TheAnglican Gippsland Volume 116, Number 11, December 2019 Published in Gippsland Diocese since 1904 John 1:14 From the Bishop TGA Index From the Bishop 2 Expecting the unexpected Prayer Diary 2 tt doesn’t get much of a suggests. There are many things As the mother of Perez, run in the lectionary table in Matt 1:1-17 that they would Tamar’s inclusion references Re-imagining church 3 of readings, even during expect to hear or read. the family dysfunction of at lay readers‘ conference I Advent when we might expect What those readers who Genesis 38. As the mother of it, yet I love the genealogy that had all the great stories of the Boaz, Rahab is both prostitute Around the Diocese 4–8 opens Matthew’s gospel leading patriarchs and kings and priests and foreigner. As the mother For young disciples: 9 into the story of Jesus’ birth. in their cultural stockpile would of Obed, Ruth extends the Daniel Lowe: Matthew is our primary ‘gospel not expect, however, is that the ‘outsider’ motif, referred to Bishop Richard Treloar A marvellous universe or diet’ at the Eucharist in Year genealogy would be designated seven times in the short story just a Marvel universe? A of our three-year liturgical as that of the person whose that bears her name as ‘Ruth the upon this inheritance on the cycle, which ticks over on the name appears last – Jesus the Moabite’ – an ethnic ‘tag’ that basis of bloodline in the gospel Anglicare Fare: 9 First Sunday of Advent. If you Christ – rather than of the person excludes her from the Lord’s set for the second Sunday in Toys and food for families happen to attend a Eucharist whose name appears first in the assembly (see Deut 23:3). And Advent, ‘God is able from these at Christmas somewhere on Tuesday 17 line-up – in this case Abraham. as wife of Uriah the Hittite, the stones to raise up children to December you’ll get to hear Is this an early indicator of the mother of Solomon (Bathsheba) Abraham’ (Matt 3:9). Reflection: 10 it; otherwise, you may like ‘upside down’ values of the brings the skeleton in that royal As, with Ruth the perennial Marilyn Obersby: to take some time to read it kingdom that Matthew’s Jesus closet right into the foreground. ‘outsider’ brought ‘inside’, we The gift of years for yourself. will proclaim, in which the last King David, whose troubled prepare to turn once more to We can think of it functioning will be first and first will be last and morally ambiguous lineage Bethlehem, let us bring before Editorial 10 a bit like John’s prologue, (Matt 20:16)? Jesus inherits in a theological that manger-throne of grace our Lisa Campbell: 11 which we’re more familiar with Nor would they expect the sense if not a strictly biological stories – in all of their glory Singing, with joy, perhaps, and more likely to inclusion of four women in an one, as Matthew’s birth and dysfunction – our identity to the world hear in church this Christmas: otherwise all-male list – and narrative goes on to make clear, markers – which we and others an opening passage that sets not Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and had Uriah the Hittite murdered have used to define us, for good Summer reading: 12 out some of the key themes of Leah either, the four standard on the battle field to cover up and for ill – and offer them up as Theology, love and a the great sweep of narrative matriarchs, although there are his treachery. the means by which God might community divided to follow. some twists and turns in their The message for Matthew’s continue to raise up children for There are several twists in stories as well. The women community – and for us – is one Abraham, including ourselves. Diocesan calendar 12 what first appears to be your Matthew quite deliberately of hope: God has been in the This Christmas, may we be typical biblical account of and skilfully weaves into the business of ‘raising up children open to the unexpected; for ancestry, of which there are early verses of his genealogy to Abraham’ with the help of it was in challenging all the ABOUT THE COVER dozens of examples between are Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and this mixed bag of progenitors, expectations of what it meant This Christmas mural was Old and New Testaments. I’m (referred to but not directly and also in spite of them. And and means to be a child of painted by the Yarragon woefully ignorant about my named) Bathsheba. Each carries with the birth of this ‘son of Abraham that Matthew’s Jesus Jaffas Kids’ Church under own family tree, but Matthew a descriptor, an identity marker David’, Matthew differentiates fulfils the law and the prophets the guidance of local artist expects his first audience to that points us to the heart of being a child of Abraham from (5:17). Even so, come thou Ross Jacka. be fully conversant with their Matthew’s message, and indeed being of the seed of Abraham. long-expected Jesus. Abrahamic heritage, as the the promise of this great season As John the Baptist will go on opening verse of his gospel The Gippsland in the life of the Church. to warn those who presume Anglican Thank God for the Member of Australasian Religious Prayer Diary: beyond the parishes commitment of volunteers in Press Association “That we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith...” (ROMANS 1:12) the Get Out for Good program Registered by Australia Post working with those being Print Post Number 34352/00018 123 CAFE Pray for the year ahead and worldwide Mothers’ Union released from prison. Pray those who visit in 2020; for the showing Christian care for for more in our parishes The Gippsland Anglican is the official Pray that our community of Sale surrounding fragile bushland families, with eight branches newspaper of and is published by to seek to be involved will find refuge, acceptance and lakes; for the wildlife who in Gippsland. Praise God The Anglican Diocese of Gippsland, with people who may and a place of comfort here at look for food. Pray for rain. for the many ways that 453 Raymond Street, 123; for continual wisdom in be marginalised in our Sale, Victoria, 3850. Mothers’ Union members communities, particularly www.gippsanglican.org.au our communication with those THE ANAM CARA COMMUNITY interact and become involved we work alongside; thanks those leaving prison, the The Anam Cara Community with their communities. Editor: Sally Woollett to the Lord for wonderful homeless, jobless and those has a small group of Praise God for the variety Tel: 0407 614 661 volunteers and young people with mental illness. 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Pray for Rev’d Phyllis Andy and the Please contact the editor for all environment; for The Abbey mothers and children who Rev’d Kathy Dalton, the advertising submissions, costing ANGLICAN MOTHERS’ UNION and enquiries, including about Chapter, staff, supporters and have survived abusive families Registry staff, and Gipps- inserts in the newspaper. A full volunteers. God has blessed Anglican Mothers’ Union as they are supported in land Anglican Retirement advertising schedule can be sent out us richly. Australia is part of the rebuilding their lives. Living Ltd. upon request. Page 2 The Gippsland Anglican December 2019 TGA Re-imagining church at From conference attendees Thank you so much for yesterday’s thought- lay readers’ conference provoking and enjoyable lay readers’ conference. Such events take not just time but a lot of work to prepare “and the input of many to make it a success. Tony Wicking It was a good day of learning, meeting new people and n a world that is constantly fellowship, the Matthew talk was great.