"Key Notes" Sunday 19 & 26 September 2021 - Christ with the Children, Carl Bloch 1834-1890 - St Peter's Anglican Church ...
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Christ with the Children, Carl Bloch 1834-1890
"Key Notes"
Sunday 19 & 26 September 2021
Just a few points...
Winnie's Candle
On the first Sunday of each month we light candles to
to celebrate the anniversaries of those who have been
baptised at St Peter's in recent years. On Sunday
Winnie remembered to bring her candle so we could
celebrate the first aniversary of her baptism.
"SWELL"
Each year the City Council puts on "Swell" an exhibition
of sculpute at Currumbin Beach. This year it was a
particularly beautiful day with some rather clever
works on view (e.g., this cheeky replica of the border
barriers at Coolangatta!)
Blessing of the Pets
Our "Blessing of the Pets" service takes place at our
9:30 service on Sunday 3 October. All Creatures Great
and Small are welcome. We'd like to introduce "Bubba"
the pug to you - Bubba is Doreen and Fr Dale Huston's
most indulged family member! Bubba says "woof" all
the way from Vancouver Island.
How about a cuppa?
Ever so cautiously we are going to introduce a once-a-
month cuppa after 7:00 Holy Eucharist, commencing
Sunday 3 October. This is a trial and we hope to build
"Swell"
on this new approach to offering refreshments as
Covid restrictions ease.
"Bubba"
The Moral of the Story is...
In Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado, Ko-Ko presents
his list of annoying people. Among them is “the idiot
who praises, with enthusiastic tone, all centuries but
this, and every country but his own.”
Fr Dale, our contributing
Please be assured I am not that kind of idiot! I do not
idolize the past or the people who lived in it. As one
Priest, encourages us to give
who has spent the greater part of his life in the past, I
can attest that the world was not always better back
credit to those who have gone
then. I just think we don’t give the people of the past before us.
the credit they deserve. That’s all. As a history buff I
deplore the smugness with which we dismiss them
and vaunt our own superiority. We say disparagingly,
“They believed the earth is the center of the universe,
but of course we know better”. “They thought that if
you sailed far enough from land, you would fall off the
edge of the world, but of course we know better”.
They thought thunder and lightning are caused by the
warring of the gods, but of course we know better.
The list of “They thoughts” and “We know betters” goes
on and on, and it is my opinion that our arrogance is,
to use a good Anglican word, ‘unseemly’. I do not deny
that people of former ages lacked all the information
we have, but that does not mean they were of inferior
intelligence. Indeed, whether they were born a mere
hundred years ago or multiple thousands of years
earlier, I am impressed by how shrewd they were.
Cave dwellers who saw the night sky undiminished by
light pollution could identify things in it that I don’t
even notice. They lived somewhere on the food chain
but not always at the top, yet they survived by their
ability to make fire, spear heads of stone, and warm
garments of animal skins. But lose me in the cold
wilderness in just a loin cloth, without my cell phone
and at the mercy of bears and cougars, and I wouldn’t
survive a day.
So, yes, I appreciate how advanced and wise we are.
But I also admire those who started at Square One
without advantages and went on to tame fire, invent
the wheel, create political empires, build pyramids,
enact law codes, mine and smelt metals, invent
democracy, and communicate over long distances by
Morse Code. They are the people upon whose
shoulders we stand as we take in the vista from our
vantage point at the top. They were not stupid!
