Pancake Dinner - Friday Feb. 22nd 6.30pm

A pancake dinner will be held on Friday the 22nd of February in the Church Hall (Rowan Street) beginning at 6.30pm.  

The guest speaker will be Dr. Graeme Blanch and he will be speaking on his time spent in Northern India at Ladakh with a volunteer program "Vets Beyond Borders".

The cost of the evening is $15 for adults and $5 for school-aged children.

Profits from the night will go to the Uniting Church bushfire appeal.  

Invite your friends and neighbours along.  To book or find out more contact Renate at the Church Office on 57216555 by February the 20th.  

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)

Christmas Day Dinner 2012 Report & Photos

The Christmas Day Dinner hosted by UnitingCare Goulburn North East together with the Uniting Church Wangaratta Parish was a roaring success.  They expected 104 people and 120 turned up.  Extra tables were set up and every chair in the church complex was found and used. Those who arrived early we treated to recorded carols and Christmas stories in the Church.  There was a great atmosphere of celebration.

The meal in the Hall was provided by North East Health Wangaratta, and those on the kitchen team did an outstanding job serving them up considering the extra numbers. The program included carol singing, table game, and a powerpoint presentation “The Chocolate Christmas Story.”  

Father Christmas arrived while we were singing “Jingle Bells” and  the children helped him to give each person a gift, along with a jar of home-made jam, lovingly prepared beforehand by a small group of volunteers from the Uniting Church.

Each team did their required tasks flawlessly and everything flowed smoothly.  

The whole dinner including the preparation, implementation and cleaning up was superbly co-ordinated.  Special thanks go to the UCGNE CEO and co-ordinator as well as the Master Of Ceremonies for an excellent job.  Grateful thanks must also go to all those who donated treats or home baked goods for the take-home gift boxes.


- Carl Clayden



Preparation of the Christmas take-home gift boxes, table set-up and hall decoration:

- photos taken on the day will be added shortly.

Commissioning of a Lay Preacher: Colin Thomson

Colin Thomson was commissioned as a Lay Preacher in the Uniting Church in a worship service at Wangaratta on December 16th, 2012.  

Colin commenced training in early 2009.  He completed Lay Preacher Studies and six supervised worship services.  Following his commissioning, he said that he appreciated all the support received during this time.  His mentor and family members travelled from Melbourne to be there and members of the Presbytery of North East Victoria were also present.

Kids Church at Wangaratta Uniting Church

Children's Ministry

Kid's Church

Kid's Church happens each Sunday morning during term time at Wangaratta Uniting Church.  The children come into Worship and leave for Kid's Church part way through to engage in activities such as drawing, craft, drama, stories and singing.

Confirmation 2012

Engagement with Youth

Confirmation Group 2012

During 2012 it was great that four young people decided to be baptised and confirmed into the membership of the Uniting Church.  They each invited a mentor to attend the preparation for confirmation sessions, they talked together in between the sessions and their mentor stood with them on the day.

Grief And Loss Group

We experience loss in many ways:  through the death of a loved one, personal injury or illness, loss of a pet, moving house or any major change.

Grief is inescapable when we suffer loss.  Someone said, "we learn to live as we learn to grieve. Through grief we learn our limits and we learn that we are sustained by God's grace".  Sometimes grief partners are able to walk and talk with us and to simply be there and this can help.

Grief and loss sessions are offered as needed at the Wangaratta Uniting Church, Rowan Street.  For more information contact one of the Ministry Team.