November 2016 The North Coast Anglican Page 1

NORTH COAST

ANGLICAN“Embracing the spirit of Christ in Our Time” The Newspaper of the Anglican Diocese of Grafton, New South Wales. November 2016 Issue No 5

Ballina beaus and beauties raise $2,500 on the catwalk Page 5

Michael’s Story of Resilience and SuccessPage 12

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All creatures great and smallAll creatures great and small were found in churches across the diocese in October for the annual blessing of the animals. October 4 is the Feast Day for St Francis, the patron saint of animals who is remembered for his concern of all of God’s creatures, both human and non-human.

Some churches still open their doors for pet owners or caregivers to bring their pets in for a blessing. Parishioners attended blessings with their pets, companion animals, farm animals to ask for God’s blessing on their animal friends.Story continued page 3

Photo: Blessing of the Animals at the Parish of Bangalow

Page 2 The North Coast Anglican November 2016

The Pacific Highway forms a significant communication and transport backbone for this

region, connecting the population centres dotted along the far northern coastal strip. Conversation at the start of diocesan meetings often revolves around the latest roadworks and the frequent delays they cause. But, as we often say, it will be much better when it is completed. The old highway is no longer fit for purpose – too many large trucks, too few places to pass safely, too many black spots. The accident rate has been appalling. If nothing had changed, people would eventually have chosen other routes through this region, or stopped travelling here altogether. Change is inconvenient and disruptive but also exciting. Without it the far north coast will become a backwater.

There are parallels with the church. We run the risk of avoiding the disruption and inconvenience of change, only to find that the main game has gone somewhere else. Jesus preached among the people, travelled to where they were, immersed himself in the crowds who gathered around him. We no longer live in a society that will come looking for us and gather quietly to hear the good news of the Gospel. We are caught up in a bustling marketplace of ideas. If we hide behind church doors for a couple of hours a week at an inconvenient time, we will become a religious nostalgia club, travelling the pretty but deserted sections of the old highway while the rest of society sweeps past on the four lane freeway.

As I travel around the Diocese visiting Parish Councils, we are talking about

change; about what we need to sustain us in our journey of faith and what we need to let go of. How can the blessings we have from the past and in the present resource a future of passionate ministry which invites people into relationship with God through Jesus Christ? Let us have the courage to face disruption and inconvenience and to welcome change that straightens and widens the road, enabling others to join us on it and know the joy of faith.

Grace and peace,

+Sarah

THE NORTH COAST ANGLICANTHE BI-MONTHLY NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF GRAFTON

CONTACT DETAILSEditor: Louise MackayPO Box 4Grafton NSW 2460P: (02) 66 424122Fax: (02) 66 431814Email: nca@graftondiocese.org.au

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DEADLINENovember 25 2016

Bishop Sarah Writes... Roadworks!

Special celebrations were held at the Parish of Maclean in September to honour Iluka resident Stella Wiblen as she celebrated her 100th birthday.On September 21, Rev’d Sister Lyn Bullard presented Stella with a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of the Bishop of Grafton, recognising her contribution to music and church activities in the parish over the past 50 years.Around 30 family members and friends attended the presentation and morning tea to honour Mrs Wiblen at Mareeba Aged Care facility where she now resides. St Peter’s Anglican Church has been privileged to have Stella as their organist for many years. Stella very rarely missed playing at weekly services and also played for funerals and weddings.The centenarian celebrated her 100th birthday on October 24. Stella was born

at Coraki Hospital in 1916 to Anthony and Catherine Piccoli and lived at New Italy until she was 10 years old when her family moved to Chatsworth Island.During the war years and for many years following, Stella provided music for many functions including kitchen teas, wedding receptions, concerts at the bowls club, farewells, balls and dances with her sister Valda. She was also involved with the Cane Harvest Débutante Balls at Harwood Island. At the 2013 Iluka Australia Day Ceremony she received a Special Appreciation Award for her musical services to the community.As her place of residence in Iluka was close to the church she was the “Keeper of the Key”, gladly taking responsibility for opening and locking the church when required. She was, and still is, a valued member of the St Peter’s Church Guild.

“Stella” Celebration for Centenarian

Traffic control in place while road resurfacing occurs for the Woolgoolga to Ballina Pacific Highway upgrade

November 2016 The North Coast Anglican Page 3

All creatures great and smallPARISH OF BALLINA By Jan Fryer

The Feast Day traditionally held on October 4 is often held in conjunction with a Blessing of Pets.

Why is this, I’ve often wondered?St Francis founded the Catholic Church’s Franciscan Order in Italy during the late 12th and 13th Centuries.He is not only remembered for his generosity to the poor and his willingness to minister to the lepers. He is also remembered for his love for animals and nature.So symbols that are associated with him came to include birds and animals such as the deer and the wolf. Eventually he became recognised by the Catholic Church as the patron saint of animals and the environment. As a result some churches still open their doors for pet owners or caregivers to bring their pets in for a blessing.This year St Mary’s Ballina and John the Baptist Lennox Head did just that. The event has been a regular occurrence over the past few years. The service held at Sunday Worship Service October 2 was a hit. Those present both human and animal behaved beautifully. Note that Rector Rev Matthew Jones’ dog ‘Maggie’ and Theology Student Cathy Tasker-Ridd’s ‘Roger’ also enjoyed the event immensely.

PARISH OF KINGSCLIFFBy Rev’d Eron PerryAs a culmination of the “Season of Creation” (September 4 - November 2) the Parish of Kingscliff held a blessing of the animals. In attendance this year there were six dogs, two guinea pigs, two lady bugs, a cat and a chook. This year the chook, named “chook”, stole the show by joining in with the congregation singing the hymns. All pets and humans were well behaved and no feathers were ruffled. Blessings were warmly received by humans and their friends. It was a great way to close the “Season of Creation” where over five weeks we celebrated God’s beautiful created order and our special place as stewards of creation.

PARISH OF BANGALOWBy Laus Deo The Blessing of the Animals was held at All Souls’ Bangalow on October 2. The Parish gathered outside in front of the parish hall for The Blessing of the Animals at 9am and honoured St Francis. The guest preacher was The Venerable Greg Ezzy and seven dogs were blessed in the beautiful sunshine and warm weather. We gave thanks to God to whom all creation is good, who sustains all creation with infinite love, and who sees all creatures as part of one universal family.

Pet blessing has Harrison and Zoe Latimer with Rector Matthew JonesMaggie from Ballina Roger from Ballina Parish of Ballina

Blessing of the Animals at St Mark’s Pottsville, “chook” joyfully sang some of the hymns with us.

The Lindisfarne Senior Girls AFL team fell just short of being the AFLQ BLK Schools Cup State Champions recently. Despite being in NSW, Lindisfarne falls in the Queensland zone for AFL given the school’s proximity to the border. Playing through preliminary games locally, then progressing through knock-out rounds, Lindisfarne found itself being in the final four in the State and played off at Maroochydore against three other teams.Playing against The Cathedral College in Rockhampton in the semi-final, Coach Matt Bedford said the girls came within a whisker of completing a dream season.“It was a bruising encounter, where the final result wasn’t decided until the last kick of the game. The conditions on that night were not the best for footy and with a strong southerly blowing diagonally down the field the game became more of an arm wrestle than a free flowing match. They competed with determination and the final result of a loss by four points was a bitter pill to swallow. To the girls’ absolute credit, they were gracious in defeat and wished the winning team all the best for the final. As I spoke to the girls after the match the pain of losing was etched all

over their face but there was a steely resolve to come out on Sunday and put themselves on the line again.”Whilst the result wasn’t what the team wanted, they had to pick themselves up and prepare for their next game which was a classification game to determine 3rd and 4th place in the State. The game was against Kedron State High School, with the Rockhampton girls obviously impressed with the sportsmanship shown in their previous game, turning up to cheer on Lindisfarne. Again it was a tight game which resulted in another four-point loss for the team.Coach Bedford took nothing away from the girls noting their effort and sportsmanship.“The final result for two games was two four point losses and whilst it wasn’t what I had planned for, there was no questioning the girls’ effort and commitment. The girls have done not only themselves proud, but also the School and their families. They were terrific ambassadors for Lindisfarne. Fourth place in a statewide competition is a tremendous result.” It would have been good to see a NSW team become Queensland State Champions, perhaps next year.

NSW team nearly becomes QLD State Champs!

Page 4 The North Coast Anglican November 2016

The annual Baby show and Fête was held at All Saints Murwillumbah in September. Over 30 babies and their families filled the

church with fun and laughter. On the day there were 16 different stalls as well as jumping castles, free face painting and

biscuit decorating for the children. Fresh hot pies were a real treat, along with the sausage sizzle and morning Devonshire teas.The day was really well supported by the community with donations now going to worthwhile community organisations.

Various men and women from many churches in Grafton and South Grafton

have attended monthly combined men’s and women’s breakfasts.These breakfasts have proven very popular as they bring people together from different denominations in the area for a time of fellowship and sharing.A combined breakfast was held at St Matthew’s, South Grafton in September. The guest speaker Rev’d Margaret Beach shared an interesting talk on her Camino Walk experience. Guests were treated to a breakfast consisting of assorted cereals, fruit platters, bacon, scrambled eggs, toast and tea and coffee.The last men’s breakfast for 2016 was held on October 15, and guests heard from Mr Martin

Oates who spoke on Lessons from the Journey so far.The final women’s breakfast was held on October 22. The guest speaker was Alysan Pender who spoke on the topic One Woman’s Journey. Plans are underway for the Annual Community Fair which will take place on November 26 from 8.30am–12.30pm. There will be many stalls offering plants and produce, craft and sewing, books, home cooking and lamingtons, linen and lace, white elephant, furniture, jumping castle, face painting for the children, as well as others. Patrons will also be entertained during the morning with live music. Devonshire teas will be available along with a sausage sizzle and bacon and egg rolls.

Parish of South Grafton

The Parish of Ballina celebrated a trinity of events as part of Bishop Sarah’s pastoral visit to the parish

on August 14.The special day commenced with a combined parish service focusing on three areas: St Mary’s Church Patronal Festival, celebrating 140 years of Mother’s Union worldwide and the commissioning of the Parish Mission Statement. The service was the first combined Sunday service for many years with over 160 people attending.The objects of Mother’s Union were presented as gifts and were part of the procession behind the MU banner. They were placed around a larger gift at the front of the church representing Mary Sumner’s gift to the world. Bishop Sarah presented MU “50 Year” badges and certificates to Jeanette Tindale, Ellen Goodger, Deidre Dagg and Nancy Finlay.

The cake celebrating Mary, Mother of our Lord, and 140 years of MU was cut by Muriel Blackman, life member of MU (60 years of membership). Pam Ansell, President of MU Ballina Branch, explained the significance of Mary Sumner’s gift to the world and the challenges facing MU today as they continued to unwrap her precious gifts.For many months the parish has worked on developing a mission statement. Bishop Sarah launched the mission statement, An Inclusive Christ-centred community, growing in our relationship with God and the wider community. This will focus our mission and ministry work and activities.Following this celebration in worship everyone enjoyed a delicious brunch prepared by the Parish catering team Anglican Function Hospitality.

Trinity of Happenings in Ballina

Diocese of GraftonAnglican Church of

AustraliaDo you have an up-to-date will?

Please consider giving to the work of the Church in your will.

Our diocese has been blessed by the generosity of benefactors in times past. As we seek to expand Christ’s Mission in the

21st century, please consider how you might contribute?

You should get legal advice before making your will. You may wish to consider the

activities of the Anglican Diocese of Grafton as the recipient of either a specific gift or the

residue of your estate.

The following wording may be useful for you and your legal advisor when making your

will:

“I bequeath to The Corporate Trustees of the Diocese of Grafton in the State of New South

Wales the sum of . . . . . to be used for the general purposes of the Diocese of Grafton in

such manner as the said Trustees may approve.”

Murwillumbah Annual Baby Show

50 year MU membership badges presented by Bishop Sarah Macneil to Deidre Dagg, Jeanette Tindale, Ellen Goodger and Nancy Finlay- Ballina Parish

By Terry Ryan

Rector of St Mary’s at Ballina, Fr Matthew Jones, has praised

the Parish’s relationship with Anglicare, describing it as a special ministry partner “dedicated to helping people cope with the demands and pressures of modern life.”He welcomed Anglicare North Coast’s CEO, Estelle Graham, to the Anglicare Sunday service, giving thanks for the work the organisation does in many parts of the nation.“Many people find themselves in situations of hardship and difficulty and need guidance and assistance to get back on track,” Fr Matthew told the congregation.The church was decorated with Anglicare colours and its code of service:

respect, integrity, compassion, excellence and collaboration.Ms Graham spoke of the organisation’s commitment to affordable housing in the region and the disproportionate number of needy men, women and children.She presented a snapshot of the work Anglicare is doing in the region, highlighting a number of projects involving housing, homeless and refugees, as well as announcing a new, for-profit cleaning business called GR8CLEAN, operating from Ballina, with profits supporting the affordable housing program.The business will focus on difficult and unpopular cleaning jobs, such as air conditioning filters.

Anglicare Sunday

November 2016 The North Coast Anglican Page 5

By Yvonne Turner

Nine confirmation candidates ranging from 14 to 80 years of age were confirmed at the

parish of Tweed Heads on October 30. Bishop Sarah presided and the church community and candidates families were all in attendance. The joy of the day was indescribable.Red, red and more red adorned the church with two magnificent quilted red banners made with a great deal of love and skill by Margaret Blaney and the craft ladies, displayed on each side of the altar for the first time. The message – “Come Spirit Come”.The music of the day was terrific with Ross Johnson at the helm with

accompaniment, voices sang with great enthusiasm. The singing group added to the spectacle of the ceremony.The joy of the day continued in the hall where a confirmation cake was enjoyed by all followed by morning tea. If the noise level is any indication, it was a “roaring” success.Our newest Communicant members are Abigail Rynehart, Kevin Turner, Clive Hammond, Jennifer Hammond, Zhang Ying (Linda), Premilla Asari, Neil Duncan, Don Merrell and Jenny Merrell.“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.” (Galatians 5:22-23.)

By Jan Fryer

Ballina beaus and beauties hit the catwalk in September to showcase the local fashions.

Clergy and lay parishioners alike entertained over 150 people with hilarious antics.Parish Rector, Rev’d Matthew Jones, and the Associate Priest, Rev’d Richard “Shorty” Brown ably led the team. Emmanuel Anglican College students Sheridan Barnes and Thandi and Sindi Malaba were wonderful ambassadors for the school.Cathy Tasker-Ridd also showed she can multi task as not just ‘Theology-student-in-training’ in the Parish, but as the MC. She was fully kitted out in attire from the Op Shop.The women were well and truly catered for as were the men with five male models up from two last year. New categories like ‘Men at Work’, ‘Derby Day’ and ‘Cruise Ship’ were a hit. All agreed that the Ballina Parish Fashion Parade was a hoot.“This year’s event was the highlight of my year,” a parishioner claimed at the end of the Parade.The event raised over $2,500. Organiser Maureen Colburt was delighted at the outcome of her hard work.

The long and short of a day on the catwalk

Derby Day Fashions on the catwalk

Dementia – A Positive Response

By Sylvia Loader MU Diocesan President, Grafton

Mothers Union has held two forums on dementia this year, at Ballina in August and Grafton

in October, and more are planned in 2017. The forums focused on awareness of, and sensitivity to the issues around dementia in the parish.Here are some suggestions for making parishes more dementia friendly from the group discussions held:• Recognise that dementia is a

problem. • Continue to raise awareness of it

with strong clergy support.• Display a welcoming attitude to

people with dementia and their carers.

• Ask the carers what help they need and provide support, e.g. by offering transport to services, pastoral visits and respite for carers.

• Be aware of those with dementia, listen to them, involve them in parish activities and treat them as equals.

• Develop a parish support group.• Clergy and ministers to encourage

the staff of aged care facilities to give all residents the opportunity to attend services, and offer communion to those in the dementia wing.

People with dementia can still enjoy life, and we should all be helping them do so.

Confirmation “Roaring Success”

Sing Songs of Praise!The Anglican Parish of Mullumbimby welcomed the Dynasty8 and Dustyesky choirs to worship on September 25. Local churches were invited to attend and about 150 people joined together for a wonderful celebration of prayer and praise. The music was uplifting and the response from both the congregation and choirs was full of praise.

Page 6 The North Coast Anglican November 2016

Term Interest Rate

90 days 2.65% p.a. 180 days 2.70% p.a.

365 days 2.75% p.a. 18 months 2.70% p.a.

Entity Interest Rate

Parish 1.00% p.a.

Anglican Affiliate 0.25% p.a.

Entity Interest Rate

Parish 1.75% p.a.

Anglican Affiliate 1.50% p.a.

Individuals 1.75% p.a. Balance Interest Rate Balances up to $4,999 0.10% p.a. $5,000 to $49,999 0.25% p.a. $50,000 and over 0.50% p.a.

All Interest Rates are current as at 1st August 2016 and are subject to change

Anglican Funds Grafton Diocese * 50 Victoria Street Grafton NSW 2460 * PO Box 4 Grafton NSW 2460 * ABN 42 489 753 905

Phone FreeCall 1800 810 919 (NSW Only) or 02 6642 4480 * Fax 02 6643 2391 * office@afgd.com.au * www.anglicanfundsgraftondiocese.com.au

Note: Special Interest Rates on Term Investments are available on request for funds $100,000 & over

Type Interest Rate

Next Gen Saver 1.00% p.a. (+2.50%p.a. Bonus T&C’s apply)

Next Gen Term Investment 2.75% p.a. (90 Days)

Next Gen Accounts

*Interest paid monthly on ‘Saver’ & at maturity on ‘Term Investment’

*Interest paid at maturity on 90,180 & 365 days & six monthly on 18 months

Access Accounts

Cash Management Accounts

Term Investment Accounts Cheque Accounts (Parishes, Ministry Units & Anglican Affiliate Entities Only)

*Interest paid monthly

*Interest paid six monthly

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Anglicanfunds - Grafton DioceseTo be the trusted financial services provider of the Anglican Diocese of Grafton, enabling ministry growth.

AFGD – More than just a numberBy Blaine Fitzgerald Fund Manager

For almost 27 years, prior to Anglican Funds Grafton Diocese, I worked in the finance industry. The people I

worked with had a number of things in common: a taste for big bonuses and the next big role that indicated success. And we all believed in a kind of holy grail - the magic number.Everyone in finance had their own individual Number - the amount of money we had to have before we could quit our jobs and spend the rest of our lives travelling the world, or spending time with our kids, or otherwise devoting ourselves to what we really wanted to do. The Number was a silver bullet for all the problems in our lives. It was what would make all the gruelling hours worth it.I believed in the Number for a long time. I always thought that I was just a couple zeros from achieving a personal safety net that would allow me to finally live worry-free. But then I stopped because I realised that the Number was just a shortcut that allowed me to avoid evaluating the meaning of my own life.Here’s how people in finance figure out their Number. First, they figure out the amount of money they’d spend annually in their dream state of retirement. Then, they divide that number by the annual investment return they can expect on all of their savings and investments.So, to keep the maths simple, if you could live your dream life on $150,000 a year, and you assume cautious investment returns of 2% annually, your Number is $7.5 million. If you think your

investments can match the long-term average of the S&P 500 (8%), then you’d need $1.9 million before you can retire. You can also adjust these calculations to include predictable life events like having a wedding, buying a home and paying for your children’s education.Personally, I had my Number, and while I won’t specify what it was, I will say that it changed over the years. But eventually I dropped the entire concept, because it has some inherent flaws.First, the Number is impossible to calculate accurately. That’s because it requires you to make too many assumptions about what will happen in your life.The idea of the Number was firmly entrenched among people in their 20s and 30s. And it was certainly logical to use financial planning to help us achieve our goals. But the reality is that many of us couldn’t actually predict whether or when we’d get married. We couldn’t say with certainty whether we’d have

children, or how many we’d have. In retrospect, I think what made me cling to the idea of the Number was that it gave me the illusion of control. Plugging my aspirations into a spreadsheet was a way to assure myself that my life was on track or at least, that it soon would be.Another problem with the Number is that it can lead you down a dangerous path. It’s intended to be strictly a financial tool. My experience was that people who seek extrinsic goals, such as money, recognition or status, tend to continually be searching for the next big thing. Worse still, relationships with friends and family suffer when people focus on status markers. Interactions tend to be infused with jealousy. And so, despite having a great career, family, and group of friends, the Number left me feeling grossly inadequate and insecure.But the Number’s greatest flaw is its singular focus. Thinking constantly about how much money you need to live the

life you want deprives you from enjoying the present moment. Even worse, it sets you up for a deferred life plan. I was constantly saying to myself, “When I reach the Number, then I will be happy and my life will begin.”This way of thinking manifested itself in my behaviours and added up to make me pretty dissatisfied, even as I kept getting closer to the Number I thought wanted. And the more I thought about it, the more I realised that I’d been thinking about money and success all wrong.When I stopped to reflect on the things that actually contributed to my happiness, they included the flexibility to be with my wife and family, the need for quiet time and having the time for exercise and activities that nourished my body, mind and soul.I needed a baseline amount of money to provide for my family and do other important, everyday things. But I didn’t want to focus solely on saving for an extraordinary, distant future, instead I wanted to savour the precious moments with my growing family. I needed a happy life now.These days I remain in the finance industry, but the overarching goals are more holistic. I still value financial stability, however I now try to strike a balance between prudence and unnecessary worry. When it comes to the future, there are some things I can predict and some things I can’t. So when I look at my bank account these days, I’m not expecting to get affirmation about my life choices or a reflection of my self-worth. I understand that money won’t do that work for me. I just see numbers now.

November 2016 The North Coast Anglican Page 7

By Martin Oates, PrincipalROTARY DINNEROn Wednesday evening Clarence Valley Anglican School hosted the Rotary Club of Grafton to dinner. The members enjoyed a delicious dinner cooked by our students under the guidance of our hospitality teacher Mr Ryan Martin. The drinks provided and presentation of the meal drew many compliments from the Rotary members. Thank you to Mr Martin and the students on the high quality of hospitality offered. Pictured is a photo of the students and Mr Martin being awarded a thank you certificate by Rotary president Mr Russell Jones. MUSICAL PERFORMANCE EVENINGAs part of our Creative Arts program, the students of the Junior School had been working hard on a school production which was performed in week two of this busy school term. The production was based

around Disney films. There was a combination of dance, drama and singing for the audience to enjoy. The class groups were excited about the performance and it was a fun night. HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATEAt the time of writing this piece the 2016 HSC started last week with the two English papers. I have been pleased when speaking with the students after the examinations that they have felt well prepared and happy with the questions they have been asked. It is also heartening to see the students coming to school for extra tutorials, which I thank the teachers for providing, and taking advantage of quiet areas. The results of the HSC will be released before Christmas.2017 ACTIVITIES AFTERNOONI wish to take the opportunity to announce that in 2017 there will be one afternoon each week which will

be known as an Activities Afternoon for Years 7-12 and perhaps the Primary School as well. Years 11 and 12 would need to continue with their HSC program. This is in effect renaming the Sports Afternoon that is presently held on Friday afternoons. The activities offered are still under negotiation with staff, seeking their expertise in a number of areas. There may be some sport, if preparing for a DEX competition for example, but from an educational perspective I want students to have the opportunity to experience activities they may not readily do. If they play hockey three times a week, they do not need more hockey. These may include Duke of Edinburgh, debating, music ensembles, service visits into the community, chess, rowing, shooting and there are many more. It would mean a commitment by the students for a term and would be compulsory to be a part of an activity on the afternoon that it runs.

CLARENCE VALLEY ANGLICAN SCHOOL

PERTH ARCHBISHOP ROGER HERFT STANDS ASIDE

The Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia, Melbourne Archbishop Philip Freier, said that he acknowledges the decision of Perth Archbishop Roger Herft to stand aside from his position.Archbishop Herft announced in a statement published on his website on October 10 that he is standing aside with immediate effect to focus on the Royal Commission’s inquiry into the Diocese of Newcastle, where Archbishop Herft was bishop from 1993 to 2005.Archbishop Herft wrote that he had done this after much prayer, thought and consultation with his advisors to allow for the mission and ministry of the Diocese of Perth to flourish.Dr Freier said his prayers and those of the Church were with Archbishop Herft and his family, the clergy and people of the dioceses of Perth and Newcastle, and all those affected by clergy sexual abuse.

MELBOURNE ANGLICAN CHURCH FLAGS ABUSE BODY

The Anglican Diocese of Melbourne will establish an independent body to investigate sexual abuse complaints.The move comes as part of the church’s response to the 2013 Victorian parliamentary inquiry

and the royal commission, and is aimed at improving transparency, independence and avenues of redress for victims.The new complaint body is separate from the diocese and the archbishop, and can work across any number of dioceses, the church said on October 22.

BRITAIN’S ROYAL MINT TURNS TO BISHOP FOR CHRISTMAS COIN DESIGN

Britain’s Royal Mint has produced the UK’s first-ever Christmas coin – and has turned to the Church in Wales’ Bishop of St Asaph, Gregory Cameron, for its design. Bishop Gregory, a former deputy secretary general of the Anglican Communion, designed the UK’s last

round-pound, which was released in May. The design features the Magi’s visit to the holy family, bringing gifts in homage to Jesus.

MOTHERS’ UNION “SIMPLY THE BEST” SAYS ARCHBISHOP WELBY

“The world’s greatest women’s group” – that’s how the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, described the Mothers’ Union at a celebration in the UK to mark its 140th anniversary during September. More than 2,700 people – some from as far as Australia, Canada and the United States – gathered for two services of commemoration at the cathedral in the southern English city of Winchester, where the MU was founded by Mary Sumner in 1876.

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL NEWS

In BriefAPPOINTMENTSThe Rev’d Christian Ford has been appointed Rector of Lismore. The Commissioning Service will be on December 2.The Rev’d Stuart Webb has been appointed as Rector of Port Macquarie. The Commissioning Service will be on January 23 2017.

RETIREMENTSThe Rev’d Hilary Singleton is retiring as Rector of the Parish of Byron Bay and her last Sunday in the Parish is November 6.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY11 November – Retired clergy, spouses & widows afternoon tea at Alstonville. For more information contact the Rev’d Geoff Vidal 0447 645 456 gvandcv@gmail.com12 November – The Annual Diocesan Ultreya will be held at Christ Church Cathedral and the Parish Centre. For more information contact Ann Helmrich annhelmrich@exemail.com.au or 6624 6114.26 November – Ordination to the Diaconate of Carol Ford and Cathy Ridd from 10am at Grafton Cathedral.26 November – South Grafton Parish Community Fair 8.30am-12.30pm at Tyson Street, South Grafton30 November – Retired clergy, spouses & widows morning tea at Macksville. For more information contact the Rev’d Geoff Vidal 0447 645 456 gvandcv@gamil.com22 December – Bishop’s Registry closes for holidays9 January 2017 – Bishop’s registry reopens after holidays

PRAYER POINTSLord God, we pray for Carol Ford and Cathy Ridd who will soon be ordained as deacons in your church. We thank you for their dedication to you and pray for your leading of their witness and service of you. May your Holy Spirit sustain them.Unchanging God, guide your church in this Diocese, refresh our faith and help us to renew and change in the guidance of your Holy Spirit. May we discern what is bread for our journey and lead in our saddlebags and have the courage to embrace those things that sustain and release those things that hold us back from the better future you offer.Loving God, as we hear of the pain of those who have suffered abuse, may we as a church maintain the courage to face the reality of past wrongs, have care for those who have been hurt and strive to make the church a safer place for all.Sovereign Lord, we pray for wisdom and discernment for Bishop Sarah, Diocesan leaders and members of the Diocesan family continuing to work through the growing challenges of financial viability and sustainable patterns of ministry. God of shalom, as we enter the season of Advent may our hearts be open in anticipation of fresh life-giving encounters with you. May we focus on the arrival of the Christ and resist the clutter of distractions that are associated with this time of year that our lives may be a witness to the wholeness you offer.

ZERO TOLERANCE FOR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

Grafton Diocesehas established formal procedures to deal with

sexual misconductPersons aggrieved by the sexual misconduct

of a church worker - whether they are an ordained or lay person - should report it.

If you wish to speak to someone about sexual abuse by a church worker please phone

1800 774 945 at any time for recorded information of the

names and telephone numbers of our contact persons

CVAS students and Mr Martin being awarded a thank you certificate by Rotary president Mr Russell Jones.

Page 8 The North Coast Anglican November 2016

Trustees raise standardsThe Corporate Trustees are an important part of the sound governance of the Grafton Diocese but their diligent work is largely unseen and unknown by the members of our churches.

Assigned with the responsibility of the legal control of church property, trust funds and

investments, the Corporate Trustees bear the weight of making wise decisions with resources entrusted to the church.Aware of their responsibilities the Trustees have been progressively building upon existing standards for financial reporting, monitoring investment performance and overall governance of their trust responsibilities.Recently the Trustees completed a review of their Governance Policy setting the standards by which The Corporate Trustees operate. Mr Brad Bishop, Corporate Trustee since 2009, welcomed the updated Governance Policy “The latest Governance Policy gives us a clearer direction and will stretch us to further lift standards, especially in investment performance and risk management.”The Trustees have also introduced a Fit and Proper Person declaration to give more confidence about the ongoing suitability of people selected as Corporate Trustees.