My appreciation for those who travelled this road before us extends to those who gave us the Bible. You remember them. They believed God lives up in the sky, but of course we know better. They believed in miracles, but of course we know better.They believed mental illness is caused by demons, but of course we know better”. Very well. I will grant you they did believe such things. But a lot of people today believe we are being routinely visited and abducted by extra terrestrials, that Donald Trump won the last American election, that climate change is a hoax, and that ‘canned laughter’ makes the inanity of TV sitcoms funny. Heh, I’m just sayin’ …! I feel especially indebted to those who compiled the scriptures and were wise enough to include the primitive, oral tradition stories we find in the first eleven chapters of Genesis. Those stories predate the dawn of human civilization, and they reflect some of the earliest, tentative inklings we homo sapiens had about God, about nature, and about ourselves. Primitive hunters and gatherers were wise and resourceful enough to package those faltering snippets of insight in stories. They had no other means of passing their limited knowledge on from one generation to another, so their choice of the medium of stories was a brilliant one. Stories are more memorable than lessons and more portable than books. They are easy to share, easy to pack with information, easy to edit, easy to understand and easy to update. They are living creations, timeless, interesting, and instructive. Appreciate, for instance, how extensively Jesus used stories, and how powerful those parables were and still are. In the mists of time when the Genesis collection of stories was still ‘alive’ and maturing, most likely they would have been told around the evening fire by the tribal elder, while children and adults alike listened intently. No one would have become bored because stories are intergenerational and the very telling of them can be enhanced by the teller. The Genesis stories are no longer alive, of course. They were flash-frozen in print sometime after humankind crossed the Literary Threshold, so the most recent versions of them up to that time are all we have. As such, they are as important to us as dinosaur fossils because they testify to what once was but is no longer. They are precious beyond measure for that alone. Not to have preserved them in scripture would have been a great travesty, for without them the entire first volume about our human awakening to the reality of God and to our own spiritual yearnings would have been irretrievably lost.
I am disappointed about how thoroughly our
generation has misunderstood stories, exploited
them for profit, and deprived them of their innate
power to make us wiser. In my opinion, our assault
upon them has been just as devastating as our
impact upon the environment.
"We have meant well, but by
We have devalued stories by turning them into
doing that we have effectively
mere entertainment. What would the movie,
television and publishing industries do without redesignated those portions of
them? And we have cluttered them with special
effects, gratuitous violence, adult content, and scripture as ‘children’s
content’, whereupon adults
course language.
have stopped reading them."
Ironically, albeit unintentionally, even we Christians
have devalued an entire catalogue of biblical
stories by removing them from their scriptural
context and publishing them as collections of
Children’s Bible Stories. We have meant well, but
by doing that we have effectively redesignated
those portions of scripture as ‘children’s content’,
whereupon adults have stopped reading them. The
cruel irony is that there is no such thing as a
children’s Bible story. Every word of scripture was
inscribed by and for the edification of adults.
But the very worst thing we can do with respect to
Bible stories is to forget something the ancients
knew and understood very well. It is that a story The Good Samaritan
does not need to be factual to be a vessel of truth.
Even Jesus’ harshest critics knew and bowed to that
fact. They understood that the Good Samaritan
was not an actual person living next door to them,
but they readily conceded Jesus’ point that he was,
in fact, their neighbour.
Tragically, there is a body of Christian people who
believe, insist, and proclaim that every word and
passage in the Bible is strictly, literally, and factually
‘true’. But by that bold insistence they render many
biblical stories easily debunkable. When Adam and
Eve are made to be just ‘a’ man and ‘a’ woman, they
automatically cease to be ‘every’ man and ‘every’
woman, whereupon the whole story about them
can easily be discredited by posing the juvenile
question, “Where did Cain and Abel get their
wives?”
Fr Dale
One hundred years and two months to the day, on
the 13th June 1921, in a private hospital in
Southport, a precious daughter was born to Alfred
In Memoriam
And Violet May Welch. Her name was Thelma
Bernice. She had 2 older brothers, Bertram (known
as Bert) born in1918, and Reginald who was born,
and died on 17th July 1920. She was followed by
brother Ron, sisters Coral and Alva, and the
youngest, a brother, Trevor.
They lived on a dairy farm at Wonga Wallen. Her dad
also sawed timber. They lived a simple but
hardworking life and they all worked on the farm.
Mum said her dad was a good dairy farmer, and
handled cattle well. He also built all his farm
buildings. Her mum was a very good milker of cows
and was known to be a great cook, baker and jam
maker. She said her mother was “pretty good at
curing sicknesses and cuts. Bert once had an
accident on his bike where he put a piece of metal
through the flesh of his leg below his knee, and
mum healed it. I had Scarlet fever as a child and she
was able to nurse me without the help of a doctor.”
