Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
10 May 2020
Community & Crisis
Church News
The Uniting Church in Australia
MINISTRY TEAM:
Minister of the Word / Team Leader: Rev Cameron McAdam
P: 9787 1683 M: 0425 774 780
Playgroup Coordinator: Barbara Mort
P: 9787 1683
Youth Engagement Coordinator: Tim Gordon
P: 0401 875 505
Pastoral Support: Shona Potts
P: 0424 787 204
Communication & Administration: Sally Mullins
P: 9787 1683
OUR VISION AND MISSION
Following Jesus and walking together, the Village Church
aspires to live God’s unconditional love. We live Christian faith with integrity
and meaning and, with a servant heart, we offer a place of welcome, care,
inclusion and healing.
MISSION:
We will live out our vision by:
• Following Jesus who lived with integrity, honesty and justice.
• Building community both within and beyond the church.
• Nurturing a questioning and living spirituality.
• Fostering an inclusive and welcoming spirit.
You can find us at:
fb.com/villagechurchmteliza @villagechurchmteliza
www.mtelizaunitingchurch.org.au
ORDER OF SERVICE
Christianity & Crisis
Sunday 10 May 2020
9:50am Livestream Service welcoming
SONG TIS 703 As the deer pants
WELCOME
PRAYERS
SONG TIS 746 The heavens shall declare
PERSONAL REFLECTION Cam Opie
READING Genesis 2: 4b-9, 18-23
REFLECTION Reconnecting with Creation
Quiet reflection and prayer
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
OFFERING PRAYER
SONG TIS 658 Here I am, Lord
BLESSING
MUSIC For you, deep stillness
Sunday
May 3 10:00am Morning Service led by Rev Cam McAdam
Live streaming of service on Facebook
10:45am Morning tea catch ups via Zoom invitation
** Let Cam or Shona know to join a group
Monday
May 4
Tuesday
May 5
Wednesday
May 6 10:30am Men’s Coffee morning tea via Zoom invitation
** Advise Ken Sleep to join meeting
Thursday
May 7
Friday
May 8 7:00pm Village Youth Zoom catch up
lead by Tim Gordon
Saturday
May 9
Sunday
May 10 10:00am Morning Service led by Rev Cam McAdam
Live streaming of service on Facebook
10:45am Morning tea catch ups via Zoom invitation
The Village Church Services www.facebook.com/villagechurchmteliza
WHAT’S COMING UP?
This week’s livestream service is supported by:
Personal reflection: Cam Opie
Bible reading: Tim Gordon
Music: Bev Sleep & Andy McGorlick
Technical support: Tim Gordon
Flowers: Ronda Jenkins
Facebook support: Steph Hill
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEK THAT WAS ON
OUR SOCIAL MEDIA...
Mother’s day means different
things for different people.
For some it brings great joy, for
others sadness or even
regret. No matter what this
Mother’s day means for you,
we pray for all Mothers, past
and present, and that God’s
love and peace be with you
all.
A Zoom conversation about
Digital Discipleship with Dr Bex
Lewis from Manchester UK.
Post COVID-19, how will digital
platforms support a ‘new
normal’…What can we learn,
what opportunities do we have,
what will digital platforms
enable and how can the digital
world help our discipleship?
For all these things and so much
more, we are so very grateful.
May we continue to be a people of
gratitude and grace,
This week...with Cam
As I write my email, the Prime Minister and Chief Medical Officer are
announcing the cautious relaxing of Covid-19 restrictions. This is excellent
news. We are some way from worshipping together in the church building,
and as a church we’ll continue to work with restrictions to keep the
community safe, we’ll continue to worship together via our live-stream
service, we’ll continue to work to keep our community connected and active
using safe means like Church News, Facebook, Instagram and Zoom, and
we’ll continue to offer the best pastoral care we can for our congregation.
It has been such a joy for me across this week receiving numerous messages
from so many of you with your reflection on gratitude. It has given me such a
sense of gratitude to be in ministry with you. Many of you have expressed
gratitude for things like family and health, but your reflections have been
deeply meaningful. I have received emails, poems, stories and pictures.
Some of these reflections have been shared in Church News, as reading
through them is both encouraging and uplifting for us all.
Across these weeks of this current series, Christianity & Crisis, I have loved
hearing your reflections, indeed it has been a rich period of discipleship as
people have reflected deeply on faith in this time of crisis. Please keep
sending me your thoughts and letting me know what you’re seeing across this
time.
This Sunday our theme is ‘Reconnection with Creation’ and I look
forward to contributing to our collective reflection on our place or relationship
with creation.
Bible Study
Christianity & Crisis: Reconnection with Creation
Welcome each other and share.
➢ Share experiences about what you are seeing in the community
currently. What are you experiencing?
➢ Have you had an experience of creation across this time of restriction?
Reading Genesis 2: 4b-9, 18-23
Take a moment to reflect on the passage as a group, what jumps out of the
text?
Some thoughts…
Genesis 1, under the sovereignty of God, humankind is made in the image of
God, and is given ‘dominion’ over everything else created. Dominion has a
very dominant ‘over’ kind of feel about it, a superiority. And whilst many
people interpret this term as a kind of ‘stewardship’, a responsibility to care
and manage, in reality, this term has, lead to a kind of providential
understanding of creation in that it is there for our use – provided for us.
Genesis 2 however, the lesser known story, with man made at the beginning
of the story, has God cause a rain, and from the dust or mud of the ground,
form man, and breathe into his nostrils the breath of life. There is an intimacy
in this act; an interwovenness with the earth and humankind, as one writer
said, “There is a concrete sense of closeness to the earth.” But further, in this
second story, everything else is created because God can see that man
needs relationship and companionship, and God creates a garden and
animals and finally woman, and human community is created.
Question…
➢ What is humankinds place in creation?
Some thoughts…(from the concluding words of Cam’s reflection…)
May we move from seeing land as a utility or object, to a beloved
co-creature. May we not claim a dominion over or even act as stewards of
creation, but rather serve creation like we would a neighbour with love and
kindness. May we see God’s creation, ever unfolding, not as a resource, or a
slave to our human need, but as kin, as something we are in relationship with
and intrinsically part of; not a gift to us, or a home for us, but a companion
with us.
Question…
➢ Can you think of other helpful images for our relationship with creation?
Prayer Spend time in prayer, holding your thoughts, and if in a group, your
conversation and time together, before God.
What’s been happening in the life of our
Church Community?
‘Sunday Selfies’…
Some fantastic photos through from the latest Zoom morning teas after our
livestream service on
Sunday.
Please keep them
coming, as well as any
photos from how you are
‘doing church’ at home
and/ or any special
worship set up you might
have introduced at
home.
Wendy Thomas enjoying
her art during this time…
Art is a favourite past time of Wendy
Thomas. During this period of
isolation, Wendy has produced these
two beautiful paintings. Wendy was a
long term member of our church Art
group and now enjoys painting at
home. Thanks for sharing with us
Wendy.
Knitting group update
While the Knitting group have not been able to
meet for many weeks now, this has not stopped
many of them working on knitting projects at
home. This includes producing warm blankets for
those in need, which is becoming increasingly
sort after with the onset of cooler weather.
A special delivery for our
Playgroup mums
This week, Barbara Mort, our Playgroup
Coordinator, had an idea to put together
Mother’s day card kits for Playgroup children to
make for their mums. Barbara very busily got to
work to assemble 80 card kits and sent a little
‘heads up’ to mums via The Village Playgroup
Facebook page that they should ‘keep an eye’
on their mailbox as there was a special
delivery coming their way. For those in Mt Eliza
and Frankston South, Barbara then hand
delivered the kit to each mail-
box and for those living further
out, the kits were posted in the
mail. Needless to say, the mum’s were enormously
appreciative of this thoughtful gesture.
Men’s Zoom catch up...
There were 14 men at yesterday’s Men’s coffee morning. They addressed
many of the world’s problems, but left a few unsolved to ensure they would
have something to talk about next week. Ian Johnston shared his “coat of
arms” designed to suit current COVID conditions, which is also shared for
everyone to enjoy in Church News.
Spending time with our community Andrew Stork
This week we caught up with Andrew Stork.
Andrew, along with his wife, Sarah Keel, start-
ed coming to The Village Church early last
year. “After our previous church disbanded,
we were looking for somewhere that felt like
home, both in the sense of community and an
alignment with our personal take on Christian
life and faith. Although we don’t live in the
immediate area, we have found that here.”
Andrew recently nominated and was voted
onto the Church Council.
How has work changed for you during this time? I work in the Medical
department of a pharmaceutical medicine company, liaising closely with
Marketing and Sales colleagues. Prior to mid-March, I worked from home
each Friday – now it is every weekday. Ironically, my company moved into
new CBD offices just a day before restrictions began. A typical day includes
around 4 hours of videoconference meetings with my work colleagues and
keeping multiple projects progressing. Even though I currently don’t have the
long office commute, there still doesn’t seem to be enough time to get things
done.
