COMMUNITY NEWS FOR TODAY & THE COMING WEEK

Combined newsletters

This is our second combined newsletter. We hope you found it worth reading. It is necessary to send any information for inclusion in the newsletter by Tuesday.
Marie C (reception@hoppers.victas.uca.org.au) and Robert R are the people to contact.

Beach Patrol today, 11.30 am, Wyndham Harbour

Volunteers at Wyndham Harbour will spend an hour picking rubbish along the beach near Crawfords Rd. Beach Patrol will supply bags for the rubbish and rubbish tongs. Wyndham Harbour will supply free coffee for volunteers after the clean-up. Please bring your own reusable coffee cup, water in a reusable bottle, (gardening/washing) gloves and sunhat. For more information, contact Rob B.

Prayer Meetings and Bible Studies

The Rev. Fa’amata’u Leota will be leading Prayer Meetings and Bible Studies on Tuesdays at Crossroads church, commencing this Tuesday 7th, for all members of both congregations.

• 10am – 11.00am Prayer [for the world, the church, for others and for ourselves] 45 minutes prayer and 15 minutes BYO morning tea and cuppa and fellowship.
• 11.30 pm – 1.00pm Lectionary bible discussion. For an hour or so we look at the gospel lectionary reading for the upcoming Sunday. We conclude with a BYO lunch and fellowship for the remainder of the time.

Next Tuesday Feb 14 we will discuss the story of Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration in Matthew 17:1–9. Come, share your experience and your ideas. (FL/NT)

Occasional Sunday Lunch Out (OSLO)

After a nice long break we will start the year at Altona Sports club, 11 Altona Road. We came here last year and everyone enjoyed their meal. It is booked for Sunday 26 February at 12md and everyone is welcome but Elaine B or Lorna H would like to know you are coming before Thursday 23 Feb. for bookings. Elaine or Lorna (LH)

Meeting Serena L

When she and her husband Calvin T moved to Australia in 2006, they had a 4-year-old and a baby on the way. Calvin works in Information Technology project management.
Serena says, “When we first visited Hoppers Crossing, Rev Paul Blacker and the elders made us feel so welcome, which really helped us feel settled and welcome in our new environment.”
During Serena’s recent 3 years as manager of the Opportunity Shop at Hoppers Crossing, she negotiated the ups and downs of the Covid-19 pandemic; and the closure of that operation due to the building’s structural problems.
Now Serena is an NDIS independent support worker. “I find I am reinventing my life again.”
Serena is passionate about building a safe and friendly community for introverts and highly sensitive persons. She facilitates two Meetup groups: Quiet Women Circle and Introverts Around the World. The groups meet weekly on Zoom and go on nature walks and day trips around Melbourne. All the activities are designed to be introvert-friendly and low-stimulation to accommodate persons with social anxiety. Serena sees the Hoppers Crossing congregation as walking by grace through the wilderness, in the fellowship of kind and friendly souls. (NT)

With Love to the World: daily bible guide

Lyn O’M has four spare copies of the daily bible reading guide available.

Boys’ Brigade

Boys’ Brigade – Tuesday nights (during school terms) 7:00pm to 9:00pm at Altona Meadows/Laverton Uniting Church, 61 Central Avenue, Altona Meadows, contact Scott W for details

Hoppers Crossing Office

Hoppers Crossing office is managed by Marie C on Wednesday and Thursday, 9 am–2 pm. Contact Marie on 0402 330 584 or via email at reception@hoppers.victas.uca.org.au. The Hoppers Crossing website address is currently being updated: https://hoppers.ucavictas.org.au.

Come along and join a new group!

• Sew ‘n’ Sow: (on Friday this week, 1pm, at the church) Are you creative? Do you enjoy sewing, knitting, papercrafts or other crafts? Bring your projects along and work on them while you enjoy a cuppa and a chat with other busy crafters. All welcome. Contact Jan B or Rose Geilen for more information.‬‬‬‬
• OSLO (Occasional Sunday Lunch Out) coming up on 26 February at 12noon at the Altona Sports Club, 11 Altona Rd Altona. Hoppers Crossing people—why not get a group to come—everyone is really welcome!

Name badges now available

Hoppers and Crossroads people, let’s get to know each other. Place your order with Rose or volunteer staff in the Crossroads UC office—Monday-Friday 9.30-12 noon. There will also be a form to complete in the foyer on Sunday. Please pay your money first—cost for each badge is $14. (NT/RG)

Friends of Skeleton Creek

Friends of Skeleton Creek has a weeding and watering day on Sunday 26 February, 1–3 pm at Emu Foot Grasslands. Join other locals in nurturing our local creation. All ages welcome. Bring sunhat, gloves, water, tools, and afternoon tea supplied. See https://bit.ly/3YmVYmZ. The flower is Linum marginale, or native flax lily.

A former member of Crossroads named Barry Trigg passed away on Saturday the 4th of February 2023 and his funeral will be held at Le Pine in Werribee tomorrow Monday, February 13 at 2.30pm if anyone would like to attend.

What’s On This Week – 12 February

• 12 February: 9.30am Rev. Angela Tampiyappa
• 19 February: 9.30am Rev. Fa’amata’u Leota

• Monday: 7.30pm Card-making (G’s)
• Thursday: 9.30am Gardening Group (Contact Geoff G — all welcome to help!)
• Friday: 1pm Sew ‘n’ Sow (Crossroads)

Bible Readings

Deuteronomy 30:15–20; I Corinthians 3:1–9; Matthew 5:21–37; Psalm 119:1­–8.

ROSTERS:

Pastoral Care

Rev. Fa’amata’u Leota (0404 592 359)

Audrey Kateena & Annetia Goldsmith are on leave.