It’s not only certain supermarket shelves which have been empty lately. A couple from Lane Cove Uniting Church, who regularly drop off supplies to the Asylum Seeker Centre in Newton, report that they have never seen the free grocery shelves so empty before! This is particularly sad, as these donated groceries are a life support for asylum seekers living in our community on very little. Australia has had its share of pressing issues of late – and the Australian public have been very generous in their support of those most affected by bushfires and drought. However, the needs of Asylum Seekers continue every day, as their living allowance is so low. The maximum support available to a single asylum seeker is $227/week and the Poverty line is set at $412/week. Many don’t even qualify for this level of support. (Statistics from Asylum Seeker Resource Centre).

If you can assist, the Asylum Seekers Centre web page lists suitable and urgently needed food and toiletries:  https://asylumseekerscentre.org.au/food-and-toiletry-donations/ .

Lane Cove Uniting Church usually provides a depot to receive donations, at the corner of Figtree Street and Centennial Avenue, below street level. However, as it's currently closed, a direct financial donation is probably the best way to at the moment. Contact us here once physical distancing measures are lifted to contribute this way.
 
This activity is known as ‘Simple Love’. This perfectly describes our motivation to contribute. It’s a non-political, simple, loving response to people in real need. This is so pertinent at Easter time as love lies at the heart of the Christian message. This story of great compassion towards humanity makes minimal demands upon us – rather it’s a winsome invitation to respond. True faith evokes a loving response to God’s gracious gift to us of Jesus: God in a man’s body, fully experiencing and identifying with humanity in order to reconcile us with God and creation.

Whatever it is that motivates you to show you care for those in need, please begin to donate specified items this Easter to those who will truly appreciate them.

Green eucalyptus shoots emerging from blackened tree trunks, herald signs of life returning. Red skies have been replaced by blue. Much has been lost, but the miracle of regeneration delights the soul. While times are very tough indeed for those in bushfire, drought and flood affected communities, there remains hope for a fresh start. Lessons will be learned and the regeneration process will contain new wisdom to surpass old models.

Hope is a key tenet of Christianity and an important one for us all. Faith in something beyond ourselves is an important factor leading to resilience and regeneration. Hope sustains us through all manner of trials. Sometimes misplaced, I suspect some hope is better than none at all. Without hope, life resembles a dark tunnel, where we wait and watch for a glimmer to emerge.

Hugh van Cuylenburg researched keys to resilience amongst impoverished children in India. Their joyful attitude starkly contrasted with that of his Aussie students. Hugh proposed the acronym GEM from identifying habits of gratitude, empathy and mindfulness as keys to their wellbeing. The children were immediately and explicitly grateful for basic necessities, cared for each other in an ongoing way and chose to meditate each morning. A summary of his book,  The Resilience Project , can be found in the Weekend Australian magazine 23-24 Nov 2019.

Well done to our resilient, local community in the wake of flood and fire damage recently. Empathic offerings of hot showers, power outlets, free refrigeration and a sharing of meals with affected neighbours were frequent. Alternative venues, (including other churches), were offered to the resilient C3 Church, who didn’t miss a Sunday in the wake of the Lane Cove Public School fire.

Being grateful for what is in front of us, being kind to others and cultivating stillness of being are simple practices. (Try our free meditation group weekly 11.30am on Thursdays). However, they require our intentionality until they become habitual. Resilience and regeneration are some of the prizes. Be a GEM for your own sake and for those around you.

綠油油的的油加利新芽從燒焦的樹榦冒出來，預象生命的重臨。赤紅的天空給藍天取代了。雖然我們損失很龐大，但那恢復力的奇跡令心靈欣慰。在那場山火、乾旱和水災裏受困的社區，終於得到重新起步的希望。其中得來的教訓及恢復現狀的處理，會帶來新的智慧以取代舊模式。
 
希望是基督教的關鍵教義而對我們整體是重要的。信仰超越自己的某類事物, 導致適應力和恢復力。希望讓我們堅持渡過任何方式的考驗。有時也許把方針弄錯了，我恐怕一點的希望總比丁點沒有較佳。失去希望，生命就相似黑暗的地道，我們於此等待曙光的出現。
 
Hugh van Cuylenburg 研究印度兒童在惡劣環境中適應的關鍵。他把他們對事物的樂觀態度比對澳洲的學生的。由此他提議GEM這縮略詞來鑒別印度兒童的幸福狀況，其習慣如gratitude感恩、empathy同感和mindfulness關心。那些兒童即時表達得到基本需要物的謝意，持續互相關懷及選擇每天早上作冥想。他的著作《The Resilience Project恢復力計劃》可以在2019年11月的Weekend Australian雜誌裏的第23至24頁讀到。
 
在最近的水災和火災裏，我們本地的社區群眾表現得好。同感地他們無數次供給受災者熱水浴、電沿、免費冰凍食物和共享三餐。Lane Cove Public School火災後，那C3教堂堅持主日聚會，得借用其他地點（包括其他教堂）而能舉行。
 
對現有感恩，善待他人及培養存在的靜寂感不是難事。（請嘗試我們每星期四上午11時30分舉行的免費冥想班）。無論如何，它們需要刻意參與才能達成的。適應力和恢復力就是成果。請成為GEM 人物（gem字是珍寶的英文），為了個人及周遭的人們作供獻。
 
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适应力和恢复力           （译自Karen牧师的‘Resilience & Regeneration')
 
绿油油的的油加利新芽从烧焦的树榦冒出来，预象生命的重临。赤红的天空给蓝天取代了。虽然我们损失很庞大，但那恢复力的奇迹令心灵欣慰。在那场山火丶干旱和水灾裏受困的社区，终于得到重新起步的希望。其中得来的教训及恢复现状的处理，会带来新的智慧以取代旧模式。
 
希望是基督教的关键教义而对我们整体是重要的。信仰超越自己的某类事物, 导致适应力和恢复力。希望让我们坚持渡过任何方式的考验。有时也许把方针弄错了，我恐怕一点的希望总比丁点没有较佳。失去希望，生命就相似黑暗的地道，我们于此等待曙光的出现。
 
Hugh van Cuylenburg 研究印度儿童在恶劣环境中适应的关键。他把他们对事物的乐观态度比对澳洲的学生的。由此他提议GEM这缩略词来鉴别印度儿童的幸福状况，其习惯如gratitude感恩丶empathy同感和mindfulness关心。那些儿童即时表达得到基本需要物的谢意，持续互相关怀及选择每天早上作冥想。他的着作《The Resilience Project恢复力计划》可以在2019年11月的Weekend Australian杂志裏的第23至24页读到。
 
在最近的水灾和火灾裏，我们本地的社区群众表现得好。同感地他们无数次供给受灾者热水浴丶电沿丶免费冰冻食物和共享三餐。Lane Cove Public School火灾后，那C3教堂坚持主日聚会，得借用其他地点（包括其他教堂）而能举行。
 
对现有感恩，善待他人及培养存在的静寂感不是难事。（请尝试我们每星期四上午11时30分举行的免费冥想班）。无论如何，它们需要刻意参与才能达成的。适应力和恢复力就是成果。请成为GEM 人物（gem字是珍宝的英文），为了个人及周遭的人们作供献。