News, Notices & Prayer points - 6 March 2019

Posted Mar  6, 2019 in News

News & notices – 6 March 2019

Below are the news and notices from congregations, the SA Synod and the wider Uniting Church submitted for the Wednesday 6 March edition of UC e-News.

 

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Prayer Points for the week

• We pray for strength and inspiration during Lent.
• For true gender balance to be achieved in our society and congregations, with women all over the world released into fullness of life.
• For the work of the restructuring task groups as they meet to prepare recommendations for the restructure of the Presbytery and Synod in South Australia.

 

Reminder: Nominations for Moderator

Mission Networks and Congregations are invited to submit nominations for Moderator-elect. Nominees do not need to be contacted prior to nomination.

Send advice of nominees to:

Moderator Nominating Committee Convenor Turn on Javascript!

or

Associate General Secretary, Turn on Javascript!

 

Please note that nominations close on Friday, 15 March, 2019.

 

Join the 40 day Lent Event

UnitingWorld’s Lent Event begins today, 6 March and runs until 18 April. This year’s event highlights the courage of the people in Timor-Leste, one of the poorest nations in our region. To join, take the pledge to live simply for 40 days in solidarity with those that have less, give up something you can live without for those 40 days and use what you save to help people escape poverty. Sign up on the Lent Event web page here.

 

Last day to order Easter postcards

Today, 6 March, is the very last day to order Easter postcards and posters. The Uniting Church SA Easter campaign helps our congregations and faith communities to communicate service and event details, to share in the Easter story, and to raise awareness of the Uniting Church in the wider community.

For details about costs and how to order, please follow this link, or contact the Communications and Events team on 8236 4237 or email Turn on Javascript!.

 

Intercultural Leadership Forum - “Culturally Intelligent Leadership for Cross-cultural Ministry”

An evening with David Turnbull, the Head of Intercultural Studies at Tabor and State Director for Global Interaction SA/NT. David will explore with us his doctoral research on leadership within the Uniting Church and Baptist Churches in South Australia and ways forward for missional intercultural engagement.

To be held at 212 Pirie Street, on Tuesday, 2 April, 2019 from 6pm to 9pm. RSVP by 29 March by calling Bev Freeman on 8236 4243 or email to Turn on Javascript!.

 

Fiji calling

All members of the Uniting Church in Australia are invited to join President Dr Deidre Palmer at her first President’s Conference. The conference will be held in Nadi, Fiji from 13-17 July. Themed “For the Whole of Creation”, the conference will explore how we can grow in our Christian discipleship through deep conversations on Creation, climate and gender justice.

To find out more and to register, please visit this website.

 

In memoriam: Rev Professor Denis Edwards

The ecumenical academic community mourns the loss of Rev Professor Denis Edwards, who died suddenly on Tuesday, 5 March, after a short illness. As a Catholic Priest and Theologian, Denis helped in the formation of many Uniting Church ministers and lay leaders when the Adelaide College of Divinity hosted three denominational colleges. He was an early champion of eco-theology, an outstanding international scholar and author, and committed to receptive ecumenism. His Funeral Mass will be conducted at St Francis Xavier Cathedral, Adelaide at 11am on Tuesday, 12 March. 

 

MediaCom Survey

MediaCom Education Inc is currently requesting its customers to complete a five-minute survey regarding their products and services. The survey is available online and open until Thursday, 7 March (tomorrow), If you would like to assist and participate, please go to this website.

 

Endless Praise in SA

The music team ‘Endless Praise’ are coming to South Australia in April and has a number of dates available when they can visit congregations, schools, youth groups or community outreach projects for individualised presentations and workshops.  If you are interested please contact Sandra Maletin on 02 4998 0312 or Turn on Javascript!. Visit their website for more information on the group and their 2019 Tour, or follow them on Facebook.

 

NCCA’s March Assembly

The National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA’s) March Assembly will focus on the selection, training and screening for ordination candidates and church workers, including best practice in psychological testing. The Assembly will be held on Thursday, 21 March, in Sydney. Registration is available online here. For any enquiries please contact Noelene on 02 8259 0800 or Turn on Javascript!.

 

Earth @ Peace Conference

A conference for all who care for the earth and humanity’s future will be held in Melbourne, 23-24 April 2019. The multi-faith Earth @ Peace Conference has the subtitles: A Just and Ecologically Sustainable Peace, and The ethical imperative of our time. It is supported, among others, by the University of Divinity, the Australian Research Theology Foundation Inc, Pax Christi, Religions for Peace and more. Register here.

 

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Didn’t read the last “News & notices”? The items below are ones you might want to catch up on.

 

Closure of Lucindale Uniting Church

The Lucindale Uniting Church has regretfully made the decision to close due to lack of numbers. A closing service will be held on 31 March 2019 at 10:00am, led by Rev Eric Kirkham. All are welcome to join this congregation for the service and to join together afterwards for lunch in Lions [CWA] hall for Fellowship.

Because of this closure the church has Australian Hymn books which they have no further use for and they would like to give these books to any churches that would have them. For enquiries please contact Fay on 0458 662460.

 

In memoriam: Rev Allan Hatcher

Rev Allan Hatcher passed away last on Wednesday, 20 February, at the age of 94. Allan was ordained as a minister into the Methodist Church in 1954 and served significantly in ministry as a missionary to Fiji for 21 years before holding leadership roles in the former Fleurieu and Wakefield Presbyteries of the Synod of South Australia. He retired in 1990.

His funeral was held on Wednesday 27 February, at the Vermont Uniting Church in South Plympton, at 10:30am. He is survived by his children Kathryn, Ian and Robert and their families. Please hold them and all who knew and loved Allan in your prayers.

 

UnitingCare testifies before Royal Commission

UnitingCare Australia’s National Director, Claerwen Little, testified at The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. She revealed some grim consumer feedback and results that were gathered during a UnitingCare online survey and focus group. “The expectations of people are that residential aged care is not a good place to be,” said Claerwen. “The results of our survey and focus group also showed that people did not have a good understanding of the system and it was something they did not think much about until they had to.”

The Royal Commission hearings concluded in Adelaide at the end of last week, although more hearings are scheduled in all capital cities and a number of regional locations. Its first background paper was released on Monday, 25 February.

 

Seminar: Important developments in New Testament Greek Studies

Dr Dirk Jonkind, Senior Research Fellow in New Testament Text and Language at Tyndale House, Cambridge, will speak at a seminar about two important developments in New Testament Greek studies. This event will be held at Uniting College for Leadership & Theology/Yarthu Apinthi, 312 Sir Donald Bradman Drive Brooklyn Park, on Thursday 4 April 2019, 1.30 to 4pm.  Free entry.

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