The
monthly Anglican Diocese of Bendigo
february 2016
issue 116
Confirmed: Celeste Bird, Andrew and Sarah Crutch, Bishop Andrew, Angus, Shannon and Damon Coates, Jess Bird, Erin Tuineau
The spirit at work in the Parish of Charlton-Donald Erin Tuineau
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ishop Andrew confirmed seven people from the Parish of Charlton-Donald at St Martin’s Charlton, with over 50 people attending the service on Sunday, 6 December 2015.
Bishop Andrew gave a very insightful sermon on what it means to be Anglican. He used the Charlton chair, that still has the flood marks on it, to highlight the ‘four legs’ of Anglicanism, being: Scripture, Tradition, Reason and Experience. Bishop Andrew also spoke about how confirmation is the time when we ask the
New ministry for Central Highlands page 3
Holy Spirit to be with individuals on their faith journey. Each of the candidates received a crafted wooden holding cross when presented with their confirmation certificate from Bishop Andrew. A wonderful lunch was shared by all after the service, and a beautiful confirmation cake was made and enjoyed to mark this special occasion. It ended up being a great day where faith, fellowship, and food were in abundance. Right: The beautifully decorated confirmation cake shared by the congregation at the parish lunch.
Music students enjoy pipe organ page 4
Final items from All Saints donated page 9
Clergy contemplations by Steve Weickhardt page 11
The Bishop writes I think in recent years much of what other countries would see as the attributes of a national day has been transferred into Anzac Day and particularly in the lead up to the centenary of Anzac Day last year. However, I am not sure I want to make Anzac Day our national day either.
Dear Friends,
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elcome to The Spirit for 2016. I am writing this just after Australia Day and it has caused me to reflect on what it means. Every town, city and district seems to have a flag raising ceremony accompanied by a breakfast or BBQ and an ‘Australia Day Ambassador’ as speaker.
The day is marked by races at Hanging Rock, skiing at Bridgewater, tennis at Charlton and announcements by local government of ‘Citizens of the Year’. The supermarkets are full of Australia Day souvenirs, sadly all made in China. Many of the speeches make a point of what a great nation we are, the freedoms we enjoy and what a long way we have come as a modern contemporary nation over the past nearly 230 years. All of this is true, but Australia Day marks the landing of the first fleet at Port Jackson, the beginning of white settlement in this land.
Indigenous Australians have great difficulty in celebrating our national day because by its very definition it excludes them. Among our Indigenous peoples Australia Day is known as ‘Invasion Day’. To them we too easily forget they have been here for 40,000 years, which all seems to be ignored by our current National Day. I agree with them and I have to say I increasingly find Australia Day irrelevant. This is not to say that there is much about this country I am not proud of. On the contrary, I want to affirm the democratic values of this nation and all that has been achieved by our pioneers. But in the end I think we genuinely struggle to find a national day that is inclusive of our nation in 2016. 2
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Australian writer Tim Winton, in his current book Island Home, (Penguin, 2015) has some strong words about Anzac Day:
The recent recommissioning and deliberate sacralisation of the Gallipoli myth is telling, because it suggests a spiritual vacuum, a palpable absence at our core, as if deep down, ordinary folks want to submit to something grand and sublime. These are not easy things to say. Several members of my family were in the first AIF. My grandmother’s brother died like a good Lighthorseman, watering the nags, shot dead by a Turkish airman. But I don’t feel enlarged or enlightened by his death. When I hold his bloodstained wallet with respect and awe I don’t get a sacramental, nationalistic charge – all I feel is tragedy and blind waste. I think of a boy’s life squandered for jingoistic nonsense. I think of his sister who mourned him for more than seventy years. (p220-221)
I want to argue for a new national day which does bring together the people of this land and our varied experience and history. Until we can do that we will struggle to define what the basis of this nation really is, spiritually, politically and socially. Australia is an amazing, in fact a remarkable country, but we need a national day that unites and brings us together to celebrate our past and lay down the values for our future. Blessings,
The Spirit There have been some changes to The Spirit Committee and Editorial: Chair of the Diocesan Communications Committee and Editor of The Spirit: The Revd Andrew Eaton Publishing Editor: Sarah Crutch Consultant to the Committee: The Revd Dr Charles Sherlock Members of the Committee: The Bishop, The Revd Gordon Lingard
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Monthly newsmagazine of the Anglican Diocese of Bendigo
I agree with him. This is not to denigrate our history since white settlement, but it is about recognising more adequately the people who lived here for 40,000 years beforehand. It is not trying to belittle Anzac Day in the history of this nation, but to say it is not the basis for our national day.
