ELCOME TO ST PAUL’S. We are glad that you have come to  Saturday 16th December worship God with us today. If at 5.30pm Carol service, W Cardinal Freeman Village, you are a visitor from another parish, or Ashfield worshipping with us for the first time, please introduce yourself to our parish  Sunday 17th December at 7.00pm– St Paul‘s priest, Fr James Collins, or to anyone Festival of Nine Lessons wearing a name badge, over a cup of tea and Carols or coffee in the parish hall after the

 Sunday 24th December service. You’ll find the hall behind the Midnight Mass at 11pm church.

 Christmas Day, Monday  Year B – SPRING EDITION Vol. 13 25th December 9am Mass  8.00 am – Sung Eucharist  Sunday 11th of February  9.30 am – Litany in Procession & Parish 2018 at 3pm – Eucharist EVENSONG MATER CHORALE conducted by  4.00 pm – Vespers at Cardinal Freeman Fr Michael Deasey in the Village Church Inside this issue …  Saturday 24th February 2018 at 6pm– Procession  The Blacket House Trustees’ Proposal p.3 and Festival Choral  Advent Sunday p.6 Eucharist followed by a Reception and  Thank you to Sheryl and the Choir p.9

Refreshments in the Parish  Beautiful Gift from a Generous Benefactor p.11 Hall to mark the 30th Anniversary of Fr James  Are you a fan of St Paul’s? p.17 Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood

People needing wheelchair access can enter St Paul’s most conveniently by the First aid kits are located on the wall of door at the base of the belltower. the kitchen in the Large Hall behind the church and in the choir vestry.

Please turn your mobile phone off or on to silent before the service starts. It’ll Name badges help make St Paul’s an save you much embarrassment later on. inclusive community. If you need a new name badge, fill in the form inside the pew sheet, send it to the parish office, and one will be made and left in church for you.

Children are welcome in church at any service. There is a selection of children’s books and toys at the back of Toilets are available at the entrance to the church near the font and there are the parish hall, which is located behind also kids’ activity sheets and pencils the church. available at the back of the church where the pew sheets and prayer books are. Children’s Church runs during Term Ask a member of the clergy or anyone Time. Meet at the back of the church at who’s wearing a name badge. We’re the beginning of the 9.30am Eucharist. here to help. Please feel free to bring your children to the altar rail to receive a blessing, or to receive Communion if they have been admitted to the sacrament.

As you take your place in your pew, please make yourself aware of the route to the nearest emergency exit. Should Please do not take photos there be a fire, leave quickly, turn right, inside the church or during the services and assemble by the roundabout on of worship without permission. Burwood Road.

Purpose

The purpose of the meeting is to obtain the consent of the Rector and Congregation for actions proposed by the trustees.

Background

Clause 20 of the Deed of Declaration of Trust provides:

The powers conferred on the trustees by this Deed shall not be exercised except with the consent of the Rector and Congregation, such consent to be sufficient if given by a majority of those members who are present at a meeting convened for the purpose held in the hall or other usual meeting place of the Rector and Congregation by a notice given to the Rector and Congregation on the two Sundays immediately preceding the day of such meeting in the manner in which announcements are usually made to the Rector and Congregation.

The trustees understand this clause to mean that, while they have the usual powers of trustees under the general law by virtue of their appointment as trustees (especially so that they may fulfil their duties under the law to administer the trusts and to preserve the trust property), they must obtain the consent of the Rector and Congregation for the exercise of the powers conferred specifically by the Deed, notably in relation to substantial projects and expenditures.

The purposes of the trusts established by the Deed may be succinctly summarised as the provision of clergy accommodation and the conduct of meetings and other religious activities for St Paul’s. It is likely that the trustees will incur costs in applying to have them- selves recorded as the owners of Blacket House (item 5 below). The trustees have already paid to the Parish an amount for past services rendered to the Trust in the period from 2012 to 2016 (item 6 below) and have accepted liability for some legal costs incurred in relation to the retirement of the previous trustees (item 7 below). The trustees take the view that these are not matters about which they require the consent of the Rector and Congregation. However, they will be included in the resolution set out below, because they affect the balance sheet of the Trust and form part of the context in which the other expenditures will be made.

Proposed Resolution

The trustees ask the Rector and Congregation to pass the following resolution:

The Rector and Congregation consent to the following actions of the trustees of the Blacket House Trust (“the Trust”):

1. Reserving not less than 30% of the gross revenues derived from letting Blacket House as a sinking fund from which the costs of maintenance, repair, renovation and improvement of the buildings and grounds of Blacket House may be paid from time to time.

2. Payment, either to the Parish or directly to suppliers, of up to $24,000 out of the net income of the Trust in 2017 for the purposes listed in the Schedule below (being purposes for the benefit of the Rector and Congregation of St Paul’s).

