News, Notices & Prayer points - 17 December 2019

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News & notices – 17 December 2019

 

Below are the news and notices from congregations, the Synod of South Australia and the wider Uniting Church submitted for the Tuesday 17 December edition of UC e-News.

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Prayer Points for the week

  • For a joyful and safe Christmas for everyone who is part of the wider Uniting Church community.
  • For those sleeping rough and with no respite from the heat during the Code Red heat wave conditions.

 

REMINDER: Synod Office closing dates

The Synod Office on Level 2, 212 Pirie Street Adelaide, will be closed over the Christmas break from 3:00pm on 24 December 2019, reopening at 9:00am on 2 January 2020.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

 

REMINDER: UC e-News holiday dates

UC e-News will be taking a three-week break over the festive season, with today being the last edition for 2019. 2020 editions will be published weekly from Tuesday 14 January. During the holiday break there will also be no additional New Times Online articles or News and Notices published on the website. New Events Submissions via the online form will only be attended to as from Tuesday 7 January.

UC e-News wishes you a safe and joyful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

 

Christmas Services: List on Website

Thank you to all the congregations who have sent us their Christmas Service times. This is a valuable resource for many who are either on holiday and looking for a place to go worship at Christmas, or those who may only attend church at Christmas or Easter. A full list of Uniting Church in SA Christmas events is available here.

Some of our congregations are hosting 'Blue Christmas' services. We understand that for some people, Christmas can be a challenging time. If you'd like to observe the season in a quieter way, then a Blue Christmas service may be suitable for you. A full list of 'Blue Christmas' services is available here.

You can also contact your local Uniting Church about their Christmas worship service dates and times.

 

“Make-Your-Own” UCA logo stickers

During last November Synod meeting (13-16 November 2019), Synod members were encouraged to assemble UCA logos using stickers of the components and then exchange the completed logo with one another person. These sticker kits are now available for purchase online here.

There is a minimum purchase of 20 stickers for $22.00. Extra stickers can be ordered for $1.10 each.

 

In memoriam

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the deaths of two people who each had a great impact on the lives of many within the Uniting Church in South Australia.

Rev Raymond John Creevy passed away on Sunday 8 December 2019. A pastoral note from the Moderator was sent and can also be read here.

Mr Terence “Terry” Alan Butler, husband of Rev Dr Amelia Koh-Butler (former EO, Mission Resourcing Team), passed away after a long struggle with illness on Tuesday 10 December 2019. A copy of the pastoral note, originally from the Synod of NSW/ACT, can be read here.

Please pray for the Creevy and Butler families as they grieve the loss of their loved ones.

 

Code Red Activated

Due to extreme heat, the Department of Human Services has activated a Code Red summer emergency response for people sleeping rough in metropolitan Adelaide, Port Augusta and the Riverland.

On top of the services mentioned here by the Anti-Poverty Network SA, the Homelessness Gateway Service will be providing extra support for people sleeping rough during this period.

UnitingSA’s Western Adelaide Homelessness Services at 124 Lipson Street, Port Adelaide will be open from 8:00am – 6:00pm offering:

  • Access to emergency accommodation where applicable
  • Assistance with transport
  • Cool water/hydralite ice block
  • Appropriate clothing and other items

Uniting Country SA is offering their Yorke Peninsula clients that respite from the hot weather at 9 Hay Street, Kadina, this Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00am to 4:30pm.

Several Uniting Church congregations will also be open and offering refuge. Please check individual churches’ operating hours here.

If you know anyone sleeping rough, please call us on 8440 2110 or direct them to the Homelessness Gateway on 1800 003 308.

For more tips about how to stay healthy in the heat, head to SA Health's webpage here.

 

From Darkness into Light Photography exhibition

David Baker, an Adelaide-based photographer and artist who works with watercolours and acrylics, will be exhibiting a fitting Advent Christmas message at Pilgrim Uniting Church between Tuesday 10 December and Sunday 12 January.

David’s practice is unusual in that he mixes paint on the canvas - manipulating mediums in unique ways to create artwork that tells a story. In David’s photography, he notices relationships between edges and lines then the panels of shade and colour with shadows, highlights and reflections providing an illusion of the third dimension. He adds interest by incorporating a disturbance or disruption in the design. Sometimes he digitally creates another compositional dimension by amplifying colours and a new story emerges. By narrow depth of field and cropping he gives us a sample of the composition and we are left to provide the context.

The exhibition will be open 12:00pm to 2:00pm Monday to Friday and at Sunday services.

 

L’Arche Adelaide’s Community Weekend

L’Arche Adelaide will be holding their annual community weekend on 18 - 19 January 2020, starting at Rosefield Uniting Church at 9:00am on the Saturday morning and finishing at St Francis of Assisi Anglican Church at 2:30pm on Sunday.

The weekend’s theme is “Come and See” and will include hours of fellowship, discussion, creativity, music, worship, fun and games, and great food. Programme details will follow in early January.

For more information and RSVP by Sunday 12 January, please contact Lyn or Trevor Whitney at Turn on Javascript!.

 

Third Culture Kids 2020 – Opportunity in Malaysia

Interserve, a community of Christians who put faith into action by working with the most marginalised people in the Arab world and Asia, is looking for enthusiastic team members to help run the children’s and teens’ program during their 15-19 April 2020 retreat conference at the Novotel Resort in Malacca, Malaysia.

The theme for the program this year is “God in the cracks”, which looks at God in the cracks of relationships and with loss and grief. (A “third culture kid” will say goodbye to someone or something more times in their childhood than someone who grows up in one country).

Volunteers would have to pay their own airfare, have a passion for working with kids and teens and have a relevant Working with Children Check and Police Check.

For more information contact Kath: Turn on Javascript!.

 

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

 

First woman chief for Defence Force chaplains

Uniting Church chaplains in the Australian Defence Force have welcomed the first ordained woman into their key leadership role. Former Queensland Moderator Rev. Kaye Ronalds will serve as the Uniting Church Representative to the Religious Advisory Committee to the Services, or RACS for short. Read more here.

 

Peaks call for aged care resolutions before the year’s end

Last week UnitingCare Australia joined with other faith-based national organisations and the 3 aged care peak bodies to send a consistent message to Government on the eve of the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO).  A joint media release and an article in The Australian called for the Government to invest in aged care so that every older Australian in need receives the highest quality of care when they need it.  Read more here

 

Westminster School set to twinkle this Festive Season

With the Christmas period well and truly upon us, a favourite pastime for families and children is visiting Christmas light displays across the state. One of Adelaide’s most celebrated is the free annual light display at Westminster School, Marion (a school of the Uniting Church), taking place from Thursday 12 to Thursday 19 December.

Now in its 14th year, the school grounds will be open each night from 8:00pm -10:00pm welcoming visitors from across the state to see the school adorned in twinkling lights and Christmas decorations while taking part in in a number of festivities, including the popular nightly Christmas carol sing-a-longs.

Gold coin parking is available on the school grounds.

  

Basil Sellers Laguna Quays Respite beach house

Well-Being Australia has a free-of-charge respite home available for use by missionaries, home mission personnel, pastors (including ministry personnel, school chaplains and hospice chaplains), theologians wanting timeout to write and reflect and all those engaged in full time mission/ministry.

The three-bedroom cottage is ideal for a visit to the Whitsunday Islands. It is located 15 minutes from Proserpine airport and AVIS offers a discount to all those making use of the Laguna Quays Respite home.

For more information, including contact details for bookings, go here.

 

 


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