At Living Faith Church, we spent two Sundays reflecting on this year’s NAIDOC theme and our responses to this call: “Keep the fire burning.”
We considered…
What is it like for us to come closer to this fire?How are we, a church in suburban Melbourne, connected to our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island siblings, these lands, these stories that we hear? What stories do we bring that we offer to God for weaving into the larger story of reconciliation, redemption and unity in The One? Where do the Biblical storylines offer points for honest stocktaking, truth-telling, and reorientation? What in particular is the invitation to each of us from Moses’ encounter with a sacred fire and the presence of the divine on the sacred ground we find ourselves on (Exodus 3)?
Among other creative engagements, the participants of our Craft Group created candle holders that express some of these themes. Different shades of natural-coloured sand represent different parts of this beautiful land. The work that has gone into this project and the conversations around it connect us in yet another way to all these reflections. When we use them again, we will be reminded again of the big story on this land and how we are woven into it.
In June, five members of the Living Faith Church community attended an evening discussion on Queer Spirituality with special guests Reverends Josephine (Jo) Inkpin and Penny Jones. Jo and Penny lead Pitt Street Uniting Church in the heart of Sydney. https://pittstreetuniting.org.au/
Many in the packed-out audience shared their journeys, encouraged by Jo and Penny’s conversation. Jo and Penny also shared a little about the Pitt Street community, which welcomes people regardless of age, race, class, relationship status, language, creed, culture, sexuality, gender identity, or intersex status. Theirs is an ‘affirming to the core’ church that practices justice and compassion.
"Sounds like a Jesus church to me", says Kate Clough - Family, Youth and Young Adult Minister
Jagajaga Community Volunteers Awards 2024
On Saturday 20th April, 2024, Rod Ferris with Mabel Kealty, were two recipients of the Jagajaga Community Volunteers Awards 2024.
There were 2 dozen or more other recipients and it was interesting to hear of their various avenues of service.
Rod’s awards were for Rotary service, for over 35 years, and as Justice of Peace duties for 33 years.
(Photo credit: Kate Thwaites MP)
Mabel’s awards covered her work with the Cancer Council since 2008, organising the Biggest Morning Tea, in most years, at her home, since 2008, and as a volunteer with the Diamond Creek Park Run.
(Photo credit: Kate Thwaites MP)
Sincere congratulations to two of our Living Faith Church Congregation engaged in brilliant community projects.
In early 2024, Donna and Gwenda, dedicated members of the music team, looked in the corner room of the Sanctuary and decided the music, stands, and instruments needed to be organised. With a lot of fun and giggles, they sorted through the congregational music, discarding old and unused music. Ultimately, they indexed the songs and placed them in the top drawers of the filing cabinets to keep them well-preserved and easily accessible for years to come.
Thank you, Donna and Gwenda, for your time and commitment to having fun while organising!
We join Voices for Change in congratulating and recognising Michael Mayne for his dedication and leadership in disability and justice self-advocacy.
Michael was presented with his award at the Fitzroy Town Hall on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, when Voices of Change celebrated four years of disability and justice self-advocacy.
Voices for Change is a self-advocacy group for people with acquired brain injury and experience of the justice system. It exists to support people with acquired brain injury and justice system experience in developing confidence and skills to speak up and have their voices heard.
An acquired brain injury is any injury to the brain after birth and has many causes, including a stroke, an infection, accidents, family violence, brain tumours, drug overdose and long-term alcohol or drug use.
An acquired brain injury has many effects on people, from physical to cognitive and emotional. It affects people’s lives in many different ways.
Voices for Change states that 42% of men and 33% of women in Victoria’s prisons have an acquired brain injury, compared to 2% in the general Australian community.
Robert and Nola MacDonald are members of Living Faith Church and met Michael over 5 years ago through the work of Friends of Dismas, a multi-faith, nondenominational organisation that welcomes everyone regardless of criminal convictions. Their love for others is infectious, and they continue to see and support Michael weekly.
Michael and his supportive partner Sarda come regularly to Living Faith Church.
To learn more about Voices for Change please visit their website or Facebook page.
https://voices-for-change.org
https://www.facebook.com/voicesforchangeaustralia/?ref=embed_page
To learn more about Friends of Dismas please visit their website.
http://www.friendsofdismas.com
We are excited to welcome Ellen Grabner to the Living Faith Church Ministry Team!
Ellen joins us after a long tenure with Doncaster Church of Christ, a community we at LFC have some close connections to. At Doncaster, her role was focused on community building initiatives, and she is excited to bring her passion and expertise for inter-generational ministry to Living Faith.
Please join us in welcoming Ellen into our community.
Easter is almost upon us, and we've got a variety of Easter Services planned, both in person and online.
Maundy Thursday, 28th of March
- 6:30PM — Quiet Meditation from 6:30PM
- 7:30PM — Pascal Dinner
Good Friday, 29th of March
- 9:30AM — Worship Service (This service will be live streamed to our YouTube channel)
Easter Sunday, 31st of March
- 5:30AM — Sunrise Vigil
- 10:00AM — Worship Service
All are welcome to join us at any of these events, whether you are a regular attendee or a brand new face! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at admin@livingfaithchurch.com.au
After more than 14 years as Uniting Church minister of the Living Faith Church (LFC) Greensborough, Reverend Graeme Harrison is retiring on December 17.
Terms are usually around 10 years, but according to Council chair, Alistair Clough: “Reverend Graeme has been such a strong and innovative leader that the church wanted to hang on to such a good leader as long as we could.”
Reverend Graeme says one reason he came to this church was that it is a cooperating church, between the Uniting Church and the Church of Christ, which is rare in Australia. He says he loves celebrating and respecting the differences as well as working in a team.
He was also on a Uniting Church Synod (church assembly) task group that reviewed and modernised the structure across Victoria and Tasmania.
But as Reverend Graeme’s Synod work finished, Covid struck. He says it was a steep learning curve to produce services on-line for people at home. Sadly, funerals during this time were reduced to handfuls of people plus those who could watch online.
One positive of this time was his use of Lego to create mini movies that delighted the children (and older members!) of the congregation.
Reverend Graeme’s time at LFC has been packed with activities that have enriched many lives:
- The church’s support for the Vanuatu Prevention of Blindness Project has grown including exchange visits to Vanuatu.
- The monthly Tucker Club, supplied meals and conversation to people in hardship. But Covid stopped this and it is not known if it will resume.
- Church members regularly visited asylum seekers in permanent detention at a Detention Centre (which has since closed) and the church organised annual fundraisers.
- Responding to Global warming, solar roof panels were installed and the church plans to stop using gas within a year.
- Regular Alpha courses that introduce people to the Christian faith continue to meet a need in the wider community and weekly Bible studies.
- Annual Families Camps are very popular.
- LFC has provided Working with Children training to help ensure a safe environment.
- The church takes part in the annual Safe Water September campaign to fund new wells in developing countries.
Reverend Graeme was also on the joint church committee that funded a secular role for a pastoral care person to connect with isolated people at the Greensborough Plaza. This helped reduce loneliness, and people were directed to services for further help. However that stopped with Covid and the Plaza Management no longer supports it, says Reverend Graeme.
The Chinese speaking Agape Church has been welcomed into Greensborough and shares the LFC building on Sunday afternoons.
Reverend Graeme has a passion for praising God through contemporary music. He introduced much new music for church services and regularly leads communal singing with his guitar.
So what next for Reverend Graeme?
He says - first a break to reassess his future and then a season of writing resources and maybe even a book.
Marguerite Marshall