News & notices - 20 July 2016

Posted Jul 20, 2016 in News

Below are the news and notices from congregations, the SA Synod and the wider Uniting Church submitted for the Wednesday 20 July edition of UC e-News. Please note that events are listed separately here.

------------------------------------------ 

National Homelessness Week – 1-7 August

This year National Homelessness Week (1-7 August) has the theme “Homelessness Counts”. This particular focus was chosen partly to promote the 2016 Census, which will be held on Tuesday 9 August. The Australian Bureau of Statistics wants to work with services that are in contact with people who are homeless to ensure they are adequately represented in Census data. This information is important for recognising the severity of the issue across Australia.

National Homelessness Week provides an opportunity for you, your church or organisation to engage with this issue – raising awareness of homelessness, encouraging people who are homeless to engage with the Census, attending other organisation’s events, fundraising for community organisations who support the homeless, engaging in fundraising, or in a wide variety of other ways.

For more information about how you can engage with National Homelessness Week, please click here.

More information on UnitingCare SA organisations and projects engaging with National Homelessness Week will be provided in “News & notices” as it becomes available.

 

TEAR invitation to visit Cambodian projects in January 2017

TEAR Australia is thankful for the generous support South Australian Christian communities have shown for our work over many years.  Supporters who have a desire to understand more about how TEAR works with ​its Christian partners in Cambodia are invited to spend two weeks ​visiting them​ in January 2017. This is a privileged opportunity for supporters to see the inspiring work of TEAR's partners on the ground. Numbers are limited. For further information, please click here.

 

Wesley Kent Town to host pedal-prix team

Over the last weekend in July, Wesley Kent Town Uniting Church will host “Wattle Racing”, a pedal-prix team that functions as an official outreach ministry of Eaglehawk Uniting Church in Victoria. The team will bunk down at the church on Friday and Saturday night, and compete in a pedal-prix Competition at Victoria Park on Saturday 30 July. Why not attend this event and offer support to this inter-state ministry? The Wesley Kent Town congregation is delighted to provide hospitality to the team on their visit.

 

------------------------------------------ 

A few items from last week's UC e-News and/or notices that you might want to catch up on!

Is your church a “Pokéstop” or “Pokémon gym”?

“Pokémon GO” is an augmented reality game for mobile devices that was released in July 2016. The free-to-play game has been immensely popular, requiring players to take to the streets catching Pokémon, finding Pokéstops and training at Pokémon gyms.

Landmarks, including many churches, are used as locations for Pokéstops and Pokémon gyms within the game – meaning you might notice young people stopping by your church! So why not find out whether your church is a landmark in the game? If it has been identified as a gym, players need to spend more time in reasonable proximity to the building – perhaps your congregation could engage these young people by offering rest spots, refreshments or conversation?

If your church has been identified as a Pokéstop or Pokémon gym please comment below or send us an email at Turn on Javascript!

 

Red Dove Café - volunteers needed!

Red Dove Café will be open during the 2016 Royal Adelaide Show (Friday 2 - Sunday 11 September). You're invited to volunteer with this dynamic activity of the Uniting Church, which has been raising funds for SA mission every year since 1951. Morning, afternoon and evening shifts are available. All volunteers require a current Uniting Church background check.

If you would like to volunteer at this busy Christian café, please contact Lesley Williams on 8261 3843 or email Turn on Javascript!

 

The practice of volunteering: a workshop for church councils & others

Members of church councils and all those who give their time and talents for the church are invited to attend this interactive workshop on Saturday 23 July, 10am-12.30pm at Pilgrim Centre (14 Flinders Street, Adelaide). 

Guest presenter Robin Mellors will challenge the gathering on the practice of volunteering, with volunteers mutually engaging in meaning, mission and purpose. Attendees will celebrate volunteers, envision new possibilities, engage in what might be, and innovate new directions. 

This workshop is hosted by the Uniting Church in Australia, Presbytery and Synod of SA, and the Community Outreach and Urban Mission networks.

For more information, please email Turn on Javascript! or click here. 

 

Training workshop: Building Bridges of Understanding

The SA Synod will be holding a training workshop on cultural awareness for ministry titled “Building Bridges of Understanding” on Thursday 18 – Friday 19 August, 9am – 4pm (both days).

Crafted by the Uniting Church in Australia Assembly, this two-day workshop a required or strongly recommended course for some of the formative processes in the Uniting Church. Attendance on both days satisfies the participation requirements for the course.

This workshop is also strongly recommended for lay leaders and congregations engaged in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) ministries or hoping to engage in them. The program engages mainstream and CALD participants together, and is designed to help us all to understand and grow in our increasingly intercultural church.

The cost is $15 per day to cover catering (morning tea and lunch are provided). The location is yet to be advised. Please contact Kemeri Liévano (CALD Ministry) for more information at Turn on Javascript!

Please share this information with anyone who might be interested in attending.

---

Comments

Write comment