The Messenger

St George the Martyr, Goodwood

February, 2021

Dear Friends

CHRISTMAS IS OVER, LET THE WORK BEGIN. I always enjoy the masses over Christmas, especially when it is not too hot, and the midnight mass is always so special, with the last hymn, Silent Night, sung by candlelight around the crib. It is surely one of the most beautiful moments of the year. But Christmas passes, then we have St John when we bless the wine, then we have Epiphany to commemorate the mysterious Magi who visited the Christchild, and we bless the incense, then the Feast of the Baptism of the Waters and we bless the holy water, and finally, at the end of the month the feast of the forty days past Christmas, Candlemas, another special feast when the candles are blessed for the year. Then our minds turn towards the approach of Ash Wednesday, this year on 17 February and our Lenten discipline.

From the Register

We have had two parishioners die over the last two months. On 27 November, Geoffrey Roger Norton died. Geoff was a long-time member of the congregation, and started coming here around the 1950s or 60s, and was a childhood friend of the late Dudley Wilson, another stalwart of the parish. Geoff died aged 96.

Then at the end of the old year, on 29 December, John Andrew Baird Hokin, passed away. John had long ties with St George’s. His father, Leslie, was a friend of Fr Willoughby and Fr Willoughby was John’s godfather. He moved back to St George’s around 10 years ago with his wife Margaret, and had been a stalwart in the parish, serving on parish council and a myriad of other jobs.

Study Group

We are resuming our monthly study group on the last Sunday of the month, next month on 28 February after the 10 am mass, on the history of the Book of Common Prayer. Bring along your own copy for the study.

Confirmation

On Tuesday 2 February Bishop Ferguson will confirm Lorraine Colvin. It has been great fun preparing Lorraine for confirmation – she is, as the old Book of Common Prayer puts it, “of riper years.” It was only in 1662 that a form of baptism for adults, which is the meaning here of riper years, was added, owing to the Puritan suppression of infant baptism during the Commonwealth period, when the Church of England was proscribed. Lorraine is a member of our gardening group (every Tuesday morning) so we have weeded together then studied together evey week.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday this year is 17 February, and we will have masses that day at 8 am and 10 am. This day marks the beginning of Lent, and the imposition of ashes, with the words “Remember, that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” reminds us of our mortality, and our need to acknowledge our limitations and sins. Lent is always a time to simplify; give something up, give away alms, and spend time in prayer focusing on what God wants of us and not on our own selfish desires.

We will have some booklets at the back of the church for those who want some special reading over Lent. At the end of this magazine there is also an article about Bible reading plans for those who want to improve their knowledge of Scripture. There is also a good reflection at the end on how to make a rule of life for Lent.

Stations of the Cross

Each Friday in Lent we have the traditional stations of the Cross, where we follow Our Lord’s last journey with prayers around the church. This year it will be on Fridays at 8 am, followed by the daily mass.

Adventure Connect

This group was founded by a small group of committed Anglicans under the leadership of Fr Dave McDougall, the Superior of the Society of the Sacred Mission, an order with long ties to St George’s through the old St Michael’s house. Adventure Connect offers active weekends on the Murray River for young people at risk. Last weekend it hosted a camp at Walker Flat for a diverse group of families, many with foster children. Activities included contemplative kayaking at sunrise, exhilarating jet ski runs and – most popularly – adrenaline fuelled tube riding behind the very cool ski boat (donated last year by a local Anglican). St George’s was present in a very real way with Tim Hender immersed in the water activities with Mother Lesley McLean’s grandson Toby Meyer, and Mother Lesley herself preparing and leading the services.

In a few week’s time, they will be hosting the first group from St John’s Youth Services (under the Anglicare umbrella) and they would value your prayers. We hope to have Fr Dave as a guest preacher here during Lent.

News from the Rectors

Many of you will remember our former Rector, Fr Peter Thomson and Ros. While they were here, they had their children, Andrew and Joanna. Andrew now has had his first child, Charlie Peter, on 9 December making Fr Peter and Ros grandparents. Joanna has now graduated in law and is a solicitor.

