Inside This Issue

Facing the Challenges 1

A Change in Seasons 2

Hanging in There … With Hope 3

Learning from Failure 4

This is a Cemetery 5

A History of the Church of England at a glance

6-7

Parishioner in Profile 8

A Little Ray of Sunshine 9

Around the Parish 10-11

Winter Art Show 12

University of the Third Age 13

Children’s Ministry 14

A Letter of Thanks 15

Regular Services 15

Dates for the Diary 15

Parish Contacts/Roles 16

Rector Rev Tracey Wolsley

Mobile 0423267 405

Location 193-195 High Street Kangaroo Flat Vic 3555

Postal PO Box 1369 Kangaroo Flat Vic 3555

Office 03 5447 7427

Email anglicankf@tpg.com.au

Web www.stmaryskangarooflat.com

ST MARY’S - ANGLICAN PARISH OF KANGAROO FLAT

SALT Spring Edition 2018

St Mary’s is a Christian community in

the Anglican tradition. We seek to nurture

faith in Jesus Christ through worship,

prayer, the sacraments, study and

compassionate outreach as well as by wise

use of our time, talents and resources.

I’m sure, like me you have had challenges in your life and you’ve come through them. You’ve dealt with them with support. One of the challenges in my life came almost ten years ago, when overnight I went from an able-bodied running, jumping, hopping, skipping me to a standstill. In fact, not only a standstill but with only one leg to stand on. That may come as a surprise to some but within hours on a Friday night in April 2009 my life turned around. When I awoke from surgery that first morning in this new phase in my life, I remember quite clearly that my reaction was – well it’s happened, it’s not coming back – just get on with it. So, I did with the help and prayers of my wife Elaine, family, work colleagues, dear friends including those at St Mary’s; and the wonderful doctors and nurses at Bendigo Hospital. With the help of amazing nurses, physiotherapists and occupation therapists at the Anne Caudle I was soon learning to walk and back at work – and getting on with it. Of course, I’m one of the lucky ones who deal relatively successfully with the life of an amputee. I can even enjoy a joke, like the one at the recent Curry Night, when Bishop Ron asked me which Olympic Sport I would enter. My answer, “The Triple Jump!” I do, of course, acknowledge that life is not so tolerable for many.

This edition of Salt focuses on a range of challenges. Bishop Ron Stone talks of the hardships faced in the vast drought affected areas to the north of us. Lyn Richards, this edition’s Parishioner in Profile shares her story of reinvention following severe health issues. Bishop John Roundhill takes a different perspective as he reflects on the challenges faced by children learning to deal with success and failure. Reverend Tracey talks of the challenges we face through the dark times and yet before we know it the darkness is gone and the light shines through like the coming of Spring. The reader can also learn about our recent Daffodil Day Service where we took time to remember those who have faced and continue to face the scourge of Cancer; and their families and loved ones. Beyond that, there are our usual Salt articles which include recent and coming events around the Parish; the current activity of U3A; an abbreviated history of the development of the Church of England through the Ages. In closing, may I remind you that although I don’t hop, skip or jump, I walk surely and in a determined manner along with countless others – getting on with it – by the Grace of God. Enjoy the Read! Geoff Young Editor

F a c i n g t h e C h a l l e n g e s

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Spring is in the air. The blossom is beautiful, the wattle is spectacular and, sunshine has appeared following a long period of seemingly cold, grey and dreary weather. “Bring it on” I say although, I really do give thanks for the seasons. Each arrives with welcome. After months of heat, I am glad for cooler weather and, after months of cooler weather, I am glad for the warmth. Spring however, comes with great delight. The new buds on the plants emerge, flowers bloom and the bees buzz. It is such a beautiful time of flowers and growth. Just now, I passed by Rosalind Park this morning and saw the mass of tulips planted near the conservatorium. At present they are just a few inches tall and consist of nothing but green leaves but I know, soon they will be masses of stunning flowers.

Within weeks however, I also know the flowers will have wilted and died and the Bendigo Council will be advertising a date for the bulbs to be dug up and interested persons to come along with bags in hand to collect and, for the mere price of $5 take home a coveted collection of what will be next year’s blooms. Such is life and the cycle of life. If only I could remember in the winter, that spring will come again and, nothing blossoms all year round. Nature heralds’ valuable lessons just by it’s being. No wonder Jesus often referred to the birds of the air, the flowers of the fields and the seed that is sown. Life itself teaches us, or seeks to teach us important truths, like be patient the sun will shine again, a new day will dawn, the blue wrens will return, the dormant wisteria will once again burst with leaves and send its tender new shoots out to coil around the posts. Be patient. I need to heed the gentle reminders from nature that it is okay if I am not spectacular sometimes. Everyone needs time to re-coil, to lay low, to refrain from being on show or looking the

best. I’m not sure however, we embrace those not so illustrious times though. Rather, too often I think we add pressure to ourselves and find ourselves sinking under the weight of unrealistic expectations loaded with ‘you should’ and, ‘you must’. In my own life I know there have definitely been times where I felt like Spring and revelled in the excitement of new life and ventures but, there have been as many times when I felt cocooned in darkness and afraid I’d never see the light again. To my surprise however and, by the grace of God, in His time, he brought me out, a different person. A new creation and in hindsight, I see the wisdom even of the struggle to come out from what had then become a familiar, comfortable hiding place. I have to say it again, it is the circle of life. The pattern of death and resurrection. It is etched into this journey called life and the challenge is to embrace it. To embrace the dark times and the times filled with glorious light, to embrace the dormant times and, the times bursting with new life, to embrace the relinquishing and, the taking up again. Tis’ the seasons of the Spirit. All is included and God is in all and, overall. Thanks be to God! May we each know God’s presence in whatever season we are wandering through and, may we each trust with each season, that this is not the end. There always awaits us a glorious ending (which is our new beginning, and so it goes on!).

Reverend Tracey Wolsley

A Change in Seasons

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I wonder if you have ever been personally affected by a drought. Have you experienced the worry and depression that accompanies a prolonged drought, known the financial hardships “part and parcel” of a drought, where there is no income – just costs; seen your crops fail again and again, or your cattle or sheep, just short of starving, not even getting a bid at the sale yards, when you cannot afford to feed them; felt the impact on your marriage and family life, or known the sense of desperation. Only those who have been through the experience can really know what it is like for people currently experiencing the prolonged, continuing, severe drought in NSW and Western Queensland.

When I reflect on my long ministry it seems to me as if the suffering of men and women and families, during times of drought, has been there in every appointment I have had, first as priest and then as a bishop, serving in rural areas and the great outback. What I have seen of ever so many people in the worst possible drought conditions has moved me, caused my heart to ache for them, humbled me, inspired me, shaped my ministry, caused me to advocate for such Australians and turned me to prayer. How do they do it?

Drought is a fact of life in Australia, especially for those on the land. The Bureau of Meteorology has been keeping records since the 1860’s and the records indicate that severe drought seems to occur in Australia at intervals of 11 to 14 years. There have been some incredibly severe droughts.

The worst drought I have ministered in was in my time as Bishop of Rockhampton from 1996-2003. The years of my ministry there were during a severe 10 year drought. The sun baked the soil so much that cracks opened nine inches wide, weak animals would get caught in the cracks and die a terrible death. Cattle were emaciated and were let out on to the roads to look for food. Sheep struggled. The natural grasses were not sufficient for both native animals and domestic flocks and herds. There was loss of human lives when depression became a devouring “black dog”. I will never forget those drought years. How do those people hang in there? How do they do it?

Why droughts? Do they have a purpose? I wonder what you think.

There was a fine aboriginal Elder from the Iningai clan around the Barcaldine area who used to worship at St Peter’s Church, Barcaldine. Dave used to remind me that emus and kangaroos knew about droughts. Sensing a coming severe drought the emus would not lay eggs or produce chicks, and the reproductive system of the kangaroo would change and they would not breed their young. I can still

picture Dave in St Peter’s saying “We have to learn from the animals – we have to know how to prepare and adjust to the conditions.”

It is moving to get another insight into how God provides through the laws of nature during a drought. I call it the miracle of resurrection. I referred earlier to the wide cracks that open in the baked earth. The seeds from the natural grasses of western Queensland fall deep down into that cracked earth, down into the cool soil, and remains there until the rains come and fill the cracks so the seeds rise to the surface, germinate, and the Mitchell and the Buffel grasses grow again. The miracle of

resurrection. God’s miracle. God’s provision. Droughts break?

How do the people hang in there? How do they do it? I know how some have done it. I know the courage, grit, determination of some who look to the cloudless skies and say, “Well, we

are one day closer to the rain coming again.” I know the faith in God that many have, and how that faith fills them with hope. I know how their faith in God over many experiences of drought has sustained them, given them strength to endure and the wisdom needed to adjust to the hardships of drought. I know others who do not have the same faith, who are strong and never give up. Pray for everyone affected by drought. Pray strength for them, courage for them, relief for them – and for the return of life-giving rains. Droughts come. Droughts go. One has to hang in there – with hope.

May we learn from our outback brothers and sisters? Learn the importance of hope. One of the greatest gifts given us by God is our sense of hope. A person with hope never gives up. “To live without hope is to cease to live.” “Hope is the power of being cheerful in circumstances we know to be desperate.”

Sometimes life’s disappointments are like a severe drought – sometimes something we worked so hard for does not materialise, sometimes friends we counted on let us down, sometimes something we longed for fails to work out, sometimes worrying health conditions affect our controlling of our own lives. Into these heartbreaks, God’s Word, preserved in the Bible, speaks a truth about our hope in God. “Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5.

If you know anyone experiencing drought of any kind - pray for them, contact them to let them know you care, and encourage them to “hang in there – with hope” in God.

+Ron

Hanging in there….with hope.

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Children have to deal with failure a lot of the time. They do not live in the self-selected world of successful adults. I have spent a good portion of my adult life slowly crafting an existence that is broadly suited to me. I do not try to become a football player or a musician – both noble professions – but ones that I would surely have failed at. I choose where and who I live with. I even choose what I eat each day. Each of these choices reinforces my success. Think for a moment of a child’s life. They do not choose their own parents, something that becomes painfully obvious to them as they reach adolescence. Equally, for the very young, they do not choose what they eat, or when they eat; this can soon become a battleground. Crucially, as they grow older, they do not choose their own school or even their classmates, nor do they choose what they learn. When was the last time you sat down to a page of algebra? I would not be surprised if it was in your own school days. The child’s world is one that may seem beset by hurdles put there by others, whether that be the plate of grilled chicken with peas and potatoes or the painting activity in kindergarten. Very soon, children have to learn about challenge, and with that comes the experience of failure. There is plenty of evidence that the child who repeatedly fails will face particular difficulties in life. They can grow up lacking confidence and with the habit of giving up at the slightest challenge. They may well grow up with a very fragile image of themselves and the belief that failure means they have no worth. One way we combat this is to boost the self-esteem of children, by reminding them of things they are good at and telling them that they are worthy. If the only thing your child is good at is hammering nails into blocks, then head out to the hardware store, buy the wood, the nails and the hammer (or their toy equivalents) – carpentry is one profession that God obviously enjoyed. But that still leaves us in a world where our value is

contingent on our abilities. There is something disturbing about this. It is right to applaud our children’s achievements: we are unloving monsters when we don’t. But is it right to only applaud when the hammer hits the nail, when the ball goes into the goal, or when the biscuits come out of the oven? Do we not applaud at other times simply because they are our children? And we delight in them, not in what they do. Somehow we must try to incorporate the knowledge that success or failure is a rather temporal concept. School days might be tough but underlying everything there is abiding love. Children need to learn about success; to know its intoxicating power and its empowering possibilities; most children will learn this, one way or another. Children need to know that they are loved; only that knowledge can keep them from being addicted to success or enthralled by failure – the two ‘imposters’ as Rudyard Kipling called them. It is the love that we provide each day that we share with our children.

Right Reverend John Roundhill Bishop of South East Queensland

Reprinted by permission from “Play Times” a publication of St John’s Cathedral, Hong Kong

Learning from Failure

Dear Lord, so far today I’ve done all right. I haven’t lost my temper, I haven’t been greedy, I haven’t been grumpy, I haven’t been nasty, I haven’t been selfish or self-indulgent, and I’m thankful for all that. But in a few minutes, Lord, I’m going to get out of bed, and, from then on, I’m probably going to need a lot more help.

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Lives are commemorated – deaths are recorded – families are re-united – memories are made tangible – and love is undisguised. This is a cemetery. Communities accord respect, families bestow reverence, historians seek information and our heritage is thereby enriched. Testimonies of devotion, pride and remembrance are cast in bronze to pay warm tribute to accomplishments and to the life – not the death – of a loved one. The cemetery is homeland for memorials that are a sustaining source of comfort to the living. A cemetery is a history of people – a perpetual record of yesterday and a sanctuary of peace and quiet today. A cemetery exists because every life is worth loving and remembering – always. What a beautiful description of a cemetery. The words come from a plaque at the entrance to the cemetery at Beechworth, Victoria. Lisbeth and I came across the plaque when we had a short weekend break in Beechworth a few years ago. We were so impressed that we took a photograph. Over the years in my ministry and community service I have had a great deal to do with cemeteries. They have always had a special place and regard in my thinking, work and commitment. In our first parish, the Parish of Kameruka, NSW, two of our churches had cemeteries attached, at St John’s, Tantawanglo and Holy Trinity, Kameruka. At the former, with several men from the church, we dug a grave there, for a much loved member of the congregation, a task that had to be done manually for the earth was rocky and the local gravediggers all had an excuse. It was really hard, but worthwhile work, for we were doing it for a parishioner whom we dearly loved. Each one of us who took turns to dig, determined that we would not pursue manual grave digging as a career. In the Parish of Kerang, I was appointed a Trustee for the local Cemetery Trust during which time we

developed the lawn cemetery there. Now, in my latest work with Brian and Lyn Leidle at Mount Alexander Funerals, we work in a number of cemeteries, large and small, in local regional centres and rural districts. We admire the work of members of the various communities who care for the cemeteries and, in particular, those who do so in a voluntary capacity.

There is a quite lovely cemetery in Kangaroo Flat administered by Remembrance Parks Central Victoria. Perhaps some who read SALT will be thinking of Kangaroo Flat Cemetery for their last resting place. It is very important to note that there is very little room for graves left in the Kangaroo Flat Cemetery. Urgent action, now, is required to secure one of the few remaining plots. If you are thinking in this direction, or know someone else who is, but have made no arrangements to reserve a plot, it would be wise to contact Brian Leidle on Mount Alexander Funerals, Bendigo, telephone 5447 0927, or speak personally with me. A cemetery exists because every life is worth loving and remembering – always.

Bishop Ron Stone

This is a Cemetery

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A History of the Church of England...

The following article is taken from the website of the Church of England and provides a brief overview of the development of the Church in England from the earliest through to more recent times.

An Ancient Church The roots of the Church of England go back to the time of the Roman Empire when a Christian church came into existence in what was then the Roman province of Britain.

The early Christian writers Tetulian and Origen mention the existence of a British church in the third century AD and in the fourth century British bishops attended a number of the great councils of the church such as the Council of Arles in 314 AD and the Council of Rimini in 359. The first member of the British church whom we know by name is St Alban, who, tradition tells us, was martyred for his faith on the spot where St Albans Abbey now stands.

The British church was a missionary church with figures such as St Illtud, St Ninian and St Patrick evangelising in Wales, Scotland and Ireland, but the invasions by the pagan Angles, Saxons and Jutes in the fifth century seem to have destroyed the organisation of the church in much of what is now known as England. In 597 a mission sent by Pope Gregory the Great and led by St Augustine of Canterbury landed in Kent to begin the work of converting these pagan peoples. What eventually became known as the Church of England (the Ecclesiastes Anglicana – or the English Church) was the result of a combination of three streams of Christianity, the Roman tradition of St Augustine and his successors, the remnants of the old Romano-British church and the Celtic tradition coming down from Scotland and associated with people like St Aiden and St Cuthbert.

An English Church These three streams came together as a result of increasing contact and a number of local synods of which the Synod of Whitby in 664 has been traditionally seen as the most important. The, the two Archbishops of Canterbury and York, that was fully brought into the Christian Church of the west. This meant that it was influenced by the wider development of the Western Christian tradition in areas such as theology, liturgy, church architecture and the development of monasticism. It also meant that until the Reformation in the 16th Century, the Church of England accepted the authority of the

Pope.

A Reformed Church At the time of the Reformation the Western Church became divided between those who continued to accept Papal authority and the various Protestant churches that did not. The Church of England was one of the churches that broke from Rome. The catalyst for this decision was the refusal of the Pope to annul the marriage of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, but also a Tudor nationalist belief that authority over the English Church properly belonged to the English monarchy. In the reign of Henry’s son, Edward VI, the Church of England underwent further reformation, driven by the conviction that the theology being developed by the theologians of the Protestant Reformation was more faithful to the teaching of the Bible and the Early Church than the teaching of those who continued to support the Pope. In the reign of Mary Tudor, the Church of England once again submitted to Papal authority. However, this policy was reversed when Elizabeth I became Queen in 1558.

The religious settlement that eventually emerged in the reign of Elizabeth gave the Church of England the distinctive identity that it still has today. It resulted in a Church that consciously retained a large amount of continuity with the Church of the Patristic and Medieval periods in terms of its use of the catholic creeds, its pattern of ministry, its buildings and aspects of its liturgy, but which also embodied Protestant insights in its theology and in the overall shape of its liturgical practice. The way that this is often expressed is by saying that the Church of England is both ‘catholic and reformed’.

At the end of the 16th century Richard Hooker produced a classic defence of the Elizabethan settlement in his Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity, a work which sought to make the Church of England more like the churches of Geneva or Scotland.

An Established Church In the 17th century continuing tensions within the Church of England over theological and liturgical issues were among the reasons that led to the English Civil War. The Church was associated with the losing Royalist side and during the period of the Commonwealth from 1640 – 1660 its bishops were abolished and its prayer book, the Book of Common Prayer was banned. With the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 this situation was reversed and in

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1662 those clergy who could not accept this were forced to leave their posts. These clergy and their congregations were persecuted until 1689 when the Toleration Act gave legal existence to those Protestant groups outside of the Church of England who accepted the doctrine of the Trinity. The settlement of 1689 has remained the basis of the constitutional position of the Church of England ever since, a constitutional position in which the Church of England has remained the established Church with a range of legal privileges and responsibilities, but with ever increasing religious and civil rights being granted to other Christians, those of other faiths and those with no faith at all.

As well as being the established Church in England, the Church of England has also become the mother church of the Anglican Communion, a group of churches that are in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury and for whom he is the focus of unity.

A Comprehensive Church The history of the Church of England from the 18th Century onwards has been enriched by the co-existence within it of three broad traditions, the Evangelical, the Catholic and the Liberal.

The Evangelical tradition has emphasised the significance of the Protestant aspects of the Church of England’s identity, stressing the importance of the authority of Scripture, preaching, justification by faith and personal conversion.

The Catholic tradition, strengthened and reshaped from the 1830’s by the Oxford movement, has emphasised the significance of the continuity between the Church of England and the Church of the Early and Medieval periods. It has stressed the importance of the visible Church and its sacraments and the belief that the ministry of bishops, priests and deacons is a sign and instrument of the Church of England’s Catholic and apostolic identity.

The Liberal tradition has emphasised the importance of the use of reason in theological exploration. It has stressed the need to develop Christian belief and practice in order to respond creatively to wider advances in human knowledge and understanding and the importance of social and political actions in forwarding God’s kingdom.

It should be noted that these three traditions have not existed in strict isolation. Both in the case of individuals and in the case of the Church as a whole, influences from all three traditions have overlapped

in a whole variety of different ways. It also needs to be noted that since the 1960’s a fourth influence, the Charismatic movement, has become increasingly important. This has emphasised the importance of the Church being open to renewal through the work of the Holy Spirit. Its roots lie in Evangelicalism but it has influenced people from a variety of different traditions.

A Church committed to mission and unity From the 18th century onwards the Church of England has also been faced with a number of challenges that it continues to face today.

There has been the challenge of responding to social changes in England such as population growth, urbanisation and the development of an increasingly multi-cultural and multi-faith society.

There has been the challenge of engaging in mission in a society that has become increasingly materialist in outlook and in which belief in God or interest in ‘spiritual’ matters is not seen as being linked to involvement with the life of the Church.

There has been the challenge of providing sufficient and sufficiently trained clergy and lay ministers to enable the Church of England to carry out its responsibility to provide ministry and pastoral care for every parish in the country.

There has been the challenge of trying to overcome the divisions of the past developing closer relationships between the Church of England and other churches and trying to move them towards the goal of full visible unity.

As this account has shown, the changes that have taken place in the Church of England over the centuries have been many and various. What has remained constant, however, has been the Church’s commitment to faith ‘uniquely revealed in the Holy Scriptures and set forth in the catholic creeds’, its maintenance of the three-fold order of ministry, and its determination to bring the grace of God to the whole nation through the word and sacrament in the power of the Holy Spirit.

For further reading: I Bunting (Ed) Celebrating the Anglican Way S C Neill Anglicanism S Platten (Ed) Anglicanism and the Western Christian Tradition https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/church-england-glance/history-church-england

...at a glance

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It seems hard to believe that it was 5 years ago that I was having surgery for a brain tumor, as so much has happened. After surgery I came up to Bendigo for my rehabilitation and lived with my sister, husband and my brother, who supported me through this. I lived with them for 4 years, and then moved to an Independent Living village in Kangaroo Flat. Something that I believed would never happen. It was a long climb back with rehabilitation, even though my tumor was not cancerous. At times this challenged my faith, although it didn't challenge God's faith in me. I was able to rely on him to sustain me through this difficult period. I then became aware that I had to fulfil my calling to work with the needy. This was part of my religious community's ethos. I joined the Community of the Holy Name in 1980, and before my illness, I was actively involved with working with alcohol, drug and mental health clients. When I was diagnosed with my illness I felt there would be no possibility of my doing any work

again. One should never underestimate how God works in our lives and guides us. I now do volunteer work at Lifeline, telephone counselling, and also am employed on a casual basis to work on the Standby Team. This program

does one on one assistance with those directly bereaved by suicide. From this interaction people are given information about grief and trauma and access to counsellors and also given a 24 hour telephone line they can ring for help. My role can also involve workshops for First Respondents and Community Groups as well. This has deepened my own prayer life as I put these people into the hands of the loving God. I attend the 11.00am service at St Mary's and I love to see the children learn about God's love. This is a

privilege whether it is few or one. As I grow in my ministry I pray that I may be open to the guidance of God's spirit.

Lyn Richards

Parishioner in Profile

I just love commas. I like to use them a lot in articles, letters, addresses, and in sermons. Commas help me in my writing and in my speaking. A comma is more than just a small dot with a cute little curly tail. A comma is a powerful punctuation mark, whose strength is often over looked. The purpose of a comma is to introduce a slight, but often important, break between different parts of a sentence. Used properly, commas make the meaning of sentences clear by grouping and separating words, phrases and clauses. There are, for example, some very important, particular, commas in the Creed we recite at the Sunday Eucharist, that illustrates the power of the comma and how the comma helps us recognize the greatness of God. To see what I mean try saying these words from the Creed while observing a slight break at each comma.

We believe in one God, the Father, the almighty,

maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

Did you experience the difference, when using the comma? Now try saying the last sentence from the portion of the Creed above, without observing the comma. Do you see the difference this makes? If we do not observe the comma, this robs us of acknowledging something of God’s creative work. Sadly, many do not observe that particular comma.

The comma – cute, helpful, and powerful!

+Ron

Not Just Cute—But Powerful

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It’s a well know song, ‘A little Ray of Sunshine’. You may remember it being sung by Brian Cadd and Glenn Shorrock in the 70’s. At St Mary’s Anglican Church, a little ray of sunshine was formed recently on the fences surrounding the church. It’s a plain ordinary wire fence made of cold steel and yet, it was transformed by love and compassion. Hundreds of bright yellow daffodils adorned the fence to re-create it into a wall of sunshine to let those who have been affected by cancer know that we care, our hearts go out them and we are praying for them and, for all involved in the important research that is being undertaken to hopefully one day find a cure. The word was sent out to the community and schools that we wanted to cover the fence with daffodils and their response was overwhelming. The people at St Mary’s and Kangaroo Flat community including students from Bendigo Special Development School, Kangaroo Flat Primary School, Big Hill Primary School, Lockwood South Primary School and, St Monica’s Primary school made hundreds of daffodils of all shapes and sizes. Some of the daffodils had really heart moving messages on them and as they were hung on the fence it was a poignant and special moment. At the Service, conducted on Sunday 26 August Bishop Ron gave a very moving address and shared his own families journey with cancer. Prayers for the day were written by Sandra Davey, a cancer survivor who was not able to be with us on the day. The

intercessions were beautifully presented however by Gayle Worthington who is undergoing treatment and Margaret Peach, another survivor. People were given the opportunity to light a candle and pray during the service and following the service, daffodils were added to the fence. An email received later in the week read “It is almost symbolic that the fence is the cross over point for new comers to the church and the display of daffodils shows that the church is reaching out to others”. Reaching out with the love and grace of God is at the heart of the Daffodil Service and the transformation of the fence. We pray that in some way it brought hope and comfort to all who passed it and contributed to making it.

Reverend Tracey Wolsley

A Little Ray of Sunshine

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It’s almost Spring, the cold months of Winter are almost behind us even if the mornings are still very chilly. We have a number of our parishioners away at the month – overseas or up North where it’s a little warmer. But despite what should be a quiet time, we continue to be very busy around the Parish. As usual this section of the Salt Magazine focuses on the diverse activity that the parishioners and friends are involved in. As always, if you’re new to St Mary’s we encourage you to get involved. If you want to know more about a particular activity, please speak to the convenor. Brekky Club – Convenor – Janet Clark – meets on Wednesdays at 8.00am to provide a breakfast of toast and juice (Milo in the colder months) to children at Kangaroo Flat Primary School. Many children do not have breakfast at home and even if they have another piece and a warm drink in this cold weather, goes down well. Catering Group – Convenor – Janet Clark – caters for various events including funerals, Probus meetings and special events being held by the parish. Celebrate Prayer – Convenor – Alan Dennis – meets in the Chapel every Thursday at 11.00am Christian Meditation – Convenor – Eileen Dunnicliff – meets in the Chapel every Wednesday at 3.30pm Fellowship Group – Convenor – Jennifer Leach - St Mary’s Fellowship Group meets on the third Tuesday of each month from February to November at the Kangaroo Flat Sports Club for lunch and a chat, and about four or five times a year we look forward to hearing a guest speaker. In June and July we enjoyed lunch at the club and had an opportunity to chat to our friends. Our speaker on 17 August was the new Dean of St Paul’s, the Very Reverend Elizabeth Dyke. We were pleased to meet Elizabeth and learn about her background and experiences prior to coming to Bendigo. We have been averaging about twenty people attending each meeting this year and would welcome new members to join our group. Gardening & Maintenance – Convenor – Colin Clark – the Winter months are a quiet time in the gardens surrounding the Church. Work has continued on the garden area to the right of the High Street entrance and in the corner area behind the house on the High Street Bank Street corner. The gardens will certainly be a picture when the time

comes for our major fund-raiser in November, the Annual Parish Fair. We are indebted to those members of the Parish who devote time and talents to further developing and maintaining our grounds. Kids Hope Australia – Mentoring - Co-ordinator – Jenny Fryer - How quickly the year rushes by, especially when you get involved with school life. No sooner do we start a new school year and here we are heading towards the last quarter. This year has just flown by at KFPS for myself it's going to be a bittersweet time as we head to the last term, I will be saying goodbye to my precious little girl as she

moves onto high school. We have been together four years, Bitter because I will miss her, sweet because I have watched her grow in confidence and maturity. We have shared so

many special moments. To listen to her read and confidently discuss her feelings about a book we have read together is wonderful. Next year I will be mentoring another child and we will start the journey again but there are many children in need of a special friend in their life. We at Kids Hope do our very best to help as many kids as possible. We always need more mentors so I urge anyone who maybe thinking of joining our happy gang of St Mary's mentors please do, you will all be aware of our mantra, ‘One kid, One hour, Once a week’. Thank you all and God Bless from Jenny and the mentoring team. Merry Music – Convenor – Jenny Fryer – a program for children 0-4 who sing, dance, play music at 10.00am every Thursday during school terms. The cost is just a gold coin and the program includes a drink and a snack for the children and a cuppa and chat for the adults.

Missions – Convenor – Margaret Stewart – a decision is yet to be made about ABM Mission projects to be supported by St Mary’s in 2018. In the

Around the Parish

SALT Spring Edition 2018 Page 11

meantime the Ministry of the Least Coin jar situated in the Narthex continues to be filled on a regular basis with the donations to a number of worthy causes including the Fred Hollows Foundation and SOMA. Donations of stamps continue to be appreciated. These can be left in the marked box in the Narthex. Needles and Threads – Convenor – Janet Clark – continues to meet in the Church hall every second Monday. This group of like-minded women from across Bendigo meets to knit, sew and share craft ideas, enjoy a cuppa a chat and fellowship. They have over a period of time produced an incredible quantity and variety of clothing and toys which have been donated to many charities and agencies both local and overseas.

Social Golf – Convenor – Martin Fryer – meets at the Belvoir Park Golf Course on Monday and Friday at 8.00am for an 8.15am tee off in the colder months. Social Event – Curry Night What a wonderful night we had on Friday 17 August. Around 45 parishioners, family and friends were treated to an amazing feast of curries, casseroles and other delicious food prepared and shared by a number of those in attendance. The highlight of the evening was the entertainment arranged by Bishop Ron Stone and came in two forms. The first was a series of “random” questions which Bishop Ron had prepared. He then proceeded to move around the hall asking individuals to choose a card. He then asked the question. Mine was, for those who’ve read the front-page editorial, the one about which Olympic sport I would choose to take part in. After much hilarity from these questions we moved on to the second round of entertainment. Willing volunteers chosen by Bishop Ron blew up balloons and then proceeded to see whose balloons travelled the

furthest. The general consensus as the night drew to a close – when’s the next one and what theme will we have? Donation envelopes were made available and people gave generously with sum of $350.00 going to a Drought Relief Fund. Thank you to all who assisted in organising such a great night and a special thank you to Bishop Ron.

Parish Fair 2018—The 2018 Annual St Mary’s Parish Fair will be held from 8.00am to 2.00pm on Saturday 3 November. All the usual Parish stalls will be organised – the BBQ, Plants, Craft, Cakes Preserves, Produce, Books, Trash and Treasure, Morning Teas, Children’s Activities. Once again there will be a Concert organised in the Church. At this stage we have confirmed that the Bendigo District Concert Band, The Choice Voices Choir and the Eurofest Singing Group will be in attendance. Other performers are still to be arranged and confirmed. This year our major raffle will have four prizes; 1st Prize a $200.00 Gift Voucher for the Capital & Ulumburra Theatres; 2nd Prize 1 $150.00 Coles/Myer Gift Card; 3rd Prize One Dozen Bottles of wine; and 4th Prize a decorated Christmas Cake. For the children there will be a jumping castle and fairy floss. For the adults there will once again be a demonstration by the Bendigo Wood Turners; a Spinning Wheel with lots of prizes and vouchers; mystery bottle bags; and lots more.

Around the Parish

SALT Spring Edition 2018 Page 12

The Annual Winter Art Show was held from 27 to 29 July 2018. The organizing committee did a wonderful job bringing this event together. It grows bigger each year and the 2018 Show certainly attracted some outstanding entries. Almost 60 artists exhibited over 190 paintings and over 250 people attended the event over the three days. At the official opening guest speaker, Military Artist Robert Milton shared his amazing story. Amber Sansom then gave an informative speech on her career as an artist before announcing and speaking on each of the winning entries. Each winner received a prize of $250. The winners were: Best Acrylic: “Lilies” by Julie Rooney

Best Oil: “Sun, Sea & Snorkelling” by John Stevens.

