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Due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) from Sunday 22 March 2020:- Church Building is CLOSED - Worship Services / Meetings cancelled until further notice Check our KEEPING IN TOUCH page for Worship resources & other information

'Archived News' further down page   Introducing Rev Chris Meneilly        UPDATE 2 July 2020 Chris WAS TO BE our supply minister for April, May and June Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this plan was 'put on hold'.   We now hope Chris will be able to provide 'short term ministry' for Warragul when our Worship Services resume.  Chris has provided the following to introduce himself: Chris grew up in the Melbourne suburb of McKinnon. Following secondary schooling at Brighton Technical School, he completed an apprenticeship in Toolmaking. Part of Chris’ travels in his late teenage years included trips to Fiji but it was in Melbourne that Chris and Eseta met when Eseta was the recipient of a scholarship to study Kindergarten Teachers education, with the intent to go back to Fiji and teach. There’s a story to tell here but they married in Fiji, during Eseta’s time of study, returned to Melbourne for one more year until after Eseta’s graduation then together returned to Fiji. This ended up being for 11 years during which time their three children were born. Chris with Cuddles Chris undertook theological studies in Suva at the Pacific Theological College, and was ordained into Ministry with the Methodist Church in Fiji. Chris’ ministry has included Dilkusha Methodist Circuit; Veilomani Boys Home and development of the Veilomani  rehabilitation workshop in Ba, Fiji; then relocating to Australia with placements in the Uniting Church at St. Arnaud; Strathmore; Box Hill (Cross-cultural and Community Ministry); Mitcham; Bendigo and Rosebud (Southern Mornington Peninsula). Chris’ ministry has included a variety of pastoral and community based work in urban, rural and cross-cultural contexts. Chris is now retired, living in Rosebud with Eseta and three grand-daughters. Chris, (and Eseta) have long been involved in cross-cultural ministry which stems from the period of Chris’ early ministry in Fiji until today. Chris is interested in seeking ways of developing and expressing our faith identity and our cultures, respecting different beliefs and thought and continuing to question how these things inform and influence our being Christian in contemporary society. Added to this is Chris’ hobby interest in what is described as indigenous or tribal art and if you get on that subject be prepared for a long chat.  Easter  2020      Easter Messages by young talent displayed on our street notice board

Of course, Nothing containing nuts (or peanut butter) please.

For further information, speak to Merrilyn or Heather in the church office (5644 3384).

https://prisonfellowship.org.au/programs/victorian-biscuit-bake/

Thank you to Di and Tony for once again organizing Pancake Day at our church on Sunday 23 February.  Freshly cooked pancakes with a variety of toppings were available for a donation.  Funds raised allowed us to forward $308.25 to Uniting Vic. Tas. in support of this annual event.  

Thank you to Sally and Peter for hosting our church picnic on a beautiful day, in a beautiful setting with great food and fellowship ... And then invited us to feed their menagerie of animals — well, certainly their donkeys!

Dorothy was confused. Huge storms and tornados, weird dreams that seemed real, people very different from her family and friends, landscapes so foreign from what she knew. Bewildering! She felt so out of place. But she was prepared to meet new people, share their dreams and disappointments, take advice and followed the ‘yellow brick road’ of adventure. 

This adventure brought her joy, worry, friendship, danger with people who wanted to harm her, and an understanding of herself and others…especially the Tin man, the Lion and the Scarecrow. Even the play acting and bravado of the Wizard was shown for what it was…big noting and sham.

Sometimes this journey was very difficult and they just wanted to give it all up…it’s too hard! Other times they learned to trust one another and themselves. So growth and understanding of themselves and others began to happen. This brought great happiness, joy, at times hilarity and a determination to continue the journey of discovery. Theirs was an adventure where they were discovering who they were as people, how they fitted in and related to their world, what was important and what was not, what was the meaning of life, just to name a few.

And this is partly what the time of LENT (40 days before Easter) is all about. A time to think about our journey in life, what is important to us and if that is really of importance. Or do we just convince ourselves that it is important…bit like the Wizard of Oz who tried to pretend that he was in control but was just play acting to convince himself and others. How we relate to and care for others, and how we accept care from others.

In the big scheme of things, what is life all about? How do we relate or not relate to God? What do we think about God? What do we understand about Easter, the arrest, trial, death and resurrection of Jesus?  For some people this is of little importance, for others it is the greatest way that God’s love has been shown for everyone. Just as Dorothy learned that love is richer when shared, we are called to share God’s love with others and to work for justice.

Our journey is quite different from Dorothy’s but we are bombarded with so many things that we too can feel overwhelmed and bewildered.  Covid 19 (Coronavirus) domestic violence, mental health, growing gap between the rich and the poor, homelessness in our community, vastly increased need for food relief. Contrast this with the wonderful work of the CWA, volunteer and professional firefighters, support, encouragement and pastoral care by the churches and others, generosity of gifts from the community and overseas, people continuing to work for the welfare of refugees and the homeless, and people like you and me who have the opportunity to encourage others.

Have you heard from my ‘friend’ Nicole? She is the person who calls you constantly about the NBN! She rings me so often, and pretends to be a ‘friend’! And then there are the insistent ads for ‘insurance’, and how easy it is to get a loan for almost everything. Traps everywhere…attempting to convince people that they are uncaring or lacking if they do not have ‘this’ or ‘that’. I wonder how people ‘living’ on the New Start Allowance of about $280 per week feel about advertisements such as these? They can make people feel inadequate like the Tin man, the Lion and the Scarecrow felt. LENT and Easter are times that remind us that a deep sense or feeling of self-worth and satisfaction comes from within us and grows as we relate to and care for others. Many would say that this feeling is God given. This feeling is enhanced when it is within and guided by a meaningful and growing relationship with God.

May this time of LENT and Easter be a time of reflection, challenge and growth for all of us and our journey with God.

Blessings, Des Parker

Harvest this year included garden produce and also a celebration of gifts and talents from within our congregation.  Some examples of items created and displayed (on table above) and below by (clockwise) Graeme, Chris, Glenda, Heather.

On March 18, Open Door is thrilled to be having Maggie Roberts visit us. Some of you will know Maggie, as she regularly comes to our Craft Group on Thursday mornings.  She stitches some beautiful, fine cross stitch pictures.  She will be bringing some of these to show us.  Maggie will tell us about the processes involved in creating these pieces and also bring other pieces of craft work she has done.

This will be followed by afternoon tea.

We are sure you will be delighted by these beautiful embroideries.  All are welcome.

If you need a lift, please speak to Jenny or Joy.

Open Door at 1.30pm in the Centre Room, on Wednesday March 18

 POSTPONED  due to COVID-19  

Join us on the next Bus Trip on Friday April 24th.
Meet at the church @ 8.45 for a 9am departure.

We are heading to the Royal Botanic Gardens in CRANBOURNE.  They have grown and developed since our last visit and autumn is a great time of year to visit.

We have booked (with a guide) one of the garden trains (11am) for us to use (21 seats); and if we need more we can book seats on the following service.

LUNCH will be a real treat.  We are invited to visit Chris and Barb’s new and ‘forever’ house in Cranbourne.  Barb is planning on ‘cooking up a storm’ for us.

COST $40 (based on a minimum of 40 participants)

A list to enter you name will be outside the church office from March 8th.

‘Walkers’ are welcome and they fit well under the bus.

This will be a fun day, only as energetic as you choose to make it.
Please bring friends or family if they are interested.  All welcome.

https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/visit-cranbourne

'Just be careful because people are going crazy from being in lock down.

Actually I've just been talking about this with the microwave and toaster while drinking coffee and all us agreed that things are getting bad.

I didn't mention anything to the washing machine as she puts a different spin on everything.  

Certainly, not to the fridge as he is acting cold and distant.

In the end the iron calmed me down as she said everything will be fine, no situation is too pressing.

The vacuum was very unsympathetic... told me to just suck it up, but the fan was more optimistic and hoped it would all soon blow over.

The toilet looked a bit flushed when I asked its opinion, it said nothing but the door knob told me to get a grip.

The front door said I was unhinged and so the curtains told me to .... yes you guessed it ... pull myself together'.