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!