PARISH WEEKLY NEWSLETTER 17 AUGUST 2014 ST MARY IN THE VALLEY PATRONAL FESTIVAL EDITION asked the disciple whom he loved to care for Mary as a son). In today s Gospel reading we have the story of Jesus and his mother attending a wedding at Cana, where Jesus performed a miracle - turning water into wine. According to the wedding customs of the time, wedding festivities lasted around seven days. The reclining guests consumed large quantities of food and wine, with music and dancing. Clip art courtesy Madre Teresa Catholic Church Youth. MARY IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN The Bible affords us some glimpses into the relationship Jesus had with his mother. In the Gospel of John, Mary is mentioned on three occasions John 2: 1-12, John 6.42 (people speak of Jesus parentage), and the poignant story in John 19.25-27 (when Jesus The village where the miracle occurred is named Cana. This village is mentioned three times in John s Gospel: when Jesus attended the wedding (John 2:1-11), while visiting Cana Jesus cured the son of an official from Capernaum (John 4:46-53), and one of Jesus disciples, Nathanael (a.k.a. Bartholomew) came from Cana. The actual location of Cana is a matter of debate. In the present day village of Kafr Cana (which has long claimed to be the ancient village) in Israel stands the Greek Orthodox church of St. George, built in 1886. In that church are two stone jars which locals claim are two of the jars used in Jesus' first miracle.
References: The Bible Bloch, Andrew. P. The Biblical and Historical Background of Jewish Customs and Ceremonies. http://www.seetheholyland.net/cana/ WHAT THE RECTOR IS READING Beyond Bells and Smells: The wonder and power of Christian liturgy Mark Galli Paraclete Press 2008 I found Beyond Smells and Bells a really interesting read- Galli expressed truths about the liturgy in a very concrete way, but kept my attention throughout the book even though it was a subject that I was familiar with. The book is designed to unpack what goes on in the liturgy and to make the reader aware of how profoundly what we do in church affects our daily lives and our spiritual growth. I would recommend it both to people who feel as if they understand the liturgy, for whom I think it will deepen the experience, and to those who struggle with formal liturgy or who simply don t really understand what it is all about. This book is not a difficult read and I was very glad that I read it. FROM BISHOP STUART Dear Friends and colleagues, Having read my letter to the Prime Minister of Australia, a great many people are asking how they might take action. 1. Do please pray for an end to the violence resources for prayer and giving are here: http://www.christianaid.org.uk/emergencie s/current/iraq-crisis-appeal/prayers.aspx This is a good link if you are living in the northern hemisphere. 2. The Bible Society has launched an appeal. You can give here: http://www.biblesociety.org.au/nineveh 3. Through your own email contacts and social media outlets ensure local leaders and politicians and are apprised of what is in fact taking place. This link really should go viral: http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/20 14/08/08/anglican-vicar-of-baghdad-child-ibaptized-cut-in-half-by-isis/ 4. The most recent statement of the Archbishop of Canterbury is also worth circulating widely: http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/20 14/08/08/statement-from-the-archbishopof-canterbury-on-iraq/ 5. For those who wanted an electronic link to my letter (to on-send to local leaders and politicians) it is here:http://www.anglicancg.org.au/news.p hp/127/an-open-letter-to-the-primeminister-concerning-iraqi-christians 6. Finally a note from Archbishop Mouneer expressing his thankfulness for our interest and prayer. You are at liberty to circulate widely or write to him directly. From: Mouneer Anis [mailto:bishopmouneer@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, 6 August 2014 8:56 AM My dear Bishop Stuart, Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
I cannot tell you how much your prayers and encouragement means to me and to the Christians in the Middle East especially at this very difficult time. Please continue to pray for us, as we will be praying that God will strengthen you. May the Lord bless you! +Mouneer The Most Rev. Dr. Mouneer Hanna Anis Bishop of the Episcopal / Anglican Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa President Bishop of the Episcopal / Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East Diocesan & Provincial Offices 5 Michel Lutfallah Street, Zamalek, Cairo 11211 Work: +202 27380821 Fax: +202 27358941 Email: bishopmouneer@gmail.com Website: http://www.dioceseofegypt.org For Jesus, +Stuart. Bishop. C&G. www.anglicancg.org.au 2014 ABM Martyrs' Appeal - Building the Church This year s Martyrs Appeal focuses on building the church in our Partner countries. To read about the featured projects and make a donation please visit our website. http://www.abmission.org/appeals.php/13 /the-abm-martyrs-appeal-2014 In Papua New Guinea, ABM continues to work with the Anglican Church to build their capacity to deliver services and provide effective development assistance to communities, particularly in remote areas. There are many needs for small and larger items of equipment, such as laptops, printers, solar panels, and solar lighting. Solar panels create enough power to light a room for night time literacy classes and also power laptops for training. Leadership and management training in our Partner countries strengthens the skills of lay people and ordinands and builds firm foundations for the Church. By providing this training, Archdeacons and Priests will be able to do their pastoral work effectively within their own dioceses and their parishioners will respond positively in their Christian faith. In other areas such as the Machakos Diocese (Kenya), leaders are being carefully trained to lead and marshal their communities towards embracing the gospel and supporting the Church. Local farmers in the rural areas are poor and unable to maintain their crops, so they turn to the Church for a solution. Your prayers and support for the work of ABM are greatly appreciated. Yours In Mission, Christopher Brooks Acting Communications & Fundraising Manager NORTHERN IRAQ CRISIS APPEAL Anglican Primate of Australia appeals for urgent help for Christians and other
