‘No act of kindness is ever wasted’
CATHEDRAL NEWSLETTER - 26 February 2025
Friends in Christ,
Aesop for Children (translator not identified), 1919. Illustrations by Milo Winter (1886-1956). Available online at Project Gutenberg.
“No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.”
This saying is connected to one of Aesop’s Fables: "The Lion and the Mouse". In the story, a lion traps a mouse that has irritated him, but instead of eating him, out of kindness the lion releases the mouse. The mouse promises to pay him back, which the lion finds ridiculous. What can a tiny mouse do for a lion?
But later the mouse comes across the lion trapped, all tied up in ropes. He chews through the ropes and frees the lion, and the kindness is returned.
Every act of kindness is worthwhile and appreciated.
Right now the Cathedral staff team is praying for volunteers to serve in various roles in and around the Cathedral.
As Paul says in Romans 12:3-8...
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Perhaps it was this passage of Scripture that Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. was thinking of when he said:
“Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve.
You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve.
You only need a heart full of grace.”
What grace has God given you? What contribution, what gift or ability, what time or energy can you use to encourage others, especially as a follower of Christ?
If you attend the Cathedral regularly, and any of these roles below interest you, please let us know, and tell us what caught your attention!
Front Office Reception Volunteers - three hour shifts, once a week, 10am-1pm or 1-4pm, Monday to Friday - friendly manner, basic tasks, full role description here.
Service Welcomers (monthly), full role description here (with tweaks depending on congregation):
Sundays at 8:30am
Sundays at 10:30am
Sundays at 5:00pm
Evensong at 5:15pm, Mondays or Thursdays (monthly or more often if desired)
Hospitality Teams - serving tea and coffee and 'nibbles' after church (monthly)
Sundays at 10:30am
Sundays at 5:00pm
Sundays at 5:00pm - prep &/or service for the monthly meal (hopefully only every second month)
Cathedral Welcomers - short or long shifts, once a weekday, Monday to Friday, and Sunday afternoons - welcoming the many tourists, seekers and others visitors to the Cathedral with their questions or interests, when open mid-week (generally between 10am-4pm). We eventually would love to add Saturdays. A readiness to share about Christ and his gospel and to represent the Cathedral well is essential. Following an interview with a member of pastoral staff, basic orientation is provided with occasional in-service training.
English Teachers - We need 1-2 extra people with solid English skills, and an ability to explain things simply, to help teach English classes for refugees, international students & other migrants on Thursday mornings (school term). However you do NOT need to be a trained teacher. Excellent resources and training are available.
DivorceCare discussion leaders. DivorceCare’s is a Christian-based support group that welcomes and guide people on the path of recovery after separation or divorce, with professionally produced video-input. Our Community Chaplain, Rob Elder, is looking for course co-leaders: mature Christian person with an experience of divorce; able to help facilitate a discussion following a teaching session. Expressions of possible interest will be gladly received and carefully considered for such a sensitive ministry.
If there is something else you are interested in, please ask, but these are the areas of greatest current need.
Lastly, since some of you are not in a position to volunteer for any of these particular opportunities, may I ask you all to pray that God will raise up and motivate those who can help at this present time.
Prayer about the healthy functioning of the body of Christ is an act of kindness that would never be wasted.
Warmly in Christ,
Sandy Grant
Dean of Sydney