UC e-News 23rd August 2022
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23rd August 2022
Celebration of Ministry 2022
L to R: Rev Trevor Whitney, Rev Sandra Webb, Rev Ian Clarkson, Rev Kaye Colliver, Lay Pastor Brian Tugwell and Rev Rod Dyson
A Celebration of Ministry service was held at Adelaide West Uniting Church on Sunday 21st August and was a fitting tribute to Ministers and Lay-Pastors alike who were celebrating special anniversaries of their ministry, or entering retirement. Read more
Season of Creation
The Season of Creation is the annual Christian celebration of prayer and action for God’s beautiful Earth. From 1st September – 4th October, the global Christian family around the world unites to pray, protect, and advocate for God’s creation. This year's theme is ‘Listen to the Voice of Creation’ and the full guide and resources are available to download here. Read more
Thuruna Campsite 60th Anniversary -
Save the Date!
Thuruna Campsite will celebrate 60 years of ministry, service and hospitality to the people of the Eyre Peninsula and beyond. A commemorative worship service and afternoon tea is planned for Sunday, 23rd October at Thuruna commencing at 2.00 pm. All welcome. Enquiries and RSVPs can be made by emailing: thuruna@uvsa.org.au.
Child Safe Sunday Resources
Sunday, 4th September is the UCA Child Safe Sunday. Resources are available from the National Safe Church Unit and include a President's video message (for use in the week leading up to the 4th September and on the day itself); President's prayer; Powerpoint for Ministers and leaders/others to use in group settings; and a colouring in activity for children. Please visit: https://safechurch.uca.org.au/resources/ the folder is under Congregations & Presbyteries/UCA Child Safe Sunday Resources.
Expression of Interest - Uniting Venues SA
Uniting Venues SA’s mission is to provide opportunities for exploring faith, fostering community, creative learning and leadership development through exceptional Christian hospitality. The UVSA Committee lives out this mission by providing oversight of its camps, campsites, conference and retreat centres and outdoor education services on behalf of the Synod. The Uniting Venues SA (UVSA) Committee is seeking expressions of interest from suitably experienced individuals for the role of Committee Member. Read more
New opportunities for welcoming refugees in local communities
Uniting Church congregations and faith groups have long been at the forefront of welcoming refugees to Australia. Now your congregation can take the next step and welcome newly arrived Afghan evacuees and other refugees referred by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) living in our communities. The Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia (CRSA) allows us to do just that. The CRSA are looking for volunteers, individuals and groups, to be a part of their Group Mentorship and the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot (CRISP) Programs. Read more
Event highlights
Connecting with Ancestors Retreat
A weekend of connecting with your spiritual heritage through listening to stories of our ancestors and learning through dialogue between the spirituality of First Nations people and the spirituality of the ancient Celts. Enjoy the beautiful Moonta landscape and history with time for walking, writing and reflecting. The registration fee includes the cost of the Retreat’s activities, some meals and a Retreat Reflection Booklet. Attendees will be required to source and fund their own accommodation and some meals. Read more or Register here.
Leading Youth Ministry Teams
Join leadership expert Craig Bailey in unpacking and understanding the dynamics of team youth ministry. You will explore: team purpose, mechanics and dynamics, team culture, communication and covenanting. This event is best experienced with your whole youth ministry team! Saturday, 3rd September from 9.00 am - 12.00 noon at Westbourne Park Uniting Church. Registrations essential at this link: Book here.
Safe Church Training - 'Through Their Eyes'
Through their Eyes - Safe Environments for Children and Young People training is being held at The Corner Uniting Church on Saturday, 17th September. This is a full day course from 9.30 am - 4.00 pm. Bookings are essential and can be made at this link: Events Calendar – Safe Church (ucasa.org.au).
Regenerating Australia
Members of the public are invited to a free viewing of the climate action movie 'Regenerating Australia' on 27th August at the Blackwood Uniting Church from 6.30 pm - 8.30 pm. This is a short film by the creative team behind the award-winning film '2040,' and the screening will be followed by a facilitated discussion about how we can, as individuals and as a community, work toward regenerating Australia. Read more
During these difficult times we are pleased to provide you with resources for worship leaders to use to encourage people to worship and pray together as a gathered community or at home. These resources have been prepared by Rev Cheryl Wilson:
Read more
Assembly Update
News highlights from the Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia this week include:
The Uniting Church at the World Council of Churches Assembly
Thursdays in Black - Ambassadors on Gender-based Violence, Sexual Abuse and Faith Communities
Marking the World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel
- Acting General Secretary
- New opportunities for welcoming refugees in local communities
- Asia Sunday 2022 Worship Resource
- Synod Ecumenical Relations Committee Award
- Celebration of Ministries (Synod '22)
- Celebrity Quiz Night & Silent Auction
- Connecting with Ancestors Retreat
- Frontier Services Bush Chaplaincy
- Emergency Relief
- Sedan Life Exhibition
- Safe Church Update
- COVID-19 Update
- Items for sale
- Thuruna Campsite - 60th Anniversary - Save the Date!
- Uniting Conversations
Reflection of the week
When our focus is on Church rules, rationale and regulations, we often forget the real person, the intentional reason and the relevancy of why the rules were developed in the first place.
This can ‘bend’ us and reshape us in a way we may never have intended – in how we love our neighbour, in our own wellbeing, in our thinking and choices, and in how we practice and ‘do’ our faith.
Prayer points
This week we pray:
- For all people working across the Uniting Church to nurture a culture of safety, security and equality so that all may flourish in our communities
- For those from the Uniting Church preparing to take part in the World Council of Churches Assembly
- For those across the world experiencing the harsh impacts of climate change.
COVID-19 update
The Synod of SA is adapting and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. For all current updates please visit the Synod website COVID page at this link.
Our Strategic Priorities
The Uniting Church Synod of SA has embarked on a journey to identify its key missional priorities and directions for the next 3-5 years. Read more
Upcoming Events
Please note, many gatherings of people in SA may be further impacted by recent COVID-19 restrictions. The list below is the most up-to-date information available at the time of publication and may be subject to change.
- Interfaith Forum: 1001 Persian tales - how do we learn from one another - food, story, song and discussion >>>
- Garage Sale >>>
- Regenerate Australia >>>
- Conclusion of Placement >>>
- Preaching Series: Preaching with a Difference >>>
- Creative Retreat: Rest and Wonder >>>
- Uniting Conversations >>>
- LGBTIQA+ People's right to Be: Views from the Abrahamic Traditions >>>
- Creative Retreat: Renewal >>>
- Community conversation about Child Sexual Exploitation >>>
- Christianity and the Making of the Western Mind >>>
- Through their eyes: Safe environments for children and young people >>>
- Celebrating 100 years as a Church community - Lefevre UC >>>
- Mypolonga Uniting Church
Centenary >>> - Spring Fair >>>
- Best of British Music - Proms Style >>>
- Men from the East >>>
- Amplify Conference for Children, Youth and Family Ministry >>>
Positions & Placements vacant
Placements News is available here.
Submitting Content
UC e-News is the weekly e-newsletter of the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of South Australia. If you wish to include content in UC e-News or on the Synod of South Australia website please submit it by 10am on Tuesdays.
