No 4 – December 2009

Crows Nest Uniting Church

Cnr Shirley Road & Nicholson Street, Crows Nest

From Michael’s desk—Christmas is coming!

As I was about to write this little Christmas reflection, I was disrupted by some ‘characters’ who are, shall we say, less savoury and therefore less visible in our world. A man came to my front door, asking me for money. I’m fairly sure that he suffers from some form of mental illness. I know him quite well. He drops by from time to time. In the past he has been quite aggressive but we seem to have worked through that.

He told me that he couldn’t sleep and that he was disturbed by voices in the night. I’m confident they weren’t angelic voices! I gave him some money to help him on his way and strongly urged him to seek medical advice. He was, in some ways, a troubling presence because he reminded me that life is really tough for some people, if not many people in our world. His presence didn’t mesh well with what I was thinking of writing about Christmas. When you stop to think about it, a person suffering from schizophrenia (that’s my hunch about his ailment) doesn’t fit very well into the traditional Christmas story.

As many of you will know, there is a homeless man who lives at our Holtermann St property. He’s been there for at least 15 years. He sees himself as a sort of self-appointed caretaker of the church and frequently leaves ‘gifts’ on a doorstep. He also suffers from a mental illness. He’s not very approachable. I say hello to him whenever I see him and get a cursory response.

Someone approached him the other day, trying to help him, and was abused. It’s a strange insight that many of us church folk expect people to be polite and nice and grateful when we approach them to help. But it doesn’t always work out that way. Life is more raw than we anticipate.

Several weeks ago, we looked at the parable of the lost sheep. I made the observation then that shepherds, far from being gentle, rustic folk who minded cute, woolly sheep were hard-bitten reprobates, outcasts and thieves. Perhaps you remember the quote from Rabbi Jose bar Hanina, ‘In the whole world you find no occupation more despised than that of the shepherd.’

Shepherds, of course figure prominently in the Christmas story. What difference does it make to you, and your reading of the Christmas story, when you insert into it representatives of the most despised of occupations? What is a modern day equivalent? Would it be people-smugglers? Would they rush to a 21^st century manger?

As we listen to the Christmas stories this year and imagine them, let’s see if we can find a place for the person who comes to my front door, a homeless man at Holtermann St, representatives of the many who struggle in this world. Better, let’s tell the Christmas stories in ways that engage and capture the dilemmas of this age in which we live.

From our Chairperson—Jenny Vergison

Recently, the Church Council decided to form a Finance and Property Committee. The members are Jenny Vergison (Chairperson), Bessie Dumbleton (Treasurer), Frank Fawcett, Paul Howell and Joyce Lum.

No decisions were taken at the recent Church Council meeting.

Sunday School and Breakfast Service—Deb Lee

We have enjoyed two breakfast services so far at 8.30am on the third Sunday of the month. The children are taking on more responsibility by participating in these services. It is great to see the children writing and reading prayers, and taking the collection.

I hope to use music more during Sunday School next year, after the kind donation of a keyboard (thanks Cheryl, Mahajan and Zahra).  The kids have had great fun joining in with some miming and short plays during our time on Sundays. At the same time, they are also moving towards more discussion-based activities, as well as the usual craft activities and now, they are learning The Lord's Prayer.

The recent picnic at Berry Island was lovely.  There was plenty of delicious food (thanks to Charlie for sharing his yummy birthday cake), cricket and soccer to keep everyone busy.  Charlie practised his swing with his dad while the main game was on—look out for him in future! 

Scott took some of the kids off for a spot of bush bashing, (not managing to lose any of them!) and they found a huge ship at the other end of the island.  Mandy practised the "flipper" on Joseph and Sam who were batting us all over the paddock.  Ellen and Sabrina were formidable in the goal position during the soccer, while Peter and Bill rolled around on the ground quite a bit, (Bill taking out one for the goal posts!) and Oscar....well, let’s just say he must have been an Italian soccer player in a previous life!   A few of the group managed to hold down the deckchairs, (it's a tough job, but someone's got to do it!) and Joe and Elliot gradually turned a lovely shade of "mud" thanks to a handy bubbler and large puddle around it, next to where we were sitting.

I reckon it is fair to say that a good time was had by all. Thanks to everyone who came to share in the fun!

I will be in England with the boys for the month of January. We hope to have enough volunteers to take Sunday School while I am away. This will mean that we can offer Sunday School for any of the kids who are around. Please see me if you can help.

We look forward to catching up with some more members of the community here at Crows Nest during our "meet the congregation" sessions. I might be tapping you on the shoulder next year if you would like to come and chat with us briefly. Until then I will wish you all a peaceful Christmas and an exciting New Year!

Chorus Nidi

You may be wondering why we call ourselves “Chorus Nidi”. (Some people, unkindly, call us “Chorus Needy”.)  Well, it’s Latin for “Choir of the Nest”—meaning by “Nest”, of course, “Crows Nest”.  We think it’s quite neat; others think we’re just presumptuous!

