News, Notices & Prayer points - 4th April 2023
Posted in News
News & Notices – 4th April 2023
Below are the news and notices from congregations, the Synod of South Australia and the wider Uniting Church for Tuesday, 4th April, 2023 edition of UC e-News
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Prayer Points
We pray:
- For a blessed, joyous and peaceful Easter as we celebrate the miracle of the resurrection of Christ.
- For those struggling this Easter, through homelessness, family conflict, and loneliness. May they find comfort and solace in Christ.
- For peace and justice in our world as we reflect on the passing of Palm Sunday, particularly for refugees.
Hearts for Hospitals
Across Lyell McEwin and Modbury hospitals, padded hearts are used for emotional support. (Wooden hand crosses are also used for Christians). Patients take the hearts into tests, squeeze them through the long nights and during the wait for results. They are deeply appreciated. They are also given to staff who are struggling or to say thanks for their care and compassion.
The hospitals are looking for people who would be willing to make and supply hearts to give away. The hearts are 3 inches or 8cm and padded and many are embroidered along the seam.
Please contact Matthew Halman (UCA Chaplain) or Rev Dianna Muir (Northern Adelaide Local Health Network) phone: (08) 8182 9093 or (08) 8182 9000 (request pager 5465), or mobile 0435 154 906 during business hours.
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Uniting Church in SA wins an award
Recently Northpoint Toyota ran a ‘Local Legends’ competition and the Uniting Church in SA was the highest voted charity by Northpoint Toyota’s Hillcrest branch. As a result, UCA has been awarded $1,000. The funds will go into the Flood Appeal to help to support flood impacted communities.
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Through their eyes training (formally known as Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect)
Two upcoming sessions are being offered at Nunyara, Belair. Refresher session on 24th April for those who need to renew their knowledge. Full day on April 27th - for those who may not have completed the training or haven’t done so for several years. More details and booking information available at this link: https://safechurch.ucasa.org.au/events-calendar/.
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L’Arche Adelaide
L'Arche is an international federation of faith-based communities characterised by mutual relationships of friendship and care between people with and without an intellectual disability. These friendships are lived out through sharing daily life, with all its joys and struggles. The L'Arche Adelaide community began in 2013 and its first community house opened in January 2022. Information about the community is available at https://www.larche.org.au/finding-a-community/larche-adelaide/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/larcheadelaide/. For further information please contact the Community Leader, Tracy Tohl, mobile Mobile 0418 497 539; Email Turn on Javascript!.
The latest L’Arche Adelaide newsletter can be downloaded at this link.
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Holding crosses
Any groups making wooden holding crosses who are able to donate some to Flinders Medical Centre, Noarlunga Hospital and Repat please contact Leanne Jenski 0409516857 or email Turn on Javascript!
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Winifred Kiek Scholarship
Applications for the 2024 Winifred Kiek Memorial Scholarship are now open and must be received by 31st May 2023. The scholarship enables women to develop capacity in theology or for ministry. In 2024, the scholarship will be awarded to a woman from multicultural Australia. More information is available at this link: The Winifred Kiek Memorial Scholarship - NCCA.
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Uniting Church National History Society 2023 Conference
Registrations for the Uniting Church National History Society's 2023 Conference are now open. For information and details about how to register for the conference please download the promotional flyer at this link or contact Judy Orme email: Turn on Javascript!.
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Equip church leaders and pastors with skills to help them provide Pastoral Care
A set of workshops designed for those in the helping professions - which includes church leaders and pastors, as well as counsellors entitled: Reflection on Connection: Patterns of practice in supervision, spirituality, and clinical work will be held at Tabor College, Millswood, South Australia on Saturday 15th April.
This is a rare opportunity to understand and apply the skills of reflective practice in a safe, supportive environment with facilitators who have more than 40 years of counselling experience in their own practice as well as within the church context. Participants will be equipped with transferable skills with immediate impact on self and clients to help avoid burnout.
Further details about the workshop/s can be downloaded at this link, or via the website https://ccaa.net.au/events/reflection-on-connection/to or by contacting Turn on Javascript! or calling (08) 7099 2277.
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Act2 Update
Act2 is born of the conviction that now is a critical time for the Uniting Church to consider afresh the ordering of our life. We are seeking to do this as a whole Church, discerning God’s call for our future, and we need everyone’s voice!
The Act2 Project Unit has been working hard to invite the whole Church into the work of Act2. They have reached out to over 1,000 ministers, local leaders, congregations and faith communities across Australia. They have been deepening the engagement with key leaders and councils of the Church and have now developed and launched resources for local communities and their leaders. They have launched an invitation to Uniting in Prayer, a national time of prayer across the Uniting Church planned for 28th May – 22nd June this year.
Adding more opportunities all the time for people, communities and councils of the Church to take part in the work of this project – the biggest and most potentially transformative one undertaken in 45 years. Please read on to consider how you might be involved. Read more
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How to make the most of your National Church Life Survey Results (NCLS)
NCLS Research will present ‘How to make the most of your National Church Life Survey Results’ a free webinar that will guide church leaders and their teams through their Church Life Profile of results, with insights and tips for exploring their results and using them to inform their ministry. Free tickets are available at: https://MakethemostofyourNCLSresults.eventbrite.com.au
Various event dates are available in April and for further information please download the flyer at this link.
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National Lay Preachers Conference 2023
The Queensland Synod is pleased to host on behalf of the National Lay Preacher Committee, the 2023 National Conference of Lay Preachers to be held Friday 4th August to Monday 7th August 2023 at Alexandra Park Conference Centre, Sunshine Coast Queensland.
For Lay Preachers, prospective Lay Preachers and those interested in leading worship. Share in a wonderful few days and be encouraged, supported and challenged in your ministry. Further information is available at this link: National Conference of Lay Preachers 2023 - Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod (ucaqld.com.au)
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Synod Ecumenical Relations Committee (SERC) Award South Australia
SERC is grateful to the Synod for the continued funding of the Ecumenical Award.
Each year the award is given to a congregation that has done the most to foster ecumenical relations within the local community.
SERC is now calling for submissions for the 2023 award, either in writing or electronically and should be received by the secretary, Don Hopgood, 19 Ray Avenue, Morphett Vale 5162 email: Turn on Javascript! and no later than April 30th 2023. Please use word and pictures (if possible) to make clear what you have undertaken and the measure of your success.
The award recipient will receive $600, or this amount may be divided between two or more entrants if appropriate. All entrants will receive a certificate acknowledging their willingness to engage in ecumenical activities and these will be presented at the Synod meeting 2023.
Should you require further information about this award please feel free to contact Velvy Holden (Chairperson SERC) Turn on Javascript! or Don Hopgood (Secretary SERC) Turn on Javascript!.
SERC looks forward to receiving your submissions and hearing about the involvement of congregations in South Australian Ecumenism. We pray God’s blessing on your efforts.
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Grant Opportunities
Multicultural Grants Program 2023-24 currently has Expand Together funding open to support multicultural communities.
The Expand Together grants assist multicultural organisations to expand their capacity by upgrading community facilities or purchasing equipment to meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Apply for up $100,000. Applications for Round 2 open on 1st June 2023 and close on 30th August 2023. Find out more.
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Green Adelaide – Grass Roots Grants Program
The Green Adelaide Board is again launching the Grassroots Grants program, supporting individuals, volunteers, community groups and other bodies working on local projects that contribute to improved management of the environment.
Since commencement of the program in 2020, Green Adelaide have invested in 77 projects valued at over $2 million, delivering on coastal management, water resources and wetlands, green streets and flourishing parklands, flora, fauna and ecosystem health, controlling pest animals and plants and nature education.
The total value of the Grassroots Grants Program for Green Adelaide in 2022-23 is $866,000, with grants between $2,000 and $150,000 available per application. A full list of the successful projects including Grassroots Grant information is available on their website.
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COVID-19 Update
All existing directions, frequently asked questions and other information in regards to COVID-19 guidelines can be found here: https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/emergency-declarations.
If you would like further assistance, please contact your presbytery or:
Sue Page Turn on Javascript! or phone (08) 8236 4217 or 0430 666 959
Philip Gardner Turn on Javascript! or phone (08) 8236 4268 or 0409 077 076.
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Sally Stamp
Sally Stamp asks that people continue to send stamps to the Uniting Church Office, to help with this ministry. The group also suggests that people consider asking local businesses to save their stamps, with doctor’s surgeries being one of the best sources of stamps! Any donations of private collections no longer required are also gratefully received. In 2022 donations were made to the following: South pacific School Aid Inc. ($4,700); Frontier Services ($1,000); and The Grove U/C Kids Craft Group ($1,000). Pick up can be arranged in metropolitan areas. Contact, Maxine Haines (Convenor) Phone: 0427 972 417, email: Turn on Javascript!.
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Piano for give away
Dan Aubrey would like to give away his piano which is an upright, dark wood, made in Germany, Leipzig. Any congregation interested in taking the piano can contact Dan on 0432 375 764.
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