News, Notices & Prayer points - 5th December 2023
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News & Notices – 5th December 2023
Below are the news and notices from congregations, the Synod of South Australia and the wider Uniting Church for Tuesday, 5th December 2023 edition of UC e-News
Prayer Points
We pray:
- For our world leaders, as they navigate the complex process of bringing peace to Palestine and Israel
- For those in our community living with disability
- For a joyous and safe Christmas as we begin the season of Advent.
Human Rights Day
This Sunday, 10th December is Human Rights Day which is celebrated across the world. On the 75th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights, the day helps us to focus upon living in a society that upholds values of equality and justice.
Human rights are universal and protect our safety and quality of life regardless of age, race, gender, religion, abilities or political beliefs.
Australia has signed up to United Nations instruments such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
In Australia we give thanks for our freedom and our opportunities for self-determination. This Sunday we can highlight our fundamental rights in our prayers. More information is available at this link: Human Rights Day | United Nations.
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International Day of Disabled Persons – Sunday, 3rd December, 2023
The theme of this year’s International Day of Disabled Persons was ‘United in action to rescue and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for, with and by persons with disabilities.’
The Synod Task Group (STG) into the Disability Royal Commission highlighted this day as a time where we can focus on making our congregations, services and offices more accessible, inclusive and fairer for people with disabilities.
The STG has produced a series of short videos to assist people in thinking about how they can be proactive in supporting people with disabilities. Bruce Ind, Chair of the STG, and one of its members Rev Peter McDonald have been instrumental in developing these videos. The emphasis in the videos is to ensure that the voices of people with lived experience comes through as well as the interests of carers and community organisations.
The videos are now available on the Synod website at this link: UCA SA - UnitingCare SA
More videos will follow in the coming weeks.
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Summary of Review of Missional Needs & Opportunities
Earlier this year the Mission & Leadership Development Board (MLDB) commissioned AngelWings to conduct a review of the missional needs and opportunities in the SA Synod to inform their decisions on how to best fulfill their mandate over the next 5-10 years. That review is 38 pages, and was not intended to be a public document, as it contains information and recommendations pertaining to specific roles, programs, and personnel that may have implications for people’s positions. However there is much in it that is beneficial for the whole Synod, so the MLDB have prepared a summary which can be read here.
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2024 Calendars
2024 Uniting Church Calendar orders remain open until January next year. The Calendar celebrates food and hospitality from across the church – including different congregations, faith communities and organisations from around the Uniting Church in South Australia. We extend our sincere thanks to all those involved who submitted photographs and recipes for the Calendar this year. If you would like to order the 2024 Calendar, please visit this link: https://sa.uca.org.au/engagement/calendar
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Moderator’s Christmas Video
The Moderator’s Christmas message with the theme ‘Joy, Hope, Peace, and Love’ is available for download from the Christmas resources page of the Synod website and can be viewed together with other resources at this link: UCA SA - Christmas 2023.
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Limitless Church
Be Strong and Courageous for God (Joshua 1:9). Wanted!!! Worship Leaders, Musicians, and Tech Savvy youth and young adults to come on board as ‘Limitless Church’ prepares for launching in 2024, at 4.00 pm on Sundays at Salisbury Uniting Church. Also, the church would appreciate hearing from you if you are interested in starting a kids ministry program alongside the Limitless Church. This initiative is starting from the ground up, so if you feel God calling you into a new church team in Salisbury, come along and join in!
Contact Pastor Justin Gutteridge at Turn on Javascript! or on 0433 181 858 for further information.
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Being an Intergenerational Church: Papers
Recently the Uniting Church released its vision for an Intergenerational Church, a Church where every generation is engaged together in active discipleship, growing and sharing faith in Jesus, a Church for all ages where faith and discipleship is encouraged, equipped, and expressed intergenerationally.
Part of an ongoing project, this series of twelve short, free, downloadable papers has emerged to assist the church in being and becoming more intentionally intergenerational. They are available for all those who share the dream of a more intergenerational church – a church comprised of lifelong followers of Jesus, of all ages, caring, praying, celebrating, learning and serving faith-fully together. Titles include:
Intergenerational Discipleship
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Everything in Common Christmas gift catalogue
UnitingWorld's Everything in Common Christmas gift catalogue is now available! It’s filled with gifts that fight poverty through health, education, leadership and income opportunities. There are gifts like goats, pigs, clean water, schoolbooks, kitchen gardens, small business training and disability support and lots more! And a new set of Christmas cards. You can browse the full range of life-changing gifts for all budgets at this link: www.everythingincommon.com.au
Everything in Common gifts are a great way to make a difference in the world as well as share the hope, peace, joy and love of the Christmas season.
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Grant Opportunities
The City of Port Adelaide Enfield is pleased to advise that Environmental Grant applications opened on 4th December 2023 and close on Friday 29th March 2024. The Environmental Grants Program encourages environmental project initiatives that will protect and enhance the sustainability and environment of the local area. More information on how to apply and guidelines for project funding can be found here.
Expand Together grants
Multicultural Grants Program 2024-25 currently has Expand Together funding open to support our 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.
Expand Together Grants of up to $100,000 are available to multicultural organisations for projects to be delivered over 12 months, commencing July 2024.
Applications for Round 1 are open now and close 11pm, 14 January 2024.
Online application forms and guidelines are available at www.multicultural.sa.gov.au.
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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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MediaCom – Upper Room Daily Devotional
MediaCom is pleased to advise that the January - April regular edition and the January - February large print edition of the Upper Room Daily Devotional is being mailed to subscribers next week.
The Upper Room is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers sharing their faith experience through writing – both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers.
Details and subscription orders:
Regular size here
Larg Print size here.
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Synod Ecumenical Relations Committee (SERC)
SERC is now calling for submissions for the 2024 award. The award is given each year to a congregation that has done most to foster ecumenical relations within their local community and SERC is grateful to the Synod for the continued funding of the Award. Submissions can be made either in writing or electronically which should be received by the secretary, Don Hopgood 19 Ray Ave, Morphett Vale 5162. Turn on Javascript!. No later than April 30th 2024. Use words and pictures (if possible) to make clear what you have undertaken and the measure of your success.
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CMLA Facebook Discussion Group
The Centre for Music, Liturgy and the Arts is now hosting a Facebook group for conversation about creative arts, music and liturgy, and it is open to UCA SA leaders and members. To join, please go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/cmlasa and request to join.
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Adelaide Women’s Prison Request
The activities officers at The Adelaide Women’s Prison have requested 8 ply acrylic to enable women to continue with their knitting and crotcheting program. They made poppies for remembrance day recently to raise money for legacy. The women also require polyester filling for the toys. All toys made are donated to various charities.
A ball of acrylic is a wonderful gift as it enables creativity, the learning of new skills and the gift of giving to others. Donations can be brought to the Semaphore Uniting Church Op Shop. Tuesday - Saturday – between 10.00 am – 3.00 pm until Saturday, 23rd December. It re-opens 9th January.
Thanks are extended for past donations which have been very much appreciated. The women are creating beauty in an austere environment. Would you like to support this Spiritual Well-being Program? Rev Frances is a volunteer chaplain at the prison most Wednesdays and will deliver the wool and polyester filling. She is contactable on 0407687311.
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Retirement a Rewarding Time
The ONECOTA summer edition has a lead article about tips for a happy retirement. ‘It is important to avoid social isolation and grow your friendships and connections.’ The Uniting Church History Centre at Black Forest is open on Wednesday afternoon and volunteers assist and share their skills and interest in family and local history. Enquire about joining in 2024 as the History Centre continues to encourage churches to their stories.
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Can you help? Carols booklets needed
Geranium Community Carols Night is seeking to borrow some carols booklets that they need to borrow for their Christmas Eve service. They need 50 or more if available. If you or your congregation have some Carols Booklets that you don’t need this Christmas, they would be very grateful to borrow them. Please contact Margaret Smith on 0427877534 or email: Turn on Javascript!.
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UC eNews – 9 December 2025
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