COMMUNITY NEWS FOR TODAY & THE COMING WEEK

Aboriginal Sunday

On Sunday January 22nd Crossroads Uniting and Hoppers Crossing Uniting congregations will observe the annual remembrance of the white invasion and seizure of the land of New Holland on 26 January 1788.
This is a solemn occasion for lament shared with our indigenous brothers and sisters of Australia.
We are taking up the call of Aboriginal Christian Leader William Cooper, for churches of all denominations to mark this day as Aboriginal Sunday, a day for Christians to act in solidarity with Aboriginal peoples and the injustices being experienced.

Klaenna P 1938–2023 (94)

Introducing Site T

Site says: “I grew up in the small village of Lepea, three miles inland from Apia, the capital of Samoa. On our farm we raised cows, pigs and chickens; we grew and ate taro and breadfruit. I have four sisters and four brothers. I loved sport—I played in the Samoan Hockey Team for the Oceania trophy in Fiji, in 1984.”
Site attended the nearby Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, taught by the Marist Brothers. “They expected us to work for excellence, and by example they taught us Christian values. I and my family attended the village church, founded by the London Missionary Society. My dad and my grandfather were elders of the church.”
On leaving school, Site worked in the government statistics office. At age 24 he like many young Samoans moved to Auckland, to find work and become a New Zealand citizen. After two years working there, he came to Australia in 1988. He worked with Kraft Foods, then with pharmaceutical companies and Toll, and now with Linfox in Laverton.
Site met and married Lynette his wife, a New Zealander, and they settled first in Yarraville. They have two adult sons—Elkanah (25) and Shiloh (24).
Site came to Hoppers Crossing UC during the time of the Rev. Paul Blacker. The Rev. Fa’amata’u Leota encouraged Site to be a leader of the Men’s Breakfast Group, elder and Council member.
May God bless the members of our two church councils, at this time of decision making. (NT)

Please keep on praying!

It’s been a special time here in Australia on home assignment for the L family and we have loved catching up with them. They are heading back to Galmi. Please keep on praying as they feel encouraged by our partnership with them in prayer. Please continue to pray for Andy, Cathy and the family over this coming transition, and for the people living in and around Galmi and in this section of West Africa. If you would like to receive more news from Galmi email: (contact office for details)
Armando and Luciana went to visit the family and shared a couple of “mates” with them. (LM)

Congregational Meetings

Today, following the worship service, both congregations are to hold separate congregational meetings.

Vale Carly Stiglich 23/12/83–12/1/23 (39)

A Thanksgiving Service to honour Carly will be held at Crossroads Uniting Church on Friday 20 January at 1.30pm.

Single Use Plastics Ban effective 1 February

The Victorian Government’s ban on problematic single use plastics comes into effect on 1 February. From 1 February 2023, single-use plastics will be banned from sale or supply in Victoria. The ban applies to single-use plastic drinking straws, cutlery, plates, drink stirrers, and cotton bud sticks made from conventional degradable and compostable plastics. The ban also applies to food service items and drink containers made from expanded polystyrene.
(From the Wesley Geelong Uniting/ Western Heights Uniting Sustainability Newsletter January 2023 – NT).

Environmental good news

• Tilos, a tiny Greek island, recycles up to 86% of its trash, a record high in Greece — and now its landfill is shut.
• 500 tons of compostable materials are collected from San Francisco each day, helping to divert some 80% of the city’s waste from landfills.

What’s On This Week – 22 January

• 22 January: 10am Audrey Kateena
• 29 January: 10am Rev. Fa’amatu’a Leota
• Thursday: 9.30am Gardening Group

Bible Readings

Isaiah 99:1–4; I Corinthians 1:10–18; Matthew 4:12–23; Psalm 27:1, 4–9.

ROSTERS: