Categories: friends, ship-of-fools, other-churches
Date: 05 February 2008 10:09:01
A very pleasant, though rather wet and humid, weekend up in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland. And there has been rather a lot of rain in Sydney town too -- and prayers for the family [families?] and friends of two young children swept away in a creek: Lord, have mercy.
Brisbane [named in honour of Sir Thomas Brisbane, Governor of New South Wales from 1821 to 1825] is truly a beautiful city. Once considered the poorer cousin of Sydney and Melbourne, it is getting its fair share of migration [interstate and international] and is becoming, if it is not already, a true world city.
As mentioned in a previous post, I went up for the ordination to the Diaconate of two friends at St John's Anglican Cathedral, and I took the chance to catch up with a friend too. As I knew the two ordinands through the Ship [thread on the event here], it was also a time to catch-up with shipmates.
The Ordination service was, if I am honest, rather strange. I did love the Mass setting, St Martin's Mass, and the prayers for the Ordinands, as well as the Deaconing prayers, were exceptionally beautiful and moving. However, I was rather confused by the rambling sermon and I always get a bit agitated when well-known [and loved hymns] are fiddled with: but I am probably an old fuddy-duddy. An appropriate verse for the Feast [The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple] was added to All People That On Earth Do Dwell which was a good move I thought, however changing the first line to All people here on planet earth had me thinking of Doctor Who and Star Trek. Some rather odd changes to Veni, Creator Spiritus also had me wondering "Why?" -- as I did when Shine, Jesus, Shine appeared; but, as I said, I am a fuddy-duddy. It was, however, wondrous to be there and see beloved friends made deacons, and to see them so very happy.
The after-party for Keren was a joyous affair: food, dessert, wine, joyful and humorous conversation, and a performance of a hymn for Keren. It was also great to catch up with many Shipmates.
I do know one must be careful when it comes to the Internet, and in particular meeting people, but my experiences have only be positive. And especially so when it comes to the Australian shipmates who -- due to meeting some at regular occurrences, or spending a few days with them at a time on weekends away -- I have come to know and love. A true sign, much like the loving community formed around the Wibsite, that the Internet can translate to real friendships, and that often these translate, where possible, to friendships "in person". I wrote the below on the thread on the Ship relating to the Ordinations: I thought I'd share it here too:
And, at the risk of being overly sentimental, may I say that we have a truly wondrous group of Shipmates in Oz? I have been pondering lately how many of the most wonderful days in my adult life have been spent with Shipmates: they truly have. From talking to eating & drinking to attending services to weekends or weeks away, I have had such a wonderful time and felt part of such a diverse, and zany!, family. I feel truly blessed to have met so many of our Oz shipmates [and some overseas], and hope to have many, many more meets. As, FD [I think it was he] said at Nunc's bash, "This is how it will be in heaven."