Community

Been doing some thinking surrounding community...spurred on by the installation of a new fence at my house.

It's great being able to walk down the street and people say hello to you. Just this morning I walked down Nicholson St (aka Maroondah Hwy), and people stopped to say hello.

But then, as I retreat to my house, community 'stops'. As a new fence gets installed, its higher than the previous fence. Now, I've got no problem with that, but it just made me think about how we separate ourselves from our neighbours. I remember living in Brisbane with a very low cyclone mesh fence...yet now I live in a house surrounded by very high wooden fences. Any chance of saying hi to the neighbours and having the 'over the fence' chat gets reduced as we block each other out of our yards and lives. I don't even know one of my neighbours...which is not a good thing and I'm not proud of that. But I guess we live separate lives, and our paths don't seem to cross. But it's sad.

Is it any wonder that people are feeling more isolated, and community breaks down?

Just a thought!

Newswrap...

Didn't get to our coffee morning at Beechworth Bakery this week, so here's a delayed weekly newswrap from Healesville's local papers...

• The Shire of Yarra Ranges has the worst death rate from smoking in the eastern metro region. (Leader, 22 Sept, page 9)
• A Yarra Ranges Enterprise Centre is being established in Healesville, which will accommodate five tenants - two for developing business with subsidised support and three tenants with established businesses. A great support for businesses with new ideas, especially from youth, the indigenous community and women. (Leader, 22 Sept, page 17)
• Lots of letters to the editor about the North-South (Sugarloaf) Pipeline - it continues to be a hot issue in the area.
• The new Badger Creek CFA station was officially opened last week.

One amazing week

This has been an amazing week. We ran a school holiday program for 39 kids from Healesville. Our leaders came from Ringwood Salvos. Here's a pic of them - it was taken at night so the flash didn't quite work well enough.



Thirty-nine children attended the program. The kids enjoyed wild games, ‘the mane event’ (kids church), watering hole snacks, critter crafts and jungle faces. Each child who attended was given a New Testament, Kidzone, and a special gift. Information about other Corps activities was also given to parents, including an invite to October’s ‘Café Church’ at Healesville.

Critter crafts included painting picture frames, handprints on mugs, and 'Green Gary' grassheads.

During the afternoons the young leaders participated in leadership development activities, including personality profiling, team building and spiritual reflection.

The week was a resounding success, with very positive feedback from parents whose children attended the program. Many parents enquired about future programs in the Christmas/New Year school holidays! Nothing planned at this stage...but that's what I said last time too!!

'twas the night before Safari Trek

Been a bit crazy, and the last thing I've wanted to do is sit down in front of the computer to blog...sorry!

Tomorrow we start Safari Trek, our three day school holiday program. The leaders are here, the hall is set up, and I've just got to finalise The Mane Event (aka Kids Church) for the morning.

Will let you know how it goes!

This weeks news

A few days late...but there's lots going on.

Here's a snapshot of news from the local Healesville media:

• The Sugarloaf Pipeline continues to be a hot issue - its been approved by the government...and people aren't happy!
• Somehow Healesville has managed to cop the brunt of the shire's two parking officers...I guess the moral is park in the all day carpark people!
• The Salvos discourage dumping...the article is close to what I said! ;) It's spring...so now's a great time to clean out your cupboards and donate to the Salvos! However, as the signs clearly say, please don't leave furniture or electrical items. Perhaps we should start literacy classes...
• We're running a school holiday program...I knew I was doing something next week!
• The Major of the Shire is holding a sleep-out instead of a Ball, to raise money for agencies in the Shire - what a great idea!
• I missed the working bee at the high school. I would have gone. There's a letter in the opinion page thanking the volunteers who did go.

Today we started installing the wiring for the updated sound system - very exciting!!! Community lunch again tomorrow. Have ordered chicken wings to go with the burgers. Hopefully all will go well weather wise.

The abortion debate

From The Salvation Army's media page.

The Salvation Army, as part of the overall Christian Church in Australia, strongly opposes the Abortion Law Reform Bill 2008 legislation which was tabled in the Victorian Parliament on 19 August and is due to be debated from 9 September, 2008.

While recognising the serious ethical and moral concerns that this issue prompts within those on both sides of the debate, The Salvation Army believes that, by far, the greater good is served within the community by protecting the rights of the unborn child.

In particular, we are very concerned that, under the proposed legislation, abortions will be able to be performed up to 24 weeks gestation without any reference to expert medical or psychological advice or counsel.

The Salvation Army believes in the sanctity of all human life from the moment of fertilisation. It considers each person to be of infinite value, and each life a gift from God to be cherished, nurtured and preserved.

We support efforts to protect and promote the welfare of the weak and defenceless person, including the unborn. We take seriously the rights and needs of both the foetus and the mother.
It is The Salvation Army’s experience that, where unwanted pregnancies occur, in most instances it is best to counsel acceptance of the situation by all involved, for the foetus to be carried to term, and for all possible supportive help to be given. It is not appropriate to argue that no child should be “born unwanted”, as some are proposing in the current debate.
We also recognise that in claiming a right to participate in the abortion debate, this claim must be supported by continuing to address, in practical ways, the personal and social impact of unwanted pregnancies, unwanted children and a fractured society. As such, we need to provide compassionate, informed and professional care and provision to those women and their families who choose to continue with a pregnancy (even if unwanted). Appropriate pastoral and practical support must be available.

Further, for those women who have had an abortion, either recently or in the more distant past, and now need care and counsel to deal with loss, grief, anger, guilt and regret, we need to provide every available assistance and support.