3. Subject to the availability of funds, the expenditure of up to 40% of the gross income of the Trust in 2018 on expenditures for the purposes listed in the Schedule below (being purposes for the benefit of the Rector and Congregation of St Paul’s).

4. Expenditure to obtain advice regarding the potential letting of all or part of Blacket House to one or more commercial lessees with a view to increasing the net income of the Trust. 5. Expenditure incurred in relation to the trustees’ applying to have themselves recorded as the owners of Blacket House.

6. Payment to the Parish of the cost of services provided by the Parish to the trustees from time to time (including an amount for services provided from 2012 to 2016).

7. Payment of outstanding legal costs incurred in relation to the retirement of the previous trustees in the sum of $7,682.07 (inclusive of GST).

SCHEDULE OF PURPOSES

(a) Organist’s fees for regular services

(b) Organ repairs and maintenance of the organs

(c) Sanctuary & communion supplies

(d) Ministry resource materials

(e) Playgroup resources

(f) Printing of orders of service

(g) Worship resources

(h) Copyright licences

(i) Kneelers

(j) Vestments and robes

(k) Rectory utilities, repairs and renovations and ground care

(l) Payment for the services of the Music Director

(m) Choir music supplies for services

TODAY is ADVENT SUNDAY which marks the beginning of the new Church (Liturgical) year. We enter into Year B in the lectionary cycle with the Gospel of Saint Mark. Advent is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the coming of Jesus when we celebrate his Holy Nativity at Christmas. The colour for Advent is purple and the ADVENT WREATH is in place with three different coloured candles, there are three purple, one white and one pink (rose). The white candle in the centre is the symbol of Christ’s purity and lit at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve to mark His birth and a pink ( rose) candle which is lit on the Third Sunday known as Gaudate Sunday from the opening words of the Introit - "Rejoice"- which speaks of joy and the move from repentance towards celebration. TODAY the Advent Wreath is blessed then the First Candle is lit.

May this Advent be a time for us to truly prepare for the coming of the Lord Jesus in all humility and draw us closer to Himself so that we may be brought to a joyful celebration of His Holy Birth. Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Each Sunday during the singing of the introit hymn, as the choir go to their places, the servers, lay assistants and priest move to the advent wreath for the advent wreath liturgy, the hymn pausing before the last verse. Priest As we begin the season of Advent, we acknowledge the symbols of the great mysteries we celebrate at Christmas. From these the Advent wreath has been made. All O God you are our eternal Father, you sent your son to bring us eternal life. Reader We have the evergreens. These evergreens are the sign of eter- nal life. They symbolize the eternal life that Jesus brought to us from God. All O God may your life in our souls always increase and grow stronger. May it always remain in us and may we live in happiness with you forever. Reader We bring candles. These candles remind us that Jesus, the light of the world is coming. He is the light that shows us the way. As candlelight sheds warmth and beauty all around so does the light of Jesus fill our lives with love and happiness. All Come Jesus be our light. May the light of your goodness and truth shine through us. May it shine through us upon others. Priest O God, by whose word all things are sanctified, pour forth your blessing upon this wreath and grant that we who use it may prepare our hearts for the coming of your son and may we receive grace from you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. The Lighting Of The First Candle, The Candle Of Hope Priest Light and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord. All Thanks be to God. Priest Our help is in the name of the Lord. Who made heaven and earth. Priest Come Lord Jesus, light of the world.

All O God help us to prepare for the coming of your Son. Bring us out of the darkness into light. Bring light to all who are in darkness and in the shadow of death. Amen. Reader God told Abraham that through him all nations would be blessed because he trusted and put his hope in God. The prophets spoke of the coming of Christ, of how a Saviour would be born, a king in the line of David. He would rule the world wisely and bless all the nations. We too believe in God’s promise to send Jesus again to this world to establish his kingdom upon earth. A server lights the first candle. Priest Hope is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at the light of this candle we celebrate the hope we have in Jesus Christ. Let us pray: O Lord, we are waiting. Give us hope and the strength to turn from our sinful ways. Keep us from the things and people who cause us to turn our backs on you. Help always to meet the needs of others. We ask this of you who lives and reigns forever. Amen. The final verse of the hymn is sung immediately after this prayer. The custom of the Advent wreath has been appropriated into the Anglican tradition from Protestant middle-European denominations and is, accord- ing to some accounts, a relatively modern innovation from the nineteenth century. In its current form the wreath consists of four small candles of the liturgical colour of each Sunday (usually four violet candles or three violet candles and a rose one) and a large white one. Violet is the colour that the Church employs to symbolize penitence and suffering and it reminds us that we not only look for God’s coming into the world as a the Prince of Peace at Christmas (violet also being the colour of royal and imperial power), but his coming to us to be our Saviour through his sufferings, and his coming as our judge at the end of time. Rose is the liturgical colour in the Roman rite for the third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday from the first Latin word of the day’s opening scriptural sentence (known as the introit). It means ‘rejoice’. The third Sunday of Advent anticipates the joy of the Christmas celebrations, so its colour is a mixture of Advent violet and Christmas white. The fifth candle in the Advent wreath, white in colour, the Christ candle, is lit at the Vigil (Midnight) Mass for Christmas. It is understandable that many on the list may now have recovered,

