1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

PewNews+
24 May 2015 ! Day of Pentecost
Contacts
From the Curate
The Church of the Resurrection
Parish of Swanbourne–Mt Claremont
105 Shenton Rd, Swanbourne WA 6010
PO Box 6270, Swanbourne WA 6010
www.resurrectionswanbourne.com.au
I love writing with pencil and paper: it is a feast for the senses; it forces
me to think and work at a healthy pace; and, best of all, I must
stop...periodically....and…sharpen the pencil. Who knows what bad ideas
have been headed off by that pause; what good ideas have been allowed
to emerge? The simple choice to turn away from the computer and use a
different tool forces me to think in a different way. Parish Office & Pelican Centre
Anne Beal
Monday, Thursday, Friday 10am–3pm
Enquiries and bookings . . . 9385 2236
office@resurrectionswanbourne.com.au
Our post-enlightenment, post-industrial revolution thought is largely
linear, which is very useful for things like science, industry and
systematic theology, but we have to be aware of the affect it has on the
way we apprehend God and creation.
Locum
The Reverend Toby Sherring
Curate
The Reverend Ros Fairless
. . . . . . . . . . 9385 2236/9434 4914
ros@resurrectionswanbourne.com.au
Honorary Deacon
The Reverend Eileen Warby 9381 7798
Churchwardens
Anne Beal . . . . . . . . . . 9243 4400
Jim Gallagher . . . . . . . . 9448 2525
Parish Councillors
Shaun Day . . . . . . . . . 0407 772 163
Felicity Shallcross . . . . . 0434 399 103
Barbara Browne . . . . . . . 9286 1669
Synod Representatives
Anne Beal . . . . . . . . . . 9243 4400
Peter Williams . . . . . . . . 9384 3416
"If religion is to be viable, it must be able to relate to the creation as God
made it instead of how we might like it to be", wrote Maggie Ross in
Pillars of Flame. The divine mysteries don’t tend to reveal themselves
fully in linear mode, so unless we practise other ways of thinking, we
struggle to relate well to God and creation, and can end up on a path that
is diminished, desolate, or even destructive.
Stop...periodically....and sharpen the pencil. Remind yourself that once, we were not linear thinkers, but spatial ones,
who know that truth is best captured in story, art and poesy. Good old
linear thinking helps us get to the church on time, but don't let it lure you
into the same old, blinkered walk of faith. In the linear walk, new
propositions – no matter whether they come from social media, your
mother, or Jesus Christ himself - flash up before the eyes and are
accepted or discarded based on the assessment of a moment. Yes/no, I/
O, click, done. This is not the way of the vision-caster prophet, the weaver
of the cosmic Genesis tale, the story-teller evangelist. It is certainly not
the way of our beloved Lord, who comes to us as bread, babe, and boy;
and as the frustratingly parabolic Jew who walked dusty roads with his
friends and forever disrupted the corrupted fabric of this world. Even the physicists have started to give particles names like "blue",
"strange" and “chameleon"; we should not be afraid to enter the world of
theology-as-poetry. Surely it's the only way to enter into mysteries like
Pentecost, the Trinity, the Eucharist and the business of being human. Spirited Giving
Please continue to generously support
your parish and its ministries! Open
plate giving is still in fashion, but if
you prefer to give by bank transfer, set
up a regular donation with these
details:
BSB 706-001, Account No. 30004478
If you prefer offering envelopes, they are
available from the office.
Ros
Cycles of Prayer and Worship
The Divine Office
On Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, Morning Prayer is said at the church
at 9am; Evening Prayer at 4pm. All are welcome to make prayer requests
known, or to join us for reflective prayer on our psalms and scriptures.
Holy Communion
Eucharists are held on Sunday mornings at 9am, except for the fourth
Sunday of the month, when there is a special celebratory Eucharist at
5pm instead.
Parish Notices
Today’s Music
Locum Priest
Fr Toby Sherring presides at our Eucharist today. Please thank
Toby for kindly helping us in this way over the past weeks.
New Parish Administrator
Many thanks to Anne Beal, who is keeping the office running
smoothly while we seek a new person for the role.
