Locum letter for the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

Welcome back to those who have been away or perhaps are joining us for worship today after a break. Please join us for morning tea and the “sausage sizzle to follow”. A welcome back to members of the choir and to Roger Brown our Musical Director. Special thanks also to Cyril Thomas for playing the organ during the holiday season. Holidays are now over for the time being and its back to work, school and parish activities. Please see the calendar in this bulletin for details of Ash Wednesday services and the Pancake party on the 13th February.

Paul is on the defensive in today’s reading from Corinthians. There have been other teachers who have made their way into the community of Corinth, preachers who can boast of their eloquence, who expect to be rewarded for their words. The reading is a lively expression of Paul’s feelings and joy in preaching. He is prepared to give up everything for his Lord.
Today’s Gospel is another typical day in the ministry of Jesus. He is among the crowd healing and teaching. In the morning he makes time for prayer.

As we prepare for Lent may we take a few minutes out of our busy day for prayer and mediation. It works wonders helping is to focus and be prepared.

Shalom

Ray

Locum Letter – 7th January 2018

Christmas celebrates the coming of Christ to Israel. Epiphany the coming of Christ for all humanity. In some countries Epiphany is seen as more significant than Christmas and based on the arrival of the Magi from the east and their gift giving it is the time to exchange presents. It is I think sad that in Australia we tend to wrap up Christmas at the end of Boxing Day and move quickly to the long summer holidays. I am not suggesting we abandon the holiday but rather take a little more time to celebrate Christmas.

The three Magi we are told have a knowledge of astronomy as well as a bit of magic about them for frankincense and myrrh were used in spells and the word for wise men can also mean magician. Their humility and recognition of the Christ child stands in stark contrast to King Herod. Herod was a Jew but he refused to recognise Jesus. Instead he had all the male children under the age of two killed at the time of the birth of Jesus to protect his authority and power. This contrasts with the Magi the outsiders who find Jesus and humbly bow before him.

This poses for us a question for consideration. We Christians are supposed to know about Jesus and the call of discipleship but how often do we find ourselves being reminded from those outside the Church and faith when we fall short and fail to practice what we believe.

Epiphany invites us to overcome our prejudices and stereotypes and to be open to all people. Epiphany invites us to engage with the mystery of God for our time and place.

Happy Epiphany and New Year to all.

Shalom

Ray

 

Locum Letter 31st December 2017

Locum letter 31st December 2017

I hope you all had a very happy Christmas and continue to
enjoy the holiday season that follows.

On Boxing Day our son Tim, his wife Loubna and grand daughter Sarah arrived for three weeks from London. This is the first time the three grandchildren have been together, and they have each been watching and engaging with each other in different and friendly ways.

In our Australian context with warm and hot weather at this time of the year, the holiday season provides families and friends with opportunities to get together and
enjoy each other’s company. It is a time for reflection and preparation for the coming year and the making of new year resolutions.

In today’s Gospel the parents of the infant Jesus bring him to Jerusalem to fulfil the ritual according to the law of Moses of purification. Simeon and Anna model faithful Israelites who through their faith journey recognize the Child as the fulfilment of God’s promise. They give witness to Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary and the Shepherds in recognising the salvation promised is at hand.

On Wednesday we observed the Feast of the Holy Innocents remembering the slaughter of innocent children by Herod following the birth of Jesus. He was threatened and acted to eliminate any challenge to his power.

Today children across the world are murdered, threatened and abused because of the actions of evil regimes and power hungry governments and individuals.
I urge you to recognise the plight of children and commit yourself to safety of children and to preserve for them a healthy and prosperous future.

Shalom
Ray