Dear People of God
Grace and Peace to you all
There’s a sheet at the back of both churches for names for the All Souls commemoration. I have attached a copy of last year’s list to it, so I am really only asking for names of those who are not already listed.
All Souls’ Day is 2 November, which is a Thursday. We are observing All Saints on 5 November, the following Sunday, and rather than detract from the festival of that day it seems proper that we observe a Requiem Eucharist on the Thursday, 2 November, as we remember before God all those whom have loved and who have passed into his nearer presence. The service will be at 6pm in St Michael’s.
Given the resounding lack of enthusiasm about my change to the delivery system of the weekly mailout, I will revert to my original method. (I might, however, try preaching a totally different sermon from the one in the printout, just to see if anyone notices!)
By the time you are reading this the Referendum results will be in. Whichever way it goes, it is obvious that this nation needs much healing and reconciliation, not only between the First Nations people and the later arrivals, but between different political and social perspectives. We need also to identify those people and groups which have deliberately promoted false information and ensure that “critical listening skills” are practised across our society. I know that I often quote to dictum that as Anglicans we need to “respect the differences and celebrate the diversity”, but the same applies more broadly to our whole society. May God give us the grace for true reconciliation.
That’s all for the week. See you in church.
Fr George
Saints and Commemorations of the Week
16 Oct Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, bishops and martyrs ((1555) were martyrs under Mary 1 of England as she sought to restore the English church to Papal authority.
17 Oct Ignatius of Antioch (115) martyred under Emperor Flavian he was unusually transported to Rome for execution in the Coliseum. He taught extensively and visited several Christian communities during transport to execution
18 Oct LUKE Evangelist and Martyr The issue of his martyrdom is contested as is his identity as a Hellenistic Jew, but more likely to have been a Gentile. Thought to have been a physician and probably the author of the Gospel and Acts of the Apostles: his writing is the most elegant of the gospels and shows several indications of being directed to the Roman Christian community He was a faithful companion of St Paul throughout his travels.
19 Oct Henry Martyn, missionary and Bible translator in India and Persia (1812) was ordained in Ely Diocese and later was appointed as a chaplain in the East India company, where he earnestly studied the languages of the sub-continent and provided translations of the Scriptures and Book of Common Prayer in Urdu, Persian and various other languages of the region. He was weakened by the Plague and died on the way back to England.
Propers for the Day
Sentence
This is our God for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in is salvation. (Isaiah 25:9)
Collect
Saving and healing God, you have promised that those who have died with Christ shall live with him: give us grace continually to be thankful for all you have done for us, and in that thankfulness to be eager to serve and live for others, so that we and all your children may rejoice in your salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Readings
Exodus 32:1-14 The Golden Calf
Psalm 106: 1-6, 20-24 A confession of Israel’s sin
Philippians 4 or vv1-9 Rejoice in the Lord always
Matthew 22:1-14 Parable of the Wedding Banquet
Sermon (Fr George)
In the Name of God. Amen
There’s a an almost indigestible array of readings today.
The Golden Calf story is readily applicable to modern society. It presents us with the story of the Hebrews wandering through the desert, time and again totally dependent upon undeserved bounty: they are a mob of perpetual grumblers. “Where’s this Moses bloke gone? We don’t like him much anyway. He keeps putting rules on our behaviour and we don’t know this Yahweh he keeps talking about. We can be just like the other tribes around and have our own gods: they seem to have some pretty fancy ones and the fancier they are the more powerful they must be.” Sound familiar? Small wonder that Moses is frequently fed up with them but nonetheless always stands to intercede for them when God says he’s going to eliminate them. It’s the same story throughout human history, no less so in 21st century Australia. Look at the Golden Calves we have created for ourselves? “You deserve this. You have worked for this. Bigger, better, faster newer. Don’t care about those left behind in the consumer stakes.” Just look at the advertising supplements I what used to be our newspapers, which I now refer to as the “Harvey Norman Gazettes”. God doesn’t give us the consumer goods we crave or the status we chase (unless of course we don’t recognise the very gift of life itself as coming from God’s divine love), and whilst we have a reasonable expectation that by effort we keep ourselves, it’s when reasonable expectation spills over into avarice and sheer greed and ignoring the marginalised and the needy that we experience the wrath of God through the sheer collapse of our social systems. Have I equated God with responsible social order, or am I saying that our stewardship of Gd’s Creation leads us to a responsible social order.
The Psalm, read in full, is a potted history of the rebellion of the people and God’s faithfulness to his promises. In spite of what we are and what we do, God’s love is persistent and restorative.
The last chapter of Paul’s letter to the Philippians has all the marks of a farewell letter. Of all the faith communities which he founded, the Philippians seem to have been the closest to his heart and with them he is serenely happy in this relationship with Christ. Verses 4-7 can almost be said to be the very core of Paul’s relationship with them (and for those of us who have sung in cathedral choirs this is a particularly joyful passage!): his whole focus is on rejoicing in the Lord.
The gospel reading, the Parable of the Wedding Banquet, forms a part of Matthew’s collection of intensive teaching through parables, almost leading to the final crisis of betrayal and crucifixion. Again, it uses the teaching technique of exaggeration to make the point crystal clear. It would not take much on the part of the hearers to line up the salvation history of the Hebrews with what’s being described here with the stories of rejection of the prophets and successive conquests of captivity. Remember that Jesus says “I have other sheep which are not of this fold” and the invited guests are not the only ones called into the banquet.
There’s a particular point here which is a stumbling block for many people. The guest called in from the highways and byways who isn’t properly dressed. Is it fair to throw him out simply because he isn’t properly attired? I understand that the tradition was that the appropriate clothing was sent out as a part of the invitation. The inappropriately attired guest has effectively refused the generosity of the host and relies on his own worth: we might “come as you are” but there’s a changing room at the door where you are invited to put on the garments of salvation. Refusal is tantamount to a gross insult to the host.
God’s redeeming love demands a response from us: a response of obedience, knowing that we will be equipped with the grace to live as we ought, focussed on God on not on ourselves.
Amen
Intercessions
For the peace of the world and those who lead and have authority amongst us: for an end to war and savagery in Ukraine and in the Land of the Holy One and all places of division and strife; for this country and our Prime Minister Anthony, Premier Chris, and all Members of Parliament; for a need for a strong desire for reconciliation and justice for all in this land
For the Church throughout the world: Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury, The Church of North India, our sister Diocese of Guadalcanal and for the Religious Society of Friends (The Quakers). For the Australian Church, for Geoffrey our Primate, the Bishop to the Aboriginal People; For the Church in this Diocese: for our Bishops, Peter, Sonia and Charlie, the ministry of Lakes Grammar School, for the Parishes of Dungog and Gresford-Paterson, their clergy and people: for the Church in this community, our clergy George and Gail and for people preparing for Baptism and Confirmation: and for Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic church. For all communities and societies, parishes and people under the patronal care of St Luke
For the sick and needy: for those who whom prayer has been sought, for their healing and strength, for Geoff and Mary Leonard, Robyn Blackhall, Jenny, Indi, Barbara D, Val Frazer, Lynn, Betty, Les, Ann, Daphne, Bruce, Debbie M, Samuel, John J, Nicole M, Jenny H, Didi, Peter McC, Susan, Elizabeth, Dawn A, Heidi, Wendy F, Peter, Vicki I, Jenny M, Dal D, Ben, Keith, Sammy Jo and Noah, Stuart, Sue T, Derek, Zoe, Paul and Katrina H, Levi, Arlo, Grace, Roslyn, Lisa, Ryan, Robbie….
Rejoicing in the fellowship of the Blessed Mother Mary, Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, and Ignatius of Antioch, bishops and martyrs, and Luke, Evangelist and Martyr, whose commemorations fall this week; and for the departed, whom we have loved and see no more, and those whose anniversary of death is at this time: for Warren Vasella
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