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Hello Faith Pals, Just a reminder of the youtube link from Heatheron-Dingley: https://youtu.be/t9kEzW2fzw8 I know that it is hard not being together face to face-but in spirit we are.   It does give us the opportunity to connect as church in different ways. It is also hard because it is Mother’s Day on Sunday. We pray for our mothers, and for mothers everywhere. Special prayers please for Fredrica and Alan Kingsbury, and for Rohini and Jaya Mendis and their families.  Our love connects with God’s.  Oh how we would LOVE to share our hugs, listening ear etc with them-BUT our hearts are connected to God’s, and God is there, with them, always. Also, for those who want to read something different on-line.  I am recommending (before I have had a chance to read it-which I aim to do over the weekend) a free on-line contribution from Mitch Albom.  He is one of my favourite authors, and this is his contribution to help raise spirits during the pandemic. https://www.mitchalbom.com/human-touch-story/part-one/ (If that doesn’t work, just type in Mitch Albom). The opening quote: “The spirit of man can endure only so much. And when it is broken, only a miracle can mend it.” —John Burroughs, American essayist I know many of you have been tidying up, and sorting, during this time of lock down.   Found any treasures? What china have you stored away, to protect them from life’s knocks?  Precious crystal dishes?  Fine porcelain figures?  Perhaps even a hand made clay dish from a child or grandchild?  I think we all have at least one, if not protected from dust and damage, then carefully dusted and cleaned. In my last congregation, when the Lectionary reading was about The Ten Commandments, I preached about keeping the Sabbath holy, and how it is important to try to make our Sundays different from the rest of the week.  I suggested using a special dish or cup on Sundays.  Maybe there is a tea cup that has been given to you, that you put in the china cabinet, or in a cupboard, deemed ‘too good to use’?  Why wait?  What are you waiting for?  A special occasion?  If so…each Sunday is a mini-Resurrection, a weekly Easter Day.  What better day to bring it out and let it see the light of day?  Are you waiting for the right opportunity-or do you think you are not worthy of it?  “It’s too good to use” may translate as “It is too good for me to use.”  Really?  Think about it.  You are made in God’s image.  Op shops are full of items that people have kept in their cupboards and drawers to use ‘one day’. In front of me, I have a tea set from my wonderful Nana.  It is of Scottish clans (not sure why, because she wasn’t Scottish!)  I confess-I don’t use it very often, but it is in a drawer that I pull out every day, so I see it daily, and am reminded of my much loved Nan, a Nan who taught me, by example, to love others.  On train trips (in the ‘old days’ when trains had compartments, so you shared that space with 6-8 people) she would open her big handbag, share lollies with the other occupants, and hear their life stories.  By journey’s end we felt we were now friends. Her tea set is sweet, but not that useful, for I am a tea fiend and most of the time I drink my brew from a large mug (always concerned after having a blood test that the results will show that my blood type has changed to ‘Tea’, Earl Grey positive!).  Sharing tea (or coffee, or a cup of water) can be holy time, sacred space.  For me, having a cuppa is a time when I am still with God.  It is often a time of prayer, not only of thanksgiving, thanking God for the gift of water, electricity, shelter etc, but a time to pray for others-those without clean water, those who are thirsty, those who do not get paid a fair wage for their labour, for those who are sick, dying etc.  In an earlier email, I shared with you one of my  spiritual disciplines, that of writing haiku.   Here is one about  praying while drinking tea, the steam resembling the incense of prayer: Clouds of steam ascend. Prayers steeped in holiness -God in a teacup.   A cuppa is also a time of pastoral support and care.  We tend to open up, relax, with a cuppa, find it easier to speak to one another about our lives, our concerns, joys and sorrows.  This beautiful verse from Scripture sums it up: ‘Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.’  (Hebrews 13:2) Isn’t that part of the frustration of being in lock down?  Not able to drop in to be with friends, to check on those going through challenging times-to share a hug, a smile, tears…even a drop or two of tea.   Blessings (you are all in my prayers as I sip my tea!) This Irish Blessing seemed to address our current situation! ‘until we meet again…’    

