Convergenette’s Commentary

I think with both Rohan and I posting today people are going to assume there’s nothing going on.  Well that would be wrong.  It’s wonderfully, amazingly, crazily, fantasticly, busy at MLC today!

There  are Team Members, Adult Volunteers, Marks and real live delegates in here working as part of the NCYC09 team to get things ready for everyone to converge together … TOMORROW!

There’s painting happening, bright coloured t-shirts (go MARKS!),  staging being set up, things being hoisted to the roof, name tags and envelopes being stuff, signs going up, decorating happen and so much more.  It really is a hive of activity.

Safe travels, have fun and we can’t wait to see you in one more sleep!!!

Recently I’ve been reflecting on how much it can mean to have someone say thank you and recognise the work that you have been doing.

It made me think about all the other people who are also working their guts out on NCYC in various ways.  One of the unique and incredible things about NCYCs is that they are organised by volunteers more than paid staff.

Starting with the NCYC09  Think Tank and the ‘Concept Team’ the dreaming of NCYC09 started with a team of volunteers way back in 2005.  Some of these volunteers are still working away now while others have left and new people are involved in their roles.  Since 2006 until now the ‘Interim Management Committee’ and ‘Management Committee’ have been plotting and planning and this group is also largely made up of volunteers.

Then there are about 40 teams of volunteers who have been putting things into place for convention, teams such as Catering, Promo, Registration & Allocation, Venues & Accommodation,  Worship … etc.  During the week of convention (and for set up and pack up) these people will be busy making sure things run smoothly and to help them in that will be the volunteer  leaders such as Adult Volunteers, Chaplains, Community Leaders and Small Group Leaders and more.  Last but not least there are people in congregations who give up their time to fundraise, prayer for and support the delegates attending convention.

All these people are part of the NCYC09 team and without them convention would not happen.  So particularly today on National Thank a Volunteer Day we want to say ‘thanks’.  Thank you for everything you are doing, for the blood sweat and tears, for the smiles, the prayers and laughs.

For the delegates getting excited about converging on Melbourne on the 3rd of January,  it’s a great thought that so many people are also excited about what you’re going to and have been planning and awesome experience.  So when you see a volunteer, join us here in the NCYC09 Office and say thanks for all the hard work that they have done.

It’s only a month to go.  This time in 31 days we will be converging for the first time at MLC for worship.  Also converging with us will be members of congregations across the state (and the country if they feel inclined) .

I remember counting down two years, one year, 6 months, 100 days and thinking that one month would never happen and now it’s here …

Feeling a nostalgic but very excited about what’s going to happen in 31 days … and counting!

There are a number of Pre-NCYC events happening around the place.  Here are details for a couple that I’m aware of.  If you know of one happening in your area, let me know and I’ll put it on here (and on facebook).

Victoria (and Tassie)
This Saturday 29th November at MLC, (the main venue for NCYC09) there will be ‘Nearly NCYC’. A great chance to meet others coming to NCYC, catch up on the latest news and sing some of the NCYC songs.

Start: 29/11/2008 - 1:00pm
End: 29/11/2008 - 8:30pm

MLC, 207 Barkers Road, Kew.
(Melway Map 45 E8, entry & limited parking from Barkers Road)

1:00pm - Tours of MLC
2:00pm - Start of fun
5:30pm - Dinner - Bring $5
6:30pm - Singing with the NCYC09 Band
7:00pm - Worship
8:30pm - End of fun until January 3rd ‘09

Tasmania
Sat 13th December
Come along and learn some of the songs, do an overview and introduction to the gospel of Mark (the text for the convention) and do some pre-thinking about what you would like to experience, learn etc from everything that NCYC offers.

Contact Rev Natalie Dixon-Monu for more details

Western Australia
For those in WA there is a final sending out worship service for everyone who is attending NCYC and their families.
Sunday 30 November at Greenwood Uniting Church starting at 6.30pm.
This is a chance to meet others who are going. Liz Boase, one of the bible study leaders from WA will be speaking. For more information contact Clare Ligtermoet on 08 9260 9810

If I hate myself, underrate myself, undercut myself and head-butt myself…
should I still love my neighbour as myself?

In difficult circumstances did Jesus ask himself the question:
“What would I do?”

Does God overhear me talking to myself?
Could this be a sub-classification of prayer?
Does God answer prayers that are never even asked?
Could this explain why there’s so much unjustifiable goodness in the world?

