The Gippsland Anglican - May 2013

Volume 110, Number 4 May 2013
Published in Gippsland Diocese since 1904

The Gippsland Anglican is your award winning newspaper: Best Regional Publication Bronze Award (ARPA) 2012; Best Regional
Publication Silver Award (ARPA) 2011; Item or Feature that shows the most originality Highly Commended (ARPA) 2011; Best Social
Justice Story Highly Commended (ARPA) 2004; Best Regional Publication (ARPA) 2003; Most Improved Newspaper (ARPA) 2001.
Grace by name and
by faith
Page 11
St Pauls netballers
in Hawaii
Page 7
Gippsland diocese
1934 to 1943
Pages 13 to 16
Warm
winter
festival
at the
Abbey
A DAY of celebrating and sharing many
aspects of a sustainable lifestyle will be
held at the Abbey of St Barnabas at
ABeckett Park, on Raymond Island, on
Saturday, June 1, from 10am to 3pm.
There will be activities for all the family,
with childrens games, a jumping castle,
craft demonstrations and upcycled craft to
buy, a photography exhibition depicting
beautiful East Gippsland, a lapidary dis-
play, organic agriculture information, a
book stall and organic produce to buy or
share.
You can bring your excess home produce
and swap it at the Street Harvest stall.
You can watch a sheep being shorn the
old-fashioned way, with blade shears,
then learn how to felt the fleece. Perhaps
you will want to participate in making a
wagga.
Hot food will be available throughout the
day.
Pedestrians and bicyclists travel free on
the ferry to Raymond Island. Leave your
car on the Paynesville side and, in keep-
ing with the sustainable focus of the day,
walk the scenic boardwalk to the park; it
only takes 10 minutes. While on Raymond
Island, you can also walk the koala trail.
Some transport may be available from the
ferry.
For further information, search the web-
site, www.theabbey.org.au or telephone
Ann, 03 5144 3597 or Sue, 03 5156 6580.
Contributor: Ann Miller
YOUTH from Corner Inlet and Wonthaggi-
Inverloch parishes recently held at Sailing
Youth Camp, for students grade six to year 12.
Held at Inverloch Foreshore Park, a group of
young people made the most of the beach,
weather and being together. Swimming, walk-
ing, boating, beach sports and a little shopping
were the daytime activities. In the evening
there were reflections on the book of Jonah
which took different formats. Pictured are Tim
Fletcher, Micah Condron and Martin Peters. See
page 4 for more photographs.
Photo: Graeme Peters
2 Our Diocese - Features May 2013
The Gippsland Anglican
The Gippsland
Anglican
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www.gippsanglican.org.au
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Index
Youth camp 1
Bishops message 3
Youth ministry 4,5
Diocesan calendar 5
Color-in picture 6
Netballers win medals 7
Op shops celebration 8,9
Parishes at Easter 10
Grace 11
Next generation 12
110 years of news 13-16
Mrs Faultroscope 13
Garden parties 14
MU quiet days 14
Ripping yarn 17
New view of sex 18
Ruths reflection 19
An ordinary God 19
MU Pictorial 20
By John McIntyre
Bishop of Gippsland
SIX sessions of the 2013
Australian Anglican Bishops
Meeting were devoted to a
discussion of human sexu-
ality, with particular refer-
ence to same-sex
attraction. As part of the
discussion, there were two
exegetical presentations to
the whole group, offering
differing perspectives on
outcomes for the church in
relation to same-sex attrac-
tion and same-sex behav-
ior.
The exegesis of both
scholars was remarkably
consistent and both presen-
tations were warmly appre-
ciated by those of differing
opinion among the bishops.
It was clear the key ques-
tion in relation to the scrip-
tural material is an
hermeneutical question.
Conclusions turn on
whether or not we accept
the biblical writers under-
standing of human sexual-
ity.
Both scholars acknowl-
edged the biblical writers
were aware of same-sex
behavior and of people who
were sexually attracted to
people of the same gender.
One scholar suggested the
biblical writers assumed
both the attraction and the
behavior were perverse be-
cause everyone in their
time believed all people
were, by nature, heterosex-
ual.
He concluded that those
who are, by nature, same-
sex attracted, should not be
prevented from being in
same-sex relationships on
the same basis as those
who are in heterosexual re-
lationships. He based this
on his view that we no
longer understand human
sexuality in the same way
as the biblical writers un-
derstood it.
The other scholar sug-
gested the biblical writers
condemned same-sex be-
havior for all people on the
basis that same-sex behav-
ior is part of life outside of
Christ, no matter whether
you are attracted to people
of the same sex or not. He
based this on his view that
human nature is created by
God to be heterosexual.
A critical factor in the dis-
cussion between the schol-
ars was they both accepted
the integrity of the argu-
ment of each other and
recognised their conclu-
sions depend entirely on
how they answer the
hermeneutical question.
The significant thing for
the bishops was that those
of differing opinion were
ready to acknowledge the
integrity of those with
whom they differed. For
some bishops, this led to
new understanding of those
with whom they disagreed.
The bishops agreed on a
statement to be released
about the outcome of their
conversations.
It reads: In our conversa-
tions at this meeting we
have prayed, studied and
considered deeply issues of
human sexuality and be-
havior. We have had the
benefit of significant schol-
arly input to inform our de-
liberations.
We were unable to reach a
common mind on the appli-
cation of scriptural teaching
for today. Nevertheless, we
acknowledge that differing
perspectives held by the
bishops were held with in-
tegrity.
There remain matters that
we need to consider further
and there are some things
we still do not sufficiently
understand.
The challenges for us are:
a) to maintain the unity of
the Spirit in the bond of
peace;
b) to be faithful to the way
of Christ in the world today,
with respect to human sex-
ual expression;
c) to care for members of
Christs body; and
d) to promote Christs mis-
sion.
We recognise that in our
Church there are people
who experience themselves
as having same-sex orien-
tation. Many of these mem-
bers are seeking to be
faithful in the power of
Gods Holy Spirit and look
to the Church for pastoral
care and moral guidance in
their lives.
We accept with heavy
hearts that these people
bear a great weight of pain.
We assure them that they
are loved by God and that
all baptised, believing and
faithful persons, regardless
of sexual orientation, are
full members of the body of
Christ.
Bishops discuss
human sexuality
It was clear the key question in rela-
tion to the scriptural material is an
hermeneutical question. Conclusions
turn on whether or not we accept the
biblical writers understanding of
human sexuality.
May 2013 Our Diocese - Bishop Johns message 3
I AM not an educationalist,
so I acknowledge my need
to take great care when
commenting on the Gonski
report* and the recently re-
leased education proposal
of the Federal Government
based on that report.
Nevertheless, a number of
matters in relation to the
Gonski report and to the
new education funding pro-
posal should give us all
cause for reflection, experts
or not.
Something clear from the
Gonski Report is that Aus-
tralia has not been invest-
ing enough resources into
the education of our chil-
dren and young people.
Surely any attempt to in-
crease those resources
should be welcomed?
Another matter the report
reveals are the inequities
between public and private
or independent education
under the current funding
system. This comes as no
surprise for those who have
observed over recent years
the increasing pace of the
degeneration of our educa-
tion system into a two-
tiered system of privilege
and deprivation.
Again, any attempt to re-
dress this inequity should
surely be welcomed?
Perhaps the most encour-
aging aspect of the recom-
mendations of the Gonski
report is the increased
weighting of funding toward
those most disadvantaged
in our communities.
From a Christian perspec-
tive, that this recommenda-
tion has been taken up so
strongly in the Federal Gov-
ernment proposal must
surely be its most welcome
aspect?
Something that interests
me about the responses to
the recent Federal govern-
ment proposal on education
funding is how enthusiasti-
cally it has been welcomed
by those teaching in the
public education sector.
They clearly see its benefits
and are taking every oppor-
tunity to call on the State
governments of Australia to
take up the proposal.
Public educators see the
advantages of the proposal,
both in terms of increased
funding for education and in
the redress of current in-
equities. No doubt, that is
because they have been on
the wrong side of those in-
equities.
Another matter of interest
to me is one response from
the Association of Inde-
pendent Schools of Victoria
(AISV) to the new proposal.
A spokesperson for AISV
complained that a handful
of independent schools in
Victoria may be between
0.01 to 0.4 per cent worse
off in funding under the
new proposals.
Even if that was true, is it
an adequate reason to re-
ject the proposal? It may
not even be true.
The Federal Government
has made a commitment
that no independent school
will be worse off under the
new system.
What troubles me about
this AISV reaction is the
lack of concern it seems to
reveal for the inequities
suffered by public schools
under the current funding
system. I can only imagine
this is because independent
schools have not been on
the wrong side of those in-
equities.
A final reflection is a hope
and a prayer that party pol-
itics will not waste this op-
portunity to increase
funding for education in our
nation and to redress the
current inequities in our ed-
ucation system.
The temptations in this
matter are great and I fear
some may take opportunity
for political gain from this
moment, rather than see
the opportunities for en-
hancing education for every
child and young person in
our nation.
Let us pray the outcome
will be a just and sustain-
able education system giv-
ing equal opportunity for
every child to fulfil their
God-given potential.
[*NB: In 2010, the Aus-
tralian government com-
missioned a Review of
Funding for Schooling; the
review panel was chaired
by David Gonski. The Final
Report of the Review of
Funding for Schooling is
loosely referred to as the
Gonski report or review.
During the review period,
the panel also released the
Review of Funding for
Schooling Emerging Issues
Paper and the Paper on
Commissioned Research.
Editor.)
Right Reverend John McIntyre
Bishop of Gippsland
Pray that Gonski review
equals education for all
FACNG THE
TRUTH
GO online for progress on
the Victorian enquiry into
child abuse and the Com-
monwealth enquiry into
how institutions dealt with
reports of child abuse.
For personal help, contact
Victorian police:
Morwell, 03 5131 5090
Sale, 03 5143 5000
Bairnsdale, 5150 2675
Melbourne, 03 9247 5538
Or contact Cheryl Russell,
Director of Professional
Standards, Gippsland An-
glican Diocese, 0407
563313 or email cheryl-
russell1@bigpond.com
4 Our Diocese - Youth Ministry May 2013
INVERLOCH was the site
of a recent local combined
youth camp between the
parishes of Corner Inlet and
Wont haggi - I nver l och.
Using a group of sites in the
Inverloch Foreshore Park, a
group of young people,
aged from grade six to year
12, made the most of the
beach, beautiful weather
and being together.
Swimming, walking, boat-
ing and beach sports
mostly filled the days, al-
though a little shopping was
thrown in for good meas-
ure.
In the evening, the young
people participated in re-
flections on the book of
Jonah, which took different
formats.
The organisers, Tim
Fletcher and Graeme Pe-
ters, were greatly encour-
aged and thankful for the
teamwork involved.
Parishioners volunteered
to help with transport of
boats and trailers between
Foster and Inverloch.
Feeding up to 18 hungry
teenagers was a challenge,
but one the church mem-
bers in Inverloch met ad-
mirably. They provided
mountains of delicious
casseroles and desserts for
the evening meals.
A good time was had by all
and plans are afoot for an-
other camp next year.
Contributor: Jane Peters
RIGHT: Micah Condron,
Martin Peters, Emma
Fletcher, Tim Fletcher and
Ben Beischer with one of
the yachts used by the
camp attendees.
BELOW: The leaders take a
break - Tim Fletcher, David
Beischer and Graeme Pe-
ters.
Photos: Caroline Beischer
Messing about with boats
RIGHT: Charlie Taylor and Rich
Lanham at the Seder meal held
on Maundy Thursday at St
Pauls Cathedral in Sale.
Photo: Christine Morris
May 2013 Our Diocese - Youth Ministry 5
2013 110th year of The Gippsland Anglican
diocesan newspaper
May
4 Anam Cara Community Day; 9.30am to 4pm;
enquiries, Jane Macqueen, 0411 316346 or
jane.macqueen@anamcara-gippsland.org
7-8 Working with Complex and Chronic Mental Health
workshop, Rosedale; RSVP by April 26 to Sarah
Gover, 0458 450370
17-18 Gippsland Anglican 37th annual Synod, Sale; St
Annes campus of Gippsland Grammar, Sale;
begins 2pm on Friday.
20 Christian Women Communicating Internationally
safari workshop, Uniting Church hall, Stratford;
10am; Barbara, 03 5145 6541
safari workshop,Bush Nursing Centre, Dargo;
2pm; Kathy, 0421 923901
21 Mothers Union executive meeting, Morwell;
9.30am
safari workshop, Cann River Community Centre;
10.30am; Val, 0400 174929
safari workshop, Uniting Church, Orbost; 2pm;
Heather, 03 5154 1853
safari workshop, Mingling Waters Cafe, Nowa
Nowa; 10am; Shirley, 0428 326009
safari workshop, Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust;
2pm; Shirley, 0428 326009
safari workshop, St Matthews church, Bruthen;
10.30am; Norma, 03 5156 8956
24-25 Anam Cara Community retreat, the abbey of
St Barnabas, ABeckett Park; enquiries, Jane
Macqueen, 0411 316346 or
25 Ordination service, priests; St Pauls
Cathedral, Sale; 11am; Don Saines, 03 5144
2020
June
1 Open day, Abbey of St Barnabas, ABeckett
Park, Raymond Island; demonstrations of
spinning and weaving, landcare, organic
agriculture, chooks, sheep shearing, craft,
jams, preserves, games for children, food to
purchase; enquiries Ann Miller, 03 5144
3597, 0427 445866 or
tarkaan@netspace.net.au
1 Anam Cara Community School for Prayer
Day; Christ Church Drouin; 9.30am to 4pm;
enquiries, Jane Macqueen, 0411 316346 or
3-5 Clergy conference, with Charles and Peta
Sherlock
12 Mothers Union June Join-in; 9.30am for
10am service; Newborough; guest speaker,
Tim Rock from Kairos
14-16 Residential writing workshop, Abbey of St
Barnabas, Raymond Island; with Sue
Fordham and Archdeacon Philip Muston
22 Basic Training Program for Volunteer Pastoral
Care Visitors; St Pauls Cathedral parish;
RSVP 03 5144 2020; workshop 2, 10am to
12noon.
Diocesan Calendar
ABOVE: Studets from St Pauls Anglican Grammar Schools Traralgon campus came to
St James Anglican Church to celebrate their end of termservice with Reverend Jo White.
Jo led them in a enthusiastic and joyous service with songs, powerpoint and a short
talk. In her address, Jo shared Palm Sunday significance in the sweep of holy week. She
also prayed with the children that, as they celebrated the resurrection, they will know
the joy of Easter deep in their hearts.
Photo: Di Ferguson
Write
award
for
youth
YOUTH and teen writers
are invited to enter their
writing in the Society for
Promoting Christian Knowl-
edge awards, open until
May 31. The Young Chris-
tian Writers Awards aim to
discover and encourage
writers of the future. You
can enter your best unpub-
lished manuscript.
There are awards for writ-
ers under 18 years of age
and for writers under 30
years old. Writers must be
Australian citizens. Prizes of
$1000 and $2500 are avail-
able.
Get more information
from www.spcka.org.au
6 Our Diocese - Children and Family Ministries May 2013
Color-in Noahs ark Fair fun
RIGHT and below: Samuel
and Hanna had fun at the fair
held at St Columbs Swan
Reach on Easter Saturday.
Photos: Jackie Walker
ABOVE: Christine Morris, of Sale parish, won the photo-
graphic award at the Easter Art Show held at St Pauls
Cathedral, Sale, with her photograph, Bubbles. The two
girls with Christine were in the winning photograph (be-
hind her); they are Katie Hall and Monday Wei.
Photo: Peter Mielke
Copyright www.sermons4kids.com
LEFT: Claudia Blomquist (1)
enjoys the service at St
James Traralgon, where
children are always wel-
come.
Photo: Tara Blomquist
May 2013 Our Diocese - Family, Children and Youth Ministries 7
AFTER a long haul flight,
10 St Pauls Anglican Gram-
mar students headed to
Waikiki, Hawaii to play in a
week long netball competi-
tion. The girls played seven
tough games in three days,
benefitting from the advice
of National Netball coaches
and representatives.
Playing on grass courts
was certainly a new experi-
ence for the team and they
qualified for the finals. Mak-
ing it to the grand final
against Melbourne school,
Wesley College, St Pauls
led throughout the final
game, against Wesley Col-
lege (from Melbourne), but
at full time the result was a
draw.
At the end of playing over-
time, the St Pauls team
was runner-up to Wesley
College.
It was not all over, how-
ever, for the team. Later
that night, at the celebra-
tion, five of the St Pauls
team were named in the All
Star team. This team was
selected by retired National
representative, Keely Dev-
ery and past National
coach, Anne Sargeant.
They chose their team
after watching every single
match of the tournament
and based their selections
on girls they would like to
coach and work with them-
selves.
To have so many girls
named in this team was ob-
viously a huge individual
honor for those chosen, but
also testimony to the strong
netball program that St
Pauls offers.
St Pauls students named
in the All Stars squad were
Tessa Fusinato, Sam Shel-
ley, Felicity Hasthorpe,
Piper Bennett-Swinley and
Natalie Fildes.
Year 10 student, Charley
Wright, of Traralgon, was
selected to umpire the
under 15s grand final, rank-
ing her in the top four um-
pires of the tournament.
ABOVE: Team with medals
Piper Bennett-Swinley,
Erin Smethurst, Zoe Trem-
bath, Tessa Fusinato, Na-
talie Fildes, Sam Shelley,
Julia Albanese, Felicity
Hasthorpe, Tara Bayly,
Georgia Corstorphin
TOP: Girls in action GA
Tessa Fusinato, WA Georgia
Corstorphin, WD Erin
Smethurst, GD Sam Shelley
and GK Tara Bayly.
ABOVE and right: The con-
gregation at St Pauls
Cathedral in Sale cele-
brated Palm Sunday with a
10 am service commencing
in the park opposite the
church; with palm
branches, crosses and a
donkey. Members of The
Salvation Army attended
the procession as well as
the service. Sunday Club,
toddlers had their own pro-
cession and enactment of
the story, however the don-
key then was a soft toy. A
Christian Seder Meal on
Maundy Thursday was fol-
lowed by a Good Friday af-
ternoon Stations of the
Cross. The service of the
new light on Saturday
evening commenced out
the front of the cathedral
around a fire.
Photos: Christine Morris
THE Cathedral Chapter in-
vites everyone to Dons and
Penes farewell morning tea
following the 10 am service
on May 26. While Pene will
continue in her role as
chaplain at Monash Univer-
sity Churchill campus, the
couple are leaving Sale
parish for Don to take up a
new role.
St Pauls students
play netball in
Waikiki, Hawaii
8 Our Diocese - Opportunity Shops May 2013
SUNDAY, April 28 dawned
clear and bright, a sign of a
great day and of great
things to come for our com-
munity church. For several
months, Canon Jeff
Richardson and his dedi-
cated team of volunteers
have devoted countless
hours of time and service in
the preparation of opening
St James Traralgons first
opportunity shop.
With Canon Jeff at the
steering wheel and with the
help of his wardens and the
op shop co-ordinator, Di-
anne Ferguson, Traralgon
parishs first op shop was
opened with great success.
The Seek and You Will
Find opportunity shop was
officially opened with a ded-
ication service on Sunday
by Bishop John McIntyre,
with the assistance of
Canon Jeff. They opened
the ceremony with prayers
and a reading from Gala-
tians 2:1. The ribbon cut-
ting ceremony went without
a hitch, no one snipped a
finger and the op shop was
officially opened.
So, ladies and gentlemen,
our op shop is up and run-
ning. Please feel free to
stop by for a look, a buy, a
coffee with Di and the vol-
unteers or even just a chat.
The shop still needs volun-
teers and stock and you
would be perfect for us.
Contributor: Tara Blomquist
Photos: Tara Blomquist

The AMF exists to resource employment of
Aboriginal people in ministry; training of
Aboriginal people for ministry; development of
Aboriginal ministry in the community; the
planting of Aboriginal churches; & education
of the Diocese about Aboriginal issues.

Be a part of achieving these aims.

For more information, contact the
Diocesan Registry Office at
453 Raymond Street, Sale, Victoria
PO Box 928, Sale, 3853
Telephone 03 5144 2044
Fax 03 5144 7183
Email registrar@gippsanglican.org.au

Owned and operated by Ray & Maree Anderson

With care & dignity, we serve
South Gippsland and Phillip Island

Main Office:
WONTHAGGI/INVERLOCH (03) 5672 1074
176-178 Graham Street, Wonthaggi, 3995 Fax: (03) 5672 1747

PHILLIP ISLAND (03) 5952 5171
15 Warley Avenue, Cowes, 3922 (by appointment only)
Email: randm33@bigpond.net.au

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New business in Traralgon parish

May 2013 Our Diocese - Opportunity Shops 9
ABOUT five years ago,
when Reverend Peter Chil-
ver was the minister for the
parish of Lakes Entrance
and Metung (St Nicholas
church in Lakes Entrance
and St Johns church in
Metung), discussions began
with both congregations
about the possibility of
opening a parish Op Shop.
There were about six op
shops in Lakes Entrance
and even more in Bairns-
dale, at the time, so there
were some doubts it would
be successful.
However, a few members
of the congregation at-
tended workshops on run-
ning an op shop.
Four years ago, it was fi-
nally decided we should go
ahead. Rev. Peter asked
Terry McMaster if he would
be the co-ordinator.
Terrys comment was: I
havent even been inside an
op shop, what would I know
about co-ordinating one?
However, with the support
of both churches, a lot of
hard work, sweat and tears,
with Gods love and bless-
ing, the old church turned
hall (built in 1908), was
turned into an op shop.
NicholasJohn was born on
August 1, 2009.
NicholasJohn offers a huge
range of quality clothing for
all ages, manchester, bric-
a-brac (including lots of
treasures), furniture, new
school supplies and a range
of books from childrens
through to the classics and
anything in between.
Best of all, NicholasJohn
offers outreach; which has
been appreciated by locals,
out of town folk and the
holiday makers.
A cuppa and biscuit or a
piece of cake is always
available. Old-time music is
played and often some of
the shoppers will start
singing or dancing in the
aisles.
Recently, two people were
re-fuelling their cars in
Rosedale, got chatting and
it was revealed one was
going to Lakes Entrance for
a holiday and the other had
just left. That person said:
You must go NicholasJohn
op shop, its great!
A few days later, in the
new holidaymakers came
and told the story.
In the three and a half
years NicholasJohn has
been operating, the roof
has been replaced, the out-
side has been painted and
donations to many charities
and schools have been
made. Not to mention some
new additions to the two
churches.
Who said it wouldnt
work?
Contributor/Photos:
Sandra McMaster
RIGHT and below right: A
crane was needed to paint
the op shop and repair the
roof.
BELOW: Reverend Barb
Logan with Terry McMaster
cutting frst birthday cake.
MIDDLE: Terry McMaster
with Rev. Peter Chilver, on
August 1, 2009, at the
opening of NicholasJohn.
BOTTOM: Three and half
years on, look at the
amount of stock. Volunteers
and shoppers enjoying Out-
reach.
V
alley
F
uneral
L
atrobe
S
ervices
J Qualified, experienced
and caring staff
J Modern chapels
J Refreshments and catering
facilities available
J Secure, guaranteed, pre-paid
and pre-arranged funeral
plans
J Over 70 years of service
to the Latrobe Valley
MORWELL 5134 4937
MOE 5126 1111
TRARALGON 5174 2258
Owned and operated by
Paul and Katrina McInnes
Proud member of the
Australian Funeral Directors
Association and the Australian and
British Institutes of Embalming
MARK
RIDDLE
Consultant
JOHN
GALBRAITH
Consultant
PAUL
McINNES
Director
2002900
Faith is rewarded
10 Our Diocese - Parishes at Easter May 2013
THE Easter season in Mor-
well was a very special time
to celebrate. Easter is such
a wonderful time to wor-
ship. The services were
deeply meaningful and in-
spiring.
The week started with the
amazing Palm Sunday wor-
ship. Before the service
began, the congregation
walked around the church
singing hymns, carrying ei-
ther palm branches or our
own palm crosses.
At the church door we
paused and sang a final
hymn. Archdeacon Heather
Marten read a prayer
(above) and we processed
into church.
The gospel of the Passion
was read slowly. After each
event in the story of what
happened during that mo-
mentous week, the congre-
gation paused for
reflection. Then we sang
the Taize chant, Jesus re-
member me when you
come into your Kingdom.
The symbol which repre-
sents that event in the
Easter story was brought
forward and placed at the
foot of the cross in front of
the altar. The whole service
was reading and singing
the Passion.
Each day of Holy Week
services were held. At the
Maunday Thursday service
we read the story of Jesus
washing the disciples feet.
Then in silence we washed
each others feet, kneeling
on the floor to do so. At the
end of the service the lights
were slowly turned out.
As the lights faded we
stripped the altar. When the
church was in darkness
many of us spent time in
prayer. We left the church in
silence.
For several years the choir
of St Vincents Catholic
Church has joined us for
the Good Friday service in
the morning. Then we
joined them for their after-
noon service. It is always a
joy to worship with other
Christians.
There were several oppor-
tunities for quiet reflection
during this years service.
The music of traditional
and modern hymns was es-
pecially meaningful.
The Saturday Vigil helped
us to know Jesus experi-
ence in the tomb and the
anguish of the disciples who
thought all was lost and
their Lord was dead.
On Easter Day we joined
with all across Gippsland
and throughout the world
to celebrate our risen Lord.
The children from Sunday
school made butterflies to
represent Jesus rising from
the dead. The butterflies
were hung through the
church on Easter Day,
adding to our joy as we cel-
ebrated Jesus victory over
death.
Contributor: C Raymond
Easter at
Morwell
ABOVE: Lighting the fire during the Easter Saturday evening vigil at St Pauls Cathedral,
Sale.
Combined churches
in Bairnsdale
EASTER services at St Johns, Bairnsdale
were well attended. After a traditional
Maundy service on Thursday evening, the
Good Friday Liturgy was at 8.30am and a
Combined Churches Service was held at
the Rotunda in Main Street at 11am.
The Good Friday Liturgy was special: the
large wooden Cross, made by Rob Fisher
some years ago, with a crown of thorns,
was a stark reminder of the amazing event
that took place 2000 years ago when a
crucifixion was the worst and lowest kind
of punishment for convicted criminals.
A chair had been placed in front of the
Cross for Mary, the mother of Jesus, a dis-
ciple and a veiled woman who stood with
her. Marys face was veiled as she wept,
grieved and tried to understand everything
that was happening to her beloved Son.
Have we ever given real thought to the
agony of mind she would have gone
through keeping watch with Him all those
hours and just trying to trust and make
sense of it all. It was certainly thought and
prayer provoking and extremely moving.
Easter Sunday started with a Vigil and
Lighting of Fire at 6.30am followed by joy-
ful services and Renewal of Baptism Prom-
ises led by Rector Tony Wicking.
During Lent groups studied The Lords
Prayer, the powerful and most important
prayer taught us by Jesus Christ.
A St Johns, a Ladies Dinner Group has
been formed, to dine at different restau-
rants on the first and third Thursday of the
month. A promising start has been made
with 12 womens attending the first two
dinners.
Contributor: Ursula Plunkett
ABOVE: At the 6.30am Easter Service,
Haydn Smith (parish councillor) helps Rev-
erend Tony Wicking.
Photo: Judi Hogan
Thank you from the Editor
AS some people are aware, I am leaving this role and I thought I would take a moment
to say thank you to the many parish correspondents and advertisers I have interacted
with since I became Editor of The Gippsland Anglican in 2006. You have all been a pleas-
ure to work with. The last issue of TGA that I will work on is the July issue. Please re-
member the June issue is largely devoted to Synod reports and I look forward to your
reports and photographs, one last time, for the July issue. Regards, Jeanette Severs.
May 2013 Our Diocese - Missions and Ministries 11
By Thelma Langshaw
GRACE Gray (right) is in
her 98th year. She was
born into an Anglican family
(then called Church of Eng-
land) at Stanhope in west-
ern Victoria and said
recently she was taken to
church from the time she
was a babe-in arms.
Grace remembers there
was no opportunity for Sun-
day school until she was 12
years old, but her religious
education was not neg-
lected; she learned from
the example and teaching
of her mother and grand-
mother and learned much
of her knowledge of the
bible by reading from it to
her grandmother every
night.
Graces father died when
she was only 12 years old;
however she believes she
never missed a church
service, always walking to
church.
She vividly remembers
one Sunday when there had
been rain for days, so she,
still a young girl, dressed in
her rainproof clothes, gum-
boots and armed with her
umbrella, walked all the
way through the rain and
mud to Church; and the
only one with the minister
at church that day was
Grace.
At 15 years of age, Grace
started working as a tele-
phonist and eventually be-
came a relieving
telephonist throughout
rural Victoria. One place
she was sent was Maffra
and thereby hangs a tale of
romance and the rest of her
life.
Grace met Kevin in Maffra
and two years later she
married her soldier settler
and lived first in Nambrok
and then Denison, where
they milked cows and
raised their family. They re-
tired and moved to Sale in
1977, which was about the
time Grace joined Mothers
Union, which has been such
a big part of her life.
Grace has always prided
herself and been admired
for her good memory and
her capacity to work hard
and enjoy the work. She
was always involved in
Mothers clubs and still en-
joys the sense of belonging
and of family in being a
member of various clubs.
At one stage, she was
president of three different
clubs to do with church
work.
Some of the things she
claims as her own tasks:
Know Your Bible classes at
her home for more than 19
years;
Grace has been the official
Simnel cake maker every
year, although it has taken
a great effort of concentra-
tion to get the cakes right
since she got a new oven
and stove;
For many years, Grace
made scones to be given to
widowers at church and the
clergy (two scones each,
she told me);
Grace has made many,
many sponge cakes to be
sold to purchase cushions
for St Pauls Cathedral at
Sale;
Grace still attends each
church service at Kilmany
and always makes nine
Christmas puddings for the
congregations mid-year
Christmas dinner; and she
makes a cake every year to
be raffled at the Scottish
Festival;
Grace owned an exclusive
dress shop at one stage;
and
Grace has attended Cur-
sillo, which has added to
her Christian journey.
Grace, known to all as a
carer and a very caring per-
son, wonders about still
being with us, when there
are only two of her school
friends still living. She has
