MtE Update – June 30 2016

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