~ Congregations in the Cudgegong Cluster staying

connected with each other and the community ~

Mudgee, Gulgong, Dunedoo

Rylstone, Kandos, Ilford, Running Stream

I heard it on..

Resource Minister PO Box 388 Mudgee 2850 Rev Graeme Gardiner PO Box 112 Rylstone2849 6373.6371 0428 757 369 www.mudgeerylstoneuniting.org.au OR

The Uniting Church in Australia

Term 3 ~ 2015 NSW/ACT Synod

Macquarie Darling Presbytery

There is nothing ‘ordinary’

about ‘ordinary time’.

We call it ‘ordinary time’

because every moment counts.

Turn to page 2 to find out more...

NOTHING ORDINARY ABOUT ‘ORDINARY TIME’

You will be familiar with terms like 'Advent', 'Epiphany', 'Lent' and 'Easter' to

describe seasons of the Christian calendar. However, were you aware that the

long season that commenced after Pentecost Sunday and carries right through

to the first Sunday of Advent is referred to as 'Ordinary Time'?

Ordinary! Sure, it may not contain celebrations

of 'high' moments in the Jesus story like those so-

called 'high seasons', but there is nothing ordinary

about the post-Pentecost period. Early church

history (just read the book of Acts) tells us of the

explosive growth of the Christian church after

Pentecost. Those early followers were empowered

to share their faith, to nurture and grow new

believers, and the number of Jesus-followers

multiplied dramatically.

The liturgical colour for 'Ordinary Time' is green, which fits well with this

post-Pentecost theme of growth. Many of the Bible texts that we explore during

this season have us wrestling with questions of what it is to be a disciple of Christ

and what it is to be a community of disciples.

Here in the southern hemisphere during 'Ordinary Time' we also come to a

time of year in which it is tempting to huddle by the fire and rest. Many of us

need to do that for our physical bodies. But we should never rest when it comes

to nurturing our faith and the faith of others, of helping others to grow to

maturity.

As the colder temperatures force many of us indoors for longer periods that

we might otherwise be outdoors, consider using some of that time for reading

the Bible and other Christian books (there's many to choose from in our church

libraries), for praying, and for purposely encouraging others.

A U G U S T W O R S H I P S E R I E S

‘God and Church for our time and place’ The oft-quoted line from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ has Dorothy declaring to her dog Toto: "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore!", following a wicked tornado that turned everything on its head. Well, I

have more than a feeling that when it comes to the place of the Christian Church in contemporary Australian society, we are far from where we once were. But rather than being a cause for the wringing of hands and the wrinkling of brows, I believe it should be regarded as gift and opportunity. A rich moment to

take stock and re-examine the nature and character of God, the nature and character of Church, and how we might best order our life and leadership for this new time and place. A rich moment to renew our discipleship and reframe who God calls us to be. Over 4 Sundays during August: the 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd, during our worship gatherings, we will explore the core matters of:

the meaning of 'missional'; discovering congregational identity; the role of ministry leadership; and the value of collaboration and partnerships between congregations and groups.

I urge you to attend what I am confident will be an encouraging and stimulating series. And if you miss one or two - don't worry - there will be a reflection guide that you can use at home.

Graeme Gardiner Resource Minister

At Mudgee on Wednesday 2 September, 6.30pm

~ for all blokes ~ great food ~ great company ~

Contacts: Peter 0403 151 590 Rob 0408 426 414

At Mudgee on Wednesday 26 August, 6.30pm

~ for all the girls ~ terrific company ~ food cooked for you and cleaned up too ~

Contacts: Denise 0449 252 093 Lynne 0402 948 514

Supporting Mudgee Christian Education

Association for an SRE teacher at Mudgee High School

Put together a team of up to 6 or just come along and be part

of another team. Nibbles and supper will be provided.

Held at the Seventh Day Adventist Hall on Saturday 1 August at 7pm. Cost is $10 pp. To make a booking phone 0421 201 952 or http://mudgee.adventist.org.au/trivianight

and email names and number in group to trivia@aplacetobe.info

Who for? The event is designed for

both lay and ordained. It will be a great time of fellowship, learning and fun.

Accommodation & Food Costs: Acommodation is at your

own cost and people are encouraged to self-cater for breakfast and lunch unless you have pre-ordered sandwiches with your registration. Morning and afternoon teas will be provided and are covered with your registration.

Rural Ministry Unit Field Days 10-13 August at Dubbo Uniting

Registration Costs

Whole event: $160

Per day: $40

Dinner & Trivia Night Tuesday: $20

Dinner & Keynote Speaker Wednesday: $20

Register by 20 July: http://ume.nsw.uca.org.au

Program Highlights: Mental health workshops;

lay ministry resourcing; pamper space; information, story and resource sharing; community building; making connections with community development workers; exploring community with other lay and ordained people in rural ministry.

The Field Days are a chance to get together, share resources and stories as well as engage with UME field staff. It is run by Uniting Mission & Education and the Rural Ministry Unit. The Field Days seek to support rural faith communities and congregations as they grow in capacity.

Details on noticeboards; check out the website or speak with Graeme.

This will be an opportunity to engage in conversation and to network and collaborate

with people in the community concerned about the issues regarding asylum seekers

and refugees in Australia.

Cost: $5pp RSVP Denise 0449 252 093

or email : mudgee@mudgeerylstoneuniting.org.au

Share breakfast at

Mudgee Uniting Church

Saturday 22 August,

8am

REGULAR ACTIVITES

DURING THE TERM

WEDNESDAYS:

Weekly in school term: POP-IN PLAYGROUP is held at Rylstone Uniting Church Hall from 10am-12noon. For children, mums, dads, grandparents, carers! Gold coin donation! Refreshments available! For more information, call: Chris Hunt 6379.0730 white.rock@bigpond.com Weekly: ‘NITTER NATTER’ is held at Mudgee Uniting Church hall from 2-4pm. Join the fun, chatter, make new friends, enjoy lovely

afternoon teas ~ all in a productive way! If you don’t know how to knit, the ladies will teach you.

For more information, call: Sharon Impson 0439 414 955 Vera Langshaw 6372.7429 Twice a term: MESSY CHURCH is held at St James Anglican, Rylstone from 5-7pm.

It’s for all ages and all stages of life; includes a meal; heaps of activities and lots of fun. A gold coin donation helps to cover costs. Dates for term 3: 19 August ~~ 16 September

For more information, call: Leigh Gardiner 0430 488 258 wollemianglican@bigpond.com

FRIDAYS:

Twice a term: MESSY CHURCH is held at Mudgee Uniting Church from 5-7pm. For everyone; includes a meal; games & activities; conversations together and a chance to make new friends.

A gold coin donation helps to cover costs. Dates for term 3: 14 August ~~ 11 September

For more information, call: Denise Wood 0449 252 093 dwood@csu.edu.au

SATURDAYS:

4th Saturday of the month: THE SHARING SHED is held at Rylstone Uniting Church from 5.3-7.30pm.

A great meal, stimulating conversations, lots of laughter and interaction with friends. A chance to talk about issues and concerns which affect us all. Donation $10 ~ but please book in, it’s a popular night! Dates for term 3: 22 August ~~ 26 September ~~ 24 October For more information, call: Graeme Gardiner 6373.6371 revgardiner@netscape.net

SUNDAYS:

1st Sunday of the month: CROSSROADS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP is held at Mudgee Uniting Church from 6-8pm.

This group supports people with disabilities, their families, friends and carers with food, fun & fellowship. For more information, call: Judy Blackman 6372.2187

Once a term: TAIZE gathers at Mudgee Uniting Church from 6-7pm.

This is an ecumenical gathering which shares a light meal, prayer, singing and reflection as we focus on

God, others and ourselves. All are welcome. Date for this term: 30 August

Led by folk from St John’s Anglican, Mudgee Theme: ‘Vigil for Asylum Seekers - prayers for a change of heart’

For more information, call: Angela Middleton 6372.0713 Lynne Waller 6372.9919

Twice a year: CLUSTER WORSHIP gathers at Mudgee Uniting or Rylstone Uniting from 10.30am-2pm.

This gathering gives opportunity for the whole Cluster to worship together ~ share food together and

~ learn together, all in a relaxed atmosphere. Our gathering this semester: 13 September at Rylstone Uniting. Theme: ‘Spring Fling’ with Guest Preacher: Rev Betty Stroud followed by a short workshop on ‘Aspects of Pastoral Care’.

(Remember: Our offerings, as for our last Cluster Worship, will support the work of ‘Church in the Schoolyard’ at North Forbes – see The Grapevine Term 2 for more info.)

Val Webb says of her new book: "There has never been one truth, despite what people claim. Theological ideas have waxed and waned through history, taking conflicting turns with changing leaders, worldviews and political forces. This fast-paced, lay-friendly book, backed by serious, inquisitive scholarship, follows this maze, shining a spotlight into dark corners and dusty shelves to observe ideas silenced and others declared eternal. As many people walk away from churches unwilling to face the big questions, this book offers readers permission to think for themselves".

Endorsements of Val's new book:

Val Webb has done it again – bringing God-talk out of both the Academy and the Church; and into the everyday ... This is a book of liberation in that it allows each one of us to 'do our own theology' - to express what we mean by 'God' and not leave it to the ecclesiastical or scholastic authorities to make up our minds for us ... This is a brave and challenging book that puts God back in the midst of people – where God belongs!

The late Rev Dr Nigel Leaves, Canon St John's Cathedral, Brisbane, Australia

Val Webb invites us into a broad yet comprehensive sweep of much that has influenced the theological landscape for today’s 21st Century Christian. In doing so Webb both encourages and provokes our thinking about who we are and what we believe. Above all, the book is a call to the lay people of the church to accept responsibility for their own theological explorations and to no longer be shrinking violets in the important matters of informed faith.

Rev Dr Jennifer Byrnes, Executive Director of the Centre for Theology and Ministry, Uniting Church in Australia Synod of Victoria-Tasmania

"Testing Tradition and Liberating Theology is a little Aussie gem from our own pre-eminent lay theologian Dr Val Webb. It makes theology accessible for the average reader, using clear language and everyday images that open up the mysteries of religious belief ... Reading this book is to be empowered by a credible lay theologian ... The book submits that there are many ways to think theologically, and Webb leaves the reader to make their own decision".

Bruce Mullan, Acting Director, Uniting Communications, Uniting Church in Australia Queensland Synod

"Testing Traditions and Liberating Theology may well be the best volume to come from Val Webb's prolific key pad - and that is quite a rap! Her primary audience is the inquiring lay person ... Much of the book is an historical survey of the development of (Christian) theological ideas. As such, it will be a great eye opener to many, and an enlightening refresher to others".

Rev Dr Noel Preston, retired Uniting Church Minister and an Ethicist formerly Associate Professor at Queensland University of Technology and Griffith University

COMMUNITY BOOK STUDY ‘Testing Tradition and Liberating

Theology: Finding your own voice’

by Val Webb

(Morning Star Publishing 2015)

Australian theologian Dr Val Webb holds a graduate degree in Science and a PhD in Theology. She has taught religious studies in universities in the United States and Australia and has written 11 books, including ‘Like Catching Water in a Net: human attempts to describe the Divine’, which won the religion category of the 2007 Best Books USA Awards. She now lives in Mudgee, New South Wales and is a member of the Uniting Church.

Course Details Duration of book study: 5 weeks Day & Time: Each Thursday evening from 7-9pm Dates: 27 August to 24 September 2015 Place: Mudgee Uniting Church Hall To register: Lynne Waller 6372.9919 ~ 0402 948 514

or email rolymud@mail.com Books available from: Val Webb valmaurice@aol.com or Lynne Waller rolymud@mail.com Cost: Books will be available at cost - $30 each (bookshop price $39.95)

Pick up your book as soon as possible so you can read ahead.

A copy of the book is essential as participants need to read chapters ahead

of each session. Since the book is about understanding the various theological

debates of history and how doctrines were established and then challenged,

people of all denominations or none are welcome and no particular faith

commitment is required to be in the discussion!

COMMUNITY BOOK STUDY Contd...

Louis Theodore Merkel signed up in World War I as Stan Davis, as he thought the powers that be would have him interred for being German. He was born in Australia and was a ‘dinky die Aussie’. When Dad went for a medical (he had a bad eye) with card over one eye with left hand, then the other eye, he changed hands but put the card over the same eye. He passed. Stan fought in France for most of the war. When he came home he was allocated a Soldier’s Settlers Block out in the Riverina of 960 acres. Lou cleared some of the land, built a slab hut and erected a boundary fence before buying any stock.

floors right through. Lou called his property ‘Koringa’ which means ‘house on the hill’. Only a small rise but a hill anyway. Lou & Elsie were married at Lakemba Methodist Church as her parents lived in Lakemba. Vera Margaret was born on 24 March 1931 at Lockhart Hospital and Elsie Myra was born on 27 July 1934 at Urana Hospital. One year we had some extremely heavy rain and Phil built a levy bank on the edge of his property next to our boundary fence. The water banked up on our land and it was flooded. It couldn’t get away. Dad asked nicely, then he had to take it to court which he won and Phil had to cut his levy bank and allow the water to run across his property and away. It must have been a serious row as I had nightmares dreaming of Uncle Phil chasing me with a raised butcher’s knife. Luckily he never caught me. That dream lasted a long time. Everything was great for a few years until Elsie became very ill and was taken to hospital. She was transferred to Sydney Hospital with a brain tumor where she died in 1936. Lou (Dad was then left with 2 small girls. Aunty Maude in Junee took Myra and cared for her for a few years. Grant (Lou’s Mum) came to help for a while, then May Eastick (who was very strict and made Vera take her shoes off at the back door before entering, then Muriel Lord (cousin) came to keep house. Muriel liked staying at Uncle Lou’s home so she could see her boyfriend Bill Meriton. Bill wasn’t welcome at Muriel’s parents’ home. Phil didn’t like him. When Vera turned 6, she was sent to Aunty Maude’s home to start school in Junee. I hated Junee (the smell of privett). Aunty Maude had 2 teenage sons (16 & 18) who loved nothing more than to torment me. One day they caught me and put a huntsman spider down my bare back in my dress. I screamed blue murder. When I turned 8, Dad said I could come home and ride the horse (Old Bob) to school 5 ½ miles ‘Tarilla’. In the meantime, Dad had married Marge (Mum’s older sister). I called her Mum but she wasn’t like ‘my Mum’. When Myra started school, Dad said he couldn’t afford to run 2 horses, so we would have to ride bikes. Myra was given a little old fixed pedal bike and I had a brand new (second-hand) Malvern Star which was great. She did 1st Class with Mr Croaker and 2nd Class with Miss Cane.

Vera Langshaw from Mudgee shares her story with us...

There were many returned soldiers allocated blocks around the area, next block being Phil & Dora Lord, Lou’s sister, which will be later. Lou’s brother Martin & Ruby had a block at Bidgeemia which across country was about 8 miles walk through scrub country. Ruby had a cousin, Elsie, who came to visit and on meeting Lou, had to come back for a second visit. They fell in love and were married in Lakemba in 1930. By this time, Lou had built his house of 2 bedrooms, country kitchen and lounge room with verandah on 3 sides, one side turning into back verandah entrance, frig room, store room and bathroom with beautiful oregon timber

j

We had nice teachers – Mr Harvey in 3rd Class who signed up and went off to war. Then Mrs Croaker in 4th Class for about a year, then she signed up and was killed in action. Then Miss M Cane who taught us for a while in 5th Class. The school then closed because the Catholic Convent opened in Urana and all the Catholic pupils were told to attend. Myra and I went on to Correspondence School. I did 6th Class and 7th Class by Correspondence. I always had excuses to be outside doing something, so Mum said I would have to board in Urana for school. When I went to Urana I repeated Year 7 because the headmaster was not prepared to have only one pupil in one class alone. There were 7 in Year 7. I used to be driven to town and Monday morning and picked up after school on Friday. One Sunday morning Dad said h e had to plant a crop to finish the job. Dad didn’t like doing cropping on Sundays. He said, “it will only take an hour or so and it will be finished”. Cousin Wally was driving the tractor and Dad was on the combine making sure the seed and super were flowing through. They were about half finished when Wally started yelling for help. Dad had missed his footing and slipped down in the back of the combine and farrow behind. Mum went running down to the accident but Dad was dead by the time she got there – 31 March 1946. The funeral was Tuesday 2 April 1946. The next year we had a clearing sale and moved to Sydney. I was heart-broken after losing my Dad and then the farm. I hated moving to Sydney. I got a job working in Lakemba in a dressmaking shop doing finishing, sewing on buttons and doing deliveries into the city. Then I worked at Allens Sweets in the office doing the banking for the commercial travellers for 3 years. When I turned 19, I went nursing to Sydney Hospital for 4 years training. When we moved to Sydney we all attended the Methodist Church and I met Bill Langshaw amongst others. There was a strong youth group which often went out on Saturday nights to Scottish dances. Bill didn’t go as he didn’t dance, but I loved those dances. I was waiting patiently for Bill to ask me out, but when he did, it was to live theatre in the city which must have cost him a fortune. We went by car (car parking in the city was not cheap). He bought me chocolates. Many years later I told him that all I wanted was a milkshake at the local or go to the pictures in Lakemba. We kept company for 3 years. Bill was transferred from the Child Welfare Department at Bankstown to an office in Cessnock. When we intended to marry, Bill and I had picked out an old house out of Cessnock which was available for rent. I finished my training and on 5 March 1955 we were married, heading for Adelaide on our honeymoon. Two days before we were due back home, Bill received a message to report o head office where he was told he had to open a new office in Cooma. I HATE COLD WEATHER!!! We had nothing arranged so had to do cheap hotel accommodation for 3 months. Then we were given a new house – no floor coverings, no window coverings – just the bare house. I had to get sewing and make curtains. We layed feltex on the floor, which was fairly common in those days. Bill started a garden out the back and a beautiful flower garden in the front. Bill had green thumbs. Everything he planted, grew. Bill was away from home from Monday morning to Thursday evening travelling around his district which was down to the Victorian border and all the Snowy Mountains. Friday was spent in the office and quite

