Archives

We pray for the bishops from around the world attending the Lambeth Conference. Below is a prayer which we can all incorporate into our daily prayers:
   Prayer
   Pour down upon us, O God, the gifits of your Holy Spirit
   that those who prepare for the Lambeth Conference
   may be filled with wisdom and understanding.
   May they know at work within them
   that creative energy and wisdom which belong to humanity,
   made in your image and redeemed by your love,
   through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

Lambeth Conference daily prayer:   Safeguarding creation: the bishop and the environment
God of unchangeable power,
when you fashioned the world
the morning stars sang together
and the host of heaven shouted for joy:
open our eyes to the wonders of creation
and teach us to use all things for good
to the honour of your glorious name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
                     A New Zealand Prayerbook, Collect for Epiphany 7

On Sunday 31 August, a few events happened in the Parish ... We farewelled Geoff Reeder ... there was ample to eat.  The Good Sheep musos and singers sang a special song to Geoff based on Turn, Turn, Turn .. a reference to Geoffs wood-turning skills.  The Parish presented Geoff with some beautiful orchids, including the striking King Orchid

    
The lovely orchids Geoff received from the Parish with Markus Mouse in the foreground

Geoff & Tony with Markus Mouse ... a clergy version for Geoff and a Lay version for Tony  ... kindly fashioned by Danni

... who is Markus Mouse?  He is the 'brand name' for various crafted items including wood-worked goods made by both Geoff & Tony -- both 'wood' men.

 On the same day at Good Shepherd

New Member to the Clergy Team

Barbara Oudt recently joined the Parish coming from the Diocese of North Queensland, with a wealth of experience - including being Assistant Chaplain at All Souls/St Gabriels School; Priest in Charge at St Lukes Weipa, Patrol Padra Cape York, Principal at St Marks College at James Cook University Townsville and also Canon of the St James Cathedral Townsville.

Sunday 31 August at Good Shepherd, Barbara was presented with her Licence
 - Permission to Officiate in Logan Parish, by Archdeacon Ann
  

  AND Sandra Rogers-Faulke
commenced as a Server  

L-R: Ian & Judy Chevis, Debbie & Peter Grevett

After some three years, the Rev'd Ian Chevis retired from the position of Parish Administrator.  He was farewelled recently at a small function where he was thanked for his service and was wished well for his 'retirement' - we all know what that means - being more busy rather than less. Even though retired, Ian has not left the Parish. He will continue in his calling of serving God and Logan Parish as a deacon. 

Ian has "handed over the baton" to the Rev'd Peter Grevett, who started in his new role as Parish Administrator in the first week of July.

What is the connection between our Deacons and the role of Parish Administrator?  We're not sure, but we are pleased to have Peter come on board bringing his own special gifts and talents to the role of Administrator.

There was much cause for celebration on the night of Saturday 28^th June when Bp Geoff Smith, Bishop of the Southern Region, confirmed ten young and slightly more mature adults at St Mark's.   It was a lovely and quite special time for all concerned including family and friends and the confirmees' sponsors. Archdeacon Ann served as the Bishop's Deacon during the service;  the music was wonderful and the singing was hearty.

The new confirmees gave their heartfelt thanks to the Rev'd Carol Hebron and Donna Petersen, who prepared them for Confirmation.  They were most grateful for Carol and Donna's hard work and dedication.  Carol's face was beaming all through the service - she was like a mother hen with her chicks. The only 'downer' was that Donna who should have been Liturgical Assistant for the night, had injured her ankle earlier in the week and was not able to assist in the Sanctuary.

We continue to pray for God's grace in the lives of Shane, Jared, Liam, Wesley, Luke, Beverly, Christine, Krystelle, Skye and Norman, seen above with [seated at front] Rev'd Carol, Archdeacon Ann, Bishop Geoff and Donna.

As well as the celebrating the confirmation, another highlight was when Bp Geoff blessed the new AV room [kindly donated by a parishioner family]. We think that the musicians who were seated just outside the AV room might have received a special blessing that night too.   

Congratulations to our Parish Priest, Rev. Ann Dittmar-McCollim who has just been collated as Archdeacon of the Gold Coast. Making her now the Venerable Ann Dittmar_McCollim, and no, not 'Arch Annie' as some were heard to quip...

