Haven | 4:30pm - 5:30pm Sunday 16th of November 2025

• 4:30pm-5:30pm Sunday 16 November 2025 
• Worship Focus: Gather around the Communion table.
• Light refreshments. 
• Venue: Social Support Centre, Activity Room:3, 70 Mernda Village Drive, Mernda

Lest We Forget.

"Recessional" by Rudyard Kipling

"Recessional" is a five-stanza poem written by Rudyard Kipling for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897. It is a cautionary message to the British Empire, urging humility and reflecting on the transience of power at a time of immense imperial pride and celebration, it reminds readers that the British Empire is trivial and transient in the face of the permanence of God:

A recessional is actually something you sing on the way out of church, at the ends of a service. This is a recessional to the coming end of empire.

The poem is not particularly about war. Kipling would probably have been surprised about how his words have come to be used, particularly here in Australia, in a commemorative context.

God of our fathers, known of old, 

Lord of our far-flung battle-line, 

Beneath whose awful Hand we hold 

Dominion over palm and pine— 

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, 

Lest we forget—lest we forget! 

The tumult and the shouting dies; 

The Captains and the Kings depart: 

Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice, 

An humble and a contrite heart. 

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, 

Lest we forget—lest we forget! 

Far-called, our navies melt away; 

On dune and headland sinks the fire: 

Lo, all our pomp of yesterday 

Is one with Nineveh and Tyre! 

Judge of the Nations, spare us yet, 

Lest we forget—lest we forget! 

If, drunk with sight of power, we loose 

Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe, 

Such boastings as the Gentiles use, 

Or lesser breeds without the Law— 

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, 

Lest we forget—lest we forget! 

For heathen heart that puts her trust 

In reeking tube and iron shard, 

All valiant dust that builds on dust, 

And guarding, calls not Thee to guard, 

For frantic boast and foolish word— 

Thy mercy on Thy People, Lord!

Haven | 4:30pm Sunday 9th November 2025

• 4:30pm-5:30pm Sunday 9th November 2025
• Maps and Compasses Maps and Compasses 
• How do we negotiate other points of view?  — Week:2
• Seven principles!
• Light refreshments. 
• Venue: Social Support Centre, Activity Room:3, 70 Mernda Village Drive, Mernda

All Hallows Eve

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

(Hebrews 12:1NLT)

Haven | 4:00pm - 5:30pm Sunday 2nd of November 2025

• 02/11 — 4:00pm-5:30pm (Note earlier start time) 
• Pre-Cup Day Picnic Tea in the park. 
• BYO basket of goodies to share, blankets (or picnic chairs) and frisbee 
• Venue: Mernda Adventure Playground. Mernda Village Drive &, Greig Dr, Mernda. (SEE LINK) https://maps.app.goo.gl/atgQbhVapYfEkK8FA
• Check Blog for details & changes in case of inclement weather.

Haven | 4:30pm Sunday 26th of October 2025

• 4:30pm-5:30pm Sunday 26th of October 2025 
• Outreach focus: Time to plan & prepare for our community focus this Christmas. 
• How do we understand & explain Christmas? 
• Venue: Social Support Centre, Activity Room:3, 70 Mernda Village Drive, Mernda

Haven | 4:30pm Sunday 19th of October 2025

• 4:30pm-5:30pm Sunday 19th October 2025 
• Maps and Compasses wk:1 Navigating our beliefs and values in a pluralistic world! How do we negotiate other points of view? 
• Light refreshments. 
• Venue: Social Support Centre, Activity Room:3, 70 Mernda Village Drive, Mernda

♦️ Men's Breakfast 18th of October! ♦️

♦️♦️ You need to let me know by 14 October if you want to come and haven't yet let me know!! ♦️♦️

We’ve talked for a while about providing the occasional relaxed opportunity for people to get together and just chat over a meal.

It’s also a good opportunity to invite any friends or family who don't necessarily want to be part of the regular Haven activities but just want to enjoy good food and conversation. 

We had a fantastic Women's Breakfast recently and the Men's Breaky is coming up soon! 

The Men’s Breakfast is 9:00am Saturday 18th October at Turners Bakehouse, 107 Schotters Rd, Mernda (Close to the Uniting church).

We’d like to book a table the week before. So we need you, as soon as possible to:

—  RSVP as soon as possible. 

— Let any friends know as soon as  possible.

Details on the flyer — below.

Haven | 4:30pm Sunday 12th of October 2025

• 4:30pm-5:30pm Sunday 12th October 2025Outreach focus: We will pick up our previous discussion on how we can bless our neighbourhood. What might we do for Christmas? Gift-packs? Help with Carol services? Serve a meal? Bring your ideas!
• Light refreshments. 
• Venue: Social Support Centre, Activity Room:3, 70 Mernda Village Drive, Mernda