Just before Christmas each year our Church has a service for the bereaved. The emblem of this service is the Blue Christmas Tree, upon which people tie prayers in memory of their loved ones. Thought we would include it as our Christmas symbol this year.
Christmas 2010 P.O. Box 11O, Hallam. Vic. 3803
Dear Family and Friends, 23th December, 2010
Both Joan and Bill are beginning to experience the effects of aging at last. Somehow it is getting harder to keep up with the demands of our lives. We can only suppose it is because of a decrease in energy. Joan is considering the necessity of at least a partial retirement in about two years time, so we are beginning to plan towards that. It seems it will be necessary to sell our office and the house next door to secure the necessary funds to do so. We have plans before the Casey Council for approval of the development of the combined site. It looks exciting, but more about that in the future.
Bill would love to do a bit more reading. The acquisition of a new pair of reading glasses shows great promise in achieving this ambition. He was sitting in the recreation room at the back of our office in Pakenham a few weeks ago in the late afternoon and went to sleep sentimentally reading on his i-phone the “Mayor of Casterbridge” written by Thomas Hardy in the 19th Century. This was the book required for English Expression way back when Bill was in Form 1V in 1952. He woke up to find it was dark and his glasses had fallen onto the rough slate tiled floor. Feeling about with his shoe he scraped the glass lens, which has made reading difficult since. Now with the new spectacles Bill is reading quite well. Next time Bill is asked to celebrate communion he’ll be able to read the text better. Bill still loves controversial theology. He bought a book from Harvard University fresh off the press written by Professor Francis Ching-Wah Yip of Hong Kong University. It is Capitalism as Religion? A Study of Paul Tillich’s Interpretation of Modernity (Harvard Theological Studies). Yip argues that modern capitalism is a quasi religion.
Joan was concerned following the Federal Budget to find out that Accredited Mental Health Social the Workers, such as herself would lose their Medicare accreditation, first in July, then reviewed in April next year. However after a successful campaign by The Australian Social Worker’s Association the decision was rescinded. Patients referred to her by their GP for counselling under the Commonwealth Better Mental Health Plan can continue to claim a rebate.
On the 2nd December Joan had an operation to remove a small malignant but non-spreading tumour that she felt was scraping against her eye, from her lower left eyelid. The result was two black eyes so we missed church the next day. Her clients were fascinated when seeing the assumed evidence of domestic violence!
Our minister, The Rev. Dr. Graeme Sutton entered retirement during September, (we do miss him) so we are in the process at Trinity Dandenong of seeking another. During the year Graeme Sutton pronounced Rosalind as our (Dandenong) Church’s Resident Philosopher. Her library is beginning to outreach the space available, as she buys more and more books on the Enlightenment.
Sue was awarded her Bachelor of Arts degree from Monash University earlier this year, much to the delight of her proud parents. Sue applied for and was appointed as a Project Officer by Uniting Care Community Options, with much of her work in the Dandenong district. She is loving it, and has started a number of projects in that short time. She celebrated her 50th Birthday in the entertainment room at 2 Simon Drive, Pakenham. Brian bought himself a new car (six years old), a Holden of course. Bayden celebrated his 21st Birthday in August, and Michaela her 18th in September. Michaela hurt her back this year and has been unable to participate as much in her Hockey as usual. Terrence completed his course with Cricket Victoria, Sports management, Coaching and Organisation.
During the year Graeme Sutton pronounced Rosalind as our (Dandenong) Church’s Resident Philosopher. Her library is beginning to outreach the space available, as she buys more and more books on the Enlightenment.
Ian celebrated his 40th Birthday at Pakenham last July. Ian is very much involved with the Church at Dandenong. Ian is interim Church Council Chairperson. He is also Safety Officer, Data Projector Operator. Our church is open 7 days a week, and Ian and Mary-Ann, two days a week takes what we call Pete’s patch, a project that welcomes and counsels people who drop, and he also takes responsibility for the Church’s website. Ian also organises the CORE programme that supervises people on court ordered community service. Mary-Ann is Church Treasurer.
Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year, and God bless you all.
From Joan, Bill and Rosalind.
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