Our Cornerstone community at Canowindra

The End of Year Formal...

2007-01-22T15:27:00.001+11:00

I knew the end of the year was coming fast as I found myself in the mens department at Target all on my own.I was looking for something nice to wear to our end of year formal. It was at this stage I realized that I was 26years old and have neverbeen clothes shopping on my own before. Some may think thats disgusting, I think its quite an acheivement. I jumped on the phone to mum to see what size business shirt I wear and quickley found out that she is in the "disgusted people" category. I found some nice stuff and was pleasntly suprised at the checkout that everything was on sale.

All the blokes had a great time getting ready for the formal. Trading secrets on how to tie things and which way belts should be worn. Once

we were all together, the blokes were definatly the roses amongst the thorns.

The formal was held at Taste Canowindra. It's a great establishment as you can see by some of the photos. We had a great dinner, sorry im a

bloke i don't know what it was all called. It was curry's with rice and somesort of cool bread. Then some awards and a sing alongs and then it was

back to the center for bed as we had to work the next day.

Well thats my first and last contribution to the Canowindra Blog. Im off to Broken Hill next year to do it all over again!

Dane

Mayfield Team

2007-01-09T13:34:00.000+11:00

Newcastle get ready.... The four Queens are moving into into Caer Newy-Vel in 10 days (give or take)!!!!

Laura is fantasising about a big shiny coffee machine, Tracey's started blowing up her swim-tube, Kylie's dreaming about her new car and Kim is coveting the high ceilings.

Stay tuned for a more meaningful udpate from one of the Righteous Sisters.

Oh yeah, and I got bitten by a redback. Good story.

2006-10-22T22:00:00.000+10:00

Right after work on a Friday afternoon we left for Blackheath, to attend the Beach mission House Party weekend. Five people in a red Magna. Tracey was driving. Laura, Richard, Joseph, and myself were in the car. In Carcoar, we took a wrong turn and went for an extended ride on a dirt road. After a while we realised that this wasn't it so we turned back and found a friendly smiling farmer ready to give us instructions on how to get back to Blayney. At around 9 pm (I think) we arrived in Blackheath. We were supposed to sleep in a school, but it was hard to find in the dark. We stalled a good many times on a steep slope and drove by the school entrance a few times without realizing it!

Once there we got to meet interesting people we had never seen before. We attended different workshops and got together in groups. We found out that there is more than one Beach mission destination and that us Cornerstone people will be part of the team in Narooma. It is an open camp that will take place for 10 days next december. We will attract kids from a campingsite and lure them into attending our Christian activities. The view on the Blue mountains was splendid. Tracey and I walked all the way into town until we found the swimming pool, which was opening only 2 months later (we would have climbed over the fence if there wasn't some tourists taking pictures just in front).

We came back refreshed and excited for Beach mission next december.

Update on Raph

2006-10-17T12:10:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone!

We wanted to make sure you all knew that Raphael has some important appointments coming up at Westmead childrens’ hospital on Nov 2 and 3. He has a conditioncalled trigonocephaly, where the front of the skull fused in utero. It should have stayed open for the next year or two to allow the brain to grow. We’re really grateful to God cause only one doctor out of many health people we’ve seen noticed the problem, and alerted us to the possibility. He also has a narrow upper airway, so he struggles to breathe through his nose pretty constantly. This means he doesn’t feed or sleep well (so Chris and I are pretty exhausted). We are having a sleep test on the night of the 2^nd, and then seeing a cranio-facial team on the 3^rd. Just wanting to keep you guys in touch; and also to ask those who pray to please pray for Raph and for those seeing him to make good decisions regarding treatment (which may include skull reconstruction). We will let you know.

On a lighter note, we are proud to announce the arrival of 3 more little ones. No we’re not having triplets; but our Highland Cows have each had a calf, and we think they’re pretty lovely. Jean from Aberdeen, Jock and Hamish!!
Much love, Chris, Nerida, Iris and Raph.

Preparation for arrival x 3!!

2006-10-06T14:54:00.000+10:00

The first night in our new place & my sister cooked for 6 extras. Then all 6 (including friends & family) managed to find a place to sleep in & around our house! It was a good christening.

Its been great having the space to be able to do things like that -for the first time in our married lives.

The move into town - as sad as it is to leave the Canowindra community physically- is in expectation & preparation for three little people about to arrive with a bang & a splash into our world in the next few weeks...

Its kind of surreal trying to imagine what it will be like -having done nothing of this sort before! At the moment we are quite looking forward to it -& feeling relieved to have the accomadation issue sorted for the meantime.

We've really seen God in all of this. Personally I've seen a new aspect of His elaborate & detailed care that makes me shake my head in wonder. Everything big & small that we needed, & even wanted, has been & continues to be provided for us... He really is very good to us. And so have the beautiful people who've loved us in our need.

So, we reached 30 weeks this tuesday- a cause for celebration- & so far so good. Tomorrow we go to Orange for about the 6th (I've lost count) ultrasound to check on the babes' progress & to get some steriods (!) into me to help their lung development.. this will give them a bit of a headstart when they come (medical people are aiming for 34 weeks). At the moment they are fairly well 'viable' -alright to come- but a few more weeks inside will put them in a much better place ( & less weeks in hospital ) when they do come. (by ceasarean).

Now we are just praying that my body will hold them for a few more weeks at least & that I wont have to sit out (or rather lay out) the last few weeks in hospital- like a lot of triplet mums have to.

Also that if/when it does all start to happen labour-wise, it will be clear & we'll know what to do. (Orange is the place we'll go -40mins away- & from there a flight to Sydney if we're before 34 weeks.)

Anyway, we will see what happens from here..

Thanks for peoples prayers and support -very much appreciated.

-Regards; Jemimah & Ben Read...

Living in Harmony

2006-10-06T14:52:00.000+10:00

Posting on it's way ...

Hey Ho Hey Ho its off to Blackstump 06

2006-10-04T21:13:00.000+10:00

I think we're all still recovering from an exhausting but excellent weekend at Blackstump. Blackstump is a NSW Christian Music Festival held out in the middle of nowhere near Appin, Sydney. Consists of heaps of more local-ish musicians and bands, plus a few bigger Aussie names. Also has some really good speakers slotted into the weekend.

Us first-years went along to help run the Supper Club, which is one of the venues at Blackstump. Some also helped make the yummiest pizzas for Pizza Runners.
Besides makes many many pizzas and about a million coffees, it was a really good chance to go away together as a group and also to catch up with other friends and fellow Cornerstoners.
On ya Chris for organizing everything and keeping us in line.

Personally, I really enjoyed being able to listen to some really good music whilst working, plus it was fun to have to ask people to repeat their order at least three times because of the really good music :)

- Kylie

SKI TRIP!

2006-10-04T19:47:00.000+10:00

9-11 September 2006

Well... how blessed are we, the Canowindra first-years to get to go on a ski trip! We left bright and early on a Saturday morning for Jindabyne via Canberra. We spent most of the day visiting museums and art galleries, shopping, or whatever took our fancy. John Giger's parents kindly put up with all of us for dinner at their house in Cooma. We skiied all day Sunday at Perisher Blue ... or at least tried. For some in the group, this was the first time to even see snow. Even though it was snowing most of the day, it was a really excellent time. Monday we came home, stopping in Canberra for lunch and a little more shopping (what can we say? girls won the majority to shop while we could :))
Was a very fun trip - thanks to Nick for organizing it all, and definately recommend it to future first-years.
-Kylie

re-committing to Rabbi Jesus

2006-08-08T20:38:00.000+10:00

We recently got together as a whole community to think back over the year so far, and enjoy good food, music and verse. To conclude the night we re-stated out pledge, and committed to the life-together for the rest of the year.

Master Raphael W.V. Cuddy

2006-08-08T15:32:00.000+10:00

Our community was thrilled to welcome a new member:
Master Raphael William Vincent Cuddy, first son of Chris and Nerida Cuddy. Raph was born 23 July, weighing 10.1lb.

As you can see, he is a very handsome young man, and the parents very grateful.

There is nothing like a good adventure!

2006-07-31T00:46:00.000+10:00

And there is nothing like waking up at 6am on holidays to attend a 6.30am lecture – in winter!

As I think back over my experience of Open Week in Canowindra, there are loads of great memories that fill my mind. The beauty of a winter sunrise, the unexpected warmth of an air-conditioned lecture room (back in my day you wore your ski parker and got up extra early to light the fire!!), the joy of being taught and challenged more about our amazing creator and learning along side other willing adventurers…what a privilege!

The greatest joy was being able to give Matt (my boyfriend) a first hand experience of what first year was like for me back in 2003. Actually, to be honest, it was his idea that we check out O Week (I was pretty thrilled at the suggestion just quietly).

I often find it hard to express to others outside the Cornerstone community exactly why first and second year were so life changing and incredible. I mean, how hard is it to explain to people that getting up at the crack of dawn to study or work physically hard, followed by a good 4 hours of lectures, not to mention living in a room with at least one if not two people isn’t fantastic? (!!).

O Week is just a taste of the rich and amazing adventure to be had experiencing first year - the depth of relationships to be had with fellow students and staff, the lessons to be learned, the fun to be had…highly recommend it!

Alicia Idziac

Open week

2006-06-27T11:46:00.000+10:00

Interstate work adventure

2006-06-05T21:50:00.001+10:00

Last Sunday saw us all arriving back at the centre from our 2 weeks leave, met with laboured nods of the head, and the customary indifferent stares which i think we can assume were really saying "Welcome my friend, I've missed you more than I can say!"

Before I had even had a chance to ask Laura why our room smelt of keroscene, a rumour had formed from an unknown source, about a secret journey to an unknown location for unknown reasons and unknown duration, leaving 4.30am on tuesday 1 day hence! A rumour that of course was met with incredulous laughter and...further invesigation, which, infact revealed that we were to embark on a 5 day interstate work-adventure!

SO, we packed our bed rolls and gum boots, and headed off to ACT?? Which ended up just being the fruit fly free zone... so we continued on to Swan Hill and over the border to...
Victoria!! We discovered that the wirly-gig, though illegal in NSW, can be found in roughly 2 out of 3 parks in Victoria! What a treat! And murder after chocolate and a long drive...
But we kept on driving, and I awoke to find to my surprise, that i was infact in...SOUTH AUSTRALIA! Dissapointed to discover that we weren't continuing on to indonesia, but all discontentment fled my mind, when I entered the blood stained Wool Shed which would house us for the next 3 days. No really it was great!! I was entertaining the idea of spending a whole year there!

We awoke the next day to a glorious sunset, and over the next 3 days, we planted about 5000 trees as wind breaks. It was hard work, starting by 7.30am, and finishing when the sun set, but it came close to beating the Olive grove as the best job we've got to do this year. Surrounded by fields of a colour I'd almost forgotten existed, and thousands of eweing lambs...thanks to tracey for that one. Nat was determined to take one home with her, but as yet was denied.
The term "too many cheiftans, not enough indians" became a favourite with some of the boys (Dane), but we worked together and figured out a good system, and got it all done on time! A special mention to Team Samara, who I'm sure must have broken a record in something.
We let our hair down a bit (mine was literally flying off into Richards face) when we rode back to the farm on the back of a crumbling trailor doing pushing 100kms, with green grass wigs, spittin' contests, and friendly winks from the passing vehicles, and good jolly laughs all round. Ho ho.

On the last day in SA, we got to see a bit of the lovely state- driving to the ocean at sunset. As we pressed out together to get to the end of the longest jety in the southern hemisphere, swathed in scarves and beanies and several layers of thermal underwear, Aline decided it might be nice to go for a dip, and plunged into the giant waves that were nearly nearly frozen solid from the lovely Antarctic breeze. Bless her dear heart.
We were then treated to a fabulous meal at a local pub- plates piled high with prawns and scallots and calamari and fish and...tortellini. Then we all snuggled into our beds for our last sleep in the shed.

The trip back took us 2 days- thanks to providence, we found ourselves with a few flat tyres/broken trailors, and that wee lamby-kins Nat had been after. We stayed The Sat night at the Swan Hill centre- it was great to see what an alternate us could look like, but I didn't get to meet my alternate self, which was dissapointing, but I'm sure there'll be other opportunities.

On an on we travelled. A mean old man tried to steal the lamb from us- claiming he'd take proper care of it, but he just wanted him for dinner eh Aline!! So he put the lamb in his truck, and when he went inside the shop, one of our guys took the lamb back and announced in christian triumph that the lamb had just weed in the man's car. Then we drove off.
Stopped for lunch at West Wyalong, and Richard impressed us all by clmbing to the top of the simulated mine, using a rope tied around his feet! I felt like I was on an island in the pacific, while he threw coconuts down, but it was just kylie's camera...whoopsies.
On and on and on and on...until...
WE REACHED CANOWINDRA!! It was good to be home, but we really had a fantastic time. It was a great way to start the second half of the year, bonding etc etc, and seeing a bit of our great nation with each other. And now we're all back to the grind! Yes, we all came back! It was touch and go for a few there, but we didn't lose anyone to the wool shed, though i seriously thought about taking up permanent residence there.

Lots of photos from the hike

2006-05-22T15:56:00.000+10:00

four girls and a mountain ... what could go wrong!

2006-05-11T13:36:00.000+10:00

The hike and camping at Nanger National Park went very well. Our number of participants was reduced to 4 girls (Nat, Laura, Kim, and Aline) but we had a good time. Thanks to Nat we safely found our way and climbed the right mountain (or hill, depending on what perspective you have of a mountain...:)). I think it took us 1.30 hours to climb up and 2 hours to climb down because we were counting all the kangoroos and running after them. Kim was trying to get them close on her camera.

On top of Mount Nangar we had a really good view on the valley, and Laura was tempted to get closer and closer and closer to the edge, to the distress of Nat. We cooked our dinner on the fire and tried to finish all the food we brought. The pumpkins with brown sugar, the bananas with chocolate, and the apples with bread dough were great, though a bit overcooked (but we can't see black food in the dark).

The next day we found a shut-down house, closed for vandalism, but we still climbed up the fence when we saw that there was no one miles around. I ate some bitter oranges from an orange tree and Nat and I tried to drive an old rusty car that we found in the bush. After we did everything we could do away from Cornerstone we came back to the center, and it was time for another week to start.

Aline

a week to experience community

2006-05-09T13:13:00.000+10:00

As this is my first post, I want to say a big hello to everyone in cyberland.

Every Year, each campus of Cornerstone offers a week to experience community. These weeks have oportunities to experience the work, study, mission and community life of a Cornerstone Centre.
Canowindra's will be held on campus from the 3rd to the 8th of July. These dates should suit most uni's, and schools, please mark it in your diaries and tell your friends.

I'll keep you posted as the details are finalised.

Chriso

AGMF...through the eyes of Kylie

2006-05-06T13:48:00.000+10:00

Well over the Easter Long Weekend, I joined 4 very cool people from Dubbo and made the long trek to Toowoomba for the Australian Gospel Music Festival!! It was a very tight squeeze to fit everything (that we didn't end up needing!) in my car. We managed to get there with only one blown tire :)

It was a fantastic weekend catching up with old friends and making new ones. I was in heaven being able to listen to so much awesome live music, and now have a few new favourite artists :)

Nerida and Chris also came up, Chris did a good job looking after the Cornerstone stand and Nel did a really really great job singing at 2 gigs; I was really blessed by many of her songs.

Newsboys and Sons of Korah were probably two of my musical hightlights of the weekend - but I really loved just being immersed in music for the weekend! Music is such a powerful tool! It was a really fantastic weekend and can't wait til next year!

- Kylie

a good brother moves on ...

2006-04-27T16:04:00.000+10:00

Life does not always work out the way we would like - even in community. Last night we had a farewell dinner for Dan who has decided to move on from our community. While there is a shared sadness at the news, we are grateful for the chance we have had to share life with Dan over these few months. We are sure that, as long as he opens his life up to the Father, that he will continue to grow into the man He needs him to be. Please continue to pray for Dan - especially over the next few weeks as he goes through the 're-entry' period.
Perhaps you'd like to comment on how Dan added to our life together.

from friday till sunday

2006-04-27T15:41:00.001+10:00

We cannot begin to imagine what the original 'good friday' was like. To help us appreciate the price that was paid, we watched the Passion of the Christ together outside. One couldn't help a strong connection as the full moon was slowly taken over by cloud, and the drizzle started.

As dawn broke sunday morning we were together again participating in the Celtic Easter Vigil. It was a cold and crisp morning - very beautiful. A traditional pancake breakfast was enjoyed together afterwards.

pesach at canowindra

2006-04-27T15:26:00.000+10:00

The thursday before Easter found our community gathered around a common table reenacting the traditional passover. As always it was a great night - thanks to Helen who 'brought it all together'.

mission ... discipleship ... leadership ... adventure ...

2006-04-17T15:43:00.000+10:00

April 10-13 was a week to remember here at Canowindra. The leading students of a number of Christian Schools were invited along for a week of mission, discipleship, leadership and adventure!

The theme was 'Jesus the Leader', and the interactive sessions investigated the life, teaching and mission of this historic leader. Adventure-based learning sessions culminated in an overnight campout and orienteering trek to the top of a nearby peak. And each participant also had the opportunity to develop and present their ideas for a 'mission initiative' to be undertaken between now and the end of the year.

If you were there, let us know what you thought!

Laura turns 18!

2006-04-17T11:12:00.000+10:00

The 18th March saw the poplars come to life with the birthday celebrations of one of the Kings princesses - Laura. Many family and friends gathered to eat, laugh and swap stories.

Baptised in the Belubula

2006-04-16T22:50:00.000+10:00

A while ago now Ashley (2003) said to God that she would like to get Baptised before she left Cornerstone. After a year on team in Gulgong, and another as home-coordinator at Canowindra, Ashley just forgotabout the whole thing ... until, she remembered! So, the 18th March was set as the day Ashley publicly announced what she has been living with increasing strength and grace. At about the same time, Aline asked me what I thought of baptism - as we share a Salvo heritage, after which she was very keen to join in. Dan, who is never one to miss out on an adventure, took the plunge as well. Before 'going under' they read the following Celtic confession:

I call all heaven to witness today that I have put on Christ.
I choose no other Lord than the maker of heaven and earth.

This day I walk with Him and He will walk with me.
I fasten close to me this day that same Jesus who came to us as flesh and blood
and was Himself baptised in the Jordan river.

He died upon a cross to resue me, broke free from death, its conqueror.
He left us, to return the more certainly.
All these truths and their power I fasten to me this day.

Resisting my own selfishness and sin, refusing to live as a slave to riches, pleasure or reputation,
rejecting Satan and all his lies, I call on heaven to witness today that I have put on Christ.

Please pray for Ashley, Aline and Dan as they continue to live for the Master.