Mum had a great love of horses which began at the
age of 4 or 5. She rode with her mum or dad and
had to catch her own horse and learn how to get on
and off by herself. The horse’s name was Grey Blaze
who was old and sometimes refused to move. She
always cared for her horses. She would ride to bring
the cattle into the yards for milking as well as the
cows that had calves. To start school at Bakers
THELMA BERNICE HOLLINDALE
Creek she needed to be able to ride as she rode to 13 June 1921 ~ 24 August 2021
school every day. Thelma started school at the age
of 6 and finished at the age of 12. Her favourite Their dad never roused at them. In Mum’s words, “he
subject was Maths and loved Tables. Thelma had was a softie”. Sometimes on their way home from
this to say about her first teacher, “He was cruel. He school they would collect some meat from Granny
used the cane a lot. I even got the cane. He said I Welch’s place. Meat was stored in wooden barrels
lifted my pencil while doing copy book. I said I didn’t filled with salted water. Nana would ask for a roast
(and I didn’t) so he gave me the cane”. Her favourite for dinner -they would lean into the barrel and grab
teacher was Mr Fletcher who taught 30 children and whatever they could reach which probably wasn’t a
he played tennis and rounders with them. The roast, and Grandfather would say it’s a good roast.
children were all friends, no enemies (Mum’s
words). When Mum finished school at 12, she went to
Southport to do Domestic Science (dressmaking and
Not all the children had horses, and those that cooking). She would ride her horse to Oxenford
didn’t wished they did. Mum and her siblings and Station, leave her horse in a paddock near the
cousins, would sometimes, maybe often, race their station, and catch the train to Southport. Mum didn’t
horses home from school. Granny Welch would do the cooking because there was no way to carry
watch out for them and call them over to her the ingredients. When she finished her schooling she
veranda and say” you naughty children, I’m going to worked on the farm milking cows, cleaning the bails
tell your father. You should not be running the after milking and cleaning the separator.
horses.”
Mum’s faith life began at birth. One of her earliest
memories was going to the old Holy Rood church
at Maudsland. They would travel by horse and
sulky, down Kriedemanns Road, across the
Coomera River, across the flat and up the hill to
the old church. They would have lunch at
Grandma Bird’s who was always dressed in a black
skirt, white high-necked blouse with a cameo
brooch, and a starched white apron. They had to
sit at the table like ladies- no fooling around. After
the sulky came a car so they could travel in style.
When the church burnt down church services
were held in the School of Arts, and dances were
held to raise money to build the church. At mum’s
100th party we used native flowers and tree
branches to decorate the hall from our daughter’s
garden. The smells and vision of this brought back The original Holy Rood Church, Coomera, built
a memory to Mum. Her dad would take the slide 1888 (photo from 1930s). This Church burnt down
and horse up the hill to collect foliage to decorate in the bush fires of 1936. Source: Anglican Focus
the halls for dances and to decorate verandas for
wedding receptions held at home. A very happy
memory.
At the completion of the present Holy Rood
church there was an official opening and blessing
of the church. Mum wore a white linen suit with a
posy of flowers on the lapel which she had made.
A young man named Roy Hollindale noticed her.
That night there was a Ball at The School of Arts,
and he asked her to dance. He had to be quick
because Mum loved to dance and she was a
popular dance partner. Dad said it taught him to
be quicker. Dances, tennis, cricket were popular
and regular social activities. Church was held
monthly. Sometimes there were visits to the beach
– Bilinga, Burleigh and Fingal (as a young man Dad
had worked with bananas in the Tweed River area).
On an outing to the Fingal Lighthouse Dad
Holy Rood Church was rebuilt on a new site
proposed to Mum, she accepted and they
at Tamborine Oxenford Road.
celebrated by going to a dance a couple of weeks
later.
They were married at Holy Rood church on the
27th June, 1942 (2 weeks after her 21st birthday)
by Reverend Watts. Their reception was held at
Yallambee under the Welch family home. Dad was
late for his own wedding (not fishing or playing
cricket but working).
