December 2007

anul XXXII
Parish priest
CHRSTMAS 2007 PEACE AND HARMONY Reverend Dr. Doru Costache

The Christless NEWS FROM THE

ROMANIAN
Xmas vs. PATRIARCHATE
Christmas
by Reverend Dr. Doru Costache

They say we need to let us be simply

absorbed by ‘the spirit of Christmas’… I
wonder what that may mean. Some say it’s
about a family feast, yet I know of many
family feasts which don’t really have a name.
Others say it’s a moment when one goes out to meet with their friends, yet
again I know of many such opportunities without them deserving a name.
Others again say it’s about letting us be absorbed by the exuberant spirit of
celebrating no-matter-what, where from the offensive anagram Xmas.
Finally, others say it’s about shopping! The Grinch undoubtedly exults…

For Christians, however, it is never a purely human event at the core of

Christmas and it’s never Xmas. Christians know that it is not just their
ephemeral joy at stake, nor another reason to eat, drink and ‘have fun’ no
matter with whom and in what circumstances. They know that this is our
Lord’s birthday, Christ’s feast, whose meaning and significance go far His Beatitude Daniel became the
beyond ‘having fun’ with family, friends or no-matter-whom-else. To sixth Patriarch of the Romanian
them, Christmas is the opportune moment of renewing our commitment to Orthodox Church. We wish His
God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, a renewal which takes first the Beatitude a long and fruitful
pain of ‘dealing with’ the fasting period and then to let us be absorbed by arch-pastoral service.
the liturgical rhythm of the festal celebration. Christmas is also, and
consequently, a season of remembrance of who we are and are called to
become, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Everything else comes after. The Holy Synod of the Romanian
Orthodox Church has decided the
It is a matter of fact that all our existential failures reside ultimately in our establishment of the Romanian Or-
inability and unwillingness to acknowledge God and his mercy which was thodox Diocese of Australia and the
bestowed upon us through the incarnation of the Son of God. In and New Zealand
through the ritual we learn to uplift our hearts from everything in order to
acknowledge how everything is a gift coming from above; in and through
the ritual we learn to give thanks to our life-giving Lord; in and through the
ritual we learn to embrace all with divine love and compassion, since there
we learn and manifest the fact that we are sons and daughters of the same
God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The secular, Christless, Xmas cannot last. The mystery of Christmas brings
to the receptive souls the ineffaceable joy of renewal as sons and daughters
of God, by the presence of Christ’s Holy Spirit, the one who enables us
to call God ‘Father’. What is it that we celebrate?
pg. 2

God with a loud voice. We can know then that they

Angels were there before the creation of the rest of the material
world.
from the The angels are pure, spiritual, immortal beings. They

Realms of Glory are immaterial and bodiless, therefore invisible to us.

Thus they can transport themselves easily from place to
place. Although they have greater powers than humans,
Presbytera Eisodia Menis the angels have limited abilities; for example they
cannot be everywhere at once, nor can they know
everything. In other words, unlike God, they are not
During the approach to Christmas we hear many carols. omnipresent or omniscient. They do have wills and, by
We might even sing along, sometimes without even grace, they are inclined good. They have already been
being aware of it. We tested for those who did
sort of know the words; not align their wills with
we have heard them so God’s and followed
often. Lucifer (once the light-
bearing angel) and
Apart from some revolted against God
Christmas songs which became fallen angels, in
have nothing to do with other words, demons.
the birth of our Lord,
many carols reiterate If angels are invisible,
the story of Christ’s how is it then that the
nativity, being more or Bible reports that they
less faithful to the have been seen by
Gospel accounts. humans? These sightings
are not confined to
Angels are often Biblical reports. As the
mentioned in Bible and occasion warranted,
we hear about them in angels took on the
the carols too. It was appearance of humans,
the Archangel Gabriel for example like a young
who was sent to the man (Mark 16:5),
Theotokos to give her sometimes with wings,
the good news that she and were able to
would be the mother of communicate in human
God (Luke 1:26-38). language. Thus they
Joseph, too, was visited reveal God’s messages
by an angel, in a dream, (angel = messenger) to
and was given the people. The Epistle to the
confidence to accept Hebrews (1:14) is
Mary as his wife indicates that their
(Matthew 1:20-21). The messages are to do with
angels proclaimed the our salvation. Angels
birth of Christ to the shepherds who heeded their continually praise and glorify God and this sublime
announcement without question. Seeing things for work makes them more spiritual, more blessed.
themselves, the shepherds praised and glorified God
(Luke 2:8-20). The message of the angels for us at Christmas time is
joyful. The good news of Christ’s birth and therefore,
Angels are not characters of fairy tales. The Church too, salvation, is for everyone. Together with the hosts
teaches that angels were created by God (Colossians of angels, then, we can sing praises to our God.
1:16). St Dionysius the Areopagite expands further – the
orders of angels include powers, principalities, thrones,
cherubim, seraphim, dominions, authorities, rulers,
archangels, and angels. It is not known when they were
actually created. The book of Job (Septuagint Job 38:7)
says that when the stars were made, the angels praised