The Trustees and Bishop-in-Council have recently agreed upon clear guidelines on what can be delegated to the Registry staff. “The new procedure on staff delegations is a positive step” says Archdeacon Gail Hagon “as it makes it clear what staff are authorised to do on behalf of the Bishop-in-Council and The Corporate Trustees.”The Corporate Trustees are mindful that circumstances are always changing and developing. That is why the Governance Policy encourages the identification of new Trustees, especially those with business, legal, finance and strategy skills, to continue the good work into the future. Canon Terry Shorten who stepped down as Trustee earlier this year reflects “While I had more to offer

as a Corporate Trustee, I was mindful that after almost 23 years as a Trustee it was important to hand over to a new person to bring a fresh perspective.”

WHAT GUIDES CORPORATE TRUSTEES’ INVESTMENT DECISIONS?

• Individual trust accounts will be pooled for investment unless there is a good reason not to do so

• Speculative and risky undertakings or investments will be avoided

• For liquidity, there will be an appropriate balance between income earning and capital gain assets

• Share assets will be purchased based on a sound credit rating, a

sound performance history and their potential for earnings

• Direct investment in international shares will be avoided. Investment in international shares will only be through managed funds with such investments being a minor part of the investment portfolio

• Investments in property will be an appropriate and diverse mix of commercial and residential property with listed and unlisted property trusts considered

• Investments where there is potential confusion between the investment performance and ministry objectives will be avoided

• The performance of investments will be compared against benchmarks for that asset class

• No investments will be made in known illegal activities or where there is a reasonable suspicion of illegal activities

• Deposits will not be taken if there is any suspicion that the purpose of such deposits is money laundering

• All investments will conform to ethical and responsible investment guidelines as determined by the synod or the Bishop-in-Council

From clause 29 of Corporate Trustees Governance Policy of September 2016The Corporate Trustees Governance Policy is available on the Anglican Diocese of Grafton website. Look under Diocesan Procedures and Policies.

L to R Mr Brad Bishop, Mr Lindsay Walker, Bishop Sarah Macneil, Ms Lee Archinal, and Dr Gordon Burch. The Reverend Canon Dr John Barrett was absent at that meeting.

Grafton Cathedral BookshopChristmas cards, calendars, diaries, stationary and gifts are

arriving daily as well as music, candles & lectionaries

Open Monday - Friday 9.30am - 4.30pm | P: (02) 6642 3958 | E: grabks@nor.com.au

Gladstone Church Furniture Sale The Parish of Lower Macleay has a number of items still available for sale following the closure of St Barnabas, Gladstone.

The items include a lectern of English oak; also of English oak are a font 93cm tall and a hymn number frame; four candle holders of turned dark wood 2x145cm tall, 2x40cm approximately; chalice; priests

green chasuble; book supports of white metal and wood. Photographs on the parish website swranglican.com. Phone 6566 6172.

WHO ARE THE CORPORATE TRUSTEES?

The Reverend Canon Dr John Barrett (Parish of Port Macquarie) has served from December 2007 and completes current term at 2017 synod.

Ms Lee Archinal (Parish of Mullumbimby) has served from June 2016 and completes current term at 2021 synod.

The Right Reverend Dr Sarah Macneil Bishop of Grafton

Dr Gordon Burch (Parish of Wauchope) has served from September 2014 and completes current term at 2018 synod.

Mr Bradley Bishop (Parish of Tweed Heads) has served from May 2009 and completes current term at 2019 synod.

Mr Lindsay Walker (Parish of Lismore) has served from September 2014 and completes current term at 2020 synod.

November 2016 The North Coast Anglican Page 9

What Parish are you in?I am a member of the Parish of St John’s in Coffs Harbour. I have been worshipping here since moving to Coffs 14 years ago.Where were you born?I was born in Essex, England – a few kilometres east of London.Where did you grow up?I lived in England until I was ten. My family then migrated to Australia, and the rest of my growing up took place in St Mary’s NSW.Where did you go to school?My early school days were in England at St John’s Road Primary School in Epping, Essex. But I completed my schooling at St Mary’s Primary School and St. Mary’s High School in NSW.What’s the most important thing you learned from your parents?I was taught to always keep lines of communication open, and have found this to be a most valuable lesson. To be observant and aware of the needs of others is another lesson high on my list.

Emphasis was also placed on the need to show love and respect, both within the family, and for other human beings. What gets you out of bed in the morning?I am very much a morning person so getting out of bed is no problem to me. I appreciate early morning walks in the Jetty area where we live. I enjoy the anticipation of what lies ahead each day, and even though I usually have a plan, I try to be open to whatever comes my way and wherever I am led.Are you an introvert or an extrovert?I believe that I’m a mixture of both. When I’m out of my comfort zone, I tend to be quiet and keep to myself. But in situations where I feel relaxed, I quite happily and confidently join in.I love conversations with people – I really enjoy listening to people’s life experiences and occasionally sharing some of my own.

Which traits do you most value in people?Without a doubt, honesty, integrity and loyalty are very important to me. I also very much appreciate a good sense of humour.What are you reading at the moment?I am currently finishing the last chapters of Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver. As I tend to juggle being “busy” with having “quiet spiritual times”, the message and the manner in which this book is written, is greatly appealing to me.On a different note, I am also reading a novel called Tapestry by Fiona McIntosh, which is the fictitious story of a person living life as seen through the eyes of someone else.Did you have a career before considering joining the Diaconate?I completed my general nursing training many years ago, and then worked in both a public hospital, and in the nursing home ward of an aged care facility. I also held a position in a hospital pathology department.But while my children were growing up, I chose not to take on paid work. This resulted in me becoming very involved in voluntary work, mostly within the church.I have also been involved as a board member of a sheltered workshop, and I enjoyed a number of years on the executive committee of an auxiliary for a retirement village.

How did you come to realize your vocation as a Deacon?This took quite a while! I have been involved with many aspects of the church for most of my adult life, and have been a Licensed Lay Minister for nearly nine years.But in recent years I have felt a strong call to seek ordination. I had a constant niggling urge to pursue the possibility of this vocation. It did take me quite some time to recognize and accept that God was actually calling ME!What are you looking forward to most about being an ordained Deacon?

I love the opportunity of being a presence for God in situations of pastoral care, both within the parish, and with the elderly in nursing homes. I am looking forward to continuing this ministry as an ordained member of the church.What advice would you give someone who finds themselves called to the Diaconate?To listen to both your heart and your head. Always be open to God’s direction. Trust those who know and love you for support during the process of discernment. Most importantly – pray.

Which Parish are you in?I’m spending my formation year in the Parish of Ballina.Where were you born? Brighton-le-Sands, Sydney. Where did you grow up?Brighton-le-Sands and Peakhurst, both in southern Sydney. Where did you go to school?I went to a local primary school and then to St George Girls’ High School in Kogarah. It was a fantastic school, empowering and equipping young women. What’s the most important thing you learned from your parents?My parents both left school very young, my father by choice and my mum because of her

family’s financial situation. As a consequence, they encouraged me to make the most of my education, and to grasp every opportunity I could. Even as a teenager I knew how fortunate I was to have parents who trusted me to make good life choices, and who quietly supported me in practical ways, so that I could realise my dreams.What gets you out of bed in the morning? My corgi, Roger. He stands by my bed and grumbles until I take him for a walk. I’m more of a morning person than I used to be, but my sparkle doesn’t really start to shine until at least 7am.Are you an introvert or an extrovert?Many people would immediately say that of course I’m an

extrovert. Actually, I’m a bit of both. I draw energy and inspiration from being with others, but time out alone is very important for recharging my batteries.Which traits do you most value in people? There are many traits I value, but two that are particularly important to me are: Integrity - people who are honest, sincere and trustworthy, whose actions are consistent with their words. Inclusion - responding to every human as someone who is made in God’s image, rather than emphasising what is different, confronting or alien.What are you reading at the moment?My next essay is on how the church is called to respond to the current ecological crisis, so I’m working through a pile of books on that topic. I have also just finished the latest No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency book Precious and Grace. I love the gentle world that is portrayed in those novels. Did you have a career before considering joining the Priesthood?I worked in IT for 25+ years, mostly in the UK. I moved from the technical side to management, and had a challenging position that took me to Europe, India and Hong Kong. When my husband Andy and I emigrated to Lismore I had

a major career change, working as a regional manager in Disability Employment. I’ve also done a number of other random jobs as I’ve travelled around the world, including nanny, waitress and library assistant.How did you come to realise your vocation was as a Priest?For a long time I was sure I was mishearing God’s prompting. God couldn’t possibly mean me. Eventually, on my Cursillo weekend, I realised I couldn’t resist this call. My soul’s deepest desire was - and is - to serve God as a priest. I said the words out loud, “I think God is calling me to be a priest.” And no-one fell down laughing (thank you, Lenore and Gail). The confirmation of my vocation has continued over several years, as our Ministry Development Officer and the Vocations Panel have guided me through the discernment process with great wisdom, care and love. What does the Priesthood mean to you?Wow, how long have you got? Priests are called to minister in a world that is suspicious and distrustful of priests, a world that’s cynical about faith, and where “do-gooder” has become an accusation. But the excellent news is that priests don’t have to be god - that’s God’s job! So we don’t have to fix everything, find the perfect solution. Instead, priests get to work with

God; pastoring, leading and encouraging God’s people, so that we all join in God’s mission in our particular community.What are you looking forward to most about being an Ordained Priest/Deacon?Each evening as I pray through my day, the times that shine out as the most joyful and Spirit-connected are the ones when I was working with God, and talking with God. As an ordained deacon and (DV) priest, I will get to do even more of this. And what I hope and pray more than anything is that I can connect other people with God’s life-giving joy.What advice would you give someone who finds themselves called to the Priesthood?Be patient! Saying the words out loud is just the beginning of a long process, for very good reasons.Be prepared to dig into the depths of your life story, your faith, your soul…and then to share what you’ve found with others. Trust that they will treat what you share with care, love and respect.Enjoy the rollercoaster. It might not go where you expect it to, but Jesus is sitting next to you. Hold on tight to him. Let’s go!

Meet the Ordinands

Carol Ford - Parish of Coffs Harbour

On Saturday November 26, 2016, the Diocese of Grafton is holding ordinations in the Cathedral, Grafton at 10am. Cathy Ridd is to be ordained as a Transitional Deacon and Carol Ford is to be ordained as a Vocational Deacon. The Ordination Retreat leaders will be Archdeacons Gail Hagon and Sally Miller and Archdeacon Gail will be the Preacher. NCA asked the ordinands to take some time out to introduce themselves..

Cathy Ridd - Parish of Ballina

Page 10 The North Coast Anglican November 2016

REFLECTIONS

Recently I was minding our youngest granddaughter. Poppy is 10 months old and on this particular day was

having a terrible time with teething. She is one of the happiest babies I know, so in her case this means she just wanted to be cuddled or play on my lap. Normally I am more than happy to sit and play the day away with my grandies, but this particular day I had a significant to do list. I had done all that I could with her in my arms but I really needed to get time on my computer to do some writing. The poor wee-thing was at the point where she really didn’t know what she wanted, to lay down, sit up... in the end I grabbed her bottle and we went to lay on my bed. As we were laying there and I was stewing over what I would write about in my reflection for the NCA. I looked down at her to see these compelling blue eyes staring at me in utter trust, she reached up and touched my face, smiling and gurgling around the teat of the bottle... and I thought “THAT IS IT!” I will write about the moments in life that remind us to check our priorities. I only have this little one for a little while; there will be time for those other things. I lay there having these lovely thoughts, when she reached out for my face again, grabbed hold of my nose and gave it a serious twist! “OUCH!” It really hurt, this little mite can pack a serious punch when she wants. My eyes watered, my nose stung, and she, well she giggled like it was the most hilarious thing she had ever seen. And I knew then that this was what I would be writing about. I was not on the set of some schmaltzy television program where there are always happy endings and everything ends with a soft focus scene in the family kitchen with everyone laughing at how that latest disaster was avoided. In our very real lives this is not how things play out, both in our personal lives and the broader picture of the

world around us. We are living in a terribly messy and messed up world. To say that our world is broken is an understatement. Every day we are face to face with fresh horrors. We can choose not to watch the news, to look away, but this does not change the reality of the situations: war where the innocent are used as pawns; the shameful stories of abuses, current and historical perpetrated by those institutions and people who should have been the trusted ones; poverty and homelessness are no longer ‘out there’, but have faces and names we might know. The list of such things is seemingly endless, and it feels that there is no end, let alone a happy one to be found. As Christians, it is tempting to say that in God all will be well. This is cold comfort to someone who has no home, no family or carries the scars of the past. Indeed there is truth in this statement, but as the privileged ones I do believe we need

to be wary of blithe platitudes. So what can we do? How can we continue to be hopeful, and to hold out hope in an increasingly hope deprived place? Lets get real here - hope, Christian hope is not simple optimism, it is not putting

on our happy face as we step out of the house, it is not crossing our fingers and wishing on a star. I appreciate Desmond Tutu’s words when he suggests that hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. Christian hope tells us that not only do we have the promise of

the Kingdom of God, eternal life and forgiveness of sins as we have seen in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, more than this Christian hope reminds us that God is present in all things. Even in the darkness. Even in the fear. Even in the horror. A first step in holding out hope to those who struggle is to remind ourselves that even in this situation God is there.

And it follows that if God is there... it is not hopeless, even if it is beyond our understanding. We often use darkness as a shorthand term for all things that are evil or bad, yet we need also remember that this darkness is not in itself a bad thing. Barbara Brown Taylor in her book Learning to Walk in the Dark, makes the comment that there are things that can only be learned in the dark, in those times of struggle, drawing the conclusion that the darkness is needed as much as the light. Indeed as she says ‘...new life starts in the dark. Whether it is a seed in the ground, a baby in the womb, or Jesus in the tomb, it starts in the dark.’There is something in the hope we bear that is about humility, the recognition that God is God and we are not. Perhaps it is a much needed reality check that says that we cannot fix the world’s problems, we are not expected to, but we can be present, prayerful and importantly bearers of hope. For us, as the children of God, hope is an action - it is expressed in our very being; our words and our actions. We are bringers of hope when we refuse to hide away from things, when we continue to engage with our world, prayerfully and purposefully. Hope is what makes us speak out for those who need our voices, hope is what drives us to give of our time, money and resources to support those whose needs are for the simple and basic things of life. Hope is why we keep turning up each day, facing and embracing the world despite, or perhaps because of it’s brokenness. This is what God calls us to. Not a trite cheerfulness, not the ‘stick a geranium in your hat and be happy’ forced optimism, but the tough enduring loving hope borne out of our God who can, who has and who continues to be present with us in the muck and mire, in the moments of joy and the depths of sorrow and tragedy. God for all time, in all times. That is why we hope.

BY REV’D SALLY MILLERDIOCESAN ARCHDEACON

“This is why we hope...”

“Hope is why we keep turning up each day, facing

and embracing the world despite, or

perhaps because of it’s brokenness”

BOOK REVIEWIs a radical church possible?