We are always happy for new members. The only qualification for membership is enthusiasm and an ability to sing in tune.  It’s not necessary to be able to read music—we can teach you that.  We sing a range of music, from modern to classical.  So if you are interested, then please contact Peter Butt on 94236 2400, and come along.

Calling all instrumentalists

Can you play a musical instrument?  Guitar, flute, trumpet, keyboard – anything?  There are lots of opportunities to use your talents in church services—for example, accompanying hymns, duets with organ or keyboard, playing a quiet solo.  If you don’t think your standard is high enough – don’t worry: there is always scope to contribute, and if necessary we can simplify the musical arrangements.  The main thing is to participate, and share your talents.  If you are interested, then please contact Peter Butt on 9436 2400. 

The Parliament of the World’s Religions— Sally Yabsley-Bell

Here are some highlights from this exciting, full event. I attended many sessions and can’t possibly list them all. But I would be very happy to talk to you more about the conference, so please ask me about it if you are interested.

Each day we had six sessions with about 30 choices, ranging from pagan dance rituals, to panel talks, lecture-style religious history and interactive talks about climate-change and peace-making. There were many inter-faith topics to choose from. Of those I attended, my favourite was titled “Sacred Envy”. There was a fantastic panel chairperson, and a panel of a Catholic nun, a Jewish Rabbi and a Muslim speaker. Each panel member was asked the following:

· what they hold most dear about their own faith;

· what they see in other faiths that they wish their faith had;

· what scares them about another faith.

I found listening to this a most refreshing experience. There was no feeling of animosity between the panel at all. As participants, we all were able to look deeply at our own beliefs from our own and each other’s perspective.

Some of the other panels and talks I attended were:

· an interfaith Christian and Jewish Dialogue (where our very own Rev M. Barnes was mentioned),

· Women of Faith—a panel of women of different religions talking about female issues. I was encouraged to hear about Muslim women asking for equal rights to worship and prayer in the same room as men. I found it fascinating to hear people from other backgrounds and perspectives talk about things I have wondered about.

· homosexuals in religion, with a gay Rabbi and a gay pagan leader. I was not aware that other churches were addressing the same issues as the Uniting Church.

· the struggles of Australian Aboriginals and North American Aboriginals when churches try to take over their communities.

All in all I was amazed at how much could be squeezed into one week, and how much I have learned, and still have to learn.

Again, I would love to talk about this with anyone who will listen, so please feel free to ask me about it.

Kids out the back—Preschool—Lin Gourlay

The Preschool has had another successful year with full enrolment. Our wonderful staff do a fantastic job with their early childhood skills. Did you pop in and see any of the children’s jacaranda paintings? They are budding artists!

We enjoyed a very inventive Christmas service for the Preschool and Chatroom. Each year more parents, grandparents and children come with the lure of a donkey, a petting zoo and pony rides. A big thank you to Sally for all her work in putting this event together. She had the clever idea of working with the children to make an edible Christmas story. If you want to know how to do this, please ask Sally.

My thanks go also to Gill Glen, Doug Armstrong and Deb Lee for their work as church members on the Management Committee of the Preschool. Their input is invaluable.

Book review—Peter Butt

I’m off then: Losing and finding myself on the Camino de Santiago

The Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela is said to be the resting place of St James.  It is also the end point of a number of pilgrimage routes, known collectively as the El Camino, or the Camino de Santiago. Thousands of pilgrims walk the El Camino each year.  The most popular route starts at the Spanish/French border, then progresses along the “top” of Spain, ending at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.  It is about 600 kilometres—no mere Sunday stroll.  Other routes come up from southern Spain, or from Portugal.

This book is a daily “diary” by German author Hape Kerrkeling, telling of his experiences walking the most popular route (the 600 km version).  Like others who have trekked the path, the author almost gave up several times from sheer exhaustion.  Occasionally he “cheated” by catching a bus to the next town.  He also stayed in more comfortable accommodation than pilgrims normally enjoy. Conventionally, pilgrims do not book their accommodation ahead, but (like the pilgrims of old) take their chances at finding a bed at the end of each day’s walk. The Catholic church provides pilgrims with basic low-cost dormitory-style accommodation in monasteries along the way; but this author soon tired of hard beds and snoring companions, and opted for small hotels.

The author obviously kept a detailed diary, because the book is a transcription of his experiences day by day.  And he ends each day’s recollections with an “insight”, summing up what he learned from the day’s experiences.  Some of his notable insights are: “I am at home within myself”; “Yes, you even have to draw near to monsters”; “My weakness is also my strength”; “It is good to know who you are”; “Nothingness is the key to absolute happiness”.  These might seem trite in isolation; but in the context of the day’s walk, they have deep meaning.

The book is written with self-deprecating humour, but with a seriousness of purpose and a genuine respect for the pilgrimage experience.  I’d recommend it.

Editor’s note—Lin Gourlay

As this is the last newsletter for this year, I’d like some feedback. Do you think it is informative? Do you have some suggestions or articles for future newsletters? I’d love some voluntary contributions. Please let me know. Happy Christmas, everyone!

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