Parochial Life | December 2007 |

 pg. 3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

STATEMENT BY AUSTRALIAN CHURCH LEADERS

Bethlehem, December 2007

In December 2007 a delegation of nine Australian Church leaders visited Jerusalem and the Holy Land to:

• meet with and express friendship and support for Christians in Palestine and Israel ;

• meet with Jewish and Muslim faith leaders and representatives of the Israeli Government and the Palestinian
Authority; and help Australians more fully understand and respond to the situation in Israel and Palestine .

It was a profound privilege to visit Palestine and Israel. We felt very welcome and safe, and greatly appreciated
the friendship and hospitality extended to us. We consulted widely, visiting the Old City of Jerusalem, West and
East Jerusalem, Hebron , Jenin, Ramallah, Bethlehem , and refugee camps where churches are providing
humanitarian support. We met with Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders, Israeli government and Palestinian
National Authority representatives, and civic and human rights leaders.

We have been encouraged by international efforts toward a just peace renewed at Annapolis, and by the desire
for negotiations between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian National Authority.

We were distressed to hear Palestinians, both Christian and Muslim, relate the suffering and fear experienced
daily by large numbers of their people. We saw and heard evidence of systematic harassment, physical and
psychological oppression, widespread unemployment, poverty, and economic deprivation, resulting directly or
indirectly from Israeli military occupation of the West Bank . Their suffering compels us to respond, and we
assure Palestinians of our compassion and concern.

We visited Yad Vashem and laid a wreath in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. We heard of Israeli grief
and pain resulting from violent attacks and continuing fear of terrorist activity. We condemn all acts of terrorism
and assure Israelis of our compassion and concern.

We recognise the complex nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We strongly affirm the right of both Israel
and Palestine to political autonomy, security and self-determination. We join with a large majority of the people
of Palestine and Israel in longing for a just and lasting peace. We understand the reluctance to make concessions
or to trust those who are the source of fear and oppression, but the time for courageous and inspiring leadership
has come.

In the light of what we have seen and heard during this visit, we support actions to enable Israel and Palestine to
negotiate just outcomes on borders, settlements, water, refugees, prisoners, Jerusalem, and security.

We are particularly concerned by the imprisonment of teenagers, mothers with dependent children, and those
detained without trial for long periods. We encountered the debilitating effects on the Palestinian economy and
impacts on daily life of the segregated road system, the proliferation of checkpoints and road blocks throughout
the West Bank, restrictions on movement of people and goods, and the effective isolation of Palestinian
communities from one another. We were repeatedly told that these matters stand in the way of a just peace.

We are heartened by important signs of hope in the face of persistent difficulties. The emergence in Jerusalem
of the Council for Religious Institutions promises greater understanding and cooperation among Jewish,
Christian and Muslim leaders and communities. Human rights organisations in both Palestine and Israel
undertake significant and sometimes dangerous work with courage and passion. Vibrant educational and
cultural initiatives are evident in oppressed communities and refugee camps.

Continued on next page )

Parochial Life | December 2007 |

pg. 4

We ask Australian Churches to:

• pray for a just and lasting peace for Jerusalem and the Holy Land ;
• encourage the Australian Gov. to take more action to support a just and lasting peace for Israel and Palestine ;
• hear the stories of the suffering and oppression, perseverance and hope of the people of the Holy Land ;
• sponsor aid and development projects in the West Bank and Gaza ;
• support the status of Jerusalem as an open city for all faiths and peoples;
• encourage Australian Christians to visit the Holy Land and foster relationships with Palestinian Christians;
build stronger relationships with Jewish and Muslim communities in Australia.

Our common humanity and legitimate desires for security and freedom can drive the peace process forward. We
are confident that a just and lasting peace for Palestine and Israel can be realised. As Christmas approaches, we
look to the future with hope, confident in God’s promise of forgiveness, reconciliation and peace.
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace!” (Luke 2:14 NRSV)

Bethlehem,
12 December 2007
+ Archbishop Phillip Aspinall
Primate, Anglican Church of Australia
Archbishop of Brisbane

Revd Rod Benson Lyndsay Farrall

Ethicist, National Council
Baptist Union of Australia
Dr Kevin Bray
National Council
churches of Christ in Australia
+ Archbishop Francis Carroll
Roman Catholic Archbishop emeritus
Immediate Past President of the
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
Presiding Clerk
Australian Yearly Meeting
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Revd Gregor Henderson
President
Uniting Church in Australia
Revd John Henderson
General Secretary
National Council of Churches in Australia

Revd Terence Corkin Revd Merrill Kitchen

Assembly General Secretary National Council
Uniting Church in Australia churches of Christ in Australia

THE SKETCH OF THE OF THE ROMANIAN PEOPLE CATHEDRAL IN BUCHAREST

Parochial Life | december 2007 |

 pg. 5

The privilege of singing in the choir keeps me present,

Ongoing Conversion,
the Barest Beginning
Anna Caradine
In ruminating about my introduction into Orthodoxy,
something came to me that I had forgotten. Something
that perhaps could be thought of as more than
coincidental. Shortly after my husband died, nearly ten
years ago, I was attending the Roman Catholic weekday
Mass one Friday at a church near the town where I
lived. As I was leaving, a pamphlet rack in the narthex
caught my eye.
skirts anchored to earth, not exactly being passive in the
Liturgy but not drunk with it either. Singing with the
choir enables me to stay earthbound, to withstand not
just the joy of the Liturgy but the pain of my own
sinfulness that rises when I am on such holy ground.
I’m a pitiful offering to God and yet feel loved anyway.
I don’t think God calls me to be successful, rather,
perhaps God’s expectations of me are simply to remain
faithful, to get up and face the music every time I fall, to
keep coming back. Orthodoxy has opened doors for me
that were shut until now. I can even take care of my
aging, ailing mother, who is a sad and abusive soul,
without resentment. Before, I could hardly stand to be
in the same room with her.

I looked over all the literature and one small piece,
printed on goldenrod paper, grabbed my attention,
standing out among the others. In reading it, I noticed
that it was Russian Orthodox literature and had an
advertisement for an Orthodox bookstore printed on the
back. Now, how unlikely could it be to find a Russian
Orthodox pamphlet in a Roman Catholic church? And,
it was the only copy!
Of course, I was intrigued and took it with me. On the
drive home I began to think that I should visit this
bookstore and so turned around and headed to the larger
city where it was located.
In learning to stand still and let the Great Surgeon
operate on me, the mirror thing happens in my life. I’m
not hiding so much anymore, but able to stand the pain
of my own grossness and receive the beauty of God
without feeling the need to escape the intensity of the
emotion. It’s the same in caring for my mother, I am
able to stand the pain and somehow it becomes a
healing compassion for us both. Little by little, through
learning to live as an Orthodox Christian, I begin to
cooperate with God’s grace which transforms through
the Liturgy.

At the bookstore, I encountered individuals who were

solidly committed to living an Orthodox Christian life. I
bought a book by St. Theophane the Recluse which was
the first true feeding of my soul, making me aware of a
serious lack in myself and in my spiritual life.

It took until this past April for me to finally arrive at

Chrismation, which I now understand is only the barest
of beginnings, and I do believe that I have made the first
authentic surrender of my life. How does one write
about this ongoing conversion into Orthodoxy so that it
makes sense to others? Words fail to describe with any
kind of clarity the sense of the mystical, of dancing with
the Divine, being definitively guided, but the need is
there to share it.

In the Liturgy, it is hard not to fly with the birds in the

ozone. The beauty is overwhelming as is the fact that I
am so unworthy to be participating, to be given the
Eucharist. Christ’s gifts abound in everything but are
particularly obvious to me in the Eucharist and it makes
me weak in the knees with a tendency to wander off
entranced by the sweet smells. But, I’m not meant for
more than a moment’s stay in the ozone. I’m carnal and
have to be “down to earth” in every respect in order to
be the way God meant, but sometimes he gives
glimpses.

