Hartwell Church of Christ in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Church of Christ

Hartwell Church of Christ

Locality: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Phone: 98893484

Address: Corner of Highfield Rd and Milverton St 3124 Melbourne, VIC, Australia

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• Non-profit organisation
• Religious centre
• Church of Christ

23.01.2022 A new world beckons! We're out of lockdown (although feeling deeply for our SA friends) and the future stretches ahead. But it will be different, and it will ta...ke courage to launch into the unknown. This week we chat with Danny Wilson & Andrew Bruce about the bravery it takes to live in our times. Barb Matheson, Suzanne Ashton, Merryl Blair and David Brooker will also contribute. Premieres 10 am at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYCiYFhHoyKKS_nh1a1ZXXA . See more

22.01.2022 Mind open. Heart soft.

20.01.2022 Solving the Problems of the World! Kairos: a thought to kick-start your week - https://mailchi.mp//kairos-a-thought-to-kick-start-your-we

20.01.2022 This has been a year like no other where Australians, particularly Melburnians, have experienced lockdown and many have been affected by isolation, loneliness a...nd often despair. In response, Doncaster Church of Christ and Opera Scholars Australia have joined forces to provide an event on Friday the 4th of December at 7-9pm that would see people’s spirits raised in anticipation of better days to come by experiencing the "joy" of Christmas and the "hope" that is found in Christ. This is a free virtual event where everyone is welcome. The hope is to be able to give back to the artists and production team who have had no paid work during this tumultuous year as well as bring Christmas into homes near and far. It would be much appreciated if you could contribute to the Go Fund Me page: www.gofundme.com/f/virtual-twilight-carols. The line up of artists is incredible: Guy Noble as compere, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Silvie Paladino, the Melbourne Welsh Male Choir, Richard Thomas and an amazing band with top Melburnian artists to lead the community carol singing. Go to the website www.twilightcarols.com.au to register for the event.

19.01.2022 Beautiful words from Glynn again

19.01.2022 Mercy is the theme for our online gathering at 10 am Sunday 30th August. Input from Dr Merryl Blair, Mike Roberts, Barb Richards, Chris Hicks, Sarah Ricketts an...d David Brooker. What line-up! We'd love you to join us, either for the premiere at 10 am or any time after that. https://theavenuecc.us3.list-manage.com/track/click See more

18.01.2022 It has been reported that over 10000 Victorians have refused to participate in a Covid-19 testing. There are a number of reasons for this, fear of enforced quar...antine, loss of employment, language barriers, the slight discomfort of the testing process or even the belief that Covid-19 is come kind of government conspiracy. There was also a well-publicised video, that we couldnt play in church, of a Broadmeadows resident taking the libertarian line of exercising his rights of freedom of movement when it came to the lockdown of his particular suburb. If you wonder why the United States of America is leading the world in Coronavirus infections and deaths, its not so much appallingly inept leadership, although that is certainly the case, or a devastatingly inadequate public health system, which is also the reality; to find the cause of such dreadful outcomes you need look no further than libertarianism and its various manifestations. Libertarianism is a political philosophy and movement that upholds liberty and individual freedom as a core principle. We have seen this in America made manifest in the large groups refusing to wear masks and physical distance because they believe to have to do so, is an infringement on their individual rights. The same philosophy is applied to gun ownership that results in 30,000 deaths per year. As Jesus says: wisdom is vindicated by her deeds. or perhaps to but that concept in the vernacular we could use the words of the great philosopher Forrest Gump; Mumma says Stupid is as stupid does. Sadly, occasionally we see this philosophy sneaking into our own national conversation. Now there is nothing wrong with liberty and individual freedoms in and of themselves, just ask the people of Hong Kong. It does however depend on how those individual freedoms relate to other individuals. Jesus says: Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. This is one of those bible verses that is so well known that translators are reluctant to move too far from its Elizabethan linguistic expression. The Greek word that we translate as easy is chrestos (incidentally only one letter different from the word Christos meaning Christ!) This word is translated everywhere else in the new testament as either kind or good. A yoke that was chrestos was kind on the animal the bore it, its edges were smooth and well-shaped making heavy burdens at least a little less painful to bear. Chrestos is distinguished from the other word in the New Testament for good which is agathos. Agathos means the good in an ideal or formal sense, while chrestos is always relational: good of its kind. In the context of Matt. 11:30, then, Jesus yoke does not represent the ideal good; it is good in comparison to other yokes and it is relational in nature. In the context of the choices we make regarding our behaviours around coronavirus we can say that liberties and personal freedoms are agathos the good while choosing to hand sanitise, physical distance, self-isolate when unwell, get tested when symptomatic or contact positive are all chrestos, a relational burden we choose to carry for the good of others. In 1st Century Judaism it was common for a disciple to take on the yoke of their Rabbi, this meant living in the way of that particular rabbi, doing what he did. Thats why Peter jumps out of the boat and tries to walk on water, because thats what his rabbi was doing, that was Peter taking on the yoke. I have often spoke of the two main rabbinic traditions of Jesus time, that of Rabbi Shammai and that of Rabbi Hillel. They agreed that the first commandment was to Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' But the differed on what the second greatest commandment was. Shammai held that it was to be holy, Hillel said that it was love your neighbour as yourself. They only became contradictory when you were drawn to see your neighbour as every human, not just another observant Jew. The yoke of Shammai was the law. The yoke of Hillel was kindness. Jesus is clearly the disciple of the latter. If we are disciple of Jesus then we too are called to take upon ourselves the yoke of kindness, the yoke that is relational. The yoke that values the freedom and wellbeing of others as well as our own, the yoke that loves our neighbours as ourselves. If Jesus is our rabbi, if we are his disciples we will choose to hand sanitise, physical distance, self-isolate when unwell, get tested when symptomatic or contact positive, stay in our suburbs or houses if we are advised to, even if it sounds burdensome or ever ridiculous, because we have chosen to bare the yoke that is relational and kind, the yoke that regards the wellbeing of others, especially the vulnerable as of equal value to that of our own.

18.01.2022 As part of the Season of Creation series, you're invited to catch the premiere of our Outback Sunday gathering from 10 am on Sunday 13th September. Inviting ref...lection on the wilderness experiences of life - real and metaphorical - we draw on the wisdom of Psalms and of Jesus as we consider how those moments of uncertainty and challenge in life might be processed. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYCiYFhHoyKKS_nh1a1ZXXA See more

18.01.2022 Join us from 10 am on Sunday 9th August - wisdom on the Psalms from Merryl Blair, conversation with John Rogerson, communion with Julie Adam and more. All welcome! https://theavenuecc.us3.list-manage.com/track/click

17.01.2022 Something very special on Sunday 2nd August - an 'all-in' Zoom gathering instead of our regular online YouTube presentation will provide the opportunity for som...e 'face-to-face' (virtual) conversation, celebration, inspiration and fun. All are welcome to join us - just click on the link below from 10 am this Sunday. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86790086992 See more

17.01.2022 It is amazing what we are doing in this time of social distancing. This is a couple of the guys from Yarra Gospel who recorded this in that little time span where we were allowed to meet. Like Mary in the song we all have the right to the Tree of Life. Enjoy!

15.01.2022 Calling all knitters...

15.01.2022 We are excited to inform you that on Wednesday 14th October Alms held a ground-breaking ceremony to mark the official opening of the construction on the new Alm...s 1x4 classroom block in Memory of Graeme Blair and his works in Zambia. The ceremony was graced by the Alms Board members present attended by the Alms children, Alms staff and the community members. Just after the breaking of the ground, there were showers of blessings. The trucks bringing in construction materials also started coming in as if by design which was a blessing. Work has commenced by pegging and digging of the foundation. We are looking forward to connecting with you at the Fundraising launch next Sunday 25th October.

14.01.2022 A very thought provoking sermon from Glynn Candy

14.01.2022 This is a link for churches to sign up for a toolkit for this Season of Creation, this month and onwards. Individuals can also sign up to receive reflections and readings and other media by email. Something to enrichen this time of moving into Sprinter/Spring. May it bring new life to us all.

13.01.2022 May the sun shine within you, radiating warmth and welcome; May the wind carry you free, blowing all your worries away;... May the rain nourish your soul, gently tending your best. And may you be blessing to others: a warm spirit, a free song, and a gentle strength.

13.01.2022 Soul Space on Sunday, August 16, 2020 - https://mailchi.mp/f2ccc8442e17/soulspace-08-4141493

13.01.2022 Beautiful words from Glynn Cardy

11.01.2022 Something to keep in mind when you are motivated to debate an issue, whether that be rascism, equality, discrimination or even policy decisions like our current lockdown. Discussion is good and healthy but some people will have more at stake than others. Lets respect that.

11.01.2022 Soul Space on Sunday, October 18, 2020 - https://mailchi.mp/09fef09e7ed1/soulspace-10-4192697

11.01.2022 Many of us at Hartwell are knitting scarves for Common Grace’s Knit for Climate Action. Our resident textile artist Sarah Louise Ricketts has put kits together for us, mine has arrived and I’m ready to knit.

09.01.2022 Hartwell and Surrey Hills did church by Zoom this morning. It was wonderful to see each other and chat together. Being able to share communion in real time was extra special.

09.01.2022 Soul Space on Sunday, July 19, 2020 at 1:30 pm - https://mailchi.mp/79d5bd8a4220/soulspace-07-2020 Join us via Zoom from wherever you are. Come and write poems with us! Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88415302642? pwd=bkorM3RlR1N0L2xGVW9wSFVyNXZvdz09

09.01.2022 Don't miss the online gathering of the Surrey Hills and Hartwell churches this week: Making All Things New! Featuring a reflection from Merryl Blair, conversati...ons with Katrina Wilson and Gwen Pallot, and more! 10 am Sunday 26th July on YouTube! Click the link below to go straight there! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYCiYFhHoyKKS_nh1a1ZXXA See more

08.01.2022 Lighter Footprints are hosting a forum on the Climate Action credentials of the candidates standing in the Boroondara Council election. You can join them on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 7:30pm - 9:00pm on Zoom and Facebook Live. This looks really interesting, Craig Reucassel from "Fight for Planet A" will be giving the opening address.

07.01.2022 The Weekly Watch. Your guide to HeartWell online presentations. - https://mailchi.mp//your-guide-to-the-online-presentations

06.01.2022 As the anniversary of Graeme’s death approaches, his friends from the Hartwell Men’s Group along with other Hartwell members have started this appeal to fund the building of class rooms at the ALMs school in Ndola Zambia which was so close to Graeme’s heart. Please join us at the launch and give as you are able.

04.01.2022 Be part of something new and exciting! - https://mailchi.mp/1e9b582/your-personal-invitation-3910533

04.01.2022 Soul Space on Sunday, September 20, 2020 - https://mailchi.mp/b7f5f8543770/soulspace-09-4162385 Photos by David Clode on Unsplash

04.01.2022 Today we celebrate the anniversary of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2007. The Australian Government a...nnounced its support for the Declaration in 2009. To learn more about the Declaration, visit https://declaration.humanrights.gov.au/

03.01.2022 Give Boroondara Council your support to take strong climate action. Complete Climate Survey by 14 September. Click the link for some great ideas to include in your survey. https://lighterfootprints.org/what-are-boroondaras-neighbo/

01.01.2022 "Today was a Difficult Day," said Pooh. There was a pause. "Do you want to talk about it?" asked Piglet.... "No," said Pooh after a bit. "No, I don't think I do." "That's okay," said Piglet, and he came and sat beside his friend. "What are you doing?" asked Pooh. "Nothing, really," said Piglet. "Only, I know what Difficult Days are like. I quite often don't feel like talking about it on my Difficult Days either. "But goodness," continued Piglet, "Difficult Days are so much easier when you know you've got someone there for you. And I'll always be here for you, Pooh." And as Pooh sat there, working through in his head his Difficult Day, while the solid, reliable Piglet sat next to him quietly, swinging his little legs...he thought that his best friend had never been more right." Sending our thoughts to those having a Difficult Day today and hope you have your own Piglet to sit beside you Original source unknown.

01.01.2022 Way back in October a group of us started knitting scarves for Common Grace’s Knit for Climate Action. After a false start and much undoing and re-knitting mine is finally completed. The scarf starts dark blue then changes towards red representing the rise in average temperatures over the last 100 years. It is sobering to see how much higher the average temperature was in 2019 than in 1919.

01.01.2022 Blessed are moments found where worry and weariness fade from the foreground, and a mist-like calm settles, and we are at rest.... Blessed are we who lay under the yellowing Ginkgo that hard weight gone this day, free now to pray and think so, free to be restored. Blessed are those who are midwives of moments such, bringers of gifts: food and care, harbingers of hope, of much balm for the soul. Blessed are the moments without the anxious thoughts, pressing demands, omens of dread, when we are naught but a safe child again.