Archive for the 'Events' Category

Words in Winter

Published on August 8, 2010 in Events, Featured, Highlands Cluster and Trentham. Closed

The Sacred within the Ordinary

I wonder what your general life view is?  The way in which we view life has a tremendous impact on how we actually experience it.  If we come to the conclusion that life is boring then there is every chance that this is how it will be.

In a world in which chasing the dollar and accumulating more stuff are often held up as the right lens in which to see reality Celtic Spirituality offers rich insights about another way of seeing the world.

From Celtic perspective all of the earth is seen as good and permeated with the presence of the Divine.  Seeing life through this lens changes things.

Rather than this ancient world-view being primitive, this perspective can awaken our souls to the authentic beauty of the earth, one another and ourselves.

As part of ‘Words in Winter’ there will be an opportunity to explore this Celtic way.

Esteemed photographers Kate Baker and David Roberts will be exhibiting their work and speaking about it.  Renowned singer Maria Forde will delight with Celtic song and I will share some insights about this Celtic perspective.

Through music, poetry and visual art you are invited to join us in dipping into this ancient way.

For those inspired, there will be an opportunity to be part of a future photographic project by Kate and David exploring personal sacred space.

Blessings on your journey,

Rev Sally Douglas

Words in Winter
Red Beard Bakery
Saturday 21st August
4:00pm-5:00pm
No need to book
Gold Coin Donation
Everyone is invited

MINGLING AT THE MITCHELL BEGINS

Published on March 15, 2010 in Daylesford, Events, Featured, Highlands Cluster and Uncategorized. Closed

The Daylesford Uniting Church has been involved in a deep discerning process over many months about what it is being called to do and be as a church by the Divine.

Through sharing in hopes and dreams, in speaking honestly about failings in the past and our strengths, in sharing over meals, in silence, in brainstorming and in prayer and in ongoing discussion, the congregation has now adopted its vision

Embracing Difference - Sharing the Hospitality of Jesus

This vision will be lived out in many ways, but one of the first was launched last Friday with ‘Mingle at the Mitchell’.

Each Friday morning between 10:00am and 11:30am, members of the congregation are creating a ‘cafe space’ at the little hall at church.  Here there is good fair trade coffee and tea all for only a gold coin donation. 

Magazines and newspapers are available to flick through, music is in the background and here is the opportunity to get to know other locals - to meet others and maybe even make new friends. This aims to be a non threatening space in which all are welcome.

Last Friday’s ‘Mingle at the Mitchell’ was full of laughter and the sharing of hospitality.  It was great to be part of. All are very welcome to pop by… come for as long or as little as you like.

Mitchell Hall, 56 Central Springs Road, Daylesford.

Rev. Sally Douglas

What is Christian Spirituality?

Published on March 27, 2008 in Ballan, Blackwood, Bullarto, Daylesford, Events, Highlands Cluster, Little Hampton and Trentham. Closed

On Sunday March 30th the Highlands Cluster will be exploring a question which touches to the core of our being; what is Spirituality, and in particular, what is Christian Spirituality?

With Rev Joan Wright Howie, the Spiritual Formation Advisor for the Centre of Theology and Ministry, we will be exploring this question together in worship and in an afternoon workshop. If you would like to explore these issues in a non threatening space please join us.

10:30am Cluster Worship at Daylesford Uniting Church
In which we will commission our new elders - the vision keepers.

This service will be followed by a shared lunch.

1:00pm-3:00pm Spirituality Workshop at Daylesford Uniting Church

You are welcome to join us for as much or as little of this day as you would like to.

Enquiries, please call Rev Sally Douglas tel: 5348 2119

Welcome to Holy Week

Published on March 17, 2008 in Ballan, Daylesford, Events, Highlands Cluster, Little Hampton, Trentham and Uncategorized. Closed

Within the Christian tradition this week, as we journey to Good Friday and Easter, is the hub which everything else revolves around.

You are invited to come and explore this mystery with us.

What happens at Easter? Faith discovers us….

Worship times across the Highlands Cluster Uniting Church:

Maundy Thursday (March 20)
Discovering ourselves in Jesus’ journey

6:00pm Trentham Uniting Church; shared meal
7:00pm Daylesford Uniting Church; foot washing

Good Friday (March 21st)
Discovering the Divine in the darkness

9:00am Trentham Uniting Church
9:15am Daylesford Uniting Church
11:15am Ballan Uniting Church

Easter Sunday (March 23)
Discovering hope which sustains

8:00am Little Hampton Uniting Church Breakfast celebration
9:15am Daylesford Uniting Church
11:15am Ballan Uniting Church

For more information and for regular worship and meditation times contact
Rev. Sally Douglas 03 5348 2119

All very welcome

What is Lent?

Published on February 12, 2008 in Events, Highlands Cluster and Trentham. Closed

In the past, both within the Church and beyond the Church, if people have thought about Lent at all they have probably thought about it as the time before Easter when you give something up, like chocolate.

In view of the alarming information now emerging about international chocolate manufacturing, where so often children are used in slave labour to harvest cocoa beans, assessing chocolate consumption and seeking out fair trade chocolate options is an important thing to do.  However, choosing to limit or change chocolate consumption does not go to the heart of what Lent is about, or what the time of Lent offers us all.

It is a curious, delightful thing that just as our calendar flows from one month to another, interspersed with cultural dates like the labour day weekend and the footy finals, the Christian calendar flows parallel to this with its ancient holy days which continue to speak to us- inviting us to enter into the mystery of who we really are and who the Divine is.

Lent is one such holy period in the Christian calendar.  The time of purple: the sacred time which offers us space to consider our journey and our vocation.

In the tradition of the early church, these 40 days before Easter (excluding Sundays) were the serious space for those preparing to be baptised, to think about and prepare for what they were about to embark on, in this life long journey of following in the way of Jesus.

Now, in the Christian calendar this invitation comes to each of us yearly in Lent.  The invitation is to take time, to reflect on our journey, to listen for the movement of the sacred, to think about where we are blocking the energy of Divine.  To pause to consider where we might be letting fear corrode love, worry suffocate wonder, or resentment freeze over the possibility of healing, and to have the courage to let these things go.

To surrender these blockages to the Divine, so that, slowly, slowly, we can be freed- unencumbered- and thus enabled to enter more deeply the way of the Divine- who in Christian faith we believe comes to us in Jesus- loving us to death and who in doing so breathes newness of life.

In this season of Lent you may want to take up the invitation of this sacred space, not to simply give up some type of food, but to think about what is blocking the flow of love in your life.  You may wish to journal about these things, or discuss this with trusted others, you might choose to explore this in worship or in a Lenten study.  In whatever way you choose, you may dare to take these things to the Divine- the Ground of our Being- who yearns that all discover wholeness and healing, freedom and homecoming and who wants to enable us in the journey there.

Sally Douglas

Please note there will be no worship in the Highlands Cluster on Sunday February 17.

On Sunday February 24 Cluster worship will be held at Daylesford Uniting Church at 10:30am. 

Christmas Worship in the Highlands

Published on December 16, 2007 in Ballan, Blackwood, Bullarto, Daylesford, Events, Highlands Cluster, Little Hampton and Trentham. Closed

Sunday 16th December
Combined Church Carols at Daylesford Uniting Church 7:30pm

Friday 21st December
Little Hampton Uniting Church Carols and Supper 7:00pm

Sunday 23rd December
Blackwood Uniting Church BBQ and Carols 5:30pm
Trentham Uniting Church Carols 7:00pm

Christmas Day 25th December
Trentham Uniting Church 9:00am
Daylesford Uniting Church 9:00am
Ballan Uniting Church 11:00am

All welcome

For all enquiries call the Highlands Cluster Uniting Church Office 5348 2119

Celtic Spirituality Retreat

Published on November 11, 2007 in Events. Closed

‘Returning to the Well of Celtic Wisdom’
A retreat seminar with Padraigin Clancy

The seminar offers you space for soulful reflection, imagination and celebration and a rare occasion to find your own bearings from the wisdom of ancient and contemporary Celtic wisdom and spirituality.

Deepen your knowledge and experience of the creative threads within Celtic Christianity. Explore its emerging force in contemporary spirituality and wisdom for sustaining Self and Earth.

Venue: Daylesford Uniting Church, 56 Central Springs Road
Date: Sunday 25th November 2007, 3:00-5:00pm
Cost: $15
Enquiries and bookings: Highlands Cluster Uniting Church Office 5348 2119