Parochial Life | December 2007 |

pg. 6
“No Room at the Inn”
An Open Letter to the Australian Nation
from the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander
Ecumenical Commission of the National Council of
Churches in Australia
11 December 2007
At this time of the year, as we turn our minds to
Christmas and reflect on the year that was (and what a
year it was) and look forward to the year to come, I
cannot help but think of many of my Indigenous
brothers and sisters. This season of peace, hope and joy
leads me to ask, ‘what peace, hope and joy will be given
unto us with the coming of the Christ Child into the
Parochial Life | December 2007 |
world?’ Over the last 237 years since Lt. James Cook
arrived, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
have been denied a proper place within our own
country. Just like Jesus’ family on returning to their
home country we also have not been able to find a
proper place for ourselves in our own land.
Too many other interests seem to distract the country
where we once roamed freely. We have been turned
away at the door and given scant attention and meagre
generosity by the new Innkeepers. It is interesting that
we, Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, were not
part of Federation, were forgotten about as the new
wave of Immigrants came from the Mediterranean
during the post war years and were not on the radar
until the 1967 referendum. Except, of course, when we
were allowed to lose our lives fighting for this country,
or when we were seen as strange curiosities of a bygone
era. Mostly, we were labelled as a troublesome few
dissidents who should not expect the same rights as
everyone else.
Children were removed from their families because it
was perceived that they were not being cared for to
acceptable western standards. Or they were taken away
simply so they could be given the ‘western makeover’
to fit better into western society. The only problem was
that they still had a different colour than those holding
up the bar of mainstream society.
This brings me to the question of an apology. The
former Howard Government was against any apology as
it was seen that the mainstream should not be held
accountable for the past, and such an apology could
hold the State open to litigation. It’s an interesting
irony that in this corporate world we live in, mainstream
Australia will hold accountable corporations for their
past organisational failings, and yet the nation cannot
live up to its own corporate responsibilities. As for the
apology itself, the Nation is either Sorry or it’s not.
Putting provisos on it (we regret etc.) is not an apology.
If we are going to move forward then it is very
important that the Nation says Sorry and accepts any
consequences that might result. The present Rudd
Government must take the lead on this and soon.
The continual denial of the rights of Indigenous
peoples, as Australian Citizens, has gone on for too
long. We have a right to education, health and the
many opportunities that most Australians take for
granted. Governments need to act now to correct these
situations, which occur around the country not just the
Northern Territory, and close the gap between us and
the mainstream. As I’ve often said in other Forums,
how can Australia set out to save the world when there
is so much to be done at home? What credibility does
Australia have if it is not working to correct the
situations in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
communities?
Continued on next page )
 pg. 7

)Continuation from previous page

There needs to be a plan,
not knee jerk reactions, to address these situations. The
Millennium Development Goals help us in this area.
These eight time bound and measurable goals
discourage empty rhetoric. They encourage us to
formulate concrete plans to build a better future for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The first step to any action is recognition of what is

currently happening. We have no real voice or say or
control in what is happening to us. Outsiders are
dictating our future. There is no national representative
voice to carry our hopes, dreams and desires forward
into the future. Hand picked advisors are not a
representative voice. A process needs to be put into
place where a representative voice can be heard and
acted upon. National conventions need to be held so
that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can
contribute to the process of forming this new voice and
eventually own the outcomes.

People say that there is not one voice in Indigenous

Australia, but surely that can also be said of
mainstream Australia. Our Federal Parliament, with
different parties and different factions, continues to
exist. The one voice comes when these groups are
allowed a forum like Parliament to reach compromise
and consensus for the good of all.

This forum will help lead us into a better tomorrow for

our children and children’s children. The issue of
whether we should be included in the preamble to the
constitution of Australia can also be debated in these
forums and a proposition then put forward to the
Australian people in a future referendum. These issues
cannot be put off until tomorrow for tomorrow may
never come. Many of our great Indigenous leaders are
already passing on and we need their valuable input into
these forums.

As I reflect this Christmas time, I wonder if Australia

will place their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Australians again in the stable, as Jesus was over 2,000
years ago, or will we be invited in to share fully in the
Australia which is so gifted, diverse and forward
looking. Will we begin to “Make Indigenous Poverty
History” this Christmas?

May the peace, hope and Joy of Christmas fill all

Australians with the hope of a new tomorrow!

Graeme MUNDINE
Executive Secretary EL GRECO
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander THE ADORATION OF THE SHEPHERDS
Ecumenical Commission 1596-1600
National Council of Churches in Australia oil on canvas (346 x 147 cm)
Mob: 0419 238 788 National Museum of Art of Romania - Bucharest

Parochial Life | December 2007 |

pg. 8
TEXTS
FOR THE FEAST
OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST
Troparion: Thy Nativity, O Christ
our God, hath shined upon the world
the light of knowledge; for thereby,
they that worshipped the stars were
taught by a star to worship Thee, the
Sun of Righteousness, and to know
Thee, the Dayspring from on high. O
Lord, glory be to Thee.
Kontakion: Today the virgin giveth
birth to Him Who is above all being,
and the earth offereth a cave to Him
Whom no man can approach. Angels
with shepherds give glory, and magi
journey with a star. For our sake is
born a Young Child, the Pre-eternal
God!
First Canon of Canticle Four: Rod
of the root of Jesse, and flower that
blossomed from his stem, O Christ,
Thou hast sprung from the Virgin.
From the Mountain overshadowed
by the forest Thou hast come, made
flesh from her that knew not
wedlock, O God who art not formed
from matter. Glory to Thy power, O
Lord. O Christ, whom Jacob foretold
in the days of old, calling Thee the
Expectation of the nations, Thou
hast shone forth from the tribe of
Judah, and Thou hast come to
plunder the strength of Damascus
and the spoils of Samaria, turning
their error into faith, O beautiful
God. Glory to Thy power, O Lord. O
Master who hast risen as a Star out
of Jacob, Thou hast filled with joy
the watchers of the stars, who
interpreted wisely the words of
Balaam, the soothsayer of old. As
the first fruits of the Gentiles were
they led unto Thee, and Thou has
openly received them, as they
brought Thee acceptable gifts. Glory
to Thy power, O Lord. As dew upon
the fleece hast Thou descended into
Parochial Life | December 2007 |
the womb of the Virgin, O Christ, and has carried at thy bosom God
and as drops of rain that fall upon the incarnate Word. We cannot
the earth. Ethiopia and Tarshish and fathom this mystery: but by faith
the isles of Arabia, the kings of alone we all glorify it, crying with
Saba, of the Medes and all the earth, thee and saying: O Lord past all
fell down before Thee, O Saviour. interpretation, glory to Thee! O
Glory to Thy power, O Lord. come, let us sing the praises of the
Mother of the Saviour, who after
A Hymn of the Nativity: How is He bearing child still remained Virgin.
contained in a womb, whom nothing Rejoice, thou Living City of God
can contain? And how can He who the King, in which Christ has dwelt,
is in the bosom of the Father be held bringing to pass our salvation. With
in the arms of His Mother? This is Gabriel we sing thy praises; with
according to His good pleasure, as the shepherds we glorify thee,
He knows and wishes. For being crying: O Mother of God, intercede
without flesh, of His own will has for our salvation with Him who
He been made flesh; and He Who Is, took flesh from thee!
for our sakes has become that which
He was not. Without departing from First Ode of the Canon of the
His own nature He has shared in our Nativity: Christ is born, glorify
substance. Desiring to fill the world him. Christ is from heaven, go to
on high with citizens, Christ has meet him. Christ is an earth, be ye
undergone a twofold birth. lifted up. Sing to the Lord, all the
earth. Sing out with gladness, all ye
Praises (Lauds) of Nativity: Make people. For he is glorified.
glad, O ye righteous; greatly
rejoice, O ye heavens; ye
mountains, dance for joy. Christ is
born, and like the cherubim the
Virgin makes a throne, carrying at
her bosom God the Word made
flesh. Shepherds glorify the new-
born Child, magi offer the Master
gifts. Angels sing praises, saying: 'O
Lord past understanding, glory to
Thee!' It was the good pleasure of
the Father: the Word became flesh,
and the Virgin bore God made man.
A star spreads abroad the tidings:
the Magi worship, the shepherds
stand amazed, and the creation is
filled with mighty joy. O Mother of
God, Virgin who hast borne the
Saviour, thou hast overthrown the
ancient curse of Eve. For thou hast
become the Mother of Him in
whom the Father was well pleased,

“Christ” by Stela Viorica Şimon (Timişoara - Romania) - Icon painted on glass
Come,
let us adore
Him!
Presbytera Eisodia Menis
Church hymns and secular carols
can be heard imploring us to come
to Christ and to adore Him.
The Gospels tell us that among the
first to come to Christ were some
shepherds who were informed by
the angels (Luke 2:10). The angels
proclaimed news of great joy and
having seen what the angels were
speaking of they glorified and
praised God.
Our Church’s Christmas Troparion,
reflecting the second chapter of the
gospel of Matthew, teaches that
those who worshiped the stars were
taught by a star to adore Christ. The
light of wisdom dawned upon the
world and amongst the first to be
informed by it were men from the
east. The magi, studiers of the stars,
saw a sign that, according to their
knowledge, heralded an event which
justified their long journey to
examine it – they came looking for a
King.
Knowledge of Christ may come to
us from different sources and our
abilities or stations in life have no
bearing on the matter. It is our
acceptance and faith that allows this
new knowledge to lead us to
worship Christ. Jesus is the light of
the world and whoever comes to
Him will not walk in darkness but
will have the light of life (John
8:12). The true light is already
shining (1 John 2:10). Being
enlightened leads to being changed.
How do we know if we are
enlightened? How do we gage if we
know Jesus or love God? We know
by the extent to which we keep His
commandments (1 John 2).
We give of ourselves freely for God
loves us first (1 John 4:9-10). Jesus
loves us (John 15:9). He came that
we might have abundant life
(John10:10) and God loves us for
believing that Jesus came from the
Father. We put ourselves in His trust
and He promises us eternal life (1
John 2:25). We express our love for
our Lord in diverse ways. We
indicate our love by prayers and/or
complete silence. Further, we show
our love with gestures, by our
relationships with others and by our
way of life.
In the Orthodox Church, the
services of the Hours have at their
beginning these verses:
“Come let us worship and fall down
before our King and God.
Come, let us worship and fall down
before Christ, our King and God.
Come let us worship and fall down
before Him, Christ the King and our
God”
Traditionally we say these lines with
prostrations. We are bowing before
Christ the King. Many Fathers of the
church have written extensively
concerning the divinity of Christ. In
answer to those who suggested that
Christ is merely a man, the Fathers
asserted that Jesus Christ was from
God, and that in fact, He is divine.
We have received this faith from our
relationship with Christ. It is God
who reveals to us that Jesus is the
Son of the living God. (Matthew
16:16-17).
Having come to Jesus at His
invitation (Mark 11:28), even
though struggle is part of it, the high
calling of God is an invaluable prize
(Philippians 3:14). Why wouldn’t
we fall down before our Lord, to
adore Him? In the presence of
Christ with great reverence and awe
do we bow down and worship God.
Like the Apostles then, we too,
might have great joy and praise and
bless God (Luke 24:52-53).
pg. 9
PRAYING
TOGETHER
At the heart of our life together as
Christians is sharing in the Great
Prayer of Jesus:
“that they may all
be one. As you,
Father, are in me
and I am in you,
may they also be in
us, so that the
world may believe
that you have sent
me”
(John 17.20-21)
In Australia we will be marking
100 years of the origins of the Week
of Prayer for Christian Unity be-
tween:
4 MAY - 11 MAY
2008
Resources will be made available
for this special time
but we need to plan ahead…
How will you celebrate
the Week of Prayer
with other Christians in
2008?
"Should not our churches as
themselves whether they are
showing sufficient eagerness to
enter into conversation with
other churches, and whether they
should not act together in all
matters
except those in which deep
differences of conviction compel
them to act separately?"
(the ‘Lund Principle’, as agreed by the
World Council of Churches’
Faith & Order Conference in Lund, Swe-
den in 1952)
for more information please contact:
NSW Ecumenical Council
Locked Bag 199, 7/379 Kent
Street, Sydney, NSW 1230
Ph. (02)9299 2215
nswec@ncca.org.au
www.nswec.org.au
Parochial Life | December 2007 |
pg. 10
A Bush
Christmas
by C.J. Dennis
(1876-1938)
The sun burns hotly thro' the gums
As down the road old Rogan comes -
The hatter from the lonely hut
Beside the track to Woollybutt.
He likes to spend his Christmas with us
here.
He says a man gets sort of strange
Living alone without a change,
Gets sort of settled in his way;
And so he comes each Christmas day
To share a bite of tucker and a beer.
