Vicar's newsletter "Here we go again"

[Hugh Kempster]

Dear Parishioners and Friends of St Peter’s,

As Ray Charles famously sang in 1967: “Here we go again.” Stage Three restrictions are back in town, and on Thursday morning the West Door of our church was once again closed to the public, as a small group of us live-streamed the 7.15am Mass. There is a sense of despair and frustration among the St Peter’s staff and parishioners I have been in touch with since then, but also resignation that this is the path we must take here in Melbourne to get back on top of the most recent COVID-19 outbreak. At least one advantage, although unpleasant, is that we have all been here before and know the drill.

A couple of offerings from your Vicar, which I hope will assist you in the times that lie ahead. Firstly, a reminder of the online parish ministries that we have developed over recent months to help keep us connected as a church community:

·    The Sunday 10.30am Mass will continue to be live-streamed onto FaceBook (https://bit.ly/2ZeiZN5 <https://bit.ly/2ZeiZN5>) and for those who prefer YouTube, will be uploaded afterwards (https://bit.ly/2AIZiDF <https://bit.ly/2AIZiDF>).

·     I am enjoying the weekly after-Mass chats with parishioners, 12.30pm each Sunday, at “Morning Tea at the Vicarage” on Zoom. These will continue during the lock-down, so do drop in if you can (https://bit.ly/3fh0BZw <https://bit.ly/3fh0BZw>).

· Although the doors are closed, our Bookroom is still trading on-line, so do drop in and order a book (https://www.bookroom.stpeters.org.au <https://www.bookroom.stpeters.org.au/>).

·    Praying the Rosary, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5pm. If you would like to join our Lay Minister, Alae Taule-alo, for these devotions on Zoom send him an e-mail - alaetaulealo at gmail.com <mailto:alaetaulealo at gmail.com>
·   Christian Meditation, Wednesdays at 12 noon. Parishioner, and former editor of The Melbourne Anglican, Roland Ashby, leads 45 minutes of contemplative prayer each week on Jitsi (similar to Zoom). He would love to hear from you if you’d like to join - randrashby at bigpond.com <mailto:randrashby at bigpond.com>
·    Fr Greg Davies is the National Director for EFM, a Christian Education program for lay people as well as clergy. We are blessed to have Fr Greg on the St Peter’s team, so do e-mail him if you are interested in his theological conversation group, or various courses on offer through EFM - gregdavies121 at icloud.com <mailto:gregdavies121 at icloud.com>
·    The St Peter’s Telephone Tree is now up and running, with 22 Parish Callers touching base with 161 of our parishioners and friends. We’ve had some very positive feedback about the Tree, but if you would like to call me as the Coordinator for any reason, don’t hesitate; I’d love to hear from you.

Secondly, a word of hope. Despite all these on-line offerings, Church is certainly not what it used to be. There is no disputing that. Life changed so suddenly for us all on 22nd March, and now it feels like we are back to square one again. I must confess to have been feeling rather despondent myself over the past week. But as I was preparing my Musings this week, the words of Jeremiah 29:11 came to mind. I first meditated deeply on this verse as a young man, while travelling on my own around India. I had run out of money, was sick, and feeling a long way from home. They were words, a mantra in fact, that gifted me with a deep assurance of Christ’s presence in the midst of challenge. God does indeed have a plan for each one of us, as well as a plan for our Church and our City. As we follow the Way, and take up our Cross, we can be assured that this is a path of ultimate wellbeing and hopefulness, even if we are currently experiencing profound questioning and suffering.

In closing, a prayer of hope for these times, written by Rabbi Naomi Levy:

We are frightened, God, worried for our loved ones, worried for our world.

Helpless and confused, we turn to you seeking comfort, faith and hope.

Teach us God, to turn our panic into patience, and our fear into acts of kindness.

Our strong must watch out for our weak; our young must take care of our old.

Help each one of us to do our part to halt the spread of this virus.

Send strength and courage to the doctors and nurses in the frontlines,

Fortify them with the full force of their healing powers.

Send wisdom and insight to the scientists working to discover healing treatments.

Fill our leaders with the wisdom and the courage to choose wisely and act quickly.

May we see that we are one world, one people who will rise above this pandemic together.

Watch over us God, grace us with your love, bless us with your healing light.

Hear us God; heal us God. Amen.

_______________________
The Rev'd Dr Hugh Kempster
Vicar, St Peter's Eastern Hill
Melbourne 3002, Australia
  T:     +61 3 9662 2391
  M:    0488 960 022
  E:     hkempster at stpeters.org.au <mailto:hkempster at stpeters.org.au>
           www.stpeters.org.au <http://www.stpeters.org.au/>

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