“Happy are those who are spiritually poor;

the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!

“Happy are those who mourn;

God will comfort them!

Happy are those who are humble;

they will receive what God has promised!

Happy are those who are merciful to others;

God will be merciful to them!

Happy are the pure in heart;

they will see God!

Happy are you when people insult and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers. Be happy and glad because a great reward is kept for you in heaven.

Mission Statement:

To bring the Gospel of Christ to

The People of the Hawkesbury.

St. Andrew’s Uniting

Church News

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 Secondary Year 9. Morning tea and

fellowship follows.

6:00pm Sundays@Six; In the Auditorium.

Modern worship with singers, drama and band,

plus supper to follow.

Pastoral Leaders’ Team (PLT)

Rev Je-Kon Oh 4578 3820 (Office, Bus. Hrs.)

After Hours: 0410 596 991 or 4578 3421.

Email: minister@richmonduniting.org.au

Lester Vincent ( 4575 1507), Marcia Groom (4572 2662)

Justin Dacey (4574 1312) Audrey Morgan (4578 4421)

Sandi Herbert (4573 1517) Beryl Hedges (4571 2087)

Sandra Brown (4576 6689) Margaret Bailey (4776 1487)

Margaret Wesmore (4578 0179)

November 2013

Part of the Sermon on the Mount: Jesus began to teach the crowds. Matt. Chap. 5

Sunday Service Times

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A BLAST FROM THE PAST — August 2013 Congregation Meeting

Can’t believe it! We sent ‘papers for the meeting, but half of ‘em forgot to bring ‘em!

Do ya think they might remember for the Congregation meeting on 17 November?

3

One morning in the vestry, this book caught my eye and I took it home to read. The freshness and wisdom of Dr. Eggerich’s ministry has opened my eyes to the real meaning of the scripture, often used in the marriage service:

Eph.Ch.5:33 “ Each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”

What has taken me years to learn is all laid out in this book. It’s as though I have been stumbling along holding a match for light and now the full searchlight of God’s own plans for us has illuminated His word.

There is a tendency to think that we naturally will keep on loving one another – but we find that there are issues and hurts on the way because we do not understand God’s word or the way in which we need to show love. (Dr.Eggerichs describes our reactions to hurt as ‘The Crazy Cycle’)

The sub-titles of the book explain this. ‘The Love She Most Desires’ and ‘The Respect He Desperately Needs’ He needs respect that is Gods plan. He is the leader, the chairperson, the

initiator, and when his needs are met then her deepest desires and hopes are also met.

The reason the wife is commanded to respect her husband is because it is her nature to love. As she gives love and respect so will her husband be enabled to meet her need to be understood and listened to. Instead of

ignoring her or diminishing what she is saying in order to restore calm, he will know that she is not trying to devalue him as a person. Her thinking is - “we must resolve the issue and be free from it !”

The ramifications of this, reach out to our relationship with God who embodies every aspect of loving, also to the respect due to earthly fathers by their children. Parents’ attitudes to eachother influence their children.

I would strongly encourage everyone to read this book. It is a gem and a gift from God.

PS Respect is not something that is given because a husband has earned it. It is God’s command to those who love Him.

‘Love & Respect’ by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs’

Book Review By Cicely Sturgess

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A few months ago I had the rare privilege of reading a book of which only ten copies have ever been printed. That does not mean that they are worth a fortune on eBay but they have a value far greater than money can buy. They were published by the daughter of a Dutchman who felt that her father’s remarkable exploits during World War II should not go un-recorded. The book tells the true story of him and two friends who, at the beginning of the war, were in their early twenties; her father was a medical student at the time when the Germans invaded Holland in May 1940. As the days and months passed life in Holland became more and more restricted and he and two friends decided to escape to England and join the Royal Air Force. So, in June 1941, they decided to cycle 250 kms through Holland to Belgium then 1,000 kms through France and another 1,000 kms to Gibraltar taking them through some of the most difficult terrain in Europe.

They had been given various contacts along the way but, when they reached Paris, their contact advised them to take the train to South-West France and then cycle to the border with Spain. They were also advised to get into a part of the train where there were German soldiers as it would be less likely that a ticket inspector would bother them. So they travelled across France in the company of some of those on whose defeat they had embarked! On reaching Spain they were regarded with some suspicion and were imprisoned for several months and it was not until June 1942 that they were released and taken to Madrid, the capital of neutral Spain. From there her father sailed to Canada and then on to England to stay at a Dutch Army training camp until August 1943. From there he returned to Canada for training as aircrew , returning to England to join the Royal Air Force.

Her father’s dream had at last been realised (more than two years after leaving Holland) and he flew many operations over Germany until the war ended. His family, of course, had no idea whether he was dead or alive. His airbase in Europe was quite close to where, through the Red Cross, he discovered his family were living. He put a letter, chocolates and cigarettes in a container and wrote on the outside of the container his family’s address with a request that anyone finding it pass it on to his family. That day he was able to fly over the area and the container with a small parachute was dropped from the plane. Someone found the container and passed it on to his family; can you imagine the rejoicing in that home!

He was awarded the DFC by the Dutch government for his outstanding war service. He married his English sweetheart and they settled in England and raised their family one of whom was, of course, the daughter who published her father’s story.

LEST WE FORGET By David Harper

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YOUTH ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT

Innovative approach for New Possibilities

You may be aware that St Andrew’s Uniting Church has embarked on a six month commitment to research the needs of our Youth community with view to work towards building a new and sustainable youth ministry model.

Jerry Cramer has been employed to undertake this research and will be working 10 hours each week. Jerry is enthusiastic about her involvement in such a project, particularly as this beautifully complements her studies for the Bachelor of Social Science Degree which she attained last year. She is keen to put into practice some of the tools, approaches and learning that she acquired during her studies. In addition, Jerry is passionate about young people. Being involved in her own church in leadership, Jerry expresses a strong desire to help young people find new opportunities for discovery, journeying, growing and serving through a personal and active Christian Faith.

The research predominately will be carried out with the youth. But the key ingredient is that the research will be largely undertaken by the youth as they explore and put ideas and recommendations to the test. Essentially, this approach gives opportunity to try out new models of “doing Youth Ministry” and allows our congregation to make good decisions about how this may evolve into the future.

You can see that this is a very tight timescale and that much is expected, with very little resource. Therefore, as a Congregation, we are asked to regularly pray for the Youth Action Research Project, for Jerry and for the Youth Leaders of our church. Everyone is encouraged to support the Project—you may even have opportunity to respond to an survey question, or be part of a progress report. We hope that enthusiasm for mission in this area will grow and encourage further funds to support this vital area of St Andrew’s ministries into the future.

Geoff Brown (on behalf of the YARP Steering Group)

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FAREWELL DULCIE AND BRUCE BUTLER

High Tea Gave Opportunity

to say “Thanks”

Dulcie and Bruce Butler have been a very important part of St Andrew’s life or many years. They have always been actively involved in the life of the Parish, from the time that they arrived in the Hawkesbury. In those early days, Windsor and Richmond Uniting Churches formed part of the large and widely spread Windsor-

Richmond Parish and also included including Kurrajong Heights, Lower Portland, Leetsvale, Pitt Town, Wilberforce, Sackville, and Ebenezer. Dulcie and Bruce remembered having to pack a lunch to carry out a Parish inspection with the Property Committee. It took a full day!

A very yummy High Tea was recently enjoyed by over 70 people. This took place after spoken tributes and a PowerPoint story, what it has meant to have had Dulcie and Bruce at St Andrew’s, and in the Hawkesbury and to wish them well as they move to the Central Coast. Their active and varied ministry gifts and skills have been expressed in selfless and generous service, with creativity, consistency and thoughtfulness. Many things undertaken by the Butlers were done quietly, often going unnoticed. But these acts of generous care and hospitality have been appreciated by many and have richly contributed to sustaining and growing the spiritual journeys of many people.

The Butlers have been passionate about the younger generations. In the days of Andy’s Bus travelling to pick up children for Oasis, Dulcie dressed up as a clown to be the bus attendant. This caused strange looks from passing motorists, no doubt wondering what the Uniting Church was up to. Bruce has also shared his technical skills to support the upkeep of St Andrew’s property. Whenever something steel was needed, this turned up without fuss or cost (from the Butler Steel company)!

We thank them for the way they loved and served—we will miss them. But we know that God will continue to bless others through them, wherever they are.

7

CHILD SAFETY COORDINATOR

One of the very important issues that Church Council has been working on involves new arrangements for The Working With Children Check (WWCC). In the past obviously we have operated within the requirements of the NSW Law, but recent strengthening of the Child Protection arrangements means that St Andrew’s now has to comply with a whole new system. The good news is that this system will help protect children from exposure to would-be predators or potential criminal activity.

In the church, every adult who works with children in face-to-face situations will now need to undergo the New Working With Children Check, regardless of whether they already have signed the old forms. This includes Ministers, Paid Staff and Volunteers. It is an ‘on-line’ system and allows verification through Police and other checks to be conducted much more effectively and efficiently than was the case in the past. The checks, once done are valid for five years and then need to be submitted again.

It is mandatory that we comply with these requirements. To support this effort, Kerryn Johnson has kindly agreed to be St Andrew’s Child Safety Coordinator. In this role Kerryn will coordinate St Andrew’s Child Safety Policy to promote through good process that children involved in St Andrew’s programs are safe and well protected.

The Child Safety Coordinator will administer the Working With Children Check to make sure that those leaders/helpers who have a role with kids are guided through the Check process (very simple) and verified before they are allowed to take on any role with children. In the role, Kerryn will also administer the record- keeping for all WWCC expiry dates/renewals etc.

Another function of the Child Safety Coordinator is to ensure that the key leaders and helpers involved with children are encouraged to attend a Safe Church Workshop. These workshops, supported by National Council of Churches are run periodically and are essential to ensure that people (particularly vulnerable persons) are protected physically, emotionally and spiritually whilst participating in church programs or activities. Details of Safe Church are available at childrensministry.org.au in Safety section.

8

Lifestyle

I have wept in the night

For the shortness of sight,

That to somebody’s need made me blind ;

But I never have yet

Felt a tinge of regret

For being a little too kind.

Anon.

Printed in ‘Your church

can come alive’

Rev. Rowland Croucher

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We have a very distinguished, courageous guest speaker for our November Luncheon. Rev Jeremiah Lim is the National Development Director in Australia for the ‘Voice of the Martyrs’ organisation. In that capacity, Jeremiah has served as pastor, missionary and regular speaker for more than 16 years. He travels throughout this country to advocate the case for persecuted Christians in many countries of the world.

He has visited and given support and encouragement to persecuted Christians in North Korea, China, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Bangladesh and the Southern Philippines (Mindanao) where to profess Christianity is physically very dangerous. It is hard to understand this in our country, where we take so many of our freedoms for granted.

We are honoured to have this man of courage visit us, and hope that you will come to hear him at the Seniors’ Lunch on 28th November at 12 noon.

As it will also be our final Luncheon for 2013, we will also celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus.

November Seniors’ Lunch

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Date 8:30am 10am 6pm Remarks

3 November

Je-Kon

(HC)

Je-Kon Je-Kon Oh

10 November

Geoff Brown

Geoff Brown

Café Church

17 November

Je-Kon Oh Je-Kon Oh

(HC)

Je-Kon Oh Thanksgiv-ing Service

24 November

11am Combined Service

Je-Kon Oh

St. Adrew’s Sunday

Kids’ Sunday Texts 3 November: Luke 19:1-10 (The Strength of Our Witness) 10 November: Psalm 145:1-5; 17-21 (Praise God)

17 November: Isaiah 65:17-25 (A World Filled with Love) 24 November: Colossians 1:11-20 (Reign of Christ)

Worship Planner for November 2013

* Note: This worship plan can be changed at any time.

Fri 1 8:30 Friday Shop

Fri 1 0:15 IDA Service

Fri 1 7:00 Youth Group

Mon 4 9:30 Playtime

Tue 5 7:30 Church Council

Wed 6 9:45 TOFMS

Thu 7 9:30 Fellowship

Fri 8 8:30 Friday Shop

Fri 8 7:00 Youth Group

Sat 9 7:30 Women’s B’fast

Mon 11 Remembrance Day

Mon 11 9:30 Playtime

Fri 15 8:30 Friday Shop

FRI 15 7:00 Youth Group

Mon 18 9:30 Playtime

Wed 20 9:45 TOFMS

Thu 21 10:00 Friendship

Fri 22 8:30 Friday Shop

Fri 22 7:00 Youth Group

Sat 23 Newsletter Items

Mon 25 9:30 Playtime

Mon 25 9:30 St. Andrew’s Singers

Thu 28 12:00 Seniors’ Lunch

Fri 29 8:30 Friday Shop

Fri 29 7:00 Youth Group

November Church Activities, Services—See Page 1

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Bushfire Prayers

Kid’s Bible Study

For students in grades 4-6

The kid’s bible study (still to develop its own name) started in term 3.Each week the kids get together and talk about living as a Christian in today’s world.

Ron does a fantastic job of leading the kids and keeping them on track. The feedback from the kids has been very positive and they look forward to coming each week.

Caterina Doust,

Janette Buchan

I have just returned from an 11th-hour Prayer Vigil announced in church this morning. It was arranged by Je-Kon and John Butler, aided and abetted by Sandi and Audrey, who put on a great afternoon tea. Altogether, 27 people attended, some of whom I haven’t seen before. Prayers were focused on the need for our Lord to control the weather and to support and strengthen all who were either victims of the fires, vulnerable to them, or in some way helping to combat the fires or provide help for those affected.

It was a great time of fellowship and some powerful prayers went up from everyone in attendance.

(Thank you to the author of this important news— Editor)

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Blokes & Sheds, 12 /10/13—The Sydney Monorail By John McIver

There was a goodly roll-up for our Saturday morning’s Men’s Breakfast when one of our own, John Sturgess was guest speaker. Now John’s a quiet one, and the writer for one, did not know of John’s involvement in the construction of the Sydney Monorail until quite recently, and even then he was quite modest about it all!

It turns out that by 1988, the Bi-Centenary year, he had been working for a Lift Company, Elevators Pty Ltd. (EPL), at that time, part of the Lend Lease Group, for some 20 years and he had the feeling that monorails would be the way of the future.

Passenger lifts and monorails use quite similar technology, and it happened that John had recently seen a monorail in service at an Expo in Vancouver. It looked very promising, and he was sure it was suitable to EPL’s expanding list of products.

At the same time, the manufacturer of the Vancouver monorail, Von Roll Transport System of Switzerland, had sold a monorail to the Brisbane Expo. It was a great success and EPL became involved in some of the maintenance, and with answering sales enquiries on behalf of Von Roll. John remarked that it seemed to be a time when monorails were a demonstration of the 21st Century coming early!

Meanwhile, TNT Managing Director, Sir Peter Ables was coming up to retirement and the company was looking for a way to mark the occasion. What better than to gift a monorail to the City of Sydney for their 1988 Bi-Centenary Year. It would be the transport connection between Darling Harbour and Sydney CBD.

Talks began between TNT and EPL, and marketing commenced, but eventually EPL decided not to take it on. However, Von Roll were determined that the project should proceed, and they established a subsidiary company in Australia with John as the Managing Director. This would be “no walk in the park”; office space had to be acquired; administration and technical staff recruited; and with finance and politics thrown in, even with his most optimistic outlook, John could see some rough times ahead!

The trains were built in Switzerland. The structural steel elevated track was designed in Switzerland (by the same structural engineer who had designed previous monorail tracks); built in sections in Australia and welded together on site. Stations were Australian designed and built. Most of the control system was designed and built in Australia. Project management was Australian.

13

No relevant standard Code of Practice was available for construction. The NSW Government Dept with responsibility for Lifts and Escalators was consulted and safety regulations were developed. It is interesting to note that after the Sydney monorail had been commissioned, a detailed 34 page Australian Standard ‘Fixed Guideway People Movers (AS 3860 —1991)’ was compiled; perhaps a world first.

There were teething problems: some exasperating and not laughed at, and some serious, but still laughed at to retain sanity! When NSW Minister for Works, Laurie Brereton was present and the shipping container with the first car of a train was opened, the fibreglass nose cone was totally bashed in!! The power operated car doors proved not to be quite as smooth as lift doors, and, with ex–lift engineers on the staff, improvements were made. Likewise, the upthrust wheels were re-tyred with the same material as lift guide wheels.

The control system is based on a minimum distance between trains being maintained. The train behind sends an electrical pulse to the train in front via a control rail containing diodes at intervals. The pulse returns to the originating train. The position and distance between trains is calculated by measuring the diode voltage drops. The speed is then regulated.

The Darling Harbour Monorail and its total control system was designed for operation automatically without a train driver. It was successfully tested to ensure this specification was achieved. However, as the space through which the trains travel is not secure space, as in a passenger lift shaft, and could be invaded by unwelcomed visitors and/or foreign objects, the function of the driver is to watch the track ahead and report any problem.

Individual trains are taken into service or removed from service for maintenance via a Traverser System situated close to the Central Control Room. The Traverser consists of a section of the main track, just longer than a train. A train is driven into this section of the main track, which is parallel to a series of maintenance tracks. The track carrying the train is then moved sideways until it is aligned with the maintenance track and the train transferred. The mainline track section is then returned to its original position. A reversal of the procedure places the train back on the main line.

With what was the world first commercial monorail, gifted to the City of Sydney by private enterprise at a replacement cost of some two billion dollars, and after twenty-five years of effective service, we are left to contemplate the politics behind its current demolition when no efficient alternative has yet been planned or funded.

14

DVD’s for a $3 donation (including multi-disc packs)

There will definitely be a dvd sale on 10th & 17th November

i.e. two Sunday mornings.

THESE DATES ARE ALMOST HERE ! PLEASE BRING IN YOUR SPARE AND PRE-LOVED DISCS !

Enjoy the occasion and let the person

who donated the DVD tell you all about it.

THANK YOU

Some jobs are physically stressful, some are mentally stressful, and in some cases mental stress can lead to physical stress, which leads John to reflect on the essentials of wise decision making. When attempting projects large and small, John suggests that one should work out if what one has in mind is a calling from God. When one is assured of the “calling”, then one has a partnership - you and God! But there’s available human help as well! “Most males have an Eve”, says John, “sent by God for this sort of occasion”, or “a friend who is prepared to become confidant”. John believes that for the monorail job, all the positives had fitted into place and this seemed to be God at work.

God had also provided assistance, his wife Cicely, in his case, without whom he would have failed when the scene became difficult, unpleasant and political. Why did God want John in that position? He believes, it was so he can assure men that they do not need to continually carry stress, and he reminded us of the hymn, “What a friend we have in Jesus……Oh what needless pain we bear, when we do not carry EVERYTHING to God in prayer.”

An interesting video followed, and, for those interested, there are, on request, extracts available from the Darling Harbour Monorail Booklet, giving a more thorough description of the control system.

15

Every year Operation Christmas Child puts smiles on faces, bringing joy and hope to children in need with gift-filled shoeboxes lovingly packed by families, churches, schools and businesses throughout Australia and New Zealand.

This year Samaritan's Purse are celebrating the 100

millionth shoebox since Operation Christmas Child began putting smiles on faces of kids in need in 1993.

Every year millions of children in more than 130 countries around the world are touched by the power of a simple gift, a gift-filled shoebox that is a warm and real expression of God's unconditional love for a child in need.

St Andrews Uniting Church are participating in this program, so far we have 51 Shoe Boxes back. If you still have a box to return please do so soon to ensure that they can be processed and distributed to the children in time for Christmas.

Thank you to everyone who has participated in this great worthwhile, project.

Operation Christmas Child

Ron’s Thanks

When I fractured my hip and was rushed off to hospital, little did I know that very soon I would receive ‘Get Well ‘ wishes from so many friends.

Thank you everyone for your kind messages. I am now feeling very much better, but taking care to avoid another ‘Ups-a – Daisy!

Editor’s apology: Sorry, Ron asked for this for an earlier newsletter—I forgot!

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SUNDAYS Paddlers – Age 3 to Kinder 9:45 -11:00am (Sandra House 4578 2064)

Tweenies – Years 1 to 5 9:45 -11.00am (Robyn Duignan 4577 8732)

GWU – Junior High Youth Years 7 to 9 9:45 -11.00am (Robin Duignan 4577 8732)

MONDAYS Playtime – 9:30 - 11:30am – Parents and preschoolers (Sarah Jones 4577 5353)

Andy’s Hands-on-Help 9:00 - 1 pm , Maintenance & Fellowship. (Bob Thuaux 4578 2309)

TUESDAYS

Church Council – 7:30pm 1st Tuesday odd number month. Greg Inskip (4573 1002)

Pastoral Leaders Team – 7:30pm 1st Tuesday even number month. (Je-Kon Oh)

WEDNESDAYS

Time Out For Mums.– 9:45 -11:15am Fortnightly in school terms

for Mums and preschoolers. (Sandra Brown 4576 6689)

THURSDAYS

1st Thursday: Adult Fellowship 9:30am (Irene Milne 4578 1482)

3rd Thursday: Seniors All Together 10:00am – 12 noon (Crafts)

4th Thursday: Seniors’ Lunch 12 noon – 1:45pm

Senior’s Bible Study – 12 noon -1:30pm (except 4th Thursday)

For information on Thursday seniors’ activities contact Sandi Herbert (4573 1517)

FRIDAYS Op Shop and Mini-Market– 8:30am – 12 noon – clothes and wares. (Anthea Inskip

4573 1002)

SMALL/HOME GROUPS are a valuable and integral part of St Andrew’s ministry. We encourage all members to join a group. For further information please speak to our

Minister Rev. Je-Kon Oh - Phone 4578 3421 (Home)

CHURCH OFFICE MAIL: Post Office Box 450, Richmond 2753 PHONE: (02) 4578 3820 FAX: (02) 4578 0155 HOURS: 10.00am – 2:00pm most days Email: office@richmonduniting.org.au Web: www.richmonduniting.org.au

Centre Manager: Derek Scott: 4578 6015

WHAT’S HAPPENING DURING THE WEEK

Please send the editor your news and views and other articles for

the newsletter. email jcsturgess@westnet.com.au

Ph. 4567 1301

St. Andrew’s Uniting Church 25 West Market Street, Richmond, NSW A congregation of the Uniting Church in Australia.

St. Andrew’s is a member of the Assembly of Confessing Congregations.