The Sydney Community Bulletin No. 42 - February 2008

170 Beattie Street , BALMAIN NSW 2041 – Tel./Fax +61 (0)2 9810 6690

chistiancommunity@iprimus.com.au

Dear Friends,

Approaching the Christian festivals of Passiontide, Easter, Ascension and Whitsun as an inner process, calls us to reawaken our understanding, love and gratitude for Christ's deed on Golgotha .

Each step that we school in our striving to meet with Christ on His way through His passion and death will give us spiritual insight into the transforming mighty power of His resurrection with the rising sun on Easter morning.

We have no time anymore to have a sentimental approach to our spiritual path, but rather we need to develop a new appreciation for the great visible and invisible Union for spiritual being and the human being; for the union of the heavens and of the earth when the ancient spiritual paths were finished at the hour of Christ's resurrection. The new way had begun through Christ's ascending and revelation.

Human beings received their birth right to become free, independent and individual spiritual beings with an earthly mission to develop a living relationship to the new revelation of the self and Christ's presence within us through all ages to come. The awakening to an inner knowledge of Christ's deed on Golgotha is expressed through the flames of Whitsun in our inner thoughts and inner perception.

The flames of Whitsun can help each one of us to awaken to the call of our own task and destiny and thereby aid us to fulfil our individual life's mission on earth.

Our times, at this turning point of the 21 st century, require us to approach our Christian understanding through the eyes of Michael – spirit of our time - and thereby perceive the present mission of the human beings on earth and to unite our becoming with the evolving spiritual impulse of Christ in us, as transforming love and warmth in our world.

The Christian path is an evolving and powerful way for human development. It is the path of love and respect for Christ' supreme deed of transformation and healing for the souls of all human beings.

Find a new approach to the path and Easter will rise in our hearts as the new sun of our becoming.

Sincerely, Rosalind Pecover

Church of Columcille – The Cloisters

Demolition work began November 12 th 2007, removing 2 old garages and the flat garden space and several large trees and shrubs. Provisional play space for Sune and Anna's children has been created after Paradise was won and lost and will be won again before too long.

A rubble driveway carries bulldozers and trucks in and out of the site. Builders shed erected for onsite work.

A 125.000 litre hole has been dug for a grey water system which will flush the toilets and water the garden. Of course 32 days of rain have filled the unlined tank and thus has been drained in preparation for a concrete base and lining to be poured for the tank as well as piers and concrete slab for the cloisters building together with all plumbing, electricity, gas and of course white ant protectors.

The old school house built in 1884 has been stripped back to the four walls, roof ridge line and rafters. One hundred and twenty four years of peopling has been washed through by the rains, with the whole building being open to the skies, the sun, the moon, the stars, the wind and the rain and we are now ready to seal our foundation stone – our copper dodecahedron with some stones of the new Jerusalem, some history, the combined thoughts and intentions of the community members and friends, a meditative prayer, a piece from the Book of Revelation and the signatures of those present. The vessel will be sealed and placed in a steel and concrete column under the space where the altar will stand.

Next will follow the building of the piers and the placement of the new steel portal frames raised to the ridge frame to replace the old collar ties holding up the walls. The walls will be sandblasted and then electricity, gas and water services will be placed into the building. The windows will be lengthened and then gradually the next stage for joists, roofing and insulation will follow.

In the meantime all services are celebrated as usual both in the chapel and some Fridays in the library room.

Our dear chapel in the shed sails like a little ship amid the uptossings of massive iron stone and sand stone boulders – a calm place set in a sea of change!

Of course your donations towards the new church are so lovingly welcomed to help us complete a new place for the Lord.

Rosalind Pecover

The laying of the Foundation Stone for our new church

will be celebrated on Sunday 24 th February 2008 at 11:30 am

followed by a bring and share lunch - All welcome!

The Sunday Service for the Children

With their entry into the first grade the children step out of the family into the wider school community as a learner. This is also the case in religion. To the religious practice at home and the festivals celebrated throughout the cycle of the year is now added the practice of religion together with other children at the Sunday Service for the Children. It is worshipping the divine together. That is why there needs to be at least two children present to celebrate the service. Each child is greeted individually at the door and led into the room of prayer already prepared by the parents, the servers and the priest. But the prayer that the children speak is choral. The senses are gently addressed through the picture, the warmth, the colour, the flowers and the words. By purposely not being dramatic or overwhelming, we encourage the child to look actively, to seek the divine. The content emphasizes the importance of learning the great lessons of earthly life: The Christ is the teacher of love in the learning and work of life. It is not the aim to give the children moral guidelines, but to give them the experience of religious qualities such as peace, tranquillity, devotion, reverence and trust – qualities that will give the children an inner steadiness and the possibility of inner tranquillity, something that can be helpful for all the years to follow in life.

At the same time religious instruction also begins. In the early years it is given mostly in the form of stories, songs and verses. Approaching Confirmation it more often takes the form of discussion. Ideally up to about the age of nine the emphasis of instruction is on God the Father, as illustrated through stories that show the divine wisdom in nature and through the Old Testament history of the Hebrew people. For fifth graders the emphasis is on the Son and the New Testament. For 8 th graders and up the emphasis is on the Spirit, that is, how the divine works in individual destinies, in the biographies of people.

In the Sunday Service for the Children the heart gently awakens the will to worship God. In religious instruction the heart gently awakens the head, the understanding of the working of God. They complement and balance one another, developing the child's religious life from both sides, in a way that enables him or her to make a free, but informed choice about religion as an adult.

We have a special introduction to all class one children and other children new to the Sunday Service for the Children on Sunday 16 th March 11:15

New in the current programme ...

Two things are new in this programme:

Gospel study at Christophorus House 2 nd and 4 th Sunday of the month from 2 – 3 pm. All welcome to join this new study group. We will study the Gospel of Saint Luke together – please bring a New Testament along.

Community Evening once a month with a snack, singing, studying together, conversation and more. We meet every 3 rd Thursday of the Month from 5:30 to 7:00 pm

The exact content of these evenings is open. Let us meet the first time and find out what we would like to do. The first evening is special – it is the traditional Mandy Thursday meal, that we share in memory of the last supper.

Something to remember

After The Act of Consecration of Man some people like to sit in the silence of the chapel and contemplate for a little while. Therefore it would be considerate if everyone leaving the chapel could go quietly, so as not to disturb this silence. The Coffee table will be waiting up at the veranda and here lively talking is great.

While up there in the vicinity of the kitchen, please throw a glance at the list telling us which bins are to be put out and when. If we can share the consciousness of this task we will manage easily.

Excursion to Auburn mosque – Rosalind's Random Ramblings - Saturday 3 rd May 10:00am – 3:00pm

Over these next months we will visit some places of interesting this great City. We hope to go to the Turkish Mosque in Auburn and to be guided through some thoughts on Muslim practice. Afterwards we will go to lunch at one of the best Turkish restaurants nearby. Clothes must be very modest.

Please call Rosalind and book a place in the group. R.S.V.P. by 29 th April 9810 6635

Confirmation Classes

For all young people currently in year 7 the preparations for the Confirmations 2009 will begin now.

The preliminary meeting with all Parents takes place on Saturday 29 th March at 10:00 am. Here we will discuss matters arising, look towards confirmation in a years time and try to find the best time for the fortnightly preparation classes.

If you have any questions in advance of this meeting, do not hesitate to contact Sune on 9555 1967.

Sacraments and Service have been Celebrated for:

Baptism: 13 th January 2008 Tobyn Peter Vowles - Sydney - * 16 th December 2006

Last Anointing: 19 th January 2008 - Walter Billing - Buderim , Queensland - * 18 th May 1928 - † 20 th January 2008

Funeral Service: 23 rd January 2008 - Walther Billing - Buderim , Queensland

Memorial Act of Consecration of Man for the Dead: 2nd February 2008 - Hildegard Theresia Stossel * 1917 Vienna - † 6 th July 2007 Golbourne NSW - Funeral: 13 th July 2007 Golbourne NSW

Youth Group Gatherings at 12:30 am

16 th March – 20 th April – 18 th May – 15 th June – 20 th July – 17 th August – 21 st September –

19 th October – 16 th November – 23 rd December (Tableau)

Notice is here given for The Annual General Meeting of

The Christian Community in Australia ( Sydney ) incorporated

at 170 Beattie Street , Balmain, NSW on Sunday 15 th June at 11:30am

followed by a light Lunch

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