News, Notices & Prayer points - 3 March 2020

Posted in News

News & notices – 3 March 2020

Below are the news and notices from congregations, the Synod of South Australia and the wider Uniting Church submitted for the Tuesday 3 March edition of UC e-News.


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

 

Prayer Points for the week

  • All those seeking to deepen their discipleship through Lent
  • For those working to achieve gender equality throughout every level of society
  • For everyone impacted by the Coronavirus

 

In memoriam

It is with sadness that we share the news of the deaths of Rev Rob Davis (19 May 1930 – 28 February 2020), Rev Norman Alfred Scrimshaw (6 November 1938 - 1 March 2020) and Rev Bernard Angus Clarke AM (24 December 1937 – 23 February 2020). Pastoral Notes on their passing were sent to those who subscribe to receive them, but can also be accessed by following the individually named links.

Both Norm and Rob’s funerals will be held this Wednesday 4 March. Norm's funeral will be held at Adelaide West Uniting Church, 312 Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Brooklyn Park, commencing at 2:30pm while Rob's funeral will be held at Dernancourt Uniting Church, 1 Vingara Drive, Dernancourt, commencing at 1:00pm. A tribute to Bernie, who was a former UCA Assembly Associate General Secretary and National Consultant to the UAICC, will be published in the next Assembly National Update newsletter.

If you would like to receive Pastoral Notes and are not currently subscribed to receive them, please send an email to Turn on Javascript! requesting to be added to the list of subscribers.

 

Note to ministers re Spicer Cottages

The Spicer Cottages Trust (whose charter is to provide retirement accommodation support to Uniting Church Ministers where the need is demonstrated) would welcome any expressions of interest from Uniting Church Ministers for such support during their retirement years. Maximum advance notice would assist.

This might apply to Ministers who are already retired or to surviving spouses. Initial enquiries should be directed, preferably in writing (email or letter), to Carole Lyons, Secretary by email: Turn on Javascript! or posted letter to: The Secretary, Spicer Cottages Trust, 26 Chapel Street, MAGILL SA 5072.

 

UCA National News update

The Uniting Church Assembly’s weekly newsletter with updates about what is happening around the country is available online here.

Featured in this edition is information on the UnitingWorld Lent Event, a UCA-hosted interfaith roundtable on the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), the Summer Spirit 2020 conference in WA and more.

 

Highlights from the State Mission Fellowship’s 2019 year

Did you know that, in 2019, the State Mission Fellowship’s Red Dove Café raised $63,000, which was distributed between 10 SA ministries associated with the UCA? Additionally, President Lesley Williams’ President’s Project raised $36,000 for theological training for women in Papua New Guinea while the International Op Shop (at St Andrews by the Sea, Glenelg) sent $5,000 to Uniting World projects and $5000 to the North Luzon Church of Christ in the Philippines to help with legal fees for people illegally incarcerated.

The Sally Stamp Group gave $3,000 to the South Pacific Aid group, paid for books to go to Africa, paid the freight for Packing Day goods to go to Oodnadatta and donated $1000 to the Bush Fire Appeal.

For more information about these donations and a number of other achievements, or how to get involved with the State Mission Fellowship programs, please contact Jill Polkinghorne by email: Turn on Javascript!.

 

Calling all used candles

General Secretary Rev Felicity Amery would like to ask for donations of used/dead candles of any colour, size or description. These are to be used in her workshop at the UnitingWomen 2020 Conference in June this year. Donated candles can be sent to the Synod office at 212 Pirie Street, Adelaide. Alternatively, Felicity can arrange for pickups – please contact her by email to make such arrangements: Turn on Javascript!.

 

CMLA’s latest news

The Centre for Music, Liturgy & the Arts has released their latest newsletter featuring upcoming events and dates to take note of. Read it here.

 

Frontier News

Frontier Services' first quarterly publication for 2020 is out now. This edition features a gripping account by Bush Chaplain Rev Rowena Harris of being trapped in Mallacoota by the bushfires. Also a feature on Pastor Julia Lennon, the first ever female Aboriginal Bush Chaplain, who is working to bring First and Second Peoples together in Oodnadatta.

Read (and subscribe) here.

 

Calendar correction

The 2020 Calendar of the Synod of South Australia states that National Sorry Day is on Friday 22 May. This is incorrect. National Sorry Day falls on Tuesday 26 May, the day before the start of National Reconciliation Week. As a result, Reconciliation Sunday is on 31 May.

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this erroneous date may have caused.

 

Zombies at Easter – I don’t think so!

The Bible Society is once again giving away free children’s books for Easter. This is a brand new Australian book, written by renowned children’s author Susannah McFarlane. She wrote the booklet Who, What, Why, How of Christmas last year and the Easter version is its companion. When the cynical character Josh learns that Jesus died and came back to life, he immediately suggests that Jesus was a zombie. The narrator is quick to point out two distinct differences.

You can order three books from their website for free, with the aim of keeping one and giving two away to friends. Find your books here.

 

_______________________________

Didn’t read the last “News & notices”? The items below will keep you updated.

 

Calling all churches doing Emergency Relief

Does your Uniting Church have an emergency relief program? Do you give out food hampers, toys or other kinds of assistance to people in need? Do you have a free meal for the vulnerable?

If the answer is yes, then UnitingCare SA would like to hear from you with a view to developing ways that we can support your ministry. For more information about how UnitingCare SA can assist, please contact Julianne Rodgers on (08) 8236 4233 or by sending an email to Turn on Javascript!.

 

Dollars & Sense

The online newsletter Dollars & Sense seeks to provide useful information and updates to better equip Church office bearers in their roles within the life of the Uniting Church. Articles are produced by the Synod Resources Team, which includes Financial Services, Human Resources, Information Technology & Telecommunications, Insurance Services, Property Services, UC Invest, Uniting Venues SA and WHS.

Find the latest articles here.

For more information please contact the Synod Resources Team on 1300 766 956.

 

Working with Children Checks (WWCC) and assistance for those without access to a computer

If you have members in your congregation who are seeking to complete a WWCC and are flummoxed by the online process – check out the info sheet on the Safe Church Screening page here or use this direct link to download the Assistance information for Safe Church Congregation Liaisons.

Those with existing Uniting Church Screening and Authority checks (done before 1 July 2019) will need to complete a new application in the coming months to ensure that by 1 July 2020 they have a WWCC and any others as outlined in the  Duty of Care Policy.

 

A Light of Peace - Prayer Campaign for Peace on the Korean Peninsula

The World Council of Churches has encouraged Christians worldwide to participate in  a season of prayers for peace on the Korean Peninsula. The campaign will run from Sunday 1 March to Saturday 15 August.

The campaign commemorates 70 years since the Korean War in 2020. The aim of the campaign is to encourage peace and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula.

The Uniting Church Synod of South Australia is fortunate to have a longstanding partnership with the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK). In 2020 this partnership is 30 years old. Throughout the past 30 years many Uniting Church members will have fond memories of hosting Korean visitors and attending PROK partnership trips to Korea. This special partnership draws us close to the campaign, in the hope of reconciliation for our Korean brothers and sisters. 

During the campaign, we are encouraged to pray for the peace of our Lord upon all in North and South Korea. During the season of prayer, the World Council of Churches will regularly publish prayers and stories relating to the campaign. Resources are available on the World Council of Churches website here.

 

Lenten Carbon Fast 2020

The ecumenical group Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC) is promoting a Carbon Fast for Lent this year. The idea originated with The Care for Creation team of the Catholic Parish of St Dennis, Madison, in the US State of Wisconsin and has been adopted by the ARRCC as part of its Living the Change campaign.

Find the Carbon Fast Resource here.

 

Spiritual care in the midst of disaster

National Disaster Recovery Officer Rev Dr Stephen Robinson and several of his colleagues in chaplaincy have spoken about their work in the recent bushfire crisis on the ABC'S God Forbid program. Read more (and listen) here.

 

Thank you for being part of the Christmas Bowl

Act for Peace’s 2019 Christmas Bowl campaign has raised more than $1.6 million to date, with more still expected to be received.

In a world so full of disaster, conflict, injustice and pain, donors to the Christmas Bowl have  joined with Christian communities across Australia to make a powerful difference for people in need. Read more here.

 

Religious Short Film Prize 2020

Call for entries from the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture for the 2020 Spiritus Short Film Prize are now open. The renamed biennial national 2020 Spiritus Short Film Prize (previously known as The Religious Short Film Prize) aims to contribute to a vision of hope and the common good for Australia.

Entries close: 5:00pm on 30 June 2020. Read more here.

 

 


More from News

Subscribe to receive News articles by email >


Comments

Comments (3)