Strathfieldsaye Community Church in Strathfieldsaye, Victoria, Australia | Community organisation

Strathfieldsaye Community Church

Locality: Strathfieldsaye, Victoria, Australia

Phone: +61 412 571 139

Address: 920 Strathfieldsaye Rd 3551 Strathfieldsaye, VIC, Australia

Website: http://www.strathfieldsayechurch.com.au

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25.01.2022 Keep an eye out for our Christmas Services banner on the front fence, and event notifications on this page soon!

24.01.2022 With all that is going on with the Covid 19 (Corona Virus) there is a lot of information on how to keep safe. We will be updating the website and this facebook page with how we will manage the coming weeks of worship services. Our primary aim is to keep everyone safe and if that means finding alternate ways to worship, then we will do so. The advice from Government agencies, Uniting Synod and Anglican Diocese is changing quickly to limit the spread, and so must we. We will... be holding our Communion service this week, but with some changes to protect us all. There will be announcements over the next weeks and months and we will comply with whatever needs to happen. 22nd March:- Eddie Barkla will be with us for Holy communion this week. Eddie always has an interesting story to tell that links the Bible readings with local and current events. See more

24.01.2022 It was great to be able to worship together this morning at church and inside too! We had two full services of 20 people and it was so good to be able to meet together, read God's word, pray and encourage each other. Dont forget to register (contact Rob) to attend a service next sunday!

22.01.2022 Hello Friends, Today is the 8th anniversary of the men’s breakfast being held at Strathfieldsaye Community Church. As we can’t meet in person, we invited our new minster Rob Edwards to share something about himself as a way for ALL of us us to get to know him! Grab yourself some breakfast and then click on the link below https://vimeo.com/425402698

20.01.2022 It's MANGO time! If you would like to treat yourself to some Delicious Mangoes and support one of our local Primary schools........then contact Eppalock Primary School or contact Alicia on 0439 691 767

19.01.2022 Wednesday 19th February It is with great sadness that we fare-welled our dear sister Ruth Blundell yesterday. Ruth was a fine lady in her 90's, and it was our privilege to hold her funeral at our Church. Thank you to all the people in our congregation that offered hospitality in the form of catering for the funeral, to Judy and her family a fitting tribute for Ruth. 23rd February I did say we will be having some interesting times ahead, and we are indeed fortunate in ...having Bishop Matt Brain with us for the Holy Communion service this Sunday. We are blessed to have Matt come to us, and for all the work he is doing during the search for our new minister. We look forward to what he has to say. 25th February is Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day), and we are having our Pancake evening meal from 6 o'clock. This is a fun evening usually spent under our beautiful shade trees at the rear of the Church. Lots of great food and conversations. There will be a modest cost of $10 per head or $20 per family. You can place your name(s) on the list at the church, or call or leave a message on Karen's phone 0428 399 442 with numbers attending for catering purposes. See more

17.01.2022 Easter 2020 was a very different celebration here in Bendigo. I have pinned the service resources to the top of our Facebook page for ongoing easy access. Who could possibly have thought that Bendigo's Easter Fair would be cancelled ? Or that Church Services could only be accessed on line or via DVD, or even watched on TV ? We managed to get DVD's out to folk on Thursday, just in time for Good Friday & Easter Sunday. I still have some of these available if you'd lik...e to watch the Easter services. We are so fortunate that our sister churches at Weeroona U.C. and Holy Trinity have made their services available for us to access each week, as well as the Anglican Diocese website. That is 5 services per week. We are so looking forward to resuming our own services - but that may be a while away yet. In the meantime keep safe, and in contact. See more

17.01.2022 Hello Friends, Our New Minister Rob Edwards is here chatting with us all. Rob’s COVID Diary23.06.2020 Psalm 18v19 he rescued me because he delighted in me. ... We are not saved because of the good things we do, our good attitude or our good looks. God rescued you (and me) because He delighted in me. How cool is that - God DELIGHTS in us! As believers in Christ, we are His children; He loves us, takes care of us, and God delights in us! Can I encourage you to read the rest of Psalm 18, and to write down the many ways in which God takes care of you and delights in you! God Bless, Rob

17.01.2022 We share the sad news about our sister Elva Somerville who has left this life and we feel confident that she is now with our Lord God in Heaven. Elva's private burial will be at 11:00 am and a Thanksgiving Celebration of her life will be on Monday 21st September. Due to current Covid restrictions, only the Family will attend. We will miss this lovely lady who always had a kind word for everyone. This Week ... The Lord said, Go out and stand on the mountain in the presenc...e of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by. Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 1 Kings 19:11-12 Hearing God’s Voice It would be fantastic if you could turn on your radio and tune into your own station to hear directly from God, or to receive a personal text message on your phone, or have a whiteboard in your house that God could leave a message on just for you. If you have wished that God could speak to you in a clear audible way, you are not on your own. Elijah was considered to be one of the most powerful prophets. He won the battle of the gods on Mount Carmel with fire from the sky and God rescued him on numerous occasions from Queen Jezebel who wanted to kill him. Yet even Elijah wanted to quit. He wanted an answer from God. So, God gave him a powerful show. Hurricane winds, an earthquake and a fire, but the Lord was not in the wind, earthquake or fire. Instead, God spoke to Elijah in a gentle whisper. God doesn’t have to shout at us to get our attention. He wants us to learn to trust Him and live by faith. Believing in our hearts, what we cannot always hear with our ears or see with our eyes. God does talks to us and He does it through His word - the Bible and with a quiet, gentle voice in our conscience. The more we practice listening to God, the better we will hear Him. God Bless, Rob Edwards Minister Strathfieldsaye Community Church Mob. 0412 571 139

16.01.2022 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10 Back in March, when lockdown began, lockdown was a bit of an adventure. Lockdown was new to all of us and some of the people that I spoke to, used the time to weed their garden, tidy the house, home school their children, read books, ...complete jigsaws and some tried to connect online with family and friends. To start with, this was fun, but very quickly, the new normal didn’t feel normal anymore and we began to feel the pain of isolation and being cut off from our family and friends. Lockdown has shown us that humans were not made to live in isolation. We were created to be in relationships and ultimately God created us to love Him and have a relationship with Him. As wonderful as our relationships with other people are, humans cannot deliver everything we want, as they cannot fill the void that only God can fill. Jesus willingly laid down His life for us and died on a cross so that we don’t have to experience isolation from God and it is only through Jesus that the void in our life can be filled and we can experience God’s love - like we were originally created for! Blessings, Rob - Minister

16.01.2022 There has been a mountain of information that has come through from our Prime Minister and various health Agencies in regard to this Covid 19 - Coronavirus that we are all still struggling to digest and implement. As previously advised on the advice The Bishop of our Anglican Diocese - Matt Brain and our Uniting Synod and Presbytery Ministers - Services at Strathfieldsaye Community Church are on 'pause' for the time being. The Church will be closed until further notice to... protect the most vulnerable in our community. We are working hard to consider ways to bring meaningful worship to our congregation and the community, and will provide a list of ways that we can continue worship - at a distance. There will be links to services from the Uniting Church, the Anglican Church, a U tube link and we are also able to obtain USB's and DVD's of services. There will be a Radio program ( more details when they come to hand) with the Bishop. There are of course the Worship TV shows that air on Sunday mornings. We will be producing a paper newsletter for those not 'online' and these will be delivered via snail mail or dropped in letterboxes. We can also keep contact with each other via Facebook, Facetime & Messenger, Text and phone calls - and we are exploring alternatives for Android users. This week I found myself actually writing a letter to a dear friend on pretty paper that I have had in the cupboard for ages. This is a time to consider what we can do to enrich the lives of others, and we are all called to do what we are able to manage at this difficult time. I will post the details up when we have all the links ready to go. See more

16.01.2022 9th February For the rest of March we will have the Rev. Eddie Barkla taking our Communion services. Welcome Eddie, we will look forward to seeing you this week. 16th February Heather will be taking the service this week. It's a great time of the year and as we build up gradually to Easter, the service themes are fascinating. Thankyou Heather. 23rd February ... I did say we will be having some interesting times ahead, and we are indeed fortunate in having Bishop Matt Brain with us for the Holy Communion service on 23rd February. We are blessed to have Matt come to us, and for all the work he is doing during the search for our new minister. We look forward to what he has to say. 25th February is Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day), and we are having our Pancake evening meal from 6 o'clock. This is a fun evening usually spent under our beautiful shade trees at the rear of the Church. Lots of great food and conversations. There will be a modest cost of $10 per head or $20 per family. You can place your name(s) on the list at the church, or call or leave a message on Karen's phone 0428 399 442 with numbers attending for catering purposes. See more

15.01.2022 Hello Friends, Just as we thought we were getting closer to re opening our churches and rejoicing in worship together, we must take a step back again. Today from Robs diary we see how a group of determined people made a difference... and we can too ! Rob’s COVID Diary14.07.2020 Mark 2v1-12 - Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man... Whenever I read the story from Mark 2v1-12 (when Jesus healed the Paralyzed man), an image of Jesus standing in a room teaching with the roof starting to crumble around him, along with the home owner who is jumping up and down because his house is being torn apart comes to mind! But there is more to this Bible story than that. The paralyzed man had some GOOD FRIENDS and his friends were moved to action as they took the paralyzed man to Jesus. His friends knew what or who he needed and they weren’t going to let a large crowd or a roof get in their way. We all need each other. Sometimes you are the one who needs the helping hand, sometimes you are the one who can reach out and help others. At the moment it is harder to lend that helping hand, but we can help in other ways!

15.01.2022 Brexit... Federal election... School holidays... Unrest across the world... or problems closer to your home or your heart. God is faithful. Always.

14.01.2022 Time to update on the weeks activities. I have a list websites for Worship opportunities that have been made available by our Anglican Diocese, Uniting Presbytery, and our two sister Churches- Holy Trinity and Uniting Weeroona . There are other resources as well. Holy Trinity:- www.southeastbendigo.com Service live streaming 9:00 am & 11:00 am Sundays Diocesan website for online services: www.bendigoanglican.org.au/online-worship Uniting website: www.loddonmallee.unitingnow....net - website & recorded Church services www.weeroonaunitingchurch.org.au - (top left corner click) for recorded church services U tube: search 'Weeroona Uniting Church' - click on heading and enjoy the service. Radio: Bishop Matt Brain will Co-host a radio show on Life FM 105.1 on Fridays between 3-4 pm Don't forget there are TV channels that air Religious shows such as Win TV Sundays from 5:00 am - 8:00 am ABC (channel 20) 11:30 am - Songs of Praise - Foxtel have 4 channels that exclusively air Christian content (Channels 182 -183-185-186) There is help available if you cannot access these, we can provide copies of services on DVD's or USB. We also can drop off paper copies of services for you to read and celebrate at home, these may be useful especially for those with hearing deficits. We will be contacting all of our Congregation members individually over the coming days, and as a team will be continuing to be in contact and exploring further ways to care for each other. We are happy to hear from anyone who would like us to make further contact and support- you can leave a message and we'll get back to you. Take care - stay home and wash your hands ! See more

13.01.2022 Hello Friends, Great news for us - hold on to your nearest and dearest - There will be an announcement on Sunday 10th May 2020. We have all become proficient at finding ways to fill in these days of isolation. I seem to be busier than ever, and I really must get up and move more. I think that Technology has been a boon for those of us with Children in the house. On line learning during school hours - Facetime calls, Zoom, Microsoft Team, not to mention our mobiles ...and emails. There's bound to be more that I'm not aware of, as I'm technology challenged ! I often say I'm an analogue person in a digital world. Even doing these updates is pretty Wiz Bang for me ! I even did an on-line Market Research Group last week for a new Government website for tech challenged (read that as old) people. But I digress ..... See more

13.01.2022 How wonderful to be back worshiping together in Church. We have had a visit from Rev Adrian Lane yesterday and Rob interviewed him about his role in Bush Church Aid. We are now able to leave our masks off (if we so desire) but put them on to sing, yes ... were able to sing three songs yesterday. How wonderful to raise our (muffled) voices in praise ! There are lots of gifts under the 'Giving Tree' to take in to 'Uniting' in Forrest St for distribution this week. Grateful thanks to all who were able to bring along a gift for those less fortunate in our community.

13.01.2022 Rob’s COVID Diary03.07.2020 Psalm 119v105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. If you were to go for a walk in a dark forest at night-time, you would need to take a torch so that you don’t trip over or fall into any holes. ... At different times in our lives, it can feel like we are walking through a dark forest as we struggle and trip in different areas. The good news is, our Bibles are our light that show us the way, so that we do not stumble or trip. As we read and study God’s Word, we are be able to see our way so that we can stay on the right path! What have you been reading from God’s Word and who have you shared it with lately? God Bless Rob

10.01.2022 Rob’s COVID Diary07.08.2020 2 Corinthians 12:7 I was given a thorn in my flesh So far, 2020 has been a challenging year. It seems like we are on an out-of-control rollercoaster at the local show ! This year, in Australia, we have dealt with severe bushfires, which were followed by floods and we are now dealing with COVID-19 and increased restrictions.... In our Bible we read how the Apostle Paul had struggles as he had a thorn in his flesh. We don’t know exactly what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was. Some Bible scholars have suggested that it was poor eyesight, malaria, epilepsy, a speech impediment and others think it might have been a physical disability. The Bible doesn’t tell us what it was. All we know is that Paul’s thorn was a chronic and debilitating problem and it was a hinderance to his ministry. Maybe the reason why we don’t know what Paul’s thorn was, is because we all face trials and struggles. My prayer for us as we navigate our way through COVID-19 is that God will give us victory like he did for Paul, that we will Grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord (2 Peter 3:18) and remember that Nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:35-39) God Bless, Rob Edwards Minister Strathfieldsaye Community Church Mob. 0412 571 139

09.01.2022 In light of the easing of Church service regulations made recently by the Federal Government, we have been working closely with the Bishop and Uniting Churches to work on how we can offer worship here at Strathfieldsaye Community Church. There are regulations that need to be followed to ensure the well being and safety of our Congregation and our Community. With our new Minister, Rev.Rob Edwards starting with us from 31st May (not long to go now) we will have more of an idea on how this will work and it looks like it may be a few more weeks before we can again hold worship services. In the meantime, there are great resources I've pinned to the top of this page. Stay tuned for when we will announce the date that we can again worship in person, with care and consideration for others.

09.01.2022 The first of our outdoor services starts tomorrow at 10:30am and there are still a few spaces left. If you would like to join, please contact Rob to register! The service will be COVID safe, chairs will be safely distanced apart, sanitizer will be available and everyone but the service leader will need to wear a mask!

07.01.2022 Rob’s COVID Diary.. 24.10.2020 Jesus Walks on Water Read John 6:16-21... The disciples had just seen Jesus feed thousands of people with five loaves and two fish, yet that night, they saw Jesus perform another miracle that was even more incredible. The disciples were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee and Jesus walked out to them on the water, in the middle of a storm. Yes, the disciples were terrified when they saw Jesus approaching them on the water, but Jesus told them not to be afraid. We can also face spiritual and emotional storms and it can feel as though we are being tossed around in a small boat on a large lake, yet in spite of what we are going through, when we trust God, he will help us through the storms we face. We need to remember that Jesus can and will come to us in the middle of our storm, be near us, and help us with our fears. Question Have there been stages in your life when you have gone through a difficult time that has forced you to rely on God? God Bless, Rob

07.01.2022 Hello Friends, It is a sad time when we farewell one of our Sisters or Brothers from our Congregation. Last week it was Enid Wakeman who is now with our Lord. Our condolences to Enid's family. We would all have dearly loved to be at the funeral to honour her and comfort her family, but due to the current restrictions, only a small gathering of her family was able to be there to farewell her. Rest in Peace Enid, we will miss you. ... Rob’s COVID Diary17.08.2020 Psalm 23 The Lord is my Shepherd. Last week I led my first funeral at Strathfieldsaye Community Church for one of our dearly loved members - Enid Wakeman. It was a time of celebration and giving thanks to God for the life of Enid. During the service, we were reminded from Psalm 23 that God is with us as we enjoy green pastures as well as being with us in the valley of the shadow of death. God is with us during the peaceful days as well as during the difficult days. We heard examples from Enid’s life where God the Good shepherd was with her and how this closeness with God gave her encouragement especially during the difficult times. Psalm 23 is a reminder for each of us that God is also with us. If you haven’t done so lately, how about you write a list to remind you of those times when God has been there beside you, protecting you and looking after you and then go and share that list with someone else! God Bless, Rob Edwards Minister Strathfieldsaye Community Church Mob. 0412 571 139

07.01.2022 Easter was vastly different for all of us this year. We are so fortunate that we can access the services from our sister Churches- Holy Trinity, Weeroona and the Presbytery and Anglican Diocese services each week. We watched the Easter services on the DVD from the Bishop, and we have also sampled the different services available to us each week. After chatting with folks on the phone & making contact via letter, text, email, Facetime and even (isolation appropriate) face to... face in the queue at the Pharmacy (Hi Kevin and Tess ) or Supermarket with many of you, how differently do we make contacts now ? Keep up the good work, we are a community, it takes all of us ! We had our first Zoom Church Council meeting on Tuesday 21st, and that went quite well a few minor glitches, but this is how we will need to continue with meetings for the foreseeable future. The business workings of the Church need to continue, and we are in caretaker mode to ensure that all the necessary things are still happening and ready for when we can return to Sunday Church services. I have been impressed as to how we are still being a close church family, and with trying to make sure that no one is overlooked. Please let me know if you need help or contact with someone. See more

06.01.2022 Christmas Eve - 7pm - Christmas Family Celebration. Christmas Day - 9am - Traditional Family Service with kids segment. See you there!

05.01.2022 15th March:- This will be our Harvest Thanksgiving service with lots of fresh produce, and also non perishable foodstuffs that make up a terrific display of the abundance of food that we enjoy in our beautiful country. We will take the non perishables off to 'Uniting' after the service. The fresh produce will be auctioned off, with the proceeds going to Uniting as well- so bring along some money, and make sure you make your bid at the auction. Always heaps of fun ! 22nd ...March:- Eddie Barkla will be with us for Holy Communion this week. Eddie always has an interesting story to tell that links the Bible readings with local and current events. 29th March:- This service will be led by Karen. Lots of thought put in to the music choices and with grateful thanks to our musicians for their God given talents. Following the service, we will have a short break for Morning Tea, then it's our AGM. A not to be missed meeting that will have all the usual business of the Church, but we should have an announcement to make. So make a note in your diary's to stay for the AGM. See more

05.01.2022 It is with a heavy heart we must advise that due to this Covid 19 - Coronavirus and the response from Government agencies, The Bishop of our Anglican Diocese - Matt Brain and our Uniting Synod and Presbytery Ministers - Services at Strathfieldsaye Community Church are on 'pause' for the time being, and are working hard to consider ways to bring meaningful worship to our congregation and the community. The Church will be closed this Sunday 22 nd March to protect our most vulnerable until further notice. I will update as soon as more information comes to hand.

04.01.2022 Hello Friends, Resuming Services The restrictions that are still in place in Victoria are continuing to have an impact on when worship services will resume at Strathfieldsaye. At the moment we do not have a set date for when this will be as we are dealing with a moving and unpredictable target. Please know that I look forward to the time when we can meet together and I can put a face to your name. I am planning for when we can meet together and will keep you updated on thi...s! Please also know that when we are able to meet together, services will be different to what we have known them to be. There will be changes made so that we comply with government guidelines and this will unfortunately mean having to leave some parts of the service out for now. This will take some adjusting to get used to from all of us, but my prayer is that this will also create new opportunities for us and for us to grow together. Rob Edwards Minister Strathfieldsaye Community Church Mob. 0412 571 139 See more

04.01.2022 Welcome back to Church ! The Christmas Services this year will be at 7:00 pm for a family friendly Christmas Celebration and there will be a more traditional service at 9:00 am on Christmas Day. Please join us in wishing Jesus a very happy Birth Day. The Giving tree gifts have been distributed to needy families and our hope is that these may make for a happy Christmas for those in our community who are struggling. Blessings to all.

03.01.2022 Well the big day has arrived. Drum roll please ....... We would like to announce that our new Minister will be Rev. Rob Edwards. Many of you already know Rob, and we are thrilled that he will be commencing with us on 31st May 2020. We look forward to sharing with Rob & Michelle and their 3 boys in Ministry and Community. It's a very exciting time for all of us. Blessings

03.01.2022 Rob’s COVID Diary.. 09.10.2020 Are you Contagious? This year, we have discovered how contagious COVID-19 is, as we have seen it spread quickly around the world and it has affected us in different ways. Now, COVID-19 isn’t the only thing we live with that is contagious.... In 1 Corinthians 15:33 we read: ‘Bad company corrupts good character’ A negative employee can pollute those they work with and create a toxic environment. A negative leader can make work miserable for their team. An employee in a bad mood can turn away customers. However, someone who is happy and positive, can inspire, energize and motivate those they have contact with. A positive employer can dramatically change the environment for their employees improving the performance and their team’s productivity. Each of us, can be contagious as we can have a negative or positive affect on those we interact with. What kind of a contagious affect are you having on those that you speak to? God Bless, Rob

02.01.2022 We had an awesome time last Tuesday evening at the Pancake Day celebrations. Even with the modest price per head we managed to raise a substantial amount of money that will be going in to Uniting in Forest St, Bendigo in the form of IGA food cards to help put food on the table for disadvantaged families. There were nearly 75 people present, and due to the inclement weather - we set up in air conditioned comfort in the main Church. Lots of conversations and great food. Thanks... to all who contributed, especially Janet - who was our Co Ordinator. You all made this a rip roaring success ! Sunday 8th March:- Welcome back to Eddie Barkla, who will be taking our Holy Communion service this week. I really enjoyed his last service, so come along and say hello to Eddie. 15th March:- This will be our Harvest Thanksgiving service with lots of fresh produce, and also non perishable foodstuffs that make up a terrific display of the abundance of food that we enjoy in our beautiful country. We will take the non perishables off to 'Uniting' after the service. The fresh produce will be auctioned off, with the proceeds going to Uniting as well- so bring along some money, and make sure you make your bid at the auction. Always heaps of fun ! See more

01.01.2022 Rob’s COVID Diary.. 06.11.2020 You are apart of God's Perfect Plan "Lord, you are our father. We are like clay and you are the potter. Your hands made us all. Isaiah 64:8... When God created animals, he made some that are pretty interesting. Take the camel for instance. Camels have thick bushy eyebrows, long eyelashes, big floppy feet and a hump on their back and God perfectly planned for camels to have these features so that they can live in deserts. A camel’s bushy eyebrows and long eyelashes, help keep the sand out of their eyes. Their big floppy feet are perfect for walking through soft sand. And the hump on their back stores fat that the camel can burn and use for energy and water. This enables them to survive in a desert for up to a week without drinking water. Camels were perfectly planned for living in deserts. Fish were created to live in water, birds were created to fly and pigs were created to play in mud! You and I have also been perfectly created and planned. God made us with a plan and purpose to love Him and love others. God also gave us special talents and abilities so that we could live out his purpose in a way that no-one else can. Please be encouraged knowing that God made you according to His PERFECT plan!! God Bless, Rob