St Francis of Assisi - 3 October 2021 - St Luke's Mosman Park
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
We are a beacon of God’s light and hope welcoming all to our table of love and diversity. St Francis of Assisi — 3 October 2021 A SALUTATION OF THE VIRTUES There is surely no one in the whole world who can possess any one of you without dying first. Whoever possesses one and does not offend the others possesses all. Whoever offends one does not possess any and offends all. And each one confounds vice and sin. Holy Wisdom confounds Satan and all his cunning. Pure holy Simplicity confounds all the wisdom of this world and the wisdom of the body. Holy Poverty confounds the desire for riches, greed, and the cares of this world. Holy Humility confounds pride, all people who are in the world and all this is in the world. Holy Charity confounds every diabolical and carnal temptation and every carnal fear. Holy Obedience confounds every corporal and carnal wish, binds its mortified body to obedience of the Spirit and obedience to one’s brother, so that it is subject and submissive to everyone in the world, not only to people but to every beast and wild animal as well that they may do whatever they want with it, insofar as it has been given to them from above by the Lord. St Francis of Assisi (1182-1226) ✜ READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK 10 OCTOBER 2021 Stewardship Sunday Amos 5:6-7, 10-15; Psalm 90:12-17; Hebrews 4:12-16; Mark 10:17-31
WELCOME Acknowledgement of Country Nganyi kaaditj Noongar moort kyen kaadak nidja boodja. As we gather for worship, we acknowledge the Whadjuk Noongar people as the original custodians of this land, and their ongoing relationship with it. We acknowledge their leaders, past, present and emerging. A very warm welcome to our service this morning, particularly if you are visiting St Luke’s for the first time. We hope you will join us for refreshments in the Alexandra Hall following today’s service and please be most warmly welcome. Children are welcome at all our services and there is a dedicated play area for younger children at the front of the church with Worship Bulletins and pencils available. Children are invited to join our Sunday School activities on the second Sunday of the month during school term time. If you have any questions or particular needs, please speak to one of our friendly welcomers. We invite you to share in a time of stillness and quiet before the service begins. Our Parish Mission Statement We are a beacon of God’s light and hope welcoming all to our table of love and diversity. Donating to St Luke’s As we move to a more cashless society, you are encouraged to give electronically. Our bank account details are: Name: Mosman Parish Council BSB: 706-001 Reference: Direct Giving Account Number: 3000 3046 Alternatively, you may wish to use our ‘Donation Point Tap’ at the rear of the church by using a contactless enabled card, mobile or wearable to donate. If you prefer to give cash there is an offertory bowl available. Community Garden Op Shop The St Luke’s Community Garden is a means to bring Our Op Shop is open Wednesday, Friday and together members of the local community through Saturday 9:30am—1:00pm. We recycle quality the invigorating and connecting activity of gardening donations of clothes for women, men and children; and is a demonstration site for organic, sustainable, jewellery; homeware items; bric a brac; and books. eco-friendly urban living. The Community Garden is Any excess donations are then sent to Clutterbugs open to anyone who would like to become a General and other charity shops including The Salvation Member or a Bed Holder. More details at Army and Save The Children. www.stlukescommunitygarden.com. PAGE 2
FROM THE RECTOR For the Church of England, the Season of Creation is the period in the annual church calendar, from 1st September to 4th October, dedicated to God as Creator and Sustainer of all life. The Diocese of Perth observes Sustainable September and asks us: do you live sustainably? regeneratively? The focus is the fifth mark of the Five Marks of Mission of the Anglican Communion: safeguarding the integrity of creation, and sustaining and renewing the life of the earth. Many other churches nominate September as Stewardship Month and reflect on their use of time, talents, and money. The Feast of St Francis of Assisi (4 October) is a fitting observance to end the Season of Creation. St Francis’ great Canticle of the Sun (Canticle of the Creatures), lovingly known to us in the words of the hymn ‘All Creatures of our God and King,’ thanks God for such creations as "Brother Fire" and "Sister Water.” It is an affirmation of St Francis' personal theology as he often referred to animals as brothers and sisters to Mankind, rejected material