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Church Services & Virtual Morning Cuppa Detailspage 2

From The Minister's Desk - Rev. Ikani pages 3, 4 & 5

Prayer Points For The Weekpage 6

Geelong Seniors' Festivalpage 7

Birthdays & Executive Updatepage 8

Happy Birthdayspage 9

Community Sharingpages 10

Victoria - FAQs

from Vic.Gov.

The latest news and

restrictions

page 11

BELMONT UNITING CHURCH

W e e k l y E m a i l N e w s l e t t e r

A u g u s t 3 0 2 0 2 0 I s s u e 2 2

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Inside This Issue

Favourite Holiday Story 

Aus. Trip 

Family Holiday Story 

Funny Story 

Favourite Sports Story 

Psalm 105 1-6Sing to him, sing praises to him,

tell of all his wonderful works!

The worship will start at 10.00am. The Zoom meeting room will be open from9.30am. If you think that you will need help with the Zoom technology pleasejoin at 9.30am. This will allow Ben to assist you as needed.

 Please also note that the Sunday service will be recorded and made availablethrough our website and YouTube page later in the day.

Belmont Uniting Church invites you to our Sunday Serviceat 10.00am followed by our Virtual Morning Cuppa

Aug 30, 2020 - 10.00am Service

Both our Service and Virtual Morning Cuppa each Sunday will share the same link copiedbelow.

https://zoom.us/j/97002448188?pwd=U1BROTd4eEQ0QWdTK3RVc1Izc3l0Zz09

Meeting ID: 970 0244 8188Passcode: 1234

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iPad to Borrow If you would like to watch our service but do not have a computer, please speak with the Executive as we now have an iPad that you can borrow any time during the week.

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Pastoral Care Committee Convenor: Liz Moss - 0428 579 479Elizabeth Wood - 03 52434684Loris Jackson - 0418 334 994Katrina Hass - 0400 465 023Brian Couper - 0403 591 635Neville Funston - 0423 712 398Ikani Vaitohi - 0432 680 028

What's New on our secure pagethis week -Please go tohttps://buc.unitingchurch.org.au, click on 'Member Area' thenput in password and ENJOY!

New PasswordThe secure page on our website is for our members access only. In order to maintain the security of

this page, we will change the password access from time to time. The new password will be emailed tothose with email addresses or is available by phone from the minister.

*********************************** CHURCH BULLETINS TO MAKE YOU CHUCKLE

The sermon this morning - "Jesus Walks On Water". The sermon tonight - "Searching for Jesus".Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worthkeeping around the house. Bring your husbands.Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.The Fasting and Prayer Conference includes meals.The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.

Dear Friends, Often in times of uncertainty, our attention seems to turn to that which is known and familiar toprovide us with the comfort and assurance we crave. For me, there are two things – the Word of Godand the environment. Both of which I enjoy in abundance from the comfort of my bedroom. The east-facing position of my bedroom window allows me to welcome the early morning sun and greet thefreshness of the morning breeze with ease.  Every morning I give thanks to God for the beauty and wonder of his Creation, allowing me toappreciate the intimacy of my connection with God and all that he has created.  I know that we, as a congregation, also share this deep appreciation of God’s Creation. You may recallthat it was in October last year our Christian Education and Social Justice Committees facilitated a verysuccessful series of seminars titled “Christian responses to Earth’s Environmental Crisis”. Theseseminars challenged us to return to our biblical roots to rediscover in a fresh way our connections withand responsibility to care for God’s Creation.  So, in response to this challenge, this coming month of September, we will devote our Sunday servicesto exploring themes based on the Season of Creation as promoted by our Synod. The backgroundinformation for this season is provided hereunder for your perusal. Please refer to attached flyer for thetheme of each Sunday.   

