“ When they saw that the star had stopped they were overwhelmed with joy.” MATTHEW 2: 10 TheAnglican Gippsland Volume 113, Number 11, December 2016 Published in Gippsland Diocese since 1904 Emmanuel! “And what if the Star of Bethlehem appeared over Gippsland ?” Original pastel drawing by June Treadwell Sustainability SustainabilityThe Year Bikers brave weather Mary accepted Three summer sequels Festival success Festivalof Matthew success for breakfast the challenge and a classic page 3 page 35 page 7 page 8 page 12 From the Bishop TGA Index leading. Ordinary, everyday people like you and me. From the Bishop 2 Giving and receiving So, what do you want for o, what do you want for Sustainability Festival 3 Christmas? Christmas? No doubt this Let me make a few Around the diocese 4-7 Squestion is being asked suggestions. Giving to the in many households across Anglicare Christmas appeal Happy anniversary 4 Gippsland right now. Some will ensure that vulnerable St John’s Metung people will have a list, others children and families across Diocesan Strategic 4 will have been dropping hints Gippsland will receive a Directions for a while, and then there are gift this year. Visiting or those of us who really want the contacting someone who has Year of Matthew 5 magic of someone knowing been bereaved this year and just the perfect gift for us. inviting them to the Carol Christ Church 6 Whatever our approach Tarraville celebrates service or Christmas day to getting what we want for service with you. Spend the Vale Brian Turner 7 Christmas it’s clear that for same on your giving to the most of us the Christmas Anglican Board of Mission or Kids’ Min 8 starting point is an assumption Anglican Overseas Aid as you that we will be receiving gifts. Daniel Lowe: 9 do on your Christmas lunch. For young disciples After all, this is part of what Bishop Kay Goldsworthy Tell someone who doesn’t yet Christmas means. know it the story of Jesus’ for many in our communities Luke’s gospel tells a story Lloyd George: 9 As we look across the birth from Luke 2. Rediscovering the heart this Christmas will be a time of the birth of Jesus which world and see the many ways Think about forgiveness of Christmas of scarcity rather than plenty. speaks to us – those of us who in which people are suffering and what it means for you and There are a lot of challenges anticipate a Christmas filled Editorial 10 because of conflict and disaster for the people you love. Do our thinking about the gifts we facing people across Gippsland with joy and plenty; and those something good for another God in the sex-ed 11 this Christmas. for whom Christmas is a time might get this Christmas are person. Think about ringing classroom? Part 2 Last week I spoke with a of fear, anxiety and uncertainty. cast in a different light. that family member you’ve farmer who hasn’t had payment A time of scarcity and a time Earth Care Card 11 Closer to home the issues been apart from to say happy for milk at different times of plenty. which many families in Christmas. Remember how this year. Anglicare offices A young woman, her Holiday Reading 12 Gippsland are facing this lonely a neighbour or friend throughout Gippsland report husband. Apart from home Dean Spalding Christmas make it clear that who is separated from their a 20% increase in the number and family. In need of shelter. family and won’t see the kids Diocesan Calendar 12 of people coming to them for Turned away at almost every this Christmas will be feeling. EXECUTIVE OFFICER Emergency Relief, many of place. Welcomed to a spot Volunteer to teach English as a TO THE ARCHBISHOP these women and children who round the back. In the shed. Second Language to refugees have had to leave their homes Hay, sheep, cattle. Alone The Anglican Diocese of and others newly arrived in The Gippsland and everything they own with each other. Labour and Melbourne invites applications for this country. Write to your quickly because of domestic birth. A night pierced with Anglican the position of Executive Officer local members of parliament violence. light. Angels and shepherds. to the Archbishop and ask them to make room Across the La Trobe Valley Singing and welcoming and Member of Australasian Religious for more refugees. Press Association For full job description, people are anxious about what joyful proclaiming. Be the face of Christmas Member of Community Newspapers including selection criteria, visit: the impact of the closure of The Christian story of God Association of Victoria for someone. See what tma.melbourneanglican.org.au/ Hazelwood will mean for them becoming human, entering Registered by Australia Post blessing this giving can Print Post Number 34352/00018 job-centre and their families. Despite the our story, knowing our human be. Learn Christmas again. opportunities being spoken of being, is