SUNDAY 15th 9.25am Quiet time candle lit. THURSDAY 19th 9.45am 10.45am Music Together 10.30am- 12 noon Church Office Open

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1 SUNDAY 15th 9.25am Quiet time candle lit 9.30am Sunday Service TUESDAY 17th 10am Book Chat 7.30pm Bowls THURSDAY 19th 9.45am 10.45am Music Together 10.30am- 12 noon Church Office Open 7.30pm Band Practice SUNDAY 22nd 10.25am Quiet time candle lit 10.30am Sunday Service 5.30pm Family Gathering CHANGE OF CHURCH TIME - DAY TO REMEMBER. ONE HOUR LATER. OCTOBER 22nd we will commence our service at 10.30am when we will be celebrating our Frontier Services Sunday with a special visitor Rev. Rowena Harris, the East Gippsland High County Patrol Padre visiting. INFORMATION: PREACHER: 22nd October Rev. Rowena Harris. LITURGIST: Marj Hookey CONTACTS - CHURCH COUNCIL EXECUTIVE: Chairperson: Marj Hookey Secretary: Robert O Shea nd OCTOBER Reader: Rex Phillips Ushers: Jean & Dot Tea Station: Carolyn & Tessa Sound Desk Clive Hamilton Power Point: Franklyn Parrent Chapel Cleaning Robert O Shea The Church Office is open on Thursday mornings 10.30am 12 Noon telephone number Notices can be ed to stmargarets@netspace.net.au by 10.30a.m. each Thursday

2 If you have a mobile phone or computer capable of s, you or someone you know might like to receive our Weekly Reflection and Notice Sheet to stay in the loop. Speak to Franklyn or ring FAMILY GATHERING Mark October 22nd in your diary when Rev Dr Barry Brown will be our special guest speaking on Martin Luther. Hope to see you then. Robert O'Shea MENTAL HEALTH MINISTRY BBQ Special thanks to all who helped in any way with the BBQ Last Sunday. Thanks to those who made salads and slices. Also to those who helped with the furniture shifting & to those who were the BBQ cooks. Then to those who assisted with the cleaning up. We were delighted that $524 was raised to send to presbytery to assist with Mental Health Ministry costs. Marj To members of the Outer East Cluster Please accept our sincere thanks for the function organised on behalf of mental health at St Margaret's yesterday. This was an excellent occasion for John Tansey to provide information about his most challenging ministry. This activity provided an excellent opportunity for researchers Paul and Maree to meet people at the "grass roots" as it were. The views of UC members need to be taken into account if the final recommendations arising from their work are well grounded. Of course we are not unmindful that the generosity of those attending has made a valuable contribution towards the cost of sustaining this vital ministry. Kind regards Lionel Parrott Honorary Treasurer Outer East Mental Health Chaplaincy Reference Group

3 CARING FOR GOD S CREATION St Francis of Assisi was renowned for his deep connection with animals. He preached to birds and, according to legend, famously tamed a wolf. He demonstrated remarkable compassion for the vulnerable, the poor and the animals that roamed the Earth. It is fitting that his feast day coincides with World Animal Day. We have been tasked with the responsibility of protecting and nurturing this beautiful world God has entrusted to us. But we have not always been wise or kind stewards. Pets are sadly sometimes discarded like toys and abandoned on the streets. Animals are hunted as trophies. Humans can treat animals and each other with great love, but also with great cruelty. So what can we do to help protect God s creation? We can volunteer at our local animal shelter. We can adopt a pet. We can show loving kindness for all of God s creation humans and animals alike. The therapeutic effects of animals are well documented. Some nursing homes receive visits from playful pooches or farm animals. A number of churches hold blessing of the animal services. Household pets give much joy to children, adults and the elderly. Animals are a reflection of God s beauty, but they also offer companionship. How great will it be if we could also offer companionship to people who are lonely, marginalised and isolated? May we be inspired by the words of St Francis of Assisi All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle. Brian Lee Uniting Church Adult Fellowship NEXT MEETING Theme is Story Telling Mon 6 th November 1.30pm All Welcome

4 CHRISTMAS HAMPER Lollies, chocolates, nuts, drinks of every type, hams, cakes, puddings, tinned or bottled fruit & vegetables, serviettes, mince pies, biscuits (tinned or packets), cordial, novelties and any other items you can think of that would enhance the hampers. Please help throughout October Carolyn Dunkley HAMPER help desperately needed, either as cash or items suitable for Christmas hampers. Unfortunately we have all been forgetting this project!! the big white box is in the foyer ready for your gifts. See Carolyn or Marj if you wish to contribute cash. COUNTRY FAIR. SATURDAY 11TH NOVEMBER It is only four weeks to the fair. Please start to look out and bring along any of the preloved items toys, china& glassware, any green elephant items. items for the children s clothing stall (new) gift items etc. Next Sunday I will be asking for gifts of money to enable us to purchase the items for the cafe and the BBQ - At least $250 will be needed. Our Fair will be a success if everyone joins in to help as they are able. Also available will be bundles of flyers which we will ask you to letter box drop in your area. We are expecting our large country fair notices to be erected by Max Brown Real Estate this coming week. THERE WILL BE A VERY SHORT FETE MEETING AFTER CHURCH ON SUNDAY 29TH OCTOBER. UNITING CHRISTMAS CARDS These are displayed in the hall. Today is the last day for you to fill in the order sheets. The cards will be ordered this week and should be available for collection on Sunday 29th October. Cash on delivery. BOOK CHAT - Tuesday 17th October at 10:00a.m. Join with us at 10:00am. next Tuesday to chat about "Towards a Theology of Peace" over morning tea. Please remember to return your copy of the book. Marilyn O'Shea

5 NEWS FROM MANUS ISLAND - Supplied by Franklyn "Hello dear Franklyn my Christian brother. Thank you for your understanding my situation in detention in Manus Island. I really appreciate you and all Australian people who are supporting and helping us as I see in these photos you sent for me to get rid of this dark and hopeless time of life. While we are approaching to the closure of detention time at end of this month, all people are protesting peacefully and are too much worried about living outside the detention in Lorengu town a place where is not safe for living and during two last months two innocent refugees were found dead in the street but who cares! We protest and ask Australian Immigration let us stay more in detention or another safe place until we will be sent to the third counties. But I hope they don't start fighting because they have a lot of local police with gun available and standby outside the camp. Thanks God we have good people like you. Love and blessings to you. M. " WHAT'S OFFERING? CONGRATULATIONS and THANKYOU to all who support our mission and ministry through the Planned Giving Program. By the end of September you had given $60,670 which is $2,920 or 5.1% ahead of budget. Special thanks to those who have recently increased their giving. Robert O'Shea -Planned Giving Elder FRONTIER SERVICES BOXES. Thank you to the families who took money boxes in the last couple of weeks. The idea is to add some coins each week as you are able, then to return the box on 12th November. (St.Margaret s day celebration) If you have not picked up yours yet - boxes are available in the foyer today.

6 NEXT SUNDAY 22nd OCTOBER REMEMBER CHURCH COMMENCES AT AM. FRONTIER SERVICES SUNDAY. Please be sure to come and hear our special guest Rev. Rowena Harris who will share with us her experiences as a Frontier Services Patrol Padre in the high country of East Gippsland. Following the service we will have lunch together. The first course has been provided. As it is just for our congregation we should be able to commence our meal soon after 12 noon. Help Needed - 1.To set up the grey lunch tables 3 pm Saturday afternoon would be a big help. 2. To help with cooking on the BBQ. 3. With making some slices to enjoy with a cuppa. Rowena will stay for lunch with us and is happy to tell more of her stories or to answer questions following lunch feel free to leave whenever you need to. Rowena is also the Emergency Services Chaplain for East Gippsland. Please let Marj know if you can help with any of these tasks PLANNED GIVING You can make your offering by direct debit to our church account with UCA Funds. I have forms available if you are interested. You can also use direct transfer to the church account using the following information - BSB Account Number Account Name Mooroolbark St Margarets Uniting Church. Happy to chat if you would like more information. Robert O'Shea -Planned Giving Elder