If you volunteer for anything at Church, please take about 10 minutes to complete this survey. The information gained will help the Uniting Church to have the data it needs to better respond to changes in workplace safety laws.

This sermon originally included the names of a lot of real people, which was fine when spoken but is inappropriate on the Web.  With the exception of my brother, his wife and the Japanese potter Takeshita Shikamaru, all the names in this written version have been changed to invented names of the same ethnicity as the originals.  I don’t know any people who have these names, and if I have invented a name of someone you know it’s purely coincidental.

Acts 10:44-48 | John 15:9-17
I had thought this sermon through before I realised that I’d be giving it on Mothers Day, …

Great big thank you to all those who helped out with, came along to, or otherwise supported the trivia night last week. A great time was had by all, and it looks like, once all the numbers are added up, we’ll have raised around $800 for our work with children and families!

Don’t miss the Trivia Night organised by The Growing Place on Saturday… Book online or by calling Chris!

What an amazing walk! A gentle breeze brushed us while the Harbour sparkled under a blue skies and cotton wool clouds, and all around us was the history of the industrial and social development of Sydney.  James, Annie, Rachel, Tertius, Andrew, Sue, Kit and new Cartophile Trent continued our celebration of Sydney Harbour with the third section of the Harbour Circle Walk, from Huntleys Point Wharf, Gladesville, to the Balmain East Wharf.  This is the first walk the Cartophiles have done that is almost all on pavement.  It also marked two years since the first ever Cartophiles walk!

Heavy rain and flooded creeks forced us to defer this walk one week, so only four Cartophiles finally took part. Kit boldly billed the walk as a “great introductory walk for newcomers to hiking camping” that is suitable for children, so seven year old Gabriel cam with Michael, Sue and Kit to face the wilds of the Heathcote National Park. Kit may have overstated the suitability for beginners.

Under a threatening sky – but without any substantial rain while we walked – four Cartophiles left Cowan Station for Jerusalem Bay.  Annie, Sue, James & Kit dared the wet weather for a chance to picnic near one of the most iconic views along the Great North Walk.  We weren’t disappointed.
It had been raining hard all week, and a light drizzle persisted as we set off.  The track by Cowan station was muddy and covered in puddles, and the group of walkers we bumped into coming the other way told stories of nearly impassable creeks.  The rain let up soon …

On Sunday 25^th we’ll be celebrating communion with a family meal at 4pm at The Growing Place. Come and join us, or contact Sureka to find out more.

You might have seen our own Amanda featured in this month’s insights, talking about Lay Ministry training. The Living is Giving website has another part of the same interview, in which Amanda was asked about her work with kids. Read it on the Living is Giving website!

The Cartophile’s youngest regular walker, Gabriel, was disappointed that his first hiking camp was deferred because of the heavy rain.  As consolation, his father, Michael, with Sue & Kit, staged an impromptu walk along the Great North Walk from Galston Gorge to Crosslands.  Michael and Gabriel carried their big packs as a training.
The start was delayed by a tree down across the access road to Crosslands when we went to position a car at the end point.  Fortunately for the Victorian tourist stuck on the wrong side of the tree a frendly neighbour with a chainsaw came to the rescue …