Fellowship News for September 

Our September meeting was an enjoyable occasion. We missed several of our regulars - Doreen Mathason has not been at all well, Marj Nichol had a medical appointment, and Ruth Goldsworthy who travels quite a distance to come, was not very well. However the Regional Co­ordinator, Val Hutchinson came along and our two friends from Pilgrim UC, Alison Kinsman and Bronwyn Jones, joined us as well. So all chairs round the table were occupied as we shared lunch together, and a chat, before Rev Norah Norris (in charge for the day) introduced Mr John Duval, a member of the South Australian Team of Frontier Services.

John “retired” in 1997 after a long career as an Electrician. Since then he has helped Frontier Services on many occasions with Work Parties to repair and upgrade many different establishments. In the 1950’s Rev Fred McKay asked for help to complete the paving of the John Flynn Memorial Church being built in Alice Springs. Following this success his vision was for work camps and for inspired people to volunteer. The first Camp was at St. Philips in 1964 – John showed us a photo of everyone, including Clive and Margaret Morey and their children. John told us about the 50^th Anniversary Work Party this year – he was one of the twenty five people. He was mainly involved in electrical work – replacing evaporative air conditioners (some on the roof) with more up-to-date models. Other people worked in various parts of the building, including re-arranging the garden area, paving paths, and erecting new rotary clothes-lines. All helpers received a memento of the occasion – a scarf for the ladies and a tie for the men.

In October last year John was part of a Support Team for the World Solar Challenge from Darwin to Adelaide – completed in six days, so the cars must travel 500km a day, and maintain a speed of 60km. There were people from all over the world, and each car had a support group which changed each day. John shared some experiences: in Darwin there was a huge downpour of rain where everyone was drenched, the difficulty with language with the Chinese Team, the heat (it was very hot and there was the danger of being dehydrated), and supervising the re-charging of the batteries each day at 5pm, and at sunrise at 6am. For us it was all most interesting – made more so by the use of a PowerPoint presentation.

Fellowship Members were reminded of the following – the Regional Celebration at One Tree Hill on Wednesday 24^th September; Rev Norah Norris has Christmas Cards available to support National & World Mission and Frontier Services; and a Christmas Festival will be held on the forecourt of Scots on Friday 5^th December 8 am - 2 pm to launch the 2014 Christmas Bowl Appeal. As well as other stalls, Scots will have a Trading Table selling handcrafts, gifts, cakes and biscuits etc. 

Our next meeting is on Thursday 2^nd October - BYO lunch at 12 noon. Kath March is Facilitator, and Margaret Morey is in the Kitchen. Dr. Don Hopgood has prepared several interesting talks on “Adelaide in the Roaring Twenties” and will come along and share one of these stories with us. We have had Don speak to us in the past, and so can assure everyone that it will be most worthwhile. A very warm invitation is extended to all members of the congregation to join us. In November we will travel by the Glenelg Tram to visit St. Andrew's By-the-Sea, hear Rev Adam Tretheway give some history of the church, hear about their Outreach Programmes and Community Aid, and enjoy a light lunch at their Friendship Cafe. Perhaps you would like to join us?

Andrew Prior and the girls in the Office, Naomi and Deb, suggested we might like to be a part of Scots Website, and now, with their help, we are! Look us up - www.scotschurch.org