so we have decided to start the list It was lovely to see you, along with again from scratch for 2018. everyone else on Sunday morning If you would like your name or as we worshipped Christ the King. someone else's name to remain on Our worship was sublime and the the list, or you wish to add a name, Choir sang beautifully and Edwin’s please contact the parish office by playing was magnificent. Sunday 17th December or give it in writing to Fr James or Fr Michael Thank you for preparing such after any service on Sunday 10th or wonderful music for us week by 17th. week to help us to worship Christ the king of love and peace.

Thank you to Edwin and the Choir You will notice that the Advent for their part in making our Packs are available again this year. magnificent worship so fitting and They are at the back of church. beautiful. Thank you to Jude Laurence for all It is also very encouraging to see the work she has done in preparing and hear new people joining our these packs so our little ones can excellent Choir (as well as having learn more about the Christmas our faithful ‘old' friends continue to message in a fun and creative way. lead us in worship too)

– Fr James Thank you to Judith Laurence for dressing the wreath for this Advent Season. As we come to the end of the year, it is time to revise and revamp our intercession list of those who are sick. Our worship of Christ the King was Dear James, sublime and the Parish Christmas I'm so grateful for your generous luncheon was a wonderful time of recognition of John's ministry at St good company and of sharing Paul's. I think he is good food. appreciative of the recognition.

Thank you Pam for all that you did Also your loving ministry at St to make our Parish Christmas Paul's is being blessed and I think luncheon such a special occasion. continue to be so in the time The Hall looked beautiful – thank ahead. you too to Joy, Atela, Ray, Andrew, As always I enjoyed being with you and Piers for all of their hard work. and the St Paul's family for lunch.

Cheryl and Shirley did a very Blessings peace love Moya good job preparing a fine meal for everyone who came (vegetarians Photos of the flower arrangements got very well looked after – thank in memory of Fr John Holle you). It is nice not to have to cook or wash up.

Rosemary’s Christmas Cake was cooked to perfection.

A big thank you, also, to all those who helped clear up and put everything away.

There was a great spirit of good will and fellowship at the Christ- mas luncheon and my sense is that everyone enjoyed it very much.

Thank you for your part in helping to make it so.

– Fr James My Dear Friend,

Thank you very much for the beautiful new Rose Vestments.

I am truly grateful to you for all of your gifts of beautiful Vestments which are all exquisite. It is very kind of you to give these to St Paul's and I value you and your generosity very much.

These vestments will be blessed today, being the First Sunday of Advent.

– Fr James

We have been blessed to have such an engaged and lively group attending our studies through the year. Thank you to everyone who participated in any way.

We will re-commence our studies on Tuesday the 20th of February, 2018, being the first Tuesday after Ash Wednesday as we begin our journey through Lent.

There will be more information about the studies closer to the time but we have an interesting and informative series of studies lined up for next year.

All are very welcome to come and engage with God and with all those who attend our wonderful study group.

Lawn Mowing

If you can volunteer to help please give your name to Rosemary. A roster has been drawn up but more volunteers would be good, especially if you can help in January.

Mowing Roster

 4th December – 9th December – Martin Cordina

 11th December – 16th December – Jason Proctor

 18th December – 23rd December – Martin Cordina

We may need to have someone else rostered to do the edges but we can wait and see how that goes.

Thank you

Thank you to all who have helped in the gardens this week.

We have been offering to ring quarter peals as a fundraiser for the parish for anyone who has a special occasion they would like to mark. If you are interested in a special occasion being recognized we can organize a time, which is convenient, so you are able to come and listen to the ringing.

Monthly birthday celebrations

As there are so many more birthday celebrations being acknowledged week by week this has now become a very important part of our life together as a community of faith but they place a significant burden on those who make our birthday cakes.

To help with this situation, we are now going to try and acknowledge birthdays on a monthly basis with A mid-week Eucharist will be all birthdays occurring during the held in the Chapel of our Lord's month being celebrated together Passion on Wednesday at 10.30am. on the last Sunday of the month. Commemorations noted by the lectionary this week – We thank Joy for her kindness in making such beautiful cakes for  Monday 4 December – Nicholas Ferrar, Deacon and Man of all in the Parish who have Prayer (d.1637) birthdays. Another two  Wednesday 6 December – Parishioners have offered to help Nicholas of Myra, Bishop and make birthday cakes too and this is Philanthropist (d. c. 342) very kind of them.  Thursday 7 December – Ambrose of Milan, bishop and teacher (d.397)

 Friday 8 December – The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Over the years the parish has benefitted from the generosity of parishioners, not only when they have been active members of the parish, but also at the time of their death. Parishioners are invited to remember the parish in their wills by making a bequest as a thank offering to God and to ensure that generations to come will enjoy worship and fellowship in well maintained buildings.

