it remains difficult and painful for Christians. But there is no room for despair with Christ risen from the dead. Our hope is in God’s triumphant ‘yes’ in the resurrection, beyond all evil, sin and death. The resurrection is not only the promise of God’s future. It also transforms the present because it is as much about living in hope in the hereand-now (Jn 11:25-27), knowing that God will remain faithful in life and in death. It is about living by faith in God now: a covenant God whose word and promise in Jesus Christ are true. The resurrection commissions the Church to proclaim the good news in word and deed. It is a call to mission and to action, working for God’s new world in love of others, in cherishing the earth, and in the struggle for justice, reconciliation and peace.
Community Sector Banking ABN 88 098 858 765 (Australian Financial Services authorised representative No. 265317 and Australian Credit authorised representative No. 379667) is a franchisee of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited ABN 11 068 049 178, AFSL and Australian Credit Licence No. 237879. Any information provided is of a general nature only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this information, you should consider its appropriateness to your personal circumstances. You should read the applicable Disclosure Documents available online at communitysectorbanking.com.au before making any decision.
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s n o i t s e l sugg
a n o s a e S
EAS ER
Celebrating the Easter Vigil
“Christ yesterday and today, the beginning and the end, Alpha and Omega, all time belongs to him and all ages, to him be glory and power through every age for ever. Amen.” So says the priest or deacon on Holy Saturday, standing in the light of the Easter fire outside the church after last light, tracing the cross on the Paschal Candle to mark the conclusion of the Great three days, and the beginning of the Easter celebration.
For many, the Easter Vigil is an unknown. We are conditioned to celebrate Easter on Sunday morning, inviting families to join us at a safe hour after all the eggs have been hunted for and found. Aside from extra emphasis of joy and celebration, the Sunday morning service is fairly straightforward. If it doesn’t already do so, perhaps your parish might rediscover the Easter Vigil this year. St Augustine called the Easter Vigil the Mother of all Holy Vigils, perhaps
because the Vigil carries its own unique rhythm and symbolism. We move from outside to inside, from darkness to light. We journey through scripture, from Genesis through Exodus, the Prophets and finally John’s Gospel. Perhaps it’s the transitions we go through in that one service, that so well sum up the transitions we experience across our faith journey, and why to my mind it is without fail the most moving and powerful service of the church’s year.
The Basic Structure: 1. SERVICE OF LIGHT The Blessing of the New Fire - there is a real solidarity as folk gather around the new fire, talking in hushed tones waiting for what is to come. The Preparation and Lighting of the Easter Candle - where the words above are said as the cross is traced on the candle and nails driven into the wax in cruciform pattern. The Christ candle is lit, and we light our candles from it, the light of Christ symbolically passed on to each person there. We Process into the darkened church following the deacon who sings “The Light of Christ” three times, and each time we respond “Thanks be to God”. Once in our places in the church, accompanied by candlelight, The Exsultet, the great hymn of the church, is sung. “Rejoice, Heavenly Powers! Sing, choirs of angels! Exult, all creation around God’s throne! Jesus Christ, our King, is risen! Sound the trumpet of salvation!”. The Exsultet is poetic, theological and spiritual, and epitomizes the theological underpinnings of the service.
3. INITIATION Then proceeds either the baptism of any candidates, or we re-affirm our baptismal vows.
2. LITURGY OF THE WORD Now seated, we hear the story of Salvation History read, with anywhere from four to twelve readings from the Old Testament, each paired with a psalm as a response, and a prayer. Once concluded, we sing the Gloria in Excelsis, the church bells are rung and the lights turned on. The Easter Gospel bringing the Good News of Christ’s bursting forth from the tomb and victory over death is read.
4. LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST The liturgy culminates with the eucharist, a calling of the whole church to feast with the Lord at the table he has prepared for us through his death and resurrection. The service concludes, and if local custom allows, refreshments are shared to celebrate more fully the joy we feel having taken part in the Easter Vigil.
5. CONCLUSION If you haven’t undertaken a Vigil Service in your parish recently, I heartily encourage you to take the risk. Advertise it as entering into the mystery of the resurrection and an opportunity to embrace the fullness of the church’s tradition. And trust the liturgy. Trust the words handed on to us from generation to generation. This is one service in the church’s year where we do not have to re-invent the wheel.
RESOURCES • Anglican Church of Australia’s webpage: www.anglican.org.au. Click ‘Liturgical Resources’. • Church of England’s Common Worship: www.churchofengland.org/ media/41157/tseasterlit.pdf • For a sung setting of the Exsultet email thespirit@bendigoanglican.org.au
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Change a life. Donate now.
“
Social inclusion is about breaking down barriers and giving people the opportunity to lead fulfilled lives.
“
– Bishop Andrew Curnow AM
Donate to St Luke’s a division of Anglicare Victoria
Donate online www.stlukes.org.au Albury • Bendigo • Castlemaine Deniliquin • Echuca • Kyneton Maryborough • Swan Hill
Attendees: Joan Blackman, Ruth Murphy, Bishop Andrew, Paul Daniels, Suzannah Daniels, John Roundhill, Ian Howarth and Heather Blackman
Life abounds at Trinity Conference Ian Howarth
A
n Anglican Conference with the theme Life in Abundance was held at Trinity College, Melbourne from 10-13 February. The event drew together Anglicans and others from across Australia and from overseas. It was a great few days of listening to some of our nation’s most profound theologians and educators, as well as experiencing practical workshops. There were 21 different workshops that were developed around The Five Marks of Mission.
Safe Church Awareness Workshop Saturday 18 June 2016 Holy Trinity, Flora Hill 14 Keck Street, Flora Hill, VIC 3550 9.30am - 4.00pm Please arrive by 9.15am to sign in $30 per person BYO lunch RSVP Bookings close 16 June Pre-registration is required Places are limited Registration reception@bendigoanglican.org.au or 5443 4711 Enquiries Contact Heather Marten on (03) 5443 4711 or mdo@bendigoanglican.org.au
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One of the workshops I went to included Learning to live together for mission which explored ideas and strategies for deeper learning as a catalyst for mission. The other was Radical Discipleship, which focused on evangelism out of a deep realisation of the context we live in, both personally and in the community. What we proclaim has to scratch where people are itching, and particularly of the need to resolve shame and loss in people’s lives with the purpose and power of the Gospel of Christ.
The Revd Canon Professor Dorothy Lee led the Bible studies that very much complemented the keynote addresses, emphasising that mission has a goal towards worship of the one true God, of identifying the lost and recognising God’s seeking of them and of our call to go and live out authentic discipleship. The worship at the conference was inspiring and the commissioning that concluded the conference summed up everything:
Go in strong and growing faith. Trust in the tenderness of Christ to heal a bruised and broken world…Go in eager and refreshing hope. Work with Christ risen from the dead, to fulfil the promise of a new creation….Go in costly and courageous love. Proclaim the power of Christ to cleanse a defiled and disfigured world…Go in peace, to treasure and to tend the world God made and loves.
Keynote speaker Bishop Stephen Pickard centred his addresses on Dangerous ideas: Why private religion is bad news for the Good News; Wicked Problems: The Ecology of the praise of God and Great Mysteries: Evangelism and Mission for the Slow Church. This focused on recovering the pace of God, of seeking to know what we are doing and how to best go about mission with God.
It refreshed, renewed, sparked ideas, reunited distant friends and reminded that God indeed provides ‘Life in Abundance’.
march 2016
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clergycontemplations
Upcoming Events Mothers’ Union Lady Day Wednesday 16 March Service at 11am with BYO lunch Holy Trinity Flora Hill Guest speaker: Christine Brain Enquiries: Barry Rainsford 5448 3912 Gail Brabazon 0430 761 574
Exploring Easter exhibition Tatura Anglican Church 22 - 26 March, 10.00am - 6.30pm Phone: 5824 1170 St John’s Malmsbury 150th Saturday 26 March Full day program of events 10am til late Easter Vigil at 7.30pm Contact: Ian Howarth 0437 655 702
The Diocese of Bendigo expects the highest standards of professional service from its Clergy and Lay Ministers.