Rev Ikani Vaitohi

 The Season of Creation - An Australian Story by Norman HabelWe celebrate the season of Advent before Christmas. We celebrate the season of Lent before Easter. When do we celebrate the season of Creation? And where did this season begin? This new season of the church year is celebrated during the four Sundays of September that precede St Francis of Assisi Day (4 October).Around the world, churches are become acutely aware of the environmental crisis. Our precious planet is at risk. In response, many congregations in the Western world have celebrated Earth Day, World Environment Day or St Francis of Assisi Day.

The season of Creation begins as an Australian story.

I, like many in our Lutheran Church in Australia, grew up in the bush. I climbed every tree within miles.I felt close to Creation: the soil, the streams and the sounds of the bush. Celebrating the Creation I lovehas long been one of my dreams.In 2000, at St Stephen’s Lutheran Church, Adelaide, South Australia, we decided to celebrate Creation.For four weeks we relived the great creation stories in the Bible. The children loved it. We alsoconfessed what we have done to Creation and how God is working to renew Creation. It was an excitingbeginning!From 2001 to 2003 I worked with the Uniting Church Commission for Mission in Melbourne, Victoria.After a series of workshops, their leaders agreed to explore the idea of a season of Creation. The ideawas a genuine local dream, not a product from abroad.In 2003 and 2004 the Uniting Church in Melbourne provided the funds to develop the resourcesneeded to celebrate the season of Creation. In September 2004 the season was trialled in about fiftycongregations in Melbourne and Adelaide. My thanks to the Uniting Church for taking the risk tosupport this Australian venture of faith.In 2005 the season of Creation is an option for congregations across Australia. But not only Australia!Lutheran churches and the National Council of Churches in USA are planning to introduce the seasonof Creation in 2005. People in Europe and New Zealand are also interested. In Australia, missiondepartments of the Lutheran Church have endorsed the project.The season of Creation offers an opportunity for churches to introduce new visual elements into theirworship and to be ecumenical and connected with Creation in a particular context. The Sundays of thefirst year in the three-year cycle of Creation are called Forest Sunday, Land Sunday,Outback/Wilderness Sunday and River Sunday. Congregations can turn the sanctuary into a vibrantpart of Creation as they celebrate with Creation.

The Season of Creation is now celebrated in many countries around the world now and in 2012 thewebsite had over 10,000 hits.

From the Minister's Desk -

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Lectionary Readings

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Materials for 'Worship at home" are prepared by the © ROOTS for Churches Ltd 2020 www.rootsontheweb.com

August 30 - Pent 13Ex 3: 1 - 15Psalm 105: 1-6Rom 12: 9 - 21Mt 16: 21 - 28

Opening Prayer‘Lord, the disciples gathered around you, trying so hard to answer your questions, and to cope withdifficult news. We come before you now and ask your blessing, as we seek to understand more of yourstory – your tough and challenging, but so good story! Amen.

Reflection Peter thought that his confession meant that Jesus was the conquering Messiah who would lead his armyto drive the Romans into the sea and take back the land. Not so, says Jesus. It means suffering andrejection. Peter is having none of it. Suddenly we are back in the desert of temptation with Jesus rebukingBible study the devil who would seek to divert him from his mission. Whereas his confession was adivine revelation, Peter’s rebuke of Jesus was all too human, even demonic.The first mention of crosses is not the one Jesus will lift – he talks only of his suffering – it is the one thatany who would follow him must take up. There is real risk of suffering if we follow Jesus. But there is alsothe hope of finding the only truly rewarding life (vv.25-26). It is not by clinging to the things that matterto us, the insights we have gained – even though they may have come from God – or the place we havecarved out for ourselves in the world. All those things result in us forfeiting our lives. It is in losingeverything that we find what we long for.Finally, Jesus refers to himself as ‘Son of Man’. He does this when he is making a significant statementabout his identity. It is almost certainly derived from Daniel chapter 7 where the prophet sees one like ason of man ascending on the clouds and coming to God to be given all authority, an authority that heproceeds to share with all those who are with him.The clue to what Jesus is saying here is in the final enigmatic verse. Some suggest that this refers to thetransfiguration, where some of the disciples see Jesus in his glory (in Matthew’s account this happens justsix days after the events in today’s passage). But it is more likely that this refers to those who witness hisdeath and resurrection. As he comes to the cross and from the grave he is coming into his kingdom.Jesus’ kingship is born of suffering and its glory is seen in that suffering on behalf of a world that needs astory more powerful than another one of a conqueror on a white charger. It needs the story of one wholiberates and overcomes through suffering, through the cross.

