FEBRUARY DIARY
Tuesday 3rd
10.00 am: Chatter Group hosted by Jan
Thursday 5th
9.45 am: Pastoral Care meeting
7.30 pm: Church Council meeting
Thursday 12th
6.30 pm: Supping with Singles at Wantirna Hill Club
Friday 13th
1.30 pm: Communion, then fellowship over afternoon tea
Saturday 14th
7.00 pm: Saturday Social – stories of favourite photos
Tuesday 17th
Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day)
Wednesday 18th
Ash Wednesday. (Beginning of Lent)
Saturday 21st
10.00am: Walking Group at Lilydale Lake
6.30 pm: Young Adult Group
Sunday 22nd
12 noon: In Touch closes for March
Wednesday 25th
12.30 pm: Fellowship Luncheon
Thursday 26th
10.00 am: Odd Bodds
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WEEKLY ACTIVITIES
Worship Sundays 9.30am, live streamed and recorded
ECOS English Conversation On Sundays at 7.00pm
Craft group – Fellowship on Mondays 10.00am
Playgroup Wednesdays 10.00am in school term
MONTHLY WORSHIP
Second Friday of the month – 1.30pm
Communion, followed by fellowship over afternoon tea.
Transport can be arranged.
VARIOUS DATES
Sausage Sizzle at Bunnings (approximately monthly) which
raise funds for East Burwood Care – Volunteers welcome
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VOLUNTEERS
Changing Communities – Changing Lives
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THE CORNER MINISTRY
The Corner Sign provides a low key ministry to the local community. Approximately 75,000 vehicles and 200 trams pass the corner each day, as well as pedestrian traffic.
The ideas come from the Bible, hymns, sermons and famous quotes, life experience and suggestions from others – all trimmed to fit the space.
The aim is to make each message relevant – for Christian seasons, church events,
national commemorations, calendar events – to be pastoral and thought-provoking,
but a non-controversial message.
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ANZAC – Lest We Forget
On ANZAC Day we remember those who gave their lives in the service of our nation, over 100,000 in all. We also remember the many thousands more who returned from wars severely disfigured, physically disabled, mentally scarred or diseased. It is hard to imagine what it must have been like for those who found themselves in prisoner of war camps, perhaps confined for several years in primitive conditions.
On the home front, especially during the First World War, nearly every family had a father, brother or son, a sister or daughter, a sweetheart, in harm’s way on the other side of the world. Their families waited for letters taking several weeks to be delivered, with many passages redacted by the military censor. They searched the newspapers to try to deduce where loved ones might be or what they might be doing. In the news reports, successes were usually exaggerated and defeats characterised as minor setbacks, in order to maintain morale. At the same time there was the dread of a telegram bringing bad news.
Our ANZAC remembrance banner was designed by Bev Gosbell.
The poppies were knitted by the “Craft Girls” and Margaret Grinton stitched the quilting.
A close look reveals that the quilted background depicts Flanders poppies and the Australian Army rising-sun image.
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OUR EASTER BANNER
The banner that we prominently display at Easter was designed by talented church members Jan Harris and the late Joan Freedman and was sewn by Margaret Grinton.
The blood red cross and tears of blood evoke the tragedy of Good Friday, while the ray of light evokes the new dawn of Easter Sunday. Overnight, sun flowers turn their heads to the East in preparation for the new dawn, a metaphor which can give meaning to Easter Saturday.
At Easter 1999, the space on our church wall where the banner was usually hung was left poignantly bare. Why?
On Australia day that year, the Northern Territory town of Katherine suffered a disastrous flood. Our congregation received a letter from one of our former parishioners, Meagan Thomas, describing the devastation suffered by the town and by the Uniting Church building.
As Easter was approaching, our Banner Makers resolved to send our Easter banner to Katherine as a gesture of caring and support, and they committed to make a replacement banner, of the same design, for ourselves. So in 1999 the place where the Easter banner belonged was left bare and we thought of the congregation of Katherine. The replacement banner was ready for Easter 2000.
To see the original banner, you will need to visit Katherine. The letter of appreciation from the Katherine Uniting Church invited any of us who are travelling that way to call.
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