Flamingos take flight
The second Saturday of each month about twenty women and their children meet at Pittwater Uniting Church (PUC) to chat, hear a guest speaker, complete a craft project and tuck into a yummy morning tea. They come from different areas, with different stories and backgrounds, but they all have one thing in common; they are single mums who are part of Flamingos.
Michelle Facibeni currently leads this important ministry for all mums in the community who face the challenge of raising children alone. Michelle explains that single mums have often lost not only their husbands, but also their friends, their financial stability and their homes. Single parenting can be difficult, and it is very helpful for women to speak with others who understand the issues they are experiencing.
Not only does Flamingos give mums a chance to be supported, in Michelle’s case it was also instrumental in her salvation. “Some of the mums back then asked me to church, but I told them that I don’t ‘do’ church. I came from a Catholic upbringing and couldn’t see how church could be much use. But then I was invited to hear a live recording of a band at church… now bands I did! At that time I had a small business selling beauty products at markets and I had just dreamt up the perfect name for my business; Presence. I went along to Christian City Church (CCC) with my new business name singing in my head, heard the band and then saw the name of their new album, it was called Presence! I don’t remember much about the band or if there was a sermon, but I know that God was calling me and by the end of that night I had committed my life to Jesus!”
That decision was three years ago and Michelle has been growing in her faith ever since, completing the Leadership Development Program at PUC in 2006, attending Shimmer Retreat and worshipping at CCC. When the former leaders of Flamingos, Sandy and Janelle, moved on, Michelle was asked to lead the group, with support from Marion Powell, Isolde Basner and Katie Young. “I felt it was such an important outreach to mums in the community and it had transformed my life, so I just had to help it continue” says Michelle.
Each month Flamingos enjoys a practical talk on topics like parenting, legal issues, finances and health or completes a craft activity. ‘We’ve made some gorgeous things and it’s so satisfying just to be able to finish something! With three boys (Julian, nine, Max, seven, and Dylan, five.), I don’t get much time for myself!’ Michelle enthuses. Twice a year there are pamper days including a beautiful foot massage which often creates opportunities for sharing and prayer with some of our PUC helpers.
If you know a single mum who would benefit from Flamingos, feel free to contact Michelle on 0405 639 632 or email singlemums@yahoo.com.au for more information about what’s planned for 2009.
