NEWS

Our Annual Special Christmas Music Service

The service of Carols and Readings held on Sunday 16th December 2018 was several months in the planning. First came the task of choosing carols and readings and then over the month leading up to the service there were intensive weekly practices.

Our service was based on the the Christmas Eve “Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols” introduced at King’s College, Cambridge in 1918. Whilst not all the readings from King’s have been used, ours were selected from them and from those used in the Advent Carol Services at King’s, John’s and Trinity Colleges. In choosing we have sought to create a dialogue between the carols in the service. Our thanks go to all the readers and singers, particularly the friends and family from outside the congregation who have augmented The St Martins Singers.

Our choir of 20 sang in full voice and the performance was followed keenly by the congregation and enjoyed immensely.

A special thank you to Geoff Hinde for his patient and inspiring leadership of our music and to Rosa Hwang our accompanist.

>> Photographs of the Choir in full voice can be viewed here

On Friday 7th December approximately 40 members of the Church Congregation met at the Church Hall for a wonderful gathering of fellowship, friendship and fine food. It was extra pleasing to see some old faces join us for the evening.

All families contributed salads and desserts to enjoy along with the barbecued chickens, chips and quiches on offer.

A wonderful array of desserts tempted the palates and wastelines of those enjoying the evening.

Singing of Christmas carols with Geoff Hinde conducting and our wonderful pianist Janette Barklamb enthusiastically leading the group.

Many thanks to Wendy Hinde for her hard work organising this much loved annual event on the church calendar and we look forward to a repeat next year.

>> Photographs of the evening can be viewed here.

 “Empty” Christmas Tree at our local Community Branch of Bendigo Bank

Our church’s latest Mission involves working with the Beaumaris Community Branch of the Bendigo Bank to place an “EMPTY” Christmas Tree at the bank for gifts and non-perishable food items to be placed under by members of our local community. This proved to be an extremely successful mission. These goods were delivered to Family Life in Cheltenham for distribution to members of our community who are facing tough times in the lead up to the Festive Season. Thanks to Wendy Hinde for donating the tree, decorations and tub for goods, Alison Davies for the art work and communication with the bank and Graeme McLean for transporting the three loads of items to the delighted staff at Family Life. This was a wonderful community collaboration – we supplied the flyers, posters and tree and the bank spread the word, firstly by emailing all of the Concourse Traders. The traders were extremely generous and Bruce Edmunds and Associates put it out on social media, which in turn encouraged local people to donate. The response was overwhelming and the bank will continue to have a tub for non-perishable food items in the bank on a permanent basis. The bank staff were enthusiastic and loved encouraging their customers to participate and explaining what it was all about.

We will certainly be doing this again next year with our Community Bank and will start in mid-November.

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Just a thought!

Merry Christmas from the Beaumaris Uniting Church

Christmas Day

With a congregation of approximately 90, Christmas Day at St Martins was indeed a joyful celebration of the birth of Christ. It was good to greet old friends again on such a significant day in the Christian year. The culmination of the lighting of the Advent candles with wreath meditations along with the singing of joyous Christmas Carols, set everyone in good steed for the day of family celebration ahead. 

Over the Christmas period of Advent, we celebrated HOPE, PEACE, JOY and LOVE and finally on Christmas Day the anniversary of the birth of CHRIST.

The “empty” Christmas Tree

On Sunday 9th December we had an “empty” Christmas Tree as part of our children centric family service.  The congregation brought unwrapped gifts to place around the tree during the service.  These were passed on to Family Life for distribution to families experiencing difficulty at this time.  We are grateful for the generosity of  our congregation and Family Life were delighted with our donations, which were distributed to some of the 100 needy families they look after in the area.

The traditional family children’s christmas service was packed full of creative activites. There was children’s Christmas story time and plenty of carols which were enthusiastically played along to with percussion instruments of all types, in addition  we had a “Time of Creativity” at a choice of 6 Activity Stations.

One group dressed up accordingly then practised a re-enactment of the Nativity (Telling the Story), which was later performed as part of the service once we had re-gathered – to the delight of the congregation. A special highlight was our minister Scott, as a donkey – complete with phone braying noises! Meanwhile others sang Favourite Carols, or made Advent Chains and some made clever Advent Wreaths from their hand cutouts.  One group spent their time “Mapping The Journey” while in the Reflective Space others were kept busy colouring in Christmas Scenes. The congregation moved between activities and the smiles on their faces reflected their enjoyment of this special service.

>> View the photographs of the Children’s Christmas Service 2018
 
>> Download Flyer for Children’s Christmas Service 2018
 
>> Family Life Christmas Appeal 2018

>> Beaumaris Community Carols by Candlelight 2018

 

SUNDAY 21st OCTOBER at 10:30am

A Congregational Meeting was held on Sunday 21st October following the 9:30am Church service.

The meeting addressed a recommendation of the Church Council with respect to same gender marriage.

Two options are open to Uniting Church congregations and separately to ministers. Rev Scott Finlay gave an excellent presentation with regards to understanding the biblical context of same gender relationships.

The Church Council made the recommendation that we allow same gender marriages to be conducted at our church, with God’s blessing. There was overall concensus of the proposal. Our Minister Rev. Scott Finlay had previously said that he would be happy to conduct same gender marriages whether it be in the church or elsewhere.

Letter to the Editor in The Age Newspaper on 7th August 2018

Of all the sayings and epithets that I used to hear as a kid growing up in Australia, the one I most admired was ‘to err on the side of generosity’. Richie Norton’s great advice seems to have fallen on deaf ears when we hear of so many people not qualifying for the NDIS. We keep hearing about people with crippling disabilities who seem to miss out on the assistance they so desperately need that would make such a difference to them and their carers.

As a nation, we seem to have become hardhearted in our government’s treatment of asylum seekers, refugees, homeless folks, unemployed young people and even those women who are victims of domestic violence. Too often these people are collectively made to feel like they are ‘rorting the system’, or ‘it’s their own fault’. We can always find excuses for turning a blind eye to those in need or for not helping those who are down on their luck. Misfortune can happen to anyone.

Richie Norton’s advice holds a deeper truth. Generosity is regarded as one of the key ingredients to enhanced mental health.

Adam Lindsay Gordon’s epithet comes to mind:

“Life is mostly froth and bubble. Two things stand like stone. Kindness in another’s trouble. Courage in your own.”

We can all try a little more kindness. We just might benefit from it too.

Nick Toovey.
Congregational Chairperson