No Haven program on Sunday 30 of August 2026

• NOTE — Fifth Sunday of the month. 
• No formal activity today on 30th of August 2026
• This extra Sunday of the month is a gift for you to use!
• Plan in that: “We must catch up one day!” catch up!
• Chat with the Neighbours?
• Go out for lunch with the family?
• Leisurely coffee with a friend?
• Curl up with a book?
• Lie on the lawn and watch the clouds?

We’re back on 4.30pm 6th of September 2026, starting a new series: “The Stories Jesus told” -- The parables.

Check this BLOG for more information!

4:30pm-6:00pm Sunday 6th of September 2026

 

Stories of the Kingdom, the parables of Jesus: Pt: 1 What is the Kingdom of God? 

4:30pm-6:00pm Sunday 6th of September 2026 

Jesus was a master teacher.  His stories were  lively discourses full of illustrations, metaphors, and stories that caught and held the popular interest; he made people think. The parables provoke thought.  In each one Jesus communicated a truth about God or the kingdom of heaven that he wanted his listeners to remember, and so he told them a story.  We’re going to be working our way through some of Jesus’ classic stories of God’s Kingdom over the next few weeks. 

If you want a study guide, you can download a copy HERE 

Light refreshments

Venue: Social Support Centre, Activity Centre, 70 Mernda Village Drive, Mernda

Stories of the Kingdom

Jesus was a master teacher. His speeches weren't dull doctrine or abstract theology but lively discourses full of illustrations, metaphors, and stories that caught and held the popular interest.

Have you noticed how often Jesus used the “question” method? Instead of telling his answers, he often asked questions to engage his listeners in the working out of a solution in dialogue with him.

He answered questions with more questions. He made people think.

The parables also provoke thought. In each one Jesus communicated a truth about God or the kingdom of heaven that he wanted his listeners to remember, and so he told them a story. Who could forget how God loves lost people after hearing the stories of Luke 15 the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son? Each tale makes us ask, "Am I like that? Is God like that?"

Robert Frost defined a parable as a story that means what it says, and something else besides. And in the New Testament that something besides is the more important of the two. Jesus' stories have familiar settings. The farmer sowing seed, the employer hiring workers for his vineyard, the mustard seed, the traveller on the way to Jericho, the man who found a pearl his listeners immediately saw a picture in their minds as Jesus spoke. He joined that picture to something besides, a spiritual reality he wanted them to see.

A few of his stories needed explanation. Others, like the story of the Good Samaritan, have obvious meanings. Sometimes the disciples waited until they were alone with Jesus to ask for his explanation of a story. Some required persistent probing. Only those committed to Jesus would follow through in trying to understand.

These next few weeks, on Sunday afternoons at Haven,  we are going to reflect on some of these stories of the kingdom. If you want a copy of the study booklet, you can download one HERE.

We pray that you will be stretched and blessed as you reflect on these stories of the Kingdom.

4:30pm-6:00pm Sunday 23rd of August 2026

• Haven Mernda
• 4:30pm-6:00pm  Sunday 23rd of August 
• SHARING TOGETHER
• How’s your year been so far? High? Low? Buffalo? 
• Light refreshments
• Venue: Social Support Centre, Activity Centre, 70 Mernda Village Drive, Mernda

What the Lord has done for me ...

 

Let the weak say, "I am strong"

Let the poor say, "I am rich"

Let the blind say, "I can see"

It's what the Lord has done in me

Let the weak say, "I am strong"

Let the poor say, "I am rich"

Let the blind say, "I can see"

It's what the Lord has done in me 

Hosanna, hosanna

To the Lamb that was slain

Hosanna, hosanna

Jesus died and rose again

Hosanna, hosanna

To the Lamb that was slain

Hosanna, hosanna

Jesus died and rose again

Into the river, into the river, I will wade

There my sins are washed away

From the heavens mercy streams

Of the Savior's love for me, yeah, I will rise

I will rise from waters deep

Into the saving arms of God

I will sing salvation songs

Jesus Christ has set me free

Hosanna, hosanna

To the Lamb that was slain

Hosanna, hosanna

Jesus died & rose again

Hosanna, hosanna

To the Lamb that was slain

Hosanna, hosanna

Jesus died & rose again

Hosanna, hosanna

  To the Lamb that was slain

Hosanna, hosanna

Jesus died and rose again

Let the weak say, "I am strong"

Let the poor say, "I am rich"

Let the blind say, "I can see"

It's what the Lord has done in me

Hosanna, sing hosanna to the Lord

To the Lamb that was slain

Unto the Lamb, forever, forever and ever.

 

4:30pm-6:00pm Sunday 13th of September 2026

Stories of the Kingdom, the parables of Jesus: Pt: 2 As dangerous as a mustard seed. Mat 13:31-32  

4:30pm-6:00pm Sunday 13th of September 2026

Jesus was a master teacher.  His stories were  lively discourses full of illustrations, metaphors, and stories that caught and held the popular interest; he made people think. The parables provoke thought.  In each one Jesus communicated a truth about God or the kingdom of heaven that he wanted his listeners to remember, and so he told them a story.  We’re going to be working our way through some of Jesus’ classic stories of God’s Kingdom over the next few weeks. 

If you want a study guide, you can download a copy HERE 

Light refreshments

Venue: Social Support Centre, Activity Centre, 70 Mernda Village Drive, Mernda

Haven schedule to December 2026

Note: Many of these activities will take place at the Social Support Centre, Activity Rooms 1-2, 70 Mernda Village Drive, Mernda.

Note too, that from time to time we may swap some activities around - so always check back on this blogpage closer to the date! 😊

4:30pm - 6:00pm Sunday 21st of June 2026

 

                                                                      

• Haven Mernda         
• 4:30pm-5:30pm Sunday 21st of June 2026 
• Table games & hot chocolate! Lazy afternoon together! 
  
• Bring a friend and bring your favourite card or board games and some chokkies to share!
• Venue: Social Support Centre, Activity Centre, 70 Mernda Village Drive, Mernda

 

Boutros Winter 2026 Update

Greetings friends,We’ve attached a short news-letter to give you bit of an update  about what’s happening for us and at haven. Click HERE

We’re into the middle of the year, with the shortest day of the year coming up soon (21 June)!

Winter is a season of discontinuity. The growth, warmth and light of summer are gone, he days are short, often damp, and there’s less light. Spring is still a-ways off. It’s a ‘liminal’ time!

Our modern world can feel like permanent liminality! Everything we thought was nailed down keeps changing. We live with permanent stress because the 24/7 world is never still long enough for us to re- acclimatise.

We’ve had a ‘pandemic’ of stress and fear long before we had the corona-virus pandemic! We have been alert and alarmed for years. And then of course, the never-ending earthquakes in world affairs can feel like a dark  liminal space. How do you navigate such seasons?

In our newsletter, there’s a reflection on managing such liminal times.

The prophet Jeremiah, writing about his time affirms where hope comes from: “... But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’"  Lam 3: 21-40

We want to say a huge thankyou to the many who encourage, support and pray for us and for Haven — You are all SO appreciated! 

  Sincerely,

  Martin and Esmae