News, Notices & Prayer points - 14 July 2020

Posted Jul 14, 2020 in News

News & Notices – 14 July 2020

Below are the news and notices from congregations, the Synod of South Australia and the wider Uniting Church submitted for the Tuesday 14 July edition of UC e-News

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Prayer Points for the week

• People seeking asylum in Australia and their families, that they may receive the support they need to assist them through the COVID-19 crisis.
• Our global neighbours who are facing the pandemic without the privileges we enjoy as a rich, developed nation.
• The people of Victoria, as they face six more weeks of tight restrictions to prevent further spread of COVID-19.
• For all Australians, that we might have wisdom, patience and love for our neighbours demonstrated by remaining vigilant in our hygiene and safety practices until the threat of the virus passes.
  

Moderator's Worship Resource: New Connections

As many congregations look to gather together again for Sunday worship, Centre for Music Liturgy and the Arts (CMLA) and the Moderator's Worship Team have put together some resources for a worship celebration.

This consists of a collection of prayers and a message from the Moderator, acknowledging how difficult these past few months have been for many; our on-going uncertainty and vulnerability; our need for rest and restoration; and expressing our hopes for the future of our church. This collection will be available as printed resources to be used within a gathered worship service, a pre-recorded video message from the Moderator, plus a printed ‘Worship at Home’ resource for those unable to or not yet gathering together.

The resource will be available on the UCA SA Synod website on Tuesday 21 July, and will be advertised in next week's UC e-News. You might choose to use it during worship on Sunday 26 July or one Sunday during August.

For further information or to obtain hard copies of the resource, please contact the Moderator's office by email (Turn on Javascript!).

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Highbury Street Fund - Applications for Grant Funding open on Monday 20 July

The Highbury Street Fund supports leadership development among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) worshipping communities through education and training.

SA Residents with leadership roles within Synod of SA can apply. Application information is available here.

The Funding Round opens on Monday 20 July 20 and closes on 31 August 2020. Applications are available at https://sa.uca.org.au/documents/multicultural/CALD-Highbury-St-Application-Form.pdf

Further information is available from Bev Freeman – Turn on Javascript! or phone 8236 4243

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2020 One Great Sunday of Sharing Worship Service Video is available to view here

It is 35 years since the Uniting Church Assembly acknowledged that we are a multicultural church. All Uniting Church congregations are invited to celebrate our cultural and linguistic diversity in worship services on the ‘One Great Sunday of Sharing,’ 19 July 2020. In collaboration with Rev Sandy Boyce, Pilgrim Uniting Church Adelaide, and the SA Synod Multicultural Ministry Centre of Mission Resourcing, a pre-recorded video has been produced for a One Great Sunday of Sharing worship service. It is available to view and download on the YouTube channel here.

This video features members, ministers and congregations from a diverse range of cultures in the South Australian Uniting Churches. UCA Assembly President Dr Deidre Palmer has contributed a video message for One Great Sunday of Sharing service and our SA Synod Moderator has offered a prayer of thanksgiving. It also includes an intercultural Communion with two Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) ministers and a Zoom conversation with four of our CALD leaders on what it means to be children of God together sharing faith. They also reflect on sufferings and hope in the midst of immigration, racism and the COVID-19 pandemic. This video could be used as part of a local service or watched in its entirety in place of the local service. The print-ready Worship Resource is available here in both PDF and Word formats: Worship Resource - One Great Sunday of Sharing

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Congregational Website Program

How are you communicating your worship services to your church congregation? Email? YouTube? Why not consider having a simple website so the public will know what's going on in your church community?

The Congregational Website Program of the SA Synod offers a One Page Website option for churches. There will be no need to manage the website because our team will do it for you and furthermore, it comes at a very affordable price!

One Page Websites can be used to promote playgroups, Sunday Schools, youth, young adults and parent groups. Your website can also include a map location and directions to the church or links to your online sermons and podcasts.

The Congregational Website Program will provide your church with a custom UCSA domain.

For more information, head to our website and check out some of our current One Page Websites here: https://ucasa.org.au/#opw

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Caring for our Planet - Superb Artworks from the 11th Solar Art Prize

The '11th Solar Art prize‘ was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. Pilgrim Uniting Church’s SALA exhibition showcases 23 of the 104 entries. Themes of climate change are expressed in thought-provoking images with artist’s comments.

2020 entries will be re-entered for selection in the next Solar Art Prize exhibition.

When: Tuesday 21 July to Sunday 16 August 2020

Pilgrim Uniting Church’s opening hours: 12-2pm weekdays and during Sunday Services (8:00am, 9:30am and 11:00am).

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Nominations are open for the 2021 Australian of the Year Awards

There is only one month left to nominate for the 2021 Australian of the Year Awards. The Australia Day Council of South Australia needs the community’s help to ensure our nation’s best continue to receive the recognition they deserve. They are looking for people who are great at what they do, contribute to Australian society and inspire those around them. They could be quiet achievers, community members, leaders in their field of work, household names or unknown heroes.

The Awards rely on members of the public to nominate and we are all encouraged, through our networks, to identify and put some of our best and brightest forward for the 2021 Awards.

Nominee(s) could be recognised in one of four categories:

Nominate by Friday 31 July 2020. For more information, email the Australia Day Council of South Australia team at Turn on Javascript!.

Didn’t read the last “News & Notices”? The items below will keep you updated.

Encouragement from the Moderator

On Friday 3 July a letter from the Moderator was sent out to thank the Ministers and leaders of congregations for the adaptability and leadership which they are offering in these continually changing times. Hearing the stories of the many creative ways in which leaders have connected in times when physical contact has been limited, has brought great joy to Moderator Bronte Wilson. Even with physical isolation, many congregations are feeling more connected than ever before. It is also good to hear of congregations sharing resources and skills as well as exchanging ideas.

Throughout this time, leaders may feel exhausted with the changed responsibilities and expectations. One certainty is that change is constant and may happen often in the near future as the church, government and society manage the long-term effects of COVID-19.

The Moderator welcomes emails and phone calls as many congregations consider their next steps.

To read the full message click here: http://createsend.com/t/j-412B7E45DDAB221F2540EF23F30FEDED

Email: Turn on Javascript!

Brooklyn Park Campus will be re-opening in full capacity

On Friday 3 July it was announced that the Brooklyn Park Campus will be re-opening in its full capacity in Semester 2. On-campus, in-person classes will recommence and students will have access to the library, meetings with faculty, and research in our study spaces. The Campus will be open to VET and Intern Year Students who will begin their studies on Tuesday 21 July 2020. Higher Education students will begin their studies on Monday 27 July 2020. Students will also have access to the Adelaide Theological Library collection and facilities.

The Brooklyn Park Campus will re-open with some restrictions in place to align with government regulations:

• All visitors will record their attendance (time of arrival and time of departure)
• Physical distancing of 1.5m will continue (classrooms and study spaces will be reconfigured)
• Kitchen access will be limited (further information will be available in the coming weeks).

For any questions, please feel free to call the ACD/UCLT Team on 8416 8400.

UC FAMS Video Project: Volunteers wanted

In these anxious and frustrating days, does the COVID-19 pandemic have something to teach us about the climate crisis? The Uniting Church Fellowship and Mission Support (UCFAMS) believes it does and has taken up the challenge to ask, ‘What are the connections between the COVID-19 pandemic and the current climate crisis? And further ‘What can we do about it as God’s people?’

UC FAMS is preparing a video production for churches and communities to explore this intersection of crises. There will be many ways to interact with the production, with the first of a two-part series available in late-August. As the project is in the pre-production phase, we are seeking participants to present topics to camera.

If you're interested in being involved with the project - or know of someone you'd like to suggest - please contact Brian Polkinghorne at Turn on Javascript!. We are seeking a diverse cast to help us realise this project, impassioned by climate science and the possibility of a sustainable future.

#NoChildLeftBehind Campaign

Across the country, children and families seeking asylum are being left without support, especially if they have no work as a result of COVID-19. Children are going to school hungry and parents are struggling to pay rent.

Join the #NoChildLeftBehind campaign, which focuses on calling on Senator Anne Ruston and PM Scott Morrison to extend COVID-19 support and ensure there is no child left behind as part of the #NobodyLeftBehindCampaign.

In early May, the Moderator of Uniting Church in SA signed an open letter to the Prime Minister titled ‘Nobody Left Behind: Ensuring people seeking asylum, refugees and other vulnerable groups are included in COVID-19 responses.’ Join the #NobodyLeftBehind campaign by sharing social media posts or by contacting Senator Anne Ruston and PM Scott Morrison to request an extension of COVID-19 supports to vulnerable groups.

More information about the campaign can be found here: https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/no-child-left-behind/

NCCA Newsletter

The latest newsletter of the National Council of Churches in Australia can be read here.

Goodies Op Shop Winter Woollies Appeal

Goodies Op Shop at Clayton Wesley Uniting Church (corner of Portrush Road and The Parade) is currently in need of donations of good quality, used winter clothing to meet unprecedented demand. Please drop off your donations between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday or Saturday between 10am and 1pm. Proceeds from Goodies Op shop in Beulah Park support the work of the Spire Community including Hope's Café. Contact 8332 8631 with any queries.

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