March, April and May 2021
Marsden
Missive
Uniting Church Carlingford
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Dear Marsden Road Members and Friends,
Remember last year, it was around this time we began to truly encounter Covid-19, It’s been quite a year and again we have come around to the period of Lent and Easter. As we draw close to Easter and are focused on our Lenten journey, we again seek to strengthen our faith through reflection and remembrance.
Comedian David Brenner’s routine relating to Superman uses the image of bullets bouncing off Superman’s chest without incident. When the bullets run out, the bad guy frequently throws the gun at Superman. Brenner reminds us of what Superman does then. He ducks. That’s right. After the bullets bounce off his chest, when the gun comes toward him, Superman ducks. I hope and pray you all have been ducking well since the pandemic began.
But back to Superman. The people in Jerusalem were looking for Superman.
They wanted someone to rid
People are throwing clothing in his path and reacting to his presence
joyfully, praising God with a loud voice. The question of the day was, “Who is
this?” For many of the people of Jerusalem, this was the new King . . . the
Messiah. Jesus had come to free them from Roman tyranny. The scene reminds me
of our own political process, especially in federal election years. Each of us
puts great hope in a candidate whom we believe can bring about the changes we
desire in our political system. Many people in
Jesus comes into
The Roman officials are wary of him. Pontius Pilate has ordered extra
soldiers to
Jewish leaders are also threatened. Jesus is a Jew, but he is certainly
not part of the Jewish religious establishment. The Pharisees and the scribes
have turned many Jews against Jesus, certain that Jesus isn’t the Messiah.
Before the Sanhedrin, they say that Jesus claims to be God. Along with the
Romans, the Jewish leaders fear Jesus and build a coalition to destroy Jesus.
The disciples of Jesus are also fearful, but for a different reason. They are
fearful for their own lives. More than once they have warned Jesus against
going into
In the musical Cats, the eldest cat, Old Deuteronomy, quotes T. S. Eliot
in saying, “We had the experience, but we missed the meaning.” In three years
of ministry with Jesus, the disciples had the experience, but they missed the
meaning. The city of
We can only speculate how we might have responded in such a situation.
Would we have found ourselves resenting Jesus or have feared him for any
reason? Would we have been angry with him because he did not live up to our
understanding of the Messiah? Would we have truly known who he was? During the
period of Lent to Easter Sunday we are on our own journey through the streets
of
Bishop John Shelby Spong says of the Resurrection, “Something happened
after the death of Jesus that had startling and enormous power. Its power was
sufficient to reconstitute a scattered and demoralised band of disciples” We
have the opportunity this Lenten tide to relive the journey to the cross and
experience the incredible power that is ours through the cross and the
Resurrection. It is only through the cross that we find the answer to the
question on the lips of those in
May your Lenten journey be challenging and fulfilling, and your Easter be a blessed rising with our Lord.
Humour
A priest buys a lawn mower at a yard sale. Back home, he pulls on the starter rope a few times with no results. He storms back to the yard sale and tells the previous owner, “I can’t get the mower to start!” “That’s because you have to curse to get it started,” says the man. “I’m a man of the cloth. I don’t even remember how to curse.” “You keep pulling on that rope, and it’ll come back to you.”
Preparation and or Action.
Normally we think of Lent as a somewhat sombre time, a time of penitence in preparation for (our remembrance of) the Crucifixion on Good Friday, followed by the celebration of the Resurrection on Easter Day. However, let us be reminded that there is more to our preparation than feeling penitent, however important penitence may be. What is important in today is dedication -- real dedication to God, carried out in our actions. We are reminded in Isaiah of what great things God has done in the past. But then we are told that however important these things were, we must focus on what God is doing today, in the present. God is doing new things, and he will continue to take care of his people. This is as true today as it was in Isaiah's time.
Now in many biblical passages, when Jesus tells a parable, his followers don't understand what he means. We all sometimes have this problem – we may perhaps have a tendency to sympathise with the wrong character, and thus initially to be mystified by the outcome. For instance, it would be easy to sympathise with the older brother in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, without seeing that the older son is being quite presumptuous about what is after all, still his father's property. To the father, people are much more important than property, and property is to be used in the service of people, and in the celebration of people's reconciliation.
In the parable of the lost sheep, you might initially be tempted to sympathise with the ninety-nine whom the shepherd leaves to look for the lost one, without seeing that I might be the lost one, and that I could never feel safe with a shepherd who would not search for an individual who has strayed. But in this story, Jesus’ followers see the point right away. Even the scribes and chief priests understand. Jesus was teaching that God will hold us all accountable for two things: for whether we give God the proper proportion of what we produce using God's resources, and for how we receive God's Son.
If we do not give back to God the proper portion of the benefits of what God has entrusted to us, and if we do not receive God's Son appropriately, we will be destroyed and replaced. The followers are horrified. They reject the message, saying "God forbid!" But Jesus is absolutely firm. He doesn't let anyone off the hook. Instead, He reminds the followers of what happens to those who do not properly receive God's Son: "The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner." "Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but when it falls on anyone, it will crush him." Even the scribes and the chief priests got it. They wanted to lay hands-on Jesus, but were afraid to, because of the people.
It is easy to see why the scribes and chief priests didn't like this teaching, but why was it so upsetting to Jesus’ followers that they said, "God forbid!"
First, it meant that Jesus was challenging the established religious authorities of the scribes and chief priests -- people that the followers had been taught all their lives to respect. Jesus was being a revolutionary! The idea that God will destroy and replace established leaders who work their own will instead of God's can still be unsettling today.
Second, the followers probably couldn't be one hundred percent comfortable that they themselves were giving God what is properly due. The Law that they knew set a very high standard. Jesus’ summary commandments are quotations from the Old Testament. Who can say that they faultlessly love the Lord their God with all their heart, with all their soul, with their entire mind, and with all their strength? And who absolutely and unfailingly loves their neighbours as they love themselves?
How then are we today to respond to what Jesus was teaching? What is the rent that we are to pay for the use of God's resources, and how are we to receive God's Son?
For the rest, the answer is clear. The minimum standard of giving has
been stated as being important to at least have a percentage figure personally
set. But for me much more important is how am I to receive God's Son. This to
me is very clear. Jesus says that we can recognise him in the eyes of the poor,
the sick, the downtrodden, and the needy. Do we? Do we then receive him? Do we
love these neighbours as we love ourselves? If we do not respond in faith, we
will miss the prize that
SERVICES for March, April, May 2021
Date |
Sunday |
Hebrew Scripture |
Epistle |
Gospel |
Mar 7 |
Lent 3 |
Exodus 17:1-7 |
Rom 5:1-11 |
John 4:5-42 |
Mar 14 |
Lent 4 |
1 Sam 16:1-13 |
Eph 5:8-14 |
John 9:1-41 |
Mar 21 |
Lent 5 |
Exodus 37:1-4 |
Rom 8:6-11 |
John 11:1-45 |
Mar 28 |
Palm Sunday |
Isaiah 50:4-9a |
Phil 2:5-11 |
Math 21:1-11 |
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Apr 1 |
Maundy Thursday |
Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14 |
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 |
John 13:1-17, 31b-35 |
Apr 2 |
Good Friday |
Isaiah 52:13-53:12 |
Heb 10:16-25 |
Math 27:1-61 |
Apr 4 |
Easter |
Acts 10:34-43 |
Col 3:1-4 |
Math 28:1-10 |
Apr 11 |
Easter 2 |
Acts 2:14a, 22-32 |
1 Peter 1:3-9 |
John 20:19-31 |
Apr 18 |
Easter 3 |
Acts 2:14a, 36-41 |
1 Peter 1:17-23 |
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Apr 25 |
Easter 4 |
Acts 2:42-47 |
1 Peter 2:19-25 |
John 10:1-10 |
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May 2 |
Easter 5 |
Acts
7:55-60 |
1 Peter 2:2-10 |
John 14:1-14 |
May 9 |
Easter 6 |
Acts 17:22-31 |
1 Peter 3:13-22 |
John 14:15-21 |
May 16 |
Ascension |
Acts 1:1-11 |
Ephesian 1:15-23 |
Luke 24:13-35 |
May 23 |
Pentecost |
Acts 2:1-21 |
1 Cor 12:3b-13 |
John 20:19-23 |
May 30 |
Trinity |
Isaiah 6:1-8 |
Romans 8:12-17 |
John 3:1-17 |
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Humour
What kind of
motor vehicles are in the Bible?
Answer: Yahweh
drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury, an automobile produced by
Plymouth from 1955 to 1989.
Israel's Triumph
(a British automobile produced from 1921 to 1984) could be heard after the
death of Goliath (2 Samuel 17:52, New Living Translation.
Honda... because
Acts 2:12 says the apostles "were all in one Accord," an automobile
produced beginning in 1976.
In Psalm 83, the
Almighty clearly owns both a Pontiac and a Geo. The passage urges the Lord to
"pursue your enemies with your Tempest and terrify them with your
Storm." -- Psalm 83:15
God may favour
Dodge pickup trucks since the Israelites were warned not to follow Moses up on
the mountain "until the Ram's horn sounds a long blast." -- Exodus
19:13
2 Corinthians
4:8 describes a group traveling in a Volkswagen Bug: "We are hard
pressed on every side."
UPCOMING EVENTS
1 10am PRC Meeting
2 5pm SCCP Standing
Committee Meeting
3 10am and 7.30pm Lent
Study Group –
Through the Eyes of Love.
5 10.30am World
Day of Prayer Service –
All
Saints – Malton Road, North Epping
7 9.30am Lent 3 Sunday Service Holy
Communion
10 10am and 7.30pm Lent Study Group –
Through the Eyes of Love.
11 12.30pm SCCP PRC Meeting
14 9.30am Lent 4 Sunday Service
17 10am
and 7.30pm Lent Study Group –
Through the Eyes of Love.
19 NSW Synod Standing Committee Meeting
21 9.30am Lent 5 Sunday Service
24 10am
and 7.30pm Lent Study Group –
Through the Eyes of Love. Last Study
25 7.30am Local Ministers Breakfast
28 9.30am Palm Sunday Service
29 Monday in Holy Week
30 Tuesday in Holy Week
31 Wednesday in Holy Week
April 2021
1 Maundy Thursday
6pm Tenebrae Service for Maundy Thursday
2 Good Friday
9.30am Good Friday Service
3 Holy Saturday
4 Easter Sunday
9.30am Easter Sunday Service Holy Communion
Daylight Saving Time ends.
5 Easter Monday
6 10.00am SCCP PRC
Agenda Meeting
5.00pm SCCP Standing Committee Meeting
9 NSW and ACT Synod Meeting begins
10 NSW
and ACT Synod Meeting
11 9.30am Easter 2 Sunday Service
NSW and ACT Synod Meeting finishes
15 12.30pm SCCP PRC Meeting
18 9.30am Easter 3 Sunday Service
2pm Epping RSL ANZAC Sunday Service
22 7.30am Local Ministers Breakfast
25 9.30am Easter
4 Sunday Service
ANZAC Day
May 2021
2 9.30am Easter 5 Sunday Holy Communion Service
3 10.00am SCCP PRC Agenda Meeting
4 5.00pm
SCCP Standing Committee Meeting
9 9.30am
Easter 6 Sunday Service
13 12.30pm
SCCP PRC Meeting
16 9.30am Ascension Sunday Service
19 6pm SCC Presbytery Meeting
23 9.30am Pentecost Sunday Service
27 7.30am Local Ministers Breakfast
30 9.30am Trinity Sunday Service
31 10.00am SCCP PRC Agenda Meeting
We have selected Through the
Eyes of Love - Five Studies consisting of voices helping to shape the life
of faith, voices that speak out of personal experiences, communities and passions.written
by Ian Price as our Lenten study
These continue in March 2921 Face to Face for both
groups.
The Topic and Study Book are not yet finalised for the
mid-year Spirituality Study.
NOTES FROM COUNCIL and COMMITTEES
AGM Congregation of MRUC
Business Arising:
(i) City of Parramatta Council (C of PC) – The Sub-committee reported that we have a retro Business Certificate approved for previous work. Over the last twelve months attempts have been made to engage contractors for various works round the Church and grounds. A number of Companies have been approached but to date, no quotations has been forthcoming. It is hoped a contractor who attended on Tuesday 23 February might yet quote for some of the work. This has been a frustrating situation for the Subcommittee.
(ii) Church building. Alan Craymer presented a report in relation to the church building reporting on matters of concern. Much of the work was highlighted by stonemasons who viewed the property. Items of concern that have come to light are building movement and resulting presence of cracks in the fabric, the presence of water seeping into the sandstone causing rising damp, water entry through the roof area at both ends of the building, that repointing needs to be done as cement mortar has been used incorrectly causing damage and needs to be replaced by lime mortar and water entry from Gardens abutting the north wall also contributing to rising damp in the walls.
Regarding the interior of the Church, we have been informed that painting had been erroneous, and the walls need to be stripped of paint and returned to their Heritage state. This could raise other issues such as the need for improvement of lighting.
Altogether, that report highlighted several very costly areas of maintenance and upkeep of the building that need to be addressed as soon as possible.
Sunday Kids – After discussion the meeting decided that we would not restart Sunday Kids and it would be in abeyance at present allowing for assessment of the needs and methods of delivery. Currently we have no children attending the Face-to-Face services that have been held.
Solar Panels – Rev John, Wendy Pearce, Warwick Roden, and Alan Craymer recently participated in a Zoom meeting arranged by Synod and led by a spokesperson from the Clean Energy Group to pass on current information and update us on regulations and processes for Solar Panels. Synod and Presbytery are looking at ways to encourage zero emissions throughout the Church.