How have you been managing during these crazy times (personally)? I’m
naturally an introvert and home-body, so I’m largely in my comfort zone. I
usually take each day as it comes and just get on. However I am missing
getting out of the house and the daily physical interaction I would normally
have with other people. I am throwing myself into work more than I probably
should. Sarah has been doing an amazing job coping with me being home all
day, every day and keeping our household going.
What new things or activities have you been doing? I’m trying (mostly
unsuccessfully) to fit in a walk around my neighbourhood during the day
(after living in the same area for over 20 years, I can’t believe it has taken this
situation to get me out exploring). I’m also trying to increase my recreational
reading – currently I’m reading Tim Costello’s memoir “A lot with a little”.
What do you think you will remember most about the pandemic? This is a
near once-in-a-century event, so it will be interesting to look back in years to
come and reflect on the lasting changes that arose from it. Images of empty
supermarket shelves, empty streets and full Zoom meeting screens will be part
of the memory. Personally, I will remember cancelling a longed-for trip with
my father to the country of his birth and starting a new job role in
isolation.
Gratitude at The Village Church
“I just walked outside and realised that
we are indeed fortunate to have a
backyard with grass, shrubs and a tall
lemon scented gum tree that has a
refreshing smell that brings back good
memories. We planted that tree many
years ago when the children were
young. Gratitude for having space and
a yard.” Dennis Mason
Robert and I grew up after the
Second World War when
resources were limited and
parents had to be frugal. How-
ever, we never went without
and both had happy
childhoods. As we grew up
employment was easy to find
and was easy to change your
job if you wished. I went to
Teacher's College at Burwood
and we received a small salary
which had a bond to fulfil at
the end of training. Robert
started off at the National Bank
and finally at Lysaghts. It was
easy to buy a house and that
meant a secure life for our
children.
“I am grateful for my family not only for their love and support to me but also
for letting me still feel useful. I am still required to make the chocolate
pudding every Thurs. night! They love it”. Brenda Rowlands
A huge thanks to all those who shared what they were grateful for. There
were so many things shared across our wonderful church community.
Interestingly, but not surprisingly, there was a consistency of themes
around the simple, every day things.
We are grateful that
at this time we are
enjoying so much
beauty and the
opportunity to thank
others for their
kindness.
Ronda Jenkins
Now we have been retired for just over 20 years and this has been a happy
time for us. We have much to be grateful for and especially the good
health that we both experience. Robert and I were given the golden key
when we were born in Australia. Afton Johnston
“Apart from all the other things in life that we are
grateful for, one special thing in these times is the
wonders of modern technology. To be able to
FaceTime our grand-children, especially Norah
(Richard and Abby’s 8 month old) and see her live
is very special. When we moved here, we left
behind two Grannies that only had Intermittent contact with their
grandchildren, normally over a telephone. Both of whom found the
separation very challenging.” Trevor Burt
“I am grateful for the reserve walking tracks (around Bellbird, Rd, Millbank
Rd and Mather Rd – volunteer residents have regular working bees and look
after the reserves), which me and many others, have only recently
rediscovered with more time to walk. Bettine and I went on a walk this
afternoon and took these 3 photos, all in that area”. Sonia Hartley
“Despite the challenges of working from home while supervising kids'
learning, I am incredibly thankful to have a stable job and a beautiful home
in which to spend this time of iso. I am also grateful for our lovely big
backyard for the kids.” Claire Dawson
Gratitude at The Village Church
“This is a photo of some old ceramic pots
that I painted using the small containers
of left over paint from the scenery in the
Aladdin pantomime.
They are full of herbs now and are
certainly a colourful addition to our small
courtyard”.
Robyn Bounds
“We are grateful for the simple things and how
fortunate we are...for a healthy family, a big
garden to enjoy, open fires, a lovely coffee from our
new machine, good food, our dog, friends to call,
and for living in this beautiful part of the world”.
Mark & Kate Driver
“While this time has been a bit of a roller coaster ride,
I have been so grateful to live in Mt Eliza, have regular
walks down to the water and observe the beauty of
the sun after rain on autumn days, not to mention the
rugged beauty of the sea on wilder weather days.”
Sally Mullins
“While we can’t have friends and
family around during current
pandemic, we have visitors to our
backyard on a daily basis. By
keeping the bird baths topped up
and the native bird seed flowing
our feathered friends have
entertained us well. I am grateful
for the wonderful diversity of
creation”.
