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PARISH WEEKLY NEWSLETTER 26 June 2016

SMIV FINANCES; JUNE EMAIL TO PARISH

Dear fellow Parishioners You will recall that in May, the Parish was invited to a meeting with Bishop Matt Brain. We gathered to discuss the sudden and serious drop in our income and to form a plan to respond to it. Bishop Matt was briefed before the meeting by Carl, Roberta and me. At the meeting, his role was to hear from the Parish, gathering further input about SMiV so he could help us formulate a strategy. He is initially working with Parish Council—he has met with us twice, at June’s Parish Council meeting and last Wednesday at the Rectory. The focus of those conversations has been recommissioning all Parish members to our life as Christ’s church in Calwell and the Tuggeranong Valley. This work will help us financially because by committing to common goals of ministry, we can also make the financial commitment to work towards their achievement.

We will keep you informed as we go. Please contact me by 'phone or email, or talk to me, Roberta or any Parish Councillor, if you have any questions. David Batts Warden, Presiding Officer of Parish Council 0416 109 998 David@Batts.id.au

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BEYOND SELF-JUSTIFYING PURITY Sermon by Reverend Canon Professor Scott

Cowdell for the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost, 26 June 2016

All Saints’ Anglican Church, Ainslie, ACT

+In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN. Friends, purity is a dangerous thing, especially for Christians. Look at the Brexit poll this week, and England’s hugely popular but quite irrational campaign to be free of Europe, free of too many immigrant interlopers, free of feeling second best. What many in Scotland tried to do to England, many in England want to do to Europe. In our own country we intern a large group of people indefinitely on Manus Island and Nauru so that our national purity can be preserved, by displacing the contagion offshore. Alternatively, we assert our moral purity, we show what right minded progressives we are, by calling for an end to border protection altogether, though deep down we know that this could never get up politically. But at least we can feel good about our own right-mindedness, compared with nearly everyone else. In the Gospel today we see something similar happening: Jesus and the disciples are turned away by the Samaritans, whose purity forbids them from welcoming pilgrims headed for Jerusalem. The disciples want to hit back with their own Brexit, involving fire and brimstone, almost Donald Trump-style. See how the in group defines itself against the out group, and vice versa? It can’t be white America’s fault, it must be Muslims who do the mass shootings, except

that in fact it’s nearly always white Americans. It can’t be our fault, we heterosexuals, for transforming and weakening marriage and family life, it must be the fault of those who are pushing same-sex marriage. As for us, we’re pure and blameless. Friends, you see how this mindset works. We close ranks, we scapegoat the outsider or the ill-fitting insider, and so we establish our purity at somebody else’s expense. This is why, elsewhere in the Gospel, Jesus tells us not to judge: because Jesus doesn’t want his Church to be a mean, superior and exclusive community, like every other human community too readily becomes. Jesus has something else in store for you and me, for our Churches—something beyond self-justifying purity. Such purity regularly shows itself as anything but godly. Rather, it’s what James Alison calls “junk goodness”—like junk mail, but actually harmful. Jesus in today’s Gospel dismisses the whole spirit of violent payback that his affronted disciples demand. He doesn’t want an armed purity contest. But in dismissing this universal tendency, Jesus knows that things are not going to be easy as a result, that people are going to find it hard and uncomfortable making their way in this new world to which he invites us. We see this in the way Jesus responds to various potential followers in today’s gospel. Someone in the first flush of enthusiasm pipes up in today’s Gospel that he’ll follow wherever Jesus leads. Jesus responds by telling him that if he does so, all bets will be off, that all his familiar certainties and priorities are going to be called in

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question—even foxes and birds will have a clearer sense of where they fit into the world than followers of Jesus will have, since Jesus has nowhere to lay his head, no place of his own in this world. Friends, if our Anglican tradition has a fault, among the various ways of being Christian, it’s that we’ve sought a place to lay our head, to fit in with the values and priorities of the wider culture. We’ve sought to be at home in the world as it is, rather than restless pilgrims in Jesus’ company, who’ll never feel entirely at home in this world. The tension is heightened in today’s Gospel by two more would-be followers of Jesus who make entirely reasonable requests. Imagine in a traditional society not being able to bury your father? What shame, what dishonour, what contempt you’d be held in. And imagine being denied a proper leave taking from your family and community: imagine the tears, the incomprehension, the recriminations. Even Elisha, in our Old Testament reading today, insisted on his own grand leave taking, before he followed the call of Elijah. He put on a huge barbecue like the great man he thought he was, before going off with the man of God in the humbler role of servant. This scene is like something out of The Sopranos. Friends, the point here is that Jesus’ call declares all these social niceties, all these revered customs, all these marks of purity and respectful social insidership, to be of no great importance. But this isn’t what people expect to hear from the respectable Church of England, is it, which was established on the principle of needing to fit in? What Jesus says in today’s gospel would be like telling a gathering of people nowadays to

down tools and walk out on their jobs, to drop out of Uni, to chuck their iPhones, to see through their unwanted pregnancies, to skip on the mortgage and forget the superannuation, to step out of the fast lane and smell the roses, or else to step into the fast lane, not even stopping to grab a toothbrush. Now, this is meant to be an exaggeration, but you get the point. Jesus doesn’t want to destroy our world violently—there’s no fire from heaven in his arsenal; he’s not Donald Trump—but he does undermine and destroy a lot of what we call sacred and responsible, in favour of a disturbing call, a different set of priorities. How does this urgency of the Kingdom of God apply to you and to me, with our settled lives, our mortgages, our superannuation, our obligations? Is Jesus the enemy of all this, so that we have to feel guilty about how we spend our time and set our priorities and earn our living? For help here I turn to our second reading today, from St Paul’s letter to the Galatians, which takes us to the very heart of the Gospel. In this reading, Paul shows how Jesus’ radical call can play out in ordinary Christian lives like ours. The context of our epistle today is a conflict in the earliest Churches between Jewish and non-Jewish Christians over circumcision: should Christians fit into the established religious culture of Judaism, from which Christianity emerged; should they take upon themselves this mark of Jewish purity, should they insist on being insiders to the law, and not the lawless outsiders that some Jewish Christians thought that they were? See, here’s the purity thing again. This is Anthropology 101, and of course it’s equally true for every

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proud group of insiders—it’s not uniquely about Judaism, and hence these concerns must never lead Christians into Anti-Semitism. Friends, Paul’s major concern is that we don’t have to justify ourselves before God, and assert our purity above others, to make ourselves acceptable to God. This is what he feared with the Jewish Christian push for Gentile Christian men to be circumcised—which, by the way, shows good pastoral judgement on Paul’s part, doesn’t it, from a marketing point of view!? For St Paul, the most godless idea in the world is that God has favourites, that me and mine are among them, and that you and yours aren’t. God isn’t a dedicated follower of fashion. God isn’t the eager twitter follower of every self-justifying gate-keeper for whichever in-group. In fact, if God has a preference—or a preferential option, as the liberation theologians call it—it’s for the outsider, for the widow and the orphan, for the innocent victim, for the one who has no helper. And chief among the weak, the despised, the off-scourings of empire, the cursed and the godless, we find Jesus himself, our God in person, hung on that cross of shame and abandonment: “he was despis-ed, rejected, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” So, friends, if God is happy to greet us in the impure and hated man of the cross, then we shouldn’t be surprised if following Jesus is going to lead us into some unexpected territory, some hair-raising adventures, and some dubious company—I mean, just look around you today for heaven’s sake! So, friends, for Paul in our Galatians reading today, the law, the self-justifying mark of belonging to the in-group, needs to be set

aside. Not that we need to become lawless, as some heretical groups of Christians have taken this to mean in the past but, rather, that we should see the law as a gift from God, a practical expedient for good order, and not as the mark of respectable insidership and personal superiority that so many people have taken it to be. All this represents slavery for Paul. He’d prefer that we Christians found our certainty and our identity and our belonging somewhere else, and not at anybody else’s expense. Now let me get very specific, following what Paul has in mind today. Paul points to mutual love in the Church as the mark of this transformed existence, which he declares to be entirely incompatible with factions, with in groups, with any sense that I’m better than you. He especially warns against wielding purity as a weapon, but he does it in a way that could do with some explaining. Paul wants us to live by the Spirit, as he puts it, not gratifying the desires of the flesh. And of course we’re all conditioned to think that this means a bloodless, sexless, pious perfectionism, aren’t we, which means in turn that we’re not like all those hedonistic disgraceful, godless people over there, are we? And isn’t it easy to build a religion out of such self-justifying purity—until of course everything that we’ve had to deny and repress and leave unhealed bursts its bounds and comes to light, which is when Churches and so-called Christian institutions start desperately trying to cover up abuse scandals. Because if the truth got out, what would people think of our purity then?

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But when Paul lists the marks of this life in the Spirit, he doesn’t just mention the usual suspects, like fornication and impurity, drunkenness and carousing; he also mentions the sins that we all seem to think are entirely excusable, like enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy—all those spiritual sins that are somehow alright, unlike the sexual ones, because they’re a necessary part of our being proud, self-justifying insiders. But no, says Paul—these proud and self-righteous sins are no different from the more colourful, non-respectable ones. For Paul, the law isn’t just a restraint on sin. It can be a source of sin when we forget that the law is a gift from God for everyone. This is what Paul means by “the works of the law”: that the law is misinterpreted and perverted, turned into self-justification. This is why Paul proclaims justification by faith, not self-justification by the external marks of obedience to the law. Instead, we have the Gospel to give us our identity, our worth, our dignity, our belonging. All this comes to us in our baptism, and it’s renewed week by week in the Eucharist. This Gospel is God’s gift to us in Jesus Christ, a gift of being right with God, of being free to love, and of being friends with anyone and everyone, without fear of losing out, of losing face, of being on the outer. Because, friends, with God there is no outer. The Lord be with you…

ON ANOTHER'S SORROW Can I see another's woe And not be in sorrow too. Can I see another's grief And not seek for kind relief.

Can I see a falling tear, And not feel my sorrows share, Can a father see his child, Weep, nor be with sorrow filled. Can a mother sit and hear, An infant groan an infant fear- No no never can it be. Never never can it be. And can he who smiles on all Hear the wren with sorrows small, Hear the small birds grief & care Hear the woes that infants bear- And not sit beside the nest Pouring pity on their breast, And not sit the cradle near Weeping tear on infant's tear. . . He doth give his joy to all. He becomes an infant small. He becomes a man of woe He doth feel the sorrow too. Think not, thou canst sigh a sigh, And thy maker is not by. Think not, thou canst weep a tear, And thy maker is not near. O! he gives to us his joy, That our grief he may destroy Till our grief is fled & gone He doth sit by us and moan.

William Blake 1757-1827

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June 22, 2016 It's Refugee Week and Federal election season so timely to consider refugees and people seeking asylum in this context. In this news we include a Christian reflection on voting and also the policies of the parties in relation to people seeking asylum and refugees. We also include a short update on Sanctuary and some Refugee Week activities. A CHRISTIAN REFLECTION IN THE LEAD UP TO THE ELECTION Scott Higgins, Director of Community Engagement for Baptist World Aid Australia has written an election blog piece Why I Won’t Vote My Values, and he poses two questions that other Christians may equally find useful in their prayerful reflection in the lead up to this election: 1. Which party will ensure public goods

for all citizens? 2. Who is excluded, vulnerable or

oppressed in our national/global community? Which party will secure justice and inclusion for them?

“I would encourage you, during the course of the election campaign and through your vote to make known what matters most, enabling us together to grow a flourishing society.” – Stuart McMillan, President, Uniting Church in Australia

“As we prepare for the Federal Election we call to mind the values, which we hope will guide us at this time – human dignity, human rights, the common good, ecological responsibility, a fair deal for all and preference for those ‘made’ poor.” – NetAct, A project of Catholic Social Justice “There are others in our community, near and far, whose voices are unheard, whose faces are unseen. They are seen as politically irrelevant. They will not decide any marginal seats or determine the result of the election. Yet any society is ultimately judged not on how well it manages the economy but on how well it treats the thrown-away people… … Neither can we as Christians afford to be voiceless through this campaign. On all kinds of issues we need to make our voices heard. But to do that we will have to listen first - not only to the voice of the voiceless, but even to the voice of God” – Catholic Bishops Statement

This election, several faith groups who are part of the Taskforce have put out material to help Christians understand the facts, question those seeking election, and to reflect on their own personal positions prior to voting.

The Catholic Bishops have released a Statement called Vote for the Voiceless (https://www.catholic.org.au/bishops-statements/election-2016-statement), and the Catholic Religious Australia have joined with other Catholic Social Justice groups to release an election kit (http://www.catholicreligiousaustralia.org.au/index.php/justice-network/resources-a-information/item/2184-netact-releases-

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2016-election-kit) that includes pages on Asylum Seekers and Refugees and West Papua.

The Uniting Church has also released a Flourishing Society Federal Election 2016, an extensive packages of material that includes sections on Protecting Refugees in the region, Australian Overseas Aid, Australia’s Humanitarian Programme, and an Inclusive Society (http://unitingjustice.org.au/election2016).

A Just Cause, of the Baptist Church also has published a comparison of the refugee and asylum seeker policies (https://ajustcause.com.au/federal-election-guide/) of the three major parties.

Comparison of Refugee Policies and Election Resources from Churches Asylum Insight have compiled an excellent table that compares the refugee & asylum seeker policies of the three main parties.

SANCTUARY UPDATE

ACRT continues to ensure our last resort option of Sanctuary is in place for families that are in community detention

following the #LetThemStay campaign. Offers of support have flowed and we thank members and supporters for their courage and generosity. ACRT and Love Makes a Way have also convened two webinars on Sanctuary. Our first webinar was a great success, connecting with our friends in the USA New Sanctuary Movement. Hearing Rosa Robles Loreto tell her own story of receiving Sanctuary in Southside Presbyterian Church in Arizona was a particular blessing (you can also read about her story here http://www.southsidepresbyterian.org/sanctuary.html) "When a congregation offers sanctuary to a family it is not the building that protects the family, it is the community that protects the family." - Rev Allison Harrington, Pastor, Southside Presbyterian Church, Tucson, Arizona. The second webinar: Biblical Faith and Asylum Seeker Justice featured Ched Myers, a noted and influential biblical scholar and community activist, offering reflections on the theology of Sanctuary and associated questions of hospitality, borders, and the role of the church. Ched is co-author of "Our God is Undocumented: Biblical Faith and Immigrant Justice" and

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author of numerous other books including the acclaimed "Binding the Strong Man: A Political Reading of Mark's Story of Jesus, REFUGEE WEEK See http://www.refugeeweek.org.au/ for an outline of news, events and resources for Refugee Week 2016 including the Act for Peace ration challenge, Inclusive Australia’s Refugee Week Celebration and Welcome Salisbury Community Dinner. There’s many more events listed and we encourage Taskforce members to support and share events.

Copyright © 2016 Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce, All rights reserved.

POSITION VACANT SCHOOL CHAPLAINCY POSITION SC ACT is an interdenominational organisation and major provider of school chaplains in the ACT. We invite applications for the position at Isabella Plains Early Childhood School commencing early Term 3 2016. Our Chaplaincy positions are two days per week. Applicants need to demonstrate their suitability to provide support & care to young people and be able to work professionally as part of the school staff team. Minimum Qualifications of a Cert. IV in Youth Work or equivalent are required with a commitment to complete the Diploma while in the role. Training & experience in youth work, pastoral care &/or teaching desirable.

Chaplains are required to network, build teams, demonstrate initiative and creativity plus engage in building links between the community and local schools to meet the needs of students and their families. For more information contact Di Priest: Email: diannep@scact.org.au Mobile: 0407 118 387 Apply online at: apply.su-chaplain.com ARE YOU A SENIOR WANTING TO DO MORE EXERCISE? Heartmoves could be for you. This class is under the YMCA administration and was developed by the Heart Foundation. New Class starting on Mondays at 10.00am at the Alliance Church, Calwell. If you would like more information, please contact Heather Westbury by email at hwestbur@bigpond.net.au or by phone on 6295 0506.

News from your group or ministry at St Mary in the Valley would be a welcome addition to Exalted! Please send your contribution to smiv@smiv.org – thank you.

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St Mary in the Valley and St Edmunds Tharwa

Prayer Notes – June 2016

Thank you for your support in this prayer ministry for St Mary in the Valley. Give thanks that God has called us to be a part of SMIV, the Tuggeranong Valley Community, St Edmunds Tharwa and the ministry that we have to each other. Give thanks for all who are involved in parish ministry and pray: that more people will volunteer their time to assist in the various ministries, share their gifts of hospitality, Give thanks for those: gifted with their hands and maintain the building, grounds and gardens, care for us, facilitate worship, teach our young, lead or assist in groups, and the Parish Council, uphold the wardens and council praying for wisdom and guidance. Pray that through the Holy Spirit, God will continue to share His vision for this parish and that He will continue to provide all of the resources we need for the growth and administration of SMIV, including people and financial resources. You may also wish to select eg 10 families per week from the Parish Roll and pray for them. Sunday Pray and give thanks for:

The community of SMiV for freedom to worship God openly and for the calling to be a beacon to others in the Valley.

Sunday worship, for all who are involved in setting up for the services, the sacristan, ushers, servers, lay readers.

The ministry we have to each other. The ministry to the sick and dying. For those who are studying to improve

their relationship with the community of faith.

Those attending church today that all will be blessed, in a way that they will know can only be of God.

Pray for companionship for the lonely, comfort for the sorrowing and relief for those in pain. Increase in us a spirit of compassion that we may not add to the suffering of others, but comfort and befriend those who are in need. Monday Pray for: the Diocese, Bishop Stuart, as he leads us. and Assistant Bishops Trevor and Matt., for protection and refreshment. the people of St Edmunds Tharwa, Pray for our forth coming general elections, that the electorate will be able to discern the truth about policies, countries experiencing and recovering from natural disaster and the peoples particularly for the people of Nepal, China, the US who have lost loved ones and incomes. For those people who have fled persecution, praying for their safety and rescue by the international community. Sunday Club activities, upholding and giving thanks for the teachers and assistants and for the children and the blessing they are to us. Pray for that God will raise up new

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people during the year to offer their gifts and talents in this important Stephen as Chaplain to Caroline Chisholm and Calwell High Schools, For the Kingdom Kids the leaders, the children and their families

Youth Group – Praying for increased membership.

We pray for peace in the Middle East, for an end to the violence and bloodshed. For those people who suffer from injustice and the difficulty of everyday life, praying that they will not lose hope in your justice and mercy. We pray that they do not give in to despair and continue to place their hope for a better future in the strength of your hope.

Those involved in pastoral care and ministry to the sick, pray that God will raise up others who want to share in this ministry. Tuesday Members of the parish with surnames beginning with A - F Pray for the world situation particularly for the Australian servicemen and women serving overseas and for their families. Ask God to raise up leaders who will seek peace. Give thanks for and pray that God will strengthen and protect those who work for peace, for those who care for the widows the orphans, for those who seek to eliminate poverty and those who work to reduce the suffering in the world.

Pray for the world that needless destruction of our rainforests will cease.

Continue to pray for rain in those areas that have had little.

Pray for those who support and minister to the farmers and their families as they recover from this period of drought.

Pray for outreach programs such as Cursillo and Alpha, and for new ways of sharing our faith for the organisers and for their safety, pray that God will raise up those necessary for the task,

Members of our Defence Forces serving in areas of conflict, especially David Luck

The Christians of in all areas of conflict will know the close presence of Jesus, the guidance of the Spirit and the protection of the Father. Humanitarian assistance would reach all who are in need.

Wednesday Pray for:

Members of the parish with surnames beginning with G - K

Give thanks for and uphold the: Pray for musicians have a heart for

music will continue to offer their services.

Worship, praying that we will continue to be open to the touch of the Spirit especially as they prepare for services; may our services continue to a true expression of our love for You.

Give thanks for the newcomers and pray that they will find warmth and refreshment with SMIV.

For the leaders of all the nations, looking for ways to work together beyond fear and suspicion, praying for the US Presidential elections For people of goodwill, responding generously to the needs of suffering communities, For the Australians who have friends and family involved in areas of conflict and disaster,

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For communities that are terrified by missiles, snipers, vigilantes or death squads, For the vulnerable and defenceless in conflict zones, for the children, the elderly, the disabled, the sick:

Thursday Pray and give thanks for:

that our parish will be encouraged and strengthened through the vision of the Mission Plan.

Pray for all either returning or coming to SMIV for the first time that they will want to “press-in” and seek the heart of God, and

Members of the parish with surnames beginning with L - Q Pray for those with depression and eating disorders, especially our children. Pray for doctors and specialists who treat them, that they will be able find effective solutions and reverse the damage. Pray also for individuals who suffer may they also come to understand the damage and gain the will to want to change. Friday Members of the parish with surnames beginning with R - Z Give thanks to the Lord for all he has provided to us, praying that we will be responsible stewards of those gifts and also pray that He will continue lead us and provide those resources we need to fulfil His will, Give us a heart for prayer, Pray for those returning to school and for those attending for the first time, may they all be blessed and kept safe. Pray for an effective solution to bullying in our schools; for the victims and the bullies. May the

bullies have their hearts changed and come to know the hurt this causes. Give thanks for Roberta, praying that her day off will be one of refreshment and enjoyment. Saturday Pray and give thanks for: Roberta, as she prepares for Sunday Our Sunday worship and for all involved

in the worship. Pray that all who attend church

tomorrow will be blessed in a special way by God.

Uphold the Wednesday services and for blessing of all attending.

Uphold the parish prayer ministry, praying that more people will seek to be involved.

Gracious God, we pray for peace in our communities this day. We commit to you all who work for peace and an end to tensions, And those who work to uphold law and justice. We pray for an end to fear, for comfort and support to those who suffer. For calm in our streets and cities, that people may go about their lives in safety and peace. We uphold our Muslim sisters and brothers as they feel victimised, praying that they will recognise that not all in the community are against them.

Pray for the families affected by the recent storms, for those who mourn loved ones, for those who have lost homes and livelihoods, pray for the community coming together to support these people.

for the people of Nepal and for an international response to aid in their recovery,

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Prayers of the People for Reconciliation and Recognition of all Indigenous People Pray that we be open to a renewed relationship with Father through Jesus. Praying also that we will give thanks for His provision, for His creation and the care that we need to preserve the environment. Praying further that we look for Jesus in all those we meet. For the Sick Continue to pray for those we know are sick, giving thanks for healing.

Ephesians 6: 18 "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. I pray that you will feel so moved to respond to my plea. May God richly bless you in all you are doing in His name.

Any others known to us: (personal list) ………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………… …………………………………………………… …………………………………………………… …………………………………………………… Reflection: Psalm 62: 5, 6 “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I shall not be shaken.”

If you have any specific prayer requests or any event you would like to be included in the prayer diary please contact Graham Bartlett on 6291 8570 or bartmgt@iinet.net.au. SPECIAL VISIT

Tue 28 June 10:00am to 1.30pm: Visit to Antiochian Village Australia, 13 Kenmore St,

Goulburn NSW 2580 Very Reverend Dr John Behr Dean of St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary Speaking on the topic of “Knowing Christ and Becoming his Body”

LEAD - a training conference for young

people in school years 8-12 who are involved in or considering Christian ministry and mission.

Through a fun and engaging program, delegates will grow in their faith, learn practical skill, improve self-awareness, get practical mission experience, and find out about Christian service opportunities in their church and community. The purpose of the conference is to:

develop a passion for mission and Christian service in young Christians

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skill and equip young Christians for leadership and service

help young people consider what Christian service they might be called to

work with churches to engage young people in age appropriate service within a month of the conference

help young Christians grow in their faith, particularly through developing spiritual disciplines around bible reading and prayer.

We aim to see participants with increased Christian maturity, more active in and committed to their churches, engaged with the needs of their communities, and actively sharing their faith with their peers. To attend young people need to be nominated by a Christian leader. Do you know a young person you would like to nominate? When: Monday 4 - Wednesday 6 July Where: Greenhills Conference Centre Cost: $250, or $230 for families or registrations received before 20 May. For more information email info@suact.org.au or go to http://www.suact.org.au/lead STORYLINES - SPEAKING THROUGH

COUNTRY, 3-5pm ACC&C Chapel A seminar by The Rev’d Karen Kime (for NAIDOC Week)

Indigenous Academic Fellow School of Humanities Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga For information contact Susanna Pain on 0418637469

WINTER CAMP PELICAN Registrations are now open for Winter Camp 2016! Camp is for high school aged young people (yr 7-12) and held from 11-15

July at Camp Kurrajong Wagga Wagga. This will be great week away having fun and growing in our faith. We’d love to see young people from right across the diocese come to camp, especially those in our western regions. A camp brochure and more information is available at www.synergy.org.au/wintercamp. OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

SAVE THE DATE! 2016 OCC LAUNCH When: July 16th (Saturday) Where: Hughes Baptist Church

Time: 4pm DIRRUM DIRRUM FESTIVAL

Dirrum Dirrum is a major event celebrating the art of being and staying human and over a thousand delegates are expected again this year at various events in Canberra over the days of 29-30 July. Speakers for 30th: Nipuni Wijewickrema, Jessica Watson, Akram Azimi, Fr Frank Brennan, Kirsty Sword Gusmão, Rachael Stevens, Shirfra Joseph, Ryan Carters, Shea Spiering, Jackson Taylor-Grant. The Dirrum Dirrum Festival is organised by students whose core business is about creating a climate of inspiration; fostering a

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cycle of responsibility and leadership development. Visit the Dirrum Dirrum Website www.dirrumdirrum.org 150TH ANNIVERSARY: THE ANGLICAN PARISH OF CROOKWELL

150th Anniversary: The Anglican Parish of Crookwell will celebrate 150 years of worship in the

Crookwell Parish on Sunday, July 31, 2016. For information please contact: stbartscrookwell@gmail.com

LOGOSDOR DINNER We are excited to announce that Logosdor www.logosdor.com is holding a dinner in Canberra on

Thursday 11 August Logosdor is focused on having children everywhere following Jesus We are a creative organisation with a business model of giving away all we create and produce. Our approach is to work with others around the world, ask them their needs, and then work with them, teaching them how to creatively equip themselves. We do all this for free - free of brand, free of charge and everything released from copyright. This ensures no-one is excluded and there is maximum multiplication impact of the work. The dinner is an opportunity to share about the work we are involved in and the incredible way God is using a small team in Australia. There will also be the opportunity to support the work of Logosdor.

The details of this dinner are: 6.30pm for 7.00pm start Thursday 11 August Canberra Southern Cross Club 92 - 96 Corinna St Woden ACT 2606 Regards David & Libby Horton h/w: +612 6166 1174 m: +61 (0)422 585 864 libby@logosdor.com www.logosdor.com www.kidshubs.com www.kidshubtv.com www.max7.org RESPITE RETREAT FOR GRIEVING PARENTS

Hosted by the Katoomba Christian Convention - the first of its kind held in Australia.

Over the course of the weekend, couples who have lost a child will spend time with David and Nancy Guthrie and other couples to grieve, comfort and learn from each other and be strengthened by God's Word. It is a weekend for married couples to spend unhurried time with other couples who understand the devastation of losing a child, to learn from each other, encourage each other, and experience together renewed hope for the future. Respite is for couples with strong marriages, and for those whose marriages are struggling under the load of grief. It’s for those whose faith has grown through this loss, and for those who have lingering questions. It’s for those who want to talk about their experience and their child, and for those who are tired of talking. It’s for couples whose loss is fresh, and for those

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who’ve been walking down this road for a while. David and Nancy Guthrie, have a son, Matt, and have had two other children who have passed away. They are the co-hosts of the GriefShare video series, and host numerous Respite Retreats in America. Nancy has written a number of books about grief, speaks regularly at conferences internationally and is a regular contributor to The Gospel Coalition. The weekend will cost $1,100 for the entire weekend per couple. This will include your weekend accommodation and all meals, including Friday dinner. We do not wish this price to prevent anyone from attending the Respite Retreat for Grieving Parents. Please email us (respiteretreat@kcc.org.au) if you are in a financial situation that makes the fee difficult to manage.

LIVING WATERS SEMINAR We are excited by this our seventh Living

Waters Seminar, to be held at the Anglican Church, Batemans Bay on Friday 19 August from

7.00pm to 9.00pm and Saturday August from 9.00am to 5.00pm. Lunch, morning and afternoon tea all included in the low registration price of $80pp. We are delighted to announce that this year's speaker is Deb Stanley, a dynamic young woman of God, who is the Director of Soul Survivor ACT and regions. The theme for this year's seminar is - "His Breath, Received" (John 20:22). We encourage you to pray for Deb to hear from God and deliver his Word, His teaching for

us at this time. Places are limited so please let us know that you are coming ASAP. For information or a registration form email anglicanbbay@gmail.com or phone the office of The Anglican Church, Batemans Bay on 44725822. Check out our Conference Video at http://www.anglicanchurchbbay.org.au Looking forward to seeing you at the Living Waters this year. The Conference Team. spirit10bbay@gmail.com

CENTRE FOR AGEING AND PASTORAL STUDIES

We will have a one-day conference in Canberra at the Australian Centre for Christianity

and Culture (15 Blackall Street, Barton ACT 2600). Dr Shane Clifton, Associate Professor in Systematic Theology at Alphacrucis College, Sydney will present the keynote address on a theology of disability and suffering. He is quadriplegic after an accident a few years ago and has published important papers in leading theological journals on disability. He will talk about disability in ageing and the meaning of suffering. We are thinking about how to make the conference more engaging with opportunity for dialogue and skill based workshops. Not to be missed. Save the date! Friday, 30 September 2016 https://centreforageing.wordpress.com/2016-caps-conference/

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30 SEP

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MONKS AND MYSTICS DANCING IN THE DESERT RETREAT

A retreat for Body and Soul led by Betsy Beckman and Susanna Pain from 30

September to 4 October 2016 at the Campfire in the Heart Alice Springs. Betsey Beckman MM comes to us from the US bearing sacred body wisdom and soulful dances. With Christine Paintmer at Abbey of the Arts, she has produced a body of work exploring the ministry of Monks and Mystics, including books, CDs, and DVDs. Betsey holds a Masters in Ministry, a Certificate in Movement Therapy, and is regularly featured as artist presenter across the US. This is her first time down under and she is over the moon to create, play and pray in the beauty of the desert! Susanna Pain is a midwife of transformation, an Interplay facilitator, dancer, storyteller, and priest with extensive experience working with creative forms of spiritual and life formation. She was a founding director of Interplay Australia and particularly loves playing in our land’s rich orange desert landscape. Dancing in the desert: For monks and mystics throughout time, the desert has been a place for encountering the divine presence. We invite you to come into the heart of our own magnificent central desert to rest, play, reflect, and create reflective (or raucous!) ritual in community. Beside ancient red rocks, under giant river gum trees, in the sand, and around open fires we will be silent, move, make art, sing and tell stories that connect us with ourselves, each other, the spirit of the land and the divine presence infusing all.

$1200 all inclusive: tuition, materials, food and accommodation. $1000 early bird pay before 30 June 2016. 4 nights, 4 days. $200 deposit to secure a place. For more information or to register, contact Susanna Pain m. 0418 637 469, or email susanna.pain@gmail.com

The first New Wine Spring Gathering from 4-7 October 2016 at the Youthworks Conference Centre, near Shoalhaven.

· For families: There will be exciting programs for children throughout the morning and evenings, the Youth venue is being led by Deb Stanley from Soul Survivor and in the afternoons there will be a family festival and also free time.

· For adults: Great Bible teaching around the theme “Kingdom Come”; inspiring worship, optional seminars, warm fellowship and time to relax with your friends and family. So, why not consider making this your ‘church camp’ for the year? All you need do is encourage your congregation to come and New Wine will organise the rest. Registrations will be opening soon and there will be a number of accommodation options available for all budgets – from ensuite rooms with meals to camping in a tent or caravan.

30 SEP -4 OCT

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You can register your interest at www.newwinegatheringaus.org to keep updated with information as it becomes available. And, do join a team: If you would like to serve on a team (e.g. stewards, kids, youth) you will love the experience and also receive a discount on your registration. This is for people of all ages and is especially a great opportunity for youth and young adults to gain experience serving on youth/ children’s teams. If you would like more information - keep checking the website or you can email Rev’d Brian and Rev’d Alison Champness (F5/F7 Goulburn) at info@newwinegatheringaus.org. ST MARY IN THE VALLEY EVENTS RECENT UPDATES INCLUDED FOR YOUR DIARY:

Indigenous family place walk (celebrating NAIDOC Week) Sunday 3 July 2016 (Noon)

School Holiday Film at Friday Morning Cuppa, 8 July 2016 (10.30am)

Wine and Cheese Night – a “winter warmer” Saturday 23 July 2016 (5.00pm)

Patronal Festival Sunday 14 August 2016

Dedication of the Centre for Peace, Justice and Reconciliation and Persian BBQ lunch Sunday 14 August 2016

Clergy Retreat 15-19 August 2016

High Tea and Vintage Fashion event, Saturday 3 September 2016 (3pm)

SYNOD 9-11 September 2016

Breakfast Event with speaker Archdeacon Wayne Brighton, Saturday 17 September 2016 (8.30am)

Social Justice Sunday, Connect2Church Sunday and special Parish Welcome Lunch 25 September 2016

Public Holiday 26 September 2016

St Michael’s Day Service Thursday 29 September 2016

Public Holiday 3 October 2016

School Holiday Film at Friday Morning Cuppa, 7 October 2016 (10.00am)

Church Picnic at Lanyon Homestead Sunday 23 October 2015 (12.30pm)

All Saints Sunday and Defence Sunday 6 November 2016

Community Fair, Sat. 12 November 2016

Christ the King Sunday 20 November 2016

Christmas Decorating Friday 25 November 2016 (6.30pm)

First Advent Sunday 27 November 2015

Volunteers’ Thankyou event Sunday 4 December 2016

Sunday Kid’s Club presentations Sunday 11 December 2016

Calwell Community Carols Friday 16 December 2016

Parish Centre Anniversary BBQ and Christmas Carols Service Sunday 18 December 2016

ALSO CHECK REGULAR SCHEDULED EVENTS (SEE PEW SHEET) Would you like to book in an event? Please fill out an Event Risk Management Declaration Form (to be found under the health & safety notice board) & it will go to Parish Council for approval

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The NSW Ecumenical Council is supporting the Ration Challenge during Refugee Week. The Challenge is to eat like a refugee at the Refugee Camps.

What are the rations of food that they will be allowed to have?

The ration pack ingredient list is designed to reflect, as closely as possible, what a Syrian refugee living in a refugee camp

in Jordan survives on in a typical week. This is made up of the rations distributed by Act for Peace, including a small

amount of rice, lentils, kidney beans, sardines, oil and chick peas. Also on the list are extra flour and rice, which represent

food coupons sometimes distributed by the UN and other NGOs (which can be exchanged for food in local shops).

Rice 1920g

Flour 400g

Lentils 170g

Dried chick peas 85g

Tinned sardines 125g

Tinned kidney beans 400g

Vegetable Oil 300ml

Who is on the Team? Well, check who is on the team. We would appreciate your donation of any $ amount to help us, the NSW Ecumenical Team achieve the small goal set.

Better still, if you want to join the Team, please do so. It is a great experience, for 1 week ONLY

Here is the link to check and to donate:

https://actforpeace.rationchallenge.org.au/fundraisers/nswecumenical

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Please join us for a

5.00pm

Saturday 23 July 2016

At The Rectory St Mary in the Valley

Anglican Church 23 Norriss Street Chisholm 2905 www.smiv.org

smiv@smiv.org