News from Uniting Church SA
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Tuesday 9 December 2025
Synod offices closed for the day on 11 December 2025 (this Thursday)
The Synod Office, UC Invest, Uniting College for Leadership and Theology, and other functions located at Yarthu-Apinthi (Brooklyn Park) will be closed for the day on Thursday, 11 December 2025, for the Synod staff Christmas party. We thank you for your understanding as we take this time to celebrate the year and acknowledge our staff for their commitment to the mission of the Church in 2025.
2026 Calendar – Ready to collect from Friday 12 December!
Good news! Calendars have started to arrive and will be ready for pick up from Friday 12 December 2025. We will also start posting them this week.
If you haven't ordered yours yet, you can do so on the link below. Unfortunately, we can't take payment over the counter, so please order and pay online.
Christmas worship times
Thanks to all those who have sent us your Christmas worship times. If you haven't yet done so, please email engagement@sa.uca.org.au so they can be featured on the Synod website at UCA SA – Christmas Services 2025.
For all other Christmas events, please list them in the usual way via our Events submission form at UCA SA – Submit an event.
Christmas 2025 Resources – Now available!
To support our congregations, a Christmas PowerPoint template and other resources are now available on our website.
Resource from the Disability Advisory Committee
A PowerPoint presentation created by Johanna Ng from the Disability Advisory Committee has been made available for wider use and is available on the link below. Thanks to Johanna for sharing this with us.
A series of Advent reflections relating to disability is also available and may be of interest. The reflections can be accessed here: Advent 2025 | CBM Australia
Sally Stamp update
The UCA Stamp Group would like to thank churches, businesses and individuals who have donated stamps in 2025 and we ask that you continue to do so in 2026. Our last volunteer day for 2025 was 8th December.
Pick up can be arranged and stamps can be left at the Synod Office, 2nd floor, 212 Pirie Street, Adelaide over the holiday period. Stamp collections you no longer require are gratefully received.
For further info, or to arrange pick up, contact Maxine Haines, Mobile: 0427 972417, Email: jimmax.haines@bigpond.com
Thinking of starting an op shop?
An Op Shop previously operating in central Adelaide has closed. If any congregation is planning to open or expand an Op Shop, support may be available, including stock and shop fittings.
Contact Jill on 0409 178 465 for further information.
Update on Screening Services –Changes to Vulnerable Person and Probity Checks
Applications for Working with Children Checks (WWCC) are continuing as normal (Screening – Safe Church).
However, Vulnerable Person and General Probity Checks are currently on hold.
Over the weekend, the Department of Human Services made changes to their screening services with immediate effect and will only be processing checks that meet legislative background check requirements – that is, they will only process Working with Children Checks and Aged Care Sector Checks, not Vulnerable Person and General Employment Probity Checks.
The UCA SA Synod is actively reviewing how we manage Vulnerable Persons and Probity Checks screening and will provide an update as soon as possible.
Queries may be directed to the Screening Team on ssu@sa.uca.org.au or phone 8236 4200.
Events
The Shared Table Christmas Market – Sunset Rock Uniting Church
Get into the festive spirit at The Shared Table – Sunset Rock UC as they gear up for a cheerful community morning filled with local creativity and Christmas joy. There’ll be plenty to see, taste, and enjoy, including coffee, BBQ, local crafts, handmade gifts and so on.
Bring your friends, family, and Christmas spirit for a relaxed, fun-filled morning in the Adelaide Hills. Perfect for finding those unique gifts, supporting local makers, and soaking up the holiday atmosphere.
When: 9.00 am–1.00 pm, Saturday 13 December 2025
Where: Sunset Rock Uniting Church, 40 Spencer St, Stirling SA 5152
Minim Choir and Friends – Celebrating music, faith and story
Minim Choir, the choir of the Centre for Music, Liturgy and the Arts, will sing under the leadership of Rev Jenni Hughes. Minim is an impressive ensemble whose music expresses the joys, sorrows, love and hope of life.
Robin and Dorothy Mann have sung together for decades, including in the band Kindekrist. Robin is a renowned hymn and song writer and co-wrote Outback Christmas with Professor Norm Habel.
Leigh Newton, also a well-known writer of worship music, is loved for his Australian carol collections Christmas in the Scrub and Christmas in the Shed.