Dad and the boys have nought to do,
Except a stray odd job or two.
Along the fence or in the yard,
"It ain't a day for workin' hard."
Says Dad. "One day a year don't matter
much."
And then dishevelled, hot and red,
Mum, thro' the doorway puts her head
And says, "This Christmas cooking, My!
The sun's near fit for cooking by."
Upon her word she never did see such.
"Your fault," says Dad, "you know it is.
Plum puddin'! on a day like this,
And roasted turkeys! Spare me days,
I can't get over women's ways.
In climates such as this the thing's all
wrong.
A bit of cold corned beef an' bread
Would do us very well instead."
Then Rogan said, "You're right; it's hot.
It makes a feller drink a lot."
And Dad gets up and says, "Well, come
along."
The dinner's served - full bite and sup.
"Come on," says Mum, "Now all sit up."
The meal takes on a festive air;
And even father eats his share
REMINISCENCE
By a young anonymous Romanian poet in Sydney
To remember your past is to love or to hate,
And hate is but a corrupted form of love,
And so one must greatly love his past,
To live his future in reminiscence.
And for those that subsist in the past,
Are naught but walking dead,
For life without love is death itself,
And these men have only hate to impart.
Incidentally, the greatest gift is to be remembered,
And in order to be remembered you have
to leave something behind,
Parochial Life | December 2007 |
And passes up his plate to have some more.
He laughs and says it's Christmas time,
"That's cookin', Mum. The stuffin's prime." PEACE
But Rogan pauses once to praise,
Then eats as tho' he'd starved for days.
And pitches turkey bones outside the door.
MAKING
The sun burns hotly thro' the gums,
The chirping of the locusts comes “All this is from God, who reconciled us to
Across the paddocks, parched and grey. himself through Christ, and has given us the
"Whew!" wheezes Father. "What a day!" ministry of reconciliation”
And sheds his vest. For coats no man had (2 Corinthians 5.18)
need.
Then Rogan shoves his plate aside In 2008, a special concern will be sup-
And sighs, as sated men have sighed, porting our Pacific Church partners, as
At many boards in many climes part of the 2008 PACIFIC FOCUS of the
On many other Christmas times. Decade to Overcome Violence.
"By gum!" he says, "That was a slap-up
feed!" Key elements are assisting Christians to
support Pacific Islanders in peace building
Then, with his black pipe well alight, and in enabling churches to work more
Old Rogan brings the kids delight effectively to address the ever more
By telling o'er again his yarns pressing challenges of Climate Change.
Of Christmas tide 'mid English barns
When he was, long ago, a farmer's boy.
His old eyes glisten as he sees
Half glimpses of old memories,
Of whitened fields and winter snows,
And yuletide logs and mistletoes,
And all that half-forgotten, hallowed joy.
The children listen, mouths agape,
And see a land with no escape
Fro biting cold and snow and frost -
A land to all earth's brightness lost,
A strange and freakish Christmas land to
them. The Ecumenical Council will also be
But Rogan, with his dim old eyes following up our involvements in
Grown far away and strangely wise solidarity with suffering Christians
Talks on; and pauses but to ask in Palestine-Israel and, with our member
"Ain't there a drop more in that cask?" churches in the wider Middle East.
And father nods; but Mother says "Ahem!"
The sun slants redly thro' the gums
As quietly the evening comes,
And Rogan gets his old grey mare,
That matches well his own grey hair,
And rides away into the setting sun.
"Ah, well," says Dad. "I got to say
I never spent a lazier day.
We ought to get that top fence wired."
"My!" sighs poor Mum. "But I am tired!
An' all that washing up still to be done."
addressing
An undersized part but a part none the less,
POVERTY
An element that will strike the heart of mankind. at home, we will continue to work for a
more just Australia, especially through
Love is an attribute that all of these men possessed, the House of Welcome and our
Their love for life immortal, as all ideal are,
And we respect their beliefs yet honour their actions, Refugee Program,
For it is easy to hate, but honourable to forgive. Churches Community Housing Ltd,
and support of
And yet through great deliberation,
The minute imparting that these men left behind,
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander
Seems to be swelling as time goes on, Christians
Until their sacrifice seems inhumanly large,
That is the price of being remembered,
You must sever part of yourself until you have bled dry,
And have the ignorant masses drink from your efforts,
Until they are overcome by the taste of hope.
 pg. 11

"Rin doon, rin doon, my little son Jack,

"to whaur the emus bide, NSW
Ye shall find the auld hen on the nest
while the auld cock sits beside." Ecumenical
"But speak them fair and speak them saft
lest they kick ye a fearful jolt,
Council
Ye can gie them a feed of the half inch nails serving churches in NSW and the ACT
or a rusty carriage bolt."
churches together…
So little son Jack ran blithely down
with the rusty nails in hand, seeking peace and
Till he came where the emus scratched
by their nest in the open sand. reconciliation
And there he has gathered the new-laid egg
'twould feed 3 men or 4,
And the emus came for the half inch nails
right up to the settlers door.
Themes for 2008
Santa Claus In "A waste o' food," said the dour guidwife,
as she took the egg with a frown,
The Bush "But he gets nae meat unless
ye rin a paddy-melon down."
by Andrew Barton “Banjo”
Paterson (1864-1941) "Gang oot, gang oot, my little son Jack
wi your twa-three doggies sma,
It chanced out back at the Christmas time, Gin ye come nae back wi a paddy-melon,
When the wheat was ripe and tall, then come nae back at a'."
A stranger rode to the farmer's gate
A sturdy man and a small. So little son Jack he raced and he ran

"Rin doon, rin doon, my little son Jack,

and bid the stranger stay,
And we'll hae a crack for Auld Lang Syne,
for the morn is Christmas day."
"Nay noo, nay noo," said the dour guidwife,
"But ye should let him be,
He's maybe only a drover chap,
From the land o' the Darling Pea."
"Wi a drovers tales, and a drover's thirst
tae swiggle the hail nicht through,
Or he's maybe a life assurance carle,
to talk ye black and blue."
"Guidwife, he's never a drover chap
for their swags are neat and thin,
And he's never a life assurance carl
with the brick dust burnt in his skin."
"Guidwife, guidwife, be nae sae dour
for the wheat stands ripe and tall
And we shore a seven pound fleece this year,
ewes and weaners and all."
"There is grass to spare and the stock are fat,
where they whiles are gaunt and thin,
And we owe a tithe to the travellin' poor,
so we maun ask him in."
"Ye can set him a chair at table side
and gie him a bite tae eat,
An omelette made of a new-laid egg,
or a tasty bit o' meat."
"But the native cats hae taen fowls--
they havena left a leg,
And he'll get nae omelette at
a' till the emu lays an egg."
and he was bare o' the feet,
And soon he captured a paddy-melon
was gorged with stolen wheat.
"Sit doon, sit doon," my bonny wee man;
"to the best that the hoose can do,
An omelette made o' the emu egg,
and a paddy melon stew."
"'Tis well, 'tis well", said the bonny wee man,
"I have eaten the wide world's meat,
And the food that is given with right good will
is the sweetest food to eat."
"But the night draws on to Christmas Day
and I must rise and go,
For I have a mighty way to ride
to the land of the Esquimaux."
"And it's there I must load my sledges up
with the reindeers four-in-hand,
That go to the North, South, East and West
to every Christian land."
"Tae the Esquimaux," said the dour guidwife
"ye suit my husband well,
For when he gets up on his journey horse
he's a bit o' a liar himsel'."
Then out with a laugh went the bonny wee man-- learn more about one another’s faith and life
to his old horse grazing nigh,
And away like a meteor flash they went
far off to the Northern sky.
When the children woke on the Christmas morn,
they chattered with might and main,
For a sword and a gun had little son Jack,
and a braw new doll had Jane,
And a packet o' screws had the twa emus;
but the dour guidwife got nane!
Making
PILGRIMAGE
In order to unite with one another, we must
love one another;
in order to love one another, we must know
one another;
in order to know one another, we must go
and meet one another.
(The Testament of Cardinal Mercier)
Encountering the God of Jesus Christ in other
people and places is at the heart of Christian
discipleship. Sharing in the ‘Pilgrimage of
Trust’ with the ecumenical Taizé Community
is just one way the NSW Ecumenical Council
assists directly.
In the coming year, the NSW Ecumenical
Council will continue to encourage opportuni-
ties for Christians of different traditions and
cultures to meet and deepen their relationships
in the Body of Christ / with a special feature
being the
”Pilgrimage of Resurrection”
in February-April 2008
when young people from Western and
Orthodox Churches will have opportunities to
during their respective Lenten observances
and Easter celebrations.
Where, and with whom, will
you walk this coming year?
“we need each other
to make each other holy”
(Archbishop Elias Chacour,
at Parramatta,
6 May 2007)

Parochial Life | December 2007 |

 Between 1st December and 15th January, the parish ST MARY’S
organises special collections every Sunday, for the ROMANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
acquisition of candles and other expenses. For IN SYDNEY, INC
donations over $20 for which you want receipts, Christmas – Epiphany
please speak to Ms Angela Kalafatis (treasurer) Program 2007 - 2008
before making the donation.

Sunday, 16th December

10.00-11.40: liturgy
11.40-12.15: Santa Claus arrives

Sunday, 23rd December

10.00-12.00: matins & liturgy

Monday, 24th December

Christmas Eve
18.30-19.30: festal vespers

Tuesday, 25th December

Lord’s Nativity
10.00-12.00: matins & liturgy

Sunday, 30th December

10.00-12.00: matins & liturgy

Tues, 1st January

Lord’s Circumcision
10.00-12.00: liturgy; St Basil’s exorcisms
For the glory of God
Sunday, 6th January
The church has been added again glamour this Baptism of the Lord (Epiphany)
Christmas by two superb floral ornaments donated, as 10.00-12.00: liturgy; great blessing of waters
always, by the Bunescu Family and the Elin Family.

Sunday, 6th January - Monday, 7th January

Pastoral visit to St Andrew’s Romanian community,
Newcastle

Those willing to receive

the traditional blessing of houses, please
call the parish priest at
0415 890 774
for appointments.

Christmas Carols at the Church Editor in chief:

th
After the divine liturgy, on the 16 of December, the parish pr. dr. Doru Costache
has organised a Christmas Carols show. In the opening, Santa Design & layout:
Claus (the actor Cătălin Anastase) recited a few clas-
sic Romanian poems dedicated to Christmas. After the poems,
George Roca (Sydney)
Santa asked the children to approach and receive – as in an
echo of the holy communion they have received beforehand
from the hand of their priest – the presents. This year, the pre- Church Address:
sents were donated by the Parish Committee and Mr & Mrs 64 Linthorn Ave,
Badrea. After the distribution of these modest symbols of the Croydon Park,
arriving feast, all present intoned the traditional carols, in a NSW 2133.
warm atmosphere of joyful friendship. Merry Christmas! phone: (02) 9642 02 60