Closer to Dunedin?

A massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake last week has moved the south of New Zealand closer to Australia, scientists said Wednesday.

With the countries separated by the 2,250-kilometre-wide (1,400-mile-wide) Tasman Sea, the 30 centimetre (12 inch) closing of the gap in New Zealand's southwest won't make much difference.

At the rate I am progressing in preparing my house for sale, this is the only way I will move.

Great comments

Two items today I have found most moving.

From KJ on Madpriest, please read the whole comment if you have not done so already.

You see, Tim, I once followed the "accurate" advice you prescribe here. This is what I was told was right and the will of God for me. There was just one problem, this advice nearly led to the end of my existence on earth as it led to despair. I wanted it to be true -- I wanted to be like every other evangelical boy, I assumed, a heterosexual. I wanted to marry a lovely girl and "settle down." I wanted to not be me. I clung so tightly to what I wanted to be true of me, and what others said needed to be true to me, that what God would have me to be was nearly lost. Yet, to those on the "outside," I was a fine example of a good evangelical boy, busy with the work of the "gospel," while dying in need of relationship on the inside.

And there's the spiritual rub, of course. How does the Spirit use one when that one is consumed with attempting to be what he or she is not? How is it good news to tell others to pretend to be someone else? To others like me, I had nothing to offer. This is not good, and it certainly is not news.

And from Rev Susan Russell at An Inch at a Time reporting from TEC convention.

The woman who stopped me in the worship hall to thank Integrity for our work and then to share that she had attended the Integrity Eucharist with her 14 year old son -- and that afterwards in their hotel room he had come out to her.

"I've known he was gay since he was about 4," she said, her eyes welling up. "And have been waiting for him to figure it out. The fact that he came to himself in the context of a celebration of the Eucharist -- that he's never going to have to wonder if his church or his family will love and accept him as he is -- I just can't thank you enough."

"He's a really great kid," she said, wiping her eyes. "And he's going to be FABULOUS gay man! "

I pray for the day when it will not be necessary for so many young GLBT Christians to wrestle with a perceived conflict between their faith and their sexuality but instead discover it as part of their unique God created being.

Prayers and Thanksgiving

I have just had an email from my sister.

Yesterday I caught my foot on a jutting up footpath tile and fell flat on my face (just outside our building). Luckily didn't break anything but quite a few bruises on chin, hands and knees.
Thanks be to God no breaks and prayers for healing

However today she volunteered as usual at the courts. My sister is a Justice of the Peace and in Australia many legal documents must be signed in front of a JP.

Left North Sydney court, bought a couple of things at supermarket then sat down on station (a very busy station) to wait for train. Caught train and approaching Chatswood (about 15 minute journey) realised I did not have my handbag!!! I raced across to platform 1 where a city train was departing but missed it. Then spoke to rail chap in office on platform. He immediately phoned North Sydney station - waited on phone while the guy at the other end went to check and would you believe, my handbag was still on the seat. I think having a couple of extra bags with sore hands didn't help.
More Thanksgiving
And the reason for my email to her was to ask the time of her cataract eye operation tomorrow. This will be the second eye. The first had some problems with infection but surgeon is not concerned. Prayers please.

Diary - Moon Walk

It seems to be the in thing at the moment to reminisce about where one was 40 years ago. I have kept a diary since 1962. Most of it is very uninteresting but occasionally helpful.
Last Saturday says: Washing, Vacuumed bedroom
Yesterday said: Ironing but I will soon add: to Katoomba and saw 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'.
Reading my activities in the 60's I wonder how I had the energy.
July 21st 1969 I wrote:
To School, portable Tvs used to watch Man's first walk on the Moon Went shopping - To Jones's

I was a 25 year old teacher in my 4th year of teaching so had just gained my 1st list which meant I could begin to apply for more supervisor positions and in 2 years would go for 2nd list and then be able to apply for promotional positions (actually took another 4 years).

I have no idea what I purchased while shopping. I was still living at home with my parents so did not need to shop for food, perhaps clothes.
The Jones were a family whose son was in the group I took camping in NZ at the end of that year so it was probably about fund raising activities.

There were not lot of TVs in schools at the time so students were sent home to collect portables for nearly every room and classes were suspended for most of the day while we watched the Moon landing. We have always been proud that the images came through the Radio Disk at Parkes in Central NSW (about 250km from me now). This was because of the position of the Moon over the earth at that time.
I remember a new teacher from India had only started that day and she thought Australian schools were crazy.

Reading around that date, I had assisted with the Christian Fellowship at school the previous Friday and attended Evening Prayer the night before. Most of the weekend had been spent collecting bottles to raise money for the NZ trip.

However Saturday night I had driven, wearing biker clothes, to places where I might fall in with gangs. This was my pathetic attempt in those days to explore my sexual urges. These lives were kept completely separate, even my diary is cryptic. Fortunately I never came to grief in those dangerous activities.

The News

Sometimes I think it would be better if I did not watch the news. It has been so depressing lately.

First there was the hotel bombings in Jakarta last Friday. Three Australians, 2 business men and one trade official were killed and one New Zealand business man. I am not sure of the nationality of the other 5 killed, I presume they were Indonesian and one was the suicide bomber. I think about 60 were injured. I cannot understand any religion which seems to believe in a God of hate and this includes some well-known Christian even if they do not resort to actual physical violence.
Prayers for the families of the deceased and the nation of Indonesia which is trying with a great deal of recent success to be a democracy.

Second our news was of the 11th Australian soldier to die in Afghanistan, a young man of 22. I know this is not many by US standards but still bad enough. At least there were comments by the Chief of the Defence Forces, the Minister for Defence and the Prime Minister. On past performance they are all likely to attend any funeral service. Sadly that would be impossible in the USA. I am becoming increasingly disenchanted with the war in Afghanistan. It seemed worthwhile immediately after 9/11 but unfortunately the effort was diverted to Iraq and now experts seem to think it is unwinnable and we are only remaining to 'save face'. A poor reason for sending young men to their deaths. Prayers needed for the family and all the forces of many countries fighting in Afghanistan.

Finally our news is full of the death of a family in a quiet suburb of Sydney.Two young boys aged 9 & 12, their mother, father and aunt were found bludgeoned to death in their home on Sunday morning. They owned the local newsagency. As yet no reasons are known. Prayers especially are needed for the 15 year old daughter of the family who was on holiday overseas. Her grief must be unimaginable.

A Babble of Baptisms

I met my sister outside church this morning and, having read the daily notices online, said "Guess what, another baptism"

St James, King Street is the oldest church in Sydney and was consecrated in 1824 (not old by world standards but Sydney was first settled by the English in 1788).
Consequently it is seen by many as the place to have your child 'done'.
In the 4 weeks after Easter we had six baptisms over 3 Sundays. I guess there was a backlog from Lent. We have had 2 or 3 since and there are also baptisms at the later service.
On any other Sunday the majority of worshippers are well past child bearing. Our Sunday School, known as Kids@Church, process out after a blessing which follows the Collect for the Day and usually return in time for communion. We are pleasantly surprised if the number of children reaches 2 figures. Where are all those who were baptised 4 or more years ago?

Even if I did not read the pew sheet, a baptism is announced by a large number of strangers sitting at the front of the church who are so obviously lost in the liturgy. This is most obvious during the Gospel procession when they all begin to realise that they should have turned around to face the centre of the church.
I was pleased today to see that many of them, including the Godparents, did go up to take communion. Quite often only 1 or 2 do so.
The problem today was the large number of babies among the group. The sermon could hardly be heard and there was a titter through the congregation as about the 4th parent took a child out of the church. My sister whose hearing is declining told me she just gave up.
The Guest of Honour today was very good and our Assistant Priest Fr John has a real way with kids and always processes around the church to display the child after the baptism. There was a lot of crying during the baptism and I, not having a good view, thought it was the child. It is winter and I am not sure if the water is warmed. However I was told the crying came from some of the others, not the child of the day.

I do like singing Laudate Dominum as they process from the sanctuary to the font.
We leave out the Creed which, of course, is covered by the liturgy of baptism but also the Prayers of the Faithful which I feel is a shame.

A few weeks ago I met a person who used to be a parishioner at St James. She told me at least she restated her baptismal vows on a regular basis while attending St James.

I am not sure if I am being a curmudgeon. Perhaps we should rejoice that parents still want their child baptised. I have no idea what preparation is provided by the priests.
At least it helps the offertories.

On this topic, last year offertories were down and we have had several pleas to increase them. I was glad to read in our July Newsletter that offerings for the half year are 9% over the first 6 months of 2008 and 4% above the budget. I do not know if this is due to increased giving or increased attendance but certainly this 'liberal' parish is not declining.

However to cheer me up, we had one of my favourite hymns for the Offertory.
Dear Lord and Father of mankind.
When the organ leads the congregation to belt out "Speak through the earthquake wind and fire" and then quieten for "Oh still small voice of calm"
the tears stream down my face.

Thank God British Backpacker safe

I am amazed and thankful.
A 19 year old British backpacker went walking in the Mountains not far from my home 12 days ago. He only had a light jacket and did not take his mobile phone (not always much use in this type of country). While some people do go hiking alone, I think it is very foolish as you never know if you might slip and be injured. He was in Australia alone and reported missing when he did not show for a tour he had booked a few days later.
His father flew out from England but this country is so thickly timbered with steep cliffs.

"I was told there were 50 guys with yellow jackets out there looking for him - I saw one of them,'' Mr Cass said.

"So I can understand how difficult it is to see a stupid kid in a dark blue jacket walking under the trees.

"It's so dense.''

I know it well and might be able to orientate myself by recognising landmarks but for a stranger it would be so easy to get lost.
This afternoon his father was at the airport about to fly home, having conducted a little private ceremony and given up all hope, when he received a message that his son had been found by walkers and was just dehydrated having lived on seeds and leaves. It is mid-Winter and temperatures would be about zero or below. As I said amazing.

Last weekend some recent British migrants, two families with young children, went for a walk in the bush at 4.30pm (sunset 5pm at the moment). They were found the next morning after a very cold night. The Australian bush is no walk in the park.

The photo below, which I took 18 months ago, shows the area in which he was lost. The small hill in the centre is know as the Ruined Castle and is where he was last seen by some other walkers 12 days ago. He was headed for Mount Solitary on the left. In front is Narrow Neck and news reports say he was found below it on this side.
Newspaper article

Vive La France

Bishop Robinson meets with Archbishop Aspinall

I was pleased to read on the blog of Bishop Gene Robinson
Another amazing day yesterday. At noon, I had lunch with three primates, thanks to the Chicago Consultation. Along with Bishop Tom Ely, of Vermont, I broke bread with the Primates of Korea (and his translator), Scotland and Australia.


+Gene comments on some things said by the Primate of Korea but nothing from Archbishop Aspinall, Primate of Australia.

Oh dear, won't that upset the Sydney types.

They met when +Gene was on holidays in Australia last year and some of the local idiots accused ++Aspinall of hearing one side only. He would have to be stone deaf not to know the other point of view and I presume in his normal activities he would have met ++Jensen and the other Sydney bishops often.

++Aspinall is very cautious in declaring his views. I found this:
Dr Aspinall said that he had not declared his personal position on the issue of the ordination of gay clergy because he believed it was his responsibility as Primate in the current climate to “try to find ways to enable the Church to engage in the debate in a constructive way and move forwards towards a solution”. If he were to express a strong personal view, it would add to the polarisation in the current climate, which would not be helpful. He said that he felt sympathy for the hurt that gay people experienced. “Quite a number of homosexual people have said that they are people of faith, that they are committed to Jesus Christ, and believe they are faithful members of the Church and they want to have a home in the Church and they want their contributions to be received and valued and welcomed.

He is speaking at Christ Church St Laurence in Sydney on September 15 and I plan to be present.
His topic will be:
'Gracious Restraint: Hastening Slowly in the Anglican Communion'
which is not as hopeful as I would like. I feel there has been too much restraint on our side and very little on the other. Graciousness is not a virtue held by the Jensenites. I can imagine what they will say when they hear of the lunch meeting yesterday.

Blogging time!!!!!!

I am finding it hard to cope with the blog roll on the right of my page. I like to keep up but find that, as last weekend, when I go out several days in a row the list just gets longer. There is a lot of good stuff but my time is spent in front of the computer. I just threw out over a month's worth of daily papers from my dining table. I read the first few pages then leave them for later unless I take them with me on the nearly 2 hour train trip to the city. The pile got higher and I was trying to eat off the top of the pile. Finally had to throw them all.
I went to 2 social meetings last week with people my age. They all said they check their email every 3 or 4 days (some do not have the internet) and looked amazed that I check my computer, if at home, every hour. I did not tell them I spend 3 or 4 hours a day (when home) reading blogs.
I am adding friends when requested to Facebook, they are all from my blogroll anyway, but have no intention of posting there. The whole idea of asking a person to be my friend I find creepy. How would I feel if they refused? I sometimes get requests from people I do not know, how strange. I only go to Facebook when I receive an email.
Oh well back to reading, although I have a pile of housework and, if it was not raining, a heap of gardening to do.
I want to post about the seminar last weekend but when will I find the time?