Photos from our chapel.

Photos of some of the statues in our chapel at St Marys Campus of the All Saint College in Victoria St Maitland NSW Australia. St Hilda's Parish of the Anglican Catholic Church holds prayer and Holy Communion / Mass here at 11am Sunday mornings. However, don't forget that this Sunday (being the last Sunday of the month) our service will be held in TAREE. 

eMail  Father Matthew for details of time and venue.

Feast of Saint Hilda Of Whitby

The patron Saint of our parish is St. Hilda of Whitby.

Hilda was born c. 614,  died 17 November 680.

This Sunday's mass was on 17th November 
which happens to also be The Feast Of St Hilda.

Saints exist in many religions as people who have been recognised within their tradition as having fulfilled the highest aspirations of religious teaching. It is written that a Saints' "surrender to God's love was so generous an approach to the total surrender of Jesus that the Church recognises them as heroes and heroines worthy to be held up for our inspiration".  Saints are not thought to have power of their own, but only gifts and mercy granted through God. They are role models of holiness to be imitated, strengthening and encouraging the believer within us, during the times of weakness in our spiritual journey. They remind us of the level of dedication and success achievable through the mercy and grace of God.

St Hilda Of Whitby was described as a woman of great energy, who was a skilled administrator and teacher and is considered one of the patron saints of learning and culture. Her correct name, Hild, means "battle" a strong name for a respected and influential woman who was the abbess of several monasteries. She was recognised for her wisdom and is credited as being an important figure in the conversion of England to Christianity. 

Her monasteries were considered as great centres of learning, where clergy, monks and nuns could receive a rigorous and thorough religious education. During her time as abbess, she established the arts and sciences so well that it was regarded as not only the best seminaries for learning in north eastern England but also the then known world. Both monks and royalty sought her wisdom and advice. 

As a landowner she discovered and nurtured the poetic gift of one of her herdsman Caedmon. He later composed the first hymns in the English language. Most of them were "metrical paraphrases of narratives from Genesis and the Gospels", helping to spread the word of God to the commoners. 

St Hilda is recognised for her role regarding the Synod of Whitby 664, which proposed organisational changes to some of the inherited Celtic tradition and custom of over 350 years that Hilda favoured. Illustrating her obedience and humility she agreed to the decision to follow Roman influence, against her own personal preference. She chose to use her influential power to aim at a peaceful unity of the Church.

Local legends of St Hilda influence say that when sea birds fly over the Abbey they dip their wings in her honour and she could stop the local birds ravaging the corn with her command. The ammonite genus Hildoceras takes its scientific name from St Hilda, who according to legend turned a plague of snakes to stone through prayer. This legend accompanies the presence of ammonite fossils found on the shore, which were thought to be the petrified snakes. 

The night before Hilda died a nun reported a vision of the 
 roof opening and seeing her being carried to heaven by angels.

O God of peace 
and the inspiration of our blessed St Hilda. 
Stir within us the passion for creativity and learning 
so that we may grow and mature.

Inspire us with your wisdom 
while strengthening our desire 
and commitment to succeed 
in the tasks you place before us.

Grant us the grace 
to respect and love our fellow Christians 
with whom we disagree, 
that our common life may be enriched 
and your gracious will be done.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, 
ever one God, world without end.  Amen.


To the parishioners and friends of St Hilda's Anglican Catholic Parish Of Maitland, may the strength, dedication and achievements of the blessed St Hilda Of Whitby be an inspiration to you.
God Bless.

Thought Of The Day - Clear Vision & Positive Seeds

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. You will harvest what you plant. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." Galatians 6:7-8 (King James Version)

"You cannot fool God, so don’t make a fool of yourself!  If you follow your selfish desires, you will harvest destruction, but if you follow the Spirit, you will harvest eternal life." Galatians 6:7-8 (Contemporary English Version).

We all find ourselves in difficult circumstances at times, searching for someone or something to blame. A few circumstances are not within our control or influence, but in most case we need to look honestly at our own motivations and habits that may have led to where we are. Realising that whatever we allow to take root within us (within our hearts, our mind or our habits) will grow and eventually fruit. The seeds we plant are capable of maturing as success or failure, good or evil, anxiety or peace.

Success lies in your daily routine. Planting positive seeds can include making the decision to be of service to someone each day, helping people without any expectation of acknowledgement or repayment. Identifying and taking steps to change your bad habits, taking responsibility and tackling potential and existing problems. Grow by challenging yourself to find positive things to be thankful for every day, "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24(KJV) and getting to know God better through His Word and prayer.

Lord, 

Grant us clear vision of our own motives  and habits.

so we can identify seed within us that may potentially reap corruption.

Assist us to replace them through daily planting of positive seed,

that will guide our Spirit to everlasting life.

Amen.

Sermon Summary Trinity 23 - Study and imitate through inspiration.

Sermon Summary Trinity XXIII 2013

Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change this lowly body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Philippians 3:17-21 (KJV)

"[M]ark those who so live as you have an example in us." +

This year this 23rd Sunday after Trinity occurs within the octave of All Saints. And so the verse I just quoted from the beginning of the appointed Epistle is particularly apt. The Church celebrates Saints' lives, and even deaths, and honours them with loving reverence. We are forbidden to worship them, but we are to acknowledge with gratitude the way they reflect the light of Christ.

Note that while St Paul tells the Philippians Christians to imitate him and his companions ("an example in us"), he elsewhere says that he imitates Christ (Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1). So, Christians are to follow Christ, but also, in a secondary sense, to follow those who most clearly conform to him. And the Church has called those who have gone before us and become such glorious examples, capital "S" Saints. Remember, however, that according to the New Testament we already are saints in the original, ordinary sense, simply by being sanctified as Christians.

Indeed the best way to honour the Saints is not to praise them, name church buildings or institutions after them, or ask for their prayers, as legitimate as all these are. No, the best way to honour the Saints is to really study their example, be inspired by it, and imitate it. That is, you might notice, the emphasis in the Canon of the Mass we use, from the 1549 Book Of Common Prayer: "whose examples, O Lord, and steadfastness in thy faith, and keeping thy holy commandments, grant us to follow."

And that means that, while we know that all Saints share certain fundamental characteristics, which we can identify in a general way and benefit from, it also helps to know their individual stories. Each of them reflects the glory of God in a distinct way, just as each of us are meant to. God does not mass produce his children; we do not come from an assembly line. Each of us is precious in his or her own right to Him, each is different. And because there is so much to Jesus, both in his Divinity and Humanity, there is no exhausting the ways he can be imitated, the aspects of his natures that can shine forth in various ways from us.

In other words, where possible, we should get to know the Saints. We should read their stories. They will both encourage and confront us. Getting to know them and what they achieved will strengthen our faith, help us to see Jesus better. Yet, it is difficult to deny that sometimes we will learn of their patience and bravery under suffering and be frightened or think, "I don't think I could ever be like that, and I hope I am never tested so!" In that case, don't allow terror to rob you of your joy, for God has promised not to test any of us beyond the grace he gives us to persevere, as we trust in Him (There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.1 Corinthians 10:13,  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.Philippians 2:13). And, don't forget, they were not superheroes or cartoon characters, they were real, flawed human beings, saved sinners, like us. In most cases our trials will not be their trials, and our cross to carry may even seem absurdly small compared to theirs. But there will still be points of contact, and lessons to be learned.

All of the Saints, as the Canon of the Mass teaches us, were characterised by faith leading to obedience. They trusted confidently in their Redeemer, they extolled the King of Heaven in word and deed, and did not cease to do these things even when the situation was difficult or painful. And they loved their brethen and neighbours, actively, prayerfully. Let us do the same, and let us not omit to learn of the Saints. Start with a namesake or your patron saint, if you have one, or a modern one of whom you've heard. Use the internet and books, and befriend a Saint this week. +


The image used is "Saints" by Giovanni Del Biondo 1367.
Join us at St Hilda's Parish of the Anglican Catholic Church this Sunday for prayer, worship and Holy Communion / Mass. We meet at the school chapel of St Marys campus of the All Saints College in Victoria St Maitland NSW Australia at 11am. ...All welcome...

Thought of the day - to blow or spit?

"If you blow a spark, it will glow:
If you spit on it, it will be put out:
yet both come from your mouth." Sirach 28:12

Our choice in words hold the power to make-or-break a person.
I know an ex- teacher who states that for every one negative you need to say to a student, you need to balance it with voicing 10 positives. This is an example of how much strength a single negative comment can have on someone.

Being human we are all aware of our inadequacies. We all struggle with insecurities and fears. We all have irrational emotions. We all suffer from egos which can be wounded. "The blow of the whip raises a welt, but the blow of a tongue crushes the bones." Sirach 28:17 Slander and gossip doesn't forgive the human frailties of its victims. 

"As you lock up your silver and gold, so make balances and scales of your words." Sirach 28:24b,25a. Just as we have the power to hurt people with our words we also hold the power to build up and strengthen others. We can do this by encouragement. Taking a few moments to acknowledge a job well done, to thank someone for a kindness, to tell someone that you agree and support them, to remind someone that they are appreciated and valued. Take a moment to re-look at a situation, then seeing it through Grace, find a positive in it.

I issue you 2 challenges today.
1)  Identify a "spark" within someone that is positive - "blow" on it, help to make it grow. 
2) Keep your eyes open for that spark which is negative - quickly "Spit", extinguishing it before it can take hold.

God Bless...

Sermon Summary for Trinity 24 - Theological Virtues

"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel";  Colossians 1:1-5 (KJV)

"the hope which is laid up for you in heaven" +

Familiar trio at the beginning of the Epistle: Faith, Hope and Love. 

Compare "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." 1 Corinthians 13:13.

Other places in the New Testament too (e.g) "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation." 1 Thessalonians 5:8. 

Called the "Theological Virtues". Each in its fullness implies the other.

Faith believes God's promises, including of eternal reward, hence brings hope. It also trusts God's love (we have "believed the love", 1 John 4:16) and so is itself loving in return "We love him, because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19.

Hope trusts God will be faithful in his loving salvation, hence faith and love.

Love "believes all things, hopes all things" (1 Corinthians 13:7).

It's easy to see the essential nature of love. God is love (1 John.) and love is the fulfilling of the moral law "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself". Galatians 5:14). 

Faith's centrality is also apparent, as it is the pathway to God. We cannot search for or obey him if we do not believe he exists and is righteous "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him". Hebrews. 11:6. Unless we trust his love, we will not respond in love.

But what's so important about hope? It gives us courage to endure. And endurance is essential for any other virtue to bear fruit "that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand". Ephesians 6:13b In the midst of trials, we need to know that suffering and wickedness will not have the final say. Hope purifies our motivations and desires by tearing them away from the temporary and finite and attaching them to the infinite and eternal "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure".1 John. 3:3. It's very easy when life is relatively comfortable to be satisfied with earthly blessings and forget where ultimate happiness lies. So, hope is needed at every step.

For what do we hope? Justice against sin, mercy towards penitent sinners, including ourselves. Resurrection, healing, the vision of God, beauty, inexpressible joy Link: (Revelations. 20-22). 

"[I]t does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And every one who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure"(1 John. 3:2-3). +

Image titled "The Three Theological Virtues" by Augustin-Jean Moreau-Vauthier (1831–1893)
Shown in a Gothic architectural setting are statues of the personifications of the three theological Virtues: Charity (Love), leading a child and carrying an infant; Faith, holding a cross and chalice; and Hope, with her anchor. 

You are welcome to join us at the Anglican Catholic Church "St Hilda's Parish in Maitland next Sunday for Mass /  Holy Communion at 11am. We are in the Chapel of St Marys Campus of The All Saints College in Victoria Street Maitland NSW Australia

Our Lord is mending a broken heart

An update for the members and friends of our parish who have been offering prayer for Lisa.
The Lord has seen fit to answer our prayers with positive results.
Lisa's heart transplant surgery went well, her new heart is now beating strong.

Lord, we thank You for your love and mercy,
And the speed at which our prayers were answered.

Lord, we pray that Lisa's physical, emotional and spiritual needs are met.
That she will heal and strengthen according to your will.

Lord, we pray for the donor,
May his/her soul, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Lord, we pray for the donors family
That they find the comfort of God during their time of grief.

Amen

Note:
Jehovah Rapha - Pronounced: yeh-ho-vaw' raw-faw' - meaning: The Lord That Heals.
Jehovah is the Great Physician who heals the physical and emotional needs of His people.

A brand new heart

On the 25th October I introduced you to "Lisa", a young 21 yr old who was hoping to get on the waiting list for a heart transplant. To all who prayed for her THANK YOU.

Tonight Thursday 7th November at 9pm (Sydney time) Lisa will go into surgery to receive her new heart.

I ask that you offer prayers for her safe recovery, for skillful work by her surgeon and medical staff, for the emotional support of her family and friends and for the soul of the person whose heart she will receive. 

May the grace and love of God be with Lisa tonight.