Vera’s story page 2...

often work came home. Our daughter Margaret was born a year later. We spent 3 winters in Cooma. Then Bill was told to open an office in the ACT which was a new set of rules completely. Canberra was totally different to living in Cooma. In Cooma you could wear big, hoofy boots, beanies, scarf and coat etc, but in Canberra, you had to dress like a lady. We had a house to go to in Canberra which was great. Our son Ross was born in Canberra on 10 June 1960. After 3 winters in Canberra, Bill was called back to head office to take the position of Deputy Director. We bought a house in Padstow (which in those days was an outer suburb). After being there for only a few months, Bill had a most beautiful garden. In 1966 I had a baby boy, Bruce who only lived 10 days in hospital after being full term. He was a spina bifida baby. There was a lovely lady at Padstow Heights School Mother’s Club who had won 1st prize at The Royal Easter Show with a baby layette. She gave it to me for Bruce before he was born. Needless to say, he never wore it and I gave it back to her with many thanks. When in Sydney I volunteered at UNICEF a day each week in the office and more often coming up to Christmas in busy times. Bill was a member of UNICEF NSW and UNICEF Australia being nominated to go to a conference in Mexico City as Australian representative. Of course he had to take his wife. Bill had a first class ticket, so he couldn’t have me in economy. It is the only time I have ever travelled first class. It was fantastic. We had 3 weeks in Mexico City treated as VIP’s with a police escort everywhere we went. The trains were way ahead of anything in Australia. They had white marble floors and walls on the platforms with cleaners mopping the dirt away and the trains came in so well that a person in a wheelchair could board the train by themselves, no steps, no nothing. The carriage was flush with the platforms. That was in the 60’s. While there we visited schools and play centres. Everything as so clean and polished beautifully. We attended a concert in the Mexican Theatre which was also built of white marble. We also went to a bull fight and markets (floating in their boats where they come to shore to sell whatever). Everything was so colourful. Mexico City was a place of extremes – the poor begging in the streets and the rich in big mansions. We had a holiday in New Zealand for 2 weeks. The North was so beautiful and clean and the South was very busy with holiday activities happening. A 10 day visit to Tasmania was lovely too. We went by ferry to Hobart with our car and then drove around enjoying all the scenery and historic history. We have always had fantastic neighbours wherever we have lived. Bill started up a youth club in Cooma, Yarralumla and Padstow, then later Crossroads together with Judy Blackman in Mudgee. We are still going strong. At our property ‘Hillview’ at Wollar, we started off with sheep, a few cattle, then we had some pigs. The pigs were good money when they were delivered to Mudgee for sale. We attended Mudgee Church from when we arrived in the area. We had 30 years at Hillview, then the mines bought us out along with everyone else around us. Bill had a stroke, was transferred to Dubbo Hospital the next day. He had a second massive bleed. My daughter Margaret and I saw the specialists and asked if Bill could be brought back to Mudgee where he lived. Bill was brought back and died that night in Mudgee Hospital with family present. Graeme Gardiner was also present and said a prayer. Bill died on 22 June 2012 aged 84 years. As our Church had commenced major renovations, Bill had to have his service from Mudgee Presbyterian Church.

And a bit more from Vera...

Thank you to Vera for sharing her story.

Victorious Ministries Through Christ (VMTC): I just want to share a couple of things

from the Prayer Ministry School which Will and I attended at the end of May at the Ridgecrest Campsite. 57 people attended and it was a great time of fellowship and learning. Prayer ministries are entirely confidential. With your ministry team of a trained man and woman and often an intercessor, your team hear your story and use insights from the Holy Spirit (words of wisdom, words of knowledge and prophecy – see 1 Corinthians 12) to deal with anything in your life that God wants to heal and to remove anything that interferes with your relationship with God. Keeping confidentiality means that I can’t tell you about the emotional and physical healing miracles that I see in other people’s ministries. I can say though that a gentleman in a walking frame who arrived quite stooped, began to stand much straighter and had a grin on his face and light-filled appearance that showed the impact his time with God had on him. Also over several years I have seen many people who have experienced rape or childhood sexual abuse forgive their abusers and receive so much healing that joy and not depression become part of their character, and they do share their stories later. I can tell you about one miracle that was delightful at this school. There is often a prayer vigil happening where everyone who is not in a ministry gathers and prays for the people and prayer teams in ministries at the time. In one, as we prayed, a fragrance of pretty but unidentifiable nature just began. When it grew stronger we began to comment. The fragrance spread through the meeting room so that even a lady with limited movement who was further away could smell it. I was leading the vigil and reminded people at the end that everything in the vigil was confidential. Disappointed, people asked if that included the fragrance that God had filled the room with. I gave permission to share this experience because it did not affect the privacy of people receiving ministry but had been God’s gift to the vigil. Afterwards I rushed off to tell our director, who’s in charge in our school, in case I’d made a mistake. Ray commented that he had also smelt the fragrance when he’d just walked through the hall and he thought God was ok with that! Please chat to Will or me if you want to ask anything about this ~ Karen Paine, Mudgee Congregation.

Emmaus Walks: This is a reminder that if you would like to take part

in an Emmaus Walk to draw close to God, these are taking place at Ridgecrest,

near Wellington: For men: 10-13 September For women: 17-20 September

For more information, speak with Karen & Will Paine or Graeme Gardiner.

Bible Study Group in Mudgee: The date has been set and we are beginning on Wednesday 29 July, 5.30pm at the church. Our study will be ‘Jesus of Nazareth: God’s man, or God as man?’ from the ‘Know Your Bible’ (KYB) series. The books, which set out daily readings with a few questions to consider are $7.50. We can get large print books or hire tapes if that is useful. Please phone Will & Karen Paine 6372.3653 to let us know you’re coming and to enable books to be ordered.

