Australia Day Reflections

On this Australia Day, I welcome those who have called this land for millennia, those born here (as I was), those who travelled across the seas to their new home (as my parents did in the early 1950s), those who haven’t yet become Citizens, and visitors to these shores. It is worth noting that the First Fleet actually landed on 18th January 1788. They planted the British flag on 26th January, effectively establishing New South Wales as a British colony. If we’re going to argue about the date of Australia Day, let’s get our facts right!

In today’s Worship service we will be looking at Australia’s European Christian History. I hope that you will enjoy our journey together. 

As this New Year continues to unfold, remember that Dove Tales will resume as a weekly publication. Helen Murray returns on Tuesday 28th after a well-deserved break. On that date she and I will do some online Microsites website training. On Wednesday I will join other Central Coast UCA Ministers for lunch, noting that Warnervale and Tuggerah Lakes South are now vacant (as is Berowra, and as Hornsby will be from April onwards). The Connecting with God Mission Team will meet on Friday at Umina, planning worship for Lent and Easter.

Behind the scenes we are continuing to work on our online (computer) presence. The new Websites will continue to be developed. The Facebook accounts for Broken Bay and Kincumber are being updated. We have also created a NEW YouTube channel for Central Coast South. I have uploaded every Sunday service from 24th November 2024 onwards. Google “Central Coast South UCA YouTube” or type https://www.youtube.com/@CentralCoastSouthUCA. Note that sometime in February we will be taking Umina’s Sunday services off the Broken Bay Facebook page. Sadly we are being forced to do that due to copyright issues on Facebook which we don’t face on YouTube.

As February draws every nearer, please pray for Church Council and its Executive as we fulfil our Vision and Action Plan. Pray also as we liaise with Presbytery’s Pastoral Relations Committee (PRC) about our Church Profile and Financial documents, all part of our journey towards calling an Ordained Minister or employing a Pastor. 

With hope and joy in 2025,

Rev. Frank Van Der Korput
Supply Minister