Don Dowling's Blog

Don's Blog

Hi All,

Last weekend was a ripper for Kay and I, as in amongst my normal duties we managed to see all but three of our 16 grandchildren. It was a heavy weekend, with sleepovers, birthday parties and general baby-sitting… and it was thoroughly enjoyable. We both felt a little exhausted but loved every minute of it.

It was great to see grandchildren in Church on Sunday. It’s a great way to gently encourage the worship experience for children and hopefully, later in life, the children will look back and see it as an affectionate connection with their grandparents.

The Monday holiday, whilst creating an opportunity to look after grandchildren, also created a little stress by putting me a day behind in my preparation. However, as I write I have prepared both the Sunday morning service and Helen Chapman’s Memorial service. I am polishing of the last thoughts for my reflection. So all is good at the moment.

During the week I have had conversation with a number of people regarding the Memorial service for Helen Chapman on Sunday. It promises to be an emotional but good celebration of Helen’s life. The choir has offered to sing, we have chosen some of her favourite hymns and John is going to play some of her favourite music. Fiona, Helen’s daughter will offer the Eulogy along with a family friend. I have also managed to put together a small video clip of the conversation I had with Helen a few months ago.

Catherine and I were able to meet up with artist Sharyn Egan, who has created an artwork for Station No 4, Jesus meets his mother. In the course of our conversation Sharyn shared with us that as a child she was taken from her mother and placed in New Norcia Mission and was under their care until she was an adult. It was heartbreaking to hear that she never saw her mother again. She said, ”we were called orphans, but we knew we had parents’. This happened in the 1960’s, which is in my lifetime, so it is a bit confronting. Against this background she has created what I consider to be a very moving piece of art, which presents two figures, created out of pressed grass, who ‘meet each other, Jesus and his mother. As I said to Sharyn, I think it will create some moving conversations.

This morning, we made a visit to artist David Small, who lives at Wooraloo and who has Station No 3, Jesus falls the first time. It was wonderful to visit his studio and talk through the thoughts behind his work. Once again, like other artists he has reflected on the journey of Jesus towards his death and has been able to portray this in a rather special charcoal based painting. A few of the artists have picked up the concept of the journey and I am impressed by the way they have presented it. They offer us great food for thought. Needless to say I am looking forward to other people seeing these works.

Tonight we have our monthly Elders meeting, much of which will be taken up by Catherine Czerw presenting to us pictures of the final works of the artists for Stations. Does it sound like the art exhibition is not very far away!!

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Thanks for reading.

From your minister,

Don

Sunday 11^th March 2012

8.30am Discussion Group

10.00am Worship – Lent 3 – Including a Baptism

12.00noon – A Memorial Service for Helen Chapman