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 Friday19 February.
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As Winton implies in strong and uncomfortable words, it made me realise that Anzac Day is not our national day either. Winton feels that in secular Australia we are having great difficulty in identifying a day that is sacred and can draw us together as a nation; a day that brings together, into a shared identity that can be celebrated, our indigenous peoples and the incredible diversity of people who make up this nation and now call Australia home.
Clergy moves and appointments
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here has been a number of clergy moves and appointments as the new year commences.
The Rev’d Neil Fitzgerald commenced as an Ordained Local Minister in the Central Highlands Cluster (the parishes of Kyneton and Woodend), following his ordination in November. The Rev’d Melissa Clark has commenced her ministry as Assistant Curate in Central Highlands Cluster based in the Parish of Woodend.
The Rev’d Don Bellamy was appointed Rector of Maldon and will be inducted on Thursday 7 April. The Rev’d Trevor Bell and his family have moved from Mooroopna to Bendigo for Trevor to work as an Associate Priest in the Parish of South East Bendigo.
Welcomed: Bishop Andrew with Neil Fitzgerald and Melissa Clark
Turning-point for Central Highlands Cluster
The Rev’d Glenis Traill will provide locum ministry to the people of the Parish of Mooroopna for 2016.
Charles Sherlock
“A
truly happy occasion,” was how one long-term parishioner described the service welcoming the Revds Melissa Clark and Neil Fitzgerald at St Mary’s Woodend on Monday 25 January which was followed by an Australia Day eve barbeque.
Not only was it a turning-point in the life of our two new deacons but also for the recently formed Central Highlands Cluster, bringing together the parishes of Kyneton/ Malmsbury and Woodend/Trentham, whose representatives took part in handing over symbols of ministry. ‘Turning around’ was the appropriate theme of the sermon, preached by the Revd Dr Charles Sherlock on the feast of the Conversion of Paul. He went on to point out that Paul was ‘turned around’ from seeking to limit God’s truth and love to the people of Israel, to proclaiming it right across the world. Neil’s and Melissa’s call to be deacons was like Paul’s, in that they too are ambassadors for Christ, sharing God’s love and truth in the communities in which they will minister.
Bishop Andrew reminded them that they embodied the boundarycrossing to which God’s people are called. The packed church responded with warm applause. The Central Highlands ministry team consists of:
Cluster
• The Revd Ian Howarth (Rector of Kyneton/Malmsbury and Team Leader) • The Revd Melissa Clark, a stipendiary deacon, serving both Woodend and Trentham and living in Woodend • The Revd Neil Fitzgerald, an ordained local minister also based in Woodend • The Revd Dr Charles Sherlock, an honorary associate based in Trentham.
The Rev’d Malcolm Thomas is assisting in the Parish of MaryboroughAvoca as an Associate Priest The Rev’d George Hemmings was made Rector of the Parish of Echuca following the recommendations of the parish council. The Rev’d Anne McKenna has been appointed to the Parish of Castlemaine following a long vacancy. Anne is currently the Rector of Stawell in the Diocese of Ballarat, a Canon of Ballarat Cathedral and a member of Bishop-in-Council. Anne has been in charge of the Parish of Stawell for nearly 7 years, firstly as a deacon and more latterly as Priest-in-Charge and then Rector. Anne brings to the role a wealth of experience having formerly worked for the Australian Federal Police and also training as a nurse. She grew up in Ireland and married there before moving to Australia. Her husband, who is deceased, was ordained in the Church of Ireland and taught at St Mark’s Canberra for many years. Her induction will be on Tuesday, 1 March at 7.30pm at Castlemaine. 3
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Visit: St Arnaud music students play the pipe organ in Christ Church
St Arnaud music students explore Old Cathedral’s pipe organ Heather Blackman
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he historic pipe organ in Christ Church Old Cathedral, St Arnaud was recently utilised by a group of enthusiastic instrumental music students from the Secondary College as part of their music program.
