July Fellowship News

Fellowship members gathered together for a friendly chat over lunch at their last meeting on Thursday June 5, and we were delighted that Rev Dr Dean Eland joined us. We are all really enjoying the new format as we do not have such a structured meeting, making the gathering more informal. We take it in turns to be the Facilitator for the day, and this time Rev Norah Norris was in charge. The group is an Adult Fellowship, welcoming men as well as women, and so we hope that members of the congregation will join us from to time. Sometimes we have a speaker, and sometimes we just talk amongst ourselves, sharing and caring for each other. 

Our Trading Table, which has in the past been such a great money-raiser, is also less formal – but if for instance we have any garden produce, or have made a cake, we bring it for sale. The “library” of books which sits permanently on the tray-mobile is a good source of income – some people treat it as a lending library and donate a small amount of money, then bring the book back! We have enough money in hand at present to donate $200, enabling “Act for Peace” to provide a number of “Safe Delivery kits” which could save the lives of pregnant women in Pakistan (see page 14 for more information). 

Rev Norah Norris and Margaret Morey told us about their 4-day plane trip last year to King Island and Tasmania, with “Dick Lang - Bush Pilot”. Margaret had drawn a map on the white board, showing us exactly where King Island is, and the various locations they visited. Renowned for cheese and dairy products, kelp is also a major product – kelp washes up on the shore with the prevailing wind, and is treated and dried. As well as being fed to the cattle, it is in great demand as it is used in very many everyday products. King Island is part of Tasmania, and they also flew over north-west Tasmania’s wilderness area. 

Thank you to those who helped provide items for Mission Packing Day. Our contribution went to Marion UC where they packed on 4^th June – 54 boxes for Opportunity Shops and communities in Northern Australia and Broome, and 5 boxes of new items for the Work Stall at Old Timers’ Fete in Alice Springs. Allied Pickford continue to support by delivering the goods to their destination. 

Our next meeting is on Thursday 3^rd July, and we look forward to Jeffrey and Jeanene Schapel telling us about their overseas trip last year, entitled “Norway Coast”. Do join us - BYO lunch at 12 noon, our “Soup Kitchen” will give you a cup of soup to have with your sandwich. 

I have rung Olive Walter, now in an aged care facility, and we had a nice chat. It was sad to hear that her sister, who lived in the same complex, died recently, but Olive was quite bright and seems to be well, and asked to be remembered to everyone at Scots.

Mary Thomas