News, Notices & Prayer points - 8 December 2020

Posted Dec 8, 2020 in News

News & Notices – 8 December 2020

Below are the news and notices from congregations, the Synod of South Australia and the wider Uniting Church for the Tuesday, 8 December edition of UC e-News

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Prayer Points for the week:

God of expectation, may we, your people, who prepare a way for the Lord, experience the joy of salvation and celebrate the feast of Christ with love and thanksgiving
We pray for all who are in trouble or distress and for those whose lives have been affected by storms or fire
We pray for our local, state, and federal governments: God, help our elected officials as they allocate the necessary resources for combatting this pandemic. Help them in their work
We pray for all international travellers stuck in foreign countries: God, help them return home safely and quickly.

Key Dates for Synod meeting 11-13 February 2021

It is a bit early to be thinking about our Synod meeting in February when we are only a few weeks away from Christmas, but please keep these key dates in mind:

NOW – Registrations are open. Members must register via the link sent to them. If you have not registered already, please do so as soon as possible.
Friday 8th January 2021 – Proposals from members are due by this date. Late proposals will not be accepted.
Thursday 21st January 2021 – Nominations close on this date. Nomination forms will be available later this week.

If you have any questions about membership, nominations or proposals, please email Turn on Javascript!.

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UCA Act2 Project

In November, the Assembly launched the UCA Act2 Project – a whole-of-church consultation on the future together as a people of God on the way - in the words of paragraph 18 of the Basis of Union.

Through the UCA Act2 Project, in the lead up to the 16th Assembly in July 2021, members of the Church, in congregations, agencies, schools and other Councils are being invited to consider a shared vision for the future.

To find out more about Act2 and how you can be part of this important conversation, first read the Introduction to the Project at this link: http://form.jotform.com/203201030312024

You are also invited to take the survey and to review further information from the Assembly General Secretary Colleen Geyer about the Act2 theme: https://uniting.church/whats-in-a-name-uca-act2/

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Congregation Responses to COVID-19

All ministers/pastors/faith community leaders are invited to participate in a research project exploring how congregations responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly during the lockdowns.

This first phase of the research explores how congregations adapted their worship, mission and ministry practices during the lockdowns; what motivated those responses; and the extent to which congregations have continued these new or adapted practices post-lockdown(s). We hope the research will be useful to the church.

Depending on your responses, the questionnaire might take up to 30 minutes to complete and you can access the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020C-19AUCA You can read the information at that site without a commitment to participate.

If you have any questions please contact Tanya Wittwer, UCLT +61 8 8416 8434 Turn on Javascript! or Lynne Taylor, Theology Programme, School of Arts, +64 3 479 5358, Turn on Javascript!

[This project has been reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committees of Adelaide College of Divinity and the School of Arts, University of Otago.]

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Christmas Events

In spite of COVID-19 there are a range of Christmas events still being planned and delivered, from carol singing and stories, to a Christmas movie night, and nativity plays – check out the full list on the Synod website at the following link: https://sa.uca.org.au/events/upcoming-events-list/

And for a comprehensive list of Christmas services and times visit: https://sa.uca.org.au/christmas-2020/christmas-services-2020/

For congregations that have yet to share their Christmas services and event details you can do so by emailing Turn on Javascript!. Please include the service dates, times, locations and titles (e.g. Blue Christmas, Carols Service etc.) and they will be added to the Synod website.

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Synod 2021 Calendar Update

Please be advised that although the Synod office is officially closed and is currently complying with State Government COVID guidelines, if you placed an order for pick-up of your Calendars you will be able to do so between the hours of 9.30 am and 4.30 pm Monday to Friday, at Level 2, 212 Pirie Street in the city.

Please note, the office is not open for any other business transactions, just to make Calendar orders available.

If you haven’t yet placed an order, you can still do so at the following link: https://sa.uca.org.au/stationery-and-logos/calendars-annual-reports

For any queries, please contact Turn on Javascript!. We thank you for your patience.

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Free Christmas PowerPoint Templates to download

This year’s Synod of SA Christmas theme is ‘Joy,’ which is centred on Isaiah 43:19 – ‘Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth … I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.’ The message is that we all may experience God’s love and peace in new and unexpected ways as we celebrate this Christmas season.

Along with other themed resources (postcards and posters), the Engagement Team also provides a set of free, PowerPoint templates for your use. You can download these templates here: https://sa.uca.org.au/christmas-2020, which also includes Christmas graphics for PowerPoint presentations to be used in your background slides.

For more information, contact: Turn on Javascript!.

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Out of the Box Christmas – locally made movie by The Corner UC

Christmas will be different this year. ‘Out of the Box Christmas,’ is a South Australian kids and youth short movie produced by The Corner Uniting Church.

Follow the adventures of decorations stuck in the garage, with a near impossible plan to make sure the Christmas message is celebrated. The full movie is approximately 25 minutes long and could be adapted for a worship service, children and families ministry presentation, home group or families to enjoy at home. It presents the story of Christ’s birth in a different perspective and includes information for church leaders as well as an activity sheet for the movie.

With a cast of over 40 children and young people, please don’t miss out, watch the full movie here: https://youtu.be/F_5imPbawXs or the trailer here: https://youtu.be/Q5WFr8RLdAU.

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Position vacant: Staff Chaplain SALHN

The Full Time Spiritual Care Chaplain within SA Health is a Spiritual Care Practitioner who, together with members of the spiritual care team and other staff, seeks to address the spiritual care needs of patients, families and staff.

They provide professional leadership to the spiritual care program in a public hospital and work collaboratively with the Spiritual Care Coordinator as part of a team.

Within the role they will ensure the provision of quality compassionate spiritual care within one’s scope of practice and provide a caring resource at the person’s point of need. Such care will allow the ‘person’ to ‘set the agenda’ with the Spiritual Care Chaplain being available as a compassionate, skilful and respectful human being.

Location: Southern Adelaide Local Health Network - SALHN

Length: Initial period of 5 years.

Applications to be sent to Rev Wendy Prior, Chaplaincy Manager, Turn on Javascript! by close of business 18th December 2020.

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Position vacant: Engagement & Communications Coordinator

The Uniting Church Synod of SA seeks to appoint an Engagement & Communications Coordinator (1.0FTE) to liaise and work collaboratively on a range of communication related activities delivered by the Engagement Ministry Centre.

The successful applicant will possess high level writing and editing abilities to assist in delivering key messaging on behalf of the Uniting Church both in support of its members and the wider community. The Engagement & Communications Coordinator will demonstrate a commitment to achieving Engagement Ministry Centre objectives including the development of effective communication initiatives by providing:

Print and digital media production; including writing, research and content support for a range of platforms often with tight deadlines
Website coordination and development including all aspects of the Congregational Website Program
Video production and other key deliverables
Social media coordination
Support the broader work of the Engagement Ministry Centre including significant events in the life of the Uniting Church Synod.

This is an opportunity for an enthusiastic, proactive and appropriately qualified individual to support effective communications with the wider community and to add value to the Uniting Church in SA. The successful applicant will demonstrate an alignment with the Uniting Church ethos and values, and a commitment to a Christian congregation or faith community.

Confidential enquiries can be directed to the Manager, Human Resources 08-8236-4278. Applications are welcome and may be submitted in Word format to Turn on Javascript!, by no later than 1pm, Monday December 14, 2020.

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Last NYALC Online for 2020

Friday 11^th December from 7.30pm is the last chance this year for young adults across the Uniting Church in Australia to join UCA President Dr Deidre Palmer and Rev Charissa Suli in an online conversation for young adults. Email Turn on Javascript! to join National Young Adult Leaders Conference (NYALC) Online and share your reflections, hopes and concerns as well as to stay connected to one another.

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#16Days Against Gender-Based Violence 2020

Uniting Church in Australia President Dr Deidre Palmer has urged Uniting Church members to be bearers of God's vision of hope for a world free from gender-based violence at the start of #16Days of Activism against gender-based violence. Look out for daily posts and reflections on the UCA Facebook page.

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Sally Stamp (UCA Stamp Group)

A huge thank you to all Churches and Members for saving their stamps during 2020. Even though we have been unable to meet in the Church Office we have continued to work from our homes to keep this group going and to bring in cash to enable us to fund donations to Frontier Services, Bush Chaplains and South Pacific School Aid Inc.

During this Christmas season, please save your stamps, we are happy to accept collections no longer needed by families. Pick-up in metropolitan areas can be arranged!!

Contact, Maxine Haines, Convenor, UCA Stamp Group
Email: Turn on Javascript!
Mobile: 0427 972417

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Music on Flinders

Spring into toe tapping Music on Flinders for some lunch timeout, with artists using full audio, performing outdoors under the trees.

This week's musician is Forté, a South Australia singer songwriter guitarist who creates positive meaningful folk-rock music for social change.

After Forté's year of travelling Europe on a folk music pilgrimage, expect spontaneous collaboration, new singalong's and lyrical acoustic music.

For more information contact Julie Bradley, phone 8212 3295 or email Turn on Javascript!.

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A prayer, a plea, a bird

Julie Perrin’s first collection of prayers A prayer, a plea, a bird follows her best-selling collection, Tender, stories that lean into kindness (MediaCom Education 2019).

These new prayers and stories address climate, pandemic and neighbourhood life. Many are written in this new decade and touch into racism, grief and erasure whilst also finding joy.

A beautiful gift for personal reflection and a ministry resource for pastoral care, worship leadership or spiritual direction.

Available from MediaCom: https://www.mediacomeducation.org.au/shop/a-prayer-a-plea-a-bird/

If you didn’t get to read the last ‘News & Notices?’

Click here for the News, Notices & Prayer points – 1 December 2020, which included updates about: