Filling the gaps Lenten conversation Pancakes for Pilgrimage People's Climate at St Paul's and Quiet Day Shrove Tuesday in PNG Assembly in Canberra page 3 page 4 page 8 page 9 page 10 TheAnglican Gippsland Volume 117, Number 3, April 2020 Published in Gippsland Diocese since 1904 Tim Green ore than 120 friends and parishioners 50 years of ministry M.came together in February to celebrate 50 years of ministry by the Rev’d Ken Parker. So many for Ken Parker attended that the beautiful heritage church of St Thomas was filled to overflowing, such is the high regard past and present parishioners from many communities have for Ken. The sermon was delivered by the Rev’d Clem Taplin who was curate to Ken in his time at St Peter’s Mornington. She spoke about the importance of ministry, not just by those who have been ordained, but by each and all of us. Her message was illustrated by references to Ken’s time in numerous parish appointments, many of them bringing forth a ripple of laughter. A highlight of the service was the presentation by Bishop Richard to Ken with the licence as Priest- in-Charge at St Thomas, Left to right: Rev’d Clem Taplin, Rev’d Ken Parker, Bishop Richard, Margaret Carlile and lay reader Tim Green changing his position from long-term locum. This was greeted with applause. At Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund the end of the service, Ken knelt for a blessing from The Diocese of Gippsland and the communities of east Bishop Richard. Gippsland are deeply moved by and profoundly grateful Following the service, for the prayers and generous support offered by so many the congregation enjoyed a individuals, parishes, dioceses and other organisations around vast spread of sandwiches, the Anglican Communion in response to the bushfire crisis, cakes and drinks. Ken cut and assures those dealing with fires and the threat of fires in his ‘birthday cake’ and was other parts of our state and nation of the continuing prayers presented with a beautiful of the clergy and people of Gippsland for you also. new stole, made by Anne Connelly with support from Response to COVID-19 Donations to support the continuing work in the fire affected Trish Braithwaite. parishes can be made directly to our diocesan emergency The walls inside the Image credit: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention For the latest information about measures the trust fund by EFT: hall were covered with Account name: Gippsland Emergency Relief Anglican Diocese has put in place in response photographs, newspaper BSB: 705077 Acc: 00040664 (zeros must be included) clippings and other to the coronavirus pandemic, please visit Ref: (Name or organisation) – Fire Relief Cheques can be sent to the fund at: memorabilia highlighting www.gippsanglican.org.au the work of Ken in his PO Box 928 Sale Vic, 3850. many appointments. See also Bishop Richard’s reflections on page 2. www.gippsanglican.org.au From the Bishop TGA Index (my young and housebound communicant children Grace and peace have found it a surprisingly From the Bishop 2 welcome diversion!), holding often sign off with the been magnificent. We are up the diocese and the people Prayer Diary 2 words above at the end blessed to have a wonderful of Gippsland in prayer at the altar-table, under the canopy I of a letter or an email. It spirit of collegiality within the Around rural Victoria 3 strikes me that – in our current diocese and between church of the grace of the Sacrament. circumstances – grace and leaders across the region and It is hard to imagine, as I peace are the two qualities we the country. Thank you for write this, Holy Week and Around the Diocese 3–8 most need, and what we have the spirit in which you have Easter without the pattern of most to offer. adopted the need to suspend liturgy that has sustained us, Across the ages 8 We have not yet begun public worship and other core Bishop Richard Treloar and those before us, over the to scratch the surface of our activities, a course of action I generations. Wherever we Pilgrimage in PNG 9 bushfire response – even with never imagined I would need The counter-intuitive Christ find ourselves this Eastertide, all the wonderful ministry that to ask of you. -ian response to such fears is whatever shape and form has been exercised by so As well as the best in an economy of grace, where our households of faith and Ecumenical and 10 many, and the support from the human nature, we have seen all is gift. This is modelled fellowship may take, let us not interfaith: People’s wider chuch and community, the worst, as the COVID-19 for us as nowhere else at the fail to echo the Church’s first Climate Assembly including Cathy Turnbull’s crisis has held up a sometimes Eucharist, that table at which and greatest exultation: Christ work as our Bushfire Response less-than-flattering mirror. there is room for each and is risen! He is risen indeed! Editorial 10 Coordinator (see page 7). It’s as though the elevated for all, and always enough And let us recall, as we read Barely a month after the baseline of anxiety that our and to spare. and reflect on the Scriptures Reflection: 11 fires were finally extinguished society seems to live with – In these days when access separately or together, that Pandemic by welcome rain (almost heightened by a summer of to eucharistic worship is so often the first words of the too much in some parts) the hyper-vigilance with respect drastically diminished, risen Christ to those confused COVID-19 pandemic swept to the bushfires – suddenly, the practice of ‘spiritual and frightened disciples – Book reviews: 12 over our shores with no less and understandably, spiked. communion’ is one we may hidden away behind closed Two remarkable draw upon, and you may have wartime men devastating consequences What has been described doors for fear – were ‘peace in terms of the loss of life, as the ‘principle of scarcity’ seen the prayer offered in be with you’. Not the sort livelihoods, and damage to – a deep-seated fear that there association with eucharistic of ‘she’ll be right, mate’ the underlying framework is not enough to go around – services on the diocesan assurance that we tend to over which our socio- enough love, enough land, website. That prayer is adapted mistake for peace, but God’s GIPPSLAND DIOCESE economic canvas is stretched enough money, enough … from one made available by peace; the peace that passes all – in every sense of that word. you know what! – is not just a Bishop Cecil Wood, Anglican understanding; the peace that VACANCIES These are enormous modern Western phenomenon, Bishop of Melanesia, at comes from knowing there is Drouin challenges for us, on top of however. The Scriptures are Easter 1916, drawing on the enough love, and a place at the Paynesville chronic dry conditions and full of examples from the BCP rubrics for Communion table; peace that is born of the Wonthaggi / Inverloch other cultural factors that ancient Near Eastern world of the Sick. A version of the abiding presence of God with contribute to a sense of things of struggles over birthrights same prayer appeared in The God’s people in the Crucified seeming very marginal in and wages and a place at Episcopal Church’s Armed and Risen One, and in Holy some of our churches and the the table: primal human Forces Prayer Book of 1951. Spirit, near as our breathing. The Gippsland towns they serve. insecurities that feature During the suspension of So may the grace and peace Anglican Once again, the response in Jesus’ parables and in services, I have undertaken to of our Lord Jesus Christ be of our clergy and people to the great narratives of the offer the Eucharist every day with you. Member of Australasian Religious the constraints we face has Hebrew Bible. in the Chapel at Bishopscourt Press Association Registered by Australia Post Warragul Municipal Band; Print Post Number 34352/00018 Prayer Diary: around the parishes and for relational bridges The Gippsland Anglican is the official to our baptismal families. newspaper of and is published by “That we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith...” (ROMANS 1:12) Pray for the growth of The Anglican Diocese of Gippsland, intergenerational ministries 453 Raymond Street, CROAJINGOLONG ministry, and provided both St James, Jindivick Sale, Victoria, 3850. and a new intergenerational COOPERATING PARISH – physical and emotional Locum: Rev’d Liam Matthews www.gippsanglican.org.au worker. Pray for the Holy EASTERN REGION support to locals. Now, with Editor: Sally Woollett Please pray that we will grow Spirit’s guidance as we seek coronavirus fears, plus our 0407 614 661 in our ability to deepen our a new rector for the Parish St John, Cann River already exhausted community, [email protected] relationship with God, each of Drouin. St Peter, Mallacoota we have had to close the op Layout by Devine Design other and our community; that Priest-in-Charge: shop to protect volunteers. HEYFIELD – EASTERN REGION we might live more deeply Printed by Rural Press Rev’d Jude Benton We face an uncertain future, St James, Heyfield into our baptismal identity but God has led us through St Matthew, Tinamba The editor reserves the right The Parish of Croajingolong where ministry is understood of final choice and format of January and February, and Priest-in-Charge: Rev’d is now in a state of to be a commitment of the material included in each issue.