Those wishing to make a bequest are invited to do so using these or a similar form of words: "I bequeath the sum of $...... to the Rector and Wardens of the Anglican Parish of St Paul, Burwood, to be used at their absolute discretion for the charitable purposes of the parish."

There is assistance needed to maintain the church and Rectory gardens, flower arranging, choir, bell ringing, morning tea assistance, greeting and welcoming roster, assistance at special functions e.g. fetes, Sunday trading table, selling raffle tickets, making jams & pickles to sell, collecting bread, to name a few.

Please speak to the Sheryl (regarding choir) Wardens or the Church Office so we can direct your efforts.

Feeling a bit warm? Or just want to make a fash- ion statement?

Then why not purchase one of our gorgeous new boutique fans especially made for St. Paul’s.

Why not become a fan of St. Paul’s? Then you really will be cool.

Our beautiful fans can be purchased for $3.00 each or two fans for $5.00

Our warmest to best wishes to all who have celebrated birthdays in re- cent days including Gerard Chu, Mark Meyers, Gillian Taylor,

Many happy returns and every blessing for the coming year. Happy days!

Christmas Raffle

The tickets are on sale. The main prize will be a wonderful Christmas hamper. Could we have donations of Christmas fair to fill it with? Sug- gestions - plum puddings, biscuits, canned fruit, Cranberry sauce, Christmas decorations, smoked oysters, serviettes, anything you might like to use at Christmas.

The tickets will be $2 each or 3 for $5.

Please place these in the washing basket as of next week which will be at the back of the church at each service or give to Pam or leave at the Church Office and mark for Christmas Hamper.

Parish Christmas Celebration

The Parish Pre – Christmas luncheon took place on Sunday 26th No- vember after the 9.30am service for Christ the King. There seemed to be many parishioners away at this time or had a conflicting booking.

The sale of tickets was slow and it was possible we would be having an intimate affair. After many emails and phone calls the numbers increased to a very respectable 64.

The hall was transformed for Christmas celebrations on the Saturday evening. Thank you to Joy Brandy, Atela Livingstone, Andrew & Piers Connelly and Ray Brock for their help.

Joy prepared all the nibbles to snack on whilst waiting for the meal. The caterers had organised a lovely roast lunch, which included pork, beef & chicken with a good selection of vegetables, and the ever-popular Panna Cotta and profiteroles for dessert. There were also, Mary Purnell’s ever-popular rum balls and a magnificent fruitcake made by Rosemary Proctor to have with tea & coffee. Thank you for these delights. The food remaining was packaged into containers and sold separately.

The Christmas hamper raffle, which will be drawn after the carol service on Sunday 17th December was well patronized. Thank you Annette for being a gentle and persuasive seller of tickets selling over $100 worth.

The Sunday Trading Table was well stocked with jams, Christmas cakes, biscuits, gifts and St Paul’s torches and fans. Pam & David Priest manned the stall. Thank you for looking after this so ably and raising over $100.

There was such a buzz and lots of chatter during the festivities. People were happy just sitting and enjoying the occasion after the meal and catching up with other parishioners they usually don’t have the opportunity to spend time.

Thanks to all who helped clear the hall of the celebrations and especially to Father James for his exceptional way of greeting and speaking to everyone during the meal and for his continued support. For those who were unable to join us this year, I hope you can next year. It will be the last Sunday in November.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Dear friends,

Fr James and the Wardens would like to sincerely thank everyone who has so generously responded to the needs of the parish in recent times.

As an example of this generosity, we can inform you that following our last letter to the parish, over $73,000 has been donated, and many kind parishioners have increased their weekly giving.

We are also grateful to Sheryl and Pam for organising regular fundraising events and to parishioners for their support of these occasions.

Many parishioners have also volunteered to take turns cleaning the church and halls, gardening and mowing the lawns. We have also identified ways of reducing our printing and telephone bills. These new practices mean that we have reduced our monthly expenditure significantly.

Our next initiatives to further improve our financial situation include increasing hall and church rental fees and installing solar panels to reduce electricity costs (we have received a government grant for this).

We will also investigate advertising St Paul’s as a wonderful venue for weddings.

Although our situation has improved and will continue to improve, we will only be free from financial stress when we can derive regular income from Blacket House or other business ventures such as the mobile clinic. This may take twelve months or more. In the meantime, we will need to rely on the continuing generosity of all who love St Paul’s and wish to see it remain a beacon of care, compassion and God’s love for all in Burwood and indeed in the whole of Sydney. In regards to Blacket House, the trustees have informed the wardens that they have inspected all the units and were pleased to find them generally in good condition with only a few minor repairs required. The trustees are also continuing to carry out the many time consuming administrative tasks necessary to achieve formal recognition and reg- istration of their trusteeships. The wardens wish to thank the trustees for their efforts in that regard.

In gratitude, Pam, Jane and Elizabeth  Tinned tuna;

A special thank you to those who  Tins of sardines; are bringing food every week. You  Tins of salmon; are the life blood of this project.  Rice More and more people are need- ing your help; from the elderly, to  Savoury biscuits; the young, the retrenched and the  Sweet biscuits; casual workers, those out of work and the homeless. Poverty is no  Long life Milk; discriminator. We now have nearly  Up & Go – All flavours; as many women coming in as men, and several with small children.  Tinned fruit

Thank you for your help.  Rice Cream

Here is the list of items most needed  Drinks for the parish pantry:  Pasta & Spaghetti;

 Sun Rice Meals e.g. Butter  Instant potato, cuscus chicken, Green chicken curry,  Safety razors Chicken satay, etc  Toothpaste  Tins of corned beef;  Toilet Paper  Tins of spam;  Shampoo and conditioner  Tins of ham;  Deodorant for both men and  Instant Coffee; women  Sugar; (• we run out of these items very  Boxes of Cereals quickly)

 Tea;

 All Day Breakfast by Heinz;

 Chunky soups – Heinz & Campbells; ANGLICARE Share the Joy – TOYS ‘N’ TUCKER

Christmas is coming and this year we are going to support Anglicare's Share the Joy with their Toys and Tucker Pro- gram.

What is it? Through Toys ‘n’ Tucker Anglicare Sydney provides a way for churches, schools, businesses and community groups to share the joy of Christmas and demonstrate God’s love by providing food and gifts for those who would otherwise go without.

Christmas can be a particularly difficult time for many people and Toys ‘n’ Tucker provides a way for us to let them know they’re not forgotten.

How does it work? Groups collect and donate new toys and non-perishable food for Christmas hampers. We pick everything up and take it to the Anglicare warehouse where it’s sorted and packed by teams of volunteers. Food hampers and gift parcels are then distributed to people in need through Anglicare’s emergency relief and family support programs and by local churches.

Shopping list for Toys ‘N’ Tucker Children

Food  Good-quality toys

Here are the things we include  Outdoor games in a food hamper. Standard sizes  Sporting equipment (as indicated) are preferred to help fit everything in neatly Teenagers

 Gift cards/vouchers  Christmas cake

 Sporting equipment  Christmas pudding

 Toiletry packs  Dried pasta (500g) Sadly we can’t include chocolate  Jam (500g) as it’s likely to melt.  Lollies (200g)

 Long-life milk, custard or cream Collection given at St Paul’s on  Packet of biscuits Sunday 12th of November: $2643

 Pancake or cake mix Other collection given: New Life Centre Nepal: $50  Sugar (500g) Parish Pantry: $60 Building Fund:$10  Tea (50pk) or coffee (100g) Chalmers Road SSP: $50.00  Tinned fruit (825g/425g) Donations for Ordination Gift– Rev’d Michael Sutton: $305  Tinned ham (450g) Total: $3118  Tinned salmon (415g) Thank you for responding to God’s  Tinned vegetables (425g) generous love. Gift ideas

Pre-school

 Age-appropriate games

 Educational toys

 Picture books Rosemary leaves for Nepal this coming Friday. Whilst in Kathmandu she hopes to visit the New Life Centre but will spend most of her time at the SMD School.

Rosemary writes:

Namaste: Greetings to everyone who is reading this letter.

After over twelve months of preparation I find this visit to Nepali sud- denly upon me. Whilst I am in Kathmandu I will be visiting the New Life Centre, for children born HIV+. I am very excited about this because I will be able to see their new home. After years of bouncing from one rented place to the next they have finally got their own home, thanks to a Belgian lady, Olga. It is a purpose built centre for malnourished chil- dren and for the HIV+ children and their carers.

It is called Olgapuri Children's Village (Olga's Little Oasis)—Nepal Youth Foundation's beautiful, permanent home for children in our care. (the umbrella organization that the New Life Centre works under) With 4 homes for up to 80 girls and boys, a farm, and a vocational school, Ol- gapuri village. The village aims to brighten children’s futures by provid- ing freedom, shelter, health, and education.

I am told that it is outside the main city of Kathmandu in a more rural setting. It sounds like a much nicer place for sick children to be. They will have space to run and play and just be kids. There will be no land lord to claim any produce that they grow, and the air will be cleaner and there is space for their cows.

