Dear Friends,
This year Lent and Ramadan occur at the same time which only happens about every 33 years or so therefore I thought we’d have a look at Ramadan as it may inspire us for our Lent. Islam follows the lunar calendar with it occurring 10-11 days earlier in the Gregorian calendar each year occurring in 9th month of the Islamic calendar. Ramadan has its genesis in an Arabian cave around the 7th century when it is believed the prophet Muhammad first had the holy Koran revealed to him. From dawn to sunset adult healthy Muslims fast taking no water or food for the entire day. This fasting is one of the 5 pillars of Islam and has the spiritual dimension of focussing attention on those in the world who due to circumstance , not choice are hungry all the time. This fasting leads then to an increased charitable response to the needy. Prayer during this holy month is also emphasised as is the reading of scripture. At the end of each day the fasting ends in ‘iftar’ with a strong community emphasis as people gather to share food. (There are special iftar stalls at present in Victoria market set up just for this purpose).
So, if you think Lent onerous think about going without food for the entire day for a month, praying and reading scripture more and giving charity to those in need. – we actually get out of it quite lightly.
It seems to me that despite what some politicians would have us believe 99 per cent of the Muslim world take this very seriously and use it as a vehicle to get closer to God, improve the lives of those who have less and build coherent communities.
I for one find Ramadan inspiring.
Grant
CONCERT
Trio Anima Mundi returns to Holy Trinity on 8th March at 2.30pm to present the first concert in their 3 concert series – The Romantic, The Muse, and The Gypsy. Join us for a captivating three-concert series that explores the rich, expressive power of the piano trio. Be immersed in the sweeping, forgotten melodies of the British Romantics to the chic elegance of Belle Époque Paris, and culminating in the unstoppable fire of European folk traditions. For more information: https://www.trioanimamundi.com/tam-2026-series or watch one of their Holy Trinty performances at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PDx8N2xtmk&t=15s
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The gospel calls us to be people of Hope even in the darkest hour. Maybe you can find time to say an extra prayer for all those in such desperate circumstances in Australia and the rest of the world?
Our prayer for days ahead is for balance, consideration and listening
God of Comfort,
send your Spirit to encompass all those whose lives are torn apart by violence and death in Israel and Palestine and Lebanon.
You are the Advocate of the oppressed and the One whose eye is on the sparrow.
Let arms reach out in healing, rather than aggression. Let hearts mourn rather than militarize.
God of Justice,
give strength to those whose long work for a just peace might seem fruitless now. Strengthen their resolve.
Do not let them feel alone. Show us how to support their work and bolster their courage. Guide religious leaders to model
unity and reconciliation across lines of division. Guide political leaders to listen with their hearts as they seek peace and pursue it.
Help all people choose the rigorous path of just peace and disavow violence.
God of Love,
we lift up Palestine and Israel — its people, its land, its creatures. War is a monster that consumes everything in its path.
Peace is a gift shared at meals of memory with Christians, Muslims, and Jews. Let us burn incense, not children. Let us break bread, not bodies.
Let us plant olive groves, not cemeteries. We beg for love and compassion to prevail
on all your holy mountains.
God of Hope,
we lift up the cities of the region: Gaza City and Tel Aviv, Ramallah and Ashkelon, Deir El Balah and Sderot,
so long divided, yet so filled with life and creativity. Come again to breathe peace on your peoples that all may recognize you.
God of Mercy,
even now work on the hearts of combatants to choose life over death, reconciliation over retaliation, restoration over destruction. Help us resist antisemitism in all its forms, especially in our own churches. All people, Israelis and Palestinians deserve to live in peace and unafraid, with a right to determine their future together.
God of the Nations,
let not one more child or elder be sacrificed on altars of political expediency. Keep safe all people from unjust leaders who would exploit
vulnerability for their own distorted ends. Give wise discernment to those making decisions to pursue peace.
Provide them insight into fostering well-being, freedom, and thriving for all. Teach all of us to resolve injustices with righteousness, not rockets. Guard our hearts against retaliation, and give us hearts for love alone.
Strengthen our faith in you, O God of All Flesh,
even when we don’t have clear answers, so that we may still offer ourselves non-violently for the cause of peace.
Amen.
© Rose Marie Berger Sojourners October 9, 2023
Words of Pope Francis
“You can have flaws, be anxious and even be angry, but don’t forget that your life is the greatest business in the world. Only you can stop it from failure. You are appreciated, admired and loved by many. Remember that being happy is not having a sky without storms, a road without accidents, a job without effort, relationships without disappointments.
“Being happy is to stop feeling a victim and become the author of your own destiny. It’s going through deserts, but being able to find an oasis deep in your soul. It’s to thank God every morning for the miracle of life. It’s kissing your children, cuddling your parents, having poetic moments with your friends, even when they hurt us.”
“To be happy is to let live the creature that lives in each of us, free, joyful and simple. It’s having maturity to be able to say: ‘I made mistakes’. Having the courage to say ‘I’m sorry’. It’s having a sensitivity to say ‘I need you’. Is having the ability to say ‘I love you’. May your life become a garden of opportunities for happiness… that in spring I can be a lover of joy and in winter a lover of wisdom.”
“And when you make a mistake, start over. Because only then will you fall in love with life. You will find that being happy doesn’t mean having a perfect life. But she uses tears to irrigate tolerance. Use your defeats to train your patience.
“Use your mistakes with the serenity of the sculptor. Use pain to tune into pleasure. Use obstacles to open the windows of intelligence. Never give up … Above all, never give up on the people that love you. Never give up on happiness, because life is an amazing show. “.
POPE FRANCIS
A PRAYER FOR GROWTH
God of mission,
Who alone brings growth to your Church,
Send your Holy Spirit to give
Vision to our planning,
Wisdom to our actions,
Joy to our worship,
And power to our witness.
Help our parish of Holy Trinity to grow in numbers,
In spiritual commitment to you,
And in service to this city and community,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Worship at Holy Trinity each week
Sunday: 8am Eucharist; 10am Sung Eucharist and Morning Tea
Wednesday: 10 am Eucharist followed by Morning Tea
Thursday: 8.30am Morning Prayer and scripture readings followed by Meditation at 8.45am.
On the First Wednesday of the month the 10am Eucharist has an emphasis on healing with the opportunity of anointing.
Wednesday: Playgroup 9.30am – 11am (during school terms) Contact: Julia Fox 0417 522 362
Parish Contacts
Vicar: The Rev’d Grant Edgcumbe 193 Hotham Street East Melbourne
T: 9417 3341
Website: www.holytrinitymelbourne.org.au Email: office@holytrinitymelbourne.org.au
Vicar’s Warden: Laurie Moore T: 0484 792 134
People’s Wardens: Lynne Mitchell T:0412 592 005;
Sue Moses-Critchley 9486 3598