Author Archives: Jan Harper

The first part of our service at Ultima today was out against the brilliant green backdrop of a wheat crop.

The sun shone and we enjoyed the warmth of the spring like morning.

Wilma played the accordion and Graeme the sax as we sang ‘For the Beauty of the Earth”.

We gave thanks for the seeds and the soil, and the water while planting seeds in a pot.

Water was sprinkled in blessing over the crop and the congregation before being poured over the seeds in the pot.

At the end of the service back in Ultima Hall, each member of the congregation received a packet of seeds to take home and plant and tend.  We pray for a great harvest.

When Ron took down the 7 Streams of Grace banner he replaced it with 5 large banners he unearthed from the back room, painted by Ernest Smith, a Swan Hill artist, in Max Bower’s time.  We would love to know more about them.  The big T is the cross I believe.  The dove and the fire must be especially for Pentecost.  The red one seems to me to represent some of Jesus I am statements: Alpha and Omega, the Good Shepherd, the True Vine, the Light of the World.  Then we have the two with a compass kind of cross on them: ‘God Cares’ and ‘Hear my prayer oh Lord’.  We would love to find out more about them.

For sale at Swan Hill Anglican Church, PO Box 836 Swan Hill, $2 each with funds toward support for Indigenous Heath, this postcard with the painting ‘Healing’ by Katherine Wise-Pope, and on the back, poem by Jan Harper:

A Healing Tale

God of healing and renewal,

Let your spirit fill my life,

my soul, my mind, my body,

deep within my heart – through to the tip of my tragic tail.

Transform my story from tragedy to victory,

to a tale of colour and contrast, of joy and pride –

rising to dance  in the rhythm of God’s grace.

I looked over to the Church last Sunday and read the sign that had just been put up.

“Let your home face towards the Father’s House.”  Well I said, I am not quite sure what it means but at least it is obscure enough not to cause any trouble.  (We had one notice that caused some distress and we no longer use it.)

But then on Wednesday I had a call from someone wanting to check what it meant!!  Was the Father’s House heaven?  Yes I said, “The Kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God” but I was feeling quite inadequate because it is such a rich concept and a few words over the phone cannot really do it justice.  I love these opportunities to refine my understanding.  There are at least 154 New Testament Bible references to the ‘Kingdom’ and they are so diverse.  For instance:

Luke 17.20-21:  Once Jesus^* was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, ‘The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, “Look, here it is!” or “There it is!” For, in fact, the kingdom of God is within (or among) you.’

And in our readings on Sunday:  Luke 9.60 Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God. and v62 No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.

Luke 8.10 sums it up really:  To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to others I speak in parables, so that “looking they may not perceive, and listening they may not understand.

Matthew 18.3 Truly I say to you, unless you change and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

And then a couple of examples of the parables:

Matthew 13:24  The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field

Matthew 13.47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea

Finally I found this quote by James Hamilton, a Presbyterian minister from many centuries ago.  I am sure our notice board words are taken from this and it explains it beautifully.

Keep the home near heaven. Let it face toward the Father’s house. Not only let the day begin and end with God, with mercies acknowledged and forgiveness sought, but let it be seen and felt that God is your chiefest joy, His will in all you do the absolute and sufficient reason.

Jan Harper

Representatives from Swan Hill Ministers Fellowship presented a $1500 cheque  to the newly opened Logan Lodge aged care facility situated behind the Anglican Church. The cheque was presented to Kathy Wright, Director of Clinical Services  at Swan Hill District Health.  It included the collection from the Ecumenical Good Friday Service as well as funds from the Minister’s Fellowship.  Three Indigenous artworks to be displayed at Logan Lodge will be purchased with this gift.

From the left, Jan Harper, Kathy Wright, Simon Warrick, Denis Gell and Tony Waldron are pictured in one of the beautiful outdoor areas of the facility.  Tuesday 14th June 2016