News, notices & prayer points - 17 October 2018

Posted Oct 17, 2018 in News

News & notices – 17 October 2018

Below are the news and notices from congregations, the SA Synod and the wider Uniting Church submitted for the Wednesday 17 October edition of UC e-News.

 

Prayer Points for the week

• We pray for justice for all the peoples of this earth, and for fair food and wealth distribution. Help us to live simply so that others can simply live. Help me to love my neighbour as myself and to be a witness to you in all I say, think and do.

  

Religious freedom: the Ruddock Review report’s recommendations

With sections of the Ruddock Review report on religious freedom having been leaked to the media, commentary on its recommendations are rife – especially those linked to religious schools’ right to turn away gay students. Three lawyers in academia have written a balanced article on the recommendations in The Conversation, which can be read here.

The Queensland Synod Moderator Rev Dave Baker also released a statement in lieu of media reports published regarding the religious freedom review, while Rev Rads Sukumar-White was interviewed on Triple J Hack, where she acquitted herself well. Listen to it here.

 

New Times print edition available now

The October/November edition of New Times is out now and available from your local congregation or faith community. It is also available online here.

The edition features different ways to serve. You will read about the invaluable work that deacons do out in the communities rather than within congregations, and how ordinary Christians are making a difference in the lives of prisoners’ kids and the prisoners themselves. We look at prayer apps on your phone, church meetings in a pub, ask for your participation in a New Times readership survey and much, much more.

We do have to issue an apology for those who have not received their copies of New Times as yet. We have had some print and distribution delays this month. Editions have now been posted and are on their way to you. We hope you enjoy this edition!

 

Calling all creative teens

Athelstone Uniting Church is hosting a one day Scripture Union M.A.D.D. retreat on Saturday 17 November. M.A.D.D is an acronym for music, art, drama and dance. It is a creative retreat which offers an opportunity for teenagers (years 7-12) to utilise their creative talents and explore what it means to be part of God's family. The day includes a series of workshops in music, art, drama and dance, in addition to games, short testimonies, and breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The cost is $65, which includes all meals and creative materials. The retreat will be held from 8am - 9pm and those interested can book online here. Go to the Facebook page for more information.

Registration deadline is 10 November.

 

A voice for First Nations in South Australia 

First Nations groups in South Australia will have a new voice after representatives from across the state resolved to incorporate a new peak body that will promote the perspectives and interests of Aboriginal Nations.

Representatives from native title groups met in Adelaide on 10 October to discuss the functioning and creation of the “First Nations of South Australia Aboriginal Corporation”. The group will provide leadership, advocacy and a resource for Aboriginal Nations in South Australia.

Read more here.

 

Kairos Prison landed ministry

Kairos Prison Ministries goes into Mobilong Men's Prison, Murray Bridge twice a year. It takes in a team of 24 men who share the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ with 24 prisoners. Ordained clergy and volunteers are needed to spend 3 half days caring for and listening to prisoners. You will be trained both spiritually and logistically with this ministry.

Any interest you may have will be followed up over a cup of coffee so that you can ask questions, pray and discern whether this is a calling for you. Call Les Ormrod on 0404732484.

 

Safe Church & Code of Ethics training

A full day course in Child Safe Training is being offered on Saturday 27 October at Adare Uniting Church. There is also a three hour refresher training session at Bridgewater Uniting Church, on Saturday 3 November. Bookings can be made online here.

There are also two upcoming opportunities to attend a Called to Care Awareness session. This is for members of Church Councils and key leaders to understand the best practice for Safe Church compliance and practices. Register attendance by sending an Turn on Javascript!, stating names and congregation represented. 

• Sunday 28 October at Adare UC, Victor Harbor, or
• Sunday 4 November at Westbourne Park UC. 

Sessions will run from 1:30pm to4:30pm.   

A refresher in Code of Ethics for Ministry Agents will be held on Thursday 8 November at Spicer Uniting Church, St Peters from 1:30pm.  Bookings online here.

