Posts from May 2024
The Joys and Challenges of Ageing (3)
It was a cold Sunday morning. I was sitting with my dad in the back yard discussing the chances of Swan Hill footy team making the finals. There was a pause, a moment of silence. Then, Dad said, “Never sit under a gum tree as an old man and talk about what you might have done: go and do it.” Sadly, my dad did not get to go and do it. He passed away in his classroom shortly before he…
2024 Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea
About 80 people from Manningham Uniting Church (MUC) and beyond attended ‘Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea’ in the MUC Auditorium on Wednesday 22nd May. Many community groups run events such as these each year to raise funds to support the work of the Cancer Council of Victoria, an organisation involved in cancer research, prevention, and support for those living with cancer. This is the third year that MUC has run this event, and those attending were treated to a great time…
The Joys and Challenges of Ageing (2)
Our attitudes about ageing are quaint. I remember being with a mother and her child and I asked the child how old she was. The mother quickly said “six” to which the little girl said “six and three quarters”. I said to that mother “that extra three quarters is important”. Children want to think of themselves as a bit more mature. Similarly, I remember seeing a quote from Bob Hope saying he’s rather die at 100 than 99 and I’m…
Ministers Message – The Joys and Challenges of Ageing
IntroductionMany of you think that I am not ‘old’. Someone even called me a ‘spring chicken’. When I heard that I couldn’t help but laugh, I know I am certainly not a ‘chicken’ and at my age, I can’t ‘spring’ as easily as before. However, many of my friends think I don’t look my age. I hope they are not humouring me. Truth is I am learning to age gracefully and joyfully. One of my main focuses, when I was…
Together@10 – Pentecost Sunday
The Together@10 services yesterday to celebrate Pentcost Sunday was a delight! There were doves circling overhead heading flying from the cross symbolising the Holy Spirit from the church leading out to the world. This art installation was a vision of Margaret’s, who cut out over 300 doves to make this happen. The service was conducted by a team of people who lit candles representing comfort, peace, joy, love, compassion, faithfulness and hope, led music. There was also a modern humourus…
Ageing purposefully
“I sometimes arrive without much energy and with too many health worries weighing me down but by the time I leave I feel good, having chatted and been a listening ear to the mums, dads, nannas and grandpas who have been at Playgroup that day.” “I need to have a bit of a rest after I go home from Playgroup, but I go home feeling much better about life and my purpose for being here.” “Sorry I’m late. It was…
The Joys and Challenges of Ageing (1)
Autumn is a poignant reminder of Ageing. Leaves float to the ground, crunching under foot as we walk; swirling russet reds, burnt orange, gleaming gold and plain, retiring brown. Autumn reminds us we are human, that our lives are like the seasons: “Turn, turn, turn,” sing the Seekers. “A time to be born and a time to die.” Looking around our congregation we see grey heads, many of them. We are ageing, sharing our wisdom and experience of the years,…
Emerging Church – April Recap
“There are more than 45 armed conflicts of one form or another going on in the Middle East and North Africa right now,” Rev Swee Ann Koh said when he introduced the subject of War vs Peace at Emerging Church on Sunday, 21 April. “Conflicts are occurring in Cyprus, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Turkey, Yemen, and Western Sahara. Most worrying are the Russian-Ukrainian war, now two years old, and the Israeli-Palestine war in the Middle East, which may be on the…
Good times and growth with Family@10
During Lent, Family@10 explored the Ten Commandments, distilled into the two great commandments ‘love God/love others’, ultimately becoming one BIG swirling, whirling commandment to love! To help us with ‘destination love’ over 2 weeks, during our reflection time and with guiding questions, members young and older explored our hopes for Family@10 worship, community and outreach life. As adults discussed and shared their hopes and dreams for worship, community, outreach, mission, growing in faith, support for children, young people and families;…
Music for a Warming World – A Reflection
Preparing to host this musical took many months. Gestation of a wonderful creation always does. A team of committed MUC Social Justice workers and generous volunteers took up the challenge and 113 people of all ages were welcomed to participate in a dynamic event, spear-headed by Simon Kerr and supported by his very able multi-talented musicians on guitar, violin and harp. The stage-presence of performers was both professional and relaxed, one-with-us, yet disarmingly confrontive (even with hints of humor) as…
Family@10 Beach Mission Service
Last Sunday Jess, Tom, Zander, Tabitha, Zara, Jared, Sam, Emily and Janelle from the Lorne SU family mission team came to MUC to lead the service. Together they shared the joy of mission with MUC through songs, stories and their energy. Tom gave the message from Matthew, using the illustration of practicing basketball layups and his volunteer work playing basketball with prisoners, that we need to do repeats and practice as Christians sharing our faith, that mission is important as…