News, Notices & Prayer points - 25 August 2020

Posted Aug 25, 2020 in News

News & Notices – 25 August 2020

Below are the news and notices from congregations, the Synod of South Australia and the wider Uniting Church for the Tuesday 25 August edition of UC e-News

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Prayer Points for the week

That in this time of sorrow and worry, we may know Christ’s steadfast, enduring love, a love that gives us courage to care for our neighbours and reach out in ways that strengthen our communities
During this Season of Creation, we pray in thanksgiving for the earth which all life is rooted, sun which energy radiates life, water which nurtures and revives us, and other co-creatures for which we are called to care and love.

Synod Standing Committee Update

Brief summary of the Synod Standing Committee (SSC) meeting held on Friday 14 August 2020 is available here. The SSC Update informs the wider Uniting Church in SA community of the discussions, deliberations and decisions arising from the meeting. The minutes from the meeting will be posted here when available later this week.

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COVID-19 Update – Church groups and hirers resources

For congregations who are looking for documents to help manage the use of their property by church groups and hirers during COVID-19, Adelaide West Uniting Church has developed their own requirement documents, which your church is free to use, edit and tailor to your needs. The resources are available to download from the Synod website: https://sa.uca.org.au/uniting-church-media-releases/covid-19-update

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National Child Protection Week (6-12 September)

Each year commencing on Father’s Day, National Child Protection Week celebrates many ways the community can make a difference in the life of a child.

The Gospel reading, from Matthew 18, echoes this year’s theme ‘Putting children first’.
National Association for Prevention of Child abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) is offering a variety of resources and online webinars that are open to anyone to participate.

For more details www.napcan.org.au

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Young adults: come and join NYALC Online

With the cancellation of the National Young Adult Leaders (NYALC) gathering in Adelaide, the Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) President Dr Deidre Palmer and Rev Charissa Suli are hosting a series of Online gatherings for UCA young adults. Share your reflections, hopes, concerns and stay connected to one another.

Join NYALC Online by choosing one of the following dates:

Sunday 30^th August, 5.30 – 6.00pm AEST
Thursday 3^rd September, 7.30 - 9.00pm AEST
Monday 19^th October, 7.30 – 9.00pm AEST

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The Season of Creation, 1^st September – 4^th October

The Season of Creation is the time of year when the world’s 2.2 billion Christians are invited to pray and care for creation. It runs annually from September 1st through to October 4th.

The Season of Creation unites the global Christian family around one shared purpose. It also provides flexibility in celebrating prayer services and engaging in a variety of actions to care for creation. Download the WCC resource for 2020 through the this link [https://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/2020-season-of-creation-celebration-guide]

Every year, Christians around the world, from across denominations, commit the month of September as a Season of Creation to celebrate God’s beautiful Earth, and renew the shared commitment to preserving and restoring that beauty. This year, the theme for the season is ‘Jubilee for the Earth.’ Jubilee is a time to renounce over-consumption and economic systems based on constant economic growth at the cost of the Earth and those experiencing injustice. Jubilee is a time when those who have consumed the most must make restitution to those who have suffered the most. Jubilee is a time of rest for the land from constant exploitation, to restore ecosystems and peoples.

To participate, sign up through the link [https://www.commongrace.org.au/jubilee_for_the_earth_church_signup] to receive a Church Service resource tool-kit for your church to use for any service you hold during the Season of Creation.

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Highbury Street - Grant Funding closing soon

Closing date for applications to the Highbury Street Fund is Monday 31st August.

The aim of the Fund is to support leadership development across the variety of expressions of church among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) worshipping communities associated with UCA through appropriate education and training.

Further information and application forms can be found at: sa.uca.org.au/cald/highbury-street

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Conversations with Children & Family Ministry Leaders

Children and family ministry leaders are invited to join the Children’s Ministry Network in SA's final two online ministry conversations for Term 3, 2020:

- Thurs 27 Aug at 10am: A leader's retreat - intentional time with God, led by Melissa Neumann, Intergen Team.
- Mon 7 Sept at 1pm: Churches and the McCrindle report about recovering from COVID-19.

More information: Turn on Javascript! or https://sa.uca.org.au/intergen/church-resources/leaders-gatherings

or by contacting Bev Freeman 0823 4243 or emailing Turn on Javascript!

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Safe Church Audit Survey 2020 - Reminder

Thank you to the congregations who have already completed the 2020 Safe Church Audit Survey.

In order to report nationally, the Safe Church team would appreciate responses from all congregations by Monday 7th September. If your congregation has not seen this request, please contact Turn on Javascript! for the survey link to be sent to you.

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Human rights and people with disability during COVID-19

COVID-19 presents unique concerns for people with disabilities. The Australian Human Rights Commission has produced a helpful document called ‘Guidelines on the Rights of People with Disability Care during COVID-19.’ Download in PDF, Doc, or Easy Read format from this link:
https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/disability-rights/publications/guidelines-rights-people-disability-health-and-disability. The guidelines are also available at Synod of SA website here

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Uniting World’s Appeal for South Sudanese partners

COVID-19 could not have come at a worse time for South Sudan. Hot on the heels of a devastating drought, a locust plague has destroyed crops leaving thousands hungry. Tribal conflict between groups desperate for access to land and livestock for food had already killed hundreds of people and left women and children the targets of rape and kidnapping. Now border closures and lockdowns mean supplies can't get into the country from neighbouring Kenya or Ethiopia. July, August and September are South Sudan’s ‘lean season’ and the situation is expected to get worse over the coming months.

Support UnitingWorld and its partner the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan to stop hunger, prevent disease and build peace. Find out more about donation options here: www.unitingworld.org.au/southsudancrisis

The website contains images, prayer points and the very compelling story of John Yor, General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan.

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Communion Workshop - Honouring the Sacred

Questions about communion? What's in the liturgy? Why do it? Juice or wine? Pre-cut bread or loaf? What to say when serving? How to involve children? How does being COVID-19 safe change things?

Come along to the Centre for Music Liturgy and the Arts’ Communion event to explore these questions and more.

Led by Rev Dr Sean Gilbert and Rev John Hughes.

Burnside City Uniting Church

Tuesday, 8 September, 7.30-9pm

$10/person. Bookings can be made here.

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NCCA newsletter

The National Council of Churches published their August 2020 newsletter on Friday 21^st August. Access the newsletter here

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Associate General Secretary (Strategy) - WA

The Uniting Church in Western Australia is seeking a visionary and strategically oriented person to work with the General Secretary to provide collaborative leadership in partnership with Presbytery, Congregations, Caring Agencies and Schools.

The successful applicant will be a member of the UCA WA Synod Executive Team, seeking to support the ministry, mission and planning directions of the whole Church.

Please view the Position Specification and Position Description here: https://unitingchurchwa.org.au/jobs/associate-general-secretary-strategy/

Applications close at 5.00pm on Friday 18th September 2020.

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Changes to UCA President's Conference

In light of the resurgence of COVID-19 cases across Australia, UCA President Dr Deidre Palmer has announced significant changes to ‘Called by God’ - her second President's Conference in Adelaide in October 2020.

Instead of the first weekend of October, there will be an opportunity for the Church to gather online at a series of webinars. It will give the opportunity to open up the conversation about God’s call in our everyday lives and as a ‘taster’ of the full Conference in April/May 2021. Read the full announcement here. For more details on the upcoming webinar and to register click here.

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The UnitingCare Australia board recruitment (3 positions)

UnitingCare Australia is the national body for the Uniting Church’s community services network. It is an agency of the Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia. The community services network is one of the largest providers of community services in Australia. With over 1,600 sites, the network employs 40,000 staff and is supported by the work of over 30,000 volunteers. UnitingCare Australia’s purpose is to give voice to the Uniting Church’s commitment to social justice through advocacy, public policy development and by strengthening community service provision.

The UnitingCare Australia Board is seeking nominations for 3 positions which will be put to the Assembly Standing Committee for approval in November.

To complement the Board’s existing skills, we are actively seeking applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with lived experience of accessing support services and those with expertise in communications, media or government relations.

Advertisement and Position Description can be found here: https://unitingcare.org.au/

The closing date for Expressions of Interest is Monday, 7 September 2020.
All enquiries to: Claerwen Little, National Director, UnitingCare Australia, Turn on Javascript!
Expressions of Interest addressing the criteria in the Position Description to be sent to: Geoff Batkin, Chair of the Board Nominations Committee - Turn on Javascript!

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White Pages Directory - Country Areas

Please check your current congregation listing details for the White Pages Country Directory. If you have any enquiries or there are any changes, please call Chris Jaensch on (08) 8236 4200 or email: Turn on Javascript! by the end of September.

If you didn’t get to read the last ‘News & Notices?’ The items below will keep you updated.

COVID-19 Update – COVID Safe Marshals

The South Australian government has declared that from this Friday, August 21^st, 2020 that all churches will need to appoint a COVID Marshal.

A COVID Marshal is required to promote and take practical steps ensuring that infection control practices e.g. frequent hand-washing, are followed by people involved in operations (patrons, employees and contractors).

COVID Marshal training is available via this link: https://marshal.clickontraining.com.au/

A letter from the General Secretary Rev Felicity Amery was sent out today, advising all congregations to appoint a COVID-Marshal and its requirements. Read the full letter here: http://createsend.com/t/j-F5D0755E3E6134C72540EF23F30FEDED

Applications invited for Leadership Development and Ecumenical Formation program

Expressions of interest for young adults -25-35 years old – to be part of a Leadership and Ecumenical Formation program.

The Asian Ecumenical Institute (AEI), an annual ecumenical training program of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), will be conducted this year through a virtual (online) platform. The AEI is an ideal program for those who want to study ecumenism through an intensive course and to participate in an international network of students and scholars of ecumenism to hone their leadership skills and ecumenical vision.

The theme of AEI–2020 is ‘We are Called to be Stewards of Renewal and Restoration for God’s Creation.’ Internationally acclaimed ecumenists, theologians, biblical scholars, and social scientists will be resource persons of AEI–2020.

Admission to AEI–2020 will be limited to 25 students and the ten best-performing students will be selected to attend the 15th General Assembly of the CCA, which will be held in 2021. CCA will cover the international travel, board and lodging, and Assembly registration fee of each of the ten outstanding students from AEI–2020.

The deadline for applications for AEI–2020 is 10 September 2020.

For more details and the Application Form, please click here:

SA Volunteers for Frontier Services

Frontier Services Bush Chaplain Sunny has been in touch about an Aboriginal family and community in need of Outback Links’ practical support in remote South Australia. Their vision is to restore and save Adnyamathanha Country and are in need of developing alternative sources of revenue to enable the restoration of resilient and diverse natural ecosystems in a culturally appropriate manner. Outback Links will support this vision by providing a team of volunteers for a week at the end of September to assist with the long list of practical jobs that need doing on the property including painting, plumbing, electrical, cleaning, gardening and general maintenance to support this family.

When: Thursday 24th to Wednesday 30th September 2020 - travel day either side with 5 work days in between.

Accommodation: BYO or provided.

To find out more head to https://frontier-services.force.com/outbacklinks/s/detail/a287F00000185CgQAI. If you can lend a hand, please contact the National Program Manager, Michelle at Turn on Javascript! or call 1300 787 247

Synod of SA on Instagram

Synod of SA have launched a new Instagram page @unitingchurchinsa! The Instagram page is here to keep you updated with all the latest Uniting Church news, events and stories from the Uniting Church community. Join us by giving us a ‘follow’ so you can stay up-to-date with what is happening in our community https://www.instagram.com/unitingchurchinsa/

UCA Regulation Review

Assembly General Secretary Colleen Geyer is inviting church members to take part in a brief survey on the Church Regulations as part of an overall review. Click here to go to the survey.

Henley Fulham UC – Community Pastor

Henley Fulham Uniting Church is seeking to recruit a Community Pastor to support their congregation in building links between the community and the church. They are seeking a suitably experienced person to be responsible for working with the Minister, Community Team, Church Council and the Congregation to develop and encourage community interactions.

The Position Description and Person Specification for this role is available to download here. Please forward applications via email addressing the selection criteria of the Position Description & Person Specification to Turn on Javascript! by no later than 5pm August 25, 2020.

Lay Educator for Ministry – Uniting Mission and Education (Synod of NSW/ACT)

Uniting Mission and Education, a Board of the Synod of NSW and the ACT, invites applications from suitably qualified people for the position of Lay Educator for Ministry. This role will form part of a team that seeks to encourage and enable leaders to grow in mission, ministry and discipleship.

Working across the Uniting Church in NSW and the ACT, the Lay Educator for Ministry will focus on training and building networks of trainers for lay leadership development.

For a copy of the position description for the role, please email Turn on Javascript!

Applications close 5pm Friday 28 August 2020.

Find out more here: https://www.seek.com.au/job/50369868

Koorong Café Manager

Bring your passion for coffee, solid organisation skills and leadership talents to this rewarding role!

Koorong has an exciting full-time career opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated person to manage their Adelaide café, preferably someone who can start ASAP. Support Koorong’s mission as a Christian retailer through this key role and be rewarded with a friendly and fun workplace.

Find out more about the position here: https://www.eternityjobs.com.au/job/704/caf%C3%A9-manager/

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