S A L T PARISH NEWSLETTER: JUNE AUGUST 2016 ST MATTHEW S ANGLICAN CHURCH, CHELTENHAM A WORD FROM OUR VICAR...

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1 S A L T ST MATTHEW S ANGLICAN CHURCH, CHELTENHAM PARISH NEWSLETTER: JUNE AUGUST 2016 A WORD FROM OUR VICAR... Remember 'The Sounds of Silence' recorded by Simon & Garfunkel in 1964?! It flopped originally and in many cases was a laughing stock until remixed in September Many thought it referred to the assassination of J.F.K. but Simon was adamant that he had written the words prior to the death of the President. But that title remains a mystery to many how can silence elicit sounds? When I lived in Mildura and Swan Hill I would sometimes drive over the border and travel for about 20 minutes into N.S.W. away from all civilisation and preferably 'off road' so that I wasn't disturbed by traffic. The 'noise' of the silence was only matched in its depth by the vastness of open space (both land and sky). There were occasional sounds such as the screech of an owl, the lazy call of a bird far from home or the 'thump' of a distant kangaroo or emu looking for mates before settling down. The stars in such a situation are brilliant and myriad because they do not compete with the lights of civilisation the lights of progress and prosperity and even this blaze of light seems to sound in its brightness. Some would call this the song of Mother Nature while others may well describe it as God's lullaby. Was this the 'voice' that Elijah heard (1 Kings , 8-15a) from the safety of the cave having fled from the threat and fear of death? And so here was safety, here was comfort, here was God in silence. There are many ways in hearing the sounds of God in silence. Prayer not corporate when we can be so distracted by the idiosyncrasies of the congregation or the priest!! But in private prayer with or without words or in one of the forms of meditation. Listening to God, discerning his will, waiting on the still small voice prayer. We hear the sounds of God in the silence of grief, bereavement or anxiety. His 'sound' is often not words but an anaesthetic to calm, to relax, to bring peace and often sleep (hello darkness my old friend!?). We hear the sound of God in the murmur of a new born, the cry Continues on page 2 WORSHIP ST MATTHEW S ANGLICAN CHURCH Corner Nepean Highway & Park Road, Cheltenham, VIC, 3192 Sundays 8am Eucharist with Hymns 1st Sunday of the month BCP service 10am Sung Eucharist 1st Sunday of the month Family service with Sunday School Wednesdays (not in January) FRIENDS OF ST FRANCIS Community of the Holy Name (CHN) 40 Cavanagh Street, Cheltenham, VIC, 3192 Phone: (03) Sundays 9.30am in the Prayer Room at the Community CLERGY & STAFF Fr Ron White Parish Priest Fr Andre Hassing Priest Associate Marlene Davies Organist / Musical Director Claire Johnston Parish Secretary WARDENS & PARISH COUNCIL Sue Polites Vicar s Warden Julie Johnston & Phil Whelan Peoples Warden Rob Johnston Treasurer Andrew Napier Parish Council Secretary Harold Daly & Marlene Gale CONTACT DETAILS Parish Office 161 Park Road, Cheltenham, VIC, 3192 Hours: Wednesday to Friday: 9am to 4pm Phone: (03) stmatthewsanglicanchurch@bigpond.com Website: CHELTENHAM OPPORTUNITY SHOP Station Road, Cheltenham, VIC, 3192 Hours: Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4pm and Saturday: 9.30am to 12pm Phone: (03) Salt: June August 2016 Page 1

2 A WORD FROM OUR VICAR... of a child, the appeal of the elderly and the desperate clamour of the distant homeless, hungry and destitute. So often, not stated but in a certain silence without words... The first lesson is of course to listen... Fr Ron White, Parish Priest. Continued from page 1 DO WE HAVE...? In preparation for our 150th Anniversary celebrations next year we would appreciate knowing your address. If you don t think the Parish Office has your address please send it through to stmatthewsanglicanchurch@bigpond.com. If you know of former parishioners addresses and / or contact details and have their permission, could you please send these onto the Parish Office. 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SETTING OF THE FOUNDATION STONE Not a photo of a Parish Priest looking for a crack in the wall but a photo of Fr Ron re-sanctifying one of the Foundation Stones on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of its setting. Our services started outside (lucky the weather was fine!) with the congregation gathered around the stone. We then processed in to sing the Introit hymn and start the service proper. During the service we acknowledged the work of Rex Patrick as architect and gave thanks to God for his skill. A number of people learnt a few facts regarding the building such as it is Trinitarian in concept notice the equal sides as in an equilateral triangle. We acknowledge once again the centrality of the Altar and therefore its accessibility to and from the people and even though the Altar rails were not a part of the original plan, they are so placed as to not interrupt this concept. Our regular morning tea was replaced with cakes, slices and biscuits and was a suitable ending to a joyous occasion. This celebration continues with our one service on our Patronal Festival when Bishop Paul will assist our 50th Anniversary of the Dedication of the 'new church'. Salt: June August 2016 Page 2

3 ST MATTHEW'S MEASURED AND DIGITAL At the end of March, the Parish Office was contacted by a group of Masters students Nathan Mykytowycz, Mark Yam, Yujia (Nancy) Chen from Melbourne University who selected St Matthew s as their case study church for their subject: Measured drawings and Digital Heritage. In this subject students are required to accurately measure and draw an Architect Designed church building built in the 1950 s or 60 s St Matthews was one of about twenty churches in and around Melbourne that was short listed. The students visited the church on 3 Fridays during April and May in which they undertook measurements for the drawing up of site plans, floor plans and elevations to windows, doors and joinery and they also took photographs which were an important component of the assignment. It was a pleasure having the students here and we wish them well with the rest of their studies. Below is an article written by Nathan about the assignment. "With the support of the Parish, I have been a part of small team of Master of Architecture students visiting from The University of Melbourne to archive the works of architects Chancellor and Patrick. The importance of our workings, once architecturally documented and presented to the Faculty, are to be published alongside other significant 1950s and 1960s churches within Melbourne and the surrounding regions. It was with much delight that I was welcomed to attend the 50th Anniversary of the setting of the Foundation Stone where I was able to meet extended members of the Church. Furthermore it was a fantastic opportunity to meet renowned architect Rex Patrick and his family, gaining insight into his architectural beginnings, design approach and realizing the generational commitment of his family to St Matthew s community. Special thanks to Claire and Fr Ron White for sharing much energy for our project and making our experience enjoyable. " Salt: June August 2016 Page 3

4 DIGGING IN THE GARDEN! A lot of work has been undertaken at our recent Working Bees! We were blessed with fine sunny weather for the one in March and it was pleasing to see a good number of people attended it. This meant that many jobs were completed including mulching, replanting, pruning, sweeping and general tidying. Due to the cold start to the morning and the threat of rain, only a handful of people attended our Working Bee in May but we still managed to tidy up the gardens. Our Working Bees are not just about gardening and tidying up, but an opportunity to interact and meet with other parishioners while having lots of fun and laughs while helping to maintain the gardens around the church. This also continues at our morning tea! We would appreciate anyone who is able to come and help and you can stay for as little or long as you can. The more hands on deck means more things get done quickly! Please note the dates of our Working Bees for the year: 9 July, 3 September, 15 October, 26 November & 17 December. PARISH BREAKFAST Join us in the Hall for juice, toast, hot breakfast or cereal all washed down with a cup of tea or coffee at our next Parish Breakfast on Sunday 31 July at around 9am. Come after the 8am service or before the 10am service and meet some of those people you don t know well. Don t forget this is an opportunity to bring members of the family, friends and neighbours and introduce them to our fellowship. AUGUST LUNCHEON Pies or sausage rolls, sandwiches or quiches, spring rolls or pizzas the choice is yours at our next Parish Luncheon on Sunday 7 August at 12 noon. Now will be your opportunity to think about the sorts of things that you can either conjure up or buy to make our meal even more interesting. Perhaps you could tempt us with something new something that we haven't tasted before this also includes dessert! Bring your friends and family! Salt: June August 2016 Page 4

5 DONATIONS NEEDED A reminder that our Op Shop is in need of donations. Please search your cupboards and encourage relations, neighbours and friends to search theirs. Donations can be delivered to the shop, providing they are good quality (items not stained, chipped or cracked). cracked) The shop is unable to accept the following items: electrical goods, furniture, mattresses, cots, prams or strollers due to government regulations. Again articles must be in good, clean condition and remember: if I would wantt to use it, the Op Shop can use it. UPCOMING DATES... Friday 2 September New Guinea Martyrs Sunday 18 September Patronal Festival 50th Anniversary of the Dedication of the 'new' church Sunday 2 October Blessing of the Animals Sunday 6 November All Saints Day For more information please contact the Op Shop see page 1 for details. details THE HAPPENINGS OF MAY One of the vagaries of Anglicanism Whitsunday / Pentecost: so we wear red!! The red reflects the flames above the head of the Apostles and we have the red flames on our Pentecost banner which we displayed on the day. Our Harvest 'collection' which is in fact our offering to God in thanksgiving for what he (through his children of various guises) has given us. A wonderful reponse which Dixon House was able to pass on to those who need it most. And so to Trinity Sunday as we leave our celebrations of the earthly life of Christ to our contemplation of the work of Christ through Word and Spirit. DATES TO BE REMEMBERED PARISH INFORMATION If you would like any dates to be remembered in our pew sheet (that are not currently featured) for birthdays, anniversaries or year s mind please write them down on the list in the Narthex or contact the Parish Office. Office PARISH REGISTER Salt: June August 2016 Funerals 7 May Eddie Bennetts Page 5

6 ARTICLES FOR SALT Do you have a story for Salt that you would like to share regarding a recent or future parish event? Would you like to share how you came to be a parishioner here? (Like Tig did in the last edition!) If you would like to contribute please either send by or neatly write and hand it into the Parish Office. The next edition will be September October so articles will need to be received by late August. CALENDAR OF EVENTS JUNE 1 Weekday Service The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth 5 Sunday Services Third Sun after Pentecost 8am BCP & 10am Family Service 12 noon Parish Soup Luncheon 8 Weekday Service 12 Sunday Services Fourth Sun after Pentecost Healing service will follow the 10am Mass 15 Weekday Service 19 Sunday Services Fifth Sun after Pentecost 22 Weekday Service 26 Sunday Services Sixth Sun after Pentecost 29 Weekday Service Peter & Paul JULY 3 Sunday Services Seventh Sun after Pentecost 8am BCP & 10am Family Service 6 Weekday Service 9 9am Working Bee 10 Sunday Services Sea Sunday Healing service will follow the 10am Mass 13 Weekday Service Sydney James Kirkby 17 Sunday Services Ninth Sun after Pentecost JULY 20 Weekday Service 24 Sunday Services Tenth Sun after Pentecost 27 Weekday Service Anne 31 Sunday Services Eleventh Sun after Pentecost 9am Parish Breakfast AUGUST 3 Weekday Service 7 Sunday Services The Transfiguration of our Lord 8am BCP & 10am Family Service 12 noon Parish Finger Food Luncheon 10 Weekday Service Laurence 14 Sunday Services Mary, Mother of our Lord Healing service will follow the 10am Mass 17 Weekday Service 21 Sunday Services Fourteenth Sun after Pentecost 24 Weekday Service Bartholomew 28 Sunday Services Fifteenth Sun after Pentecost 31 Weekday Service John Bunyan & Aidan of Lindisfarne Morning tea follows the 10am Mass on Sundays Salt: June August 2016 Page 6