Crosslight December 2019

december 2019 A Saviour has been born to you;

In search of Jesus’s true birth story.

P6-13

Drought brings grief to Gippsland. P18-25

Holiday reading guide. P34-35 1

Education and further study assistance 2020 Funding grants are available for: ■ Developing and supporting educational initiatives in the regional areas of Victoria and Tasmania ■ Continuing Education for ordained and lay people in placement with the UCA ■ Education of lay people, including lay preacher candidates and pastors ■ Youth ministry projects

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Coming to us in a tiny, fragile baby, “God becomes vulnerable, breaking down our barriers (and) opening us up to the possibility of healing.”

Reverend Denise Liersch Vic Tas Synod

I remember changing after our two children were born. Every time I heard about a child being neglected or mistreated, I would become emotional.

It’s fair to say hormones would have accounted for some of that, but not all.

Being pregnant, giving birth and caring for our tiny babies brought out a deeper awareness and sensitivity to just how innocent, precious, vulnerable and fragile the life of a small child is.

Many of us have had our own children, or had the chance to hold the newborn baby of a special relative or friend. Others have wished for this but never had the chance, which brings an awareness of the precariousness and uncertainty of the beginning of life that sits deep within us.

In my past life, I worked in women’s health with mothers and their families during pregnancy and childbirth. I couldn’t count the times I’ve seen tears streaming down the face of a new dad or mum, of a new grandmother or grandfather, holding their tiny newborn in their arms.

There is something about holding a newborn baby – or wishing you could – that breaks us open, that melts defences, that disarms us, that opens us up to a new perspective on what really matters in life. And what doesn’t. In the face of a tiny innocent child in need of love and protection, our own disagreements, grudges, harboured hurts and disappointments can seem petty.

And it’s not just at birth that this happens. It can happen at the other end of life too, as families come together and sit with their dying relative, keeping vigil.

As the emotions flow, long-held defences and barriers can be dropped, old hurts let go, and forgiveness exchanged.

Families reconcile with each other as the tears of grief flow. Or perhaps this is what we hope for.

At both ends of life, where we are most

aware of our own human frailty, where we know how vulnerable we are, we often find we let go of our defences and are able to “lay down our arms”. We drop the barriers that keep us apart.

I wonder if that’s part of what the gospel writers want us to know when they tell us stories of God coming to us in the birth of a tiny child? Coming to us in a newborn, a tiny, fragile baby, God becomes vulnerable, breaking down our barriers, disarming us, touching us in our own human frailty, opening us up to the possibility of healing and reconciliation.

This is how God works in our lives.

In our openness to the reality of our own vulnerability, we can sometimes find the way to reconciliation and healing with family, friends, neighbours – or ourselves.

Maybe that sounds sentimental, but there is something about our common experience of the fragility of life, and of the love and hope we have for the futures of our children, that disarms us and opens us to God’s work of peacemaking in our lives.

In a 1985 song about the Cold War and threat of nuclear annihilation, Sting reminds of our common humanity by focusing on children: “I hope the Russians love their children, too.”

The story of Christmas is the story of God breaking into our human lives in the birth of Jesus. In coming to us in a vulnerable newborn child born in precarious circumstances, God disarms us, opening us to peace and reconciliation in our lives and world.

God’s peace is never possible through force or domination.

As Luke writes (Luke 2: 10-12): “The angel said to the shepherds, ‘Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour ... this will be a sign for you: you will find a child’.”

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Merrier More the

Tis the season for giving so spare a thought – and even some food – for those in need of Christmas cheer.

By David Southwell

You might imagine that, as a single mother of three, working two part-time jobs and looking after an aged parent, Eileen would have more than enough on her plate at Christmas.

However, she also finds time to help those most in need.

For five years, Eileen has busied herself with voluntary work for the Uniting Vic.Tas Food for Families appeal, which collects donated goods to distribute to those facing a not-so-merry Christmas and new year.

“Everyone wants to do something to give back at Christmas, but it’s such a busy time,” Eileen says.

“Donating food is a practical way to help people going through a tough period.”

Last year, the Food for Families appeal distributed 50 tonnes of food and toiletries, but this only lasted to July, so this year’s target is 70 tonnes.

The increased need is no surprise to Eileen, who is a professional social worker. “There are a growing number of people who don’t have the resources to put food on the table, especially at Christmas,” she says.

Uniting Vic.Tas Director of Mission Rev 4

John Clarke says the festive time of year can be particularly difficult for those struggling either financially or for other reasons.

“Christmas can be a joyful time of year for many, but for the marginalised, the least and the lost, it can be a time of sadness and isolation,” he says.

“While many celebrate with carols and gifts, others are struggling with loss and just trying to keep it all together.

“Some people will need a safe place to sleep or food to feed their family.”

Each year as part of her volunteering for Uniting Vic.Tas, Eileen hands donation boxes to families, friends, local schools and work colleagues and picks them up when they are filled with donated goods.

“Food for Families is an easy way people can help others in need,” she says.

“I say to people, just do your normal shopping and get a few extra items to donate,” she says.

“One or two bags can make a big difference. It’s an opportunity to give back at a time of giving.”

Eileen enlists the help of her children to sort, pack and deliver food to the

Uniting Vic.Tas emergency relief centre in Ringwood.

“I want to teach my children that Christmas can be very materialistic, but it should be about giving back to your community,” she says.

“Participating in Food for Families has given my children a greater understanding of the struggles some people face in life.

“I like knowing that the goods I donate will support people in my local community.”

This year, Food for Families celebrates its 25th anniversary. Another charity celebrating a major milestone is the Christmas Bowl appeal, which invites Australian Christians of many traditions to stretch out a helping hand across the globe.

Since the appeal was started 70 years ago by Victorian Methodist Minister Rev Frank Byatt, who compared his sumptuous Christmas dinner to the desperate plight of the displaced millions after World War II, it has raised more than $100 million.

This year will see about 1300 Australian churches across 15 denominations join to help those fleeing

Eileen says donating food is a practical way to help people who are experiencing difficulties.

Making a difference When Peter became a father he made a vow – one he has fulfilled, but not without moments of despair.

“When Ally was born, I promised I would do whatever I could to protect her,” he says.

Shortly afterwards, Peter separated from Ally’s mother, which led to an expensive custody battle. Peter gained full custody, but being unable to work, he was financially drained.

“I had no food in the house because all my money was spent on court fees,” he says.

“To not be able to put food on the table was absolutely soul shattering. I used to get embarrassed about asking for help, but now I know it’s acceptable.”

Uniting Vic.Tas has been assisting Peter, including providing items donated at last year’s Food for Families appeal.

“The team at Uniting are fantastic. I know I have somewhere to turn. I don’t have to drive myself crazy with worry about how I’m going to put a meal on the table,” Peter says.

“The people who donate food and other essential living items, especially at Christmas time, should know how appreciated their generosity is. I received a hamper last Christmas and it was fantastic. When you’re doing things tough, it makes the world of difference.”

Names have been changed to protect identity.

conflict and disaster or give to wherever it is most needed, such as areas of drought and famine or where there is a lack of basic education and healthcare.

Last year, the appeal raised $2.3 million, which was mainly used to help provide shelter and medical support to Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar.

Christmas Bowl Appeal Manager Hannah Montgomery says the need for help is at least as great as when the appeal started in 1949.

“We are facing the biggest refugee crisis since WWII, with more than 70 million people uprooted from their

homes because of conflict and disaster,” she says.

Ringwood Uniting Church Minister Rev Lucas Taylor says the appeal “provides an opportunity to connect the Christmas message to a tangible action”. “It shares the abundance of our own situations with a global community,” he says.

“Christmas commonly offers giving to loved ones and friends, which is fantastic, but there is something deeply beautiful about giving a gift where you’ll never see the actual reaction of the person receiving that gift. There is a purity to that kind of generosity.”

HOW YOU

CAN HELP ■ T o help fill a box for Food for Families, visit: www.foodforfamilies.org.au ■ The Christmas Bowl Appeal runs from 24 Nov-28 Dec. To donate, go to: www.actforpeace.org.au/ christmasbowl 5

Larger than On average, the New Testament is about 300 pages and contains more than 250 chapters and 180,000 words - and yet there is still so little we know about the birth of Jesus.

By Stephen Acott

These are different days, unlike anything anyone can recall. Despite the fact there has never been an easier time to record and verify moments in time, almost everything is challenged.

Think climate change. Think Trump.

Think Boris Johnson. Think News Ltd commentators. Think Fox News. Think “fake news”. It’s enough to make you want to stop thinking.

The point is, if irrefutable facts 6

such as the size of Donald Trump’s inauguration crowd can be, well, trumped up, what chance do events before the digital age have of being accepted as fact? Look at the moon landing – there are very intelligent people who will look you in the eye and tell you it never happened.

For some, seeing does not equate to believing.

So is it any wonder that something

or, rather, someone as significant as Jesus has every single fact of his birth, life and death questioned by some part of society? Some people point blank refuse to believe he even existed. But, as alluded to above, some people don’t let facts get in the way of a personallyheld conviction.

That said, it could be argued Christianity doesn’t do itself any favours by perpetuating what it

life knows to be stories that may not be historically accurate. And many of those spring to life at this time of year.

When you go to church on Christmas Day take a moment to pause and look around you. It’s 25 December, the day Jesus was born. Except it’s not. See that nativity scene lovingly laid out up the front? Look closer, at the wooden crib, the sheep, the three wise men.

They weren’t there. See the picture

of Jesus on the wall? He didn’t look like that. You’ll probably hear about the “inn” with no room. That’s a misinterpretation, too.

There are plenty of reasons why many believe none of the above are historically accurate and, interestingly, depending on who you talk to, you get a different answer as to why. One thing everyone agrees on, however, is that the birth stories were written in

retrospect – that is, no one was taking notes at the time. And why would they? No one knew this was to be a birth for the ages. Or that the child that subsequently grew into adolescence was any different from his peers.

It was only when Jesus started preaching that anyone started to take notice, and he was in his thirties by then. And it was only when he died or, more particularly, when he was raised

Continued P8

7

From P7

saying this is an from the dead that important story for people realised the the Church and the significance of the life of the world.” life they had just That’s true, but witnessed. Looking 25 December is back on what a significant day had happened, Mark 6:3 calls Jesus a carpenter, on the Christian they wrote but it’s very likely he possessed a and Australian stories that went broad range of construction skills, calendar. It’s beyond the basic particularly with stone, and metal.

Christmas Day and historical reality to Some Bible scholars note that wood it’s Christmas Day communicate how was relatively scarce in Jesus’s because that’s the important this life time and that most houses were day we associate had been. made of stone. As an apprentice to with the birth of Does this matter? his stepfather Joseph, Jesus may Jesus. So, if Jesus Not really. What have travelled throughout Galilee, wasn’t born on 25 counts is the big building synagogues and other December, when picture and, sticking structures. was he born? Short with this analogy, answer is no one it’s the biggest knows, but how did picture ever painted. we end up with 25 December? It seems Sean Winter is someone worth the more people you ask, the more speaking to on this subject. He’s not answers you get. a painter, but a biblical scholar. As Historian Andrew McGowan tackles someone who teaches a course on the this very issue in a story published under historical Jesus at Pilgrim Theological the heading: “How December 25 became College, he’s done more than his fair Christmas”. He says there are two share of research and presents a welltheories; one popular (it was connected informed and articulated view. But even to pagan celebrations) and one more out he concedes it’s only an opinion. of left field. He leans to the latter, arguing “There is nothing about this story that the date had more to do with Jesus’s isn’t contested,” Sean says at the outset crucifixion in the minds of ancient with no sense of dismay. theologians.

“The reason why things are contested For them, linking Jesus’s conception is because our sources (in the Bible) with his death nine months before don’t give us anything other than much 25 December was important for later interpretations of his life. When underscoring salvation. you read the gospels you are basically “Strange as it may seem, the key to looking at the equivalent of an omelette dating Jesus’s birth may lie in the dating and it is very difficult to separate it back of Jesus’s death at Passover,” he says. out into the yolk, which is historical, and “Around 200 CE, Jesus was believed the white, which is interpretation. to have been conceived and crucified “Almost every detail of his birth or on the same day of the month. Exactly how it was narrated or what historically nine months later, Jesus was born, on is in the Christmas story is open for December 25. significant debate. My view is the Gospel “Connecting Jesus’s conception and stories about Jesus’s birth are almost all death in this way will certainly seem odd interpretation. to modern readers, but it reflects ancient “It doesn’t matter if they are not and medieval understandings of the historically accurate because when whole of salvation being bound up.” we celebrate Christmas we are not So that’s his theory. Closer to home remembering what happened. It’s a Sunny Chen, Presbytery Minister of Yarra drama, it’s a narrative and in retelling Yarra and Adjunct Faculty at Pilgrim, the narrative we are not making a claim has also done some study into Jesus’s birth and death. He says the focus in to its historical accuracy, we are simply

Was Jesus a carpenter?

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the early Church was on Easter and that celebrating Christmas came much later.

“There is a particular argument that after the 12th century, with the emergence of romantic literature, people started to focus on feelings,” he says.

“Before that it was all ‘epic’ stories and Jesus and his resurrection was the hero.

But as time went on there was a shift from ‘epic’ to ‘romance’ and Christmas became more of a focus because it was about a baby who was born helpless.

“December 25 was chosen to celebrate the birth of Christ by the early Church in the 4th century. I’m not saying this from an historical accuracy point of view, but we are talking about pagan worship and, according to one understanding, in the ancient time the Babylonians worshipped their Sun God and chose December 25, since this was considered

Whether December 25 is truly the day Jesus was born “doesn’t really matter – what’s more important is the meaning behind it. ”

Sunny Chen

in the Northern Hemisphere as the Winter Solstice. That was the birth date of their Sun God. “The early Church adopted many pagan dates possibly as a way to be more inclusive because Christianity was being outreached to many pagans. There is also the notion the early Church saw Jesus as the light of the world so light and sun were similar symbols.

“But my view is, whether December 25 is truly the day Jesus was born doesn’t really matter – what’s more important is the meaning behind it. It’s a day to reflect on the birth of Jesus.”

Sunny’s right. Meaning is everything.

Many people don’t know their true date of birth and that doesn’t change anything about them. And if the day is not right, and is accepted as such, does it matter if other accepted “facts” turn out

“

When you read the Gospels you are basically looking at the equivalent of an omelette.

Sean Winter

”

to be a little dubious? Things such as the room at the inn or what we perceive as the nativity scene? Surely what matters is who Jesus said he was. He never said he was born in a manger after his parents were turned away by an innkeeper. He never said he was visited by three kings.

These are our stories, not his.

However, be they fact or fiction, they are still worth exploring in more detail. Let’s begin with where Jesus

was born. ACU scholar Stephen Carlson is unequivocal: “There is no inn, no innkeeper, and no stable.” Right then. If there was no inn, no innkeeper, and no stable what was there?

“Joseph took his betrothed Mary to Bethlehem, his home town, and, in accordance with the patrilocal marital customs of the day, it must also have been the place where they finalised their matrimonial arrangements by bringing her into his home,” Stephen says.

“As a newly married man, he no longer would have to sleep in the main room of the village house with his other relatives, but he and his bride could stay in a marital chamber attached to the house.

“They stayed there for some time until she came to full term, and she gave birth to Jesus in the main room of the house rather than in her marital apartment

Continued P10

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From P9

because it was too small, and she laid the newborn in a manger common to the main room of a farmhouse.

“Joseph and Mary’s particular accommodation should be thought of as a cramped, marital chamber attached to his father’s or relative’s village house.”

So that’s Stephen’s view but, if you’ll pardon the pun, it shouldn’t be taken as gospel. Sunny, for example, has another view. He says the story portrays an inn and a manger, if that’s what you want to call it, but they are not as has been told through the ages and, therefore, not as you perceive it.

He says Mary and Joseph would have stayed in some sort of accommodation, let’s call it an inn, and that building would have been attached to the front of a cave carved out of rock.

“People would stay in the inns and the animals would be in the adjoining cave,” Sunny says. “So the manger would have been located in a stone cave and Jesus, when he was born, would have been placed in a stone trough that would have been used to feed the animals.”

In other words, no barn and no wooden crib filled with straw. But Sunny sees that as a plus.

“When I reflect on the story, I really like the symbolic imagery of Jesus being the light of the world being born to a dark cave, and it echoes his death: his body was laid inside a dark tomb,” he says.

But just as Sunny challenges Stephen’s view, Sean gives another perspective less concerned with the historical details.

“I don’t think we know what the reality of the birth scene was,” Sean says.

“My view is that the gospel writers at least a generation after the fact created stories that invest the birth with enormous significance. In the ancient world, the way you did that was to tell stories with little regard for whether they were historically accurate. They’re not based on any objective memory.

“I don’t have any picture in my mind other than the one that has been bequeathed to us all historically. I’m completely shaped by the way it’s been described in the Biblical text. But there are certain things about it that I don’t think need to be historical. For example, 10

I don’t think there were shepherds and I don’t think there was a star overhead.

“The most recent research suggests he was born in a room in a house, not in a cave or a stable. So who knows?”

OK, let’s pause for a moment and take a couple of steps back, back past the nativity scene, the manger and inn.

Let’s go back nine months and address one of the fundamental “truths” many Christians hold, not just dear, but sacred – the Virgin Mary.

This is a big claim and, in light of modern science, a giant leap of faith. A

Did Jesus have any siblings?

Jesus had several half-brothers and sisters (Matthew 12:46-47; 13:55-56). At least some of his brothers were named James, Joses, Simon and Judas. His sisters are not named in the Bible. History says that James became the head of the church in Jerusalem.

leap so large, more and more Christians are not prepared to make it. And that’s fair enough because, as we’ve already seen, everything about this story is up for interpretation and debate.

Alice Camille, writing in U.S. Catholic says Mary isn’t portrayed as a virgin for biological reasons, but rather for theological ones. “Female biology was poorly appreciated in the first century,”

she says. “It was held that males alone generated life by their seed. Women’s bodies were merely the ‘soil’ in which this seed was planted; they made no genetic contribution.

“The consequence of Mary’s virginity, then, isn’t about Mary at all. It’s about the paternity of Jesus. Is God his father?”

Geza Vermes was Professor Emeritus of Jewish Studies at Oxford. He said, considering the importance of the Virgin Mary in Christianity, it was surprising how little supporting evidence appeared in the New Testament.

“St Paul never speaks of the virginal conception. All we learn from him is that Jesus had a Jewish mother,” he said.

“Nor does the New Testament ever state that Mary remained a virgin.”

To cut a longish story short, Geza doubted Mary was a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus. So too does Sean.

“In recent times, in light of our understanding of modern science and how the human body works, people, myself included, would be more skeptical about that,” he says.

“Our earliest Christian traditions and New Testament texts don’t seem to be interested in the idea of a virgin birth.”

As far as this narrative goes, whether Mary was a virgin or not is of importance.

If she found herself pregnant despite her virginity then surely alarm bells must have been ringing. Who was this child she was carrying? Was he other-worldly?

Conversely, if she wasn’t a virgin then there would be no need to think anything extraordinary was taking place.

Sunny doesn’t hold a firm view as to whether Mary was virginal or otherwise.

That said, he believes Mary would have had some idea that “something special” was taking place, “but I doubt she would have realised the full extent at that time”.

There’s something we haven’t done so far and that is go directly to the gospels.

Now is as good a time as any. Let’s hear from Luke (with edits).

“During Elizabeth’s sixth month of pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin.

She was engaged to marry a man named Joseph from the family of David. Her name was Mary. The angel said to her,

Continued P13

Our earliest “ Christian traditions

and New Testament texts don’t seem to be interested in the idea of a virgin birth.

”

Sean Winter

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(Making Jesus less “white) should be part

of our journey as a church to help others have a more realistic understanding.

Sunny Chen

12

�

Undoubtedly, the portrayal we have “ of a well-groomed white fellow is not accurate. ”

Sean Winter

From P11

‘Don’t be afraid, Mary; God has shown you his grace. Listen! You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.

“Mary said to the angel, ‘How will this happen since I am a virgin?’ The angel said to Mary, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you. For this reason the baby will be holy and will be called the Son of God.” Luke doesn’t leave much room for debate. Mary, clearly, is a virgin. And yet … and yet, Sunny begs to differ. Not

reimagining what Jesus would have looked like and they would have been linked to the culture of the day,” he says.

“A Palestinian Jew would have had a much darker complexion than the person we see depicted in the paintings as Jesus.”

And Sean? He says whitewashing Jesus is problematic.

“We get no physical description from our Biblical sources, which is in contrast to lots of other biographies from the ancient world, where authors did give us a physical snapshot,” he says. “This again suggests this detail held no significance

What did Jesus look like?

The Bible provides little detail about Jesus’s physical appearance beyond the prophet Isaiah’s observation that “he had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him”.

Recent research into the appearance of Jews in Egypt during Jesus’s lifetime suggest Jesus may have stood at about 1.7m, with a short mop of black hair, olive-brown skin and brown eyes.

because he doesn’t believe Luke, more that people are either reading Luke too literally or through the wrong prism.

Let’s begin with the angels.

“The Greek word for ‘angel’ is aggelos (angelos), which means messenger,” he says. “Whether you believe an angel is an angel or just a messenger, the key point is a message from God is being delivered.

“Some people dwell too much on historical accuracy and others don’t care about it. My concern is the key meaning conveyed behind these stories.”

While we’re on the subject of historical accuracy, let’s look at Jesus – as in, let’s literally look at him. Picture Jesus in your mind. Focus on his facial features.

What do you see? White complexion and Caucasian characteristics? Of course you do. That’s the only image painted, depicted and marketed. Yet Jesus was a Jewish man of Palestinian heritage. Why do we insist on making him white? Why is no one calling this out?

Sunny doesn’t know and, if he’s honest, isn’t overly concerned.

“Those paintings are just artists

for those first writers. So what happens is the ongoing memory of Jesus portrays him in the light of ongoing cultural assumptions and that happens right from the earliest period.

“So, yes, it’s racialised in that Jesus is white and de-Semitised. So, undoubtedly, the portrayal we have of a well-groomed whitefella is not accurate.

“Insofar as those pictures reinforce problematic aspects of our own culture, ie white supremacy, then yes it is problematic.

“But the fact they are not historically accurate is not problematic because any image we had would not be historically accurate.

“So the reason it’s problematic is it legitimises certain assumptions that Christianity is a white person’s religion, which it’s not.”

But should we be making more of an effort to portray Jesus as he truly was?

“Yes and no,” Sunny says. “It’s a misrepresentation, but this is the way most people find it easy to picture Jesus and worship him, and that’s fine.

However, I think it (making Jesus less white) should be part of our journey as a Church to help others to have a better understanding of the gospel stories, so that we gain a different and helpful perspective on Jesus.

“Some African American churches in the USA portray Jesus as a black man in their artworks. And there is nothing wrong with that.”

No matter what angle you come at this story from, there is no denying it is something special.

And in an age where everything is up for debate one thing is beyond dispute: Jesus was the most significant man or woman to walk on the face of the Earth.

Here we are, 2000 years later still talking about him.

Facts may be scarcer than fiction, but nothing detracts from the core narrative, which is, as Sean says, “this human life wasn’t just a human life”.

“My view is when I pray I am praying to the God who raised Jesus from the dead and, as a result of that, I now see this was a human life in which God was fully present,” he says.

“In the theological tradition there is a fundamental difference between the historical Jesus, Jesus the man, and the Christ of faith. But that doesn’t mean they are not the same person. They are related to each other, but distinct.”

Interestingly, both Sean and Sunny believe if Jesus was alive today we still wouldn’t comprehend his significance.

“There is nothing in Jesus’s story that would make it obvious to us that he is God,” Sean says.

“I don’t think Jesus did anything to make people go ‘oh look here comes God’ and I don’t think he did anything to make himself think he was God. This all happens after he dies.”

Sunny simply points to Trump.

“How is Trump believable, given people say he says so many lies? So, if you flip that, you can say all the truths in the world, but some people will still think you’re lying,” he says.

“People today sometimes don’t believe things they’ve seen.”

Or they just don’t want to. Strange days indeed.

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vt.uniting.org

Recently I have caught “ myself thinking I might be

permanently doomed to attract abusive men”

Denisse Sandoval Social Justice Advocate equipping Leadership for Mission

equipping Leadership for Mission

I’m reading a really great, yet shattering book at the moment, See What You Made Me Do, by Jess Hill. I’m reading it in order to understand why men abuse women, and why women feel so guilty about leaving abusive partners.

You see, although I work as a social justice advocate, I too have experienced domestic abuse. Recently I have caught myself thinking I might be permanently doomed to attract abusive men, that something I was doing was drawing them towards me, that maybe I am too outspoken, too assertive, and therefore too much to handle for men.

I thought maybe I needed to tone myself down because, after all, men have their place in society. But as the fog and anxiety lifted I began to cope the way I have always dealt with major crises in my life: I began to read. And in this research I discovered that all types of women get abused.

Through all the drama and pain I have been trying to understand why this kind of thing happens to women. Yes, men also experience abuse, but look at these Australian statistics: ■ One in four women have experienced emotional abuse, compared with one in six men.

■ On average, one woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner, compared with one man a month.

■ One in six women have experienced physical or sexual violence by a current or former partner, compared with one in 16 for men.

It is clear that family violence is a gendered issue. Women have to deal with it in a way that men don’t, because we are empowering and asserting ourselves as equals in a system that historically favours men.

I’d like to remind you of what the Bible says in the book of 1 Peter 3:1-7: “Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands

so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewellery or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

“For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord.

“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner.”

According to this Scripture, as good Christian women, we are meant to submit to our husbands. We should obey our husbands and treat them as our lords.

Reading this passage, I asked myself how much the Western culture and society of patriarchy has affected men’s understanding of their entitlements?

Are men entitled to have a clean house, fresh food cooked to their liking, and a wife working full-time whilst they chase their own pursuits? And, if so, are women entitled to feel safe and protected by their husbands? And how do these entitlements work for same-sex couples because even in those relationships there may be abuse?

I encourage all people reading this to think about why men abuse women, and how our interpretation of Scripture and our use of language might be perpetuating a system and a social hierarchy that is not conducive to equity and justice.

15

g Leading li ht

You hold in your hand the 300th issue of Crosslight. To mark the occasion we asked two former editors to take a trip down memory lane and reflect on their experience.

2019 1999

1996 1992

february 2019

Beyond

belief How young people are maintaining the courage of their convictions in the face of peer group prejudice

P14

Science friction P8 Right man to tackle wrongs P22 1

1

Right man to tackle wrongs P22

1992-2007

Editor: Bruce Best It was a bold move at the start of the 1990s. Launch a new magazine, a quality church journal, building on the base others had created. People would pay to subscribe, receive it in the snail mail, and be impressed by the colour and style of its 40 pages.

I wrote in the first edition that the basic job was “to reflect the church’s life. This needs to happen in ways that make sense not only to loyal members.

It should also interest people who have withdrawn from the institution, or the faith, but who stay hopeful or at least curious”.

16

In other words, I was determined that Crosslight should not be a “house magazine”. It wouldn’t assume readers knew who the moderator was, or were waiting anxiously to hear the latest decisions by Synod. And maybe they had difficulties with Christian orthodoxy.

The stories? I was editor from editions one (February 1992) to 169, and the biggest single issue over those 15plus years was sexuality, especially homosexuality. It began in 1992 when a church task group was appointed to “report on the way the church should respond to changing patterns of human relationships and sexuality in society”.

It was still making news in 2004, when the page one story was headed “Growing

Science friction P8

support for gays”. It reported survey findings of “a rising acceptance [by the Uniting Church] of homosexual people as members and as leaders”.

P14 group prejudice Shock,of peer horror.

Some talked of having their convictions in the face maintaining the courage of that Crosslight pulped.

There were How young people are claims it would cut giving to mission, and moves to stop that edition being distributed to church members. But Beyond now, in 2019, it’s pretty clear the survey finding was accurate, and the story was fair in holding the church up to itself.

Other stories that resonated then and continue to do so included: Climate change: This featured in the february 2019 first edition under the headline “Has the Garden of Eden gone sour?”

Communication: A report in April

belief

1995 noted that new information technology was behind a major shift in our lives. It warned most churches were still caught in the old forms of thought and communication. It said only four out of 307 Victorian parishes had a modem.

Spirituality: The page one story in May 2000 predicted “exciting times” ahead if churches could “build a bridge between religion and the rising public interest in spirituality”. Most spirituality was “happening outside the churches”.

Numbers: The April 2002 edition reported the Uniting Church was “getting

The issues we covered dealt with misunderstandings, politics, financial problems and disputes, as well as commitment, hope, good sense and growth. They also won us a few awards.

Crosslight stands up pretty well. I think it has communicated the faith, action and accountability of the church – to itself and the wider community.

The Australasian Religious Press Association recognised Bruce with its Gutenberg Award for Excellence in 2003. Now retired, he is a presenter with Vision Australia Radio.

2010 2014 2013

older”. About 56 per cent of its members were aged over 60, and people over 70 made up more than a third of members.

Two editions later, a report said the church was facing “an alarming scarcity” of people offering to become ordained.

Interfaith: Page one in November 2002 had a story headed “Church-Muslim link urgent”. It said the rise of terrorism had led churches to set up new interfaith contacts and new ways of practical witness against violence.

Australia Day: Back in August 1997, Crosslight reported the national Assembly had asked the federal government to identify a new Australia Day date with a “greater power to unite than 26 January”.

2008-2017

Editor: Deb Bennett I was employed as editor of Crosslight in August 2008. To say I was thrown in at the deep-end would be an understatement.

Within weeks of starting, the minister at St Michael’s UC in Melbourne, Rev Dr Francis Macnab, launched a “new faith for the 21st century”.

The “new faith” was publicised via a $120,000 advertising campaign that included newspaper, radio and social media advertising.

Macnab said Moses was a mass murderer, Abraham was concocted, and Jesus was a Jewish peasant and certainly not God. He described the

Ten Commandments as “one of the most negative documents ever written” and developed his own version of the commandments.

As letters to the editor and theological opinion pieces came pouring in to Crosslight, I quickly learnt what it meant to work for an organisation that values diversity.

Just a few months later, I witnessed the church at work “on the ground”, helping the most vulnerable in society in their time of need.

On 7 February 2009, 173 people were killed and hundreds were left homeless when bushfires devastated communities throughout Victoria.

Church halls became makeshift kitchens and drop-off points for donated goods, congregations began fundraising and UCA Camping set up temporary villages for those whose homes were destroyed.

Throughout the next decade Crosslight covered many stories that were important, not only to the life of the church, but to contemporary Australian identity.

In many ways the Uniting Church represents a microcosm of society at large. Issues such as marriage equality, dying with dignity, asylum seeker policies and safe injecting rooms were all covered in the pages of Crosslight through the lens of a faith community.

Some of my favourite stories were those told by the “people in the pews”: women’s sewing groups making sanitary products for young girls in India; the chance airport meeting that lead to a congregation supporting an orphanage in Uganda; Men’s Sheds tackling mental health issues in suburbia and community dinners bringing different faith groups together highlighted that in many cases, one person (or a committed group) really can make a difference.

And that, for me is the lasting memory I have as editor of Crosslight.

Deb Bennett was managing editor of Crosslight for nearly 10 years. In 2018 a “tree change” beckoned and she moved to a small vineyard in country Victoria where she and her family run a couple of B&Bs. 17

Country Victoria is largely on its knees, bent over by drought and economic leaving the rural regions to fend for themselves. Fortunately they have a

By Mikaela Turner Australia is a nation of contrasts, where your lived experience will vary dramatically depending on where you call home.

This is true of city versus country, but it’s also true of country versus country, where no two townships are exactly the same.

About 350km separates Phillip Island and Orbost, for example, but in many respects they are worlds apart. And the towns along the way? Some of them exist in a parallel universe, with a shared geography, but peculiar social challenges.

The tyranny of distance also means these challenges are often suffered in solitude and not adequately addressed.

Metropolitan Melbourne, for example, is largely clueless when it comes to understanding and appreciating the daily struggles experienced and endured by its rural neighbours.

You only have to turn on the news to realise rural Victoria, unless it’s in 18

crisis, isn’t on Melbourne’s radar. And, even then, it often gets short shrift. But rural Victoria accounts for 96 per cent of Victoria; it deserves to be seen and heard and included.

If you were to distil Victoria into a 40,000sqkm region you’d probably come up with Gippsland. Extending from Melbourne’s eastern suburbs to the NSW border and bound by Bass Strait, Gippsland has beaches, bushland, mountains and dry plains.

It is a region of extremes bound by the common struggles and goodwill of its 270,000 people. Chief among those struggles right now is drought, but there is also economic hardship, rising unemployment and a steady exodus of young people.

Crosslight recently spent the best part of a week travelling through middle Gippsland, talking with ministers on the ground to get a better understanding of life beyond the city fringes.

Ever-present was the overwhelming

sense of community. People knew people, or knew people who knew people. You weren’t anonymous. And this kinship was genuine and heartfelt.

We began our journey at Phillip Island, one of Victoria’s most popular tourist destinations. Attracting about 3.5 million visitors each year, it offers something for everyone – the Grand Prix circuit, a daily penguin parade and, of course, stunning beaches.

Strip away the tourists though and Phillip Island’s population hovers close to 10,000 – and most of those people are there as a lifestyle choice.

Cowes, home to all the supermarkets, is the main town. If you are a local walking down the main street you will not escape unrecognised and you best be prepared to stop for an extended chat. This is especially true if you are the minister to a 60-person congregation.

Rev Ian Turrnidge, 52, has been in placement at St Johns Uniting Church for four years, having moved from West

adversity. It’s a predicament metropolitan Melbourne largely ignores, couple of aces up their collective sleeve – their people and churches.

Heidelberg. It took Ian about six months to reach what he calls “the limit of the community”, meaning the point at which he was finally able to connect all the who’s-related-to-who dots.

“It was at that point that I went, ‘oh yeah, you’re not in the city now’,” Ian says.

He says living on an island creates a stronger community mindset. “You can actually do something in the community and it doesn’t get dissolved. People notice and get involved,” he says.

This sense of community is amplified in his congregation of mostly retired people, with varying levels of health concerns.

“People feel safe and comfortable knowing they have support,” he says.

“Someone will see one of our members walking down the street and stop and say ‘let me drive you home’.”

The congregation has a strong outreach into the wider community, mainly through a community meal,

“

You do feel isolated because you don’t have enough transport, you can feel a little bit forgotten.

”

Marilyn Cassidy, Bairnsdale

which runs every Monday night. About 60-80 people from all walks of life are fed a two-course meal in the church hall.

Some may be financially challenged, others lonely, some simply chatty, but the weekly meal fills more than hungry stomachs.

Ian says the meals have “revealed church” to the congregation. “In the first year we decided we wouldn’t do a community meal the Monday before Melbourne Cup, but then a woman from my congregation said ‘so there’s no church next Monday’ and it was in that moment that we all went ‘duh, this

is church’. We’re shoulder to shoulder, week in, week out.

“It’s a tight community. You hear stories of ‘I took so and so over to the hospital because she wasn’t well’. This is how we imagine church could and should be.”

Back on the mainland, just a little over an hour from Cowes, is the bustling town of Warragul. As you enter, you’re greeted by expansive housing developments and, before long, you’re lost in suburbia as the surrounding hills fade out of sight.

Warragul is so big the locals say you can go out for an meal every night of the month and not have to go to the same place twice. Note: you won’t go hungry here.

Warragul UC reflects the town’s modern appearance. A long driveway leads to a huge, contemporary-looking complex which, if it wasn’t for the sign plastered across the building, could easily be mistaken for a sports centre.

Many of the 130 people in this

Continued P20

19

Rev Dr Des Parker says Warragul’s church numbers are growing.

Rev Ian Turrnidge says Cowes is a “tight community”.

From P19

congregation have been members for 50 years or more.

Gippsland presbytery chair Rev Dr Des Parker, 80, says he is considered a newcomer despite first attending in 1982.

“You’re not really a member unless you’ve had parents born here, preferably grandparents,” he jokes.

Warragul is a congregation with plenty of grey hair and glasses. Des says the average age is about 75, but numbers are growing. He puts this down to the fact his services are “quite traditional” and aimed at his constituency. In other words, he is not trying to woo a younger audience.

“There’s not much point bringing young people in when we run the sort of service we do, it’s completely alien,” Des says. “We’ve thought if we do get young people in, what on Earth are we going to do with them?

“We get a number of people from other churches who are catering for young people. They say those churches aren’t interested in people their age.”

Despite its large flock, Warragul 20

Dianne Kiddell and Lynne Oates at St Andrews UC in Mirboo North.

“

That’s what a good Australian town does, we like to look after people.

”

Ruth Widdowson, Lakes Entrance

has been without a minister for the past six months, after ill health forced its previous incumbent into early retirement. The congregation now relies on two retired ministers to take turns leading the service, with some help from supply ministers.

Being without a minister is not uncommon in the Gippsland presbytery – St Andrews UC in Mirboo North, 54km south-east of Warragul, is facing the same reality. Its last full-time minister retired about seven years ago and, since then, the tiny church has managed with supply ministers or, failing that, a retired minister.

Church secretary Lynne Oates, 80, says ministers never really retire – “it’s just pretend”.

Supply ministers are about the only thing Mirboo North has in common with Warragul, however. This is your typical one-street town, which is reflected in church numbers.

With less than 20 people in the pews each Sunday, the congregation is smaller than Warragul’s choir. What it lacks in numbers, however, it more than makes up for with outreach work, both home and abroad.

The congregation has supported a girls’ school in South Sudan, a blindness prevention program in Vanuatu and, for the past two years, paid the full-time salary of a health worker in Vanuatu.

Closer to home, St Andrews runs a community kitchen, where people are invited to improve their cooking skills. It has more or less morphed into a young mums’ group.

St Andrews member Dianne Kiddell says smaller populations seem to foster ecumenical cooperation, particularly when it comes to mission activities.

“The Anglicans run a breakfast club at the secondary school, so rather than us try to compete by running a different

Images: Mikaela Turner

Marilyn Cassidy says Bairnsdale feels “a little forgotten”.

Ruth Widdowson and Susan Grundy volunteer at the Lakes Entrance op shop.

Rev Nathaniel Atem says farmers at Orbost are struggling to feed their livestock.

Rowena Harris says Swifts Creek is “approaching very difficult times”. one, we just support theirs,” she says.

“Same with foodbank – the Assemblies of God congregation runs one, so we just collect goods to give them to manage.”

Dianne says despite the fact the congregation feels embedded in the local community, the church itself is still on the margins.

“The younger generation don’t relate to church structures,” she says.

“Especially after the Royal Commission.

The challenge is, how do we take what we value out of this building?”

Surprisingly, one word which no one has mentioned yet is “drought”. If you type “Mirboo North” into Google Maps you can’t help but notice the sea of brown surrounding it. But, on the ground, it’s lush green vegetation as far as the eye can see.

Head north-east, however, and it isn’t too long before the landscape starts to change. Take the A1 for an hour and you hit Rosedale, a town that looks like it hasn’t seen rain in a long time.

Further on up the highway is Stratford, where the welcome sign states “Stratford upon the river Avon”. Cross the Avon,

however, and there is no river – just a dry, dusty bed of dirt and weatherbeaten shrubs.

Keep going and you will eventually arrive at Bairnsdale. The only thing Bairnsdale and Stratford have in common is the 50km stretch of road which joins them.

Bairnsdale is big and it’s busy – and the busyness extends to its Uniting Church. With an op shop, messy church, playgroup, sewing group, banner group,

community concerts and a monthly car boot market, the church is a hub of activity.

Church Council chair Marilyn Cassidy says Bairnsdale “definitely knows we’re here”.

Marilyn, who moved from Brighton 12 years ago, says of all the community work the church does, one of the most appreciated is the help afforded to parents of children with disability. Twice a week, the church opens its doors and lets the children play in one area while their parents receive counselling in another room.

“We feel that’s an important service to the community,” she says.

Bairnsdale’s population is pushing 15,000 people, but it still has a smalltown feel – something Marilyn marks as a plus. And a minus.

On the positive side, everyone is friendly and up for a chat. On the negative side, Bairnsdale, despite being just 280km from Melbourne, feels “a little bit forgotten”.

“You do feel isolated because you don’t have enough transport, you can

Continued P22

21

Victoria gippsland

Melbourne

warragul mirboo nth

cowes

From P21

feel a little bit forgotten,” Marilyn says.

“It’s a little bit ‘them and us’ with the city.”

Swifts Creek is 100 clicks due north of Bairnsdale and to get there you have to negotiate a slow, twisting, drive up the Great Alpine Rd. But when you reach the town, you are welcomed with a magnificent procession of trees lining the road. However, it’s a mirage of sorts.

The town, home to 300 people, consists of a 500m stretch of road, an IGA, post office, bakery and little else.

Everywhere you turn there is green grass, but looks can be deceiving. Swifts Creek 22

is three years into a “green drought”.

Rowena Harris is minister at the local Uniting Church, but her placement is unusual – it’s a three-way partnership between the Synod, Presbytery of Gippsland and Frontier Services.

Rowena’s tenure coincided with the start of the drought, a situation which dominates her work. She says the town exists predominately to serve the farming community, so the drought’s aftershocks are keenly felt.

“At present, we have a green drought, which means it’s rained enough to make the grass look pretty and green and the

Illustration: Carl Rainer

swifts creek

orbost bairnsdale

johnsonville lakes entrance

flowers come out, but the grass has hardly any root system, so when cattle come in and eat it, it dies,” Rowena says.

“This is the third year of drought and we are approaching very difficult times.

Obviously, there is still grass, but if you drive past farms and look in the dams there’s hardly any water.

“We need about a month of continuous rain to break the drought.”

Rowena says families are struggling to feed themselves and their stock, as well as pay for hay, water, essential medical bills, school activities and everyday expenses such as petrol.

Like any community ravaged by drought, mental health looms large.

Rowena and her congregation are tackling the issue head on with events called “Resilience Days” which include free food, activities and counselling.

These events allow people to come together in solidarity while also allowing Rowena a chance to get to know more about what is going on in their lives.

“I may be talking with a family and afterwards someone will come up and tell me that family has had no income for the last two months, so we will find ways to help,” she says.

“People’s pride may get damaged as they don’t like to admit they’re struggling, but the reality is they need the help. What we found is at first people were embarrassed to receive help, but now they’re just relieved.”

Swifts Creek UC’s congregation is small – “on a good day we will have six,” Rowena says – but “church” isn’t just about attending service on a Sunday.

“St Francis of Assisi was reputed to have said ‘preach the Gospel constantly and, if necessary, use words’,” Rowena says. “So preaching the Gospel for us may be giving out a food hamper or running a Resilience Day.” If you head back down the mountain and keep driving south you will run into

a town called Johnsonville. Blink and you might miss it, though. There is no green drought in Johnsonville – just drought.

Johnsonville looks more like a service station rest stop than an actual town.

On one side of the road is BP and on the other a café, bait shop and the Uniting Church.

Like Swifts Creek, about 300 people call Johnsonville home and the church has seven members. Interestingly, only one of them lives in Johnsonville – the rest come from neighbouring towns.

With such a small congregation, Johnsonville UC doesn’t have a minister, instead it has partnered with Glen Waverley UC, which sends videos of its Sunday service for Johnsonville UC to watch on a projector.

Two of the parishioners are sisters Wendy Flahive, 66, and Gill Trudinger, 68, who have both spent time in the Pacific Islands conducting women’s health training.

Wendy says the topic is taboo in the region, which leads to misconceptions

Continued P24

23

From P23

and, worse, wrong information. On one trip, Wendy and Gill gave a presentation in a school in Vanuatu and were alarmed by how little the students knew about basic women’s hygiene.

“Two girls came up to us after the speech and asked ‘do boys have periods?’ They were 13 years old,” Wendy says.

On another occasion, Wendy was working in Kiribati when she discovered one of the women only had a hand towel to seal with her period. “How are you supposed to work a whole day with that?” she asks.

Soon after, Wendy found out about a program called Days for Girls, which provides reusable feminine hygiene products for women in need. Wendy and Gill started to help about eight years ago and, since then, word has spread to other Uniting Churches in the area.

In the past two years alone, the East Gippsland sector has sent about 4000 feminine hygiene kits to Vanuatu, Cambodia and the Solomon Islands.

24

“

This is the third year of drought and we are approaching very difficult times. We need about a month of continuous rain.

”

Rowena Harris, Swifts Creek

About 20km further east is Lakes Entrance, which seems to be a magnet for tourists and retirees. If you need a place to stay you don’t have to look too far – the road to the town centre is dotted with holiday parks, motels and hotels.

Taken at face value, Lakes Entrance appears to be on doing well, but you don’t need to draw the curtain back too far to see some serious cracks in the façade. The local arcade, for example, caters for about 10 shops, but only two are occupied – the op shop, which is run

by the Uniting Church, and a pizza place.

Ruth Widdowson and Susan Grundy are members of the Lakes Entrance UC and also volunteer at the op shop.

Both moved from Melbourne when they retired. Susan says she was drawn to the “slow, relaxed lifestyle” but worries about the town’s prosperity.

As the calendar counts down to the Christmas holidays, she says many local businesses live or die by their holiday trade.

“Businesses need to make enough money during the Easter and Christmas breaks and long weekends to keep them going all through the year,” Susan says.

For evidence, Ruth points to the nearempty arcade. “It used to be a thriving hub, now it’s basically empty with no walk-in traffic and nothing encouraging people to open here,” Ruth says.

“It’s pretty sad.”

The church is also having to make do with what it has. Ruth says it hasn’t had a minister in placement for about five years, which is something the 20-person

Image: Stephen Acott

Image: Mikaela Turner

Gill Trudinger, of Johnsonville UC, helps women in the Pacific Islands. congregation hopes will change, but the lay leaders who are filling the breach are “very capable” and “inspiring”.

“Sunday is very well taken care of,” she says. “We’re very blessed to have them.”

Like most country towns, church in Lakes Entrance is more than a Sunday service – it’s an extended family, where members take care of each other.

“Just one person has to say something and someone will take care of it, whether

it’s a lift to a medical appointment or whatever,” Ruth says.

“That’s what a good Australian town does, we like to look after people.”

Many of the problems faced by Lakes Entrance are mirrored at Orbost, 60km further along the A1. Locals say job opportunities are few and far between and access to medical care is limited.

And then there’s the drought. As with Swifts Creek, the drought at Orbost is

hidden under a thin veneer of grass, but its effects are being felt throughout this 2000-strong farming town.

Local Uniting Church minister Rev Nathaniel Atem, 50, says the drought is “horrendous”. “Everyone is very worried about it,” he says. “Farmers are struggling to feed their livestock.”

Nathaniel’s flock is about 25, but its footprints spread deep into the community. The church hall is a popular place, with regular dance classes, child care, monthly meals and the annual flower show, which has been going for more than a century.

Nathaniel, who was born in South Sudan and fled to Australia in 2004, believes church isn’t something contained to a weekly gathering.

“Church is where the people are,” he says. “Go to them and that’s church.”

Sound familiar? It could have been Ian Turrnidge speaking. Maybe Cowes and Orbost aren’t worlds away after all.

Either way, Melbourne could do worse than take note.

25

Image: Mikaela Turner

“By volunteering, I see that I am helping people get on with their lives in spite of the ill-health, injustices and the bad luck that people have.”

Ahead of International Volunteer Day (5 December) we asked unstoppable Manningham Uniting Church members and serial volunteers Frank and Wendy Johnston about giving back and living life to the full.

FRANK

We’ve just been volunteering on a property at Gravesend, NSW, with Outback Links, which is a branch of UCA Frontier Services. This year, Gravesend was really something to behold, a 1700acre farm with not a blade of grass on it except what they were watering around the house.

It’s really quite heartbreaking to watch what they’re going through. Their cattle herd must be well under half of what they normally carry and they’re having to feed every day to keep the animals alive. They’re prepared to put all of their savings and more into keeping their breeding stock. We met a lot of their friends from the community and they are all in the same boat.

We took our caravan and worked on the property for 10 days. We love being on the land, we take to it like ducks to water. I painted some of the outside 26

of the house and fixed up doors and windows inside. I’m more of a handyman than the fellow of the farm.

We’ve done six Outback Links volunteering stints and two with BlazeAid. BlazeAid cleans up and rebuilds fences after fires or floods.

In our local community, we are also both very active with volunteering. Every week, I help with an aged care program called Carramar that was started by our church 35 years ago. Now it’s run by Doncare. I organise transport for the 15 or 16 clients. We take them to a church, have morning tea and then do some activities, such as crosswords, crafts or games. Then, after lunch, we bring in people to inform and entertain.

At 86, I’m the same age as some of the clients, but they have had a different life. Wendy and I have both been lucky that we’ve been fit and healthy, whereas other people our age just aren’t.

I grew up on one of the very first

hobby farms in Doncaster East. My grandfather was a farmer and my father was an agricultural scientist. When I was 10, he bought nine acres of old orchid and we moved there. At that time there was no urban development.

I studied surveying at Melbourne University because I thought it was a good balance between outdoors and indoors. I graduated at the end of 1955, then moved to Cooma to work with the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority. I worked with a lot of the new migrants. In those days I could understand the most atrocious English sometimes, although sometimes it was a bit too hard. It was a totally different world in Australia at that time.

Wendy moved to Cooma from Parkes, NSW, in the same week I arrived there.

We met at the Methodist Church in Cooma. Wendy and I married in 1960. In 1966, we moved to Young, NSW, where I spent five years working in cadastral

surveying and on contract work with the Division of National Mapping, for which I travelled all over Australia. After that I took up a post as a lecturer at RMIT for 23 years. After my “retirement” I have continued working with RMIT part-time looking after the surveying equipment.

They’ve just given me the flick.

Actually, I told them I am finishing at the end of year.

I grew up in a Methodist family. My father’s family was Church of Christ, but my mother’s family was Methodist. We could walk to the Methodist church, but the Church of Christ was another 3km up the road and, well, we weren’t going to walk there.

I’ve been a member of Manningham Uniting Church since 1944 – I’m probably the longest surviving member of the church continuously attending.

I started at East Doncaster Methodist, then Wesley Uniting, then Doncaster East Uniting then Manningham Uniting. I’ve

“

Wendy and I have both been lucky that we’ve been fit and healthy, whereas other people our age just aren’t.

Frank Johnston

”

seen it through all the phases. I’ve been active in the church my whole life. I was a leader in the Methodist church and been an elder in the Uniting Church. I’ve been the secretary, treasurer and president of the local Inter-church council for probably 20 years.

My volunteering work picked up after I retired from full-time work. Presently I’m also involved with an ecumenical charity, Love in the name of Christ (LinC). There’s about seven or eight local churches in Manningham who participate.

Largely, it provides transport for people who are living alone to help them get to appointments, mainly medical.

We also run a food pantry so we make hampers available for about 15 families.

I’ve been organising the distribution of those hampers for the people who can’t come in. This morning I delivered five hampers. Every two weeks that job is on.

After retirement, I never thought ‘I can start taking it easy now’. It worries me actually because I think if I did get sick or injured and couldn’t do anything, I’d get depressed.

Feeling that I’m being useful is just part of my being. But then I think, ‘well I’ve been to a few funerals recently’. I worked out the average age of those people and it came out as 89, so I’ve still got a few more years.

By volunteering, I see that I am helping people get on with their lives in spite of the ill-health, injustices and the bad luck that people have.

Continued P28

27

Wendy and Frank on their wedding day in Cooma, 1960

From P27

WENDY

Volunteering on the farm suits me because I am very familiar with rural life. I was born in Tamworth, NSW, and my father was a school teacher. Shortly after I was born, he took up a position at a one-teacher school in Sutton, which was once a tiny village, but now is almost part of Canberra. This was during the war years so we had ration books for all sorts of things.

Every second Sunday we would travel about 13 miles to go to church at Wattle Park, and the other week we would go into Canberra to do shopping. The highlight of that trip was that we would have a picnic down by the river and eat baked rabbit and fresh bread.

In 1950, Dad was promoted to Deputy Principal of Parkes Boys Primary School.

This was a big change for us because of the number of kids in our class. But we did have electric lights, a hot water system that ran through the fuel stove AND a flush toilet. What luxuries!

We went to the Parkes Methodist Church twice on Sundays and to Sunday school in the afternoon. I can remember sitting for Sunday school exams in a very formal room. Sunday school anniversaries were very special, sitting in tiered seats with three services in the day, and a new dress. However, I wasn’t very fond of regular school and went to work in the Commonwealth Bank.

We moved to Cooma in 1956 and Dad was principal of the Cooma North Primary School. Cooma North was a suburb built by the Snowy Mountains Authority to house head office staff and it was there that my eyes were opened to other cultures and different languages.

My sister and I had great fun mixing with different nationalities at church, YHA and ecumenical fellowship.

I met at Frank at church – we had both arrived in Cooma about the same time.

We married four years later and moved to Young. By then I already had two young children and we discovered we were having twins. The folks from church were a wonderful support, they brought us all sorts of extra things that you need for two babies.

Frank’s job as a surveyor meant he 28

“

It is amazing what you can turn your hand to if you give it a try.

Wendy Johnston

”

was away from home a lot. This was hard for me, with four young children and no family support, but I think it made me very independent.

We will have been married for 60 years in April next year. Naturally, you can have your differences, but I think the fact that we have lots of interests in common, but also have our own interests, has helped us live the journey together. Our four children, Andrea, Carolyn and twins Richard and Jill have presented us with 11 beautiful grandchildren.

Our volunteering started when we moved to Melbourne. I spent five years working in the high-rise flats in North Melbourne with mothers who were not coping with their children, and this resulted in us becoming emergency foster parents. I would bring a child home with me, then have to go to the op shop to get some clothes. We had some delightful children, who responded to care and love.

When Carramar started I was involved in driving and working in the kitchen, but now just provide morning tea on a roster basis. I’m also involved with LinC and that involves a lot of driving, helping young mums and a variety of other jobs.

I spent some years with a young mum

who had two sets of twins in 11 months, so I would go one day a week to help her, and that was a job I loved. We often get LinC jobs that need regular help, as in weekly or fortnightly.

The involvement with Outback Links has been very rewarding for us. It is amazing what you can turn your hand to if you give it a try. On one property we were relocating a chook house and when the chooks came into their usual place they were so confused. It was so funny watching them wander in a daze and showing them their new home.

Another time we were feeding some young pigs one morning and they got so excited when they saw the food coming that they jumped the fence and we had an exhausting chase to get them all back in – and then we discovered we’d mixed up the boys and girls and had to sort that out.

The Gravesend farm we were on has had about 23mm of rain since we left, but they need follow up. A lot of people think “oh it’s rained they’ll be right now”, but it’s not the case.

Even if it does rain more, it will take some time for the grass to grow back properly and years for the debts to be paid. Even with the last amount of rain they had some run-off into the dam and had to pull some cattle out because they got stuck in the mud. It’s always a drama.

We got a message just the other day from Ruth, the owner of the property we were on, with a picture of their garden’s first sunflower. I planted the seeds.

Image: Mikaela Turner

Alan Cracknell says there is a “fairly high fire risk” in the area surrounding Bairnsdale.

In the line of fire As the bush continues to be ravaged by drought, summer brings an extra hazard.

By David Southwell Having already seen fires devastate large parts of NSW and Queensland, rural communities are bracing for what is predicted to be a dangerously dry summer in Victoria and Tasmania.

In many of these places the bonds between the local church and fire brigade run deep and that is certainly the case in the East Gippsland town of Bairnsdale.

Longtime Bairnsdale UC member Alan Cracknell is typical of those prepared to swap their Sunday best for the yellow uniform of volunteer firefighters whenever the need arises.

Alan, 75, is secretary of the Bairnsdale Country Fire Authority brigade and, in what might be considered an ominous sign, they have already been called into bushfire action – even before summer has truly set in.

“There’s been some small bushfires already down this part of the world started by lightning,” Alan says.

“The bush is extremely dry, so it’s a fairly high fire risk at this stage. West and

south Gippsland have had a lot more rain than we have.”

As with large swathes of rural Victoria, there are no paid firefighters in the region, leaving the 43 volunteers to attend to every incident that a professional brigade would handle in a more urban setting.

“We respond to house fires, car fires, motor vehicle accidents with or without fatalities, rubbish bin fires, shed fires, grass and bushfires – everything,” Alan says.

“We are a very busy brigade. We had 282 calls last year, that just the Bairnsdale fire brigade went to.

Brigade members are on call 24/7 and they will turn out when they can depending on work and family and other commitments.

“You never know what you are going to get at what time of day. We’ve even been called out to remove a swooping magpie.”

Alan, who was employed as a professional CFA liaison for 10 years

before going back to voluntary work, says there are a “lot of positives” in what he does, but he has also witnessed some deeply traumatising incidents.

“A number of years ago two little girls died in a house fire,” he says.

“We also have been called out to where people have been incinerated in a car fire.”

Alan says Bairnsdale Uniting Church has often been at the forefront of offering help at times of loss.

“The op shop there in particular is a brilliant supporter of local people,” he says. “We have had occasions where someone has lost the whole house.

The op shop provided the materials, furniture, bedding whatever for the fire victim to move into a new house.

“A local trucking company trucked all the requirements up to the property and the bloke had has his house fixed up with furniture, crockery the whole lot.”

For farm fire safety tips, go to www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/firesafety-on-the-farm 29

C SIGMP HT Camping has come a long way since the first tent was pitched.

Now we have insulated facilities with ensuites, bathrooms and proper kitchens.

But one thing hasn’t changed – the joy, comfort and challenge found in Mother Nature’s warm embrace. Just ask Daniel Murray.

Interview by Stephen Acott What’s your title?

UC Camping Director.

When did you start this job?

May 2018.

What do you like about it?

I like the fact the church creates opportunities for people to go camping.

We encourage and cater for a diverse range of groups. Through bequests and this and that, five per cent of our revenue is dedicated to providing experiences to those who otherwise would not be able to afford it.

UC Camping is one of the most equitable providers in the camping and outdoor education industry.

30

How many staff do you have?

We have about 25 full-time staff and, depending on the time of the year, up to 60 casuals. This is our most important asset. I am fortunate to have passionate and knowledgeable staff that are regularly identified in feedback as exceptional. I am constantly impressed by their ability to exceed the expectations of our guests.

How many camps do we have?

We have five sites – two in the Grampians (Norval and Acacia), one in Creswick near Ballarat, one at Grantville in west Gippsland and one at Merricks on the Mornington Peninsula. Norval is the largest, with about 180 beds and the

smallest is Adekate Lodge in Creswick.

It has about 100 beds. All up, we have about 680 beds.

Can you describe the type of accommodation at these sites?

It’s mostly large buildings with small rooms housing two to eight people.

Some have ensuites and most beds are bunks. And, of course, there are dining halls, other break-out/meeting rooms and commercial kitchens.

Any chapels?

A couple of the sites do and the others have spaces for worship. Some of the local congregations use the chapels from time to time, but there are no formal

Daniel Murray: “Young people miss the opportunity for the skilled guidance and leadership that creates independent and resilient adventurers.”

services. The chapels are used for many activities, such as craft groups, and people from other faiths use them, too.

Do you have recreational facilities, things like flying foxes, etc?

Depending on the site, there are varying degrees of infrastructure. We have high-rope courses, zip lines, canoeing, swimming pools, archery, mountain biking, snorkelling, among other things.

There are also outdoor BBQ areas, fire pits, ovals and sports courts for things like basketball. Most sites have areas for outdoor reflection, like the labyrinth at Grantville.

When did you first get involved with camping?

I trained in outdoor education and have been involved professionally in camping and outdoor education one way or another for the best part of 30 years. My formative experiences were at high school. I was fortunate enough to attend a quite alternative school that had a very strong focus on the outdoors.

There was no formal subject or identified

outdoor education teacher, but every staff member had a passion outside their subject area that was incorporated into outdoor and co-curricular activities.

How much has it changed in that time?

A lot in some aspects. It’s very infrastructure-focused now, which is a shame. Camping and outdoor education have also become far more formal and structured. The organisations, including schools, that deliver outdoor education and camping experiences are required to meet ever-more demanding risk and compliance standards. Sadly, many of these well-intentioned regulations sanitise the experiences and do not always add to the safety and mitigation of risk. Outdoor education has also become a subject that is offered at VCE. I have never been an advocate of outdoor education as a subject because it undermines the very essence of being in the outdoors and working together in small temporary communities.

Is there a flip side? Does the fact that outdoor education is now a

subject drive students to experience outdoor education where they may not have otherwise?

No, it doesn’t work because it becomes either a compulsory subject at lower levels or an elective subject that is not embedded in a school’s ethos and is only an isolated experience. The students are being led, not leading themselves.

Will we see surfing in classroom as virtual subject?

We’ve got kids who are having led outdoor experiences that are totally inappropriate and, in many cases, putting young people off being in the outdoors for life.

What do you mean?

The adventure activities that the industry run are seen more like an amusement park, where you have to go on “a ride”. Combined with leaders who may not be truly engaged and experienced in the outdoors, young people miss the opportunity for the skilled guidance and leadership that, over time, creates independent and

Continued 32

31

From 31

resilient adventurers.

It is a difficult model to challenge and UCC is part of the industry that needs to be challenged occasionally.

Who are the camps primarily for?

School groups?

Right now we are what you would call a large-group accommodation provider – groups of 20-plus people – but 50 per cent of our business is schools. The rest is made up of faith-based groups, community groups, special needs groups and family groups.

So if I want to take my family camping, I can’t use your sites?

At the moment no, unless you have a very large family! We do have a number of family camps where the extended family gathers. As of next year, you will be able to book as a small family unit, we just have to get our booking system upgraded.

Just back to school groups, what type of schools usually go and what ages?

Primary school? High school?

The biggest users are schools from the independent system, unfortunately.

Grades six to nine.

Why do you say “unfortunately”?

Because the harsh reality is, in Victoria at least, privilege seems to beget outdoor education. Even the schools that aren’t classified as “independent”, if you look at where they are located, they are not from low socio-economic areas. The capacity for families whose children attend the local government school to prioritise a school camp over food or power bills is in direct contrast to those who can afford to send their kids to an independent school.

32

What are the occupancy rates like?

The industry standard is 35 per cent or above and we are about 25 per cent, so there is lots of room for growth and that’s what we are in the middle of trying to do. Our aim is to get to 35-40 per cent in the next five years. Christian Youth Camps are about 40 per cent, same with the YMCA. We’ve upped our social media presence, we’ve revisited our website (www.uccamping.org.au), given our managers more time to go and see potential clients and are continually upgrading our infrastructure. People now expect motel-like accommodation.

“Rustic” is no longer acceptable.

Rustic is not OK? Are we getting softer?

(Laughs) That’s a loaded question! Let’s just say there is a changing expectation in how parents expect their children to be accommodated.

Can you describe the experience I would get if I went to one of the campsites?

You would find very gracious hosts. We spend a lot of time training our staff in the Uniting Church ethos and values.

And it’s interesting because many of them are not religious, so when we tell them about our covenanting relationship with the First Peoples and explore our values and ethos they go “actually, this

is not a bad organisation” because, at the moment, all they are hearing is the bad stuff that has come to light through the Royal Commission or the more conservative Christian organisations’ views on the LGBTIQ community, samesex marriage or even the environment.

We go the extra yard and make sure people feel welcome. We get in good staff and deliver good programs. We try to have local staff running our programs so that they genuinely know an area.

When you walk in the Grampians with our Norval program manager Nick Scott or Ant Mair you will be with people who live and know the place. When you go snorkelling with Karen Kirkland, the program manager at Merricks, she can introduce you to the Weedy Sea Dragons by name!

You’ve touched on a really interesting point there. Your camps would

What we do well is “dispel the myths around

Christian organisations.

We are an active, safe and accessible interface with the secular community.

Daniel Murray

and other, need to demonstrate their credentials to the public – UC Camping can be a very important part of rebuilding trust and a strong relationship with the broader community.

be one of the few areas where the Church interacts with people who are predominantly not active churchgoers. Do you think people get a better understanding of the church when they come to these campsites?

That’s certainly something we strive to do, but not in an overt way.

With all the news at the moment about royal commissions into child sexual abuse a lot of institutions are on the nose, particularly institutions of Christian faith.

I go to school briefings and parents ask me if their child is going to be safe, which is very confronting. And parents of other faiths worry that we are going to try to proselytize to their children.

I think what we do well is dispel the myths around Christian organisations.

We are an active, safe and accessible interface with the secular community.

I think the institutions, Christian

Do you think people get more of a sense of God when they are outdoors, rather than being stuck in a classroom or office?

I don’t think there’s any doubt that the outdoors has a profound effect on people.

People often tell us that the most rewarding experiences they’ve had is where we haven’t programmed an activity, where it’s just free time. For example, at Merricks we have a spot on the beach that’s quite remote and we let the children go and do as they please there and, before they know it, four hours has disappeared.

For many, just sitting and looking at the ocean has been the main activity.

Having time to reflect and sit with yourself would seem to be a spiritual experience whatever faith you subscribe to.

I am not sure I’m qualified to answer the ‘sense of God’ question, but there is definitely a sense of something bigger in the outdoors – inspiring and humbling – not always in equal measure.

Do you run specialised camps?

Yes, in January we had the HeartKids

”

Camp at Granville, which was for kids with congenital heart disease. We’ve just had Brainwave for kids with neurological disorders. Sixty per cent of those camps were funded by the Harold Hughes Estate Bequest.

What does a typical week look like for you?

A lot of travelling. I’m doing about 35,000km a year. I live on the Mornington Peninsula and try to get into the city twice a week. I try to get to every site on a fortnightly basis. I miss the handson interaction of running programs.

Occasionally the site managers or program managers allow me to work with a group, but they keep a close eye on me!

So that means you are away from home a lot. How does that go down?

I work from home some days to try to compensate and that helps enormously.

When you have holidays, do you go camping?

Yes I do. The kids love it.

Last question: if you found yourself lost in a forest, could you fend for yourself?

(Laughs) I think I’d be happier lost in a forest than dealing with some of the things I have to deal with some days!

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By the book There’s no better time to catch up on some reading than the summer holidays. But what to choose? If you need some inspiration, we asked some UCA booklovers for a recommendation.

Around the Table: Talking Graciously about God Jonathan P. Case

America’s First Daughter Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie This historical novel tells the events surrounding the life of Founding Father and third US President Thomas Jefferson from the point of view of his eldest daughter, Patsy. The book was researched from thousands of letters and original sources. With current American political life engaging the curiosity (and anxiety) of the world, this insight into the political and philosophical influences that shaped the US is of particular interest.

Peter Blackwood Retired UCA minister

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In a day when public discussions about religion can be quite toxic, this book provides a valuable set of principles for more constructive engagement.

It also exhibits the rare combination of intellectual rigor and clarity of expression. Attuned to present day religious and interreligious dialogue, it brings reason and fair play into the discussion, offering sane advice laced with wit and wisdom.

Glen O’Brien UCA Minister The Cyber Effect Mary Aiken This is a must-read for anyone with children or grandchildren about the impact of the online world on child development. The author, Dr Mary Aiken, is a psychologist who specialises in how online useage effects human behaviour.

The book is thoroughly engaging, with lots of examples and case studies. I wish I had read this when my kids were growing up and entering the online world.

Mark Zirnsak Senior Social Justice Advocate, eLM

Night of the Lightbringer Peter Tremayne

On the Edge: A-Way with the Ocean Jan Morgan and Graeme Garrett

This is the 28th of 30 Sister Fidelma mysteries authored by Peter Tremayne, which is the pen name of ancient Celts expert Peter Berresford Ellis. Fidelma of Cashel is a seventh century dailagh, meaning an advocate of the law courts, and sister to the king of what is now called Munster in Ireland. She navigates theological controversies and conflicting clues to solve the mysterious murders that confront her. The series will be enjoyed by all who value readability in religion, history and mystery.

Christopher Venning Retired UCA minister

The journey at the heart of this book takes place in the small town of Tathra Beach in Yuin country. Deeply concerned about climate change and sea damage, and drawing on ancient meditative traditions, the authors develop a practice of attending to the ocean which I found to be fascinating and transformative. Whether or not you are heading for the beach this summer, I recommend this book.

Margaret Campbell Pilgrim Theological College Associate Lecturer

Hell West and Crooked Tom Cole This book relates to the life of a 17-yearold arriving from England in 1923 who lived in the Outback. Cole is described as a “real life Crocodile Dundee” who worked as a stockman, drover, linesman, horsebreaker, buffalo shooter and crocodile hunter. He encountered many interesting and resilient characters who contributed to making Outback Australia what it is today.

Lionel Parrett Montrose Uniting Church member

Christ cured leprosy in His earthly lifetime.

He’s called us to end it in ours.

Dedicate a service or hold an event at your church or group themed around leprosy. One of the tasks Jesus gave His disciples was to heal people with leprosy (Matt 10:8).

Book a speaker a today! Ask for our free resources to help run your event.

World Leprosy Sunday runs from 26 January to 26 April 2020.

Free call 1800 LEPROSY (1800 537 767) Email: engage@leprosymission.org.au www.worldleprosysunday.org.au 35

A minister discusses a part of the Bible that especially speaks to them.

Rev Susan Malthouse-Law Weeroona Uniting Church minister

Blessed is she who “ has believed that the Lord would fulfil his promises to her!

”

(Luke 1:1 – 66)

I’ve always gravitated towards the women in Scripture, and in recent years felt great empathy and solidarity with those scattered through the Old and New Testaments who are described as “barren”. I was one with them, and lived in hope that, just as their prayers were answered, my own barrenness would be somehow overcome.

It seemed unlikely, even impossible, for so many years. And it was only during Advent last year, preaching on Luke’s account of the events before Jesus’s birth, that I expressed my jealousy that despite her “getting on in years”, Elizabeth’s hope/desire/prayer was answered, and I was full of lament that it seemed I was not to be so blessed.

Elizabeth and Mary’s story has always been my favourite part of the Advent narrative – women in solidarity with each other, across the generations and experiences, facing very different realities in welcoming a new life into the world.

Mary: a young teen facing potential condemnation, even death, for accepting God’s invitation to birth His Son. Elizabeth: a seemingly old woman, after years of despair and lament and judgment, having her prayers answered in an endeavour to “prepare the way”.

Both women are brave and faithful in the face of personal and community adversity, in the service of the God who has called them.

As I’ve aged, I have failed to be as faithful as Elizabeth. Instead of being described as “righteous before God, living blamelessly according to the commandments” as she is, I have often been consumed by jealousy, lament, anger, failure and faithlessness.

Despite seeming to maintain hope, little did I believe God would ever answer my prayers.

This year, however, I find I must face Advent, and this passage of Scripture, in a new way because I am anticipating the birth of my first child in the new year. In my old age (39), my prayer has been answered, and so I have no choice but to sing the praises of God, echoing Elizabeth’s grace to Mary, and Mary’s own hymn of praise, that I feel blessed among women.

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Questions for Crosslight Kaylea Fearn Richmond I was very moved by your article Soft Cell (October Crosslight), exploring prison chaplaincy through an interview with Reverend Deborah Kottek.

In particular, the letters from the prisoners explaining the value of chaplaincy support were enlightening to all who know little about this area of Uniting Church ministry. Thank you for publishing them largely unedited so that we may hear their voices unfiltered.

However, I was disappointed to see several questions asked of Rev Kottek that were pointedly gendered, including “Do you have to watch what you’re wearing?” While Rev Kottek answered professionally and graciously, these questions are not appropriate for a Uniting Church platform in 2019 and would not be asked of a male minister. ● Nicole Mugford Bentleigh East It was encouraging and inspiring to read of different roles and ministry happening outside the walls of the church, such as the Rev Deborah Kottek interview.

However, I was disappointed in the interviewer’s questions which repeatedly asked about her being a woman in ministry.

As a young woman in ministry I found it frustrating that the significant and

important ministry being undertaken was being questioned based on things such as “being objectified”. Men never have to answer these questions in their ministry and I felt my ministry wouldn’t be respected equally.

I want to hear more of the ministry of chaplaincy, deacons and those doing outreach and pastoral care outside our congregations, but we need to do better to respect and value the ministry of the people who undertake these roles.

Ed’s note: Rev Kottek’s gender was pertinent to the story. As a prison chaplain, she is working in a potentially hostile male-only environment and ascertaining if she felt safe and respected were legitimate avenues of enquiry. ● Ray Thomas Euroa I can see the people at Crosslight work very hard to report on issues/debates that are pertinent to our situation. Thank you for showing leadership in keeping the conversations open.

I was touched by the photo of the Muslim woman looking peacefully and humbly at me, showing our common humanity. I see it every day in the public spaces we move in – loving mothers and fathers with playful children, students heading off to university, smiles, laughter, conversations that I recognise as normal rather than alien.

Then I reflect on what looks like a solid decision this culture has made to play down the sexualising of women, rather than ramp it up as some elements of our Western culture have. Of course, one can see highly polarised extremes in both directions, and neither is all that helpful or enlightened.

So I’d rather thank the lovely humans, whoever and wherever they are, for being respectful and honouring of women, rather than be demeaning, exploitative and aggressive.

I think your articles are doing that well. It comes across beautifully in the interview with Rev Deborah Kottek, describing her down-to-Earth and supportive interactions with prisoners. ●

Prayer aware Joan Wood Strathbogie Thank you so much for the wonderful article on prayer (October Crosslight) which I found not only comprehensive but extremely helpful. It was great to read the comments from current ministers too, which we could relate to in our own experience.

The article was also attractively displayed with short headings to make one want to read further.

I enjoyed the Moderator’s comments too and found them insightful and balanced, reminding us all to care for the world that God gives to us so we all “flourish”.

I also enjoyed the great story headlined “Harmonies for harmony”. It is great to read about Christians living out their faith in the workplace and everyday lives, and the difference having faith makes to how they cope.

Well done for a great issue. ●

We want to hear from you.

Email your thoughts to crosslight@victas.uca.org.au.

Do not exceed 200 words and include your full name, address and contact phone number.

37

Crosslight is a bi-monthly magazine produced by the Communications and Media Services unit of the Uniting Church in Australia Synod of Victoria and Tasmania.

CHRISTMAS MORNING TEA

Opinions expressed in Crosslight do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or the policies of the Uniting Church.

5 December The Hub. Glen Waverley Uniting Church Bring your family and friends.

All ages welcome.

Donations welcome for needy families in our community.

For more information and group bookings phone 9560 3580.

10am - noon

Advertising Crosslight accepts advertising in good faith. Acceptance of advertising does not imply endorsement. Advertising material is at the discretion of the publisher.

Advertising deadlines Bookings (February 2020 issue) Thursday 12 December 2019 Copy & images for production Thursday 19 December 2019 Print ready supplied PDF Thursday 9 January 2020 See crosslight.org.au for full details.

Distribution Crosslight is usually distributed the first Sunday of the month.

Wesley Church reopening 15 December Wesley Church Melbourne We warmly welcome you to join us at our Thanksgiving Service for the newly restored Wesley Church Melbourne. Presiding over the service will be Rev Alistair Macrae and Moderator Rev Denise Liersch will deliver

the message. The Music Director, Geoffrey Urquhart, and the choir will fill the church again with music from the pipe organ and songs of praise. Light refreshments will be served afterwards. Service starts at 2pm.

Mini Fete and Car Boot Sale 5 January 2020 Inverloch Uniting Church Includes book stall, cake stall, Devonshire tea, sausage sizzle, trash and treasure. Something for everyone! To book a stall, contact Bev on 0408 502 707.

9am – 1pm

19 January 2020 Rosedale Uniting Church Rosedale Uniting Church is celebrating 150 years of worship. All are invited to the worship service followed by lunch. RSVP for lunch by 22 December to Maxine Edwards maxiepearl@bigpond.com or 0409 992 374. Service starts at 10.30am.

Classifieds WANTED TO BUY

Antiques, second-hand/retro furniture, bric-a-brac and collectables. Single items or whole house lots. Genuine buyer. Contact Kevin on 0408 969 920.

Circulation: 17,000

Choir robes

Staff

Warracknabeal Uniting Church isoffering blue choir robes with white stoles to a choir who could use them. Contact Geoff Lovel (03) 5398 1532

Editor Stephen Acott Ph: (03) 9251 5230 Advertising Adelaide Morse (03) 9340 8800 adelaide.morse@ victas.uca.org.au Media officer David Southwell Ph: (03) 9251 5968 Communications officer Mikaela Turner Ph: (03) 9251 5203 Graphic design and print services Carl Rainer UCA Synod office 130 Little Collins St, Melbourne, Vic, 3000 Feedback & correspondence crosslight@victas.uca.org.au ISSN 1037 826X Next issue: February 2020

ucavictas

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0269

ucavictas 38

15Oth Celebration Service

0269BrunswickUC1/4page.indd 1

6/8/19 3:03 pm

Wesley wonder 161-year-old church reopens after careful restoration.

By David Southwell On 15 December, the historic Wesley Church in Melbourne’s CBD will welcome worshippers for the first time since early February – and for project transition officer Leonie Barber that really will be something to sing about.

The church and its associated manse, schoolhouse and caretaker’s cottage are being restored as part of the $200 million redevelopment of the Wesley Place precinct.

When finished next year, Wesley Place will host a new 35-storey office tower and retail area set in a green public space. Most of this area had previously been a car park.

The Lonsdale St site remains in UCA ownership, with Charter Hall signing a 125-year lease, which includes a sinking fund for the ongoing maintenance of the church buildings after the full restoration.

Before the restoration, Leonie said the deterioration of the heritage-listed church and its associated structures had “bedeviled our days for decades” and it got to the stage where solid plasters were falling from the ceilings.

Faced with the prohibitively expensive repair and maintenance of the buildings, the congregation, in consultation with the former Wesley Mission (now Uniting Vic.Tas) and Synod, decided a commercial partnership was the only realistic option to keep the properties functioning as a UCA presence.

“It’s been a very positive experience working with Synod on this,” Leonie says. “I see it as a gift to the community, that this whole area will be a public space, with the church at the centre.

“We can concentrate on doing the work of the church more effectively. The church’s core business is not property ownership so we have released it to get on with ministry in this place.”

Leonie is especially excited

about restoring Wesley’s musical pedigree, with the church’s excellent acoustics having previously attracted performance groups and festivals before the physical deterioration became insurmountable.

“We have maintained two choirs for many years – both of them very faithful and unpaid,” Leonie says.

“We trust these will grow and, in addition, Charter Hall is in conversation about starting a community choir.”

Wesley Church opened in 1858 and it and the accompanying buildings were constructed between 1857-59 from the Gothic revival designs of renowned architect Joseph Reed, who was also responsible for Melbourne Town Hall.

The church can claim to have Victoria’s first spire, large pipe organ and imported tree, which still produces olives. This, and a second heritagelisted tree, an elm, have been protected throughout construction.

This was just one of the challenges facing the specialist restoration team, which has had to find or train people in skills and trades that are in danger of fading away.

“Stone masons and plasterers have been brought over from Britain and apprentices trained,” Leonie says.

“The new stone has come from Germany and the slate was imported from the original quarry in Wales to replace the roof.”

Highly specialised work was also required to restore the stained glass windows, many of which were removed, transported to a workshop where they were re-leaded by hand and then refitted in the church.

As a homecoming for the congregation there will be a Thanksgiving Service in the restored Wesley Church on 15 December, 2pm.

All are invited to attend.

Food For Families.

Thanks to you.

Help fill a box and give back. foodforfamilies.org.au Christmas can be a joyful time of year for many, but for the marginalised, the least and the lost, it can be a time of sadness and isolation. By donating food and other essential items, you can ensure people facing crisis have the basics they need to get through a difficult time.

There are lots of ways for you to be part of Food For Families this year. You can: • donate non-perishable food and essential items • host a collection drive • be a community drop off point for donations • give your time at a collection centre to sort and stack donated items.

Uniting is the community services organisation of the Uniting Church in Victoria and Tasmania.

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Thanks to Eileen and her family who have been collecting food for six years.