Categories: uncategorized
Date: 29 August 2005 08:05:21
I was surprisingly alert when I got up at 5.45am Sunday.
After the two-and-a-half hour drive to Canberra, I went to a Sung Eucharist at St Paul's, Manuka, with a shipmate (ordained as a priest last year) presiding and giving the sermon. Also in attendance were a girls' choir from one of the local grammar schools. A beautiful service: I do love the Anglican liturgy, and it was easy to slip right back into it. Fr J presided very well, and the sermon (on us often making martyrs of ourselves and deeply desiring the attention of others) was challenging.
A discussion with three delightful parishioners in the pew in front of me ensued after the service. It was then to the hall for some (wonderful) coffee and more discussion. Then, two people came up to me and asked if I was "a Fool". Yes: in all definitions!
We caught up with Fr J and then it was off to the suburb of Dickson (on the way, while shipmate C sat next to me as navigator in case I didn't follow close enough behind her husband, C gave me a wonderful description of the history of the churches of Canberra and on the way the city has grown) for a wondrous Malaysian lunch, with much laughter, conversation and much more laughter. Another shipmate arrived in time for dessert and coffee.
We then went off to the local club for some drinks and more conversation: while sitting in one of the trams they have in the club! A unique experience. They also have a bicycle museum, but it was closed for refurbishment.
We then said goodbyes and parted ways, with the others going home and Fr J & I off to another shipmate's church, All Saints, Ainslie. All Saints is a beautiful church and has a wondrous choir (led by shipmate MM), but it is also particularly interesting as it was built from the stonework of the old Rookwood Necropolis railway station.
The service of Vespers (which was my first experience of a non-monastic Western-rite Vespers) was heavenly. Along with MM's choir, some very competent cornetto players were present with their beautiful instruments, as was an wondrous organist. An interesting sermon on holiness, and holiness' relationship to friendship, also. Soup, mulled wine, nibblies and conversation followed afterwards.
And then it was the two-and-a-half hour trip back to Sydney...and straight to bed.
A wondrous weekend!