Safe Church Awareness Workshop Saturday 7 May 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 2 March Pre-registration is required Places are limited
In 2014 the students visited Christ Church and learnt about the internal workings of the old organ then played prearranged pieces of music. The visit was successful and in late 2015 four students from the music class visited and once again discovered the delights of playing a working pipe organ. They played the opening of J. S. Bach’s Toccata in D minor, the melody from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Ode To Joy and the melody of Ralph Vaughan-William’s famous hymn, For all the Saints.
secret panel, which gave access to the inner workings of the organ where students could see the range of pipes and the bellows in action. After the visit Anthony wrote and thanked the Christ Church congregation for “providing the students with the opportunity to broaden their outlook and experience a closer connection with their community.”
Music teacher Anthony Briggs said that “the visits have been a surprising success.” The students looked forward to the visit and were interested in the
Christ Church Old Cathedral is happy to host this group of enthusiastic young music students and are hoping that this partnership will grow and strengthen so that more students continue to experience the joys of playing our unique organ.
february 2016
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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.
Ouyen Junior Citizen of the Year: Nic Vine
Photo: ABC online
Ouyen teen recognised for contributions to church community Adapted from ABC news online
N
ic Vine, 17, has been named Ouyen’s Junior Citizen of the Year at the town’s Australia Day ceremony.
The award acknowledges the volunteer work Nic does for his local community, particularly with junior sporting clubs and his local church. Each Sunday Nic records the church services so that the elderly or unwell people who can’t attend church can still be a part of worship services. “It’s something my pa started and he taught me how to do it before he passed away, and it was pretty touching thinking that he’s done that for people that can’t make it for various reasons,” Nic said. “If you can’t make it, there’s not much you can do, so if someone can provide a tape of the service it makes it a fair bit easier for them and they don’t have to miss out on much.
“I enjoy going to church and talking to people, and you get involved with the community a fair bit through that.” Nic says that he sees volunteering as an opportunity to contribute to the local community, rather than being a chore.
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“If you have some skills and you can use that to help the community, well it’s always a good thing, and you get a bit of a warm fuzzy feeling when you get someone congratulating you on doing stuff or just helping someone when they need it. “You feel like you’re involved and feel like you’re living a bit more, rather than just doing your work and going home, I guess you don’t get the most out of yourself in some senses.”
Mental Health First Aid Training Where: CVGT training room Cnr Jackson and Stanfield streets, Long Gully, Bendigo When: 9 and 16 February 2016 Time: 9.00am to 4.30pm Instructors: Nancy and Ian Cutlack Cost: $100.00 per participant ($55.00 concession) Includes morning tea and lunch Contact: nancycut@bigpond.net.au or 0458234071 and request an application form. 5
Around the Diocese
Kyneton provides opportunity for photo with Mary and Jesus
At St Paul’s Kyneton on Farmers Market Day on the second Saturday in December we created a stable scene in the church with sheep and cows (not real), hay bales and a manger. St Nicholas handed out leaflets in the market crowd inviting families to come and help complete the picture. Mary (Rosemary Howarth) was there in blue with baby Jesus (Alexander) performing in the manger with big smiles and kicking legs. We provided shepherd, angel and lamb costumes for those who wished to dress up to have their photos taken with the Holy Family. Despite the problem and cleaning hay from the carpet we think it was a worthwhile effort as a contrast to photos with Santa. - Ruth Murphy
Photo: Children getting photographed in the nativity scene
Netta Hill inspires ABM Bendigo Auxiliary At our Annual General Meeting we were delighted to have Netta Hill, from the Diocese of Ballarat, share of her recent pilgrimage to Modawa, Papua New Guinea.
She showed a photo of the worn feet of a lady who faithfully walks to worship with her well worn Bible which she shares with others. This was good inspiration for our auxiliary to continue our focus of fundraising for ABM projects. This year the auxiliary project will focus on ‘Kenya: Sustainable Livelihoods Program’, however there is a range of projects in Australia and overseas. We encourage individuals and parishes to choose one that inspires them. The next ABM auxiliary meeting is at 11.00am, 9 February at the Registry Office. - Kris Hopkins
Learning: Netta Hill joins a classroom during her visit
Carols service at Holy Trinity Flora Hill
The carols service at Holy Trinity was certainly a mixture of traditional and contemporary songs that - thanks to the wonderful church band - almost raised the roof! A puppet performance stole the show with humorous storytelling and there was a performance by the parish children who sang some modern songs including actions to go with the lyrics. It was wonderful to see so many people of all ages enjoying the service and so many young families bringing their children along. These children are our future and it is important to bring them up with the traditions of the church and to allow them to come along and get to know God through the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Puppet show: The puppet show captured the young audience
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- Angela Morrissey
www.bendigoanglican.org.au
Around the Parishes
CFA Blessing at St Clement’s Huntly
St Clement’s Huntly held a special service to bless their local branch of the Country Fire Association. The Revds Angela Lorrigan and Gordon Lingard led the gathering during which CFA members were thanked and honoured for their service to the community. After a sprinkling of holy water and prayers for safety, members were presented with Christmas stars made by the children. Captain Tony Jackson thanked the congregation and said that the men and women of Huntly CFA served out of a sense of love for their community. Our prayers continue to be with the CFA and other emergency services as they work throughout this fire season. - Parish of Bendigo North
Thanks: Huntly CFA are presented with Christmas stars
Eaglehawk shares fellowship over a Messy Christmas
The congregation at St Peter’s Eaglehawk had a busy Christmas period under the guidance of interim ministers, Bob and Christine Woolner. After serving seven months in the parish, Bob and Christine were farewelled by the 120 people who attended the Christmas Eve service.
Prior to Christmas, the parish had also been busy preparing to host the Saltworks Christmas Community Meal, where many disadvantaged members of the community were able to gather together to share in fellowship over a hot meal at Christmas time. The parish also conducted a Messy Christmas event with its focus on all ages playing and learning together. Parishioners look forward to welcoming Bishop Ron Stone as locum while they are seeking a new parish priest. Messy Christmas: Parishioners make Christmas angels
- Jenny Rainsford
Christmas angels on display at Swan Hill Every Christmas at Christ Church Swan Hill we have a display of nativity scenes in our foyer, and light up the display in the evening to wish people passing our church a Merry Christmas. But this year was different - this year we changed our theme to angels. People brought their angels large and small and some creative people even made angels. Honor and her Nanna Dawn as well as her sister Jorja all made beautiful angels for the display. Angels remind us that God is with us always, and that we need to take time to hear the messages they bring. How many bible stories have angels bringing God’s message? - Jan Harper Display: Swan Hill shows off their angels
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Mission as strangers to strangers: Summer under the Son Stuart Winn
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he Church Missionary Society (CMS) Victoria’s Summer Under the Son (SUTS) Conference was held from 13–16 January at Crossway Church in Melbourne. Each year the conference aims to inspire, encourage, equip and challenge Anglicans in their commitment to and understanding of mission, and in doing so seeks to move us closer to the realisation of CMS’ vision of ‘A World that Knows Jesus’. Having been a regular attender of the conference for nearly ten years, I had each year come away with deeper insights into the challenges of bringing the unchanging gospel of Jesus Christ to an increasingly complex world. SUTS 2016 did not disappoint. Each morning we were blessed by the bible teaching of Archbishop Glenn Davies of Sydney, who unpacked the first letter of Peter around the theme ‘We are Strangers’. We were reminded of
CMS Bendigo Autumn Weekend 20-22 May Holy Trinity, Flora Hill
our true home with our creator, that the solid hope we have in Jesus cannot be extinguished by any suffering we may experience in this life. Particularly pertinent to the ‘strangers’ theme were keynote addresses given by Bishop Greg Anderson of the Northern Territory diocese, and Dr Jude Long, Principal of Nungalinya College in Darwin. Both are involved in training and resourcing the indigenous church, and helped us think through how non-indigenous Australians ought to rightly respond to and partner with our indigenous brothers and sisters. After all, it is we who are strangers in this land. Bishop Anderson spoke of the need for churches outside of the Territory to partner with churches in Arnhem Land in much more than just a superficial way. His encouragement was that churches seek to form ongoing (and therefore deep) partnerships with churches in remote communities. Experience has shown that these are much more effective than the traditional once-off short-term missions trip. Dr Long’s keynote took the title of ‘First Peoples, First Priority’, a challenge to the evident apathy of much of the non-indigenous church to our indigenous brothers and sisters and the challenges they face. A further keynote given by Canon Dr David Williams, CMS Australia’s
Director of Training and Development, looked at the missional opportunities brought about through migration, encouraging us to open our hearts, our homes and our churches to welcome those who are different from us for the sake of the gospel. The other highlight was time to connect with those CMS missionaries on home-assignment, to hear about their work, their joys and struggles, and to pray for them. This year we had workers home from South-East Asia, Spain and Switzerland. Each shared about particular challenges of taking the gospel to the culture to which they’ve been sent, what made them feel like strangers in their location, along with stories of God at work in their setting. Workshops each afternoon also provided valuable opportunities for all of us to think about missiological issues in our own places. After all, if we are seeking to follow Jesus’ command to make disciples (Mt 28.19) we are all, in some sense, cross-cultural missionaries, even if it’s just crossing from our own Christian sub-culture to the wider culture of our town, city or region.
