A square image of the sky, deep blue in the top left graduating to bright white in the bottom right. A flock of birds is flying in the bottom half of the image, towards the right.

February

Sundays

Last Sunday was Part 2 of the Epiphany of Jesus. Jesus is with us in the powerful presence of the Spirit to set the burdened free, and Toli shared with us from the gospels the way this happens. Often it didn’t match with what people expected, it went way beyond what they had imagined! In the new communities that Jesus formed around him, people from all kinds of difficult and oppressive circumstances were discovering and experiencing what it meant to live in the new life of freedom Jesus offered as they followed him.

Over the next few Sundays, we’re going to be talking about how we can grow in Jesus’ life of rest that he is inviting us into today, by looking at the Celtic waymarks or guides for following Jesus. And we’re going to try something new! As we walk together through the ten waymarks, we’re going to try to discern one waymark that our community can explore and grow in together this year.

Join us at Yarrunga at 9.45am for a 10am start.

Alternatively, you can join us on Zoom at 10am-
https://zoom.us/j/757291617

Resources

An image of a while fabric pencil case with orange zip, and a child's drawing on the front. The drawing is of a person and rows of coloured spots. Scissors are visible in the pencil case

On Sunday, we prayed a blessing over the students and educators in our community as they return to their places of education.

BLESSING OF THE PENCIL CASES

Wise Father, God who is with us
Who watches over our comings and goings
Who holds us and heals us and makes us
Pour out your blessing on the students and teachers in our community
As they embark on new journeys and continue ongoing ones
As you walk with them through the year.

Students and teachers of our community

May you take on this year's adventure with expectant hope and joy.
May you receive reassurance and comfort when you are nervous or scared.
God is with you and God is making you.

May you feel peaceful, safe, valued and strong.
May you be protected and built up when you feel small and vulnerable.
God is with you and God is making you.

May you make rich connections with the people around you.
May you receive love when relationships are hard or hurtful.
God is with you and God is making you.

May you make discoveries, learn new skills, and grow in understanding.
May you receive support when your work feels confusing or overwhelming.
God is with you and God is making you.

May you make many marvellous mistakes on your way to mastery.
May you receive understanding when the disappointment of failure is hard.
God is with you and God is making you.

May you have energy, passion, determination and persistence for your tasks.
May you have adequate rest for your mind, body and spirit.
God is with you and God is making you.

May your unique brilliance be a blessing to your school community,
And may Jesus give light to your way, even on the darkest days.
God is with you and God is making you.

Amen

(by Nerida Taylor)

Take action

White writing on an orange background, which says, 10 year olds belong in school, not prison. Hashtag Raise the Age. In the bottom right corner, hashtag Worth a Second Chance, Fixing Youth Justice in Victoria

Did you know that children as young as 10 can be sent to prison in Australia?

While many children returned to school this week, others are behind bars. Experts agree that children rarely have the developmental maturity necessary for criminal responsibility before the age of 14, and data shows that detaining children does not make our communities safer. Email your MP to join the call to raise the age of criminal responsibility and address the issues that lead to offending.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Eastern Hills Community Church acknowledges that we meet and work on land for which people of the Kulin Nations are the traditional owners and custodians.

We remember and pay our respects to our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Elders from the past, present and future.

We give thanks for the rich heritage and culture of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through whom God sustained the life, spirit and promise of this land and waters which we celebrate today.

We embrace and are blessed by the wisdom and leadership of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Elders.

We look forward to justice and reconciliation for this land and its peoples.

This email was sent to <<Email Address>>
why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences
Eastern Hills Community Church · Yarrunga Community Centre · Croydon Hills, VIC 3136 · Australia