Rote Grütze

South Australia’s Barossa Valley food heritage is unique, and I try to pass this knowledge on to my food-loving boys so it will continue into the future. This dessert is a favourite among the grape-growing families of the valley, especially ours. Ingredients: • Mataro or Shiraz grapes or grape juice • Sago • Runny cream Having been raised on a vineyard property, this generational family recipe is a favourite in the autumn. It is best …

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On the cover – Give thanks for families

The family unit is our heavenly Father’s special gift to humankind. When he sent his precious Son to his work of our redemption, he sent him as part of a family here on earth. Jesus, too, had an earthly father, mother and siblings. Families come in all shapes, sizes, colours and creeds but the most precious family of all is the family of God’s people. Thanks be to God! [Jesus said] Whoever does God’s will …

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Marking Time – A Chronicle of Cancer by Valerie Volk– Book Review

Everybody is touched by cancer – be it family, friends, or acquaintances. Marking Time is a wonderful collection of verse that describes the first diagnosis through the stages to the hoped-for remission. Most beautifully written, it is deeply moving in sadness, patience, loneliness, and hope. The ‘Book Club in the Mallee’ has had some of its members read and then pick the poem that spoke to them the most. The following are some of their …

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A New Family

Nearly fifty years ago my husband Rex and I moved with our then three children from Adelaide to Canberra. A very big decision on our part to move away from our close family connections to a much smaller city where we knew very few people, and no-one well. Rex was a public servant throughout his working life and he was persuaded that the work would be interesting, the opportunities better, the education and lifestyle would …

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Family Christmas for the Orthodox

The Feast of the Nativity of our Lord is not just a one-day event, but an extended celebration spread out over many days (indeed, months!). We begin with a period of preparation – extending for 40 days – followed by the Nativity and the “Twelve days of Christmas”, followed by the great feast of Epiphany. Before, during and after this time there are a number of other feasts: * St Nicholas is commemorated on 6 …

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St Paul’s Ladies Fellowship, Albany

Something new took us all by surprise this year: we were unable to meet due to the COVID-19 Pandemic! Wow! Who would have thought how much we take for granted! It was with great joy that restrictions eased, and our Fellowship was able to once again meet together; just in time to celebrate Judith Pech’s 80th birthday, on the 14th of June. We met on the 18th at the chosen venue “The Store”, this being an …

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Learning and Becoming

I remember the halt as the ratcheting handbrake was yanked before the mouth of my family home. My 15-year-old self thought it was a dream to have a ute with as much character as Caden’s 4×4. The roar of the engine on any highway would dominate even a yelling conversation, so we rightly called the rusty, leviathan “Aslan”. It’s odd to think of how it was even possible to hear each other when Aslan’s mechanic …

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LWA partners with ALC to prepare workers for the LCA

Take your mind to another time – a time before the COVID-19 pandemic. What did you expect to be doing in 2020? None of us imagined that we would be living as we now are. We’ve had to adapt, pivot, and change direction with breathtaking speed to live with restrictions. No more hugging and handshaking. Limitations on gatherings. No more travel. Importantly, we’ve shown that we can do it. Apart from a few wobbles, praise …

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Sun shining from behind a white cloud against a vivid blue sky. It suggests hope.

It’s been quite a year!

As a member of the Lutheran Women of Australia (LWA) committee, we are facing a challenging time trying to organise the next LWA Convention to be held in Victoria next year. During the COVID-19 crisis, travel, the closing of borders and the many other obstacles that we are facing with the organisation of Convention is very challenging. With the help of God, fortunately, we have the use of computers, emails, phone calls and other sources …

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