Sunday Service. Pastoral Leaders Team (PLT) Rev Je-Kon Oh (Office, Bus. Hrs.) After Hours: or

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1 St. Andrew s Uniting Church News April 2016 Mission Statement: To bring the Gospel of Christ to The People of the Hawkesbury. Sunday Service 8:30am (Church) Traditional worship followed by morning tea & fellowship 10:00am (Church) In conjunction with our Kids Sunday program A family celebration including programs from three years old to Yr 6. Morning tea and fellowship follows 6:00pm Sundays@Six (Auditorium) Modern worship with singers, drama and band, plus supper to follow. Pastoral Leaders Team (PLT) Rev Je-Kon Oh (Office, Bus. Hrs.) After Hours: or minister@richmonduniting.org.au Lester Vincent ( ) Justin Dacey ( ) Audrey Morgan ( ) Beryl Hedges ( ) Margaret Bailey ( ) Sandi Herbert ( ) Margaret Wesmore ( ) Please send newsletter articles to the office & Julie will include them in the next edition: office@richmonduniting.org.au

2 Blokes and Sheds, Men s Breakfast, 13 th February, 2016 We greeted faces old and new as some thirty fellows gathered together for our Men s Breakfast, 13 th February! Our thanks to Bob Thuaux for his organisation, Geoff Anderson at the barbeque and all those who assisted, particularly with clearing away afterwards! Guest speaker, Geoff Brown, one of our own, entitled his most informative and entertaining presentation, The Hidden Years! Many of us have known Geoff for in excess of fifteen years without realizing his involvement in Security Classified Projects with Australia s Department of Defence from 1978 to His engagement in computer systems design, integration and upgrades for Australian naval ships, submarines, the F111 and F18, together with maritime reconnaissance aircraft and Sea Hawk choppers, has seen the progressive miniaturization of computer system hardware and software, with corresponding increases in memory and processing speeds! Simultaneous with this challenging schedule, work was proceeding on the development of computer systems for the Port Waratah Coal Loader, the Chase Manhattan Bank, and the current ABC television relay satellite. Living in Sydney, then Melbourne, then back to Sydney and travelling overseas to Bremen in Germany, Geoff s engagement with two private companies, Computer Sciences Australia (CSA) for 24 years and the C3 Company (C3) for 3 years, has seen him working on three major projects: P3 C Orion Aircraft Update, RAN Bridge Simulator and the construction of the Australian built Collins Class Submarine. The P3 C Orion is a Lockheed maritime patrol aircraft with both a peacetime and wartime capability. Carrying both Sonobuoys (which are dropped into the sea) and weapons, it can travel to a search area and remain on station for 6 hours. It is a mass of electronics, computer, communications and listening equipment. In peacetime its task is search and rescue missions like the MH370. In wartime, the big 2

3 challenge is tracking submarines! Originally computerized with a capacity of only 64K of memory and a processing speed of 1 MHz, continual demand for improved surveillance dictated frequent system upgrades bringing capacity up to 2 Mbytes and 4 GHz, respectively, with the integration of the AGS901 acoustic processor which interpreted what the Sonobuoys are hearing. AWA joined CSA, as a subcontractor, in the building of a compilation, debrief facility and training simulator, in containers on the backs of 3 semitrailers parked on the AWA carpark, enabling it then to be transported to Edinburgh RAAF Base near Adelaide, where it remains in operation today! The Royal Australian Navy Bridge Simulator is used in training of Officers of the Watch, Captains, Helmsmen, and Navigation Officers. It is far less destructive, and far more cost effective to run aground with simulated vessel than the real thing! The subcontractor working with Geoff s company, Krupp Atlas Electronix in Germany, was tasked with assisting with the development and integration of Australian Bridge Consoles and the software to drive them, with the systems running the German built simulator, which generally provided all of the sight, sound and sensations experienced on the bridge of a real ship. One highlight for Geoff was going to Bremen, Germany and meeting the Krupp project team. They were tough negotiators during the process for acceptance of the competency of the Australian team, but once that was accomplished, the teams worked well together. Geoff s accompanying video gave us, the audience, some idea of what training in the simulator was really like, but unfortunately our Captain put us in a midship collision with another vessel!! 3

4 New Submarine Construction Project. Australian Navy originally got into submarine warfare in the early The AE1 was lost in In 1919, 6 x J class 2nd hand subs were purchased from the Royal Navy. In the 1960s, the OBERON Class Oxley, Otway, Ovens and Onslow were acquired. Then two more were purchased in Decommissioned, the Onslow is currently moored at the Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour. The Commonwealth government decided that Australia should build its own submarines. So the Collins Class Diesel/Electric project was born! Australian submarines face unique operational challenges in that not only are they required to operate under Antarctic conditions with all the problems condensation could pose for electronic equipment, but they are also a great distance from any potential operational area. The Australian Submarine Corporation was duly formed with the work to be undertaken in South Australia. Geoff s company, CSA, was the major subcontractor engaged to produce all of the operational software and systems integration. Prior to the ship being built, working Saturday afternoons, Geoff and his boss, a former submariner, developed and successfully made an A$55M bid to the Australian government. Running from , the project received a lot of undeserved criticism from yokel commentators who did not understand that the systems were being built on a hardware platform which kept changing due to strategic requirements. Furthermore this was the first time Multifunction Consoles had been developed. 4

5 Geoff admitted that he had some ethical concerns as weaponry becoming more sophisticated, and his team began designing weapons guidance systems. However, the project was generally successful and CSA ending up making money and not going broke. During his years in the industry, Geoff says he learned that, teams are wonderful, whether those teams are of two or of ninety. They engender a tremendous multiplication of enthusiasm, effort and motivation. Everyone on a team needs to be valued. Sometimes there are difficult players, even trouble makers, yet everyone has some special abilities that can be focussed. Working in a male dominated environment, he worked hard to have female engineers, but change requires a lot of patience. Communication with individuals is vital. He encouraged team members to raise issues early to avoid unwanted surprises, and to focus on a resolution, so that there were no unwanted surprises for the customer either. Don t hide stuff under the carpet it will return to get you. Working in a private company involves the risk of not having a follow on job when the current contract is completed. Geoff s boss always had great compassion for every member of staff and focused on keeping them in work. We all live our lives in risk, Geoff continued, but God works in us if we are a believer. We should never underestimate our influence. Initially Geoff s boss was always swearing and blaspheming, but that changed! He noticed that Geoff didn t swear and after that rarely blasphemed in front of him. 5

6 Geoff says that Defence contracting is like working in the church. People have all kinds of abilities, characteristics and skills. We need to work together, support each other, look out for each other, minimise the negatives and build on the positives. The early church was like that, and we can to be like that today! When we value other people and their creative gifts they will value us and our gifts. Together we can make a difference. Two highlights of Geoff s career in the defence industry? Working with Krupp Atlas Electronix team in Germany, and then entering alone into the 13 th century Bremen Cathedral four days before Christmas. The grandeur took his breath away so majestic, so awesome! At the end of the carol service there would have been over 1000 Germans singing Silent Night and Geoff singing in English. Yet they were as one. That s the magic of our faith, says Geoff. The Hidden Years taught me more than anything, that if we work together as one, diverse and different as we all are, amazing things never thought possible are achievable. A Mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee John McIver When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day is not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee. A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed it was. 6

7 The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor then picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course the sand filled up everywhere else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous yes. The professor then produced 2 cups of coffee from under the table and poured the liquid into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the grains of sand...the students laughed. Now, said the professor, as the laughter subsided. I want you to recognize this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things. God, family, children, health, friends and favourite passions. Things that, if everything else is lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter, like your job, house and car. The sand is everything else. The small stuff? If you put the sand into the jar first, he continued, there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. So..pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the tap. Take care of the golf balls first. The things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand. One of the students raised her hand and enquired what the coffee represented. 7

8 The professor smile. I m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend. Date 8:30am 10am 6pm Remarks Tony Blake Tony Blake Je-Kon Oh Daylight 3 April Saving (HC) (Easter 2) ends. KFC ends. Je-Kon Con Je-Kon Café 10 April Oh g. Oh Church (Easter 3) 17 April (Easter 4) 24 April (Easter 5) Worship Planner for April 2016 Je-Kon Oh (ANZAC Noreen Towers Je-Kon Oh (HC) Noreen Towers Je-Kon Oh Je-Kon Oh * Note: This worship plan can be changed at any time. Kids for Christ Texts Thanks to Margaret Wesmore 3 April (Paddlers): Alive! (Matthew 28:1-10; Acts 1:1-11) 3 April (Tweens): Jesus is alive! (Luke 24:1-8) 8

9 As children bring their broken toys, with tears, to us to mend, I brought my broken dreams to God because He is my friend. But then, instead of leaving Him in peace to work alone, I hung around and tried to help with ways that were my own. At last I snatched them back and cried, How can you be so slow?. My child, He said. What could I do? You never did let go! Thanks Margaret Wesmore I think that I will never see A church that s all it ought to be. A church whose members never stray Beyond the straight and narrow way. A church that has no empty pews, Who preacher never has the blues, Where all are meek and never proud, Whose choir sings well but not too loud. Such perfect churches there may be But none of them are known to me. But still we ll pray and work and plan To make our church the best we can. (Apologies to Trees ) 9

10 Tell Your Heart to Beat Again Healing Trauma Seminar For those who have experienced trauma (which can come in many ways) and its devastating effects, we want you to know... There is hope... You can find peace... There is healing... And there is freedom Just like Job in the Bible, we too may be faced with decisions as experience sorrow and trauma: Will I continue to sit in the ashes of my life? Or, will I believe God can help me and say with Job: Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend. Job 16: (NIV) Sat. 30 th April and Sat. 7 th May 2016, 9am to 5pm both days. Uniting Church, Richmond. Cost $ incl. Workbook. Presenter: Sandra Selmer, ELIJAH HOUSE 10

11 I highly recommend this seminar, not only to those who have experienced trauma themselves, but also to people who love and suffer along with someone who has been traumatised. It is a seminar which will equip Christian workers to understand trauma and its effects; reveal important ministry tools; give practical ministry tips. Of course, Knowledge alone can never resolve or over-ride traumatic experience. If you have any questions, contact me. I will be attending both Saturdays. 11

12 MONDAYS TUESDAYS WEDNESDAYS WHAT S HAPPENING DURING THE WEEK? Playtime: 9.30am-11.30am parents & preschoolers (Sarah Jones ) Andy s Hands-on-Help: pm maintenance & fellowship (Bob Thuaux ) Church Council: 7.30pm 1st Tuesday odd number month (Greg Inskip ) Pastoral Leaders Team: 7.30pm 1st Tuesday even month (Je-Kon Oh) Time Out For Mums: am Fortnightly school terms for mums & pre-schoolers (Sandra Brown ) THURSDAYS 1st: Adult Fellowship: 9.30am (Irene Milne ) 2nd & 3rd: Seniors All Together: 10.00am-12 noon (crafts) 4th: Seniors Lunch: 12 noon-1.45pm Seniors Bible Study: 12 noon-1.30pm (except the 4th) (Sandi Herbert ) FRIDAYS Prayer Meeting: 9am-10am (Margaret Bailey) 1st: IDA Service: 10.15am Youth Group: 7pm (Yrs 5-10) during school term (Greg Inskip ) St. Andrew s Uniting Church (St. Andrew s is a member of the Assembly of Confessing Congregations in the Uniting Church.) Ph: ; Web: 25 West Market Street, Richmond NSW 2753 Mail: Post Office Box 450, Richmond NSW 2753 Centre Manager: Derek Scott