accumulation and sensual comforts in favour of "Lady Poverty.” As we consider the fragility of our world and environment, it seems that St Francis would be very busy yet quietly talking to the birds and all who would listen about his understanding of living in the world and caring for all that God has given us. It is timely to remember that in the first creation account, humanity is the last of God’s creative acts so that humanity is placed in a created natural world. God gives dominion (stewardship) of the natural world to humanity and our task is to subdue it in the manner of loving care that God created it. It may seem hard for us to hear Jesus’ words, “do not worry,” when environmental change and natural disasters, the enduring COVID-19 pandemic, and abuse of natural resources threaten our lives. Jesus, together with St Francis, calls us back to the core of what we need to live comfortably and happily. Both remind us of the God of creation who continually cares for plants and animals, humanity, and all the created order. God knows what we need. We appropriate the way of life of those whom we love and respect. Children continue the legacy of their parents’ values. Students continue the legacy of a beloved teacher’s wisdom. Franciscans continue the legacy of St Francis of Assisi. All the baptised are called to continue the way of life of Jesus. Jesus asks us to do the small things. We learn by doing. The more faithful we are in the doing, the more faithful we become in the living. Inspired by St Francis and Franciscans of today, the small things are not onerous or overbearing. The closer we are to Jesus and appropriate his way of life, the more clearly we become his saving Presence. In us who are faithful, Jesus is never absent. PAGE 3
OUR SERVICE TODAY Our service begins on page 119 of A Prayer Book for Australia (green book). Hymns are from Together in Song (red book) unless otherwise indicated. The Sung parts of the Eucharist are found in the Mass Setting booklet. Opening Hymn 100 All Creatures of our God and King First Reading Jeremiah 22:13-16 Psalm Psalm 148:7-14 Second Reading Galatians 6:14-18 Gospel Luke 12:22-34 Offertory Hymn 626 Lord of creation, to you be all praise Closing Hymn 135 All things bright and beautiful Recessional Paean, Richard Knight (1965–) For Your Contemplation ✜ The prophet Jeremiah challenges our righteousness and justice. How do you know God in the poor and needy? ✜ In today’s psalm, the natural phenomena praise God. How do you see nature praising God? ✜ Paul claims to the Ephesians that he only boasts in “the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” What do you boast in? ✜ The Gospel challenges us not to worry. Is this easy for you? What are your worries? How does God overcome them? God, all-powerful, most holy, sublime ruler of all, you alone are good, fully, completely good; may we render to you all praise, all glory, all thanksgiving, all honour and all blessing; may we always ascribe to you alone everything that is good. Amen. Prayer from The Praises to be Said at all the Hours, Francis of Assisi PAGE 4
PRAYERS Father, you know what we need: it is your good pleasure to give us the kingdom. Anglican Communion The Church in Wales. Australia The Diocese Armidale: Bishop Rick Lewers, Clergy and Laity. Diocese Diocese of Perth: Archbishop Kay Goldsworthy, Bishop Jeremy James and Bishop Kate Wilmot; Parish of Quairading: Rev’d Philip Raymont and people; Parish of Quinns-Butler: Rev’d Peter Hotchkin, Rev’d Peter De Yaak and people; Parish of Riverton: Rev’d Lisa Spargo and people. Province: Parish of Port Hedland, clergy and people; Parish of Denmark, clergy and people. Partner Diocese, Eldoret: St Paul’s, clergy and people. Parishes Seeking Appointment of Clergy Bassendean, Dianella, Murdoch-Winthrop, Scarborough. Partner Parish of St Luke’s Kaptubei, Eldoret Vicar Rev’d Jonah Tabut and their community, widows and orphans, children lacking food, permanent water source for St Luke’s, peace in Kenya, strong families, COVID-19 pandemic. Please Pray for Val, Maxine, the enduring COVID-19 pandemic, the sick, lonely, homeless, refugees and asylum seekers, those with borderline personality disorder, cerebral palsy, low vision and amputees. Anniversaries of Death Lucy Cullam, Elizabeth Margaret Addie. Prayer of the Week Generous God, whose hand is open to fill all things living with plenteousness: make us ever thankful for your goodness, and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your bounty; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. PAGE 5
