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St Paul’s Cathedral, Sale St Alban’s Kilmany, St Anne's Golden Beach & St Mark's Loch Sport
We acknowledge the Gunaikurnai people as the original custodians of this region.
All churches of the parish stand on the lands of the Gunaikurnai people.
Dean: The Very Rev’d Susanna Pain 0418 637 469 [email protected] Cathedral Office: 149 Cunninghame Street P.O. Box 691 Sale Vic 3850
Phone: 5144 2020 email: [email protected]
Website:stpaulssale.org.au Facebook:www.facebook.com/StPaulsCathedralSale
Sentence from Scripture
Thus says the Lord, ‘Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my
salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed.’ Isaiah 56.1
Prayer of the Day
God of freedom,
you have broken the tyranny of sin
and sent the Spirit of your Son into our hearts:
give us grace to dedicate our
freedom to your service,
that all people may know the glorious
liberty of the children of God;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Associate Priest/Hospital Chaplain: Rev’d Heather Toms 0400 512 217
Associate Priest: Rev’d Lyn Williams 0476 285 697 [email protected]
Honorary Associate Priest: Rev’d Nikolai Blaskow 0428 167 724
Hon. Priest: Rev’d Brian Norris 0418 633446 [email protected]
Cathedral Organist: Anthony Hahn 0437 569 608
Cathedral Prayer Chain Requests
Please contact Naomi McDonald 5144 5922
The prayer chain is for anyone in need of prayer
16th August 2020
Pentecost 11 Cathedral Parish Vision: “People of Christian faith –
Encouraging connection between the Divine and the everyday.
”
A Prayer for the Parish of Sale
Come Holy Spirit breathe through us:
Enable us to know and make known the connection
between You and the every day.
Help us to be relevant and approachable to the community,
to engage inclusively with them and each other,
and to stay connected with you.
Enable us to show Christ’s unconditional love in action.
This we ask in Jesus name, Amen.
A Reading from The Book of Genesis
Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and
he cried out, ‘Send everyone away from me.’ So no one stayed with him when
Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the
Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. Joseph said to his
brothers, ‘I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?’ But his brothers could not answer
him, so dismayed were they at his presence. Then Joseph said to his brothers,
‘Come closer to me.’ And they came closer. He said, ‘I am your brother Joseph,
whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with
yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.
For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years in
which there will be neither ploughing nor harvest. God sent me before you to
preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it
was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and
lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry and go up to my
father and say to him, “Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all
Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and
you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, as well as
your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. I will provide for you there—since
there are five more years of famine to come—so that you and your household, and
all that you have, will not come to poverty.” And now your eyes and the eyes of my
brother Benjamin see that it is my own mouth that speaks to you. You must tell my
father how greatly I am honoured in Egypt, and all that you have seen. Hurry and
bring my father down here.’ Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and
wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his brothers and wept
upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.
Genesis 45.1-15
Psalm 133
Behold how good and how lovely it is:
when families live together in unity.
It is fragrant as oil upon the head,
that runs down over the beard:
fragrant as oil upon the beard of Aaron,
that ran down over the collar of his robe.
It is like a dew of Hermon:
like the dew that falls upon the hill of Zion.
For there the Lord has commanded his blessing:
which is life for evermore.
A Reading from a Letter to the Romans
Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the
Gentiles, I glorify my ministry
in order to make my own people jealous, and thus save some of them.
For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be
but life from the dead!
If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy;
and if the root is holy, then the branches also are holy.
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were
grafted in their place to share the rich root of the olive tree,
do not vaunt yourselves over the branches. If you do vaunt yourselves, remember
that it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you.
You will say, ‘Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.’
That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand only
through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe.
For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you.
Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity towards those who have
fallen, but God’s kindness towards you, provided you continue in his kindness;
otherwise you also will be cut off.
And even those of Israel, if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in, for
God has the power to graft them in again.
For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted,
contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural
branches be grafted back into their own olive tree.
So that you may not claim to be wiser than you are, brothers and sisters, I want you
to understand this mystery: a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full
number of the Gentiles has come in.
And so all Israel will be saved; as it is written,
‘Out of Zion will come the Deliverer;
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob.’
‘And this is my covenant with them,
when I take away their sins.’