Best Watercolour: “Sand Dunes near Robe” by Hans Schajermann

Best All Other Medium: “Lost Sheep” by Dawn Duncan-Smith

Raffle Results: First Prize of a $200 Voucher to the Capital Venues and Events – Belinda Malcolm Second Prize of $150 in Woolworths Gift Cards and a personal shopping jeep – M Cole Third Prize of a dozen mixed bottles of wine –Denise Butt The organizing committee would like to thank the sponsors for their support—Mount Alexander Funerals, Hazeldene’s, Serenity Motorhomes, Bendigo Property Plus, Cheeky Buds Florist and Macdonalds Plants Plus Nursery.

Winter Art Show

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You are welcome at U3A Social Gatherings

U3A Bendigo holds a Social Gathering on the fourth Wednesday of each month where members, friends and visitors can come together to hear a guest speaker, ask questions and meet new friends while enjoying afternoon tea. Over the past few months we have heard from several different guest speakers who have spoken on a wide range of topics. We’ve also enjoyed a Chinese banquet, a pie and quiz afternoon and an opportunity to raise questions with the Mayor of the City of Greater Bendigo.

At the June Social Gathering we were entertained and inspired by Russell Jack, founder and director of Bendigo’s Golden Dragon Museum. We heard Russell talk about the challenges that had to be overcome to establish the museum and in securing funds. He spoke of the excitement in finding acquisitions relevant to Bendigo’s Chinese heritage. Russell is an entertaining story-teller and a great ambassador for the museum and Bendigo. U3A thanks Russell for making the time to share his experiences with us and we wish him and the Golden Dragon Museum our best wishes for the future. U3A’s Spanish group served a wonderfully delicious afternoon tea with a taste of Spain.

For the July Social Gathering members and guests enjoyed pies, sausage rolls and a selection of desserts followed by a quiz. Our master of ceremonies, Wilf Savage, came up with a variety of questions that were interesting and entertaining. While some of us were challenged, our brains were well exercised and we all had a great deal of fun coming up with answers. Thanks to Wilf for his research and in leading the quiz. Also to the U3A catering team who organised lunch and to the U3A table tennis players for providing desserts. Profits from the day went towards helping the table tennis players pay for a solar panel at the Eaglehawk Badminton and Table Tennis Centre. The installation of solar panels should reduce costs at the centre and may mean reduced fees for players in the future.

The Mayor of the City of Greater Bendigo, Councillor Margaret O’Rourke, was our guest speaker for the August Social Gathering. Cr O’Rourke spoke of Council’s Positive Ageing Strategy with a focus on

planning for Bendigo’s future population growth, particularly in the senior age groups, and how Council can deliver appropriate services to help ensure social inclusion for older residents. Members and visitors were given the opportunity to ask questions where a range of issues dealing with rubbish, roads, Hargreaves Mall, proposed business park and environmental concerns were addressed by the Mayor. Our thanks to the Mayor for her informative talk and for responding to a number of issues of concern. Also to the U3A Bendigo Committee of Management for providing afternoon tea.

The next Social Gathering is on Wednesday, 26 September when our guest speaker will be Merlyn Quaife AM, an accomplished and distinguished soprano who has performed throughout Australia and overseas for more than 40 years. This is a great opportunity for lovers of classical music to learn of her brilliant career as Merlyn shares her life’s story both on and off stage.

Every month U3A Bendigo welcomes new members and during July we welcomed our 650th member. Congratulations to Helen Rooney. Helen, along with our other new members, are now enjoying the benefits of U3A. One of the best things of being a U3A member is the great opportunity to meet new people and to participate in activities where we enjoy each other’s company and have great fun. The social benefits can never be overstated, and particularly as we grow older, we need to keep our minds and bodies active to stay healthy. Remember, our brains don’t retire when we do!

On Tuesday, 9 October U3A Bendigo will hold its annual open day as part of Seniors Week from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at St Mary’s Hall. There will be opportunities for current as well as potential members and visitors to try out different activities. U3A members are encouraged to bring along a friend and introduce them to the wonderful world of U3A. A free morning tea or coffee and a light lunch will be available. This is an ideal opportunity to get to know what U3A is all about and a great way to meet new friends. So don’t forget to spread the message, live, learn and enjoy keeping our minds and bodies active in life’s third age.

University of the Third Age

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Special Service Our 11.00am Service on Sunday 19 August was a special time for us. The tiles that we made some time ago at the Bendigo Pottery, were unveiled by Councillor Rod Fyffe. Our tiles are blue and each of them has a Christian symbol. They will be attached to the wall in the new garden area at the front of the church. Many of the 9.00am congregations members, family and grandparents of the “On the Way” children were at the Service. In fact, over 60 people enjoyed the Service, especially using hand puppets as we sang about the “Joy, joy, joy, joy, joy down in our hearts.” We then enjoyed a ‘bring and share’ lunch to complete a very happy morning. It was great to have Gabi and Maddie with us and to have them participate in the Service, reading Bible passages. Run/Walk-A-Thon On Sunday 9 September, we plan to have our annual run/walk-a-thon around our immediate block. The money raised will go towards local projects eg the RSPCA and Animal Welfare Shelters. We also intend to help God’s creation by sending some money to projects which will support and protect green sea turtles. Again, we will finish with a shared lunch. St Francis Day In October we remember St Francis of Assisi and his love and care for all of God’s creation, especially for

animals. We will bring our pets to be blessed. There will be a special appeal for old blankets and towels, for pet food and for cash – all of which will go to the RSPCA and local animal shelters to assist them in their invaluable work of care and protection for lost and abandoned animals. Parish Fair On Saturday 3 November, Chie Cooper and I will once again be running some activities with the children in the Children’s Room. More information about this closer to the time of the annual Parish Fair. Christmas Play On Sunday 16 December at 5.00pm we will hold our annual Children’s Christmas Play with carols and readings. Again this will be followed by a shared meal Castlemaine Visit Following our successful visit to Christ Church Castlemaine earlier this year, we have invited children and families from their Children’s Church to visit us. A date has not been set yet. As you can see the “On the Way” team continue to have a very busy and happy year.

