Christmas Worship Times:
Daylesford: 9.00am
Ballan: 10.30am
Trentham: 9.00am
Come and celebrate with us. All are welcome.
Archive for the 'Ballan' Category
“We wont have enough people to billet the refugees, how can we cater for all these people? Can they speak English, how will we communicate?”
These were some of the questions and anxieties that people voiced as I first raised the possibility of hosting a Refugee Healing Trail in Ballan.
Yet this weekend we did it. And what a gift it was to everyone involved.
For one of the first times, if not the first, St Paul’s Uniting Church, together with St Brigit’s Catholic Church and St John’s Anglican Church worked ecumenically on this exciting project.
The Healing Trail team was made up of newly arrived refugees from Burma. For most of the refugees, this was their first experience of rural Australia. For most of the Ballan people this was their first encounter with refugees. Both groups received enormous benefits from the trip.
On the Saturday afternoon people from the Healing Trail team spent time with their billeted families. Kangaroos and koalas were seen for the first time, sheep farms were discovered and gardens were enjoyed. There were new culinary experiences for people too; cornflakes were tasted for the first time, as well as different rice dishes.
On Saturday evening a healing concert was given. During this event refugees shared some of their culture and music. They also spoke of their journey to Australia: of their escape from military persecution, years of waiting in refugee camps, and their final arrival in Australia. The evening brought people laughter and joy. It also moved people to tears as they heard of the courage and strength of their newly made friends.
The weekend concluded with a barbecue lunch on Sunday after worship. Before waving the Refugee Healing Trail Team good bye many photos were taken and hugs shared.
After all those initial worries, in the end there were more than enough billets to host the refugees, the hospitality of the catering over the weekend was abundant and people found all kinds of ways to communicate, even with limited English.
The children among us modeled this best of all as they found ways of playing together that transcended any need for a common language.
There is a message in this for all of us. Sometimes we can be so worried that ‘there will not be enough time or talent or energy….’ we can reject exciting new possibilities.
However when we have courage, when we trust in ourselves and in the Divine: the God of welcome and extravagance, amazing possibilities can be birthed.
We experienced some of this over the weekend.
Thanks to all who had the courage to be involved.
The Refugee Healing Trail is an initiative of the Victorian Council of Churches.
Rev. Sally Douglas
The Refugee Healing Trail team and members of the three churches in Ballan
(Click photo for full size)
Often the television brings us news of disasters and wars from the around the world. However, these situations can seem so far away that it can be difficult to connect with them.
In Ballan this Saturday 15th November there will be a rare opportunity to hear first hand what it is like to experience being a refugee.
St Paul’s Ballan Uniting Church, together with St Brigit’s Catholic Church and St John’s Anglican Church are delighted to host a Refugee Healing Trail together.
Initiated by the Victorian Council of Churches and ACTS for Peace, the Refugee Healing Trail weekend aims to create opportunities for rural Australians and recently arrived refugees to meet together, share in hospitality and learn from one another.
Over the weekend hospitality will be shared across the 3 churches, and refugees will be billeted across the 3 congregations. Most of the people coming on this Healing Trail weekend have arrived from Burma.
On Saturday November 15 at 7:30pm the public are invited to join in an evening of sharing in the stories and learning about the cultures of recently arrived refugees.
The evening promises to be a rich experience, I think it will be a gift for all who attend.
This free event will take place at Ballan Uniting Church Hall in Inglis St and all are very welcome to attend, there is no need to book.
As children we often get the chance to sing with others. However, as we get older, unless we are ’superstar’ singers or come to church, our society offers few opportunities to sing with others just for fun.
This is the reason the Ballan Community Choir was established late last year: as a space for people to come together and sing, just for the love of it.
The Ballan Community Choir is open to all, regardless of singing experience or ability.
To be a part of the choir, all you need to do is turn up…
When: The second Tuesday of the month
Time: 7:00pm-8:00pm
Where: The Ballan Uniting Church Hall
For any enquiries call the Highlands Cluster Uniting Church tel: 5348 2119.
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
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
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
The Highlands Cluster is made up of 6 congregations. Settings are diverse; ranging from farming communities and tree-change towns, to the café latte set.
Whilst worship and community service vary across these settings, in each of these places we seek to create authentic space to encounter the Divine, an open place of welcome and the inclusion of all, and freedom for the questions at the heart of life and spirituality.
As a Christian community, made up of ordinary people, we seek to follow in the way of Jesus, whom we believe is the Wisdom of God.
