News, Notices & Prayer points - 7 December 2021

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News & Notices – 7 December 2021

Below are the news and notices from congregations, the Synod of South Australia and the wider Uniting Church for Tuesday, 7th December, 2021 edition of UC e-News

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Prayer Points for the week:

We pray:

  • For those that live in uncertain and unsafe situations may they find safety, support, healing and strength
  • For the rights of all people to be free from persecution and discrimination
  • For the Uniting Church in Australia as it embraces conversations as part of Act2 and discerns where the Spirit is leading the church into the future.

 

 

Uniting Foundation Update

Every day the Uniting Church through its congregations and associated community and aged care organisations provides programs and services which bring hope and joy to South Australians.

Each year the Uniting Foundation receives applications for financial support from across the State. Successful applicants receive significant grants for projects which are considered to be at the 'cutting edge' in terms of services and programs which will build vibrant church communities and lead the Church into the future.

People often ask how they can support the work of the Church in providing services, programs, and the proclamation of a Christian message. One way to help is by supporting the Church through the Uniting Foundation.

By making a donation or including a bequest to the Uniting Foundation in your Will, you will be helping to shape the future of the Church; preparing it to meet the needs of the next generation. For a full list of the Uniting Foundation’s 2021 approved grants please visit this link: https://sa.uca.org.au/uniting-foundation/

 

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Privacy Considerations when Live Streaming or recording Worship

It is required by Privacy law that people attending worship that is to be live streamed or video recorded be given the option to not be filmed and/or recorded.  Please ensure that you have signs notifying people that the service is to be live streamed/recorded, and that it is announced at the commencement of worship. You must give people the chance to opt out – that is, to move to a location that is not visible on the live stream/video recording. For more information, please contact the Synod Privacy Officer, Rev Sue Page Turn on Javascript!.

 

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Act2

The biggest conversation taking place in the Uniting Church right now is the Act2 project. Act 2 is a whole-of-church process and approach to discerning where God is calling us and how we move boldly and with faith into the future.

If you haven’t yet heard about or engaged with Act2, this summary will bring you up to speed as to where we have been, where we are, and how to become involved right now: https://uniting.church/act2-where-are-we/

 

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Refugee Prayer Guide for Advent and Christmas 2021

All Uniting Church members and congregations are encouraged to pray for refugees and asylum seekers with deep compassion and hope during the season of Advent and Christmas. Synod Refugee Advocacy group has put together a two-page Refugee Prayer Guide with the latest statistics and information to use with your congregation. You will find the prayer guide at this link.

 

Let every heart prepare him room…

Following on from the success of their Daily Reflections for Advent in 2020, Gartrell Church is again producing Reflections - for its own community and as a way of virtually walking beside those who are searching for God.

The Reflections are posted online daily, and all are invited to share them. The daily Reflections for each day of Advent have been prepared by the community of Gartrell Church … they provide resources and support for a daily practice reading a passage from the Bible, a reflection and concluding with a prayer, and a piece of music.

Reverend Beth Seaman says: ‘In the same way we prepare for Christmas Day by making the rooms in our homes welcoming with decorations and lighting, we make room to meet with friends and family and we make room in our budgets to purchase gifts as an expression of our love … we also make room in our hearts for God. When you make room each day for reading, reflection and listening, you prepare your heart to sing.’

The Reflections can be downloaded at https://gartrell.ucasa.org.au/meditations-and-reflections/

 

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Advent Resources for all ages

The ‘Christmas Family Faith Trail’ is free for churches to gift to households or small groups to explore the events of the Christmas story through five interactive stations. Each station includes a theme, Bible passage, questions to chat about, and activity ideas for different ages including pre-school, primary school and adults; and prayer ideas. The resource can be downloaded at this link: https://sa.uca.org.au/intergen/family-resources/

Also available is a ‘Letter for churches’ with ideas for running one station or modelling elements of this resource.

Year C Advent – ‘Something is Coming!’ is a resource that includes a selection of verses and concepts across all lectionary readings for each week of Advent, and to engage together and interact with the story of Christmas. This resource can be scaled to the size of the congregation and used as part of the worship service. The resource can be downloaded at this link: https://intergen.org.au/product/advent-series-something-is-coming/

Recently an online seminar was held with the author – to view the recording please visit: https://www.facebook.com/UCAChildrensMinistry

 

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Scripture in Song Books

Clarendon Uniting Church love to sing from Scripture and still use (not having songs on a screen yet) Chorus book s(brown, blue and yellow). We are short on numbers, which is exciting as attendees are more than the supply we have. We are seeking to find out if there are any churches who may have finished with them and if they would consider giving or selling at least 20 with a set of music books. Please contact Trev Harslett on 0407 080 580.

 

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Empower Women in Leadership

As we begin the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, this gift card from UnitingWorld's Everything in Common collection is a great way to support women’s leadership in our international partner churches. The gift helps provide training for women in the Pacific so they can take hold of leadership opportunities, overcome family violence and achieve equality. Learn more here: https://everythingincommon.com.au/collections/all-products/products/women-leaders

 

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A Service of Nine Lessons and Carols

All are welcome to a Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at Scots Church Adelaide (corner of North Terrace and Pulteney Street, Adelaide) on Sunday, December 19th, 2021 at 10.30 am.

The choir will be conducted by Alex Roose, with organist Ashleigh Tobin OAM and poetry readings by James Scott. Ministers: Rev Dr Peter Trudinger and Rev Jill Lienert.

 

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Christian Dissent

Scots Church Adelaide presents over four (4) Christian Dissent figures and movements in history: 5.00 – 6.00 pm at Scots Church, 237 North Terrace, Adelaide. Tuesday 7th December: 13th Century St Francis by Gareth Pritchard; Thursday 9th December 2021: Early Modern Radical Women by Dr Claire Walker; Tuesday 14th December: 19th Century religious freedom in Scotland by Dr Margaret Secombe; Thursday 16th December 2021: Martin Luther King by Mahendra Chitrarasu. More information is available from Jill Lienert 0409 178 465.

 

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APY Lands Children in Need

Please consider donating toys for children in remote country APY Lands and regions who desperately need resources and toys this Christmas. Melissa Thompson, the new and first female pastor of the Uniting Congress Church seeks your help at this time to set up a ministry that supplies Christmas toys and resources to children who are in very high needs remote areas.

Donations of toys and resources are welcome and Candice in the Uniting Church Congress office can assist to direct toy and Christmas donations up to the end of December. Candice can be emailed on Turn on Javascript!. Alternatively the ministry is located at 17 Bedwin Street, Salisbury North and there is a Christmas tree where donations can be left for children from 0-18 years.

Call Melissa Thompson on 0476 461 528 or Sally McPherson on 0404 616 038. Please label the age of the child on any donations and place in a Christmas wrapping or bag.

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Click here for the News, Notices & Prayer points – 30th November 2021

Check out last week’s UC eNews here to keep you updated.

 

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