They honeymooned at Burleigh. On the way they Allan, her brother-in-law, approached Mum and
ran out of petrol before they reached their asked if she could take a position at South Coast
destination. On their honeymoon Dad was fishing, Dairy shop. It sold all the Dairy King products as well
Mum was sitting behind him, and Dad was pulling as Dairy Queen (delicious soft serve ice cream).
in a fish when he fell in a hole. Mum laughed and Next came The Dairy King (Queen) Bar at Sundale, a
Dad was upset with her because he could have brand, new shopping centre, first of its kind on the
been hurt. Dad’s nickname for Mum was Flit Gold Coast in 1969. She employed many, some
because she moved quickly when doing her jobs. here, during the 15 years of Sundale’s life. Fresh
sandwiches and rolls were popular, along with thick
Two years later, on 26th March 1944 their first shakes, milk shakes, ice creams and drinks. There
child Merrilyn Delma was born, followed by was a loyal following for their sandwiches and thick
Terence William on 2nd May 1946. Then came Neil shakes. One of Mum’s memories went like this -
Alfred born 9th August 1949 and after twisting “someone was making a thick shake, knocked it off
Dad’s arm along came Rhyll Lorene born 16th the beater while I was getting ice cream cones out
September 1952. We had a wonderful family life, of the cupboard, and it poured down my back”. (I
first at Guanaba on the Guanaba Creek. We had don’t think it was me). I was talking to a younger
an ant bed tennis court, a lovely garden (Mum neighbour just a few years ago who grew up on the
loved all flowers and especially sweet peas) with a coast. He was talking about Sundale and the milk
beautiful crepe myrtle which is still alive but not bar that made the best thick shakes on the coast.
thriving. Just before I turned 5 we moved to a dairy He would love to have another one!
farm, Lyndale, on the Coomera River, at
Maudsland. Mum loved farm life – milked cows, After Sundale closed the Dairy opened a café at
fixed fences, replaced fences after floods. They Harley Park (where Charis Seafoods now trades).
grew many crops – lucerne, potatoes, pumpkins, Mum was there for a couple of years but the shop
corn, peas, watermelons, rockmelons and Indian didn’t take off and she moved to a shop at the new
Creams. Farm life was always busy and constant. milk factory at Pine Ridge Road. It was eventually
One Sunday a month, church was held at Holy leased to a private group. She then worked in the
Rood and I have memories of going to church the Ice Cream production area – icing cakes and easter
day before to clean the church, polish the silver eggs all made of ice cream. After this Mum
and arrange flowers for the Altar area. conducted Factory tours for school groups, and
other groups explaining the journey of milk, from
Mum taught Sunday School and was the Treasurer cows to the bottle.
of Holy Rood for many years. A big change
occurred in our lives when they sold the farm at Her work in sales continued in retirement when she
the end of 1965. We moved to Edward Street volunteered in the Anglican Op shop at Oxenford.
Southport. Mum had a Sunday afternoon job at Mum worked the till, enjoyed the busy Monday
Radcliffe’s Petrol Station Coomera beside the afternoons with lots of sales, and had great
highway. It was popular stop for travellers satisfaction when the takings and the money drawer
especially Sunday afternoons with many beach balanced at the end of the day. The Op shop was a
goers from Brisbane returning home from a day at part of Holy Rood. The ladies at Holy Rood did a lot
the Gold Coast beaches. Mum kept that job for a of catering for fund raising. Mum also volunteered
couple of years after the shift to Southport. She at Nerang High School tuckshop working with our
also had a job at Woolworths Nerang Street Gwen. She had volunteered at Southport High when
Southport. The last day at the farm was a difficult we, her children attended there. Mum’s philosophy
one for Mum. I have a very vivid memory of Mum of life was “Work hard, do your best”.
in tears. Rene Hollindale put her arms around her
and hugged her.
The common thread throughout Mum’s life has been In 2012, around her 91st birthday she was admitted
her active faith. Holy Rood’s monthly services to Allamanda hospital with severe breathlessness.
continued in her life for many years side by side with On investigation it was found that she had a leaking
services here at St Peters where she assisted at fetes aortic valve and little could be done to treat it
(the plant stand) and fashion parades. As she aged it because of her age. With some research and an
became wholly St Peters. She had wonderful article on a trial of a Lotus valve as a possibility for
friendships here and Stewart and Alice Peters, old older people (no open-heart surgery required), and
friends from her Wonga Wallen days provided rich with the help of her Cardiologist Dr Lai, she was
companionship. The passing of her father, mother, accepted for the trial. Mum was admitted into
husband and daughter Merrilyn were her most Prince Charles Hospital days before Christmas, was
difficult challenges. She faced adversity with great fitted with the valve and a pacemaker, and
strength. discharged Christmas day. It was a great success. By
2018 mum had more leaks in her heart, ulcers on
When asked to name a special achievement Mum her legs that weren’t healing, and fluid build up in
replied “I was the first lady to learn to drive in the her body. After 35 days of treatment in hospital with
Coomera area. I always loved driving. It was a sad some success, but decreased mobility, she entered
day when I had to stop.” Arcare St James Helensvale on the 30thAugust
2018. She had a lovely room that looked out onto
It was her eyesight that let her down. Her first major gardens and a coffee shop. It was a big change for
health problem was the onset of Temporal arteritis Mum. The staff provided loving care and support. It
in2001 which occurred on the drive home from was her home for almost 3 years. In the early hours
Nerang Tuckshop to Helensvale. It needed swift of Saturday 7th August Mum was admitted to
treatment with medication before blindness Pindara where she was treated for blood poisoning
occurred. Part of her treatment was for blood and fluid around her lungs and heart. The nursing
pressure. Mum had always said when she was staff at 1A were caring, empathetic and supportive
younger “I have good eyes. When I die I should to the end and beyond. We are very thankful.
donate them.” Unfortunately, macular degeneration
became a problem 9 years later. With continuous
treatment over time some vision was retained so she Now you are at rest in the palms of His hands.
was never declared legally blind. In 2005 Mum was
diagnosed with breast cancer and treatment was
surgery followed by 20 doses of Radiation at East
Coast Cancer Centre Tugun. Mum was informed that
these treatments would make her tired and she was
looking forward to getting a good night’s sleep. It
happened once, on her last day’s treatment
For All the Saints
Saint Matthew September 21
Apostle, Evangelist
Matthew is listed as one of the twelve apostles of
Jesus in Mark, Matthew, Luke and Acts. In Matthew’s
Gospel he is identified as the tax collector who left
his occupation to follow Jesus. In Mark and Luke,
this same tax collector is called Levi, and it is usually
assumed that Levi and Matthew are one and the
same person, though that cannot be proved.
If Matthew is Levi, then he apparently collected
taxes around Capernaum, which was in the district
controlled by Herod Antipas. In Palestine, as
elsewhere in the Roman Empire, the collection of
taxes was farmed out to private entrepreneurs. The
taxes were for Herod’s treasury, not Rome’s. Rome
exacted tribute from its subject territories rather
than direct taxes. According to Luke, when Levi
became a follower of Jesus, he held a feast in Jesus’
honour, possibly in response to Jesus’ acceptance
of him despite his despised occupation. His
occupation would have made his fellow Jews regard
him as being in the same category as robbers,
prostitutes and sinners generally who were beyond
God’s grace.
The early church believed that Matthew was the
author of the Gospel that bears his name. Matthew
may well be a significant figure associated with the
origins of the Gospel. The Inspiration of St Matthew, Caravaggio, 1602
source: For All the Saints, abridged
The flowers in the Church are to the Glory of God and in Loving memory of
Lorraine Joyce Royle, Ouida Kathleen Mary Rogers & Annis Phillips
~ Sunday 19 September 2021 ~
Given by their familiesSergius of Radonezh ~ September 25
Abbot of Holy Trinity, Moscow
Sergius of Radonezh was born at Rostov in Russia Sergius refused to be made bishop of Moscow when
about 1314. At that time Russia was in considerable the see was offered to him in 1378. Sergius’ appeal
turmoil after the Mongol invasions of the previous was to the common people, from whom he had his
century and the civil war in Russia that led to control own origins. He was honoured as a humble, simple,
of the country by the Tartars. In the turmoil, Sergius’ kind and godly monk. He emphasised the vocation of
family was forced to leave Rostov. They took up Christian service to any in need. The people saw true
farming at Radonezh near Moscow. The invasion and saintliness in his life and revered him for his mystical
warfare had severely disrupted religious life, and life of prayer and worship. He is regarded as Russia’s
many of the early monasteries had been destroyed. greatest saint. He died in 1392.