The Salvation Army continues to accept its responsibility to address those social issues such as family breakdown, poverty and sexual ignorance or irresponsibility that contribute to the high incidence of unwanted pregnancies in Australia.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Major Brad HalseCommunications Director 0417 537 950 or 8878 2406

Consequences of our choices

This morning we hosted the Acheron Region Girl Guides Church Parade. It was great to have 19 guides and their leaders join us for the special service.

To make things a little more interesting, the service was interactive, with a few illustrations based on choices.

One of the favourites was when a Guide leader was covered in flour, as the result of the choices made by two of the guides.

You see, sometimes, we don't always immediately suffer the consequences of our choices. But, as Paul said to the Galatians, you harvest what you sow. If you are mean to your friends, they are going to be mean to you. If you don't do your homework, you will reap the consequences in bad marks, or detentions.

But it's not just in the little things that we reap the consequences. We also have a choice to respond to Jesus – and our harvest will either be a life of destruction, or a real life – eternal life.

Hopefully those who attended this morning will remember the point…and not just that they blew flour over a leader. But if nothing else, at least they will associate going to church and to the Salvos as being a fun, positive experience!

The Guides leader suggested that they might make Healesville Salvos their annual church parade venue. What an honour – I guess it shows that they had a good time. In the least, I know I did – won't be able to play with vacuums and flour every week in church!

New ideas

I love new ideas, new was of thinking, improving the way things are.

I recently installed the latest version of MS Office, so I could use the new features (but also because I was still using 2000, and was getting frustrated with not being able to easily insert web clipart and edit etc.)

I created new letterhead and posters for Healesville Salvos.

I had a great meeting yesterday with a colleague who has given me some tools to help make a new idea happen at the Corps too.

We have tried to connect to the community in a new, or renewed way. From a school holiday program (or two now...have a dozen registrations in a few days all ready!), to a weekly meal, to an upcoming women's breakfast - which really excites me because it wasn't my idea - someone in the Corps saw a need and felt passionate about doing something about it! All I need to do is give them permission and it's off and running. How good is that!

Tomorrow we do something new again too - the regional girl guides are holding their church parade in our service. I get to lead a young person focused service - which I am excited about! So, enough blogging, off to buy some dog food, flour, umbrella, raincoat and a few other needed supplies.

This might be my last blog post if I am sacrificed tomorrow after the service...but it will be worth it!

Tuesday news wrap

Bit of a slow news week this week. Here's some of what's in this weeks local papers:

• The Healesville Blood's football team have won their way into the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League preliminary final.
• A fire at the electrical substation left half of the main street shops without power.
• The Healesville Racecourse market starts again on Sunday 21 Sept. Always on a Sunday...!

That's about it really - very slow news week I think! So much for an exciting Tuesday post idea, even I am bored with the news.

Christian junk versions...

No wise words from me today - just a like to a very amusing post on the Stuff Christians Like blog:

The Christian Version of Guitar Hero

Seriously...why do people make this stuff, secondly, why do Christian bookstores stock it, and thirdly, why do people buy it?

I'll stick to Guitar Hero II & III - you're welcome to come around and dual with my on the Xbox!

Wednesday wrap-up

Wednesday's are the craziest day of my week!

We fed 50 high school students breakfast yesterday - toasted cheese sandwiches and milo. I have help from a couple of year 10 students who do an excellent job - and voluntarily get to school 45 mins early!

Then it's off to mainly music, where I do what Pam tells me...(as if anyone would do that!). At the moment I am operating the PowerPoint and songs - but as soon as I can I am training someone else to do this.

CRE with the Grade 6's at Healesville Primary follows - and it is here that I heard the quote of the year! Now, I know its been around for ages, but I really had to laugh as I walked past one kid who had written the following:

(Transliterated it says "your mamma's so old she sat behind Jesus in the third grade).

Ahh, it made me chuckle...still does. Anyway, that's an insight into my day yesterday. I enjoyed a great tea at friends from Mooroolbark Salvos that night. A delicious roast!

News snapshot

New blog post idea today! Each Tuesday the local newspapers are published. I thought I would give you a few snippets of information from Healesville and the surrounding valley. Gives you an idea of what's going on - and provides a good reference point for myself too!

Doctors:
Front page news this week - the Yarra Valley has a 1:1530 doctor-patient ratio - the 7th worst ratio in Australia - THE WORST IN VICTORIA! If the areas medical classification changes (which might happen apparently), we would stand to lost 6 of the 22 doctors in the area! (LYV Leader, 1 Sept, page 1)

Indigenous Community:
The Shire of Yarra Ranges has the eastern metropolitan area's largest Aboriginal population. (LYV Leader, 1 Sept, page 6)

Fair Trade Coffee:
The Yarra Coffee & Co roaster has Fair Trade Coffee! They are one of two fair trade roasters in the Yarra Valley area. Check out www.yarracoffee.com.au

That's the news this week!

Half birthday's

It's my half birthday today - so I'm using it as an excuse to eat half a piece of cake - just to balance my walk this morning!

Prayer throughout the month

Yesterday we started something new at Healesville (well...new for Healesville but blatently pinched from Mooroolbark!!)

Once a month the congregation members will select a name of another member of the congregation and pray for them during the month. I recommend people stick the name on their fridge - that way they are sure to see it several times a day!

There was a real buzz in the hall as people hugged each other and told them they would pray. It was good seeing some people with fractured relationships re-connect with eachother - all over prayer!

Hopefully this will be an important part of our community in the months to come. If you ever visit Healesville on the last Sunday of the month you will know whats going on now!