HOLY COVENANT. Reflection after Communion please feel free to light a prayer candle in the Chapel at the back of the Church following Communion.

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1 HOLY COVENANT ANGLICAN CHURCH JAMISON To grow in Christ together, to equip for service, to care for all WEEKLY BULLETIN 2 NOVEMBER 2014 ALL SAINTS DAY Farewell Susanna and Nikolai We offer a special welcome to visitors and pray that you will feel at home in our community. You are warmly invited to share Communion with us, either by drinking from or dipping the wafer in the chalice, or to come forward for a blessing. Reflection after Communion please feel free to light a prayer candle in the Chapel at the back of the Church following Communion. TODAY IN THE PARISH 8.00 am HOLY COMMUNION Celebrant and Preacher: Revd Susanna Pain am HOLY COMMUNION Celebrant and Preacher: Revd Susanna Pain am BUPA Nursing Home 12 noon Farewell lunch Please join us for morning tea after the Services

2 THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH Monday am - 3.pm 7.30 pm Covenant Care Kitchen Table Conversations Tuesday noon 7.30 pm Meditation and BYO Lunch Belonging and Caring Team Wednesday noon 2.00 pm Holy Communion and BYO lunch Ever Active Exercise Class 6.00 pm Meditation Thursday am 2.00 pm Scrabble Book Club 6.00 pm Chapel Meditation Friday am am Playgroup Monasteries of the Heart Saturday am 4.45 pm 6.00 pm Church Grounds Parish Fair Choir Practice Benedictus Contemplative Church WEEK BEGINNING 9 November 2014 Monday Tuesday Wednesday am-3.pm Covenant Care pm Meditation and BYO Lunch 12 noon Holy Communion and BYO Lunch 2.00 pm Ever Active Exercise Class 6.00 pm Meditation Thursday am pm Chapel Scrabble Meditation Friday am 7.00 pm Ruchi s Restaurant Playgroup Men s Indian Dinner Saturday pm 4.45 pm 6.00 pm 29 Mackellar Cres. Cook Open Garden Choir Practice Benedictus Contemplative Church 2

3 SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT ALL ONE Nikolai Blaskow As we are in the Feasts of All Saints and All Souls, and as this is my last Bulletin, I thought it appropriate to reflect on the simple but counterintuitive fact of the unity of life, and posit the outrageous claim: that nothing is lost. If there is an abiding precious memory I will take away with me of Holy Covenant, it will be its inclusiveness, its welcome to all regardless of gender, race, creed and sexual orientation. It will be this porous community of love that allows people to breathe and be themselves; to discover their gifts; to care for one another and to reach out to those on the fringes. It will go down in my memory as the most beautiful example of what a faith community could and should look like. And of course, one of its most outstanding attributes: unity in diversity. All of which speaks of the mind of Christ, something that clearly inhabits this place. Such a stance, of course, has its costs but that is the nature of the commitment to which, if we are Christ s, we are all called: count yourselves blessed every time people put you down What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens give a cheer, even! for though they don t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble. On Saturday I will speak at an Inter-Faith forum whose title is Interfaith Harmony: Where are we? These are challenging violent times, and I will be one of several voices speaking up for an even greater unity, a solidarity of the shaken that tests us severely. It was a cherished goal of Christian Chergé, abbot of a Cistercian community in Algeria who was martyred along with the rest of his brother monks in 1996 by the same sort of extremists that are running rampant today: the news for them is grim you can t destroy love it just keeps reproducing itself without rancor. This is a war you can t win. For Chergé, Muslims and Christians were pilgrims of the horizon like Jacob s ladder, as two parallel posts with their point of meeting in the infinite : both are made in the earth, fertilized by the same dung, suffering, sickness, death ; both are oriented toward the same hope, both are pointed towards the heavens. Here Christian evokes a story given to us by Judaism, a Jacob who like all human beings, has his bed on the earth, his nose in the air and his dreams of a ladder that will take him out of himself to another plane of tolerance and understanding. For Christian Chergé, a significant consequence of living out his commitment in a Muslim environment was the loosening of certainties. Moreover, living alongside others who pray (differently) challenged him to re-imagine his eschatological orientation (living life with an eye on end times ) in a much larger frame. To the youth, whom I will miss dreadfully, I say you are never alone: remember alone contains the words all one as in German allein (all one). Nothing, but nothing can separate you from the love of God which is in Christ. Though I leave today, in spirit I will always be here praying as I always have, for you all. Good-bye dear friends good-bye. Distance and time, nothing can separate us. We 3 will always be one.

4 FROM ST JOHN'S CARE Thursday was a really great day for me. At late notice a couple of Volunteers had to pull out of their shift and so we were a little short on floor. I became one of the Volunteers for the morning. I can't tell you how much I enjoy it and what a privilege it is to be on the floor. You have the opportunity to talk with the clients, listen to their story if they want to share it and see how you can help them. The first client I saw arrived about an hour before we opened. When he came in he told me that he was sleeping rough. The last couple of nights he had been sleeping under Commonwealth Ave Bridge. He was hungry but not complaining, he was hopeful that he would be able to get into Samaritan House, a Men s Refuge in Hackett, in the next couple of days. This lad is thirty He had been in the Alcohol and Drug Recovery Centre in Fyshwick and had made a mistake, and so was evicted. To be "Homeless" is a genuine hardship, at least at this time of year it is not as hard as it is in the middle of a Canberra Winter, but it is still very hard. When I saw him he was cold and very hungry. He accepted that he was in the wrong and really regretted his error. I made him a meal and coffee, he scoffed those down so I made him another meal. He was very very hungry. He then started to relax and just wanted to talk to someone about his family and his life. He is really sorry about his current situation. He just wants to give up the alcohol and drugs but doesn't seem to be able to manage it. He grew up in Canberra but had a very hard life. His father was an alcoholic and also a minor criminal and often spent time in prison. Soon after Dad came out of prison there was another sibling on the way, so he was part of a large family. He left school as soon as he could and has never really held down a job for very long. He also has problems with literacy and numeracy which makes job hunting very difficult. He has spoken to the Drug and Alcoholic people at the Canberra Hospital. They agree that he has a difficulty giving up the drugs and alcohol in Canberra - to many temptations, to many friends with the same problem. They are looking at getting him into a Detox Centre in Queensland but he has to get himself to the Centre. If he gets into the Detox Centre, I have assured him that SJC will get him there. I have to say that this young man was really embarrassed about his addiction problems but he is a delightful young man and it was a real pleasure to spend some time with him. When he left he asked if I could support him in prayer. I agreed but told him that I would also get an army of pray-ers to support him. So please pray for my friend. My wish list: Thank you for all the towels and bedding, wonderful. This week I need Longlife milk, poppers, muesli bars and tissues and Pullup nappies. Many thanks Sue Jordan 4

5 PRAYER POINTS FOR THIS WEEK IN THE WORLD Pray that fear may never paralyse the mercy and compassion we share as disciples of the Lord of Life, that we are never blind to the Christ in every other human person and community. May we be calm when threatened, wise when challenged and meet hate with love, whatever shape it takes. IN AUSTRALIA Pray for the homeless, the isolated, the unemployed, and those in prison or recently released. Pray for the gift of knowing how to help them and the willingness to do so. WORLD WIDE ANGLICAN CHURCH We pray for the Church in Cuba and Nigeria. In the Australian Church we pray for the bishops, clergy and people of the dioceses of Adelaide, Armidale and Ballarat. IN OUR DIOCESE We pray for the clergy and people in the parishes of Braidwood, Bungendore and Crookwell. We pray for Students and staff at Canberra Grammar School, Canberra Girls Grammar School, Radford College and Burgmann College. MISSION We pray for the work of the Christian Blind Mission in Indonesia and Thailand. IN OUR PARISH AND COMMUNITY We give thanks for Susanna and Nikolai s ministry and pray for them as they discern the next stage of their life s journey. We pray for the Clergy Appointment Board as they consider the way forward. We pray for the following members of our parish family - Chris and Claire Bleijs, John and Kathryn Body, Graham and Pat Bonnett, and Helen, Harris and Tanya Boulton. We pray for those in special need of prayer: Phil Perman. COMMEMORATIONS: Today: Monday: All Saints All Souls HOLY COVENANT PRAYER VINE REQUESTS FOR PRAYER Phone Merri Bacon on or merri.bacon@bigpond.com 5

6 IN THE PARISH BLESSING OF ELLA AND LILY Mutch-Cantwell in our 10am Service today. We give thanks for them and for their parents Melanie and Diane and pray that God will continue to guide and support them. FAREWELLING SUSANNA AND NIKOLAI TODAY A bring and share lunch from 12noon Food that can be eaten easily. An opportunity to express our appreciation to Susanna for her leadership and the journey that she has taken the parish. We will also have the opportunity to thank Nikolai for his involvement, particularly his leadership of the youth group. There's a time to let go of trying to express whatever remains beyond the way of words and simply to be present delighting in the gift of each other! from Noel Davis 'To simply delight in each other' in 'The Heart Waking and breaking into dance' Thank you God, and thank you Holy Covenant for our time together. I delight in you and in the many rich experiences of grace, of challenge and growth I have experienced with you. I relish the gift of you. I have great hope for your future, because God is gracious and good and you follow our God of infinite love. God bless you, people of Holy Covenant, every one of you. - Susanna. CLERGY APPOINTMENT BOARD Members of the congregation who would like to speak to our parish Clergy Appointment Board members concerning the search for Susanna's successor are welcome to do so. Evelyn, Rhys and Paula will be happy to share any comments with each other in confidence, so it is not necessary for parishioners to catch up with all three individuals. A chat with one member is the same as a chat with all, and they look forward to hearing from you. Rhys Thorpe ; rhys@thorpe.id.au Paula Percival ; ppe17466@bigpond.net.au Evelyn David-Hoole ; evie_24@hotmail.com 6

7 IN THE PARISH 8 NOVEMBER 2014 NEXT SATURDAY 9.30AM TO ISH Our plant stall has grown into a mini-fete. As well as a stall for all those plants you have been growing - seedlings, cuttings, potting up etc. we have a few other stalls. The co-ordinators are: Sausage Sizzle - Katherine Rainger: , youth@holycovenant.org.au Book Stall - Gillian Painter: , gillpaint@hotmail.com Plant Sale - Beth Heyde: , heyde@westnet.com.au Cafe and - Evelyn David-Hoole, , evie _24@hotmail.com Cake Stall White Elephant Stall HCN Nicole: nurse@holycovenant.org.au They will welcome offers of assistance in the lead up to and on the day. There are sign-up sheets on the board for most stalls. PLANT SALE INFO: Please bring your plants as soon as you can after 8am next Saturday. This will give us time to organise them before we begin to sell plants at 9.30am. In addition to your potted cuttings, seedlings etc, don t forget that it s worth bringing spare plants straight out of your garden - bare-rooted, but with roots kept moist - ready to be planted out in their gardens by the buyers. Some plants transfer well this way - e.g. lomandra, dianella, red-hot pokers, iris, succulents etc. NOMINATIONS FOR WARDENS AND PARISH COUNCILLORS. Forms for the above posit ions and their responsibilities are available from the table near the Font. Please consider carefully if you are called to this Service or if you would like to nominate someone. Completed forms need to be in the box provided or in the office by 30 November. Bishop s Prayer for Healing Service 7pm Wed 5 November St. John s Reid. 7

