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Inter cultural meeting 31 October

Neil opened us in prayer.

Playgroups

Keen to hear how we can continue to support this important part of GWUC.

Vida reminded us that Years ago whilst she was still on Council, a proposal was made to have a Saturday of fun for all the playgroup parents. Reasoning behind this idea

Another idea how we would explore our partnerships with connections ( the dad's playgroup) like topics they can come and speak with us etc parenting.
The Gomers groups support of this, is a great example etc.... Part playgroup in English & in mandarin.... Example story in mandarin & nursery rhymes in English.

Thursday English class

Keen to hear how we can continue to support this important part of GWUC.

Connections partnership and mens playgroup

Keen to hear how we can continue to support this important part of GWUC.
Some ideas arranging perhaps a quarterly morning tea? Asians love food & as you can see our existence is always around food

Wednesday English classes

Average 25 people at least.... Looking forward to Chinese fellowship next year... Meeting to look at what we need for next year funding and ministry team support. Already invited Neil & Glyn to the first one.
English class will continue Wednesday's 1.30pm - 2.45pm followed by Chinese fellowship: 13 March 3-4pm ( gathering the Chinese together mostly from English class trying to introduce faith, make friends, offer friendship and support in a social group. Open to wider community. (2 previous English class members attending 9.15am )

Indonesian congregation

Signed up another 4 members last Sunday as members of the Uniting Church - associate member & members. Faithful group of committed members.
Retreat was great.
Glyn, Andrew & Susan & sometimes Donna - have been supporting the Indonesia congregation.

Susan shared why she goes, she likes to be a bridge between.
She enjoys the translation into English & she is growing roots and enjoys the fellowship time & feels welcome and a level of acceptance.
When the Indonesian members go to the other congregation we need to make sure there is a strong level of welcome.
Realise that there is a big step for people in attending and understanding the English services etc...
Lucky has been sending Susan the order of service, which has been very helpful to her. Susan thought it does help to have some Indonesian language... And how unifying the music can be when everyone knows the hymns...
Talk about making opening words etc in Indonesian and English like the Lord's Prayer & Sending out etc... Some of the messages are in both.

Seniors service highlight was the music of the Indonesian choir...the music has pulled people in. Lucky shared that it is older songs, sometimes played faster etc for younger people. And the familiar things like apostle creed, Lord's Prayer, blessing & sometimes confessions... Discussion around the tradition of the minister and the liturgist etc...
There are a number of people offering to speak like Ross M & Heather H etc

Dreams for next year...

Multicultural/ intercultural dinner etc... Inviting all groups etc to remind us that we are all one and to make friends and get to know each other. (once a year etc )
(Spoke around the previous international dinners) (It was based on a different nationality each year with invitations given to outsiders to provide us with their cultural dances, etc as entertainment)

Idea to bring your own food to share (this needs to be discussed with Margaret Fraser. The last I know all food must be cooked in the church kitchen or bought from a restaurant. No home cooked meals allowed. This is the reason why I had to discontinue the International Dinners because cooking the Appetisers & Desserts in the church kitchen on the day itself meant a very long day for helpers & many left. Main dish was bought from the food court in the Glen. ... Chinese, Indian, Sri Lankan Hong Kong Malaysian ... Wear traditional costume etc... )

Discussion nights seminar/ discussion/ bible study's

One off etc... Christians in....China and Indonesia from uniting world etc... Up way & Ji Zhang-
Susan to come, Angel, Sheila to come and share at testimony and witnessing.... And people to do the same at the Chinese fellowship...
Retreat again -
Trip to Indonesia, May TBC it will be good if we can get a group going to Manado to show our support

Moon festival - If weather permits move to outside and put up tents.

Councils Moon Festival explore involvement in that - food stalls etc
Check council calendar first etc....
Kids face painting was available....

Chinese New Year/ lunar year festival

Are the show bags worth the time and effort etc.... some more thoughts should be put into what goes into the bag. Remembering there is a growing number Indonesians in the area so their activities should be included in this bag to show our multi-culturalism
Angel shared that Lina came from receiving our show bag.....
Sponsorship…. look for some.
Promote multi cultural etc
Larger tent/ another tent for sitting....for parents?

Growth

Discussion about being ready for the growing apartment population.
Strategy for working with church council and Monash council and ethnic groups.... Information workshops and sessions and info sheets on how to be an Australian citizen....resources and processes to help with questions etc around accessing services etc.

Discussion around more sharing of resources etc between multicultural areas...

Susan shared - a lot of our activities are catering to the elderly...If there are opportunities that arises to develop and cultivate younger groups within our church's outreach for a different spectrum
Holiday programs - Basketball clinics - soccer etc
- crafts - like batik, weaving, screen printing etc...

Susan's group is members of our church - that started a catch up group that met after the services as the only Asians 20 years ago... It was the cohesive force that kept the community together & coming to the church. Maintained the core... ( example; Josephine brought Angel.) they regularly go out for lunch together as well...
This group actively reaches out to visitors.
Discussion around the multi cultural elements - the different and diverse languages that people speak and supporting others with first and second languages and cultural, as this group all could speak English....
Sheila and Angel are reaching out by integrating language and culture.
(Remembering that others have been expose to western culture )

Celebrating and Sharing

Celebrating our church as it gets involved more and more with our local culture outside and it is becoming more and more intercultural and feeling very supported and blessed to do this and continue to follow our vision to represent our inter cultural and cross cultural vision And continue to grow it and commit to grow it.

Chat about adapting and changing and to make all welcome and be aware of how we need to change to accommodate, welcome and encourage engagement.

Lucky's wish after Chinese fellowship starts a few months after that - we would have a multi cultural service of worship... Sheila shared that she can't predict what will happen ... But with prayer hopefully it can happen.

Worship Ideas

Ideas around reading and other worship service parts in other languages etc
Choir with hymns in other languages etc as the music is cross cultural etc...
Different tunes for different music and cultures etc are in the hymn book.

Praise dance

Sheila enjoys it as it praises God through dance. And it has a big following... And churches are organising their own dance group.
It would be a good idea if we are receptive to start a dance group here?
Sheila thought we didn't have the resource to do that yet.
Starting at nursery/beginning stage. Chinese fellowship are going to do some basic praise dance, learning.

Continued Ministry support

Team ministry - has been supporting the Multi cultural ministry from the beginning.
What are the thoughts of the wider congregation as this area grows?
Neil mentioned it has been a slow progression etc but are all things that are building the bridges.
Keeping people informed & communicating well.
Multi faith night went really well and more people wished they had come.
The congregations commitment to the hub, play groups etc
And from the visioning process 4 years ago was so committed to reflecting our multi cultural community.

FYI

Offering box from Chinese fellowship - that will go to the church.

Glyn closed us in prayer.

InterCulturalMeeting20181031 (last edited 2023-01-22 00:51:09 by DavidMorgan)