The Bible studies and keynote addresses will be available shortly from the CMS Victoria website, so keep an eye on the video archive if you’re interested in learning more.
Even better than watching the videos of talks online is immersing yourself in the CMS experience. This year we will be led through Ephesians by Revd Dr Rhys Bezzant of Ridley College, as well as having the opportunity to hear from CMS missionaries on home assignment from South-East Asia, pick up a bargain at the second-hand bookstall, and more. The weekend includes a crèche and kids program, and South-East Asian Dinner on Saturday night. Brochures will be circulating soon, ask your Rector/Minister for more details. For enquiries contact Holy Trinity directly on 5443 3482 or at office@southeastbendigo.com. 8
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Bendigo at CMS: Faye Guyatt, Dallas James & Andrew Guyatt of Mooroopna, Jonathan Winn, Revd Stuart Winn, Alison Winn of Rochester & Lockington. Front: Revd Dr Wei-Han Kuan (CMS Victoria State Director), Elijah & Hugh Winn
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Plaque handover: Greg Harris (Girton Grammar School Chaplain), Bishop Andrew Curnow, Matthew Maruff (Headmaster), Jo Spargo-McNeill (Frew boy Captain), Miranda Livingstone (Frew girl Captain) and relative of Charlotte Frew.
Historic items from All Saints Old Cathedral given new homes Sarah Crutch
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he last of the historical items from All Saints Old Cathedral have been given new homes in Bendigo with a War Memorial Honour Board presented to the Bendigo District RSL Sub Branch, and a plaque commemorating Lieutenant Reginald Lance Frew donated to Girton Grammar School. The War Memorial Honour Board was given to the Bendigo District RSL Sub Branch by Bishop Andrew in a short service prior to Christmas.
The honour board lists names from 1914 – 1919 and features many Bendigo names such as the Lansells and Frews. The board reads ‘Pro Deo et Patria’ – For God and Country on its mantle. Cliff Richards and Kym Levett of the Bendigo District RSL Sub Branch were pleased to receive the significant piece of memorabilia which will be returned to the Bendigo RSL Military Museum. The regimental flag of the WW1 38th Battalion was returned to the Bendigo RSL in August. The plaque donated to Girton Grammar school commemorates Lieutenant Reginald Lance Frew, killed in the First World War, who was the nephew of Edith Lansell, wife of the well-known mining magnate and original resident at Fortuna, George Lansell.
Lance Frew was also the son of Mrs Charlotte Frew (Edith Lansell’s sisterin-law) who was a staunch supporter and generous benefactor of Girton College, now Girton Grammar, and benefactress of the Bendigo diocese.
The plaque was originally hung in a house on the corner of Rowan and Forest Streets, which was donated to the Church as a place of residence for the then Bishop of Bendigo. Headmaster of Girton Grammar School, Mr Matthew Maruff, said that the Frew name is well entrenched in Girton Grammar’s history. “To this day the Frew name holds a huge amount of sentimental value, being the namesake of one or our much loved Houses.” “The donation of the plaque from the Anglican Diocese of Bendigo is tremendously important to the school, and indeed, to Bendigo and we are grateful to Bishop Andrew for his generosity.”
Honour board: Cliff Richards, Bishop Andrew and Kym Levett
The Gift
by The Rev’d Robyn Davis
The cover artwork that featured on the Christmas issue of The Spirit was sold in a silent auction, with a number of good bids received. The winner was Dorothy McHardy of White Hills. The funds will go towards supporting Robyn in her Walkabout Ministry with Indigenous people. 9
There’s a word for it
Feeding Faith
Of Mary and Malala Angela Morrissey
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he documentary, He named me Malala, looks at the Taliban’s attack on Pakistani schoolgirl, Malala Yousafzai, for speaking out on girls’ education. Sadly, in Pakistan and Afghanistan girls go to school at their own peril. We in Australia are so fortunate to have the freedom to send our girls to school. When teaching I tried to instill in my students just how privileged they were to gain the most precious gift of knowledge.
