in the easter uniter -...
TRANSCRIPT
Uniter MARCH 2018
Communion beyond the walls
Page 4
In the Philippines Page 2
Easter Services Page 2
A MESSAGE FROM OUR MINISTER
Dear friends,
Many of you know that I am currently completing my Master’s dissertation. This process of research, writing, and stress (!) has taught me much about myself as researcher and those I interviewed during January. The dissertation is based on the stories of transition which our seniors tell about their experience of moving into a retirement village. I have listened intently to stories of adjustment and coping as well as grief and loss. One of the key areas of discovery is how important friendships are in this process of change and transition. A “being-in-community” is, I think, our real identity. Our communal life at St. Matthew’s is one of “spaces in our togetherness” – to quote Kahlil Gibran. While referring to marriage specifically, this phrase opens up possibilities for us in community here. We respect each other’s space, individuality, unique journey, and need for solitude, while at the same time embracing our togetherness as a “gathered community” within the Uniting
Church. This togetherness finds expression in many groups within our church. Such groups enable us to get to know each other better and in so doing to open up possibilities for support and friendship. These networks of relationship are especially significant during times of transition. Such moments of transition involve a combination of loss and new beginning. We all face these transitions which at times are quite stressful and difficult. Going it alone is especially tough. How can we come alongside one another at these times and, in the words of the song, “walk the mile and bear the load”?
Blessings for Easter!
Dirk
BILIDAN and BEYOND
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St Matt’s in the Philippines
It's almost like going home now, our annual trip to
the Philippines! The welcoming smiles and hugs,
the familiar sights, smells and tastes, the
acknowledgement of progress as we see changes
being made.
This trip saw our ‘apo’ (grandchild) Jennifer come
with us, to see what she hears so much about.
Of course Bilidan is home base and the children
were, as always, beautiful, smiling and polite. They
explored their boxes then gleefully packed
everything into the library bags they had been
given. We were asked if we would be back.....they
hoped we would. We told them that we would
never forget Bilidan and the playground erupted
into cheers and dancing.
They told us that they pray for our church asking
for it to be richly blessed.
The same happiness and love was repeated at the
nearby Damires school and the Special Ed unit in
New Lucena.
A happy day full of love and laughter.
Next day was a first for all of us - we were being
taken that morning to the local hospital, a
government run institution that cares for the
poorest of the poor. Many of these children and
their families are homeless, many sleeping on the
nearby riverbank.
Our host for the day was a beautiful lady, Eva -
she runs a charity that cares for these children.
The paediatric ward is a locked area behind huge
padlocked metal doors. The 70 beds usually
accommodate 100 or so children, up to three
babies to a bed and children sleeping on benches.
Little ones seemed to be housed in the corridor,
sort of squeezed in wherever they fit. Five, or
maybe more, children suffering from leukaemia sat
together on their beds in an open room and three
newborn babies shared the same bed for their
phototherapy treatment.
Eva, our friend, runs a charity that raises money to
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BILIDAN and BEYOND (continued)
pay for the treatment for these beautiful children. she
also goes with toys (when she has them) for them to
play with in bed. The doctor there told us that the
difference she makes is priceless.
It seemed moderately inadequate as we handed out
the gifts we had brought for them - teddy bears,
colouring books, crayons, and stickers. We chatted
to the mums and dads and tried to tiptoe around
sleeping parents curled up wherever they found a
spot.
Again, as always in this amazing place ....the smiles.
Whilst we were fighting back the tears they were
smiling, thanking us and blessing our church.
As we were leaving to go to Barangay Gustilo, our
next port of call and a whole other story, we heard
Eva talking (quietly) to her helper, Rose. Rose was
off to try and raise the money for 15 month old Mikie,
suffering from leukaemia. They almost had enough
for that day's treatment. In Jennifer's name we paid
for that day. Mikie’s mother had tears and the
workers had smiles. Mikie however needed three
days of treatment - our friend Louise paid day two
and St Matt's paid the cost for day three. He now
had a full week of leukemia treatment for less than
$60!
Eva has promised to let us know how "St. Matt's
Mikie" is doing.
This trip was an eye opener, a heart warmer and a
heart breaker.
Can't wait to go back to our Bilidan.
Jane Cole
COMMUNION BEYOND THE WALLS
Page 4
When you can no longer come to Holy Communion in the
Church building, it is good to know that Communion can
come to you.
Have you noticed recently that, during the Communion Service in the Church, Dirk also welcomes to
the communion table those who are located in places beyond the Church building? As you can see in
the accompanying pictures, the portable communion set that Dirk received when he was ordained
has found its way to people’s homes, over 55s’ villages, and nursing homes. I have been using
extensions of the monthly Communion service so people with mobility restrictions are included in one
of the few rituals of the Uniting Church. It is an activity that brings people together and which
embodies a core value of St. Matthew’s.
Mike Strong
Garage Sale Saturday 21 APRIL,
8am to 11am
Pre-loved goods & electrical,
plants, toys, books, clothes,
sausage sizzle & morning teas.
Page 5
UPCOMING EVENTS
KOINONIA
Page 6
Hello everyone, I am a candidate for Ministry of
the Word. My name is Sunny Lee. I will tell you
about my life and ministry at St. Matthew’s. I give
thanks to God for giving me this precious
opportunity to tell my story.
It has been almost six months since I came to
St. Matthew’s in a field education placement. I can
clearly remember the feeling of the day when I
started to attend services. It was the third Sunday
of June 2017 when the church held a combined
service, and after that, the AGM was held. The
special service and event gave me a good
opportunity to be introduced to the whole
congregation at once. The people were excited on
that Sunday when we gathered together and took
time to look back on the church’s work for the
year. At the same time, I was also impressed to
see that all the people were greeting each other
warmly while preparing their jobs for the
community.
In St. Matthew’s there are three kinds of worship
services on Sundays. Each service is very
different in terms of ages, worship style and mood.
Yet, all the people enjoy belonging to the church.
Each time before and after all the services, people
enjoy talking to each other, smiling at new-comers
and preparing for the worship in their roles as
musicians, liturgists, prayers etc. The whole
picture of every Sunday allows me to hear the
beating of St. Matthew’s heart and also makes me
feel a part of St. Matthew’s.
For me to feel a part of St. Matthew’s is God’s
grace. Before coming to St. Matthew’s I was a little
bit nervous because of my being new to the
congregation. At the same time, I felt excited
about meeting new people. But also I felt
responsible since here was my first field education
placement. I thought I had a particular assignment
about my ministry. That was a kind of
responsibility to me, which made me focus
narrowly on the process of formation. However,
thanks to the warm and friendly heart of the
church community, I could settle down into this
new environment comfortably and easily. I really
appreciated being accepted as a member of the
ministry team.
The more I got involved or visited the various
activities and worship services in St. Matthew’s,
the more I came to see the space of
St. Matthew’s, where there are different activities
occurring at the same time, where different people
are gathering for ‘Koinonia’, which means
relationship in God’s community. A few of these
activities I have been involved in are: the different
Sunday services, Teen Plus, Christian meditation,
playgroups on Thursdays, youth and young adults’
gatherings, and elders’ and Church Council
meetings. They reflected the relationship between
the wider church and the local church. St.
Matthew’s is making room for communities to
gather and practise Christian belief and pastoral
relationships among the people. These places
bring about a space of safety, reconciliation and
pastoral caring. The gathering in particular places
and particular times inspires me about the locality
of the church. The particularity of St. Matthew’s as
a local church and community, even though it is
limited in terms of space and people, represents
the Church, the body of Christ. The relationships
of the body of Christ at St. Matthew’s can make
creative space connected to God’s wider
community.
Each worship service at St. Matthew’s is led by
diverse people. The worship services are
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RELATIONSHIP IN GOD’S COMMUNITY
designed by lay people as well as the ministerial
team. In particular, the roster of liturgists and
musicians enables diverse people to serve God
with their special gifts. As a ministry team member
of St. Matthew’s I was able to experience preparing
worship together and sharing our own different gifts
and inspirational worship services.
I have been privileged to preach sermons and lead
liturgies during many Sunday services. I think these
precious opportunities will continue until the end of
my field education period at St. Matthew’s. It is a
beautiful opportunity for me to practise liturgy and
preaching in front of such a large and diverse
congregation.
I cannot forget the time when I first stood in front of
the congregation. Even though I was very new and
a strange person compared to the other established
liturgists or preachers, I was welcomed. At that
moment, I could feel that the people were really
encouraging me to preach God’s word. I am sure
that the moment of standing to preach for the first
time at St. Matthew’s will support me whenever I
am in the middle of nervousness in my future life
and ministry, because the people really gave me
heartfelt encouragement.
Lastly, I am learning ministry from my educator
through weekly meetings. I am encouraged and
mentored to focus on my strengths and
weaknesses to become ready for ministry. This
experience of learning provides me with a variety of
perspectives for facing diverse issues of our faith
life. Also, I take part in ministry team meetings
which gives me appropriate understanding of the
people and an opportunity to learn to work with
others.
I give thanks to God for giving me a good
opportunity to break through my comfort zones,
which enables me to extend and apply my
theological knowledge and Christian belief in a
practical context, in this beautiful field education
placement at St. Matthew’s.
Sunny Lee
Thinking of
joining a
Play Group?
St. Matthew’s offers a friendly, safe environment for you and your children to meet new friends, and join in activities including craft, toys, library and singing.
We are also able to accommodate
mothers’ groups who would like to join
us or even start a new play group.
St. Matthew’s, Baulkham Hills Uniting Church
Cnr. Edgar & Charles Streets, Baulkham Hills
Play Group Thursday 9.30amPlay Group Thursday 9.30am
Grandparents Play Group Wednesday 9.30amGrandparents Play Group Wednesday 9.30am
Contact the Church Office 9686 3003
St. Matthew’s Lane,
Cnr Edgar and Charles Streets
Baulkham Hills 2153
If you would prefer to receive future Uniter publications via email please contact the
Church Office
THANK YOU to the editor Melissa Gibson Darling
and all who contributed to this edition
of Uniter.
Pe opl e to c ontact
Minister Rev Dirk van Doorene 9686 3003
Children, Youth and Young Daniel Gibb 9686 3003 Adults Ministry Worker
Seniors Pastoral Carer Mike Strong 9686 3003
Candidate for Ministry Sunny Lee 9686 3003
Church Office Ph: 9686 3003
Fax: 9686 2034
(Office Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-3pm Robyn Morrall & Lynn Samuel)
Website: www.stmatthewsuniting.net.au
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: @stmatthewsunitingchurchbaulkhamhills
Post: PO BOX 773 Baulkham Hills 1755
—————————————————————————————
St. Matthew’s Pre-School
– Director Anne Mayberry 96398570
PO Box 321 Baulkham Hills 2153 Email: [email protected]
—————————————————————————————
Uniter Editor : Melissa Gibson Darling 9686 3003
Sunday Worship Times at St. Matthew’s
Traditional Worship Service 8am
Family Worship Service & KUCA 9.30am
Contemporary Worship 6.45pm
EASTER SERVICES
Palm Sunday 8am, 9.30am and 6.45pm Maundy Thursday 7.30pm Good Friday 9am Easter Sunday 8am, 9.30am and 6.45pm
PO Box 773 BAULKHAM HILLS NSW 1755
Uniter Newslet ter March 2018
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