TRINITY TIMES WINTER EDITION AUGUST 2018
Parish Church of Holy Trinity
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VICARS LETTER TO THE PARISH
Dear All, There is a little Pharisee in all of us. The issue that Jesus confronts the religious authorities about is not some long ago and far away issue. It is in the daily news and is worth our time to consider today. The disciples are picking grains of wheat, a seemingly innocuous activity, except that it’s the Sabbath and one is not to work on the Sabbath, and picking grain is work. The Pharisees, the lawmakers and law interpreters point out this obvious breach of the law. Jesus reminds them of another important breach of the law. From I Samuel ‐ a story of David, sent by Saul on an important mission and in need of food for himself and his men. He goes to the priest and asks for the bread of the Presence, bread dedicated to the lord and consumed only by priests. A huge breach of the law. By implication Jesus asserts that he and his followers are also on an important mission. Providing for basic human need, he suggests, trumps strict adherence to religious practice. After all, he says, people weren’t made for the Sabbath, the Sabbath was made for people. The purpose of the Sabbath is to nurture and enhance one’s relationship to God. Sabbath, a day of rest, was instituted by God at creation (Gen. 2) and confirmed as essential in the Torah, that is, the Jewish law. But the Pharisees zeal to maintain Sabbath laws actually violated the spirit of God’s original intention. Jesus points out that he and his followers have not profaned the Sabbath, the Pharisees have. We have a more pointed example in the second half of the story, which finds Jesus in the synagogue and the Pharisees with a front row seat. Jesus sees a man with a withered hand and he invites the man to come up to a place where everyone can see him. Jesus knows he has an audience and he engages them directly. “Is it legal on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” We tend to focus on the healing, which we already know is important to understanding Mark’s Jesus. But here, the primary focus is not whether Jesus can heal, the Pharisees don’t question that, only whether he will break the Sabbath law to do so. Jesus is giving an ultimatum to his opponents regarding the meaning of Sabbath and then provokes the Pharisees to arrest him ‐ “Stretch out your hand.” It is intentional Sabbath breaking. Jesus is angry. He’s fed up with their stubborn, closed minds, hardened hearts, and lack of compassion. He is provoked by their silence. The Christian theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who stood up to the Nazi’s said, “Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” Jesus answers his own question by healing the man, restoring him to life, doing what is good. The Pharisees are not awed or inspired by Jesus. They are not going to relinquish their authority, they are not interested in making whole, or saving life, they are wholly concerned with following the rules.
VICARS LETTER CONTINUED
Jesus is the role model for what it means to live into the reign of God; to be open to God’s will. Are we driven by correctness or compassion? By what is lawful or what is life‐ giving? When the law inhibits the coming reign of God, Jesus breaks that law open and reveals the possibilities of new wineskins. It is worth contemplating where we might be rigid in our understanding of what is right in a way that hinders what is good or what gives life? Lest we find ourselves, as Martin Luther King Jr said, “[repenting]...not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people.” May we follow the Lord of the Sabbath in opening ourselves to God’s will and to doing what is good and gives life. The gospel declares God’s love. It’s interesting how carefully calculated step-by-step programs for church numerical growth seem to come and go, much like the latest fads in business and management. As one self proclaimed successful businessman told me once: “Vicar its all a numbers game- if you want to be seen as successful- fill your church and no one will question how you got them or what they do or believe- in fact they could believe nothing or anything-its just a feel good confidence game.”
My mind wandered to our Lord Jesus who after 3 years of preaching and teaching as he went to his crucifixion five of his most faithful- four women and one man- stood at the foot of his cross- the rest scattered through fear, denial or betrayal. How for the first 400 years of the Church small and underground Christian congregations in many cases were persecuted and put to death for what they believed. The businessman’s numbers game might work well for business endeavours, where advertising and manipulation of emotions is crucial to selling a product. But the gospel is not a product; it is a declaration of God’s love. Love doesn’t come by programs- its not a numbers game. It comes in its own way in its own time. It is strengthened and proven in the crucible of self-sacrifice, patience and forbearance. It cannot be explained; it can only be lived. It’s something you live out, not something you evaluate on a scale of measurable outcomes. It’s messy, not predictable. Some times it hurts, sometimes it thrills. It’s never static. It doesn’t play by the rules; the rules can’t keep up. The main reason most people come to church and keep coming to church and become believers is the same today as it was 2,000 years ago — they meet people who like them and accept them and become their friends. Programs don’t do it — love does it. Jesus gave a new command to his disciples: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (Jn 13: 34-35) That’s a novel thought in our highly organised, programmatic society. Suppose Christians were well known for being the kind of people anybody would enjoy having for a friend. Suppose they weren’t known for being pushy and judgmental. Suppose they weren’t known for well-rehearsed emotional spiels designed to press people into a so-called “decision for Christ” the hallmark of the Mega-churches. Suppose they were genuine, caring and harmless people, who in the love of Christ loved others for who they are. Suppose they didn’t make friends with people as part of some new evangelism program, but simply because faithful friendship is what Jesus Christ is all about. Another word for what Jesus was confronting in this story