Religion

We continue with our 'Messy Church' programme which happens on the first Saturday of the month. Messy Church is church for families who may not find other forms of church appealing and who do not yet belong to a church. It is held once a month, and it includes hands-on creative experiences, a celebration, and a meal. It does not prioritise either the needs of children or adults but intentionally welcomes and provides for all ages.

Catholic schools across Queensland celebrated their community spirit during Education Week - the theme being Communities of Faith, Hope and Love. The official launch was held at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Toowooomba ... Allora’s St Patrick’s School was represented by the Principal Keith Blaikie and students Douglas E., Mili W. and Maggie P.

Emma Pritchard. While discussing how they could help locals affected by the recent floods during the past several weeks, members of the Clarence Valley Community Church and the Lower Clarence Presbyterian Church embraced the idea of opening a community kitchen in Maclean. The two congregations promptly started researching and organising recipes, scouting for a suitable location within the township, and drawing up a roster of volunteer cooks.  

Kirstin Nicholson. Members of Cohuna’s churches gathered on Good Friday for an ecumenical service of the passion of Christ at the Catholic Church. Following the service, members walked to the Gateway Visitor Centre in Garden Park for a short prayer service.

The Combined Churches of Narrandera with St John’s Uniting Church as the hosts will be holding the World Day of Prayer at the CRC Church in Bolton Street ... The World Day of Prayer is an annual global ecumenical event of informed prayer and action which began in the 19th century.

Kirstin Nicholson. The now church building once belonged to Geoff and Shirley Bruns and became the temporary home of the Anglican Church in Cohuna when its original church building was no longer fit to use 10 years ago. As time went by, it became clear that the shed was becoming more than just a shed, and with walls insulated, windows and doors added, and heating and cooling installed, it is now a fully functioning church building.

Make sure to visit the Newstead Arts Hub this February to see a collection of portraits taken by local Anglican Church Reverend Darcy Vaughan. The exhibition, open during the weekends, tackles issues of social isolation and how our communities function when faced with anxiety and uncertainty.

Four senior citizens and Charles Sturt academics have chronicled how their time in multiple COVID-19 lockdowns and isolations have restored their faiths.

“One of the first things I did when I moved here was a funeral in Rheola. I was doing the committal at the cemetery, ‘ashes to ashes’ when a massive flock of sheep moved next to us. I thought I’m not in Glebe anymore!” Darcy, born and raised in Sydney, moved to Maldon early last year to become the Minister of the Anglican Church, which includes Ministering in Newstead and Inglewood.

The Mahakaruna Buddhist Society celebrated 21 years since it was established in Denmark on December 12 and marked the retirement of The Venerable Lozang Chodzin ... In 2003, Lozang Chodzin was ordained as a Buddhist nun and eventually took over the role of teacher.

The spirit of Mapoon’s old people could be felt as the community opened its long-awaited church last Thursday. In an emotional ceremony, community leaders spoke of the long battle to have a church built in Mapoon after the state government ripped down the last one in 1963 when it forced all residents to leave the Mission.

Geoff Wharton. The opening of the church at Mapoon last Thursday is an event that links today’s Christian movement in the community with the earliest days of Mapoon Presbyterian Mission and the Moravian Church missionaries who came to evangelise among the Tjungundji People in 1891.

Alba Brockie. Perhaps you have wandered past the old cream coloured building between the Uniting Church and the Butcher and wondered “what goes on in there?”, “what is the story behind this old place?” The current Aladdin’s Cave that is the Uniting Church Op-Shop is located in Tennant Creek’s oldest still used building, the Australian Inland Mission Welfare Hut.

Sheryl Lowe. Father Woods Park statues will be the focus of discussions between Wattle Range Council and the Penola Catholic Community in coming weeks ... Cr Price successfully moved for Council to approach the Catholic Church leaders at Penola to see if they would support the relocation of the statues to Penola due to the safety concerns at the current site.

Nicholas Rupolo. It’s the perfect blend of luxury and elegance. This old church built in 1890 was recently converted into a luxurious retreat by Melanie Absolom and her husband Kevin. The church features its original stained glass windows, an open and elegant living area and a mesmerising cache of history in its walls.

Kirstin Nicholson. The district was filled with the sights and sounds of 110 motorbikes and 44 cars on the weekend, all part of the Gannawarra Memorial Toy Run (GMTR). The toy run was organised by John Webb and his team for the Combined Churches group. Toys and money collected on the day, and in the collection bins around the district, will be used for hampers to be distributed across the district in December.  

Ruth Arthur. On Monday, following a call from my sister, Diane, that she thought there might be a photo opportunity in Moulamein not seen before, I travelled to see her and the new experience for Moulamein that was about to happen.

Emma Pritchard. The Church of the Holy Apostles in Copmanhurst is widely admired and loved by many, having served the Copmanhurst community and surrounding districts for more than a century. Strong family connections and lifelong memories have been formed, along with an intense interest in its history and preservation. And it has also generated plenty of interest in the property market.

Tony Piccolo. The local Afghan Community in the South East have told State Members of Parliament of their fear for the safety and wellbeing of family and friends living in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of allied forces and the installation of a new Taliban Government. The community shared their stories with a delegation led by religious leader Sheikh Ghulam Ali Haideri and State Member of Parliament, Mr Tony Piccolo who visited Naracoorte to offer support to people who are dealing with the confronting and difficult fallout from the events in Afghanistan.

Roz Knights is so excited she can’t keep stop smiling as an old aviation building on Bloore St is being transformed into the new Kyogle Community Food Pantry ... "This is my way – through the Lions Club and my Christian beliefs – to give back to people,” Roz said. “In the past I’ve been helped by so many people.” For a moment, Roz’s eyes fill with tears and then she smiles again as she looks up at the grey building and gushes about the local philanthropist who offered the site at a “phenomenally low rent”, she said.