Prayer for OthersLord God, you reproached Peter because he had only human concerns; but Peter just wanted to protectthe one he loved. We pray for people the world over who find themselves in difficult situations. We praythat they would all have someone to care for them and lift them before you. We pray for all who arepersecuted for their faith: for all who are misunderstood, for asylum seekers who flee real danger in theirhomeland. We pray for those who work tirelessly to address wrongs. We pray for people whose livesdon’t always work out right, through their fault, or through no fault of their own. We pray for the peoplein our lives who need your protection, Lord, that we will always be faithful in prayer for them. MercifulGod, hear our prayer. Amen.

Jesus invites us to share in his story - Matthew

16:21-28

September 6 - Pent 14Ex 12: 1 - 14Psalm 149Rom 13: 8 - 14Mt 18: 15 - 20

September 13 - Pent 15Ex 14: 19- 31Psalm 114: 1-11, 20-21Rom 14: 1 - 12Mt 18: 21 - 35

September 20 - Pent 16Ex 16: 2- 15Psalm 105: 1-6Phil 1: 21 - 30Mt 20: 1 - 16, 37 - 45

Prayer Requests: Please forward your prayer requests to Liz Moss by emailing - liz.moss@bigpond.com Mobile: 0428 579 479

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Let us remember in our prayers -

John and Doreen Stephens - For comfort during treatment and healing.

Rosslyn Buckwell - For comfort and peace for the loss of her brother Albert

Beryl Hair - For comfort and peace for the loss of her sister Dorothy

Peter Woods - for healing and speedy recovery after his operation

Jannette Mitchell - for healing and speedy recovery after her operation

John Russell - for healing and speedy recovery

Father, we praise you with all your creatures.They came forth from your all-powerful hand; they are yours,filled with your presence and your tender love.Praise be to you!

Triune Lord, wondrous community of infinite love, teach us tocontemplate you in the beauty of the universe, for all thingsspeak of you. Awaken our praise and thankfulness for everybeing that you have made.Give us the grace to feel profoundly joined to everything that is.

God of love, show us our place in this world as channels of yourlove for all the creatures of this earth,for not one of them is forgotten in your sight. Enlighten thosewho possess power and money that they may avoid the sin ofindifference, that they may love the common good, advance theweak, and care for this world in which we live.

The poor and the earth are crying out.O Lord, seize us with your power and light, help us to protect alllife, to prepare for a better future, for the coming of yourKingdom of justice, peace, love and beauty.

Praise be to you!Amen.

Prayer Points For the Week

b y P e t e r W o o d sThis week we

pray for - 

Ralph NeylonCharles NolteJeannine & Greg OmanKane OmanDanielle Oman, Joji Tamani,Zakaraiah, Noah & Leilani

Each week, in alphabeticalorder as per our Church Roll,we are invited to pray for 5members or families of ourcongregation.

This week we are praying forthe following members:

1.2.3.4.5.

PLANNED GIVING ENVELOPES AND FUTURE GIVING.

Envelopes can be collected from the church and are available on the table in the foyer. They can becollected for you by a friend or your visitor if you are at the church at any time. 

Jeannine and Graeme continue to be at the church each Sunday from

10.00 to 10.30 am and envelopes can be collected then. Any members

may use the envelopes even if you haven’t used them in the past.  No

recording of the numbers will be done so just take the envelopes as

required.

