Here’s this week’s Presbytery Newsletter:
Messy Church Friday September 18th 2020
Hi Messy Church Friends!
Our next Messy Church Zoom will be 4:30pm Friday 18th September – put it on the calendar!
We will be talking about “How Precious and Special we are to God!”
Some fun things are happening during our actual Messy Church Zoom Meeting- including craft, music and catching up and seeing all our friends!
Some things to have ready for our Activity Time
- Think about something that is Special to you (adults too), and bring it to our Zoom time so we can share your special treasure. It might be a toy, or a special rock, just something that means a lot to you.
- Print out the two attachments to this Invitation- one is a word search and one is a colouring puzzle page- so have some colouring pencils and pens ready too.
- Your singing dancing selves for some fun games and music.
Thinking Spot
When we think of God’s Precious people in the world right now, and we know many are struggling in the strange challenging place due to the pandemic or life experiences. But we often feel- what can we do? Some organisations that do help: Uniting World, Save the Children, UNICEF or World Vision.
Maybe a suggestion might be to make it a family project to find ways, through these organisations, that you can help to show that others are precious too.
We miss you, we hope you’re well and safe, and we look forward to seeing you again on Friday September 18th at 4:30pm.
Love from St Luke’s Messy Church: Barbara, Shaghek, Paul, Judy, Jean and Robyn
PS have you read this book before? We have a copy in the St Luke’s Library!
StLukes’s bookshelf: read
A timeless story, filled with the assurance of God’s love and offering insight into the ways in which we become anxious about our place and value in the world.
National Child Protection Week
National Child Protection Week runs from September 6-12 and we’re inviting congregations to consider what it means to protect the children in our care. The National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect has produced a resources and an activity sheet to help you get feedback from children on what they enjoy about your congregation and what needs improving.
Speakers in Spring for Seniors
SPEAKERS IN SPRING FOR SENIORS
A Free Talk Each Tuesday in September at 11am via Zoom
1st Your Rights Your Safety
8th Your Home and Adult Children
15th Your Choices Your Values
22nd Your Medical Decision Maker
29th Your Powers of Attorney
Each talk will be for 30 – 40 minutes with 20 minutes for questions and discussion.
Book for one Tuesday, book for some, book for all.
All sessions are free. Numbers limited to 15.
To book or further information Email: or telephone Gary Ferguson 0407 329 290
Hosted by Seniors Rights Victoria
Worship Online – Sunday 6th September – Commissioning of our Community Ministry Worker
Staying Safe Online
Now that so much of our community life is happening online, you may find that this environment has a few traps for new players. Certainly criminals are taking advantage of our new reliance on technology. Both the VicTas Synod and the Australian Government have produced some helpful resources to keep you informed about how to protect yourself, your friends and your family online.
An Update from Synod:
COVID-19 has seen a dramatic escalation in cyber attacks and we urge you to remain vigilant in protecting your digital assets, particularly your email accounts. Some of the hackers are very sophisticated and are using COVID-19 themed emails to try to trick people out of money. The Government’s Scamwatch has received more than 3060 COVID-themed reports, with more than $1.3 million in reported losses. IT Services has compiled a resource explaining some of these recent attacks and also tips on how to protect yourself from scams.
E-Safety Commissioner
If you are an older person and new to the online environment, the eSafety Commissioner also has some great resources for helping you to stay safe online and avoid the scammers.
https://www.esafety.gov.au/seniors
Vote for Peter in the Westfield Local Heroes Awards
Dear Volunteers and Supporters of Uniting Barwon,
Uniting Barwon Volunteer Peter Wheeler is one of 6 finalists in the Westfield Local Heroes awards with the chance to win a grant of $10,000 for Uniting Barwon Norlane.
Peter needs your vote!
Please forward this link to your network of family, friends, colleagues and neighbours.
To vote for Peter, click on this link:
Volunteer Peter Wheeler has created an Op Shop and community space that offers much more than second-hand clothes and household goods. With his vision and drive, Uniting Barwon’s new Norlane Op Shop is also a safe place for disaffected locals to socialise and seek help. There are comfy sofas where any members of the community can read a book, have a chat, relax and enjoy a cuppa, plus a kids’ corner with toys, books and puzzles. Thanks to Peter’s dynamic and inclusive approach, there has been a surge in volunteers and shoppers as word of mouth spreads. He is proud that the Op Shop has saved several tons of goods from ending up in landfill each month, while helping those in need.
“We have community members who, by volunteering and participating, have gained an improved level of self-worth,” Peter says.
Peter is driving further initiatives, before COVID-19 restrictions, including a community arts program and literacy and numeracy programs, conversational English for new arrivals (in conjunction with Diversitat), Messy Mums group (an evening program for parents and kids), an evening wellness program (some yoga and relaxation), community internet café, a vegie garden supporting provision of free light lunches from our approved kitchen, community engagement events, including community movie nights and regular car boot sales with sausage sizzles.
“Any profit made from the shop goes to our Emergency Relief Program for those in greatest need in our community.”
Voting closes on 14 September.
Thank you for your vote!
Sunday 30th of August is Share Sunday for Uniting
Dear Friends,
The focus of Share Sunday this year is on Youth Homelessness, with the theme ‘A place to call home.’
Your congregation was sent a pack that shared the story of Bronte and how Uniting supported her through a challenging time in her life.
Unfortunately there have been delivery delays with Australia Post, meaning many of you have not received these resources to use on Sunday.
If any members of your congregation would like to make a donation as part of Share Sunday, we have created an online page where members of your congregation can securely make donations directly to our Share Sunday Appeal – https://www.unitingvictas.org.au/share-sunday/donate/
Many thanks for your ongoing support.
Kind Regards,
Dale
Worship Online Sunday 30th August: The Exodus Story and Us – Part 2
Hello friends,
A report released recently by McCrindle Research[1] shows that during these days of COVID-19 there is an increase in the numbers of people in Australia giving time to prayer and thinking about God.
This all makes sense.
The reality of the pandemic means we are faced with core questions about what it means to be alive and to be mortal: questions like, “Why am I here?” and “If there is a God what is God like?”
In this weeks video we will have some space to pray, but also some time to think about the nature of God as we explore another famous passage from the book of Exodus: the story of Moses and the burning bush.
[1] https://www.smh.com.au/national/the-meaning-of-life-australians-praying-more-during-covid-19-20200820-p55nla.html
For music listening, try this version of the Blessing:
A little treat in the grocery donations for Uniting
Anyone who’s had kids in Australia would understand that whenever there’s Milo in the house, it disappears very quickly!!
Our helpers at Uniting Grovedale have a request – while you are at the supermarket this week, could you pop a small tin of Milo in the trolley for Uniting?
The folk who rely on supplementing their food needs from Uniting’s emergency pantries in Grovedale and Norlane would very much appreciate this small treat for their kids.
Thanks!
