Our Vision
A Community Transforming Lives
Our Values, Grace, Inclusion, Dignity, Faith and Hope.
Parramatta Mission acknowledges that all of our work and our 36 sites are on the land of traditional owners.
We pay respect to the traditional custodians of the land on which we gather, and acknowledge Elders past and present,
and emerging leaders.
Congregational life @ Westmead & Parramatta, Hospitality, Community and Mental Health
Services across Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Hunter and Mid-North Coast
OUR NEWS 7th October 2018
LEIGH Congregation YOU ARE INVITED TO PARRAMATTA LANES! Come & visit our site from 5.30pm: Tuesday 9 – Friday 12 October. Leigh Memorial will be open every night & include our ‘Botanica’ installation & creative displays and activities. Performances by the Leigh Fijian singers will take place on Thursday & Friday at 7.00pm at the front of the church. The retro ‘Daisy’ milkbar will be right next door in the coffee shop. Lifts are available to Leigh Memorial members with transport concerns – please see Mario. Thanks to our team of volunteers. Event details: http://www.parramattalanes.com.au/
OCTOBER SERVICES Manas is on leave this Sunday, 7 October, and Clive will be leading the service. The following Sunday, 14 October, Manas will be making a presentation about Leigh Memorial/Parramatta Mission to the congregation at Thornleigh Hill Crest UC and Amelia will be taking the 9.30am service at Leigh. CONDOLENCES The Leigh congregation is deeply saddened by the passing of ‘Aunty’ Jo Goodin, who served our church and the Mission with unwavering faith over many decades. We thank God for Jo’s presence in our lives and the blessing of her love & warmth. Prayers for the Goodin family. Funeral details are included in this newsletter. NEW CHURCH SIGNS Our wonderful new signs for the front of Leigh Memorial have arrived. Thanks very much to Ken Morgan. Thanks also to the PM Heritage Committee for its guidance. GREENERY FOR ‘LANES’ – THANK YOU Many thanks to all those who have generously pruned & clipped greenery and flowers from their gardens to bring to church this Sunday for Parramatta Lanes. Come and see our ‘green’ display all of next week. FELLOWSHIP OF THE LEAST COIN – UPDATE Margie reports that $150.35 has been collected so far, or the equivalent of 3007 five cent coins! There is still some time to bring your coin donations to church on Sunday mornings. Please see Margie.
In Loving Memory – Our dear Jo It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Mrs. Jocelyn (Jo) Goodin on Tuesday 2 October, aged 89 years. ‘Aunty Jo’ was a dearly loved and valued member of the Mission for 50+ years. Along with husband Les, she was an original Life Line Parramatta ‘Trouble Team’ emergency counsellor, the original receptionist for the Mission’s Wesley Lodge Motel, a Senior and Junior Youth Fellowship counsellor & camp parent and a long-term teacher with the Leigh Memorial Sunday School. In addition to such roles, Jo served as a leader on many congregational committees and participated widely in the work and witness of Parramatta Mission. In 1985, she was described by Gloster Udy in the Parramatta Mission Centenary supplement as having contributed “superbly, always willing to give time as well as experience gathered from years of service in community aid.” A tribute to Jo also appeared in the Mission’s 2016 book (a
biography of Gloster), titled Kindled by a Spark of Grace. Her personal gifts included her wholly positive, kind and generous nature, and her special way of encouraging children & young adults to love Jesus and to always find the good in people. She was a dedicated wife to Les and a mother to Paul and Tony, & her late foster son, Wayne. We are grateful to God for the gift of Jo’s company and grace & send our prayers for her family. Jo’s funeral will be conducted by Rev. Dr. Ghosh at Leigh Memorial at 12.30pm on Monday 8 October, with refreshments in the Fellowship Hall. Enquiries: 9891-2277.
Thank you & farewell Jo.
LEIGH MEMORIAL CONGREGATION – MEALS PLUS LUNCH Thanks to the team of 25 x Leigh Memorial congregation volunteers who helped make and serve 170 meals at lunch on the public holiday last Monday. Everyone enjoyed the day and it was a great team effort. Many thanks to Paul for his leadership of the event and his encouragement to clients & helpers alike.
7th October is our October SPOW lunch.
SPOW Single People of Worth
at Merrylands Bowling Club after Church
To-day By yourself?
You are welcome to join us.
Epping Uniting Church Community Organiser Suggested Ad V 0.2
Are you interested in helping a theologically-open congregation explore ways in which it can better engage with the wider community? Then the Community Organiser position created by the Epping Uniting Church might be up your alley. Epping Uniting Church is seeking a to appoint a person who will work with members of the congregation to build bridges into the changing community of Epping. This 15-hour/week position offers a wide scope for someone interested in establishing and maintaining methodologies which will enable the congregation to engage even more effectively with the wider community. While there are already some programmes in operation, the successful applicant will have the opportunity to review, create, initiate and develop ways in which Epping Uniting Church can enhance its mission theme of “Exploring Faith; Nurturing Community”. As the successful applicant will be stepping into a new position, they will need to be a self-starter who is not overwhelmed by beginning from scratch. Rather than a “lone-ranger” Epping Uniting Church is seeking team player who can work in consultation with the Church Council. Further information and Position Description are available from: -
Rev Greg Woolnough [email protected] Mr John Sullivan – Church Council & Congregational Chairperson [email protected] Closing date: 31 October
Congratulations
Rena ( Volunteer Coordinator ) and her husband Sargon on the
safe arrival of a healthy baby boy named Jonah Gewargis.
Weight 3.5kg, Length 52cms.
Both Mum and baby
are doing well.
Donations Needed
The Lost Bird Found is a mental health project created five years ago in North Sydney to raise awareness and start conversations about mental health. Where do the birds come from? Local schools, community organisations and businesses have jumped on board and are eagerly making their own unique hand crafted birds. The idea is that the birds are hidden around the community, anyone who finds a handmade clay, wooden or fabric ‘Lost Bird’ is being asked to share it on social media, or tell others about it. Birds will be hidden at bus stops, in cafes, trees, parks and the libraries. The birds symbolise freedom from mental illness. Each year, one in five Australians aged 18 to 65 experiences a mental health issue, and most people are touched by mental illness in some way or another. Finding a bird helps to break down barriers surrounding mental health issues by making it okay to talk about.
The things we need to make the birds include Felt or material Stuffing Thread Needle Scissors Thank You...
Fijian Congregation
Veisiko: Kerei me tomani tiko na veisiko vakamatamasumasu ena vei yasa ni koro duidui eda tiko kina vakabibi vei ira na tiko voli vakagade se sega tu ni lotu. Veisiko o Talatala Clive vei Dale Tonawai ena macawa sa oti. Tuvatuva sa koto me sikovi talega o Adriu, Niko kei John ena macawa qo. Ke dua e gadreva na veiqaravi/veisiko Vakaitalatala (Pastoral Care/Visit) tukutuku mai vei Vakatawa se Chairman. Matamasumasu: Sota ena dui gauna lokuci; tu vakarau o Talatala Clive me veisiko kina veimatamasumasu yadua ke tiko na gagadre - qai veitaratara mai kei Vakatawa se Chairman. Youth: Vakacagicagi na Youth ena gauna e sereki kina na vuli. Sunday School: Era na vakacagicagi talega na Sunday School ena gauna ni sereki ni vuli. Sereki ni Vuli: Kerei mera laurai ka qarauni vinaka na luveda ena gauna ni sereki ni vuli. Vuli Sere: Bogi ni Vakaraubuka ena 8.00pm, kerei meda yaco totolo mai ena mataka ni Siga Tabu (10.30am) me vaqavinaka tale kina na sere. Bose ni Vale ni Lotu: Vakananumi vei keda na bose ni Vale ni Lotu tarava ena Siga Vakarauwai – 20/10/18 ena veimama na tolu na kaloko ena yakavi. Parramatta Lanes: Tekivu ena yakavi (5.00pm) ni Tusiti mai qo ka yacova yani na yakavi ni Vakaraubuka ( 9 – 12/10/18). Ena vakaitavi na noda Mata Sere ena yakavi ni Siga Lotulevu kei na Vakaraubuka rauta na vitu ena yakavi. Drau sa kerei na Daunisere me vakarautaki mai e so na sere. Gadrevi talega na liga ni veivuke (volunteer) ena veiyakavi – raici Vakatawa, Tuirara se Chairman. Eda sa vakauqeti meda yaco mai vakalewe levu ka veisureti talega vei ira na noda tu volekati keda.
