as strangers and pilgrims

The Epistle. 1 St. Peter 2. 11.
DEARLY beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the King.

 

I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims †

 

What does this phrase mean? Strangers and pilgrims? It refers to those who do not truly belong to the place the are in, but are only passing through, on a journey to another place, possibly alienated from their true home. E.g., Mediaeval pilgrims, exiles, homeless travellers. And that is us, according to St Peter.

 

Because this world is not our home, it does not belong to us and we do not belong to it. Which is why the Apostle connects our abstaining from carnal desires to our status as pilgrims. We have no right to be overly attached to the possessions or pleasures limited to this life, and no right at all to sinful ones. They are not our destiny, they are distractions from or stumbling blocks to reaching  our destination. This is why they are said to war against the soul.

 

But there is more to it than that. Our position as pilgrims and strangers reminds us that we do have another home, that we are on a journey, and that we are travelling towards that home.

 

Our home is with God, in eternal happiness and complete fulfilment. We belong to Him. No matter our circumstances here and now, we have a place where we do belong, a family, an identity. We are not nobodies, we are not adrift.

 

Our present circumstances are not the be all and end all, they are merely part of the journey, and the journey is finite. This finitude is both reason for sombre reflection and great rejoicing.

 

The rejoicing is justified because of where the journey ends. It is often said that it is the journey that matters, not the destination, but the Scripture disagrees. The journey matters precisely because of the destination and how it leads us there, and the journey is endurable only because it does.

 

Do or rest your hopes and dreams on what is fleeting. Do not grasp tightly on to the temporary. Instead, see yourself as a pilgrim. And like the pilgrims of old, you will find that even before the sacred destination, there are many holy and beautiful places to pause at along the way. †

Once off - Change of venue

Change of venue:
Usually the Mass for the last Sunday of each month is held in Taree.
This week Taree is cancelled.
The Mass for Sunday 26th April will be at 11am in Maitland.

A Litany Of Remembrance - ANZAC Day 2015

A Litany of Remembrance

God the Father,
have mercy on us.
God the Son,
have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God,
have mercy on us.

We remember all Australians and New Zealeanders who served
in the army, navy and air force during the first World War.
Make us good stewards of the freedom they won.
God of peace,  hear our prayer.

We remember those of other nations who fought beside them,
and those who fought against them for their own countries.
Bring us all to the day when nation no longer makes war against nation.
God of peace, hear our prayer.

We remember the physically wounded and the shell-shocked.
Bring healing and peace for body, mind and spirit
to all who are scarred or disabled by war.
God of peace,  hear our prayer.

We remember the nurses, ambulance officers,
orderlies and doctors who eased pain and saved lives.
Renew among us the vocation to heal the victims of violence.
God of peace,  hear our prayer.

We remember the prisoners of war
and those who sheltered and sustained them.
Bless the work of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in war zones today.
God of peace,  hear our prayer.

We remember the mothers, wives, sisters, children and sweethearts
who prayed and grieved for the missing and the lost.
Comfort all who mourn.
God of peace,  hear our prayer.

We remember the homes, livelihoods and communities
destroyed by bombs and gunfire.
Have mercy on all who still live in the shadow of war.
God of peace,  hear our prayer.

We remember the conscientious objectors and anti-war campaigners,
reviled or imprisoned for their principles.
Give respect and a hearing for those who ask difficult questions.
 God of peace, hear our prayer.

We remember the chaplains who showed the love of Christ
when danger and death were all around.
Give us faith strong enough to share with the fearful and the dying.
God of peace,  hear our prayer.

We remember those interned and vilified here
for their birth or ancestry in countries with whom Australia was at war.
Save us from valuing national identity more highly than shared humanity.
God of peace,  hear our prayer.

We remember the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander volunteers
who fought for a nation that did not recognise them as citizens.
Lead us towards true reconciliation with Australia’s First Peoples.
God of peace,  hear our prayer.

We remember the friendships formed in the turmoil of war
and the loyalty and love that comforted the injured and the dying.
Give us grace to be such friends to one another in times of crisis.
God of peace,  hear our prayer.

We remember the peacemakers who prayed and worked
to end the violence and destruction of the First World War.
Raise up peacemakers in all the war zones of the world today.
God of peace,  hear our prayer.

We remember the good neighbours, supporters and advocates
for returned service men and women, war widows and fatherless children.
Make us generous in providing for all the survivors of war.
 God of peace, hear our prayer.

We remember those who died in battle or from their wounds,
and those who took their own lives in agony or despair.
Bring them, in Christ, to resurrection life.
God of peace,  hear our prayer.

We remember those whose names are recorded,
who went from this community to serve or to die in World War One.
As you were with them in all that they suffered,
bring them, with all the redeemed, to eternal life in Christ.
God of peace,  hear our prayer.

O God, as we remember the terrible cost of this and every war, renew in us the longing for peace and the will to work for it in the strength of Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

1st Photo used: Australian artillerymen dragging guns into position after the landing at Gallipoli, Turkey on 25 April 1915. Public domain photo by CEW Bean.
2nd Photo used: Members of 13th Battalion, AIF, occupying Quinn's Post on the heights above Anzac Cove. Public domain photo by CEW Bean.

Natural Disaster For Locals

Monday night and Tuesday saw our town and many others in this area hit by ferocious storm. These photos are showing Maitland NSW, only a short walk from our chapel. The last few days has seen loss of life and property within our community.

"And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!" Matthew 8:26-27 (KJV)

Jesus brought calm amongst the storm when the disciples where fearful, so we pray:
Jesus, bring calm to those suffering from flooding, power shortages, business and transport problems as a direct effect of the weather. Turn around this terrible situation for good.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 (KJV)

Many people’s lives have been shattered by the current flooding. Jesus offers to relieve our burden, so we pray:
Jesus, we turn to you in faith for comfort and guidance. We pray that people take this opportunity to reach out in the right way to those affected by the flooding. We pray for strength and perseverance for families affected and those helping them like neighbours, medical staff, volunteers and rescue services.  Give them hope in this time of uncertainty.

We especially pray for those who have lost their lives.
Rest eternal grant unto them O Lord, and let your light perpetual shine upon them.
We also pray for their family and friends.
Lord, comfort the family and friends of those who have lost their lives. Guide them through these dark days, bring your light into their lives so that they may sense your presence and goodness, even in their time of mourning.

Lord Jesus Christ, son of the living God, have mercy on our small community.

Photos from Our Easter Sunday Service 2015

Father Matthew and Edward preparing the sacrament during Easter Sunday Mass 2015.

The Lord is risen indeed.

Our little chapel had a good turn-out for Easter. Thank you to all who attended.

No Easter celebration is complete without Easter Eggs. After the service we handed out some that Father Matthew had blessed.

Lighting the Paschal Candle 2015

Father Matthew Kirby during the lighting of the Paschal Candle on Easter Sunday Morning at St Hilda's Parish of the Anglican Catholic Church in Maitland NSW Australia 2015.

 

"Pasch" comes from the Hebrew word "pesah," meaning deliverance or Passover. This candle represents the risen Christ whose light dispelled the darkness (death), and the splendor and glory of His resurrection. It shows the Greek letters alpha and omega, the beginning and the end  (from the Book of Revelation), together with the five wounds of Jesus: the three nails that pierced his hands and feet, the spear thrust into his side, and the thorns that crowned his head. The wounds represented with the "nails" which pierce the actual candle.