COMMUNITY NEWS FOR TODAY & THE COMING WEEK

Welcoming Judy and Hamish

Judy says: “I grew up in Warracknabeal and Nhill, attending Methodist then Uniting Church; I completed Primary School teacher training majoring in Music. I taught music (guitar and choirs) in schools and sang in church choirs from a very young age; my love of music and the church led to conducting Neil Street UC choir from 1999 to the present, making lifelong friends.” Judy also directed an ecumenical all-female choir, the MissChords, for a time.
Hamish says: “I’m originally from Tasmania, where I attended school in Kingston, south of Hobart. I completed an Automotive Mechanics apprenticeship working alongside my father. I came to know the Lord in my early 20s, and I have attended Baptist, Anglican and Uniting churches along the east coast.”
Judy has conducted the Neil Street UC choir of 40 members for annual Easter and Christmas musicals (with a small orchestra), performing also at the Ballarat Choral Festival and Donald Uniting Church.
She says: ‘Hamish and I have been blessed to meet later in life and are enjoying getting to know each other’s adult children. We watch Hamish’s youngest son play football on weekends; we listen to my daughter, a flautist and son, a violinist, play in concerts. We like to visit with Hamish’s eldest son who is a doctor in Newcastle.”
Hamish and Judy are enjoying getting to know the folk of Crossroads congregation. The members of Crossroads are glad to welcome them! (NT)

Methodist history in Werribee

The Methodist cause in Werribee had more than one start. In the late 1850s, following early Wesleyan Methodist services conducted by Sam Hayes, a school teacher at Truganina, a bluestone Wesleyan Methodist church was built on the bank of Skeleton Creek in Truganina. For a few years the building was used as a school, until a school was built in 1869. Later, the building was sold and the stone used to build a house in Truganina. In Werribee township land was reserved for a Primitive Methodist church in 1869 and trustees were appointed in 1872. Figures for 1871 show 83 Methodists lived in the Shire. Apparently, no church was erected then.
In 1890 a Wesleyan minister (George Tregear) who was minister at Laverton and he visited Werribee and held open air services on the banks of the river. The first records of a congregation date from 1895 when the Rev. H.M. Jennison began services in the old Shire Hall. The congregation gradually diminished and boys from Wesley College came to conduct meetings in the streets and in the old Shire Hall. As a result of this, the Rev. A. Doran was appointed to the circuit with a congregation of 13. A wooden 200 seat church was built in 1899 and 280 people attended the first service on March 19.
In 1949 the jubilee of the congregation was celebrated with the Rev. Dr G. Calvert Barber as the guest preacher. The minister at the time was the Rev. C. H. Plummer. The organist was Mrs A. McKinnon. St Luke’s, as it was known, was located on Synnot Street (about where Office Works).
After church union in 1977 Crossroads held services at 9 am and 10.30 am family service at St Luke’s. By this time the 1899 St Luke’s had been replaced by a more modern building. Ray Scholl was last Methodist minister.
In 1987/88 St Luke’s property was sold (there were no historical overlays on that property) and the proceeds used to build the foyer/kitchen and side entrance to Crossroads church, the current manse, and the first Hoppers Crossing church. (Ed.)

Church Fête

Church council have agreed to have a Church Fete on 15 October 2022, 9am until 2pm.
We will set up as many stalls as possible—depending on our volunteers. In the past we have had Devonshire teas in the foyer, A barbeque outside, Books, Cakes, Jams, Craft, Nearly New and Secondhand Jewellery inside and, of course, Plants and Trash and Treasure outside.
Please put this date in your diary now and let Alan T or any of our Church councillors know if you would like to help on the day. (Margaret G)

Visit to Narana Creations October 8

Crossroads Justice Task Group members are arranging the visit. You can register with Armando A 0423922414 and Luciana M 0478655957, co-ordinating transport. Carpooling will meet in Crossroads church car park at 9 am. Trains are from Wyndham Vale to Marshall Rail Station. We expect morning tea with delicious indigenous foods will be available. Look around the Narana shop which offers indigenous artifacts and souvenir clothing and discover excellent gifts. (NT)

Multi-faith vigil and service for the environment

Concerned about political inaction on global warming? On Thursday 13 October, faith communities around Australia will meet for vigil (8 am Christ Church Anglican, Moorabool St Geelong, 5.10pm St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, Melbourne). People will sign an Open Letter to PM Albanese, calling on the Australian Government to (1) stop approving new coal and gas projects; (2) end public subsidies for fossil fuel projects; and (3) create a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty to support a just transition to renewable energy sources. Crossroads members will travel by train. All are welcome to attend the vigils and the multi-faith service at 5.10pm at St Paul’s Cathedral, Melb. (NT)

Shirley D, long-time faithful member of Crossroads Uniting Church, died in her sleep this week. Our sincere condolences to Lindsay, her daughter Megan and sons Matthew and Mark.

What’s On This Week

• 2 October: Rev. Sandy Boyce: World Communion Sunday & Blessing of the Animals
• 9 October: Rev. Annetia Goldsmith

• Wednesday: 1pm UC Adult Fellowship (Crossroads)
• Thursday: 9.30am Gardening Group (Crossroads)
• Saturday: Visit to Narana Creations (see notice)

Bible Readings – 2 October 2022

Lamentations 1:1–6; 2 Timothy 1:1–14; Luke 17:5–10; Psalm 137

ROSTERS: