NEWSLETTER – SUNDAY 3rd May 2015
Welcome to our worship service at West Hawthorn Uniting Church.
Please join us for morning tea after the service.
Our worship is led by the Rev Kili Mafaufau.
NEXT SUNDAY 10th May
10 am worship lead by the Rev Kili Mafaufau, Sunday school and morning tea.
5.30 pm FAMILY WORSHIP and shared meal. All Welcome!
Please bring some food to share!
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Presbytery Prayer Calendar
Please pray for
……..For Mountview congregation, Mitcham, and minister Brendan Byrne
……..For the Monbulk Open Door Commnunity Church, its partnership with the Church of Christ, and minister
Brian Tunks
……..For the Strathdon Community and the Parkmore congregation as they farewell their minister, Barbara
Allen
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Intercultural Service of Celebration
In 1985, the UCA Assembly claimed its identity in Christ as ‘a multicultural church’ and made a formal
declaration to that effect: “The Uniting Church is a Multicultural Church”.
Since then, the Uniting Church has become increasingly multicultural. In the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania
we are seeking ways of how we can be meaningfully intercultural in our multicultural Church. While this
evolution has not been without its challenges, it is also deserving of celebration.
To rejoice in the rich tapestry that such diversity brings to the life of our Church, please join us at an
Intercultural Service of Celebration to be held at the Glen Waverley Uniting Church on Saturday 23 May 2015
at 4.00 pm. It will be preceded by a special afternoon tea at 2.30 pm.
NOTICES for this sheet should be given to Cathie or Peter Shaw; phone 9817 5270
Email whuc.org.au@gmail.com. Website www.westhawthornuniting.org
Our minister is the Rev Kili Mafaufau.
Kili can be found at 8 Power St
Tel: 9853 4521
Mobile: 0418 371532
Email: uilisonemafaufau1@dodo.com.au
NEPAL EARTHQUAKE APPEAL
Uniting World is calling for donations to its Emergency Contingency Fund to help communities devastated by
the recent Nepal earthquake.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake is the worst natural disaster in the South Asian nation in 80 years. At least 6000
deaths and many more injuries are confirmed so far, with the toll expected to rise.
The Nepalese government has declared a state of emergency as rescuers continue to free people trapped
under the rubble and search for bodies. Local and international aid agencies are assessing the situation on the
ground and providing immediate humanitarian relief.
The earthquake caused widespread devastation throughout Nepal, from the capital of Kathmandu to the
slopes of Mount Everest.
It flattened buildings and destroyed historical monuments such as the UNESCO World Heritage-listed
Dharahara Tower.
The earthquake triggered multiple avalanches on Mount Everest, claiming the lives of several mountaineers.
Large aftershocks continue to shake the country, causing further damage to buildings that are already
structurally unsafe.
Entire villages in the Gorkha district near the epicentre of the quake have been destroyed. Authorities and aid
agencies are working to establish communication with communities cut off by the earthquake.
The force of the earthquake reached neighbouring countries, with deaths reported in Tibet, India and
Bangladesh.
According to University of Colorado geologist Roger Bilham, the earthquake was so powerful that the city of
Kathmandu shifted three metres within 30 seconds.
The country’s capacity to cope with a disaster of such magnitude has been hindered by its extreme poverty,
inadequate resources and poor infrastructure.
Despite making steady progress towards addressing poverty, Nepal remains one of the poorest countries in
the South Asian region. Approximately a quarter of the 28 million population live under $1.25 per day and
more than half live under $2 per day.
Raju Shakya is a member of Victoria’s 15,000-strong Nepalese community. “We need to get together and pray
for Nepal. They are still getting more earthquakes, there have been hundreds of them so far,” Mr Shakya told
the ABC.
Tens of thousands of Nepalese will be sleeping without shelter tonight. Many cities have lost access to power
and water. Hospitals are stretched to their capacities and aid agencies are calling for emergency funds to
provide immediate medical and food support.
Uniting World is supporting the ACT Alliance through the Emergency Contingency Fund. Donations from the
fund will help provide search and rescue, food, shelter and clean water to survivors.
DONATIONS CAN BE MADE TODAY, if you wish, or online at
http://www.unitingworld.org.au/earthquake-hits-nepal/
Donations can also be made to Red Cross, Oxfam, or World Vision.
Or other agencies as listed at http://www.abc.net.au/appeals/