Friday, December 20, 2019 The day dawned hot with gusty winds. There was an eerie feeling about it. At around 8.45 am, I heard that a fire had started on Hollands Creek Road at Cudlee Creek approximately 10 kms west of Lobethal, in the beautiful Adelaide Hills in South Australia. I couldn’t see any smoke, but by 9.30 am it was evident that there was a raging bushfire burning. Having experienced a similar situation in …
All things being New … Your guild or fellowship … OR YOU! New Year, new beginnings! Did you wait till now for your thoughts to process what this year, for you or your group, might bring! While processing my thoughts before putting pen to paper, or I should say fingers to the keyboard, I am very aware of the many things I do not know. What will this year bring, with COVID-19 still in the …
Trinity Women’s Guild, Warrnambool, was blessed to reach its 75th Anniversary on the 29 July 2020. Unfortunately, the group was unable to celebrate in the time-honoured way of fellowship with friends, good food, anniversary cake and a cuppa. Ten ladies attended the first meeting in 1945. This was before the congregation had its own church. The membership fee was set at one shilling and sixpence. It was at one of these early meetings that a …
(with apologies to A.B. Patterson) There was movement down in Henty for the word had come to me, The time had come to do my first report; Remembering all the activity, devotions, hymns, and songs, Stretches the feeble mind just as it ought. Our meetings are but once a month at ‘2’ on each first Friday, We plan our year, then have a rest in Jan’ry; One member gives devotion, and we sing a couple …
In the midst of the chaos of change, we went to the beach. It was a spontaneous call and we were wildly unprepared. It was barely spring, the sun was setting and we had one towel between us. It was tempting to simply enjoy the changing sky and the chatter of locals in my relatively warm, definitively-dry attire. So tempting. After many moments of deliberation, including multiple toe-checks of the water’s temperature, I was in. …
We pray the Word of Christ continues to live in you richly through the singing of psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. We encourage you to sing a new song each month of AD 2021. Singing God’s Word brings hope and peace to all ages We’ve often heard it said that Christmas is really “a special time just for kids”. We disagree. It’s a joyful time for all people, the young, those in their middle …
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 …
Here are some thoughts and artwork on Families and Family Christmas Celebrations from the Reception Students at Immanuel Primary School, Novar Gardens, SA. Thank you to the children and to their teacher, Emma Le Gallou.What is a family?“A family is like a group and it has babies” –Eleni “A family is with persons and there’s grandmas and papas and sisters and brothers and everybody” – Emily “A family is mums and dads and grandpas and …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …