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e-news March 2011
Welcome to Community Connections.
To keep Community Connections of interest to the widest possible readership, we welcome for consideration news and information about initiatives, events and activities from all parts of the Synod. Regional contributions, and stories of how your congregation supports Living is Giving, are especially welcome. Email your material (maximum 150 words) to us. Thank you!
This issue includes:
NEWS AND INITIATIVES
• Assembly launches Christchurch earthquake appeal
• Flooding support from our West Java partner Church
• Update from our partner churches in New Zealand
• UnitingCare Australia welcomes price on carbon
• National disability insurance scheme will change lives
• Stay healthy: check if you need Hazmat inspection
• The Rev. Jorge takes flight over Outback New South Wales
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
• New Insights website perfect partner: good looking and easy to read
• Enjoy: Geoff Bullock concert
• UnitingCare Disability Carer’s Group weekly meeting
• Climate Change and the Common Good Conference, September 20
• Questioning God Conference, October 20–23
• Lecture Focus On The New Testament
• Get straight to the point: Easy access to Uniting Online
LIVING IS GIVING: PRAYER POINTS AND RESOURCES
• Your copy of the Living is Giving 2011-12 Handbook is waiting for you
• Share your faith and life goals through Living is Giving
NEWS AND INITIATIVES
Message from the Moderator
"While I was on the other side of the world building houses in Tijuana, I was hearing reports about the disasters hitting Australia." READ ON
Assembly launches Christchurch earthquake appeal
The Assembly of the Uniting Church has launched a New Zealand Earthquake 2011 Appeal. With 166 people dead and many still missing, Assembly General Secretary Terence Corkin said, “We are all shocked by the images we are receiving in the media from Christchurch New Zealand. Church members could assist those people affected by the earthquake by making donations.” READ ON
Support from our Java partner Church
Stick together, in good times and in bad. The GKI Synod of West Java donated $10,000 to the national Uniting Church Flood Appeal, despite having had to respond to floods, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions across Indonesia this summer. We appreciate the generosity of our partner church in Indonesia!
Update from our New Zealand partner churches
The Uniting Church in Australia is working closely with the Presbyterian Church of Aoteroa New Zealand and the Methodist Church of New Zealand, who have not received any reports of serious injury or death, but are facing a long road of rebuilding. READ ON
Clean up our act
UnitingCare Australia has welcomed the Federal Government’s plan to legislate for a price on carbon, with the support of the Australian Greens. National Director, Lin Hatfield Dodds:
“A move to a low carbon future will require all of us to change the way we use energy. But the introduction of a carbon price must include a safety net and other support for low income households who must not be pushed into deeper financial hardship." READ ON
Lightening God’s tread
What can the church do to reduce its carbon footprint? READ ON How green is your church? Don't forget to report your emissions. READ ON
WCC for Climate justice
"Climate justice, a core demand in the climate change work of The World Council of Churches, includes looking at how human rights are protected and enhanced, especially looking at the most vulnerable populations, such as those in Africa, Asia, the Pacific or the Caribbean.” READ ON
National disability insurance scheme will change lives
At the recent release of the Productivity Commission’s draft report on disability care and support, UnitingCare Australia’s National Director Lin Hatfield Dodds said “if implemented, the recommendations in the Productivity Commission’s draft report on disability care and support will change lives.” READ ON
Stay healthy: check if you need Hazmat inspection
Uniting Resources is urging all congregations in New South Wales and the ACT to check if they need to participate in Hazmat inspections. For more details regarding the inspection procedure. READ ON
March Insights: Turn it up!
Every two years, hundreds of youth between 16 and 25 and their leaders gather to experience Christian community at the National Christian Youth Convention (NCYC). It’s huge.
March Insights features stories about NCYC and about how churches are managing after the floods. Reports from a trip by Newington students to Nepal helped open the eyes of these young Australians to a wider world of need.
You’ll have to get your hands on a hard copy of the magazine to read these stories, because later in March we plan to launch Insights’ new website (see Activities) and content from the March issue will go live then.
The Rev. Jorge takes flight over Outback New South Wales
Soon-to-be-pilot, the Uniting Church's Rev. Jorge Rebolledo, is about to take off across Outback New South Wales. The new Broken Hill Patrol Minister for Frontier Services will soon spend hours and days travelling across the west of the state from Broken Hill, north to Tibooburra, south almost as far as the Victorian border and east to Ivanhoe. “I’ll need a lot of help from locals and others. I’m sure I’ll get lost a couple of times!” For the whole story, visit the Insights website.
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
The new Insights website: good looking and easy-going
Later in March we plan to launch Insights’ new website. Content from the March issue will go live then. The new site will look great, be easy to navigate and is designed to attract younger readers while keeping our regular readers happy too! Potential subscribers and advertisers will find the site informative — with premium advertising space and recruitment packages now available for purchase. Insights’ web address will stay the same: www.insights.uca.org.au.
Invitation to Geoff Bullock concert
We invite you to join us in our new worship centre at The Willows Uniting Church, 342 Hillsborough Road, Warners Bay, on Saturday March 26, at 7.30 pm for a concert with Geoff Bullock. Geoff is one of Australia's most prolific and most accepted praise and worship songwriters. Cost: $20 or $50 for a family ticket. For tickets please contact The Willows on 4956 5544 or email: nlmu@bigpond.net.au.
UnitingCare disability carers’ group
You are invited to come and join the Uniting Care Disability Carer’s Group, a place for family members or people with disabilities to come and share together. We meet once a month, enjoy morning tea and keep up to date on current issues in disability. Carers who attend are welcome to share their ideas for the group.
Held at Carrington Centre (room next to Meals on Wheels), at 2 Carrington Square, Campsie, Wednesdays, 10 am to 12 noon. The meeting dates for 2011 are: March 9, April 13, May 18, June 8, July 13, August 17, September 14, Carer’s Week October TBA, November 9.
For more information contact 8752 3777.
Christians in Community Gardening Visits, April 2 – 3
Come along to this tour of community gardens at churches in Canberra, the Monaro and the South Coast! More information here, or contact Miriam Pepper via email, or call 0447 730 772.
Climate Change & The Common Good Conference September 20
Location: United Theological College, Centre for Ministry, 16 Masons Drive, Nth Parramatta
Guest speakers include Ernst Conradie Professor of Systematic Theology and Ethics, University of Western Cape, South Africa and Clive Hamilton Professor of Public Ethics; Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics. A joint Centre of Australian National University, Charles Sturt University and the University of Melbourne. Contact: davidr@nsw.uca.org.au.
Questioning God Conference October 20–23
A conference on faith and atheism in Australia will be held at United Theological College, 16 Masons Drive, Nth Parramatta. Guest Speaker: Professor David Fergusson, School of Theology, University of Edinburgh and author of the acclaimed Faith and its Critics. Contact:davidr@nsw.uca.org.au
Ministers' Conferences 2011
Ministry in a time of transition will be the theme of another series of National Ministers’ Conferences’ convened by the President in 2011. See details here.
In February, Uniting Creative welcomed Marije Nieuwenhuis to its creative line-up. Marije works with Living is Giving (the Synod’s major stewardship/fundraising program) and with Uniting Creative (in its journalism, public relations, marketing, print production and web bureau role).
Marije: "As the new editor of Community Connections, I am really looking forward to receiving your contributions. Please share your initiatives, events and activities. Especially regional contributions, and stories of how your congregation supports Living is Giving, will make my day!"
Lecture Focus on the New Testament: Reading the Text, Ministering in the World.
With Professor Don Hagner. April 11-14 at the Centre For Ministry, 16 Masons Drive, North Parramatta. See brochure for details or contact Sue Bowra via email or phone (02) 8838 8936.
Get your message out by advertising in Insights
Advertising in Insights magazine and on the Insights website is the best way to reach Uniting Church members in New South Wales and the ACT. For more information about recruitment ads and contract bookings, contact Adrian Drayton, adriand@nsw.uca.org.au.
Make your website work
Does your website do what it is supposed to do? Uniting Creative can help you achieve your online goals and offers tailored web packages to ensure your congregation, church agency or not-for-profit organisation makes an impact on the web! It’s easy to make your mark with our Starter, Plus, Premium or Custom Web packages. Email us to connect with your online community. Uniting Creative web designer Esther Turnbull has been helping congregations and others to design websites that work. Meet our team here.
Get straight to the point
Access to Uniting Online is now available, making it quicker and easier for Uniting Financial Services’ investors to manage their investments and loans. To ensure that Uniting Online users have all the information and resources they need at their fingertips, the Uniting Online homepage now includes quick access to the most useful items on the Uniting Financial Services website:
- Access to information on products and services for Uniting Church organisations
- Application and other forms for both Uniting Church and other investors;
- Latest information via our News and Updates; and
- Helpful hints and troubleshooting information from our Education Centre.
Find out more about Uniting Online and our investments and facilities by visiting our website to or by calling our friendly Service Team on 1300 133 673.
LIVING IS GIVING: PRAYER POINTS AND RESOURCES
Share your faith and life goals through Living is Giving
From as little as $4 a week you can choose from a variety of mission focus areas that reflect your passions and hope for the Uniting Church’s future.
From empowering the vulnerable and needy to giving childr
en a voice in the church: our mission is bringing messages of hope, solidarity and love to the world. Please use Living is Giving as a tool to contribute a sustainable church and a better world.
Visit the website to make your online contribution. It’s easy. It’s secure. It’s needed.
With your support you help ensure that the mission and service of the Uniting Church continues well into the future. For more information, contact Marije Nieuwenhuis via email or call 8267 4475.
Let us Pray and Praise
Each year Living is Giving continues to advance the church’s mission work in ways that have changed many lives for the better. The current year, 2011-12, already looks exciting, with new ventures and significant achievements. Contributions by congregations and individuals through Living is Giving have helped make these activities possible.
Pray and give thanks for:
The people of Christchurch and North Queensland need our support, not only financial but also in prayer. Please pray for the people of Christchurch after they suffered through several earthquakes. Let us pray that God will give them strength, comfort and support.
Give thanks that North Queensland was spared major loss of life in Cyclone Yasi. Pray for the cleanup efforts, for those who must rebuild homes and livelihoods and for the witness of Christians in the area at this time.
Let us pray and give thanks for living in a multicultural church – On Sunday March 6, Dulwich Hill Hurlstone Park congregation was the setting of a "big moment of unity". Sixty-seven people from Cook Islander and Tongan congregations joined the Anglo congregation – and the combined service, led by Neil Erickson, was quite an event!
A lineup of so many engaged people made this a happening of true grandeur – as did the special musical contribution of a professional opera singer.
Fusion was the magic word in catering, too. “We got together for an afterglow with coffee and tea, and instead of boring biscuits, our Tongan members took care of the catering. And then you know it’s good!” laughed the enthusiastic Keith Virtue, church council secretary.
Cross-cultural and multicultural ministry is an important focus in the Board of Mission, which recognises the need to ensure that our life together reflects our equal membership in the household of God regardless of race, age, gender or creed. Thank you for your support!
You can read more about these mission focus areas and other activities by clicking here.
To find out more about Living is Giving visit the Living is Giving website.
Studying journalism, graphic design or communications and would like to offer your skills to Insights? Go to http://news.nsw.uca.org.au/employment/2009/graduates-students.htm to learn how.
CONTACT US: unitingcreative@nsw.uca.org.au
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