1. Our MtE Day luncheon is THIS SUNDAY, April 29 after worship!
2. Our readings for this Sunday are off-RCL; you can check some background on Sunday’s text here: Isaiah 52:7-10,  Psalm 98 and Mark 1:4-11

Other things potentially of interest

“Building democratic participation in a connected, but disillusioned world”

Old News

JD Northey Lecture

Visiting South African Senior Professor Gerald West  will deliver a JD Northey Lecture at Pilgrim Theological College from 7pm on Thursday May 3. He will speak on the topic of “The Bible as a Site of Struggle in South Africa, from Apartheid to after Liberation”.  Find out more here.

Please bring a gold coin donation and RSVP by Monday 30 April. To RSVP E: info@ctm.uca.edu.au.

Prof West will also conduct a two-day workshop at Pilgrim Theological College  on Contextual Bible Study as a Resource for Systemic Social Transformation. The workshop runs from 9.30am to 4pm on May 4 and 5. Find out more here.

Cost is $20. Please register by Monday 30 April 2018. Register by E: info@ctm.uca.edu.au.

See other intensive courses and events coming up at Pilgrim here.

 

 

 

1. Our MtE Day luncheon is coming up, April 29 after worship. Please let Rod know if you are able to attend, and Ann re what you can contribute for the catering…
2. The most recent Presbytery News (April 18).
3. ANZAC service at Queen’s College
4. ANZAC service at St Paul’s Cathedral
5. For those interested in some background commentary to the readings for this Sunday April 22, see the links here (we’ll continue to focus on a section of 1 John : more on 1 John 1.5-2.2).

Other things potentially of interest

from Mark Zirnsak, JIM

The Justice and International Mission Unit mourns the loss of Jill Ruzbacky who died on Sunday night from complications relating to heart surgery that took place eight months ago. Jill had been in hospital since the surgery.

Jill was well loved across the Uniting Church and ecumenically. She joined the JIM Unit in 2008 and her main areas of work involved running the AboutFACE program  (which placed Uniting Church members in First People communities), campaigning for more humane treatment of people seeking asylum in Australia, managing the relationship the Synod has with the United Church of Christ in the Philippines and the relationship between the Synod and the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress.

Old News

JD Northey Lecture

Visiting South African Senior Professor Gerald West  will deliver a JD Northey Lecture at Pilgrim Theological College from 7pm on Thursday May 3. He will speak on the topic of “The Bible as a Site of Struggle in South Africa, from Apartheid to after Liberation”.  Find out more here.

Please bring a gold coin donation and RSVP by Monday 30 April. To RSVP E: info@ctm.uca.edu.au.

Prof West will also conduct a two-day workshop at Pilgrim Theological College  on Contextual Bible Study as a Resource for Systemic Social Transformation. The workshop runs from 9.30am to 4pm on May 4 and 5. Find out more here.

Cost is $20. Please register by Monday 30 April 2018. Register by E: info@ctm.uca.edu.au.

See other intensive courses and events coming up at Pilgrim here.

 

 

Dear Friends,REQUEST FROM UNITINGWORLD

I am writing to you with the approval of the Moderator and the General Secretary of the VicTas synod to raise a concern with you as a chairperson UnitingWorld, the Assembly agency that has responsibility for our partnerships with churches overseas, especially in the Pacific and Asia.

As you may have heard there are credible reports that in the next federal budget the government will reduce even further Australia’s foreign aid budget, possibly by as  much as $400Million. Our foreign aid budget already stands at historically low levels at just over 0.2% of our GDP making Australia one of the least generous of the developed nations. In UnitingWorld we know that assistance through partnership can make an enormous difference to poor communities overseas. Assisting people to thrive in their own communities seems a better way to enhance security for everyone, including Australia.

I recognise that there may be some in the Australian community who would welcome a further reduction in Australia’s assistance to poor nations on the grounds that it will be used to help the poor and needy in this nation. However, even the poor in this country are rich by the standards of these poor nations.

The government seems to be testing the public mood. Unless there is very significant public response urging the government not to cut the foreign aid budget it seems highly likely that it will be reduced. If you feel that Australia has responsibilities to some of the poorest and most vulnerable citizens in the world and that in our relative wealth we can do better I urge you to write to your local MP, the Minister for International Development Cancetta Fierravant-Wells and the Prime Minister. I have attached draft letters that people may wish to use, adapt or discard as you see fit.

Thank you for taking the time to read this email and for your thoughts and actions.

Blessings and Peace,
Dr Andrew Glenn
Chairperson, UnitingWorld

1. Our congregational AGM will follow morning tea THIS Sunday April 15. There will also be an opportunity after this (hopefully, short) meeting to share reflections on the experience of the icons in worship during Lent and to consider whether, and how, we might continue with their use.
2. For those interested in some background commentary to the readings for this Sunday April 15, see the links here (we’ll continue to focus on the section of 1 John set for last week: 1 John 1.5-2.2).

Other things potentially of interest

REQUEST FROM UNITINGWORLD

Dear Friends,

I am writing to you with the approval of the Moderator and the General Secretary of the VicTas synod to raise a concern with you as a chairperson UnitingWorld, the Assembly agency that has responsibility for our partnerships with churches overseas, especially in the Pacific and Asia.

As you may have heard there are credible reports that in the next federal budget the government will reduce even further Australia’s foreign aid budget, possibly by as  much as $400Million. Our foreign aid budget already stands at historically low levels at just over 0.2% of our GDP making Australia one of the least generous of the developed nations. In UnitingWorld we know that assistance through partnership can make an enormous difference to poor communities overseas. Assisting people to thrive in their own communities seems a better way to enhance security for everyone, including Australia.

I recognise that there may be some in the Australian community who would welcome a further reduction in Australia’s assistance to poor nations on the grounds that it will be used to help the poor and needy in this nation. However, even the poor in this country are rich by the standards of these poor nations.

The government seems to be testing the public mood. Unless there is very significant public response urging the government not to cut the foreign aid budget it seems highly likely that it will be reduced. If you feel that Australia has responsibilities to some of the poorest and most vulnerable citizens in the world and that in our relative wealth we can do better I urge you to write to your local MP, the Minister for International Development Cancetta Fierravant-Wells and the Prime Minister. I have attached draft letters that people may wish to use, adapt or discard as you see fit.

Thank you for taking the time to read this email and for your thoughts and actions.

Blessings and Peace,
Dr Andrew Glenn
Chairperson, UnitingWorld

Old News

JD Northey Lecture

Visiting South African Senior Professor Gerald West  will deliver a JD Northey Lecture at Pilgrim Theological College from 7pm on Thursday May 3. He will speak on the topic of “The Bible as a Site of Struggle in South Africa, from Apartheid to after Liberation”.  Find out more here.

Please bring a gold coin donation and RSVP by Monday 30 April. To RSVP E: info@ctm.uca.edu.au.

Prof West will also conduct a two-day workshop at Pilgrim Theological College  on Contextual Bible Study as a Resource for Systemic Social Transformation. The workshop runs from 9.30am to 4pm on May 4 and 5. Find out more here.

Cost is $20. Please register by Monday 30 April 2018. Register by E: info@ctm.uca.edu.au.

See other intensive courses and events coming up at Pilgrim here.

 

1. Our congregational AGM will follow morning tea on Sunday April 15; papers will be available shortly. There will also be an opportunity after this (short) meeting to share reflections on the experience of the icons in worship during Lent and to consider whether, and how, we might continue with their use.
2. The most recent Synod eNews (April 5) is here.
3. For those interested in some background commentary to the readings for this Sunday April 8, see the links here. Old News.

Other things potentially of interest

JD Northey Lecture

Visiting South African Senior Professor Gerald West  will deliver a JD Northey Lecture at Pilgrim Theological College from 7pm on Thursday May 3. He will speak on the topic of “The Bible as a Site of Struggle in South Africa, from Apartheid to after Liberation”.  Find out more here.

Please bring a gold coin donation and RSVP by Monday 30 April. To RSVP E: info@ctm.uca.edu.au.

Prof West will also conduct a two-day workshop at Pilgrim Theological College  on Contextual Bible Study as a Resource for Systemic Social Transformation. The workshop runs from 9.30am to 4pm on May 4 and 5. Find out more here.

Cost is $20. Please register by Monday 30 April 2018. Register by E: info@ctm.uca.edu.au.

See other intensive courses and events coming up at Pilgrim here.

 

1. Some background to the the icons over Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Day
2. EASTER SERVICES

Maundy Thursday [TONIGHT]

Thursday March 29, 7.30pm

Good Friday

Friday March 30, 10.00am

Easter Vigil

Saturday March 31, 8.00pm

Easter Day

Sunday April 1, 10.00am

1. Our congregational AGM will follow morning tea on Sunday April 15; papers will be available shortly. There will also be an opportunity after this (short) meeting to share reflections on the experience of the icons in worship during Lent.

Other things potentially of interest

Prayers around the Cross on Good Friday at Trinity College

Please feel welcome to attend a Taizé prayer this Friday at Trinity College Chapel, Royal Parade, Parkville, 3pm. This is a Good Friday service, which will include prayers around the cross. There will be an opportunity to reflect, sing, connect and pray.
On Easter Saturday there is a vigil at Trinity College, 7:30pm, including some Taizé music.
As usual, there will be the regular monthly service the following week,Saturday the 7th of April beginning at 5:30pm.
We hope to see you there! Have a blessed Easter.

A Dialogue on Death: Atheism and Christianity

Tuesday, 3 April 2018, 7 – 8.30pm

Mercy Lecture Theatre, ACU Melbourne Campus, 115 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy

Death confronts us all. But what is death – and how do we live knowing that we will die?

Join us for a conversation as we consider a range of perspectives on these questions, in order to develop a dialogue between atheism and Christianity that can shed light on how all of us might think about our own mortality.

Our presenters are Denys Turner (Yale University and ACU), Mark Kelly (Western Sydney University), Robyn Whitaker (University of Divinity), and Jon Roffe (University of New South Wales).

This event is hosted by ACU’s Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry.

 

1. Some background to the the icons for this Sunday, March 25: Palm/Annunciation
2. Worship this coming Sunday March 25 will be a reading through the Passion narrative of Mark’s gospel.
3. A CrossLight report on the recent visit of Br Peter Bray to MtE
4. For those interested in some background commentary to the readings for this Sunday March 25, see the links here. We will be hearing Mark 14.1-15.39 throughout the service.

 

 

1. Our worship space during Lent will feature a number of icons, increasing in number over the period to Easter. More details about this part of the worship can be found here, including a link to the icon for this Sunday, March 18: Lent 5
2. Following morning tea on THIS SUNDAY March 18 there will be a conversation on the shape of our worship services at MtE. This will likely be the first of a number over time for exploring together what happens in church on Sundays.
3. The last of the Wednesday night Lenten studies (NEXT week) has been moved from Wed 21st to Tues 20th, same times but in the St Mary’s hall rather than the church. The last of the Friday morning studies remain at Fri 23.
4. The most recent Presbytery newsletter is here.
5. A recent newletter (re-)introducing Uniting AgeWell.
6. For those interested in some background commentary to the readings for this Sunday March 18, see the links here.

 

 

1. Our worship space during Lent will feature a number of icons, increasing in number over the period to Easter. More details about this part of the worship can be found here, including a link to the icon for this Sunday, March 11: Lent 4
2. Following morning tea on Sunday March 18 there will be a conversation on the shape of our worship services at MtE. This will likely be the first of a number over time for exploring together what happens in church on Sundays. More details to come…
3. The most recent Synod eNews (March 8) is here.
4. For those interested in some background commentary to the readings for this Sunday March 11, see the links here.

 

1. Our worship space during Lent will feature a number of icons, increasing in number over the period to Easter. More details about this part of the worship can be found here, including a link to the icon for this Sunday, March 4: Lent 3
2. Our Lenten studies for this year continue tonight, 630pm for soup supper and 700pm; details are here.
3. A web page summarising our “Read it as if you wrote it” session last Sunday is available here.
4. For those interested in some background commentary to the readings for this Sunday March 4, see the links here.

 

1. TONIGHT, 630pm: Brother Peter Bray from Bethlehem University returns to Melbourne, and is again hosted by MtE in a public forum; more details are here. If social media is your thing, please help to make this event known via the Facebook link.
2. Our worship space during Lent will feature a number of icons, increasing in number over the period to Easter. More details about this part of the worship can be found here, including a link to the icon for this Sunday, Lent 2
3. Our Lenten studies for this year begin next Wednesday, February 21, and Friday February 23; details are here. It would help to know if you plan to attend!
4. “Read it as if you wrote it”. Attention all rostered (and potentially rostered!) in-worship Scripture readers: we’re planning a workshop on the important ministry of lector after morning tea this Sunday February 25 — “Read it as if you wrote it”. Please plan to be there if you’re able; those who don’t read the Scriptures for worship also welcome!
5. For those interested in some background commentary to the readings for this Sunday February 25, see the links here.