A Weekend of Varied Activities
Categories: uncategorized
Date: 22 May 2005 10:18:16
I sat down to watch the semi-final of Eurovision, only to be rung by a friend from church ensuring I remembered we were watching Star Wars - Episode III that night. I had thought it was next week. I managed to watch four acts [a very strange salsa-yodel combination from Austria and a young band with a grandmother in a rocking chair from another country are the two that stick in my mind]. SW was alright: I'm not a big fan, so I wasn't expecting much. I think it was definitely the best of the new lot, and the movie had a reasonable enough plot -- though very, very bad dialogue.
Saturday was spent researching journals for my second-last assignment. I am researching the use of authentic materials and their role in the TESOL classroom. Thankfully, many journal articles are available on-line, so I didn't need to leave my room and travel all the way to the uni library.
Today [Sunday] we had a wonderful church service. Today is the third Sunday after Pascha, and we commemorate the The Paralytic at the Pool. It seemed a strange commemoration, especially after commemorating St Thomas and the Myrrh-Bearing Women the weeks before, as it is easy to see how those link to Pascha -- the paralytic seems a strange Pascha celebration. But, as our visiting sub-deacon said when he preached, Christ's healing power is a theme we need to be aware of always.
 | I come to You, O Christ, Blind from birth in my spiritual eyes And I call to You in repentance: You are the most radiant light of those in darkness! Kontakion |
We continue to sing, "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life!", at various points in the service, and we greet each other with, "Christ is risen!", to which one responds, "Truly he is risen!" The joy of Pascha continues, and hearing people (loudly) chant "Christ is risen..." through the service helps to keep the light and hope of Pascha with me. Thanks be to God!
After church, we had a farewell BBQ in the park for our visiting sub-deacon from Kansas. We even taught him a bit of cricket, and he had a few goes with the bat: and did quite well. He has been in Australia for almost a year: six months in Melbourne and just under six months in Sydney. It has been a true blessing to have him with us -- he has taught us wonderfully at retreats and through sermons, he has helped and assisted in the choir, and it has been a joy to socialise with him over our coffee hour and at other times. May God continue to bless his ministry, and, God willing, we all hope to see him back here in Oz one day.
12 minutes until the Eurovision final is screened here. I better get my popcorn and drinks ready!