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A word from Pastor Max Walker CEO of Cornerstone. Christmas is a time of rejoicing and a time for many of extreme loneliness and despair. For those on the fringes of our affluent society it can be a very difficult time as they reflect on their current situation. One of the problems that agencies face at this time is the sheer volume of people seeking assistance and our overall inability to meet the need before us. The problems seem to grow at this time of the year in our consumer orientated society with its expectation that all should be able to buy at Christmas. For many of the people in our society this is not a viable option and if they succumb to this temptation they stagger into 2004 loaded with debt. I ponder where Jesus would be found on Christmas Day 2003, serving on a table and washing dishes at the Visey Centre lunch, sharing his sandwiches with a homeless person, chatting to an lonely elderly, comforting someone who had too much Christmas cheer. Amidst the abundance of your Christmas table will you even bear a thought for those who will be isolated this Christmas? A sobering question to ponder. Cornerstone Christmas Activities: Through out December Cornerstone will have a variety of activities associated with our regular programs as we reach the culmination of 2003 on Saturday December 20th. In the week leading up to the 20th each of our programs will have their own Christmas Celebration. Our special Christmas lunch will be held on Friday 19th. Details of each program are available at Cornerstone. Cornerstone Dates: Cornerstone will close after the evening program on December 20th and reopen for lunches on Wednesday February 3rd at 9.00 a.m. News from the Dove: Christmas greetings to Alison and yourself and the folk at Cornerstone from all at the Dove. We will be closing on the 16th December and reopening at our new venue on Tuesday the 20th January at the Club Rooms at the Robinson Oval Box Street Doveton due to the refurbishment of the Dove Hall. God willing we will be back there about the beginning of April with a much improved set up with a brand new kitchen and new rooms for Sunday school etc. The Church in the meantime will be meeting in the hall at the Pool in the Park corner of Kidds Road and Tristania Streets from 4th January. Ps. Charlie and Christine Begg. Paul Briscoe: Paul came to Cornerstone at its very beginnings as a volunteer in the night programs and has served faithfully as Chairman of the Board, Board member, Saturday Night leader and then as Assistant Manager until April this year. Paul has contributed much to Cornerstone as a leader especially with his nearly continuous leadership role in the Saturday Night activities. We wish Paul well as he leaves us at the end of the year and sincerely thank him for his enthusiasm, commitment and hardwork for Cornerstone over the past 10 years. What a month we have experienced: Over 120 people packed Cornerstone to see CEO Pastor Max Walker receive a Tattersall's Achievement Award, Dandenong Central Rotary Club presented Cornerstone with $500 and Christmas Cakes and Puddings for our Christmas functions, the ANZ Finance, a regular monthly contributer of tea and coffee to Cornerstone provided Cornerstone with four Christmas Hampers and a large quantify of coffee and soup. Apart from this there has been a generous public dropping into Cornerstone, individuals, businesses and churches bringing their contributions. Department of Corrections Program: Under the guidance of David Monroe and his able assistant Felix and the dedicated team of workers the corrections team has painted the old op shop area creating an office and reception area for our solicitor Grant Renkema as well as turning the actual shop area into a conference/teaching room. A big vote of appreciation for all the Correction workers we have had in 2003 and the valuable service they render to Cornerstone. Our Unpaid volunteers: As they take a well earned rest to recharge their batteries from December 20th on behalf of myself and the Board I would like to record our thanks for another year of service to the people of Dandenong and Casey. Pastor David Grice: His work at the Dandenong Psychiatric Hospital often goes unheralded but is vital to our work at Cornerstone. Recently the hospital present David with a Certificate of Appreciation. Christmas Greeting: To all our friends, clients, the Dandenong and Casey communities and the agencies we wish you a Merry Christmas and a great 2004.
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