St Matthew's Church

Support Refugees and Asylum Seekers

If you, like a lot of people, are disgusted and disappointed by the way asylum seekers and refugees and being treated by the government, then consider coming along to this meeting. This gathering will discuss ways that concerned Bendigonians can publicly express support for asylum seekers and refugees and call the government to a better way.

It won’t be planning direct assistance to refugees – there are bunch of organisations in Central Victoria who do this very well. But what is possibly lacking is a public and visible voice of the average Australian who wants our government’s policies to change.

Come along to plan something that will communicate our support for asylum seekers and refugees.

Date: Wednesday 26th February
Time: 7.45pm
Place: St Matthew’s, 153 Eaglehawk Rd, Long Gully
Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/420651348065980/

Please share this event amongst your Central Victorian networks and friends.

Call me on 0421 764 699 if you’d like to discuss this event.

Jesus and Pancakes

At St Matthew’s we do a bunch of stuff that anyone can be involved, not matter what take you have on religion and spirituality – there is the garden, toy library, playgroup etc.

But we are also pretty passionate about following Jesus – if that’s something that interests you, provokes you, intrigues you… then come along this Sunday 10am to Gully Gathering.

Gully Gathering is a down to earth and simple church service. You can expect some songs, discussion about Jesus, prayers for our world and people in need, and a kid-friendly environment.

You can also expect pancakes.

Leftover Beauty

Here’s a couple of crafty things from our Christmas Eve and Festival celebrations late last year.

We’ve left them up because they look so lovely.

Garden Needs Volunteers

The Hope…It Grows! community garden is lush and growing, with sunflowers, tomatoes, berries and pumpkins on show. It has been kept green and alive by a small and committed bunch of volunteers over the hot months, but needs more volunteers.

If you would like to contribute in some way to the garden, then contact Kylie Martens on 0468 616 525.

You don’t need to be a green thumb or expert to be involved: just willing to learn. Kylie will give you some guidance on watering, planting, weeding and harvesting.

The garden has a weekly session, a monthly garden day and people also contribute in their own time.

Burning Stories: art, food and stories

Burning Stories is a new opportunity to tell stories of resilience and strength that resulted from the 2009 Black Saturday fires in Bendigo.

Burning Stories is a project initiated by Seeds Bendigo, and gives people who experienced the Black Saturday fires an opportunity to tell their story, and the unexpected good things that came from that experience.

Community artists Ben Winspear and Cassie O’Toole will also be on hand to help people create beautiful mosiac art.

Alongside the stories and art, a pizza oven will be build, acknowledging that community is often built around food.

There are some special school holiday times for Burning Stories – download program here.

Dates and Times

• Wednesday 25th September, 9am-2pm
• Thursday 26th September, 9am-2pm
• Wednesday 2nd October, 11am-4pm
• Thursday 3rd October, 9am-2pm
• Sunday 6th October, 1pm-4pm
• Thursday 10th October, 9am-12pm
• Saturday 19th October, 1pm-4pm
• Wednesday 30th October, 9am-2pm (Bendigo Cup Day)
• Thursday 7th November, 9am-2pm.

The project will be held at St Matthew’s, 153 Eaglehawk Rd, Long Gully.

For more information, please contact project facilitator Michelle Rankin on echoh3@gmail.com or 0458 018 083.