Hello Faith Pals, It was lovely to be present via Zoom at Joy’s Induction service, but I did feel sad there was no big celebration/hugging etc.  Hopefully we will be able to do something along those lines when lock down finishes. On Saturday evening we zoomed with friends in England.  They are a dear couple, Gillian  is a member of the clergy (C of E) , and was saying she would be surprised if the churches in England were back holding services, face to face within 12-18 months.  I also really felt for her-her father died during Holy Week from covid 19, so she hadn’t been able to see him when he became unwell, and when he was dying. Yes, we are living through hard times, but there are countries who are doing it tougher. How crowded is your fridge door?  Is there anyone with  a pure white/silver unadorned door? Ours is full of magnets, calendars, a few photographs, a cartoon or two. I put a new Leunig cartoon up on its wide white stomach (well, that’s what my fridge looks like!) It is a cartoon from last month’s The Age, April 4, but I only found it on the weekend, while sorting our newspapers (for the kitty litters/bird cages-gosh, doesn’t that sound like the height of excitement!) Leunig’s sentiments are as fitting now, as they were last month. I am not sure of copyright, so rather than send a photo of it, I will describe it. [a picture of a man and a duck]: Man: “The world is changing.” Duck: “It’s always changing.” Man: ” Our lives are in danger.  We are in lock down.” Duck: “Life is always dangerous.  We were never free.” Man: “Many of us could die.” Duck: “We all get our turn.” Man: “Nobody knows what’s going to happen.” Duck: “Nobody ever knows.  This makes life interesting.” Man: “We don’t know what to believe any more.” Duck: “Keep an open mind.  This also makes life interesting.” Man: “We are living in strange times.” Duck: “When were we NOT living in strange times?   This was meant to have gone in the last email, but for some reason it didn’t save: I looked under a bill on my fridge and uncovered this quote: ‘Good friends are like stars. You don’t always see them, but you know they’re always there…’ Perhaps I should call you ‘stars’? Blessings and love, Barbara

Hello Faith Pals, Happy May!  Where did January, February, March and April go? One of the deep privileges in ministry, is meeting different people, and learning something of their story.  God has made us all quite different-and isn’t that a good thing!  All of us have been through hard times, but we have also been able to celebrate wonderful occasions, perhaps the birth of a child, a wedding, a significant birthday, a graduation, etc.  Good health, or healing from an illness or operation are also times for celebration, special occasions when we should give thanks. Where is God in your life story?  Reflect back on your life, and see God’s hand.  Sometimes it is good to travel back to your early memories, and see God in your childhood.  When we are young, we are often more open to be free with our praise, or questions-more receptive to God’s miracles around us.  Who spent hours in the grass, watching beetles crawl, or ants parade back to their nests?  Who sat under trees, watching the branches sway, or, lying flat on your back, imagining pictures in cloud formations? Or who remembers having an evening bath, and curling up warm and snug in bed?  A parent’s love can mirror God’s love. If we watch the little, we are more likely to notice the big. As we get older, we have a tendency to push God off the page, perhaps taking credit for something that is really God’s doing.  Where have we seen God’s hand writing our story?  Have there been big changes?  Don’t forget Simon Peter, transformed from a humble fisherman, to becoming the leader of the church. In our life story, there is no The End.  We are eternal beings, we continue on.  Ecclesiastes 3: 11 says: ‘He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart…’ (NIV).  After our earthly life, there will be more…much more.  In the book The Last Battle, the final book in the Narnia series, the children cross over into the afterlife.  C. S. Lewis writes: ‘But for them it was only the beginning of the real story.  All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever; in which every chapter is better than the one before.’ Live out God’s story, which is written between the words, in the spaces on the pages of your life. Blessings (and keep warm, dry and safe!) Barbara Allen

