THE UNITING CHURCH IN WYNDHAM
CONNECTION
EASTER 3
We acknowledge the original custodians, the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin alliance, of the land on which our buildings of worship stand and on which we gather.
COMMUNITY NEWS FOR TODAY & THE COMING WEEK
Did you know?
We are still in the season of Easter which will continue until May 14, which is the 6th Sunday of Easter. We celebrate a continuing Resurrection, a time of gathering in the name of Christ, shared meals, prayer and giving.
Easter falls on a different date each year, as it is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere.
The naming of the celebration as “Easter” seems to go back to the name of a pre-Christian goddess in England, Eostre, who was celebrated at beginning of spring. The only reference to this goddess comes from the writings of the Venerable Bede, a British monk who lived in the late seventh and early eighth century. Bede wrote that the month in which English Christians were celebrating the resurrection of Jesus had been called Eosturmonath in Old English, referring to a goddess named Eostre. And even though Christians had begun affirming the Christian meaning of the celebration, they continued to use the name of the goddess to designate the season.
Easter also occurs at approximately the same time as the Jewish Passover, which is celebrated each year on the first full moon after the vernal equinox (around the 14th day of the month of Nisan in the Jewish calendar (March or April in our calendar). Jesus died during the Passover, so there is a direct connection for Christians.
Easter hasn’t always been celebrated by various Christian groups. For example, the New England Puritans in America refused to celebrate Easter (and Christmas) as being ‘too tainted by non-Christian practices’ such as riotous drinking and behaviour. Prior to the 17th century, children were not the centre of attention, they were lumped in with the ‘lower orders’, especially servants and apprentices.
However, from the 17th century, a German tradition of the ‘Easter hare’ spread in which ‘good’ children were given coloured eggs at Easter time. Coloured eggs had been produced at Easter since medieval times, and in the 18th and 19th centuries as German people migrated to the United States, they took with them this tradition. The hare was supplanted by a domesticated, docile rabbit, which was more in keeping with children. (RR)
AUKUS Action: Join the Ban!
With a significant shift in Australia’s defence policy under the AUKUS agreement, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) Australia is urging the Albanese Government to honour its commitment to sign the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
The TPNW is a key instrument toward global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.
Signing on to the Treaty will ensure current and future Australian governments never slide towards the acquisition or hosting of nuclear weapons. It would ensure Australia no longer supports or assists with nuclear weapons in any way.
The Uniting Church Assembly recently expressed its grave concerns with the $368 billion AUKUS security agreement and the plan by Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.
Like ICAN, the Assembly expressed concerns that the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines amplifies the risk of the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
ICAN notes in its media release, “These nuclear-powered submarines, and their bases, will become high priority targets for conventional or nuclear attack. The use of these submarines in support of the US in a war in northeast Asia further poses an alarming risk of any such war escalating to use of nuclear weapons.”
ICAN has launched a letter-writing campaign urging people to contact their local Federal MPs and Senators to highlight the urgency for Australia to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Raising awareness of public support for the ban will provide a mandate for the Government to act.
ICAN has set up a template to email your MP directly.
Email your MP!
(From the UCA Assembly webpages)
Boys’ Brigade
Boys’ Brigade – Tuesday night—7:00pm to 9:00pm at Altona Meadows UC, Central Ave, contact Scott W on boysbrigadewyndham@gmail.com for details
Anzac Day service at St Paul’s Cathedral, 11am
This is a service of lament and repentance for all the destruction, tragedy, loss, and waste humankind brings on itself and on the earth because of war and it is a service of hope against hope for a just and sustainable peace. Truly, we will remember them. The preacher is the Rev Dr Deborah Storie, Senior Pastor of the East Doncaster Baptist Church. whilst also lecturing in New Testament at Stirling Theological College. She is also Christine Morris’ sister.
The service is sponsored by St Paul’s Cathedral and Pax Christi Australia.
Act for Peace thank you
Thank you so much for responding to the Act for Peace Syria Türkiye Earthquake Emergency Appeal. $397.75 was raised through open plate donations over the past couple of months. (WB)
Proud grandparents
Electronic newsletters
If you would like to receive newsletters by email, please send your email address to either:
office@crossroadsunitingchurch.org.au or reception@hoppers.victas.uca.org.au
Going paperless can reduce our church’s carbon footprint and help save our forests—and, ultimately, our planet
Proud Grandparents
Taega & Fa’ama with baby Meisi.
Worship services
- 23 April: 9.30am Rev. Fa’amata’u Leota
- 30 April: 9.30am Rev. Fa’amata’u Leota
What’s On This Week
- Monday: 9.30am Playgroup
- Wednesday: 9.30am Crossroads Property C’tee; 2pm Seniors Afternoon Tea
- Thursday: 9.30am Gardening Group
Bible Readings –23 April & 30 April
- 23 April: Acts 2:14a, 36–41; Luke 24:13–35; Psalm 116:1–4, 12–19.
- 30 April: Acts 2:42–47; Psalm 23; I Peter 2:19–25; John 10:1–10.
Rosters for 23 April & (30 April)
- Greetings: Liz B (Margaret D)
- AV: Jacob L (Christian R-K)
- Morning Tea: Mary D & Julie R (Elaine B & Asanka P)
- Flowers: Margaret F (Jennie K)
- Music: Asanka P (Wendy B)
- Prayers: Luciana A (HX)
- Reader: Julie R (HX)
- Rev. Fa’amata’u Leota (0404 592 359)
- Mrs Tupu Latu (0451 650 100)
Note: Audrey Kateena & Annetia Goldsmith are on leave.
TUCIW News: For any inclusions, please contact the editors by Tuesday via email robert.renton@bigpond.com, or reception@hoppers.victas.uca.org.au.
Stipend Bank Accounts: Crossroads BSB 083-909 A/c 516109795. Hoppers Crossing BSB 013-915 A/c 354439707 Reference: Your surname.
CHURCH OFFICE INFORMATION
Crossroads office is open Monday to Friday, 9.30–12 noon. Phone 9741 1084.
Hoppers Crossing office is open Wednesday & Thursday