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Geelong Lutheran College Ribbon Cutting & Installation

While students have been using ‘Ngarrwa’ since the start of term, on Friday 8 March, the ribbon was officially cut on Geelong Lutheran College Armstrong Creek’s new Year 11 & 12 Centre, by Parliamentary Sectary for Education Darren Cheeseman and GLC Executive Principal Ms Sue Ellis.

The opening ceremony, which featured a blessing by Pastor Lester Priebbenow, District Bishop Victoria and Tasmania, Lutheran Church of Australia, was held upstairs in the campus’ first two-storey building, following a tour of the facility for Darren Cheeseman by our two College Captains, Jessita and Zach.

The $8.7 million project was jointly funded by the GLC local community and the Victorian State Government, with $2.8 million funding from Round 4 of the Government’s Non-Government Schools Capital Fund. The College was grateful to receive a bequest from John and Iris Bowen, which also contributed to the new build.

Once the ribbon cutting was complete, the event turned to the formal installation of Ms Ellis as the College’s Executive Principal, following her commencement in the role at the start of the year.

Presented by outgoing Chair of the GLC Board, Dr Craig Tischler, Ms Ellis was installed by Pastor Lester Priebbenow, District Bishop Victoria and Tasmania, Lutheran Church of Australia. Assisting in the ceremony, were four of Primary Captains from GLC’s St John’s Newtown and Armstrong Creek campuses who helped present Ms Ellis with her tokens of office: an academic gown, stole, bible and cross.

It was lovely to have a number of fellow Lutheran Principals and members of the St John’s Lutheran Church congregation in attendance for this special event.

Photos provided by Geelong Lutheran College.

Installation of Sherry Hong at Redeemer Waverley

There was great rejoicing on Sunday 17^th February at Redeemer Waverley, as Sherry Hong was introduced to the congregation and officially inducted into her role as the congregation’s Multicultural Events Coordinator.

For many years the congregation has been running an English Conversation Class as a means of meeting members of its community and reaching out to them. The City of Monash, in which Redeemer congregation is located, is one of the most culturally, linguistically and religiously diverse municipalities in Melbourne, with more than 54% of the population born in a country other than Australia, and more than 56% of households speaking a language other than English at home. In more recent times, the congregation has also run a weekly Table Tennis Club.

Through such activities, the congregation members are committed to meeting members of the community, and to form friendships and connections, so that they can also introduce them to our Lord.

Emeritus Pastor Wayne Muschamp led the worship service, which was very fitting given his involvement and leadership in the establishment of these mission initiatives during his years as congregational pastor. The congregation is currently in pastoral vacancy, but the congregation continues its commitment to its mission in the community.

In introducing Sherry to the congregation, English Conversation Class Convenor, Merrilyn Beaumont, said, “Sherry brings a great deal of experience and vision to this innovative role. She has worked in industry, managing business and coordinating events. She has used these skills to establish the Gospel CAN organisation, which brings hope through Jesus Christ to sufferers of cancer. Sherry coordinates a team of twenty volunteers who work alongside sufferers and their families, through music and the Word.

In 2024, Sherry will work with our congregational ministry teams to bring Christ to our local multicultural community, focusing on creating events to bring people into our church.”

The first planned special event is the annual church picnic, which is now reframed as a lantern festival.

This is an exciting time for the congregation as it works together with Sherry and discovers how the Lord wishes to bless this ministry.

Summer Sizzler at Sale

On Saturday, 20^th of January, about 30 people attended the Gippsland Parish ‘Summer Sizzler’ at Sale, a follow-up to the successful July ‘Winter Warmer’ at Traralgon. This ‘Australia Day’ styled event was also a fund raiser for the very worthy ‘Asia Focus Australia’ Lutheran charity which promotes Christian mission worldwide.

The annual, prestigious and hard fought ‘thong throwing’ contest opened the occasion, with Kylie Bentham the winner. This was followed by a traditional Aussie BBQ and salads, with thanks to the Sale members.

Michael Groves spoke about his nine-day Asia Focus visit to Chiang Rai, northern Thailand, with 22 other Australian Lutherans. A special highlight was visiting the land purchased by Asia Focus for displaced Lahu refugees with the water supply by the Thai government and the refugees establishing a viable settlement! At Tahaw village the group helped construct a rice mill while learning the intricacies of village life.

Ritva Hannola spoke of the importance and effectiveness of Asia Focus in enriching impoverished people the world over, but especially in Asia and Africa, through material support and the proclaiming of the Gospel.

‘Just desserts’ followed, whereby attendees brought a dessert to share for the fundraiser. People voted with their wallets, with over $600 raised for Asia Focus and the surprise winner being Michael’s strawberry jelly. Sweet success!

Pastor Tony Castle and Michael Groves then led a ‘Spicks and Specks’ style set of engaging musical activities and songs.

A joyfully blessed day of fundraising, fellowship and laughs.

Pastor Tony Castle with this year’s legendary Thong Throwing competition winner, Kylie Bentham. She keeps the trophy for a year!

BBQ and Singing at Our Saviours, Knox

As part of the celebration of Senior’s Week, the annual BBQ and Singing luncheon was held at Our Saviour’s Knox on Wednesday 4th October. Over 80 people enjoyed a beautiful lunch and the wonderful singing of the Melbournaires Harmony Chorus. This all-male choir recently returned from a choral competition in New Zealand, where they won the Best Senior’s Chorus Award.

Pastor Peter opened the event with prayer and we sang the Table Grace by Brendan Scott. We enjoyed a range of songs from sacred to popular. Highlights included a rousing version the Liverpool Football Club theme song, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’; beautiful renditions of the Irish Blessing, ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘Let There be Peace On Earth’; the Maori love song ‘Pokerakare Ana’, and popular hits from Judy Garland, the Mills Brothers, the Hollies, the Mamas and the Papas, Crowded House, finishing with Queen’s, ‘A Crazy Little Thing Called Love’! Pastor Peter closed with a blessing, followed by the singing of ‘May the Feet of God Walk with You’.

Thanks again to the volunteers from Our Saviour’s and the Lions Club of Knox for their assistance, and their presentation of flowers to Judy Bowman to acknowledge all that she does to make these events happen. We are also very grateful for the generous support from Knox City Council, Chemist Warehouse and Knoxfield Bakery.

Action in Geelong!

On Saturday 20 May, 65 members of the combined Greater Geelong Lutheran Communities joined together at Geelong Lutheran College St John’s campus for a planning workshop day ‘Future Directions’. This was a day of significant discussions and planning for community.

Facilitated by Pastor Brett Kennett, LCA Victoria and Tasmania District Pastor for Congregational Support, and Libby Jewson, Chair Greater Geelong Lutheran Leaders Forum (GGLLF), presentations were made by the key stakeholders about our current situation.

Through collaborative discussion, decision making process and prioritization from the attendees it was evident that there is a strong desire amongst our people to work together practically, positively and effectively for the benefit of the Lutheran and the broader community of Geelong into the future.

Good News! College and Congregations Collaborating

Good News Lutheran College is honoured to have been part of the Western Region Forums facilitated by Pastor Brett, both this year and last year. We have been able to learn so much about what is happening in our congregations and schools, as well as feeling that we have grown in our understanding and appreciation of the community beyond Good News and St Philips.

The discussion at the forums has inspired us here at Good News Lutheran to develop plans which we hope will give expression to the value we hold for our Lutheran Community, its history and its future.

Firstly, we currently have plans to distribute our school’s buses to communities further away from the inner-Melbourne areas on weekends, creating an opportunity for members of the Bethany congregation in Sunbury and St Marks in Melton to unite with St Phillips for the Easter Sunday Service.

We hope that our plans will eventually serve other churches that do not have a pastor whilst simultaneously assisting us in assessing whether this is an appropriate way of lending a helping hand to those other churches in need.

In addition, our 2023 Good News Worship and Mission Captains have spent every week since January focusing their service initiatives on issues that are more within “our own backyard”. They believe that while it is important to help those overseas, it is equally important that they understand their own privilege and blessings in such a wonderful country.

Our immediate mission focus then, has two elements; helping the homeless and appreciating our Lutheran history.

To this end, the Captains are planning to visit places in the city to determine what the greatest need is, where the greatest geographical area of focus is, and what they might be able to do to provide for those who are homeless. They will embark on multiple trips to the city, with the aim to show God’s love and grace to those less fortunate each time.

The Captains will also be visiting the Bethany Congregation in Sunbury to learn more about the history of the mud brick church and collect photos and information about the value it holds in the Lutheran community.

