News, Notices & Prayer points - 29 September 2020

Posted Sep 22, 2020 in News

News & Notices – 29 September 2020

Below are the news and notices from congregations, the Synod of South Australia and the wider Uniting Church for the Tuesday 29 September edition of UC e-News

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Prayer Points for the week

Synod Strategic Planning and its Working Group as we continue in seeking and exploring where God is calling the SA Synod for the next 3-5 years in its missional priorities and direction
For Anti-Poverty week, we pray for people who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness, among the most marginalised and disadvantaged in the Australian community. We also pray for people helping in our social services around our nation, may God strengthen all
Leading to Mental Health Month (1^st – 31^st October 2020), we pray for those who are confronted by the sadness, ambiguity and confusion of mental illness, and for those upon whom they depend for attention and compassionate care.

Synod of SA Strategic Plan Survey closes tomorrow

Members of Uniting Church in SA are reminded that the Strategic Plan Survey will close tomorrow 30^th September 2020. This is your last chance to fill in the survey and to provide feedback on the Synod of SA’s missional priorities and directions for the next 3 to 5 years. We invite you to have your say via this online survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/UCASAStrategicPlan

For more information, visit: https://sa.uca.org.au/strategic-plan/

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Synod Standing Committee Update

A brief summary of the Synod Standing Committee (SSC) meeting held on Friday 25th September 2020 is available here. The SSC Update informs the wider Uniting Church in SA community about the discussions, deliberations and decisions arising from the meeting. The minutes of the meeting will also be posted here later this week.

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Anti-Poverty Sunday 11 October 2020

Poverty exists. Poverty hurts us all. We can all do something about it.

The Moderator Bronte Wilson invites Uniting Churches in SA to join UnitingCare Wesley Bowden in the fight against disadvantage by hosting an Anti-Poverty Sunday.

Since 2002, Anti-Poverty Week is the week which includes the 17^th October – the United Nations Day for the Eradication of Poverty. In 2020, Anti-Poverty Week will be held from the 11th to the 17th of October.

Visit https://antipovertyweek.org.au/ for resources or check out our website (sa.uca.org.au/antipoverty) for Uniting Church-specific resources, including an online worship generously conducted by the Journey Uniting Church (partners in UnitingCare Modbury ERC), sermon starter ideas, a message from the Moderator and video infographics.

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President’s conference 2020: 3rd-4th October

On Saturday 3^rd October, 1.30 – 5.30pm (SA time), the UCA President Dr Deidre Palmer will host a webinar of three panel discussions that will showcase some of the content of the conference with the themes - Called by God, Every Member Ministry and Faith in Public Life.

It is free to register for the webinar and the program can be downloaded here.

On Sunday 4^th October, we will offer worship in two ways:

1.Live streamed through the Assembly Online Worship forum

2.As a written liturgical resource and a short pre-recorded sermon that you may use with your own community.

The webinars will be recorded and they will be made available for you to use in any of the many forums you use for Christian education in your community. The flyer can be downloaded here and the online registration form can be found here.

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Last edition of New Times in 2020

The next edition of New Times will be the last edition for this year. The October/ November edition will be available online on Thursday, 8^th October and should be distributed via post or courier from the week beginning 12^th October. This special expanded 28 page issue takes an in-depth look at how we are one as the Uniting Church, but have many voices. It will also provide updates from the three Presbyteries. To download a copy, go to: https://sa.uca.org.au/new-times/new-times-print-edition/

To make contact with the Engagement Team and to share your stories, reflections and messages email Turn on Javascript!. We would love to share your stories through New Times Online and social media. The next print edition will be available in early 2021.

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CCI Membership Savings

Did you know all Uniting Church congregations can access savings on a range of great products through the Synod's CCI (Combined Charities Inc.) membership, including:

Stationery, IT consumables / washroom / kitchen (paper, toilet rolls, hand towels, tissues, general stationery and IT supplies)
Cleaning and sanitation chemicals
Waste removal and recycling
Sanitary Disposal and more!

Contact Mark Sykes for more information on 0400 130 595 or Turn on Javascript!. Don’t forget to say you're part of the Uniting Church.

Visit https://sa.uca.org.au/discount-staff-benefits/ to find out more about other discounts and benefits for a wide range of products and services to Uniting Church congregations.

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Notice from Sally Stamp

Sally Stamp (UCA Stamp Group) thanked all Uniting Church in SA members for supporting the group during the COVID-19 period. The group has received envelopes and parcels of stamps and the volunteers have been busy sorting stamps at their homes. The team have just despatched to three large boxes containing 20 shoeboxes of stamps to our SA buyers who are stuck in Victoria. This will allow the Sally Stamp group to pay freight for South Pacific School Aid, including sending pallets to Pacific Islands and beyond. Keep the stamps coming!

For more information about Sally Stamp, contact Maxine Haines, the Convenor - UCA Stamp Group, on 0427 972 417 or email Turn on Javascript!

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Advent 2020 - Engage Together - intergenerational worship resource ideas

Designed to assist and inspire churches to be more intergenerational during Advent (29^th November – 20th December 2020) with an extra service included for 27^th December and based on the lectionary readings, the ideas can be adapted to suit any Bible/theme focus.

It includes:

3 options for an Advent wreath litany (either using candles or water)
weekly Advent bunting activity for both the church and homes
Intergenerational ideas for each week’s call to worship, a song, prayers of confession, prayers of the people and a Bible reading.

Updated from 2017 and written and produced in partnership across three Uniting Church Synods, including South Australia’s Intergenerational Team. Your feedback about this resource will be gratefully received. Please e-mail Melissa at Turn on Javascript!

Find this new resource and other all-age Christmas worship services here: https://sa.uca.org.au/intergen/church-resources/all-age-worship/all-age-church-season-worship/christmas-services

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2-day training for Disaster and Recovery Ministry SA

Disaster and Recovery Ministries SA is a multi-denominational and increasingly multi-faith ministry in South Australia. Its role as part of the State Emergency Management Plan is to provide trained volunteer chaplains to offer pastoral and spiritual support to individuals and communities impacted by disasters, such as bushfires, floods, severe storms, industrial accidents, terrorist attacks etc.

The next opportunity to undertake 2-day training for this ministry will happen on Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th November 2020 at Seacliff Uniting Church (Wheatland Street, Seacliff) and will be led by Rev Dr Stephen Robinson, National Disaster Recovery Officer, Uniting Church Assembly. Training is free and all refreshments will be provided in a COVID-19 safe manner.

Please register here https://www.trybooking.com/BLIQK or contact Co-ordinator Wendy Perkins (Turn on Javascript! or 0408 896 220) for further information.

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New dates for NYALC Online

Young adults are invited to join the Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) President Dr Deidre Palmer and Rev Charissa Suli in an online conversation to share your reflections, hopes, concerns and stay connected to one another.

New dates are added, so join the National Youth and Young Adults Conference (NYALC) Online by choosing one of the following dates:

Monday 19^th October, 7.30 – 9.00pm AEST
Thursday 29^th November, 7.30 - 9.00pm AEST
Sunday 15^th November, 5.00 – 6.30pm AEST
Wednesday 25^th November, 7.30 – 9.00pm AEST
Friday 11^th December, 7.30 – 9.00pm AEST.

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Intercultural retreat seminar – VicTas Synod

Tuesday 13^th October, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm ACDT

Are you interested in re-imagining church and theology from a non-Western perspective? The Uniting Church is a multicultural church, where people from non-Western backgrounds are increasingly bringing their faith cultures and theological perspectives to the table. This seminar is organised by the Intercultural Leadership Development Coordinator in the VicTas Synod Rev Dev Anandarajan. It will feature a US Academic Dr Randy Woodley, who will help you view our church through a non-Western lens.

Tickets are $30 and the seminar will be via Zoom. Zoom link will be provided on registration. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/re-imagining-faith-and-theology-from-a-non-western-paradigm-tickets-119969882147

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Giant Jumble Sale at Summertown Uniting Church

Two Big Saturdays: 3^rd & 10^th October, 9 am – Noon.

Summertown Uniting Church (Corner Greenhill Road and Bonython Road, Summertown 5141).

Furniture, collectables, Men's Shed, garden and homewares, craft, books, games, puzzles, records, DVD's, clothing and much more.

See Facebook, Giant Jumble Sale - Summertown Uniting Church for sneak peeks of items for sale. Everything must go!

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Photographs and Watercolours by Bob Landt

An Art Exhibition at Pilgrim Uniting Church presents Photographs and Watercolours by Bob Landt from 24 September to 22 October. Located at 12 Flinders Street, Adelaide, the church exhibition opens Monday to Friday 12- 2 pm, and Sunday services.

Bob has won many awards, has exhibited in South Australia and Victoria and has taught watercolour classes to children and adults. In Bob's work, you can see the landscape colours of the Yorke Peninsula where he has mostly lived. He captures the atmosphere and mood and his work can be spiritual and sometimes political. His life experience goes into his work.

Find out more from the website https://www.pilgrim.org.au/events/index.php#LandtArt or phone 8212 3295.

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If you didn’t get to read the last ‘News & Notices?’

Click here for the News, Notices & Prayer points – 22 September 2020, which includes updates about: