UC e-News 21st June 2022
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21st June 2022
Synod Meeting Update
The Synod ’22 meeting will take place this Friday and Saturday, 24th and 25th June at the Adelaide Hills Convention Centre in Hahndorf.
The main Uniting Church website has been further updated with reports, proposals and two videos which are now available for viewing. We encourage you to continue to check the website as new information is being uploaded on a regular basis. This is the link: https://sa.uca.org.au/about-us/synod-meetings/
There are still vacancies on some Synod committees, councils or boards. Some of these are filled by appointment and some are filled by a nomination/election process. With due attention to Synod by-laws, members of Synod are invited to submit nominations for vacant positions as soon as possible.
If you would like to access a live-stream of the Synod meeting, please email your details to: synod22@sa.uca.org.au and you will be sent the details prior to the meeting.
Members were sent an update email last Friday. A copy of this email is also available at this link.
Although a statement was sent out across the church last Friday about the conclusion of Rev Felicity Amery as General Secretary of the Synod of South Australia, we wish to further thank and acknowledge Felicity for her contribution to the Uniting Church in SA.
She has led us through considerable structural change as the church moved to three presbyteries and with her considerable creative flair also led us in developing our 'Shaping the Future' strategic plan campaign. She also worked collaboratively with Congress and represented us well on the national stage.
Felicity remains a Minister in good standing in the Uniting Church, and her personal call and confirmation of the church’s call, has not changed.
We thank Felicity sincerely for her on-going commitment to the Uniting Church and for her professionalism and grace, and we ask you to keep her in your prayers.
Celebrating 45 Years of the Uniting Church
As the anniversary of the Uniting Church in Australia is tomorrow, Wednesday 22nd June, we invite you to share this video as you celebrate our birthday in your part of the Church. UCA President Rev Sharon Hollis shares what she is thankful for about the Uniting Church and her hopes for the future in this 45th Anniversary video.
View video
The Australian Soul
At 9.30 pm on 28th June, and as part of the ABC’s 90th anniversary, Compass hosts a unique conversation about our Australian soul. Exploring what sort of nation we are today; what we believe in, what values we hold dear and what’s challenged those beliefs.
Drawing on rich ABC footage from the Compass archives, Geraldine Doogue’s wealth of knowledge anchors this powerful discussion with guests Envoy for Reconciliation Patrick Dodson; Director of Adelaide Writers’ Week Louise Adler; Jesuit priest and human rights lawyer Frank Brennan and cross-cultural consultant Tasneem Chopra.
Food for the Soul
A SALA Exhibition at the Red Dove Cafe ...
Uniting Church Fellowship and Mission Support (UCFAMS), Red Dove Cafe and the Centre for Music, Liturgy and the Arts (CMLA) are pleased to bring you the 'Food for the Soul Exhibition.' The cafe walls are usually bare except for a large menu board and a few show photos. The aim of this exhibition is to beautify the cafe space and in doing so engage with patrons in ways that describe and promote the resilience of rural people and their lifestyle, and also that embodies spiritual hope to bring wellness and peace to all.
UCFAMS seeks art-works to place on the walls that may be a point of conversation and a ministry to patrons. More information and how to submit art-works is at the link below.
Event highlight
Lay Preachers' Sunday
The first Sunday in August is celebrated in South Australia as Lay Preachers' Sunday. On August 7th (or a nearby convenient date) we encourage all congregations to invite a Lay Preacher to preach and lead worship. A suggested liturgy, and notes to help celebrate the vital contribution of Lay Preachers to weekly worship, are available on the Synod website at the link below.
Amplify Conference Update
Amplify is an Australian training and networking opportunity for children, youth and family ministry leaders and teams. The Amplify Conference is held annually in March. Currently they are offering a Membership Deal where you can access keynote sessions and elective videos from the 2021 and 2022 conferences, plus a free or discounted registration to the 2022 conference, only available until June 30th, 2022.
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:
A Prayer for Refugee Week
Innovation that save lives
With love to the world: Season of creation edition
- Synod Meeting 2022
- Lay Preachers' Sunday
- Climate Report: They shall inherit the earth
- Help UnitingWorld create ripples of change
- Uniting Conversations: A good climate for change
- Amplify Conference Update
- 2022 Uniting Foundation Grant Round Opens
- Other External Grant Opportunities
- 2022 Refugee Week
- Live Arts at Newland
- Yamaha E75 electronic organ for sale
- Support Sri Lanka: An Emergency Appeal for Sri Lanka
- COVID-19 Update
Reflection of the week
Galatians 3: 23-29
With so many competing messages, rules, expectations, and demands, it is often hard to hear God’s voice clearly.
It is also hard to find inner peace. At our most vulnerable times, the world’s competing expectations and rules can overwhelm us.
Prayer points
This week we pray:
- For the people of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India as they face considerable economic and climate impacts
- For all impacted by cost of living increases and for individuals and families struggling to meet basic needs at this time
- For all members of the Synod as they seek to gather this week for the 2022 Synod meeting.
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.
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.
