Friends,

the latest MtE Update

1. The planned congregational meeting on our buildings and mission issues, set for August 21, has had to be postponed on account of delays in gathering the information the Church Council had hoped would be available for consideration at that meeting. Church Council has re-scheduled this meeting for September 4. We note that this date is Fathers’ Day but, on account of other limitations, it is the only feasible date for a meeting before October. The service on September 4 will be shorted and the meeting kept as tight as possible to enable as many congregational members as possible to participate. The purpose of this meeting will principally be to hear and discuss a progress report as a prelude to a planned “decision” meeting later in October.
2. Hotham Mission is running a special community screening of the documentary “Chasing Asylum”, which explores Australian aslyum-seeker policy and its effects on those seeking asylum. For more details, the film trailer and the link to purchase tickets, please see the UCHM web site.
3. Our next study series STARTS NEXT WEEK. If you’re keen to come but haven’t registered, details and registration page is here.
4. For information on a forthcoming event on “The Churches’ Approach to Advocacy for Refugees and People Seeking Asylum”, see this post.
5. The most recent Synod eNewsletter (August 2) is here.

Other things of potential interest:

1. Victorian Gender Equality Strategy Consultations for Victorian Seniors

Friends,

the latest MtE Update

1. This Sunday, July 31, we’ll have another hymn-learning session after worship for those who have time to stay and a desire to expand their repertoire!
2. Hotham Mission is running a special community screening of the documentary “Chasing Asylum”, which explores Australian aslyum-seeker policy and its effects on those seeking asylum. We need a particular number of ticket purchases by August 4 (next week) for the screening to go ahead (the screening is on August 16); for more details, the film trailer and the link to purchase tickets, please see the UCHM web site.
3. Our next study series will be in August, considering Rowan Williams’ great little book, Being Christian; details and registration page is here.
4. For those who missed Bruce Barber’s Lenten studies last year, or want to hear them again, he is presenting that at South Melbourne UCA; details are here.

 

Friends,

the latest MtE Update

1. This Sunday July 17 we have, as our after-worship conversation, Mark Duckworth speaking on “The Victorian approach to preventing violent extremism”.
2. Our next study series will be in August, considering Rowan Williams’ great little book, Being Christian; details and registrations are available here.
3. The church council has recently adopted a range of Synod “Safe Church” policies, the details of which are here.
4. For those who missed Bruce Barber’s Lenten studies last year, or want to hear them again, he is presenting them once more at South Melbourne UCA; details are here.
5. The most recent Synod newsletter (July 7) is here.

Rev Bruce Barber will present at series of talks on the theme of God in Western culture at SOUTH MELBOURNE Uniting Church on Friday mornings, mid-August to mid-September. For more details, see the flyer.

Friends,

the latest MtE Update

1. Our next study series will be in August, considering Rowan Williams’ great little book, Being Christian; details and registrations are available here.
2. At our most recent (June) church council meeting, the church council agreed to support a proposal from Craig that we might explore ways of encouraging the wider Uniting Church to reflect upon its practice of celebrating the Eucharist, with a view to promoting the benefits of moving towards weekly celebration of the Eucharist as being the norm in UCA congregations, rather than the (very rare) exception. A basic description of this project is given here; there will be an opportunity for to participate in a conversation about this following worship on Sunday July 10.

Other things of potential interest:

A letter from the Moderator:

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

The Basis of Union encourages us to engage in active partner relations with the Asia-Pacific region. These relationships are a source of great blessing to us as a church. Part of being in partnership is to encourage and support each other. Through the President Stuart McMillan, and Uniting World, one of our partner churches – the Evangelical Christian Church in the Land of Papua (Gereja Kristen Injili Di Tanah Papua ‘GKI-TP’) – has asked for our urgent prayer and support as they lead their people in troubled times, seeking to reduce political tension and avoid conflict in Papua.

I want to encourage you to remember the GKI-TP, its people and leaders and the people of West Papua in your prayers this week, and over the weeks to come. Could you also share this call to prayerful solidarity widely with your communities.

There is further information from the President and Uniting World about the situation in West Papua here.

Grace and peace,

Sharon Hollis, Moderator

An upcoming free event to celebrate NAIDOC week at Brunswick Library

Taizé prayer

5.30pm, Saturday, 2nd July 2016

@ Trinity College Chapel, Royal Parade, Parkville.

Singing practice from 5pm.

Please join us for dinner in the Dining Hall afterwards ($10 per person)

It does get VERY chilly in the Chapel during winter, so please make sure you rug up and bring your scarves, beanies and blankets …

If you can’t make it this week, the dates for the rest of the year are:

6th August

3rd September

1st October

5th November

Taizé in Melbourne, Working Group

Pastoral Care workshops (Bethel)

Dear POTENTIAL Lentara Team Member,

As part of a major fundraising effort to support Lentara’s Asylum Seeker Program, Lentara is again pulling together a team of people to participate in this year’s Melbourne Marathon Festival on Sunday the 16th October 2016 and are looking at you to Put the U in Run.

You don’t need to be fit to participate, as distances include the Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km, 5.7km and a 3km walk.

Runners will have the opportunity to seek supportive sponsors, and we’ll let our team know how to do this a little later.

Last year, with a team that included a number of very impressive performances from UC Ministers, Lentara staff and friends, our team raised over $12,000 and had a great day. So we encourage you to get involved.

Our Target in 2016 is to raise in excess of $20,000.00 and registrations are now open.

Please let me know if you do register or if you have any queries, and feel free to pass this on to anyone you think might be interested.

With thanks,

Rev David Withers

Mission Development Minister

Over the course of June-October 2016, most of our Sunday services will feature a preaching focus on the book of Galatians.

Galatians features in rather a potted way in the Revised Common Lectionary on six Sundays over this period, leaving out large sections of the book and including sections which are large enough to justify two or three weeks’ reflection.

We’ll be considering the text in a sequential treatment over this time.

Friends,

the latest MtE Update!

1. This Sunday May 15 we have Lisa Sammut, Convener, Homeless Action Group as our After Worship guest speaker.
2. On Thursday evening, May 19, we are co-hosting a public discussion, “Whose problem is the ‘Problem of Islam'”; the details are here.
3. Please consider signing this online petition regarding Melbourne City Council’s not having continued the tenure of the current operators of “The Venny”, a partner service of Hotham Mission.  In addition to the petition there will also be a  Community Meeting at the Kensington Town Hall TONIGHT (Wed 11/05) 6:30pm to “discuss the future of the Kensington Adventure Playground”. This is a community consultation process whereby the voices of the local residents and patrons of The Venny will have a chance to have their voices heard and questions answered. It would be great to have as many people present as possible as this is a significant change which will have long-term impacts on the youth in the area.
4. The next issue of Mark the Word is coming up: reflections on our current “futures” thinking are invited, or anything which might be on your mind! Please let Suzanne know if you have written or are intending to write something. Contributions are due May 23.
5. If you can’t get to church on Sunday morning (15th), you might like to come to Evensong at St Mary’s North Melbourne at 6pm – a service in which we’ve been invited to share: 6pm.
6. The latest issue of the Synod eNewsletter (May 3) is here.

Other things of potential interest:

From the Taizé in Melbourne, Working Group

Please join us this Saturday, 7 May at 5.30pm (Singing practice at 4.45pm) for Taize prayer at Trinity College Chapel, Royal Parade in Parkville.

The dates for the rest of the year are:

• 7th May
• 4th June
• 2nd July
• 6th August
• 3rd September
• 1st October
• 5th November

You can connect with us on Facebook: Taize in Melbourne, Australia.

Later in the year, one of the Taize Brothers will be in NSW leading a retreat, details are as follows:

The Courage of Mercy – with Br Ghislain – Retreat for Young Adults with music and prayers from Taizé

Where:  Mt Carmel Retreat Centre, 247 St Andrews Road, Varroville, NSW, 2566 (near Campbelltown).

When:  Sep 26 @ 3:00 pm – Sep 29 @ 4:00 pm

Cost:  Single rooms with ensuite ($315.00), camping: $200 (suggested donation).

Please hear that these costs are ‘suggested’.  So, if these are too expensive, then the Taize brothers have requested that people pay what they can afford.

Contact:  John Ransom, General Manager, Mt Carmel Retreat Centre.  Ph:  0435 857 690, or by email:  generalmanager@carmelite.com

Retreat Description

“According to the Bible, God is mercy, in other words, compassion and kindness. By telling the parable of the father and his two sons (Luke 15), Jesus shows us that God’s love does not depend on the good we can do; it is given unconditionally. The father loves the son who remains faithful his whole life long. And he already holds out his hands to one who left him, while that son is still far away.

God’s love is not just for a moment, but for all time. Through compassion, we can be a reflection of this love. As Christians, we share with so many believers of other religions the concern to place mercy and kindness at the centre of our lives.”
“The Courage of Mercy” – Br Alois, prior of Taizé

During this retreat, we’ll journey together into the arms of this God of Mercy. Using traditional Taize chants, prayers and presentations our retreat will be a time to pray and reflect so that we can take action, taking mercy out into our troubled world.