News, Notices & Prayer points - 7 July 2020

Posted Jul  7, 2020 in News

News & Notices – 7 July 2020

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

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Prayer Points for the week

• The people of Victoria, particularly its health workers and government officials, as they work to stop the spread of a COVID-19 outbreak.
• The 1.4 million Australians who are currently relying on emergency relief from community service agencies like UnitingCare.

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Encouragement from the Moderator

Last Friday 3 July a letter from the Moderator was sent out to thank the Ministers and leaders of congregations for the adaptability and leadership which they are offering in these continually changing times. Hearing the stories of the many creative ways in which leaders have connected in times when physical contact has been limited, has brought great joy to the Moderator Bronte Wilson. Even with physical isolation, many congregations are feeling more connected than ever before. It is also good to hear of congregations sharing resources and skills as well as exchanging ideas.

Throughout this time, leaders may feel exhausted with the changed responsibilities and expectations. One certainty is that our situation will change again. This change may happen often in the near future as the church, government and society manage the long term effects of COVID-19 among us.

The Moderator welcomes emails and phone calls as many congregations consider the next steps.

To read the full message click here: http://createsend.com/t/j-412B7E45DDAB221F2540EF23F30FEDED

Email: Turn on Javascript!

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Brooklyn Park Campus will be re-opening in full capacity

On Friday 3 July it was announced that the Brooklyn Park Campus will be re-opening in its full capacity in Semester 2. On-campus, in-person classes will recommence, and students will have access to the library, meetings with faculty, and research in our study spaces. The Campus will be open to VET and Intern Year Students who will begin their studies on Tuesday 21 July 2020. Higher Education students will begin their studies on Monday 27 July 2020. Students will also have access to the Adelaide Theological Library collection and facilities.

The Brooklyn Park Campus will re-open with some restrictions in place to align with the government regulations:

• All visitors will record their attendance (time of arrival and time of departure)
• Physical distancing of 1.5m will continue (classrooms and study spaces will be reconfigured)
• Kitchen access will be limited (further information will be available in the coming weeks).

For any questions, please feel free to call the ACD/UCLT Team on 8416 8400.

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Celebrating 35 Years of being a Multicultural Church

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the declaration that the Uniting Church in Australia is a multicultural church. All Uniting Church congregations are invited to celebrate our cultural and linguistic diversity on One Great Sunday of Sharing, 19 July 2020. The print ready Worship Guide is available at https://sa.uca.org.au/cald/cald-events-and-resources

The Worship Guide includes the lectionary reading from Romans 8:12-25, which offers an opportunity to explore the life of being children of God together, and to share stories of faith, suffering and hope with people whose culture and background are different from one’s own.

A link to a pre-recorded YouTube video of a worship service will be available in next week’s UC e-News. It will feature members, ministers, and congregations from a diverse range of cultures, along with the UCA President and the SA Synod Moderator. The service could be used as part of, or in place of, a local worship service..

For further resources, go to Assembly website https://www.assembly.uca.org.au/mcm/resources/build-crosscultural-understanding/item/825-one-great-sunday-of-sharing or contact Rev Dr Paul Goh, Synod CALD Officer of Mission Resourcing at Turn on Javascript!

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UC FAMS Video Project: Volunteers wanted

In these anxious and frustrating days, does the COVID-19 pandemic have something to teach us about the climate crisis? The Uniting Church Fellowship and Mission Support (UCFAMS) believes it does and has taken up the challenge to ask, “What are the connections between the COVID-19 pandemic and the current climate crisis?” and further, “What can we do about it as God’s people?”

UC FAMS is preparing a video production for churches and communities to explore this intersection of crises. There will be many ways to interact with the production, with the first of a two-part series available in late-August. As the project is in pre-production phase, we are seeking participants to present topics on camera.

If you're interested in being involved with the project - or know of someone you'd like to suggest - please contact Brian Polkinghorne at Turn on Javascript!. We are seeking a diverse cast to help us realise this project, impassioned by climate science and the possibility of a sustainable future.

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#NoChildLeftBehind Campaign

Across the country, children and families seeking asylum are being left without support, especially if they have no work as a result of COVID-19. Children are going to school hungry and parents are struggling to pay rent.

Join the #NoChildLeftBehind campaign, which focuses on calling on Senator Anne Ruston and PM Scott Morrison to extend COVID-19 support and ensure there is no child left behind as part of the #NobodyLeftBehindCampaign.

In early May, the Moderator of Uniting Church in SA signed an open letter to the Prime Minister titled “Nobody Left Behind: Ensuring people seeking asylum, refugees and other vulnerable groups are included in COVID-19 responses”. Join the #NobodyLeftBehind campaign by sharing social media posts or by contacting Senator Anne Ruston and PM Scott Morrison to request an extension of COVID-19 supports to vulnerable groups.

More information about the campaign can be found here: https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/no-child-left-behind/

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NCCA Newsletter

The latest newsletter of the National Council of Churches in

Australia can be read

here.

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Nominations are open for the 2021 Australian of the Year Awards

There is only one month left to nominate for the 2021 Australian of the Year Awards. The Australia Day Council of South Australia needs the community’s help to ensure our nation’s best continue to receive the recognition they deserve. They are looking for people who are great at what they do, contribute to Australian society and inspire those around them. They could be quiet achievers, community members, leaders in their field of work, household names or unknown heroes.

The Awards rely on members of the public to nominate and we are all encouraged, through our networks, to identify and put some of our best and brightest forward for the 2021 Awards.

Nominee(s) could be recognised in one of four categories:

Australian of the Year

Senior Australian of the Year (65 years and over)

Young Australian of the Year (16 to 30 years)

Australia’s Local Hero

Nominate by Friday 31 July 2020. For more information, email the Australia Day Council of South Australia team at Turn on Javascript!.

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Goodies Op Shop Winter Woollies Appeal

Goodies Op Shop at Clayton Wesley Uniting Church (corner of

Portrush Road and The Parade) is currently in need of donations of good quality,

used winter clothing to meet unprecedented demand. Please drop off your

donations between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday or Saturday between 10am and

1pm. Proceeds from Goodies Op shop in Beulah Park support the work of the Spire

Community including Hope's Café. Contact 8332 8631 with any queries.

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In person Worship Service attendance resumes at Pilgrim UC

On Sunday 12 July all morning services (8am, 9:30am and 11am) will resume in person in the Pilgrim Uniting Church building, located at 12 Flinders St, Adelaide CBD. Alternatively, those who do not wish to return to worship on site can watch online or catch up at a later time via the Pilgrim Uniting Church Adelaide YouTube Channel.

For details please go to the Pilgrim website: https://www.pilgrim.org.au/

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

COVID-19 update – Letter from General Secretary

Beginning 29 June 2020, COVID-19 restrictions around physical distancing were relaxed from 4 sqm to 2 sqm per person. General Secretary Rev Felicity Amery sent out a letter to congregations and encouraged everyone to move with caution while planning for in-person church gatherings. She also clarified other frequently asked questions about hospitality/morning tea and children’s/youth ministry. SA Synod continues to encourage BYO morning tea and food seated at tables. Drinks may be served from a servery but physical distancing needs to be maintained. There is to be no sharing of food or beverages using shared/self-serve utensils. Children and youth activities are encouraged with good planning, consistent with the government’s guidelines. Playgroups can now open but it is important for the shared toys to be cleaned before and after activities.

The full letter by the General Secretary including the updated “Roadmap for re-opening churches” can be read here: http://createsend.com/t/j-176EB2B1E29D63792540EF23F30FEDED

Please contact your Presbytery or email your questions to the Associate General Secretary Rev Sue Page (Turn on Javascript!). As there are currently lots of enquiries, please be patient with the response time.

Uniting Venues SA: WE’RE OPEN!

The restrictions have been eased and many of Uniting Venues SA (UVSA) sites have reopened as of Monday 29 June. This includes Adare Camp and Caravan Park, Nunyara, Emmaus, Tarooki and Thuruna. Beyond Limits Outdoor Education is also back and ready to offer programs for camps, incursions, expeditions, social justice and Aboriginal programs. A COVID-Safe Plan has been developed as the health and well-being of UVSA staff and guests is the main priority. Food service on sites will look a little different and cleaning and hygiene practices have been increased.

Nunyara Holiday Apartments are now available for bookings and offer two-bedroom apartments with amazing city views from the hills at Belair, which is only 20 minutes from Adelaide CBD. While Adare House was closed, the staff have been doing a lot of painting. It is now looking fantastic and the UVSA team looks forward to welcoming you back soon.

To find out more about Uniting Venues SA’s updates, check the website: uvsa.org.au or contact Turn on Javascript!.

Efforts for peace on the Korean War’s 70th Anniversary

As this year marks the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War, the World Council of Churches (WCC) together with the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) launched the Global Prayer Campaign: “We Pray, Peace Now, End the War.” The invitation is for all churches and Christians to join in prayer for the formal end to the Korean War and the replacement of the 1953 Armistice Agreement with a peace treaty. Online streaming happened on Monday 22 June. If you missed it, watch the prayer video on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7p_YFKjpXE

The Great Outback BBQ is back for 2020!

Frontier Services are getting excited about our Great Outback BBQ and like many people, we really don’t need an excuse to catch up with family and friends. Whilst there are currently strict restrictions around food and sharing, there are other ways in which we can celebrate the Great Outback and the work of Frontier Services.

This year is very special because our farmers need us now more than ever.They are trying to rebuild after the worst drought on record, devastating bushfires and now COVID-19. This means that some farmers cannot sell their stock because overseas markets are closed.The disasters just keep coming for them, but we can show our care by holding a Great Outback Fundraiser and raising necessary funds to provide a helping hand.

Now that churches are starting to gather in person again, could you consider a Sunday for A BBQ Offering without the food? Please remember to adhere to current government advice in your local area: physically distancing and hygiene are still important.

By hosting a Great Outback BBQ, we are providing our farmers hope for the future. Find out more here https://greatoutbackbbq.rallybound.org/

Preaching Series: Preaching Contextually in Complex Times

Centre for Music, Liturgy and the Arts' Preaching Series offers conversations to develop and strengthen preaching skills, particularly in our current times. Sessions include reflection on practice, conversation on a thought-provoking topic and sermon preparation. We will consider how to preach into current complex issues and times, in ways that acknowledge the complexity, create healing and vitality, and speak of the new, using some of the material from this year’s Festival of Homiletics to guide the discussion.

It is open to all preachers - experienced, new, lay and ordained.

Mondays – 10 and 24 August, 7 and 21 September 2020

Time and venue to be confirmed

Cost: $15 per session or $40 for all four

More information at cmla.org.au

Café Manager Position for Koorong Adelaide

Bring your passion for coffee, solid organisation skills and leadership talents to this rewarding role!

Koorong has an exciting full-time career opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated person to manage our Adelaide café, preferably someone who can start ASAP. Support Koorong’s mission as a Christian retailer through this key role and be rewarded with a friendly and fun workplace.

Find out more about the position here: https://www.eternityjobs.com.au/job/704/caf%C3%A9-manager/

News from Generate Presbytery

Throughout June, Generate Presbytery in partnership with Propel Network, has been holding the Momentum Webinar series. The heart of this series was to explore the missional focus areas of Evangelism, Discipleship, Raising Leaders and Planting and Renewing Churches. Each week a panel of local and national guests shared their learning and experiences, exploring the topics generally and in light of what God is teaching us in this particular COVID season.

Our desire is that we move out of this moment with momentum, because we have learnt and applied what God wants to teach us.

The webinar sessions and bonus content can be viewed here: https://generate.ucasa.org.au/resources/#videos

Contact Turn on Javascript! for more information.

News from Wimala Presbytery

Wimala Presbytery has released its latest newsletter here: https://sa.uca.org.au/documents/news/2020/Wimala-Presbytery-Newsletter-June-2020.pdf

The newsletter includes an important decision about the change of date for the next Presbytery meeting. Contact Turn on Javascript! for more information

News from Presbytery of Southern SA

The meeting of the Presbytery of Southern SA will be held on the date originally planned – Saturday 12 September. The venue will be at the Adelaide West Uniting Church. A primary focus will be on pastoral matters, including what we have discovered (especially in recent months) about who we are as a church. Contact Turn on Javascript! for more information.

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