Roger & Jenny Vass
“Gratitude for
a happy and
healthy family,
a n d t h e
opportunity for
beautiful walks
outside”.
Lu Isa Fosita
“I’m grateful for
the bird life
about. I love
parrots. This is
the first time I
have seen this
type of parrot in
Mt Eliza”.
Cam McAdam
Gratitude for new life and hope after a catastrophe
Last weekend we visited Steve, a member of Eden
Uniting Church who lives at Kiah. Many houses at Kiah
were destroyed by the bushfire and residents were
grateful for the caravans and gifts generously provided
by the Mt Eliza community, including the Village
Church. Thankfully, Steve’s house survived, and he
helped in the protection of other houses. He is grateful
for the tools he received. These photos show the
destruction around his property, but also good growth
giving hope for renewal and recovery.
Chris Dalton and Janice Nelson
Desiderata for these Covid times Adapted by Johanna Aalberts-Henderson, with apologies to Max Erhman
Go placidly into the quiet and the space and remember what peace there is in
social distancing. Be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and LISTEN to others, for we all have our own
story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons by social distancing, for they are vexatious to
the spirit. If you compare yourselves with others, you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Hold on to your achievements and keep to your plans as best you can. Dream.
Keep interested in your careers even though you may be without one. These
times are humbling, and I wish everyone, hope, with the changing fortunes of
employment.
Exercise caution in all your affairs. The world seems fearful and confused. Let this
not blind you to the virtue there is in many persons who strive for kindness, every-
where in life there is heroism.
Be yourself. Neither be cynical or sad about the physical distance of love, it will
return, for it is perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, by checking in on old folk, gracefully
surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you, in these times of sudden misfortune. Do not
distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and
loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be GENTLE with yourself, and others. You are a
child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars we are all in this
together.
And whether it is clear to you, no doubt the world is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, live - trusting God.
Pray.
And whatever your labours and aspirations be in these times, keep peace with
your soul. With all it’s sham, drudgery, fear, uncertainty and broken dreams, it is
still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful, be thankful, and strive to be happy.
God bless and stay safe.
Lamb and pasta bake with roasted tomatoes
This recipe is a good one dish meal that can be
prepared early and left overs reheat well in the
microwave. Very easy to adapt adding more
vegetables, herbs or preferred spices. Risoni is
also a delicious pasta. Barb Wilson
Ingredients (Serves 8)
• 1.2kg diced lamb (shoulder or leg)
• 2 onions, thinly sliced
• Juice of 1 small lemon
• 1/4 cup (60ml) olive oil, plus extra to drizzle
• 3 teaspoons dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons sweet smoked paprika
• 1L (4 cups) Massel chicken style liquid stock
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 400g canned chopped tomatoes
• 400g orzo pasta (risoni)*
• 24 cherry tomatoes on the vine
• 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1 cup (250ml) thick Greek yoghurt
Method
Step 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C.
Step 2 Place lamb in a single layer in a large baking dish, cover with onions,
drizzle with lemon juice and the oil.
Step 3 Sprinkle with oregano, cumin and paprika, and season with salt and
pepper. Toss to combine, cover and roast for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Step 4 Heat stock in a pan over medium heat and whisk in tomato paste. Re-
move lamb from oven, pour over stock, add canned tomatoes, cover with foil
and return to oven for 1 hour.
Step 5 Remove, sprinkle in the pasta, cover and return to the oven for 20
minutes, until pasta is cooked and most liquid is absorbed. Place cherry
tomatoes on a baking tray, drizzle with a little olive oil, season and roast for
final 5 minutes of the lamb's cooking time.
Step 6 To serve, stir through parsley, divide between bowls, and top with
yoghurt and a few tomatoes.
Family Favourite Recipes
With extra time on our hands and more people cooking at home, we thought
it would good to share some favourite recipes. This week, Barb Wilson and
Mohan Jacob have shared some of their family favourite recipies. Both dishes
look like wonderful warming meals for our increasingly cooler evenings!
Creamy EGG/Prawn Curry
This is one of my curry and rice recipes.
Mohan Jacob
Ingredients (Serves 8)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 onions finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon minced ginger
• 2 teaspoon crushed garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon dried chilli powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon Garam masala
• 2 tomatoes, finely chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 400ml can coconut cream or sour cream
• Salt to taste (approx 2 teaspoons)
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 1kg large green prawns, peeled, deveined, tails intact
or 10 hard boiled eggs halved
Method
Step 1 Heat oil in a large, heavy-based saucepan over low heat.
Step 2 Increase heat to medium, add chopped onion and keep frying until
golden brown.
Step 3 Reduce heat to medium, add minced garlic and chopped ginger
and cook stirring for a few minutes or until softened and the raw smell gone.
Step 4 Add curry powder, chilli powder, Garam Masala and turmeric
powder. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until aromatic. (Making sure the masala
doesn’t stick to the pan and get burnt. Add a little stock if you need if you
need to prevent burning)
Step 5 Add tomatoes, and bay leaves. Stir to combine.
Step 6 Slowly add cream or substitute, stirring constantly.
Step 7 Add stock and cook, uncovered, for 10 minutes or until sauce
thickens slightly.
Step 8 Reduce heat to low and add prawns or halved boiled eggs and cook
for 3 minutes. (be gentle with the boiled eggs so they remain intact)
Step 9 Add salt to taste and cook for 3-5 more minutes or until prawns just
turn pink.
Serve on a hot bed of fluffy white basmati rice.
An Australian Coat of Arms? By Ian Johnston
In these times of pandemic it’s great to see our politicians heeding the
advice of doctors to never smother a cough or sneeze with an open hand,
but rather to turn one’s mouth and nose into the bent elbow of a coat
sleeve.
But horrors! Some of our pollies now greet each other by bumping together
these same snotty elbows! To remedy this situation, politicians need to wear
the newly-invented Corona Jacket, which has up to eight sleeves attached
around shoulders, back, and lapels.
Admittedly the wearer will look like an octopus, but this invention will allow
seven sleeves to be ‘snottered’ and the remaining sleeve to be reserved for a
snot-free elbow bump-greeting. This (very patriotic) invention should be
well-received in Canberra and named: The Australian Coat of Arms.
Saturday 9 May is World Fair Trade Day, an event to celebrate the
global Fair Trade movement and to take time to consider how the
choices we make can create a fairer world.
All the people in the Fairtrade journey from seed to your home are seeing the
financial and physical pressure that the coronavirus is leaving in its wake. It is
a nerve-wracking time for everyone. But, the coronavirus crisis has also shown
us that the world is intimately connected and how what we choose to do
every day impacts the health and safety of others.
Together with Fairtrade, we have all made the choice to make the world a
fairer place. And at this time, we also have the opportunity to reimagine
what the world can look like, and to lead through the power of our
purchasing decisions.
This World Fair Trade Day we are celebrating our strength
together.
Fair means fair so look for the Mark when you shop
Fairtrade is the only system to guarantee a Minimum Price to producers for
commodities sold on Fairtrade terms. This Minimum Price must never fall be-
low the market price, and helps to protect farmers and workers against price
fluctuations in volatile markets.
Look for the Fairtrade Mark to ensure your purchasing choices are making a
positive difference - for the people and the planet!
‘With Love to the World’ Daily Devotion
out now..
The latest ‘With Love to the World’ daily devotion is
now available at a cost of $5 and covers from Monday
4 May - 2 August 2020.
If you would like a copy, please email or call the
church office to arrange a time for collection and
payment.
Making an offering...
If you would like to make a financial offering to the church, here's 2 options:
• You can make a direct deposit into the Village church's
General Statement Account: BSB 633 000 Account No: 143 632 834
• Another option now available will be to deliver your offering to the
church office (using the inside office mailbox to provide some anonymity)
on a Friday between 9:30 & 2. Please note that with this exception, the
church facilities remain closed, and we ask anyone dropping off an
offering to respect the required social distancing restrictions in place.
We hope this helps open an opportunity for people to make an offering to
the church at this time. It will certainly help the church.
Cameron
Are you interested in a Jigsaw?
A member of our church community has wonderful,
very funny, 1,000 piece jigsaws, which they would be
happy to donate if anyone is feeling lonely or bored
and/ or likes colour, shape, form ,pattern and
humour. Please contact Cameron or Shona if you’re
interested.
Can you help the
Communities that Care team?
We have heard from 4,000 young people and now we want to
hear from you both young and old! Our Communities That Care team are run-
ning a short two question survey to find out what the biggest needs of young
people are on the Mornington Peninsula. Hit the link below to add your voice
and be in the running for one of six restaurant and café vouchers to the
value of $50.00 each. Please share this link with anyone you know!
https://www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/About-Us/Have-your-say/Have-Your-Say-
Communities-That-Care
Rebekah Popplewell, Communities That Care Coordinator
