{"id":3637,"date":"2020-11-06T14:42:19","date_gmt":"2020-11-06T03:42:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/?p=3637"},"modified":"2024-12-16T23:47:28","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T12:47:28","slug":"friday-email-07-11-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/?p=3637","title":{"rendered":"Friday Email 06-11-2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hello Faith Pals,<\/strong><\/p>\n

This week’s sermon does not follow the lectionary.\u00a0 I thought about the church service opportunities that have been missed due to lockdown.\u00a0 One of these was Harvest Thanksgiving. This service, a regular feature in the country, is also celebrated in cities.\u00a0 I thought it would be good to base the service\/sermon around it, as I am sure that during lockdown we have become more aware\/mindful of the many blessings we have received from God, and being thankful\/grateful is our response back to the Divine Giver.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

‘Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.’<\/strong><\/p>\n

-Native American proverb.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Or, as the 13th century theologian\/mystic Meister Eckhart once wrote:<\/strong><\/p>\n

‘If the only prayer you said was “Thank you” that would be enough.’<\/strong><\/p>\n

A bit more on Meister Eckhart:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Meister Eckhart (1260- 1327) was a Germany mystic, theologian and philosopher. Eckhart taught a radical religious philosophy of seeing God in all. His mystical experiences and practical spiritual philosophy gained him a popular following, but it also caused him to be tried for heresy by a local inquisition. Despite having writings condemned as heretical, he remains an important source of mystical experience within the Christian tradition. <\/strong><\/p>\n

As his popularity grew, some senior church figures were worried his teachings were heretical. In 1326, Eckhart was formally charged with heresy, and in 1326 the Archbishop of Cologne ordered an inquisitorial process. In February 1327, Eckhart made a passionate defence of his beliefs. He denied he had done anything wrong and made a public protestation of his innocence. Eckhart claimed that his sermons were designed to encourage ordinary people and monks to aspire to do good and develop an unselfish love of God. He may have used unorthodox language, but his intentions were noble and designed to make people appreciate the most important spiritual concepts of Christ\u2019s teachings.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have been meaning to send you this poem by Pam Ayres for ages!\u00a0 Some of you have read it already, but for those who haven’t, I hope you will have a chuckle.\u00a0 I like Pam Ayres; I have seen her on tour several times, and she comes across as a normal, ordinary person.\u00a0 I know Jan Serpell is a huge fan, too.<\/strong><\/p>\n

PAM AYRES \u2013 Poem about the coronavirus\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m normally a social girl<\/strong><\/p>\n

I love to meet my mates<\/strong><\/p>\n

But lately with the virus here we can\u2019t go out the gates.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You see, we are the \u2018oldies\u2019 now<\/strong><\/p>\n

We need to stay inside<\/strong><\/p>\n

If they haven\u2019t seen us for a while<\/strong><\/p>\n

They\u2019ll think we\u2019ve upped and died.<\/strong><\/p>\n

They\u2019ll never know the things we did<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before we got this old<\/strong><\/p>\n

There wasn\u2019t any FaceBook<\/strong><\/p>\n

So not everything was told.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We may seem sweet old ladies<\/strong><\/p>\n

Who would never be uncouth,<\/strong><\/p>\n

But we grew up in the 60s \u2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you only knew the truth!<\/strong><\/p>\n

There was sex and drugs and rock \u2018n roll<\/strong><\/p>\n

The pill and miniskirts<\/strong><\/p>\n

We smoked, we drank, we partied<\/strong><\/p>\n

And were quite outrageous flirts.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Then we settled down, got married<\/strong><\/p>\n

And turned into someone\u2019s mum,<\/strong><\/p>\n

Somebody\u2019s wife, then nana,<\/strong><\/p>\n

Who on earth did we become?<\/strong><\/p>\n

We didn\u2019t mind the change of pace<\/strong><\/p>\n

Because our lives were full<\/strong><\/p>\n

But to bury us before we\u2019re dead<\/strong><\/p>\n

Is like red rag to a bull!<\/strong><\/p>\n

So here you find me stuck inside<\/strong><\/p>\n

For 4 weeks, maybe more<\/strong><\/p>\n

I finally found myself again<\/strong><\/p>\n

Then I had to close the door!<\/strong><\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t really bother me<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019d while away the hour<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019d bake for all the family<\/strong><\/p>\n

