Category Archives: Announcements

Last Friday the World Day of Prayer service, hosted this year by the Salvation Army church, was well attended and very informative.

The guest speaker was Brian Peters of the Salvation Army, who spoke on the theme “Streams of Living Water,” chosen by the women of Egypt.

Four women representing four stages of the lives of Egyptian women over the centuries to the present day described their lifestyles.

Special prayers were offered for today’s women of Egypt and their families as we hear about the violence in their part of the world.

Next year’s program will be prepared by the women of the Bahamas, and hosted by the Roman Catholic churches.

The accompanying photo shows L. to R.,  Jocelyn Ingram,  Brian Peters, and Joan Mellahn from the Anglican Church ( in costume.)

Submitted by Joan Mellahn, photo by Rev’d  Jan Harper, Anglican Church.

Hundreds of pancakes cooked on the barbecues with rain pouring down (NOT THE USUAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR) with the nearby Memorial   Garden in the background.

This WAS what faced the hospitality students from Swan Hill Secondary College. Their teacher, Mrs Kylie Gardiner involves the students in real situations as part of their assessment.

This year 8 students prepared food and fed well over one hundred people two courses of pancakes topped with meat and white sauce. A second course of pancakes with maple syrup, raspberry topping, ice cream and fruit – Delicious!!

Our newly appointed priest, Rev. Jan Harper welcomed everyone and said grace to begin and at the conclusion thanked everyone for their attendance and particularly Mrs Gardner and her students. They were presented with a small gift and a donation towards their trip to Melbourne Market later in the year.

A fun family gathering – good food and good fellowship.

Marg Crilly

Rector’s Warden.

Wednesday evening just before I went home I saw Jesus.  He was standing by the gate at the back of the church that opens into our atrium fernery.

I really didn’t know what to do.  Who has left him out there?  Who knows about him?  I had to rush and get ready for the Ash Wednesday service but he has been on my mind ever since.  It looks to me as if someone thought he might find a home in our beautiful fernery Memorial Garden. When I came to church Friday morning I brought him in.  He was caught up in cobwebs and bits of grass and leaves, so he must have been standing waiting for some time.  He is a bit battered, but it would be easy to touch up his paintwork.  I popped him by a column at the back of the fernery and he is looking much more comfortable there.

He is a very Catholic looking Jesus.   I think I will take him along with me to the minister’s meeting Tuesday week just in case anyone has pilfered him from another place.  And this Tuesday I should bring him up at Parish Council.  I guess the point is: ‘Will this representation of Jesus add to or distract from the worship of the people who use the Memorial Garden for prayer?    We certainly can’t just leave him standing by himself at the back gate forever.  If he isn’t welcome in the fernery, I can always take him home to the rectory.

Don’t forget our pancake meal, 6pm in the Parish Function Centre, Christ Church, Swan Hill.

During the past few months I have seen eagles everywhere I travelled, bringing to mind that verse;

Isaiah 40.31:

but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.

So it was wonderful to walk into Christ Church Swan Hill on Tuesday and see the beautiful brass eagle lectern there to welcome me.

Unfortunately I am not tall enough to do more than peer over it.  There is a step I could use, but I am told it is a health hazzard and everyone trips over it.  I am really not sure quite what to do.  I might have to leave that lectern for taller readers, and use something that is more suitable to my height.  I will probably wear the lapel mike and steer clear of the lectern.