Categories: ship-of-fools, food
Date: 26 August 2006 22:31:30
An absolutely wonderful shipmeet last night at the absolutely wonderful Star of Thailand restaurant in Gladesville.
Seven of us shipmates turned up, including the delightful Yay. The reason for this meet was that Max, from Bath, England, is down in Sydney for the weekend as part of his Brisbane trip. It was great to meet him after a number of conversations, another shipmate I hadn't met before -- the Revd Gordon Cheng (he goes by his name on the ship so I assume it's fine to say it here) -- and, of course, to see and talk and catch-up with the wonderful shipmates I've met before.
Before the meet, Max and another Sydney shipmate (Duo Seraphim) came to my parish, which, as the hall we use was hired last night, was at St Nicholas', Bankstown, for what I thought would be Great Vespers. I'd forgotten it was the last Saturday in the month, so we had the Small(*) Canon of Supplication to the Theotokos, a service chanted particularly during the first two weeks of August (during the Dormition fast), and also in times of distress and illness. We are blessed to have this service every month, and it is followed by the anointing of blessed oil for healing.
I arrived a bit earlier, severely over-estimating the time it would take for me to get from my new home (Liverpool) to Bankstown, and listened to the choir practise. As the men and women took turns, I chatted with whomever was taking a break, and also with our choir director's (and priest's -- they are married) kids: it's hard to describe but I do so love my parish. It has faults, as all do: but the love and care and genuine interest of those there is something truly beautiful. And I know I'm greatly blessed to have been led there by God. And I am glad I got there early today.
Today, however, I am off to St Francis of Assisi, Paddington, home parish of Duo Seraphim and where Max will be assisting today in a serving role. I do love and gain benefit from my occasional visits to Roman Catholic parishes, St Francis in particular which has a very fine choir. Looking forward to worshipping with our Catholic cousins today.
Not sure what may occupy the rest of the day: tonight I'll be heading to Don Quixote to catch-up with a friend who is down for a quick visit after moving to Brisbane a year (or two? time flies!). Tomorrow I am taking the day of work to show Max around: I'm planning a trip to the modern (the original building was burnt down in an arson attack) St Patrick's Roman Catholic Cathedral at Parramatta and perhaps a visit to The Blue Mountains. We shall see.
(*) Duo mentioned that small was in fact a service over one hour. Orthodoxy has a very different concept of small. :)