Please also remember in your prayers Fr John Devenport and Bishop David McCall, both of whom have been in hospital lately.

Chant group

Our Chant Group has resumed on Thursday nights between 7.30 pm and 8.30 pm under the leadership of our capable Director of Music, Sarah Clay. Chanting does not need a musical background to join, it is an easy way to learn the ancient music of the Church.

Organ Scholar

We have appointed Hamish Madden as organ scholar this year. Hamish is presently studying music and our support helps him pay for organ lessons.

The Prayer from Ash Wednesday

To finish off, I include the introduction to the mass for Ash Wednesday (remember, at 8 and 10 am).

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, since early days Christians have observed with great devotion the time of our Lord’s passion and resurrection and prepared for this by a season of penitence and fasting. By carefully keeping these days, Christians take to heart the call to repentance and the assurance of forgiveness proclaimed in the gospel, and so grow in faith and in devotion to our Lord. I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy word.

God Bless

Fr Scott

Services

Sunday Services

8.00 am   Mass

10.00 am   Solemn Sung Mass

In Lent this is preceded by the Litany

Weekday Services

Monday                      Fr Scott’s Day Off

Tuesday    10.00 am   Mass,

followed by gardening

Wednesday 8.00 am   Mass

Thursday  12 noon    Mass

7.30 pm   Chant Group

Friday          8.00 am   Mass

In Lent        8.00 am    Stations of the Cross

8.30 am   Mass

Saturday     8.00 am   Mass

ASH WEDNESDAY

17 February

8.00 am   Mass

10.00 am   Solemn Mass

February

1       Brigid, Abbess of Kildare, c525

3       First Anglican Service in Australia, 1788

3       Anskar, Archbishop of Hamburg, Missionary in Denmark & Sweden, 865

3       Blaise, martyr, Bishop of Sebastea, Armenia, c316

5       Paul Miki and the Martyrs of Japan, 1597

7       SEXAGESIMA

10       Scholastica, sister of Benedict, Abbess of Plombariola, c543

14       QUINQUAGESIMA

15       Thomas Bray, Priest, missionary, Founder of SPCK and the SPG, 1730

16       Shrove Tuesday – The Holy Face of Jesus

17       ASH WEDNESDAY

20       William Grant Broughton, first Bishop of Australia, 1853

21       LENT 1

23       Polycarp of Smyrna, Bishop of Smyrna, c155

24       MATTHIAS, APOSTLE AND MARTYR

24       Ember Wednesday

26       Ember Friday

27       Ember Saturday

27       George Herbert, Priest, Poet, 1633

28       LENT 2

March

1       David, Bishop of Menevia, Patron of Wales, c601

2       Chad, Bishop of Lichfield, Missionary, 672

7       LENT 3

8       Edward King, Bishop of Lincoln, 1910

8       John of God, Worker among the Sick and poor, Spain, 1550

8       Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy, Priest, Poet, 1929

9       Sister Emma SSA, Superior of the Society of the Sacred Advent, Queensland, 1939

14       LENT 4 – MOTHERING SUNDAY

17       Patrick, Bishop of Armagh Missionary, Patron of Ireland, c460

18       Cyril, Bishop of Jerusalem, Teacher of the Faith, 386

19       JOSEPH OF NAZARETH

20       Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, Bishop and missionary (d. 687)

21       LENT 5 – PASSION SUNDAY

Lent & A Rule of Life

What is a Rule of Life?

(adapted from “A Rule of Life” by Robert A. Gallagher).

A rule of life is the means by which an individual Christian establishes an intentional pattern of Christian discipline which can, over time, be reflected upon, revised, and deepened. Your rule is an expression of the faith and practice of the whole Church in your own life; a discipline freely taken on to give order, support, and direction to your life; and a means of rooting your life in Christ.

As each of our lives is unique, so each rule will have a somewhat different shape. However, every rule needs to have as its base and starting point the Anglican tradition’s threefold rule of prayer (Holy Eucharist, Daily Office, and Personal Devotions) and expression of the Christian life in worship, study and action. This helps us to give ourselves to an integrated pattern of life that is grounded in the larger Christian experience, rather than to make up our own list of “rules” to follow.

