SERMONS
DEDICATION DAY - Sunday 26th June 2011 - Rev Gregory Job
Readings 1 Kings 8:22-30, 1 Peter 2:4-10, Matthew 7:24-29
Text: “Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” Matthew 7:24
The second church of St Jude’s Randwick, where we sit this morning, had a "rocky" beginning – arguments and legal fights about money and land and position took place.
The stone walls of the church stood open to the elements for almost 18 months whilst legal rocks were hurled in court and community as to whether the church should continue to be erected here or should it be built at Coogee Bay (Big Coogee).
Judge Milford’s decision in favor of the current location was acknowledged with 2 streets named in honor of him – Judge and Milford Streets.
It is also worth noting that The 2 Lawyers who argued for the church not to be built here, Mr Consett Stephen and Sir William Manning are both buried in St Jude’s Graveyard here.
An unholy stoush and a rocky beginning indeed.
Stone has been a popular building material for churches through Christian history
– rock indeed was the symbol used of the church by Jesus and the NT scriptures.
There could not have been a more appropriate Day to dedicate this church than on St Peter’s Day (29th June), even though the church was named St Jude’s after its predecessor.
Peter means stone.
When Peter confessed that Jesus was the Messiah the son of the living God,
- Jesus declared that He would build his church upon Peter and His confession.
“You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church.” We celebrate this foundation today.
This church was built between 1861 and 1865 of the soft yet lovely rock of Sydney sandstone.
Rock is present in all of our readings.
In our OT reading Solomon stands on the rock that is Mt Zion in 953 BC, spreads his hands and prays as he dedicates the Jewish Temple, with its huge stones cut by 80,000 masons in the mountains.
Phoenician craftsmen were employed to build the Temple with its breathtaking features and size.
A unique temple with no idol, just the ark with its Mercy Seat overshadowed by the Cherubim, which symbolized God’s presence.
Solomon prays: ”Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built”
Even though buildings can be beautiful, building rock is hard and cold.
Our Epistle and Gospel readings use the images of rock in much more personal and intimate ways.
Peter in the Epistle talks about Jesus as a precious corner stone laid in Zion, on which to build our lives.
Peter calls us to allow ourselves to be built on this cornerstone: “Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house.”
Here is a lovely picture of human lives linked to Christ in faith, and linked to each other in relationship.
St Jude’s is not just a beautiful Sydney sandstone place of prayer and worship.
St Jude’s is especially the people of this Parish and community.
It is the living and departed – those in the church and those in the graveyard, who have gone before us, who now encourage us and cheer us on in faith.
It is a curiosity that we cannot locate the Foundation Stone of this Church.
A far greater tragedy would be if we misplaced the spiritual Cornerstone, which is Christ.
So The Gospel Reading begins: “Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.”
The wisdom rock.
The precious cornerstone.
We need wisdom in what we build.
What superstructure will we build on the foundation?
We face many different challenges to what our forebears in Randwick did:
We face challenges of a shift in the place of church in the community.
We face the challenge of so many choices in people’s daily and weekly lives.
We face increased complexity – values vary more widely, and commitments and loyalties are more tenuous.
How do traditional Christian ethics relate to our society?
What place does Christianity play in our church and state schools?
How do we give appropriate recognition to Aboriginal people?
How well do we treat the Refugee and the stranger in the light of the teaching of Jesus?
We face ecological challenges – how do we do well by the planet with our property and its uses?
In wider society we face moral challenges about the care of animals, and our needs for food.
What are the ethics of live animal exports or battery farming?
Are our goods, clothing and food made in sustainable ways?
We seem to expect more of life, and seem more disturbed by the rude intrusion of death.
Those who preceded us did not imagine the complexity of life today.
It takes a growing spiritual wisdom to live well, in faith, hope and love.
We can pray to God to help us build with His Spirit of wisdom – both in our individual pursuits and in our community life.
- "be like a wise man who built his house on rock.”
These words from the end of “The Sermon on the Mount” still offer a blueprint for life that satisfies our deep human longings and provides the opportunity of a life lived well, in honor of our creator and redeemer.
Not all religion is of equal value or wisdom for living. Some religion is both foolish and destructive.
It is possible to fail to build wisely upon the foundation that is Jesus Christ.
No human being rightly understanding the teaching could war or kill in the name of Jesus.
No human with Christian wisdom could hate a neighbor or a stranger.
No human following Jesus could be greedily indifferent to the needs of others.
So on this Dedication Festival we dedicate ourselves to seek to build wisely on the foundation of Christ.
We dedicate ourselves to accept God’s grace and forgiveness and embrace.
We dedicate ourselves to be Salt and Light and peacemakers in our Parish.
We dedicate ourselves to Love our neighbor and care for the suffering.
We dedicate ourselves to use the gifts that God has given us to bless others and bless the church and wider community.
We dedicate ourselves to live out faith and hope and charity.
We dedicate ourselves to care for the environment and living creatures.
“Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.”
RECTOR’S ANNUAL REPORT TO THE PARISH - March 2011
As we read the story today of Jesus encounter with the woman of Samaria, we are reminded that our Christianity at its best will always intersect with human need.
This particular woman may have been the Elizabeth Taylor of her day – she was not able to engage in satisfactory human relationships with a spouse, causing herself and others much pain.
Jesus meets her at the well – he uses the imagery of water at hand - identified her need as essentially a spiritual one – in effect he says “ask of me and I will give to you living water”
Jesus was later to identify the water of baptism as the entry sacrament into Christian faith, and its ongoing place in the life of faith in our cleansing and refreshing or renewal.
In another place Jesus talked about giving a cup of cold water in his name.
This combination of meeting human need, satisfy spiritual thirst and helping a person to live a more fulfilling life is at the essence of the call of the Church.
We as a local church here in Randwick are called to give shape and essence to this calling.
During this past year our church has continued to seek to develop and reflect Christ in this way.
The people of the congregation have been a blessing in many ways – a sincerity and faith and purpose, a love and concern for others, a supportive rather than critical approach, a dedication to ministry endeavors of the Parish, a loyalty in coming to church and giving thoughtfully to support it and a desire to face life’s difficulties with faith and hope.
To be a church of Christ in modern Australia is a significant challenge.
Society in its attitude has moved the church from the centre of a community, more to its margins, and as one of the many religious or spiritual choices in society.
Churches now offer a variety of worship forms to suit different tastes – “brand” loyalty is not as strong – people often choose churches to suit personal likes. Churches can sometimes be seen to be playing to taste and cultural trends.
We have sought here to continue traditional Anglican worship. This approach is both a strength and a weakness – more solid than trendy – more rocklike than “rocking”, classical rather than pop.
We continue to reach out to younger people and young families – through monthly Family Service, Sunday School and Scripture, Young Adults Bible Study, a new Youth Group, Child Care Centre, Baptism Contacts, Confirmation, Play Group, Creche, Parenting Workshops and personal Pastoral Care.
The music and singing in the church, and the Choir continue to bless and enrich all our services. A great group of Servers and Lay Readers help our worship.
The Carer’s Group, Nursing Home visiting, Visiting the sick and Pastoral Support offer people care and prayer in difficult times of life.
Fellowship Groups for Men and Women, Bible Studies and discussion Groups, Craft Group, Friend’s of St Jude’s, Flower Preparation, ESL, Social Auxiliary and Bell-ringers all provide fellowship opportunities within the Parish.
We said a fond farewell this year to people of our community – Iris Williams, Joan Potter, Sheila Rimmer, Kath Kemp and Nancy Vaubell. We commend them into God’s hands and acknowledge their significant contributions among us.
Attendance during 2010 (2009 in brackets) averaged:– at 8am 48 (52), 9:30am 75 (74) 11am 48 (33) per fortnight, 6:30pm 22 (23).
We have reverted to Holy Communion weekly at the 6:30pm service.
There were 37 (42) baptisms, 17 (15) weddings and 35 (26) funerals, 13 (12) in church.
I heartily thank The Warden’s and Parish Council for all of their dedication and wisdom during the year.
I deeply thank our Staff of Amanda Wharton, Jim Le Huray, John Bartik Angus Gilchrist, Veralene Lobo and Ruth White for their wonderful ministry and endeavors during the year.
So many people work and serve in love here – I cannot name them all, but thank all volunteers who contribute such dedication in all of the Groups I have mentioned earlier, as well as the unseen devotion that happens in many cases.
Catherine and I feel blessed by so many people of the Parish and our lives are enriched for being connected to you.
This beautiful and significant heritage property brings with it many challenges as well as many blessings.
I express great appreciation to Parishioners who faithfully and thoughtfully give week by week to support the ministry here, and respond to the annual Restoration appeal.
A pleasing element is that the Parish life including the Child Care Centre have settled into a daily pattern here now.
With some 20 people employed on the property between church and Child Care, a significant and vibrant life happens here daily.
Financially our Net Turnover (not surplus) on the property, with church and Child Care, has increased to some $1,500,000. This is a more than ten fold increase over where we were some 15 years ago. It makes the whole place much more financially viable and well used. Within 8 years we should pay off the associated debt.
The Wardens will report at the AVM as to restoration work achieved and our financial situation.
Many challenges – both physical and spiritual have been met but others lie ahead of us.
I continue to pray that we as a community of Christ will grow in grace and knowledge of Christ. That people will find here a spring of water that flourishes in their lives.
I pray that we will be a place of care for the hurting, a place where people are helped to drink of the living water.
By doing that we will reflect Jesus Christ, and honour and build on the heritage that has been passed onto us.
God bless St Jude’s and all who come here during the coming year.
Gregory Job 27th March 2011