 

Covenanting Activities: What’s happening in your congregation?

Rev Sitiveni Roguimuri, the newly appointed Covenanting and International Mission Officer at the Presbytery and Synod of South Australia, has invited congregations to send him any information regarding their covenanting activities.

He is interested in information regarding any covenanting-related discussions, workshops or activities that are already happening in congregations. These are events that he wishes to encourage and promote within other congregations, to raise the awareness of covenanting with First Peoples in our church.

“I am also willing to come and share with you in areas of Covenanting and work out together how congregations can be involved in such activities,” says Siti. “We love our Church (God), and covenanting activities can be a practical way of loving our neighbour.”

You can send Siti an Turn on Javascript!, or contact him on 8236 4264.

 

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

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 the greater flourishing of the Church, 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).

The launch happens on Friday 16 November 2018, 9:45-10:45am, at Uniting College, Brooklyn Park, followed by morning tea at Adelaide West Uniting Church.

Books will be available for purchase on the day: $25.
RSVPs essential to assist with catering. Email Turn on Javascript!.

 

Operation Santa Youth Event - Friday evening 9 November 2018

Join other Uniting Church youth groups for a night of fun in service for teens doing it tough! Send representives or bring your whole youth group! Find out more and register here.
Can't make the 9th?  Contact Julianne (Turn on Javascript!) for other options. A joint initiative of UnitingCare SA and the Intergen Team.

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

 

2019 Calendars / Annual Reports ready for order

Each year the Uniting Church creates a calendar which also acts as the Uniting Church SA Annual Report. It reports on the mission and service fund, but provides far more than that, featuring a cross section of the many and varied ways we go about being the Uniting Church.

All congregations, faith communities and organisations wishing to receive printed calendars must place an order by Wednesday 31 October. Printed calendars cost $2 each (including GST).

Find out more, and place an order here.

 

South Australian Council of Churches seeks an Ecumenical Facilitator/Executive Officer

The role is to provide a high level of executive leadership to the Appointees of SACC Member Churches and to assist, facilitate, develop and guide in the provision of processes, resources and opportunities for ecumenism in service of the Churches.

For Position Description or more information, contact Melanie Rain via Turn on Javascript! or phone (08) 8215 0300.

 

Engage Together: Growing Intergenerational Worship 

The FREE resource Engage Together: Growing Intergenerational Worship is for individual leaders and congregations seeking to be more intentionally intergenerational during a worship service. It provides tips, ideas and some practical suggestions for being more intergenerational during different elements of a typical worship service, including welcoming people, children's talks, notices, preaching, Communion, collection of offering, benediction and fellowship after the service.

The resource also includes material from Engage Together: Generating Intergenerational Worship Ideas around call to worship, music, prayer, Bible reading and take home ideas. This new resource and can be read in conjunction with Engage Together: More than Worship, More than Sunday. 

 

Reimagining Church in NZ

In the first week of October Rob Floyd, Associate General Secretary of the Uniting Church in Australia Assembly, represented the Uniting Church at the 2018 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ). The event was held at St Andrew's College in Christchurch. It ran over five days and involved around 300 representatives from across New Zealand.

Read Rob’s thoughts on the conference and his visit here.

 

Religious freedom: former high court justice fears Ruddock report might put secularism at risk

The Guardian reported this week that Michael Kirby, former high court justice, has blasted the Coalition for failing to release the Ruddock review, warning that secularism is at threat and Australians are right to be “suspicious” the government has not stated its plans on religious freedom.

His comments follows after the Ruddock religious freedom report had not yet been released, despite it being available since May this year.

Read the full article on The Guardian’s website here.

 

We are the Uniting Church

Have you ever taken the time to watch the UCA Assembly’s video that tells the story of how we became the Uniting Church in Australia? It is just over seven minutes long and truly worth the effort.

There are also videos that documents our life, ministries and mission under tags such as ageing well, educating for life, supporting communities and more.

You can watch these videos here.

 

 

 

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