“It’s like a grain of mustard seed thrown upon the ground.

It is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown and grows up,

it becomes the greatest of all shrubs and puts forth large branches,

so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

We are a small congregation at Rylstone and it has been a concern to me, until I

reflected on the above reading and understood that our congregation is like packets of

mustard seeds.

We scatter around 3 Special Religious Education people who teach 57 children

each week. I wonder what seeds are being sown there on what is mainly

uncultivated ground?

Then there is Messy Church ~ 5 sowers attend on what is more promising

ground that hopefully will produce big, beautiful shrubs.

The Sharing Shed is another mustard seed. The ground is good, the sower great

~ there is hope of a good harvest.

Finally, Pop-In-Playgroup, again uncultivated soil. What branches will grow from

this mustard seed? The Playgroup is about so much more than just children and

playing. It’s also about the parents and carers who confide in us. If we can help,

we do, and we hold them in our prayers.

Some mustard seed packets work harder than others, but they are grateful for support

and the prayers of the rest.

So despite its small size, this congregation is spreading its branches around and praying

that the birds will come home to nest. Of course, all this is not by our hands alone ~

and so we pray these words:

Give us a faithful heart O God,

likeness to thee

that each departing day

henceforth may see

some work of love begun,

some deed of kindness done,

some wanderer sought and won,

something for thee.

Amen

Reflections from Chris Hunt in Rylstone

‘Nitter Natter’ continues to meet on Wednesday afternoons at Mudgee

Church from 2-4pm. A small band of dedicated knitters, natter away as

they continue to produce warm articles of clothing and blankets for

‘Mission Without Borders’.

Clothing, blankets and

materials are shipped

overseas by Mission Without

Borders, to be distributed

amongst the needy people of

Central Europe. Without the

generous donations that we

and many other knitting

groups are able to produce,

many people would freeze to death as they do not have the means or

skills to create their own garments. Volunteers on the ground in these

countries are now teaching the people how to knit and sew for

themselves.

‘Mudgee Nitter Natter’ feel very privileged to be able to help out in our

own small way. A few weeks ago, Dave & I took several bags of goods to

Mission Without Borders at Auburn where they were received with open

arms.

~ Thank you to Sharon Impson for this update on ‘Nitter Natter’ ~

On Friday 12 June, 19 Community Visitors and guests got together to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Community Visitors Scheme (CVS). We had a lovely lunch at Mudgee Brewery, followed by a special cake

to mark the occasion.

As one of our two longest serving volunteers, Vera Langshaw was asked to cut the cake. Vera has been a continuous community visitor since 1995, along with Wilma Roest, who unfortunately was unable to attend.

We are looking forward to continuing our friendship with the aged care residents of Mudgee, Gulgong

and Kandos during the next 12 months.

Like to become a volunteer community visitor? Talk with Sharon & Dave Impson 6373.8638 to find out how!

Well our 3 month adventure was over and it was time to come home. I still had a couple of weeks long service up my sleeve but had promised the church I would be back in time for Easter services. As we flew out of Phnom Penh I was overcome with a feeling of sadness, which considering I was on the way home, caught me by surprise. Even as I write this I can feel the tears welling up! Once home I plunged into Easter celebrations at church but once they were over I mentioned to Kim that I wanted to go back to Phnom Penh to which the reply was “we can go again next year”.

That was not good enough for me and I decided to use the remaining 2 weeks of my long service and return on my own to see if I could understand what was me calling back so strongly. Once again I found myself in Phnom Penh, on my own this time. When I left after 2 weeks I was again overwhelmed with sadness as the plane lifted off the runway. What was going on, was I going mad? It sure felt like it. When I got home I went and had afternoon tea with my friend and colleague Rev Dorothy McRae-McMahon. We talked and I blurted out how I felt and tried to explain the turmoil going on inside me. She looked at me with a gentle smile and said “Greg, do you think God may be calling you to work with the Cambodian people?” Suddenly it made sense and I recalled the same turmoil some 20 years earlier as I struggled with God’s call to ministry. I had my answer but now the question was “what next?”

A couple of weeks later I received a brochure from Australian Volunteers International and decided to have a quick look on their website. There in vacancies was an advertisement for a position with The Salvation Centre Cambodia in Phnom Penh as a program advisor working with people with hiv/aids and orphan and vulnerable children. At the end of the ad it said “Christians strongly encouraged to apply”. When I researched

the organisation I found that it was actually a Buddhist organisation run by a group of young Buddhist monks. Anyway as I had many years expertise with hiv/aids issues I applied and after an orientation in Melbourne and a phone interview in broken English with the Cambodian director I was offered the 2 year position to start in 6 weeks.

After a frantic 6 weeks of packing and finding tenants for the apartment, Kim and I finally were on the plane on the way to Phnom Penh. I was excited, terrified and very, very apprehensive. Our arrival at Phnom Penh was spectacular to say the least.

C A M B O D I A An Emotional Roller Coaster Part 2... by Greg Smith, Mudgee

Page 2... C A M B O D I A

There was a monsoonal storm as we landed and when we exited the terminal there was a “flock” of around 30 young monks in there saffron robes waiting to meet us along with the director of The Salvation Centre and all the office staff and a group of kids playing traditional musical instruments. It took me a while to realise this was all for us! Some of the kids came forward with fragrant garlands of flowers for Kim and I and we were soon whisked off through the crazy Phnom Penh traffic to a magnificent Khmer banquet. To say I was overwhelmed would be the understatement of the century. During the following 10 days the monks helped us find a nice apartment and I did some intensive Khmer language classes. Finally the first day at the office came and the first thing I asked was “why when you are a Buddhist organisation did you advertise for a Christian?” Even today the reply from Sokhun, the head monk, makes me smile. He said “Us Buddhists are real good at staying in the pagoda and praying but we wanted a Christian to show us how to get out of the pagodas and actually work with the people.” The Salvation Centre had been started by a couple of young survivors of the Khmer Rouge with the aim of supporting vulnerable children whose parents had died or were dying from aids related illnesses. By the time I left we were supporting more than 5,000 children in communities around the country.

I am sure I have used up all the space Lynne has allotted for this copy of The Grapevine but if people are interested I would love to share some specific stories of my time with the Salvation Centre in future issues.

Blessings, Greg

Thanks Greg for another fascinating story about Cambodia and of course we’d love you to continue sharing stories with us, helping us to understand a little of what the Cambodian people have suffered and their determination to rebuild their families and communities.

The Cudgegong Choir will perform on Sunday 23 August at St John’s Anglican Church, Mudgee @ 2.30pm + afternoon tea. Cost: $20 adults; $15 concession; $5 children

Wollemi Voices will perform on Sunday 27 September at Rylstone Memorial Hall @ 2.30pm. Cost: $10 adults; $7 concession; $5 under 12

You are encouraged to support either or both of these choirs for what will be most enjoyable afternoons.

‘Hope Beyond Cure’ by David MacDonald A new arrival for the Rylstone Church Library is David Macdonald's book ‘Hope Beyond Cure’. David is the Pastor of Crossroads Christian Church in Canberra and also Chaplain to the Brumbies. Four years ago when he was 50, he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. The 2 words tumour and terminal left him feeling lost and hopeless, and this book is not about a cure but a journey to discover hope beyond cure. As he struggles with the treatment and the testing of his faith he examines the evidence and truth of Jesus' life, death, resurrection and of God's gift of faith and hope. This book should be read by everyone, as we are all terminal and it will if you need it, give you the confidence of the Glory to come.

‘You'll get through this ~ hope and help for your turbulent times’ by Max Lucado I quote from the cover: “You'll get through this; it won't be painless; it won’t be quick; but God will use this mess for good. Don't be foolish or naive, but don't despair either. With God's help, you'll get through this”. At a time of family crisis, my good Christian friend Julia gave me this book to read. Using the story of Joseph, spoilt pampered son of Jacob, thrown into a pit by his jealous brothers, sold as a slave; rising to a high position in Potiphar’s household, unjustly imprisoned and finally becoming Pharaoh’s powerful right hand man, in the position to not only forgive his brothers but to help them. To quote again: “But God wove what was meant to be evil into good''. Along the way we learn how we can get out of our own pit, and despite setbacks, with patience, gratitude, forgiveness and faith, we will get through. This might be a 4,000 year old story, but it is just as relevant to life today. Consider the titles of some of the chapters: ‘Alone, but Not All Alone’; ‘Is God Good When Life Isn't’; ‘Family Scandals and Scoundrels’; and my favourite ‘Wait While God Works’. My family crisis continues but I have learnt that if not in this life but the next 'I will get through it'. Thanks Julia!

Thank you to Chris Hunt from the Rylstone Congregation for these book reviews.

‘Rivers of Blood – Religion and the History of Violence’ By Karen Armstrong, Bodley Head, London 2014

I admit to being put off by the title. And yet when I began to read I realised it was deliberate. Throughout history we have created ‘rivers of blood’ and Karen Armstrong wants us to be fully aware of this history. The book is an attempt to answer those who claim that violence in the world is caused by religion and the adherents of various faith traditions. If only we could get rid of religion then war and violence would disappear is the cry. But Karen Armstrong shows that the true reasons for war and violence in our history often had very little to do with religion. Armstrong begins in her usual meticulous and well researched way in pre-agrarian times. Hunter gatherer societies lived closely with the land. Rowan Williams former Archbishop of Canterbury said of the Palaeolithic artists ‘in the art of this

Contd...

period you see humans trying to enter fully into the flow of life … and this is actually a very religious impulse.’. From the first a preoccupation of both religion and art was to cultivate a sense of community. With the advent of agrarian society and then industrial and modern states, there is the formation of armies and systemic violence. There was something worth taking and protecting (land, resources). Formerly the tribe could only survive if there was co-operation. Now there developed an inequality of resources. We were faced for the first time that the way of peace was to have an army. Throughout history prophets and holy people have come up with ‘the way’. From India, to China, the story of Israel, of Christians, of the Buddha, of Mohammad there is a ‘way’ of living that embraces love, community, the care of the poor, the widowed, the orphan, the underclass. And every time in theory the state has embraced the ‘way’ but in reality we still struggle with how we are to live so that we do not tread across the backs of those less well off than we are. Armstrong follows the world strands of history across the millennia to the present day and the current situation in the Middle East. Secularisation has not stopped violence. In many cases it has exacerbated it. Armstrong maintains that religion does not cause violence, though it can be perverted to the political ends of those wanting to make violence. The state and in particular the nation state is responsible throughout history for wars and oppression. It has been said war is caused by our inability to see relationships - our relationship with our economic and historical situation; our relationship with each other. She says that today if we want a viable world we have to take responsibility for the world’s pain and learn to listen to narratives that challenge our western sense of ourselves. All this requires the ‘surrender’, selflessness and compassion that have been an important part of our faith histories. We are our brother’s (and sister’s) keeper. This book is not a light read. I had to keep checking sources and the print is small. Half the book is made up of notes, bibliography and an index. But I have learnt so much about the perplexing and distressing question of why we fight in such a systemic way and where faith fits into that. The book is a passionately argued celebration of those religious ideals and movements that have opposed war and aggression and promoted equality, peace and reconciliation. Highly recommended!

Thank you to Jorie Ryan from the Mudgee Congregation for this book review.

In my corridors of discourse I try to find the words for God.

Words for other times are there, debated semantics on faded manuscripts,

new copy, an index of quotations.

Summon morning with sublime sighs bringing me awake through timber blinds, the first call of birds. Small crumbs of dust

left over from the day before gather as the gift of sight. I know of love

held, let go and laughing, the sensual smell of summer in the air.

The word as storm puts buckets in my house for solemn drips,

and floods the lower paddock for a week. There are names for friends and family,

given, sometimes changed yet faithful to a script of sorts.

But when I try to pray, to name,

to fit the thought with utterance, outlandish knots and tangles writhe

around my labyrinth, always going, always coming back,

the centre glimpsed and lost. Nakedness becomes the only clothing

and silence at my end of the string, the only words.

Thank you to Jorie Ryan from Mudgee for this poem.

We remember folk from the Mudgee

Congregation in our prayers.

Lurline Brown’s husband Mike, and

Joyce Towner, both residents at

Pioneer House, passed away recently.

We give thanks to God for their lives

and the contributions they have made

to their families and the community.

Brigita Murray from the Rylstone

Congregation celebrated a milestone in

her life when she turned 80 in June.

God’s blessings, our love and

congratulations are sent to Brigita

on this very special occasion.

At the Macquarie Darling Presbytery

gathering at Dubbo in May, Lee Paine

was presented with a Certificate for

60 Years of Lay Preaching within the

Methodist and Uniting Churches.

We give thanks to God for Lee’s ministry

over many years in the Mudgee region

and pray that she will continue to know

God’s presence in her life.

September

Charlotte Danson, Don Catchpoole, Ron James,

Laura Johnson, Will Paine, Maurice Webb.

August

Sophie Middleton, Leigh Gardiner, Kerry Dorman,

Beryl Haley, Nancy Mills, Lee Paine, Greg Garlinge, Max Mosher, Hannah Werner.

October

Craig Danson, Margaret Edwards, Rob Waller, Helen Merrett, Don

Murray.

We celebrate with Cheryl & Richard Mayes from the

Rylstone Congregation on their 300km walk

in Spain through some stunning scenery

where they met some incredible people and had a wonderful time!

Thanks are given to Adrian Jordan from the Mudgee Congregation for his woodworking skills in restoring

a table for the Mudgee tea room and building a reading stand for the communion table. Adrian is also restoring the large cedar table from the hall

back to its former glory. Thank you Adrian!

A

News from The Treasurer As Jennice said in the last issue of The Grapevine, she has resigned as the Treasurer of the Cudgegong Cluster and I have taken on this role. There have been a few moments when I have gone “what have I done”, but Jennice’s instruction and her systematic record keeping have made the transition smoother. We are all grateful for the work she has done over the last 2½ years through the busy days of major renovations and property changes. Things will continue much as they have, I will make a few changes so the task suits me and the way I work, but I don’t expect anything major will alter. Just bear with me as I settle in and don’t be afraid to remind me if I’ve missed doing something you asked me to do. It is usually best to ring me in the evening and I check my emails regularly. The Cudgegong Cluster is in a blessed position financially. Many churches would love to have the resources that we have and the management of them over the last few years has reinforced that position. We need to continue to be generous in our giving and steward our resources while looking for ways to use what we have to bring more people in contact with the kingdom of God. The sale of the Gulgong property has been finalised and decisions will be made shortly over how we will use the proceeds across the Cluster to enhance and maintain our other properties. Our 3 residential properties are tenanted; Burgundy Road is showing its age a little and a recent inspection showed that it is in need of repairs to and replacement of the guttering. The recent cleaning of the gutters at the Mudgee Church has stopped the over flow into the upstairs hall that damaged the downstairs ceiling and we can now have that ceiling repaired and are looking at ways to make access for cleaning the gutters easier. One of our Mudgee parking tenants has decided not to continue their use of a parking space and one of our regular hall tenants has ceased their use of our space. We have a number of groups regularly using our space and it is great to be able to provide these groups with a place to meet.

Will Paine ~ 6372.3653 ~ ohthepaines@bigpond.com

Mudgee Lay Ministry Team continues to meet on the 1st & 3rd Friday evenings of each month at 5pm. If you’d like to include any item on the agenda, please speak with Rob Barton or Denise Wood.

Southern Cudgegong Lay Ministry Team will meet on Thursday 20 August and Wednesday 30 September at 9.30am at Rylstone Uniting Church.

Cluster Worship will gather on Sunday 13 September, 10.30am at Rylstone Uniting Church followed by lunch and a pastoral care workshop. (More details under ‘Regular Activities’)

Cudgegong Cluster Committee meets on Saturday 5 September, 9.30am at Mudgee Church.

Aged Care Worship Services are held on Fridays: Mudgee Nursing Home on 9 & 30 October; and services at Pioneer House are on 25 September and 16 October.

NEWS FROM ASSEMBLY & SYNOD OF

THE UNITING CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA

Congregation ~ Presbytery ~ Synod ~ Assembly

(local) (regional) (state) (national) From 12 July 2015, Stuart McMillan will become the President of the Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia. He’s the 3rd lay person to serve as President. The call of the north: In 1982, Stuart, an accountant, and his wife Ros, a behavioural scientist, had taken the big decision to leave their comfortable community in Sydney’s suburban northwest to move to Darwin with their young family. Stuart and Ros had known for some time that they wanted to do something in their lives to make a difference in the world and to live up to their shared Christian faith. Called to work with Australia’s First Peoples: Stuart remembers feeling a deep concern for Australia’s First Peoples from when he was in primary school in the 1960’s. That passion grew and by the early 1980’s Stuart and Ros were active in social justice issues at the former Chester Street Congregational Church in Epping. The lifelong passion would grow, and in 1982, he began working in Arnhem Land. Learned from the best: In the 33 years since, Stuart has had many roles including Moderator of the Northern Synod. His path to the presidency has been uniquely informed by the lives of Australia’s First Peoples, particularly the Aboriginal people of northern Australia and members of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress. Communication is key: Stuart’s education about Aboriginal Australia has been a long journey. Over time, he realised that his inability to communicate with Aboriginal people in their own language was holding him back from deeper relationships. So he began an intensive course of study in the Yolŋu language and Stuart and his wife being adopted into the Gupapuyngu clan of the Yolŋu nation. The relationships that opened up from his language study led to a new level of spiritual connection. Stuart worked for Djiniyini Gondarra for 12 years through the heady days after the High Court’s Mabo decision established native title. Aboriginal and Islander groups all around the country were making their cases. This meant a lot of research for Stuart and trips to Canberra to resource Djiniyini and others as they gave their input on the drafting of the Native Title Act under Prime Minister Paul Keating. Uniting Church remains a constant: While they were drawn ever deeper into Aboriginal Australia, the Uniting Church has remained a constant in the McMillan’s lives. After settling down at Humpty Doo on Darwin’s rural fringe, the McMillans joined with 5 other couples to set up a new congregation, the Humpty Doo Uniting Church, now the Living Water Uniting Church. After 2 ordained ministers in placement, Stuart was recognised as Pastor, presiding over weddings, funerals and “everything a normal ordained minister would”. Stuart and Ros both went on to hold senior leadership roles in the Northern Synod with Ros serving as Moderator from 1996–99 and Stuart finishing an extended 5-year term as Moderator last month.

UCA NEWS cont.. Leadership style: So what kind of leader will Stuart McMillan be for the whole Uniting Church? One who will work for a more inclusive, intercultural church across generations to bring about reconciliation and renewal for the whole creation. A challenged community of Christ: “We are challenged to be a community of Christ, to bring that unity of Christ into play across the many different cultures in God’s church,” says Stuart. “With our Indigenous brothers and sisters, the challenge remains for us to really listen to them and to the Spirit and to find ways to grow our relationship so that it becomes a truly interdependent one”. “I am energised by the way our next generation is embracing our diversity and applying their gifts and talents in leadership right across the Uniting Church”. Whatever other challenges may lie ahead, Stuart McMillan is set to face them with patience, perseverance and a profound spirituality.

AND FROM THE SYNOD OF NSW/ACT

Synod Mission Plan 2015-1017 ‘Moving with God ~ Transforming Communities’ This is the Synod’s Mission Plan, approved in 2014. The Synod Mission Plan is

a resource developed with the intention to shape the work of the Synod through its Boards, Committees, Presbyteries, Congregations and Agencies, including its budgets and plans, until the next Synod meeting in 2017. These booklets have been distributed to our congregations – or you can visits the Synod website:

http://nswact.uca.org.au/about-us/synod-mission-plan/

Please feel free to pick up a copy, have a read and pass it on.

Also received from Synod during last week was a booklet on ‘Property for a Pilgrim People’ updating congregations and presbyteries on the ‘Mission & Property Proceeds of Sale Policy’ within the Uniting Church NSW/ACT Synod. We are reminded in Rev Niall Reid’s words at the beginning of this booklet that: “selling property, developing property, preserving property, building places of worship, is only of any value if it serves the mission of God.” You are encouraged to pick up a copy at either Mudgee or Rylstone Churches, have a read and give feedback, either directly or through your Lay Ministry Team and/or Graeme Gardiner.

Cudgegong Cluster Worship Plan ~ August, September, October

Mudgee Uniting Church: Rylstone Uniting Church: Worship: Every Sunday @ 9.30am Worship: Every Sunday @ 9.30am

Holy Communion: 1st & 3rd Sunday of each month All Age Worship: 1st Sunday of each month

Morning Tea: Every Sunday Holy Communion: 2nd Sunday of each month

Morning tea: Every Sunday

Running Stream Union Church: 2.30pm 3rd Sunday of each month ~ Holy Communion bi-monthly

Date Place Leaders & Assistants Music Stewards Morning Tea August 2 Mudgee (HC) * Graeme (Lynne) (Peter, Lee, Jorie) Ruth Vera/Rob Angela & Flynn

August 9 Mudgee * Graeme (Denise) (Ben, Will, Rob B) Denise Michele/Adrian Lynne & Rob W

August 16 Mudgee (HC) Graeme (Karen, Rob W, Melanie) Denise Rob/Brian Vera & Michele

August 23 Mudgee * Graeme/Angela (Tiana, Jorie, Sophie Denise Vera/Adrian Karen & Bill

August 30 Mudgee Will (Brian, Vera, Lee) Graeme Michele/Brian Sophie, Sarah, Tiana

September 6 Mudgee (HC) Peter (Rob B, Lynne, Brian) Ruth Brian/Rob Jorie & Denise

September 13 Cluster Service @ Rylstone, 10.30am Rev Betty Stroud

September 20 Mudgee (HC) Graeme (Sophie, Sarah, Ben) Denise Michele/Brian Vera & Pam

September 27 Mudgee Jorie (Angela, Karen, Rob B) Denise Adrian/Vera Lynne & Rob W

October 4 Mudgee (HC) Lynne (Will, Rob W, Tiana) Ruth Vera/Adrian Denise & Lee

October 11 Mudgee Angela (Karen, Lynne, Sophie) - Michele/Brian Karen & Bill

October 18 Mudgee (HC) Denise (Brian, Jorie, Peter) Denise Brian/Rob Angela & Ben

October 25 Mudgee Peter (Melanie, Will, Ruth) Denise Vera/Adrian Michele & Rob B

Date Place Leaders August 2 Rylstone * Graeme (Elizabeth)

August 9 Rylstone (HC) * Graeme (Elizabeth and Julia)

August 16 Rylstone

Running Stream (HC) 2.30pm

* Graeme (Merilyn)

Graeme

August 23 Rylstone 9.30am Graeme (joint with Anglicans)

August 30 Rylstone Elizabeth

September 6 Rylstone (HC) Merilyn

September 13 Cluster Service @ Rylstone, 10.30am Rev Betty Stroud

September 20 Rylstone

Running Stream 2.30pm

* Graeme (Elizabeth)

Rod

September 27 Rylstone 9.00am At St James with Anglicans

October 4 Rylstone Graeme

October 11 Rylstone (HC) Robin and Jayne

October 18 Rylstone

Running Stream (HC) 2.30pm

Richard

Denise

October 25 Rylstone 9.30am Merilyn (joint with Anglicans)

* Graeme is present only by the wonders of video technology.

August 2, 9, 16 & 23 will be a series: ‘God & Church for our time and place’

prepared by Graeme and led by others.

Until next time... take care and may God’s peace

be with you.

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‘The Grapevine’!

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computer keyboard and send them for our next

issue of The Grapevine.

Please call or email the contacts for various

events, outings and services to find out more

OR check out the website:

www.mudgeerylstoneuniting.org.au

The Editor, ‘The Grapevine’

C/- PO Box 388, Mudgee 2850

or email: rolymud@mail.com