Toorak Uniting Church – Update – Epiphany 5

8 February 2015

For the Unknown Self

by John O'Donohue (1956-2008)

So much of what delights and troubles you
Happens on a surface
You take for ground.
Your mind thinks your life alone,
Your eyes consider air your nearest neighbour,
Yet it seems that a little below your heart
There houses in you an unknown self
Who prefers the patterns of the dark
And is not persuaded by the eye's affection
Or caught by the flash of thought.

It is a self that enjoys contemplative patience
With all your unfolding expression,
Is never drawn to break into light
Though you entangle yourself in unworthiness
And misjudge what you do and who you are.

It presides within like an evening freedom
That will often see you enchanted by twilight
Without ever recognizing the falling night,
It resembles the under-earth of your visible life:
All you do and say and think is fostered
Deep in its opaque and prevenient clay.
SP Williams – the Unknown Self

It dwells in a strange, yet rhythmic ease
That is not ruffled by disappointment;
It presides in a deeper current of time
Free from the force of cause and sequence
That otherwise shapes your life.

Were it to break forth into day,
Its dark light might quench your mind,
For it knows how your primeval heart
Sisters every cell of your life
To all your known mind would avoid,
Thus it knows to dwell in you gently,
Offering you only discrete glimpses
Of how you construct your life.
At times, it will lead you strangely,
Magnetized by some resonance
That ambushes your vigilance.

It works most resolutely at night
As the poet who draws your dreams,
Creating for you many secret doors,
Decorated with pictures of your hunger;

It has the dignity of the angelic
That knows you to your roots,
Always awaiting your deeper befriending
To take you beyond the threshold of want,
Where all your diverse strainings
Can come to wholesome ease.

Diary Dates

Monday, 9 February at 10:30am:	Drop in card day.	Faichney Room.
Wednesday, 11 February at 6:30pm:	P Brown Handbell Choir.	Wettenhall Room.
At 7:30pm:	P Brown Handbell Quartet	Wettenhall Room.
Thursday, 12 February at 9:15am:	UAT Meeting.	Kinross House.
Tuesday, 17 February at 12 noon:	Management Team meeting.	Wettenhall Room.
Wednesday, 18 February:	Ash Wednesday
Wednesday, 18 February at 6:30pm:	P Brown Handbell Choir.	Wettenhall Room.
At 7:30pm:	P Brown Handbell Quartet	Wettenhall Room.
Sunday, 22 February at 10:15am:	Whole Church Family Service	NO 9am Service

Time for Fellowship Lunch
The first lunch for 2015 will be held on Monday 23rd February in the Faichney Room from 12 noon. The topic for discussion is "A Hot Day". Come and enjoy good food, lively discussion and meet new people. Everyone welcome.

Contact Lenore Newnham 9509 0496 or Jean Allison 9826 9926.

Yoga classes are expanding!
Now classes are on: Mondays and Tuesdays 9:30 – 10:30am, also Tuesdays 6:30 – 7:30pm and Fridays 10:30 – 11:30am.
For bookings or enquiries call Ro Hancock on 0418 145 164 or email: rohancock1@gmail.com

Denied and Deported – Responding to Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers.
Heard about law changes for asylum seekers? Wondering what to do? Come along and find out.
Friday, 20 February 2015 6-8pm Wesley Uniting Church, 148 Lonsdale St. Melbourne.

In December 2014, new laws were passed which brought significant changes for people seeking asylum in Australia. Though the passing of these laws initially meant the release of many from Australia's detention centres, they look set to open the way for many to be returned to places from which they have sought protection, without having had a fair hearing of their protection claims.

This night will seek to explore ways in which churches and individuals might engage with and advocate for asylum seekers, working for welcome in Australia’s current climate of unwelcome.
Speakers will include: Pamela Curr – (Asylum Seeker Resource Centre) and Jill Ruzbacky.

Endorsing Organisations include:
• Victorian Council of Churches.
• Churches of Christ Vic/Tas Asylum Seeker Network.
• Churches of Christ Community Care.
• Uniting Church Synod of Victoria and Tasmania.
• Urban Neighbours of Hope.
• Surrender.

News from Kinross Arts & Spirituality Centre

Kinross House Gallery is normally open Tuesday to Friday 10:00am – 3pm.

Thursday,
5 February
to
Sunday,
8 March

The Water's Rim – A solo exhibition of paintings by Jane Oehr

The Opening was on Thursday 5th February with Guest Speaker: Dr Vincent O'Donnell – Presenter of the Community Radio Network's national arts and culture current affairs program Arts Alive.

Exhibition Dates:
Thursday, 5 February – Sunday, 8th March 2015;
Open 8.30am - 3.30pm Monday to Friday. Weekends by appointment.

About the Exhibition:
Jane is joining with Kinross for her second solo exhibition at the Kinross Gallery. Jane is a visual artist and film maker. Her new work is inspired by the coasts of New South Wales and Victoria and Australia's famous beaches, rock pools and shoreline. The paintings evoke associations with water, moving currents, turbulence and calm and the mysteries beneath.

Manse Gallery Café
The café is filled with light, warmth, flowers on the table and good food. Please call in for great coffee, hot soup or delicious cake. It has a wonderful atmosphere with outstanding meals and coffee. Why not meet up with friends or conduct your next meeting there?
For enquiries and (group) bookings contact Raz Psonis on 9829 0341 email: meetatmanse@gmail.com
Raz and her team will make you very welcome. Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am-3:30pm.

Gallery Contacts:

For all exhibition enquiries and bookings please telephone Lyndel Wischer on: 9829 0340 or email: uat@toorak.unitingchurch.org.au or visit the Kinross House page on the TUC website. You are also welcome to call in to the Kinross House Office which is normally attended 10 am – 3 pm, Tuesday – Friday or by appointment.

Lectionary Readings for 15 February 2015, Transiguration
2 Kings 2: 1 – 12; Psalm 50: 1 – 6; 2 Corinthians 4: 3 – 6; Mark 9: 2 – 9.
The liturgical colour for Transfiguration is white.

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