PARISH NOTICES Commissioning of Priest-in-Charge of Beaconsfield Monday 4 October 7:00pm The Rev’d Gemma Sampson will be Commissioned as Priest-in-Charge of the Parish of Beaconsfield at St Paul’s, 162 Hampton Road, Beaconsfield, on Monday 4 October at 7:00pm. All are welcome to attend. Please also pray for the Rev’d Gemma and the Parish of Beaconsfield for their new phase of ministry. Fiftieth Synod of the Diocese of Perth 8-10 October Please pray for the Diocese of Perth and Synod Representatives gathering for the Fiftieth Synod of the Diocese of Perth. Our Synod representatives are Angela Hogarth and Andrew Reynolds. A Spring Indulgence Garden Tour in York Saturday 16 October 9:00am—3:00pm Gather a group of friends to indulge in a delightful hour in a beautiful Spring Garden in York and help raise funds for the Parish of York: $10 for a tour of garden and a cup of tea/coffee with cake. 24 tickets at each time slot: 9am, 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm. Raffle and door prize also. 32 Ford Street, York. St Hilda’s with CARAD Fare Go Truck Saturday 16 October 5:30—8:30pm All are welcome to the St Hilda’s North Perth Open Night. Support refugees and asylum seekers by buying a meal from the CARAD Fare Go food truck. There will be displays, music and a chance to find out more about the St Hilda’s parish community. Cnr Glebe & View Streets, North Perth. Patronal Festival Sunday 17 October 9:30am We celebrate our Patronal Festival of St Luke with a combined service enriched with music sung by two soloists on Sunday 17 October at 9:30am followed by a seated extended brunch and refreshments in Alexandra Hall. Then at 5:00pm is our Patronal Choral Evensong with music sung by The Chapel Choir. All are welcome to join us as we celebrate our common life together in the Parish of Mosman Park giving glory to God for who we are and reflecting on our Patron. Magellan Chamber Concert Thursday 21 October 10:30am Joshua Crestwell (12 years old): piano, mandolin, flute, organ; Faith Maydwell: piano with music of Beethoven, Debussy and more at St George’s Cathedral. Donations before or after the concert will be welcomed for the ministry of St Bart’s and Anglicare WA amongst homeless people. St Luke’s Community Garden Products Sheep manure ($8/12 bags), Worm Juice, and coffee grinds are available for use in your garden— please see Bridget Faye for payment and collection. CARAD — Urgent Appeal for Nappies Donations of Size 3 (Huggies or Babylove preferred) and Size 4 (any brand) nappies would be appreciated. CARAD’s Foodbank is run by 36 volunteers who receive, sort, pack and deliver to their clients in need. Please leave your donations in the CARAD baskets in the Narthex. PAGE 6
TODAY’S REFLECTIONS A MOTHER’S LOVE Our Lord Christ might die no more, but that does not stop him working, for he needs to feed us. It is an obligation of his dear, motherly, love. The human mother will suckle her child with her own milk, but our beloved Mother, Jesus, feeds us with himself, and, with the most tender courtesy, does it by means of the Blessed Sacrament, the precious food of all true life. And he keeps us going through his mercy and grace by all the sacraments. This preaches and teaches. ‘In other words, ‘All the health and life of the sacraments, all the virtue and grace of my word, all the goodness laid up for you in Holy Church - it is I.’ The human mother may put her child tenderly to her breast, but our tender Mother Jesus simply leads us into his blessed breast through his open side, and there gives us a glimpse of the Godhead and heavenly joy - the inner certainty of eternal bliss. This fine and lovely word Mother is so sweet and so much its own that it cannot properly be used of any but him, and of her who is his own true Mother - and ours. In essence motherhood means love and kindness, wisdom, knowledge, goodness. Though in comparison with our spiritual birth our physical birth is a small, unimportant, straightforward sort of thing, it still remains that it is only through his working that it can be done at all by his creatures. A kind, loving mother who understands and knows the needs of her child will look after it tenderly just because it is the nature of a mother to do so. As the child grows older she changes her methods - but not her love. Older still, she allows the child tone punished so that its faults are corrected and its virtues and graces developed. This was of doing things, with much else that is right and good, is our Lord at work in those who are doing them. Thus he is our Mother in nature, working by his grace in our lower part, for the sake of the higher. It is his will that we should know this, for he wants all our love to be fastened on himself. Like this, for he wants all outlive to be fastened on himself. Like this I could see our indebtedness, under God, to fatherhood and motherhood - whether it be human or divine - is fully met in truly loving God. And this blessed love Christ himself produces in us. A Reading from Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich in Atwell, Robert ed. Celebrating the Saints: Daily Spiritual Readings to Accompany the Calendars of The Church of England, The Church of Ireland, The Scottish Episcopal Church and The Church in Wales (Norwich: Canterbury Press, 2010), pp. 443-44. Keep ever fresh and living your devotion to Christ your Lord PAGE 7
