Fellowships

Scots Church Fellowship
At the last meeting we heard a wonderful, interesting story from Jeffrey Schapel – as he shared with us a fascinating part of the recent overseas trip he and Jeanene enjoyed. Jeffrey concentrated on a canal trip they took in Wales – the boats called “narrow boats” are limited by the size of the canals. They are slow travelling – at walking pace. So, after half an hour’s instruction – off they went for seven nights!

Jeffrey showed us photos so that we could picture the canal, the boat, and the surroundings on their trip, and we were most grateful to him for sharing this experience with us.

Sadly, only four of us were present this month! This prompts us to ask each other – can we continue? We are not sure, but those of us who are able to come regularly would be very disappointed to see its demise.

So, we continue on in faith. The next meeting on Thursday 1^st November is All Saints Day, and Rev. Norah Norris kindly offered to tell us the story of a Saint – Saint Elizabeth, so we hope you will accept our invitation to join us – BYO lunch at 12 noon – you will be most welcome. Penny Horn is Facilitator, and Betty Christiansen is on Kitchen duty.

At this meeting we will discuss the final details for our Christmas Luncheon, scheduled on our usual Fellowship Thursday – the 6^th December – so mark this date on your calendar now!

Mary Thomas

State Mission Fellowship
The guest speaker at the September State Mission Fellowship meeting was the Rev Sunil Kadaparambil (Sunny), who has now been in South Australia in the Parkin-Sturt Patrol since March this year, after four years in the Burke and Wills Patrol in South West Queensland.

Sunny and his wife are getting to know the people in his new patrol area, whom he describes as 'friendly, genuine people'.  A Bush Chaplain (previously known as patrol padres or patrol ministers) always takes time to talk to those whom he visits, to listen and to share their stories.  Sunny spoke of some of the challenges faced by people in his area - the depressed economy leading to financial crises; declining population and breakup of families increasing isolation; the lack of basic medical, educational and social facilities; and, particularly amongst the Indigenous people, the fear of a nuclear waste dump on their land.

At present Frontier Services has eleven 'bush' patrols, with plans to establish or re-establish more as funding permits so that the remote 86% of Australia is covered.  It is good to know that the Uniting Church Bush Chaplains are there providing a friendly presence and a listening ear, sharing the love of God on remote properties and in isolated communities.

On the day after he spoke to us at State Mission Fellowship, Sunil left for three weeks with family and friends in his home State of Kerala in India where disastrous floods have taken many lives and left hundreds homeless.  He has been told that his close family are safe but wants to be with them at this time. 

At the next State Mission Fellowship meeting on 23^rd October we will hear from three of the South Australian delegates to the South Pacific Area Seminar of the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women held in Fiji recently. 

Rev Norah Norris