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Hello Faith Pals, Tomorrow is the first day of Spring!  Bit chilly this morning, but isn’t it lovely seeing the flowers in the garden.  Some of our hardy purple irises have made their way through the ground. Purple irises are a  symbol of royalty.  Irises are also connected to  stories of gods and legends/myths. The word comes from the Greek word for ‘rainbow’ (to signify the many colours it can be, and for its role in Greek mythology). According to legend, the name ‘iris’ is derived from Eiris, the Greek goddess, whose role was being messenger between the gods in heaven and the creatures on earth.  When the colorful lines of the rainbow turned up, the goddess was on her way to earth to convey a message, the rainbow being the colourful robe of Eiris. Purple irises were planted over the graves of women to summon Eiris to guide the dead in their journey. This idea of the rainbow is very different from our own understanding of the rainbow,  a reminder of God’s covenant with us. In ancient Egyptian times, the iris was regarded as a symbol of wisdom, faith, and valor. Sometimes an iris was placed on the sceptre of the Egyptian kings, and is even chiseled on the brow of the Sphinx.  During the Middle Ages, the meaning of irises became linked to the French monarchy, and the Fleur-de-lis became the recognized national symbol of France. For many years, irises were used in perfume, and as medicinal remedies. In Chinese culture the iris is regarded as a summer spirit, because its petals, moving in the wind, resemble butterfly wings. The iris has a place in Christianity too, because the iris is linked to the Virgin Mary. It is said that the sword-like appearance of its leaves resembles the sword of grief that ripped at Mary’s heart when Jesus was crucified. Throughout its history, the hardy iris has come to mean faith, hope, and wisdom.  Some of us associate the iris with Vincent Van Gogh: His painting Irises held the record for the most expensive artwork in 1987, when it sold for $53.9 million (US). The painting was among nearly 130 artworks Van Gogh completed during his stay in an asylum at Saint-Remy, the year before he died. It was the first painting Van Gogh started after arriving at the asylum. The flowers were growing in a garden in the small outdoor area where the artist was allowed to stroll and sit. Well, there you have it!  I would hand you all a fresh purple iris if I could!   I give God credit for its beauty, and we could  ‘Christianize’ it further by looking at its purple colour, knowing we follow Christ the King.  We, as his children, are royal too.  (Having just found out there is a Siberian iris called the ‘Shaker’s Prayer’-we could say that this is truly a flower associated with religion, as well as with mythology/legend/history!) ‘For flowers that bloom about our feet, Father, we thank Thee. For tender grass so fresh, so sweet, Father, we thank Thee. For the song of bird and hum of bee, For all things fair we hear or see, Father in heaven, we thank Thee. For blue of stream and blue of sky, Father, we thank Thee. For pleasant shade of branches high, Father, we thank Thee. For fragrant air and cooling breeze, For beauty of the blooming trees, Father in heaven, we thank Thee. For this new morning with its light, Father, we thank Thee. For rest and shelter of the night, Father, we thank Thee For health and food, for love and friends, For everything Thy goodness sends, Father in heaven, we thank Thee.’ (Emerson) Gosh, I had much more to say, but will hold those things over until Friday.  I’ll just leave you in the garden! Blessings and love Barbara

Good morning Faith Pals, Well…what wind we had last night!  Never underestimate the natural elements! A reminder that the event about climate change is on tomorrow (see last Friday’s email for all the details in one of the attachments.  If you can’t locate it and are interested, please let me know and I will send them to you.   Here is a notice for an event for this Sunday afternoon, from the Victorian Council of Churches: ” src=”blob:https://www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au/67e563ac-49f6-4013-8fb9-bf099e103a14″ alt=”” class=”Apple-web-attachment Singleton”> Margaret  received a very heavy bag of groceries for Bayciss last week.  She does not know who dropped it off, so a BIG THANK YOU to that angel.  Margaret delivered a load to Bayciss on Monday, and they were extremely thankful for the generosity of the community. News: I hope Alan and Fredrica are enjoying a bit of relief, able to relax a little.  We continue to keep them in our prayers, along with many others, including Rohini and Jaya, John, Ed and Joan and Sid and Marj, and all in aged care. David is coming home later today, so that is good news.  Thank you for all your emails, phone calls and prayers-you are a wonderful congregation, even if I can’t be with you face-to-face. For a giggle: a joke (from a minister and placed in his congregation’s newsletter): ‘And God said to John, “Come forth, and you shall be granted eternal life.” But John came fifth, and won a toaster.’ For something inspiring and uplifting: Look up You Tube for:  Michael Ball, Tom Moore and the NHS Choir singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcouA_oWsnU Look at the video version with all the faces,  Capt. Tom Moore (now Col.) raised over £33 million (yes, that is NOT a typo!) for the British NHS by his 100th birthday by walking laps of his garden. He was knighted by the Queen and received many other honours.  An inspiring, heart-warming video! (you will need a tissue!) There is a lot on the web about him.  An amazing man who has inspired  others to walk to raise funds, including a six year old boy with spina bifida (who raised over £195,000), a double leg amputee, a stroke victim, a farmer, a nine year old boy with cerebral palsy, and a 100-year-old man, Dabirul Islam Choudhury, who raised more than £150,000 for Covid-19 relief by walking 100 laps of his garden while fasting for Ramadan.  Capt Moore set up his own Foundation, to continue to raise funds for a number of charities. We can all do our bit making this a better world for others.  That is our Christian mission.   Blessings and love, Barbara Virus-free. www.avg.com  

Good morning, Faith Pals, Two weeks ago, in The Friendship Book, there was a story about a man who recommended that his friend get outside and get some dirt on his hands.  He made the observation that ‘heart’ and ‘earth’ are formed from the same letters. That got me thinking.  Many of you are keen gardeners, or have been. If you don’t like gardening, or are not good at it, then you probably enjoy looking at a beautiful garden, or walking through a park.  I am not a good gardener, but I enjoy doing some pruning, and being outside, looking at God’s creation. There is lots of research going on about the benefits of being surrounded by greenery.  I don’t know why research was needed-I am sure most people could tell you being amongst trees or plants is good for our mental wellbeing, good for our soul-even if it is tending a couple of indoor plants. I was reminded of this yesterday.  Speaking to David, still in hospital, I was telling him about the heavy rain.  He said he couldn’t see anything, because his view was of a wall.  He said that greenery was necessary for our well being. We moved house about 6 years ago, mainly for that reason.  We were living in Brunswick, which was close to our work places at the time we moved there, but our work places had changed.  I remember coming home one day and asking why we were still living in Brunswick: we are not hipsters, we don’t wear trendy black clothing, we don’t drink coffee, we crave greenery (we did have a small back garden with trees and plants, but were fed up with walking our dogs on concrete).  It was time to move to greener pastures!  Which we did-and have never regretted the move. So… the heart…the earth. Earth means more than our plot of dirt, it encompasses the planet, and all of creation.  We are connected to the earth, God’s creation. I had started reading a book about the heart.  It had been in the book case for several years- lockdown gives us the opportunity to read what we haven’t, or re-read some favourites.  This book examines the heart and its four chambers, through 1. its anatomy 2. through its religious significance 3. in art 4. in love I thought we could look at the 4 chambers of the heart through the prism of our prayer life: Chamber 1: praise and thanksgiving to God Chamber 2: prayers of Confession Chamber 3: prayers for others, including ourselves Chamber 4: prayers for the earth. ‘I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart.’-Psalm 9:1 ‘Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.’-Proverbs 4:23 ‘And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’-Philippians 4: 7 Prayers for the earth could include the whole world (its oceans, forests, skies), God’s creatures (maybe your own pets, or a favourite animal) including those who are endangered, or another part of God’s creation. News: please remember Alan and Fredrica in your prayers; this is a big week for them.  We pray for strength and peace for them, as this week will bring them the results of the body scan. David is still in hospital, and he is still having bleeds.  He had a colonoscopy on Saturday, and a bleeding artery was tied off, but there has been more bleeding.  Now has a drip with a blood clotting agent in it, he has had several blood transfusions, and will probably have another colonoscopy either today after dialysis, or tomorrow.  His haemoglobin is very low (53). Blessings and love Barbara Virus-free. www.avg.com  

