Vicar's News - 16 August 2026
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Mary, mother of our Lord
Mary always held a place of honour within the English Church, before and after the English reformations, but many of the Roman Catholic doctrines surrounding her have been called into question over the centuries. Anglicans view the Virgin Mary with high honour as the Mother of God (Theotokos), and the greatest of human examples. We do not pray to her, nor ask her to mediate with God for us. Our only mediator is Jesus Christ. However, we do ask her to pray with us, just as we ask the whole company of those who have gone before us - the communion of saints. The official Anglican teaching affirms the virgin birth, while secondary beliefs like her perpetual virginity or her assumption into heaven are treated as personal views.
On Sunday we are having an additional Eucharist service at 6pm in the church for the confirmation of Corey East-Bryans. Bishop Paul Barker will be presiding. This will be Bishop Paul's last formal visit to St Andrew's as our Bishop (see the Diocesan structural changes below). There will be incense used at this service.
Music on Sunday
LAY CLERK EUCHARIST @ 10.00 AM
Soprano: Ms Kate Louise Macfarlane
Organist: Dr Calvin Bowman
Prelude: Trio Sonata in C major BWV 529 – J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
Hymns: Processional By your kingly power
Gradual Take my life, and let it be
Thanksgiving Dear Lord and Father of mankind
Post Communion Guide me, 0 my great Redeemer
Setting: Parish Eucharist – Michael Dudman (1938-1994)
Psalm: 113 (RSCM) – Ferguson in C
Anthem: I know that my redeemer liveth – George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Motet: Ave Maria - Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
Postlude: Fugue from Concerto in D minor BWV 596 (after Vivaldi) –
J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
LAY CLERK EUCHARIST with CONFIRMATION @ 6 PM
Soprano: Ms Kate Louise Macfarlane
Organists: Mr Christopher Cook and Ms Betty Liu
Prelude: Chorale Prelude on Melcombe-Charles H.H. (18.48-1918) (Betty Liu)
Hymns: Processional By your kingly power
Gradual Take my life, and let it be
Thanksgiving Dear Lord and Father of mankind
Post Communion Guide me, 0 my great Redeemer
Setting: Parish Eucharist – Michael Dudman (1938-1994)
Psalm: 113 (RSCM) – Ferguson in C
Anthem: O Had I Jubal's Lyre - George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Motet: Improvisation (Christopher Cook)
Postlude: Jesu meine Freude, BWV 610- Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
(Betty Liu)
Mooncake Festival
Looking forward to this annual event in the church. Thank you to Mother Xev and all those who are rehearsing for their participation.
Mazi re-opening
The café reopens on Monday after their winter break.
Building works
The new garbage bay on St Andrews Street is complete and we hope to move the bins in over the weekend, after the Farmer's Market. This will hopefully:
prevent further damage to the driveway and front steps from garbage trucks manoeuvring around the front of the church; and
allow the re-grading of the area behind the Op Shop to prevent water running into the Café during a storm. This area will house two disabled parking spaces.
a chute from the café's kitchen has been installed to allow wrapped waste to be placed in the garbage bay without the need to bring it around the front of the café.
the café switchboard has been upgraded as considerable expense to meet the current electrical requirements. This has been completed whilst the café has been closed.
The site has been surveyed so that the run-off for the new drainage and tank systems can be designed.
Drainage work has been carried out to the Schoolhouse while the café has been closed and the existing stormwater pipes have been identified to assist with The Greening Project.
The gates to the vicarage are now operative. This will allow me to prevent people coming up the driveway looking for 230A & B New Street.
Installation of the new driveway gates to 230A & B commences on Monday (subject to the weather). Thank you to all how generously donated to this project.
Diocesan re-organisation
The Consecration of The Venerable Megan Curlis-Gibson, The Reverend Canon Ben Wong and The Reverend Canon Nigel Pope as bishops will be held at 10.30 am on Saturday 19 September at St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne.
From 19 September the Diocese moves from three geographical episcopal areas to four. The current area names will be replaced by Geelong, Dandenong, Merri and Nunawading, continuing the use of Aboriginal names, but using place names in lieu of the current words.
Naming the areas after places reflects an Anglican conviction that the Church is called to sustained presence and mission among particular people in particular places. The Revd Canon Nigel Pope will be the Bishop of Geelong; Bishop Paul Barker will be the Bishop of Dandenong; the Venerable Megan Curlis-Gibson will be the Bishop of Merri; and the Revd Canon Ben Wong will be the Bishop of Nunawading.
The episcopal areas have been aligned to council areas (not sure what that has to do with anything), so our Bayside Deanery will lose three parishes (Cheltenham, Moorabbin and Mentone) as these are not in the City of Bayside Council's local government area. The remaining 6 parishes in the Bayside Deanery (Gardenvale, Brighton, Brighton Beach, Hampton, Sandringham & Beaumaris) will be part of the Nunawading episcopal area under the care of Bishop-elect Canon Ben Wong, and in the Archdeaconry of Stonnington with Archdeacon Dr Colleen O'Reilly. Our Area Dean of Bayside, Fr Jonathan Chamberlain remains in place.
I know Ben well. He was, and currently is, vicar at Bulleen. That parish was in my area when I was the Archdeacon of Box Hill. Colleen was my vicar when I was first ordained. I worked as her Curate for two years at St George's Malvern. So these changes are a bit like 'old home week' for me.
Parish Council
Parish Council meets on Tuesday evening at 7.30pm. Foremost on our agenda is settling a new Mission Action Plan for 2026-29 to partly re-align with the new Archbishop's mission initiatives, including external mission giving by the Parish.
Parish Office closed
The Parish Office is closed until 7 September as Angela is away. During this time please send me an email to vicar@standrewsbrighton.org.au, or send a text message to 0421 321 321
This Week
Rosters
