News, Notices & Prayer points - 2 August 2022

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News & Notices – 2 August 2022

Below are the news and notices from congregations, the Synod of South Australia and the wider Uniting Church for Tuesday, 2nd August 2022 edition of UC e-News

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Prayer Points

We pray:

  • For those impacted by the ongoing war in Ukraine, and for those who have fled the destruction to find safe-haven in Australia and across the world
  • For the athletes representing Australia at the Commonwealth Games who are chasing their sporting dreams
  • For the First Peoples in Australia as the government moves towards implementing a referendum for an indigenous voice to parliament 

 

 

Homelessness Week 2022

This year, Homelessness Week runs from 1-7 August, and there are a number of actions you can take.

Everybody’s Home is asking for signatures on a petition to Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers, calling for a significant investment in social housing in the October Budget. You can sign the petition online.
Homelessness Australia will be conducting a series of events during Homelessness Week, which you can take part in.

They will be launching a report ‘A Plan to End Homelessness’ which sets out a path forward to halve the number of households experiencing rental stress by 2027 and end rental stress by 2032, end homelessness for women, children and young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians and halve the numbers of people returning to homeless services by 2027, and halve the numbers again by 2032.

UnitingCare Australia is conducting a survey for Homelessness Week, from 1-7 August 2022. Please follow the link below to participate.

Take the survey here, or share this link on social media - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FGDVZCG

 

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Synod Ecumenical Relations Committee Award South Australia

The Synod Ecumenical Relations Committee (SERC) is indeed grateful to the Synod for the continued funding of the Ecumenical Award which for 2022 was won by the Fulham-Henley Uniting Church.

The award is given to a congregation each year that has done most to foster ecumenical relations within the local community.

SERC is now calling for submissions for the 2023 award either in writing or electronically and should be received by the secretary, Don Hopgood 19 Ray Ave, Morphett Vale 5162 (Turn on Javascript!) no later than April 30th 2023. Use words and pictures (if possible) to make clear what you have undertaken and the measure of your success.

The award recipient will receive $600, or this amount may be divided between two or more entrants if appropriate. All entrants will receive a certificate acknowledging their willingness to engage in ecumenical activities and these will be presented at Synod meeting in 2023.

Should you wish for further information about this award please feel free to contact Velvy Holden (Chairperson SERC) Turn on Javascript! or Don Hopgood (Secretary SERC) Turn on Javascript!

SERC looks forward to receiving your submissions and hearing about the involvement of congregations in South Australian ecumenism.

 

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Praise and Prayer Points for Mwandi

  • Thank God that Deaconess Judith is back at work. Pray for her health to improve from strength to strength in the coming weeks.
  • Pray for Australian Team Members who are taking holidays, pray for safety in travel and health and for refreshment; may they experience God’s blessings as they travel.
  • Praise God for the donations that provide blankets for the winter months; pray for Giblet and Audery (Counsellors) as they ensure the neediest children are provided for.
  • Pray for the health and safety of children and, staff and volunteers from the pandemic. Thank God for the preparations at Mwandi Hospital to prepare for any outbreaks from the recent strains of CO-VID.
  • Thank our Lord for His provision of those who are praying for Mwandi OVC; may they too see His hands of provision in their lives.

 

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Celebration of Ministries

As part of this year’s Synod ’22, A Celebration of Ministries service will be held at Adelaide West Uniting Church on Sunday, 21st August at 2.00 pm. This service celebrates the ministry, those who have retired since the last Synod meeting, and those who are celebrating special anniversaries of their ordination. The service will be both in person and live-streamed online. Phone (08) 8236 4200 or email Turn on Javascript! for further information.

 

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Lay Preachers’ Sunday

Lay Preachers’ Sunday is celebrated in South Australia this year on August 7th. Lay Preacher’s Committee encourages every congregation to arrange that on that day (or a nearby convenient day) a lay preacher is engaged to preach and lead worship, or at least to have a significant role in the worship. A suggested liturgy and notices for the preacher may be found at this link: UCA SA - Lay Preachers

 

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Frontier Services – Bush Chaplaincy

Our Bush Chaplains fulfil a role that most people would struggle to do. Visiting people on properties for a cuppa and a chat, they are often on the frontline for identifying issues. They lend a sympathetic ear and can refer people to other service providers as appropriate. They provide practical, pastoral and spiritual support to those in need.

Travelling tens of thousands of kilometres every year, our Bush Chaplains collectively visit thousands of families and individuals (including farmers and miners), but getting to remote locations is one of the biggest expenses. From just $10 per month, you can gift an extra tank of fuel for one of our Bush Chaplains. https://frontierservices.org/bush-chaplaincy/

 

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Emergency Relief

The UnitingCare Emergency Relief Centres are struggling to keep up with the demand from people needing emergency food supplies. The usual sources have reduced supplies because of floods and rising costs. UnitingCare SA encourages congregations to include packaged goods as part of their regular offerings and to then, say monthly, arrange delivery to an Emergency Relief Centre. More information can be found at https://sa.uca.org.au/unitingcare-sa/ or call UnitingCare SA on (08) 8236 4255. The number of people seeking relief is continuing to increase each month and if we all do our bit we can, collectively, help many.

 

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Adelaide Theological Library Book Sale

Come and grab a bargain (or two) at the Adelaide Theological Library Book Sale from Tuesday 2nd to Thursday 4th August between 10am – 4pm. Most books are priced around $1, $2 and $5. Items cover theology, commentaries, counselling, leadership, pastoral care, spirituality, prayer and more. Payment by card only. For more information phone (08) 8416 8416.

 

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Sedan Life

An exhibition featuring artists from Sedan and surrounds, SA's Mid Murray region.

Held at Scots Church Adelaide
237 North Terrace, Adelaide

August 8 - 20, 2022
Monday - Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday - Sunday 12 - 5pm

For more information: 0409 178 465

 

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Suicide Awareness Day banner offer

Scots Church Adelaide is now taking expressions of interest from congregations who would like to receive a free Suicide Awareness Banner to display in their community on September 10th, 2022, National Suicide Prevention Day. The banner is generic and can be used for years to come. The banners are soft with eyelets and are accompanied by a holder and ribbon for people to tie ribbons onto gate, fence etc. For more information, please contact Rev Jill Lienert before Friday, 5th August on 0409 178 465. Banners will be available the first week of September. Only a limited number are available and preference will be given to rural communities.

 

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Safe Church Update

It is 3 years since the changes to legislation required a change in the screenings types that ‘persons with roles of responsibilities within the church community’ are expected to have. ‘Working with Children Checks are valid for 5 years – so any checks carried out post 1st July 2019 still have another couple of years before renewal is required. However the other screening types of General Probity and Vulnerable Persons are valid for 3 years. Renewal of a previous screening needs to be carried out no more than 6 months prior to the ‘expiry’ date. Thank you to those who are diligently seeking renewals for these screenings. Reminders will be sent to the contact details given by individuals at the initial time of requesting a check.

For all screening requests and more information:
Safe Church Resources – Safe Church (ucasa.org.au)

Upcoming training: ‘Through their Eyes – safe Environments for children and young people’
Saturday 17th September, The Corner Uniting Church, 93 Oaklands Road, Warradale, is hosting a full day course (9:30am – 4:00pm). Bookings are essential and can be registered at this link: Events Calendar – Safe Church (ucasa.org.au).

Cost $30.00 per attendee. Morning Tea provided, BYO lunch.

 

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Dollars & Sense

The July edition of Dollars and Sense is now available. The newsletter produced by the Synod Resources team seeks to provide useful information and updates to better equip Church office bearers in their roles within the life of the Uniting Church.

Read the newsletter

 

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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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Support Sri Lanka – An Emergency Appeal for Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is currently facing its worst economic crisis since independence due to political instability and foreign fund deficit. The people of Sri Lanka are struggling with food and fuel shortages, soaring prices for basic necessities, and a shortage of emergency medical supplies affecting a large number of the citizens around the country. The Lanka Vision Foundation has set up a funding page to assist in this crisis. Donations can be made at this link: https://gofund.me/2dca896f

 

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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 has recently launched its first community house and appointed its first community leader. The community meets every month, and all are welcome to attend gatherings. Information about the community is available at https://www.larche.org.au/finding-a-community/larche-adelaide/ and the Facebook site located at https://www.facebook.com/larcheadelaide/.

 

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Series 3 of the Dwelling Podcast with Rev Dr Paul Goh

The Assembly has released the first of four episodes in a new series of the President's Podcast Dwelling. This series on Diversity and Inclusion invites us to think about how we celebrate and nurture the gifts of all. First up: Rev Dr Paul Dongwon Gohvwho works in Justice and Cross Cultural Ministry in the Synod of South Australia. Paul shares his own journey into the Uniting Church and reflects on how we might deepen our engagement with difference and reimagine our ways of working to be a truly intercultural church.

 

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Click here for the News, Notices & Prayer points – 26th July 2022

Check out last week’s UC eNews here to keep you updated.

 

 

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