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It was with some sadness, joy and thanksgiving that approximately 60 people gathered for the final service of Martin Luther Congregation, Altona North, at 4pm on Sunday 23rd February.

The Martin Luther parish was officially founded in 1956 and has served the surrounding area for almost 70 years! The Martin Luther Church building was dedicated on the 14th of February 1960 – 65 years ago.

The closing service was led by Pastor Mark Tuffin, with the Rite of Closure lead by Pastor Brett Kennett, District Pastor for Congregational Support.

The attendees were current and former members, members from St Philips, Tarneit, and other western suburbs congregations, even from as far as Warrnambool and Alice Springs. Yoki Riedel gave a short oral history of the congregation, and after the service various attendees took the opportunity to reminisce on various aspects of the congregation’s history that had personal meaning.

There is a recording of the last Service on the Martin Luther YouTube channel, HERE (unfortunately, technical issues affected the quality).

Photos supplied by Aiden Schier.

    

  

  

Sunday 16 February was a day of celebration in Geelong at Living Faith Central, Yarra Street, in our District of Victoria and Tasmania, and in the LCANZ, as Bishop Lester dedicated Living Faith Lutheran Church Greater Geelong as a new congregation of our District, and thus the LCANZ. Bishop Lester also received people into membership of Living Faith, from St John’s Geelong, Holy Trinity Leopold, St Paul’s Grovedale, St Davids Freshwater Creek, and some from Our Redeemer North Geelong.

   

After this, Bishop Lester installed Pastor Robert Bartholomaeus as the Interim Transition Lead Pastor of Living Faith, and Pastor Boyd Briese as the General Ministry Pastor of Living Faith.

Each of those events only occurs from time to time in any part of the church. It was very special to have them all occur in the same service. However, the most important thing that happened in the service is that God was present to forgive, to encourage, to equip and to empower his people for his mission.

As members of the newly formed Living Faith Lutheran Church, we are looking forward to discerning, and taking part in, God’s mission in Greater Geelong together. Jesus is with us.

         

Photos supplied by Jill Lange-Mohr OAM
Interim Secretary, Living Faith Lutheran Church Greater Geelong

A delicious and warm fellowship was enjoyed by all who were able to attend the Living Faith Lutheran Church Lunch at ‘The Sphinx’ on Sunday 17 August, which followed the combined worship service.

A game of ‘People Bingo’ enabled people to mingle with others, also meeting people they didn’t know.

The theme of fellowship and hospitality, as Biblically referenced by Pastor Robert, was the purpose and flavour of this unique event, with just under 100 people attending.

This was also the opportunity to kick off the FISH (Fellowship in Someone’s Home) groups initiative, led by Mike Seaman and Anna Burger.

What a blessing to have this opportunity to come together!

      
   

The Pentecost Worship Service on Sunday 8 June for Living Faith Lutheran Church, Geelong, was a combined celebration of the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the confirmation of 21 of our young people from our Greater Geelong Lutheran family.

Just over 200 of us gathered together for this special day of celebration at Geelong Lutheran College, Armstrong Creek. God poured out his Spirit on all who attended. Even the cold weather and driving rain couldn’t dampen our spirits!

Each student spoke their Confirmation Expression of Faith statement in the Worship Service. To quote one of the students: ‘A bible verse that represents my journey is Romans 12:2 ‘Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.’ This resonates with me because it speaks about being transformed by knowledge of God. This happened to me in confirmation; my mind has been opened to God’s will and I’m glad.’

There were six members of the Confirmation Teaching Team. The final project was a banner made up of blocks created by each student and each teacher. In the words of Pastor Boyd Briese, ‘I’m very thankful to God for the excellent people we have in Geelong, and the great team that made the whole confirmation journey a great experience’.

We continue to strive to be united in the joy of making Jesus known, as we nurture these new members of the LCA.

Confirmees shared what Confirmation means to them.

Confirmees were presented with candles as a reminder of their Confirmation.

   

The Living Faith Confirmation Class, 2025

Photos supplied.

On Pentecost Sunday, 8 June 2025, four families with 7 children were baptised at Our Saviour’s, Knox, by Pastor Peter Ghalayini. The children and their families worship at an Independent Ethiopian Lutheran Church in Dandenong, that is currently without a Pastor. The church was filled on the day, with 140 members and visitors in attendance.

This is the second occasion that Our Saviour’s has been asked to assist with baptisms – last year 3 children were baptised.

Our Saviour’s Knox has been very blessed by the outreach ministry opportunities to our African brothers and sisters, with Knox being the new home congregation for the South Sudanese fellowship, led by Pastor Peter Deng.

Pentecost Sunday is also the birthday of Our Saviour’s, and this year they celebrated their 51st anniversary.

Attendees on the day filled the church.

Pastor Peter presenting the Children’s Address.

On Sunday 9^th June, it was with great joy that members of the Wodonga Lutheran Parish gathered at 5 Cattanach Way, Leneva for the blessing of the new manse by Pastor Joshua Muller.

The manse was professionally built by Alatalo Bros with funds received from the sale of St Mark’s Church, Yackandandah, in 2022.

This is the first of two major projects for the Wodonga Lutheran Parish scheduled for completion in 2024. The new manse was much needed after the closing of the church in 2023 and subsequent sale of land on which the previous manse was situated in Havelock Street Wodonga. The second project is a beautiful new church to be situated on the grounds of Victory Lutheran College. The large worship centre, due for opening in the coming months, is being funded from the sale of the land and profits from future site development and generous support by John Alatalo’s building company.

The manse is situated in the new suburb of Leneva and is 7km, or a quick 10-minute drive, from the new church on Derwent Way in West Wodonga.

The manse features an all-electric 7-star energy rated home that is complete with double glazing on all windows, an open plan family area, as well as four bedrooms, a separate lounge, double garage, and an alfresco area off the dining room.

We give thanks to God for the delivery of this beautiful new home. May it be a peaceful place to be enjoyed by our present Pastor Joshua Muller, and for those who may come in the future.

The Building Committee – from LtoR: Rhonda Keller, Jenny Simboras, Pastor Joshua Muller, John Donker and Tim McInnes.

Pastor Muller opening the manse door.

Some of the congregation members gathered at the opening.

The Now

It is with long awaited excitement and anticipation the Wodonga Lutheran Parish will, God willing, very soon, be moving into their new worship centre. The building, which was completed at the end of February, is still waiting for the power to be connected by Ausnet (at early June). The hope is that by District Convention we will have a date for when we can open and consecrate this beautiful place of worship. All in God’s timing!

Forward into the Future 

Late in 2023, the Parish Council formed a ‘Moving Forward’ team. The MF team began looking at ways in which the Parish could continue in their mission and ministry in Wodonga and, most importantly, how to use the wonderful new building in the area of West Wodonga and to the Victory Lutheran College community. The Lutheran Church is the only church in West Wodonga and so the Lord’s harvest is well and truly ready.
The members of the Parish were asked for their input into how they saw the Parish moving into the future. There were many amazing ideas, suggestions and thoughts, most of which, in time, will become with God’s help and blessing, a reality. At the moment we are focusing on what we can do well with the human and material resources we have now.

The Moving Forward Team presented to the Parish the need for a Ministry Coordinator to oversee the outreach ministries of the Parish. At a Parish meeting at the end of 2023, it was decided to employ someone to fill this role.

The financial support from the LLL Mission Outreach Grant for $25,000 to partly fund this vital position was a real blessing for the Wodonga Lutheran Parish.

On 10^th March 2024, Mrs Lisa Enever was installed into the position of Ministry Coordinator for the Wodonga Lutheran Parish, by Pastor Joshua Muller.

Lisa has been very busy since her installation meeting with Pastor Josh and planning for the future. Working in a confined space (the only space the Parish has at the College) together with the Administration Officer has not been ideal so moving forward plans are on hold until the move but is ready to hit the ground running as soon as that happens.

Even though the Parish has employed a Ministry Coordinator, members of the Parish are being encouraged to use the gifts God has given them to reach out to those He has sent to us. There will be many ways in which all members, whatever their age, can minister to others.

There is a plan to have the church open for the school hours so that anyone can pop in at any time for a chat and coffee and many other activities such as mid-week service, Bible study, Ladies Fellowship, craft groups etc.

A Friday evening family service is also being planned where families can come and worship in the style of the College chapel service and to enjoy a meal together.

One very small change that will be implemented immediately when we move, is that all ‘duty rosters’ will be referred to as ‘Ministries’. Members will see that being ‘rostered on’ is not a duty but an opportunity to minister to God’s people and in the end a service to God.

Working Together

Early 2022, a Parish/College Mission and Ministry team was formed to implement ways in which the Parish and College could work together in Mission and Ministry.

Over the past years the Parish and College have supported each other in many ways including

• members go to the College library and cover books every week
• members provide morning tea each Friday morning after the junior chapel service for parents and friends
• together we organized a very successful Walk My Way fundraiser
• a coffee station for the Parent/Teacher interviews was provided
• invitation to Award ceremonies, beginning and end of year services
• together in a Carols at the College evening
• Victory Sunday

In the future

• having the junior chapel services in the church
• displaying children’s artwork in the foyer of the worship centre
• inter-generational activities
• class visits to the church

The joint mission and ministry between the Parish and the College after a slow start is now working really well. The Parish worshipping in Luther Hall for the past twelve months and having the College community seeing the building of the new church progress over the months has brought the two communities together – two communities, one mission.

The Wodonga Lutheran Parish has certainly been blest with a very generous member who faithfully followed the Lord and gifted us our beautiful new worship centre. The Parish took a step in faith to accept this gift and now has the responsibility to use it to proclaim God’s glory in our community.

In everything we do ‘to God be the glory’.