A revival of the monastic tradition in eastern Europe
began in the early fourteenth century, influenced by
the practice of contemplative prayer associated with
Gregory Palamas. In Russia this led a number of
people to seek quiet in the forests north of Moscow.
As a young man of twenty, Sergius joined his brother
Stephen and others in a community of hermit
Christians in the forests. Following a simple life-style
they lived close to nature. Over the course of time
Praise and glory to you, eternal God, for Sergius,
Sergius brought his fellow hermits into an ordered
communal life and founded the great monastery of monk, reconciler and peacemaker;
the Holy Trinity near Radonezh, 70 kilometres north help us toward that holiness
of Moscow, in what is now Zagorsk. This was the first which made him Russia’s most beloved saint.
religious community to be established in Russia after
the Tartar invasion. Through his influence many
other monasteries were founded.
A man of peace, Sergius laboured to keep the peace
amongst the quarrelling Russian princes. He did
however rally support for Prince Dimitri Donshoi in
his attempts to gain independence for the Russian
people form the Tartars. The Tartars were finally
defeated in 1380. Sergius was also concerned for
peace in his monastery. His emphasis on community
life rather than the solitary emphasis of some
contemplatives was disliked by some of the monks,
who would have preferred Stephen as abbot. Sergius
withdrew and founded a separate monastery, but
was later restored to Holy Trinity by the metropolitan
Alexis. His influence was widespread, and by the end
of his life he had founded about forty monasteries.
The constitution he adopted for Holy Trinity made it
a model for all later Russian communities.St Michael and All Angels
September 29
Michael is one of only three angels mentioned by name
in the Bible. Furthermore, Michael is mentioned only
three times in the Old Testament (in Daniel), and twice
in the New Testament (in Jude and Revelation).
Nevertheless, Michael became one of the most popular
of angelic figures, and is closely associated with ideas
of triumph and vindication of the saints of God. There
are many churches dedicated to St Michael and All
Angels. The name “Michael” means “Who is like God?”
The development of the figure of Michael is part of the
development of angelology in Judaism towards the end
of the Old Testament period. In Daniel, Michael
appears as the protector of Israel. Michael’s role was
greatly enhanced in the later Jewish and early Christian
writings that were not included in the Bible. There in
particular Michael appears as the vindicator of Israel
and leader of the triumphant armies of God - a trait
that is reflected in Revelation 12:7ff., where Michael
and the angels vanquish the dragon.
Michael is also depicted in the non-canonical literature
as the recording angel, and as the angel who carries
the souls of the righteous into paradise. This was a
theme that figures in the medieval requiem mass. An
aspect of this function probably lies behind the
reference in Jude 9 to the dispute between Michael
and the devil over the body of Moses.