Consider your hands. ‘Jesus’ hands were kind hands, doing good to all, healing pain and sickness, blessing children small, washing tired feet, and saving those who fall: Jesus’ hands were kind hands, doing good to all.’ (Margaret Beatrice Cropper, 1886-1980) Some of us know that children’s hymn quite well. Hands.  We take them for granted, as we do many things. Consider Jesus, and his hands.  He used them to bless, to heal, to lift up…and to destroy (think of the overturning the tables of the money changers in the temple). What about our own hands?  Take a moment to look at them, to feel them. Every hand is different, because our hands reflect something of our lives and the activities we are involved in.  Perhaps they are as individual as our fingerprints.  Sometimes they are an indicator of our physical health, perhaps sporting the bumps and clench of arthritis. The rough hands of builders, hobbyists, or of gardeners.   The reddened hands due to washing dishes, clothes, or scrubbing floors.  The hands that are soft-often when one is elderly and no longer able to use them for particular activities (smooth hands used to be a sign of nobility, of a high status!) What about your own hands?  If they could talk, what would they say?  They may speak of construction work-maybe they were part of a project that built a bridge!  Or of the many times they soothed the hot forehead of a loved one, picked up a crying infant, comforted a grieving friend, or carried the shopping bags for one who was struggling.  Think of the supermarket: your hands have cradled God’s produce in the fresh food section, perhaps grabbed a tin for someone who could not reach the high shelf, fumbled with coinage and been reminded of the necessity of money, watched the hands of the check out operator as they scanned and packed your groceries. My hands would say that they could not build Lego models very well, and assembling Ikea products were beyond them, but they have kneaded some delicious loaves of bread over the years! Our hands have also been involved in ministry, we ‘lend a hand’: writing cheques for charities, cards and notes to cheer up folk, or to let them know they are in your prayers when they are sick or grieving.  They have helped in practical ways, doing jobs for those unable to anymore, preparing food for the sick, driving people to appointments etc.  Hands have been used to spread the good news via the writing and sending of Christmas cards.  We clap our hands after a concert or performance, encouraging the performers.  How many of you wear a wedding ring, which tells the world that you belong to a very special person?  Hands are often folded in prayer, hold open Bibles (and other books), teach young children how to tie bows (my Nana’s hands taught me!), and gently cuddle newborn babies.  As I sit at the computer writing this, I stop and pat Harry our dog, who is resting at my feet.  Aren’t hands wonderful?  They can grasp mountains, sift sand, be drenched by oceans, prune roses, stroke cats… I know as we get older they wrinkle and age-but think of all they have done!  And at the end, our hands will stretch out to grasp the hands of Jesus, who will lead us to our final resting place, our Heavenly Home. Thank you, Lord, for our hands, another precious gift from you.  May we use them to praise you and to help others.  Amen Barbara Allen

Hello Faith Pals, I hope you have been able to enjoy some sun-it won’t last! I have attached Sunday’s sermon and prayers. Tomorrow is Anzac Day.  A solemn day.  Do you know about Rev Leonard Kentish?  If we had been gathering for church this Sunday I may have told his story.  Here it is: One of the most extraordinary events of World War II was the forced abduction of this Australian clergyman at gunpoint, and his subsequent flight and execution at a Japanese base in 1943.  This became known as the “Kentish Affair”.  Reverend Leonard Kentish was the Chairman of the Chairman of the Methodist Northern Australian Mission District in Darwin, and head of the volunteer coastwatchers. The Mission had several buildings on islands in the Arafura Sea, and at regular intervals boats would leave Darwin for these outposts, loaded with supplies and personnel.  On 13 January 1943, HMAS Patricia Cam left Darwin with stores for a number of outlying missions and stations. At Goulburn Island, it picked up the Reverend Leonard Kentish. He was taking new code books to his missionary staff. A danger facing the ship was the Japanese reconnaissance floatplanes which operated out of Dobo in the Aru Islands of eastern Indonesian. The floatplanes were armed with two 60-kg bombs and regularly harassed coastal shipping. At 1.00 pm on 22 January, one of the three-seater floatplanes of the 734th Kokatai dived out of the sun and flew low over the ship from stern to stem. It dropped a bomb amidships which went through the cargo hatch and exploded low in the ship. The Patricia Cam sank so quickly the men had no opportunity to fight back. In a surprising move, the floatplane landed, threatened the survivors and, at gunpoint, forced Rev. Kentish to board their aircraft. It took off, leaving the survivors to their fate. Mrs. Violet Kentish remained entirely in the dark as to the fate of her husband. “I know that Len is not beyond God’s love and care wherever he may be,” she vainly pleaded to the Minister of the Navy. “But you will understand because we are only weak humans, the heartache and longing for one we loved so much.”  After World War II, she desperately resorted to sending letters to newspaper editors, until an intelligence officer chanced to read one published in the Argus and made the necessary inquiries via U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s staff in Tokyo to unravel the mystery.  Investigations in 1946 by the Allied Occupation Force in Japan ascertained Rev Kentish had been kept prisoner on Dobo until 4 May 1943, when he was executed. Sub-Lieutenant Sagejima Mangan was arrested as a war criminal and subsequently hanged in 1948, because he had ordered Kentish’s execution in retaliation for an Allied air raid. Rev Kentish is  believed to be the only Australian ever taken prisoner-of-war in home waters. To close with something uplifting: “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” and ‘A 24 year old boy, looking out the train’s window shouted… “Dad, look the trees are going behind!” Dad smiled and a young couple sitting nearby, looked at the 24 year old’s childish behavior with pity, suddenly he again exclaimed… “Dad, look the clouds are running with us!” The couple couldn’t resist and said to the old man… “Why don’t you take your son to a good doctor?” The old man smiled and said…“I did and we are just coming from the hospital, my son was blind from birth, he just got his eyes today.” Be careful before we judge!  Everyone has his/her own story.  Actually, let’s not judge! ‘…and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.’ Blessings and love Barbara

Hello Faith Pals, Going through some papers, I unearthed two quite moving items : ‘God can use you to your full potential… The next time you feel like God can’t use you, just remember… Noah was a drunk Abraham was too old Isaac was a daydreamer Jacob was a liar Leah was ugly Joseph was abused Moses had a stuttering problem Gideon was afraid Samson had long hair and was a womaniser Rahab was a prostitute Jeremiah and Timothy were too young David had an affair and was a murderer Elijah was suicidal Isaiah preached naked Jonah ran from God Naomi was a widow Job went bankrupt Peter denied Christ The disciples fell asleep while praying Martha worried about everything Mary Magdalene was, well you know The Samaritan women was divorced, more than once Zacchaeus was too short Paul was too religious Timothy had an ulcer AND Lazarus was dead! …no more excuses now. God can use you to your full potential. Besides you aren’t the message, you are the messenger.’ -Author unknown. I had to look up two of these: Isaiah 20: 2, and 1 Timothy 5: 23 (didn’t say he had an ulcer) The other item was: ‘One day you’ll be just a memory for some people.  Do your best to be a good one.’ Well, you are all good memories for me!  Rohini wants to let you know that Jaya is recovering a little-but slowly.  Also, if you want to receive a copy of With Love to the World (single copy is $5), please let her know.  When the ones on order come, she will drop them into your letter boxes, if we are still in lock down. If you wish to go on-line to see the service from Heatherton-Dingley, the link is: https://youtu.be/S4QrvPWkCAM Blessings, and love, Barbara

Good morning Faith Pals, I have a cup of tea next to me-I am sharing it via the internet with you.  One day…face to face… I have attached Sunday’s sermon for you. I have been thinking of doors…lock downs etc.  Kept thinking of this verse from Revelation: ‘Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.'(Rev 3: 20) Many of you know of the very moving painting by William Holman Hunt, entitled The Light of the World (1851-1853), which illustrates this verse.  Hunt did not paint a door handle on the outside, the door handle is on the inside (unseen), NOT on the outside…WE have to invite Jesus in.  Hunt had a slightly different interpretation of the door; for Hunt it represented ‘the obstinately shut mind’.  Hunt believed that he was divinely inspired to paint this picture of Christ, saying “I painted the picture with what I thought, unworthy though I was, to be by Divine command, and not simply as a good Subject.”  During 1905-1907, the painting went on a world tour.  It is estimated that 4/5ths of the Australian population viewed this devotional painting. Blessings to you all, May Christ be your house guest, your heart guest, today and always, Barbara

Hello Faith Pals, Couldn’t wait until tomorrow to send you this.  If you haven’t already seen it-be prepared to be moved. ‘When you go out and see the empty streets, the empty stadiums, the empty train platforms, don’t say to yourself, “It looks like the end of the world.” What you’re seeing is love in action. What you’re seeing, in that negative space, is how much we do care for each other, for our grandparents, for our immune-compromised brothers and sisters, for people we will never meet. People will lose jobs over this. Some will lose their businesses. And some will lose their lives. All the more reason to take a moment, when you’re out on your walk, or on your way to the store, or just watching the news, to look into the emptiness and marvel at all of that love. Let it fill you and sustain you. It isn’t the end of the world. It is the most remarkable act of global solidarity we may ever witness.’ -Unknown source Blessings Barbara