But the majority of my time will be spent in the district of Boudha, at a school that backs up to The Great Stupa. This school, known as SMD for short, provides education for children from the high Himalayas, where there is no electricity, no plumbing, no schools. Here at SMD they are given shelter and clothing, nutritious food and there are other children to play with. Some children go home once a year, if their trip home is

not too arduous and their parents can send someone to take them on the usually long journey into the mountains. There are no roads, just trails through the mountains that are often washed away. Land and mud slides are very common in Nepal and unfortunately they claim the lives of many an experienced local. Some children don’t go home more than once or twice in all the years at school. SMD becomes their home.

This trip is primarily about teacher education, but with a difference. I have had enough of seeing westerners swan in as if they know every- thing and the Nepali’s know nothing. So in discussion with Barbara Stone who has also travelled in Nepal we came up with a plan, or I should say Barbara came up with a plan and it’s a good one!

There are 10 teachers in the group of 13, each of whom has their own ar- ea of specialty and particular interests. These ten have been matched with ten teachers from SMD who wanted to volunteer for the program. To- gether each of the partnerships will teach the normal day together, over a period of 8 days. Each pair will follow the planned aspect of the curric- ulum for those days. They will not be doing specialised showy gimmicks, but good wholesome teaching directly focussed on the timetabled class or classes.

Underpinning this is the fact that Nepali teachers are not blessed with the opportunity to expand their learning with lots on inservicing, short courses and further university study, all the things that we take for grant- ed in Australia. This is an opportunity to share some of our experiences with them and with each other as we meet each evening to exchange our daily encounters and to help each other in the many different situations that we will no doubt experience.

This team of Aussie teachers come from schools all over Sydney that have a high view of global service. The goal is for them to become a self- managing unit, and to provide a model for further international teaching experiences.

Barbara Stone has done a wonderful job in preparing this group to do just that. It now remains for us to carry it out and return with lots of ideas for the future. We hope our Nepali brothers and sisters will enjoy the time and feel enriched by the experience.

Dhanyabad (Thank you)

On Saturday 16th December the garden committee is having a garden clean up. Could you spare some time on that day to pull some weeds and generally make the grounds of the Church and the Rectory tidy for Christmas. All you need to bring is a shovel/fork, gloves, hat, water, and your muscles. If you would like to join us please contact Marjorie Gunasekara 0402 100 154 or Jude Laurence. Start time is at 9.00am.

We will gather to clean and dress the Church for our Christmas Services on Saturday the 23rd of December at 9.30 a.m.

Please come along and help to make the Church even more beautiful as we welcome the Christ child into our midst.

will be singing Evensong on Sunday 11th of February 2018 at 3pm in the Church.

A JOYOUS CELEBRATION

RECTOR HITS THIRTY

On the Feast of Saint Matthias, Saturday, 24 February 2018, our Rector, Fr James Collins, will celebrate the 30th anniversary of his ordination to the sacred priesthood – a significant milestone - and it is planned to hold a celebration of thanksgiving to God to mark this important occasion and all parishioners and friends of St Paul’s are warmly invited.

6.00 pm PROCESSION AND SOLEMN SUNG EUCHARIST

Occasional Preacher: Fr Daniel Dries, Rector and Parish Priest of Christ Church S. Laurence in the City.

followed by a Reception and Refreshments in the Parish Hall.

Please mark this date in your Diaries now so you and your family and the friends of S. Pauls may be present. (For further details speak to Graham Norman)

{ RSVP – PLEASE FILL IN RSVP AT BACK OF CHURCH } Join in for the Feast of Nicholas Ferrar

In the early seventeenth century Nicholas Ferrar and his extended family retired to Little Gidding in Huntingdonshire in England to live a life of prayer and service. In 1913 the Anglican Oratory of the Good Shepherd, meeting at Little Gidding, chose Nicholas as their patron. The Sydney Oratory will keep his annual feast with a Eucharist in Christ Church St Laurence on Monday, 4 December at 6 pm. You would be most welcome to attend the Eucharist, which will be followed by supper and an address in the hall. The speaker this year will be the Reverend Dr Daniel Dries, Rector of Christ Church St Laurence. Fr Daniel will speak on the contribution of the English Puritans to Anglican spirituality in an address entitled 'Puritanism and Prayerfulness'.

 Isaiah 64.1-9; Psalm 80.1-7, 17-19; 1 Corinthians 1.1-9; Mark 13.24-37

We start this Advent with an apocalyptic vision from Mark 13. The vision is a catastrophic one where the whole creation surrounding us is folding itself into itself. The created order is shaken violently, including the sun, the moon and the stars. We are called to note that even though the whole world might pass away, the words of Jesus will not pass away.

 Pray that we might hear the words of Jesus – to distinguish between things that are important and things that are passing away.

 Give thanks for the work and witness of the Anglican Church of Australia, and the National Council of Churches in Australia.

