S A L T PARISH NEWSLETTER: NOVEMBER 2015 JANUARY 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: NOVEMBER 2015 JANUARY 2016 A WORD FROM OUR VICAR... Walk through the glorious west end of St Paul s Cathedral and look east to the Reredos (the screen above the high Altar). You will see beautiful representations of the Last Supper and the Crucifixion; worthy of our contemplation as we approach Advent in our preparation for Christ s Mass. We feel the agony of the Last Supper because we know; the misunderstanding of the words body and blood ; the puzzling over what is being said; the jealousy and the hint of betrayal and the pathetic attempt to deny desertion. Look up and drink in the Crucifixion; this is death; this is finality; this is defeat as we share the bereavement of John and Our Lady, the disinterest of the soldiers but the enlightenment of the centurion. And yet as we look and feel the desolation our grief gives way to joy because we know. Yet something is missing! As we turn around and begin to walk towards the Nave, having left the Chancel and the choir our attention is taken to the north wall upon which hangs an unusual depiction of the birth of the Christ child; the Nativity which we now celebrate as Christ s Mass. As we look we share the bittersweet of the situation the joy of Mary but her longing to be with her own people; the adoration of the visitors but the puzzlement of the world as it tries to absorb their message and the poverty of the place of Christ s birth as opposed to the riches of the world and we know. We know that we have discovered what was missing! All three depictions of the life of Christ are essential to each other all rely on each other for meaning and reason. There is no point to Holy Week and its mysteries if the birth of Christ is like any other birth! But here is the one who emptied himself and being born of human flesh became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. As we gaze in awe on the Christ child in the manger we know that we are being led to the cross that the hands that clasped the breast in the act of suckling are the same hands that thirty odd years later will be disfigured by spikes. We know; and we rejoice because we see beyond the cross to life. Happy Christ s Mass. Fr Ron White, Parish Priest. 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 & Bayside Area Dean The Rev d Margot Poole Priest Associate Fr Andre Hassing Priest Associate Marlene Davies Organist / Musical Director Claire Johnston Parish Secretary WARDENS & VESTRY Sandra Cooper Vicar s Warden Sue Polites People s Warden Phil Whelan People s Warden Sandra Cooper Treasurer (temporary) Debby Howard - Vestry Secretary Marlene Gale & Harold Daly CONTACT DETAILS Parish Office 161 Park Road, Cheltenham, VIC, 3192 Hours: Wednesday to Friday, 9am to 4pm Phone: (03) Fax: (03) stmatthewsanglicanchurch@bigpond.com Website: Salt: November 2015 January 2016 Page 1

2 BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS When considering the collective term for a group of pets, a puddle comes to mind! Our annual gathering on the Feast of St Francis was a well behaved menagerie although one of the guinea pigs thought it heard let us spray and it did!! Dogs outdid all other types of pets (including cats, rabbits and guinea pigs!) amongst a disparate group of owners who added to a joyous gathering not only in the church but afterwards in the hall for our luncheon. IN JANUARY FROM ST MATTHEW S Just a reminder that in January there will be no Wednesday or weekday services and no morning tea after the 10am Mass on Sundays. Sunday The Parish Office will be closed until mid / late January. The clergy and staff of St Matthew s wish you all a happy and holy Christmas and a great start to the New Year. May this holy day season be a safe time for you all. Salt: November 2015 January 2016 Page 2

3 WHEN TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER On the 4th Monday each month, the Friends of St Francis, together with members of St Matthew s meet in a members home. A lively and fun-loving loving group, consisting of some twenty to twenty-five twenty five ladies. At one of these meetings about two years ago, we were introduced to Janice who works closely with the needy, providing food and clothing to the homeless on the Frankston-Seaford Frankston foreshore. Janice together with her son commenced taking hot coffee to them. It wasn t long before Janice noticed their needs were greater a shortage of warm winter socks for males, rugs to keep them warm, warm, food and toiletries, all for their general well-being. In the beginning Janice personally gathered and funded whatever was available without any Government assistance. As new cases came to light eg. Homeless and pregnant girls with nothing, preparing for their babies and accommodation needs. The Friends of St Francis have worked closely with Janice each month, supplying goods for her pantry to be distributed. At the October gathering, the ladies made 324 Christmas bon-bons for children 85 covered coat hangers 65 crocheted Christmas stockings 118 bags of homemade biscuits 5 to a package, as a special treat. We have to thank our leaders, Norma Williamson and Ellen Naylor for inspiring us all to participate in this very worthwhile and joyous act of giving. Peace and blessings to all. By Val Fielder. Salt: November 2015 January 2016 Page 3