A rule needs to be:

Specific: You should be able to say whether or not you are doing it.

Realistic: Something you can really manage.

Sacrificial: It should demand something of you.

Flexible: A rule must be appropriate to the circumstances of one’s life.

Responsive: Reflecting the claims and pattern of the Christian life as the Church understands and lives it.

Developing Your Own Rule of Life

Use the following form to develop your rule. You may want to use it once to describe your present practice, then go back and draft your intentions for the future. Evaluate your projected rule in terms of the criteria already suggested (specific, realistic, sacrificial, flexible and responsive). All of this is best done in the context of prayer, and in discussion with another mature Christian.

Rule of Life Worksheet

  1. WORSHIP: “Continue…in the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

Holy Eucharist: (Participate on all Sundays and major Holy Days – why not try one of the daily masses during Lent)

Daily Office: (Which Office? When? Where? With Whom?)

Personal Devotion: (Intercession, recollection, meditation, etc.)

Other: (Penance, fasting, retreats, use of a spiritual guide, etc.)

  1. STUDY: “…Continue in the apostle’s teaching and fellowship.”

Scripture: (Pattern for regular study of the Scriptures.)

Christian doctrine, Church history, Ethics, etc.: (Pattern of reading and / or group study.)

Being Equipped for Worship and Christian Action.

  1. CHRISTIAN ACTION “…To represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be.” Describe your responsibilities and opportunities for service, evangelisation and stewardship in the various areas of your life.

Family and Friends:

Work:

Community / Neighbourhood / As a citizen:

Church:

Self (Appropriate attention to your own needs; management of time and responsibilities, etc.):

Bible Reading Plans 2021

The New Year, or even upcoming Lent, is a great time to start reading the Bible. Jumping- in at Genesis and climbing back out at Revelation can be a very long slog and the Anglican tradition of several short readings from the Old and New Testaments and the Psalms each day is far more appealing. But even then, which readings do we use, how do we keep ourselves focussed on reading each day, and how do we catch-up when we don’t?

The answer is a Bible Reading Plan! Here we’ll look at a couple of different options, there’s sure to be one to suit you.

  1. Australian Lectionary 2021

The Australian Lectionary is based on the Revised Common Lectionary which is used by the Anglican, most Protestant and the Roman Catholic churches worldwide. There’s a real grace from sharing your daily reading with your fellow Christians around the world. However, it’s focussed on Sunday readings, the steady flow is often broken-up by feast days and the sequence of Bible books can be confusing. This means that keeping track can be tricky and my view is that the Lectionary is best for the professionals and regular weekday mass attendees.

Available on-line or instore from Koorong.

  1. Five Day a Week Reading Plans 2021

My favourite! Not only does it allow for two days of late nights a week, it also orders the History books of the Old Testament in some form of chronological sequence – anybody who’s struggled through Kings and Chronicles will know the mind-numbing confusion of who is doing what to whom. The PDF print out, as with all the following plans, is neat and easy to use.

A similar plan, for the New Testament only, is also available. This is strongly recommended for anybody who is new to Bible reading or has a particular calling to a deeper understanding of the Gospel and Christ’s gifts for us.

Copies in the tract case or at:

  1. Two Year and Self-Paced Plans

Time still tight? Then why not move the horizon out and commit to two years instead! The two-year plan largely moves in sequential order from Genesis forward and offers two catch- up days once each major book is completed. For even more flexibility, there is an open- ended, self-paced plan that simply allows you to mark-off each book and chapter as you’ve read it. I’ve found this very useful to use over several years as you can focus on chosen books in-depth, but still check what you’ve missed in the meantime.

Copies in the tract case or at:

The important thing is not to be discouraged! We’re called as Christians to know and love the Lord through the scriptures, not to meet a reading schedule. Even a little Bible reading is a great offering to God.

Pax et Bonum,

Tim Hender

timothy.hender@mac.com