Another day in the 'ville

Another day catching up on admin bits and pieces. Nothing too exciting, but important stuff none the less!

Have sent all the letters regarding Red Shield. We are collecting in Healesville, Yarra Junction, and hopefully at two other well known attractions in town - just waiting for them to get back to me! Just need to fill all the collecting spots now!

This evening I invited Aunty Dot Peters over for tea. Aunty Dot is one of the Aboriginal elders that lives in town. She has asked us to host a reconcilliation services in May, which we will be doing. Am working on some other initiatives for this time - will see how we go and keep the blog posted!

Room with no Pew

Today we dedicated out new chairs - no more pews! Not too sure what the reaction was to the new chairs. No one complained...but its probably not going to happen right away.

I like this cartoon! I could go with chaise lounges! That way if the sermon is boring I can go to sleep...oh, hang on, I mean the congregation can go to sleep.

So...we have 8 pews to get rid of! If anyone wants some let me know. We are looking at selling them for $100 each - only because we need to recoup some of the cost of the chairs! Let me know if you want to make us an offer!!

ANZAC Day in Healesville

Today I participated in the Healesvile RSL ANZAC Day service - another first experience for me! I was invited to say the Lord's Prayer, and then lead the hymn "Onward Christian Soldiers".

There were over 600 people in attendance. The Healesville Salvos marched down the main street, to the cheers of onlookers. We laid a wreath - to cheers of the crowd. Actually, we got two applauds. I found this quite interesting. Not too sure why, whether its because we are well loved in town, or because of our efforts during war time, or just 'cause!

It is so good to be part of a local community like Healesville. I went to pay for our wreath at the nursery on Wednesday, and made a comment about bulbs still being available for the hall garden. The nursery man said he had something that might help us out...and I walked out of the nursery with 30 punnets of seedlings - free! I spent several hours planting them out in our garden (recently cleaned up at our working bee!). I have a blister on my hand to prove my hours of toiling! If they all survive, we will have a bit of a cottage garden, but hey - it was free!

Fingers in ears and spit in mouths

Today was my second week of Christian Education (CE) with the grade 6 classes at Healesville Primary School.

We looked at the story of Jesus healing a deaf/mute man, as recorded in Mark 7.

Today was hard going for some reason. I perhaps thought that this story would have connected better with grade 6 boys! It was school photos today, so the kids were a bit distracted.

It's school sports next week, so there's no CE class. It's a week off for me! I think next week I will introduce Splash - and some of the online features the kids can look up - need to find a way to connect with them.

Needs are growing

Tonight there were a record number of people attending Dinner at Darrons, Healesvilles weekly community dinner. (The record set was 78 for the stats people out there).

The numbers have been growing the past few weeks, and we can't explain why. There have been more families of late, with lots of kids. This creates an issue of "what do we do with the kids?". It's been interesting listening to the committee talk about "the kids should sit and eat their meal at the table". Is this imposing values upon people? Is it necessary?

I personally don't think so, but would be interested in anyone else's thoughts.

The Salvos helped kick-start this meal, with a grant to the tune of $4000. There is a new publication being released by the Shire of Yarra Ranges on Thursday, which includes the story of the meal. The publication is called "Communities Unite". Grab a copy if you can!

From little things big things grow

First Fresh Friday Munch a Success!

This week has been fantastic in Healesville!!!

Yesterday (Friday) we launched "Fresh Friday Munch", a new monthly community lunch. I wasn't expecting huge numbers initially, but in the end we had 35 people in attendance!! Virginia had done some great work spreading the news with other agencies, and was a bit like the pied piper! We ate some yummy rissoles, with fresh bread rolls and fruit - all from local businesses in town. We set up the table tennis and pool tables, which were used by several people. Down the track we might show movies in the afternoon. The area outside the back of the hall was used, which was perfect! The weather was great too.

I can't upload any pictures because we don't have permission from those in attendance - sorry :( You will just have to come along next month to see for yourself!

Tomorrow we "launch" the mission intentions - and we've created 4 very large banners - 1 for each intention - which now brighten up the main hall. We will be looking at Jesus' parable of new wine in old wineskins:

No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved. Matt 9:16-18

Should be fun! All are welcome - especially if you live in Healesville!