The Leaflet No. 1087 Winter, June 2021

 
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The Leaflet No. 1087 Winter, June 2021
The Leaflet
                 No. 1087
       Winter, June 2021
The Leaflet No. 1087 Winter, June 2021
The Scots’ Church, Melbourne
                   The First Presbyterian Church in Victoria – Founded 1838

Locations The Scots’ Church, Melbourne, 77 Russell St (cnr Collins St), Melbourne
             Assembly Hall Building, Werner Brodbeck Hall, Grnd Flr, 156 Collins St, Melbourne
             Assembly Hall Building, Robert White Hall, 1st Flr, 156 Collins St, Melbourne
             St Stephens Church, Flemington and Kensington, 26 Norwood St, Flemington

 Sun: 10.00 am Service, St Stephen’s Church
Worship
		    10.30 am Indonesian Service (www.icc-melbourne.org),
		                 Werner Brodbeck Hall
 11.00 am Traditional Service, The Scots’ Church

		 5.00 pm Engage City Church Contemp. Service, Robert White Hall
		 (The Sunday school is available during Sunday morning services)

             Tue: 7.00 pm City Bible Study (CBS), Robert White Hall
             (Prayer requests may be given to the church office during office hours, or to
             any duty manager at any service.)

Meetings     Sun: 9.15 am Choir practice
             Wed: 10.30 am PWMU (second Wednesday)
		                 7.30 pm   Kirk Session (first Wednesday
		                 7.30 pm   Board of Management (fourth Wednesday, quarterly)

Directory
Senior Minister			                                  Rev. P. Campbell           9650 9903
Minister, Central Business District
Minister Pastoral Care		                            Rev. L. Heshusius          9650 9903
Minister, St Stephen’s, Flemington                  Rev. A. Wong               9376 3777
Minister, Indonesian Christian Church               Rev. C. Tirtha             9650 9903
Director of Music			                                Mr D. Lawrence AM          9650 9903
Assistant Organist			                               Ms R.A. Polo               9650 9903
Organist Emeritus			                                Dr R. Batterham AO         -
Session Clerk				                                   Miss R. Strother           9650 9903
Deputy Session Clerk		                              Dr R. Fethers              9650 9903
Chair, Scots’ Church Properties Trust               Mr P. Kerss  	             9650 9903
Honorary Treasurer, Board of Management             Mr S. Ruddock              9650 9903
Honorary Secretary, Board of Management             Dr D. Sherman              9650 9903
Convenor, Pastoral Care		                           Mr D. Gibb                 9650 9903
Convener, Planned Giving		                          Mr W. Truong               9650 9903
Convenor, Christian Education		                     Mr G. Harris               9650 9903
Superintendent, Sunday School                       Mrs D. Sherman             9650 9903
Administrator Operations		                          Mr J. North                9650 9903
Administrative Assistant		                          Mr M. Chandra              9650 9903
Finance Manager			                                  Mr M. Hirst                9650 9903
Administration Secretary		                          Mrs W. Gregory             9650 9903
Church Custodian			                                 Mr R. Holt                 9650 9903
Welcome Desk Attendant		                            Mr K. Bowden               9650 9903
Editor, The Leaflet			                              Miss R. Strother           9650 9903
The Leaflet No. 1087 Winter, June 2021
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The Scots’ Church Melbourne is a diverse and eclectic body of God’s people
who come together each week to worship God in a variety of styles and
settings.

Beyond our weekly gatherings, we seek to love and serve the Lord by being
faithful in our devotion to the Word of God, caring in our fellowship with one
another and visitors, and generous in our outreach to the communities in
which God has placed us.

We would be delighted to meet you at any of our church services or at any of
our other public meetings and functions.

If you want to know more about the Christian faith, the Presbyterian Church,
Scots’ Church or the range of activities and ministries that we’re involved in,
please don’t hesitate to contact us:

               1st Floor, 156 Collins Street, Melbourne,Vic, 3000

                         Tel: (03) 9650 9903 / 9650 9904
                                Fax: (03) 9654 3982
                        Email: admin@scotschurch.com
                         Web: www.scotschurch.com

                                     Cover image:
         Rev. Philip Campbell, Senior Minister, The Scots’ Church Melbourne,
                                 with his wife Louise.

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Senior Minister......................................................................................................................1
God is just a prayer away.....................................................................................................4
Use your time well!...............................................................................................................6
Indonesian Christian Church..............................................................................................7
Two Important Services in March.......................................................................................9
Minutes of Appreciation....................................................................................................10
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.....................................................................................11
From the Archives...............................................................................................................13
St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle..................................................................................14
Interview - Phil and Louise Campbell..............................................................................16
A Simple Prayer Attributed to St. Francis of Assisi...........................................................18
Bible Places - Solomon’s Portico, Jerusalem....................................................................20
Interview - Monty Chandra................................................................................................22
The Presbyterian and Scots’ Church Joint Mission.........................................................24
The Australian Chamber Choir sings Bach......................................................................29
Plants of the Bible - Cinnamon.........................................................................................30
Victorian Presbyterian Churches Past and Present Benalla Presbyterian Church......32
In Memoriam - Jean Lewis.................................................................................................34
In Memoriam - Brian Bayston...........................................................................................35
From the History of Scots’ Church - The Turnbull Trust...................................................36
The Story of Coimadai Church.........................................................................................37
Pets Corner - Angel Pilgrim’s “This is my life”...................................................................40
For the kids.........................................................................................................................41
Crossword...........................................................................................................................42

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                                             Senior Minister
                                              Rev. Philip Campbell

                              THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING BROTHER
                              Phil Campbell plays stained-glass detective…

                        As I’ve worked my way around the beautiful Scots’
                        Stained Glass Windows, I discovered a mystery.
                        There’s someone missing. In fact, he’s arguably the
                        central character in the story told by Jesus which
                        we’ve become accustomed to calling “The Parable
of the Prodigal Son.” Technically, it means something like “profligate” or
“spendthrift”… reckless and squandering. But a closer reading of the original
text in Luke 15 reveals that the spendthrift runaway son wasn’t actually the
focus of the story.
The famous tale is one of a string of three parables told by Jesus that begin this way:
“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the
Pharisees and the Scribes grumbled, saying,“This man receives sinners and eats with
them!”
So Jesus begins, telling them first of the rejoicing over the finding of a lost sheep, the
rejoicing over the finding of a lost coin… and finally, the longer story of a father who
had two sons.
Commonly, of course, the spotlight falls on the runaway son who comes home. But
it turns out that the real target is the older brother, who of course represents the
Pharisees, the religious leaders who liked to look down on everyone else. They’re the
ones who are grumbling about the ‘sinners’ who have gathered around Jesus.
So what of the famous “Prodigal Son” windows in pride of place at Scots’? Look
carefully, and you’ll find there’s someone missing. Sure, there are three characters.
But the figure looking from the door looks more like a mother than an angry older
brother. It’s a curious feature to change!
Here’s a summary of the original story told by Jesus.
“A man has two sons; the younger son asks for his share of the inheritance and packs
his belongings, and goes to the city where he spends everything he has on wild living.
When his money runs out, he finds himself working on a pig farm, longing to share
their swill. So at last, Jesus says, he comes to his senses. He says to himself, I’ll go home
and I’ll see if my father will take me on as a hired servant.

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During the long walk home, the profligate son is going over and over in his mind what
he’s going to say to his Dad – but while he’s still a long way off, his father sees him on
the horizon, and runs to meet him with open arms. The son has been rehearsing his
speech. ‘Father, I’ve sinned against both heaven and you, and I’m no longer worthy to
be called your son.’
But his Dad just wants to celebrate! He cuts the speech short, dresses the runaway in a
rich robe and throws a huge party to celebrate. The father says, ‘This son of mine was
dead and has come back to life again. He was lost, but now he’s found.’
That’s wonderful news for outcast sinners who have turned their backs on God. But
here’s the sting in the tail. What about the brother who stayed home, and worked so
hard for his dad? He thinks he has been doing everything right. But the shock in the
original story is that this brother, like the Pharisees and the Scribes,‘refuses’ to join the
party. He’s angry. Because it doesn’t seem fair that his dad is prepared to take back his
rebel runaway brother.”
In short, the older brother is the focal point of the story. At another point Jesus says,
“God prefers one sinner who truly repents to a self-righteous person who doesn’t
think he needs to repent.” And it’s equally true today.
Why then is the stay-at-home brother missing from the Scots’ window, replaced by a
relieved looking mother – not even mentioned in the original story? It’s a mystery
indeed!
Phil Campbell

                    From the Bible
                      – Luke 15
     15 Now the tax collectors and sinners
     were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And
     the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled,
     saying, “This man receives sinners and
     eats with them…”
     11
       And he said, “There was a man who had two
     sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his
     father, ‘Father, give me the share of property
     that is coming to me.’ And he divided his
     property between them. 13 Not many days
     later, the younger son gathered all he had and
     took a journey into a far country, and there
                                                        The prodigal son in despair.

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                                                                        he squandered his
                                                                        property in reckless
                                                                        living. 14 And when he
                                                                        had spent everything,
                                                                        a severe famine arose
                                                                        in that country, and he
                                                                        began to be in need. 15
                                                                        So he went and hired
                                                                        himself out to[b] one
                                                                        of the citizens of that
                                                                        country, who sent him
                                                                        into his fields to feed
                                                                        pigs. 16 And he was
                                                                        longing to be fed with
                                                                        the pods that the pigs
                                                                        ate, and no one gave
                                                                        him anything.
                                                                         “But when he came
                                                                        17

                                                                       to himself, he said, ‘How
The welcoming father and mother.
                                                                       many of my father's
hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will
arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and
before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired
servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his
father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And
the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer
worthy to be called your son.’[c] 22 But the father said to his servants,[d] ‘Bring quickly the
best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And
bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was
dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25
  “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he
heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these
things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed
the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry
and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his
father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command,
yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when
this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the
fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is
mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead,
and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

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                                                  Minister Pastoral Care
                                                          Rev. Litha Heshusius
                                                        God is just a prayer away

                                       Could we imagine Christians living without prayer?
                                       I have often heard that prayer is the breath of the soul.
                                       Humans without air will die, and Christians without
                                       prayer could die spiritually.
The other day, I saw a picture of a little girl praying together with her dog on the edge
of her bed. The image is impressive to me because even animals are invited to pray
faithfully every night. I watched a friend teach her pet to say grace before eating its
food, which to me was very remarkable. Even though we will never know the pet’s
understanding of prayer, the ability of the pet to obey the master’s command is still
most impressive!
We praise and thank our Saviour because we were created to know what it means
to "pray." Our Redeemer Jesus Christ has taught us to pray the Lord’s Prayer, and
faithfully we pray ‘The Lord’s Prayer', not only every Sunday in the Church, but in our
daily intercessory prayers. We pray because Jesus prayed for us first. Christ prayed
for His Church, His Disciples, and those whoever
believe in Him (including you and me). John 17
If Jesus, during His life on earth, was filled with
prayers, how about His Church? Before dawn,
Christ prayed to His Father in Heaven (Mark
1:35). Throughout His ministry, both day and
night, He never stopped praying. When He went
to rest in the stillness of the night, Jesus prayed.
(Luke 6:12)
Even before Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, Jesus
was found praying in the garden of Gethsemane
(Matthew 26:36). When He was crucified,
He prayed (cried out loud) “Eloi-Eloi Lama
Sabachthani which means ‘My God, My God,
why have You forsaken Me? (Matthew 27:46).
For Jesus, there is no day without prayer!                      ‘Forgive us our trespasses’, painting by William
                                                                Henry Gore (1880 – 1927). Public Domain.

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Whether in sadness or moments of joy, Jesus prayed. Jesus said,“Watch and pray that
you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
(Matthew 26:41).
Let us learn from the Redeemer of the world the importance of "prayer."
As Jesus prayed to His Heavenly Father, we too pray to God’s begotten Son, Jesus
Christ. Andrew Murray explains that “Prayer is not monologue, but dialogue. God’s
voice in response to mine is its most essential part.”
May we all be able to breathe through prayer, at home, in the church and through our
ministry.We pray for our nation and for the world, that the breath of the LORD may be
upon all His people.
God always has time to listen but do we have time to pray? God is only a prayer away.
Shalom
Litha

        THE PRAYING HANDS
         – ALBRECHT DURER
                                                      :

   ‘The Praying Hands’, a beautiful grey and
   white brush drawing on blue grounded paper
   by the German artist and printmaker Albrecht
   Dürer (1471 – 1528) was produced about
   1508. The most well-known work of this
   artist, it was a preliminary study for an altar
   piece commissioned by a wealthy Frankfurt Caption: Albrecht Dürer, ‘Praying
   merchant. The drawing depicts two male Hands’, drawing. Credit: Public Domain.
   hands praying, with the body to the right but not seen. The drawing of ‘The
   Praying Hands” is now housed in the Albertine Museum, Vienna, Austria.
   Albrecht was the oldest son and third in a family of 18 children. His father was a goldsmith
   who worked hard to support his family. Albrecht pursued studies in art, and planned to
   support his brother Albert, who also wished to paint and was a miner. When he returned
   home to support Albert, Albrecht found that his hands were damaged by working in the
   mines and could no longer paint, so he immortalised his brother’s hands by sketching
   them in prayer.
   References:
   Albrecht Dürer and the Praying Hands, http://www.barefootsworld.net/albrechtdurer.html
   Wikipedia: Praying Hands (Dürer). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praying_Hands_(Durer)

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                                                         Minister,
                                                  St. Stephen’s Flemington
                                                         Rev. Andrew Wong
                                                         Use your time well!
                                          “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise
                                          but as wise, making the best use of the time, because
                                          the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but
                                          understand what the will of the Lord is.”
                                                                     - Ephesians 5: 15–17, ESV.

Do you use your time wisely? Think about it for a second. Do you use your
time wisely? Maybe it is a question you have never asked yourself. We live in a
society which is constantly moving. We often can’t take a breather!
Paul in the book of Ephesians explains the new identity that we have in Christ. He
encourages and challenges believers to live out their new identity in a variety of
areas. When Christ saves sinners from their sins, he purchases for them new life. New
life to walk in the light of Christ. New life to be imitators of Christ. The Christian life is
to be radically different. Prior to Ephesians 5:15-16, Paul writes out a list of things that
Christians are to run away from. For example, verse 3-4 says,“3 But sexual immorality
and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper
among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are
out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.”
So instead of living in sin, what are Christians to do? What is interesting is what Paul
writes in verses 15-16. Salvation in Christ not only changes our moral standards but
also every part of our life, including our time! How do we use our time? And the
question we need to ask ourselves is, has the gospel changed how we use our time?
Paul urges us first of all to “look carefully” regarding how we walk. The idea is that
we must give much thought to our potential choices before we make them. Why?
Because our time is limited, and we are called to be good stewards of our time. As we
look forward to the rest of 2021, as we look forward to all the changes that will come,
let us not waste our time, but instead use our time wisely for the Glory of God. Let us
intentionally think about how we can use our time well for the expansion of God’s
kingdom.
Blessings,
Andrew

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The ICC Easter Camp participants, Phillip Island, 2021.

                             INDONESIAN CHRISTIAN CHURCH
                              ICC Melbourne Easter Camp 2021
What is better than meeting with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ onsite for
worship and fellowship after months of lockdown? A weekend getaway for that
same purpose!
After being cancelled last year, our annual Easter camp was held this year from Good
Friday to Easter Monday 2-5 April 2021 at the Island Christian Youth Camp (CYC) in
Phillip Island. Sixty people participated in the camp with a mix of single student and
young family groups. We also had a children’s program run by our Sunday School
teachers so the parents could enjoy the sessions.
The camp theme for 2021 was ‘Serving Today’s Generation for the sake of the Gospel”
based on Paul’s second epistle to Timothy. In his last 1,700-word letter, Paul wrote to
his protégé a few solemn charges to continue the Gospel ministry at the church of
Ephesus and beyond. The seasoned apostle did not write the letter from his study
on the balcony of a hotel in Rome while sipping Italian espresso. He wrote it from
a Roman prison around 64-67 AD following four missionary journeys that had been
filled with sweat, tears, and blood for the sake of Christ and his gospel. As he reached
the end of his life, he asked Timothy to continue to preach the gospel that enabled
him to declare: The fight I have fought, the race I have finished, the faith I have kept.
What was unique this year was the opportunity to have six speakers in the camp who
delivered six expository talks from 2 Timothy. Five speakers were from Indonesia who

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spoke online through Zoom (beamed through to a large screen in front of camp
participants). I was the sixth speaker who spoke at the Easter Sunday service (in lieu
of the service in Melbourne) which was livestreamed for those who could not join
the camp and other viewers who regularly join our service online from Indonesia
and elsewhere
Our good Lord saw it fit to grace us with such gorgeous sun and clear blue sky
throughout our stay there. We had ample free time every day to enjoy the beach, visit
the pop-up market on Saturday, and stroll around the buzzing main street filled with
restaurants and cafes.
While we had used CYC on the Island four years ago, this year we had a deeper sense
of gratitude to God for the entire experience there, so much so that we have now
secured the place for our Easter camp in 2022!
Sen Sendjaya

                                                 PHILLIP ISLAND
    Phillip Island is situated about 125 kilometres south-east of Melbourne. It was
    named after Governor Arthur Phillip, the first governor of New South Wales,
    by explorer George Bass, who arrived there in an open whaleboat in 1798. This
    lovely island forms a natural breakwater for the shallow waters of Westernport
    Bay, and has an area of about 100 square kilometres. It is connected with the
    mainland by a bridge from San Remo to the island settlement of Newhaven.
    The island has several townships, the
    largest being Cowes. The southern
    and western coasts support significant
    populations of bird life, including
    penguins, shearwaters and Pacific gulls.
    There are also wildlife parks on the
    island. Seal Rocks, near the Nobbies,
    hosts the largest colony of fur seals in
    Australia. Much of the island is devoted
    to the grazing of sheep and cattle.
    Phillip Island offers a wonderful
    recreational environment for such
    activities as church camps, with the
    CYC providing excellent facilities.                               The Nobbies, Phillip Island. Credit: Chensiyuan. Free
                                                                      Software Foundation.
    Reference:
    Wikipedia: Phillip Island. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillip_Island

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                                                              TWO IMPORTANT
                                                             SERVICES IN MARCH
                                                  During March there were two services
                                                  conducted by the Presbytery of
                                                  Melbourne West at Scots’ Church, both
                                                  very important in the life of Scots’
                                                  Church and St. Stephen’s Flemington.
                                                  The first was the Ordination to the
                                                  Ministry of the Word and Sacraments,
                                                  of Licentiate Andrew Wong on Friday
                                                  5th March, and just two weeks later, on
                                                  Friday 19th March, the Induction of Rev.
                                                  Philip Campbell to the Pastoral Charge
                                                  of The Scots’ Church Melbourne.
                                                    Both services were conducted by the
Rev. Andrew Wong with his wife Garam, following his Moderator of Presbytery, Rev. Philip Court,
ordination on 5th March.                            assisted by the Clerk of Presbytery, Rev.
John Ellis. The occasional preacher at Andrew Wong’s ordination was Rev. Alan Every
who was well-known to Andrew. The speaker at Phil Campbell’s induction was Rev.
David Jones, a well-known minister who now resides in Hobart, and who came to
Melbourne especially for the occasion.
Refreshments were served following each service, providing the opportunity for
fellowship and for some less formal speeches which were made in honour of each
occasion.
We     congratulate      Rev.
Andrew Wong on his
ordination as he continues
his ministry at St. Stephen’s
and as Missioner at
the    Presbyterian      and
Scots’ Church Mission at
Flemington. We warmly
welcome       Rev.     Philip
Campbell as Senior Minister
and his wife Louise at Scots’
Church, as they begin their
ministry amongst us.              The Induction Service for Rev. Philip Campbell.

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                       TWO MINUTES OF APPRECIATION IN APRIL
At the Kirk Session meeting of 7th April, Minutes of Appreciation were approved with
unanimous agreement for the Rev. Philip Court, Interim Moderator of Scots’ Church
from January 2020 to March 2021, and for Mr Peter Armstrong, Session Clerk from June
2018 to February 2021.

            Minute of Appreciation for Rev. Philip Court, Interim Moderator
                          10 January 2020 – 19 March 2021
The Scots’ Kirk Session gives thanks for the stewardship provided to the Church by
Rev. Philip Court, Interim Moderator. The complex task of guiding the church towards
the calling of a new Senior Minister was complicated to a very large degree by
the pandemic and all the accompanying changes. Phil presided over the multiple
facets of church life of the three congregations with conscientiousness, amazing
organisational skills and love.
The spiritual life of the church was enhanced through his care and the wonderful
guest preachers he organised. His appointment of Rev. Litha Heshusius as Pastoral
Care Minister has greatly contributed to the wellbeing of many Church members.
Phil’s commitment to a secure future for Scots’ Church has been phenomenal and his
fulfilment of the role of Interim Moderator has been outstanding.
The Kirk Session wishes Phil, Deb and their family every blessing for the future.

                Minute of Appreciation for Mr Peter Armstrong, Session Clerk
                             10 June 2018 – 19 February 2021
The Kirk Session of Scots’ Church gives thanks for the diligent and inspired service
of Mr Peter Armstrong in his role as Session Clerk. This role is challenging and time
consuming when all is routine, however, Peter was responsible for the Church during
the period of Senior Ministerial Vacancy and a major pandemic. This required an
inordinate amount of innovation, organisation and conscientious following of rules,
both Church and State. Peter went above and beyond to maintain the functioning of
the Church and to organise a successful Call of a new Senior Minister. He managed
this extremely successfully despite experiencing major upheavals, injuries and illness.
The Kirk Session wishes Peter, Gillian and their family every blessing for the future.

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                                                                         PRINCE PHILIP, DUKE
                                                                           OF EDINBURGH
                                                                    We were deeply saddened to hear of the
                                                                    death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,
                                                                    at Windsor Castle on 9th April 2020, just
                                                                    two months before his 100th birthday.
                                                                    The husband of Queen Elizabeth II of the
                                                                    United Kingdom and other Commonwealth
                                                                    realms, he was the longest-serving royal
                                                                    consort in British history. His funeral was
                                                                    held at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor on
                                                                    17th April. It was conducted in line with
                                                                    COVID-19 regulations with strictly limited
                                                                    numbers in attendance, but was live-
                                                                    streamed around the world. The Duke was
                                                                    interred in the Royal Vault at St. George’s
                                                                    Chapel. Following the death of the Queen,
                                                                    his remains will be moved to the King
                                                                    George VI Memorial Chapel within St.
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in 1992.                          George’s Chapel, where they will be buried
Credit: Allan Warren. Creative Commons.                             next to each other.
Philip was born in Greece, into the Greek and Danish royal families. His family was exiled from
Greece when he was eighteen months old. He was educated in France, Germany and Great Britain,
and joined the Royal Navy in 1939, at 18 years of age. From then he began to correspond with
Princess Elizabeth whom he had first met some five years earlier.
Following the Second World War Philip was granted permission by King George VI to marry
Elizabeth. He became a British subject, abandoned his Greek and Danish titles, and adopted
his maternal grandparents’ surname Mountbatten. Philip and Elizabeth were married on 20th
November 1947. When Elizabeth became Queen in 1952, he left active military service and was
made a British prince in 1957. Philip and Elizabeth had four children: Charles, Prince of Wales; Anne,
Princess Royal; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.
Prince Philip was a sports enthusiast and helped promote the development of the equestrian event
of carriage driving. He was patron, president, or a member of over 780 organisations, and Chairman
of the Duke of Edinburgh Award which encourages young people in self-improvement. He retired
from royal duties at 96 years of age, although he was occasionally seen in public after this.
Deepest condolences from Scots’ Church were expressed to Queen Elizabeth on the loss of her
husband of 73 years, in a letter sent by Rev. Phil Campbell on 12th April.
Reference:
Wikipedia: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Philip,_Duke_of_Edinburgh

