Campfire Cookout at St Christopher’s
What a fantastic evening the Parish of Telarah Rutherford had at their Campfire Cookout at St Christopher’s! The wonderful guys from Rotary made an absolutely awesomely delicious three-course meal plus nibbles. Fiacre’s Feast Community Garden was on show and helped by the generosity of those attending and cooking. The garden helps so many in our community, free food for the hungry, a place to work and learn to grow things for others.
The Blue Cross Shop – Building on the past & looking to the future
On Saturday the 28 July the Parish of Taree officially Reopened their Parish Shop in a new, larger space allowing both the sorting and retail sectors to come together. The Anglican Blue Cross shop has been an important part of the Taree Parish and the community for many years having grown from a small beginning in the Parish Hall to a larger retail premises in the central part of the town. Sorting was done separately in another location where a team of people came together to sort and process the wonderful donations. The two premises have worked well but it is now time to look towards the future and bring both sections together in a new larger facility that provides the ability to better care for our volunteers, the community and the environment. We are excited with the opportunities that this new direction might provide and are focused on creating a respectful positive environment that allows us to extend Christ’s love into the community. If you are visiting Taree we would love to see you, so please drop into the BLUE CROSS SHOP – 43 Manning Street, Taree, for a chat, a cuppa or perhaps and you might even find a bargain… The Opening hours are 9am – 4pm Monday to Friday & 9am – 12 noon Saturday.
Trivia Night at Saint Peter’s
Saint Peter’s Parish Hall, East Maitland, was the venue for a Trivia Night on 10th August. With some 100 people vying to answer the trivial, and not so trivial questions, there was much laughter and discussion around the tables. In addition to the anticipated trivia questions there was coin tossing and even an auction of DVDs from Saint Peter’s Op Shop – who could resist the entire collection of “Walker, Texas Ranger” DVDs? The evening was a fundraiser for Saint Peter’s Church which was deemed a great success by all those who attended.
Wallsend Winter Fair
Saint Luke’s Wallsend enjoyed being part of the Wallsend Winter Fair which runs every year on the Second Sunday in August. Our stall this year had showbags for the kids, free facepainting by parishioner Cath Chegwidden, craft giveaways by our parish craft group ‘Dorcas’, and information and brochures on being a Christian and all the things going on up at Saint Luke’s. Plenty of people stopped to ask questions and have discussions about being Christian, plenty of folk stopped just to make a donation to the church, and an endless stream of smiles and well wishes. God is indeed good.
Supporting Our Farmers
The Parishes of Murrundi and Scone are supporting our farmers as distribution points for families struggling during the drought. Both parishes are working with Food for Farmers and the CWA in being able to assist local families. Scone cover up to about Wingen and Murrurundi are covering their local area, down to Timor and Blandford, and out to Wallabadah, Quirindi, Curlewis … and all points in between. Water and petrol are also urgent needs. Check out the incredible pictures from Murrundi…
Fill A Truck For Famers
The community has been proud to be a part of being able to deliver carloads of goods to St Augustine’s, Merewether, for Fill A Truck For Famers.
Pop Up Cafe at Anglican Care
Every few months, Anglican Care’s Jesmond Grove hosts a Pop Up Cafe, where residents, families and staff come together for High Tea. It’s all about providing an authentic and relaxing cafe experience without all the fuss of leaving home! As you can see by all of the smiles our latest Pop Up Café was as popular as ever…
Celebrating NAIDOC Week
Manning Valley Anglican College came together recently to celebrate NAIDOC Week with thier school community.
50 Years of MU
Congratulations to Pat Barry of the Parish of Denman who was recognised for 50 years of membership in Mothers Union.
Music Time at Gloucester
The team at St Paul’s Gloucester praised God for families at their recent Music Time thanksgiving service at what was a great day of music, stories and fun.
Mothers Union Gathering
It was a full house at the recent overseas and Northern outreach Mothers Union gathering in the Upper Hunter recently. The MU welcomed Bishop Sonia and special guest speakers Lu Piper and Lyn Lazarus.
Starry, Starry Night
Christ Church Mount Vincent was filled to overflowing with interested and enthusiastic guests as Kirsten Banks presented their National Science Week event on Indigenous Astronomy. The audience, which came from many parts of the Valley and the Central Coast, was given a welcome to country by Aunty Cynthia Morris, before Kirsten gave her dynamic presentation. Following her talk, various flavours of hot soup were served in the churchyard, and guests took the opportunity to view the clear night sky both with the naked eye and Kirsten’s powerful telescope, which was generously provided by Newcastle Astronomical Society. The event was also a fundraiser providing $503.45 to support educational programs at Wilcannia Central School. The parish thanks those who made the event such a success.
Homelessness Week
During Homelessness Week Archdeacon Rod Bower conducted a memorial service for the eleven homeless people who have died on the streets of the Central Coast in the last 12 months. During the service Fr Rod said, ‘No one should live a third world life in a first world country’. Homelessness Week highlights the plight of the homeless throughout the nation. Fr Rod is pictured with new CEO of Coast Shelter Rachel Willis.
SRE in the Community
On Sunday 12 August a team from Hunter Christian SRE, including 3 Anglican representatives, had a stall at Wallsend Winter Festival. The aim was to provide free sand art for kids and promote the benefits of Christian SRE, or School Scripture, to the local community. The day was hugely successful, with the sand art proving extremely popular with children and their families! One parent commented how nice it was to have a free, restful activity at the event. Around 30,000 people attended the Wallsend Winter Festival so it ’s a great way to engage with the community. In addition to handing out leaflets and free bookmarks, almost 100 free bibles were given out, thanks to sponsorship by the Bible Society.
Bishop Charlie Visits Woy Woy
Bishop Charlie is pictured here thanking the Lord by raising his trunk at a joyful combined parish service at Woy Woy on Sunday 29 July. “It was good to welcome him for the first time to the parish and for him to meet the young and old, new and not so new, members of the parish.” A lunch of soup, sandwiches and slices was enjoyed by more than 70 people in the hall after the service.
