News, Notices & Prayer points - 22 June 2021

Posted Jun 22, 2021 in News

News & Notices – 22 June 2021

Below are the news and notices from congregations, the Synod of South Australia and the wider Uniting Church for Tuesday, 22nd June edition of UC e-News

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Prayer Points for the week:

We pray:

For the Uniting Church on its 44th anniversary, as we remember where we have come from and discern the church we are called to be into the future
For all in the Uniting Church who go above and beyond to faithfully serve their local communities and wider society
For the on-going journey of the Uniting Church to be a truly intercultural church, where people from different races, languages and cultures are brought together in Christ.

Queens Birthday Honours List Update

Deb Harrison of the Westbourne Park Uniting Church was also recognised in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours list for her philanthropic work including raising over $250,000 for a range of charities. More information is available at this link: https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/2008699

Wendy Barrett of the Adelaide West Uniting Church was recognised for her service to music. More information is available at this link: https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/2008973

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Six weeks of dwelling prayer

As the 16th Assembly of the Uniting Church draws near, members across the country are invited to join together in prayer. Each week a new prayer will be offered, often in languages other than English. To listen to Rev Dr Paul Goh pray in Korean, please visit this link. For more information visit: https://uniting.church/dwelling-in-prayer/

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Beyond Violence – a new resource

The Uniting Church Assembly has launched Beyond Violence, a new resource that aims to help congregations and communities begin a conversation about Domestic and Family Violence (DFV).

In a video introduction, UCA President Dr Deidre Palmer and National Consultant Rev Charissa Suli speak of the Uniting Church's commitment to say no to all forms of violence and urge UCA members to help change the culture that allows DFV to occur.

The resource includes theological reflection, worship resources, key statistics, helpful information on how to pastorally care for those experiencing or fleeing DFV and key actions we can take to build a world ‘Beyond Violence.’

For more information visit: https://uniting.church/dfv/

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Safe Church Update

As we grow our culture of safety across UCA, how can we keep our energy and focus as we work to embed child safety and well-being into our leadership, governance and culture?

Rev Felicity Amery, General Secretary, Synod of South Australia shares some of her Synod’s approaches and tells us why it’s about keeping it relevant every day to everyone.

Felicity is in conversation with John Cox, National Director, National Safe Church Unit. The video is available at this link.

The National Safe Church Unit also has a new website to make it easy to find all the resources and information you need. In the handy section for Congregations and Presbyteries, you’ll find UCA Child Safe Principles posters in multiple languages, Tools for Listening, the new ‘Safe Church’ poster and more. Visit the website and let us know how we can make it even more useful https://safechurch.uca.org.au

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2021 Refugee Week - – Sunday 20 June to Saturday 26 June

The Refugee Week theme for this year is Unity – The way forward. During the COVID-19 pandemic we have learned that our society is only as strong and healthy as the most vulnerable in our communities and we are called to work together to help build a more compassionate and cohesive community during Refugee Week.

The Uniting Church in South Australia sees strength in diversity and we strategically endeavour to support ministries on the margins. Let’s take the opportunity to build back better and move forward unified together with our most vulnerable and marginalised refugee neighbours.

For planning worship services and events, the Synod Refugee Advocacy Group has put together a one-page sheet of resources for congregations. It can be downloaded here.

For information on ways you might like to support refugees, please download information here.

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2021 Australia Post Community Grants Program – now open

The 2021 Australia Post Community Grants Program is offering grants of up to $10,000 for eligible community-led, local projects that help improve connection and mental health and well-being in a community.

Being connected and feeling part of a community is vital to maintaining good mental health and well-being. Australia Post seeks to support communities and organisations that are helping to improve mental health outcomes.

For more information and to read the guidelines and FAQs and to check eligibility criteria visit this link.

Alternatively, contact Malcolm Wilson, Grants and Historical Records Officer by phoning 0414 520 140 or email Turn on Javascript!.

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Synod Ecumenical Relations Committee Award

The Synod Ecumenical Relations Committee (SERC) invites congregations who have been involved in Ecumenical activities within their local community to submit to SERC a brief of their activity. This can be through a written report with photographs, video or whatever creative presentation you wish to make.

This award has been agreed to by Synod with $600 being included in the SERC budget for it. Certificates will be presented to all applicants. The closing date is the 17^th September and the award will be presented at a Synod meeting. Please submit applications to Don Hopgood Turn on Javascript! or Velvy Holden at Turn on Javascript! or mail to SERC c/o 19 Ray Avenue, Morphett Vale 5162.

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New Climate Change Videos now available

COVID-19 has negatively affected every aspect of life in every country. Climate Change is also starting to negatively impact more people and biodiversity at a growing pace all around the world.

The UCFAMS team has addressed these two issues in their new video series, ‘Lessons from COVID-19 for the Climate Emergency.’

Part 1 of the video looks at the lessons we can learn from COVID and Part 2 addresses the Biblical principles and suggested personal, public and political actions for individuals and groups.

The strength of these videos is that at the end of each section there are questions for discussion – ideal for sessions after worship when people can gather over coffee and view together, to discuss and potentially decide on actions to better care for God's creation.

The series can be accessed at this link.

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Uniting Foundation

Do you have an idea for a vibrant new initiative or project to engage with your local community?

Every day, Uniting Church congregations and faith communities provide programs and services that bring hope and help to many South Australians. Uniting Foundation grants offer financial support to establish projects that will help to build vibrant churches and communities into the future. The 2021 round is now open with a closing date of 31 July 2021.

For more information visit: https://sa.uca.org.au/uniting-foundation/applying-for-a-grant

Further information about the work undertaken by previous grants is available at this link.

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Hare Street Uniting Church

The Hare Street Uniting Church will hold its last services of worship on 27^th June after nearly 100 years of service to the local community.

The Keswick Methodist Church (1923) and the Kurralta Park Methodist Church (1930) amalgamated in 1955 to form the Hare Street Uniting Church.

Past members and previous ministers are warmly invited to attend this occasion as a celebration of the past. The service will commence at 10.30 am, with time for fellowship and refreshments to follow.

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2021 ARA and Hawke Centre Conversation (free event)

Levelling the Playing Field: The Refugee Reality in Sport is being held on Thursday, 24^th June 2021 from 6.00 pm to 7.30 pm at the Allan Scott Auditorium, Hawke Building, UniSA, City West Campus.

Presented by the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre and Australian Refugee Association (ARA): register at this link.

Plus exhibition, SA Refugee Week 2021 Youth Poster Awards Exhibition, Kerry Packer Civic Gallery. (Supported by Lielle McLaughlin, Community Connections, a Pilgrim Uniting Church initiative).

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Environmental Action Group (EAG) calls ‘All Aboard’

The Uniting Church in South Australia body for the environment, the EAG, plans to engage individuals and churches seeking to create a Climate Action Plan. The EAG invites expressions of interest into this program. Please indicate your interest in this ‘Living the Change’ forum. A week-day evening after July is likely. Specific details to follow. Interested parties – please send names and contact details to the EAG email at: Turn on Javascript!.

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Synod Art Project

Artists from all around South Australia and beyond have shared theological reflection through art and transformed the Synod office building. Come and see the artwork before the exhibition ends. Tours conducted by Dieter Engler, Karan Hudson and Neryl McCallum. More information is available at this link: https://www.cmla.org.au/events/synod-art-project-tours/

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Dive into Preaching – preparing and delivering a sermon

Join Tanya Wittwer and Max Howland for a two-day workshop on preparing and delivering a sermon. The workshop is designed for those who are being asked to preach and either have no training yet, or for those that have started/completed the Lay Preacher’s Certificate IV course, as a practical supplement to the course. The workshop will be held on July 20^th and July 27^th at the Uniting College, Brooklyn Park from 9.30 am – 4.00 pm each day. The cost is $15 per person and you register at this link: https://events.sa.uca.org.au/uclt/preachingworkshop

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Webinar 2: National Conferences in the UCA

The second webinar in this series will explore the history and current life of the 13 National Conferences of the Uniting Church. Join the Being a Multicultural Church Circle and Assembly Resourcing Unit on Zoom, Thursday 24 June from 7:00-8:30pm AEST. More information is available at this link: https://uniting.church/webinar-series-the-uniting-church-in-the-21st-century/

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David Drury – Renowned Organist – Lunch-time Concert

On Thursday 24^th June from 1.00 pm to 1.45 pm, Pilgrim Uniting Church is excited to welcome David Drury to perform at the church at 12 Flinders Street, Adelaide. David is one of Australia’s most acclaimed organ virtuosos and arguably our finest liturgical organist. He performs regularly with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and has undertaken many international tours, giving recitals in venues such as Westminster Abbey and Notre Dame Cathedral.

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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 is planning to open its first community house soon. For further information visit: https://www.larche.org.au/finding-a-community/larche-adelaide/

To download their latest newsletter visit this link.

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Finding the road less travelled

Established and emerging artists will be given the opportunity to put their heart and art into coming to terms with the past COVID year in which our lives were turned upside down. How do we find the road less travelled?

Bethany Hall, Willunga - 33 St Andrews Terrace. Bethany Hall is one of Willunga's earliest buildings which features gallery lighting to showcase local Fleurieu artists.

Open weekends in August from 1.00 pm – 4.00 pm. Opening Event Saturday, August 7^th at 11.30am with Rev Dr Michael Trainor. For further information email: Turn on Javascript!.

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Refugee Alternatives Conference 2021

6 – 7 July (Online sessions available).

The Refugee Alternatives Conference brings together a broad range of expertise covering topics of displacement, protection, cooperation, well-being, resilience, education, advocacy and unity from across the country and around the globe. Over the course of the two days, participants from refugee backgrounds, academia, service provision, advocacy, policymaking, government and engaged individuals come together to collaborate and discuss policy and practice.

This year’s conference theme ‘Rebuilding: resilience and innovation’ recognises and celebrates the incredible and challenging work that took place over the past 12 months whilst navigating the unprecedented impact of the current global pandemic. Rebuilding through resilience and innovation means building back stronger, igniting new ways of thinking and transitioning towards an even more effective and inclusive way of working together. This hybrid conference offers online sessions. Please register your interest to join online at the Uniting College with Paul Goh at Turn on Javascript! by 30 June. For further information, go to https://refugeealternatives.org.au/

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Spirituality Group for Women

A group to support and nurture the spirituality of women will gather at St Andrew’s Uniting Church, Glenelg on 5^th July from 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm. In July, the focus will be on the life and writing of Julian of Norwich. Living and writing during the Black Plague in Europe, Julian has much wisdom to share. Please RSVP to Christine on 8291 1771 or email Turn on Javascript!.

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Calling for permanency for Refugees

In this Refugee Week, we are encouraged to take letter writing action, calling for permanency for refugees – creating pathways to permanency for refugees on temporary visas, and enabling family reunions. There are almost 20,000 people living in the Australian community on ‘temporary protection’ visas and they are experiencing on-going difficulties that cause distress and prevent them from starting a life together with their families. To show your support a letter writing guide is available to download here.

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Click here for the News, Notices & Prayer points – 15 June 2021, which includes updates about: