News, Notices & Prayer points - 10 April 2019

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News & notices – 3 April 2019

Below are the news and notices from congregations, the SA Synod and the wider Uniting Church submitted for the Wednesday 3 April edition of UC e-News.

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Prayer Points for the week

  • We pray for every congregation and faith community within the Uniting Church to discern wisely on their future Presbytery needs. That they follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit and be open to what God is doing in and through the Presbytery restructure.
  • For the family of Uniting Church SA’s Covenanting and International Mission Officer, Sitiveni Rogoimuri, who passed away last week. We pray that they may all know the deep comfort of the Holy Spirit in their grief. We pray also for the Presbytery and Synod office community and especially the Mission Resourcing team and members of Congress, who have been deeply affected by this unexpected loss.


Time to choose

As a result of the process initiated at the November 2018 Presbytery and Synod meeting to structurally separate the Synod and Presbytery, and to form a Missional Non-Geographic Presbytery (MNGP), it is now time for congregations to
choose which Presbytery their church will join.

All Congregations and Faith communities were sent a Presbytery Decision Form this week by the Interim General Secretary, Rev Rob Brown, via email. These forms should be returned, completed, by Friday 7 June, either by return
email (Turn on Javascript!) or via post (Uniting Church SA c/o Secretariat, GPO Box 2145, Adelaide SA 5001).

If your Congregation or Faith Community did not receive the Presbytery Decision Form, please contact Rob via email on Turn on Javascript!, or the Associate General Secretary, Rev Sue Page, on Turn on Javascript!.

The Mission and Building Cohort

The May gathering of the Mission and Building Cohort will be held at Payneham Road Uniting Church on Thursday 30 may, 6:30pm-9pm. The theme for this meeting is “The DAN of the Evolving Uniting Church”. If you would like more
information about the Mission and Building Cohort, please find an article on the topic by Rev Paul Turley here.

Please RSVP for catering purposes by 16 May to Turn on Javascript!, or 0412 552 703.


Funk ‘N’ Dancing Fundraiser

Funk ‘N’ Dancing is a program featuring Funk and Afghani Music with Persian dancing to raise funds for the Spire Community’s work with refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. The Seymour College Funk band will move you to dance and Mahboube, a Persian dance teacher, add a Persian flavour to the funk. The haunting voice and harmonium of Abdullah Varazai will move you to tears.

This event is held at Hope’s Café, part of the Spire Community at Clayton Wesley Uniting Church complex. A meal is included with the price of your ticket and drinks will be available for purchase. Tickets $ 27.46 (includes $2.46 fee) at EventBrite.


Re-thinking Faith in the 21st Century

During May the Effective Living Centre in Wayville will host two respected theological scholars in Liz Boase and Norm Habel for seminars that will reflect on questions of faith and spirituality relevant in the 21st Century. These seminars take place on Thursday evenings during May, with topics dwelling on issues of trauma.

$45 for 4 seminars or $15 each. RSVP essential. Call the office for booking assistance on 8270 0329.


Walk for Justice for Refugees

Palm Sunday – April 14, 2.00 pm.
An opportunity in the lead up to the Federal election to highlight the imperative for humane policies in relation to refugees and asylum seekers. Community groups, churches, families, friends, and individuals are all welcome to come along.

Departing Victoria Square at 2.00 pm (Meet at 1.30 pm at the Southern half of Victoria Square) and walking to Parliament House. Speeches begin at 2.30pm at Parliament House. A pop-up art installation for Safe Harbour Australia will also be on show beforehand. Come and paint a boat to add to the flotilla, or simply admire the hundreds of boats already painted and displayed.

Contact: Molly at Turn on Javascript! or Rev Sandy Boyce, 0409 283 004, Turn on Javascript!.


The Path Within

Holy Week, Sacred Space Installation at Christ Church Uniting, 26 King William Road, Wayville. This is a self-guided space of contemplation, prayer, and journey toward Easter. Explore our common humanity and connection to the world through story and reflection.

Daily: 15th - 18th April / 10am - 3pm.
Evening: 16th April / 5pm - 9pm.
Find out more on the website.


Australian Requiem not the first

In last week’s UC-eNews and New Times Online we featured a story about an Australian Requiem for Easter, by composer Anne Cawrse, which had been commissioned by Clayton Wesley Uniting Church. The articled mentioned that this is Australia’s first contemporary Requiem, which is not factually correct. It is rather the first Australian contemporary Easter Requiem written for Clayton Wesley Uniting Church.


$2 million boost to assist regional and remote aged

UnitingCare Australia and Aged & Community Services Australia (ACSA) have welcomed a $2 million boost in funding to support the implementation of regional and remote elements of the Aged Care Workforce Strategy, including the Remote Accord. The two groups, who will be responsible for implementing the expanded programs, say the welcome boost will ultimately support the aims of addressing disadvantage and allowing older people to age where they have lived their lives.


SA Council of Churches change of contact details

The SA Council of Churches has new contact details, replacing their previous email and landline. The new office email address: Turn on Javascript! and new phone number is: 0477 019 163.


Mindfulness Group Sessions

For parents/guardians who wish to explore mindfulness with their child/ren, an eight week course that will run during the second term will start on 9 May (ending 27 June). You and your child/ren will learn tools in enhancing cognitive focus, the ability to calm down, pay attention and emotionally regulate. Each week you will explore different mindfulness practices and its benefits. This will be a closed group to create a safe environment. Cost: $130 for one child and one parent for 8 weeks (plus $50 for each extra child). Thursdays starting 9 May from 4-5pm, Glenelg.

For Adults wishing to explore mindfulness and relaxation a different eight week course is available in Port Adelaide. These adult sessions are tailored to help with self-regulation, relaxation and self-awareness. Cost: $120 each person for 8 sessions. Tuesdays starting 7 May from 10-11am, Port Adelaide.

Contact Maria on Turn on Javascript! or click here for further information and enrolment.

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


Induction of the new General Secretary of the Uniting Church in South Australia

The Presbytery & Synod invite you to the induction of Rev Felicity Amery as the General Secretary of the Uniting Church in South Australia on Friday 17 May, at Blackwood Uniting Church (and Colebrook Reconciliation Park). For those who wish to gather earlier, a special prayer will be held at Colebrook Reconciliation Park at 5:30pm to reflect on the covenant of the Uniting Church with the Uniting Aboriginal & Islander Christian Congress.

Official induction commences 7:00 – 8:00pm. A light supper will follow.

RSVP to Rhanee Tsetsakos by phone 08 8236 4221 or email Turn on Javascript! by Friday 10 May.


Supporting an increase in the Newstart allowance

At the Special Synod meeting of 9 February, 2019, Rev Liellie McLaughlin and Rev Mark Schultz spoke about the difficulties faced by people receiving the Newstart allowance that is roughly $160 per week below the poverty line. Members of the Special Synod meeting agreed that the SA Synod:
  • support a letter written by the President of the UCA, Dr Deidre Palmer and the Moderator of the UCA SA, Rev Sue Ellis to the Federal and State Governments, advocating for an immediate increase (of at least $100 per week) of Newstart and requesting an explanation for the disadvantage imposed by Centrelink and Housing SA on recipients of Newstart; and
  • that the Moderator seek the cooperation of the leaders of other faith-traditions to assist in helping to recognise and highlight the state of poverty and mental health suffered by recipients of Newstart.

The SA Synod therefore request that you share this information with your congregations and faith communities.


Five Leaf Eco-Awards

At the Special Synod meeting of 9 February, 2019, members of the Special Synod meeting resolved to commend the Five Leaf Eco-Awards to congregations in the SA Synod, as a means to raise awareness of environmental issues.

The Five Leaf Eco-Awards is an Australian ecumenical environmental change program specifically designed for churches and religious organisations which uses a series of non-competitive awards to assist, inspire and reward faith communities for taking environmental action and becoming more sustainable, in response to God’s call to care for creation.

These Awards encourage holistic action for the environment covering five areas - Buildings, Worship, Congregation, Outreach and Community Leadership. To earn an award, churches simply complete actions to fulfil the criteria of that award, and are then presented with certificates of recognition for their achievement.

More details are available on the Five Leaf Eco-Awards website.


Break the Silence Sunday

At the Special Synod meeting of 9 February, 2019, members of the Special Synod meeting resolved to adopt the 4th Sunday in April, or another suitable Sunday, as a ‘Break the Silence Sunday”. This is to provide UCA congregations, faith communities and organisations associated with the Uniting Church opportunities to open up a dialogue within the Church about rape and sexual assault. As a faith community we
  • acknowledge of the reality of rape and sexual violence in our world;
  • support survivors by creating a place where they can tell their stories, feel loved and supported, and find encouragement on their healing journey; and
  • commit ourselves to the work of changing the world and creating a future.

The SA Synod requests that you share this information with your congregations and faith communities and implement it during April, as described.

UnitingSA celebrates 100 years

UnitingSA, is marking 100 years of service to South Australians. The organisation started from humble beginnings in Port Adelaide on 8 April 1919, amid the aftermath of the First World War – a very difficult time in our state’s history.

Uniting SA today operate from more than 35 locations across regional and metropolitan South Australia, while the organisation sports a team of over 1,000 staff. Volunteers support more than 16,000 people each year through the delivery of aged care, housing, community welfare, mental health and employment programs.

To find out about centenary celebrations happening in your area, or to view UnitingSA’s interactive historic timeline, visit unitingsa.com.au/100.


John Bell in Adelaide 8-10 May 2019

John Bell is a preacher, hymn writer, composer, lecturer and broadcaster. He is an ordained minister of the Church of Scotland and a member of the Iona Community. Thanks to an ecumenical relationship between the Anglican, Uniting, Lutheran and Catholic churches of Adelaide, John will be visiting Adelaide for a three-day workshop. This workshop will cover topics such as ‘Songs to enliven communities of faith’, ‘Keeping faith in an age of consumerism’ and ‘Exploring Celtic Spirituality’.

For bookings and info visit: www.trybooking.com/BBNLH

Training ministers for disaster recovery in remote Papua New Guinea

Rev Dr Stephen Robinson has blogged about his experience in the Papua New Guinea Highlands working with Uniting Church partners on disaster recovery and trauma counselling. He was also able to see our partner church's peacebuilding team in action.

"I came away blessed by the kindness, hospitality and warmth shown by our local partners to a stranger from Australia. I learned a great deal as I taught and shared with these dedicated people," writes Stephen in a blog about his work.

Read about Stephen and his experiences in Papua New Guinea in his blog here.


Make better shopping choices this Easter

Too often, the clothes that we buy have been made by people that are overworked, underage, and enslaved. But worker exploitation in the fashion industry can be ended. Baptist World Aid Australia has launched the 2019 Ethical Fashion Guide, which grades more than 400 brands on the strength of their systems to reduce the risks of slavery, child labour, exploitation, and environmental degradation in their supply chains. This way, you can vote with your wallet and encourage companies to do more to protect their workers. Access the guide here.



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