is legalism. Legalism is incompatible with the gospel. Jesus Christ is who he is for us before we ever do anything. The gospel is the truth about the reconciliation God has already brought about in Jesus Christ (Col 1:19-20). Jesus’ work of reconciliation doesn’t depend on us. If it did, we’d never be reconciled, for our faith and our behaviour are always substandard at best. God did what he did in Christ because he loved us, not because we loved him first (I John 4:19) Jesus Christ is Lord of the Sabbath. We rest in him, not in our own works. His love binds us to himself, and he loves us for no other reason than that he wants to! He makes us new in himself, only because he loves us and has chosen freely not to be without us. Paul wrote, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Cor 5:17). That’s good news. God has made people — including you and me — his priority. He loves us, and we can’t make him stop loving us. In that place of refuge, in the security of God’s endless love for us, we are free to make him our priority. Therein lie the unshakable peace, joy, and fullness of life we so crave. Therein lies our true rest. God Bless, The Vicar Fr Robert Newton
THE CELTIC CROSS
by Nancy Sturgess
Above the doorway dividing the entrance to the chapel from the nave of our much loved church hangs a CELTIC CROSS consisting of a ring, cross and shaft. It has been made from a single piece of English oak more than forty years old , and contains a small piece of historic wood from the vessel HMS Victory , the flagship of Admiral Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar October 1805. The plaque accompanying it is of copper from the same ship. The ship was raised last century from the bottom of the River Thames where it had been sunk after more than thirty years of service in the Royal Navy. Some of the timber was found to be of commercial use and our church was fortunate to secure the CELTIC CROSS . The piece of historic timber and copper providing a link to our English heritage. According to Wikipedia the term CELTIC CROSS did not appear in the language until the religious revival of the early nineteenth century. However ringed crosses had been in use from the early Christian days . Inscribed in stone they have been discovered throughout the British isles , Europe, and Africa. Anthropologists have found them to be most useful in their search for a history of the world, identifying the spread of early civilization of sacred places, Christianity, trade routes and the rise and fall of peoples and places. Today the Celtic Cross is of prime importance in particular the Welsh Church. It is a symbol of Christianity as an architectural element or decoration both inside and outside religious buildings. There is more than one in Camberwell. The CELTIC CROSS consists of four arms three of which are of equal length, their shape reminiscent of handles of medieval weapons like the sword and battle axe. The Vertical fourth arm has been elongated into a shaft enabling the CROSS, to be carried and displayed for ease of identification. The Cross has its significance , as a symbol of the death of our Lord; the Circle is a nimbus a sign of eternity of eternal life or of never-ending existence, and may have remained in use from pagan times, the Celts being an ancient race. However it can also be read as an amalgamation of ancient beliefs and Christianity or the imposition of the new religion over the old to increase the spiritual dimension. The symbolism behind our Cross has been recorded by Barbara Thomson. The arms of the CROSS have been carved in a Celtic fashion. The historic piece of oak in the centre of the Cross and a small piece of copper at the base. The outer cross represents the whole year leading to the centre of the Cross, where the insert lies carrying the Holy Trinity logo as the point of infinity. Carved Celtic knot decoration on the top of the vertical section of the Cross represents the daytime whilst on the horizontal arms represents the night skies. A copy of the details of the inscription is on the wall to the left of the doorway linking the chapel with the church. My thanks to Pam Hughes, Barbara Thomson and Brenda Forman for assistance in the preparation of this article.
RICHARD ANTHONY NICHOLSON ( Rick)
A Tribute On Tuesday 10 July 2018 a memorial service was held at Holy Trinity Kew to commemorate the life of Richard Anthony (“Rick “) Nicholson. Rick was born on 8 October 1936 at the Royal Women's’ Hospital in Carlton. He was educated at St Johns Catholic primary school in East Melbourne and attended St Ignatius Roman Catholic Church in Richmond. He commenced a tailoring apprenticeship at Frieze Brothers in East Melbourne. His brother Terry Nicholson remembers Rick measuring him for a pair of pants. Rick met his wife Joan and she would come to the Nicholson family home in Lennox Street Richmond for tea and Sunday lunch. At some time Rick was called up to complete National Service at Puckapunyal. Joan attended Holy Trinity Kew with her parents. Eventually Rick and Joan were married at Holy Trinity. They were a devoted couple . After they were married Rick started working in the hotel industry at the Royal Arcade Hotel in Collins street where his Dad worked. He then went on to work at the Meadow Inn at Broadmeadows. In 2006 Rick suffered the loss of his only son Greg and his wife Joan. It was after that time of loss that Rick came to Holy Trinity. He will always be remembered for the warmth and generosity of his friendship particularly to members of the 8:00 am congregation. He was one of the 8:00 am brigade and always steadfast and dependable. He was a willing helper when things needed to be done, moving furniture, setting up a street stall and working at church working bees. At one time he served on the Holy Trinity vestry providing invaluable, wise and thoughtful insight to its deliberations. Rick was a regular member of the Holy Trinity Home Discussion Group. He made thoughtful positive contributions to each discussion and expressed his views briefly with a quiet and sincere conviction. He never failed to contribute to the informal small lunches. Rick was a generous supporter of the early morning breakfast after the 8:00 am service and enjoyed presiding over the breakfast. He delighted in bringing unusual bakery items to the breakfasts. He was also a great baker of special cakes for the Holy Trinity Trading Table.
Rick is remembered as a calm reassuring person who was always ready to provide assistance and support but never to take over a task. He seemed happiest when he was serving others and he did so with quiet dignity. He was a quiet thoughtful man, with a sharp mind but at all times respectful of other opinions. After a period of illness, Rick moved to Northern Gardens residential care when he became physically separated from the parish. He is remembered as a person growing in wisdom and fortitude as his illness progressed. He became a very popular resident at Northern Gardens Care facility and to the last he continued to reach out to others, showing concern for fellow patients and staff members. There are parishioners who made sustained efforts to keep in touch with Rick and let him know that although he was physically absent, he remained a spiritual part of this parish. Rick could be counted on to be entertaining. especially with his accounts of his work at the Healesville Hotel. He displayed a sensitive yet formidable insight into human nature. In particular, his support for vulnerable people in the parish was unflinching and steadfast. This parish was truly blessed when God sent Rick Nicholson to us. He exercised a ministry of care, compassion, humour and unfailing Christian faithfulness. In this day and age, his life and faith stands as a testament to how a Christian life is authentically lived. We have known God’s blessing though his ministry and life’s work. We are all the better for having known him and the poorer for his passing. The parishioners of Holy Trinity Kew are grateful that his final resting place will be with his wife in the Holy Trinity Memorial Garden. Written with the assistance of Terry Nicholson , John Carmichael, and Revd. Roy Stanley
Holy Trinity Kew
Visit from Paul McDonald CEO Anglicare Victoria On Sunday 29 April 2018, the Anglicare Victoria Partnership Group at Holy Trinity Kew was delighted to hear some good news stories at the 10 am service from the CEO of Anglicare Victoria Mr Paul McDonald. He spoke of his direct contact with some of the children in care homes. He makes a point of sharing a meal with them on a regular basis. A recent addition to one of the family care homes with a family of siblings has been Zeus, the Therapy Labrador who helps to create the atmosphere and feeling of a “real� home. Anglicare Victoria has many programs available for these traumatised children who are often behind their peers in education and social behaviour. As a relatively new Group at Kew, it was heartening to see the interest by members of the congregation who took the opportunity to ask Paul more questions during a Morning Tea at the back of the church. A Retiring Collection raised almost $600. Margaret Kelly
Morning Tea with the CEO of Anglicare Mr Paul McDonald at Holy Trinity Kew Paul McDonald, Marcus Pandy, Olivia Pandy, Rosemary Nairn, Paul McDonald and Ian Lees
The Smaller Beatitudes
Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves: They will have no end of fun Blessed are those how can tell a mountain from a molehill: They will be saved a lot of bother. Blessed are those who know how to relax without looking for excuses: They are on the way to becoming wise. Blessed are those who are sane enough not to take themselves too seriously: They will be valued by those about them. Happy are you if you can take small things seriously and face serious things calmly: You will go far in life. Happy are you if you can appreciate a smile and forget a frown; You will walk on the sunny side of the street. Happy are you if you can be kind and understanding to the attitudes of others;
What is Happiness ?
Even when the signs are unfavourable: You may be taken for a fool, but this is the price of charity.
Blessed are those who think before acting and pray before thinking: They will avoid blunders: Happy are you if you know how to hold your tongue and smile, Even when people interrupt and contradict you or tread on your toes.
Happiness sneaks in through the door you did not know you left open. John Barrymore
The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us. Ashley Montagu
The Gospel has begun to seep into your heart Above all, Blessed are you who recognises the Lord in all whom you IRENE’S JOKE
A young boy just passed his driving test. He asked his father, who was a minister if they could discuss the use of the car. His father took him into his study and said to him, “ I’ll make a deal with you. You bring your grades up, study your Bible a little and get your hair cut, and we’ll talk about it. After about a month the boy came back to his father and again asked his father if they could discuss use of the car. They again went into the father’s study where his father said: “ Son, I’ve been real proud of you, You have bought your grades up you’ve studied your Bible diligently, but you didn’t get your hair cut!” The young man waited a moment and replies , “ You know Dad, I’ve been thinking about that . Samson had long hair, Moses had long hair, Noah had long hair and even Jesus had long hair. To which his father replied, “ Yes, and they walked everywhere they went. ”
A Visit to Russia
An account of the visit to Russia by Irene and Blake Shorthouse in May and June 2018 Blake and I arrived in St Petersburg early in May on a sunny afternoon with a temperature in the low 20s. We had booked months previously without any awareness at the time of our holiday schedule being disrupted by preparations for the FIFA World Cup. Our trip was much more concerned with the glories of the past. On arrival at St Petersburg airport we were met and driven immediately to the ‘Volga Dream’, a privately owned and operated Russian cruise ship, moored some way out of the city. The drive was along wide, many-laned roads and complicated flyovers with more traffic than I had expected. This was just the first of many indications that my ideas of Russia were very out of date. That first evening we were divided into three groups for sightseeing, and we met our guide, a pleasant, cheerful woman named Olga – speaking later about the pleasant weather Olga said St Petersburg’s climate was usually nine months of winter followed by three months of disappointment.. The next morning we visited The Peter & Paul Fortress, Peter the Great’s foundation site of St Petersburg. Later we went to the Fabergé Museum in an old palace on one of the many waterways. (St Petersburg is a collection of islands joined by canals and bridges.) In the Museum, in dim rooms, we saw a collection of the famous Imperial Easter eggs, truly marvels of tiny engineering, glittering with gold and precious jewels. I particularly liked one decorated with jewelled lilies of the valley. Among many other Fabergé pieces on show was a necklace of tiny Easter eggs and many other pieces, cigarette cases, compacts, card cases etc. There were other exhibits of glassware, gold and silver smithing – not all done by Fabergé himself, but in his workrooms. There was room after room of wonders. Other rooms had paintings. I never thought my brain could become overloaded with beautiful sights but it did – an event to be repeated several times in the following days. That evening after a formal Welcome by the Captain we set sail along the Neva River – the start of our journey to Moscow, and through the first of many locks to be negotiated. Each day Professor Ludmilla Selezneva of Rostov University gave an interesting talk on some aspect of Russian history including how the political changes had affected her life and that of her family. Each day also there was a trip to some place of interest. One was to Kizhi Island, the World Heritage UNESCO site with an outdoor museum housing a collection 18 th Century Karelian style and northern Russian wooden buildings where we saw an enormous wooden Russian Orthodox Church being restored and a farmhouse where the old people slept on mats on top of the tiled stove. Another day in Jaroslavl we visited the Transfiguration Monastery and saw the frescoes in the church of Elijah the Prophet Yet another day was a walking tour of Uglich visiting the Kremlin and I learned that Kremlin just means ‘fortress’. We visited Goritsky with the oldest and largest monastery in north Russia, currently being restored. On board there were so many things to do – including cooking lessons, painting the Russian dolls, Russian Lessons – that we could not sample everything. On arrival in Moscow we moved to a hotel and began sightseeing. Moscow is full of churches as St Petersburg was full of palaces.. I was surprised that Red Square is much smaller that appears from TV pictures. The Kremlin contains many beautiful buildings and gardens within its walls. I thought that GUM (pronounced Goom) was a department store. It turns out to be an enormous collection of individual shops over three floors and two long laneways with top European and American designers well represented. There are a lot of rich people in Russia. We had three great days in Moscow before we caught a train for the 4-hour trip back to St Petersburg. Once back we had two days to see The Hermitage and we visited Tsarskoe Selo, the Summer Palace. It was an enormous building but many of the rooms, despite all the wealth and gold paint were quite homely, Much is now being restored. Then it was time to leave Russia and return to Melbourne. Irene Shorthouse
HOPE How three teenagers connected with their neighbourhood and raised donations for OXFAM
As our daughters transition into adulthood at an ever-increasing pace, we are left with an immense store of previously indispensable arts and craft materials. From string art kits to clay charm kits, from stamps to glitter in any shape and colour, it’s all right there in our kitchen pantry, which has substituted as an arts and craft storage space from its inception. For some time now, I have waited for an opportunity to box everything and give it to a family most in need of a good supply for their small children. But every time I attempt to sort through this mountain of material, one story or another comes to mind prompting me to hang on to these treasured items for just a little longer. I should point out that our arts and craft store also serves us very well whenever there are small visitors to entertain. One of our visitors during the most recent school holidays, however, was not small, but another teenage girl, one of our daughter’s friends. So, no reason to get too excited about the arts and craft store when these three teenage girls could just create another Youtube video, or play another round of interactive games on their ipads, or smash the virtual ball into their Wii. While I was enjoying a quiet lunch and coffee with the other girl’s parents, I did notice the three teenagers getting strangely excited about the arts and craft materials. They seemed a little secretive when announcing they would like to go for a short “walk” around the neighbourhood, but I didn’t think much of it. Indeed, it gave the parents some time to enjoy each other’s company and discuss the kind of trouble our teenagers might get themselves into and also to reflect on where the world was heading these days. When our girls came back after half an hour and informed us they would be going out again, we did finally find out what they had been up to. From the material in our arts and craft store they had made bracelets adorned with price labels and labelled other sellable items. They knocked on doors in the neighbourhood and asked for donations for OXFAM in exchange for some of their handmade goods. This activity resulted in the collection of $150 from the neighbourhood of Florence Avenue and Wimba Avenue (Kew). The girls sent this money to Oxfam and were assured that their donation would be used to provide a village in Laos with medicines to treat and prevent illnesses and supply families in Timor-Leste with seeds and trees that would allow them to earn money from the crop and increase their independence. As parents we were astonished that while we were sitting around discussing the woes of the world, the future of our children, and wondering why we didn’t see our neighbours more often, our children knocked on the neighbour’s doors, connected with them, and took action to make the world a better place on so many levels – all in just a few hours. We were also pleasantly surprised and moved to find that the people in our neighbourhood trusted our children by contributing in this way, when it may have been easier to suspect that the money would not go towards such a worthy cause, and perhaps even end up in their pockets instead. Whilst it may be difficult for us as adults to remain hopeful, hope seems such a powerful driver for our children. The events of that day made us wonder how much potential there is in all of us to be more childlike and hopeful, and how much potential there is in everyone’s neighbourhood to get together and make the world a better place. Romana, Marcus, Anika and Olivia Pandy FROM OXFAM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS
Music making at Holy Trinity by Stephen Kerr, Director of Music August 2018
As we head towards completion of our building project, it is an exciting time for the musicians at Holy Trinity. The choir is looking forward to the return of their choir vestry for rehearsals and dressing space and we continue to consider the options for relocating choir to their original position in the chancel. The choristers have been enjoying their new choir robes which both fit and are in good order and we continue to appreciate the look of a well-presented choir! We have had some enjoyable concerts presented in the church so far this year, even with the building works and limitations to access. The Boroondara Symphonic Band provided a great concert in June and the Kew Philharmonic Choir held their winter concert of the music of Thomas Tallis, warming our hearts if not our bodies with some wonderful sacred and secular gems. The next Kew Philharmonic concert will feature the music of the great Baroque composers Buxtehude and Telemann and will be supported by the early instrumental ensemble Progetto Corelli. The concert will be at HTK on Sunday 18 November at 4 pm. The choir continues to perform very well and we are always happy to welcome new members! All choristers continue to tackle challenging new repertoire and improve their sound and confidence. We are very thankful to Sue Pitchford who has taken on the challenge of sorting out the music library and filing to keep the choir running smoothly! We have now reached a point where we have consistent use of the New English Hymnal for most of our hymns. Hymns are chosen by Father Robert to line up with the liturgical themes of each Sunday. The NEH is designed with the choral tradition in mind, with almost all hymns harmonized well for choral singing. The words are generally unaltered from their original setting and the choir has delighted in the masterful matching of text and music present in this resource. We look forward to the second half of 2018 and of course beginning preparations for the annual Christmas Carols service, which is always a highlight. Stephen Kerr Director of Music Holy Trinity Kew
CHORAL CONCERT KEW PHILHARMONIC CHOIR SUNDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2018. 4:00 PM AT HOLY TRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH KEW BAROQUE MUSIC OF BUXTEHUDE ,TELEMAN AND CORELLI
HEARING LOSS—THE HIDDEN DISABILITY—Geoff Elder Hearing loss can range can range from mild to profound and has many different causes, including injury, disease, genetic defects and the ageing process. If hearing loss is known at birth it s known as congenital Hearing loss, whereas hearing loss that occurs after birth is called acquired hearing loss. The most common cause of acquired hearing loss, is noise, which accounts for over one quarter of people affected by hearing loss. There are a number of known causes of hearing loss. These include hereditary disorders where parents pass on affected genes to their children. In most cases, hereditary hearing loss is caused by malformations of the inner ear. Genetic disorders – genetic mutations may happen: for example at the moment of conception. Pre Natal exposure to a hearing disease when a baby is born deaf or with hearing problems, if they are exposed to certain diseases in utero, including rubella [German Measles], influenza and mumps. Hearing loss may be due to exposure to due –loud noises [such as gun shots, fire crackers, explosions and rock concerts]. Particularly prolonged exposure either in the workplace or
recreationally, can damage the delicate mechanisms inside the ear. If you are standing next to someone, yet have to shout to be heard, you can be sure that the noise is loud enough to be damaging your ears. Hearing loss may also rise from trauma , such as perforation of the ear drum, fractured skull or changes in air pressure. Certain diseases can causes hearing loss, including meningitis, mumps, and chickenpox. Severe cases of Jaundice Meniere’s disease and exposure to certain chemicals can also cause hearing loss Age related Hearing loss Often, hearing gradually becomes less acute as we age, this affects the clarity with which we hear speech. It typically begins with loss of higher frequencies, so that certain speech sounds – such as ‘s’, ‘f’ and ‘t’ – end up sounding very similar. This means the person can hear, but not always understand. For example , the words ‘see’ and ‘tea’ might sound the same. Professional advice about hearing loss can be obtained from a doctor, audiologist or Better Hearing Australia [1300 242 842]
Better Hearing Australia Better Hearing Australia was founded in 1932 as the Victorian Lip Readers Club a self help Support Group . In 1946 the organisation became the Victorian Branch of the Australian Association for Better Hearing with an emphasis on lipreading tuition . Under the new name Better Hearing Australia (Vic) the organisation has had a stronger focus on self help forums
and lip reading classes led by committed trained volunteers , Developments in hearing technologies and State Government funding have expanded the help model to provide Professional services to help people manage their hearing loss more independently.