Everlasting God,
you have ordained and constituted in a wonderful order
the ministries of angels and mortals:
grant that, as your holy angels stand before you in
heaven, so at your command
they may help and defend us here on earth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.Readings & Collects
Sunday 19 September 2021 ~ Pentecost XVII
Jeremiah 11:18-20 Mark 9:30-37
18 It was the Lord who made it known to me, and I 30 They went on from there and passed through
knew; then you showed me their evil deeds. 19 But I Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; 31 for
was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. And I did he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, ‘The
not know it was against me that they devised Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands,
schemes, saying, ‘Let us destroy the tree with its and they will kill him, and three days after being
fruit, let us cut him off from the land of the living, so killed, he will rise again.’ 32 But they did not
that his name will no longer be remembered!’ 20 But understand what he was saying and were afraid to
you, O Lord of hosts, who judge righteously, who try ask him. 33 Then they came to Capernaum; and
the heart and the mind, let me see your retribution when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What
upon them, for to you I have committed my cause. were you arguing about on the way?’ 34 But they
were silent, for on the way they had argued with
James 3:1-12 one another about who was the greatest. 35 He sat
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my down, called the twelve, and said to them, ‘Whoever
brothers and sisters, for you know that we who wants to be first must be last of all and servant of
teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For all all.’ 36 Then he took a little child and put it among
of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, 37
mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the ‘Whoever welcomes one such child in my name
whole body in check with a bridle. 3 If we put bits welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me
into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’
guide their whole bodies. 4 Or look at ships: though
they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive PSALM 54
them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder R God is my helper, the Lord sustains my life.
wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the 1 Save me, O God, by your name;In your might,
tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great defend my cause.
exploits.How great a forest is set ablaze by a small 2 Hear my prayer, O God;give ear to the words of
fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed my mouth. R
among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains 3 For the arrogant have risen up against me,
the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and and the ruthless have sought my life,those who
is itself set on fire by hell. 7 For every species of have no regard for God.
beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be 4 Behold, God is my helper;
tamed and has been tamed by the human species, 8 it is the Lord who sustains my life. R
but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full 5 Render evil to those who spy on me;
of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and in your faithfulness, destroy them.
Father, and with it we curse those who are made in 6 I will offer you a freewill sacrifice
the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come and praise your Name, O Lord, for it is good.
blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this 7 For you have rescued me from every trouble,
ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from and my eye has seen the ruin of my foes. R
the same opening both fresh and brackish water? 12
God and Father of all,
Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives,
you have taught us through your Son that the last shall be first,
or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield and have made a little child the measure of your kingdom:
fresh. give us the wisdom from above,
so that we may understand that in your sight
the one who serves is the greatest of all.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.Readings & Collects
Sunday 26 September ~ St Michael & All Angels
Daniel 7: 9-10, 13-14 John 1: 45-51
9 As I watched, thrones were set in place, and an 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have
Ancient One took his throne; his clothing was white found him about whom Moses in the law and also the
as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’
throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning 46 Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come
fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and flowed out from out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ 47
his presence. A thousand thousand served him, and When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he
ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is
no deceit!’ 48 Nathanael asked him, ‘Where did you
him. The court sat in judgement, and the books were
come to know me?’ Jesus answered, ‘I saw you under
opened. 13 As I watched in the night visions, I saw
the fig tree before Philip called you.’ 49 Nathanael
one like a human being coming with the clouds of
replied, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the
heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was
King of Israel!’ 50 Jesus answered, ‘Do you believe
presented before him. 14 To him was given
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, You will see greater things than these.’ 51 And he said
nations, and languages should serve him. His to him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven
dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not opened and the angels of God ascending and
pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never descending upon the Son of Man.’
be destroyed.
Revelation 12: 7-12a PSALM 138
7 And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his R O Lord , your love endures forever; do not
angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and abandon the works of your hands.
his angels fought back, 8 but they were defeated, 1 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole
and there was no longer any place for them in heart;
heaven. 9 The great dragon was thrown down, that before the gods I will sing your praise.
ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, 2 I will bow down towards your holy temple
the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown and praise your Name,
down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down because of your love and faithfulness; R
with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, 3 For you have glorified your Name
proclaiming, ‘Now have come the salvation and the and your word above all things.
power and the kingdom of our God and the 4 When I called, you answered me;
authority of his Messiah, for the accuser of our you increased my strength within me. R
comrades has been thrown down, who accuses 5 All the kings of the earth will praise you, O Lord,
them day and night before our God. 11 But they when they have heard the words of your mouth.
have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and 6 They will sing of the ways of the Lord,
by the word of their testimony, for they did not cling that great is the glory of the Lord. R
to life even in the face of death. 12 Rejoice then, you 7 Though the Lord be high, he cares for the lowly;
heavens and those who dwell in them! But woe to he perceives the haughty from afar.
the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down 8 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep
to you with great wrath, because he knows that his me safe; you stretch forth your hand
time is short!’ against the fury of my enemies;
your right hand shall save me.
Almighty God, 9 The Lord will make good his purpose for me;
you govern the courses of this world O Lord, your love endures for ever;
by means too wonderful for us to comprehend: do not abandon the works of your hands. R
give us reverence before the mysteries of your providence,
and grace to know the messengers of your will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Lectionary Readings for 19 & 26 September 2021
SEPTEMBER 2021 SEPTEMBER 2021
19 SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 26 EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Jeremiah 11. 18 - 20 Numbers 11. 4 - 6, 10 - 16, 24 - 29
Ps 54 Ps 19. 7 - 14
James 3. 1 - 12 James 5. 12 - 20
Mark 9. 30 - 37 Mark 9. 38 - 50
20 Monday John Coleridge Patteson, first bishop of 27 Monday Vincent de Paul, priest and worker
Melanesia, martyr (d. 1871) with the poor (d. 1660)
Ezra 1. 1 - 6 Zechariah 8. 1 - 8
Ps 126 Ps 102. 18 - 22
Luke 8. 16 - 18 Luke 9. 46 - 50
21 Tuesday MATTHEW, APOSTLE, EVANGELIST 28 Tuesday
AND MARTYR Zechariah 8. 20 - 23
Proverbs 3. 1 - 6 Ps 87
Ps 19. 1 - 6 Luke 9. 51 - 56
Ephesians 4. 1 - 14
Matthew 9. 9 - 13 29 Wednesday MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS
Daniel 7. 9 - 10, 13 - 14
Of the Day Ps 138
Revelation 12. 7 - 12a
Ezra 6. 6 - 7, 14 - 20 John 1. 45 - 51
Ps 122
Luke 8. 19 - 21 Of the day
22 Wednesday Nehemiah 2. 1 - 8
Ezra 9. 5 - 9 Ps 137
Ps 119. 97 - 104 Luke 9. 57 - 62
Luke 9. 1 - 6
30 Thursday Jerome, priest and biblical scholar (d.
23 Thursday 420)
Haggi 1. 1 - 8 Nehemiah 8. 1 - 12
Ps 149 Ps 19. 7 - 14
Luke 9. 7 - 9 Luke 10. 1 - 12
24 Friday OCTOBER 2021
Haggi 1. 15b - 2.9
Ps 43 01 Friday
Luke 9. 18 - 22 Baruch 1. 15 22
Ps 79. 8 - 10
25 Saturday Sergius of Moscow, abbot and teacher Luke 10. 13 - 16
(d. 1392)
Zechariah 2. 5 - 9a (9b - 13) 14 - 15a 02 Saturday
Ps 72. 8 - 14 Baruch 4. 5 - 12, 27 - 29
Luke 9. 43b - 45 Ps 69. 31 - 38
Luke 10. 17 - 24Battle of Britain Day On Sunday 15 September 1940, the Luftwaffe launched its largest and most concentrated attack against London in the hope of drawing out the RAF into a battle of annihilation. Around 1,500 aircraft took part in the air battles which lasted until dusk. The action was the climax of the Battle of Britain. RAF Fighter Command defeated the German raids; the Luftwaffe formations were dispersed by a large cloud base and failed to inflict severe damage on the city of London. In the aftermath of the raid, Hitler postponed Operation Sea Lion. Having been defeated in daylight, the Luftwaffe turned its attention to The Blitz night campaign which lasted until May 1941. Battle of Britain Day, 15 September, is now an annual commemoration of the battle in the United Kingdom. At St Peter's we observe battle of Britain Sunday on the Sunday following.
Forthcoming Events
Blessing of the Pets ~ Sunday 3 Oct,
9:30 service
St Peter’s Annual Spring Fashion Parade
Saturday 23 October — 1.00pm
Numbers limited $10.00Coming to Church this Sunday? Don't forget your mask
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