But I\u2019ve got no flaming flour!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now Netflix is just wonderful<\/strong><\/p>\n

I like a gutsy thriller<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m swooning over Idris<\/strong><\/p>\n

Or some random sexy killer.<\/strong><\/p>\n

At least I\u2019ve got a stash of booze<\/strong><\/p>\n

For when I\u2019m being idle<\/strong><\/p>\n

There\u2019s wine and whisky, even gin<\/strong><\/p>\n

If I\u2019m feeling suicidal!<\/strong><\/p>\n

So, let\u2019s all drink to lockdown<\/strong><\/p>\n

To recovery and health<\/strong><\/p>\n

And hope this awful virus<\/strong><\/p>\n

Doesn\u2019t decimate our wealth.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019ll all get through the crisis<\/strong><\/p>\n

And be back to join or mates<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just hoping I\u2019m not far too wide<\/strong><\/p>\n

To fit through the flaming gates!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *<\/strong><\/p>\n

Are you smiling?<\/strong><\/p>\n

‘Happiness never decreases by being shared.’-Buddhist teaching<\/strong><\/p>\n

News: please keep Alan and Fredrica, Rohini and Jaya, Shirley Edwards, Margaret Wills, Lex and Leora, Jack, Martin, Noy and Elv in your prayers.\u00a0 Jack is having his operation today.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alan is having blood tests on Monday, and his last chemotherapy treatment on Wednesday.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lex was meant to come home yesterday.\u00a0 I am not sure if that happened, but will check over the weekend (I will leave them to rest today).<\/strong><\/p>\n

I want to include this story.\u00a0 I shared it with several of you earlier in the week, so you folk can skip it, or re-read it.\u00a0 You may need a tissue:<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Glass of Milk <\/strong>
\nby Author Unknown<\/strong><\/h2>\n

<\/center><\/p>\n

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water.<\/strong><\/p>\n

She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much do I owe you?”<\/strong><\/p>\n

“You don’t owe me anything,” she replied. “Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

He said….. “Then I thank you from my heart.” As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Year’s later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dressed in his doctor’s gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case.<\/strong><\/p>\n

After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval.<\/strong><\/p>\n

He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill.<\/strong><\/p>\n

She read these words…..<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Paid in full with one glass of milk”<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Signed)<\/strong>
\nDr. Howard Kelly<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: “Thank You, God, that Your love has spread abroad through human hearts and hands.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *<\/strong><\/p>\n

‘Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights…’-James 1: 17<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thank you God, for the many blessing that come our way, those recognized, and those hidden for a time, but which will be seen when our hearts are open.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We pray for our church family, and for our own family.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Help us to have grateful, loving hearts so that we may worship you with a spirit of openness, with child-like wonder<\/strong><\/p>\n

Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Blessings and love<\/strong><\/p>\n

Barbara Allen<\/strong><\/p>\n

‘when nothing goes right…go left!’<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hello Faith Pals, This week’s sermon does not follow the lectionary.\u00a0 I thought about the church service opportunities that have been missed due to lockdown.\u00a0 One of these was Harvest Thanksgiving. This service, a regular feature in the country, is also celebrated in cities.\u00a0 I thought it would be good to base the service\/sermon around it, as I am sure that during lockdown we have become more aware\/mindful of the many blessings we have received from God, and being thankful\/grateful is our response back to the Divine Giver.\u00a0 ‘Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.’ -Native American proverb. Or, as the 13th century theologian\/mystic Meister Eckhart once wrote: ‘If the only prayer you said was “Thank you” that would be enough.’ A bit more on Meister Eckhart: Meister Eckhart (1260- 1327) was a Germany mystic, theologian and philosopher. Eckhart taught a radical religious philosophy of seeing God in all. His mystical experiences and practical spiritual philosophy gained him a popular following, but it also caused him to be tried for heresy by a local inquisition. Despite having writings condemned as heretical, he remains an important source of mystical experience within the Christian tradition. As his popularity grew, some senior church figures were worried his teachings were heretical. In 1326, Eckhart was formally charged with heresy, and in 1326 the Archbishop of Cologne ordered an inquisitorial process. In February 1327, Eckhart made a passionate defence of his beliefs. He denied he had done anything wrong and made a public protestation of his innocence. Eckhart claimed that his sermons were designed to encourage ordinary people and monks to aspire to do good and develop an unselfish love of God. He may have used unorthodox language, but his intentions were noble and designed to make people appreciate the most important spiritual concepts of Christ\u2019s teachings. I have been meaning to send you this poem by Pam Ayres for ages!\u00a0 Some of you have read it already, but for those who haven’t, I hope you will have a chuckle.\u00a0 I like Pam Ayres; I have seen her on tour several times, and she comes across as a normal, ordinary person.\u00a0 I know Jan Serpell is a huge fan, too. PAM AYRES \u2013 Poem about the coronavirus\u00a0 I\u2019m normally a social girl I love to meet my mates But lately with the virus here we can\u2019t go out the gates. You see, we are the \u2018oldies\u2019 now We need to stay inside If they haven\u2019t seen us for a while They\u2019ll think we\u2019ve upped and died. They\u2019ll never know the things we did Before we got this old There wasn\u2019t any FaceBook So not everything was told. We may seem sweet old ladies Who would never be uncouth, But we grew up in the 60s \u2013 If you only knew the truth! There was sex and drugs and rock \u2018n roll The pill and miniskirts We smoked, we drank, we partied And were quite outrageous flirts. Then we settled down, got married And turned into someone\u2019s mum, Somebody\u2019s wife, then nana, Who on earth did we become? We didn\u2019t mind the change of pace Because our lives were full But to bury us before we\u2019re dead Is like red rag to a bull! So here you find me stuck inside For 4 weeks, maybe more I finally found myself again Then I had to close the door! It didn\u2019t really bother me I\u2019d while away the hour I\u2019d bake for all the family But I\u2019ve got no flaming flour! Now Netflix is just wonderful I like a gutsy thriller I\u2019m swooning over Idris Or some random sexy killer. At least I\u2019ve got a stash of booze For when I\u2019m being idle There\u2019s wine and whisky, even gin If I\u2019m feeling suicidal! So, let\u2019s all drink to lockdown To recovery and health And hope this awful virus Doesn\u2019t decimate our wealth. We\u2019ll all get through the crisis And be back to join or mates Just hoping I\u2019m not far too wide To fit through the flaming gates! \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 * Are you smiling? ‘Happiness never decreases by being shared.’-Buddhist teaching News: please keep Alan and Fredrica, Rohini and Jaya, Shirley Edwards, Margaret Wills, Lex and Leora, Jack, Martin, Noy and Elv in your prayers.\u00a0 Jack is having his operation today. Alan is having blood tests on Monday, and his last chemotherapy treatment on Wednesday. Lex was meant to come home yesterday.\u00a0 I am not sure if that happened, but will check over the weekend (I will leave them to rest today). I want to include this story.\u00a0 I shared it with several of you earlier in the week, so you folk can skip it, or re-read it.\u00a0 You may need a tissue: A Glass of Milk by Author Unknown One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much do I owe you?” “You don’t owe me anything,” she replied. “Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness.” He said….. “Then I thank you from my heart.” As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit. Year’s later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3637","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorised"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Leighmoor.Master","author_link":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/author\/leighmoor-master"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"Other Posts<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Hello Faith Pals, This week’s sermon does not follow the lectionary.\u00a0 I thought about the church service opportunities that have been missed due to lockdown.\u00a0 One of these was Harvest Thanksgiving. This service, a regular feature in the country, is also celebrated in cities.\u00a0 I thought it would be good to base the service\/sermon around…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3637","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3637"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3637\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10833,"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3637\/revisions\/10833"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3637"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3637"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3637"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}