MUSIC IN MY LIFE, by Dorothy Hadwen I love to sing. At my two room primary school in the Beaumaris bush near the Gypsy camp we learned, through the ABC Radio music program, beautiful songs such as Schubert’s “Who is Sylvia”. Our headmaster was an accomplished pianist who taught us more of the same. I took a place in the Mordialloc Junior Philharmonic Choir after a timid, barely audible audition. A trip to Ballarat for the South Street Eisteddfod was a highlight of that time. Early in my marriage, my husband and I joined Sandringham Choral Society and sang grand opera choruses accompanied by the RAAF brass band. We were required to sing VERY LOUDLY. After this came Gilbert and Sullivan. What fun singing, dancing and acting on stage. My husband was the original musical director of the Cheltenham Light Opera Company (CLOC), having developed it from a small group of local musical church friends.
Much later I joined the Oriana Madrigal Choir and the 10 voice Christ Church, South Yarra choir, both under the direction of Leonard Fullard. This was a joyous decade of musical education, with the emphasis on the great J.S. Bach, and singing of magnificent sacred choral works. Singing Mendelssohn’s Elijah in the (then) Melbourne Concert Hall with the newly formed, 300 voice Victoria Concert Choir was a profoundly emotional experience. I enjoyed regular Sunday worship as a chorister at St Matthew’s, Cheltenham and our own Holy Trinity Choir. Each choral experience was a privilege indeed. My final choir participation was with the Victoria Chorale. Being able to sing sacred masterpieces in St Paul’s Cathedral was a joy I shall never forget.
So much for singing. As a small child I longed to make music on an instrument but we had no piano, so I persuaded my little cousin to give me his one-octave tin whistle upon which I played Brahms Waltz in Ab Major which I had heard on radio. Piano lessons followed. I practised on a neighbour’s piano (VERY SOFTLY). I dearly love the piano, and, as a tactile person, it suits me well. Much later in life I was able to teach and I enjoyed the experience very much. Barry Jones, a passionate lover of the arts, considered J.S. Bach to be the greatest composer, followed by Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Wagner. I find myself in agreement with him. Hearing beautiful music on radio, recordings and in concert halls has nourished, enriched and healed me. I thank God for the depths of my being for “MUSIC IN MY LIFE”. Dorothy Hadwen From the Registers Baptisms:
Funerals:
Interments:
Xavier Johnson
Robert (Bob) Brown
Alan Gillespie
Chloe Bishop
Douglas McKern
Lysbeth Hung
Pauline Morrison
Weddings:
Natalie Hung
Brian Parkinson
Nil
Phoebe Aldred
Richard (Rick) Nicholson
HOLY TRINITY PARISH CENTRE UPDATE—WINTER 2018—ALAN WILSON The main structural elements of the building are close to completion. The slab for the hall and podium link to the church is poured and the steel columns and main roof beams for the hall are in place. All of the structural steel for the hall will have been completed as you read this. The roof to the third floor apartments will be in place, and the roof to the hall will be underway. The doorway into the church tower has been made. As soon as the upper level roof is done, internal walls to the apartments will be framed. At the same time windows to the street level tenancies will be installed, as well as windows on the church level. The external bluestone cladding of the building will also be started. The main staircase between the levels is framed and the stairs will be dropped in by crane shortly. By the end of July the path from the Pakington Street car park to the podium will be complete, so we’ll be able to get to the vicarage more easily through the chapel door and access to the Memorial Garden will be restored. The gas connection has been done, and all services except
NBN are now on site and under our control. HOLY TRINITY CHILD SAFE POLICY In March 2018 the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne approved a Code of Conduct for Child Safety. All adults who participate in child related activities together with certain church workers will be required to commit to this new Code. Church workers are required to comply with the Code of Conduct for Child Safety and are required to sign a Statement of Commitment, that they understand and agree to be bound by the Code. The first steps towards making Holy Trinity a child safe parish have commenced . This program will be extended to the church workers according to the requirements of the Diocese. Thanks are extended to all those who have signed the Commitment to the Code . Your efforts to support the new Child Safe policy is most appreciated. As part of the implementation of the HTK Child Safe Policy, the Parish council have approved new consent forms for parents of children who participate in the Choir and the Sunday School. The consent forms request formal permission for children to participate in church programs and information that should be known by those who supervise child related activities. All personal information provided in the consent forms is handled according to the HTK privacy policy and remains strictly confidential. During 2017 and 2018 the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne implemented the Diocesan Business Services program so that parish office holders are fully informed and trained about their legal responsibilities to comply with the new laws relating to child and workplace safety. The July Diocesan Business Services Bulletin included instructions for a pro forma schedule for Volunteer Clearance for Parish Service , the appointment of a parish Child Safe officer and a parish Child Safety Compliance Officer who is responsible for the administrative process in obtaining Parish Volunteer Clearances. Those two roles are yet to be approved by the HTK parish council. The Diocese Business Services program also includes mandatory online training in Occupational Health and Safety in the workplace . This training includes testing for workplace Occupational Health and Safety requirements. These new reforms to church practice, reflect the changes in workplace safety in the general community, and the standards of behaviour the community now expects in every organisation and workplace.. They represent a challenge to every Anglican parish in that they require a change in parish culture and the expectations of how a 21st century church is now required to conduct itself. With God’s Grace Holy Trinity will be satisfy these new challenges that face the parish in the first quarter of the 21st century Leonie Bird ( on behalf of the HTK Child Safe and Vulnerable Persons Subcommittee Jane Newton, Michael Tropea, Stephen Kerr and Revd. Robert Holland)
CHILDREN’S PAGE
DEDICATED TO ALL THE CHILDREN WHO COME TO HOLY TRINITY KEW You may like to colour in the picture , cut it out and paste it in a scrapbook.
RECIPE FOR SLIME TO BE USED ON A FREE TABLE SPACE.—[NOT TO BE APPLIED TO HAIR, FURNTURE OR FLOOR COVERINGS] 1. Squeeze about 4 ounces of glue into a glass bowl. 2. Mix in 1 1/2 bottles of warm water. ... 3. Add your food colouring, if desired. ... 4. Mix 1 teaspoon of Borax into 1/2 cup of water, and slowly add the solution to the glue mixture. 5. Stir in the Borax solution until the slime started to come together. ...
MOTHER’S UNION AT ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL Maurene Thomson and Nell Eddy have joined the Mother’s Union of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, which is headquartered at St Pauls’ Cathedral. In March of this year they joined in the Mother’s Union Lady Day celebrations at St Peter’s Easter Hill. The procession of banners had reduced in recent years but a wide range of Mother’s Union branches were represented. Bishop Paul Barker delivered an address before lunch was served in St Peter’s church hall. The luncheon was a happy event with the renewal of old friendships and the making of new ones. Alan and Nell Eddy
St Augustine of Hippo On 28 September t2018 the church celebrates the life of St Augustine of Hippo. Why should St. Augustine hold any significance to the 21st century church ? He was a Latin speaking theologian who lived in the early 4th century. His impact on Western Christianity can not be overstated and it is said that only Paul of Tarsus has been more influential. ( McCulloch, D. A History of Christianity. England: Allan Lane. Penguin Books, 2009. p 301) McCulloch says that Augustine is one of the few writers from the early Christian era whose work can still be read with pleasure., particularly for his remarkable self analysis in the prayer narrative The Confessions. He lived at a time of immense political upheaval and the fall of the Christian Western Empire C.W. McPherson writing about the influence of Augustine , says he often exhibits as quality of “indispensability” and seems to shed light on any direction, ethical, theological, devotional, spiritual philosophical and practical” [ McPherson. C,W. “Augustine our Contemporary” Cross Currents, Vol 50. No 1/2 ( Spring/Summer 2000) 170-176 at 170] Augustine is referenced to throughout the Anglican Prayer Book and Protestants argue he provides the key to “theological liberation.” McPherson suggests that Augustine remains relevant because his era is similar to our own age. In his book “The City of God” he responds to the moral and theological concerns of a time plagued by pillage and destruction random chaotic violence and murder. Augustine argues that happiness is the produce of a meaningful existence is not a pleasant “happenstand” and that suffering can be accepted with dignity when necessary rather than resented and feared. [McPherson 2000. 172] He also reveals an emphasis on the reality of an inner life. His writing about the adventures of the mind anticipates the modern movement of psychology and modern literature. If you wish to gain further insight into one of Christianity’s greatest theologians, read Augustine’s “ The Confessions” . It is a direct clear insight into his view of humanity written through the lens of early Christianity
The Prayer of the Bee
The Prayer of the Dove
Lord, I am not the one to despise Your Gifts, May You be blessed, Who spread the riches of Your sweetness For my zeal. Let my small span of ardent life Melt into our great communal task To lift up to Your glory; This temple of sweetness. A citadel of incense, A holy candle myriad– celled, Moulded in Your graces And my hidden work.