8 NOVEMBER HAPPENINGS LOTS OF THEM! 3RD AND 17TH NOVEMBER Kitchen Table Conversations - talking about the things that concern us. We are running two meetings in November, under an initiative of SEE- Change (of which the parish is a corporate member), to pool our ideas about how things could be better and to suggest changes that might be made, from local to national. We are inviting people to join us for both meetings and would love to include you if you would like to join us on from 7-9 pm, here at Holy Covenant. Let me know at mjeangroves@gmail.com Jean Groves 8 NOVEMBER - Mini-fete see separate notice. 14 NOVEMBER - Men s Indian Dinner Ruchi s Restaurant, Oatley Court, Belconnen. 7pm There is a sign-up sheet on the board. Chris Olssen: ; chris.j.olsson@gmail.com 15 NOVEMBER - Open Gardens by Holy Covenant Parishioners Following the plant sale weekend, there is a new local attraction on offer in the world of greenery, flowers and vegetables - two of our parishioners are opening up their interesting gardens for you to visit: Saturday 15 November: Sally Bachelard s garden at 29 Mackellar Cres Cook. 11am - 3pm. Saturday 22 November: Joh Sheehan s garden in Cook (time to be advised) Refreshments will be offered and you will be very welcome to chat with the gardeners (and any others around!) NOVEMBER The Way of Transition: Journeying With and Through Life s Changes. This Circle of Trust Retreat is for those experiencing change in any part of life work, relationships, geography, identity, health and ageing. The Hermitage, Mittagong. Led by Sarah Bachelard and Neil Miller. For a brochure or more info contact: sarah.bachelard@gmail.com 22 NOVEMBER Quiet Day Falling into the arms of the living God. Our reflection will centre around the paradox that it is both fearful and wonderful to fall into the hands of a living God we dare not possess and make in our own image. Led by Nikolai Blaskow. There is a sign-up sheet on the sign-up board and a flyer on the noticeboard. SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER: Women s Afternoon Tea at Tilley s. 3pm Sign up sheet on the board. 8

9 IN THE PARISH REFLECTION FROM SARAH Our celebration of All Saints Day this year coincides with our farewelling Susanna and Nikolai, and the closure of their ministry in this parish. It feels like a significant and appropriate conjunction of events. For a defining feature of Susanna and Nikolai s ministry is the way they have empowered and nurtured the ministry of others the free-flowing of the gifts of all the saints at Holy Covenant. So, as Susanna always insists, the ministry here is not just centred on the rector, but belongs to the whole church. At the same time, Susanna and Nikolai have blessed us deeply by making visible in their own lives the Christian vision of holiness, the human shape of sanctity. This does not mean (thank God) being always perfect, picture book saints. In the Beatitudes Jesus teaches that true sanctity or blessedness, is about living and letting ourselves live simply as human beings, humble, real, dependent on and responsive to God. Who are the poor in spirit? Those who know their need of God, and their inability to live just from their own resources. Who are the pure in heart? Those who seek to be undivided, integrating woundedness and shadow so they see themselves and others more clearly. Who are persecuted for righteousness sake? Those who are willing to risk solidarity with the lowly and despised, who dare to stand for what they believe is true and just in the face of others discomfort or upset. Susanna and Nikolai have shown this kind of love for me offering hospitality and solidarity, when I needed it most. And I know many of you have experienced the same grace and generosity. Today we say goodbye to Susanna and Nikolai much loved priests and pastors, friends and teachers, bringers of comfort and agents of provocation. We thank them for all they have given so generously and unstintingly, we celebrate the growth in this community through their ministry, we grieve our parting, we bless them and receive their blessing in return. We entrust ourselves and them to the way of continuing discipleship and discernment, knowing that we are all God s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. IT S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN! - ANGLICARE CHRISTMAS CARDS CAN NOW BE ORDERED This is the last year that Anglicare will be selling Christmas cards. This year s cards are 50c each two are blank. There are also packs of assorted cards 10 for $3. Samples for perusal are in the box with the order forms please do not remove them, and supplies are limited. Your order on the order sheets will be available for payment and pick up during Office hours, or on Sunday. Enquiries Gillian

