News & notices - 21 March 2018

Posted in News

Below are the news and notices from congregations, the SA Synod and the wider Uniting Church submitted for the Wednesday 21 March edition of UC e-News.

------------------------------------------ 

Today is Harmony Day

Harmony Day is a day to celebrate Australian multiculturalism. It is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background. Held every year on 21 March, Harmony Day coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Since Harmony Day was established in 1999, more than 70,000 Harmony Day events have been held across Australia, including at Uniting Churches in South Australia.

If you are celebrating Harmony Day today, please feel free to share photos and stories through the Uniting Church. Uniting People. Facebook page, in the comments below (no image capabilities) or by emailing Turn on Javascript!

 

Easter service times

People looking for Easter services in their area often visit the Uniting Church SA website in the lead-up to the Easter weekend. To see your congregation's Easter events and services listed here on the website, please email the details to Turn on Javascript!

 

Memorandum of Understanding with UnitingSA

Last Wednesday marked the end of a long transitional process for UnitingSA (formerly UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide) who have now become a company limited by guarantee in order to better serve the social service sector.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed which reinforces the historical and future relationship between UnitingSA and the Uniting Church SA. Signees from the Uniting Church were Interim CEO/General Secretary Rev Rob Brown and Moderator Rev Sue Ellis.  CEO Libby Craft and Board Chair Gael Fraser signed on behalf of UnitingSA.

UnitingSA’s vision is “A compassionate, respectful and just community in which all people participate and flourish” which aligns UnitingCare SA’s vision of “A caring church – dedicated to social justice and providing community services through UnitingCare.”

 

Lenten retreat cancelled

Uniting Church SA Moderator Rev Sue Ellis’ Lenten retreat on “The Lord of the Dance” has been cancelled. The Moderator plans to offer another retreat later in 2018; information about any future retreats will be shared through UC e-News.

 

Seeds of Hope in Troubled Times: open conversations and retreats

Stillpoint Spirituality and Loyola Ignatian Spirituality will present two retreats and open conversations featuring Margaret Silf. The first retreat will occur at Nunyara on 27-29 April 2018. The second retreat will occur at Sevenhill from 30 April - 2 May, 2018. Download the flyer for more information and registration details.

 

Adelaide Palm Sunday Rally – Walk for Justice for Refugees

At 2pm on Palm Sunday (25 March), Justice for Refugees SA and Amnesty International Australia will hold the annual Walk for Justice for Refugees rally. This event is promoted by the South Australian Council of Churches and a number of Uniting Church congregations are involved. The rally will provide an opportunity to show support for refugees in off-shore detention. The themes of the rally are peace, welcome and permanent protection.

This year, Justice for Refugees SA is inviting choirs and singers to participate in the rally along with Rise Up Singing. Individuals and full choirs are welcome. The music is available online here; a rehearsal will be held prior to the rally from 12-1.30pm at a venue to be advised.

Those who attend the rally are asked to meet at Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga before 2pm, ready to walk to the Parliament House steps.

For more information about the rally or the music, please visit the Facebook page here.

 

Supporting UnitingWorld over Easter

Easter is the celebration of new life and new beginnings! If you’re not a fan of chocolate or just looking for an alternative ethical gift this Easter, look no further than the range of meaningful gifts at ‘Everything in Common’. Each card represents a gift that goes directly towards a life-changing project. Buy a gift, dedicate it to a loved one and you'll help create the kind of world we'd all like to be part of this Easter!

Another way to support UnitingWorld and its projects is by donating through Lent Event – as an individual or as part of your church’s activities. Donations can be made directly to UnitingWorld by posting the donation slip in the Lent Event brochure, by calling the office 02 8267 4267, or by making a secure donation at lentevent.com/give/  

Information to help church treasurers manage donations received via the church can be found here. Download the Donation Details form and Bank Deposit Summary form.

 

Act For Peace: Easter Gifts 

Chocolate bunnies and eggs are delicious treats, but this Easter why not give a gift that makes a difference? The gift of adorable baby chicks won't just bring a smile to a loved one's face this Easter, it will also give a family in Zimbabwe a source of fresh, nutritious eggs for the household. What a precious gift! Each Gift for Peace ordered will come with a keepsake magnet and a beautiful card with space to write a message. Gifts are available online at www.actforpeace.org.au 

 

Man What A Meal: men's cooking program

Following the success of the first Man What a Meal program, this free cooking program is being offered again to another group of men over 50. Attendees will learn how to cook a range of simple, healthy and delicious meals over the 5 weeks. The program starts on Saturday 21 April, 10am-12.30pm (includes lunch), and will be held at Dernancourt Uniting Church. The program is funded by the Office of the Ageing, Grants for Seniors. For more information or to register, please contact Lisa on 0400 790 438.

 

Creative Ageing & Spirituality event

Seniors with Style is an event being organised by Creative Ageing and Spirituality, a new initiative of the Urban Mission Network that seeks to offer support and make connections with older people across the Uniting Church SA and the wider community.

Creative Ageing and Spirituality has just created their own Facebook page to keep people up to date with its activities, as well as an event page for Seniors with Style. This exciting community event will take place on Thursday 12 April on the lawns outside Adelaide University (opposite Scots Uniting Church). This event is also being supported by Splash Adelaide, and there is more information on their website here.

More information about Creative Ageing and Spirituality and Seniors with Style will be shared through UC e-News, the Uniting Church. Uniting People. Facebook page, New Times and other communications channels over the coming weeks.

 

House required for week of respite care

L'Arche Adelaide is seeking to pay rental for house in suitable location for week of respite care (welcoming and hospitality) for a young woman with physical and intellectual impairments. The young person would come with paid & volunteer carers. The paid carer(s) would be live-in with the person. The suitable home would probably require three bedrooms, basic furnishings, reasonable living spaces and access to rear for a van. Dates: 14-21 May, inclusive.

L'Arche Adelaide is part of an international federation of faith-based communities seeking mutual relationship between people with and without intellectual disabilities.

For more information, please contact Rev Dr Trevor Whitney on 0403 711 653 or email Turn on Javascript!

 

Giveaway – overhead projector slides

Kingston Uniting Church has a collection of overhead projector slides for songs, mostly related to Resource Christian Music. Anyone interested in obtaining these items is asked to contact Karen via email at Turn on Javascript!

 

Upcoming events

The majority of Uniting Church SA events are listed on the upcoming events list here.

Some of the events coming up this week are:

Check out the full list to see other exciting events happening in the coming weeks! Events can be submitted to the list here.

------------------------------------------ 

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

Ageing & Wellness Grants – application deadline changed

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Ageing and Wellness Grants Committee will be meeting during the last week in March rather than the first week in April. This has caused an amendment of the deadline to 23 March, 2018. Any queries or concerns may be addressed to Julianne on 8236 4233 or via email at Turn on Javascript!

 

2018 Mission & Service Fund response forms

Thank you to those congregations who have forwarded their 2018 Mission & Service Fund response forms to the Synod office. To date, 72% of response forms have been received. These are important for the Synod budgeting process and reflect the commitment of congregations to the work of the wider church. Forms can be downloaded here. For more information, please contact Peter Harbison on 8236 4282 or 1300 766 956 (country callers).

 

Audited 2017 financial statements

Faith communities, congregations and linked congregations (‘parishes’) are reminded that copies of audited financial statements should be forwarded to the Synod office by 30 June, 2018.  Financial statements consist of a balance sheet, an income statement (profit and loss), and an audit statement. Audit regulation 3.8.7 can be viewed online here. For more information, please contact Peter Harbison on 8236 4282 or 1300 766 956 (country callers).

 

White Pages listings

Each year, Sensis requires confirmation of the Uniting Church SA listing in the White Pages directory. The 2018-2019 directory closing date for the metropolitan area is 23 June, 2018.

Church secretaries and/or admin officers are asked to please check their congregation listing in this year’s edition of the White Pages. If any changes are required, please notify the Synod Office by the end of May (contact details below).

Extra lines (e.g. adding the minister’s name) incur an extra charge, as do phone numbers that appear elsewhere in the directory. Churches who currently have a fax number included might like to delete this from their listing in future, as some other churches have chosen to do.

For more information or to make a change to your listing, please contact Chris Jaensch on 8236 4200 or email Turn on Javascript!

 

Cornish choir seeks new members!

Since the early 1990s, the choir of the Cornish Association of South Australia (CASA) has delighted audiences at Kernewek Lowender, retirement villages, nursing homes and other various venues in Adelaide, Mount Barker, Murray Bridge and beyond.

The CASA choir sings a huge variety of songs – Cornish songs, Christmas carols, sacred songs, songs from musicals, ‘golden oldies’, and popular modern songs. They are a harmony choir who sing songs for soprano, alto, tenor and bass.

At present, the choir is looking for up to six new members, particularly tenors and basses. Cornish heritage is not necessary – just a love of singing and an ability to harmonise!

The CASA choir currently consists of 24 enthusiastic members, who meet to practise at Colonel Light Gardens Church of Christ on Wednesday evenings for two seasons of 10-12 weeks per year. They typically perform five or six concerts each season.

For more information, please contact Margaret Johnson on 8382 5559.

 

More from News

Subscribe to receive News articles by email >

Comments

Comments (3)