News & notices - 15 November 2017

Posted in News

Below are the news and notices from congregations, the SA Synod and the wider Uniting Church submitted for the Wednesday 15 November edition of UC e-News.

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KCO postcards and posters

KCO 2018 is around the corner! There are three ways to get KCO 2018 posters and postcards:

  1. Pick them up at the Presbytery and Synod meeting (23-25 November).
  2. Collect them from the Synod office (Level 2, 212 Pirie Street, Adelaide) during business hours (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm).
  3. Have them posted (this option is for rural and regional churches unable to collect items at the Presbytery and Synod meeting).

To obtain posters and/or postcards, please email the church name, number required, and preferred method of collection to Turn on Javascript! as soon as possible.

 

Advent intergenerational worship resource

Engage Together resources are designed to assist and inspire churches with ways to adapt elements of a worship liturgy to be more intergenerational. A new resource has been created to offer ideas for use during Advent (3-24 December).

The resource is based on the lectionary readings, but the ideas can be adapted to suit any Bible/theme focus. There is also a fifth service included for Sunday 31 December.

This resource includes three options for an Advent wreath litany (either using candles or water) and an Advent bunting activity.

Intergenerational ideas with what to prepare, say and do are provided for each week’s call to worship, a song, prayers of confession, prayers of the people and a Bible reading.

This resource has been written and produced in partnership across three Uniting Church Synods, including South Australia’s Intergenerational Team.

Download the resource here: sa.uca.org.au/intergen/church-resources/all-age-worship

 

Uluru Statement from the Heart

On 26 May 2017, Aboriginal peoples developed their preferred model for Constitutional Reform. On this date, 250 Aboriginal people agreed on the historic Uluru Statement calling for a Parliamentary Aboriginal Voice. The Coalition rejected this recommendation. Without discussion, non-Aboriginal decision makers determined what the Australian people wouldn’t support in a referendum.

The Uluru Statement from the Heart and the government’s response to it will be discussed at the November meeting of the Uniting Church in Australia, Presbytery and Synod of South Australia (23-25 November, Adelaide West Uniting Church). It was also addressed by Uniting Church leaders in the article here.

Fiona Stanley and the Australian Council of Social Service have advocated for this to be discussed across Australia. Sign up to their petition at supportfirstnations.com.au

 

Sound desk to give away

Hope Valley Uniting Church has a Yamaha GA32/12 (analogue) Sound Desk with 32 channels to give away for a donation. For more information, please call 8396 0788 and ask for Scott Button or Leticia McMahon, or email Turn on Javascript!

 

Volunteers still needed

Goodies 2U at Scots Church Adelaide is still seeking volunteers to assist in the day-to-day running of the op shop on Tuesdays and Thursdays (morning and afternoon shifts available). Volunteers at Goodies 2U wish to build a welcoming, inclusive environment for outreach through the shop. All proceeds go towards community assistance. All volunteers are welcome, including those on work-for-the-dole programs, and all will be offered training. For more information, please contact Elferaan on 0420 844 771.

 

Advent Twilight Retreat

The Australian Christian Meditation Community will hold their annual Advent Twilight Retreat on Tuesday 5 December, 6pm-8pm, at St Columba's Church Hall (3 Rosevear Street, Hawthorn). All are invited to join this free evening retreat, which will focus on “Mary, Mother of God”. Tea, coffee and the bookstall will be available from 5:30pm. For more information, please email the Australian Christian Meditation Community at Turn on Javascript!

 

Slavery inquiry: everyone has a right to be free

The Australian Parliament is undertaking an Inquiry into an Australian Modern Slavery Act. It’s incredible to think industries like fashion, food and electronics may be tainted with slavery. Join other Australians in calling for a robust act that to make a real difference to millions of slaves in the world. Take action at beslavefree.org

 

Rally about nuclear waste facilities

Many members of the Uniting Church community have been vocal about their opposition to the establishment of a nuclear waste facility in South Australia, citing concerns over consultation with First Nations and environmental factors.

The Don’t Dump on SA Rally will provide a time for members of the community to share their concerns and join together in peaceful protest. The rally will be held on the steps of the SA Parliament on North Terrace in Adelaide from 11am on Saturday 2 December. Find out more on the Facebook event page here.

 

Act for Peace: Christmas Bowl

A vision shared by all churches is: “A peaceful world where all people share a safe, just and dignified life.” Act for Peace seeks to achieve this through humanitarian responses to emergencies, sustainable development projects, working in partnership with local people, and advocacy and education programs in Australia. In 2016, the Christmas Bowl raised $2 million dollars and was able to make a significant contribution to these kinds of peace-building projects.

All are invited to contribute to the Christmas Bowl in 2017 and ensure continuing support will be available to those in great need.

For more information, please visit actforpeace.org.au or phone 1800 025 101.

 

Upcoming events

The majority of Uniting Church SA events are listed on the upcoming events list here.

Some of the events coming up this week are:

Check out the full list to see other exciting events happening in the coming weeks! Events can be submitted to the list here.

 

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Didn’t read the last “News & notices”? The items below are ones you might want to catch up on.

New Times print deadlines

The deadline for content for the December 2017 / January 2018 print edition of New Times is Friday 17 November. If you would like to submit an article, letter to the editor or advertisement, please contact the New Times Editor on 8236 4230 or email Turn on Javascript!

The New Times print deadlines for 2018 have now been added online here. As Easter is early in 2018, Lent and Easter content is being sought for the February/March 2018 edition. If you would like to discuss article ideas, please contact the New Times Editor (contact details above).

 

Sally Stamp

Sally Stamp, a fundraising group operated by Adult Fellowship, are in need of stamps in the lead up to Christmas. Donations and collections would be gratefully received, and can be left at reception in the Synod office (Level 2, 212 Pirie Street, Adelaide). For more information, please contact Convenor Maxine Haines on 0427 972 417 or email Turn on Javascript!

 

Advent reflections

“The Word Became Flesh and Dwelt Among Us” is the title of a booklet of Advent reflections recently produced by Stillpoint Spirituality Centre. Suitable for individual or small group use, the reflections were written specifically for Stillpoint by Lynona Hawkins.

The resource costs $15 and is available for download on the Stillpoint website (www.stillpointsa.org.au). A hard copy version is also available. To obtain a hard copy or to discuss payment options, please contact Stillpoint on 8271 0329 (Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 2pm) or email Turn on Javascript!

Christmas service details

All congregations and faith communities are invited to share their Christmas service and event details on the Uniting Church SA website. Please list the service dates, times, locations and titles (e.g. Blue Christmas, Carols Service, etc.) and email them to the Communications team at Turn on Javascript!

 

Prayers and reflections

Would you like to share prayers and reflections with the wider Uniting Church SA community? New Times online and UC e-News include a “Reflection of the week” published each Wednesday. The Communications team are fortunate to have several writers who have loyally written reflections in the past, including the insightful Linda Sutton who continues to provide us with new reflections on a regular basis.

The Communications team is currently seeking new writers to provide ad hoc or regular reflections and prayers to be published as the “Reflection of the week”. Items connected to current events within the church or wider community, or those that drawn on a particular Bible passage, will be favoured. For more information or to contribute, please email Turn on Javascript! or call 8236 4230.

 


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