The Art waits, Lord The Ark waits on Your will, And the sign or your peace. I am the dove, simple As the sweetness that comes from You. The Ark waits, Lord, It has endured, Let me carry it A sprig of hope and joy And put at the heart of its forsakenness This, in which Your love clothes me Grace immaculate.
Prayers from the Ark Carmen Bernos de Gasztold Translated by Rumer Godden
Prayers from the Ark Carmen Bernos de Gasztold Translated by Rumer Godden
RELIGION AND PSYCHIATRY - A PROFESSIONAL REFLECTION - by BOB ATHEY
As a general practitioner, I became interested in the effects common mental illnesses had on behaviour and illness. Depressed people became less able to deal with day to day problems, and were more likely to become ill. I also became interested in the history of psychiatry. One early breakthrough in the humane treatment of mental illness was in Paris, where Dr Phillipe Pinel unchained the insane. He lived between 1745 and 1826, and for the greater part of his working life worked at the Salpêtrière hospital in Paris. He practiced medicine shortly after the French revolution was the first to use the phrase “mental Illness” The church was often the carer of the mentally ill, probably offering more humane treatment than was provided in asylums. Ideas of the cause of mental illness included ideas of moral weakness, possession by the devil; often with prayer as their main treatment. Prayer alone did not appear to be all that effective. However, the Monks and Nuns were more humane than those ‘caring’ for the mentally ill at hospitals such as at Bedlam. In the latter half of the 1800’s a group of psychiatrists (including Sigmund Freud) stared to look more scientifically at mental illness. One strange aspect of Freud was his condemning of religion. Carl Jung, later a colleague, then rival of Freud was the son of a Swiss Lutheran pastor, and did not forego his faith. In the twentieth century electro- convulsive therapy was discovered. This was used quite widely. There were significant side effects from this treatment including memory loss, but the treatment did help lift the patient out of severe depression. Electro-convulsive therapy (commonly called E.C.T.) is still used for very serious depression. With modern equipment, side effects are significantly reduced. The next advance was the discovery of the drug Chlorpromazine, This has led to the development of a range of drugs which are effective in controlling mental illness. What is mental illness? The Mental Health Act 2014 (Victoria) defines mental illness as a medical condition that is characterised by a significant disturbance of thought, mood, perception and memory. The act describes a number of exclusions, including failing to express a particular political or religious opinion or belief and many other exclusions. In other words, the person with a mental illness must have a loss of control over his or her mood, ability to reason and understand his or her surroundings in a reasonable manner. For example a regular church attender who felt the presence of God during communion would not be regarded as having a mental illness, but a person who loses the ability to enjoy life in any aspect, and has a pervasive mood of unremitting sadness could be diagnosed with a mental illness. Help is available to people with a mental illness, by helping them to understand there is a problem and giving hope that the problem may be overcome with discussion and mental exercises (psychotherapy) or by medication or both. Bob Athey, M.B.B.S.,M.P.M., F.R.A.N.Z.C.P.
Holy Trinity Anglican Church
Cnr High & Pakington Streets, Kew P.O. Box 37, Kew, Vic 3101 www.holytrinitykew.org.au email: office@holytrinitykew.org.au
Vicar The Reverend Robert Newton Ph: 9855 0630 email vicar@holytrinitykew.org.au
Associate Clergy The Reverend Rick Cheung The Reverend Robert Holland
Parish Chaplain Pam Hughes Ph: 0418 328 313
Theological Student Leonie Bird
Church Office Brenda Forman
P.O. Box 37, Kew, 3101
Telephone: 9853 7158 Monday to Friday 9—12
Churchwardens Napier Thomson Ph. 0408 576 737
Robert Buckmaster. Ph. 0437 014 090
Marcus Pandy. Ph. 9817 2163
If undeliverable, return to: Holy Trinity Anglican Church P.O. Box 37 Kew. 3101
POSTAGE PAID AUSTRALIA
EDITOR:
SERVICES AT HOLY TRINITY WEDNESDAY 11:00 AM EUCHARIST SUNDAY 8:00 AM EUCHARIST SUNDAY
10:00 AM SUNG EUCHARIST 10:00 SUNDAY SCHOOL
At Trinity Grammar School Chapel SUNDAY
10: 30 AM BILINGUAL SERVICE
The Holy Trinity Building Project is due for completion in the
This publication is the voice of our parish It seeks to unify the Holy Trinity Kew family linking each of us to the physical, intellectual and spiritual life of the Parish.
immediate future. After many years of planning and work this monumental parish project will May your faith journey come to fruition. It is a milestone continue to be enriched by in the history of the Anglican participation in the spiritual life of Diocese of Melbourne and Holy Holy Trinity Kew. Trinity Kew. In peace Thank you to everyone who Leonie Bird ( editor) contributed reports, articles and memorial tributes to this Winter edition of Trinity Times. Your efforts are most appreciated.