IF YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT Please call (free)
1800 135 246
A phone call to the above number will mean that your complaint will be handled by the Director of Professional Standards. The Diocese is a full participant in the Victorian Anglican Provincial Abuse and Harassment Protocol. This is an independent, objective procedure adopted by the Diocese of Bendigo.
Sharon Valentino | Parish of Tongla-Stanhope
My father was a wandering Australian...
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e tend to forget the paths and lessons behind us as we gather the good things of the present and build a future. We can forget what it took to get to this place, that God sustained us through the hard days and long years, and the good ones. We can forget the moments when we did not survive by our wits, ingenuity or perseverance, but by the love of God and the encouragement the Lord sent our way. When we forget, we begin to tell our story to ourselves and others in a different way. It’s true, but it’s trimmed. I have a print on my wall, portion of the Creation of Adam by Michaelangelo, which my daughter brought home for me from Italy. It truly depicts the original...but only in part, two hands touching. The original shows a complete Adam, reclining on a cloud, and God surrounded by the heavenly host, reaching out as he creates this human. It isn’t in a frame, it’s on a ceiling, amidst many other scenes from scripture. And it isn’t in an art gallery, it’s in the Sistine Chapel in Rome. Although it is a magnificent tourism site, it’s in the first place a chapel. Communion is celebrated there, baptisms and other church gatherings take place there. It’s a place to
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future as God’s people, in a land of milk and honey.” The people of God brought their best and first produce as an offering in worship, remembering that all they had came from God and the earth itself was the Lord’s. They were tenants and stewards - not masters of their own destiny. For sure they had and did labour to build a prosperous
It’s important to recall and tell our story. To remember from where we have come worship the God of the Bible, for God’s people to gather with Christ. My print only alludes to this larger theological story.
Jeff Westbrook
Print: ‘Creation of Adam’
The Israelites were encouraged to remember their whole story, especially at annual events: some of that is recorded in the scriptures. This Sistine Chapel account is but part of the story of God’s interaction with the whole of creation.
society, but they knew that they were managing divine resources. Having moved many times across our lives, my children may well say “My parents were wandering Australians...” It’s important to recall and tell our story. To remember from where we have come.
Deuteronomy 26, which we read in Lent, relates the offering of first fruits, a celebration in which the Israelites were to recount their history, saying:
Let us also remember who brought us to this place and leads us on. Let us give honour and credit to the Lord who created us, saved us, provides for us and is with us still. God has not been stingy, but has given us Australians “a land of milk and honey”.
“My father was a wandering Aramean who went to Egypt with his family and became a great nation. They were enslaved, but the Lord heard our cries and rescued us, and gave us a new
As we walk through Lent, take time to remember, look at the big picture, the whole picture. Be thankful and grateful, and give your best and first to the Lord. 11
Where in the world...
is this church ?
If you can name the church and where it’s located, you could be our monthly winner! Send your entries in to the thespirit@bendigoanglican.org. au or post to The Spirit at PO Box 2, Bendigo, VIC , 3552. Last month featured St John’s Dunolly. The winner was Hartley Davey from the Parish of Maryborough-Avoca.
Castlemaine welcomes Anne McKenna Read more - page 7 After a long two year vacancy, the parish of Castlemaine were overjoyed to welcome their new rector, Anne McKenna on Tuesday 1 March. Anne comes to the Diocese of Bendigo after serving seven years in the Parish of Stawell in the Diocese of Ballarat. Anne’s wealth of experience, along with her jovial Irish nature, is sure to bring an abundance of joy to the parish and people of Castlemaine.
what’s on events calendar
MU Lady Day 16 March, 11.00 am at Flora Hill Service of Oils Monday 21 March, 11.00am, Tatura Exploring Easter 22 - 26 March, Tatura St John’s Malmsbury 150th Saturday 26 March Easter Day Sunday 27 March Clergy Conference 11 - 13 April, Swan Hill Safe Church Awareness Workshop Saturday 7 May, Echuca Got an event coming up? Send the details to thespirit@bendigoanglican.org.au
Caring at a time of need
151 McCrae Street Bendigo 12 Victoria Street Eaglehawk
P. 5441 5577
www.williamfarmer.com.au
A tradition that continues...
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Spirit The
march 2016
www.bendigoanglican.org.au