On a chilly night that also witnessed the consecration of Bishops Geoff and John, Ann looked wonderful in her self-crafted coat of many colours, a beautiful piece of work, and one that will hopefully be displayed proudly at our Craft Show later in the year... (Is that OK by the way Ann??)

The look of joy on Ann’s face was memorable and confirmation that she is at peace with her new calling from God.  We pray God’s blessings on Ann and give thanks for the gifts and talents she brings to the Archdeaconry of the Gold Coast.

It’s been a busy couple of months for Logan MU!

A Quiet Day involving all the Deanery branches held at St. Mark’s in May. About 70 people enjoyed Rev. Ann’s presentation on the Labyrinth. Our new banner was unveiled on that day also.

20th June Logan MU was invited to join Sunnybank branch on a bus trip to Pinjarra Hills Riding for the Disabled.  The day was bitterly cold as the photos will show and all enjoyed a heartening morning tea. 

Logan ladies huddled up for warmth.  Our bus driver assisted Cathy in mounting the practice horse.  Fun for all!!!

The Rev. David Cox, Nerang and Archdeacon Ken Suddick from Mt. Gravatt and I drove 10 hours to the Hermitage of St. Bernardine at Stroud, an hour north of Newcastle, NSW to retreat from our hectic lives for a short time. 

The Anglican Franciscan brothers belong to the world wide Society of Saint Francis and this place is primarily a house of prayer and hospitality.  
 
They welcome people looking for quiet and retreat for up to one week, a time out to seek God or a spiritual search. Sometimes people come for a rest or time to review their life or to make a decision.

The Hermitage is surrounded by 20 acres of bush amid rolling hills with much bird-song and the occasional wallaby and is 3 Km outside of Stroud, which is 80 Km north of Newcastle, NSW.

The Chapel life has a regular pattern of daily services and Eucharist to which guests are welcome, but not obliged to come and there is also a library available. The guest house has 4 single rooms with shared facilities; guests and Brothers dine together.

The Brothers are available to talk with guests and can offer spiritual direction. Peoples understanding of the word "retreat" varies of course but it usually includes time for reflection and reading, time to sit or walk, study or write, and join the Brothers for worship.

They do not have fixed charges but ask for a donation depending on peoples circumstances. They estimate that an average of $50 per guest per night enables them to cover costs.

While we were there, Brother Wade Matthew was admitted as a Novice, joining Brothers Alfred, Bruce Paul and Graham in the community.

Stroud is a wonderful place to draw aside to receive caring hospitality and experience beautiful worship and I commend the Hermitage to you. 

Their phone number for bookings and further enquiries is 02 4994 5372,  email:  ssfstrd@bigpond.com

Check their website: www.franciscan.org.au

Ann Dittmar-McCollim

During the 9.30 am worship service at St Marks Anglican Church on Sunday 17 June, a group new parishioners demonstrated their impressive talents is singing "a cappella". They arrived as refugees from Burundi in Central Africa in recent months and are now busily learning English and adjusting to their adopted country.

Having heard of their love of spontaneous singing, the Priest –in-charge of the Logan Parish, Rev Ann Dittmar-McCollim invited some of our Burundi parishioners to present an item during the service. Sitting in their seats, the Christian signers commenced a slow chant then moved to the front of the Church, where they sang a full song in perfect harmony in their native language.

The congregation applauded loudly in appreciation of the beautiful, unaccompanied music, being deeply moved by their heartfelt and very spiritual presentation. Immaculee, who worked as a nurse in Africa, explained in English that their song was about the second coming to earth of Jesus Christ. “We never know when he is coming, so we should be prepared every day”, she said with passion.

All of the signers were heavily involved with the Anglican Church in Africa, even though they had lived in refugee camps for many years. Obviously, singing has been a wonderful way for them to enjoy worshipping God.

The Parish has been very blessed by the witness of our Burundi families and everyone looks forward to hearing much more of such wonderful singing in the coming weeks and months.

On Saturday June 2 the parish celebrated all that we have to be thankful for, with a Thanksgiving Dinner. Around 120 eager parishioners enjoyed a wonderful gourmet dinner prepared by Emile and his band of dedicated helpers.

Our guest speaker for the evening, Bishop-Elect Geoff Smith, delivered an inspiring, entertaining and yet challenging address, reminding us of our need to both appreciate and use the talents and gifts bestowed upon us.

And then there was that desert!!!!

Bishops have "no option" on climate change
  The church will have to provide the necessary moral argument on tackling climate change, where the arguments of politics and economics have failed, the chair of the Anglican Communion Environment Network (ACEN) said today.
  At a press conference today Bishop of the Diocese of Canberra Goulburn George Browning said that bishops have "no option" but to take up the cause of the environment, "Not because of what the world says, but because it is inherent in our faith".
Caring for the whole of God’s environment, Bishop Browning said, was "theologically our core business".
  "If we are going to make significant progress internationally it will have to come from some moral persuasion – the arguments of economics and politics will not deliver.  This is not something that is being heavily driven by any government in the world," he said.
  He criticised the political response that financial pressure on people was cited as a reason that they "couldn’t afford" to take steps environmentally.
"This is so short sighted," Bishop Browning said. "We need to maximise the choices that are available now, and the price we will pay if we don’t is so much greater."
  Dr Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, also spoke at the press conference, saying, "We are all interconnected… We spoke in the Bible studies today of creation as the body of God. All creation reflects the image of God, not just human beings… We’re gathered here to remind people that if we do not pay attention to all creation, the other things that concern us will be of no importance."
  Presiding Bishop Schori said that from the native peoples in Alaska and the Arctic Circle losing land to melting permafrost, to the poverty of Haiti worsened by climate change, to the increasing desertification of sub-Saharan Africa, "It is the poorest of this world who suffer the most from climate change already and will continue to suffer in the future."
  Bishop Browning’s diocese is in Australia, the largest greenhouse polluter per capita in the world, largely due to its coal-based energy industry. Canberra is also the home of that country’s seat of government.
  "It is important that Australia makes maximum use of resources available to it," he said. "I will use whatever voice I have to reinforce that."
  Lambeth Conference participants have been invited to contribute to a carbon offset scheme for their travel, the proceeds of which will fund projects in Burundi and Bangladesh.

Staff writer

To follow the Conference: www.lambethconference.org

At the monthly Logan MU meeting on Wednesday 22 July 2009, parishioner Mrs Jay Mahony conducted a Christian Korean Tea Ceremony and a Traditional Korean Tea Ceremony, with help from some of her students and her daughter - to the delight of all who attended.

The ceremonies were performed in traditional dress and accompanied by beautiful background music, which complemented the intricate movements of the tea ceremonies - one with well-known Christian hymns sung in the Korean language, and the other with haunting sounds of ancient Korean instruments. As part of the ceremonies, MU members were shown the traditional way to drink green tea and very much enjoyed the experience.

Tea ceremonies have been practiced in South Korea for centuries and are now play strong part in the Christian traditions of that country. Jay, who migrated to Australia six years ago, was one of the founders of the World Christian Korean Tea Culture Association and is the current Australian Branch President. She regularly performs these most intricate and beautiful tea ceremonies and trains others in the cultural tradition, through her role as President of the Hajeong Tea Academy.

MU Logan President, Cathy Shellshear, presented Jay with a gift in appreciation of the memorable occasion.

At the Citizenship Ceremony at Logan Entertainment Centre on the evening of Wednesday 16 September, two African families who worship at St Marks, Daisy Hill, became the newest Australian citizens.
 
Jeremiah Matore, Josephine Mbonabucha and their children Ghyslaine, Hubert, Douce and Aubin as well as Anicet Bahanibanje, Immaculee Habimana and their children Henrietta, Velda and Friendson took the oath of allegiance and were presented their certificates by the Mayor of Logan, Councillor Pam Parker and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Chris Rose. Such was the importance of the occasion to the families, they all wore new outfits to the ceremony, including Immaculees and Anicets two youngest children who were born in Australia and were therefore already Aussie citizens. Having been displaced from their native Burundi during civil wars and having spent many years in United Nations refugee camps in Africa, this is the first time that the parents have lived in their country of citizenship for almost 20 years. No wonder they were pleased to become Aussies!
 
   

   
Afterwards the families celebrated with family and friends with speeches of congratulation and a party at St Pauls Church hall in Woodridge.