DECEMBER DIARY
Tuesday 2nd
10.00 am: Chatter Group hosted by Phyllis
Thursday 4th
9.45 am: Pastoral Care meeting
7.30 pm: Church Council meeting
Saturday 6th
4.30 pm: Christmas Carols with a Sri Lankan youth choir
Sunday 7th
After Worship: Congregational Meeting
Wednesday 10th
12.30 pm: Fellowship Luncheon at Wantirna Club (note venue change)
Thursday 11th
10.00 am: Assembling hamper boxes
6.30 pm: Supping with Singles at Coach Hotel Ringwood
Saturday 13th
1.30 pm: Carols, Communion and afternoon tea
7.00 pm: Saturday Social pancakes
Sunday 14th
After worship: Setting up hall for hampers
Monday 15th
10.00 am: Filling hampers
Tuesday 16th
10.00 am: Distributing hampers
Thursday 18th
10.00 am: Delivering hampers
Friday 19th
10.00 am: Cleaning up Hall
Sunday 21st
7.00 pm Carol Service – conducted by the Young Adults
JANUARY DIARY
Thursday 8th
6.30 pm: Supping with Singles at Royal Hotel Ferntree Gully
Saturday 17th
6.30 pm: Young Adults meet
Wednesday 28th
12.30 pm: Fellowship Luncheon at Mitcham Hotel
GROUPS IN RECESS FOR HOLIDAY PERIOD
Craft Group – Resumes in February
Playgroup – Resumes in February
ECOS (English Conversation on Sundays) Re-opens January 18th
Walking Group – Resumes in February
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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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