From:
The Theologast:  Profound Wonderings on the Sacred, the Self and the Seemingly Certain by Cameron M Semmens

Each year since 1999 the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has chosen one young Australian to be the Youth Representative in Australia’s delegation to the United Nations General Assembly. Applications are now open for 2009 for young people aged 15 to 24.

Applications are now open for the 2009 UN Youth Representative Position!

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade reserves the right to withdraw the Youth Representative Position 2009 at anytime.

Yesterday afternoon I was on my back to the NCYC09 office from the Synod office in the CBD of Melbourne. It’s just a quick tram ride up Swanston St and yesterday I managed to hop on a tram just before the peak hour crowds appeared.

I was sitting on this tram and lamented my recently departed iPod when I began to pay attention to my fellow travelers.

Sitting diagonally opposite me was a man on his mobile. I think this man was India and the conversation he was having was in what I presume was Hindi. Behind me was an Irish man talking with people he obviously knew but not very well, about his Welsh friends. We also passed Chinatown and were traveling along parallel to the Italian restaurants in Lygon St.

As I was sitting in the middle of all of this, it occurred to that this what a great snapshot of what Melbourne can offer to NCYC’s ‘Converge’ theme.

There are heaps of things to do around Melbourne that demonstrate some of the cultural variety that, living here, I often take for granted. A quick poll around the office and the responses about things that showed an assortment of culture/s in Melbourne included:

• the museum (I’ve been to an exhibition about Aboriginal history that was fascinating)
• the MCG (AFL being a culture unto itself!)
• walking along Lygon St and checking out all the restaurants offering different cuisine
• the immigration museum
• dinner in Chinatown
• shopping on Chapel street or Bridge Road (may
• and one of my favourites, Brunswick St (especially Trampoline ice-cream!

During NCYC itself, we will be experiencing some of Melbourne during the Submersion day. What you see depends on your submersion but we will also be gathering at a public space around Melbourne for the Public Rally that evening.

There’s so much to do and many websites to check out for ideas. If you’ve got the chance, take some time before or after NCYC to see the sights and experience some of these varied things and get a snapshot of Melbourne’s cultures.

I received the following email the other day from Darren saying that he is going to shave his head to raise money for NCYC.
Darren is now looking for sponsors. Some of the money will be going towards the Disadvantages and Overseas Delegates fund or even Indigenous delegates.
It’s fantastic to see and hear some of the ways that people are supporting NCYC and brainstorming ideas of getting people of different experiences, lifestyles, cultures and areas to converge with us at convention.

If you want to support Darren as he does his bit, check out his blog or leave a comment.

And yes, Darren’s hair is quite long so it will be a change for him to shave it all off!

Mick sent me a joke this morning which I quite enjoyed and got me thinking. (Yes, a rare thing for a Friday!)

A couple had two little boys, ages 8 and 10, who were excessively mischievous. They were always getting into trouble and their parents knew that, if any mischief occurred in their town, their sons were probably involved.

They boys’ mother heard that a clergyman in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys. The clergyman agreed, but asked to see them individually. So the mother sent her 8-year-old first, in the morning, with the older boy to see the clergyman in the afternoon.

The clergyman, a huge man with a booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly, “Where is God?”

They boy’s mouth dropped open, but he made no response, sitting there with his mouth hanging open, wide-eyed. So the clergyman repeated the question in an even sterner tone, “Where is God!!?” Again the boy made no attempt to answer. So the clergyman raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy’s face and bellowed, “WHERE IS GOD!?”

The boy screamed and bolted from the room, ran directly home and dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him. When his older brother found him in the closet, he asked, “What happened?”

The youngest brother gasped for breath and replied, “We are in BIG trouble this time dude. God is missing and they think WE did it!“

So that got me thinking about where God is in NCYC09. Yes I hope he or she is there in the Worships, Whole Convention Gatherings, Public Rally, Bible Studies, Electives, Community times, Submersions, Small Group time etc. In fact I think that God will be in those things and we’ll see this if we make the time and space for her/him. But for me the more exciting possibilities are dinner times, lunches, friendships, jokes, bus transfers. The unexpected God moments.

I’ve often felt my ‘God moments’ during conversations with the people I meet an NCYCs. Sometimes these are conversations with people who I don’t ever see again, but they’re still precious moments.

So I wonder where others have had these God moments?

I was emailed this link to Noah’s blog.  It made me smile, which is something we can never do too much of and so I hope it can make you smile too
Noah’s blog