News, Notices & Prayer points - 15th August 2023

Posted Aug 15, 2023 in News

News & Notices – 15th August 2023

Below are the news and notices from congregations, the Synod of South Australia and the wider Uniting Church for Tuesday, 15th August, 2023 edition of UC e-News

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Prayer Points

We pray:

For the people of Hawaii as they deal with the aftermath of the horrific fires in Maui
For the gift of our trees, plants and flowers, giving thanks for our wild and beautiful country
For those in our community suffering through addiction and isolation, we pray for God’s healing touch.

Australian Women Preach Podcast

Djabugay/Olkola woman Sherry Balcombe delivers a powerful case for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament in this week’s episode of the Australian Women Preach podcast. Sherry is the Executive Manager of Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Victoria. We think it is a timely opportunity to highlight and listen to the voices of our First Nations people. As Sherry says, ‘We’re at an incredible time in Australia’s history ... We’re about to turn a page.’ Listen here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/awp.

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Christian Voice Australia presents: Godly Fathers: Pre-Father’s Day Webinar

This event is a special tribute to all fathers, grandfathers, and single dads who are blessed to be called fathers. If you want to make an impact on your life? Be a godly dad. The importance of fathers is obvious, yet often overlooked. Everyone has a father—whether good or bad, present or not—and the actions (or inactions) of our dads has a profound effect on us during our lives. Wives, mothers, and children - encourage your dad and grandad to watch this webinar with you or give this webinar as a Fathers’ day Gift. More information and how to book is at this link: Godly Fathers - Special Pre-Father's Day Webinar Tickets, Mon, Aug 28, 2023 at 7:00 PM | Eventbrite.

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MediaCom Education Update: Upcoming or recent Conference Speakers – Publications now available

Rachel Turner Seminar
Seminar: August 31^st – September 19^thRachel Turner Downunder
Publications can be found at this link: Rachel Turner Archives - MediaCom Education

David Csinos Seminar
Seminar: A Gospel for All Ages
Publication: A Gospel for All Ages - MediaCom Education.

Andrew Root
Publication: The Promise of Despair.
See book review by Rev Dr Sean Gilbert in August/September New Times at this link: UCA SA - New Times.

More from Andrew Root
The following publications are on back order available in approximately a week, and can be found on MediaCom's website after Wednesday August 16^th. Please search ‘Andrew Root.’

‘When Church Stops Working: A Future for Your Congregation Beyond More Money, Programs, and Innovation’ ($31.50)
‘The Church after Innovation (Ministry in a Secular Age Book #5)’ ($38.99)
‘Churches and the Crisis of Decline’ ($17.99).

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Congregational Resource on the Voice

A two-page resource explains why the Uniting Church supports the change, a position informed by our covenant commitment with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress and our Christian call to work for practical and meaningful change that ensures all can live life abundantly.

The resource includes:

Simple information on why a Voice is needed, how it will work and how it will make a difference
Connections to our Covenant with UAICC
A section on 'what the Bible says'
Helpful starting points for a conversation.

Here is the link to the Assembly webpage, A Voice to Parliament in 2 pages - Uniting Church Australia and click here to download, print and share in your community!

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HopeFULL – State Youth Conference 2023

What is there to hope in? It's a question we are finding teenagers asking in our Uniting Church youth ministries. On 9^th of September 2023 we (local youth ministries in collaboration with Mission Resourcing) are running 'hopeFULL', a State Youth Conference for high school years 7-12.

At 'hopeFULL', teenagers will explore:

Worship experiences that will help them encounter God
Inspiring and challenging messages from Courtney Lush, Youth Pastor of New Life Uniting Church
Electives that will help you to follow Jesus in a bunch of different ways, from ‘understanding pain and suffering’ to ‘hearing God’s voice’
Opportunities to make new friends and connect with other young people
A whole lotta of fun.

Do you have a teenager in your life? Please invite them and encourage them to register, it's going to be a simply wonderful event. Registrations can be made at this link: https://events.eventzilla.net/e/state-youth-conference-2023-2138592381

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Awareness raising sessions on the proposed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament

A group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous advocates for The Voice at Pilgrim Uniting Church are available to run an engaging workshop on the topic at your church or in your community.

The session can be either 45 minutes or 60 minutes and starts with a Welcome to Country by a Kaurna elder who is a member of the Pilgrim Church. Originally, designed to engage people of all faiths and cultures, the group has also run successful workshops with Pilgrim UC communities. The workshops cover the background to the Uluru Statement from the Heart and its call for a Voice to Parliament and engages participants in reflecting their own understandings about the topic. Importantly, participants can also document any questions or arguments against the proposed constitutional change which they might have heard so that responses can be discussed.

The workshop presenters of these sessions would prefer to meet with representatives from interested groups to make sure that the session can be tailored to your needs. Contacts: Marelle Harisun Turn on Javascript! or Uncle Allen Edwards Snr Turn on Javascript!.

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Grant Opportunities

Expand Together
The Expand Together grants assist multicultural organisations to expand their capacity by upgrading community facilities or purchasing equipment to meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Apply for up to $100,000. Applications for Round 2 opened on 1st June 2023 and closes on 30th August 2023. Find out more.

Alexandrina Council Grants Program
The Alexandrina Council Grants Program is now open until 22^nd August 2023. Grant categories include: Community Environment Grant; Community Wellbeing Grant; and Business Initiatives Grant. A further round of grants will also open on 1^st August 2023 – 30^th April 2024 and these categories include: Youth Sponsorship Program; Community Events Grant; Heritage Grant; and Creative Community Grant. Information sessions and grant details are available at this link: Alexandrina Grants Program | Alexandrina Council.

Securing Faith-based Places
The Securing Faith-Based Places grant opportunity aims to assist faith-based places and spaces to improve security and safety.

The objective of the program is to support religious schools and pre-schools, places of worship and faith-based community centres to address the risk of crime and violence motivated by religious or racial intolerance through the installation or upgrade of security infrastructure and/or the engagement of security guards at those sites. For more information and how to apply please visit: Current Grant Opportunity View - GO6276: GrantConnect (grants.gov.au)

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Disaster and Recovery Ministries

Would you be prepared to offer a ministry of presence, care and comfort to people affected in times of great need?

You are invited to train as a chaplain for Disaster and Recovery Ministries SA. Coordinated by the Uniting Church in SA, they provide training and coordinate teams of people from many faith groups who are able to provide pastoral and spiritual support to others in the community during times of disaster and subsequent recovery.

For more information, with training dates the 10^th and 11^th October, please download the flyer located at this link: UCA SA - Disaster and Recovery Chaplain Training

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Voice Banners now available

The Synod of VIC/TAS has designed a banner in support of the Voice to Parliament and the banner has been endorsed by the National Assembly. There are four colour options for those congregations that wish to display a banner in support of the Voice to Parliament. The designs are available to view at this link: UCA SA - Voice to Parliament Resources

If you would like to order a banner please email the Engagement Ministry Centre at Turn on Javascript! and include the following details with your order:

Name of congregation
Name of contact person at congregation
Type of banner required e.g. corflute, canvas
Size of banner, please include number of eyelets required
Indicate colour choice of your design (3 options to choose from)
Clearly indicate any additional words you would like included in the design.

There is no design fee, however there will be a print and postage and handling fee for all requests. Once an order is received, Engagement will let you know the print quote cost for your banner, before progressing your requirements.

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Uniting Church National History Society 2023 Conference (24^th – 27^th August 2023)

Registrations for the Uniting Church National History Society's 2023 Conference are now open. For information and details about how to register for the conference please download the promotional flyer at this link or contact Judy Orme email: Turn on Javascript!.

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COVID-19 Update

All existing directions, frequently asked questions and other information in regards to COVID-19 guidelines can be found here: https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/emergency-declarations. If you would like further assistance, please contact your presbytery or:

Sue Page Turn on Javascript! or phone (08) 8236 4217 or 0430 666 959

Philip Gardner Turn on Javascript! or phone (08) 8236 4268 or 0409 077 076.

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Volunteering Red Dove Café 2023

There are just a few weeks until the Red Dove Café at the Royal Adelaide Show. Money raised from this café goes to mission in South Australia. The organisers are seeking people to fill 800+ shifts for the period 1^st – 10^th September this year. If you are interested, please contact Volunteer Coordinators, on email Turn on Javascript! or call Janet on 0432 271 757.

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Salt + Light SALA Art Exhibition

Six local artists are excited to launch their new exhibition entitled Salt + Light at Bethany Hall this August.

The theme reflects on the salt of the earth and our unique Australian light and environment.

Gavin Malone is a visual artist and cultural geographer who has been instrumental in the development of Lot 50 - Kanyanyapilla, a 16 hectare ecological and cultural regeneration project located on ancient Kaurna Meyunna complex and is a registered aboriginal site.

The six artists participating are a blend of established and emerging artists:
Roe Gartelmann, Chris Olsen, Elizabeth Bradley, Raylene Pearce, Lesley Redgate and Helen Sherriff.

This invigorating exhibition will be open on weekends throughout August from 1pm - 4pm. Entry is free.

Visitors can also look forward to meeting the artists and hearing about their art story, there will also be a popular vote prize.

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Rural Access SALA Exhibition Neuroscience and Art

Kangaroo Island Neuroscientist and Artist Rupshi Mitra will display her art-work at Scots Church Adelaide McGregor Hall throughout August. Gallery opens: Fridays 12.00 – 5.00 pm; Saturdays 10.00 am – 4.00 pm; Sundays 12.00 – 3.00 pm. Gallery opening will be held 1.00 pm on Friday, 4^th August. Location: 237 North Terrace, Adelaide. Further information: 0409 178 465. SALA Number 077.

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Do you feel comfortable visiting people in hospital?

St Andrew’s Hospital is now reinstating its Pastoral Visitors’ program after the COVID-19 years. Rev Leanne Jenski is looking for people who might like to join the ecumenical team and visit the Uniting Church patients. You will need to have had 3 or more COVID vaccinations and have a current police check. Please contact Rev Jenski on 0417 863 635 or email Turn on Javascript!, Coordinating Chaplain at St Andrew’s Hospital.

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Code of Ethics Dates 2023 – Bookings for August and September NOW OPEN

The dates for both face-to-face and online refreshers of the Code of Ethics in 2023 have now been set as follows:

All ministry agents who are either in placement, awaiting placement or providing supply are expected to complete a refresher session each year.

Bookings for the first 3 courses can be accessed at this link: Events Calendar – Safe Church (ucasa.org.au)

23 August Online 1.30pm to 4.00pm

6 September Enfield UC - 9:30am to 12.00pm

Bookings opening soon:

17 October Online 1.30pm to 4.00pm

26 October Online 9:30am to 12.00pm

30 November Rosefield UC - 1.00pm to 4.00pm.

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2023 Safe Church Audit

The annual Safe Church Audit is now available until August 25^th for congregations to complete.

The Uniting Church, at both state and national levels, continues to be very active in responding to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. In responding to the questions in this Safe Church Audit it will not only provide a snapshot of the life and activities of your congregation but will indicate your progress of compliance. Collated results will be shared with Presbytery leaders along with other relevant Synod ministry centres.

Communication has been sent to the Safe Church contact and/or the Secretary of each congregation. The questions can be downloaded from the Safe Church website at this link: https://safechurch.ucasa.org.au/resources/#audit to enable the data to be prepared prior to the online survey being completed - with one response per congregation required.

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Understanding the Voice to Parliament

Welcoming Australia is bringing to Adelaide Tim Costello and Noel Pearson. Pilgrim UCA and Churches Together SA will be hosting a conversation with Tim Costello and Noel Pearson about the Voice to Parliament and its importance to Australia on Sunday 20^th August at 5.00pm, Pilgrim UCA 12 Flinders Street Adelaide. Registrations can be made here. The event will also be streamed on Youtube @pilgrimunitingchurchadelaide.

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Sally Stamp

Every Monday morning a small group of volunteers meet at the Synod office to collect and sort stamps which have been received from fellowships and businesses around South Australia. In 2022 they paid freight for South Pacific School Aid Inc., Frontier Services (Outback Pastors) and Grove Uniting Church (Kids Club). In 2023 they paid $2,034.84 for South Pacific Schools Aid Inc. and have committed to pay for another shipment this year. They also paid $1,000 to Frontier Services (Outback Pastors). Please consider asking local businesses to save their stamps; doctor’s surgeries are one of the best sources of stamps! Any donations of private collections no longer required are gratefully received. Sally Stamp asks that people continue to send stamps to the Uniting Church Synod Office, Level 2, 212 Pirie Street, Adelaide. Pick-up can sometimes be arranged. For more information, please contact Maxine Haines (Convenor) on 0427 972 417 or email Turn on Javascript!.

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Ordination of Nola Gibbons

The Presbytery of Southern SA welcomes everyone to attend the ordination of Nola Gibbons. The service will take place on Sunday, August 27^th at 4.00 pm at Pilgrim Uniting Church, 12 Flinders Street, Adelaide.

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Lay Preachers’ Sunday Update

A reminder that Lay Preachers’ Sunday officially was last Sunday, August 6^th. However if you have not yet acknowledged the day, you can still celebrate the contribution Lay Preachers make to the worship life of the Uniting Church on any nearby convenient date. For notes and worship suggestions please visit: https://sa.uca.org.au/lay-preachers/ Celebrate our Lay Preachers!.

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Commissioning Service – Pastor Craig Bossie

All are welcome to attend the Commissioning Service for Pastor Craig Bossie at the LeFevre Uniting Church, 63 Gedville Road, Taperoo on Saturday, 26^th August 2023 at 2.00 pm. Paul Turley will conduct the Commissioning and Geraldine Hawkes will be preacher for this occasion. Afternoon tea will follow the service.

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