DID YOU. HAVE A DESK WHEN YOU BEGAN SCHOOL? My Mum, Marguerite McDonald began school in 1915 at Creswick No 122 in a school which had been built by Anthony Pascoe; in 1854. In 1850 there were around 5000 already in Creswick. Mum’s mother Margaret Williams came with her family from Cornwall for the gold…

Greetings … Do you remember knitting a climate scarf last year?  Well, if you did, this cold weather is a perfect time to get it out again, wear it and have some good conversations about the climate.  Tuesday 21 June was #ShowYourStripes Day.  This relatively new international day aims to spread awareness about climate change…

Greetings … This coming week the Uniting Church will celebrate its 45th birthday.  This is significant and the time which defines the onset of middle age.  Maybe it should be of no surprise then that the Uniting Church has embarked on what is being called the Act 2 project. As the Uniting Church, we have…

Greetings … … and happy Trinity Sunday.  Trinity Sunday is celebrated on first Sunday after Pentecost, which is the 50th day after Easter, and celebrates the mystery of faith and unity of God imaged as Creator, Redeemer and Guide, or more traditionally as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Trinity Sunday was first instituted in 9th…

Greetings,We saw the star in the East, and we came to worship’ (Matthew 2:2).This verse is the chosen text for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, celebrated in Australia between this coming Sunday and Pentecost.The text was chosen by the Middle East Council of Churches and comes from the gospel of Matthew and…

This week I have been thinking about peace … or the seeming lack of it as I look around.  Images of war and death are punctuated by those of election rhetoric which seems to be more about belittling your opponent than sharing your own party policies. Yet Jesus promised: Peace I leave with you; my…

Greetings, Last weekend Kathryn and I were privileged to attend the 16th National Assembly of the Uniting Church.  The theme, Dwelling in Love, reminds us that we are all beloved of God and called to live in love with one another. Here at Koonung Heights, Community Faith Groups have been one way that we have…

Greetings, I wonder what you do when you have trouble falling asleep at night or when you wake up early in the morning and can’t go back to sleep easily? Some people say that counting sheep will make you fall asleep, while others advise that meditation while taking deep breaths will help. Both seem to…

Greetings, As we have been journeying through Easter we have read of Jesus’ resurrection appearances.  On the first Easter Day Jesus appeared to Mary in the garden, last week Jesus appeared to his disciples behind closed doors, and this week Jesus again appears to his disciples after an unsuccessful night out fishing.  Breakfast at Dawn,…

Greetings, Last Sunday we celebrated Jesus’ resurrection as we joined together for worship.  Last Sunday night I was invited to participate in a different sort of gathering – a healing session which was focused on calling forth life and remembering Divine love for a woman who has terminal cancer.  Sunday night was seen as the…