Reports:
The Minister’s Report - Rev. John’s comprehensive report was noted. John advised that the five-yearly Life and Witness Review, which enables us to look at our current situation and support us to make decisions for the future, was due to start its process in May – see later article. Rev. John advised the meeting that it was Wendy and his intention to retire prior to December 2023.
The Finance Report –received from the Treasurer. We have come through Covid-19 in a positive position financially due to support from Jobkeeper and other Government payments.
The sub-committee reports - these were presented to the meeting for ratification and accepted.
Congregation Office Bearers:
Chairperson: No nomination
Deputy
Chair: No nomination
Secretary: Stephen Halgren
Deputy Secretary: Grahame Forrest
There were no Nominations for the Congregation Chair. See article on Life and Witness Consultation.
Election of Church Council and Office Bearers
Chairperson:
Warwick
Roden
Deputy
Chair: Ruth
Henderson
Secretary:
Susan
Halgren
Treasurer:
Chris
Maddison
Council Members: Caroline Baker, Kaye Baker, Alan Craymer, Joan Craymer, Elaine Forrest, Margaret Johnston (question health), Rev John Candy.
Elders:
Current Chair, Alan
Craymer, Secretary, Elaine Forrest
Elders, Joan Craymer, Pat Dunk, Kaye Baker, Carolyn
Baker, Colin Baker, Rev John Candy. Ruth Henderson
Colin Baker and Elaine Forrest were re-elected to fill the positions made vacant when their terms had come to an end.
Announcement of membership of Subcommittees.
Music Subcommittee: Grahame Forrest, Lynell Chan remain in place.
Property Subcommittee: Phil Bendery, Stephen Halgren, Ron Burwood, Joan Craymer; Alan Craymer, Warwick Roden, John Candy
Social and Education Sub-committee: The current Subcommittee of Lynette Colless, Elaine Forrest, Lynell Chan, Chrisanthi Maddison, Pat Dunk, Kaye Baker, Jan Roden, Noelene Price, Malcolm Colless, Ian Henderson and Rev John Candy will remain in place.
Sunday Kids: The current group lead by Elaine Forrest will remain in place.
Nurture Group: The current group of leaders will remain in place.
Other business:
·
It was reported
the lower panel of the church sign facing Marsden Road was rotting and needed
attention.
· It was also noted with thanks that the floor and walls of the downstairs Livingstone Room had been painted by the Rainbow Congregation and had brightened up the room. The previous carpet tiles on the floor had been removed and the bare floor painted to better cope with occasional flooding in this room. The secretary undertook to write a letter of thanks to Rev. Kyou.
Life and Witness Consultation
The purpose of the consultation will be to strengthen the life and witness of the Congregation, to assess future ministerial and lay leadership needs, to assess the future mission and life of the congregation and to review the records of the Congregation.
Goals - The Life and Witness Consultation provides an opportunity for the
congregation to:
- ·
Clarify their sense of identity.
- ·
Renew their understanding of context in which they
work.
- ·
Reflect on their direction and missional goals.
- ·
Identify their leadership needs, and other
resources, that might be needed over the next five years.
- ·
Assist with the deployment of resources, and the
implementation of missional goals.
- · To look at the future of the congregation in its current situation.
Outcomes - The congregation is renewed in mission and ministry and revitalised in
their life and witness. It also helps to look at the long-term future of the
congregation and plan for whatever that might look like or be.
As Marsden Road is due to begin its five-yearly process in May this year please thoughtfully and prayerfully start to think about and talk about your ideas about, and for the Congregation at Marsden Road. Please be ready to share these when the time comes.
Presbytery
Some updates from the November 2020 Meeting of Presbytery:
Church Planting Course update
Aspects of the course were shared with the meeting.
This included highlights, lessons learnt, the diversity of the different teams’
initiatives and plans for running the course again next year. A common theme of
all teams was the desire to build a church that would be enmeshed in the
community and that would be missed if it wasn’t there. An update on the course
will be provided via the Presbytery Newsletter.
For further information, please contact the growth team on growth@sccpresbytery.org.au or the presbytery office (michelle.lombard@sccpresbytery.org.au).
SCCP Emissions Strategy
Max Blacker (Business Committee Chairperson) and
Lloyd Robinson presented a renewable initiative that was started in SCCP around
two years ago. A group was formed under the auspices of the Business Committee,
who could then advise the Standing Committee. Synod has also been active on
this front.
The Presbytery will involve Synod and use a combined approach, avoiding duplication. The group would also work with what each congregation is doing already, not against initiatives or investigations already in place – each site should be tailored individually.
Elders Group
Including Sunday Kids and Nurture Group.
Because of Covid19 none of these groups have met
since the last Annual General Meeting.
However, Elders have tried to keep in contact with our members. The worship by ZOOM has supported the interaction and exchange of news among members of the congregation on screen and especially the 4 members who joined worship by phone.
Humour
Property Sub-Committee
Property Committee Meetings because of the Covid-19 restrictions on social gathering, have not taken place since February 2020. Any matters requiring attention have been addressed by the committee using email or telephone.
Matters attended to during the past twelve months:
1. Church entry door (foyer) repair - The door has been repaired by a
heritage-listed contractor, repainted and the surrounding timbers also
repainted.
2. Memorial Gardens - Prospective contractors have attended
and examined the site. The committee awaits a commitment from one of these
qualified persons to offer suggestions for rejuvenating the area and to submit
a quote for the work to be undertaken.
3. White ants - An
inspection of all areas of the premises has taken place and the pleasing news
is that there is no evidence of white ant activity.
4. Existing church gardens - The committee is grateful to Grahame Forrest for his upkeep of the various established gardens around the property and for his diligence in watering during the water-restricted drought times.
Matters earmarked for attention include:
1.
Barge Board and stone
masonry replacement in various areas – report to come and quotes for works to
be sought.
2.
Water in lower hall rooms –
Work carried out by Rainbow Presbyterian
congregation to improve situation.
3.
Painting of the church
interior – see report to AGM - At the same time, it is intended
to remove the superfluous under-pew electric heaters now made redundant by the air-conditioning
of the church.
4.
Removal of the old
barbeque behind the hall - This superfluous item will
be removed when landscaping activity commences.
5. Painting of the exterior windows and sills of the hall - This will be addressed in due course.
Social and Education Sub-Committee
Almost all their organised
activities for 2020 had to be postponed or cancelled due to the lock downs and
regulations caused by the Covid 19.
The activities for 2019
included:
·
3/02/2019 - Pancake Morning Tea - profit of $215 went
to CCAS.
·
24/03/2019 - Equinox Outing - to Lithgow Small Arms
Museum - enjoyed by all.
·
30/06/2019 Simply Sharing Tea - Profits topped up by
funds held by Subcommittee to $500 to supply an extra water tank at the school
we support.
·
18/08/2019 - Outback Morning Tea BBQ - Donation of
$520 sent to Frontier Services.
·
6/10/2019 - Progressive Dinner - profit of $250 went
into Sub-committees funds.
·
14/12/2019 - Christmas Party - profit of $356 went
to general funds.
·
Continued support of work of Parramatta mission from
small change jar donation towards their Meals Plus Christmas dinner programme.
·
The Street Library went into abeyance during Covid
shut down.
·
1/03/2020 - Pancake Morning Tea - money raised topped
up to $500 for the work of CCAS.
·
During 2019 we continued to organise and supply the
morning teas, toilet paper and paper towels etc for use.
· We continue to support Paul and Sara through regular donations to So They Can.
Finance Position
The Chart below shows our income and
expenditure over the last calendar year. We have had a surplus over this time which
has included COVID grants and Jobkeeper grants. Expenditure has been minimal
due to the use of Zoom for meetings and worship. No more COVID grants or
Jobkeeper are expected.
This means that we all need to consider
our giving and look at whether we can increase our support for the work of the
Church. Please give this prayerful consideration.
Humour
EASTWOOD CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY AID
Their vision is to engage with the community to enable better lives. For 50 years they have been working to provide personalised, timely and innovative support that addresses the existing and emerging needs of people. CCA aims to develop
resources and capacity that will contribute to strong, inclusive and resilient communities.Thank you to all who support this very worthy cause including bringing to Marsden Road Church nopn-perishable food items. Please remember that even the smallest contribution helps.
Our mission: to reflect Christ
alive in the Community
You are Welcome to join us at Marsden Road Uniting! We gather to worship together at 9.30am every
Sunday morning.
We hope that you will experience the presence of God in this place and among the people of God here. All are welcome.
CONGREGATION CONTACT
Minister of the Word: Rev John Candy 0411 267 639 or whitestarhaven@gmail.com
Available: Tuesday, (Wednesday Morning), Thursday, Saturday Morning and
Sunday’s.
Website: www.marsdenroadunitingchurch.org.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MRUCC082016/
Marsden Missive
Please send articles, information and reports to Rev John Phone: 0411
267 639 or email: whitestarhaven@gmail.com
PuzzlE
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