Date Vunau Vunau Vunau Tuvakarau Tali Comm
Lesi Vakarau Veiliutaki Vunau Stewards
14-Oct Rev A.Koh-Butler S.Toa Youth
Multicul.Worshp
21-Oct Rooty Hill S.Toa V.Kamotu M2 M2
(Campb)
28-Oct Fiji Parish V.Kamotu S.Foiakau M3 M3
Job 1:1; 2:1-10
1. There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2:1 One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. 2. The Lord said to Satan “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 3. The Lord said to Satan “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil. He still persists in his integrity, although you incited me against him, to destroy him for no reason.” 4. Then Satan answered the Lord “Skin for skin! All that people have they will give to save their lives. 5. But stretch out your hand now and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” 6. The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, he is in your power: only spare his life. 7. So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and inflicted loathsome sores on Job from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8. Job took a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and sat among the ashes. 9. Then his wife said to him “Do you still persist in your integrity? Curse God, and die.” 10. But he said to her, “You speak as any foolish person would speak. Shall we receive the good at the hand of God, and not receive the bad?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. NRSV
Reflections
How should we behave when bad things happen to us? Job has a lot of bad things happen to him. He loses family, possessions and friends. Through all of that, he maintains his integrity. How we form a moral ethic is an important consideration for all of us, regardless of age or situation. Some people might call that our moral compass. It keeps us true north even when we are tempted otherwise. The findings of the banking royal commission, following on from the findings of institutional responses to child sexual assault, point to collapses of moral ethics. We seem to live in an age when internal discipline expressed as a moral compass is abrogated, yet before the law, and before God, none of us can abrogate personal responsibility. My late father spoke of setting your moral and ethical standard, and then adhering to that, which he did in a compelling way to all who knew him. Likewise for us, having an ethical standard, which is much more than a code of ethics and more like a framework can carry us through the vicissitudes of life with good grace The Christian framework of loving God with all of one’s heart, soul, mind and strength, and loving neighbour as self, seems to many is one that can enable a person meet life with good grace and integrity.
The other week our second DA for Macquarie St was lodged with City of
Parramatta Council. This DA, like the one lodged in 2017 is built upon the
5 inSpire the Common Good principles, listed below.
• Being a church of choice and voice of the marginalized in our community.
• Conducting a ministry of justice and compassion to people in need.
• To develop theological and social leadership to the Parramatta workforce.
• Engaging in contemporary and creative evangelism to Parramatta
residents.
• Being faithful in worship, life together and be committed to being an
incarnational presence in the City.
A new partnership has commenced with the Parramatta speedway and
Parramatta Mission. Called “The race to drive out hunger campaign” the
speedway has raised donations of food and water towards Meals Plus. I was
present last Saturday night for the launch of the season and the launch of the
campaign, the launch included an interview recorded live and replayed between
races throughout the night. Here is an excerpt from the speedway’s newsletter
that both announced the campaign and solicited donations form supporters.
Each season, tens of thousands of people flock to Valvoline Raceway to
bask in the warm summer evenings and enjoy the courage and raw racing
ability on display from hundreds of teams across NSW, Australia, New
Zealand and the USA. It’s an idyllic scene that plays out every Saturday
between late September and May each year. In stark contrast, an alarming
number of people in the Parramatta and surrounding areas do not have the
luxury of those entertaining nights however; they don’t even have nutritious
food or a bed to sleep in. The concerning issue of homelessness, ‘rough
sleeping’ and poverty in Sydney’s West was recently highlighted in the
media and it came to the attention of management at Valvoline Raceway.
“The Parramatta Mission do a wonderful job of feeding and caring for so
many people who are homeless and in need of food,” says Valvoline
Raceway Principal Felicity Waldron, herself once a Parramatta resident,
“and the struggle to maintain that level of care must be an ongoing and
difficult one. It got us thinking about how the Speedway industry as a whole
and Valvoline Raceway can contribute. How we can help make a
difference.” ‘The race to drive out hunger’ is an initiative that is quickly
gathering momentum. We already have a major sponsor willing to donate
for this worthy cause and expect more to come on board.”
Pictures over page of some of the food donated to Parramatta Mission’s
Meals Plus
Blessings Keith Hamilton
IS ALCOHOL A PROBLEM IN A
RELATIVE OR FRIEND?
AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS provide
support and understanding for families affected
by someone else’s drinking.
Meetings every Thursday 5.30 – 6.30pm
Parramatta Mission, 119 Macquarie St Parramatta
ALATEEN is a meeting for children & teens affected by another’s drinking.
For further information and meeting details for Al-Anon & Alateen visit
www.al-anon.alateen.org/australia or call 1300 ALANON (1300 252 666)
Pastoral message for this week….
It’s time for . . . respect . . .
integrity . . . prayer . . .
love in action
Last Sunday the Evening Congregation enjoyed sharing dinner together after Worship and Communion. We loved the food, the company and the conversation. There will not be an Evening Service on Sunday 7th October but we will resume Sunday 14th October 2018 at 7pm in the Coffee Shop. We'd love to have you join us.
WESTMEAD Congregation
LEAST COIN
We are collecting 5c pieces for the fellowship of the Least coin. At this point, the service has not been arranged but it will occur soon. The coins are collected from across the world to assist in the lives of people. If you have coins please place them in the box in the foyer.
LEADERS’ MEETING
This meeting will be on Tuesday at 2.30pm. Please pray for our leaders for this meeting and the leadership they offer throughout the rest of the year.
SPOW- SINGLE PEOPLE OF WORTH
The next luncheon is today Sunday 7th
October. If you would like to attend please speak with Rev Christine.
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
The school holidays have commenced and there will be no Play Groups during the holidays. There will be no Open Door on Wednesday 10
th October, in the
second week of the holidays.
ANGEL TREE
Once again we will be collecting money to buy toys for children of inmates in correctional Centres. We do this every year and will commence our collections in the last 2 weeks of October and the first 2 weeks of November. This is an important ministry as we seek to support the families with gifts for the children and a hamper for the family.
REV CHRISTINE AWAY Rev Christine will be away for 4 weeks commencing the 11
th October and
returning the 8th November. During this time Sarah will sit her HSC. Our Elders
and leaders will be available to talk to and there will be a few different people assisting Daniel with worship across the 4 weeks. Play Groups will be on Mondays only while Rev Christine is away. Please pray for her and her family and for all who are keeping Westmead activities going while she is away.
DEEPENING FAITH and RELATIONSHIPS with others Worship Sundays 9.45am Bible Study- Mondays 2.00-3.30pm Fellowship- Tuesday 2
nd October
MAKING A DIFFERENCE Time Out Café (TOC)- Tues/Thurs 11.00-1.30pm Play Group – Mondays and Wednesdays 9.15-10.45am Open Door -Wednesdays 1.00-3.30pm Tai Chi- Fridays 10.00-11.00am
The people of Parramatta Mission invite you to pray for: PM congregations at Parramatta and Westmead, and the PM staff in
hospitality, community and clinical/mental health services that extend right across Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Northern Beaches, Central Coast and Hunter Valley and Mid-North Coast. We also pray for all the people we contact every day, that we might exhibit the values of grace, inclusion, dignity, faith and hope.
PM Leigh Memorial: The Goodin family, Brian & Marcel, Joan, Hazel, Betty E, Wilhemina, Col, Betty B, Gloria H, Darlene & Neil, Jolame & the Open Church team, Victoria & family, Terry the student organist & fellow HSC and uni students facing exams, plus our Leaders' team, congregation group leaders and the Sunday School & Youth Group.
PM Leigh Fijian: Milise Foiakau, Adriu Rogoimuri, Senitiki Qata and family, Niko Balavu, Mili Sigani, Dale Tonawai, Terry and Young families
PM Westmead: All farmers and their communities, Sharon, Keith and Noeleen, Debbie and Michael, Kevin, Jean, Caroline and David A, Josh and his family (Kerryn, Peter and Ben), Mrs E and family, Mary and Aloy and the boys, Silvano, Jinky, Isabella and Gerard, Mary, Justice and family, Aravind and family, Tanzida, Sushila, Nancy, Paula and Geoffrey, Garry, Chris and family, Rob, Jodie and Family, Flora, May, Rajes (Sandra), Henry, Phyllis, Vita, Col, Al, Mrs G and family, Judy, Shanika and family, Ashima and Anusha Saxena, Lyn, Sheila W, Ruth and Lela, Mr and Mrs S, Carmen and Rob, David and Christopher. Please also pray for our young people who will be sitting the HSC exams in coming weeks. We pray especially for Jessica and Sarah (Rev Christine’s daughter).
UC congregations of the Cumberland Zone: Dundas/Ermington, Northmead, North Rocks, Carlingford, West Epping, Centenary, Wentworthville, Holroyd, Greystanes, Grantham Heights, Parramatta Mission, Auburn.
For the worship, witness and service of Picton Uniting Church We join with churches around the world to pray for Bangladesh, Bhutan,
Nepal
Prayer Points
Foster your faith this week
Jb 23:1-9,16-17 Ps 22:1-15
Heb 4:12-16 Mk 10:17-31
Worship Services at
Parramatta Mission
Mon to Fri 9.00am - 2.00pm Open Church @ Leigh Memorial
Tuesday 1.10pm Holy Communion @ Leigh
Sunday 9.30am Leigh Memorial Congregation @ Leigh
9.45am Westmead Congregation @ Westmead
11.15am Leigh Fijian Congregation @ Leigh
1.30pm Korean Faith Community @ Leigh
7.00pm Praise, Prayer, Cake & Coffee @ Leigh
Contacts
For all e-tree news follow the link below http://www.parramattamission.org.au/etree
Leigh Memorial Congregation: Rev Dr Manas Ghosh 0429 892 548
Leigh Fijian Congregation: Rev Dr Clive Pearson, Supply Minister 0409523024
Leigh Korean Faith Community Minister: Rev Hyun Goo Jun 0433 320 588
Leigh Memorial Church, 119 Macquarie St, Parramatta
Westmead Congregation: Rev Christine Bayliss Kelly 0409 925 607
Westmead Church: 175 Hawkesbury Road Westmead: 9891 9354
Senior Minister/CEO: Rev Keith Hamilton 0417 487 446
Church Office: 9891 2277 Email : [email protected]
Children’s Hospital Chaplain : Sarah Bishop 0429 912 943
PM WSU Chaplain : Rev Dr Amelia Koh Butler 0427 955 157
