Pray With Us
How silently, how silently, the wondrous Gift is giv’n; So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His Heav’n. No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in. more info >
How Silently, how silently...
What’s your favourite Christmas carol? I have always loved O Little town of Bethlehem because of the line, How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given. There's not much that IS SILENT about most of our Christmas celebrations. Shopping, road rage, menu planning, holiday plans, hot weather, last minute ‘everything’ and endless "canned music" in every public place all make Christmas very, very, noisy. Even those lazy hot days just after Christmas are usually filled with noise. Kids playing with new toys, raised voices in family arguments, the cricket on the TV or radio turned up loudly, visitors dropping in for a drink - it all seems so busy and so noisy.
At the heart of this maelstrom of frantic activity is the still quiet scene in the stable. New parents, a baby and a few unimportant lookers-on. The Christmas Crib invites us to stop, just for a moment to look with familiar tenderness at a familiar scene. Domestic ordinariness which happens in the deep stillness of the night. God's great enterprise, in coming to live as one of us, happens almost without anyone noticing.
What would Jesus and the Holy Family make of us and what we’ve done with Christmas? I like to think that they’d be kind. That Jesus would laugh gently and ask us to get our priorities re-aligned. That the Blessed Virgin would be vaguely uncomfortable about the fuss we make of her and that St Joseph would sigh deeply and ask if there was anything new to report. The incarnation, that great act of God, comes to us so simply, so silently, so domestically that we can scarcely believe it.
How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given.
In all the bustle and excitement of your Christmas celebrations let’s not forget that simple little family; ordinary people with hidden lives who show us how to live in cooperation with God and sustained by faithful self-giving. Try to make some quiet space this year so that you can remember and give thanks for that silent gift so quietly given. God’s own self come to us in the baby of Bethlehem.
How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given.
I hope you have a happy and holy Christmas, and that you and your family will be blessed as we move into a new year.
+ Garry
This is a transcript of the Bishop's Youtube Christmas Message
Towards the Light - Lent 2012
The Bishop writes, recommending 'Towards the Light'. Lenten material based around the theme of Christ our Light, using images from the Sunday Gospel readings for each Sunday of Lent. They provide clear teaching and offer good questions to guide groups. more info >
Meg Warner leads Lenten Reflections
Some Reflections on our OT Lenten Readings. On 18th February in the Cathedral (10am- 3pm) and repeated on 19th February in Warrnambool (Hammond Fellowship Centre - 11am- 4pm) Meg Warner, from Trinity College, will lead us in a day looking at the various covenant traditions from our Lenten readings for 2012. more info >
Organist Emeritus for the Cathedral
On Sunday the 5th of February 2012 at 5pm there will be a Service of Choral Evensong in The Cathedral Church of Christ the King, Ballarat followed a Reception in the Synod Hall, to honour Mr Jeffrey Batch's Appointment as Organist Emeritus of the Cathedral. RSVP details follow. more info >
The Chronicle
The Chronicle is the official newspaper of the Anglican Diocese of Ballarat. .If you would like to make a contribution to The Chronicle email your article and and images to: Janine Stewart, The Editor: editor@ballaratanglican.org.au. ** DECEMBER 2011 Chronicle is currently available. more info >
Daily Gospel Reflections
Due to the many requests for a continued set of daily Gospel study notes, we have begun a new process of producing and continuing this valuable resource for our Diocese. more info >
Intercessions
Diocesan Prayer Calendar for 2011. more info >