Naming and Blessing of Slovenski Bozi Dom - Good News College

Photo supplied.

On Tuesday, 1 July, Good News Lutheran College held a special ceremony to dedicate and name their new Product Design and Technology Centre. Pastor Brett Kennett attended on behalf of the Vic-Tas District.
The new facility is named Slovenský Boží dom (Slovak House of God) in recognition of the Slovak Evangelical Congregation of Christ the Lord. This congregation, established in 1967 by Slovak immigrants from Vojvodina (then part of Yugoslavia), played a key role in founding the college and nurturing Christian education in the region.
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Building in the Booming West!

Pictured (left to right): Stephen Mildred (District Administrator & COO), Mikaella Nelson (Head of Mambourin Campus), and Leah Watson (North West Melbourne Regional Ministry). Photo supplied.

Stephen Mildred and Erin Grainger from the LCA Vic/Tas District office were thrilled to visit the newly opened Good News Lutheran College - Hope Campus, at Mambourin, 38km south-west of Melbourne. The campus is brand new and surrounded by pristine estate-built houses and terraces that are being added to daily. 
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District Church Council meet with Regional Church Leaders at Geelong

DCC members Sabine Haeusler (MMC Chair) and Michael Presser, and Chair Tony Vong.
Photo supplied.

On Saturday 28 June, leaders from a number of regional congregations met in Geelong to share with members of District Church Council (DCC), on the topics of: blessings experienced as a Parish/Congregation, opportunities to further God’s work, and any local/District concerns.
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ALC Classes at Southgate

Photo supplied.

ALC's latest series of intensives was held at St John's Southgate, from 26 June to 7 July. Overall, 23 students from around Australia and New Zealand attended one or more of the intensives on offer.
The students were especially appreciative of the opportunity to spend quality time learning together and building relationships, commenting that the course content was both thought provoking and challenging, and enabled lots of rich learning.
Some St John's Southgate host facts –
Over 200 meals were served to participants by a team of volunteers from St John’s.
Pastor James was averaging 20-30,000 steps a day, keeping the participants provided with hot and cold drinks, nibbles and fruit, together with fresh crockery at all the break times!
Read More...

CMA Webinar 

iStock image. Credit: Canan turan

"You've joined a charity board / church council – so what do you need to know about the ACNC and its requirements?"

Most Christian organisations in Australia, including churches, are Charities which therefore come under the regulation of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).
Office holders of Congregation/Parish Councils need to properly understand the role of the ACNC, and the obligations they must meet in order to retain charitable status.
In this webinar, Rebecca Lambert-Smith from Moores provides an overview of the ACNC relationship and obligations.
Webinar: HERE 
(approx. 25 mins; last section is not relevant)
PDF of PowerPoint Presentation: HERE

Got a bright idea for mission?

Does your congregation, school or agency have a bright idea for local mission that needs financial support to become a reality? The LCANZ’s Local Mission Fund may be able to help. The fund, which aims to support church entities seeking new ways to reach their local communities with the gospel, is now open for expressions of interest for the 2026 allocation of grants.
Read More...

In our District, Wodonga Lutheran Parish previously submitted a successful application to help them fund a Ministry Coordinator position to oversee the outreach ministries of the Parish. 
"The financial support from the LLL Mission Outreach Grant for $25,000 to partly fund this vital position was a real blessing for the Wodonga Lutheran Parish"
Read More...

For more information and to apply: www.lca.org.au/local-mission-fund
Expressions of interest for the Local Mission Fund 2026 allocation close on Mon 29 Aug 2025.

Drought Prayer Gathering & Resources

Many communities throughout the southern and western areas of Australia are experiencing incredibly difficult drought conditions.
The SA-NT District Office is preparing prayer and worship resources to support and encourage communities struggling with drought. 
All congregations are invited to join the SA-NT District in prayer through these two events.

Online Prayer Evening, Tue 12 Aug, at 7pm
Open to every member of the LCA. Hosted by metro and rural pastors and lay people.
Worship Service, Sun 31 Aug
The SA-NT District encourages all congregations to save this date as an acknowledgment and prayer service for communities impacted by drought. A fully pre-planned worship service (including readings, prayers and a video sermon from SA-NT Bishop Andrew Brook), will be available to use in congregations.

St Paul's Box Hill -
Dedication of New Buildings

You are invited to attend the Dedicaiton Service at St Paul's Box Hill, of their new buildings.

During August, the congregations (St Paul's and Chinese Lutheran Congregation) will move all their activities and staff into the centre, with the District following in November.  

It will be formally dedicated on 14 September, but members are already enjoying the space and warmth of their new home.

Read More...

Jeparit - 100th Anniversary

ST JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, JEPARIT VIC
100TH ANNIVERSARY
THANKSGIVING SERVICE
of church building dedication.
Sunday 7 September 2025 - at 10am

For information, contact:
Chair Wayne Werner 0428 972 044

Minyip - 150th Anniversary

ST JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, MINYIP, VIC
150TH ANNIVERSARY
THANKSGIVING SERVICE
of Worship in our Church.
Sunday 12 October 2025 - at 10am

For information, contact:
Chair Bronwyn Krause 0427 590 397

Special Convention of the 21st General Synod

Saturday 18 October 2025 - online
Synod will consider a doctrinal statement on ordination, as resolved at the 2024 Regular Convention, along with matters of unfinished business. Delegates have been sent further information. No new business will be received.
Note: General Pastor's Conference will be on Wednesday 15 October.

Child Safety Standards: Theological Foundations #2

Last month we high-lighted the theological foundations for Child Safety Standard #1. What does scripture have to say about our culture of care safety and wellbeing for everyone, but especially for the vulnerable in our midst?

This month we look at Standard Two which focuses on how we value, respect and listen to children.

Standard Two:
We value, respect, and listen to children.

Our Lord Jesus’ attitude to children, and his interaction with them, provides a strong guide for us to follow. Take some time to consider Jesus' modelling in the following texts.
Read More...

Denise Muschamp - Vic/Tas District Relationship Manager and Compliance Coordinator

Safe Church Training

Safe Church Training is now completed online, via webinars (in real-time with trainers) or via iLearn (self-paced).
Click the Training button for more information, and for registration links to your choice of training mode.

Safe Church Service Desk

The new Safe Church Service Desk is your primary point of contact for any questions about the Child Safety Standards, Safe Church training, background screening checks and day-to-day safety management. 
Contact the Safe Church Service Desk via:
 - Website: www.lca.org.au/service
 - Phone: 1800 418 588 (Australia only)
 - Email: safechurch@lca.org.au

Reminders

• Submit AGM Reports to District Office
  - a big thank you to all those congregations who have supplied their AGM Reports for us to file!
• VERY IMPORTANT:
  Update your WWCC with the current District Office address - 711 Station Street, Box Hill 3128 (NOT 755!)

Contact Keryn if you have any questions.

Amplify Conference - 2 Aug

Click the image above for more information 
or download the flyer HERE.

Mozart Requiem Singalong 

On the afternoon of Saturday 23rd August, Monash Chorale is hosting a Sing-Along Mozart Requiem.  Everyone is welcome to join us as we sing through this wonderful piece of music together. It doesn’t matter whether you are a seasoned singer or a first-timer, or whether you know the music well or are sight-reading it for the first time. 
It will be held at the Burwood Heights Uniting Church, at 2pm.
For just $5 you get:

• An opportunity to sing (or listen to) the magnificent Mozart Requiem 
• Score hire ($5 deposit)
• A sumptuous afternoon tea after the performance and a chance to chat with fellow musicians.
• A rare chance to see a 1st edition of the full score, printed by Breitkopf & Härtel published about 1800
  PLUS a facsimile of Mozart’s actual score with additions by Sussmayr et al. 

Download flyer and more information HERE.
Monash Chorale Website HERE.

Belonging by Design - Oct

Click the image above for more information.

LEVNT / LLL School Bursary Program

Financial Support for Christian Education!
Do you know a family facing financial hardship who would love to send their child to a Lutheran school?
The LLL School Bursary can help!
•    Covers 50% of tuition fees (up to $5,000 per year).
•    Open to Christian families, with preference for Lutheran members.

For more details, contact your nearest Lutheran school. Don’t miss this opportunity to support faith-based education!
Applications for 2026 Bursaries close on 30th September 2025.
Church Promotion Flyer available HERE.
More information HERE (LLL website).
Application Form HERE.

District Hospital Chaplain - 
Expression of Interest

The Victorian and Tasmanian District is seeking expressions of interest for the position of District Hospital Chaplain, to start in December.
More information: HERE (PDF).
Expressions of Interest are to be submitted to the District Administrator, Stephen Mildred at stephen.mildred@lca.org.au, by 17 August 2025. More information may also be sought through the District Office.

Calls, Employment Opportunities and Volunteering Opportunities in the LCANZ

Employment and Volunteering Opportunities in wider Christian networks

LCA (Churchwide) eNews (22/07/25)
  Prayers for Peace eNews (03/07/25)
SA-NT Online Together eNews (09/07/25)
LCAQD Community (Qld) eNews (16/07/25)

ALC June/July eNews (04/07/25)
Lutheran Aged Care Jun/Jul eNews (07/07)
Lutheran Disability Services eNews (23/07)
Lutherans for Life eNews (24/07/25)

Prayer
Where there is separation, there is pain. 
And where there is pain, there is story. 
And where there is story,
there is understanding, and misunderstanding, 
listening and not listening. 

May we - separated peoples,
estranged strangers, 
unfriended families, divided communities - 
turn toward each other 
and turn toward our stories 
with understanding and listening, 
with argument and acceptance, 
with challenge, change and consolation. 

Because if God is to be found, 
God will be found
in the space 
between.

(Source: Padraig O'Tuama, "A prayer for reconciliation," in Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community)

Prayer Point Calendar (Aug)
04-10 Aug National Homelessness Week
06/09 Aug 80th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima & Nagasaki
09 Aug International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples 
10-16 Aug 9th Annual Interfaith Awareness Week (Information HERE).
12 Aug International Youth Day
19 Aug World Humanitarian Day
22 Aug International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief
23 Aug International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition [UNESCO]

Links to information on these and other dates are HERE.

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Address:
711 Station Street, Box Hill Vic 3128
P: (03) 9236 1200
E: admin.vic@lca.org.au
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