A naming plan is also underway at the College which will recognise the work and contributions of Lutheran congregations in Victoria. The plan envisions that buildings of the College will be named after Lutheran congregations that have aligned with our college values. The first building to be named in this way will be ‘Bethany’ after the Lutheran congregation at Sunbury.

We are hopeful that members of the Bethany congregation will be able to take a tour of the building in due course. We give thanks for the legacy that will flow from the congregation, through our students, into the wider world.

We want to educate our students on the history of the Sunbury community and let it be a reminder of the values we aspire to in our own lives. Our intention is to honour the Bethany congregation, so that the building that carries its name will also carry a positive, loving and uplifting presence within it, helping our students grow to be the best people they can be in the future.

Pictured: St Marks Melton and Bethany Sunbury members who travelled to Wyndham Hobson’s Bay Lutheran for this year’s Easter Service, courtesy of Good News Lutheran College.
(Photo supplied by Fiona McAuliffe.)

Groundbreaking and blessing

More than thirty years ago, Wodonga Lutheran Parish took a step-in faith and bought land in West Wodonga to establish a Lutheran School and to relocate the St John’s congregation to the school site. In 2017 the decision was made by the congregation to begin the process of moving to Victory Lutheran College, by having plans drawn for a suitable worship space.

Over the last three years there have been many setbacks and delays, some due to a VCAT hearing, COVID lockdowns and restrictions and other delays in the building industry. All of these setbacks were certainly sent to strengthen the Parish members in the knowledge that everything works in God’s time, and not ours.

On Sunday, 4^th December the vision, from thirty years ago, to move to Victory Lutheran College took another step towards becoming a reality with the Groundbreaking and Blessing of the church site at Victory Lutheran College. Pastor Joshua Muller of the Wodonga Parish read from Ephesians 2 v 19-22 ‘You have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the Cornerstone. In Him the whole building is joined togethe4r and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit’, blest the ground and offered a prayer of safety and protection to all who would be working on the construction.

Pastor Joshua Muller together with the Parish Chair, Jenny Simboras, Mr Tim McInnes Building Committee Chair, and Mr John Alatalo member of the Parish Council and owner of Alatalo Bros, builder, broke the ground to begin the construction, which is expected to take 12 months.

To God be the glory!

EoY celebration for east metro pastors and wives

Pastors of the Eastern Metro Zone (Melbourne), including emeriti pastors and Special Ministry Pastors, meet monthly as a fraternal for support and fellowship.

Zone Counsellor, Wayne Muschamp, hosts the final meeting for each year as an evening gathering around a shared meal, with wives joining their husbands.

The 2022 gathering saw 16 pastors and wives meet at Nunawading for a very enjoyable evening.

This is Pastor Wayne’s final year as Zone Counsellor, due to his retirement in December. We sincerely thank Wayne for his many years of service in this role.

Pastor Peter Ghalayini has been appointed as the new Zone Counsellor.

Relationship Building to the Ends of the Earth!

St Paul’s Box Hill congregation has been discussing and discerning the call of Jesus to us in mission. His words in Acts 1:8 have been a focus “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The congregation has pondered what we can do to share the love of Jesus in our local situation (our Jerusalem), in distant and unfamiliar places (Judea and Samaria) and in those far flung places around the world (and to the ends of the earth).

Building relationships and partnerships in the gospel (Philippians 1:3-6) has been a guide and motivation.

The initial step has been taken to build such a relationship with GKPS (Simalungun Protestant Christian Church), Jalan Jenderal Sudirman – in Pematangsiantar, North Sumatra, Indonesia (through a connection made by St Paul’s Pastor Neville Otto in his previous role as International Mission Director, LCANZ.)

Originally formed out of the Spirit led efforts of a German missionary in the early 1900’s, the congregation has continued to grow in the Lutheran traditions with a membership base of over 2000. Of North Sumatra’s population of around 15 million people almost a third are Christian (principally protestant) with Pematangsiantar (300,000 population), the second largest city. The Simalungun are an ethnic group of the Batak peoples whom make up the largest proportion of the North Sumatran population.

In late October, in an on-line meeting, members of the St Paul’s Mission Co-ordinating Team joined Pastor Neville as he rekindled acquaintances with representatives of GKPS, including Dr Ridwin Purba (a leading layperson in the congregation), pastors and senior leaders. The building of new relationships was evident as we shared the stories of our congregational life, with the use of on-line media certainly proving that the ends of the earth are not so far away at all!

In committing to further on-line discussion, there is a willingness to continue towards a closer partnership in sharing the gospel, learning from each other in ministry and mission, keeping our congregations in prayer and developing new ways for joint congregational involvement.

In faith, we look forward to the Holy Spirit’s leading and power, as together St Paul’s and GKPS, witness to the gospel.

“Well done good and faithful servants!” Matthew 25:19-23

In Jesus’ parable of the tenants, he tells the story of a master praising two servants for ‘investing’ what has been entrusted to them. In the life of every congregation there are undoubtedly ‘seasons’ and ‘milestones’ in which the Lord invites his people to step out in faith and invest their time, talents and finances for the sake of his kingdom. This remains true even as the life of a congregation in a particular place comes to an end, or perhaps transitions into a new form.

The St Peter’s Frankston congregation is one inspiring example of this kind of faithful stewardship, having stepped out in faith many times over the course of its history. The congregation began formally in 1958, although there was a ‘church plant’ prior to this, with Lutheran Christians gathering for worship in homes and rented premises.
The following list (by no means exhaustive) recounts times in which St Peter’s did not bury its treasure – quite the contrary, they stepped out in faith, investing themselves in meeting many challenges and taking up opportunities. This list is, of course, by no means comprehensive!

• With fast growing suburbs all around, the congregation completed a building in 1965.
• A thriving Sunday School was one of their early programs.
• Clem Schultz’s evangelism work in Frankston (as a District lay-worker in partnership with the District and St Peter’s) in 1969.
• The call of their first resident pastor, Rev. Wayne Zweck (1972).
• Financial self-sufficiency as a congregation (1977).
• The establishment of Bethany Rosebud (1994).
• At the beginning of the 2000’s the congregation adapted to local challenges by entering into an innovative co-operative ministry partnership with the Karingal Uniting Church. This partnership was enacted locally, and also supported by the office of the Vic Tas Bishop, drawing also on the expertise of the LCA/Uniting Church national theological dialogue group. The relationship between the two congregations yielded much fruit and learning for the wider two churches.
• During this time a new ministry at Berwick with a preaching place at the Old Cheese factory premises was established.
• In 2002 the co-operating congregations called Pr. Peter Ghalayini, who would eventually assist with the establishment of a Lutheran presence through the new Pakenham Lutheran College.
• By 2012 the congregation is welcoming many Sth Sudanese sisters and brothers including SMP James Luk who would eventually be supported to complete general ministry studies at ALC, and now serves the Morely Congregation in Perth.

St Peter’s is also the story of ‘seasons’ of ministry coming to an end and this includes the Uniting / Lutheran co-operative arrangement ending in 2021. Whilst there was pain, grief, and consternation at the inability of the arrangement to continue, the closing service acknowledged and celebrated also, the joy of having served together in offering a co-operative Christian witness to the wider community over the approximately 20 years of the partnership.

2020 brought the great challenge of Covid, but with that challenge, an opportunity to continue to learn and adapt, which the congregation did by enthusiastically and competently staying connected to each other, and God’s Word, via on-line worship services.

In 2021, the painful decision was made to close due to the aging profile of the congregations and the cessation of the co-operative agreement. St Peter’s then has worked faithfully and intentionally, to leave a legacy to the wider church.

• Assets dispersed at the conclusion of the congregation included the donation of the beautiful Lemke Pipe Organ (built 1874) back to the Barossa Valley Community in S.A. where it
was originally built. The Organ is important from both an historical S.A. viewpoint and is listed in the
Australian Pipe Organ Register.
• Numerous individual items were gifted to St Matthews Lutheran congregation at Footscray.
congregation.
• Other historical items were sent to LCA church archives in S.A.

The final stunningly generous bequest to the district, in financial terms, is in the order of just over $800,000 directed to the Victorian District to be used in the work of mission. The congregation’s desire is that initiatives and needs that are by their nature exercises in ‘stepping out in faith’ be particularly supported.

We give thanks to God for the example that this congregation has set in ‘giving itself away for the sake of the gospel’.
For St Peter’s ‘going and growing’ with the gospel for the sake of the mission of God has always been central.
For St Peter’s ‘faith’ has meant a commitment to innovation, experimentation, and adventure. May God inspire many others to ‘step out’ and try new things for the sake of the kingdom.

May that be the lasting legacy of St Peter’s talents.

Rev Brett Kennett, Pastor for Congregational Support

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