Our Treasurer, Jeannine, on behalf of Church Council, thanks sincerely all of our members who havecontinued their giving so generously throughout the whole year, but especially in the past few monthsof lockdown.

Could any cheques sent in the mail have; "Attention Treasurer" on the front of the envelope as this savesGlen opening them. 1. Direct DebitPlease contact myself or Graeme Allen if you require any help doing this, and so we can supply youour banking details 

2. PayPal (via Belmont Uniting Church website) 

3. By mail (cheques only - do not send cash)   Belmont Uniting Church    PO Box 480   Belmont 3216

Please DO NOT place money or envelopes in the letterbox at the Church. Feel free to contact myselfor Graeme if you have any queries: Jeannine Oman -Treasurer - jeannineoman62@gmail.com0499119101  Graeme Allen— Assistant Treasurer - 0416148080-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Young People's ProgramWe offer all our young people our prayers

and support as they continue to adapt to thenew online learning environment from thecomfort of their homes. Part of that support

is the offering of online YPG's programprovided by their leader Lynne Rankin. A

weekly story and activities are prepared andposted up onto our website for our young

people to enjoy. Thank you Lynne for this great initiative.

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Contribution to the Newsletter

If you wish to contribute to ourNewsletter, please email Ray & Julie

Ferguson at the News Desk  rayjulie@internode.on.net

From the Treasurer

b y J e a n n i n e O m a n

News from Murray HostelCyril Germon sends his love to everyone.

He very much enjoys the visual effect of the newsletter and the opportunity the hard copy offers fora brief scan or a more in depth reflection.He has the feeling that BUC is still a very happening place

as it approaches and acts on its mission but in a way relevant to the changed times.

To Don Golding a BIG THANK YOU for acting as our paper boy ( something he hasn`t done since hewas 14!) for delivering the newsletter to our BUC residents whilst Chaplain Robert has been on leave.

Liz Moss

We are so pleased and very thankful to all our wonderful contributors to our Church's Seniors Monthrecipe book. This is going to be an exciting part of this year's Virtual Seniors Festival in October. So many people have spoken or written about lovely memories that are attached to a particular recipe. It makes us all realise how connected our lives are to special people and relatives and food.

A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone from Ray and Julie

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Daffodowndilly by A.A. MilneShe wore her yellow sun-bonnet,

she wore her greenest gown;

she turned to the south wind

and curtsied up and down.

She turned to the sunlight

and shook her yellow head,

and whispered to her neighbour:

"Winter is dead."

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October2020

g r a n d m a ' s s p e c i a l c o o k b o o k

by Members of the Belmont

Uniting Church

CongratulationsCongratulationsGeoff & Liz Aitken

The camellia plant that was presented toGeoff & Liz at the farewell afternoon

Operation Christmas Child Box

The boxes are available for 50 cents from, 96.3FM (Radio Rhema.) at Marshalltown Road, Marshalltown

You can choose to pack for a boy or girl, aged either: 2-4 years or 5-9 years or 10-14 years old. Theboxes are due by the end of October at 96.3FM. (Radio Rhema.)

A $10 postage fee is required, so the total cost is $10.50if you buy a box. Please enclosure the $10.50 in a

clearly marked envelope in the box.

Do pray for the child who will receive your gift.Include a personal note and photo.

Here's the website for more information andbrochures:

operationchristmaschild.org.au

Phone Number: 1300 884 468

For further information please contact Georgina Yates

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J o a n n e C a m e r o n - 3 0 t h A u g u s tL i z M o s s - 2 n d S e p t e m b e r

V e r n o n M a t h e w s o n - 3 r d S e p t e m b e rK e n C a m e r o n - 3 r d S e p t e m b e r

B e t h R u n d e l l 4 t h S e p t e m b e rJ a n i c e S c h n e i d e r - 6 t h S e p t e m b e r

D a v i d Z u c c a r o - 6 t h S e p t e m b e r( T h e 8 0 ' s C l u b )

R i c h a r d B u c k w e l l - 2 n d S e p t e m b e rL l o y d Y a t e s - 4 t h S e p t e m b e r

 

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Joanne, Liz,Vernon, Ken, Beth, Janice, David, Richard & Lloyd happy birthday to you. Hip hip

hooray! Hip hip hooray! Hip Hip Hooray!!!

Thank you to those who have let me know about birthday celebrations particularly the PastoralCarers. I will continue to include these in the newsletter and also will announce them at the service onSunday when possible. Please let me know if there are any more birthdays and celebrations to beincluded via my email.  lynne.rankin@bigpond.com Kind regards Lynne

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Our Presbytery is running a further two online Safe Church Training Sessions on September 7, 2020 from 10am -12pm and also on September 10 from 7pm - 9 pm

The training will be held using Zoom. Anyone who might work with children, or has oversight ofactivities involving children is encouraged to undertake this training. This includes:· Church Council members· members of Committees involved with children (includes Christian Education, Pastoral Care andAccommodation Committees)

· Sunday School and youth group leaders

· Pastoral Visitors

Hosts/Hostesses and Stewards are also encouraged to do this training.

You need to register for the training through this Trybooking linkhttps://www.trybooking.com/BKWGU

You may need to cut and paste the link into your web browser.

You will receive a Zoom link for the session in a registration email.Please feel free to pass this email on to members of Committees and anyone else in the congregationyou think might be interested.

Even if you are not directly involved with children at our congregation, you are welcome to do thetraining as part of our ensuring that we are a child safe organisation.

If you have any queries, please contact Glen Coomber.********************************

Please note : The Crosslight is not mailed out at this time. If you wish to view a copy please go online 

https://crosslight.org.au/

Executive Update

Community Sharing

O f t e n i n t h i s t i m e o f r e s t r i c t i o n w e f i n d t h e d a y s l o n g a n d l o n e l y , e s p e c i a l l y i f w e a r e a l o n e . I t i s a t i m ew h e n w e o f t e n d r a w c l o s e r t o t h e t h i n g s t h a t i n s p i r e u s a n d g i v e u s a l i f t f o r t h e d a y o r a t l e a s t m o m e n t a r i l y .I t m a y b e o u r f a v o u r i t e b i b l e s t o r y o r a p a r t i c u l a r v e r s e , w o r d s a n d t u n e o f a h y m n , a p o e m , a v i d e o f r o my o u t u b e , o r t h o s e p h o t o s f r o m y o u r f a m i l y o r t h a t m e m o r a b l e t r i p . T h e s e t h i n g s a s s i s t a n d s u s t a i n u s a n d Ii n v i t e y o u t o s h a r e t h e m w i t h o u r c o m m u n i t y a s a w a y o f i n s p i r i n g u s a l l . F o r w a r d y o u r c o n t r i b u t i o n t o u sv i a e m a i l ( r a y j u l i e @ i n t e r n o d e . o n . n e t ) a n d w e w i l l i n c l u d e i t o n t h e C o m m u n i t y S h a r i n g p a g e o f o u rN e w s l e t t e r .

A u g u s t 3 0 2 0 2 0 P a g e 1 0

FROM ROD & LORRAINE LEITCH

We thought we would let you know about a coupleof things Rod and I are doing in order to staypositive during the shutdown: - each day we look at some of our holiday photos,and we are planning our next trip (whenever thatcan occur);

- I have discovered that as a library member at themoment, I can access the free library link toAncestry.com from home, and have begunresearching our family history. In the process, Ihave discovered that I have three branches ofancestors who pioneered this region and are buriedin Eastern Cemetery and Mt Duneed Cemetery. Ifany one is interested in finding out about theirancestors, the process is: 1. log into Geelong Regional Library -select Browse - eCollections - then scroll down to Ancestry and select Ancestry - providelibrary membership number and password. 2. By clicking on Public Member Trees,then typing in the ancestor details, all researchalready completed for that ancestor will come upand can be explored.

AN ODE TO ALL COOKS - Lorraine & Rob AngusWhen God made cooks to cook things tender,

He made them out of either gender,thus proving by the almighty plan,

that cooks can be either woman or man.

So here's the chance for everyone,to start to cook and have some funin proving that with culinary art,

it's easy to reach into everyone's heart. A NEVER FAIL RECIPE - Lorraine & Rob Angus

1 cup neatness pots of cheerfulnessDash of colour large friendly smileGenerous amount of understandingCarefully sifted manners and measured words

Method: Combine neatness with a dash ofcolour; add a generous amount of understandingand cheerfulness to taste. Carefully sift manners,and measure your words accurately whenneeded. Beat together until it stands up straightfor good posture. Place in a large friendly smileand cook on front burner. Keep temperature low- don't boil. Add a well developed voice, andserve with pride. Makes everybody happy.

VIP DAY 15th AUGUST 1945"What a Day"

It was indeed "what a day" , and there have beenmany changes in our lives and how we have livedin that space of time.As I write this I am celebrating my 85th Birthday,but I remember the above date very well. I was born in Horsham, my father owned a 740acre wheat farm at Longerenong, some 10 mileseast of Horsham.

VIP day occurred just 5 days before my 10thBirthday. My sister & I attended school atLongerenong State School, and I rode a bike &Merle rode a pony, a distance of just 3 miles. Buton this particular day, mum drove us to school inthe horse & jinker, dropped us off & returned tothe farm. At this stage there was no electricityconnected to the farm, so no phones or heating.We were lined up to go into school when a studentarrived & informed the teacher that Japan hadsurrendered. The school had 20-25 students & oneteacher, who on hearing the news immediately hadthe flag hoisted. We sang "God Save The King", andwe were told we had the day off.Nowadays we would have been able to get on themobile & ask mum to come & pick us up. But wedidn't have a phone let alone a mobile, so we hadto walk the 3 mile trek to home.The first question we were asked was 'why aren'tyou at school?" When we answered why there weregreat celebrations.

It was the end of a very troubling time. Nearlyeverything was rationed during the war. Iremember dad going into Horsham one day toenlist, but he was not accepted as he was a PrimaryProducer and told he was doing his bit. I can stillsee the pleased look on mum's face when he toldher that he was not going to war.Summers were hot, day after day in those timesand the only way mum could have hot water was tohave a wood stove going all day.That was the reason dad sold the farm in early 1946& we moved to Belmont and stayed with mum'sparents for a short time, eventually finishing on afarm at Lara. I enjoyed the first 11 years on that farm atLongerenong and would love to get a chance tovisit in the near future. Wal Harper

Current Restrictions as at Thursday 27th August 2020

Regional Victoria including Geelong is still in the Stage 3 Restrictions.

There are only four reasons to leave home; for food and supplies,medical care and caregiving, exercise and work or study, if you can’twork or study from home.

All Victorian students have moved to remote learning from Wednesday 5August 2020.

All Victorians must now wear a face covering when leaving home. Moreinformation on face masks and coverings is available on our website.

Stay safe by washing your hands regularly, coughing and sneezing into your elbow,keeping at least 1.5 metres from others and staying home if you feel unwell.

If you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) get tested.

A u g u s t 3 0 2 0 2 0 P a g e 1 1

COVID SAFE APPShould we encourage downloading the Federal Government’s COVID-Safe tracing app? Synod Ministriesand Operations would strongly recommend that all people in ministry download the COVID-Safe tracing

app and also encourage all Uniting Church members to do so. 

This is an anxious and uncertain time for everyone, and support is vital and available. For moreinformation about managing stress and support options, call the Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support

Services on 1800 512 348 or visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au.