September 2009
The Church of the Good Shepherd
The funeral of Joan Graham was attended by around 120 of her family and friends.
Joan was a valued member of the Kangaroo Valley community until she moved into a nursing home at Nowra.
Crosslinks, a Boys group for years 5 and 6, has recommenced and meets on Monday afternoons during school terms.
The group is run in conjunction with Crossroads, which is for girls of the same age. All girls and boys, of that age group are welcome to attend, 3:30 to 4:45.
Andrew has been challenging us to encourage one another in our Christian growth, basing his messages on the Apostle Paul's 2nd letter to Timothy and using his support of Timothy as an example.
Andrew's message;
This month I'd like you to know that you are really welcome to come to church with us any Sunday.
I understand that you may feel a bit nervous about coming to church.
Maybe you're curious about God but you're not a believer and feel like you'll be pressured by someone to make some commitment on the spot. Maybe you're concerned you may not know anyone when you get here (although I reckon you might!), or just not know what you're meant to do.
Well - I know how you feel.
This was me when I was 20 years old.
I thought there might be a God and knew coming to church was where I might find out more about him.
But I was shy and felt intimidated about going to a place where everyone knew each other.
I wanted space to decide for myself if God was true and was worried someone might find me out and give me a hard time.
Can I assure you of a few things?
Firstly, you are welcome to come to our Church even if you don't think you are a Christian, but you want to find out about God. Secondly, when you come to check out this God you will not be pressured in any way to make some Christian commitment!
Thirdly, I can't wait to say g'day and welcome you, and you'll be pleasantly surprised by the love and kindness of those who come here, as I found only two months ago.
And fourthly, if you want to just hang out in the back seat and check it out then leave straight away, that is absolutely fine too.
That's what I did my first time at church! Regards,
Andrew
News from St Joseph's
Jayant Cheriachan, eldest son of the late Dr Cheriachan of Nowra was married to Marabel Caballes on 7th August.
They returned to join us for Mass on the following Sunday.
First Holy Communion for six of our children on 16th August was a joyous occasion.
They were well prepared by Mrs Sue Foster assisted by Mrs Jill Good.
The fortunate children were Matthew Chittick, Sarah Hill, Annabel, Molly and Tessa Good and Zinzan Still.
After Mass we gathered in the hermitage garden for a First Holy Communion breakfast. We were joined by Rev Andrew and parishioners from Good Shepherd Church.
On Thursday 20th we joined members of the churches of Berry at St Patrick's to welcome the African Children's Choir the Watoto Singers.
It was an enjoyable evening with fine music and inspiring stories from the children. Donations were collected to support the work at their orphanage in Uganda.
For five weeks we have been reflecting on the magisterial Sixth Chapter of St John's Gospel from the Common Lectionary.
It is our Lord's teaching on ‘The Bread of Life' ending with His blunt insistence
‘Unless you eat the flesh of the son of Man and drink His blood you will not have life in you'. St John tells us that as a result
‘Many of His disciples left Him and stopped going with Him'.
We note it was ‘many' not a few; committed ‘disciples' not casual listeners.
They walked away disgusted and yet He did not run after them; did not compromise the truth; make concession to ‘modernity'; dilute His teaching to make it more palatable. Rather, He turned to those who were left - ‘the Twelve' - and asked what must be the most poignant question in the Gospels: ‘What about you, do you want to go away too?' There is something humbling that He had to ask it at all.
Very soon we will officially farewell two beloved parishioners Mrs Dorothy Nixon and Mrs Eileen Hughes. Dorothy has settled into Osborn House and Eileen at Harbison Village at Moss Vale.
We congratulate Mr David Bradley K.E. for the 50th Anniversary of his election to the Knights of the Southern Cross. The Pope has granted David his Apostolic Blessing for the occasion.