Hello Faith Pals, Welcome to Friday. I have attached the sermon and service for this Sunday, an ad for a Presbytery event about climate change, and a poem by John Wallace. People who need our prayers: Alan and Fredrica need our prayers very much.  Fredrica received a good report from her surgeon, but, unfortunately, Alan’s news was not so.  His results are disappointing, his psa has increased by 50%.  He is going for a nuclear scan of the body/bone to see how things are progressing. We continue to pray for Rohini and Jaya.  Rohini’s shoulder is still very painful, and she is now needing weekly physiotherapy. John has been to the dermatologist, and has new cream and tablets.  He had an ultrasound, because he had been feeling unwell. His liver is a little fatty, so he is managing that now. My David is not well.  We did a rush to Epworth Emergency on Tuesday morning (still quite a bit of traffic on the road at 3am and curfew!)  He  came home late Wednesday, but needs to be re-admitted after dialysis this afternoon.-hence the lateness of this email. Remember the nursery rhyme ‘Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle…and the dish ran away with the spoon’? Found this cartoon: This was prompted by finding this advertisement when sorting out a drawer (the ‘sorting out’ is still on the coffee table! Has been since the first lockdown!) The ad is for a 2014 calendar.  On the front of the calendar is this letter: ‘Dear Fork, I understand that we haven’t spoken since I ran away with Dish, but I thought you should know, you have a son. His name is Spork, he has your hair. Sincerely, Spoon.’ ‘God does not ask your ability, or your inability, but only your availability.’ -Mary Kay Ash ‘Wear gratitude like a cloak, and it will feed every corner of your life.’-Rumi Blessings and love, Barbara Allen Virus-free. www.avg.com  

Hello Faith Pals, Happy Monday!  Some lovely sunshine about-but don’t be tempted to go outside your 5 km radius! I have enclosed Bill Pugh’s reflection about Sunday School picnics.  I remember how much fun they were.  Lots of games.  It was the only time during the year that I was allowed to drink red cordial! Last week I was speaking with Iris.  During our conversation  she recited W.H Davies’ poem Leisure.  I was at primary school in the mid 1960s, when rote learning was on its way out, so I did not learn a lot of poetry by heart, which is a shame. Here is the poem: Leisure What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare?— No time to stand beneath the boughs, And stare as long as sheep and cows: No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass: No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night: No time to turn at Beauty’s glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance: No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began? A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. William Henry Davies (1871-1940) was a Welsh poet who started out as a tramp, but ended up a respected poet. Raised by grandparents after his father died and his mother remarried, William was inclined toward a life of adventure; he traveled by boat to North America repeatedly before losing a leg in attempting to jump a train. He eventually returned to England, wrote a book about his wandering years, paid and starved his way into becoming a published poet and, eventually, gained equal standing with such contemporaries as Yeats and Ezra Pound. Some of the information about Davies label him as a ‘supertramp.’ For music fans back in the 1970s-one of the big groups at the time was called Supertramp.  Connection?  Perhaps.  Which brings me to ask the question-what is your favourite poem/poet?  I know there are some fans of Pam Ayres in the congregation. One of my favourites is Mary Oliver.  I have a copy of her poem The Summer Day on my desk, wirh the last two lines of this poem in bold type: ‘Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?’ To me, that is a call…and a daily reminder of the unique contribution we each make to God’s world. So, from these two poems-we are to stand and stare, and reflect on/take stock of, our gifts and purpose. ‘There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle.  The other is as though everything is a miracle.’ – Albert Einstein. Keep up the ministry of prayer, especially for Alan and Fredrica.  Alan is having chemo on Wednesday. ‘The sun and the wind were arguing about who was stronger.  Soon there arose an opportunity to settle their argument.  A person wearing a coat was walking down the road.  The sun and the wind agreed that whoever could make the person remove the coat the quickest, would be the winner. The wind went first; it blew and it blew, but the more it blew, the tighter the person hugged the coat.  The sun went next.  It merely shone in all its glory, prompting the person to remove the coat. The point of this ancient fable is: more can be achieved with gentleness than with violence. ‘…with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.’ (Ephesians 4:2) ‘Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’ (Matthew 11:29) Blessings and love, Barbara Allen Sunday School Picnics In the !930’s and 40’s before Maccas and Red Rooster , we had once a year, The Sunday School Picnic.Homemade sandwiches,cakes and the best buttered bread covered by coloured hundreds and thousands. Jugs of cordial.Some kids, because of family circumstances, had never been to a picnic.And they looked forward to it.It was all free.And a generous one or rwo in the Church paid for the hire of a bus so we could travel together to the bush or a beach.Games and races were fun.And a three legged race caused tumbles and much laughing. We climbed into old bags for a sack race.Teachers and the minister joined in the fun.No distractions then,no mobile phones.No social distances.It did not matter which home you came from, or which school you went to ,or if dad had a posh car . Many had no car.We were all the same, together, at the Sunday School picnic.In one country parish we picnicked at a lake,swam and played cricket with a bat manufactured from a fallen branch.Together, we were one.I sum that up in a word ,FELLOWSHIP.How we need that experience today in our mad rushing world. where Sunday is just another day.We have no time for fun and spiritual togetherness in this mad rushing world. Reflection: Lord, please give us a dose of common sense about priorities.May our thoughts and actions focus on the goal of discipleship as the scripture reminds us: Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness ,and all these things shall be yours as well.[Matthew 6:33] Bill Pugh

Hello Faith Pals, A  beautiful reflection from Bill Pugh, a wonderful church sign, courtesy of Janet Soo, and a reflection that was used at Church Council, from Priya. Now, Bill had sent me another reflection about Sunday School picnics.  I was going to include that as well, but have decided to hold it over until next week. BUT this gives me the chance to ask: “Do you remember Sunday School picnics?”  If you want to, send in your thoughts-I am still waiting to find out some of your favourite things…maybe you don’t have any? Some of mine: Bible stories, a cat on my lap (there is one there now!), rain on the roof at night, rainbows, puppy breath, babies, the laughter of children, stars on a clear night, carousels, animals (all kinds), first cup of tea in the morning.  There…not too difficult…and slightly more than ‘a few’ (I had shortened my list-can’t include everything) News: Next week is Alan’s next round of blood tests, chemotherapy and results.  We pray that his psa is stabilizing.  Hold Alan and Fredrica in your prayers.  Fredrica’s hand is improving-but there is shooting pain when she does too much! Rohini had a fall earlier in the week-she is ok, but she fell on her sore shoulder, so some of the initial healing has taken a slight step backwards. John’s skin problems are starting to improve, which is good news. Here is a prayer that was included in a Presbytery email.  It comes from the Iona Community’s  recently published book, Voices Out of Lockdown: Beautitudes for These Days Blessed are they who wash their hands,for they shall hold living water;blessed are those who keep their distance,for they shall draw closer to God;blessed are they who self-quarantine,for they shall help others;blessed are those who do not hoard,for they shall feed families;blessed are those who sing songs to sheltering neighbours,for they shall be members of the heavenly host;blessed are parents who learn to teach at home,for they shall learn from their children;blessed are they who shop for older folks,for they shall receive everlasting thanks;blessed are the frontline health workers,for they shall be called healers of humanity.© 2020 Thom M Shuman https://www.ionabooks.com/product/voices-out-of-lockdown/ Some Wise Words Today!!   A while back I read a story of a visiting pastor who attended a men’s breakfast in the middle of a rural farming area of the country.  The group had asked an older farmer, decked out in bib overalls, to say grace for the morning breakfast “Lord, I hate buttermilk,”the farmer began. The visiting pastor opened one eye to glance at the farmer and wonder where this was going. The farmer loudly proclaimed, “Lord, I hate lard.” Now the pastor was growing concerned.  