OUTREACH

All members of the body of Christ have gifts and talents, and there is no gift without a corresponding service. 

All members of the congregation, from children to adults, are encouraged to participate in outreach to others; responding to God’s love for us by loving others. 

OP. SHOP

The Op. Shop was opened during the 1980s and was originally called the  'Thrift Shop'.  The idea was to provide a low-cost source of clothing to benefit low-income families in the Craigieburn community. 

For the first 10 years or so, the shop operated in the church foyer, the volunteers once a week setting up and putting away clothes  and other items each time it opened and closed.  It was a very hard and laborious task and we were thrilled when in 1998 the church managed to get funding to buy the present 'cottage' building.  We now sell anything that comes in as long as we can store it with certain exceptions like electrical goods and car safety seats.

There are 13 dedicated volunteers and the Op Shop is able to open for three hours from 10.00am on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays each week during School Term. 

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EMERGENCY PANTRY

We collect long life goods and give these to ‘Salvos 3064’ – local Salvation Army church – who distribute boxes of goods to families with financial difficulties.  By working together we can achieve more for the people of this community affected by poverty or other trauma. 

GROCERY APPEAL

A Christmas grocery appeal is operated by all the local churches and hampers are given to people in need. 

EMPTY CHRISTMAS TREE

Each December we begin the month with an empty Christmas Tree.  During the month people bring gifts for children of all ages.  Before Christmas the gifts are given to Broadmeadows UnitingCare to distribute to families in need. 

LANGUAGE CENTRE TRANSPORT

Children recently arrived from overseas are eligible for education through the Language Centre located at Upfield Primary School.  Transporting children to the school is difficult for parents who cannot drive or whose work hours do not fit in with school hours. Four of our members operate a roster to transport children from Craigieburn to Upfield enabling these children the opportunity to improve their language through both the Centre and communication during the transportation.  

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