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                                                           FROM THE ARCHIVES
                                                  The passing of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of
                                                  Edinburgh, has saddened the world and we
                                                  give thanks for his long and fulfilling life.
                                                  There is a special connection between Prince
                                                  Philip and Scots’ Church. On Sunday 24th
                                                  February, 1963 he accompanied Her Majesty
                                                  Queen Elizabeth II for morning worship on the
                                                  occasion to celebrate 125 years of worship at
                                                  Scots’ Church.
                                                  Admittance to the Church was by invitation only
                                                  and it was reported that, as a result of careful
                                                  planning, no person with a reasonable claim was
                                                  refused a place in the Church.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip with the Rev.   The Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Dr
Crichton Barr following the service at Scots’     Nevile Davidson, was in attendance as he was
Church, 1963. Credit: Image presented to Scots’
Church by Andrew Fildes, February 2017.           here for a month as Turnbull Trust Preacher.
Prince Philip read the second lesson from Matthew 5: 1-16 from his own Bible, which
he carried into the Church.
Following the service, the Minister, Rev A Crichton Barr, invited Her Majesty to unveil
the Memorial Window and Wall Mosaic commemorating the service and sacrifice of
members and adherents of Scots’ Church, who served and fell in the two World Wars.
Her Majesty and Prince Philip then signed the “Book of Remembrance”.
The Queen asked the Minister to accept as
a memento of their visit, a Lectern Bible,
richly bound in scarlet leather with a crest
on the front cover and suitably inscribed.
The Royal visitors were then whisked
away in their waiting car to return to the
Royal Yacht, leaving the congregation with
vivid memories of their visit.
Judith Kilmartin
Reference:
The Scots’Church Leaflet, March 1963.                    The wall mosaic depicting the resurrection of Jesus, in
                                                         the vestibule, was unveiled by the Queen in 1963.

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A view of St. George’s Chapel, Windsor.

                        ST. GEORGE’S CHAPEL, WINDSOR CASTLE
St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle has been the location of many royal
ceremonies, weddings and funerals. Most recently the funeral of Prince Philip,
Duke of Edinburgh, took place there. A magnificent and historic building, it is
the Chapel of the Order of the Garter, founded by Edward III in 1348. It is also
a Royal Peculiar, that is, subject to the direct jurisdiction of the monarch and
exempt from the diocese.
In 1348 King Edward III founded two religious colleges: St. Stephen’s at Westminster
and St. George’s at Windsor. The Windsor College was attached to the Chapel of St.
Edward the Confessor, constructed by Henry III in the early 13th century. It was later
rededicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Edward the Confessor and St. George the
Martyr. A porch was also built by Edward III between 1353 and 1354. It was used as
the entrance to the newly created St. George’s College.
Between 1475 and 1528 the chapel was extensively redeveloped, using Sir Reginald
Bray’s design, under the reigns of Edward IV, Henry VII and Henry VIII. It is one of the
finest examples of the Perpendicular Gothic style of architecture in England, and has
a magnificent ceiling with fan vaulting. Above the choir stalls hang the insignia of the
Knights of the Garter, together with their swords, helmets and banners. Heraldic stall
plates are attached to the back of the stalls, forming a notable display of heraldry from
medieval times. The large west window, with its late 15th century glass and painted
roof bosses, is another remarkable feature of the chapel, which seats 800 people.A
popular destination for pilgrims during the late medieval period, the chapel suffered
considerable damage during the English Civil War. In 1642 and 1643 Parliamentary
forces plundered the chapel and destroyed the chapter house. Following the
restoration of the monarchy the chapel was restored.

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                                                                                                    During the reign of
                                                                                                    Queen Victoria further
                                                                                                    renovations          were
                                                                                                    undertaken, including
                                                                                                    changes to the choir,
                                                                                                    the completion of the
                                                                                                    Lady Chapel including
                                                                                                    a mausoleum, and the
                                                                                                    addition of steps at the
                                                                                                    west end to create a
                                                                                                    ceremonial entrance to
                                                                                                    the building. St. George’s
                                                                                                    Chapel ranks next to
                                                                                                    Westminster Abbey as a
The interior of St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, with the great west window. Credit:
Jack Pease, 2015. Creative Commons.                                                                 royal mausoleum.
Prince Philip was interred in the Royal Vault following his funeral on 17th April. The
Royal Vault is the final resting place of many royal descendants including George III,
George IV and William IV. There are many burials within St. George’s Chapel itself, the
earliest being George Plantagenet, First Duke of Bedford in 1479; amongst others were
Jane Seymour in 1537, Henry VIII in 1547, Charles I in 1649, and King George V in 1931.
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip will be moved to rest beside
her in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, located within St. George’s Chapel. Also
laid to rest there are King George VI, Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and the ashes of
Princess Margaret.
References:
St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. https://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/
Wikipedia: St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. https://en.wikipedia.org/wki/St_George’s_Chapel,_Windsor_Castle

Panorama of Windsor Castle, with St. George’s Chapel to the centre right. Credit: Antony McCallum, 2010. Creative
Commons.

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                                                  INTERVIEW
                                     PHIL AND LOUISE CAMPBELL
                                               Rev. Philip Campbell was inducted into the
                                               pastoral charge of The Scots’ Church, Melbourne
                                               as Senior Minister at an Induction Service on 19th
                                               March 2021. Phil and his wife Louise commenced
                                               their ministry at Scots’ on 21st March. We are
                                               delighted to have them with us.
                                 Phil spent his early years in Inverell, northern New
                                 South Wales (N.S.W.). His father was in the seed and
                                 grain business, and on weekends ran a small hobby
                                 farm on the edge of town. It was at this time that Phil
                                 developed a taste for country life, as he worked on
                                 the farm with his father, learning to drive a tractor
                                 amongst other farming activities. He also worked at
                                 the seed and grain store during school holidays and
Phil and Louise Campbell.        at Christmas. His parents sent him to Sunday school
at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church each week although, typical of many families at
the time, they stayed home and worked in the garden. Phil remembers St. Andrew’s
as a strong, active church with a large Sunday school. The minister was a good and
faithful preacher.
Louise spent her early years in Cooma, southern N.S.W. where her father, a journalist,
was the editor of the Monaro Express. He had also worked in life insurance.The family
moved to Sydney when Louise was four years old, as her father made a decision to
take up theological studies for the Anglican ministry. Her father’s first parish was in
Sydney’s inner west.
On completion of his secondary education Phil moved to Sydney, where he studied
electrical engineering. It was at this time that he developed a keen interest in
computers and technology, with a sideline interest reviewing computer games for the
Sydney Morning Herald and The Age through the 1990s. Maybe you read his reviews!
His other interests include music, mostly guitars and other stringed instruments.
After completing her secondary education Louise pursued nursing studies, later
working as a bush nurse in outback South Australia for a time with Bush Church Aid.
Louise’s interests include reading, walking and swimming, and she’s enthused about
encouraging women to grow in their faith.

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Phil and Louise met at an inner city church in Sydney, where they were asked to lead a
student Bible study group.This was a formative time for their relationship, and for their
decision to enter ministry together.They were much encouraged to consider entering
the ministry by their friends, who recognised their skills in communication and
teaching. Phil moved from his career as a traffic management engineer with N.S.W.
Main Roads into student life at Moore Theological College, Sydney, as a candidate for
the Presbyterian ministry. Louise also undertook a year of studies at the College, which
she thoroughly enjoyed. By the time they made this move they had two children, with
a third born during Phil’s College years. (Susie, their fourth, was born in their first year
in parish.)
The first ministry appointment for Phil and Louise was to Maclean, “The Scottish
Town in Australia,” in the beautiful Northern Rivers district of N.S.W. The Highland
Festival was an annual highlight, with pipe bands from all over Australia gathering
for the Easter Weekend. The small church in Maclean grew and developed, planting
a new congregation in nearby Yamba. After ten years, they were called to Mitchelton,
in suburban Brisbane, where they ministered together for 22 years. Phil served as
Convenor of the Theological Education Committee, overseeing the revitalisation of
Queensland Theological College (QTC), and serving for a time as Acting Principal;
he lectured in Preaching and very much enjoyed mentoring young ministry students.
Phil and Louise have four adult children, all married with young families. Nathan is
married to Robyn; after training in journalism, he trained at QTC and is now pastoring
a church in the inner suburbs of Brisbane. Jo is a dentist, working in Hobart, married to
Shayne; Madeleine, a business graduate, is married to Mitch, the senior pastor at Dalby
Presbyterian Church in Queensland, and Susie, a paramedic and nurse, is currently
caring for her two small children while husband Rohan completes his anaesthetics
training in New Zealand.
Phil has a younger sister who lives in Hobart with her husband, another Anglican
clergyman! Louise has three siblings; she’s the youngest of the bunch, with two older
brothers in N.S.W. and a sister in Vancouver, Canada. Her father is in aged care in
Camden, west of Sydney.
Phil and Louise love ministering together; their passion is to help build genuine loving
community as they encourage people to faithfully follow Jesus. Phil is convinced
that clear, Christ-centred Bible teaching is the best way to grow churches. They love
meeting people over coffee, opening their home, and mobilising people to use their
gifts to serve and encourage one another.
We warmly welcome Phil and Louise to the Scots’ Church family, and look forward to
a long and productive ministry amongst us.

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                A SIMPLE PRAYER
                    Attributed to
                St. Francis of Assisi
A copy of the well-known Simple
Prayer, or Peace Prayer, attributed
to St. Francis of Assisi, has been
forwarded by David Neilson, with a
story.
David writes:
‘St. Francis was born in Assisi, Italy in
1181, and when he turned to God after
a dissolute youth he became the patron                   Birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi, in Assisi. Credit: Tetraktys,
saint of animals and the environment.                    2005. Creative Commons.

Our family decided we would like to visit his little clifftop village when we were
travelling abroad about 45 years ago. It met our expectations and, aside from our
daughter Ruth almost missing our return transfer because she was entranced with the
little shop selling copies of the Prayer and other mementos, the visit was wonderful
and memorable.
                                                        The Simple Prayer now sits above our
                                                        computer (to remind me of the important
                                                        issues, when negativity and violence seem
                                                        to dominate society). You will find minor
                                                        variations in some reproductions and
                                                        translations of the prayer, but I believe
                                                        this version is quite complete and very
                                                        rewarding.
                                                        Jesus speaks to us in Matthew 11: verses 28
                                                        to 30;
                                                        “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy
                                                        laden, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke
                                                        upon you, and learn from me, for I am
                                                        gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find
                                                        rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and
                                                        my burden is light.” (ESV)
 Garden statue of St. Francis with birds. Credit:
Jp16103, 2016. Creative Commons.

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A Simple Prayer. Credit: Source of this version unknown.

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A model of Herod’s Temple exhibit, Israel Museum, Jerusalem. The long structure with the roof to the left represents
Solomon’s Portico. Credit: Berthold Werner, 2008. Public Domain.

                                                BIBLE PLACES
                                SOLOMON’S PORTICO, JERUSALEM
Although it is not possible to view Solomon’s Portico today, it formed part
of the eastern wall of the Court of the Gentiles, in the second temple, known
as Herod’s temple, in Jerusalem. It was in existence during the time of Jesus.
According to some accounts it was the one feature that remained from the first
temple, built by Solomon, hence its name. It was supported by a wall made of
immense stones that rose from a great depth in the valley below.
In architectural terms, a ‘portico’ is distinguished from a ‘porch’ as it is an ambulatory,
where people can walk and talk. It consists of a roof supported by columns, hence it
is a roofed colonnade.A ‘porch’ is simply an exterior structure that provides a covered
approach to the entrance of a building. Solomon’s Portico had double columns, while
the Royal Portico, to the south of the temple, had four rows of columns.
The Jerusalem of Jesus’ time was quite different to the isolated hill fortress when
King David lived there, some ten centuries earlier. At that time it was valued for
its hill location. Yet from the onset it was known as the City of David and David’s
descendants, especially his son Solomon, enlarged and beautified the first temple
built there. When Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian army levelled Jerusalem in 586 BC
the inhabitants were driven into exile and captivity in Babylon. Through this time
their prayers were focussed on their Holy City.When they returned a century later and
re-established Jerusalem it did not have its former splendour. They rebuilt the temple
which remained a modest structure until it was completely refurbished by Herod the
Great, a Roman who was appointed ‘King of Judea’ by the Roman senate, and who

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Eastern wall of the Temple Mount. Credit: Wknight94, 2010. Creative Commons.
reigned from about 37 BC to his death in 4 BC. According to Jewish historian Titus
Flavius Josephus, who lived in Jerusalem in the first century AD and who witnessed
the destruction of the temple by the Romans in 70 AD, the east wall had been spared
when the first temple was destroyed, probably because of its immense size and beauty,
and was incorporated into the structure of the second temple. Josephus described
Solomon’s Portico on the east side of the Court of the Gentiles as seven metres wide,
with columns of white marble standing 12 metres high, supporting a ceiling made of
cedar panels. However, although they were located on the Temple Mount, the precise
location of both Solomon’s and Herod’s temples remain a mystery.
There are three references to Solomon’s Portico or the colonnade of Solomon in the
New Testament. The first is in John chapter 10, verse 23, when Jesus was teaching in
the portico at the Feast of Dedication.The other references are in the book of Acts.The
first is found in Acts chapter 3, verses 6 to 11, where Peter healed a man in Solomon’s
Portico. In Acts chapter 5, verse 13, Peter and others regularly gathered there. It was a
place where Jesus, and later Peter and the other disciples, congregated to discuss the
scriptures, and to teach and heal. Jesus preached in the Court of the Gentiles, which
had been doubled in size by Herod’s builders and was surrounded by porticos.
It is of great interest to archaeologists and Bible scholars that a Doric capital, which
formed the top section of one of the columns of Solomon’s Portico, was recently
found in rubble dug up from the Temple Mount.This is the first of its kind to be found.
References:
Bible History Online: Jerusalem. The Royal Porticoes – First Century Jerusalem. https://www.bible-history.com/jerusalem/firstcenturyjerusalem_
royal_porticoes.html
Exploring Bible Lands. Solomon’s Porch, September 8, 2013. https://www.exploringbiblelands.com/journal/2013/09/08/solomons-porch
Land of Israel. Discovered: 2000 year old capital from Solomon’s Portico. Z. Shavin, 17 April 2017.
Reading Acts. Acts 5:12, Solomon’s Portico. https://readingacts.com/2019/02/03/acts-512-solomons-portico/
Wikipedia. Solomon’s Porch. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon’s Porch

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                                                              INTERVIEW
                                                          MONTY CHANDRA
                                              Monterrey (Monty) Chandra has been a member
                                              of the Scots’ Church staff for almost two years
                                              and, after commencing on a casual basis, is now
                                              permanently employed with us as Administrative
                                              Assistant to our Administrator Operations,
                                              Jonathan North.
                              Monty was born in Jakarta, Indonesia, where he grew
                              up. He came to Melbourne in 2005 and has spent all his
                              young adult years here. He has returned to Indonesia
                              for several short visits but considers Melbourne his
Monty Chandra                 home now. Monty’s older sister is also in Melbourne
and attends the Indonesian Christian Church (ICC) at Scots’. Monty’s parents are in
Indonesia. His grandmother died there since he has come to Melbourne, and his
biggest regret was not being able to visit her when she was really ill as he was not
allowed to return home at that time.
As he was growing up Monty enjoyed drawing, writing and design, interests he still has
today. After completing his secondary education Monty went on to study for a degree
of Bachelor of Computing, followed by the award of Master of Computing from
Swinburne University. He worked in the field of information technology (IT) until he
ultimately felt ‘burnt out’. He was very grateful to Scots’ Church for the opportunity to
make a fresh start with a change in the direction of his career.
It was in 2009 that Monty first heard about Scots’
Church through Leonardi, one of his friends who was
attending the ICC at the time. At this stage Monty was
attending another church, and also joined in worship
with the ICC from time to time. He began working at
Scots’ as a casual employee in mid-2019, and is now
Administrative Assistant. He is very versatile, with
duties ranging from maintaining the church website,
social media and venue bookings, to building officer
responsibilities.
Monty’s mother is a devout Christian who brought
him up in the Christian faith. His father is a devout
Buddhist but has respected Monty’s decision to follow
                                                                     Montasaurus – ready to play!

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Christianity. His parents gave him the choice and he committed his life to Jesus when
he was baptised during his High School years.
These days Monty’s interests and hobbies include tinkering with computer hardware,
writing short stories, and playing games in his spare time, as well as playing ‘dungeons
and dragons’ with his friends at weekends. He describes himself as a ‘geek’! Monty
has a cat named Montasaurus, whom he loves very much, and who is great fun!
Montasaurus will be eight years old on 20th December 2021, and has been with
Monty since he was just three days old.
Our thanks to Monty for all the skills, expertise and flexibility he brings to his position
at Scots’ Church. We are most fortunate to have him as a member of our team.

                                                  PENTECOST
    Pentecost is regarded as the birthday of the Christian church. It is the festival
    that celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit on the Sunday 50 days after Easter,
    and 10 days after the Ascension of Jesus. This year Pentecost was celebrated
    on Sunday 23rd May.
    The word ‘Pentecost’, meaning fiftieth day, is the Greek word for the Hebrew word
    ‘Shavuot’, meaning Feast of the Weeks. In ancient Israel this was a festival of thanksgiving
    for the beginning of the wheat harvest, and a celebration of the giving of the Law to
    Moses at Mount Sinai. With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles on the
    day of Pentecost, the Jewish feast was transformed to a Christian festival. At this time, a
    flame rested on the shoulders of the apostles and they began to speak in many languages
    through the power of the Holy Spirit.
    The biblical narrative of Pentecost is found in the second chapter of the Book of Acts.
    About 120 followers of Christ including the twelve apostles, together with Mary and other
    women, and the brothers of Jesus, were gathered together in the Upper Room when the
    Holy Spirit descended upon them. It was reported that about 3,000 souls were added to
    their number on that day. This was seen as the beginning of the continual outpouring of
    the Holy Spirit, available to all believers from that time onwards. The Cenacle on Mount
    Zion, Jerusalem is claimed to be the location of the Upper Room, and the site of the Last
    Supper and Pentecost.
    The symbols of Pentecost are those of the Holy Spirit. They include flames, wind, the
    breath of God, and a dove. The colour red is often associated with Pentecost.
    References:
    BBC – Religions – Christianity: Pentecost. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/pentecost.shtml
    ChurchYear.Net: Liturgy, Church Year, and Prayer. What is Pentecost Sunday (Whitsunday)? http://www.churchyear.net/pentecost.html
    Encyclopaedia Britannica: Pentecost: Christianity. http://www.britannica.com/topic/Pentecost-Christianity
    Wikipedia: Pentecost. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentecost

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      THE PRESBYTERIAN AND SCOTS’ CHURCH JOINT MISSION
History
The Presbyterian and Scots’ Church Joint Mission has been operating in various
locations in the City of Melbourne for nearly 100 years and, for 40 years before
that, it was the Scots’ Church Mission. From its inception in 1924 the Mission
provided beds and washing facilities as well as food and clothing and catering
for many tens of thousands of mainly men a year.
During the Great Depression the Mission was trying to feed 300 people five times
a week, i.e. 75,000 visits a year. As men enlisted during the WW2 years the number
dropped to 20,000-40,000 a year. More recently the Mission has supplied food and
other material goods but not accommodation.
The Mission in Flemington
The Mission has been in its present location at St Stephen’s Church in Flemington for
nearly 20 years and opens weekly. The massive need of the past has been somewhat
ameliorated because of better government services, less unemployment, and the
presence of a number of local complementary charities. However, there are still
many people who struggle with multiple social, psychological and physical problems
resulting in social isolation, poor planning and poor nutrition.
The population of Flemington, Kensington,
North Melbourne and surrounds is very
mixed; some affluent who enjoy the inner
suburban living and proximity to universities,
hospitals and the CBD but many with extreme
disadvantage, especially those requiring
public housing or who are homeless. Amongst
our Mission friends are those with loneliness,
major psychiatric illnesses, personality
problems, intellectual impairment, alcohol
and drug addiction, domestic abuse, chronic
gambling, ex-prisoners, the homeless, complex
chronic medical problems, immigration
and cultural issues. Many are burdened with
multiple problems. Many new faces have
appeared with the pandemic - especially
people on temporary visas who have lost their
employment.
                                                        The Mission doors – open to all.

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The Mission at present has between 60-70 visitors a week. It opens every Tuesday
morning from 10.00am to 1.00pm. It offers practical and knowledge-based help to
local disadvantaged people and is a friendly meeting place for a very diverse group.
It provides generous food parcels weekly: non-perishable staples together with fresh
fruit, vegetables, milk, bread and toiletries. Partnership with Foodbank Victoria (since
June 2020) has allowed us to have much more access to fresh fruit, vegetables and a
wide range of perishable and non-perishable food and basic toiletries at very low cost.
We are currently in the process of acquiring more appropriate storage for perishables
to maximise delivery of these items to the community.
Every Tuesday before COVID-19 everyone would enjoy a substantial morning
tea, for example, home cooked pasta, congee, fried rice, soup, coffee, tea and ever
popular party pies. This gave an opportunity for all to sit and chat, to relax and read
a newspaper, or to just sit and be with people. The Mission provides a safe, happy
and non-judgemental environment. For many, the Mission may be the only friendly
place they visit. Many at the Mission, both volunteers and visitors have been part
of the fabric for years so know each other well. Their problems aside, our visitors
also have many fascinating stories to tell - from a wide variety of cultural, religious,
work and family backgrounds. Many, from different backgrounds and religions, have
appreciated the opportunity to attend the Mission’s fortnightly church service.
Essential medications are paid for if required. The Mission has an agreement with
a local pharmacist. If prescriptions are filled at that chemist, the Mission pays the
account. All prescriptions have to be approved by the Missioner.
Education programs, school uniforms, books, excursions etc, if approved by the
Presbyterian and Scots’ Church Joint Mission Committee, can be paid for by the
Mission.
The Missioner is available by phone at other times for emergencies.
Governance
The Flemington Mission is an outreach service of Scots’ Church, Melbourne, and
the Presbyterian Church of Victoria. Decisions on day to day running are made by
the Presbyterian and Scots’ Church Joint Mission Committee which has members
appointed from Scots’ Church and the wider Victorian Presbyterian Church. The
Committee meets every two months.
The Missioner, currently Rev. Andrew Wong, is appointed by the Committee and
employed by the Mission.There are at least 12 regular volunteers at the Mission, some
of whom are also members of the Committee.

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The Presbyterian and Scots’ Church
Joint Mission Inc. is registered with the
Australian Charities and Not- For-Profits
Commission.
Funding
The two main sources of income to
the Mission have been donations from
individuals and income from invested
funds. Donations of non-perishable
food and toiletries are given by various
congregations and other people
throughout Victoria. The volunteers
provide hot food, fresh produce and
extra supplies. Over the last year the
Mission has also received several grants
from local and state government to
carry out specific projects related to the
problems presented by COVID.
                                                        There are opportunities to meet and chat over a cuppa.
Flemington Mission and COVID-19
For the month of April 2020 the Mission was running on an emergency only basis
because food supplies in bulk were unavailable. Social gathering was suspended, the
volunteers stayed home and the Missioner looked after all the emergency calls and
visits. In May 2020 bulk purchases were again available so the Mission was able to
reopen the doors to all regular visitors and well as any new referrals and emergencies
and it has been open very week since then (except a break for Christmas), operating
in a COVID safe manner.
A COVID Response Community Grant from the Melbourne City Council in May 2020
enabled the Mission to fully restock with non-perishable food and prepare for any
future rationing. Supplies had been completely depleted in the time of food rationing.
We also acquired plenty of cleaning products, hand sanitiser, storage tubs, no-touch
rubbish bins and attended to some structural problems in the kitchen.
Many changes have been made for distributing supplies to people, now occurring
outside the building with appropriate social distancing. Each person receives their
food separately. COVID safe procedures were high priority because our community is
high risk and there were significant local outbreaks in the community we serve.
The Mission’s material assistance to people has increased in amount and quality

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You can also read