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Vicar's News - 20 July 2025

  • Fr Ian
  • 2 hours ago
  • 4 min read
Fede Galizia, Noli Me Tangere, 1618

Mary Magdalene

Who was Mary Magdalene? From the New Testament, one can conclude that Mary of Magdala (her hometown, a village on the shore of the Sea of Galilee) was a leading figure among those attracted to Jesus. When the men in that company abandoned him at the hour of mortal danger, Mary of Magdala was one of the women who stayed with him, even to the Crucifixion. She was present at the tomb, the first person to whom Jesus appeared after his resurrection and the first to preach the “Good News” of that miracle.


From other texts of the early Christian era, it seems that her status as an “apostle,” in the years after Jesus’ death, rivaled even that of Peter. This prominence derived from the intimacy of her relationship with Jesus, which, according to some accounts, had a physical aspect that included kissing. Beginning with the threads of these few statements in the earliest Christian records, dating to the first through third centuries, an elaborate tapestry was woven, leading to a portrait of St. Mary Magdalene in which the most consequential note—that she was a repentant prostitute—is almost certainly untrue. On that false note hangs the dual use to which her legend has been put ever since: discrediting sexuality in general and disempowering women in particular.


Confusions attached to Mary Magdalene’s character were compounded across time as her image was conscripted into one power struggle after another, and twisted accordingly. In conflicts that defined the Christian Church—over attitudes toward the material world, focused on sexuality; the authority of an all-male clergy; the coming of celibacy; the branding of theological diversity as heresy; the sublimations of courtly love; the unleashing of “chivalrous” violence; the marketing of sainthood, whether in the time of Constantine, the Counter-Reformation, the Romantic era, or the Industrial Age—through all of these, reinventions of Mary Magdalene played their role. Her recent reemergence in a novel and film as the secret wife of Jesus and the mother of his fate-burdened daughter shows that the conscripting and twisting are still going on. (Smithsonian Magazine)


An interesting article on Mary Magdalene is available on the New Yorker Magazine website, which can be downloaded here.

Music on Sunday

PENTECOST 6
LAY CLERK EUCHARIST @ 10.00 AM

Prelude: Improvisation on ‘Melita’

Hymns: Processional Eternal Father, strong to save

Gradual Dear Lord and Father of mankind

             Thanksgiving When in our music God is glorified

             Post Communion I danced in the morning

Setting: Parish Eucharist – Michael Dudman (1938-1994)

Psalm: 52 Barnby in d

Anthem: Ave Maria – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

and Charles Gounod (1818-1893)

Motet: En Priere – Gabriel Faure (1845-1924)

Postlude Master Tallis’s Testament – Herbert Howells (1892-1983)

Vale

On Thursday we farewelled Dorothea Carmichael, long-standing member of the Wednesday mid-week service (then The 'Sticky Bun' Club) and longest resident at Horsley Court in Horsley Court in Wilson St, Brighton.


On Friday we farewelled Anne Martin from our 8 & 10am services, and sometime member of our monthly service at Classic Residences.


Of your charity, please also remember before God these others who have died and whose funerals we have conducted this week: Emma Hynes, Gordon Ortmann, Anthony Fletcher, and next week - Maureen Green in the Pioneer Chapel 0n Wednesday at 11am, and Douglas Reid with a family service in the Lady Chapel on Friday at 2pm.


May they all rest in peace and rise in glory.

Wednesday Morning Prayer

Commencing on Wednesday, we will be saying morning prayer each Wednesday at 9am in the Lady Chapel. Please join us whenever convenient.

'Have bible - will travel to Canberra'

I presented our Federal Member of Parliament, The Hon. Tim Wilson MP, with a bible on behalf of St Andrew's to use at his swearing in (you have to bring your own), and for use in his parliamentary office. Tim was baptised here several years ago, and is a great supporter of our Parish.

New headsets

Thanks to an anonymous donor, we have new re-chargable headsets for use on Sundays by Chinese parishioners and visitors at our 10am service, who listen to our service in Chinese. We can also use them for guided tours of the church and cemetery.

Happy Birthday Robert

Robert Timms celebrated a birthday during thr week and the Wednesday service members celebrated with him at Dendy Deli.


Australian Anglican Calendars 2026

St Andrew's features in next year's Australian Anglican Calendar - we are the 'poster church' for January. What a great present for Christmas, particularly for someone overseas! Get in early for cheap postage. Order one for $15 here.

Australian Anglican Calendar 2026
Australian Anglican Calendar 2026

Resumptions this week

Post school holidays,

Monday 21 July, Lectio Divina (meditation) resumes on Mondays at 9.30am.

Tuesday 22

9 July, English Conversation Group recommenced at 9.30am.

Wednesday 23 July, Morning Prayer (English) commences at 9am.

Thursday 24 July, Morning Prayer (Chinese) recommences at 9.30am.

English Conversation Group meets in the Parish Hall. All other weekday services are in the Lady Chapel during winter.

Rosters


 
 
 

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