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Tasmanian Anglican

December 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 


Kaye Paice and Val with 'St Francis' (a.k.a. Rick Giddings) at Pontville's Day of the Donkey



There was a warm welcome for all creatures,
great and small, inside St Mark's Church, Pontville.

 

The Day of the Donkey

by Jack Graydon

 

 

Sunday 31 October 2004 , dawned bright and cheerful with expectation in the air at St Mark's, Pontville following rumours of a special visit.

As the time for service neared, regulars and visitors were surprised to see a welcoming carpet in the aisle leading to a corral of hay bales and other things. Then began a steady tide of movement as all manner of God's created living filed into the pews - women and men, all ages of girls and boys, dogs and birds; what was that noise? All heads turn to the source, a beautiful squealing piglet named 'Ethel'.

Lo!

We seated them all, Mrs Jenny Roddam tranquilised them with soft piano and Lo! I feel a bit of an ass, but that one in the doorway looks an absolute ass! Now there are three of them and I realise my vision is normal as little Jenny (the donkey) led in Ben and Jake (two donkeys), with Gaylene Harrower, John and Jeanne Wherrett and our Shirley at the controls. They assembled in the corral to the rapt pleasure of all present, and then the beautiful Adoration of our Creator took centre stage.

Good diet

Following the Gospel message, the Revd Val Graydon asked a very quiet robed figure in the front pew to join her, and introduced the one recognised as the patron of all animals, St Francis of Assisi. It was surprising to see how well he carried his years, remembering that he was born in1182, but then a good diet of not too much of anything was probably the secret, and Jesus always travelled with him. St Francis was quizzed at length by the Rev. Val and gave a comprehensive, though condensed account of his life and travels, his conversion and love for God and all of God's creation.

The service over, everyone gathered in the grounds where the individual animals, birds etc. were blessed and each received a certificate signed by St Francis (a.k.a. Mr Rick Giddings). The donkeys were saddled or harnessed into the gig and all who wished to - and there were many - travelled in donkey style, whilst all and sundry enjoyed hot sausages and tables of goodies in the hall.

Sustain

Thanks must go to everyone involved in the wonderful gathering and environment, a lot of effort was required and that effort is recognised, but we must also give thanks to God for the donkeys in this world for their tireless selfless devotion, their placidness, their place in history of Jesus. Donkeys move people and all manner of stuff in and out of places where all our incredible technology is useless; they sustain communities and are often mistreated cruelly, which is an indictment of human nature.

God knew what God was about when God created the Donkey !