THE BISHOP'S PAGE

Bishop Godfrey Fryar

December 2011

Dear Friends,

A few months ago I visited Bethlehem in the Palestinian Territory. I had been there once before, 12 years ago when the ancient town was looking very shabby with lots of rubbish in the streets. This time it was looking much better and had a certain buzz with much building work going on. Getting there however, was more difficult than before, with the separation wall between Israel proper and the Palestinian Territory to be negotiated.

The Church of the Holy Nativity is said to be the oldest Church building in the Christian world. It was saved from destruction in the Persian invasion in 614AD apparently because the depiction of one of the Wise Men in Persian dress.

The long story of this building and the way the site was honoured beforehand point us to the real possibility that Jesus may have been born around here between 6-4 BC.

However having said that, the Christian faith does not depend on this site being accurate. What we do know is that Jesus was born and lived in that land and was crucified in around 30AD when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea. That much is historically verifiable.

What brings Christians around the world to celebrate his birth at Christmas is all to do with just who we believe he was, and continues to be.

Christmas in both its religious observance and secular celebration involves the sharing of gifts. The best gifts that we may ever receive may have nothing to do with Christmas culture. These are the gifts that come to us unexpectedly, marking no particular occasion, and are a complete surprise. Such gifts tell us just how much we are loved. They can be as simple as the spontaneous gift of a small child to a parent or grandparent, quite left field, and immensely moving.

I see the birth of Jesus and his life as a most wonderful gift, given simply because God loves us.

A gift remains a gift whether it is received or not. The patience of God is such that whether or not people acknowledge who the gift is, the gratuitous present is always there waiting to be unwrapped.

Yours in Christ,

+ Godfrey
 
 

Bishop Godfrey Fryar

Farewell to Canon Janne and Chris Whitehead

November 2011

Dear Friends,

There are moments in the life of any Diocese when the departure of particular people have an impact beyond the parish in which they last served. Last month we said farewell to Canon Janne Whitehead and her husband Chris. Janne was in the first group of women ordained Deacon in 1987 and Priest in 1992, and as such was a pioneer in women's ministry in Central Queensland. She was appointed by Bishop Stone as a Canon of St Paul's Cathedral in 2002, and in recognition of her service in the Diocese I have appointed her as Canon Emeritus, which is a title for life. Janne served in the parishes of Gladstone, Clermont, Emerald and Wandal and was also well known beyond these places. Her husband Chris made his own unique contribution in using his building skills to great effect in many parishes, as well as at the Diocesan offices and at Lis Escop.

Janne has been very much a person of the Diocese as a whole, serving in, amongst other capacities, as an Examining Chaplain and member of Bishop in Council. I will greatly miss her contribution in these areas, and as for her efficiency as a Clerical Secretary at Synod, she was a legend!

Though she has now moved to Gayndah in the Diocese of Brisbane we will regard her as "on leave" from this Diocese, as I know she and Chris will eventually return to retire at their beloved house at Calliope.

I would particularly like to thank Janne for the great loyalty she unfailingly gave to me as her Bishop, and I know she did the same for Bishop George Hearn and Bishop Ron Stone my predecessors.

May God bless Janne and Chris in their new lives in the Burnett Region.

Yours in Christ,

+ Godfrey