Warden and Deacon Away
Please keep our Warden, Jim Gallagher, in your prayers, as he
enjoys a well-earned holiday. Jim, and our Honorary Deacon
Eileen, will return early in June.
Ordination
Monday 25 May, 6.30pm
All parishioners are invited to attend the Ordination to the
Priesthood of our Assistant Curate Ros Fairless, on Monday May
25 at 6.30 pm. Do pray for Revd Ros and Revd Lisa Perkins as
they embark on their priestly journeys in the Diocese of Perth.
Following Ros's Ordination, Archbishop Roger Herft is to licence
Ros as an Assistant Priest in our parish for the foreseeable future.
First Mass and Parish Celebrations
Sunday 31 May, 9am
Rev’d Ros will celebrate her First Mass as a priest with us on
Trinity Sunday, 31st May, at 9.00 am. Everyone is invited to
attend this special service, which will be followed by a Parish
Brunch with champagne in the Hall. Please bring a plate of
yummy finger food to share.
Love in Action
Let us be “rich in good deeds, generous and willing to share!” (1
Tim 6.18b). There is something for everyone to do: from flowers
to phone calls. See Ros or one of our Wardens for details.
From Common Worship
Veni Creator/Come Holy Ghost ………………...… 178
O Thou Who Camest From Above ……..…….…. 191
Come Down, O Love Divine ……………………… 175
Mass Setting:
Palestrina Missa Brevis
Motet:
Litany to the Holy Spirit (Hurford)
Upcoming Events
Red Carpet Cinema: A Social Night for Young Adults
Third Friday of each month, Pelican Centre
After much preparation, the inaugural Red Carpet Cinema (RCC)
was held at the Pelican Community Centre on May 15. RCC
provides a safe and fun environment in which self-sustaining
18-35 year olds with an intellectual disability can foster
friendship and independence. This initiative is the brainchild of
two local women. Both have young adult children with a
disability, and both found there were limited social opportunities
available to their children post-school. A night at Red Carpet
Cinema involves walking the red carpet, before enjoying popcorn
and a movie while seated in brightly coloured bean bags. Later,
there is a chance to chat and dance. Student volunteers from the
School of Occupational Therapy at Curtin University help keep
the atmosphere young, and provide mentoring. We will keep the
Parish updated on Red Carpet Cinema events, as there are sure
to be many good stories to share! Do pray for our friends at Red
Carpet Cinema.
Pew News
Please phone 9385 2236 or send any items for next week’s
PewNews to the office (office@resurrectionswanbourne.com.au)
by Wednesday evening. For Our Prayers
Parish of East Perth; Pentecost event at the
Sudanese Anglican Worshipping Community of
Malaga; Archbishop Roger and assistant Bishops
Tom and Jeremy.
Parish of Boyanup, Diocese of Bunbury; Parish
of Dongara and Mingenew, Diocese of North West
Australia; Primate of Australia, Archbishop Philip
Freier; Diocese of Northern Luzon (Philippines),
Bishop Renato Mag-Gay Abibico; Diocese of
Eldoret, Bishop Christopher Rutto, clergy and
people; Archbishop Justin Welby, Archbishop of
Canterbury.
David (Andrew) Stewart, Derek, Dick Gies, Jill
Slee, Jim Bowen, Val Fairless, Peter Wright,
Michael Heagney, Jacqueline Allen, Ethel Kaye,
Beryl Staunton, Vanessa, Nicholas.
Holy Communion
Everyone is welcome to share in the hospitality
and welcome of Christ by taking communion or
receiving a blessing. Please come forward to
receive from Father Toby and then move to
receive from one of the chalices. Both chalices can
be used either as usual or for intinction if
necessary.
If you cannot come to the priest, please let one of
the sides-people know and the sacrament will be
brought to you. Prayer with the laying on of hands
is offered after our Eucharist; do let us know if you
would like us to pray for you.
Food Vouchers
Our parish offers supermarket vouchers rather
than cash to those in need of food. To contribute
towards their purchase, please speak to Ros.
