News, Notices & Prayer points - 20 February 2019

Posted Feb 20, 2019 in News

News & notices – 20 February 2019

Below are the news and notices from congregations, the SA Synod and the wider Uniting Church submitted for the Wednesday 20 February edition of UC e-News.

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Prayer Points for the week

For the work of the restructuring task groups as they meet to prepare recommendations for the restructure of the Presbytery and Synod in South Australia.
For the advancement of social justice by the removal of barriers people face because of their religion, gender, race, age, ethnicity, culture or disability.

Nominations for Moderator

Mission Networks and Congregations are invited to submit nominations for Moderator-elect. Nominees do not need to be contacted prior to nomination.

Send advice of nominees to:

Moderator Nominating Committee Convenor Turn on Javascript!.

Associate General Secretary, Turn on Javascript!

Please note that nominations close on 15 March, 2019.

Screening Checks

Recently the media announced that the regulations surrounding the new Working with Children Checks will begin on 1 July 2019. The Uniting Church SA is currently reviewing policies and procedures for how this will be incorporated into our existing Screening & Authority process. Communication will be sent to all congregations, Safe Church contacts, Secretaries, etc when a clear pathway for meeting the new requirements is reached. Until any further advice comes from this office, please continue with the current practice of ensuring all those in a role of responsibility within the church has an active Screening and Authority check.

The Mapoon Appeal

The Synod’s Covenanting Committee met earlier this month for the first time this year. While most committee memberships have lapsed, there was a willingness by most to renew their commitment through membership.

One of the items discussed was the Mapoon Appeal. The Mapoon Appeal was endorsed in the 2015 Assembly to support the Mapoon community in the Northern Region Synod, as a show of our Covenanting with First Peoples. It was to assist with the community’s place of worship, their church.

The Covenanting Committee resolved to again remind and encourage Church Councils to consider donating funds toward this from their Justice budget.

For more information on the Mapoon Appeal see the link https://uaicc.org.au/mapping-mapoon/

Calling all artists and art programs

New Times would like to feature the work of artists and art programs within the UCASA community in the next edition of New Times. This could be in the category of either visual or performing arts. If you would like to share your work and/or program with the rest of the Uniting Church community, send New Times an email to Turn on Javascript! with the details so someone can follow up with you. The deadline for submissions is Friday, 22 March.

Discipling the Next Generations

A national conversation about young people and the Uniting Church took place in Melbourne last week.

UCA President Dr Deidre Palmer joined with people from every synod engaged in ministry with youth and young adults, as well as members of the Assembly Resourcing Unit, the Discipling the Next Generations Circle of Interest and Presbytery representatives.

Read more about it here.

Join the 40 day Lent Event

UnitingWorld’s Lent Event starts on 6 March and runs until 18 April. This year’s event highlights the courage of the people in Timor-Leste, one of the poorest nations in our region. To join, take the pledge to live simply for 40 days in solidarity with those that have less, give up something you can live without for those 40 days and use what you save to help people escape poverty. Sign up on the Lent Event web page here.

City of Tea Tree Gully community grants update

The next round of community grants for the City of Tea Tree Gully will open on Tuesday 26 February 2019 and close on Tuesday 26 March 2019. Council's community grants program consists of one-off financial grants for community groups and not-for-profit organisations. Grants are provided for activities, programs, events and initiatives that provide clear benefits for our community.

On Caring for our Common Home

An Australian Ecumenical Response to Pope Francis’ Laudato Si 2 will be happening 8 – 10-March in Galong, NSW.

He said: “The earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor; she groans in travail. This is reflected in the symptoms of the sickness evident in the soil, in the water, in the air and in all forms of life.”

Participants are invited to join an ecumenical dialogue with those who make their own the prayer of Pope Francis: Bring healing to our lives so that we may protect the world and not prey on it. Teach us to recognise that we are profoundly unitied with every creature. As we journey towards your infinite light.

Uniting Earth NSW/ACT is one for the event partners. Call 02 6380 5222 or send an email to Turn on Javascript! if you are interested to join.

Encouraging Democracy, Dialogue & Activism

Next week, three key people working with the Democratic Institute of Israel will be in Adelaide for a brief study tour exploring what’s happening here, to better engage and activate citizens in the processes of democracy.

The South Australian Council of Social Service is looking for a broader group to hear directly about their fascinating work as well as have an open discussion about things that are happenning here to build engagement and encourage activism.

Call SACOSS Events Officer, Angela, on 8305 4224 to book your place.

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

New General Secretary for South Australia

At the Special Synod meeting on Saturday 9 February, members resolved to appoint the Rev Felicity Amery (Deacon) as General Secretary of the Presbytery and Synod of SA for an initial term of five years commencing on 1 May, 2019.

Felicity is currently the Chairperson/Presbytery Minister in the Pilgrim Presbytery of Northern Australia (this is the non-Indigenous Presbytery in the Northern Synod) and Dean of Students and Theology Teacher at Nungalinya College. Read the announcement about Felicity’s appointment here.

Presbytery Restructure update

Rev Rob Brown, General Secretary of the UCSA, sent out communication regarding the current restructuring process of the Presbytery on Tuesday, 12 February. If you have not received this update, please find it linked here.

A web page has also been set up with the purpose of information sharing relating to the Presbytery restructuring process, which can be accessed here.

Don’t forget to order Easter postcards

The 2019 Easter postcard and poster feature an image which interprets this year's theme 'Turning Hard Times to Good Times'. Easter is a time when we can pause and reflect on the selfless act of Jesus dying for our sins on the cross. With this act, Christ has taken upon himself everything that is bad and dark and turned it into the purest hope of everything that is good. The back of the postcard includes a quote from Isaiah 65:17-18. Space is provided on both the postcards and posters for each church's Easter service details.

For more information about the 2019 Easter theme, costs, and how to order, please click here or contact the Communications team at Turn on Javascript!.

Break the Silence Sunday date correction

UC E-News reported in its Special Synod meeting update on Saturday, 9 February, that Break the Silence Sunday will be recognised on Sunday 4 April. The correct interpretation of the date is rather the fourth Sunday in April (or on a suitable Sunday).

The proposal presents an opportunity for UCA congregations, faith communities and agencies to open up a dialogue within the church about rape and sexual assault.

International Women's Day retreat 2019

Do you remember your life before it was filled with distractions, responsibilities and commitments? This one day retreat provides an opportunity to 'step-away' for the day to focus on you.

Retreat leaders will take you through a series of exercises that provide opportunity for self-reflection, increased confidence and time to contemplate the possibilities that lie ahead!

The retreat will be on Friday 8 March from 9.30am - 4.15pm (includes lunch and morning tea) at in. CAFE + WORKSPACE. Guest presenters: Lauren Andris, Bindy Taylor and Sharonne Price.

Cost is $50 (includes GST). For more information or to register your interest, email the Communications Team on Turn on Javascript! or call (08) 8236 4249.

Sharing your church’s activities with others

If your church or faith community recently held events or were out in the community doing God’s work, we would like to tell other UCA communities about it to serve as inspiration and motivation. Please pass on pictures of your church’s activities to the New Times editorial team along with a description of what happened, when it happened and who was involved. Forward your news and pictures to Turn on Javascript!.

Updates on the Royal Commission into Aged Care

UnitingCare Australia welcomed Government’s announcement of an injection of $662 million into residential, home and community aged care. Thanks to this financial boost, 10 000 older Australians will be able to access services for which they had been assessed (some as long as 18 months ago).

UnitingCare Australia’s Tom Finnigan is sending out daily summaries of news reports on the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. If you would like to subscribe to his briefings, please contact Tom by sending him an email to Turn on Javascript!.

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