1. We will gather for conversation following worship THIS Sunday September 23 to hear and discuss information on the proposed subdivision of the MtE site for divestment and some building concept options for the new complex. September-November will be a period of considerable input into design of the new buildings. This will not be a formal congregational meeting but will set us up for important decision-making about the project over the next few months.
2. If you’re interested in following up further the material Robert Gribben presented last week on the Great Prayer of Thanksgiving, you might be interested in looking at his book on the subject; some copies are available here ($10 plus postage…). It can also be consulted at the theological library at the CTM. (Robert Gribben, Uniting in Thanksgiving, The Great Prayers of the Uniting Church in Australia,  Melbourne: UAP, 2008.  It has three parts: (1) The Genealogy of the Great Prayer; (2), a commentary on the texts and (3) A Practical Commentary).
3. A pastoral letter from the UCA Assembly President on church governance (and the recent marriage resolution).
4. Our readings this week are ‘contrived’ from various lectionary resources to help our reading further into last week’s gospel reading; click on the following for some background to the texts: Isaiah 51:1-6; Psalm 138; Mark 8.31-38.

5. Other things potentially of interest

Brunswick Uniting Church is offering a forum on the Victorian Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation

1. Old News

Our series on the Ten Commandments will return for 4 consecutive weeks in October; if you were planning get one of suggested background reading resources for this series but haven’t yet, now’s a good time to order it!

1. The latest VicTas Synod eNews is here.
2. LATE UPDATE: After worship next Sunday September 16 our reflections on worship will continue with Robert Gribben speaking on the “Great Prayer of Thanksgiving” in the Eucharist.
3. There will be a meeting following worship on Sunday 23 September to hear and discuss information on the proposed subdivision of the MtE site for divestment and some building concept options for the new complex. September-November will be a period of considerable input into design of the new buildings – more details to come!
4. A further pastoral letter from the UCA Assembly President on the marriage resolution, the new marriage service, and other things. This comment on the character of the Assembly debate may be of interest.
5. Our focus for this Sunday will be 1 John 5.14-21
6. Visions of the Invisible: An Icon Exhibition of the Uniting Church Icon Schools

Icons painted by members of the three Icon Schools during the past 12 months – 10 are for sale, at the Centre for Theology and Ministry, 29 College Cres, Parkville. 10 September to 22 October 2018, 9.00-5.00 Monday-Friday

Official Launch on Saturday 15 September 2018 by Rev Dr Rob Gallacher, 2.00 – 4.00pm; Info: 9434 4742

1. A monthly series of sermons on the the Ten Commandments will commence THIS SUNDAY August 26. Some more details are given here, including some suggested background reading to the Commandments for the series. For a brief online commentary on the texts for this Sunday, see.
2. Also Sunday August 26 there will be an open conversation following morning tea around the recent resolution of the UCA’s national Assembly on marriage. Some background papers on the resolution are available here.
3. The latest Presbytery eNews is here.

1. TONIGHT, Wednesday August 15, the online discussion group commences, looking at Northrop Frye’s The Great Code; for more on the book, see some of the reviews here. It is a challenging but very rewarding read! The quickest and cheapest way to obtain a copy is probably here (typically arrives in 7-10 days); electronic versions do not seem to be available. The experimental and online aspects of this group are that we will ‘meet’ via Skype or a similar video-conferencing vehicle — more details to come, and not as hard as it might sound (we think!). This means not having to travel in the evening for the group. The group will ‘meet’ online at 7.45pm on Wednesday August 15. Let Craig know if you are interested in joining; details on how to participate are here.
2. The 2018 JD Northey Lecture: “Truth and Reality: An Ecclesiology of Resistance.” Thursday August 23, 7pm at the CTM; details.
3. For those interested in some background commentary to the readings for this Sunday August 12, see the links here (we’ll hear Ps 34 and the gospel reading this week, in addition to our focus text from 1 John – 1 John 5.1-12 (cf. here), a reflection on the church’s faith in God as Trinity).

4. Old News

5. A monthly series of sermons on the the Ten Commandments will commence on Sunday August 26. Some more details are given here, including some suggested background reading to the Commandments for the series.
6. ALSO on Sunday 26 there will be an open conversation following morning tea around the recent resolution of the UCA’s national Assembly on marriage.