As Christians, we are blessed to have a man who walked around in first-century Palestine and supported the rights of many – including the education of women. After all, he was born of a woman named Mary, whom we admire not only for her sense of self-respect but also for being an educated young woman, as shown in her song (Luke 1:46-55). This ‘song of Mary’ shows us her knowledge of scripture, and thus her ability to read, write and reflect. If it was good enough to have a young Jewish woman from the first century to be able to read and write it should be good enough for today. The Lord Jesus was called ‘Rabbi’ (Hebrew), ‘Rabboni’ (Aramaic), meaning ‘teacher’. He let women like Mary of Bethany learn at his feet (Luke 10:38-42). When Martha complained that her sister should be helping her with the housework, he said that Mary had chosen “the better part, which would never be taken away from her.” This man taught and learnt from women from other races including the Samaritan woman (John 4:1-42; cf Matthew 15:21-28) – at a time when Jews considered Samaritans to be ‘unclean.’ Jesus was not concerned about this: if he wanted to speak to a woman at a time when men and women did not mix then he would do so. And so should we. In her Nobel Peace Prize speech, Malala said all that was needed was one girl, one teacher and one pen to make things happen. Let us do all we can do educate our girls, and pray that education is a right for all girls throughout the world. 10
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Richard Stamp
‘Sackcloth’
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acks have been around a long time. For thousands of years they have been a means of storage for anything from grain to salt; a means also of packaging for journeys.
We still use them. These days we make them from different materials from those used formerly. Now it’s plastic but for hundreds of years it’s been renewable plant-based jute and hemp. Sackcloth was burlap or hessian. But go back further to Biblical times and sackcloth was animal in origin - a cloth made from woven goat hair. Our word ‘sack’ has ancient origins and appears in many languages such as Old English saac, Middle Dutch sak, Old High German sac and Norse sekkr. The Gothic word sakkus comes directly from Greek sakkos, which appears in the New Testament, and Latin saccus.
worn by captives - 1 Kings 20:31-32 and Isaiah 3:24. Sackcloth was donned in times of great national distress. Ezekiel paints a graphic picture when he prophesies about disaster coming upon Israel. “Disaster! An unheard of disaster is coming. The end has come.” (7:5-6), and, “Every hand will go limp and every knee will become weak as water. They will put on sackcloth and be clothed with terror.” (7:17 – see also 2 Kings 6:30; 1Chronicles 21:16 and Esther 4; 1-4). So it’s not only associated with penitence, but the wearing of sackcloth indicated an appreciation that folk were living in calamitous times. They
So it’s not only associated with penitence, but the wearing of sackcloth indicated an appreciation that folk were living in calamitous times In the Old Testament it appears in Hebrew as saq. The interesting thing about this word is that it literally means a mesh, an open-weave material originally used for straining liquid. The word is also associated with a word meaning ash-coloured or black. Sackcloth was black. In penitential times such as Lent it is easy to concentrate on ‘sackcloth and ashes’ as a term for penitence and repentance. In the New Testament that is the main meaning, e.g. in Matthew 11:21 when Jesus denounces the inhabitants of Korazin and Bethsaida for not repenting in sackcloth and ashes. The use of sackcloth in penitence is there in the Old Testament too in such places as Nehemiah 9:1 or Isaiah 22:12. But sackcloth also denoted other things. Sackcloth garments were worn during mourning, as in Genesis 37:34 or 2 Samuel 3:31 - the practice of wearing black at funerals goes back a long way. Sackcloth was the dress
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stood together as a nation wearing their black, itchy goat’s hair garb. However, the symbolic value of sackcloth derived not so much from the discomfort of wearing it, but more likely from its association with poverty, from the fact that it was the dress of the very poor. As we enter into the Church’s penitential season of Lent we put on a seasonal spiritual clothing of sackcloth, with all its ancient symbolism. We let the Lord Jesus strain out of us all impurities in our own living. We are penitent and make amends for our own sinfulness. We mourn for all the cruelty and death in the world. We become willing to stand captive to greater spiritual effort than usual. Above all, we stand with the poor and the terrified and dispossessed. This spiritual standing together; this clothing of ourselves in the world’s poverty, gives meaning to our Lenten discipline.
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Steve Weickhardt | Strathfieldsaye Community Church
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I believe in hell …
nd I hate it. But that is no reason to dismiss the reality. In fact, I believe it is an even greater reason to celebrate the truth of Christmas, that God has come in the man Jesus of Nazareth to reconcile sinners through his atoning death and resurrection, to save them from hell.
Singing from Luke chapter 2
Coral Crook
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isiting other churches when on holidays is great. I enjoy being in another congregation and seeing how they do their music. Attending a service while on holidays this year, the offertory hymn was one I had not previously heard. The hymn was ‘Come Your Hearts and Voices Raising’. It was from a Lutheran Hymnal of 1667, with Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676) the author of the lyrics. Gerhardt had become involved in the contest between the Reformed church and the Lutherans in Berlin in the 1660’s and has written many hymns. The eight verses that we sang tells the story of Jesus Christ’s birth, based on Luke chapter 2. It had been translated into English in 1941. The tune Quem Pastores (1555) is shared with many other hymns. The melody was in the Hohenfurth monastry manuscripts in 1410. In Germany, in the sixteenth century, it was the tradition at Christmas to earn money by singing Latin Christmas Carols house to house. Each singing group had their own collection of songs. The overall collection is called, Quempashet. This collection has preserved many songs used way back then. Most of the verses sung are in ‘Together in Song,’ hymn 297. Why not look this up and meditate on the beautiful words?
I was preparing a family for baptism, and mentioned ‘hell’. The grandmother (who had insisted on the baptism of the child) quickly asserted “of course we have no need of hell these days, do we?” It was a statement, not a question. The elimination of hell is a product of a society where the God we want to worship has no wrath, where enlightened minds rationalise justice and judgment down to our own subjective ideals.
I don’t want anyone to go to hell. I would love to worship the God who saves everyone without any condition. But that is not the God of the Hebrew Scriptures, nor is it the God of the New Covenant in Jesus Christ, who has opened the way for my loved ones, for my neighbours, and for my enemies to enter into God’s kingdom through faith and repentance. So I pray for them, invite them and share with them the Good News of Jesus, even when rejection costs me personally.
I don’t want anyone to go to hell. I would love to worship the God who saves everyone without any condition.
But that is not the God of the Hebrew Scriptures, nor is it the God of the New Covenant in Jesus Christ But Scripture testifies to the reality of permanent exclusion from God’s presence for those who reject the grace of God in Jesus’ death for their sinfulness. Jesus teaches the reality of hell in the gospels, and in Revelation John has the curtains of the Kingdom of God pulled aside to understand God’s glory, now and in the age to come. And it is not all harps and parties: there is a clear separation between the saints and those who reject Christ as Lord, and in doing so reject God. I need to emphasise that none of us can or will judge who will be saved from hell and raised into God’s glory, and those who will not. I am certain that there will be great surprises, and the judgment of Christ will be perfect, because God alone knows the heart of each person.
God’s love for every person is unconditional. God’s grace far exceeds every sin, and God’s mercy endures forever – but not every person wants God or his extravagant gifts. Their ‘gods’ justify their ideals, their heaven is on earth, and their own authority is absolute. Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians makes this clear. The reality of hell is hard to hear, even harder to preach on. But it is the testimony of Scripture and as students of the Bible, as the people of God who have heard and responded to God’s call, let us heed his word. By grace, God has done everything we need to know him, accept him into our hearts, and receive all his promises and blessings. God is our Lord and our Saviour in this life and the next.
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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 Mary’s Holy Island, Lindisfarne. There were no correct entries.
what’s on in 2016 events calendar
Induction of Anne McKenna Tuesday 1 March, 7.30pm, Castlemaine Service of Oils Monday 21 March, All Saints Tatura Induction of Don Bellamy Thursday 7 April, 7.30pm, Maldon Clergy Conference Monday 11 - Wednesday 13 April Synod Friday 27 - Saturday 28 May Diocesan Convention Friday 16 - Saturday 17 September Clergy Retreat Monday 3 - Thursday 6 October
Talbot parishioners make local news
The volunteers of St Michael’s Talbot, in the Parish of Maryborough-Avoca, were recently featured in an article for the Maryborough Advertiser on unsung heros. The photo above shows the group being photographed for the article.
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
february 2016
www.bendigoanglican.org.au