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Sunday after Ascension to Pentecost (17th to 24th May 2015)

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was first observed in Australia in the early 1950s by the students of St Michael’s House at Crafers, S.A. and Ormond College in Melbourne, Vic.

This was the result of the enthusiasm of Fr Gabriel Hebert, S.S.M. and Professor Davis McCaughey who had shared in such prayer in Europe.

The observance of a Week of Prayer for Unity was originally proposed in 1908 and held in January each year. However its intention was the reunion of Christendom with the Roman Catholic Church.

A French Catholic priest, the Abbé Paul Couturier who had worked with large numbers of Russian refugees in the 1920s realized that they, as members of the Orthodox Church, could not share in prayers for that particular scheme of unity.

As a result he suggested that we should pray for the unity of all Christians according to the will of Christ and by the means which he chooses. This is a prayer in which all Christians are able to share.

He worked tirelessly to promote better understanding between Christians of different traditions and for the week of prayer for Christian Unity up till the time of his death in 1953.

This was the Week of Prayer which was brought to Australia, but since January was not a good month in which  to promote such an observance it was decided to hold it in the period between Ascension and Whitsunday.

This is a most appropriate time, especially as the Gospel for the Sunday after the Ascension includes Jesus’ prayer to the Father for his Church: “…that they may be one, as we are one.”

‘The walls of separation do not rise as far as heaven.’
—Metropolitan Platon Gorodetsky (1803-1891) of Kiev.

Daily Prayer of the Chemin Neuf (New Way) Community, based on Couturier:

Lord Jesus, who prayed that we might all be one,
we pray to You for the unity of Christians,
according to Your will, according to Your means.
May Your Spirit enable us to experience the suffering caused by division,
to see our sin,and to hope beyond all hope. Amen.

This year, for the first time for many years, a combined Service for all the Christian Churches in Strathalbyn was organized by the Inter Church Council and held in the Memorial Gardens. The start time for the Easter Day Dawn Service appropriately was set at 6.15 am and was attended by a large crowd of around 100.

Pastor Wayne Kerber of the Lutheran Church started proceedings and led the singing with his Guitar. Pastor Daryll Telfer of the Church of Christ spoke of the message of the day, and the Easter Gospel Story of the Resurrection of our Lord was read by Rev. David Smith. ICC Chairperson Sue Eckert. RC.,  led the Intercessions. The whole Service was very much enjoyed, and was considered to be most meaningful in reminding us all of this wonderful day when death was finally defeated.

A fish breakfast followed, cooked by members of the Lutheran Church, and all appreciated this coming together again of all Christians in our Town.

David.

On Saturday 21 March 2015 members of Strathalbyn Parish, together with folk from as far away as Renmark and Christies Beach met with Bishop Michael Langrish at Mount Barker to consider a biblical model for the mission of the Church in rural areas.

Bishop Michael who is a former Bishop of Exeter, an English diocese which includes many rural communities in Devon, described the kind of situation which is faced by the Church in many country villages there as more and more people move away from the cities to live in the country. Surprisingly the situation there is not dissimilar to that which we experience in our country towns.

In order to meet the challenge which this new situation brings he presented us with a biblical model based on the history of the people of Israel and the story of the development of the Church as it spread from Jerusalem into all the world. This was then illustrated by reference to the way in which the Church was brought to England in past centuries and then to Australia in more recent times.

We came away with a great deal to think about and to share with our fellow parishioners in the weeks ahead.

Alex.

Check out the report of the ICC activities for 2014-2015 by clicking here.

This year’s World Day of Prayer service was held on Friday 6th March in the Strathalbyn Catholic Church and hosted by the Anglican ladies. About fifty people took part, representing the Uniting Church, Church of Christ and the Lutheran, Catholic, Baptist and Anglican churches.

Jan Payne welcomed everyone and led the service. Expanding on the theme, “Do you know what I have done to you?” a bowl, jug, towels and twelve pairs of sandals were placed near the altar (see above). Because the national bird of the Bahamas is the Flamingo, two large birds were also part of the display.

A DVD showed many aspects of life and the scenery in the islands.

The guest speaker, Eileen Smith from the Anglican Church spoke of the hidden poverty and the hardships which exist in the apparent paradise. She then described the radical way in which Jesus showed his love to the disciples.

The amazing amount of $401.00 was raised for ongoing work in various centres.

Following the service those present shared in the fellowship of a cuppa and a chat and thus concluded a night which also provided plenty of food for thought.

Many thanks to the Catholic ladies for all their help with the change of venue made necessary by the renovating at the Anglican Church.