Without missing a beat, the farmer continued, “And Lord, you know I don’t much care for raw white flour.”  The pastor once again opened an eye to glance around the room and saw that he wasn’t the only one to feel uncomfortable. Then the farmer added, “But Lord, when you mix them all together and bake them, I do love warm fresh biscuits.  So Lord, when things come up that we don’t like, when life gets hard, when we don’t understand what you’re saying to us, help us to just relax and wait until you are done mixing. It will probably be even better than biscuits.  Amen. “Within that prayer there is great wisdom for all when it comes to complicated situations like we are experiencing in the world today.  Stay strong, my friends, because our Lord is mixing several things that we don’t really care for, but something even better is going to  come when God is done with it.” Well, that should be enough to get you through the next few days! Blessings and love Barbara Allen

Hello Faith Pals, A sunny Monday morning!  It will be a fine day. I know some of you have seen the clip below.  Geoff  forwarded it to me, and I had another friend who did the same earlier in the week!  It is doing the rounds, but is beautiful and it will put a song in your heart and you may even do a little dance or some toe tapping-within the home it can go on for more than an hour! A COVID-19 musical classic:  https://enchantmentathamilton.org/20200601ForTheLongestTime.mp4 The clip attached is from Margaret’s daughter, who is living in Canada.  Beautiful! I also have some more gems to share on Friday. One thing about Covid, is that it is allowing some wonderful creativity to happen-as well as many acts of kindness. Last Friday, while driving over to the Epworth hospital, (some of you may not remember what driving is like!  And yes, I had a letter in the glove box to say I was allowed outside the 5 km range!) I  listened to a short interview with a person who had designed special medical t.shirts for children in hospital.  He was a tradie, and about a year after his daughter was born, she was admitted to hospital with cancer.  As he was trying to change her clothes after she had been sick, he realized that a new garment needed to be designed, to help with all the iv lines etc and to decrease movement, as she was in pain every time she was moved.  After some time the father, who admitted that as a tradie he knew nothing about textiles!  came up with a t shirt that had little plastic press buttons.  He had tried velcro, zips, ties etc.  This new garment meant that it could be fastened around iv drips, central lines etc.  He also wanted to try to empower children to be brave.  He said it was hard to explain to a young child what being brave was.  His 3 year old son came out in a batman costume, and said he was going to save his ittle sister.  Then the dad had the idea of creating the t shirt as a super hero garment-because the child would take on the persona of the superhero-and therefore act brave, even if they couldn’t explain what that feeling/quality was. And the t shirts, complete with  capes (which double up as bibs!) were born!  What an amazing dad-but we all know of similar stories where things were invented, or cures found etc because of a need. News: we need to keep all in our prayers.  I spoke to Ed Bahn’s wife, Lyn, over the weekend.  It is particularly hard-on Sunday afternoons Lyn would drop off a package to Ed-a magazine, a puzzle, a small posy of flowers from the garden.  These things helped Ed through the week.  Yesterday Lyn was told they can no longer take in outside parcels, so that is hard news to hear-understandable-but hard.  She does get some ‘face-time’ with Ed on a Thursday, which is good.  At times it is difficult, because Ed is so hard of hearing-but at least they can see each other. At present, no cases in that facility, which is good news. Fiona’s mum, who is in an aged care facility,  has a painful lower leg, which is being treated as a strained muscle.  Her regular dr is in isolation at present. Fiona said that there is an unwell resident in the facilty, so all residents are confined to their rooms until the test results are back. Hard times for family members. We have quite a number of the church family in aged care, so our prayers are with them. I spoke to Joan Addinsall yesterday, and she sends her love to everyone. Tomorrow is the Feast of St Clare of Assisi.  She was a dear friend and companion of St Francis (my pin up saint) and she founded a community of women committed to poverty and service; they wore no shoes, ate no meat, slept on the ground, and owned nothing.  Francis and Clare embraced lives that were about daily communion with God, a simple life without anxiety about material possessions, a life of nonviolence and harmony with all creation.  They embraced the poor and rejected, and found joy in this radial way of living.  We have so much to learn from them.  I think during lockdown we are becoming more mindful of God in the midst of a simplifed life. What I love is that in 1958, St Clare became the patron saint of television!  She was chosen because of this legend/incident:  in 1253  Clare was too sick to leave her cell, unable to attend Christmas midnight Mass. When she heard the nuns singing, she prayed, and on the wall before her she saw the manger in Bethlehem! Was this the first flat screen? To conclude with the Serenity Prayer.  Most of us are familiar with the first part (in the original, it is more likely to have been: “Father, give us courage to change what must be altered, serenity to accept what cannot be helped, and the insight to know the one from the other.” but was later altered) but we may not be as familiar with the rest of it: The Serenity Prayer – Reinhold Niebuhr God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen. ‘Every generous act of giving. with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of

Hello Faith Pals, Welcome to Friday. I had to share the photos below this -courtesy of Margaret.  What are YOU doing during lockdown? Aren’t some people creative?  It is wonderful we can benefit from their gifts and talents.  When I visit art galleries (remember them?) I marvel at the talent.  I have trouble drawing stick figures! Isn’t it wonderful that God gave us all different gifts and talents?  Well, I have had some wonderful responses to the favourite film request: From Lex with some wonderful news about Robyn’s recovery: ‘Thank you Barbara. The good news here is that our daughter Robyn had her drain dismantled today…..27 days after the lumpectomy. We are all happier now…..just the radiation therapy to be administered over the next month or so.   Favourite movies……just like you, I like musicals and polite comedies. Try Ferris Bueller’s Day Off; Singin’ in the Rain, The Sound of Music, Ben Hur, The Ten Commandments, A Month of Sundays, Cabaret, Man of La Mancha, Beauty and the Beast, and a confession The Third Man (1949).’ Lex also told me about his work in many theatre productions.  Watch out Lex-after lockdown we may ALL want to put on a show!  Lex has also send a youtube offering, and a write up about it, putting it into context/setting the scene: ‘And now some dance action from Moscow to lift everyone’s spirits. A bunch of young Russians celebrating a wedding set to Irving Berlin’s Puttin’ on the Ritz. See the blue link below. Unfortunately I am told by one of Robyn’s DFAT friends that there was a political dimension to this event in 2012. Vladimir Putin was promoting his re-election as Russian Premier. A BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCE!   DANCING TO IRVING BERLIN IN RUSSIA. The dancing was filmed on Moscow’s “overlook” in Sparrow Hills Looking down from the “overlook” you see the largest stadium in Russia (140K capacity).  The ski jump is for practice and training – if you make a mistake, you end up in the  river below.  The church at the end opposite to the ski jump is Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church. The large building on the opposite side of the road beside the overlook is the Moscow State University and the top of the tall centre tower has one of the Kremlin stars. Try to not smile as you watch this – you will. It’s a nice, gentle clip. “Putting on the  Ritz”, in Moscow, no less! What a crazy, delightful, ever changing world!  Who could have thought that in 2012 young people in Moscow would put on a “flash mob” happening, dancing to an 83 year old American song?  Sound  ON!  Enjoy… https://www.youtube.com/embed/KgoapkOo4vg?rel=0&vq=highres  Regards Lex ‘ Other films from people are: (Geoff and Jan): We are pleased to nominate our best shows:- Jan:- Titanic Sleepless in Seattle Guess who’s coming to dinner? 84 Charing cross Road Doctor Zhivago Geoff:- Roman Holiday Casablanca On Golden Pond Chocolat Girl with a Pearl Ear ring Here is Janet’s reflection:   ‘As a child I didn’t see many films at all,but at age 7 I saw a Ma & Pa Kettle film which I thought hilarious. Also I saw Genevieve which was fun – at the time. These two rather date me! Moving along to about 8 years ago,the Australian Chamber Orchestra played for an amazing film about mountains and people climbing,riding bikes and generally having daredevil activities on mountains.It was an amazing/terrifying film!’ So…have these people’s favourite prompted responses in you?  During these next few cold and grey days, have a think about your favourites. After lockdown, we could have a movie night!  Wouldn’t that be fun?  Remember rolling jaffas down the aisle? The chew of a columbine or a mintie (a dentist’s delight!) I will list my favourites next week.  One is in Jan’s list! Can you guess which one? What about your other homework?  What are some of your favourite things? News: Lovely to hear the encouraging news about Lex and Leora’s daughter, Robyn, in Canberra. Jean’s funeral went very well. Rev Christine MacDowall conducted the service with great dignity and sensitivity. I have let Jean’s family know we are thinking of them all, and if they want to hold something in memory of Jean later, when the church is open, to just let us know.  Even if it is just coming for morning tea one Sunday, so stories and memories of Jean can be told/swapped. Rohini’s shoulder suffered a setback, but is starting to improve again. John has had some skin problems since returning home from hospital, but he has been to a dermatologist, and hopes the cream and tablets will help. I came across this story on-line.  I am not sure if it is true, (I have no reason to doubt its authenticity) – it took my breath away! ‘THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS A young man who had been raised as an atheist was training to be an Olympic diver. The only religious influence in his life came from his outspoken Christian friend. The young diver never really paid much attention to his friend’s sermons, but he heard them often. One night the diver went to the indoor pool at the college he attended. The lights were all off, but as the pool had big skylights and the moon was bright, there was plenty of light to practice by. The young man climbed up to the highest diving board and as he turned his back to the pool on the edge of the board and extended his arms out, he saw his shadow on the wall. The shadow of his body in the shape of a cross. Instead of diving, he knelt down and asked God to come into his life. As the young man stood, a maintenance man walked in and turned the lights on. The pool had been drained for repairs.’ From the Psalm set for this Sunday: ‘O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing

Hello Faith Pals, Welcome to Monday.  I was wondering how to start this email, when I realized I was humming ‘These are a few of my favourite things,’ from The Sound of Music. Now, for those who don’t remember the words: . (Hammerstein 11/Rodgers) So…what are a few of YOUR favourite things? Interesting looking at the things listed in the song. Most cost very little, or are free. We might not list the snow ones, or the copper kettles, or brown paper packages, but maybe raindrops on roses?  What about the sound of rain on the roof?  Stars on a clear night?  Sunshine after frost? Steam from a cup of tea? A hot shower? A flock of galahs? Whiskers on kittens can stay…but I’d just change it to CATS! (and dogs!) Phone calls from friends and family?  Being able to pray to a loving God?  Favourite things make good prayer points, things to include in prayer as we thank God for so many wonderful gifts.  The Sound of Music: made me wonder about favourite films.  What are some of your favourites?  I have to confess that I am not a fan of The Sound of Music. I will have to think for awhile about my favourites.  So…send in your favourites!  We can pretend that we are going to have a movie marathon together!  Wouldn’t that be fun. An update on Jean Raynor’s funeral details.  I am pleased to say that Rev Christine MacDowall from Sandringham is conducting the service.  Jean had been part of her congregation before coming to Leighmoor UC, so knew her well.  Christine had met up with Jean earlier in the year for a cuppa and catch up.  The service is on Wednesday at 2pm.  When I have details about whether it is going to be steamed live, I will forward those details on. Joan Bennett is a member of the Heatherton-Dingley congregation.  Her daughter, Candice, works with children and families at St Augustine’s.  Candice is very talented.  Joan has sent me a link in order to watch Candice tell one of her stories about a church mouse named Gus.  Candice has said I can share it with you all.  It is well worth a watch…or two: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUa9X_FRKfE To conclude with a story many of you know: You make a difference to many people’s lives, even in lockdown.  Live in HOPE, and remember…you are NOT alone! Jesus said to the man whom he had cured: “Go home to your friends, and tell then how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.'(Mark 5: 19) ‘I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. …I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.'(Psalm 34) Blessings and love Barbara

Hello Faith Pals, Welcome to Friday.  What a sad week it has been. I have included the addresses of Jean  and of Joy’s daughter Helen, (thank you, Janet) if anyone wants to contact family/send a card etc.  Janet has sent cards from Leighmoor UC. I have included a reflection from Bill  as an attachment. This is wonderful to watch!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw5KQMXDiM4 It is thought provoking…and uplifting too. I could base a sermon or two on it! It made me think of books, and stories. One person from Heatherton-Dingley had written in an email that at one time at work they were to nominate who they would be if they were to be a cartoon character. She chose Kermit the Frog I I thought that was a lovely choice-(I am rather partial to that green frog!) Who would you be? You can extend it any character from a story, or from real life. Whose shoes would you like to step into for a day? OR…if you would prefer a slightly different slant-if you could invite 3 people to dinner-who would you invite? (of course this wouldn’t be during lockdown…so travel for the invitee would not be a problem.) The person could be living, or have died. After you have made your choice, you may wish to write a sentence about why you chose that person/people. Stories. Books. We are people of stories, we ARE story! No one has lived the life you have lived, or had the same experiences. Look at your fingers-unique fingerprints! How can everyone who has ever lived have a different finger print? Mind boggling! Did you know that a zebra’s stripes are different too, like our fingerprints? Marty, the rather anxious zebra in the animation film Madagascar, asked this question: Zebras are generally thought to have white coats with black or brown stripes, because the stripes end at their bellies and the inner side of the legs, which are white. However, zebras have black skin under their whitecoats!  Each species of zebra has a different general pattern of stripes. The Grevy’s zebra has very thin stripes. The mountain zebra has vertical stripes on its neck and torso, but horizontal stripes on its haunches. Some subspecies of plains zebras have brownish ‘shadow’ stripes between the black stripes. It is believed that the zebra’s stripes work like camouflage.  When zebras stand together, it is harder for predators to determine how many zebras are in the group. The stripes may also make the zebra appear unattractive to smaller predators, such as bloodsucking horseflies, which can spread disease. In addition, the stripes may work as a natural sunscreen. Isn’t God’s creation wonderful? Would we have been able to design such variety? The poet Shel Silverstein posed this question in a poem: Zebra Question I asked the zebra Are you black with white stripes? Or white with black stripes? And the zebra asked me, Or you good with bad habits? Or are you bad with good habits? Are you noisy with quiet times? Or are you quiet with noisy times? Are you happy with some sad days? Or are you sad with some happy days? Are you neat with some sloppy ways? Or are you sloppy with some neat ways? And on and on and on and on And on and on he went. I’ll never ask a zebra About stripes Again. A few jokes: What’s orange and sounds like a parrot? A carrot. I ate a clock yesterday, it was very time consuming. As I suspected, someone has been adding soil to my garden. The plot thickens. (I didn’t say they were good jokes!) Duncan Macleod, our of our Presbytery Ministers, included this poem in his email this week. I have included it for those who do not receive his emails:  From the Iona book, Sing but keep on walking, by Jan Sutch Pickard A time for panic and a time for hope,  of urgency with much uncertainty,  of waiting and impatience;  a time of looking forward and a time for looking back,  awareness of our mortality,  with eagerness to celebrate new life.  A time for prophecy  and for practical preparations;  a time for silence and a time for singing,  a time for stillness and a time for travelling on;  when plants die while seeds and corms store spring;  when the safe and familiar give way to wonder.  As migrating flocks cross our skies,  constellations wheel with the turning year;  the story of the seasons,  the story of salvation –  Advent and Christmas, Lent and Easter, Pentecost –  the song never ends.  A time of too many expectations,  and a time of deep expectancy;  a time for being human together,  and a time to celebrate God-with-us:  Incarnation. Amen  Duncan Macleod Presbytery Minister – Team Leader Port Phillip East Presbytery Well, that is probably enough to read and think about. During these times of anxiety, we are not to despair! God is here with us. I feel for those unable to visit their loved ones in hospital, or to be there when they go on their final journey, BUT our thoughts and prayers are with them, as God is too. Blessings and love Barbara