lately suffered from vertigo,
which is very restricting for
someone who loves and, in-
deed, needs to be up and
about doing things.
But, although she admits
her body is getting older,
Grace thanks her Lord
every day for the life she
has had and that her mind
is still sharp enough to re-
member.
Grace in name
and in her faith
ABOVE: Ann and Iain Miller, Pam Schmack and oth-
ers organised the Christian Seder Meal on Maundy
Thursday at St Pauls Cathedral in Sale. More than 70
people attended.
Barbara leads
prayer day
THE third day in the
School for Prayer (SfP) se-
ries, facilitated by the
Anam Cara Community, will
be held at Christ Church,
Drouin, on Saturday, June
1.
Bishop Barbara Darling
(right) will lead the day, ex-
ploring various ways of
growing our relationship
with God in prayer. These
days are experiential days
with times of teaching and
times of silence for partici-
pants to pray.
The activities are open to
all, as many people in the
diocese respond to Bishop
John McIntyres encourage-
ment to make this a Year
for Prayer.
Bishop John led the first
SfP day in February and on
the Saturday following
Easter, 22 people from
around the diocese gath-
ered in the chancel of St
Pauls Cathedral, Sale, for
the second SfP day.
Reverend Anne Turner led
participants as she said:
God has made us for him-
self and desires relationship
with us. It is God who puts
within us the desire for re-
lationship with Gods self.
Anne shared from her lifes
journey of prayer; a jour-
ney that has included being
touched by God in an Anglo
Catholic upbringing, discov-
ering the joy of personal re-
lationship and
conversational prayer in the
more evangelical tradition,
her charismatic experience
of prayer and then a call to
contemplative prayer and
meditation, learning how to
be in silence with God.
Being, rather than doing,
prayer, she said.
Anne talked honestly
about her initial concerns:
What do I do in the si-
lence?
Many identified with her
words when she spoke of
sitting with outer silence,
while my mind and inner is
racing with all sorts of dis-
tractions.
Anne encouraged partici-
pants that this is a very
normal experience for
those who sit with God in
the silence. She then led
the group in a method of
Praying the Scriptures she
said many people find helps
with distractions and gives
a focus in the silence.
This Ignation method is a
way of prayer requiring
people to use their creative
imaginations to be open to
put themselves into a pas-
sage of scripture as if they
were present at that time.
Anne led a guided medita-
tion on the Gospel reading
for the next day when Jesus
appeared to the disciples in
the upper room.
Contributor: J Macqueen
12 Our Diocese - Missions and Ministries May 2013
By Ayeln Horwitz
AT LittWorld 2012, I found
something I hoped for but
did not dare expect: men-
tors willing to accompany
me in my ministry and nur-
ture my professional and
spiritual development. I felt
so encouraged when expe-
rienced publishing profes-
sionals took the time to talk
to me about my dreams
and expectations.
I was led to believe that at
LittWorld important people
would be accessible and ap-
proachable. I found it was
true!
I discovered a whole new
world of colleagues willing
to mutually support each
other professionally and
spiritually. I learned a pas-
sion for literature ministries
and a shared vision is what
propels our work.
I was challenged by the in-
spiring testimonies of edi-
tors and publishers who, in
the midst of acute eco-
nomic and social crisis, con-
tinue to find creative ways
to change lives with books.
Coming from a relatively
small publisher, I was inter-
ested to know how larger
publishers handle funda-
mental issues such as team
management, quality con-
trol and the implementation
of a vision.
One of the surprises God
had in store for me was a
very special group of
friends. Of the 200 partici-
pants, only a handfull spoke
Spanish. Among them were
a Mexican, a Kenyan and a
Russian: three young peo-
ple passionate about litera-
ture and proclaiming the
good news through books.
We walked together,
prayed together and
laughed together.
Thank you for encouraging
me, valuing me and invest-
ing in my future. Please
pray that I will continue to
develop my skills and learn
from others. Pray our pub-
lishing team might be salt
and light in Argentina, a so-
ciety increasingly hedonistic
and individualistic, but spir-
itually inquisitive.
Ayeln Horwitz (above,
second from right) works as
an editor and project coor-
dinator with Certeza Ar-
gentina in Buenos Aires.
Ayelen and Michael Collie,
of the Society for Promoting
Christian Knowledge Aus-
tralia (SPCKA), were sup-
ported with donations and
prayer to attend the
LittWorld 2012 conference.
SPCKA is nurturing a new
generation of writers, edi-
tors and designers with a
passion to bring life-chang-
ing Christian literature to
the worlds difficult places.
You can invest in the train-
ing of publishing profes-
sionals like Ayelen by
making a donation today.
Vulnerable to
climate change
Nurturing the
next generation
FACNG THE
TRUTH
GO online for progress on
the Victorian enquiry into
child abuse and the Com-
monwealth enquiry into
how institutions dealt with
reports of child abuse.
For personal help, contact
Victorian police:
Morwell, 03 5131 5090
Sale, 03 5143 5000
Bairnsdale, 5150 2675
Melbourne, 03 9247 5538
By Elizabeth Baker
ANGLICAN Board of Mis-
sions (ABMs) food and
water security project and
the introduction of a new
crop is seeing both short
and long term benefits in
the Solomon Islands.
In 2010, food and vulner-
ability assessments were
conducted by the Anglican
Church of Melanesias Cli-
mate Change Officer,
Jasper Bonie, which uncov-
ered severe levels of food
and water insecurity requir-
ing immediate intervention.
Communities of Ontong
Java, where the project is
based, are vulnerable to cli-
mate change due to the rise
in the salt-water table that
supplies food crops and
drinking water wells. Con-
sequently both food and
water security are in dan-
ger of being permanently
spoiled due to salination of
the water supply.
Jasper Bonie (above) told
ABM how the introduction
of sweet taro, a salt resist-
ant crop, has allowed local
farmers to yield successful
harvests through a form of
Atoll Permaculture.
The sweet taro crop pro-
duces good harvests, as
opposed to its swamp taro
relative which has been far
less successful in the past.
The implementation of such
methods has meant that in-
dividual households are en-
abled to construct their own
gardens and are provided
with safe water supplies,
he said.
This then allows the com-
munity members to tem-
porarily counteract the
vulnerability experienced
due to changing seasons
and climatic conditions.
The overall objective of
this project addresses food
and water shortages by
providing increased food
production through intro-
duction of salt resistant
crops, raised garden beds
and installation of rain
water tanks.
This climate change pro-
gram works with the com-
munities of Luaniua and
Pelau with combined popu-
lations of around 2,860 in-
habitants.
The last three years have
seen much development in
the project, particularly
through a process of com-
munity consultation. The
method of community con-
sultation sees the participa-
tion of tribal and church
leaders, local chiefs, com-
munity members and local
farmers.
The aim is to assist the
communities to improve
subsistence agricultural
production so that the basic
short to medium term food
needs of families could be
met through the implemen-
tation of family farming
methods.
Sabene Gomes, ABM Pa-
cific Programs Officer, said:
There has been some de-
bate recently about what
can be done to help the
people in these communi-
ties.
ABM understands the re-
alities of how climate
change is impacting com-
munities and this situation
is a slow onset disaster
which needs short and
medium term interventions
until long term resettle-
ment is negotiated. We are
working with the church for
resettlement opportuni-
ties, she said.
The Ontong Java Food and
Water Security program is
funded by ABM and Episco-
pal Relief and Development
(USA) and implemented
through the Anglican
Church of Melanesia.
May 2013 Our Diocese - Commemorating 110 years of diocesan news 13
By Jeanette Severs
THIS next decade of news
of the Anglican Church in
Gippsland and the 1930s in
particular, was a period of
austerity. The Great De-
pression had descended
and regularly The Church
News reported the deficit of
the States and Common-
wealth of Australia, the
widespread unemployment
and what commodities
were heavily taxed.
Fortunately, wool prices
were holding and gold
prices were increasing but
exporting wheat, butter and
other commodities was
risky into European coun-
tries that had raised tariffs
to protect their own pro-
ducers.
In the second half of this
decade was World War II,
declared in 1939.
Hamilton, now in Orbost
parish, called the Flour Tax,
which had been in place for
three years, a necessary
evil and is of the nature of
robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Hamilton suggested this
tax, along with the Sugar
Bounty and the Paterson
Plan, was sufficient to sup-
port the producer and fur-
ther taxation would land
us in the European morass
of non-economic produc-
tion.
At the beginning of the
year, The Church News
began including regular ar-
ticles about how to be a
better dairy farmer, ad-
dressing topics such as
herd testing, breeding and
selection on milk and butter
fat production.
The May 1934 issue of The
Church News included, as a
Supplement, the Bishops
presidential address to
synod on April 17. Its focus
was the church and sexual
morality.
Bishop Cranswick stated
the present generation is
sex-ridden but that only a
very small group of clergy
feels compelled to report
that the sexual morality of
their districts is declining
[and] I regard it as a
solemn obligation upon
every priest to investigate
this matter and as part of
his duty to know the state
of morality or immorality
which exists in his parish.
Of interest is an advertise-
ment for Caulfield Grammar
School, in East St Kilda: A
public school for boys,
under the Church of Eng-
land. The president of the
school council is the Bishop
of Gippsland.
The November 1939 issue
of the newspaper records
the marriage of Edith, eld-
est daughter of Bishop and
Mrs Cranswick to Geoffrey
Littleton, Chancellor of
Gippsland diocese. It was
on Saturday, September
23, 1939, at St Pauls
Cathedral, Sale.
She was married by her
father, assisted by Archdea-
con Blundell. The reception
was held at Bishopscourt.
In The Church News of
January 1940, the Bishop
suggested parishes in farm-
ing communities could
arrange to run small num-
bers of stock with a farmers
flock or herd, as a means to
raise funds for the church.
Could we not use our
sheep, cattle, poddies and
pigs in this way? he asked.
It was a forerunner of what
some parishes in Gippsland
have been doing for years.
In his presidents charge
to synod in 1935, Bishop
Cranswick said: There is a
widespread consensus of
opinion today among the
thinkers of all lands that our
generation stands at one of
the great turning points in
human history.
He went on to address
such topics as the expand-
ing independence of the
colonies of Britain; the To-
talitarian state of Russian
Communism and the risk of
similar happening in
Britain; Italian fascism;
Germanys national-social-
ist movement; national sys-
tems of public education;
Christianity and the
Gospels; the recent death
of King George V; and in-
formation about two world
conferences, to discuss re-
search and thinking of
Christian leaders in all na-
tions.
In 1936, Synod and
Bishop-in-Council consid-
ered seriously the financial
expense of running an es-
tate the size of Bishop-
scourt and the need to
develop further St Annes,
the Church School. Bishop
Cranswick noted no deci-
sion had been made other
than hands off Bishop-
scourt but he encouraged
all to consider it as an ideal
venue for a school.
In order to ensure the
continuation of St Annes, it
appeared he needed to en-
dorse a giving appeal for its
development.
Archdeacon Weir would
lead the appeal, stating:
That Bishopscourt is a
problem is very certain. St
Annes must undoubtedly
be developed and strength-
ened. That is the immediate
task which stands before
the diocese.
Due to the success of the
annual Diocesan Festival in
May 1936, both East Gipps-
land and South Gippsland
would have similar festi-
vals, on June 24 and 25 re-
spectively.
In The Church News of
July 1936, Bishop Cran-
swick wrote about the
danger of war being great
and becoming greater.
There are many people
today who seem to regard
pacifism as a religious duty
and to think that Christians
and pacifism are synony-
mous terms there are
times when good men must
be ready to fight and to die
for honour and for right.
Both these may well be in-
cluded in the call to defend
our country, he wrote.
No self-respecting man
can pray for the safety and
well-being of his country
unless he is prepared to
take the necessary means
to secure that safety. When
I am asked if I am a paci-
fist, I say, if war comes,
which God forbid, I will tell
you. Until then no issue is
raised nor can be faced rea-
sonably or usefully.
Cranswick was a man of
sense and recognised the
duplicity of people joining
pacifist organisations as a
protest against war.
Parishes
A MEETING was called for
February 19, 1934, in the
Inverloch hall, to discuss
forming a new parish or
parochial district. At Maffra,
Reverend Brown reported
on the United Churches
Campaign, in May 1934.
The ministers of the three
denominations Anglican,
Presbyterian and Methodist
were making a combined
effort to rouse the careless
and indifferent through
home visiting, mid-week
services, a Question Night
and a Youth Rally, along
with the usual morning and
evening services on each
Sunday. This effort to
present Christianity as a
reasonable religion, which
is the key to the solution of
all our problems, will con-
clude with a great united
service on May 27, he
wrote, which would also be
attended by the Bishop of
Gippsland.
Warragul parish welcomed
Reverend WJB Clayden and
Mrs Clayden on August 20,
1935, in a ceremony per-
formed by Archdeacon DW
Weir and Archdeacon Blun-
dell. Rev. Clayden had
lately been the rector at
Heyfield and he was de-
scribed as a fine worker, a
man of great sincerity and
with a wonderful appeal to
the young people. Clayden,
in his response, said he
hoped they [the Warragul
parishioners] would ask
him to tea and not merely
to afternoon tea. He
wanted to see the boss, the
man of the house, and it
was really only at tea-time
that once could usually
catch him in.By the middle
of 1936, Rev. RWG Phillips,
of Omeo, was responsible
for editing the parish news
in the newspaper.
On Christmas Day, 1937,
Bishop Cranswick dedicated
the Seaspray church with
the beautiful title of the
Church of the Epiphany. He
notes the church was, in
particular, the result of
womens ministry for it is to
the Deaconesses that the
continued next page
From Depression to War
ABOVE: In 1935, Hedley parishioners gathered to farewell Reverend Frank King.
Photos: Diocesan archives
Vast changes in Australian society are reflected in Gippsland in this next decade,
1934 to 1943, as the nation and the globe recovered from one war, experienced an
economic depression and prepared for another war. However, there was time for fun.
Mrs Faultroscope (probably a tongue-in-
cheek nom de plume) wrote her descrip-
tion of a Vicar: Its right enough his
having religion and all that, but he should-
nt be serious with it or let you know hes
got it or spoil anybodys fun. We want our
clergyman to be practical pay the rent,
cook the dinner, nurse the baby, dig the
garden He ought to play an instrument,
be good at games, swim at the baths,
dance at the socials, spend all his time vis-
iting and have any number of parlour tricks
and stories up his sleeve to entertain us
he must have a musical voice and lead the
choir and preach that fluent it would be a
treat to listen he ought to know instinc-
tive when anybodys ill and go on Moth-
ers Outings I reckon thats what a
Vicars for if hes for anything; isnt we
women the life and soul of the church?
14 Our Diocese - Commemorating 110 years of diocesan news May 2013
from previous page
credit must be given of pro-
viding a regular ministry for
the area of Seaspray.
The editor, in the October
1938 issue, wrote about the
very real threat of war for
the position is more serious
than it has ever been since
1914 a war today would
be far more ghastly and far
more destructive than the
last. He mentioned the na-
tions day of prayer called
by the Australian Prime
Minister for September 11.
The Bishop encouraged
people to vote Yes for
liquor reform in the coming
referendum. A big Yes
majority will compel parlia-
ment to believe that the
people of Victoria desire a
steady and gradual reform
of the conditions that now
govern the liquor traffic and
that they desire its greater
restriction and control, not
a greater latitude, Cran-
swick wrote.
The Omeo vicarage was
used as a hospital, in 1938
and 1939, while a new dis-
trict hospital was built.
The beginning of 1939 saw
Bishop Cranswick take to
the air, speaking to Gipps-
landers through radio 3TR
at Sale, from Wednesday,
March 1, on a fortnightly
basis.
The radio station had en-
abled Cranswick to sit at his
desk at Bishopscourt and
speak to people. I am feel-
ing that it is going to be a
great privilege, he wrote.
BISHOP and Mrs Cran-
swick, among others, de-
lighted in using their home
for civic receptions. This ex-
tended to the grounds of
Bishopscourt, where a
number of garden parties
were held while Cranswick
was in residence.
In 1934, Gippslands
Synod was completed with
a garden party at Bishop-
scourt, hosted by Bishop
and Mrs Cranswick and at-
tended by a large number
from Synod and their
wives.
In 1936, Bishop and Mrs
Cranswick held another
garden party at Bishop-
scourt; this one was at-
tended by a large number
of people from the district
who had been married for
25 years or more. Bishop
and Mrs Cranswick cele-
brated their own silver wed-
ding anniversary at the
garden party. The chapel at
Bishopscourt was also open
during the afternoon, for
private reflection and
thanksgiving.
On May 3, 1938 Bishop
and Mrs Cranswick again
entertained Synod mem-
bers and their wives at an
afternoon garden party, be-
fore sitting down to busi-
ness on the following two
days.
On Thursday, March 23,
1939, Mrs Cranswick wel-
comed many women to
Bishopscourt, for the an-
nual Mothers Union confer-
ence. Mrs Baker, wife of
Bishop Baker, was the guest
speaker.
From March 28 to 31,
1939, Bishop and Mrs Cran-
swick hosted a retreat for
Deaconesses at Bishop-
scourt. The Deaconesses of
Gippsland invited Dea-
conesses from throughout
the Province of Victoria to
attend the retreat. I am to
have the privilege of con-
ducting the retreat, Cran-
swick wrote. The retreat for
Deaconesses was repeated
in 1940.
Bush fires 1939
OF COURSE, many in
Gippsland know there were
major bushfires in January,
1939. Rev. G Smith Gray of
Moe writes: On Friday,
January 13, morning there
was a freshening northwest
wind with a slowly-rising
temperature. About 12.30,
a blast of hot wind pre-
ceded a gale which raged
violently for hours. Ther-
mometers jumped to record
heights, true shade tem-
peratures reaching 110 de-
grees, unknown previously
in local records. At Hill End
and Fumina South, settlers
and their families were
promptly evacuated. But for
this timely action, it is con-
sidered the death toll must
have been greater. The
wind raged to hurricane
force. Right along the valley
of the Latrobe river from
Willowgrove to Fumina
South, a wall of flame raced
to the settled areas, razing
homesteads, fencing, sheds
and buildings of all kinds as
it roared on its way. In the
Hill End area many people
had miraculous escapes
from death, several were
painfully burnt and one life
was lost. Property losses
were considerable and in-
cluded St James church,
Hill End.
St Georges church, Tanjil
South, was in considerable
danger at a later date, but
the Tanjil men burnt a
break around the building
By Jeanette Severs
THE February 1934 issue of The Church News con-
tained a history of Mothers Union in Gippsland, from
its beginning in the hands of Deaconess Shoobridge,
who travelled extensively, hundreds of miles on
horseback, bicycle and, occasionally, by train, visit-
ing women living in lonely and isolated bush homes.
She established linkages between Gippsland and Eng-
lish mothers, from 1919.
In 1918, Diocesan Council of MU and the first Gipp-
sland MU branch was formed in Sale, although it
lapsed after a few years owing to difficulty getting
speakers to meetings. Many parishes had Ladies
Guilds and in small populations, workers feared an
increase of organisation for the same few and faith-
ful ladies so Mothers Union groups had not taken off
as Deaconess Shoobridge expected they might.
However, by 1920, there were 16 clusters of mem-
bers, called Sections of The Battalion of Gippsland
Mothers and Mrs Mason was appointed overseas cor-
respondent. By 1921, there were 439 mothers re-
ceiving literature regularly; however, as Deaconess
Shoobridges health declined and visiting was cur-
tailed, these numbers began reducing.
Deaconess Shoobridges ill-health forced her to re-
sign in 1927. Hamilton commends her work, her
service and the manner in which she kept her books
and records of visit [as] a marvel. In 1929, simulta-
neous services for mothers throughout the diocese
were organised.
The first MU diocesan conference was held in 1932,
attended by 40 women; many had travelled more
than 100 miles to attend the 11am service and re-
turned home that night. A caravan was donated by
MU in England, dedicated during Gippslands synod
and used to visit a number of centres where there
were MU members.
A second diocesan conference was held in 1933 and
the hope was expressed in 1934 that these would be-
come annual events. By this time, nine parish
branches had been formed and there were 21 groups,
at least four of them growing from Deaconess Shoo-
bridges early work.
On June 1, 1934, MU members met for their yearly
day together at Bishopscourt, hosted by Bishop and
Mrs Cranswick. The day was in the form of a retreat,
possibly the first Mothers Union Quiet Day (as it was
called) in Gippsland diocese and discussion centred
on leaving the daily cares and troubles of an unquiet
world at the door, ridding ourselves of all those per-
sonal preoccupations which shut out the love of God
and man.
In 1936, another quiet day was held, this time on
Lady Day, Wednesday, March 25. The Swifts Creek
branch of MU held their first quiet day at St Johns.
Lunch was held nearby, at the home of Mrs Jorgen-
son. The Pilgrims Progress was used as the basis for
meditation. Mrs OC Cranswick attended the quiet day,
as diocesan president of MU.
The MU quiet days at Bishopscourt were becoming
an annual event. In 1939, one was held on Thursday,
March 23, hosted by Mrs Cranswick, diocesan presi-
dent. The day began with a service in the chapel of
Bishopscourt.
Following the bushfires in 1939, MUs diocesan sec-
retary, Mrs C Davis, of Riversdale, Maffra, offered her
holiday cottage at Seaspray for members who have
suffered in the dreadful bushfires and are in need of
rest and change.
M o t h e r s
Union hosts
quiet days
continued next page
ABOVE: St Peters Leongatha fielded a tennis club for many years.
The Church Choir
THERE are several advantages to be obtained
from participation in Church Choir work. The first is
a physical and mental exercise. Secondly, it is a fine
recreation which develops the team spirit and the
cooperative spirit and teaches one to mind ones
own business, musically. Thirdly, it develops us
emotionally and gives a great satisfaction by en-
abling us to express our inner feelings.
To those who have imagination, it gives a real joy,
by bringing all who sing into a nearer and closer
communion with God. Finally, music as an aid to
public worship unites all people in the one common
act of praise and thanksgiving to the giver of all
good things and enables us with one mind and one
accord to glorify God.
The Church News, June 18, 1935
Garden parties
at Bishopscourt
May 2013 Our Diocese - Commemorating 110 years of diocesan news 15
By Jeanette Severs
AT THE beginning of January
1934, the diocese held its
fifth annual camp for girls on
Raymond Island, led by Sister
May. The Church of England
Girls School, in Sale, was of-
fering one full scholarship and
two half scholarships, for the
next three years, to Gipps-
land Girls of Merit Certificate
Standard. The examination
was at the school on February
7.
Mrs AH aBeckett at Bunyip
was providing sample cards of
Sunday school services, avail-
able at threepence each and
the newspaper editor, still
Archdeacon Hamilton, was
encouraging of the usefulness
of these cards, which were
endorsed by the Bishop.
St Pauls Cathedral Chapter
was managing Church of Eng-
land hostels in Sale for girls
and for boys. Responsible for
the girls was Sister May, Prin-
cipal of St Annes Deaconess
House in Sale. The boys were
led by Canon Thornton, war-
den of St Albans, Cathedral
Rectory, Sale.
There were also homes in
Melbourne to which parents
were encouraged to send
their wayward sons and
daughters.
At Toora, in January 1934,
the parish was arranging to
hold a Popular Girl Competi-
tion: nominated were Jessie
Bicknell, Hazel Truscott and
Edna Cunningham; a fourth
girl was to be found. At Hed-
ley, a Baby Competition was
held to liquidate Hedleys debt
to Parochial Council. The
Toora parish rector held reli-
gious instruction at eight
state schools, travelling 2000
miles throughout the year.
St Johns Glengarry held its
annual church picnic at the
Swing Bridge, Cowwarr on
March 4, 1934 and Miss A
Pratt, the organist, was pre-
sented with a beautiful hand-
bag, in appreciation of her
long and devoted service.
The Sunday school scholars
also received prizes.
In Sale parish, The Good
Companions was a new group
formed in the middle of 1935
as a social club formed by
young people of the church.
The focus was catering for
functions and raising funds for
St Pauls Cathedral Chapter.
The group was organising a
play and a childrens concert
in 1935.
By 1938, St Annes Church of
England Girls Grammar
School was under the man-
agement of Miss Tisdall, prin-
cipal. New buildings and
classrooms, every modern
convenience and spacious
grounds were on offer.
The school offered education
to day and boarding girls from
kindergarten level to Leaving
honours. However, fundraising
continued for the schools
building fund, with a
gymkhana held at Gelantipy,
on December 31, 1937, to
support the building fund; it
was attended by Bishop and
Mrs Cranswick.
The late Mrs aBeckett had
given permission for the sec-
ond annual boys camp to be
held at Raymond Island in
January 1939. Sixty-two boys
attended, from all parts of
Gippsland.
Sister May lent the tents,
equipment and altar fittings
used for the girls camps, for
the boys use; Mr AE Lind
loaned tents and cooking
utensils owned by the
Forestry Commission.
Bible study, physical activi-
ties and evening sing-songs,
along with a lantern talk and
Sunday service, were part of
the program for the 11 days
of the camp.
A daily newsletter was pub-
lished, titled The Dire Straits
and edited by TD Beyer under
the pseudonym, Abie. The
organisers planned to repeat
the camp next year.
Gift of Nyerimilang
THE Church News of April 2,
1938 records the generous
donation from Mrs Frank Stu-
art of Nyerimilang, described
by the editor as A Munificent
Benefaction.
Nyerimilang is ideally situ-
ated on high ground overlook-
ing the Lakes between Lakes
Entrance and Metung. The
property extends to the
waters edge and includes
about 200 acres of farming
land.
Mrs Stuart has attached, we
understand, no condition to
her gift, but naturally every
consideration will be given to
her expressed desire that it
should be used for social
service work.
The Church has had all too
few opportunities to do such
work in Gippsland and has
lagged behind certain other
denominations in this respect.
We rejoice that there is a
prospect of a beginning being
made. But such work cannot
be undertaken without the
generous support of Church
people.
May the generosity of Mrs
Stuart inspire others to do
likewise, either by gift or be-
quest. A series of such en-
dowments would enable the
Church to make a really seri-
ous and effective contribution
to the social problems of our
day.
Bishop Cranswick led the
focus of Nyerimilang to be a
place for boy rescue work.
Nyerimilang farm remained in
the hands of the Gippsland
Anglican Diocese for some
years before it was sold.
Children and Young People
continued next page
ABOVE: In late 1942, at the 50th anniversary of St Thomas
church at Toora. Bishop Blackwood is in the black hat, middle right
of the photograph.
from previous page
and it was saved. The Vicar removed
the Altar Cross, the Prayer Desk and
Lentern to Moe until the danger was
past.
On Saturday, January 14, Omeo was
a sight of desolation and the plight of
many was appalling.
The fires on the previous day had
swept in quite unexpectedly from the
west and with the terrific gale that was
blowing it was only a matter of sec-
onds when the town was surrounded
with fire.
The fire had totally destroyed in
Omeo and district, 56 homes, 26,000
head of cattle and sheep, 373 miles of
fencing, the Omeo District Hospital,
the Golden Age hotel and many of the
leading business houses.
The total loss is estimated at
151,260.
The patients were rescued from the
hospital shortly after the first outbreak
of the fire and taken to the Post Office
but when the fire broke out at the
back of the Post Office, they were im-
mediately taken to the partly built Hill-
top Hotel, which is situated at the
extreme east end of the town, where
the baby daughter of Mrs C McNamara
was born.
The women and children were taken
to this building because at this time it
was considered almost certain that the
whole town would be wiped out.
Fortunately the wind kept in the
north and this, together with the
heroic efforts of the Omeo Fire
Brigade, checked the fire. Many peo-
ple spent time in the river until the fire
passed.
During the early hours of the morn-
ing, arrangements were made with Dr
Little to take the patients into the Vic-
arage.
Later the Vestry offered the Vicarage
to the Hospital Committee to be used
as a Temporary Hospital until such
time as they could gain the approval
of the Bishop.
The Bishop was delighted and gave
his approval immediately.
On the first Sunday after evensong,
a relief committee was formed con-
sisting of 10 men and from then till
now that committee has worked night
and day to relieve the distress.
At Erica, Sister Marie led much-
needed relief work. Noojee was
recorded as suffering more than any
other area. The recent fires have left
Noojee as utterly devastated as did
that of 1926. Only four buildings re-
main, the hotel and three others.
Both Mrs Beyer and Rev. TD Beyer
were commended by the Shire Coun-
cil for their hard work in Morwell dis-
trict; including rescue work by Mr
Beyer, in the course of which he had
several narrow escapes.
At Jeeralang and Jumbuk, only one
house was left standing in the Jeer-
alang Hills and one in the Jumbuk
Hills.
16 Our Diocese - Commemorating 110 years of diocesan news May 2013
SPCKA
A HISTORY of the Society
for Promoting Christian
Knowledge was printed in
The Church News of April
16, 1935. SPCK (later Aus-
tralia would be added)
began in 1698 and within
40 years had built and
equipped 2000 church
schools in England and
Wales. SPCK helps to build
a church school somewhere
in the world every three
weeks including in Aus-
tralia.
At least 100 clergy were
working in Australia under
the auspices of SPCK at
that time. SPCK provided
books for clergy, catechists,
lay readers and teachers, to
help establish their li-
braries. It also translated
the bible into 150 lan-
guages and dialects.
Medical Mission work
began in 1885 and SPCK
trained 370 doctors and
built and equipped 100 hos-
pitals. The average cost for
training a doctor is 750.
People were encouraged
to remember SPCK at serv-
ices on Sunday, May 5,
1935.
How to trap silverfish
SOME of the subjects contained in the
diocesan newspaper would never occur to
me as relevant news and this is one of
them. Or maybe it is a reflection of Hamil-
tons sense of humor.
This is a subject that interests everyone
for they are gradually eating Australia to
the ground. Here then is a sure and simple
way of getting rid of them.
They, as you will have found, go always
to the darkest corners of your bookcase
and they thrive best in undisturbed books,
therefore the method which I assure you
cannot fail is to annoy them (here you can
design your own method, but perhaps
waving a tasty piece of art silk in front of
their noses, just where they cannot reach
it, is the best) and gradually get them so
angry and frightened that they rush to the
place in your book case where they know
they wont be disturbed and that is
where you can give one of those hollow
laughs that all the best villains use, for you
will have them tricked though they know it
not.
With rasping teeth (this part is easy if
they are false) and a cruel smile on your
lips, you can then grab your bible and
shake them out of it on to the fire.
And, by the way, it is worth reading while
you have it out.
The Church News, June 4, 1938.
ABOVE: In 1942, after Bishop DB Blackwoods consecration as Bishop of Gippsland, held
at St Pauls Cathedral in Melbourne: (front) Bp Blackwood, Bp Riley (Bendigo), Archbp
of Melbourne JJ Booth, the Primate, Archbp Le Fand and Bp James (St Arnaud); (back)
Bp Baker, Precentor at St Pauls Reverend Hole, Bp G Cranswick (retired Bishop of Gipp-
sland), Bp Ashton, Primates Charlatin Rev. Farnham Maynard and Bp Johnston (Bal-
larat).
BELOW right: Bishop Blackwood, late 1942, shortly after his enthronement as Bishop of
Gippsland.
BELOW left: Clergy after an ordination service at St Pauls Cathedral, Sale, 1943.
Photos: Diocesan archives
From one Bishop
to another ...
ABOVE: In 1940, at St Pauls Korumburra after