Alker in his book Is A Radical Church Possible? challenges the church to attend to two things: 1. To

become more Jesus shaped and 2. To become less concerned with its own structures and beliefs in order to grow believers.The book Is A Radical Church Possible? is split into two sections. The first section is focused around “Being Honest about Jesus”, and the second section is focused around “Being Honest about the Church”. At the end of each chapter there are some questions for discussion and some further suggested readings for the enthusiasts. Section one covers such topics as, how Jesus is portrayed in literature and

art; the perspectives of each of the gospel writers including Jesus early life, his prophetic commitment to the fulfilment of the Torah; his opposition to the religious leaders of his day; the importance of his own experience of God, and the imminence of God’s kingdom; his reputation as a healer; and his inclusion of the broken and shunned. He invites his readers to consider which elements of Jesus’ life appear to be factual, and which may be metaphorical or legendary, and suggests to us that Jesus was radical in his consistent proclamation of an alternative to the Empire of Rome. From here he goes on to address the death and resurrection of Jesus, examining key ideas about atonement, and examines some debates about the resurrection: the historical “truths” in the gospel accounts, the meaning

of Jesus’ resurrection for life after death, and the overall significance of resurrection. In the final chapter of this section, Alker discusses the gap between academic scholarship and the everyday life of the church, and the need to bring the two together in a radical retelling of the story of Jesus, and a fresh understanding of God. The second section of the book focuses around “Being Honest about the Church”. Alker begins by sketching the changing shape of the church; he highlights numerical decline, the impact of modernism, and the desire of traditionalists for a safe anchorage. Alongside this he places the church’s record in social action, and the espousing kingdom values. He asks us to think about “Spirited Worship”, where silence and awe combine with fellowship, and attenders are not made

to feel guilty or trapped into straight jacketing orthodoxy. Further chapters consider the shape of the church, contrasting the current hierarchical model with “round table” communities of radical inclusion, and asserting that the church “does not exist to grow!” and he examines the “individual journey into the mystery of God”.As a church he invites us to “listen deeply to the world and make sure we are answering the questions people are asking, not the ones you want to answer.” He concludes his thoughts by saying, “Perhaps he should have stayed tending to my plants at the bottom of the garden, rather than write this book.” I will leave you to answer that question for yourself, if and when you read the book.

BY THE VENERABLE GAIL HAGONDIOCESAN ARCHDEACON

November 2016 The North Coast Anglican Page 11

Earlier this month on October 11 and 12, our Jewish brothers and sisters celebrated Yom Kippur. I’m

no expert in Jewish law or lore, but I was struck this year by the idea of the “scapegoat”. Our western culture has somewhat modified the traditional understanding of “scapegoat” to now reflect a person who is blamed for the wrongdoings, mistakes, or faults of others, especially for reasons of expediency. With this in mind I couldn’t help but think of the debacle over the power outage in South Australia on September 28, and the circus that followed.The whole state of South Australia was without electricity, plunging it’s cities and towns into darkness. As major storms moved across the South Australian landscape causing significant damage to homes and infrastructure, opponents to renewable energy used this time of natural disaster as an opportunity to try to blame the power outage on renewables such as wind farms. An article in the Financial Review (September 29) highlighted the political expediency of South Australian Senate powerbroker Nick Xenophon and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce blaming the state-wide blackout on South Australia’s transition to renewables.

Mr Xenophon said South Australia’s transition to renewable energy had been “reckless” and heads should roll over the blackout. Senator Xenophon has been critical of the changed to South Australia’s energy mix. Its coal-fired plants have all been mothballed and wind now supplies 40 per cent of the state’s power.Furthermore Mr Joyce, who has been critical of clean energy, implied South Australia was relying too much on renewables such as wind power and alluded to the statewide power outage being related to renewables saying, “[Windpower] wasn’t working too well last night, because they had blackout,” he told the ABC.

Even Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull jumped on the “scapegoat train” and used the state power outage to dissuade investment and add confusion to the validity of embracing renewable energy as a reliable source of energy. He told reporters the morning after the storms, while people were still mopping up, that intermittent renewable energy sources posed a “real threat” for energy security. “Energy security should always be the key priority ... whether it is hydro, wind, solar, coal or gas,” he said.Rather confusingly the Prime Minister’s own Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg said the major weather event was to blame rather than renewables. The SA Premier Jay Weatherill bristled with anger while denying that renewables

were to blame, describing the incident as a “catastrophic failure of infrastructure which brought down our network”.Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said it was “disgraceful” that Mr Turnbull and his team were playing politics over a natural disaster and that Mr Joyce would be all over the Greens “like a rash” if they used a bushfire, for example, to talk about climate change. “The fact that 20 transmission towers were blown down by almost cyclonic winds is not due to a renewable energy target, it’s due to the weather,” he said.Mr Shorten went on to say “There will [always] be somebody who will use a crisis to pull out their real agenda, which is they don’t like renewable energy,” he said.While all these comments are easily dismissed at politicians playing their usual games, I still have that word echoing in my mind - “scapegoat”. As Christians, as Anglicans, who subscribe to the five marks of mission, I want to draw your attention to the fifth mark of mission, “To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth”. Surely as people who value God’s creation we need to embrace such things as renewable energy. And when our political leaders try to “scapegoat” responsible environmental policy to push their own agenda, should we not hold them to account?

ENVIRONMENT

We are all familiar with seeing Peter & Paul, Mary & Martha, David & Jonathan, Mary &

Elizabeth in printed literature and more consistently in the inscription on stain-glass windows and embroidered on banners in our churches. Have we ever wondered about the origin of this symbol? Is it ancient or modern?

The ampersand is the logogram “&”, representing the conjunction word “and”. It originated as a ligature of the letters et, Latin for “and”. Traditionally, when reciting the alphabet in English-speaking schools, any letter that could also be used as a word in itself (“A”, “I”, and, at one point, “O”) was repeated with the Latin expression per se (“by itself”) It was common practice to add the “&”

sign at the end of the alphabet as if it were the 27th letter, pronounced as the Latin “et” or later in English as “and”. As a result, the recitation of the alphabet would end in “X, Y, Z, and per se and”. This last phrase was routinely slurred to “ampersand” and the term had entered common English usage by 1837.The ampersand can be traced back to the 1st century A.D. and the Old Roman script, in which the letters “E” and “T” occasionally were written together to form a ligature. In the later and more flowing New Roman penmanship, ligatures of all kinds were extremely common. During the development of the Latin script in the 9th century the

use of ligatures in general diminished. The et-ligature, continued to be used and gradually became more stylized and less revealing of its origin. The modern italic type ampersand is a kind of “et” ligature that goes back to the cursive scripts developed during the Renaissance. After the advent of printing in Europe in 1455, printers made extensive use of both the italic and Roman ampersands. Since the ampersand’s roots go back to Roman times, many languages that use a variation of the Latin alphabet make use of it.Thanks to Wikipedia for this information.

BY REV’D CAMELLIA FLANAGAN

And, et, and AmpersandTHREADS LAID BARE

Renewable energy once again used as a scapegoatBY REV’D ERON PERRYDIOCESAN ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE

Margaret of Scotland, also known as Margaret of Wessex, was born in 1045 in exile in Hungry, the daughter of Princess Agatha and the Anglo-Saxon Prince Edward Atheling. She spent much of her youth in the court of her great-uncle, the English king, Edward the Confessor. During the Norman conquest, her family fled from William the Conqueror in 1066 and were shipwrecked off the coast of Scotland. King Malcolm III, a widower with two sons, befriended them and was captivated by the beautiful, gracious Margaret. They were married at the castle of Dunfermline in 1070, and Margaret became queen of Scotland.Malcolm was good-hearted, but rough and uncultured, as was his country. Because of Malcolm’s love for Margaret,

she was able to soften his temper, polish his manners, and help him become a virtuous king. Margaret also tried to improve her adopted country by promoting the arts and education. Malcolm left all domestic affairs to her, and often consulted her in state matters. She and Malcolm had six sons and two daughters. Margaret personally supervised their religious instruction and other studies.For religious reform she encouraged synods and was present for the discussions which tried to correct religious abuses common among priests and laypeople, such as simony, (the buying or selling of ecclesiastical privileges, for example pardons or benefices), usury, and incestuous marriages. With her husband, she founded several churches.

Although she was very much caught up in the affairs of the household and country, she remained detached from the world. Her private life was austere. She had certain times for prayer and reading Scripture. She ate sparingly and slept little in order to have time for devotions. She and Malcolm kept two Lents, one before Easter and one before Christmas. During these times she always rose at midnight to attend church services. Her conversation was of salt and wisdom and when she was silent her thoughts were directed towards goodness. She attended to charitable works, serving orphans and the poor every day before she ate, and washed the feet of the poor in imitation of Christ. Margaret’s outstanding virtue was her love of the poor. Although generous with material gifts, Margaret, always

surrounded by beggars in public never refused them, and visited and nursed the sick. She invited the Benedictine order to establish a monastery at Dunfermline in Fife in 1072, and established ferries at Queens-ferry and North Berwick to assist pilgrims journeying from south of the Firth of Forth to St. Andrews in Fife. In 1093, King William Rufus made a surprise attack on Alnwick castle. King Malcolm and his oldest son, Edward, were killed. Margaret, in her last illness when she learned this, prayed: “I thank You, Almighty God, for sending me so great a sorrow to purify me from my sins.” Margaret, died four days after her husband. Can we follow Margaret in compassion for the poor, salty wisdom, humility, and silence before God?

MARGARET OF SCOTLAND, QUEEN, HELPER OF THE POOR. D.1093. FEAST DAY NOVEMBER 16.

BY REV’D CAMELLIA FLANAGAN

PRAYING WITH THE SAINTS

Power lines down in South Australia

Page 12 The North Coast Anglican November 2016

The last of 11 siblings, Michael was born in the Mindat Chin state in Western Myanmar. At 21 Michael married Nig Sin; they soon had two children. After the death of his mother, Michael and his family moved in with his elderly father.

It was then that Michael was attacked by three drunken army officers. Once he recovered from the beating, Michael went to the local army headquarters to complain about the violent treatment he had received. His complaint initiated further brutal beatings; he was detained and tortured, then dumped in the jungle. This was just the beginning of the ongoing intimidation and harassment that Michael continued to suffer at the hands of the army. After receiving death threats, Michael had no choice but to go into hiding; soon after he was forced to leave the country for Malaysia. When sharing this part of the story, Michael’s anguish at leaving his wife and young children behind is palpable: “I had no chance to say goodbye to them and did not know when or if I would ever see them again. It was very hard”, Michael says.It would be six years before Michael saw his wife and children again. Life in Malaysia as an unregistered refugee was desperately challenging. Michael attempted several times to register as a refugee with the UNHCR, but he was unsuccessful. In 2006 Michael’s extended family supported his wife and children to travel to Malaysia and be reunited with their husband and father. The family managed to become recognised as refugees by the UNHCR and after two years it was offered resettlement in Australia. Within six months, Michael’s family landed in Coffs Harbour. It was July 2008. They spoke no English and had no idea of where they were, or what living in Australia would be like. Michael enrolled immediately in the English language course offered by the Coffs Harbour Community College. A few months later

he enrolled in a TAFE Hospitality course. Being accepted in the course was a challenge. Michael recalls the entry test he had to take: “They asked what should go on a hamburger. I did not even know what a hamburger was!”Michael eventually found work at a local club, starting as a kitchen hand and going on to help with catering for functions. Over the following years, as his mastery of the English language improved, Michael found employment as a bilingual support worker for Anglicare North Coast and as an interpreter.

Almost eight years from arrival in Australia, Michael owns his own successful business, a busy driving school, as well as a house, where the family, which now includes four children, lives. Since 2013, all members of Michael’s family have become Australian citizens. His eldest daughter, Monica, is studying business in Sydney thanks to a scholarship. His younger children, John, Anthony and Dominic, are attending schools in Coffs Harbour. Michael has only one wish for his children; and it is a simple one: that they may be free to choose to do whatever they love in life.

THE ANGLICARE NORTH COAST CONNECTION

AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOUNDATION DONATIONSOur mission is to provide appropriate, affordable accommodation to disadvantaged persons throughout the North Coast of NSW. To donate or for further information please view our website or contact our office.ALL DONATIONS TO ANGLICARE NORTH COAST OVER $2.00 ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE AND ARE USED TO HELP US FULFIL OUR MISSION

AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOUNDATION

Phone (02) 6643 4844 Anglicare North Coast, PO Box 401 Grafton 2460

anglicarenorthcoast.org.au

Michael Omtha: A Story of Resilience and Success

Building resilience… despite mental illnessWhen Anglicare North Coast staff

first met Barry*, he had been living with a diagnosed mental

illness for over 15 years and was residing in a local caravan park.The high cost of rent and electricity was consuming the majority of his pension and because of this he was often in arrears and at real risk of homelessness. The accommodation was substandard and Barry was experiencing financial exploitation from other residents. He had no access to a phone and receipt of postal mail was highly variable. This situation only made Barry’s mental health concerns worse, however because of the risk to personal safety in the caravan

park and difficulties contacting Barry, some supports that might otherwise be available had not been established. After Barry’s application to North Coast Partners in Recovery, Anglicare North Coast staff contacted a local housing support provider to engage with Barry in a recovery-oriented way. We then worked together to get Barry’s Housing NSW application reactivated and elevated to priority status while also building linkages with a local support group that provided material support and opportunities for social connection. We then identified a local cleaning business and worked with them to

establish a living skills program to develop with Barry under the mentorship of an experienced training provider. Through this coordinated support, Barry has been able to develop a weekly budget, go shopping and increase contact with his mother as their relationship is slowly being rebuilt. Barry was finally offered his own unit and the approach to supporting opportunity and independence for Barry provided a foundation for him to transition successfully into his new housing tenancy. *Name changed for privacy reasons

RESILIENCEDo you have it?

Many of the people we deal with on a daily basis have experienced

more difficulties and traumatic experiences in their lives than most of us can even imagine. Yet, they very often demonstrate amazing resilience and the ability to ‘pick up the pieces’ and continue on with their life journey. This is particularly the case for many of those who come to us from a refugee background and for those suffering from mental ill-health. Our stories this month reflect examples of great resilience in the face of adversity.So what is resilience and why do some people seem to have more of it than others? There are several definitions of resilience, such as “the ability to spring back into shape” and “the ability to recover quickly from illness, change or misfortune”. Surely, these are desirable attributes for all of us!How then, do we build resilience in ourselves, or help others develop it? It would appear that a combination of factors contribute to the building of resilience. Studies demonstrate that factors such as the ability to be flexible and having caring and supportive relationships within and outside the family can lead to increased resilience. Surprisingly, resilience is often an attribute of people who have experienced significant emotional and or physical trauma. Faith, too, is often an integral part of the “resilience-building journey”. The Bible contains many wonderful promises that sustain people of faith during difficult times and that build courage and resilience to face the future. Two such examples can be found in Joshua 1:9:“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” And Romans 8:37: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”Whatever your current circumstances are, remember there is hope for the future. Sometimes in life, it is the difficult times that build us up and make us stronger.

ESTELLE GRAHAMCEO