Lyn Pearce—Children’s Ministry Co-ordinator

Children’s Ministry

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D a t e s f o r t h e D i a r y

R e g u l a r S e r v i c e s

It’s indeed gratifying, as Editor of Salt Magazine, to receive plaudits. I know that the magazine is appreciated and read – I get constant feedback and I see the 80-90 copies that are printed disappear each time a new edition is published. I also appreciate constructive criticism and I especially appreciate ideas for future content. Hint!! I’ve been the Editor of the “Salt Magazine for seven or eight years now. From time to time, “out of the blue” as it were, comes some very much appreciated positive feedback from far away. Of course, I know that Bishop Ron Stone distributes copies by email and possibly by post, to his network, including some interstate. The latest of these letters is printed here

“Dear Geoff, I have read and re-read your excellent Winter edition – Congratulations. If there was an Oscar for Parish magazines you’d win it! There is such a good mixture of ‘heavy stuff’ and light entertainment that it keeps the reader engaged. Good on ya! Sincerely Peter Bertram” (Goulburn, NSW 2580) Of course, if he’d read the fine print, a ‘job well done’ should also go to Alison Niven without whom “Salt” would not reach such standards. Her photos, layout, attention to detail, and written contributions are invaluable.

Geoff Young—Editor

Every Sunday ............................................. Traditional Worship & Holy Communion at 9.00am at St Mary’s

Every Sunday .............. “On The Way” Contemporary Worship & Holy Communion at 11.00am at St Mary’s

3rd Wednesday (except January) ........................... 10.30am Holy Communion Service at Royal Freemasons

2nd and 4th Wednesdays (except January) ........................... 10.45am Holy Communion Service at Benetas

5th Wednesday (except January) .................................................... 10.45am Ecumenical Service at Benetas

Other events and any changes to the above will be in the Pew Sheet or contact the office.

Sun 7 Oct Blessing of the Pets service 11.00am

Sun 14 Oct Emergency Services Thanksgiving service 9.00am

Sun 21 Oct Naming of St Stephen’s Chapel 11.00am

Sat 3 Nov Parish Fair 8.00am to 2.00pm

Wed weekly Meditation—in St Stephen’s Chapel 3.30pm

Thu weekly Merry Music Group (not during school holidays) 10.00am

Thu weekly Celebrate Prayer—in St Stephen’s Chapel 11.00am

3rd Tue monthly St Mary’s Fellowship—Kangaroo Flat Sports Club 12.00pm

A Letter of Thanks

SALT Spring Edition 2018 Page 16

P a r i s h C o n t a c t s / R o l e s

SALT is the quarterly newsletter of St Mary’s Anglican Parish Kangaroo Flat Thank you to all the contributors to SALT

Editor—Geoff Young, Designed by Alison Niven

Church Wardens until AGM 2020 Colin Clark (Rector’s Warden) ................. 5447 9783 Shirley Austin (People’s Warden) ....... 0417 523 068 Dennis Robinson (People’s Warden) ....... 5447 4035

Members of Parish Council until AGM 2020 Ken Eddy ................................................ 5447 4664 Martin Fryer ............................................. 5435 4080 Alison Niven (Secretary) ..................... 0409 326 495 Lyn Pearce .............................................. 5447 9233 Gayle Worthington .................................. 5447 8761 Elaine Young (Treasurer) ........................ 5447 0173

Booking Officer .................................. Shirley Austin

Catering .................................................Janet Clark

Children’s Ministry .................................Lyn Pearce

Cleaning of silver/brass ............................ Ken Eddy ........................................................ David Dunnicliff

Key Register ........................................... Colin Clark

Mission Secretary ......................... Margaret Stewart

Merry Music .......................................... Jenny Fryer

Newsletter/Website/Facebook ............. Alison Niven

Organists ............................................. Geoff Young ................................................. Lauraine Waasdorp ............................................................... Sue Turpie

Sacristans ............................................... Rob Aitken .............................................................. Lyn Pearce ................................................. Lauraine Waasdorp

SALT Magazine ................................... Geoff Young ............................................................ Alison Niven

St Mary’s Fellowship ......................... Jennifer Leach

THE OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

If you have a complaint please call

1800 135 246

The Anglican Diocese of Bendigo expects the highest

standards of professional service from its clergy and lay

people.

The diocese is a full participant in the uniform professional

standards scheme managed by an independent professional

standards organisation, Kooyoora Ltd.

A phone call to the above number will

mean that your complaint will be handled

by the staff of Kooyoora Ltd who operate

professional standards for the Anglican

dioceses of Bendigo and Melbourne.

This is an independent, objective process

adopted by the Anglican diocese of

Bendigo in 2016.