Notices: Parish

Read more information on current events around the parish.
You may also be interested in things to note from the wider church & community including news & events. studies, seminars & workshops, camps, newsletter & magazines, jobs, volunteers, & accomodation (separate page).

Parish Notices

"Crazy Whist" Games/Fellowship Night at Knox—Fri 11 May

A FREE night of fellowship for the whole family, and an opportunity to invite friends and relatives, on Fri 11 May from 7:30-10pm at Knox.  No need for any expertise in playing cards, as Crazy Whist allows both beginner and advanced card players to enjoy the challenges of competition with great fun and fellowship.  Child minding will be available for young children (please let Judy Bowman know if you would like your children cared for).  Contact Tony Yates or Bruce Gaulke (or the office) for more information.

Children's Craft Day—Sat 12 May

The next Children's Craft morning will be held on Sat 12 May, from 10am to 12pm, at Good Shepherd Ringwood.  The craft will be something to do with Mother’s Day.  Please let Andee or the office know if your children will be attending.

Taize at Knox—Fri 18 May

On Fri 18 May, come and gather together for coffee and fellowship at Knox at 7.30pm, followed by the Service at 8pm.  This is a time for quiet meditation and reflection by candle light.  The Service will be led by David Schutz and Cathy Beaton.  Invite your friends to a quiet, prayerful and meditative experience.

Parish Working Bee at Ringwood—Sat 19 May

ATTENTION ALL—both young and mature—HANDYMEN / WOMEN:  the Church Working Bee is just around the corner - on Sat 19th of May!  ALL available hands to help are appreciated!  

Next to general clean-up chores there are some bigger projects that are going to be attacked: i.e. the Bungalow outside West wall needs new weatherboard / completing the sealing of the roof over the toilets / repointing sections of the Manse’ roof…... 
Drinks will be provided; sausage sizzle lunch around 1pm will conclude the day for most!

Collectors for Red Shield Appeal— 19-20 May

Nick Wakeling, MP for Ferntree Gully, has sent a request for volunteers to help with the 2012 Red Shield Appeal Doorknock on 19-20 May. To assist with this, please contact Judy Shaw - email: judy.shaw@aus.salvationarmy.org.

Australia's Biggest Morning Tea at Knox—Thur 24 May

At Knox we will participate in this national fundraising event by holding a prayer service at 10am, followed by a BIG morning tea from 10.45am—12.30pm.  This will be an opportunity to come and remember those whose lives have been affected by cancer, and to raise much needed funds for the Cancer Council of Australia.  There will be scrumptious food, fun activities and great fellowship. Everyone is welcome—please invite friends and family to join us as well.  See Judy Bowman (9763 4621) for more information, or to volunteer to help out with this event. 

Special Morning Tea at Ringwood—Sun 27 May

The next Special Morning Tea will be on May 27th.  Offers of help with the baking and/or serving, or donations of eggs, flour, sugar, etc, can be made to Cheryl Reif or Jura Mau please. 
Please note that the following SMT will be in conjunction with a “Goods and Slave Auction” on 24 June—coinciding with our celebration of “Baptism Sunday”.  We are freed from the slavery of sin through our baptism, so that we can joyously and confidently celebrate our Christian lives by service to others.  So—it is time to pot up some cuttings for the plant stall, and organize your goods for the White Elephant stall!

Basin Theatre—Thur 31 May or Fri 1 June

The second play performed at the Basin Theatre for 2012 will be ‘Bullshot Crummond’.  Suggested dates are: Thurs 31 May or Fri 1 June.  Cost is $22, including parking, program, sherry on arrival, tea/coffee at interval & wine/supper with the cast after the show.  The play starts at 8pm, but it is suggested to arrive by at least 7:30pm to enjoy a sherry before the play.  If you haven’t been before, we can certainly recommend it as a very enjoyable and relaxing night, in an interesting theatre among the gum trees, in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges. 
Please contact Trudi Doblin this week to book tickets.

LCA Victoria—District News

I'm delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Dinu Stamatescu to the position of District Administrator.  Dinu has a number of qualifications in accounting and business and is a registered CPA.  He will begin work with us on the 18th June.  Dinu (with his family) is a member at St Paul's Lutheran Church, Box Hill, and he is particularly looking forward to moving from the corporate sector to church service.
I'm also pleased to welcome Mrs Leanne Miller into District service as Assistant Hospital Chaplain (0.3FTE).  Leanne is a member at St Philip's, Werribee, and has completed a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education.

We thank God for all who serve in the church in any capacity, and now we thank him for answering our prayers and giving us these new servants of the church.   From Pastor Greg Pietsch.

Lenten Appeal / Welfare Contributions

The annual Lenten Appeal leaflets are still available.  Please consider your donations to this prayerfully, and if you wish, ensure you ‘earmark’ them for the GSLC Ringwood Welfare Committee.  The annual donation from the Lenten Appeal is a large part of this committee’s budget that is dispersed to our various projects: the orphanage in Indonesia; the high school in PNG; Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Ringwood; congregational assistance; ALWS; etc.

Ringwood Paschal Candle 2012

We thank Ora Molenaar for preparing our Paschal Candle at Ringwood again, and supplying the following explanation of the symbolism she has incorporated into the design.  Have a close look at it for yourself sometime!
The Ark symbolizes the Church in which man should be saved, safely riding over the waters of life. It is also Christ, Saviour of mankind.  Water is symbolic of baptism; it washes away the old life and sanctifies the new.  The rainbow symbolizes God’s forgiveness of man – pardon.  Since the rainbow is composed of all the colours of the spectrum, it is united into one harmonious entity.  Because of this it symbolizes absolute peace and acceptance – God’s forgiveness of man.  The dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit; baptism.  A dove with the olive branch is peace and forgiveness.  As the dove of Noah’s Ark brought back the olive branch of peace between God and man, and as it found no resting place outside the Ark, so the Christian finds no safety outside the Church.  Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, together with the cross, salvation through Christ’s sacrifice.

Welfare Committee Notices

“Change for Margarita” boxes: these are available at the back of the Ringwood church near the audio-visual desk. Please feel free to take one home for your loose change. When full, the box can be handed in to any of the Welfare Committee or put on the offering plate – better still, keep the box for future change, and just bring the contents in an envelope marked “Change for Margarita”. The Welfare committee sends the money to the Board for Mission, earmarked for the orphanage in Sumatra, Bumi Keselamatan Margarita.

Church Hall Bookings

Please note that all future Church Hall Bookings will be handled by the Church office—please phone Jan or Keryn on 9870 7054, or email: gslcr@netspace.net.au.  If you are planning a family celebration, a few months’ notice is recommended.  Cheryl & Charlie Reif will remain the point of contact for access to the hall, & for checking on clean-up & locking up after events.

Ringwood Community Meal

Setting up: we really appreciate the men who often help put out the tables and chairs, even though they are not rostered – thank you very much. Could volunteers please allow time to help with setting up after church if at all possible. It is often left to the team leaders, and "many hands make light work".

Kid's Hope

Knox Congregation has taken on the 'Kid's Hope' mentoring program as part of their community service for the coming 3 years. The program, operated by World Vision, is designed to bring one local primary school into partnership with one local church – with one mentor spending one hour per week with one child.
Thank you to those who have indicated interest in being mentors for this program.
If others are still interested please contact Judy Bowman (9763 4621 or bowjjre@ bigpond.net.au) asap. Prayer partners for the mentors are also required – Judy can send you information about how you can be involved.

Koinonia Bible Study Group

The Koinonia Bible Study is currently reading and discussing the book 'Love Wins' by Rob Bell, which is a book about Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. Rob Bell addresses one of the most controversial issues of faith—the afterlife—arguing, would a loving God send people to eternal torment forever…? With searing insight, Bell puts hell on trial, and his message is decidedly hopeful—eternal life doesn't start when we die; it starts right now. And ultimately, Love Wins.

This is a very easy book to read. Rob Bell is the creator of the Nooma Bible Study series, and pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids Michigan, USA.

 

Life Together

This is our weekly parish newsletter. It's handed out on Sundays and includes coming events, notices and upcoming duty rosters. Much of the content is also included on the web site. Send items by Wednesday evening to ensure they are published by the following Sunday.

If you would also like Life Together emailed to you each week, contact Keryn (email: ParishAdmin@ringwoodknoxparish.org.au)