Sydney Weekend

Saturday morning started with a run, then breakfast at the Rising Sun Workshop with Lori and Murray. Sorry, no photos of the motorbike owners working on their bikes below us.

My son Jon had recommended the “Breakfast Ramen” so I ordered it – yummmm!

Then some shopping in Newtown with Lori, and a visit with Norman Heldon, now 100 years old!

Later on, I attended the Angel Service at the Roseville New Church in north Sydney, which involved train rides over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and a lovely view of Sydney and the Harbour all lit up for the evening. After the service, I was able to network over dinner with Jan Primrose, president of the Swedenborg Association of Australia, and her friend Lynn.

Roseville New Church, a NCIA congregation

On Sunday, the co-ed worship team consisting of Cliff Adamou and myself led an outdoor service which included a children’s talk and a discussion of correspondences in nature. I’m pretty sure it was unusual but not groundbreaking for the congregation to have a woman co-lead a worship service. In the past I was able to co-lead a Good Friday service with Communion here, and lead study groups. This is the church for which my Dad was the pastor for a total of 19 years, and in which I grew up, so it feels like home in many ways.

Cliff and me before the service

Norman still comes to church regularly

Discussion re: Correspondences in Nature

Coffee hour inside, after the service and discussion

Some of the congregation went on a picnic to Oatley Park afterwards.

L-R Sam Johnson, Carolyn Heldon, Murray H, Cliff, Patricia Walsh, Lori H, Huiling Sun, Jenn Beiswenger, Kristen J

A Ghost gum – my favourite kind of gum tree – towering above our picnic spot

Carolyn Heldon and I left the event before the swimming bit to drive down to Thirroul on the NSW coast, where Carolyn lives with her sister Michelle, Michelle’s husband Dylan and their 10 month-old daughter Aneira. Because Michelle’s twin Angela is married to my son Jon and lives with me back in the USA, they very sweetly introduced me to Aneira as “Grandma Ros.” While on childcare duty for part of the afternoon, we went to the gorgeous Thirroul beach. Once again, my beach time was foiled a bit by rough surf and dangerous currents, but I was still able to enjoy the beach, and the salt-water Olympic size pool at the beach.

Thirroul beach, which was closed to swimming. Many east coast beaches up and down the coast were closed for a few days due to effects from Cyclone Gita which had hammered Tonga and is approaching New Zealand

Later on we learned of another family connection that got me and Michelle all emotional: Aneira’s toy box is the same one my family used all those years ago when I was growing up in Hurstville. Michelle had rescued it from under the church a few years ago. What a sweet little reunion as our paths cross again!