A READING FROM THE EARLIER RULE OF 1209 OF FRANCIS OF ASSISI This is the life of the gospel of Jesus Christ which Brother Francis asked the Lord Pope to be granted and confirmed for him; and he granted and confirmed it for him and his brothers present and to come. Brother Francis and whoever will be head of this Order promises obedience and reverence to the Lord Pope Innocent and to his successors. And all the other brothers are bound to obey Brother Francis and his successors. The rule and life of these brothers is this: to live in obedience, in chastity, and without anything of their own, and to follow the teaching and footprints of our Lord Jesus Christ, who says: ‘If you wish to be perfect, go and sell everything that you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ And again, ‘If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’ And again, ‘If anyone wishes to come to me and does not hate father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.’ Or again, ‘Everyone who has left father or mother, brother or sisters, wife or children, houses or lands because of me, shall receive a hundredfold and shall possess eternal life.’ If anyone, desiring by divine inspiration to accept this life, should come to our brothers, let him be received by them with kindness. And if he is determined to accept our life, the brothers should take great care not to become involved in his temporal affairs; but let them present him to their minister as quickly as possible. The minister on his part should receive him with kindness and encourage him and diligently explain to him the tenor of our life. When this has been done, the aforesaid person — if he wishes and is able to do so spiritually and without any impediment — should sell all his possessions and strive to give them all to the poor. The brothers and minister of the brothers should take care not to become involved in any way in his temporal affairs; nor should they accept any money either themselves or through an intermediary. However, if they are in need, the brothers can accept instead of money other things needed for the body like other poor people. And when he has returned, let the minister give him the clothes of probation for a whole year, namely, two tunics without a hood, a cord and trousers, and a small cape reaching to the cord. When the year and term of probation has ended, let him be received into obedience. Afterward he will not be allowed to join another Order or to ‘wander outside obedience’ according to the decree of the Lord Pope and according to the gospel; for no one ‘who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’ But if someone should come who cannot give away his possessions without an impediment and yet has the spiritual desire [to do so], let him leave those things behind; and this suffices for him. No one should be accepted contrary to the form and the prescription of the holy Church. The brothers should wear poor clothes, and they can patch them with sackcloth and other pieces with the blessing of God; for the Lord says in the gospel: ‘Those who wear costly clothes and live in luxury and who dress in soft garments are in the houses of kings.’ And although they may be called hypocrites, nonetheless they should not cease doing good nor should they seek costly clothing in this world, so that they may have a garment in the kingdom of heaven. Robert Atwell, Celebrating the Saints: Daily Spiritual Readings to Accompany the Calendars of The Church of England, The Church or Ireland, The Scottish Episcopal Church and the Church in Wales (Norwich: The Canterbury Press, 2010), pp. 569-70. PAGE 8
THE FIRST WAY OF SERVICE: PRAYER Praise and prayer constitute the atmosphere in which the brothers and sisters must strive to live. They must endeavour to maintain a constant recollection of the presence of God and of the unseen world. An ever-deepening devotion to Christ is the hidden source of all their strength and joy. He is for them the One all-lovely and adorable, God incarnate, crucified and risen, whose love is the inspiration of service and the reward of sacrifice. The brothers and sisters must strive ever to remember how essential is the work of prayer to every department of their lives. Without the constant renewal of divine grace the spirit flags, the will is weakened, the conscience grows dull, the mind loses its freshness and even the bodily vigour is impaired. They must, therefore, always be on their guard against the constant temptation to let other work encroach upon the hours of prayer, remembering that if they seek in this way to increase the bulk of their activity it can only be at the cost of its true quality and value. They must be regular and punctual in their attendance at corporate prayer. They must also bear in mind that it is of little value to be present at the common devotions in a formal of careless spirit. They must seek to make of each office an offering of true devotion from the heart. The reverent, ordered and earnest offering of the corporate worship is the very heart of the community’s life. So, too, the brothers and sisters must guard with jealous watchfulness the times of private prayer. They must remember that corporate worship is not a substitute for the quiet communion of the individual soul with God, and they must strive to go forward to ever fuller enjoyment of such communion, till they are living in so constant a remembrance of God’s presence that they do indeed pray without ceasing. It is to assist such an attitude and practice of recollection that the rules of silence have been laid down and the brothers and sisters will welcome and use such silence, regarding it not as the imposition of an artificial restraint, nor merely as an external rule to be observed by the divine presence. They will welcome in a like spirit the retreats and days of quiet which the community’s Rule provides as times when, in the withdrawal from all external distractions, the life of the spirit may be renewed and deepened. From ‘The Principles of the First Order SSF.’ RESPONDING TO THE GENEROSITY OF GOD It is impossible to find a vocabulary worthy enough to describe the gifts of God, for they are so many as to be innumerable, and so wonderful that the single gift [of creation] is itself sufficient to prompt the offering of our thanks to the Giver…I have no time to speak of the richness and diversity of God’s gifts. We will have to pass over in silence the rising of the sun, the circuits of the moon, the variation in air temperature, the patterns of the seasons, the descent of the rain, the gushing of springs, the sea itself, the whole earth and its flora, the life of the oceans, the creatures of the air, the animals in their various species – in fact everything that exists for the service of our life. But the supreme benefit [of creation] we cannot pass over, even if we wished to. To be silent about that is absolutely impossible for anyone with intelligence and reason; and yet to speak of it worthily is also impossible. Basil the Great, “The Longer Rules,” 2, 2-4. PAGE 9
SEEING How is it possible for anyone to see the whole universe at a glance?...All creation is bound to appear small to a soul that sees the Creator. Once it beholds a little of God’s light, it finds all creatures small indeed. The light of holy contemplation enlarges the mind in God until it transcends the world. In fact, the soul that sees God rises even above itself, and as it is drawn upward in God’s light all its inner powers unfold. Then, when it looks down from above, it understands how limited everything really is that before had seemed beyond its grasp…Why should it surprise us, then, that [Benedict] should have seen the whole world gathered up before him after this inner light had transported him so far above this world? Of course, in saying that the whole world was gathered up before his eyes, I do not mean that heaven and earth contracted, but rather that his spirit was enlarged. Absorbed as he was in God, it was now easy for him to see all that lay beneath God… Gregory the Great, “Dialogues,” II, 35 and 37. Most High, Glorious God, enlighten the darkness of our minds. Give us a right faith, a firm hope, and a perfect charity, so that we may always and in all things act according to Your Holy Will. Francis of Assisi: Vocation Prayer PREACHING TO THE BIRDS St Francis, having received this answer, and knowing it to be the will of the Lord Jesus Christ, arose with fervour, saying, “Let us go in the name of God”; and taking with him Brother Masseo and Brother Agnalo, both holy men, he let himself be guided by the Spirit of God, without considering the road he took. They soon arrived at a town called Savenniano, where St Francis began to preach, ordering first the swallows, who were singing, to keep silence until he had finished; and the swallows obeyed his voice. He preached with such fervour, that the inhabitants of the town wished to follow him, out of devotion; but St Francis would not allow them, saying, “Do not be in such a haste; you need not leave your homes. I will tell you what you must do to save your souls.” Thereupon he founded the Third Order for the salvation of all; and leaving them much consoled and well disposed to do penance, he went from thence, and reached a spot between Cannajo and Bivagno. And as he was going on, with such fervour, he lifted up his eyes and saw on some trees by the wayside a great multitude of birds; St Francis was much surprised, and said to his companions, “Wait for me here by the way, whilst I go and preach to my little sisters the birds”; and he entered into the field, and began to preach to the birds which were on the ground. All of a sudden those which were on the trees came round him, and all listened while St Francis preached to them, and did not fly away until he had given them his blessing. And PAGE 10
Brother Masseo related afterwards to Brother James of Massa how St Francis went among them and even touched them with his garments, and how none of them moved. The substance of the sermon was this: “My little sisters the birds, you owe much to God, your Creator, and ought to sing His praise at all times and in all places, because He has given you liberty and the air to fly about in; and though you neither spin nor sew, He has given you a twofold and a threefold clothing for yourselves and for your offspring; and He sent two of your species into the Ark with Noah that you might not be lost to the world; besides which, He feeds you, though you neither sow nor reap. He has given fountains and rivers to quench your thirst, mountains and valleys in which to take refuge, and trees in which to build your nest; so that your Creator loves you much having thus favoured you with such bounties. Beware, my little sisters, of the sin of ingratitude, and study always to praise the Lord.” As he said these words, all the birds began to open their beaks, to stretch their necks, to flap their wings, to bow their heads to the ground, and by their motions and by their songs endeavoured to manifest their joy to St Francis. And the saint rejoiced with them; he wondered to see such a multitude of birds, and was charmed with their beautiful variety, with their attention and familiarity, for all which he devoutly returned thanks to the Lord. Having finished his sermon, St Francis made the sign of the cross, and allowed them to fly away. Then all those birds rose up into the air, singing most sweetly; and, following the sign of the cross, which St Francis had made, they divided themselves into four companies. One company flew towards the east, the others towards the west, towards the south, and towards the north, and each company went away singing most wonderfully; signifying thereby, that as St Francis, the bearer of the Cross of Christ, had preached to them, and had made upon them the sign of the cross, after which they had divided among themselves the four parts of the world, so the preaching of the Cross of Christ, renewed by St Francis, would be carried by him and by his brothers all over the world, and that the humble monks, like little birds, should possess nothing in this world, but cast all the care of their lives on the providence of God. From Chapter 16 “How St Francis, having been told by St Clare and the Holy Brother Silvester that he should preach and convert many to the faith, founded the Third Order, preached to the birds, and reduced to silence the swallows” in The Little Flowers of Saint Frances of Assisi, translated from the Italian and edited by Cardinal Manning (Old Saybrook, C7: Konecky & Konecky, 2005), pp. 48-50. PAGE 11
THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH Monday 4 October 8:30am Morning Prayer 11:00am Wearne Aged Care Communion Service 5:00pm Evening Prayer 7:00pm Commissioning of Rev’d Gemma Sampson as Priest-in- Charge, St Paul’s Beaconsfield Tuesday 5 October 8:00am Deanery Meeting Wednesday 6 October William Tyndale, biblical scholar (d. 1536) 8:30am Morning Prayer 10:00am Eucharist 2:00pm Dorothy Genders Village Eucharist 5:00pm Evening Prayer Thursday 7 October 5:00pm Evening Prayer Friday 8 October 8:30am Morning Prayer 5:00pm Evening Prayer 6:30pm Synod Eucharist, St George’s Cathedral First Sitting of the Third Session of the Fiftieth Synod Saturday 9 October 8:10am Second Sitting of the Third Session of the Fiftieth Synod, Mt Claremont Sunday 10 October 7:30am Said Eucharist 9:30am Sung Eucharist 12:30pm Third Sitting of the Third Session of the Fiftieth Synod, Mt Claremont 20 Monument Street, Mosman Park WA 6012 | +61 8 9384 0108 stlukemosmanpark@gmail.com | www.stlukemosmanpark.perth.anglican.org Rector Fr Matthew Smedley | 0412 468 522 rectorstlukemosmanpark@gmail.com Parish Office Administrator Amanda Mills-Ghani Tuesday/Friday 9:00am–1:00pm, Wednesday 9:00am–5:00pm Wardens Angela Beeton, Kate Stanford Synod Representatives James Jegasothy, Andrew Reynolds Parish Council Rod Dale, Anna Goodes, Jen Grieve, Adrian Momber, Gwen Speirs Organists Rosemary Cassidy, Don Cook Op Shop Ruth Hogarth, Coordinator PAGE 12 Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 9:30am–1:00pm
You can also read