20 February 2013

Prayer points

• the work of the Board for Mission and its Director Rev Neville Otto
• the Western Australia District as they hold their Pastors Conference and Synod 27 Feb – 3 March
• thanksgiving for volunteers already serving or considering serving in mission here in Australia and overseas
• the Church’s ministry to tertiary students and staff

BOARD FOR MISSION
As the Board for Mission met this week significant discussion took place on our best way of assisting our brothers and sisters in Africa. Unlike our partnership in mission in Papua New Guinea and South East Asia, the plan is help those from Africa who are part of our Church which is growing, to empower their people in the land of their origin.

Pastor Greg Schiller, our LCA pastor serving in Papua New Guinea, more latterly in the Church development and evangelism department, has accepted a call to Ogelbeng Seminary.

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCES
In troubled international times we remember those in the armed forces, especially those on duty overseas, and in particular our Lutheran Chaplains who are involved. We have full time chaplains in Pastors Darren Jaensch, Ken Schmidt, Mark Kleemann and David Grulke and a number of part-time chaplains. Their wives and families are all part of this calling.

LUTHERAN WOMEN OF AUSTRALIA
Over the past triennium Lutheran Women of Australia have contributed more than $240,000 to specific Board for Mission projects and programs! Please encourage the members of your local Ladies Fellowships who gather in study and devotion and commit to serve the Church in its mission.

ALIVE!175 – “8000 LUTHERANS PRAISING GOD”
ALIVE!175 will commence at 2.00 pm on Sunday, 21 April, after the General Convention Opening Service (10.00 am) and lunch. Through a combination of live performances and multi-media presentations, you'll travel through our Lutheran history in Australia, celebrate how God is working in our church in the present, and look with hope to how he will lead us into the future. Local congregations are encouraged to cancel or at least supplement their regular service on that day in order to attend the Opening Service and Alive!175. Why not organise bus or car pool for groups from your congregation to attend. For non-delegate interstaters and New Zealanders why not include the day in your South Australian holiday during April. For logistics planning purposes, congregations planning to attend need to register on the General Convention website: www.lcasynod.org.au

175 STORIES
where history comes to life!
As part of our 175th anniversary celebrations next year, we’re compiling a collection of 175 stories that will together reflect the history of Lutherans in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and South-East Asia. These stories will be about everyday Lutheran men and women who exemplified service or who figured in significant events in our Lutheran narrative. The stories, which will be about people now deceased, will tell not only what they did but also something of their personality and faith. Lay people will feature prominently in the collection. We realise that not everyone can write confidently, so suggestions and ideas for stories are also invited. Examples of stories are available at www.lca.org.au/175-stories.html Please send stories (around 500 words), with a photo if possible, and suggestions for stories to Dr John Koch: John.Koch@lca.org.au or 34 Gallery Road, Highbury SA 5089. Also include the author’s name and contact details.

LCA STATISTICS ARE DUE
A reminder that your congregation’s 2012 statistics are due to be entered into the LAMP database by 28 February 2013. Thank you to the many congregations who have already completed, or are in the process of finishing entering the information. A downloadable workbook is available on LAMP to assist you collecting the appropriate data. If you need any assistance entering your statistics into LAMP please contact your District LAMP help person or email help@lca.org.au.

NEW BOARD FOR CHILD YOUTH AND FAMILY MINISTRY AND INSTALLATION OF MINISTRY STAFF
Late in 2012, General Church Council approved a proposal to re-focus Children, Youth and Family Ministry at the National level within the LCA.  GCC have endorsed a revised terms of reference and appointed a new Board that brings together members from across our Church with a mix of skills in Child, Youth and Family Ministry, strategic, project and financial management. The aim of the board is to further enhance and support Districts and their congregations in their ministry to children, youth and families across the LCA by being a point of reference and resource to the wider church. The Board and staff team will do this by researching and developing CYFM resources along with equipping and encouraging Districts and congregations in their ministry, including camping ministry.  The Board intends to bring its programs, resources, training, and support together under the banner of ‘Grow Ministries’. ‘Grow Ministries’ is the culmination of the focus areas previously fostered by the former Board for Youth and Family Ministry and the Faith Inkubators Management Team. The oversight and continued development of the Faith Inkubators Australia resources will form a key component of the broadening approach to the LCA’s Child, Youth and Family Ministry.

Jodi Brook, former National Director of Faith Inkubators Australia, is the newly appointed National Director. She will be responsible for the development of new resources, training and support and will also be a point of reference for CYFM matters.  Jo Jones will continue in her role as Faith Inkubators Australia Training and Support Coordinator.  Leah Cronin, who was supporting the old BYFM, will continue to support this ministry in her new role of Assistant to the Director. At 9.00am this Sunday, 24 February, you are invited to attend the installation of the LCA Child, Youth and Family Ministry staff team at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Adelaide.  

LUTHERAN SUPER PERSONAL ASSISTANT/ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT POSITION
Lutheran Super is seeking an experienced Personal Assistant/Administration Assistant to join the Lutheran Super office in North Adelaide SA in a part-time (0.6FTE) capacity. The successful candidate must possess exceptional communication and member service skills and a high-level proficiency with MS Office applications. For further information visit http://www.seek.com.au/Job/personal-assistant-office-administration/in/adelaide-adelaide/23992933

CHANGE IN PRESIDENT’S PAGE FORMAT
As you can see, we are now distributing the President’s Page through the new LCA eNews system. Current subscribers have automatically been subscribed to the new format. You can manage your subscription, or encourage others to subscribe for the first time at LCA eNews. You can also join other LCA eNews lists there too.

CALL INFORMATION
EXTENDED
Steve Liersch Onkaparinga SA to Wodonga VIC
Ben Hentschke Birdwood SA to Horsham VIC
Mark Blackwell Geelong VIC to Mount Barker SA
Ben Hentschke Birdwood SA to Bunbury WA
Mark Vainikka Concordia College Toowoomba QLD to Burrumbuttock NSW

ACCEPTED

DECLINED

PARISHES IN THE CALL PROCESS
New South Wales: Albury; Burrumbuttock; Griffith/Leeton; Sutherland;
New Zealand: Manawatu;
Queensland: Ipswich;
South Australia/Northern Territory: Ceduna, Dernancourt, Eudunda, Morphett Vale, Mount Barker - St Marks, Mt Barker - Cornerstone College, Salisbury, Wudinna
Victoria: Greensborough; Horsham; Moorabbin/Dandenong; North West Regional, Wodonga
Western Australia: Bunbury

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN LAY MINISTRY
Administrator – St Petri Nuriootpa SA – 0.8FTE
Ministry Support Officer (Office Administrator) -Immanuel Lutheran Church, Novar Gardens SA - 12 hours/week (4 hours, 3 days per week)
Lay Worker/ Ministry Worker - Kids Club - Albert Park, SA - 6-8 hours/week
LCA Director for Lay Ministry - Lutheran Church of Australia - Based in Adelaide - Full-time
Cambodia, Sudan & Kenya Program Officer - Australian Lutheran World Service - Based in Albury NSW - Full-time
Associate Chaplain as Pastoral Carer - Lutheran Community Care Qld, Wahroonga, Biloela Qld - 2 days a week
Coordinator, BLAYZ - Bethania Lutheran Community Church, Qld - 0.2FTE
Youth Worker - St Stephen's Lutheran Church, Adelaide, SA - 0.2FTE
 

For more information please visit the LCA web site: http://www.lca.org.au/employment-opportunities.html