Image: Pink roses in loving memory of Marg Vazey. A gift from the Vazey family on the occasion of a memorial held at Blackwattle Bay on Saturday, April 29, 2023. Marg was a beloved crew member of dragon boat club Dragons Abreast, Sydney.
What’s on this week
Check this post regularly for events and activities. We look forward to seeing you.
Image: Flowers for Cathie by Svetlana. Flowers from Mirrung Garden, December 2024.
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Repair and restoration work on the church and hall will commence in February 2025.
We have now moved some things to the manse (folding tables, plastic chairs, etc.), and started meeting for worship at The Factory community centre in Raglan Street.
Arts activities, Gospel Conversation, church council and other meetings will be held in the manse this year.
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This Sunday (January 19) we will gather at The Factory community centre for a service to celebrate Epiphany 2.
Please join us for worship each Sunday at 10am in the community centre or park and via Zoom.
Join via Zoom
(Meeting ID: 879 3746 4388/ Password: 087151).
Download liturgy (in folder each week by Saturday).
After the service a group of us is planning a trip to Coogee Beach. We’d love for you to join us. We’ll leave about 12pm. Please bring swimming costume, towel, hat and sunscreen.
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We rejoice at news of a ceasefire in the holy land. Prayers for lasting peace. Prayers with all peacemakers, mediators, community workers and families.
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Each year we take part in the NCCA’s Act for Peace Christmas Bowl appeal. The Christmas Bowl involves 19 member churches throughout the country and many more throughout the world. Several projects are highlighted for prayer and financial support. Significantly, the projects entail supporting local churches and communities – helping to make possible the hopes and dreams of people who know best what’s most needed.
Christmas Bowl donations can be made via donation envelopes in the church or via our SSUC link: mycb.link/46613
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Our Annual General Meeting was held on Sunday November 10. Thanks to Anne for chairing and to Karen for taking the minutes. Please find AGM reports here.
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Thanks to all worship leaders (please check the online worship roster for opportunities in January and February – you might like to volunteer as a reader, musician, tech host, helper with setup or server of morning tea).
Our presbytery’s Pastoral Relations Committee has authorised Alison and Karen as lay presiders for celebrations of the Eucharist (until July 2027).
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South Sydney Herald
The December issue of the SSH is out now! Please see Lyn, Norrie or Andrew if you’d like to know more about the SSH – there are opportunities to volunteer as a contributor or distributor. Story ideas welcome – reports, profiles, interviews, reviews, comment, photos and artworks …
Many of us have been following Alicia’s “carer’s journey” in the SSH this year – profound and moving reflections on love (with beautiful artworks by Gloria). You can read part 11 here.
Save the date: A carer’s journey book launch and art exhibition will be held on Thursday February 20, at Paddington Uniting Church from 6pm.
Visit the SSH website for latest news and online exclusives.
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Missional thinking and planning
Thanks to Alison for leading and to everyone who took part in the worship-workshops over the Easter season.
The workshop responses (so much wonderful material!) have been used to create a Vision & Planning Document, with hopes and goals for the future of SSUC. Thanks to Greg and the Futures Task Group for progressing this work. Please let Greg know if you’d like to be involved with the Futures Task Group in coming months – there are opportunities to help with specific tasks.
The following prayer was written by a table group in response to “treasure” as a mark of Christ’s mission:
Generous God,/ We reflect on home,/ on the kindom Jesus showed and shared/ as common-wealth.// We treasure family connections,/ the distribution of food and drink,/ resources, information, news, stories …/ Amen.
More prayers here.
Thanks, too, for taking part in recent discussion about repairs and restoration to the church and hall.
There is strong commitment to “un/mission”, to decolonisation … to values in line with our being/becoming a congregation-community-garden on Gadigal land: humility, creativity, curiosity … flexibility, the courage to take risks, awareness, patience, openness …
With thanks for work already done … extraordinary work by Miriam and by others over many years … we will continue to address issues and refine the options before us … listening to one another, open to change/opportunity, collaboration/amalgamation … in praise of the Holy Spirit.
Please pray for presbytery staff including newly appointed property manager Ryan, for Des our Property & Finance Working Group (PFWG) convenor.
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Mirrung Garden
The hens have now moved into their new coop on Hippopotamus Farm in Tomerong.
Saturday tasks in January: laying the garden to fallow – removing or storing precious items, cutting down the banana palms, composting and covering garden beds, etc. We’d really appreciate your help – from 8am this Saturday!
There are also opportunities to create gardens at the front and back of the manse.
Recently we installed a beehive, with thanks to the City of Sydney. The stingless native bees are a welcome addition to the garden – and will play a crucial role in plant reproduction and health. See more here.
Follow garden progress on Instagram @mirrunggarden
Read Gardening Hints and Tips by Chris Lodge here.
Image: Beautiful cosmos flowers – planted by Svetlana. Photo: Andrew Collis
Image: Our lovely hens have relocated to Hippopotamus Farm in Tomerong. Thanks to Naomi and carers for all their good work.
Thanks
Thank you to all the volunteers who keep our garden ticking along, rain or shine. Thank you to Gill and Craig, Bek and Gehard, Alicia and Warren for being willing to collect garden items and plants for us. Thank you to Lee, Graham and Ron, Anne, Andrew, Adrian, Amanda, Chris, Anna, Ben, Carolyn, and hen herders Naomi, Carolyn, Kelly and Ty.
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Celebration Points
- The Development Application for our repairs/restoration work has been approved. Presbytery reports that work is expected to commence in February and conclude in November 2025. During that time, worship services will be held at The Factory community centre in Raglan Street. Small group meetings (including art workshops and poetry meetings) will be held downstairs at the manse.
- SSH fundraiser aboard the Tribal Warrior on October 27 – thanks to all for a wonderful day on the water with our hosts Rhonda, Brock, Blake and Keara.
- SSH’s proposal for a second First Peoples Content Series of articles (February – July) curated by Aunty Norma Ingram has been approved. This is an exciting project.
- At its meeting on November 30, church council decided by consensus to request presbytery approval for supply ministry arrangements for a period of 18 months at 50 per cent commencing February 2025.
