Friday Email 24-07-2020

Hello Faith Pals,

Happy Friday!   And a Happy Birthday to Maureen, who had a birthday yesterday.  It is hard when we cannot celebrate as we would like-but our hearts can still be joyful.  Remember when you were a child, and you were so excited the day BEFORE your birthday?  At least I was! (and I still get excited the night before).

News:

Rohini is progressing very slowly…her shoulder is still causing her some pain…we will keep her and Jaya and family in our prayers.  Jaya is doing well, and his blood sugars have lowered, so that is wonderful news.

Alan and Fredrica: Alan is due for blood tests and chemotherapy next week.  Fredrica’s hand is improving, but still quite sore if she does too much.

Jean: still in Sandringham Hospital.  She said she got a bit worse so they have kept her in.  She said she will be going to rehab before going home.  At this stage, Jean is unsure when she will be leaving hospital. She said Jacqui is doing quite well.

Please keep Rob’s Uncle Kev and Aunty Elv in your prayers please, especially with the disturbing news about the number of covid 19 cases in aged care facilities.

David came home from hospital yesterday, and is doing quite well, so that is good news.  He goes back this afternoon for dialysis-I am trying to fall in love with Punt Road!

Collection of favourite Bible verses from people:

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 25:40

And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Proverbs 31: 10-31

Psalm 23

Romans 5: 1-6,

Romans 8

If I have missed any out, or you want others included, please let me know.

I realized I was going to send around a very thought provoking clip from Bruce Bird, about Steve Jobs.  I will send that as a separate email later.

Masks.  Interesting seeing people in masks.  Some are fashion statements-that is fine if it encourages them to be worn.

Reminds me a little of masked balls (masquerade), or carnivals.  They have been popular since the 14th century.  They are very popular in Venice. We have probably seen films where there is a masked ball. 

Who is behind the mask?

This is a question we can ask when we are out walking or shopping: Who is behind the mask?

Masks have been used to describe one’s behaviour: hiding behind a mask-putting up a barrier, or creating a facade to hide or to protect oneself…It might be pretending to be brave, or full of bravado, hiding behind academic credentials…the class clown is often protecting some inner  insecurity,  or perceived  inferiority.

The mask can help our faith-a reminder that what ever mask/front/show we put on…God sees our true self, and loves us.

I don’t mind wearing a mask- BUT I can’t smile at people…well…I do…but they can’t see the smile.  I hope my crinkled eyes give away what is behind my mask.

 

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This is an excerpt from a public health poster about the Spanish influenza (flu) pandemic drawn by children’s illustrator and author May Gibbs in 1919. The detail features a gumnut baby and a kookaburra sitting on a branch, with eucalyptus leaves wrapped around their mouths in the manner of surgical masks. Apart from the leaf, the gumnut baby wears only a gumnut on her head. The illustration is captioned ‘Hullo! How are you?’

This public health poster was part of a government campaign in New South Wales to limit the spread of the deadly Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-19, in which about 12,000 Australians died, 6,300 of them in NSW. Soldiers returning from the First World War and infected people were quarantined, wearing masks in public places was made compulsory, schools were closed, many public activities were banned or restricted and pharmacy prices were regulated.

This illustration by children’s illustrator and author May Gibbs (1877-1969) uses familiar characters from her children’s books to encourage readers, especially children, to wear masks to reduce the spread of the deadly infection.

So…I hope you have obtained a mask-if not, you can use eucalyptus leaves!

Blessings and love

Barbara

Keep reading, then you will get to the joke which I have forwarded on from a friend. Last week I think I neglected to include a joke…sorry!  I know I was having internet problems-and that wasn’t a joke!

 

 

 

 

 

 

   An  American decided to write a book about
famous churches around the world.

So he bought a plane ticket and took a trip to
Orlando, thinking that he would start by working
his way across the USA from South to North.
 

On  his first day he was inside a church taking
photographs, when he noticed a golden telephone
mounted on the wall with a sign that read 
‘$10,000 per call’.

 The  American, being intrigued, asked a priest
who was strolling by, what the telephone was
used  for.

 The  priest replied that it was a direct line to
heaven and that for $10,000 you could talk to
God.

 The  American thanked the priest and went along
his  way.
 

Next stop was in Atlanta. There, at a very large
cathedral, he saw the same looking golden
telephone with the same sign under  it.
 He wondered if this was the same kind of

telephone he saw in Orlando and he asked a
nearby nun what  its purpose was.

 She told him that it was a direct line to heaven
and that for $10,000 he could talk to God.
 ‘O.K.,  thank you,’ said the American.


 He  then travelled all across America, Europe, 

England, Japan, New Zealand. In  every church he
saw the same looking golden telephone, with the
same ‘$US10,000 per call’  sign under it.
 

The  American decided to travel to Australia to see
if Australians had the same  phone.

 He  arrived at Newcastle in Australia and  again,
in the first church he entered, there was  the same
looking golden telephone, but this time  the sign
under it read, ’40 cents per  call.’

 The  American was surprised, so he asked the
priest  about the sign. ‘Father, I’ve travelled all
over  the world and I’ve seen this same golden
telephone in many churches. I’m told that it is a
direct line to Heaven, but in all of them, the price was
$10,000 per call.

 Why  is it so cheap here?’
 The  priest smiled and answered, ‘You’re in

Australia  now, son – “This is Heaven,” so it’s a
local call’.

 KEEP  SMILING