By the time you receive this Newsletter, our time in Australia will be drawing to a close. We leave on September 12. How delightful it has been and how quickly it went! We have enjoyed the balance between church work and sightseeing fun. The warmth of your friendship has seen us through the cold winter nights. Thanks to all of you who entertained us so generously, drove us around so expertly and touched our lives in such satisfying ways. Your hugs have fuelled our energy. Your sense of fun and laughter is combined with a strong love of the church that keeps everything going in spite of the blows you have sustained. We respect your devotion to the New Church and we wish you every blessing on your work here.

You made our dreams come true with the excellent bushwalks. If we keep trying, maybe someday we will be able to catch up to Norman (now aged 89) who sets a blistering pace. We loved taking the ferries in Sydney Harbour and spending time hanging out near Circular Quay, the Opera House and the Botanic Gardens. What a beautiful city.

The trips to Canberra, Brisbane, Auckland and soon Perth were the icing on the cake. Each area we visited whetted our appetite to return to Australia ?sometime? But we must leave that up to providence.

It has been a great pleasure to join you for a while along your path. May the Lord bless you always.

Frank and Louise

We had been told "you will love Frank and Louise". However we didn't realise just how much we would love them. They have added so much to the life of our Society during the past three months. Frank's inspiring services with their delightful illustrations drawn from life situations, full of doctrine but delivered with simple clarity have been much appreciated. His Living Spiritually workshops have been very popular not to forget the watercolour classes that have been showcased in an art exhibition in the church porch. Louise has given great support with the music for the service on many occasions and her floral arrangements have been a delight. Many thanks to you both.

Theo Kirsten grew up in the Hurstville Society of the New Church and his contribution was significant over many years. He served in many ways, teaching Sunday School, giving Lay Services when the society was without a minister or the minister was travelling and serving on the Property Trust and Business Committees where his advice was always especially valued. In the video produced for the 100th Anniversary from old 8mm films last year it was a pleasure to look back over the years and see Theo and his family.

Life can be very hard, and death always seems to come as a shock.

As someone who only recently met Theo, I cannot presume to speak from long experience, but when the family talked to me with such affection about his gentle kindness, it rang true. My brother, Don, was Theo's pastor, many years ago, and when he heard of the death wrote to me and told me how much he loved Theo.

Theo attended church a few months ago, and when I noticed his physical limitations, I rejoiced that he was there in spite of them. Then I tried to look beyond the appearance and get a sense of the real person within. Inside his bent frame, was a young and vital spirit -; a good, kind, and gentle man. In his life he was active in his church, was very kind to his parents, worked hard and well in the carpet business, and enjoyed the world. He served his time in the air force in defence of freedom.

I have no difficulty believing that now, almost a week after the death of his physical body, he is alive and well in the spiritual world. I believe he has a new and vibrant spiritual body. I also believe that the qualities people loved in him here are with him there in greater perfection. He by now has met with the relatives and friends that have left this world and continue their life there. He has found his new home, and new areas of activity and service.

If I had the ability to visit him today on that spiritual plane, I might ask him how he felt about the strokes that took away so much of his physical vitality, for so many years.

He might say something like this:

"It was hard. I did not want to give in to any physical limitations. When I lost the power of speech with my second stroke, it was especially hard, but I did not lose the power of communication. I think I grieved more for my family and friends than for myself. I hated putting them through so much bother, especially my dear wife. I felt robbed of my retirement years. We had looked forward so much to doing more travelling together in my retirement."

And if I then asked him if it was hard to be handicapped for so many years, I think he might say:

"At the time it seemed very long -;in fact it seemed endless. But time is a strange thing. Now it seems like just a brief moment. Compared to the eternal life that is before me, it was nothing."

Then I might ask if he had any idea of the purpose of such a long illness he might say:

"We never know the real value of our experiences at the time. My strokes were certainly not something I wanted for myself or my family, but the Lord has a wonderful way of blessing us in the midst of hardship. I know I gained a lot through that experience. I am a better person because of it. I also believe and pray that my dear wife and others who cared for me may have been enriched by looking after me. It must not have been easy. They were such a blessing to me, and it felt as if I could do nothing for them, but maybe the Lord has blessed them as well. "

Well, this is just one picture of what Theo may be thinking and feeling. He has a wonderful new life before him, and there is much to interest and fascinate him. What we do know is that it is good for us to gather today, support his wife and family, honour his memory and rejoice in his release from physical pain to eternal life.

It is a great privilege to be able to say a few words about Theo.

Not only on behalf of Dot and myself, but his other close friends Yvonne and Cec Yook and Joan Peterson, who with her late husband Bill, for many years enjoyed Theo and June's company at many outings and functions. 

I first met Theo over forty years ago through my daughter Marilyn, who worked for him at Master Carpet Company, which he and his partner John owned at Peakhurst.

Marilyn invited him to join us together with Cec, Yvonne, June, Joan and Bill at the now defunct "film club" in Goulburn Street. In fact this is where he met June for the first time. "We all know the rest of the story"

Theo was a great friend, he was one of those special people who in his own way was a little shy - but he had a great wit and a brilliant mind and was very generous to say the least.

When Dot and I started our own business in 1976, Theo was always available to give advice. He had made a study of money investments, taxation and other facets of finance and passed on this information, which we were able to utilise to great advantage.

Theo liked barbeques, lunches, dinners and travel. We had four trips to Fiji with him, which was a place where he loved to relax.

Unfortunately, as you know, Theo suffered a severe stroke some 20 years ago, which altered his life style dramatically. Whilst he was not physically able to participate in many things, he was still a great joy to be with.

Today is a very sad day indeed as it brings to an end an era of great friendship and fellowship.

Goodbye dear friend you will be sadly missed.

I wanted to give everyone an insight of what Pop meant to us -; his grandchildren.

Some of my earliest memories of both Pop and Nan were hearing about some of their great travel experiences. When I was younger it seemed that Pop together with Nan travelled everywhere around the world. They went to France, England, Ireland, Hawaii, Singapore, Scotland, Spain, Tahiti and also around Australia.

They had great times and as a child it was always interesting to hear about their stories.

Pop always spoilt his grandchildren and this was part of his generous giving nature. From their many trips together we have been lucky to receive gifts from all around the world. The one that I remember most was when they brought home for myself, Michelle, Danielle and Charmaine our own Cabbage Patch Kid, a doll that every child wanted, at the time. We were all soooo excited. It wasn't until years later when Nan would retell the story back to us -; we learned how difficult it was for both Pop and Nan to carry the four big boxes -; plus gifts for others back home. Even though the dolls were most definitely awkward and difficult to get to us, Pop together with Nan made sure we received them. He loved us and by his nature he was generous to everyone who was part of his life.

I also remember Pop at the many family get togethers that we had at their beautiful Lugarno home. Pop would never be too far away from enjoying a Tooheys Old with his friends and family. He enjoyed sharing with his family, whether it was with Nan, his children, his grandchildren and later his great grandchildren.

It was only the other week when my husband Damien and myself were visiting Pop in Hospital when Damien joked about putting some Toohey's Old in his drip. Pop was quite quick to smile at this.

Pop would listen and smile and enjoy time with his family and friends. Pop was kind, loving and generous with his whole life to all his grandchildren.

Michelle, Danielle, Charmaine, Mark, Kathleen, Todd, Wayne, David and Peter, Mark and myself.

He will be missed by all of us and our family and he will be remembered as a great Pop because he was.

The memorial service for Syd Heldon, brother of Norman Heldon was held in the Bryn Athyn Cathedral on 11th August. The following is a summary of the address by Rev Erik E Sandstrom.

With a touch of humour which Erik knows would be appreciated by Australians he began the address with the following: "To a New Church member, life after death is dead certainty. As we read: "After death, a person lives to eternity, life in heaven is called life everlasting, and the Lord said, Because I live, you shall live also… God is God of the living, not of the dead." DP 324.5"

Erik went on to discuss the purpose of life on this world as a preparation for our life after death with quotes from the New Testament and the Writings. He described the various ways that Syd served his country, his family, his occupation and the church.

In the Second world War Syd served the Royal Australian Air-force as fire direction gunnery officer in bomber command out of Darwin. His future wife Elizabeth Walter also served in the war effort and met Syd through the pen-pal contact among New Church service people organized out of Bryn Athyn.

Settling in Bryn Athyn after living briefly in Australia after their marriage Syd began work in a new career. Being sociable and very comfortable with people, Syd was successful as he moved from one business merger to the next, supplying rope to tug-boats in the marine industry, and to many other concerns, including the Asplundh company, always served up at a high calibre end of the scale.

Erik's address says that after his retirement "Sydney Heldon believed being a guide was a lot of fun and very useful. Syd knew we are actually attended by angels although we may not notice them all the time. He knew the purpose of life, and worked to follow it in typical Aussie fashion, that is with no high airs, please, but straight forward, get the work done and loaded with good humour used at a moment's notice. And in Australia is where Sydney was born. Syd known to many of us for his attention to use, was a guide at heart. In this building as well as up at the Glencairn museum, Syd gave many years of service as guide to visitors. At home and at work, he led by example, and left people happy and informed. His instruction was always practical, with great attention to detail."

Syd is survived by his wife Lib, son Alan, daughter Debra and her husband Tom and three grandchildren Jack, Gina and Michael.

The memorial service can be listened to by visiting the General Church website http://www.newchurch.org/sermons and searching for the service under Rev Erik E Sandstrom.

 
Norm and Syd in Airforce uniform

New Church Life Online

The current issue of New Church Life can be read online at the Newchurch.org website. This is an historic first online appearance for a journal now in its 126th year of continuous publication. Surely, those young people who started New Church Life in 1881 would be pleased to see this journal utilizing 21st century technology for broader and more immediate distribution.

How to find it by direct link: Go to www.newchurchlife.org. This opens directly to a screen showing the New Church Life cover and general description. Click on "Current Edition." This opens the contents screen where you may click on the article you wish to read. This could be particularly useful for people in Australia who are used to getting their copies of New Church Life several months late in the post!

 If you would like to contribute to Theta Alpha Guild it would be much appreciated.

 We are a Chapter of Theta Alpha International and our uses here in the Hurstville Society are:

1. Providing General Church children in Australia with a gift on New Church Day.
2. Sending greeting cards (eg. Get Well cards) to church members and friends.
3. Supporting the Hurstville Society Sunday School.
4. Housekeeping of the church's multi purpose building "Baringa".

If you would like to help please send your donations to:

Patricia Walsh (Treasurer)
157 Faraday Road
PADSTOW NSW 2211

The ladies of Theta Alpha Guild thank you for your assistance.

Perfect weather greeted a group of nine intrepid walkers for a hike from The Spit to Manly on Saturday 12th August. The scenery was stunning with constant harbour and bush views to be had. The company was great and we all enjoyed some well-earned refreshments at Manly before the ferry trip back.

Congratulations to Michelle Heldon who has been awarded a grant from the William Fletcher Trust. These grants are for the development and advancement of talented young Australian artists.

Kerry Lockhart has recently returned from a flying visit to London to be by her daughter Karen's side during major surgery. This involved a delicate skin graft required as a result of a motorcycle accident. Karen is out of hospital (but on crutches) and doing well.

Many of you will know Peter Taylor, son of Tom and Shirley Taylor and will share their shock and sadness at the untimely death of Peter's wife Lorelle who died suddenly recently from a massive brain haemorrhage. Our deepest sympathy to the whole family at this time.

At the end of August Jeffrey Heldon will be returning to Bryn Athyn to continue his High School studies. Already departed on Saturday 26th are Robert Cooper, Huiling and Matthew also to Bryn Athyn where Robert will be studying at the Theological School. The Society officially said farewell to them at a most enjoyable luncheon at their home after church on Sunday 13th August following which Rev Frank Rose performed a blessing on the home. Featured during the brief ceremony were the Society gifts of a Word stand, Word cover and candlesticks.

September 3rd will be the last Sunday Rev Frank Rose and his wife Louise will be with us. If you can please join us for a Pot Luck luncheon after church to farewell them. The food arrangements are as for our usual Pot Luck luncheons so please bring a savoury or sweet dish to share. Drinks will be provided.

Early September will also see more departures with overseas trips being undertaken by Owen and Margaret Heldon and Mike and Kerry Lockhart.

With so many departures it is good to be able to also announce the imminent arrival of Rev Doug & Christine Taylor on Friday 8th September after spending a few days in Adelaide with family and friends. We will have a Welcome for them on Sunday 10th with a special morning tea after church.

Happy Birthday to Owen Heldon (6th), Carolyn Heldon (8th), Klaire Horner (9th), Frank Rose (11th), Sylvia Hicks (13th), Karen Lockhart (13th), Jeffrey Heldon (15th), Phillipa Horner (15th), Emily Hicks (26th), Phillip Walsh (29th) and from last month Louise Rose (August 26th).

Note: All events are located at the church at 22 Dudley St, Penshurst 2222 (off Hillcrest Ave) unless otherwise stated. Contact the Hurstville New Church on (02) 9580 1589 for more information or email us at newchurch@optusnet.com.au All are welcome and refreshments are served after church each Sunday.
Friday	September 1st	7 00 p.m. Dinner and Class ("Living Spiritually")
Sunday	September 3rd	10 00 a. m. Worship followed by Pot Luck Luncheon to farewell Rev Frank & Louise Rose
Wed to Sun	Sep 6th to 10th	Rev Frank & Louise Rose visiting Perth
Friday	September 8th	Rev Doug and Christine Taylor arrive
Sunday	September 10th	10 00 a. m. Worship followed special Morning Tea to welcome Taylors
Tuesday	September 12th	Rev Frank and Louise Rose depart for USA
Friday	September 15th	7 30 p.m. Class
Sunday	September 17th	10 00 a. m. Worship (Holy Supper) followed by Property Trust AGM
Sunday	September 24th	10 00 a. m. Worship
Monday	September 25th	Young People's Class (to be confirmed)