4 WORKING BEEE Fr Ron doing the dance of the seven cobwebs as part of our Working Bee in October. It was one of the many tasks cleaning / tidying / weeding etc around the church grounds part of the response to the words of the Thanksgiving: You have given us this earth to care for and delight in! Our final working bee for the year will be held on Saturday 12 December at 9am and includes morning tea. We hope to see you there! CHRISTMAS SPECIAL EFFORT! As you will have seen in our recent pew sheets, tickets are now available after each service for our annual Christmas Special Effort. Tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5 There will be a number of hamper prizes filled with all kinds of Christmas goodies (food and drink!) so remember to bring your change! Don t forget to tell family members, your neighbours, your friends and those at your various clubs about our Special Effort and encourage them to buy tickets! The draw will take place on Sunday 20 December at our morning tea following the 10am Mass. PARISH FUNCTIONS We will hold our last Parish BBQ for the year on the 13th December (a week later than usual due to our AGM) and our final Parish Breakfast on the 29th November. Please note these dates and don t forget these are opportunities to bring members of the family, friends and neighbours and introduce them to our fellowship. PARISH INFORMATION PARISH REGISTER Funerals 18 September Terry Marvin 23 October Helen Yates Baptisms 22 November Mason Ellis Caringal 22 November Stella Madison Caringal PATRONAL FESTIVAL Our Patronal Festival, which we celebrated on Sunday 20th September, was a joyful occasion at which the Occasional Preacher was Fr Russell Joyce OAM KSJ recently retired from the Incumbency of St Peter s, Brighton Beach. He gave us another view of our Patron St Matthew by gazing through the lives of other saints not only their ordinariness but also their eccentricities. Fr Russell did not limit his priesthood to parish ministry but to chaplaincy to the Australian Royal Navy especially Cerberus. Thank you Fr Russell. The service was followed by fellowship over a scrumptious morning tea, which included a celebratory cake made by Joan Leslie. Salt: November 2015 January 2016 Page 4

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6 CALENDAR OF EVENTS NOVEMBER 1 Sunday Services All Saints Day 8am BCP & 10am Family Service 4 Weekday Service 8 Sunday Services Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost Healing service will follow the 10am Mass 11 Weekday Service Martin 15 Sunday Services Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost 18 Weekday Service Margaret, Hilda & Elizabeth 22 Sunday Services Christ the King 25 Weekday Service James Noble 29 Sunday Services First Sunday of Advent DECEMBER 23 Weekday Service 24 Christmas Eve 5.30pm Children s Crib Service followed by sausage sizzle 11pm Carols by Candlelight 11.30pm Midnight Mass 25 Christmas Day 9am Christmas Holy Communion 26 Weekday Service Stephen, Deacon & Martyr 10am Mass 27 Sunday Services John, Apostle & Evangelist 28 Weekday Service Holy Innocents 30 Weekday Service Thomas Becket Morning tea follows the 10am Mass on Sundays 9am Parish Breakfast DECEMBER 1 9am Cheltenham Primary School Christmas Service 2 Weekday Service Frances Perry 6 Sunday Services Second Sunday of Advent 11.30am St Matthew s Annual General Meeting 9 Weekday Service The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary 12 9am Working Bee 13 Sunday Services Third Sunday of Advent Healing service will follow the 10am Mass JANUARY 3 Sunday Services The Epiphany of our Lord 8am BCP & 10am Mass 10 Sunday Services Baptism of our Lord 17 Sunday Services Second Sunday after Epiphany 24 Sunday Services Third Sunday after Epiphany 31 Sunday Services Fourth Sunday after Epiphany Please note morning tea is not held in January 12 noon Parish Lunch 16 Weekday Service 20 Sunday Services Fourth Sunday of Advent 6pm Carol Service Salt: November 2015 January 2016 Page 6