Hello Faith Pals,
Welcome to another week. Now, for those of you who are craving some different forms of exercise, here is a link to free dance classes from other countries. This comes via Margaret Eoe. The website gives you some idea of the work that Margaret is involved in at the Southern Migrant & Refugee Centre:
https://smrc.org.au/dance-up-australia
or
This clip comes from Peter Byrne. The singer is Audrey Assad. This is a beautiful rendition of Holy, holy, holy, with gorgeous nature photography. You could continue through her other beautiful hymns and songs all day!
https://youtu.be/AgHrNNM23p8 <https://youtu.be/AgHrNNM23p8>
Home work! Geoff and Jan, I think you get gold stars for getting together some sayings:
SAYINGS from Jan and Geoff Serpell
During a brainstorming session: 14 October 2020
- Don’t judge a book by its cover
- Grass is greener on the other side
- One day at a time
- A bird in hand is better than two in the bush
- To the world you are one person, but to one person you are the world
- Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
- The early bird gets the worm
- Look before you leap
- The golden rule..Do unto others..”
- Make hay while the sun shines
- We are like ships passing in the night
- It is what it is
- Don’t let the sun set on anger
- Too many cooks spoil the broth
- Many hands make light work
The saying ‘it is what it is’ elicits many responses! Some positive, some negative. What do you think?
I like the saying ‘it is better to give than to receive.’
BUT it is interesting thinking back to sayings or behaviours that we grew up with, and that perhaps governed us at times. I remember that we were not a ‘dunking’ family. Biscuits were not dunked in tea. When I eventually did this at about the age of 25, in my own house, I thought a lightning bolt would strike me…BUT WHAT HAD I BEEN MISSING OUT ON! Scientific testing proves that dunking a biscuit makes it taste better (to do with the molecules and heat). If you dunk a chocolate ripple biscuit in a cup of tea-it tastes like a fudgy brownie. Probably about 1/8 of the calories too!
Now…closer to getting out of lockdown. But before rushing to do this, consider your house/unit/flat/living space. It has been your constant friend to you over the last 7 months, and, of course, before that. Everyone’s dwelling is different, and should reflect something of the occupant. What does your living space say about you? Do you have photos on display? Ornaments (my husband calls them ‘dust collectors’ but I beg to differ) If someone walked into your home for the first time, what could they sense about you? Are you a reader? Is there a piano? Are there dog beds on the floor? I am a bit of a clutter-duck. I am a visual person-like seeing things out-I don’t use filing cabinets in an orderly fashion-but this works for me. I remember my first year at university, sitting in a professor’s office. All that was on his long desk was a notepad and a pen (well, that is all I remember). He said that a tidy desk meant an orderly mind. I remember thinking ‘How boring, what does he look at all day? ‘ (it did not face a window, just a blank wall, and this was before personal computer days). Other people would find my study and my desk (gosh, even the way I file documents on the computer) a little different from their way of doing things. And that is fine, because God created us to work differently, to be given different gifts and skills. We need each other, don’t we?
We are all different. We are also so fortunate and blessed that we have housing. Much of the world is homeless. Around 16 million people live in inadequate housing with dirt floors, tin roofs, and mud walls (Habitat, 2019). One third of the population of Mexico are adolescents and roughly half of these, 21 million, live in poverty (Humanium, 2017). In a 2017 report, it is estimated that 1 in 200 people in Australia are homeless.
Perhaps we could pretend for the final weeks of lockdown that we have been living in our own hermitage, cut off from the world, but close to God. St Anthony was one of the desert fathers, and he lived in a cell type dwelling. When St. Anthony, was sent by God to meet St. Paul the Hermit of Thebes, (thought to be the first Christian hermit) the raven that brought Paul his daily half loaf of bread showed up that day with a whole loaf, to accommodate the illustrious guest. A raven brought St Paul of Thebes bread until the end of Paul’s life. Legend or fact?
News: I spoke to Shirley Edwards yesterday, and she is still quite unwell. I told her we are praying for her, and that we love her very much.
Brenda Stampe has stepped down from being on our pastoral carer list. I have already written to Brenda to express our appreciation for all she has done, not only as a pastoral carer, but also as the coordinator. We thank her for caring for the church family, and serving God through serving others.
You are such a loving community.
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Well, if I don’t send this now, you won’t receive it until tomorrow. I have lots more to say-Geoff-think lavender-Peter B think Football.
I will send it out on Thursday evening, because some of you may be preoccupied with other matters on Friday.
Blessings and love
Barbara