News, Notices & Prayer points - 14 November 2018

Posted Nov 14, 2018 in News

News & notices – 14 November 2018

Below are the news and notices from congregations, the SA Synod and the wider Uniting Church submitted for the Wednesday 14 November edition of UC e-News.

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Prayer Points for the week

• For this week’s Presbytery and Synod meeting. That it will be a safe and respectful gathering where people feel loved. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as decisions are made and people share and contribute to the meeting.
• For those affected by the bushfires in California. Pray for the friends and family who have lost loved ones as a result of fire. Those that have lost buildings, possessions, property and livestock. Pray for the firefighters and those offering relief and support to all those affected.
• Pray for the nation’s politicians, that they demonstrate leadership unites rather than divides Australians following the Bourke Street attack in Melbourne. Read the statement from UCA President Deidre Palmer, who responsed to comments by Morrison and Dutton on the Bourke St attack 

 

This week’s Presbytery & Synod Meeting: Handy to know

The Presbytery and Synod meeting that starts tomorrow has a number of administrative issues that assist in making the meeting effective and hassle-free for all. Here are a few tips for those attending.

• Please check the web page here for the most recent updates and documents (including a revised proposal document).
• Please be reminded that registration closes at 11.00 am on Friday 16th November 2018. Anyone who has not registered in person by this time will be a visitor, will not be issued with a name tag and will NOT able to participate in or vote at the meeting.
• With the expected higher number of attendees car parking capacity will quickly fill. If possible please ride share or use public transport.
• Reports, proposals and the program are on the web site here.
• Travel reimbursement forms will be available at the meeting or can be downloaded from website here.
• Those who have indicated P&S pickup for calendars or postcard orders can do so only between 6:00pm and 7pm Thursday and Friday.
• WIFI connectivity at the venue will be limited due to the number of participants this year. Wherever possible, please be prepared to use your own data.
• Because of the theatre-style seating (i.e. no tables) this year, it may be easier to use devices such as tablets or smartphones rather than laptops. Papers, reports and proposals can be accessed via the Yapp App which can be downloaded on smartphone and tablet devices here: https://yapp.us/Y7XMVT

 

Christmas Service times

Please send the Communications & Events team your Christmas service times so they can be added to the sa.uca.org.au/Christmas website. Email Turn on Javascript!.

 

Break times for New Times Online and UC e-News

UC e-News will take leave from Wednesday 19 December, 2018 until 16 January, 2019. During this period there will be no weekly UC e-News email. Any submissions for the online diary will still be accepted up to Friday 21 December. Diary submissions received between 22 December and 3 January will have to wait for approval (and online publication) until Monday, 4 January 2019.

 

Advance Notice:  2019 Mission and Service Fund Contribution Response Forms

Treasurers are requested to complete and submit their Mission and Service Fund congregational/’parish’ contribution response form for 2019.  Response Forms should be sent in by 14 December 2018 and the estimated contribution should be based on 2018 income extrapolated to the end of December.  Download forms from https://sa.uca.org.au/finance/mission-and-service-fund  Queries:  Peter Harbison (08) 8236 4282; Country Callers 1300 766 956.

 

Free advent study resource with reflections on Palestine/Israel

Rev Sandy Boyce (Pilgrim Uniting Church) and Nell Potter (Palestine Israel Ecumenical Network) have put together a free downloadable advent resource on behalf of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Program Palestine Israel (EAPPI), a program of the World Council of Churches.

The resource contains a selection of reflections that are based on lectionary readings from Luke’s Gospel (Year C). Each biblical reading is supported by a reflection, and stories and photos from the experience of Australian EAPPI participants about life today in Israel and Palestine.

The resource can be downloaded from the PIEN network website here.

 

Book Launch - Receptive Ecumenism: Listening, Learning and Loving in the Way of Christ

Editors Vicky Balabanski and Geraldine Hawkes, with Foreword and Afterword by Paul D Murray (Durham University, UK) will be launched on Friday 16 November 2018 at 9.45am. People are invited to gather at Uniting College, 312 Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Brooklyn Park and stay for morning tea at Adelaide West Uniting Church, concluding by 10.45am.  

This collection of essays is a response to the growing recognition of Receptive Ecumenism as a concept and process that has the potential to bring about renewal, reform and greater flourishing, both from within denominations as well as across the Church universal. 

Contributors include Sara Gehlin (University of Helsinki, Finland), Denis Edwards (Australian Catholic University), Callan Slipper (Church of England's National Ecumenical Officer), Antonia Pizzey (Australian Catholic University), Doru Costache (St Cyril’s Coptic Orthodox Theological College), John Littleton (Anglican Diocese of Adelaide), Vicky Balabanski (Flinders University of South Australia) and Geraldine Hawkes (SACC Ecumenical Facilitator). 

Books will be available for purchase on the day for $30. RSVPs essential to assist with catering to Geraldine Hawkes Turn on Javascript!.

 

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

 

Archaeologists think they've found evidence for Bible's account of Exodus near the Jordan River

Christianity Today reported this week that, according to a recent discovery, evidence for the biblical account of the Exodus might be located at a site near the Jordan River.

 

The book of Exodus has been a subject of much debate over its historical accuracy, as some scholars have questioned the claim that the ancient Israelites immigrated from Egypt during that time period.

 

However, at the Jordan Valley site of Khirbet el-Mastarah, archaeologists Ralph K. Hawkins and David Ben-Shlomo have said that there is evidence of ruins from a nomadic people believed to be the Hebrews coming from Egypt. Read the full article here.

 

Western Link Uniting Church Friendship Club

The next meeting of the Western Link Uniting Church Friendship Club, 93 Crittenden Road, Findon, will be held on Thursday 15 November commencing at 1:30 pm. The Modbury Singers return with their very talented choir. A donation of $5.00 includes afternoon tea. All welcome! For enquiries please contact Marion Bele on 8445 2332 or 8443 8145.

 

Free Christmas (and Easter) booklets from the Bible Society

The Bible Society is aiming to reach 300,000 children and their families this year with their booklet, The really Good News of Christmas – For me! They are offering copies of this wonderful little children’s book for free for churches to distribute. They also have free digital resources that will have everything your church or group need to run your whole kids’ Christmas programme – the play, video and even how to make costumes. To top it all, you can pre-order copies of The Seriously Surprising Story (a booklet on Eater) too.

To order your copies go to the Bible Society’s website here.

 

Free Christian Life and Witness courses this November

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association will be hosting free, three-hour Christian Life and Witness courses at various church locations around Adelaide and Murray Bridge. These Courses are open to anyone ages 16 and over and will be presented between 12 and 22 November. Completion of the Christian Life and Witness Course, and submission of an acceptable application, qualifies people to serve as Prayer Volunteers at the big Adelaide Graham tour event on 20 February next year.

For course locations, to book your spot and to find out more about the course, go here.

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