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Lectionary Readings
The Uniting Church in Australia
‘Our Uniting church will always be a fellowship of reconciliation, living God’s love, following Jesus Christ and acting for the
common good to build a just and compassionate community’
Sunday 22 March - Lent 5
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 51:1-12 or 119:9-16
Hebrews 5:5-10
John 12:20-33
On New and Risky Paths
Sunday 29 March - Palm/Passion Sunday
Liturgy of the Palms
Liturgy of the Passion
Mark 11:1-11 or John 12:12-16
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 118:1-2; 19-29
Psalm 31:9-16
Phillipians 2: 5-11
Mark 14:1-15:47 or
Mark 15:1-39, (40-47)
Prayer Points:

Elsie

Charlotte & Family

Joyce

Jade (approx. 2 years old)

Shirley

Paul R. (Jean W. son-in-law)

Larissa

Kate

Garnet

John

Bereaved families

SRE teachers Sue (Whitebridge
High)

Parents at Whitebridge Play Group

Children & Family Resource Worker, Catherine

Rev Tom, Kathy & Family

Youth leader, Bethany

Messy Church

Project Reconnect

Wilfreda’s Orphanage Kenya

Watoto ChildCare, Uganda

Pray for Syria

Victims of Cyclones, Droughts and Bushfires

Nuclear power plant Japan - clean up operation

Idau and Colleen, Ministry Course at Rarongo Theological College
22 March 2015
On Our Hearts
Linked Congregations of Garden Suburb, Whitebridge, Charlestown
Minister
- Rev Tom Stuart Phone: 4943 0222
Email: tom@thestuarts.id.au
KEEP UP TO DATE WITH HAPPENINGS AND INFO:
Webpage: http://charlestown.unitingchurch.org.au/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CharlestownUnitingChurch
Tom’s Sermons: http://charlestownucsermons.blogspot.com.au/
Prayer Requests: http://charlestown.unitingchurch.org.au/Prayer_Requests.htm
Whitebridge Wellness Centre: www.wwcentre.org.au
For all other Office details please go to the middle pages of this Contact
From Rev. Tom
Albert Einstein is quoted saying, ““Raffiniert ist der Herr Gott, aber
boshaft ist er nicht.”
This may be interpreted as “The Lord God is subtle, but malicious he is
not.” These remarks were made to Professor Oscar Veblen in May
1921, while Einstein was on his first lecturing visit to Princeton
University, in New Jersey, USA. He was responding to the news of an
experimental result that a “non aether drift” had been found by Dayton
C. Miller at the Mount Vernon Observatory. If true, that would have
contradicted Einstein’s theory of gravitation, but the result turned out to
be false. One interpretation is that Einstein was expressing his belief
that nature’s secrets would eventually yield to human reason, even if
only after much imagination and toil.
Whatever Einstein meant by his words his saying is something I’ve
noticed too. Whenever I hear words like “For God and Country” I cringe
a little. So often those words go with sentiments of national exploits of
bravado, inclusive of war, and other exploits.
In my experience of such circumstances there are always winners and
losers. All very well for some, but it is to the cost of someone else. If I
was going to imagine where God is then I would have an image of two
soldiers. From a time gone by. It might be a German and an
Aussie. They find themselves both fallen in a trench wounded such to
have no escape. No language to share, one finds a cigarette and lights
it. His hand weak and shaking he passes the cigarette to his sworn
enemy. The other accepts the offer as they, in a sunken hole, regain
their common humanity, once taken from them, but which they reclaim
again, at their point of death. Improvised Holy Communion at the field
of war. Indeed God is subtle, but not malicious.
As we move along the road of Lent we continue to witness Jesus
extending an invitation for reconnection to each one who would
perpetuate his inexorable journey toward the cross. God in Jesus is not
malicious and is indeed subtle.
Garden Suburb Uniting Church
Ladies Fellowship
Devonshire Morning Tea
24th March 2015
Between10.00 am. & 12.00 noon
Donation $10
Proceeds toward Scripture
Material for Cardiff High and Garden Suburb Schools
ARE YOU COMING …………?
TO THE COMBINED SERVICE AT GARDEN SERVICE
Your worship team would like you to know more about how Uniting
Church Agencies are bringing the love of Jesus Christ to those who are
in need in our communities
GUEST SPEAKER – RYCHELLE MASON - UNITED CARE AGEING –
HEALTHY LIVING FOR SENIORS
AND THERE’S MORE…….
BELLA VOCE – this fabulous singing group (youtube bella voce
Newcastle or www.bellavoce.net.au )
They will be performing their stunning sacred music
Please come and share with your Christian family
WHEN? Sunday 29 March at 9am
Refugee Action Network Newcastle (RANN) are holding a PALM SUNDAY CANDLELIGHT VIGIL
IN SUPPORT OF ALL REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS
CURRENTLY BEING HELD
IN AUSTRALIAN DETENTION CENTRES
SUNDAY 29TH MARCH 6.30 – 7.30
AMPHITHEATRE NEWCASTLE FORESHORE PARK
(TRAMSHEDS IF IT’S RAINING)
SPEAKERS:
Therese Doyle - RANN member and Greens Councillor
Rev Dr Brian Brown - former Moderator of Uniting Church in NSW,
involved in Love Makes a Way
Jo McGregor - RANN member
MUSIC: Laura Baird, songwriter
For more info contact Jo W 0414838520
Its on again at Whitebridge
Girls Own Cafe - 23rd March - come and hear Glenda’s Variety
Dash adventures.
For catering purposes please remember to:
RSVP by 16 March 2015 to
Anne 4944 7069 or June 4943 5839
Surplus Furniture at Whitebridge - still looking for a new home -
don’t miss out!
There are three 2.3m pews at Whitebridge church that are looking for a
new home. If you would like to look at them and/or make an offer please
speak to Paul Russell 0411236047
HEALING SERVICE
Would you like prayer support? Are you suffering from an
illness? Do you know someone else who has a physical
illness and would like some prayer? Come along to the 4th
Thursday Holy Communion service which is specially
designated as a healing service. There is a time when we
can either pray silently, ask for prayer, or be prayed for,
during the service. Half the stories told about Jesus were
about his healing ministry. Let healing ministry be part of our
ministry too.
You may have seen items on TV about people knitting poppies for
displays for remembrance on ANZAC Day. Rev Tom has given us
permission to have our own display in the Charlestown Church
Centre, If you would like to help with the knitting etc,
please contact Gloria Booth, 4942 3180, for patterns
and further information. Thank you..Gloria Booth.
This Thursday is the last KIDZBIZ for the term (hard to
believe) we will celebrate the Easter Story with the children
through craft, stories & games.
Holiday Kid’s Fun Club is on April 15 our theme for the day is
Reptiles & should be a lot of fun, I have organised a visit from a Reptile
Group for the afternoon. If you have any school aged
children who you think would enjoy our Holiday Kids,
registration forms are in your church foyer please
take one or contact me for more information.
For more information on any of these activities please contact me on
4908 1083. Catherine Beeton
Our next Messy church is April 12 at Garden Suburb,
we will do a recap of the Easter Story, a good
reinforcement one week after Easter, by then the
wonders of the Easter Bunny will have subsided & we
can focus on ‘God’s True Gift’.
Junior Youth @ Charlestown Uniting
Check out our website at:
http://charlestown.unitingchurch.org.au/JuniorYouthatCharlestownUniting.htm
Friday nights (during school term) @ Charlestown Uniting Church
Cost: $2/week or $15/term Youth Leader: Bethany Butchers
P: 0412 149 476
E: bethanybutchers@hotmail.com
Just Water
The account details are..
BSB: 634 634 (Westpac)
Account No.: 100044551
Account Name: Charlestown Congregation – Kenyan Kids
The Diary
Today 22 March:
8.30am Communion Service at Charlestown
Led by Rev Tom Stuart
10am
Service at Garden Suburb
Led by Mrs Dianne Holden
Monday 23 March:
10am
Healthy Living for Seniors at Charlestown
2.30pm
Prayer & Share in homes
Contact Jean Witherspoon 4942 1004 or 0432 900 667
Tuesday 24 March:
9.30am Play Centre at Whitebridge
10am
Garden Suburbs Ladies’ Fellowship Devonshire
Morning Tea
10.30am Prayer & Share at Charlestown
7.30pm
The Notables
7.30pm
Lent Event studies at Charlestown
Hosted by Eileen
6pm
Dinner at Six at Garden Suburb
7pm
JY’s - Vision Night
Sunday 29 March:
9.00am Combined at Garden Suburb
Whitebridge Wisdom
“Jesus was a refugee too”
Happy Birthday to:
Margaret Asplund for Today!
Zac Wolter for Monday 23 March
Judy Cooper and Max Grunsell on Thursday 26 March
Congratulations to Eileen Dunn on the birth of her great
granddaughter Mia Dunn.
PLEASE NOTE:
The Office will be closed on Wednesday 25 March from 9am to
11.30am.
Wednesday 25 March:
10am
Garden Suburb Healthy Living for Seniors
Hosted by Jean
1.30pm
Coffee & Chat at June Locker’s
3pm
Lent Event studies at Garden Suburb
Thursday 26 March:
9.30am
Healing and Communion Service at Charlestown
2pm
Garden Suburb Nursing Home
Communion Service Led by Rev Tom Stuart
4.30pm
KIDZBIZ at Whitebridge
Friday 27 March:
10am
Garden Suburb Healthy Living for Seniors
Children & Families Resource Worker:
Mrs Cathy Beeton
P: 0409 445 933
E: Cath4858@gmail.com
Administration:
Mrs Jenny Cummings
Tues, Wed & Fri 9:30am - 1pm
P: 4943 4019
E: office@charlestown.unitingchurch.org.au
PO Box 449, Charlestown NSW 2290
Youth Leader:
Bethany Butchers
P: 0412 149 476
E: bethanybutchers@hotmail.com
Bank Account Details for the Linked Congregations:
Bank Account held with: Uniting Financial Services
Account Name: Charlestown Congregation General Account
BSB: 634 634
Account No.: 100030837