early morning communion on St Lukes Day, Octo-
ber 18: Archbishop of Melbourne, Dr Head and
Bishop of Gippsland, Dr Cranswick.
May 2013 Our Diocese - Literary and Media Reviews 17
Piggin, S (2012) Spirit,
Word and World: Evan-
gelical Christianity in
Australia (revised edi-
tion). Victoria: Acorn
Press.
By Jeanette Severs
SPIRIT, Word and World is
the title of Dr Stuart Pig-
gins newly released study
of the history of evangelical
Christianity in Australia.
Covering the period 1788 to
2011, he provides fascinat-
ing insights into the nature
of Australian evangelicalism
and its impact on Australia
as a nation.
Piggin entwines evangeli-
cal Christians with Aus-
tralias history, placing
them within the social and
political landscape they
strode across.
According to Bruce Mans-
field, Emeritus Professor of
History at Macquarie Uni-
versity, he shows the im-
portance of evangelicism to
the emerging colonial and
national culture in this
country, to political liberal-
ism and economic enter-
prise ... [making historians]
think again about where
and what the mainstream
is when it comes to
achievements.
Anglicans have been at
the forefront of Australias
history in establishing
schools, including the state
school system, maternal
and child care centres, hos-
pitals, orphanages and hos-
tels; many of which have
become our public institu-
tions and core to our hu-
manity in this country.
In this book, Piggin has re-
vised his previous two edi-
tions, to include the
worldwide expansion of
Sydney Anglicans and Hill-
song Pentecostals. He de-
scribes how, as Australia
has become more secular,
evangelicals continue to in-
fluence politics, education
and social welfare in this
country.
For someone unaware of
the history of the extent of
how religion engaged in de-
veloping this country, it will
make the reader rethink
their understanding and ask
questions. In this, if for no
other reason, it is a worthy
publication.
For others, it will still be a
good read.
For those with little under-
standing of the influence of
Pentecostalism, their eyes
will be opened. He also ex-
plores the protestant influ-
ence of Sydney Anglicanism
within its diocese, on other
churches and overseas.
Australia operates in a
global environment and
Piggin has placed religion
and its various influences
on Australian life squarely
into that environment.
The final chapter of Spirit,
Word and World assesses
and critiques the contribu-
tion made by evangelicals
to Australia from 1993 to
2011, in particular.
The professor of History at
Sterling University, Dr
David Bebbington writes
that this new edition
brings the story up to
date, covering the enor-
mously significant develop-
ments of recent years,
while Dr Rhys Bezzant from
Ridley Melbourne asks:
Who would have thought
the defence of vital piety in
the modern secular world
could be presented as such
a ripping yarn?
wwwacornpress.net.au
Ripping yarn
defends piety
Hope for mother
and her children
Duncan, K (editor) (2013) Vision
of Hope: Mother & Child. World Vi-
sion Australia.
WORLD Vision Australia and world-
renowned photographer, Ken Duncan,
have launched an inspiring book for
Mothers Day. Vision of Hope: Mother &
Child celebrates the special bond be-
tween mothers and children around the
world.
World Vision Australia chief executive,
Tim Costello, said the moving book of
photographs and short stories was a trib-
ute to women all over the world and, in
particular, the women in our own lives.
Mothers Day is a time we stop to ap-
preciate our mothers and the women we
know for their unlimited love and support
and also say thank you for the thousands
of small gestures and numerous tasks
they routinely do for us, Mr Costello
said.
Vision of Hope: Mother & Child is an up-
lifting collection of images by Ken Dun-
can and fellow photographers, Luke
Peterson, Steve Fraser and Meg Hansen,
who travelled to rural and urban com-
munities with World Vision to photograph
everyday people touched by poverty.
From Bangladesh, Bolivia, Ecuador,
India, Mongolia, Senegal to the Pilbara in
Australia, the book showcases World Vi-
sions work empowering communities
and families to break the cycle of
poverty.
The photographers donated their time
and expertise to the project and the pro-
ceeds from the book will go to help World
Visions development work around the
world.
This is the second book Ken Duncan has
created with World Vision Australia. The
first was published almost 20 years ago,
when he photographed World Visions in-
ternational projects in some of the poor-
est countries on earth.
In 2010, Ken visited the urban slums of
India with Tim Costello. Amazed by the
fortitude of the women he met, Ken de-
cided it was time for a new book, this
time honoring the role of women.
Mothers are the ones who do the ma-
jority of the nurturing and this book
gives you a glimpse of the bond mothers
and children share around the world, Mr
Duncan said.
Its not a book full of sorrow, its a
book of people with incredible stories
who make you realise what you can do
to bring about change; its a book of
hope.
Mr Costello said thanks to the support
of Australian child sponsors, World Vision
worked to increase the economic em-
powerment of women as study after
study proves that when you educate a
woman you educate a community.
Yet its important to remember the
level of access to essential education,
healthcare and nutrition for women can
be worlds apart and this is where we can
help.
Vision of Hope: Mother & Child shows
how mothers and children in need can be
empowered to improve their own cir-
cumstances and inspires us to get in-
volved in helping to create change in
poor communities.
Published in time for Mothers Day, Vi-
sion of Hope: Mother & Child is available
at visionofhope.com.au or telephone
World Vision on 133240. Books cost
$59.95 (plus postage and handling);
there is also a leatherbound special edi-
tion in a presentation case.
The Episcopal Church
Medical Trust (2012)
Cooking for a Healthy
Church: Easy and nu-
tritious recipes for the
parish hall or the fam-
ily table. New York:
Morehouse Publishing.
By Jeanette Severs
COOKING for a Healthy
Church purports to combine
spirituality and food in a re-
flection of health and holy
living. Scattered among the
recipes are blessings and a
number of versions of the
grace.
The recipes include lower
fat alternatives to tradi-
tional recipes such as
french toast, multigrain
pancakes and vegetable
frittatta, all in the breakfast
section.
The book is easily laid out
and easy to read, with the
usual sections labelled
breakfast, lunch, dinner
and dessert but also side
dishes, appetizers and cof-
fee hour.
The last section is pot luck
and includes roast turkey
and a coleslaw without
mayonnaise, among other
recipes.
The book is written on the
premise we seem to thrive
when we eat as God in-
tended: a diet featuring
more vegetables, legumes,
fruit, nuts, seeds, fish and
lean meat; and avoid
processed foods as much as
possible.
The lunch recipes in Cook-
ing for a Healthy Church,
for example, are largely a
selection of soups and sal-
ads. Vegetables are
strongly represented
among the many recipes
for lunch, as appetisers and
for dinner.
Fish, vegetarian and
chicken dishes alternate
among the dinner recipes.
For those who enjoy
dessert, this section and
the recipes in coffee hour
are low sugar, low fat and
fruit-full of ideas. For the
home or parish family,
these are recipes to encour-
age healthy nutrition.
Fruit-full recipes for church
18 Our Diocese - Literary and Media Reviews May 2013
De Baun, HH (2012)
Starring Arabelle.
Michigan: Eerdmans
Books for Young Read-
ers.
By Jeanette Severs
ARABELLE begins high
school with big dreams
which are soon dashed
when she is encouraged
from auditioning for the
school play. Instead she
must volunteer at a nursing
home; but surprises await,
both at the theatre and at
Heavenly Rest.
Arabelle wants to stop
being an average teenager
from a boring town; she is
starting at a new high
school; and hoping involve-
ment in the school play will
make her popular.
Failure in her plans on the
first day just makes Ara-
belle try harder to be
recognised by the so-called
cool students, such as
jocks and cheerleaders.
Stardom is her destiny,
just ask Arabelle.
She gets a role as stage
assistant and begins mak-
ing friends; she also begins
voluntary service at an
aged home. How will Ara-
belles life improve or will
she be satisfied with it as it
is?
Gamber, JC and Pear-
son, SE (2012) Call On
Me: A Prayer Book for
Young People. New
York: Morehouse Pub-
lishing.
By Jeanette Severs
IN the foreword to this
book, Bronwyn Skov de-
scribes this book as the
ideal resource for her
teenage son to be guided in
learning how to pray and
for youth and their families
at home and in the church.
It offers a wealth of di-
verse prayers on all manner
of topics, she writes.
Jenifer Gamber and
Sharon Pearson describe
writing this book as filling
them with joy. The book fo-
cusses on praying with
words and is divided into
three parts: common
prayer, types of prayer and
personal prayer. It is aimed
to be comforting, challeng-
ing and assuring.
There are prayers for
when you wake up and at
the end of the day. There
are explanations for certain
types of prayer, such as the
prayers of the people dur-
ing the service. There are
prayers for seasons of the
church, for grace, for birth-
days.
There are prayers specifi-
cally focussed on the issues
that fill lives, such as anger,
courage, anxiety, body
image, joy, confidence, car
accidents, depression,
envy, suicide of a friend,
forgiveness, love, leaving
home, graduation, gender
equality, hunger, beginning
a new job, among others.
There are prayers specific
to friends and family.
Most prayers begin with a
verse from the bible, in-
forming the prayers that
follow. The authors also en-
courage further exploration,
within the bible or the inter-
net, giving a web address.
The book, itself, is easy to
carry, being an ideal size for
a pocket or bag. It is a book
that can help young people
to explore the place of
prayer in their lives.
Ward, P (2005) Selling Worship: how what
we sing has changed the Church. Milton
Keynes: Paternoster Press.
By Fay Magee
SELLING Worship: how what we sing has changed
the Church is the title of a book by Pete Ward, writ-
ten about the development of contemporary worship
music specifically in the evangelical church in the
United Kingdom. It is interesting for those of us who
have lived through the past four to five decades to
reflect on the aspects of the movement that brings
us to where we are now. It is also useful to consider
the different influences from both North America and
the UK on church life here in Australia.
One of the significant aspects of this book is the cri-
tique of the process of how parts of the church came
to embrace popular music styles and its results in the
contemporary church. The influences of the broader
culture are seen in so many aspects of the musical
sub-cultures of todays church.
Surveying the origins of the worship story, Pete
Ward takes us straight into a world of religious en-
trepreneurs, evangelical businesses and spiritual
marketing .
Many of these influences are actually beyond the na-
ture and substance of the music but more about the
patterns of our culture. This way of operating with
music has gradually changed how we think about
music and how and what we sing.
While speaking mainly to the evangelical tradition,
Ward highlights many of the influences of the broader
culture that affect our approach to the worship of
God. Our preferred experience of music provides a
way for us to look at what we are expecting worship
to be, even what we understand God to be.
It is interesting to read this little book to explore the
many layers that connect culture and the mission of
the church.
Songs influence
on the Church
Books for teens
Simon, CJ (2012) Bringing
sex into focus: The quest
for sexual integrity. Illinois:
InterVarsity Press.
By Jeanette Severs
LACK of sexual integrity will fog
our moral vision about sex, ac-
cording to Caroline Simon, author
of Bringing sex into focus: The
quest for sexual integrity.
Sex is complicated and riddled
with mysteries. This is the prem-
ise of Caroline Simons book.
Simon applies moral acuity to sex
and peoples actions around sex.
People are usually not malicious
but they are often careless of
others feelings, against the sex-
ual actions, according to Simon.
Simon identifies six perspectives
or lenses through which she
perceives and discusses the in-
tersection of our sexuality with
the cultural setting we inhabit.
These lenses offer a confusing
take on sexual maturity, or im-
maturity.
The plain sex lens means we
can have sex with anyone, any-
time. The romantic sex lens
means we can have sex so long
as we are still in love with each
other; that is, faithfulness so long
as I feel like the romance is still
in it.
These are two of the lenses;
others are the covenant lens, the
procreative lens, the power lens
and the expressive lens.
Simon argues that compassion
and consideration reminds us
that sexual integrity includes how
we act, how we dress, who and
how we touch; and the respect
we have for others and our-
selves.
The books primary audience are
teachers and students of sexual
ethics and related discourses;
however, secondary audiences
include ministers, youth workers,
counsellors and adults who want
a fresh perspective on the issue
of sexuality.
Simon encourages the reader to
be self-reflective about how we
perceive sexuality and challenges
Christians about how their own
view needs correction, clarifica-
tion or expansion.
Chastity is one topic that gets
air-time - as the successful inte-
gration of sexuality resulting in
inner unity between bodily and
spiritual being.
This book challenges how we
view the relationship between re-
ligion and sex, including casual
sex. Simon delves into research
about attitudes in schools, fami-
lies, ministries and universities.
She explores how families that
support the covenantal view of
sex relate to healthy attitudes to
chastity.
Simon also explores the power-
lessness people feel in engaging
in sexual activity they would pre-
fer to decline, but feel pressure
to participate in.
She discusses how sexual matu-
rity is reflective of Christian ma-
turity. She explores pornography.
Simon also applies the lens to ho-
mosexual sex, gay marriage and
the arguments used to condemn
people who are against both.
Since Eve found the apple, sex
has been a topic wound up with
taboos. Overall, Simon has at-
tempted to bring a balanced ap-
proach to a subject wrought with
double-meanings, cultural influ-
ences, challenging discourses
and supposed orthodox ethical
considerations.
Simon challenges readers to
avoid simplistic explanations of
perspectives other than their
own; and provides insight to how
our individual conduct has an in-
fluence on community views.
A new view of sex
May 2013 Our Diocese - Literary and Media Reviews 19
Gooder, P (2012)
Everyday God: The
spirit of the ordinary.
London: Canterbury
Press.
By Jeanette Severs
WITHOUT a proper under-
standing of the importance
of ordinariness, our lives
can become an impover-
ished waiting room as we
loiter, unfulfilled, waiting for
the next big event. This is
all too easy, surrounded as
we are by a world full of
noise, movement and busy-
ness.
How often do you say, Im
so busy or variations of
that theme? With Everyday
God, Paula Gooder tries to
make sense of celebrating
the ordinary and the mun-
dane in your life: the
weekly grocery shop, bring-
ing the washing off the line
(or putting it on the line),
taking children to school,
walking the dog.
Through the lens of 33
biblical passages which all
touch on the theme of ordi-
nariness, Gooder helps the
reader discover the extraor-
dinary in the most everyday
things. Each chapter is sup-
ported by texts and sug-
gested other readings.
As Gooder points out, God
does not sit in a gilded
palace, but is among the
fishing nets, the wheaten
loaves, the seeds of the
fields (or the garden): the
ordinary, day to day, even
boring ordinariness of life
that exists for us all.
The 33 biblical passages
are supported by occasional
poetry, which reflects the
ordinariness of life. Like
Moses turning aside to re-
flect on the miracle of the
flaming bush, the reader is
encouraged to contemplate
and treasure sunlight illu-
minating a field in that mo-
ment of life; or the beauty
of a daisy, seen today, ig-
nored yesterday.
These moments of quiet
contemplation illustrate the
authors own reflection on
her spirituality. She strug-
gles with the discipline of
praying daily and admits
that, encouraged to attend
silent retreats, finds herself
depressed from being
forced to contemplate God
in the quietness.
While respecting those
people who gain from this
silent communion with God,
she describes her own jour-
ney to realise she finds God
in her engagement with
others, whether that be in
conversations; in digging,
planting and harvesting on
her familys allotment; or in
creating meals with her
family. What Gooder calls
the ordinary in life.
In an era when quiet times
and silent retreats seem to
be the norm, this honesty is
refreshing. For we cannot
expect everyone to be com-
fortable in silent commun-
ion, just as the Church
encourages and enables
different forms of worship.
Gooders book will help
strengthen and encourage
people who find themselves
celebrating God in the ordi-
nariness of their lives.
Ruth reflects
womens faith
Oppewal, A (ed.) (2012) Ruth:
Her story, our story ... Reflections
from women of faith. Australia:
Challenge Books.
By Jeanette Severs
ANNEKE Oppewal, a minister with the
Uniting Church in Australia, explores how
Ruth and her story connects with women
in modern life, through contributions of
prose, poetry and imagery from women
reading from the perspectives of their re-
spective faiths and personal experiences,
professional and educational contribu-
tions.
In Ruth: Her story, our story ... Reflec-
tions from women of faith, 13 writers ex-
plore Ruth through the lens of,
individually, their Jewish, Christian and
Muslim faiths, or through no faith. In our
modern lives, the story of Naomi and
Ruth finding a new life in a new country
is not unusual.
Modern women reflect this journey,
whether it be fleeing their homes as
refugees (and sometimes even return-
ing) or travelling willingly to new coun-
tries, cities or towns. It could also be the
stories of those who welcome asylum
seekers, refugees and strangers.
Oppewal describes developing a group
of worship services around the book of
Ruth and beginning to encounter her
story everywhere, literally and figura-
tively.
I started to realise Ruth was not only a
beautiful story of long ago, or even an
old story reflecting themes of every age
and time, with deep wisdom and insight,
but that it was a deeply personal story
touching and reflecting the lives of
many, she writes in her introduction to
the book.
Women, Oppewal writes, look among
their communities for hospitality, con-
nection, relationships and a sense of be-
longing. Disconnection and loss is
experienced by many, not only those
people who suddenly find themselves in
a war zone. Rebuilding a life, changed or
destroyed by whatever circumstances,
requires time, energy, faith, support and
loyalty.
Some of these stories are about per-
sonal struggles in relationships, finding
new opportunities and friendships, about
finding a different existence and culture;
stories of healing and wholeness taking
place after journeys that, sometimes,
have taken years to complete.
In Ruth: Her story, our story, contem-
porary women share stories of their own
faith, culture, personal journeys and his-
tory of their communities. These stories
are in prose, poetry, recipes, interpreta-
tions, photographs, discussion notes,
sermons and intimate illustrations.
This book will be enjoyed by many
women and could also lend itself to a
bible study or book study group.
Celebrate an
ordinary God
Horsfield, A (2007) Check up from
the Neck up: discover and unlock
the power of your true stuff. Aus-
tralia: Brolga Publishing Pty Ltd.
By Jeanette Severs
WITHOUT self awareness, people often
fail to see other perspectives or possibili-
ties that exist. This is the premise of Check
up from the Neck up, written by Andrew
Horsfield. Horsfield has written this book to
encourage people to develop thinking and
actions that are purposeful.
The author states: I believe people can
be extraordinary. Reaching into skills they
didnt know existed and achieving results
they never thought possible.
It is statements like this that are sup-
ported by quotes, affirmations and texts
that encourage the reader to build confi-
dence.
Horsfield also uses stories to illustrate and
illuminate: one story illustrates the impor-
tance of looking after the rocks in our lives
and giving them priority; a text studies the
effect of recurring patterns of thought
complexities of mind and action.
Horsfield, previously a teacher, encour-
ages the reader to be driven by enquiry
and commends this book as one route to
achieve your newly articulated goals.
He encourages the reader to use Check
up from the Neck up to discover a sense of
mindfulness about your life; by stimulating
your thinking about what your life is in
service of now and what you want it to be
in the future; and consciously take action
to achieve your goals.
Your life, your mind
and healthy decisions
20 Our Diocese - Mothers Union May 2013
Mothers Union out and about
LEFT and above: Members of Moth-
ers Union East Gippsland came to-
gether in worship in a bush setting
outside Bruthen recently. Reverend
Tom Killingbeck, with his guitar, was
present to lead the songs and the
service.
Photos: Merrolyn Wiles
MEMBERS of the Wednesday congrega-
tion in Leongatha parish and residents of
the local aged care facility, Woorayl Lodge,
shared a picnic at McIndoe Park recently.
This is a very popular park with families.
We chose a place in the shade to set up
chairs and tables. Lunch was provided and
plenty of snacks and treats. A special quiz
was organised by Jean Fletcher. After eat-
ing, we enjoyed a game of Bouche, organ-
ised by MU Gippsland president, Karin
McKenzie, with everyone participating.
TOP: Enid Stewart tried her hand at Bouche, assisted by
MU Gippsland president, Karin McKenzie and Jade.
ABOVE: Zel Fawcett, Janet Wallis and Mary de Hahn.
ABOVE left: Wizzy, Jade and Dot Holton (in front).
ABOVE middle: Jim Geary.
LEFT: Enjoying the day were Doug Grigg, Bea Cramp,
Bertha Andrews and Enid Stewart.
Photos: Janet Wallis & Karin McKenzie

The Gippsland Anglican - May 2013

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Volume 110, Number 4 May 2013

Published in Gippsland Diocese since 1904

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