Our Vision A Community Transforming Lives Our Values, Grace, Inclusion, Dignity, Faith and Hope.

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1 OUR NEWS 18th November 2018 Our Vision A Community Transforming Lives Our Values, Grace, Inclusion, Dignity, Faith and Hope. Congregational Westmead & Parramatta, Hospitality, Community and Mental Health Services across Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Hunter and Mid-North Coast Parramatta Mission acknowledges that all of our work and our 36 sites are on the land of traditional owners. We pay respect to the traditional custodians of the land on which we gather, and acknowledge Elders past and present, and emerging leaders.

2 Leigh Congregation SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS Continued thoughts for the Ghosh family and especially Nita as they remain in India following the passing of Nita s Dad. Many thanks to Keith for leading and preaching on Remembrance Day. This Sunday, 18 November - Bruce will be leading the service, and Amelia will preach. Thanks to all. THE GIVING TREE STARTS SOON! This year s Giving Tree will take place over 3 Sundays (25 November and 2 & 9 December). Good quality, safe & practical gifts for children, teenagers, men and women are welcome. No battery-operated toys or toys with small parts please. Suggestions for teenagers & adults include caps, sunglasses, back-packs, socks, towels, t-shirts, toiletries, wallets. Wrapping paper and sticky tape are also needed. All gifts must be unwrapped and new. Please see Liz/ Sunday School for further assistance. CHRISTMAS VOLUNTEERING Members wanting to volunteer at the two community meal services at PM on Christmas Day this year, should contact Bianca (Volunteer Coordinator) and indicate that they are from the congregation. Adjusted instructions apply. For further assistance, please phone or christmas@parramattamission.org.au PEACE DINNER ONLY 2 WEEKS AWAY! Our annual Peace Dinner will be held at 6.30pm on Saturday 1 December in the Fellowship Hall. The evening will include an occasional address by His Grace, Haigazoun Najarian, Bishop of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand. RSVPs for catering: Coral, by 23/11/18. Enquiries: Leaders team. CONGREGATION ROLL & MEMBERSHIP Please see David or Ian for further information regarding this process. David is collecting the forms. SYMPATHIES The Leigh congregation was saddened to learn of the recent passing of Flora Briggs. Flora and her husband Harry were dedicated contributors at Leigh Memorial and PM over a long period, and Flora was a cherished member at Westmead in recent times. For more nice memories of Flora - including some in her own words - please see pages 40 and in the Mission s Pilgrim People book (2017) - or have a chat with Beverly or Bruce S who had musical associations with Flora. A thanksgiving service will be held at Westmead at 11am on Monday 19 November. Parking is limited. Further enquiries,

3 WORSHIP COMMITTEE The Worship Committee meeting scheduled for Sunday 18 Nov. has been postponed until early next year. PRESBYTERY ADULT FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE Many thanks to Beverly who has represented us on this committee over a long period and ensured good communication and fellowship with other churches in our Parramatta-Nepean Presbytery. Beverly has now stepped aside, so if anyone is interested in taking up this role in please see Bruce/the Leaders team. SPOW: NEXT MEETING The SPOW (Single People of Worth) Christmas get-together will be held on Sunday 2 December (regular time and venue). Enquiries: Margaret. LAWRY BOOK REVISED EDITION ON SALE Due to recent demand, including from Lawry family members in New Zealand, the Heritage Committee has released a second or Revised edition of this year s Lawry book marking 200 years since Rev. Lawry s arrival at Parramatta. The new edition has 10 additional pages of information, including sites of Lawry interest in Parramatta, further details of Lawry s descendants and some new items from our Margaret Reeson collection of letters by Walter Lawry and Mary Hassall. The book also contains a special tribute to Mary Hassall and her many contributions as a young woman of our church. There is also a fresh cover by Ken. The new books are $10 per copy. All proceeds to the Mission. Please see Liz/ Heritage Committee. Well done to Liz who has successfully passed her PhD thesis examination and will be graduating next month. Liz s thesis topic was: Holiness and Hard Work: A History of Parramatta Mission,

4 ANGEL TREE WESTMEAD Congregation Today is the last day for Angel tree. We have collected enough money for gifts for 10 children, and will be collecting some goods for a hamper from Westmead Congregation soon. Our hope is to have enough for a hamper/gift card for each family. Extra food will be given to Meals Plus. This is an important ministry as we seek to support the families with gifts for the children and a hamper for the family. The boxes for donations are in the foyer of the church. WESTMEAD WHISPERS The November edition of Westmead Whispers is available in the foyer along with many other leaflets and brochures. Please feel free to take what is available to learn more of some of the organisations we support. CHURCH COUNCIL Parramatta Mission Church Council meets on Tuesday 27 th November. This is open for all leaders from the congregations and will include a meal, worship and a short AGM. Please pray for all of the Ministers, Lay Leaders and others who offer leadership to Parramatta Mission. MARKET DAY Thanks to all who were involved in the setting up, serving and packing up for Market Day. It is a good way for us to raise money and to engage with the wider community. Well done to all involved. SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING FOR FLORA BRIGGS The Service of Thanksgiving will be at Westmead church at 11.00am on Monday 19 th November. There will be light refreshments following the service. ELECTIONS FOR ELDERS AND OTHERS There will be a congregational meeting on Sunday 9 th December. Nominations are being sought and the names of those being nominated for the position of Elder and other positions will be announced on Sunday 25 th November. Please prayerfully and carefully consider your vote and how you can support those in leadership in our congregation. DEEPENING FAITH and RELATIONSHIPS with others Worship Sundays 9.45am Bible Study - Mondays pm NB No bible study on the 19th Fellowship - Tuesday 6th November MAKING A DIFFERENCE Time Out Café (TOC) -Tues/Thurs pm Play Group Mondays am (returning on Wednesdays from 14 th Nov) Open Door -Wednesdays pm

5 Foster your faith this week 2 Sm 23:1-7 Ps 132:1-12, (13-18) Rv 1:4b-8 Jn 18:33-37 You are cordially invited to our Fourth Annual PEACE DINNER A Celebration of Peace, Unity & Goodwill Hosted by the Leigh Memorial Congregation of Parramatta Mission on Saturday 1 December 2018 (6.30pm pm) at the Fellowship Centre, 119 Macquarie Street, Parramatta. The occasional address will be given by His Grace Bishop Haigazoun Najarian The Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and New Zealand. Attending will be representatives of various civic, religious, community and commercial groups from Parramatta & throughout the Sydney Metropolitan area, plus congregation members & staff of Parramatta Mission. The evening will include a vegetarian meal and an uplifting program of reflection and seasonal celebration. For catering purpose please RSVP to Coral, reception@parramattamission.org.au by 20 November 2018, phone:

6 FIJIAN Congregation Veisiko: Kerei me tomani tiko na veisiko vakamatamasumasu ena vei yasa ni koro duidui eda tiko kina vakabibi vei ira na tiko voli vakagade se sega tu ni lotu. Tu vakarau o Talatala Clive me veisiko veikeda kece na lewe ni vavakoso lotu e Parramatta. Ke dua e gadreva na veiqaravi/veisiko Vakaitalatala (Pastoral Care/ Visit) tukutuku mai vei Vakatawa se Chairman. Matamasumasu: Sota ena dui gauna lokuci; tu vakarau o Talatala Clive me veisiko kina veimatamasumasu yadua ke tiko na gagadre - qai veitaratara mai kei Vakatawa se Chairman. Sunday School: Ena kena gauna - mataka ni Siga Tabu, gauna ni Lotu Vuli Sere: Bogi ni Vakaraubuka ena 8.00pm, kerei meda yaco totolo mai ena mataka ni Siga Tabu (10.30am) me vaqavinaka tale kina na sere. Youth: Tuvatuva sa koto me caka na vuli Vola Tabu cokovata kei ira na Youth mai na Strathfield Uniting Church ena tolu na Siga Vakaraubuka veitaravi - 16 th, 23 rd & 30 th Nov. ka na Veituberi kina ko Fil Kamotu. Ena veivakaleleci tiko na basi. Totoka nodra vakaitavi na Taba Gone ena Lotu ena Siga Tabu sa oti. Date Vunau Vunau Vunau Tuvakarau Tali Comm Lesi Vakarau Veiliutaki Vunau Stewards 25-Nov Fiji Parish A.Vocea V.Kamotu M3 M2 02-Dec Rev C.Pearson M1 S.Tuiloma Vulavou H/Comm S.Toa 09-Dec Rev A.Koh-Butler A.Allison Youth Multicul.Worship

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8 1 Samuel 1: On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters; 5 but to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. 6 Her rival used to provoke her severely, to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 So it went on year by year; as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah said to her, Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons? 9 After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and presented herself before the Lord. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. 10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly. 11 She made this vow: O Lord of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite until the day of his death. He shall drink neither wine nor intoxicants, and no razor shall touch his head. 12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 14 So Eli said to her, How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your wine. 15 But Hannah answered, No, my Lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before my Lord. 16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation all this time. 17 Then Eli answered, Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him. 18 And she said, Let you servant find favour in your sight. Then the woman went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and her countenance was sad no longer. 19 They rose early in the morning and worshipped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. Elkanah knew his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. 20 In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, I have asked him of the Lord. (NRSV Translation)

9 Reflections The Bible is a remarkable document. It uses multiple literary forms and devices to tell stories of God s relationship with people across more than 3,000 years. The setting is often in patriarchal societies, in an age when stories and history were told usually by men about men. But the Bible has this subversive tendency to give prominence to women, or the poor are given insights others lack, or in an age when the first-born inherited much power as well as possessions, the youngest becomes the family leader. So, this story of the birth of Samuel, is actually Hannah s story. It would seem she is unable to bear children. But she remains faithful, even when sorely pressed. Eli is the wise man. He is the priest. Yet he is not full of grace. Indeed, it is fair to say he fails the test of Parramatta Mission s values of grace, inclusion, dignity, faith and hope. He does not ask an enquiring question of Hannah when he sees her. He jumps to conclusions, and condemns and abuses her. Hannah reveals great inner strength when she speaks following the Eli s torrent, and treats him with respect, as exemplified by her response. Only then does Eli speak the word of God to Hannah. The story concludes with Hannah bearing a child, who later becomes significant in the whole story of faith through the Bible. Hannah responds with a song of joy which you can read in 1 Samuel 2:1:10, which can be found in a Bible, or online. Hannah reveals both faith in God and the grace of God in her behavior. God is able to speak through even an ungracious, impatient, grumpy and deeply flawed priest, who will be eventually replaced by Samuel. God chooses a barren, despised woman from an obscure family to bear a prophet and leader for his people. The story is subversive. The story reminds us that God can work with and among people in society who are rejected by others the people facing homelessness, the person with a lived experience of a mental illness, the person of another faith, the person escaping domestic and family violence, the person with a substance addiction, the person who arrives here from another land. The story invites each one of us to look for the presence of God in the everyday affairs of life. A reminder that on Christmas Day, a lunch will be served in Parramatta. Twenty-six years ago, members of the congregations put on a Christmas Day lunch. It became the forerunner of Meals Plus. A particular role for members of the congregations is to be the hosts, to ensure everyone is welcomed, and no none has a lonely lunch. Blessings, Keith Hamilton

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12 UNITING CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA Wentworthville Congregation 115 Station Street, Wentworthville-NSW 2145 Wentworthville Uniting Church Employment Opportunity. Role Title: Playgroup Co-ordinator (part -time) Do you enjoy working Part-Time in a shared role up to two mornings a week. Would you enjoy being part of a team leading a playgroup ministry for children and their families. This is a long running playgroup and well known in the community as a structured playgroup with a particular emphasis on multicultural families and their children. Experience in identifying, implementing and coordinating relevant activities for children, and in working with volunteers is essential. Experience in different cultural contexts is desirable. This position is open to suitably qualified candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of Australia If interested, please call Glenda Blakefield (Rev) on Applications close Monday: December 13th

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14 Last week Canny, Kate ad Georgie visited SWR 99.9FM for a pre-recorded interview on all things headspace and PetSpace! They met Wayne and his dog Boy from the breakfast show. SWR TRIPLE 9 official broadcast license area is 16% of the Sydney metropolitan area, but can be heard across an impressive 90% of the Sydney Metropolitan Area. In an average week, 107,400 people listen to SWR Triple 9. Daniel Angus Psychologist Manager of headspace Services headspace Mt Druitt headspace Youth Early Psychosis Program Hub Phone number Fax Number

15 Prayer Points The people of Parramatta Mission invite you to pray for: PM congregations at Parramatta and Westmead, and the PM staff in hospitality, community and clinical/mental health services that extend right across Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Northern Beaches, Central Coast and Hunter Valley and Mid-North Coast. We also pray for all the people we contact every day, that we might exhibit the values of grace, inclusion, dignity, faith and hope. PM Leigh Memorial: The Ghosh, Briggs and Goodin families, Ali & family, Shane and his friend, Elizabeth & family, Wilhemina, Gloria H, Ian & family, Brian & Marcel, Joan, Hazel, Betty E, Col, Betty B, Victoria & family, Darlene & Neil, Jolame & the Open Church team, Sunday School & Youth. ** Please inform the Leaders if you would like a name added to this list. PM Leigh Fijian: Milise Foiakau, Adriu Rogoimuri, Senitiki Qata and family, Niko Balavu, Mili Sigani, Dale Tonawai, Terry and Young families PM Westmead: Flora s family- Alison, Nicole and Garth and their families. All farmers and their communities, Sharon, Keith and Noeleen, Debbie and Michael, Kevin, Jean, Caroline and David A, Josh and his family (Kerryn, Peter and Ben), Mrs E and family, Mary and Aloy and the boys, Silvano, Jinky, Isabella and Gerard, Mary, Justice and family, Aravind and family, Tanzida, Nancy, Paula and Geoffrey, Garry, Chris and family, Rob, Jodie and Family, May, Rajes (Sandra), Henry, Phyllis, Vita, Col, Al, Mrs G and family, Judy, Shanika and family, Ashima and Anusha Saxena, Lyn, Sheila W, Ruth and Lela, Mr and Mrs S, Carmen and Rob, David and Christopher. UC congregations of the Cumberland Zone: Dundas/Ermington, Northmead, North Rocks, Carlingford, West Epping, Centenary, Wentworthville, Holroyd, Greystanes, Grantham Heights, Parramatta Mission, Auburn. For the worship, witness and service of Springwood Uniting Church We join with churches around the world to pray for Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea Pastoral message for this week. Stone and steel wear down, relationships build heaven Ordinary becomes extraordinary when we reach out to others.

16 Worship Services at Parramatta Mission Mon to Fri 9.00am pm Open Leigh Memorial Tuesday 1.10pm Holy Leigh Sunday 9.30am Leigh Memorial Leigh 9.45am Westmead Westmead 11.15am Leigh Fijian Leigh 1.30pm Korean Faith Leigh 7.00pm Praise, Prayer, Cake & Leigh Contacts Leigh Memorial Congregation: Rev Dr Manas Ghosh Leigh Fijian Congregation: Rev Dr Clive Pearson, Supply Minister Leigh Korean Faith Community Minister: Rev Hyun Goo Jun Leigh Memorial Church, 119 Macquarie St, Parramatta Westmead Congregation: Rev Christine Bayliss Kelly Westmead Church: 175 Hawkesbury Road Westmead: Senior Minister/CEO: Rev Keith Hamilton Church Office: wecare@parramattamission.org.au Children s Hospital Chaplain : Sarah Bishop PM WSU Chaplain : Rev Dr Amelia Koh Butler For all e-tree news follow the link below