When: 3.00 pm,
Sunday 14 December 2025
Where: Bridgewater Arts Centre / Bridgewater Uniting Church, 407 Mount Barker Road, Bridgewater
Blue Christmas 'in the City'
CityView UC and Uniting Communities is offering a 'station-based' Blue Christmas experience. Blue Christmas is a space to reflect on some of the hard stuff that Christmas raises – family tensions and pain, remembering loved ones we've lost, and recognising conflicts near and far.
All are welcome. Come when you can, stay as long as you want.
When: 12.30 pm–3.30 pm, Wednesday 17 December 2025
Where: Level 3, U City, 43 Franklin Street, Adelaide SA 5000
For more information: Contact Scott Litchfield
Phone 0401 453 141 or email Scooter3333@gmail.com
Under Construction – Lego Christmas
CityView UC's regular Lego-based event takes on Christmas. Explore the Christmas story with Lego, songs and prayers. Christmas snacks and fun for kids and adults who love Lego, Jesus and being together.
When: 3.00 pm, Sunday 21 December
Where: Level 3/U City | 43 Franklin Street, Adelaide SA 5000
For more information: Contact Scott Litchfield
Phone 0401 453 141 or email Scooter3333@gmail.com
Emerging Leaders Retreat Jan 16–18
Are there people in your congregation between the ages of 18 and 30 who are already showing leadership? Please encourage them to apply for the Emerging Leaders Retreat.
This retreat aims to develop life-long leadership, supercharge leadership skills, activate spiritual gifts and fire up a faith that lasts in the future moderators, chairpersons, coordinators, ministers, missionaries, theologians, chaplains and church planters in our Church – whether that's in vocational ministry or not.
When: 16 to 18 January 2026
Where: Adare Camp, 20 Wattle Drive, McCracken SA 5211
Cost: $65 per person
Upcoming events
December
10 – Feeling Blue Christmas Service
13 – Create @ The Corner – Vinyl Record Wreaths
14 – Spicer Carols in the Amphitheatre, Stepney
14 – Carols and Nativity Play at Sandy Creek UC
15 – Blue Christmas – Morilta Uniting Church
16 – Cherry Gardens Community Carols
17 – Blue Christmas 'in the city'
19 – The Sounds of Christmas at Newland UC, Victor Harbor
21 – Carols Service
21 – Under Construction – Lego Christmas
January
News from the Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia this week includes:
Reflection of the week
Trusting the Unknown Path
The dark night is a profoundly good thing. It is an ongoing spiritual process in which we are liberated from attachments and compulsions and empowered to live and love more freely. Sometimes this letting go of old ways is painful, occasionally even devastating. But this is not why the night is called “dark.” The darkness of the night implies nothing sinister, only that the liberation takes place in hidden ways, beneath our knowledge and understanding. It happens mysteriously, in secret, and beyond our conscious control
Richard Rohr
From Psalm 146
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God,
who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the strangers;
he upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
Prayer points
In our prayers this week:
- we pray for rest and renewal for teachers and students as the academic year concludes at the end of this week
- we pray for love and harmony in families, acknowledging the rise in domestic violence that often accompanies the festive season.
God of hope and justice,
Strengthen our weak hands and steady our fearful hearts,
for You come to open eyes, unstop ears, and lift up those bowed down.
Teach us to walk the Holy Way,
where no harm or fear can dwell,
and where all find welcome and care.
May Your justice free the oppressed, feed the hungry, and sustain the orphan and the stranger—
in our towns, our cities, and across this wide land.
Fill us with everlasting joy,
that sorrow and sighing may flee away,
and that we may join the song of creation: Hallelujah!
Amen.
Resources to help people worship and pray together as a gathered community or at home. These resources are generously prepared by Rev Cheryl Wilson.
Positions and placements
Activity Facilitator – Beyond Limits Outdoor Education – Open now
Kitchen Hand / Housekeeper – Tarooki Campsite – Open now
Customer Service Officer – Tarooki Campsite – Open now
Centre Manager, Tarooki – Robe – Open now
Ashford Hospital Chaplain – Closes 12 December
Generations Coordinator – Clare Uniting Church – Closes 15 January
UC eNews is the weekly email newsletter of the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of South Australia. If you’d like to include content in UC eNews or on the Synod of South Australia website, please submit it by COB Mondays.