As regards the gospel they are enemies of God for your sake; but as regards
election they are beloved, for the sake of their ancestors;
for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of
their disobedience,
so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they
too may now receive mercy.
For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.
Romans 11.13-32
The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew
Glory to you Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a
Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, ‘Have mercy on
me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.’ But he did not
answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, ‘Send her away,
for she keeps shouting after us.’ He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of
the house of Israel.’ But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’
He answered, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ She
said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’
table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for
you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed instantly. Matthew 15.21-28
From the dean
Dear friends,
It is difficult to think six weeks ahead, six months ahead, a year, two. When all this
is over.... I think what is more helpful is to try and be present to today instead..
yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery, today is the present that's why we call it a
gift. It is all we have, the present, augmented by memories and hopes and dreams. I
dont know if I'll be here tomorrow, so how am I going to live today?
Laurence Freeman OSB writes:
'One of the challenges but also one of the delights of meditation that you will
discover is that it brings you into the present moment, where we very rarely are. So
you will become aware of the flying beetle, or of something in your immediate
environment. That’s unusual. We very rarely pay attention to the things that are
immediately present to us. They are very fleeting. We don’t have time to pay
attention to them, to enjoy them or to be aware of them. And that’s very crucial
when it comes to working relationships – talking with a colleague, talking with your
boss, or talking to your supervisor, or talking to somebody you are training – for
you to be fully present to them, to be aware of their mood, to be aware that they may
frightened of you if you’re their boss. You have power over them. You may not want
to be assertive and so on, but they may be nervous about you, frightened of you. Or
there may be anger in them or sadness. A lot of the psychological research into
meditation suggests that meditators have a very highly enhanced ability to read
non-verbal communication. So you become aware of somebody’s real feelings, what
they are thinking, what they are feeling, by the expression on their face, their body
language, just because you are there. No magical insight. But you are just present
to them and aware.' The Work of Selfless Attention, Laurence Freeman
So I am practising, practising being present. I am not always good at it, but that's
prayer, being present..
and I am practising gratitude..
and caring for others and love..
Stop. Look around you. What can you see? What can you hear, touch, taste, smell?
What draws your attention? There is a taste of Spring in the air.
The invitation today is to be, to be in the world and to notice. Make it your intention
to be as present as you can to what is happening both within and without. You may
choose to walk, release any expectations. Each step you take, imagine that your feet
are both blessing the ground and being blessed by it. Let your breath be long and
slow. Bring your awareness to God's sanctuary all around you.
Notice what draws your attention.
Look at what 'shimmers' for you
Listen for the sounds of life around you, the rustle of the breeze, the song of the
magpies or any subtle elements of creation singing this song.
Pause regularly simply to receive this gift. Breathe it in. Let it have some space in
your heart. Then continue on until something else causes you to stop.
Simply walk, listen, pause even just around your unit, your house. We practice
presence so that we might cultivate our ability to really hear the voice of the book of
nature speaking to us.
It sounds simple, yet it takes practice. ( inspired by Christine Valters Paintner earth,
our original monastery: cultivating Wonder and gratitude through intimacy with
nature)
God says, 'Be still and know that I am God'
Jesus says, 'I came that you may have life, life in all its fullness.'
I say, pay attention, God is sounding all around you today.
Kate Campbell writes of a life giving activity:
On 20 July several of us gathered to begin making face masks for people in need.
We had planned to gather again shortly afterwards, but COVID interrupted that
with our latest lockdown. Since that initial gathering of measurers, cutters and
sewers, approximately 180 face masks have now been supplied. What an effort!
Thanks to everyone in the team - Ann, Cheryl, Margaret, Kaye, Susanna, Kathy,
Michelle, Josie. Thank you also to those who have donated fabrics and elastic.
There has also been the privilege and joy of connecting with people not connected
with the church and in these days of uncertainty, it is a practical ministry that we
can offer and reach out, so if you or anyone you know is in need of masks, please
ring or sms me on 0402 514 829. Kate Campbell
Here is another nourishing activity. What does a quiet afternoon of prayer on zoom
look like? On Sunday 9th August at 2pm 29 of us met on Zoom, listened to a
reflection on earth as original monastery, God in creation.
‘Jesus shows a wonderful attitude toward created things by using water bread fish wine
light creatures such as birds of the air, foxes, seed and mud. The parables show that
Jesus assumed the worth of the created universe, the dependability of nature, the
recurrence of the seasons, the normal pattern of sowing and harvesting, of planting a
vineyard and caring for it, of seeing the clouds and counting the rain. The natural world
is the stage where the reign of God is enacted, the place where faith in God with all of its
dimensions is lived out.’ John Klassen OSB
When we take Christ incarnation seriously, we discover that the holy is indeed
everywhere. Jesuit palaeontologist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin writes: ‘By means of all
created things, without exception, the divine assails us.’
A visual reflection followed, with images mostly taken around Sale, of water,
flowers, trees, sunrise, sunset.. all to the sound of the bamboo flute. "Surely God is
in this place, and I was not aware of it." Genesis 28:16
We then had a hour or so alone to walk, or sit, to journal or stitch, or garden, to pray
and read and listen.
At 3.30pm we gathered again on zoom, listening to some quiet music, then broke
into small groups to reflect on our experience. When we were all together again
people reflected in the chatroom.
People’s comments included:
nourishment for my soul; we live on borrowed land; peace; a greater sense of my
connection with God in creati; a feeling of community; the simplicity of the small;
that taking time just to ‘be’ is graced gift; finding peace and quiet among my busy
lifestyle; a seed must be smothered to grow, perhaps we in Melbourne are being
smothered so we can grow; looking at things in a different way, the lorikeets more
interesting, the jasmine smells better, the joy of God’s creation; appreciate the
nurturing this land has received and yearning to nurture and nourish it more.
Pause, pause, pause enjoying being in the rain. My violets are smiling; Really
appreciated listening to the insights of others at this time of confusion, the
awareness of being born on Wiradjuri country and being in my spiritual home;
From looking at the honeyeater in the Grevillea I let my gaze be blessed; Stillness
and quiet; Need to recognise and honour the sense of unity between all things all a
part of God’s plan and open the shutters; Life is seasonal and even though it is
winter, Spring is about if we are open to seeing it.
At the end of our time together, we heard some wonderful scripture references to
creation, and a prayer.. It was a gentle, prayerful afternoon in community.
Another quiet afternoon of prayer
30 August 2020, 2pm- 4pm
Are we also God's delight? ..then I was beside God, like a skilled artisan
and I was daily God's delight, rejoicing before
God always. Proverbs 8:30
A quiet time of prayer, resting in our wonderful God, listening, delighting in God's
presence and creativity.
Gather on zoom, pray together, listen to a short reflection, spend focused time in
silence. Sit with some questions and scripture, then gather again to share our
experience. Please contact Susanna to register. [email protected] Zoom link
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3051417696?pwd=NGFoekJsbDNSS05BVHZvcnh6SUV1dz09
Change – the things I’ve had to rethink since my conversion from atheism to
Christianity
On Thursday 13 August, we had a very different online experience. The Reverend
Nikolai Blaskow spoke of the changes he has made since moving from atheism to
Christianity. He began:
“I come to you tonight as one telling someone else’s story when I know that,
actually, I am telling my own story. But my story and your story co-mingle. Ours is
the story of Joseph Campbell’s ‘Hero With a Thousand Faces’. In a very true sense
we all, regardless of when we were born, inherit the past. Not just the most recent
past in living memory but the deep past, the archaic past.”
“I am here” he said, “to bring the simple, very simple message of Jesus of Nazareth,
who always preferred to call himself Son of Man, Son of humanity if you will: the
one who said of his enemies, ‘Father forgive them for they don’t know what they
are doing’.
“I come to you as one who encountered that same Jesus of Nazareth, who on the top
of Fisher Library at Sydney University, after calling me by name, didn’t shove a
Jebus pill down my throat; didn’t set down for me the four spiritual laws to which I
had to subscribe, but in true Jewish fashion, rather than making a statement, asked
me a question:
Nikolai, what are you going to do with what you know?
And that’s the challenge which I lay down to those among us who do believe and
have had that same encounter with Jesus—that Jesus, who includes and doesn’t
exclude, and who for his pains of inclusion, was crucified...
What kind of real world am I talking about? Nikolai asked. What kind of G-d what
kind of Christ am I referring to exactly?
Firstly, I’m talking about the God of Moses, who when asked by Moses who ‘he ’
was, answered in the present tense: “I am who I am”, in Chief Rabbi Sacks ’
translation from the Hebrew, Asher ayer asher, I shall be who and when and where I
shall be….
A G-d who refuses to be defined in an exclusive way. Who leaves plenty of room
for speculation and discussion, such that every protest atheist, every person of
whatever persuasion can sit around that table, and feel welcome and included.
This is a G-d who can’t be shocked, as we are shocked, who understands and loves
in ways that are almost incomprehensible to this our ‘human all too human ’
mindset.
Secondly, it is the Christ of Matthew 25, who says, ‘in as much as you did it to
‘them ’, you did it to me. ’Don’t be a goat of a person, be a sheep if you must,
who visits those in prison,
who gives a cup of water to those who are thirsty,
bread to those who are hungry.
“Here are Nietzsche’s wonderful words, from a man who knew more than
most, what it means to follow the real crucified Jesus, not the manufactured one, the
true Jesus of the Evangel:
This “bringer of glad tidings” died as he had taught – not to “redeem men” but to
show how one must live. This practice is his legacy to mankind: his behaviour
before the judges…before the accusers and all kinds of slander and scorn – his
behaviour on the cross. He does not resist, he does not defend his right, he takes no
step to ward off the worst; on the contrary, he provokes it. And he begs, he suffers,
he loves with those, in those who do him evil. Not to resist, not to be angry, not to
hold responsible but to resist not even the evil one – to love him.
Der Antichrist, 35. November 26, 1888, Nietzsche writes to Paul Deussen,
“Meine Umwerthung aller Werthe mit dem Hauptitel ‘DerAntichrist ’ist fertig.”
[“My Revaluation of Values under the main title ‘The Antichrist ’is finished.” (KSB
8, 492).
Thirdly, and finally, what kind of real world am I talking about? It’s the world that
Neo tries to usher in, in The Matrix:
I know you are out there, I can feel you now. I know that you are afraid, you are
afraid of us, you’re afraid of change. I don’t know the future, I didn’t come here to
tell you how this is going to end. I came here to tell you how it’s going to begin. I
am going to hang up this phone and then I am going to show these people what you
don’t want them to see. I’m going to show them a world without you. A world
without rules, and controls, without borders or boundaries, a world where anything
is possible. Where we go from there is a choice I leave to you.
It’s what the pandemic is telling us: “Wake Up, Wake Up”. And I know it ’s a
struggle for you and me. So many things to learn and unlearn. So much change.
But love, a special kind of love is what is needed: the love of Jesus of
Nazareth. That must be our aim.”
Nikolai finished with the 85 year old former Secretary of State Robert McNamara’s
first and cardinal lesson, drawn from the Cuban Missile Crisis, to
empathise with our enemies.
After his talk there was time for questions and comments. People Wrote the
questions in the chat room, and Dean Susanna posed the questions, questions like:
“Some atheist friends say ,”What sort of G-d would inflict pandemic on the
world?””
“What are some of the things you had to unlearn?”
“If I have heard G-d’s voice as you did, how come the voice goes silent?”
“Do chaplains bless the soldiers to go out to kill or is the chaplain blessing the
soldiers in case they are killed?”
“How do we empathise with atheists?”
Forty people were there, from all parts of Gippsland and beyond. It was a
challenging and up lifting time. Nikolai finished with the peace prayer of St Francis
of Assisi:
‘Lord, make me an instrument of your peace...’
These offerings will continue with other quiet days, and talks including, a talk and
discussion on zoom by Dean Susanna Pain on 10th September 7.30pm- 8.30pm
'my great grandparents: Bishop Arthur Wellesley and Mrs
Annie Pain'
a talk and discussion on zoom by Dean Susanna Pain
They came to Gippsland at the beginning of last century, the
first incumbents at Bishopscourt in Sale. I carry their genes,
but who do I take after? Some interesting stories and
questions.
Contact Susanna on 0418637469 or [email protected] to register interest.
Join Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3051417696?pwd=NGFoekJsbDNSS05BVHZvcnh6SU
V1dz09
With love, and prayer,
Susanna
Offerings at a distance..
If you would like to make an offering to St Paul’s, you can do it online or can drop off
envelopes to our treasurer at The Centre Manager’s Office at the Gippsland Centre,(go
past the toilets near Woolworths) where there is a special collection box.
Internet Bank Transfer: Cathedral’s ministry and mission
BSB 013-795 Account no: 4962-98866 Ref: Offering etc.
Internet Bank Transfer: St Paul’s Building Fund (‘Fill the gap’)
BSB 705 077 Acc no: 000 409 69 NO reference needed
Filling the gaps fundraiser to repoint the brick work. Total: $11,633
Zoom Links: To listen to any via the telephone ring: 7018 2005 then when asks, add the specific Meeting ID:
(below) When asked for your personal ID, just press hash #
Daily: silent Christian Meditation, 8.15am - 8.45am
via Zoom: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/809497711 Meeting ID: 809 497 711
Daily: Evening Prayer at 5.30pm - 6.00pm
via zoom: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/894354836 Meeting ID: 894 354 836
Bulletin, Sermon, link to Video/Audio Services – via St Paul’s
http://www.stpaulssale.org.au/resources/32-notice-board.html
Diocesan Website with all recorded services: https://www.gippsanglican.org.au/
Sunday Bulletin / Web/Facebook contact:
Christine Morris 0438 595 056 [email protected]
Copyright 1995 the Anglican Church of Australia Trust Corporation. From the text of A Prayer Book for Australia, published under
the imprint of Broughton Books. Reproduced with permission. . The New Revised Standard Version, Nashville, TN Thomas Nelson
Publishers 1989. Unauthorised copying is prohibited Together in Song Used with permission
A copy of this bulletin is being sent via email weekly. If you would like a copy please email
[email protected] and we will add you to the list. However a copy is part of the
bulletin on line, via our website www.stpaulssale.org.au.
Books still Wanted! Spread the word! Contact Christine on 0438 595056
Prayer for uncertain times
God of the present moment,
God who in Jesus stills the storm
and soothes the frantic heart;
bring hope and courage to us as we wait in uncertainty.
Bring hope that you will make us the equal of whatever lies ahead.
Bring us courage to endure what cannot be avoided,
for your will is health and wholeness;
you are God, and we need you. Amen.
New Zealand Prayer Book
Let Us Pray. Intercessions following the Revised Common Lectionary’,
Janet Nelson, Harper Collins Religious, Australia, 2000.- (adapted)
Loving God, as you once heard the pleas of a Canaanite woman for her daughter,
hear our prayers for the well-being of your world and your church.
We praise you, O God, that you are the God of all nations: we bring to you our
prayers for all the peoples of the world.
We pray for all leaders of nations, for all with political and legal responsibilities,
especially our Premier, Daniel Andrews and Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, and
their medical and financial advisors.
We pray too for your people who are pushed to the edges of society by oppression,
injustice or by discrimination because of race, gender or creed.
We pray for the first nations people of this country, who have often been made
outsiders in their own land.
We praise you, O God, that your church is a house of prayers for every nation: we
bring to you our prayers for all who confess your name.
We pray for all leaders of churches, for the World Council of Churches, the
National Council of Churches and all ecumenical bodies, for our Primate, our
Bishop Richard, clergy and lay leaders in this diocese as we negotiate Covid
restrictions.
We praise you, O God, that you turn away none who call on you for help: we bring
to you our prayers for all who are need. We pray for the sick and the sorrowing and
for those who care for them....
We pray especially for all who are marginalised by disability or disease, for those
with mental illnesses, for the elderly and those shut away in institutions. For those
suffering from Covid 19, and health workers caring for them.
We praise you, O God, that you welcome home your children of every creed and
nation: we give you thanks for your faithful people of every generation. Teach us a
faith that is intelligent, persistent and bold, that as you once commended the faith of
a Canaanite woman and judged her worthy, we too may be found acceptable in your
eyes and, with all your holy people, come to dwell for ever in your presence.
Masks are being made by parishioners to give away.
Order one or more today, and some for your friends!
Contact Kate Campbell: 0402 514 829
