11 September 2013

Prayer points
• Thanksgiving for pastors and members of indigenous congregations
• The work of LCA Mission International and its Director Rev Neville Otto
• We remember all those who are grieving their loved ones who have joined the saints of all time
• That young men and women will be challenged to consider a call to serve in specialized ministries in the Church

VISIT FROM BISHOP MUNIB YOUNAN
The Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, Rev Dr Munib Younan, is paying his first visit to Australia later this month. Dr Younan is based in Jerusalem and we are grateful to the organisers of the Australian Conference on Lutheran Education (ACLE) for arranging this visit, during which he will be a major keynote speaker in Brisbane. Dr Younan is also the current President of the Lutheran World Federation.

Prior to attending ACLE Bishop Younan will be spending a few days in South Australia. His time in Adelaide will include a guest speaking engagement at Australian Lutheran College, 104 Jeffcott Street, North Adelaide on Wednesday, 25 September from 12-1pm. Locals and visitors to Adelaide are invited to come along at this time to listen to Dr Younan speak of the challenges and experiences he faces on a regular basis in fulfilling the duties required of him in his dual role.

AUSTRALIA’S FOREIGN AID BUDGET AND GENEROUS GIVING
The Australian government’s pre-election statement that it will cut $4.5 billion from the foreign aid budget over the next four years is hugely disappointing. Somewhat bizarrely this decision is based on the idea that the stronger the Australian economy, the more generous we can be in the future. Currently the United Nations rates Australia as having the second highest Gross Domestic Product of all 186 recorded countries in the world. Given the needs of so many people around the globe, if there is ever a time for Australia to be to be generous to those afflicted by poverty and oppression that time is now.

Mr John Ferguson of Catholic Social Justice has publicly said today that ''a reduction in aid funding could be seen as the rich man pursuing Lazarus to take back the crumbs that have fallen from the banqueting table.'' He has been backed by his bishops across Australia. While many countries, some much smaller than us, give well above 0.5% of their income, this funding cut will result in Australia giving just over 0.3%. Put another way, if we lined up 1000 20 cent pieces, only three of those would be given to help people overseas in desperate need of our support.

Australian Christians, including the members of the LCA, and a large cross section of the wider community, continue to generously support people in need in ways which belie this attitude of government. Regardless of the economic or political climate, we should continue to set an example of giving generously to others.

If you want to know more about how to contribute to people in need in ways that make a difference, check out Australian Lutheran World Service at www.alws.org.au.

LCA MISSION INTERNATIONAL
Be inspired and join in God’s mission: The opportunities for you to join in God’s mission through prayer (prayer points and monthly prayer calendars), new stories of our partnership in mission in Australia and overseas, and the Border Crossings magazine are regularly added to the new LCA Mission International website (www.lca.org.au). If you would like to be inspired and be kept up to date about your involvement in mission through the Lutheran Church of Australia, you can subscribe to regular updates by clicking the link and following the prompts: http://www.lcamission.org.au/act-now/pray/

AFRICAN MINISTRY APPEAL UPDATE
Rev Neville Otto, Secretary of the LCA / Mission Director shares the encouraging news that as at the end of August support for the African Ministry Appeal has reached $154,602.97. Neville echoes the words of St Paul in Philippians 1:3 ‘I thank my God ever time, I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel’. The African ministry fund will continue to be open for people to provide support for this vital ministry. The interest generated from these funds will be used to provide on-going assistance for ministry to and with the African communities across the LCA. For more information please contact the LCA Mission International office on bfm@lca.org.au or phone 08 8267 7334

LONGEST LUTHERAN LUNCH - 100+ EVENTS REGISTERED!
There's been an overwhelming response from congregations to sign up for this year's Longest Lutheran Lunch. More than 100 events are already registered - including two in the US, and one in Canada! 'Official' Lunch Day is Sunday 27 October, but you can do it whenever you wish. Temora held theirs on 1 September so farmers could enjoy it before harvest started. Simply register at www.longestlutheranlunch.org and you will receive a Welcome Kit including a FREE exclusive Lunch Apron!

AUSTRALIAN LUTHERAN COLLEGE SEEKS NEW PRINCIPAL
Australian Lutheran College (ALC) is the post-secondary education provider of the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA). Due to the recent election of the ALC Principal to the position of Bishop of the LCA, the Board of Directors is seeking a new Principal to lead ALC. The final appointment will be made via a call of the church through the LCA General Church Council. It is the role of the Principal to inform and implement the board’s vision, and to guide the various parties within ALC in such a manner as to ensure that there exists a shared and committed energy for the mission, values and aspirations of the college. The Principal will implement a strategy that keeps ALC at the forefront of educational practice and relevance for the LCA, and which maintains the college’s core position within the life and service of the church. For a detailed position description and application form, please visit http://www.alc.edu.au/. Expressions of interest will be received via email until Monday 21 October 2013. Address all emails to the Secretary of the Board of Directors, Rev Stephen Schulz: stephen.schultz@lca.org.au, and attach relevant information in MS Word format only.

SERVANT OF CHRIST AWARD – 2014
Some people are wondering about the Servant of Christ award for 2013 since the usual notice calling for nominations didn’t appear in The Lutheran in August. This due to two factors:

•  In the past the award was linked to Australian Lutheran College graduation ceremonies. ALC graduation ceremonies are now linked to timetable of MCD University of Divinity, and the next will be in May 2014.
•  Three Servant of Christ awards were presented in 2012 (one in New Zealand).

In light of these factors it is not possible to offer the award in 2013, but it will resume in 2014. If you have someone you would like to nominate, please hold on to that information and send it in when nominations are reopened.

NEW TRACTS AVAILABLE
Lutheran Tract Mission have just released 54 new resources – 32 new leaflets, 4 new postcards, 9 text cards and 9 bookmarks. “What is a Lutheran?” is a new leaflet that was launched at Synod, explaining the teachings of the Lutheran Church for those enquiring about the faith. If your church is using the Faith Inkubator system, text cards for the Bible song series are available. Currently there are text cards for 5 of the books: “The Word Spreads” “Good News book” “The Books of Moses” and “Into the Promised Land”. A new series of 15 text cards has just been produced for The Songs of Israel! A new bookmark of “The Faith Five” is also available. Other new resources include: Advent : Getting ready for Jesus a leaflet expressing the need to get ready; Daily Bible Readings for 2014; and My Book of Prayers for young children. Visit http://tracts.lll.org.au to view and order the new resources.

THAILAND MISSION TRIP JANUARY 2014
LCA Mission International and St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Epping are working together for a Mission Trip to Bangkok at Home of Praise and Home of Grace for 4-16 January 2014.  They are looking for some people with building experience (white ant eaten walls need to be replaced and other odd jobs around the home need to be completed) and sewers (curtains need to be made to brighten the homes).  Along with these projects are gardening and painting. Application booklets can be downloaded at  www.stmarksepping.org.au  or for further information contact Simon King at project.thailand@lca.org.au. Applications close 4 October 2013.

CELEBRATING LCA HISTORY
The current edition of Lutheran Theological Journal contains a number of articles celebrating the history of the LCA including: Celebrating 175 years of Lutheran theology in Australia (presented by Dean Zweck, Erich Renner, Vic Pfitzner and Jeff Silcock at the recent General Pastors Conference); Location, location, location: a short history of 104 Jeffcott St (the 2013 ALC opening lecture presented by Bishop John Henderson);  Kavel and the missionaries by Lois Zweck; and Scripture, the divine and the human in the negotiations leading to the Theses on Principles Governing Church Fellowship and Theses on Scripture and Inspiration by Geoff Lienert.
Copies of this issue are available for $10 each (including postage) from the National Office on 08 8267 7300 or admin@lca.org.au. Or why not subscribe to Lutheran Theological Journal for $35.00 a year by contacting ltj.subs@lca.org.au or 08 8360 7270.

CALL INFORMATION

EXTENDED
Ray Pace Ballarat VIC to Moorabbin/Dandenong VIC
Mark Vainikka Concordia College Toowoomba QLD to Redcliffe QLD
Joel Cramer Lavington NSW to Katanning Narrogin WA
Peter Faggotter Magill SA to Sutherland NSW

ACCEPTED
Tim Stringer Melbourne Outer Eastern VIC to Greensborough VIC

DECLINED
Joel Cramer Lavington NSW to Caloundra QLD
Mike Neldner Bethania QLD to Burrumbuttock NSW

PARISHES IN THE CALL PROCESS
New South Wales: Albury; Burrumbuttock; Griffith/Leeton; Sutherland;
New Zealand:
Queensland: Middle Park; Redcliffe
South Australia/Northern Territory: Birdwood; Ceduna, Eudunda, Morphett Vale, Mount Barker - St Marks, Salisbury, Woodville; Wudinna
Victoria: Melbourne Outer Eastern; Moorabbin/Dandenong; North West Regional, Wodonga
Western Australia:

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN LAY MINISTRY
Primary School Chaplain - Lutheran Primary School, Wagga Wagga, NSW - 0.8 FTE
Internships - Warrambui Retreat & Conference Centre, NSW - Twelve-month internship, 6 positions
Tandara Lutheran Camp, Vic - Internship
Expressions of Interest:
• Youth Worker – Immanuel Lutheran Church Buderim, Qld - 4 - 5 days/wk
• Spiritual Life Facilitator – Immanuel Lutheran Church Buderim, Qld - 2-2.5 days/wk
For more information please visit the LCA web site: http://www.lca.org.au/employment-opportunities.html