Hillston Uniting's Christmas in July

Question :-

What do you get when you put 11 Koreans, 1 Chinese Australian, 1 Japanese, 1 Polish Australian, 1 British Australian, 1 Australian who’s lived in Argentina, 1 Australian with a Welsh name, 2 who’ve lived in Hillston for over 70 years and 1 bog ordinary Australian, all of varying ages, into a room?

Shepherd, Joseph, Baby Jesus, Mary and an angel.

Answer: A night of fun at Hillston Uniting Church’s “English for Non-Native Speakers” Christmas in July.

Young,Tommy,Woody and Andrew open the bon-bons.

We weren’t able to explain why the jokes in the bon-bons aren’t funny but who could? But we wore the hats and ate the food and had a great night of conversation and fun. The hall was decorated with tinsel and a tree, with tea light candles lighting the way up the path to the hall. Everyone brought a small gift to share, which was put under the tree and handed out lucky dip style later in the night.

We sat down to a 3 course roast chicken and veges traditional dinner, complete with a huge plum pudding.

 Kibeom “David”Kim treated us to a Korean sweet, ho-dduk. It looked like a potato scallop but comprising mostly of sugar and cinnamon, it was much sweeter! Yum!

Small servings of the roast were collected on the first round of eating but plates were piled higher the next time. “It’s a good sign when they go back for seconds.” Roma, one of our native speaking volunteers, commented.

The shortbread and cake were a hit too.

In what turned out to be a highlight of the night we played a team game at the end where each team had to create a costume for a Christmas character out of newspaper and sticky tape. The results-Baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, an angel, a shepherd and sheep were amazingly creative!

An international food night is planned to be held in a few months. These social events and English classes are made possible by the same grant from Unitingcare, obtained by Uniting church rural chaplains, which provided for computer classes in Hillston and craft days in Merriwagga, all administered by Hillston Uniting Church.

Meeting People Where They Are.

I spent a great day out at the Nyngan Field Day. 

We had subzero temp early on in the day but it was a fine sunny day as the day went on. Lots of locals, families and visitors filled the show ground. We had a constant flow to our little info table. 

 It was also a coming together of 3 Uniting Church services -Local Minister Jo Smalbil and Lou, her husband, who both fly the Frontier Services patrol flag in the Cobar and Nyngan area, visiting farmers on farm; Uniting Care Burnside Children & Family Councillors, Catherine Thompson and Natasha O’Neill from Dubbo Office and Kate Mudford from Interrelate, a service about building relationships, located at Dubbo too.

At back - Phill, Natasha and Catherine. Front row -Jo and Lou 

The goal of the day was to make connections and bring some light into the darkness of the day to day grind of the drought on their farm and in the communities. The question I am often asked is - “Do people talk to you at such events?” Answer “Yes, they do.” Not always at the stall but on a break people stop us and asked questions and have a conversation. We had many connections at both the table and wandering round.

The cleanest animals in Nyngan -until they leave the table!

As you can see on the table we had information and DVDs as well as our animals (?)/ Stress balls. We had two big storage tubs of the stock and all our stock went by 2 pm. Children would look sideways and we’d ask “Do you want one they’re free?!” A quick look to mum and or dad would bring them over, they’d pick the one they like, have a short yarn and look at the handouts.
 “Can I get a pen?”
  ”Sure.” 
 “I might take one of these too”…. and so info would be out there. 



We did not push, just listened and smiled and explained what our roles are.  Even the store holders would be interested. We found that the cool room for the bar was in the little room behind us, so we had this stream of cases of beer moving through our space and so had good relationship with “the Boys.” “Use the trolley.” We’d sing out as they carried their load. “ Last load, they used the trolley.” “Yeah?“

Meeting people at these events allows them to meet you, not at an office or a service. It was also good for the profile of the Uniting Church to been seen in the community offering a warm, friendly smile and information, reaching out together to all who stopped - families from the land, their children and young people, even grandparents . The team made all welcome and all could take the extra cow, sheep or pig for whoever.  The feedback was positive from the families but also from the Field Day organisers as they roamed around the sites all day.

I will be working with a number of services across the Western District in coming weeks, offering people time out, access to info and an ear to hear their story. Sadly though some areas are moving slowly forward there are still areas doing it tough and maybe doing it that way for some time to come. Much of the government funds have a use by date of December, so there are a host of activities for now but this may not be continued after that at this stage.

The Uniting Care Burnside team are building links so people will have resources in the coming months. Frontier Services will keep calling across the Nyngan- Cobar area and Dave Shrimpton, our Flying Patrol, goes into the far outback.  The Rural Chaplains? -  we will continue Uniting for the Common Good .

Where to next?  Wanaaring, Louth and then the MDB tour.

 Thank you all for your prayer support.  It is a great blessing for us.

                   Matthew 25:40 is the basis of the work we do as Rural Chaplains. 

                         “For as much as you do this for the least, you do it for me.”

Phill Matthews     

Waste Not Want Not goes from Strength to Strength.

Nearly 150 tonnes in three years. These are the startling figures from the WNWN project in the Carrathool Shire since its beginning in 2010. The project, a joint collaboration between the Uniting Church, the Carrathool Shire and Foodbank, was designed to send fruit and veges  that do not meet the very strict specifications of supermarkets to Sydney. They may be too big or too small, or have a small blemish on the skin, and so are rejected by the large supermarket chains.  Potatoes, oranges, pumpkins, olive oil, watermelons and other fruit and veges are all part of the project.

Julie receiving an award from Foodbank CEO, Gerry Andersen

When the project started in 2010 it was envisaged that we might be able to deliver 0.75 tonnes a year – a number that now seems ridiculously small.  Not only have we vastly exceeded this but we now have projects in Leeton and Griffith, and Foodbank has part-time coordinators in Griffith to also source produce. The fresh fruit and  veges going from the Riverina is now averaging  440 tonnes a year. Some produce is also staying in the region and the Meals on Wheels, Red Cross Breakfast program and Griffith CareVan are all benefitting from the supply.

Supportive Carrathool mayor, Peter Laird, also receives an award.

The enthusiasm of the local Hillston community for the project was demonstrated as 32 people gathered for the AGM and dinner. We were delighted to have Foodbank CEO Gerry Andersen and his wife Pat join us for the evening, along with many of our local producers who  have contributed so much.

This project has truly managed to bring together the whole community to work for the benefit of others. From the school kids to those in their 80’s, lots have helped to pick or pack the produce. There has also been extraordinary generosity on the part of local producers.
It is a lived out example of God’s call to us in Matt 25:35, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat  …..”

Julie Greig

Endings and New Beginnings - Sue recounts her experiences at the Riverina Presbytery Retreat - Galong – June 2014.

The End of the Retreat with Communion, in all senses of the word, showed that we had all learned a   lot about New Beginnings. 

The view over the gardens at Galong, looking east.

Set in beautiful Galong, a place designed to refresh the soul, the retreat ran over 3 days for Lay Preachers in the Riverina. The weather was cold and wet and windy outside but we were warm and dry and well fed inside. Each day was a blend of study, discussion, singing, prayer, creativity, Tai Chi, nourishing food and free time.

Musicians, Darren Wright and Jeff Flynn.

Many arrived in need of a break on Monday; some because they were planning to go to new places of ministry, others having begun in new places and some continuing in the same old place but looking to be refreshed and keep going. Most left refreshed and renewed on Thursday.

                     

Ministry of any kind is not for the faint hearted. Many things can impact on us to make us less effective in our ministry. One of these -dealing with loss and grief of any kind -Brian Brown, focused on and walked us through, over the 3 days.

The gathering at morning tea and discussion time.

By recognising the areas in our lives that are causing us grief and feelings of loss, we can name them and work through them, towards new beginnings. To carry them along and let these issues pile up we can exhaust ourselves.

                    

Together we looked at how God the Father in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New, was constantly calling people to new beginnings.

By looking closely at how He did this we had a lot to learn about this process in our own lives, how God challenges us to a life lived to the full and how He supports us on the way, how He has provided a model in the Psalms, the Lament, which names our loss or pain. 

God is reflected in our beautiful surroundings.

Once named in front of God our disappointments and hurts are handed over to Him to deal with. We can then walk on more freely to begin again.

Given time to write our own laments , Larraine Hoffman produced this one,based on her experiences in ministry. It reflects the common experience of us in the grief about the changes in our churches but ends with the hope that God will provide an answer and new life as He has done many times in the past."

Riverina Rural Lament:

Listen to my words, O God and hear my sighs

I am worn out, O Lord, have pity on me,

Give me strength; I am completely exhausted

How long will you wait to help us?

You never know where the new life will come from!
 Hillston bible study group old and new members.

Our numbers continue to dwindle and our

congregation is getting older,

Our loved ones have moved away, and our     

young ones are indifferent

Where do we go from here Lord?

I am gripped by fear and trembling

What is in our future?

How can we find a clear path to follow?

Who is there to lead?

Give praise to the Lord

For He hears our cry for help

The Lord protects his people

The Lord will save his people and bless them.

                                                Larraine Hoffmann

Our communion meal.

                      

Larraine's Lament and our theme song from the retreat,Galilee Song, summarise our time together,as did the closeness of our fellowship as we broke bread together.

 Sue Chapman                  

       
  



Galilee Song

Galilee at dawn

We are reminded in our daily life of Jesus' presence with us.
The cross glows in the evening sky above a busy street
 in Port Macquarie.

Deep with in my heart I feel

Voices whispering to me,

Words that I can’t understand,

Meanings I can’t clearly hear,

Lest I leave myself behind,

Calling me to walk into

Evening shadows one more time!

Refrain: So I leave my boats behind,

Leave them on familiar shores,

Set my heart upon the deep,

Follow you again my Lord!

2. In my memories I know

How you send familiar rains,

Falling gently on my days

Dancing patterns on my pain,

And I need to learn once more,

In the fortress of my mind,

To believe in falling rain

As I travel deserts dry!  
                                  
3.As I gaze into the night,               
Down the future of my years,

I’m not sure I want to walk

Past horizons that I know.         

But I feel my spirit called

Like a stirring deep within

Restless,’til I live again

Beyond the fears that close me in.

(Frank Anderson msc & ChevalierMusic)

On the Road with Rural Chaplain, Phill Matthews

This is a sunrise shot. It was dark when I left home!

“ Come look at this,” Aunty Josie tells me, so we drove up to the cemetery.
 She showed me the re-covered shade house and then we went in.  Across to the far side stands a group of well-kept graves, with colour bursting out in the sunlight. “This is my family - Aunty, uncle, brother and brother-in-Law”. 

Around the graves, as you see in the photo, bottles are turned upside down to mark out the grave. They then cover the top with glass. The glass is collected from around town and then washed and cleaned. Then they boil it all up in a tin and add cold water. This change, from boiling to cold, explodes the glass into the thousands of shapes we see. Some vases are also used.  There are also toys, statues and other momentos on the graves. 

Alongside those there were a number of graves with no markers on them. They will get the treatment too - Josie knows who they are.

She then took me over to the far corner to the grave of a young man from New Zealand who drowned in the river close by many years ago. The other group of graves was related to the other families from the camp. 

There are plans to do some more work from both sides of the Community.  Land Council people are looking to do it as a project.

The small villages or camps sprang up around homesteads, on or close to tribal sites. The history is held by a few, mostly in their heads.  One of the projects I am looking at is getting this history recorded in some form. Fixing up the cemetery is a way of making that happen.





With the help of DPI worker, Ellen Day, we are seeking to start out at Wanaaring. This will be done by both European and Indigenous people in that area. Looking forward to following this up.  It will also hopefully, help build resilience for those facing the drought.

All good 'til the power pole truck came round the corner!

I also talked to the School staff picked up a wayward hat I left behind then   I asked is  there a “quick” way from Weilmoringle to Lightning Ridge via Goodooga as I was meeting with the school Principal and his wife to do some local champion work with them, and hopefully, a new school chaplain.
This connection grew from a meeting at a drought recovery program run few weeks back.  I find it rewarding how, if when we give time to people, many connections grow from these meetings.



 I also wonder why every time I go to The Ridge there is a “big event” on - Melbourne Cup and this trip, State of Origin. "Go the blues, or Reds." This close to the border you have to cover your back. I took the back road home - very interesting road too. The roads get fun after a bit of rain and a lot of drought!

PS    Remember the Murray Darling Blog?     

 Applications for the bus tours are opening for those who would like to find out for themselves the full stories from farmers, scientists and Indigenous people. I am driving one of the mini buses and taking photos (not at same time), as well as being Chaplain for those involved.

Tour details and information about events being co-ordinated by the Murray Darling Basin Group are on the website. https://ucansw.goregister.com.au/mdbtours2014/registration/    

A New Beginning

"Mrs Nash would have loved to see the church full of children"  was one of my thoughts as I took part in the service in the old building of the Condobolin Uniting Church. It was a church which I attended for a number of years but the congregation eventually grew too small to keep it going.

The children singing

But instead of becoming an empty relic the building has a new lease of life. The premises were handed to the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) and they have formed a partnership with a local Aboriginal congregation - Freedom in Christ Ministries.

Di Torrents, Chairperson Regional Council of UAICC with Pastor Beth Wolfe of the Freedom for Christ Ministries

The handover was just wonderful. It was lovely to catch up with a couple of the remaining members from the old congregation and many of my Aboriginal friends from Condobolin. Firstly there was a very inspirational service in the church, which was packed. The highlight was the children singing.

Then lunch under the marquee out the back with lots of time to catch up with friends.

This sort of partnership has come about because the Macquarie Darling Presbytery has a very definite policy to offer empty church buildings to the UAICC if they can use them. The three way partnership in Condobolin is a great example of a wonderful outcome of this policy.

And why did Mrs Nash come to mind ?
Because each week she faithfully put out material for children use but none ever came while I was there. She would have been so touched by all the kids that were in church on this marvelous day!

Bill and Val Nash who gave many years of faithful service to Condobolin Uniting Church (and Methodist church before that)

Julie

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Chaplains in the town of Ivanhoe.

While Phill was on the road to Wanaaring and back and preparing for the Ridge, Julie and Sue took a shorter trip out to Ivanhoe from Hillston.

As far as the eye can see on the road to Ivanhoe.

The biannual Ivanhoe Women's Lunch was on Saturday the 21st, so we decided to go, for Sue to meet a few of the ladies and Julie to meet up with long term contacts and friends. The lunch is organised as a get together by two women, Gerrie and Leonie, so women can share some social time.

Sue was amazed at how far most of the women had travelled to be there. Most came off properties in the area and it was nothing to drive 110-140kms. We thought we were pretty good driving in from Hillston but we had less of a drive then some of the locals.

As one of the ladies said when I commented on it."Well, if you don't do that, you don't go anywhere."

The women were of all ages,all sharing together over a meal and enjoying having a catch up. Also there to enjoy were makeup, clothes and candles to buy, raffles to win and donations to be made for the local hospital auxiliary.
As we enjoyed desserts we were able to converse with several of the ladies; Julie catching up and Sue learning new names and faces.

Unexpected greenery at the Ivanhoe Central School playground.

 A real plus was the possibility which opened up of Clare Primary School, one of the most isolated schools in the state, linking up with a Sydney church and Ravenswood School in a mutually beneficial partnership,similar to that held between Pymble Uniting, Knox, PLC and Enngonia. That was the big news for us of the day.
That- and the rain that threatened to make the road home impassable! Good news for farmers but a bit of a "something to watch" for us.
No worries though-we made it home safely and were blessed with a rainbow on the way.

We almost got the opportunity to drive through a rainbow on the way home.