Text: Fr Atsushi Shibaoka © Anglican Board of Mission, 2017 New Bishop wants church to lead on social justice issues

Bishop Peter Stuart says church needs to learn from past to be strong in future

THE Hunter could have its first female Anglican assistant bishop in 2018 after the newly-elected Bishop of Newcastle, Peter Stuart, confirmed his “passionate support” for women in ministry.

Bishop Stuart said he would “certainly be looking at a number of women candidates” for the assistant bishop position he has held since 2009, which he vacates in the new year after his election on Saturday to be the 14th Bishop of Newcastle.

It was the diocese’s first woman Archdeacon to preside over a synod, Sonia Roulston, who phoned Bishop Stuart to say he had the job. He took the call while standing at the top of the Christ Church Cathedral tower “having a look at Newcastle enjoying itself with the Supercar races”, he said.

“It was quite moving to have that communication under those circum- stances,” he said.

Bishop Stuart is the first clergyman in more than a century to be elected Bishop from within Newcastle diocese after a synod in 1906 elected the Dean of Newcastle, John Stretch, to be its fourth Bishop.

Like Bishop Stretch, who was known as a social reformer, Bishop Stuart wants to head a diocese that leads on important social justice issues including “supporting Indigenous Australians as they seek fairer representation in Australian decision-making”, speaking up about the treatment of refugees and the impact of fossil fuels on the environment.

“The church at its best is called to make a valuable contribution to society,” Bishop Stuart said.

But that can only happen by acknowledging the devastating impact of the church at its worst and making substantial changes, he said.

Decades of child sexual abuse within Newcastle diocese had shattered many lives, and revelations from a Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse public hearing in Newcastle in 2016 – with the report of that hearing expected in coming weeks – had shamed the church, he said.

Some of the most shocking revelations were about the treatment of for- mer Bishop Greg Thompson by senior Anglican lay people in the diocese after he spoke of his own abuse at the hands of two senior Anglican clergymen, and tried to break a culture where “mates looked after mates”.

Bishop Thompson, who retired in May, had become the model for many clergy shamed by decades of sexual abuse in the diocese, Bishop Stuart said.

“There was a man who’d experienced so much angst in his own life, yet he fully committed to God and loving the people around him,” he said.

“Greg led us to get much closer to the experience of survivors. I felt a deep sense of angst for him as my leader, my friend and colleague on those days when I could tell he was really, really carrying it.

“I have a vivid sense of being called to continue the ministry that Bishop Greg Thompson began. His episcopate was cut short and there is im- portant work still do in addressing the past.”

The Diocese of Newcastle is still waiting for the Royal Commission’s report on the Newcastle Anglican hearing. Bishop Stuart said he had been deeply moved by the commitment of clergy and laity to properly face the past.

“There has been a consistent resolve throughout the year to listen, learn and change,” he said.

The diocese has recently employed two dedicated, trained support staff to help survivors of child sexual abuse. It has used Maitland-Newcastle Catholic diocese’s Zimmerman House as a model for responding to Anglican survivors and has many more lay people involved in decision- making positions to address the issue of power being concentrated in few hands.

Bishop Stuart said the church faced a “demanding future” in the Hunter.

“Religious participation continues to decline according to the Census. Clergy, once one of the most trusted professions, often experience mistrust,” he said.

“I will be holding a special meeting with all of the clergy early next year to take careful stock of our circumstances. I want us to plan our future together. The clergy are key leaders and have a central role in continuing to change the culture. Together we can make a difference.”

Bishop Stuart is 54 and has been in Newcastle since 2009 under Bishops Brian Farran and Greg Thompson. He has been administering the diocese since December, 2016.

The former global head of the Rhodes Scholarships, Dr Donald Mark- well, is to be the next Head of St Paul’s College within the University of Sydney.

In announcing Dr Markwell’s appointment, the Chair of the College Council, Mr Mark Elliott, said the College was delighted to attract such an experienced, dynamic and internationally recognised educational leader to lead the College at an important time in its history.

“Dr Markwell is profoundly committed to the kind of broadening and life-changing collegiate education that St Paul’s College offers its students”, Mr Elliott said.

“He has over 25 years’ experience of working with students and for the benefit of students in colleges in Oxford and Australia”, he said.

“This includes serving as a Fellow of three Oxford colleges for well over a decade, and over nine years as Warden of Trinity College in the University of Melbourne.”

Dr Markwell will commence at St Paul’s College in February 2018. He will succeed the Rev’d Dr Ivan Head, who retires at the end of this year after serving as Warden since 1994.

Mr Elliott added, “St Paul’s acknowledges the outstanding contribution made by Ivan Head to the College and the lives of more than 1,500 resi- dents during his 23 years as Warden, many of whom are now making sig- nificant contributions to our nation and globally.”

Dr Markwell’s official appointment will initially be as Vice-Warden and Head of College until the St Paul’s College Act (1854) is amended to remove the requirement that the Warden be an ordained Anglican clergyman. It is intended that he will then formally be appointed as Warden. The College will appoint a Chaplain from 2018 onwards.

Dr Markwell, who follows in the footsteps of ten distinguished Wardens of St Paul’s College since the 1850s, has been an active Anglican layman for many years, including serving as a Lay Canon of St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne, and St George’s Cathedral, Perth.

About Dr Markwell

Rhodes Scholar for Queensland for 1981, Dr Markwell was the first Rhodes Scholar to be Warden of Rhodes House, Oxford (2009-12).

He had previously served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) of the University of Western Australia (2007-09), Warden of Trinity College at the University of Melbourne (1997-2007), and Fellow and Tutor in Politics at Merton College, Oxford (1986-97).

In each of these positions, he has worked tirelessly to improve the student learning experience and to expand opportunities for students, including through curriculum reform and the creation of many scholarships.

Since 2013, Dr Markwell has served as Senior Adviser on Higher Edu- cation to the Federal Minister for Education (2013-15), and Senior Ad- viser to the Attorney-General and Leader of the Government in the Senate (since 2015).

He worked closely with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on the develop- ment of the New Colombo Plan, which supports Australian undergradu- ates to study and undertake internships in the Indo-Pacific region.

Dr Markwell studied at the University of Queensland, the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, and Princeton University in the United States.

As well as teaching and mentoring undergraduate and postgraduate students for many years in Oxford, he has held the title of Professor and worked closely with students in four Australian universities.

A political scientist, his publications include several books on interna- tional relations, constitutions and other political issues, higher educa- tion, and leadership.

About St Paul’s College and collegiate education

Founded in 1854, and the oldest university college in Australia, St Paul’s College is an Anglican residential college within the University of Syd- ney.

St Paul’s is currently undergoing a period of significant change. From 2018 it will have some 300 undergraduate men in residence, and from 2019 it will also offer 140 postgraduate places to women and men studying at the University of Sydney.

St Paul’s is located adjacent to The Women’s College at the University of Sydney.

Dr Markwell said that he believes passionately in the benefits to stu- dents from living and learning together in a residential academic com- munity such as St Paul’s and other colleges of the University of Sydney.

“Almost all of the world’s greatest universities are collegiate, or at least residential, universities”, he said.

“There is growing focus in universities in many countries on the im- mense value to students of immersion in the academic, extra-curricular, and social life of a residential college in which each individual is valued and supported.”

Dr Markwell said that he was committed to ensuring the best possible collegiate education for students at St Paul’s College, including mentor- ing its students, and increasing opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds.

“As well as academic and extra-curricular success, this includes up- holding the values for which the College stands, including genuine re- spect for women and men alike”, he said.

In his leadership of the Rhodes Scholarships, Trinity College at the Uni- versity of Melbourne, and elsewhere, Dr Markwell has been an active champion of equality of respect and opportunity for women and men.

“I look forward with enthusiasm to working with students, alumni and friends of the College, and with colleagues in other colleges and throughout the University of Sydney, and in the Anglican Church”, he said.

“I am committed to St Paul’s College being a centre of excellence, not a bastion of privilege.”

Dr Markwell’s appointment welcomed

In welcoming Dr Markwell’s appointment, the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, The Most Rev’d Dr Glenn Davies, said “I am delighted with the news of the appointment of Dr Markwell to St Paul’s College. He comes with a distinguished background in leading university colleges and a passion for developing a community of scholars within the ethos of an Anglican college.”

Outgoing Warden Dr Ivan Head said, “I could not be happier with the appointment of Don Markwell as my successor. I have no doubt that Don’s fierce intellect, strong networks, vision for collegiate education and personal commitment to the Anglican faith will enable St Paul’s to engage further with the best that the University offers.”

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney, Dr Michael Spence, said “I am delighted for St Paul’s College that it has been able to recruit a candidate of the calibre of Dr Markwell. He will be an excellent mentor and support to the students and has a clear vision for the value of a lib- eral education.”

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, in welcoming the appointment of Dr Markwell, said “Don Markwell played a crucial role in developing the policy framework of the New Colombo Plan. His contribution helped ensure the success of a visionary project that will pay dividends for Australia’s national interest for decades to come.”

The Principal of The Women’s College at the University of Sydney, Dr Amanda Bell, said: “I have known Dr Don Markwell for several years. He is a highly-regarded educational leader, scholar and public policy thinker who is a strong advocate for gender equality. I very much look forward to working with him to improve the academic, leadership and co -curricular experiences of our students, as well as ensuring active cooperation between all colleges and the University to achieve continu- ous cultural improvement.”

FYI - Fr James is a Fellow of St Paul’s College

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