a story of plenty and The Gippsland Anglican is the official And remember, the story of for new clean energy industries plenty more. A real story for newspaper of and is published by Christmas and God’s gift of The Anglican Diocese of Gippsland, and other transitional plans real people. Those alone and love in the baby of Bethlehem 453 Raymond Street, the anxiety people feel for the afraid. Those who get sent Sale, Victoria, 3850. is enough. More than enough. future is very real. “round the back”. Those who www.gippsanglican.org.au May the blessing work the night shift. Those of Christmas love Editor: Jan Down who look to the skies for Tel: 0407 614 661 be yours. Email: [email protected] wonder. Those who set out Contributions are due by 15th of on journeys believing God is the month prior to publication Layout by Devine Design Printed by Fairfax Media, 30-32 Grandlee Drive, Wendouree, Victoria, 3355. The editor reserves the right of final choice and format of material included in each issue. The Gippsland Anglican and the editor cannot necessarily verify any material used in this publication. Views contained in submitted material are those of contributors. Advertising Rates Please contact the editor for all advertising submissions, costing and enquiries, including about inserts in the newspaper. A full advertising schedule can be sent out upon request. Page 2 The Gippsland Anglican December 2016 TGA Sustainability Festival a huge success Raymond Island Pedal bike milkshake maker In addition, there were the curries, samosas and foccacias. popular SES and CFA displays Ann and Ian Miller fascinated and ecological bus tours of the young and young at Raymond Island. heart with their pedal Scott Power, Chief Climate Scientist at the Bureau of Meteorology, addressing an enthusiastic audience Good food is the constant powered smoothies. The best scenario leaves The oval was dotted with that underpins a day like this. This festival was a huge us with a 2 degree celsius environmental displays: face Abbey volunteers provided success thanks to the sponsorship Sue Fordham temperature increase, he said. painting with environmental coffee and cake and Abbey of the East Gippsland Shire The “do nothing” option would themes and local wildlife for chef, Ian Pearson, delighted Council and donations from leave us with a planet that we kids; colouring and other kids’ everyone with his wonderful Narkoojee and Feast on East. When it comes to outdoor could barely inhabit. While corner options along with East events, the weather is adaptive behaviours would Gippsland Shire information everything...or almost everything. help us live with the former, supporting sustainable living The organiser of the they would be inadequate in choices. Sustainability Festival, Abbey handling the worst Andy Booth priest, Archdeacon Edie Ashley, case scenario. Scott “...the “do nothing” from Gippsland sweated on the weather spoke of proactive option would Plains Conservation forecasts. As it happened, ways in which we leave us with Management the day was brilliant, the best might work to cut Network highlighted 2017 NAIDOC Week theme announced day in the whole of October: global greenhouse a planet that the importance light breezes, uninterrupted emissions and we could of habitat for The 2017 theme – Our Languages Matter – aims to sunshine, blue skies and the audience had barely inhabit...” threatened birdlife. emphasise and celebrate the role that Indigenous mirror-still water on the lake. insightful input into Not just talk – Andy languages play in both cultural identity, linking people This year, the draw card was the discussion. demonstrated his skill at climbing to their land and water, and in the transmission the Chief Climate Scientist at While Scott was speaking, and installing bird boxes as of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, the Bureau of Meteorology, children and parents were he scaled one of the beautiful spirituality and rites, through story and song. Scott Power. Illawarra, the exploring the lakes’ edge with redgums at The Abbey. And as conference building next Erin from Bugblitz. They enjoyed if on cue, the koala and its baby Of the 250+ languages languages identified in the late to the chapel, was packed finding the little creatures in the that had been resting in the tree 18th century, only about 120 are still spoken, for his talk and no one was water, catching and counting relocated itself to explore the and many are at risk of being lost. disappointed. Scott’s talk them, checking them under the recently installed bird box. (Information from naidoc.org.au) satisfied everyone from the microscope, and just getting Lynette Teese displayed The NAIDOC Week poster competition, relating to the 2017 scientifically sophisticated their feet wet! recycled and “reimagined” theme, is now open.