April – May 2022 Newsletter
St. Andrew’s Uniting Church, Longueville
April – May 2022 Newsletter
Easter Hope for a Better Life
Hopelessness is a sad thing. Once you have lost hope, it is difficult to regain that hope to continue your way forward or complete a task that you have already commenced. Losing hope weighs heavily on an individual and probably on us as well. The disciples of Jesus were in a similar situation when they saw His death on the cross or heard about it. Their lives were shattered with no hope. They had once put their trust and hope in Him, who was the Son of God, the promised Messiah. But He was no more.
Then Jesus appeared to them after His resurrection, they were surprised, not expecting to see Him again. But He was well and alive. He appeared to them to encourage and fill their hearts with the real hope of the resurrection, to take away their fears and doubts. He appeared to them and invited them to be His witnesses in the world, encouraged them with golden words, promised peace and gave them the spiritual power they needed to move forward and do their part to spread the good news of salvation.
Today, as we look around and see what’s happening in the world, the natural disasters, the pandemic, violence, war, abuse and so on, we feel ourselves in a hopeless situation.
Let us remember that life without hope is worthless, Christ’s resurrection gives us a new hope to look to life with a new perspective with the promise of eternity.
Let us not hope for the life we have in this world, but rather have the real hope of the eternal life, which is possible through Christ.
Let us live well our lives today and hope for the best yet to come by the grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen!
Rev. Dr. Krikor Youmshajekian
LOOK WELL TO THIS DAY
by Linda Hopkins
Look well to this day for it is life
The very best of life.
On its brief course
Are all the realities and truths in existence
The joy of growth
The splendour of action
The glory of power.
For yesterday is but a memory
And tomorrow is only a vision
But this day, if well lived,
Makes every yesterday a memory of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well therefore to this day.
CHURCH COUNCIL REPORT
It is indeed wonderful that we are at last able to worship and sing in our beautiful church. Our pizza and movie nights and TIME 4U resumed in March, much to the joy of all.
The NCLS and Life and Witness consultation have both been completed, we have yet to receive the results. We will share these with you when they arrive.
At our interim congregation meeting on Sunday February 27, there was a majority decision to continue supporting the Demirchian family in Artsakh or perhaps a different family. Our target of $3,000 will be easily reached with a donation of $120 each. This can be done in instalments.
If you were not at the meeting and would like a copy of the reports, please ask Krikor.
During Lent those who attend the worship service will be given a booklet ‘Planning your Funeral’. Please take it home and consider answers to the questions posed. If you did not receive a booklet, please ask Krikor for one.
There will be a federal election sometime in May 2022. No doubt we will be approached to be an official polling place, we will therefore have a stall selling books and homemade goodies. Your help and contributions will be gratefully accepted.
On March 23 a group of 18 who had been on one of Krikor’s Armenian trips gathered for a Middle Eastern reunion dinner. The meal and fellowship was great but the after effects not good – Ned, Ian, Stan and Ivy all came down with COVID! Ned spent a few days in hospital but thankfully is now home. We wish them all a speedy recovery.
It was lovely to see a great many members of the Feather family on March 27 for the baptism of Lydia Maxine Trovato, David Feather’s granddaughter. Our church members were small in number due, in part, to the aforementioned COVID situation. We hope to welcome everyone back for Easter celebrations.
We are pleased that Krikor has now recovered from his dose of COVID and is planning some annual leave in the second half of the year. The dates are not final, but we will have relief ministers when he is away.
Here’s to a holiday for everyone!
Penny Goodley
OUR NATIVE BEEHIVE and THE FRONT GARDEN
The bees are doing well despite the recent rain events. We had planned a working bee in the garden on March 30, but the ground was too wet. At present we do not have an alternate date. When a date and time is set, we will let you know and ask you to come and give us a hand.
OUR BANK DETAILS
Thank you for depositing money into the church bank account by EFT.
If convenient for you, you are welcome to continue. We bank with Westpac
BSB 032 085, a/c 810147.
TIME 4 U, Wednesdays at 10:00 am
Time 4U recommenced on Wednesday 2 March at 10:00 am when we welcomed back our regulars. We had a surprise visit from Bonnie Campbell on March 30. She has moved from Gulgong to Halliday’s Point (Ph: 6559 2359) and looks very welll. She sent greetings to all.
If you need transport or have any questions, please call Frank on 9427 3215.
Cost: $5 for homemade morning tea and a welcoming and friendly morning amongst friends.
PIZZA AND MOVIE NIGHT, First Tuesday of the month
6:30 pm Tuesday 5 April: Woman in Gold, the biographical drama on the life of Californian Maria Altmann who fought for over a decade to reclaim a portrait of her aunt stolen by Nazis during WWII. Starring Helen Mirren and Ryan Reynolds.
6:30 pm Tuesday 3 May: Singin’ in the Rain, an American classic, a musical romantic comedy directed and choreographed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donan, starring Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds.
Bookings: 9427 4740 or 9428 4287
Cost $10. Please bring your own drinks.
MOTHER’S DAY LUNCH
On Sunday 1 May we will have a Lunch to remember our mothers and honour them. If you wish to attend the Lunch, please register your name on the booking sheet. There will be a small charge to help cover costs.
LANE COVE MUSIC
Our second concert for 2022 at 7:30 pm on Tuesday 10 May in Lane Cove Mowbray Anglican Church will feature Andrew Rumsey (Piano) and Thomas Azoury (Clarinet) performing well known works from the romantic repertoire, along with some amusing anecdotes. Membership subscription ($80 for the remaining 5 concerts) and ticket bookings can be made in advance via our website https://lanecovemusic.org.au or $25 tickets at the door.
Enquiries: Chris Butters 9428 4287
APRIL DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
Apr 3, Sun 9:30 am – Sunday Communion Service
Apr 5, Tue 6:30 pm – Pizza/Movie Night ‘Woman in Gold’
Apr 6, Wed 10:00 am – Time 4U and every Wednesday
Apr 10, Sun 9:30 am – Palm Sunday Service
Apr 13, Wed 12:30 am – Elders/Church Council Meeting
Apr 15, Fri 9:30 am – Good Friday Service
Apr 17, Sun 9:30 am – Easter Sunday Service
MAY DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
May 1, Sun 9:30 am – Sunday Communion Service
May 1, Sun 11:30 am – Mother’s Day Lunch
May 3, Tue 6:30 pm – Pizza/Movie Night ‘Singin’ in the Rain’
May 4, Wed 10:00 am – Time 4U every Wednesday
May 10, Tue 7:30 pm – Lane Cove Music – at LCM Anglican Church.
Featuring Andrew Rumsey (Piano) and Thomas Azury (Clarinet).
May 11, Wed 12:30 am – Elders/Church Council Meeting
May 29, Sun 12:00 am – Lower North Shore Zone Churches Meeting with lunch at Willoughby Uniting.
JUNE DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
Jun 1, Wed 10:00 am – Time 4U and every Wednesday
Jun 5, Sun 9:30 am – Sunday Communion Service
Jun 7, Tue 6:30 pm – Pizza/Movie Night ‘Breathe’
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To contact Krikor call on 0418 417 411
standrewsunite@tpg.com.au
Church Office phone: 9427 4740
Church Website
http://www.longueville.unitingchurch.org.au