News, Notices & Prayer points - 16 March 2021

Posted Mar 16, 2021 in News

News & Notices – 16 March 2021

Below are the news and notices from congregations, the Synod of South Australia and the wider Uniting Church for Tuesday, 16 March edition of UC e-News

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Prayer Points for the week:

We pray:

For all peoples and may our hearts and minds be open to celebrate similarities and differences
For healing and reconciling Spirit in order to bind the wounds created by racism and racial hatred, and to promote understanding, justice and love
That we may continue to aspire to racial harmony in our committed action and in your living presence
For all peoples so that we may all live in peace.

Synod and Uniting College Office Closure

Please be advised that the Synod office at 212 Pirie Street and the Uniting College will be closed this Thursday morning, 18^th March as staff undertake Professional Development. Both locations will re-open again at 1.00 pm on Thursday.

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Called by God 2

Secure your spot for Called by God 2 - Dr Deidre Palmer's second President's Conference to take place in April in Adelaide. Check out newly release details, including speakers and a draft program at this link.

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Harmony Week: 15 - 21 March 2021 and Worship Resources for the International Day of Elimination of Racial Discrimination - 21^st March 2021

Harmony Week celebrates Australia's cultural diversity. It is about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.

This year The International Day of Elimination of Racial Discrimination falls on Sunday 21st March 2021. Worship resources are available to download here.

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Easter service times

Easter is nearing, please forward your Easter event times to Turn on Javascript! so we can post them on the Synod of SA website here: https://sa.uca.org.au/easter-2021/easter-2021-services

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Highbury Street Fund – Applications for the 1^st round of funding for 2021

The Fund supports leadership development among culturally and linguistically diverse worshipping communities through education and training.

SA Residents with leadership roles within UC Synod of SA can apply. Terms of Reference are available here: http://sa.uca.org.au/documents/cald/highbury-street-terms-of-reference.doc

The Funding Round opens on Monday 17^th February, 2021 with applications to reach Mission Resourcing by 31^st March, 2021. Applications are available at: https://sa.uca.org.au/cald/highbury-street

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

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CALD and Intercultural Ministry Online Survey 2021

This survey will inform a project which aims to resource Congregations/Presbyteries/ Agencies/Synod in shaping Action Plans for the Church as it continues to be a multicultural and cross-cultural Church with three identified foci of Synod Strategic Priorities 2021-2025:

Understand Who We Are as UCA
Create Local Connections
Support Ministries on the Margins.

The survey is expected to take approximately 20 minutes to complete and you can access further information and the survey at this link.

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Palm Sunday Peace Walk – March 28^th, 1pm

The Palm Sunday March is held in the heart of the Adelaide CBD, and has been reflecting South Australia’s voice on matters of Justice and Peace for nearly 40 years. The SA Council of Churches (SACC) has had a long association with this walk throughout this time.

Last year, the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions at that time.

This year, it is fortunate for South Australia, that people will be able to Walk in Peace together, with representatives from across our communities.

This year it has been named a PEACE WALK to recognise the sorrow, pain and continuing injustice that arises across many areas of our community. The Peace Walk is an intergenerational event, and all are welcome.

It is a gentle walk beginning at Tarntanyangga (Victoria Square) along King William Road to (Tarntanya Wama) Elder Park, where there will be three short presentations and an invitation for all to stroll in prayerful presence along the banks of the Karrawirra Pari (Torrens River).

More information is available at this link.

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16^th Assembly goes online

Due to continuing risk factors around COVID-19 the Uniting Church’s triennial Assembly meeting will take place online for the first time.

Members of the Assembly Standing Committee (ASC) took the historic decision at an extraordinary meeting on Saturday 30 January 2021.

‘Putting the safety and well-being of members of the 16th Assembly first was the key driver in this decision,’ said Assembly General Secretary Colleen Geyer.

As such, a shortened 16th Assembly will take place online from 17-18 July 2021 with a view to reconvening the Assembly meeting in 2022 when a face-to-face meeting is possible.

Further information is available at this link.

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UCA Act2 Project

Last year in November, the Assembly launched the UCA Act2 Project – a whole-of-church consultation on the future together as a people of God on the way - in the words of paragraph 18 of the Basis of Union.

Through the UCA Act2 Project, in the lead up to the 16th Assembly in July 2021, members of the Church, in congregations, agencies, schools and other Councils are being invited to consider a shared vision for the future.

To find out more about Act2 and how you can be part of this important conversation, first read the Introduction to the Project at this link: http://form.jotform.com/203201030312024

You are also invited to take the survey and to review further information from the Assembly General Secretary Colleen Geyer about the Act2 theme: https://uniting.church/whats-in-a-name-uca-act2/

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Volunteers Needed

The Memorial Hospital is looking for volunteers. A variety of shifts are available, 3-4 hours long in the administration area, Day Surgery or attending to flowers in patient rooms. Parking is reimbursed and a free Hudson’s coffee voucher each time you attend. For more information please contact Rev Leanne Jenski 0409 516 857 or email Turn on Javascript!

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Journeying Through Music

You are invited to explore different expressions of Spirituality in a relaxed atmosphere and explore the journey of song writers (Robin Mann, Leigh Newton, Doug Simper) on:

What drove their song writing in the sixties?
What has changed in church and culture since then?
What have been the resultant changes in their emphases?

On 21^st March 2021 starting at 5.00 pm with wine and cheese. Hosted by Blackwood Uniting Church Community (266 Main Road, Blackwood SA). For more information, email Turn on Javascript! or visit blackwooduc.org.au.

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The World Community for Christian Meditation

The World Community for Christian Meditation SA is holding a Community Day on Saturday 17th April 2021 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 139 Archer Street, North Adelaide, from 11 am to 3 pm. The Honorary Assistant Priest at St Peter’s Cathedral, Rev Joan Claring-Bould will speak to us about her friendship with Henri Nouwen. To fulfil COVID requirements please register your attendance at https://www.trybooking.com/BOJCJ or email Turn on Javascript!. Please bring your own lunch and cup. Suggested donation: $15. Parking is available behind the church (enter via Walter Street).

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UnitingWorld’s Seven Days of Solidarity

UnitingWorld invites you to join the Seven Days of Solidarity – A Celebration of Our Global Neighbours from 18^th – 25^th April. UnitingWorld connects you to the global church. Each day UnitingWorld will tell a story of God changing the world through one of its partner churches. Individuals can sign up to receive a story each day direct to their inbox. If you're a minister, you can download these pre-formatted emails to send to your congregation using your own email list. For more information, visit https://donate.unitingworld.org.au/7dos.

To view a video entitled ‘We See Joy’ about the Seven Days of Solidarity go to the following link: https://vimeo.com/486165085

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Music on Flinders – Summer Series

Spring into toe-tapping Music on Flinders for some lunch time out featuring Iron Dwarf Harmonica Carnival, using full audio and performing outdoors under the trees. A high octane duo dedicated to funking up traditional folk music with modern mojo. They employ double vocals and unique original, traditional harmonica driven tunes expressing the ups and downs of life through storytelling and song.

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Singing the Journey – Book Launch

Join Douglas Simper on Saturday the 20th of March, 5pm at Pilgrim Uniting Church in Adelaide's CBD, for the launch of 'Singing the Journey' - 100 songs for Christian worship, spanning 50 years. Former MediaCom Education CEO, Rev Dr Ian Price will launch the book. Find out more by emailing MediaCom Education: Turn on Javascript! or call (08) 8371 1399.

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Multicultural Grants Program 2021-22

The Multicultural Grants Program 2021-22 has two streams of funding open to support multicultural communities.

Celebrate Together – grants to assist multicultural organisations to host festival and events in a COVID-safe manner, which showcase their rich diverse culture and customs with the wider South Australian community. Open now – close 31^st March 2021.

The Advance Together grants assist multicultural organisations to improve their governance and strengthen their capacity building skills. Grants of up to $5,000 are available for projects that can be delivered over 12 months, commencing in August 2021. Applications close 30^th April 2021.

Online application forms and guidelines are available from the Celebrate Together and Advance Together information pages.

Book now to attend an information session from 1:30-3pm on Thursday, 18 March 2021.

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Building Harmony IFTAR Dinner

Each year the Assembly co-hosts the Building Harmony IFTAR dinner in partnership with NSW/ACT Synod, Uniting NSW/ACT and Affinity Intercultural Foundation. The Iftar meal is the breaking of the fast during the Muslim period of Ramadan. Sharing the Iftar meal with Muslim friends and people of different faiths has become a powerful symbol of interfaith friendship. Due to COVID impacts there is the opportunity for people to be connected in a physical space in smaller numbers in different locations. The event will take place on Wednesday 5^th May, 2021. The keynote speaker is former Socceroo and human rights advocate Craig Foster. For further information or to host a local gathering for this national event contact Anna Catliffe, Assembly Resourcing Unit by emailing Turn on Javascript!.

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L’Arche Adelaide

L'Arche is an international federation of faith-based communities where people with and without intellectual disabilities live together in a mutuality of care. L'Arche Adelaide is planning to open its first community home soon. The L'Arche Adelaide community produces a quarterly newsletter available for download at this link.

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Synod Art Project: Artists’ Launch

On Tuesday March 9, the Centre for Music, Liturgy and the Arts (CMLA) and the General Secretary, Felicity Amery, welcomed a number of the artists who recently created work for the Synod Art Project, to a special viewing of their art-work. It was a delight to spend the evening looking at and discussing the work, gaining insights into the creative process and the inspiration behind what is on display. There will be other opportunities to engage with the project and if you would like to organise a group to visit and view the Art Project, please contact the Centre on Turn on Javascript!.

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If you didn’t get to read the last ‘News & Notices?’

Click here for the News, Notices & Prayer points – 9 March 2021, which includes updates about: