Category Archives: UCA News and Other Upcoming Events

MtE Update – September 6 2019

  1. The latest eNews from the Synod is here.
  2. Later in September we will begin a new sermon series on 1 Timothy; see here for more details.
  3. This Sunday we return to Bruce Barber’s Ten Commandments series – ‘You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour’.  Our reading of this text will be supported by Genesis 3.1-4, James 3.3-10, Matthew 26.69-75, Psalm 43. 

Old News

Advance Dates

  1. Sunday September 22 – Update on MTEFP buildings project, after morning tea
  2. Sunday October 6 – New hymn-learning session after morning tea

MtE Update – August 30 2019

  1. This Sunday September 1 we conclude our series on Hosea, with Hosea 14 being our final focus text. Over the last couple of months we’ve looked closely at aspects of Hosea 1, 2, 4, 6, 11, 13; consider reading the book through before we conclude this Sunday!
  2. The latest Presbytery eNews is here.
  3. Later in September we will begin a new sermon series on 1 Timothy; see here for more details.

 

 

1 Timothy – Sermons in 2019

Our guide to Sunday morning readings and preaching, the Revised Common Lectionary, takes a sweep through the ‘pastoral epistles’ (1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus) in September and October. Taking a lead from the RCL, we heard from an extended set of readings from 1 Timothy over late September to the end of November 2019.

These sermons can be found here:

Preparing for the series:

  • The best introduction to any scriptural book is to read the book itself! It’s not long — a half hour should get you through it quite comfortably. Plan to do this a few times through the series, and you should also have a look at 2 Timothy and Titus over this period.
  • A short animated video introduction (9 minutes) can be found here, which summarises the book rather simply but nevertheless tells the story pretty well. One caveat on this material is that many modern scholars wonder whether fact St Paul did write this letter but, this aside, the video summary is a useful intro.
  • A more sophisticated introduction can be found in this lecture. The first 20 minutes of this lecture treats the question of the authorship of 1 Timothy via the question of Paul’s attitude towards women (cf. 1 Timothy 2.9ff); the discussion of the letter more generally begins at about 21mins into the lecture.
  • So far as commentaries go, Tom Wright’s ‘For Everyone’ series is a good basic introduction to biblical texts. The volume including Timothy is available here (Koorong) and here (Amazon, including a Kindle version). The ‘Interpretation’ series provides reliable introductions to biblical books with a bit more detail than Wright’s (and more expensive!); The volume including 1 Timothy can be found here (Koorong) and here (Amazon, including Kindle).

MtE Update – August 15 2019

    1. THIS SUNDAY August 18 we will have another of our Sunday Conversations after morning tea, with speakers from Lentara on the Asylum Seekers Project: Asylum Seekers Project Program Manager, Andi Jones, accompanied by Lisa Stewart, the Uniting Mission and Ethos Partner.
    2. The most recent Synod eNews (August 9) is here.
    3. The latest social justice news from JIM
    4. This Sunday we return to Hosea, focussing on 6.4-6 

    Old News

    Advance Dates

    1. September 18 – After worship Conversation with Act for Peace [POSTPONED to a later date TBC]

MtE Update – August 9 2019

  1. This Sunday we return to Bruce Barber’s Ten Commandments series – ‘You shall not steal’.  Our reading of this text will be supported by 1 Kings 21:1-19, Psalm 13, Acts 4: 32-37 and Matthew 21:12-13 
  2. SUNDAY WEEK August 18 we will have another of our Sunday Conversations after morning tea, with speakers from Lentara on the Asylum Seekers Project. 

MtE Update – July 26 2019

  1. This Sunday July 28 there will be a discussion following worship regarding the recent resolution on ‘voluntary assisted dying’ by the VicTas synod. The following resources might be useful in preparation for the discussion:
    1. The Synod resolution (unconconfirmed minute)
    2. The Report to the VicTas Synod 2019 
    3. A pastoral letter from the VicTas Moderator has been circulated to congregations and agencies
    4. (By contrast:) the Report on VAD to the 2019 QUEENSLAND Synod
    5. and the Queensland Synod resolution (the resolution starts at the bottom of the first page)
  2. We continue this week with Hosea, delving into the confronting chapter 2 of the book; reading chapters 1 to 3 might be good preparation for the service. Accompanying texts will be , Psalm 15, Revelation 22.1-5 and Matthew 16.13-23

Advance Dates

August 18 Sunday Conversation – Lentara on the Asylum Seekers Project

MtE Update – July 18 2019

  1. SUNDAY WEEK July 28 there will be a discussion following worship regarding the recent resolution on ‘voluntary assisted dying’ by the VicTas synod. The resolution can be found here. If you would like to discuss the resolution outside of that Sunday meeting, please get in contact with Craig.
  2. A service to Celebrate the Life of Rev. Prof. Emeritus Harry Wardlaw will be held at the Deepdene Uniting Church, Burke Road Deepdene, on Tuesday July 23rd 2019 commencing at 2.00pm. A private cremation will be held at a later date.
  3. Some may be interested in a screening of a new film about Jean Vanier and the L’Arche movement, Thusday July 25, 2.30pm at ACU. More information.
  4. Despite an advice otherwise last week, Craig will be preaching again this Sunday July 21 from Hosea, with the focus being Hosea 1.2-3a; reading the rather confronting chapters 1 and 2 might be good preparation for the service.

Old News

Advance Dates

July 28 After-church conversation on the recent VAD legislation resolution from the Synod

August 18 Sunday Conversation – Lentara on the Asylum Seekers Project

MtE Update – July 12 2019

  1. The most recent Synod eNews is here.
  2. The most recent Presbytery newsletter (July 2) is here.
  3. Justice and International Mission Unit News
  4. This Sunday we pick up again our series on the Ten Commandments — Exodus 20.14 ‘you shall not commit adultery’ — supplemented by Mark 8.34-38, Hosea 4.1-3,7-10, Ephesians 5.21,28-33 and Psalm 51.

Other News

Upcoming Taize in Melb prayer:
Friday 26th July @ 6:30 pm. 

We will be setting up at ACU Chapel from 6 pm. It’s on the ground floor of the Daniel Mannix Building, 115 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy. Come and enjoy an evening of prayer, reflection and music. 

After the prayer we’ll venture down Brunswick street for a bite to eat. Hope to see you there! All welcome! 

Advance Dates

  • August 18 – Sunday Conversation – Lentara on the Asylum Seekers Project

MtE Update – June 21 2019

  1. Our second quarter study groups are now underway — not too late to join! details are here; note that the Tuesday group has been shifted to 730pm. 
  2. THIS Sunday June 23 Craig will begin a series of sermons in Sunday worship on the book of the prophet Hosea. See here for a bit more information; the  video links on that page give a quick overview of the context and themes of the book.
  3. NEXT Sunday June 30 there will be a congregaional update meeting on progress with the MtE buildings project, from 1130am for about 30 minutes or so. The meeting will be informal (no decisions to be made).
  4. The latest news from the Synod’s JIM Unit (June)
  5. You might be interested in some historic (early 80s, late 70s?) photos around Nth Melbourne, including a number of the Curzon St property.
  6. The focus text for this Sunday June 23 will be Hosea 1.1-10, with particular interest in 1.1; Psalm 85 complement this, with Luke 6.26-39 as the set gospel for the day.

Old News

  1. If you have an interest in donating to Hotham Mission’s work before the end of the financial year, follow the prompts here
  2. Hotham Mission is running another fund- and awareness-raising BBQ at Bunnings in Brunswick on June 22 (Saturday). Volunteers are sought — especially for the busy 11am-2pm time slots! Contact Joey if you can help! 

Advance Dates

  • June 30 – Update after morning tea on buildings project progress
  • August 18 – Sunday Conversation – Lentara on the Asylum Seekers Project

« Older Entries Recent Entries »