1. THIS SUNDAY August 12 Anja & Zlatna invite you to their annual concert ‘Music without borders’ – in support of ‘Befriend a Child in Detention.’ This is to raise much needed funds for educational resources for these unfortunate children. Location: 4 Elm Street North Melbourne, Hall of Congregation of Mark the Evangelist, 1pm. The programme will feature beautiful and intricate music from the Balkans and beyond. The programme will run for an hour without interval. Entry by donation to the cause but if you are not in a position to donate, please come and enjoy our music and community.
2. Next Wednesday August 15 we will begin an experimental online discussion group, looking weekly at a chapter of a book. The book will be Northrop Frye’s The Great Code; for more on the book, see some of the reviews here. It is a challenging but very rewarding read! The quickest and cheapest way to obtain a copy is probably here (typically arrives in 7-10 days); electronic versions do not seem to be available. The experimental and online aspects of this group are that we will ‘meet’ via Skype or a similar video-conferencing vehicle — more details to come, and not as hard as it might sound (we think!). This means not having to travel in the evening for the group. The group will ‘meet’ online at 7.45pm on Wednesday August 15. Let Craig know if you are interested in joining; details on how to participate are here.
3. The most recent Synod eNews (August 9) is here.

Old News

1. A monthly series of sermons on the the Ten Commandments will commence on Sunday August 26. Some more details are given here, including some suggested background reading to the Commandments for the series.
2. ALSO on Sunday 26 there will be an open conversation following morning tea around the recent resolution of the UCA’s national Assembly on marriage.

 

1. This Sunday we formally welcome of couple of members as transfers to the congregation!
2. Late-ish notice but… on Wednesday August 15 we will begin an experimental online discussion group, looking weekly at a chapter of a book. The book will be Northrop Frye’s The Great Code; for more on the book, see some of the reviews here. It is a challenging but very rewarding read! The quickest and cheapest way to obtain a copy is probably here (typically arrives in 7-10 days); electronic versions do not seem to be available. The experimental and online aspects of this group are that we will ‘meet’ via Skype or a similar video-conferencing vehicle — more details to come, and not as hard as it might sound (we think!). This means not having to travel in the evening for the group. The group will ‘meet’ online at 7.45pm on Wednesday August 15, 7.45pm. Let Craig know if you are interested in joining, and we’ll send the details on how to participate!
3. A monthly series of sermons on the the Ten Commandments will commence on Sunday August 26. Some more details are given here, including some suggested background reading to the Commandments for the series.
4. You might be interested in this brief account by the composer of the music setting for the Eucharist, ‘the Mass for the Fallen’, which we regularly use in worship at MtE (YouTube video link).
5. For those interested in some background commentary to the readings for this Sunday August 5, see the links here (we’ll hear Ps 78 and the gospel reading this week, in addition to our focus text from 1 John – 1 John 4.13.-16 (cf. here), a reflection on the church’s faith in God as Trinity).

Other things potentially of interest

Old News

1. For those interested in the question of indigenous sovereinty in Australia, two lectures at RMIT Uni
2. A Jazz fundraiser for Refugees, August 4

Wednesday August 15 we will begin an experimental online discussion group, looking weekly at a chapter of a book. The book will be Northrop Frye’s The Great Code; for more on the book, see some of the reviews here. The quickest and cheapest way to obtain a copy is probably here (typically arrives in 7-10 days); electronic versions do not seem to be available.

The experimental and online aspects of this group are that we will ‘meet’ via Skype or a similar video-conferencing vehicle — more details to come, and not as hard as it might sound (we think!). This means not having to travel in the evening for the group.

The group will ‘meet’ online at 7.45pm on Wednesday August 15, 7.45pm. Let Craig know if you are interested in joining; details on how to set up to participate in the group are here.

1. This Sunday we will welcome in worship a number of students from the Uniting Church Studies course at the Centre for Theology and Ministry.
2. The latest Presbytery eNews (July 24) is here.
3. A Jazz fundraiser for Refugees, August 4
4. For those interested in some background commentary to the readings for this Sunday July 29, see the links here. Our focus text will be a continuation in our series on 1 John – 1 John 4.7-12.

5. Old News

6. For those interested in the question of indigenous sovereinty in Australia, two lectures at RMIT Uni

1. A week ago, the UCA Assembly came to a resolution on the nature of marriage and the celebration of marriages by UCA celebrants; the unconfirmed minute of the resolution can be found here. A pastoral statement from the UCA President in relation to this matter is available here.
2. A brochure and invitation to protest changes to the government support of asylum seekers in Australia.
3. For those interested in the question of indigenous sovereinty in Australia, two lectures at RMIT Uni…

1. Our ‘Dinners for Eight’ are underway; please see the pew sheets or speak to Norma or Wendy to register!
2. The latest Presbytery eNews (July 4) is here.
3. The latest Synod eNews (July 4) is here.
4. For those interested in some background commentary to the readings for this Sunday July 8, see the links here. Our focus text will again (likely!) be a continuation in our series on 1 John.

5. Old News

6. The 15th Assembly of the Uniting Church gathers this July in Melbourne; you can see some of what is to be discussed on the dedicated web site (see especially the menu items at the top right of the page).