Following Jesus in Strathalbyn, Meadows, Langhorne Creek and Milang
The Ladies Guild have filled 45 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.
The Guild have also raised over $400 to pay for delivery costs to needy children throughout the world, each one personally delivered.
Thanks to the Ladies Guild for this magnificent effort and for the joy that these boxes will give to many children.
Thank you.
Rev. David L Smith
On Sunday 4 October we celebrated St Francis’ Day and World Animal Day with an outdoor Eucharist at Christ Church, Strathalbyn at which special prayers were offered for our fellow creatures. The celebrant was Fr Adrian Stephens and the preacher was Marg Holt who is a member of the Third Order of the Society of St Francis.
Most of the extra members of the congregation were dogs of various kinds but there was also a bird and a snake together with an avian chorus in the trees around us.
Eileen and Jeanne recently delivered several cartons of tinned and packet food to Christian Care and Share in Mt Barker. This wonderful collection had been gathered together by the Mothers’ Union members with the help of the wider congregation.
Christian Care and Share at their Centre in Hutchinson Street, Mt Barker supply food and financial assistance to people in need and are always grateful for help in support of their work and acknowledge that without such support “we would not be able to continue providing this help to those in our community who need it most”.
We have already started building up the pantry again and welcome your support in continuing to assist this important programme.
Alex
Members of the congregation from the Wednesday morning Eucharist and Study Group at Christ Church, Strathalbyn were delighted to be able to share with two of their number who were celebrating their seventh wedding anniversary on Saturday 8 August.
After sharing in the Eucharist with Bishop John and Joyce Lewis and their friends at the Strathalbyn Aged Care Facility they shared in a light lunch which Joyce had arranged for the occasion.
Alex
On Thursday 30th July the Icon Writers’ Group welcomed Fr Adrian Stephens and other guests to bless their recently completed icons. Fr Adrian introduced the ceremony by commenting on the significance of icons in our devotion.
Alex
Twenty-nine members and friends of the Ladies Guild enjoyed the Mid-Winter Luncheon in Christchurch Hall on Tuesday 28th July, the theme being ‘Remembering the Anzacs’.
As usual there was a wonderful variety of food and drink for the three course meal. Community singing took place between the main and dessert courses.
Lucky number ticket prize was won by Doris Court and Margaret Holt, Val Ball, Nell Endersby and Fr. David won prizes in the Raffle.
Thanks to the committee for organising the day.
Eileen
On Wednesday 8 July the usual mid-week Eucharist at Christ Church was held at the later time of 10.00 am to allow some members of the congregation to attend who find it difficult to get to other services. They were then able to share a time of fellowship together over a cup of tea or coffee accompanied by a scone or piece of cake.
Alex
It was a very happy morning at the early service on Sunday 5th July at St John’s when Kyra May’s family and friends brought her to be baptized and made a member of Christ, a child of God and an inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven. We pray that as she grows up she will come to know for herself the Good News of the Kingdom.
Alex.
The following news item appeared in the pages of The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser on the 17th December 1897.
“The Governor and Lady Victoria Buxton being on a visit to Strathalbyn, the opportunity was taken of asking her ladyship to attend a meeting in the institute on Monday afternoon for the purpose of establishing a branch of the Mothers’ Union. Although only a few hours’ notice had been given a fair number of ladies attended the meeting, and the Rev. A. Wheeler, the incumbent of Christ Church, presided. Lady Victoria Buxton gave a touching address on the objects and work of the society, remarking that although the society was worked on church lines that was not a barrier to any mother joining the union.”
The Strathalbyn branch of the Mothers’ Union continues to meet regularly and the members celebrated their 117th birthday on Tuesday 12th May with a service of Holy Communion in Christ Church when new members Barbara Wilson and Patricia Mold were welcomed. They then enjoyed afternoon tea in Jocelyn Williamson’s garden at Meadows.
Bishop John was the celebrant at the Eucharist on Sunday 19 April at Christ Church, Strathalbyn at which we gave thanks for the successful renovation of the Church building. During the service the Bishop also licensed the Rev’d Adrian Stephens for ministry within the Diocese of The Murray. Adrian was previously Rector of Mount Barker and Rural Dean of Strathalbyn before spending twelve years in Sydney as Rector of Christ Church Saint Laurence.