minorities threatened by ISIS militants Hello, I know that we have been in contact recently about the situation in Gaza, but I am now writing to seek your support for our Northern Iraq Crisis Appeal that has been launched by the Anglican Primate of Australia, the Most Reverend Dr Philip Freier, Archbishop of Melbourne. The Primate launched the appeal at a news conference this afternoon in Melbourne with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby. Archbishop Freier said: I have launched an appeal through Anglican Overseas Aid to help provide succour and relief for those fleeing the ISIS fighters. It is reported that more than 1.2 million people have been forced to flee, plus another 200,000 Syrians who have sought refuge in northern Iraq. More than 200,000 people have been displaced in the past fortnight, including all the residents of Iraq's largest Christian town Qaraqosh and a large number of the Yazidi minority group," the Archbishop said. Aid agencies cannot cope with the influx, and the suffering is immense. The refugees need food, water, clothes, medical supplies and much more. I ask Anglicans and others to give sacrificially. Militants have been painting the Arabic letter N for Nazarene, pictured here, on the homes of Christians, who have to convert, pay a large tax, flee or be killed. Echoing Archbishop Freier's thoughts, Archbishop Welby said: "In a globalised world where even distant nations are our 'neighbour', we cannot allow these atrocities to be unleashed with impunity. And while the behaviour of the ISIS jihadis in Syria and northern Iraq is particularly savage, it is also part of rising and increasingly serious persecution of Christians in many countries. "As Anglican leaders, we cry to God for peace and justice and security throughout the world, and especially for Christians and other minority groups suffering so deeply in northern Iraq." Along with calling for financial support, Archbishop Freier is also speaking up on behalf of the vulnerable. As the Anglican Primate of Australia, I have written to the Prime Minister, Mr Tony Abbott, appreciating Australia s rapid response in providing aid to the displaced thousands in Iraq. I have asked him to emulate France in offering asylum to the Christians of northern Iraq who are facing forced conversion or death. I have also written to the Immigration Minister, Mr Scott Morrison, making the same request." Our appeal will raise funds to support the work of ACT Alliance partners who are serving the displaced in northern Iraq. As a fully accredited aid agency our work, both emergency response and long-term development, serves people without discrimination on any grounds, including religious affiliation and practice. But this is an important opportunity to support our Christian brothers and sisters in Iraq, along with other minorities who are being brutalised by the ISIS militants.
I know that many of our supporters have only in the past few weeks donated generously to support our partner in Gaza, the Al Ahli Anglican Hospital, as it copes with the impact of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and if you do not have the capacity to donate to this new appeal, I very much understand. If that is the case, please continue your prayers for the people of Iraq. Whether you can donate or not, please continue to pray for the people of Iraq, and spread the word about this appeal that will provide vital aid by forwarding this email, or sharing news from our Facebook, Twitter and Google+ accounts. Thank you for your ongoing support for people around the world. Yours in Christ Reverend Bob Mitchell CEO, Anglican Overseas Aid http://anglicanoverseasaid.org.au/ Donation brochure second last page this issue. CURSILLO-BIG DAY OUT Dear friends, On Saturday 23 August, Canberra and Goulburn will celebrate the 35 th Anniversary of the introduction of Cursillo to the Diocese (and to Australia as a whole). To mark this auspicious occasion we are holding a 'Big Day Out' at St Saviour's Cathedral in Goulburn. We hope that you will join us for the celebration and have attached to this email a copy of the registration form for the day. (Appears as a full page this issue). The registration covers morning and afternoon tea and lunch and will give us the information we need to organise small groups for discussions during the day. Please be there and pass on registration information to others in your parish. Perhaps you can organise a car pool and all come together! With every good wish, Connie Gerrity Further information for those who have not yet been introduced to Cursillo Cursillo is a worldwide movement of the Christian Church which seeks to make it possible to live out what is fundamental to being a Christian. Cursillo is a Spanish word meaning short course. In this case it is a short course in Christian living. As a movement, it had its origin on the island of Majorca, Spain, in the late 1940's as a means for reviving commitment in the Roman Catholic Church. Its method has been adapted by a number of denominations throughout the world. What can I expect? A shared experience within a small group in a unique Christian community; a way of spiritual renewal through teaching, sacraments, devotions and ministry in an atmosphere of fellowship and trust. There is nothing dull about Cursillo! It involves a series of talks and discussions. Meditations, the Eucharist and devotional periods are also an integral part of the Three Days. Some of the topics covered by the talks are Grace, Faith, Piety, [What is my] Ideal, Sacraments, the lay person as the Church in the world, Leaders and the Christian life. The next Cursillo weekends for Canberra and Goulburn are: Women 63-9-12 Oct 2014 Men 63-16-19 Oct 2014
If you are interested in attending, or sponsoring someone, please see Graham Bartlett. NOTICE Fellow Cursillistas, I have been asked to advise you that Betty Matthews, W 13, completed her Fourth Day this morning, 15th, at Clare Holland House. Betty and her husband, Noel, M7, were members of St Paul s Ginninderra congregation from their arrival in Canberra in the late 1960s until recently. Please pray for Noel and his family. I suggest you look to The Canberra Times, or contact St Paul s or me, for funeral details. De Colores, David Smith POSITIONS VACANT Warden St David s Close Retirement Village Permanent Part Time 15hrs per week plus on call. Anglicare is seeking a clergy person to fill the role of Warden at St David s Close Retirement Village in Red Hill, ACT. The successful applicant will be paid an honorarium and will be provided with on site accommodation including reasonable provision for electricity, gas and water/sewerage. This position requires the successful person to reside on site for the duration of the contract. The role of the Warden includes providing holistic pastoral support to residents plus supporting their well being and safety. It also entails providing support to Anglicare to address administration and maintenance needs. Note - Whilst being employed by Anglicare and accountable to Anglicare s Manager Retirement Villages for duties associated with the operation of the Village, the Warden would also be licensed to either the Rector of the Parish of Manuka or Archdeacon for Chaplaincy and be accountable to the Diocese through the licensing mechanism. Clergy duties outside the scope of the Position Description (and remuneration for same) will be determined in consultation with the Parish. The successful applicant will be subject to approval following the completion of a National Police Check and Working With Vulnerable People registration. For further information and/or an employment package, contact John Vilskersts, Manager Retirement Villages on 0429 390 919 or via email john.vilskersts@anglicare.com.au Closing date: Monday 25th August 2014 Community Development Worker 8 hours per week (flexible) Duration of Employment: 12 months (pilot programme) Award: Option 1 Social and Community Services (SACS) award, Level 2 Pay point 1, $25.80 per hour Option 2 Contract Introduction Canberra Baptist Church (CBC)is a vibrant and open Christian community drawn together by our love of God, our love for each other and God s world. Canberra Baptist Church is seeking a Community Development Worker who shares our vision for Community Mission. Role Description The Community Development Worker (CDW) will assist the Canberra Baptist Church to fulfil the requirements of a twelve-month pilot programme designed to implement and assess the first stages of a
proposal to initiate a Community Centre in Kingston. The CDW will, in accordance with the vision, report on the status of existing programmes and stakeholders invite and encourage existing stakeholders to participate in a Community Centre programme build links with other groups and agencies develop strategies for communicating with the community develop the basis of a volunteer network from CBC and the community liaise with interested groups and individuals to set up new services/activities encourage participation in activities from CBC and the community assess the potential for external funding for an ongoing Community Centre programme collect and present data that will assist the Management Committee in the assessment of the viability of the Community Centre programme The CDW will be a committed Christian and demonstrate the following personal qualities and skills, Excellent communication skills Ability to relate with a diverse cross section of the community Creative thinker Inclusive and open to diversity A heart for people Able to empower others Submit a letter of application with CV attached to the Canberra Baptist Church office at office@canbap.org by 3pm, Friday 29 August. For more information, contact Chris Turner (Senior Pastor) on 6295 9470. www.canbap.org FREEDOM will be screening at Manuka Greater Union cinema from the 21st of August. I thought this would be a great opportunity to resume the Movie Buffs if people are interested. As with our practice in the past, we attend the first viewing after midday on the Saturday. In this instance it will be Saturday the 23rd of August. We have a car sharing pool which meets and leaves the church 45 minutes before the film commences. Unfortunately we never know the time of viewing until the preceding Thursday. The practice is for me to send an email to those listed or for individuals to contact the cinema or me on 62917423 on or after Thursday (21st in this instance). All are welcome to join us, including family and friends. Our practice is to join in fellowship over afternoon tea either at a nearby cafe or at the church if we attend a movie at a local cinema. I would appreciate being informed if you are interested in seeing this movie and in resuming regular monthly movie outings and occasional in house movies at the church. Cheers, Margaret Brown
Give the gift of time to a child in an ACT School near you. SPONSOR A SCHOOL CHAPLAIN Our vision is to see each child and young person connected and supported in community, serving others and experiencing fullness of life. Our School Chaplains need your support to continue their active service in government schools in ACT. We have the goal to increase the chaplaincy hours to 15 per week across all our schools. As a first step we need to supplement the federal government funding by $2,000 per chaplain to maintain their current 12 hours per week. By sponsoring local chaplains for as little as $20 per month you can help them continue to provide vital support for young people in our ACT government schools. You can be part of this valued work by sponsoring* a local school chaplain online at: http://scact.org.au/ Contact Di Priest, Director School Chaplaincy ACT, to find out how you can receive prayer updates or join a School Chaplaincy Support Team. *Your gift is tax deductible