From the Moderator

Monday morning prayer

Join us for the Monday morning prayer in December:

Lord, in the midst of all this season brings, open our hearts to wonder at the babe of Bethlehem; the faithfulness of Mary and Joseph; the commitment to truth of the magi. Amen

Moderator's diary

This Thursday, Moderator Rev David Baker will be attending the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association (PMSA) service of welcome, farewell and commemoration. 

On Saturday, David will then attend a vigil prayer service for South Sudanese young people at St David's Uniting Church.

Synod office news

New policy statements now available

The Queensland Synod governs itself through compliance with a broad regulatory framework comprising internal and external requirements.

In 2018 the Synod Standing Committee approved a Policy Framework designed to ensure that our policies shape our operations and activities in a way that is consistent with our core values and reflect the call on the church to participate in the mission of God. 

The below Policy Statements are avaialble on the Synod website.

• Governance and organisation
• Privacy
• Risk and compliance
• Work health and safety
• Financial management
• Information management

Belinda Bones
Risk - Acting Executive Director, Queensland Synod

Ministry agents payments notice 2019

The 2019 ministry agent's payments notice and the notification of pay rates for lay persons in a ministry location (ministry of pastor) are now available on the Synod website.

Please contact the payroll team on 07 3377 9732 or via email should you need any further information.

Angela Drew
Payroll and Remuneration Manager, Queensland Synod

Give this Christmas

One in eight Australians are living in poverty, with one in six children affected. So a Christmas morning without extra special treats or presents under the Christmas tree is a sad reality facing many families this year.

You can help spread the wonder of Christmas by giving a gift to place under the tree and/or a gift of food. All gifts collected will be distributed to struggling families across Queensland in partnership with the 2018 Target UnitingCare Christmas Appeal and Wesley Mission Queensland’s Red Bag Appeal.

Please bring unwrapped gifts and/or gifts of non-perishable food to the Synod office, Level 2 reception, 60 Bayliss St, Auchenflower before 14 December. For more information please email or call (07) 3377 9823.

Raushen Perera
Chief Fundraising and Marketing Officer, Queensland Synod

Presbytery and congregation news

Update service times for Christmas

To ensure information about Christmas services and activities are accessible to the wider community, we are asking all congregations and faith communities to please update information both on their website and social media (if applicable).

This may also be an opportune time to ensure that all contact details are updated and accurate on the Find a church webpage as well. 

Ben Tupou
Marketing and Communication Officer, Queensland Synod

Free Christmas resources available

Share the wonder of Christmas with these free resources available on the Synod website.

• Social media banner
• Powerpoint template
• Christmas video
• Moderator's Christmas video (coming soon)

Ben Tupou
Marketing and Communications Officer, Queensland Synod

Position vacant news

Youth and young adult pastor role (part-time)

We are an active congregation seeking to live out our mission of "Growing life-long disciples of Christ" and have an exciting employment opportunity for a passionate, committed person with a heart for young people.

This role (24 hrs/wk) is responsible for reaching out to young people, providing a worship that can be owned by them and contributing to programs that encourage exploration of what it means to be Jesus followers.

Essential requirements:

• Being a Jesus follower and an understanding of the mission and ethos of the Uniting Church in Australia
• Experience in working with the target group
• Effective communication with youth and young adults and their families.

Please see position description. Applications close 21 December.

Rev Rod Fisher
Minister of the Word, The Gap Uniting Church

Reaching out and speaking out

Faithful consumption

Our friends at Baptist World Aid are offering a series of emails to help us deal with the spike in materialism and, sometimes, even greed that come with the Christmas Season.

They have asked five contributors to reflect on the issue of consumption and share with us some of their key insights. Sign up to the email series.

Another way of being human in the world

This International Day of Persons with Disability, Sue Hutchinson, the Queensland Synod’s Research and Policy Officer, spoke with Eileen Glass, of the L’Arche Community in Australia, about life in L’Arche and the new movie being released in March 2019. Read the article in JourneyOnline.

Sue Hutchinson
Research and Policy Officer, Queensland Synod

Other news

Need a PC?

Courtesy of UnitingCare Queensland, we have four personal computers (consisting of computer, monitor, keyboard) available for congregations or groups.

The computers are in condition "as is" and are a mix of Dell and IBM of unknown specification. If they'd be useful for your congregation or a project you're involved in, contact me to collect.

Scott Guyatt
Director – Mission Innovation, Queensland Synod