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Issue 19
8 October 2025
Next Issue: Wednesday 22 October 2025 | Content Deadline: Monday 20 October 2025
Send news to: communications@qld.lca.org.au
Featured articles
Celebrating the Guiding Hand of God in PNG
Cairns Peace & LLL – proud missional partners
In Memoriam: Aldal Wagim
Events
Job & position news
- Seeking nominations: LCAQD Treasurer
- Warrambui Volunteer Internship Program
- Various job and position vacancies, Lutheran Services & LEQ
Noticeboard
- LCAQD training & communication sessions for Congregation Councils
- EXCITING OPPORTUNITY: LLL Mission Outreach Grant – additional!
- Graceville Art Festival
- Get featured at the new Church House!
- QCT Meeting of the Assembly 2025/ Nicaea 1700th Celebration
- Celebrating the Season of Prayer
- Online General Synod to consider doctrinal statement
- Bibles for Hope Vale
Get ready for blue card changes
Living Faithfully & Prayerfully
Inspiration for living faithfully and prayerfully in today's society
Peace Lutheran Church Gatton celebrates 50 years of independence for Papua New Guinea.
Celebrating the guiding hand of God in PNG
by Neil Huth
As many of you will know, the nation of Papua New Guinea recently celebrated 50 years since its independence in 1975. However, you may not know the legacy of the church's mission to this island nation that is captured within its founding documents.
The constitution of PNG bears great testimony to the impact of the many missionaries on the faith and modern identity of its peoples. The constitution clearly describes the people's desire to both acknowledge the 'worthy customs and traditional wisdoms' which have come down to them from generation to generation, but also to pledge themselves 'to guard and pass on to those who come after us our noble traditions and the Christian principles' that are theirs now. The preamble then triumphantly declares that
'WE, THE PEOPLE, do now establish this sovereign nation and declare ourselves, under the guiding hand of God, to be the Independent State of Papua New Guinea.'
On Sunday 21 September, Peace Lutheran Church Gatton joined with local members of the PNG community to acknowledge and give thanks for the work of the missionaries who took the word to this nation, and for the continuing 'guiding hand of God'. Celebrations were held in both church services, with leadership of the second service provided by members of the local PNG community from the Lockyer Valley and further afield. These services were followed by a PNG 'mumu' (a traditional cooking technique within a firepit) for lunch with pork and vegetables.
This journey started several years ago when the Peace congregation decided to develop a church plant within their own community. The approach here was not to develop a second service on a Sunday, but to support the development of a second congregation in whatever direction God led them. Peace now has a vibrant and faithful worshipping community that is different every week, with Sundays as diverse as the people leading them - be they members of the school community assembling to be led by school children, or services led in both English and Tok pisin ( New Guinea Pidgin).
Community News
Have a story from your community or organisation?
We would love you to share it! Get in touch with us today.
Images: Principal Shane (above) had many willing helpers at the working bee. LLL Team Members Deepak and Jason with Peace Business Manager Meegan (below) and the beautiful outdoor area of Peace Lutheran Kindergarten.
Cairns Peace & LLL – proud missional partners
The strength of the missional partnership between Peace Lutheran College and LLL was on display when LLL Team Members joined a wonderful working bee at the school’s expansive Cairns campus.
Principal Shane Jurecky welcomed College staff, members of the Trinity Lutheran Church congregation and LLL Communications Officer Jason and Solutions Analyst Deepak for two days of painting and gardening as part of an ongoing redevelopment program.
'We've done some planting around our facilities and painted a number of our buildings to freshen things up,' Shane said.
'We're currently going through a redevelopment phase with the refurbishment of classrooms.
'We celebrated our 30th anniversary last year, so we're in the midst of a refurb across our school facilities. We've done our Primary School and now we're working our way through, and eventually our Senior Secondary buildings will have a refurb as well.'
Situated adjacent to the beautiful Barron Gorge National Park, Peace opened a brand-new Kindergarten, built with the aid of an LLL Loan, at the start of 2025.
In Memoriam:
ALDAL WAGIM (05/09/1949–28/08/2025)
Ordained 1979 (Wabag, Enga, Papua New Guinea); joined LCANZ Roll of Pastors 1984; served Wujal Wujal Qld and Cairns Qld (including Peace Lutheran College); died 28 August 2025 (Cairns Qld); funeral 9 September 2025 (Trinity Lutheran Church Cairns Qld, followed by internment at Kuranda Cemetery); mourned by wife Martha, children Lynell, Grace and Mark, Christopher and families.
District Notice Board
LCAQD training & communication sessions for Congregation Councils
At the recent Qld Synod gathering, a clear need emerged for continued training and development opportunities for those serving across the District.
In response, we are pleased to share that the District will be hosting regular training and communication sessions. These sessions will cover a range of topics, including governance, employment matters, risk and financial management, and leadership development—all with the goal of equipping God’s people to serve His Church faithfully and well.
Our initial session will be held on Tuesday 21 October from 5:30pm-7pm, with a second session on Thursday 20 November from 5:30pm– 7pm. More information and the first meeting details are at this link.
EXCITING OPPORTUNITY: LLL Mission Outreach Grant – additional!
An extra round of LLL Mission Outreach Grants is now open, offering up to $25,000 to help LCAQD congregations and parishes reach into their communities with the heart of Jesus. Whether you have a fresh idea, a bold initiative, or a collaborative project, this grant can help make it real. Don’t miss this chance—applications close Sunday, 30 November 2025.
Learn more and apply:
+ Flyer
+ Application form (Please disregard the application close date)
+ Guidelines
Grants for the 2026/27 Synodical Year will open end of January 2026.
Graceville Art Festival
Graceville Art Festival is back for 2025 and it’s set to be bigger, brighter and bursting with creativity!
From 8 to 12 October, Graceville Centre in Nambour will host a colourful week of art, workshops and community connection. Everyone is welcome to take part, whether you're submitting artwork, joining a workshop or simply enjoying the art!
Find out more here.
Get featured at the new Church House!
Want to see your church, its paraments or features represented at the new Church House in Adelaide? They are keen to include contributions from across the LCANZ in their exhibition space.
Click here to email your high-resolution JPEGs (preferably 300 dpi) or a link to your files with information about the pictures, as well as your contact details.
Shared from LCA eNews, 30/9/25.
QCT Meeting of the Assembly 2025/ Nicaea 1700th Celebration
When: 5pm, Sunday 2 November 2025
Where: Greek Orthodox Church of the Dormition of Our Lady, Mt Gravatt
The Queensland Churches Together Board and Leadership Group cordially invite you to a special Assembly meeting on 2 November 2025.
To commemorate the 1700th anniversary of the first Council of Nicaea, this Assembly will be a special celebration involving an ecumenical service and three guest speakers discussing the significant outcomes of the Council of Nicaea. Confirmed speakers include the Very Rev Dr Anthony Mellor and Rev’d Canon Dr Don Edwards. Dinner will be prepared by members of the Greek Orthodox Church.
There will be no business meeting and the event will be livestreamed to facilitate attendance by member churches around Queensland.
For catering purposes and/or to receive the livestream link, please register here before 24 October 2025.
In person cost: $20 (the livestream link will be provided at no cost, upon registration.)
You can download a flyer to share with your community here.
Celebrating the Season of Prayer
Each year, the LCANZ facilitates a Season of Prayer, inviting and calling on congregations to pray. This year, the Season of Prayer is scheduled for 5 to 19 October, and, as in previous years, the theme is ‘Lord, renew your church'. Find out more here or visit the Worship Planning Page to celebrate the Season of Prayer in your congregation.
Shared from LCA eNews, 16/9/25.
Online General Synod to consider doctrinal statement
A Special Convention of General Synod is being held online on Saturday, 18 October 2025. This is in accordance with a resolution of the 21st Regular Convention of General Synod in October 2024, that a Doctrinal Statement on Ordination be prepared by the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations for submission to an online Synod in 2025. Additionally, unfinished business from the regular convention is on the agenda.
The convention will also be livestreamed, with access available through the Synod page.
Shared from LCA eNews, 30/9/25.
Bibles for Hope Vale
If you have any spare Bibles, Bible story books or Devotionals and are able to afford the postage, Cairns Lutheran Parish would be delighted to receive them for their ministry in Hope Vale, North Queensland.
The address for delivery is: 40 Canopys Edge Bvd, Smithfield Qld 4878.
Your support is sincerely appreciated!
Get ready for blue card changes
New laws expand who needs a blue card. These changes include:
New types of child-related work or services will require a blue card;
New and standardised exemptions;
New self-disclosure laws for applicants and card holders concerning any disclosable matters, such as child protection and domestic and family violence orders;
A simpler decision-making framework for issuing blue cards;
The ability to consult experts with specialist knowledge, skills or experience to help make a blue card decision;
A simpler disqualification framework;
Broader abilities to immediately suspend a person’s blue card where they pose a risk to the safety of children;
Stronger compliance responses to ensure organisations and individuals meet their obligations. Find out more
Job & Position News
Seeking nominations: LCAQD Treasurer
The LCAQD Nominations and Appoints Committee is actively seeking nominations for the position of LCAQD Treasurer. After four years of faithful service, our current Treasurer John Catford has resigned. John continues to serve the Lord faithfully with a different focus, and we are grateful that he will remain on the LCAQD RAFC.
Consequently, we are looking for applications for a new LCAQD Treasurer. As congregational leaders and pastors I am asking for your help to identify people within your congregations who might possess the necessary skills and experience that a DCB Treasurer would benefit from. To help with this, please see following a summary of the tasks, skills and experience that would benefit this important position.
Position description
(BY-LAWS, PART B, SCHEDULE I, OFFICIALS OF THE DISTRICT, E. TREASURER)
5. In addition to the duties laid down in the District By-laws Part A, Schedules VIII Officers and Administration, Article 4, the duties of the Treasurer shall include the following:
5.1. while retaining the oversight over the financial affairs and records of the District, to delegate, with approval from the District Church Board, to the District Executive Officer and other employees of the District, such duties and functions as he/she deem fit to enable the day to day financial transactions of the District to be carried out in the most effective manner;
5.2. in collaboration with the RAFC, to ensure financial reports of the District are presented regularly to the District Church Board;
5.3. in collaboration with the RAFC, to ensure that the financial records of the District are properly kept in the form and manner required by the District Church Board;
5.4. to ensure that the financial records of the District are audited as required by the District Church Board;
5.5. to offer assistance and oversight to the relevant staff in the carrying out of duties and expectations of their roles in accord with the written role descriptions;
5.6. to consult regularly with the District Executive Officer; and
5.7. to report to the District Church Board personally or through a nominated delegate:
6. The Treasurer shall be a member (preferably Chair) of the Risk Audit and Finance Committee by virtue of this office.
Experience and Skills
The DCB Treasurer should possess a blend of financial acumen, strategic insight, and ethical leadership. Key skills and experience include:
- Understanding of financial management principles including budgeting, accounting, and cash flow management are essential.
- Formal qualifications in accounting or finance are beneficial, but practical experience is also valuable, (i.e. senior manager or business owner who has P&L responsibility.)
- Oversighting the District Executive Officer in matter related to the finances of the LCAQD to ensure accurate record keeping, best practice processes and procedures are used, and reporting is timely, relevant and accurate.
- Being able to interpret complex financial information for the Board, to the convention of the Synod and from time to time to external stakeholders is necessary.
- Work closely with the District Executive Officer, the Finance Manager and other Board members to align financial decisions with the LCAQD’s Strategic Charter.
Time Commitment
- DCB meet on the last Wednesday of every month. The meeting starts at 1pm and usually is complete by 8pm and DCB members can attend in person or by Microsoft Teams.
- The meeting papers are distributed on the Wednesday or Thursday prior to the DCB meeting, using a Software called 'OnBoard', accessible via a website.
- Members usually spend 10 to 14 hours preparing for the meeting.
- From time-to-time (maybe four times a year) DCB members will need to attend Teams meetings between DCB meetings for particular purposes. These meetings are usually single topic meetings and most times last up to an hour.
- DCB hosts a District Assembly two times a year. These are typically held on a Saturday and last between four and six hours depending on the agenda .
- Most years DCB holds a weekend retreat toward the beginning of the year.
I remain available to you or possible candidates to have a conversation and or provide any clarification on this request if you feel this would be useful. Nominees should fill in the nominations form and return it to linda.thomson@qld.lca.org.au as the committee’s minute secretary.
Trevor Ruthenberg
District Executive Officer, LCAQD
Secretary at LCAQD Nominations and Appointments Committee
Secretary at Queensland Lutheran Giving
Volunteering
ARISE – the Warrambui Volunteer Internship Program for 2026
Applications are open!
ARISE is a program designed for young adults aged 18 to 25 that focuses on building a faith foundation grown by living and serving in a cross-cultural Christian community.
Interns experience practical ministry, undertake ministry and theology study, and learn to serve Jesus and each other while helping Warrambui to host school, youth, church and community groups at the Warrambui Lutheran Retreat and Conference Centre.
While volunteering, interns will build their character, further discover their identity in Christ, and explore questions of faith in a supportive Christian environment, giving them a solid foundation for whatever lies ahead.
Australian or New Zealand interns will also live and serve alongside interns from Papua New Guinea, growing in understanding of each other’s country, culture and faith.
So, if you are (or know) someone who may be interested and wants to know more, contact Warrambui for an information pack:
- (02) 6220 1000
- ministry@warrambui.com.au
- www.warrambui.com.au
Applications close: 21 November 2025
Calling Process & Vacancies
Congregations:
- Cleveland: Steven Hibbard accepted
- Emerald: Rev David Seligmann declined
- Indooroopilly St Peters Congregation: Rev Nigel Rosenzweig declined
- Redeemer Toowoomba: Called Rev Robert D’Antoni
- South-West Qld (Chinchilla Ministry Area): Calling
- Toowoomba Emmanuel: Calling
- Wilsonton/Glencoe: Calling
Colleges:
- Ashmore Trinity Lutheran College: Exploring options for call
- Buderim Immanuel Lutheran College: Exploring options for call
- Everton Hills Prince of Peace Lutheran College: Exploring options for call
- Indooroopilly St Peters Lutheran College (Associate Pastor): Exploring options for call
- Rochedale Redeemer Lutheran College: Exploring options for call
Aged Care:
- Laidley Tabeel Aged Care: Exploring options for call
Events
- List of 2025 District Events -
Fri 17 - Sun 19 October Replenish Women's Retreat
Fri 24 October Lift Conference
Please keep these events in your prayers. You can also view them on our What's On page! Want to share your event? Email communications@qld.lca.org.au
We hope you enjoyed this issue!
Next Issue: Wednesday 22 October 2025 | Content Deadline: Monday 20 October 2025
Send news to: communications@qld.lca.org.au
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