Good morning Faith Pals, I hope that you all had a lovely Easter, and are well.  I know it has been a very different Easter, but it will be one we will remember!  Next year I am sure you will be worshiping together in the Leighmoor church, with a new full time minister, and you will reminisce about last year’s lock down, over Hot Cross buns in the church hall. During this week, I invite you to consider the early disciples.  They were behind closed/shut doors, fearful of the authorities. We are in similar circumstances.  Not fearful of the authorities, but having to be cautious because of the pandemic (invisible so perhaps more fearful?) We can therefore live in the shoes of the early disciples this week. We are more comfortable-hot running water, a fridge, a heater, (I will add cats and a dog), tv, computers, phones etc. There is a risk that we will become complacent, or be fearful of others.  We are to continue to love one another.  Elie Wiesel said this about love: “The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.” ― Elie Wiesel Who are your heroes?  Wiesel is one of mine. Just staying with life and death and opposites.  Here is another that may require a brain work out: ‘The opposite of life is not death.  The opposite of death is birth.  Life has no opposite.’ -Eckhart Tolle. Not sure about this, for from birth proceeds life…anyway, have a think! ‘We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves.  If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die,  we are the Lord’s.’ (Romans 14:7-8) ‘Just as water reflects the face, so one human heart reflects another.'(Proverbs 27:19) Blessings and love, Barbara Allen

Hello Faith Pals, It is Holy Week!  Seems strange without a bright Palm Sunday service helping us through this solemn week. Keep praying for the world. Which reminds me-I received this last week from  Rohini Mendis.  I know it has been sent out to some of you, but just in case you haven’t seen it, I have included it here: APART BUT        TOGETHER               By     KEITH BATOO I heard a little rumour, I don’t know if it’s true That the world is going to be at peace For a month or may be two The shooters can’t go out to shoot The dealers cannot deal The bombers cannot throw grenades So mother earth can heal I heard that folk must stay at home And spend time with their kin Slow down relax and take a breath And find some peace within I heard that food and water Is being shared around So everyone has got enough World kindness has been found The queens and kings and governments Have settled for enough Instead of always wanting more While millions see it rough The factories have all closed their doors And so have schools and bars The atmosphere is cleaner now A healthier world is ours And though we may be worried About money, jobs and bills We will notice beauty everywhere Blue skies, fresh lakes, green hills The social isolation Is really not a curse A blessing in disguise I’d say To stop things getting worse And when the month or two is over And we can go back to our lives People can show gratitude That their loved ones all survived Drugs and bombs and bullets Will be put away for good There will be no hate or bitterness All children will have food I’m not sure if it’s a rumour Perhaps it’s just a dream But with all of us together We can make it as a team. A suggestion from Geoff Serpell.  He was tuning in, trying to find the radio station Bill recommended, and: ‘… stumbled on to FM Southern on 88.30  Between 7 and 9 they had a church service from Mordialloc/ Beaumaris Baptist church with a good message and hymns; called “Songs of Hope”  They will run a service this Friday between 8 and 9 am too.’ Thank you Geoff (and Bill). During Holy Week, I invite you to think about some of the Easter traditions and customs in your families-maybe whilst growing up, what you kept for your own family, what you have introduced.  Might be interesting to share? I know that I have never eaten a hot-cross bun before Good Friday.  That was so special growing up, and it still is.  Even though the shops stock them from Boxing Day onward, Good Friday is the day when I can partake.  Over the years I have made them on several occasions, but they weren’t that great!  I stick with bought ones. When I was teaching, I had a tradition for Palm Sunday.  I would hand out those jubed mint leaf lollies (not sure if that would be allowed these days). I think the children remembered the significance of Palm Sunday via lollies. Two poems from Ann Weem, (from her book Kneeling in Jerusalem) for reflection during Holy Week: Walking Through Friday ‘The gift of myrrh went from manger to cross. Mary and Joseph said thank you to the kings, but Jesus, on the cross, when offered wine with myrrh, said no. There are times when we, too, must go heartlong into our pain, knowing it’s the only way we will get to Easter living. (Ann Weems) The Way To Jerusalem The pilgrims trudge toward the death of God. Only with bowed heads and closed eyes will they be able to see the way to Jerusalem. (Ann Weems) I have also included a piece/reflection from Bill Pugh.  It could be read at any time during Holy Week.  I have included it as an attachment today, so I don’t forget to send it! In last week’s readings in With Love to The World, there was a prayer that would be a good companion for Holy week: ‘Lord God, by the power of your Holy Spirit, plunge me into the passion story that I may find my place there.  Amen’ I think that is enough material for you for the moment. Blessings and love to you all, Barbara Virus-free. www.avg.com