Coffee, Craft & Childcare Program and Registration Form - August/September 2016

Coffee, Craft & Childcare Program and Registration Form - May 2016

Uniting Church Opportunity Shop Blessing and Celebration

A wonderful gathering of over fifty people was held at the opportunity shop on Sunday October 11th 2015 at 2:30pm to celebrate the completion of the extensions to the building.

Ian York from the Management Committee gave a comprehensive overview of the process involved from inception to completion.  John Baker, chairperson of Church Council thanked all those involved in the project including the valued volunteers and then Reverend Christine Thomson read a reflective and very beautiful blessing, most appropriate for the ongoing work at the opportunity shop.

Following the formalities, warm fellowship and a sumptuous afternoon tea were enjoyed by all, along with the opportunity to view the renovations.

The two new extensions will make a huge difference to the smooth running of the facility, with one being used for the unpacking of goods and the other as a display area for books and household goods.

All About Our Op Shop!

The Wangaratta Uniting Church operates a very active Op Shop at 39 Vincent Road.  We are open from 10 am to 4 pm weekdays and 9am to 12.00 pm on Saturdays.

It began with humble beginnings in a small shop in Vincent Road, Yarrunga, before

renting this single fronted shop at 39 Vincent Road.  In later years we were able to purchase this, and the shop next door as well.  Extensions have been built at the rear as well as the side to give us more room in the shop and in the working area.   

The Op Shop provides high quality children's clothes and babies wear, mens' and ladies' clothing, accessories and manchester.  Books, toys and a wide variety of household goods are also available.

Two persons are on duty on the counter at a time and there are two shifts each day.  For many people this is all they know about the Op Shop.  The total number of volunteers on roster for counter duty is 54.  In addition to this there are another 40 or so who work behind the scenes.  We are especially grateful for all those who are not members of this church who help us in this important ministry. However, many people are not aware of all that goes on beyond the op shop floor.

We have two bins, one behind our old Appin Street Church and the other beside the shop. The Appin Street bin is cleared twice a week and the one beside the shop is cleared every day the shop is open. High quality goods are greatly appreciated but damaged or dirty goods and items such as furniture, electrical and computer goods cannot be accepted.

We are often overwhelmed by the amount of goods received from the bins and goods that are brought into the shop.  On Tuesdays and Fridays two teams sort out all these clothes and goods.  The things suitable for sale are sorted into their different categories and given to the relevant leaders of the different sections for further attention.  The other team packs all the clothes, shoes and bags that are not suitable for sale into 12 kilogram bags which are then stored for the carrier to pick up and take to Melbourne for rags and other uses.

The Op Shop is actually a small business operated by a local Management Committee who meet with the leaders of each section on a regular basis.  The Section Leaders, who work behind the scenes, are responsible for the final sorting, pricing and arranging of goods in the shop.  

There are others who work behind the scenes assisting with maintenance, collection of metals, and on “changeover” days twice a year, when stock from one season is changed over for the next.

So what are the requirements for volunteers to work in the Op Shop?  Commitment, Cheerfulness, Camaraderie and partnership, humour and harmony are the real characteristics of this important aspect of our church life.

The Op shop provides good quality goods at affordable prices.  It also honours vouchers from Loaves and Fishes - Christians Caring and provides clothes and other necessities free of charge to those who have no way of paying for them.  In addition to this it makes a considerable contribution to the finances of the Wangaratta Parish. 

Over and above and beyond all this, this Shop provides the church with an opportunity to provide a compassionate presence, a kind word and an attentive listening ear to people in our community, hopefully, for many years to come.

- by Rev Carl Clayden

Winter woollies now available at the Uniting Church Op Shop!

We now have all our winter stock in comprising coats and winter woollies!  We also have a new section for buttons sold in small, individual bags.  If anyone has any buttons they do not need, please drop them in to the op shop in Vincent Road.  For address and contact number, please click here.

Many thanks, 

Lyn Hammond.

PALS Christmas Breakup Party 2014

We marked the end of the PALS year on December 3rd with a gathering of about 35 people including volunteers.

It was a great occasion and was enhanced by the presence of Mandy and Manfred Reich who provided the musical accompaniment to our carol singing.

We enjoyed a wonderful afternoon tea, exchanged gifts with one another and reflected on another happy year together.

It is great to welcome several PALS from the community who are not members of the church.

Presentations were made to the loyal band of PALS volunteers who help ensure the smooth running of our gatherings each month. I value their help enormously.

- Rosemary Steele (PALS facilitator)

*** PALS (People Alone Lending Support) meets in the Church Hall at Rowan Street on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 2pm - click here to find out more information about the group.

Some photos of the PALS enjoying the Christmas breakup afternoon...

Our musicians Mandy and Manfred Reich.

Volunteers preparing for the party

The men think there is safety in numbers!

The Op Shop Fashion Parade at Elderly Citizens Club - February 2014

The fashion parade for the Elderly Citizens was a wonderful outreach for the Uniting Church Op Shop. All the models stepped out of their comfort zone and showed daywear, blouses, slacks, skirts and dresses that they all felt very comfortable in to wear up the street.  They also showed three piece outfits suitable for the mother-of-the-bride, church, a special evening out and dinner.  Beautiful glittering evening frocks graced the walkway to the delight of the seniors.

The coordinated sleepwear outfits, with their accompanying cuddly soft toys, were real show-stoppers. A wonderfully happy atmosphere was created as these toys were raffled and won by members of the audience.

We showed them, with our outfits and prices, that we are undoubtedly the best Op Shop in town!  We finished the show with a rendition of our signature little ditty.  We obviously left an impression as there were quite a number of purchases of clothing items made on the afternoon.


Take a look at the models parading a selection of the outfits on the catwalk...

Spotlight: SALT group

SPOTLIGHT ON SALT

SALT is the acronym for Sharing And Learning Together, an ecumenical small group.      

In February-March 2002 a group of people from the Greta-Moyhu area, had such an enjoyable and significant time sharing together in six weeks of Lenten studies, that they wanted to continue.                               

After meeting together in homes a couple of times, the idea of SALT evolved and on 17^th June at 6.30 pm we had a bring to share Tea and Study Group at Carl & Myra Clayden’s 

This was the “official’ beginning of SALT.

The Focus Is on fellowship around a meal together. 

               Eating together is important.

            Singing together

            Laughing together

            Learning together

           

On the third Monday of the month ladies bring something to eat and we meet in homes and halls.  We also have a Picnic Day and a Special Dinner Night through the year.

SALT is meeting a real need.  Men come to Salt who never come to church.

We average 18-24 at our meetings.

- Carl Clayden is the contact person for this group  (0427131928)