Next Week’s Mass
Trinity Sunday, 31st May, 9AM. First Mass for
Rev’d Ros preaching and presiding. Readings:
Isaiah 6.1-8
Ps 29
Romans 8.12-17
John 3.1-17
Today’s Readings
A Reading from the Book of Acts
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all
together in one place. And suddenly from heaven
there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind,
and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them,
and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them
were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in
other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Now
there were devout Jews from every nation under
heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the
crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each
one heard them speaking in the native language of
each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all
these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that
we hear, each of us, in our own native language?
Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of
Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and
Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of
Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,
both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our
own languages we hear them speaking about God’s
deeds of power.
All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one
another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others sneered
and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’ But Peter,
standing with the eleven, raised his voice and
addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in
Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to
what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you
suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No,
this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:“In
the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour
out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall
see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those
days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall
prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven
above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire,
and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to
darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming
of the Lord’s great and glorious day. Then everyone
who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Acts 2.1-21
Psalm 104.26-36
O Lord, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
When you hide your face they are troubled;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return again to the dust.
There is the sea, spread far and wide, and there move creatures beyond number, both small
and great.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.
There go the ships, and there is that Leviathan which you have made to play in the deep.
All of these look to you to give them their food in due season.
When you give it them, they gather it;
you open your hand and they are filled with good.
May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; may the Lord rejoice in his works;
He looks on the earth and it trembles;
he touches the mountains and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will make music to my God while I have my being.
So shall my song please him
while I rejoice in the Lord.
Today’s Readings
A Reading from the Epistle to the Romans
We know that the whole creation has been groaning
in labour pains until now; and not only the creation,
but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit,
groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the
redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved.
Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for
what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see,
we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps
us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray
as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs
too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart,
knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the
Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of
God.
Romans 8.22-27
Labour pains is perhaps the perfect way to describe
the agony of entering a new way of being. We are
what we were, but already we are different, even as
we are seized by the pains of becoming something
entirely new. And as if our personal regeneration
weren’t enough, now we contain the Spirit, who
reveals to us the truth about our world, the kingdom
of God, and the gap between. Once our eyes are
opened in this way, how can we find the words to
express our longing, our repentance, our
frustration, love and hope? When words fail us,
the Spirit helps. It is a priceless gift, to be baptised
with water and the Spirit. !
The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
‘When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you
from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the
Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to
testify because you have been with me from the
beginning. But I have said these things to you so that
when their hour comes you may remember that I told
you about them. ‘I did not say these things to you from
the beginning, because I was with you.
But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of
you asks me, “Where are you going?” But because I
have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your
hearts. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your
advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the
Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send
him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the
world wrong about sin and righteousness and
judgement: about sin, because they do not believe in
me; about righteousness, because I am going to the
Father and you will see me no longer; about
judgement, because the ruler of this world has been
condemned. ‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot
bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will
guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his
own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will
declare to you the things that are to come. He will
glorify me, because he will take what is mine and
declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For
this reason I said that he will take what is mine and
declare it to you.
John 15.26-27; 16.4b-15
You may notice, as NT Wright has done, a
particular harmony between Paul, John and Luke
as they write about the Holy Spirit. John even
strays into the legal language we usually associate
more with Paul, and identifies the Advocate, the
Holy Spirit, as the one who will prove the world
fundamentally wrong about three key things: sin,
righteousness and judgement.
The Spirit reveals to us that sin is not to do
with moral codes, but with belief in Jesus and his
message; everything good, right and holy flows out
of that. Righteousness is associated with Jesus
going to the Father and being seen no longer: the
great disgrace of an unjust trial and humiliating
death, masquerading as human ‘justice’, becomes
the means by which Jesus is taken up and glorified.
Similarly, the great turn-around of the cross and
resurrection, ascension and the outpouring of the
Holy Spirit, sees not Jesus being condemned, but
the arch-ruler of this world’s way. See how out of
step we are with the world; how new a thing God is
doing! And see how much God loves this world,
sending firstly the Son, and then the Spirit, to
reveal, to guide, to sustain us, as we live in-theworld but not of-the-world. !