10 AND... Outcome of survey on new Communion Setting A new musical setting of the Communion Service, written by David Quinlan, was used during September, with members of the congregation providing feedback through a short survey. An evaluation report with the outcomes of the survey has been completed, and provided to Susanna and the Music Committee. The survey responses were overwhelmingly positive and it has been decided that David s setting will be used again during November. It is intended that both David s music, and the existing well-known communion setting, will be part of the repertoire available for use at Holy Covenant. For those who are interested, a copy of the evaluation report can be obtained by ing David on dat.quinlan@iinet.net.au. s ON THE NOTICE BOARD Anglican Community Emergency Response, training course. 29 November, St. James Holt. A Passion for Peace music presentation 11 November 7.30pm Thank you letter from Caitlin Lance. Government Legislation now requires people who drive vulnerable adults and young people to appointments on behalf of an organization, should have a copy of their driver s licence on file with that organization. If you fit this category on behalf of HC, can you please provide a copy of your driver s licence to the office either a hard copy or . Libby is also happy to photocopy it for you. BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK Tuesday: Tobias Nevile. Friday: Gareth James If you'd like your name in the birthday book, please tell Phyl. phylandreg@optusnet.com.au 10

11 RECTOR SENIOR ASSOCIATE PRIEST HONORARY ASSOCIATE PRIESTS HOLISTIC CARE NURSE HONORARY DEACON YOUTH AND CHILDREN WORKER ADMINISTRATOR MINISTRY TEAM Revd Susanna Pain or Revd Dr Sarah Bachelard Revd Nikolai Blaskow Revd Sarah Gibson Revd Anne Dudzinski Ven Anne Ranse Revd Susan Joy Nevile Katherine Rainger Libby Warren Office: Days off: Monday & Friday Days: Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday Days: TBA PARISH OFFICE Open 10 am - 12 noon Tuesday to Thursday PARISH DIRECTORY 89 Dexter Street, Cook, ACT 2614 PO Box 98, Jamison, ACT 2614 Tel: office@holycovenant.org.au Web Page: WARDENS Kathryn Body Peter Sherman Evelyn David-Hoole BULLETIN EDITOR Phyl Holmes weeklybulletin@holycovenant.org.au Hm E: phylandreg@optusnet.com.au DETAILS FOR NEXT SUNDAY 9 NOVEMBER am am 6.00 pm HOLY COMMUNION Celebrant and Preacher: Revd Dr Sarah Bachelard HOLY COMMUNION Celebrant and Preacher: Revd Dr Sarah Bachelard Taize Service 11

12 TODAY SENTENCE: Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven: Matthew 5:10 READINGS: Revelation 7:9-17 Psalm 34: 1-10, 22 1 John 3: 1-3 Matthew 5: am HYMNS Matthias 455 vs 1,22,3,7, PRAYER Spirit of life, we gather grateful for the companionship of hearts and minds seeking to speak the truth in love. We gather grateful for our heritage, for the women and men before us whose prophetic words and deeds make possible our dreams and our insight. And we gather grateful for the gift of life itself, mindful that to respect life means both to celebrate what life is and to insist on what it can become. Amen. M S Milner 8.00 am am Sidespersons Hilary Harris and Libby Warren Helen and Harris Boulton Readers Peter Bazeos Robert Arthur Anne Ranse 12 Phyl Holmes Kate King Harris Boulton Intercessor Peter Hall Tobias Nevile Organist Kath Arthur Rhys Thorpe Word and Prayer Paul Shelley Tracey Matthews Deacon Cup Anne Ranse Paul Shelley Anne Ranse Tracey Matthews, Tobias Nevile, Leo Wimmer, Phyl Holmes Extra bread: Nikolai Morning Tea Heather & Paul Shelley In the Children s Church Catherine, Chrisitine, Rika, Sophie M. Tea: Campbell-Allens