News, Notices & Prayer points - 20 April 2021

Posted Apr 20, 2021 in News

News & Notices – 20 April 2021

Below are the news and notices from congregations, the Synod of South Australia and the wider Uniting Church for Tuesday, 20 April edition of UC e-News

------------------------------------------

Prayer Points for the week:

We pray:

Loving God, we pause to remember those who sailed from this country many years ago, and all who have served down the years in time of war. We remember the many Australian service personnel who have given their lives in many theatres of war, resisting evil, defending our country and standing with others to protect freedom in the world. We pause in our lives to honour them as Anzac Day approaches.
We pray for widows and orphans and those who carry the scars of war in their minds and bodies. May we as a nation always be generous in caring for them and providing for their needs. May we be challenged by this costly sacrifice, to be a little less inwardly focused, and dedicate ourselves afresh to work for peace in our world, our country and our relationships with others
For the people of Myanmar, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste for God to intervene in these situations and that our government will play an important part in assisting wherever possible

UnitingCare Synergy – Management Committee Member Opportunity

Are you a small business manager or procurement professional? UnitingCare Synergy is looking for an external member to join its new Management Committee. Synergy offers a procurement and contracting service to the Uniting Church and its 17 associated organisations, with a focus on health and aged care services and education. We are looking to expand the Synergy services and are seeking additional expertise. If this is of interest to you or you know someone within your congregation that this would suit, please contact the Synergy Manager Emily Brodie-Tyrrell to discuss, phone: (08) 8236 4263 or email: Turn on Javascript!.

------------------------------------------

Writers wanted

Do you have a passion for Christian writing? MediaCom Education is seeking freelance writers for sermon planning resources. If this is an area you feel you could serve, please send us a direct message or email Turn on Javascript!.

------------------------------------------

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.

------------------------------------------

PreachFest

PreachFest is a 3-day festival created to inspire and enliven the craft, art and vocation of preaching across Australia.

Through the lens of COVID, political changes, environmental concerns, culture changes, local needs and the many other contextual realities of our time and place, we are going to explore some important questions:

What is the point of preaching?
Is the art of preaching dead?
Can preaching change anything?

PreachFest will be held on 1^st June – 3^rd June 2021, it will give the opportunity to hear other gifted preachers and teachers, to network and share resources. This event will provide a great opportunity for preachers to refine the art of preaching, fine-tune the ability to proclaim God's Good News in context, and be inspired and challenged by the array of teachers, leaders and preachers, in person (Sydney and Canberra) and online and other interactive portals.

Early bird registration is now open. More information is available at this link: https://ume.nswact.uca.org.au/calendar/preachfest-2021/

------------------------------------------

Volunteers Needed

The Memorial Hospital is looking for volunteers. The have a variety of shift 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!.

------------------------------------------

2021 Break The Silence Sunday (BTSS)

At the Special South Australian Synod meeting held on 9 February, 2019, it was agreed to adopt the fourth Sunday of April every year (or another suitable Sunday) for ‘Break The Silence Sunday’ (BTSS). Congregations are encouraged to explore, within the context of worship, how the voice of survivors from gender-based violence may be heard, honoured, and their pain acknowledged. As the date for this year, 25 April, falls on ANZAC Day, it is suggested the 16th May be an alternate BTSS date. A video will be prepared and uploaded closer to the May date and will be available on the Synod YouTube channel for your use in congregations and groups. In the meantime, you might start preparing the service with the 2021 BTSS Worship Guide which is available at this link.

For further information visit: https://sa.uca.org.au/justice-advocacy/peace/break-the-silence

------------------------------------------

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.

A ‘We See Joy’ video about the Seven Days of Solidarity can be viewed here: https://vimeo.com/486165085

------------------------------------------

Multicultural Grants Program 2021-22

The Multicultural Grants Program 2021-22 stream ‘Advance Together ‘grant assists 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 Advance Together website information page.

------------------------------------------

An ecumenical opportunity for training on Climate Change

Christians care about God's Creation; however, from experience, the message from many advocates, including within the Church, can inadvertently come across as out-of-touch, negative, judgmental, problems-focused and even alienating to many Christians.

An online workshop for interested clergy, communications staff and church advocates hosted by the National Council of Churches in Australia and the Anglican Church Southern Queensland is being held on Friday 23 April 2021 from 9.30 am to 12.00 noon AEST.

The workshop will provide participants with an alternative way to reframe climate and creation care communications and conversations among Christians.

Register: via this Zoom link by 5 pm AEST Tuesday 20 April 2021. For more information, please contact: Peter Branjerdporn via Turn on Javascript! or 0431606432

------------------------------------------

Uluru Statement and First Nations Voice to Parliament

The Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) has called on the Government to ensure a Voice for First Nations Peoples is enshrined in Australia’s constitution. In a joint submission to the Indigenous Voice co-design teams, UAICC and the Assembly say the proposed legislative model does not go far enough.

To sign the Uluru Statement Canvas and to support the call for real, fair and practical change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people please visit the ‘From the Heart’ website at this link: https://fromtheheart.com.au/

You have until 30^th April to voice support for a First Nations Voice to Parliament protected by the Constitution.

------------------------------------------

With Love to the World Mobile App

With Love to the World: A Daily Bible Reading Guide, first published in 1976, is now available as a mobile app that includes access to the daily biblical texts and commentary in an easy-to-use format. To subscribe, visit the App Store: https://www.apple.com/au/app-store/ or Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store and search ‘With Love to the World.’

------------------------------------------

Children’s Art Activity

What should our neighbourhood look like? This year in Child Protection Week (5-11 September) we will be talking about the need to treat all of Australia’s children fairly, by making sure that every neighbourhood has what kids need to thrive and be healthy.

NAPCAN is looking for art-works to show what children and young people think about their neighbourhoods. These will then be used in this year’s campaign to help show that protecting children is about working together as a community. Visit the NAPCAN website where you can download the Children's Art Activity flyer.

Art-works need to be submitted by May 5^th.

------------------------------------------

White Pages Directory – Metropolitan Edition

Metropolitan congregations are asked to check that their current listing in the White Pages Directory is up-to-date. For enquiries or changes, please either call Chris on (08) 8236 4200 or email changes to Turn on Javascript!.

------------------------------------------

Biggest Morning Tea

Willunga Uniting Church is looking forward to hosting a Biggest Morning Tea on Tuesday, May 25 2021 at 10.30am at Bethany Hall, Willunga, 33 St Andrews Terrace. All morning tea favourites will be there including scones with jam and cream, homemade cakes and the best coffee. Donations to the Cancer Council. RSVP is preferred Turn on Javascript!.

Friends and family welcome.

------------------------------------------

Anzac Day and RAAF Centenary Choral Evensong Service

At Pilgrim Uniting Church, 25^th April 2021 from 6.00 pm – 7.00 pm. A service of prayer and reflection for ANZAC Day featuring the Choir of Pilgrim Church. The service setting will be Thomas Attwood Walmisley’s D Minor Service and the anthem of Jonathan Dove’s ‘They will rise.’ For more information contact Pilgrim Uniting Church on (08) 8212 3295 or email Turn on Javascript!. Visit www.pilgrim.org.au. All welcome to this special event.

------------------------------------------

Interfaith Matters Forum

Theme: Baha’I focus and a hundred year celebration in Australia. Presenter: Mahboobeh Aryanpad. 28^th April from 5.45 pm for 6.00 pm at Baha’i Centre of Learning, 275 Flinders Street, Adelaide. All welcome – RSVP by 25^th April to assist chef Gulal. Meal $10-$15. Thank you gold coin donation to Baha’i centre for hospitality. Contact: Liellie McLaughlin on 0437 794 410. Event distributed by Liellie McLaughlin of Community Connections, a Pilgrim Uniting Church project.

------------------------------------------

Winter Retreat, 18-19 June, Nunyara

The Centre for Music, Liturgy and the Arts is holding a Creative Winter Retreat for artists in June. A time for creative community, writers, visual and performing artists to be tucked away in the Adelaide Hills to practise your craft and to be inspired. Reconnect with your inner artist and be spiritually nurtured in this retreat. You have the option of a full overnight retreat, commencing Friday evening, or a day-only retreat from 9.00am-5.00pm on Saturday. Sean Gilbert and Sharonne Price will be leading the retreat. For speaker bios, program and registration information visit cmla.org.au.

Click here for the News, Notices & Prayer points – 13 April 2021, which includes updates about: